South Africa: Operation Vala Konke yields results in Northern Cape Several suspects are expected to appear in Magistrates Courts in the Northern Cape on drug related crimes following Operation Vala Konke successes in the province. Police spokesperson, Captain Olebogeng Tawana, said drugs confiscated during the arrests include crystal meth, dagga and mandrax tablets. On Thursday two male suspects were arrested by members of the ZF Mgcawu District Task Team, K9 Unit, Paballelo Visible Policing and Upington Border Police in possession of dagga weighing 6.25kg, with an estimated street value of R156 250. Police in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District pounced on crystal meth with an estimated street value of R17 100, including copper cables weighing 4kg, resulting in the detention of the suspects. Another suspect was found in possession of dagga with an estimated street value of R2 300 in Mapoteng village near Mothibistad. [In Kathu], a 26-year-old suspect is behind bars subsequent to being found in possession of suspected stolen property, which included bicycles, laptops, a television set, computer monitors, an I-pad, shoes, a hammer and crystal meth. A joint operation by members of Marydale and Prieska Visible Policing yielded positive results when they arrested a 29-year-old suspect for dealing in drugs. The suspect was found on his premises in possession of crystal meth with an estimated street value of more than R22 000, he said. Tawana added that another 24 suspects were arrested on various other charges during daily wanted suspect tracing operations in the provinces Pixly Ka Seme District. These suspects have been evading arrest and failed to appear before various courts, as warned by the Magistrates Courts. They are facing different charges ranging from murder, attempted murder, theft, malicious damage to property, rape, assault to cause grievous bodily harm, robbery and contravention of protection order, he said. Meanwhile, police in KwaZulu-Natal have arrested three suspects following a business robbery in the Durban central business district. Police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said the suspects were caught in the act by Vigilant Tactical Response Team (TRT) members during routine patrolling. Four armed men are reported to have stormed into a shop and allegedly demanded money, cigarettes and cell phones. One suspect reportedly left the shop with the robbed items, and the other three remained behind and continued ransacking the shop. At that point, the TRT members who were patrolling the area noticed what was happening and acted swiftly. The three suspects were duly arrested and three firearms were found in their possession. No shots were fired and no injuries were reported. The search for the outstanding suspect is underway, Netshiunda said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-01-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Hospitalisations on the rise among young people due to increasing popularity of vaping The use of e-cigarettes, or vaping, has been increasing among young people, leading to students experiencing psychosis, hallucinations or respiratory failure due to substances in e-cigarettes, resulting in hospitalisation. A batch of illeglally imported e-cigarettes seized by ak Nong Province's police in December 2022. VNA/VNS Photo The latest case was seven third-graders of Hanoi's Hoang Liet Primary School, Hoang Mai District, who were hospitalised for experiencing nausea, and headaches after smoking or inhaling e-cigarettes. On November 18, three male students in grade 12 of Thanh a High School, HCM City's Binh Thanh District, also showed unusual physical symptoms such as discomfort, shortness of breath, and fainting after using the e-cigarettes. In early November, a secondary school male student was taken to the National Children's Hospital in a state of panic with difficulty breathing and convulsions after using the product. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, an official from the Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund, Ministry of Health, said a recent study showed that the e-cigarette smoking rate among students in Viet Nam increased from 2.6 per cent in 2019 to 3.5 per cent in 2021. The smoking rate among male students increased from 3.6 per cent to 4.3 per cent and from 1.5 per cent to 2.8 per cent in female students. The percentage of students who had ever tried an e-cigarette was 7.8 per cent. This increase in numbers is a cause for concern, especially given how easily accessible e-cigarettes are for young people. The smoking rate among teenagers is increasing due to the emergence of new-generation cigarettes, which is changing nicotine addiction, said Nguyen Huu Hoang, a lecturer from the Medical Education Centre at HCM City's University of Medicine and Pharmacy. "E-cigarette devices that look like USB drives, pen or pen boxes are making it tough for parents to detect and keep their kids from vaping. They also make young people curious and excited by their eye-catching, fashionable and modern designs," Hoang told the Lao ong (Labour) newspaper. As well as easy access, different levels of nicotine and diverse flavours have made e-cigarettes attractive, increasing the risk of addiction. Studies show that new-generation e-cigarettes change smoking rates among youth under 18, making it necessary to implement more measures to prevent and reduce the usage of e-cigarettes. At a recent workshop to share research results on tobacco use among students aged 13-15 in Vietnam, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan said the increase of new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes also hindered prevention. It remained easy for people to get access to cigarette products which were sold widely across the country. Tran Thi Trang, Deputy Director of the Legal Affairs Department at the Ministry of Health, said the ministry has proposed banning all new tobacco products, in line with the trend in regional countries and the world. Deputy Director of the HCM City's Market Management Department, Nguyen Tien at, affirmed that at present, there are no regulations regarding licensing cigarette sales at stores. In 2020-2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging, the unit discovered many violations related to new-generation tobacco products. In 2022 alone, 940 new-generation tobacco-related products were discovered. In early November, police in Tam Nong District, Phu Tho Province, apprehended a man in possession of synthetic drugs in the form of e-cigarettes. He confessed to purchasing e-cigarettes and e-liquids via social networks for local consumption. All seized e-liquids contained the ADB-Butinaca, an ingredient in some synthetic cannabis products. In September, police in Hanoi's Nam Tu Liem District also discovered a group of illegal drug dealers. They bought e-cigarettes, and dried herbs, adding e-liquids containing ADB-Butinaca. The Hanoi Police recommends that parents take time to care for, listen to their children, and observe their children's activities as co-ordinate with schools to learn more about activities and relationships of children to early found abnormal signs. It is necessary to contact a doctor or psychologist for support if needed. Schools should coordinate with competent agencies to organise drug testing to detect students using illegal drugs. 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. The Daily Beast University of WashingtonThe Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) is a massive fault line stretching from Vancouver Island to Northern Californiaand its the source of the vast majority of earthquakes and tsunamis in the region. In fact, scientists believe that the fault line will likely be the source of the next Big One, an anticipated megathrust earthquake so powerful itll wreak death and destruction the likes of which weve never seen before from a geological event.So, it goes without saying that Police tape is seen at the Moscow, Idaho, home that is the site of the November 13 killings of four University of Idaho students. David Ryder/Getty Images Lawyers for the Idaho killings suspect have a "Herculean task" defending him, a police expert said. "He's in trouble," a retired NYPD sergeant told Insider of 28-year-old suspect Bryan Kohberger. A police affidavit was unsealed this week detailing what led authorities to arrest Kohberger. Attorneys for the man accused of stabbing to death four University of Idaho students have a "Herculean task" while defending the suspect from the mounting evidence that authorities have against him, a police expert said. "He's in trouble," retired New York Police Department sergeant Joseph Giacalone told Insider on Friday of 28-year-old suspect Bryan Kohberger following the release of a detailed police affidavit. Kohberger, a Ph.D. student in the criminal justice program at Washington State University, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary in connection to the November 13 slayings in Moscow, Idaho. The affidavit unsealed on Thursday revealed new details about the night of the killings and what led to authorities' arrest of Kohberger in his home state of Pennsylvania in late December. Authorities identified Kohberger as a suspect through DNA discovered at the crime scene an off-campus rental home where three of the victims lived cellphone records, and surveillance footage of a car, according to the affidavit. "Let's put it this way, his defense team has a Herculean task ahead of themselves," said Giacalone, a 20-year NYPD veteran and former commanding officer of the department's Bronx Cold Case Squad. Giacalone, an adjunct professor at New York's John Jay College of Criminal Justice, added, "They are going to have to fight cell phone evidence. They're going to have to fight the video surveillance and the DNA, and God knows what else [the police] have that we don't know about yet." At the three-story home where Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, 20, were killed, investigators discovered DNA on a tan leather knife sheath on a bed near two of the victims that they linked to Kohberger, the affidavit says. Story continues Giacalone, who read the 18-page affidavit twice, called that piece of evidence "phenomenal." "They're not relying on DNA that's found on the floor, on the wall," Giacalone said, explaining, it's "something specific to the weapon that was used to kill these kids." The weapon used in the killings has still not been found, and police have not yet provided a motive. Additionally, cell phone records obtained by police showed that Kohberger's phone was near the three-story home where the victims lived with roommates at least a dozen times between June and before the early morning killings, according to the affidavit. "It looks like he was staking out this place," Giacalone said. The records also showed that Kohberger's cell phone pinged around 2:42 a.m. on the night of the killings in Pullman, Washington, where Kohberger lived a short distance from the University of Idaho students. The phone dropped off the network at 2:47 a.m. and reconnected at 4:48 a.m. south of Moscow, according to the affidavit. Investigators believe the four college friends were killed between 4 a.m. and 4:25 a.m., the affidavit says. The affidavit also said that surveillance footage captured multiple sightings of a white sedan that police believe to be Kohberger's Hyundai Elantra near the students' home between 3:29 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. At around 4:20 a.m., the sedan was seen leaving the area "at a high rate of speed," according to the affidavit. Cell phone records obtained by police also imply that the suspect returned to the crime scene hours later at 9 a.m., before anyone called 911, the affidavit says. In addition to DNA evidence, investigators already have two of what Giacalone calls "the three forensic horsemen" cell phone records, internet records, and surveillance video. The phone records and the surveillance footage of the car "played a key role in to putting [the suspect] in and around the crime scene," Giacalone said. And Giacalone noted, "there's so much still we don't know" about what other evidence investigators may have. Kohberger's public defender did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Insider on Friday. The suspect has said through a lawyer who represented him in Pennsylvania that he believes he will be "exonerated." Read the original article on Insider Image: Lego Weve got some bad news if your New Years resolution was to be more fiscally responsible. Not only did January 1 mark the availability of a handful of new sets announced last year, Lego also rang in 2023 by introducing a mountain of new sets, barely giving us enough time to pay off all our Christmas bills. The new additions include everything from detailed Technic models, to a re-release of a long-gone retro line, to even a collection of new BrickHeadz celebrating Disneys 100th anniversary. And if youre fans of Legos Speed Champions line, youre getting five new supercars to park in your Lego garage. Read more Lego Art Hokusais The Great Wave Image: Lego Although not as famous as the Mona Lisa, Hokusais woodblock print The Great Wave is definitely the most famous piece of art to ever come out of Japan, and is considered to be one of the most reproduced pieces of art in history. That now includes Lego, which has turned The Great Wave into an 1,810-piece addition to its buildable art collection; it comes complete with a plastic brick matte board and frame. Pricing and Availability Image: Lego The Lego Art The Great Wave is available now for $100, although at the time of writing its completely sold out. Lego The Batman Batcycle Image: Lego Lego is still adding to its The Batman collection 10 months after the film hit theaters with a 641-piece Technic recreation of the Dark Knights very un-Burtonesque Batcycle. The model includes features like a working suspension, handlebar steering, a moving engine connected to the back wheel with a chain drive, and a flip-down kickstand for display. Pricing and Availability Image: Lego The Lego The Batman Batcycle will be available starting on March 1 for $50, but Lego isnt accepting pre-orders for this set. Lego 2022 Ford GT Image: Lego Lego Technic models might not be as pretty as standard Lego models when built, but they make up for it with lots of functionality, which is what makes this 1,466-piece, 1:12-scale model of the 2022 Ford GT so tempting. Its got working steering, independent suspension on all four wheels, front axle steering, a differential in the back, opening doors, and adjustable spoiler, and an accessible hood revealing a V6 engine inside with moving pistons. Story continues Pricing and Availability Image: Lego The $120 Lego Technic 2022 Ford GT wont be available until March 1, and unfortunately Lego is not taking pre-orders for the set at this time. Lego Blacktron Cruiser Image: Lego Lego has started digging back through its archives in recent years and resurrecting some of its most popular (and sorely missed) sets from decades ago, including the iconic Lego Space Galaxy Explorer. Debuting way back in 1987, the Blacktron line wasnt as expansive as Legos other space offerings, but it looked way cooler with a use of black, yellow, and red parts, and is back, in a limited fashion, with this 356-piece Blacktron Cruiser that includes a minifigure pilot and robot assistant. Pricing and Availability Image: Lego Unfortunately, while the Blacktron Cruiser is listed on Legos website with a $30 price tag, its only available as a gift with purchases over $190 made before January 15. Lego NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Image: Lego If youre a fan of cars competitively driving around in circles, youve probably already got a favorite NASCAR team, a favorite NASCAR track, and a favorite helmet that can hold cans of beer. And now youve got a new favorite Lego set with this 672-piece NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 with working steering and a hood that opens to reveal a V8 engine inside with pistons that move up and done. Its got some flashy livery too, but this might be one to skip if you hate stickering your Lego builds. Pricing and Availability Image: Lego The Lego NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will be available starting March 1 for $50, but Lego isnt accepting pre-orders at this time. Lego Disney 100th Celebration BrickHeadz Image: Lego This year marks the 100th anniversary of Disney and you better believe the House of Mouse is going to crank up the merchandising machine well past 11. Lego is kicking things off with a new addition to its BrickHeadz line, a 510-piece four-pack featuring collectible figure versions of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Mickey Mouse, Snow White, and Tinker Bell, who each come with a display base but a complete lack of any accessories. Give Tink her wand, at least. Pricing and Availability Image: Lego The Lego BrickHeadz Disney 100th Celebration collection will be available starting February 1 for $40, but Lego is not accepting pre-orders just yet. Lego Technic Bugatti Bolide Image: Lego Bugatti is only building 40 copies of its Bolide supercar, and with a price tag of $5 million each, the chances of you bringing one home are slim. Unless, of course, youll settle for a smaller version made from 905b plastic bricks and Technic parts. Legos Bugatti Bolide has an animated W16 engine, working steering, and raising scissor doors, all without sending your insurance premiums skyrocketing. Pricing and Availability Image: Lego The Lego Technic Bugatti Bolide is available now for $50 from Legos online and brick-and-mortar stores. Lego Botanical Collection Dried Flower Centerpiece Image: Lego Although a little late to be used as a festive autumnal centerpiece for your Thanksgiving spread, Lego is expanding its Botanical Collection with this 812-piece Dried Flower Centerpiece that can be assembled as a single piece, or combined with multiple copies of the set allowing for alternate arrangements, such as an adornment for a candle in the middle. Pricing and Availability Image: Lego The Lego Botanical Collection Dried Flower Centerpiece will be available starting February 1 for $50, but Lego is not accepting pre-orders for this set at this time. Lego Speed Champions McLaren, Pagani, Ferrari, and Porsche Image: Lego So far, Legos additions to its Speed Champions line have been fantastically detailed recreations of real life supercars that wont necessarily break the bank if you try to collect all of them. The first five additions to the line in 2023 will be the 581-piece McLaren Solus GT and McLaren F1 LM sold in a two-pack, the 249-piece Pagani Utopia, the 261-piece Ferrari 812 Competizione, and the 280-piece Porsche 963. Pricing and Availability Image: Lego The Lego Speed Champions McLaren Solus GT and McLaren F1 LM will be available starting March 1 for $35, while the Pagani Utopia, Ferrari 812 Competizione, and the Porsche 963 will also be available on the same day for $25 eachbut there are no pre-orders available yet. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Two Lexington men were arrested Thursday after they allegedly stabbed someone, leaving the victim in critical condition, according to Lexington police. Hunter Austin Townsend, 25, and Keith Merritt, 52, have both been charged with first degree assault in connection to the incident, according to jail records. Theyre being held at the Fayette County Detention Center on $15,000 bonds. Lexington police said they responded to the 2200 block of Versailles Road just after 3 p.m. Teusday for a report of an assault. A 28-year-old victim was found suffering from stab wounds. Police said the victim had critical injuries. Townsend and Merritt were captured with the help of a Flock license plate camera, according to police. Flock cameras capture license plates and are used by investigators to find vehicles that have been connected to crimes. Townsends arrest citation said he stabbed another individual with a knife after getting into an altercation. The victims injuries were life-threatening and hes listed in critical condition, according to court documents. Townsend and Merritt were arrested Thursday, court and jail records show. Townsend admitted to the accusations during an interview with police, court documents say. He was scheduled to make his first court appearance on the charges Friday afternoon. Bravo and "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Lisa Rinna "mutually decided" she would depart the show. (Jordan Strauss / Invision / Associated Press) "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" will be one housewife short when the reality show returns to Bravo. On Thursday, Lisa Rinna announced she would no longer be appearing in the long-running series after joining the cast eight years ago, in Season 5. A representative for Rinna said in a statement to The Times that the "Days of Our Lives" actor's "contract was up at the end of last season." "After taking the time to weigh her current options and business obligations, Lisa and Bravo have discussed and mutually decided that she will not be returning to RHOBH," the statement said. In a separate statement shared with the Los Angeles Times, Rinna celebrated "Real Housewives" as "the longest job I have held in my 35-year career." "I am grateful to everyone at Bravo and all those involved in the series," she said. "It has been a fun 8-year run and I am excited for what is to come!" After appearing as a "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" guest in Season 4, Rinna joined the cast in the series' fifth season, which ran from November 2014 to April 2015. Since then, the "Melrose Place" actor has graced Bravo airwaves with her signature shag hairdo and self-deprecating attitude. Rinna's time on the messy reality show, obviously, wasn't without its share of drama. Among her notable moments are her fiery, glass-shattering dispute with Kim Richards in Amsterdam and her Munchausen's comments to Yolanda Hadid. Even in her final months as part of the "Real Housewives" cast, Rinna was embroiled in the drama of Season 12's contentious Aspen trip the setting of Kathy Hiltons alleged meltdown. Rinna, a fan favorite who was nevertheless recently booed at BravoCon, said at the fan event in October that she once believed "being on a soap opera was more difficult than being a Housewife. "But its more difficult to be a Housewife, she said. Its a lot harder because its real. ... This is real and these are people that I do care about. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Al Roker, seen in 2018, returned to the "Today" show on Friday. (Richard Shotwell / Invision / Associated Press) Al Roker made his return to NBC's "Today" show on Friday morning after a two-month hiatus as he underwent treatments and surgery for blood clots and internal bleeding. "I'm sorry, but the tears are already flowing," Savannah Guthrie, the show's co-host, said at the top of the show, her voice shaking with a smile. "Al Roker is back!" Roker, 68, walked on set at the Rockefeller Plaza studio to embrace Guthrie and co-host Hoda Kotb. His wife, Deborah Roberts, an ABC News correspondent, joined the show later and shared more details of how grave her husband's condition had been. Its not lost on us that this is a major, major thing for Al to be here, Roberts said. He is a living, breathing miracle. He really is. And I have to say, Im not overstating it I dont think Al was a very, very, very sick man. And I think most people did not know that. Roberts said Roker's condition was "a medical mystery" for a couple weeks before a medical team at NewYork-Presbyterian hospital was able to find blood clots in his lungs and legs, which might have started when Roker had COVID-19 in September, and internal bleeding in his ulcers. The treatments included a major surgery that removed Roker's gallbladder and a section of his colon. "I lost half my blood," Roker said He previously said the experience had been "the hardest [hospitalization] yet, and you know Ive had my share of surgeries." In 2020, Roker was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which required a five-hour surgery to remove his prostate. Before that, Roker had operations for two knee replacements, gastric bypass, hip replacement, surgeries for carpal tunnel and back issues. Roker was first hospitalized in mid-November for blood clots in his legs and lungs. He was discharged in time to have Thanksgiving dinner with his family, but returned to the hospital days later after experiencing complications. On Dec. 8, Roker confirmed via social media that he had been released from the hospital and has since been busy celebrating the holidays with his family. Story continues "Al didn't like being vulnerable, in his mind," said Roberts, who had spent days with her husband at the hospital. "Through that weakness and vulnerability, he showed strength." When "Today" co-host Carson Daly asked Roker why he chose Friday for his return, Roker said he was ready to come back days earlier on Tuesday, but was denied by the show's producer. Roker, after thanking his medical staff, said, "I just knew." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad (KLSE:AMWAY) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad The Model As Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad operates in the online retail sector, we need to calculate the intrinsic value slightly differently. In this approach dividends per share (DPS) are used, as free cash flow is difficult to estimate and often not reported by analysts. This often underestimates the value of a stock, but it can still be good as a comparison to competitors. The 'Gordon Growth Model' is used, which simply assumes that dividend payments will continue to increase at a sustainable growth rate forever. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a company's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In this case we used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (3.6%). The expected dividend per share is then discounted to today's value at a cost of equity of 11%. Compared to the current share price of RM5.0, the company appears about fair value at a 6.3% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate) = RM0.4 / (11% 3.6%) = RM5.4 dcf Important Assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.970. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Story continues SWOT Analysis for Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Currently debt free. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Online Retail market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market. Current share price is below our estimate of fair value. Threat Paying a dividend but company has no free cash flows. Annual revenue is forecast to grow slower than the Malaysian market. Looking Ahead: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad, there are three pertinent aspects you should look at: Risks: As an example, we've found 1 warning sign for Amway (Malaysia) Holdings Berhad that you need to consider before investing here. Future Earnings: How does AMWAY's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here A Kansas City man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing three people and injuring a 4-year-old in a 2018 shooting spree across south Kansas City and Raytown. Issac J. Fisher, 39, was convicted on multiple counts of murder in a jury trial in October. In Jackson County Circuit Court Thursday, he was given three sentences of life in prison including two without the chance of parole. Fisher gunned down the mother of his children, his step-brother and a cousin in the killing rampage that also injured two others. Relatives said Fisher had struggled since the death of his young child. He had been incarcerated previously had trouble finding employment before the shooting. Before Judge Patrick Campbell sentenced Fisher, multiple family members took the stand to share how Fishers actions had altered their lives, pleading with the judge to execute justice. He left a wake of anger, sadness and turmoil after the actions he committed, said Jonisha Jennings, sister of victim Angenette Hollins. She had goals and dreams that she will never achieve. Three locations, multiple victims and child witnesses Prosecutors say Fisher targeted family members at three separate locations on Oct. 7, 2018, over the span of roughly an hour. The defendant was arrested that evening after an intensive search by police. Witnesses told police Fisher arrived at a home on the 9000 block of Kentucky Avenue after 9:15 a.m. and began to argue with 34-year-old Hollins. The pair had two children together, one of whom died in infancy. Shortly after the argument began, a witness reported hearing four to five gunshots and found the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Fisher was seen leaving the room with a handgun, according to the Jackson County Prosecutors Office. Not long after the first incident, Fisher kicked in the door of a home on Laurel Avenue in Raytown and drove away in a second vehicle a white Chevrolet Traverse. Around 9:37 a.m., Fisher drove to a home on the 5700 block of Elm Avenue in Raytown and fatally shot his step-brother, Jarrin A. Walton. A second adult and a 4-year-old were shot and injured, while a 1-year-old at the scene remained unharmed, according to prosecutors. Story continues Kori Weatherspoon said in court Thursday that she had been shot by Fisher, as had her daughter. What started as a normal morning of doing laundry and waiting for the Chiefs game to begin ended in gunfire. She said she and her children hid in the closet while her fiance, Walton, was gunned down by Fisher in the other room. Prosecutors say Fisher left the scene carrying a rifle over his shoulder. Fisher arrived at 112th Street and Eastern Avenue in Kansas City around 10:30 a.m., where he shot his cousin, Jason L. Jones. Court documents indicate a witness arrived at the home shortly after to find the victim wounded but still alive. The victim allegedly told the witness that Fisher had shot him. Justice has been served At trial, Fisher was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder; one count of second-degree murder; six counts of armed criminal action; three counts of first-degree burglary; and two counts of felony child endangerment. We lost everything that day, Weatherspoon said in her statement to the court. I have to explain each year why their father is not there to do the father-daughter dance with them at their dance recitals This is just a small part of what was taken away from our girls. Monica Yarbough, sister of Walton, told The Star Thursday that the family is at peace with the sentencing, including his mother, who died months before Walton was killed. I think everyone can finally rest knowing justice has been served, she said. The Stars Bill Lukitsch and Glenn Rice contributed to the reporting of this story. NEW ORLEANS (AP) It was a tragically high price to pay for catching a suspected car thief: two innocent teenagers dead and a police officer jailed, facing serious charges for a car crash that resulted from the pursuit. Maggie Dunn, 17, and Caroline Gill, 16, who were cheerleaders for their high school in the southern Louisiana town of Brusly, died in the collision Saturday. They're the latest fatalities among hundreds every year attributed to accidents involving police pursuits. Many police departments have tightened their policies on such pursuits in recent years. However, National Highway Transportation Safety data show that 455 deaths were tied to police pursuits in 2020. The Louisiana case is unusual in that the local prosecutor says the officer, 42-year-old David Cauthron, acted so recklessly that he should face charges and is preparing to ask a grand jury to consider bringing them. Authorities say Cauthron, an officer in the town of Addis, joined a chase in rural West Baton Rouge Parish that started when police in Baton Rouge pursued a man suspected of stealing his father's car. Cauthron, authorities said, drove his police car through an intersection in Brusly, which is next to Addis, ignoring a red light and colliding with a car that held the two girls and Dunn's 20-year-old brother, Liam, who was critically injured. In my experience, I have not seen a police officer charged criminally in a police pursuit case, said Chicago civil rights attorney Andrew Stroth, who has handled numerous lawsuits in such cases but has no ties to the Louisiana collision. Cauthron remained jailed Thursday, according to online records. Neither the jail nor the parish court clerk's office listed an attorney for him. Parish District Attorney Tony Clayton said in a news release this week that he intends to ask the grand jury to consider charging Cauthron. Possible charges include negligent homicide and negligent injury. Clayton stressed that the investigation will be thorough, but he made clear that he believes the hot pursuit of suspect Tyquel Zanders, 24, was a deadly mistake. Story continues Sirens and police vehicles do not give an officer the authority to cut through a red light," Clayton wrote, adding that evidence so far indicates Cauthron was grossly negligent. Clayton didn't limit his criticism to Cauthron. He previously publicly questioned whether police in Baton Rouge should have pursued Sanders, who was arrested, uninjured, following a chase that involved multiple law enforcement agencies on both sides of the Mississippi River. Baton Rouge news outlets, citing arrest records, say Zanders is accused of entering a relative's home on Saturday and making off with his father's car before leading police on a chase across the river and into Brusly, where the crash occurred. Authorities say Zanders drove back across the river and was arrested in Baton Rouge, where he is charged with car theft, home invasion and aggravated flight. The Baton Rouge Police Department has a pursuit policy that is posted on the city's website and lays out when officers can an can't give chase. A department spokesman, Sgt. L'Jean McKneely, said the pursuit that led to the two teens' deaths is under review. Addis police officials did not respond to a request for information about the policy. Police pursuit deaths often get less attention than controversies over the police use of force, but criminal justice reformers are very aware of them. Policies governing pursuits in New Orleans were adopted after the city agreed to myriad reforms under a 2012 court settlement that followed numerous high-profile incidents involving deadly force. Michael Downing, a former deputy police chief in Los Angeles, said his department adopted stronger restrictions on pursuits because of deaths, injuries and lawsuits. Strong policies are needed to temper a police officer's natural urge to pursue a criminal suspect, he said. With no policy, Downing said, their instincts are going to be engage, engage, engage. Policies differ from department to department, and the issues at play are complex, including whether a suspect poses an immediate threat, he said. Despite the policies adopted across the country, pursuit-related deaths remain a problem, said Stroth. Officers driving willfully, wantonly at high rates of speed in densely populated communities where there's no real threat, Stroth said. And the results have been tragic. PARIS (Reuters) - The struggles of France's health system will probably get worse before things improve, President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged on Friday, as he pledged to improve working conditions and hire more medical assistants for administrative tasks. France, like many other European countries, is facing a shortage of healthcare staff, particularly in rural areas, with many hospitals overstretched, the population ageing, high number of doctors and nurses retiring and the system snarled in red tape. "We're facing a situation that could well get worse," Macron said, citing the need to train up a new generation of medical staff in a New Year address to health workers, who have staged a strikes in recent weeks to demand better working conditions. In the meantime, he said, the government would step up the recruitment of medical assistants, freeing up health workers to treat patients rather than do administrative tasks. Promising a change in how hospitals work by June, Macron also said his government would take steps to increase cooperation between different parts of the health system, and improve oversight of working hours. He said paying more money alone was not sufficient to make the profession more attractive, also saying his government would largely do away with the fee-for-service financing of hospitals. Critics say that system has pushed hospitals into a downward spiral of pursuing a high volume of lucrative care while cutting costs and care in other areas. "The fee-for-service principle has led to a lot of dysfunction", Macron said, speaking at the Centre Hospitalier Sud Francilien (CHSF) in Corbeil-Essonnes in suburban Paris. The COVID-19 pandemic weighed on already stretched medical resources. Many hospitals have this winter had to call off planned surgeries or shut down emergency services at night, as a simultaneous spike of bronchiolitis and flu cases has added to COVID-related hospitalisations in some areas. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, Tassilo Hummel and Jean-Stephane Brosse; Editing by Ingrid Melander and John Stonestreet) A man has been arrested and charged for allegedly shooting at a postal carrier in Pittsburgh Thursday afternoon. Martinel Humphries, 28, is facing several charges after police responded to reports of shots fired in Perry North. A U.S. Postal carrier told Pittsburgh police he was delivering mail in the 200 block of Waldorf Street in Perry North when a man, later identified by police as Humphries, drove past him and asked for his mail. When the postal carrier asked for his name, Humphries allegedly pulled out a rifle and shot at him. The postal carrier was not hit, but a house was struck by bullets. Police said in the complaint that surveillance footage appears to show that Humphries attempted to lure the postal worker closer to him before he started shooting. The two did not know each other before the incident, according to police. Humphries fired four shots, according to the criminal complaint. His vehicle was located in the 3900 block of Oakdale Street. A surveillance camera shows Humphries leave the vehicle carrying a gun, according to police. Soon after, officers located Humphries in the 900 block of Woods Run Ave. According to the complaint, they used video surveillance and witnesses to identify Humphries. An AK47 pistol was recovered by police. This all happened moments before a person was shot along McKnight Road Thursday. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 1 person shot, another injured after shooting along busy McKnight Road Ross Township police told Channel 11 Thursday they were looking into whether the two incidents were related. Humphries is charged with criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, reckless endangerment, firearms violations, and providing false identification to law enforcement Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Police: Man arrested after 2 employees, manager of local Eatn Park held hostage Woman fatally stabbed in South Side Slopes, Pittsburgh police investigating NFL: Bills, Bengals game will not be resumed; decision has no impact to Steelers playoff hopes VIDEO: He is definitely a hero to me: Man who rescued bus driver after crash dies from heart attack at 56 DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts The King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office filed charges Thursday against a man accused of killing a woman at a South Lake Union apartment on Monday. Allister Clinton Baldwin, 46, was charged with first-degree murder for the killing of 51-year-old Ivette Wallin. According to court documents, Seattle police officers were called to the apartment building just before 5:30 p.m. Monday after a caller told 911 dispatchers that a man in unit #611 told him he had killed a woman. The caller also told police that he had seen the womans body. When officers arrived, they went to the apartment and found the door ajar with loud music coming from inside. Officers entered and found Baldwin, who complied with orders to show his hands and move toward officers. According to documents, officers found the womans body and indicated that she had suffered an extreme amount of physical trauma, including multiple broken ribs, broken fingers, blunt force injuries to her face and forehead, and sharp force injuries to her neck and back. With the help of the apartment buildings staff, officers identified the woman as Wallin. Police learned that Wallin lived in unit #608, on the same floor as Baldwins unit. The man who initially called 911 told police in an interview that Baldwins demeanor was really calm, like nothing happened when he described what happened during the incident. Another witness told police that Wallin was dating (Baldwin) kinda, but not exclusive. Baldwin is a registered sex offender out of Texas and has one prior felony conviction for sexual assault of a child. He is scheduled to be arraigned at the King County Courthouse on Jan. 19. The womans death was Seattles first homicide of 2023. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's State Bureau of Investigation has been called in to investigate after a man was fatally shot by Gadsden police early Friday morning, according to Capt. Wayne Keener, who heads the GPD Professional Standards Division. Cody Stewart, 28, was pronounced dead at the scene on Hinsdale Avenue. Keener said no further information is available. Typically, when officers are involved in a shooting incident, another agency, often the SBI, is called in to investigate, then turns its findings over to local prosecutors. No officers were injured in the incident, according to Keener. This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: ALEA bureau to investigate after man fatally shot by Gadsden officer At a July 16, 2021, party in West Price Hill, Antonio Wilcox shot his pregnant girlfriend in the back of the head, killing her and her unborn child. Michelle McDonald was 8 months pregnant at the time, prosecutors said. Paramedics rushed the 31-year-old woman to University of Cincinnati Medical Center, but doctors couldn't save her. Although doctors were able to deliver McDonald's baby girl, officials said the infant had gone without oxygen for too long and ultimately didnt survive. Michelle McDonald was 8 months pregnant when she was shot and killed in 2021. Her unborn daughter was delivered but did not survive. This week, Wilcox, 38, pleaded guilty in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court to charges including murder and involuntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to 21 years to life in prison. Although Wilcox technically will be eligible for parole after serving 21 years, defense attorneys say that in Ohio people serving prison terms for murder dont have a realistic chance for parole until 10 years after the underlying sentence. In that case, Wilcox wouldn't be eligible for parole until he served 31 years. Judge Leslie Ghiz on Tuesday handed down the sentence, which had been agreed upon as part of the plea, according to court records. At a 2021 news conference announcing the charges against Wilcox, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said several people witnessed the shooting, including children. McDonald's family said her then-4-year-old daughter was among those who saw it. Deters also said that after shooting, Wilcox stayed and smoked a cigarette. He was ultimately found mentally competent to stand trial. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man sentenced for killing Michelle McDonald and her unborn child Mark Capps (https://markcapps.com/) Grammy-winning recording engineer Mark Capps has died at the age of 54. Capps, who worked with top artists, including the Dixie Chicks, Neil Diamond, Amy Grant, Michael W Smith, Brooks & Dunn and Barry Manilow, was shot and killed by Nashvilles police SWAT team on Thursday (5 January) afternoon. Earlier that morning, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department, Capps allegedly roused his 60-year-old wife and 23-year-old stepdaughter at 3 am and held them at gunpoint, refusing to let them go and threatening to kill them if they attempted to call anyone. Once he fell asleep, authorities say the women fled to the Hermitage precinct, telling police they feared for their lives. Warrants were issued for Cappss arrest on charges of aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping, while three SWAT officers were sent to his home. During a press briefing released that night, Metro Polices spokesperson Don Aaron detailed the fatal incident, explaining that as three SWAT members attempted to begin work outside the home, without Capp seeing them, he opened the front door with pistol in hand. He said one of the officers yelled at Capps to show me your hands before he deemed that Cappss movements posed an immediate, imminent threat and fired. Capps died at the scene. Mark Capps (https://markcapps.com/) Cappss death comes two days after his older brother Jeffrey Allen Capps died on Tuesday (3 January). Both were the sons of legendary Grand Ole Opry guitarist and Musicians Hall of Famer Jimmy Capps, who died from health complications at 81 in 2020. For four years in a row, from 2005 through 2008, Capps won a Grammy for Best Polka Album for his work with the group Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra. A student who was found with a handgun and a magazine of ammunition at MacArthur Middle School in Anne Arundel County, Md., will not face charges under a new Maryland law. The schools principal sent a letter to parents Thursday, explaining that officials found the student with a handgun and ammunition inside their fanny pack, according to CBS News Baltimore. Police said Friday no charges will be brought against the student under a new law that was enacted last year that limited the circumstances for which a child under 13 years old can be prosecuted. The bill generally establishes that a child younger than age 13 is not subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court for purposes of a delinquency proceeding and may not be charged with a crime, the Juvenile Justice Reform bill reads. However, the juvenile court has jurisdiction over a child who is at least age 10 who is alleged to have committed a crime of violence. Principal Eugene Whiting assured parents in the letter that the school will take swift and appropriate action regarding the student, according to CBS. Whiting said that there was no evidence that the student threatened anyone with the gun and urged the parents to talk to their children about staying safe in school. I urge you to talk to your student this evening and emphasize that our school must be a safe place for learning, he wrote in the letter. Please reinforce with them the need to tell a responsible adult immediately if they are aware of any danger. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Brian Weeden (Photo: Mashpee Wampanoag Website) Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Chairman Brian Weeden pleaded not guilty to two charges of theft in Plymouth District Court on Thursday. Weeden, 30, is facing two charges for allegedly breaking and entering a local museum and stealing four Wampanoag cultural items in November. The cultural items, valued at $10,000, have since been returned to the Plimoth Patuxet Museums, where Weeden once worked. Another suspect in the theft, Phillip C. Hicks, Jr. also pleaded not guilty to the charges of breaking and entering and larceny of less than $1,200. A pre-trial hearing for both Weeden and Hicks, who is also Mashpee Wampanoag, was set for March 17. The two were identified as suspects in December after an investigation by Plymouth police. A police report, dated November 9, 2022, said the items were stolen from the Native American exhibit at the Plimoth Patuxet Museums at approximately 2 a.m. on Monday, November 7. The stolen items included two bulrush mats and two black bear skin rugs, taken from inside a wetu a traditional oval shaped hut used historically by the Wampanoag. Museum staff noticed the items were missing the morning after the incident, but they were unsure if the items had been removed by another staff member for a repair. Once staff confirmed that no employee had taken the items, museum staff called the police and reviewed surveillance footage. The museums surveillance footage captured a dark SUV pulling into the museum parking lot, and three people exiting the cartwo men and a woman. A fourth man remained in the car for the 18 minutes it took to secure the four stolen items, according to a police report. A Patuxet Museum staff member, a police officer, and a special detective all identified Weeden as the driver of the vehicle. Police matched Weedens license plate registration with photos of his vehicle going north over a nearby bridge leading to the museum at 1:47 a.m., and then going south over that same bridge around 3:30 a.m. Story continues A museum staff member also told police that Weeden, one of the youngest elected tribal chairman in Indian Country, used to work for the museum. Native News Online reached out to Weeden for comment, but has not heard back from him as this story went live. About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net By Kate Fishman MENDOCINO, Calif. (Reuters) - Harbormaster Anna Neumann dashed from vessel to vessel, business to business at the port she manages near the mouth of northern California's Noyo River, ensuring all was secure as storms bringing waves as high as a three-story building pummeled the state. "You prep as much as you can, and then you just wait for whatever unknown issue that you didnt prep for to happen, and then you respond, Neumann said as she surveyed Noyo Harbor in the small fishing and tourism city of Fort Bragg. Rain continued to fall throughout the state on Thursday, straining already swollen rivers and flood control systems from the coast to inland farmlands. In Sacramento County, southeast of Fort Bragg's Mendocino County, crews used any pauses in the rain to work to repair levees south of the state capital that had been breached by the first of several anticipated waves of storms that began on New Year's Eve, leading to flooding that killed at least three people. In the popular seaside village of Mendocino just south of Noyo Harbor, Big River Beach was unrecognizable under heaps of debris including trees that had been ripped from the ground by winds of up to 50 miles per hour. Foamy water ponded on the sand, and the briny smell of the ocean was more pungent than usual. Waves overnight in the area reached 33 feet, and winds reached 50 miles per hour. Waves of up to 30 feet were predicted for Thursday. At the southern end of Mendocino county, the small towns of Point Arena and Gualala have been largely without power for around 24 hours. About 2,500 households and businesses were without power in the county, which is home to about 91,000 people. California's storied coast road, Highway 1, is closed in four places in Mendocino County because of fallen trees, the California Department of Transportation said. Fog, flooding and rock slides contributed to closures along the highway in other parts of the state. Story continues No fishing boats were set to go out Thursday morning from Noyo Harbor, where small recreational boats and large commercial vessels have slips, and crab, rockfish and salmon are among the typical catches. The high tide brought swells that washed debris across the beach and its parking lot, the high waves crashing into the mouth of the Noyo River. Professional urchin diver Grant Downie, one of several gathered to check out the high water, said hed moved his boat out of the harbor ahead of the storm just to be safe. It was insured, he said, but he'd rather risk its being hit by a falling tree than sinking in the wild water. (Reporting by Kate Fishman; additional reporting and writing by Sharon Bernstein; Editing by Donna Bryson and Leslie Adler) Rep.-elect Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-Fla.), the first member of Generation Z elected to Congress, appears on the latest cover of Teen Vogue as he waits to be sworn in, a process delayed by the drawn-out election for Speaker of the House. This whole thing feels really surreal. Its crazy to think that the same streets I was arrested on two years ago [during the George Floyd protests], Im about to represent in Congress, Frost, 25, told Teen Vogue of his election to the lower chamber. The feature on Frost profiles his early interest in politics and activism, his upbringing as an Afro-Cuban adopted by a white and Cuban couple and his campaign to beat out his 72-year-old Republican opponent in this years midterms. Frost won the midterm race to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.), who left the House to run for Senate. He campaigned on his Gen Z identity, arguing that a younger perspective would add to the voices on Capitol Hill. We have a typical caricature of what a candidate for Congress looks like. I think we need more regular, working-class people running for office, running with that experience, able to bring that to the table. We dont have enough of it right now. So Ive always been kind of challenging that idea, like, Whats the experience youre looking for? Frost told Teen Vogue. Frost and other incoming lawmakers havent yet been sworn in to the new Congress, as House business is on hold until a Speaker is elected. Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) has won the most votes in 10 consecutive rounds of voting for the top leadership slot, but hasnt secured the majority needed to win in the Republican-controlled chamber. Despite the GOPs 222-seat majority in the chamber, Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) has fallen short in each round so far as around 20 lawmakers in his party have cast ballots for alternative candidates, blocking him from getting the votes he needs. Still not sworn in because the Republicans are having a hard time picking their leader. This is a snapshot of how theyll operate for the next two years, Frost tweeted on the first day of votes Tuesday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Jacksonville mayoral candidate Daniel Davis came up short in a vote to earn the endorsement of the Jacksonville Fire Fighters Association. An email obtained by Action News Jax shows the Republican pulled 54 percent support from rank-and-file firefighters but failed to reach the 66 percent needed to earn the endorsement of the union. They clearly do not think that Daniel has their back, said Councilmember and mayoral candidate LeAnna Cumber. Cumber is Davis best-funded Republican challenger in the mayoral race. She said she sees Davis failure to lock in firefighters endorsement as a signal of a tight race. They said no to him. So, you know, I think that should be a big sign that theyre looking at who will be the best to have their backs and have the backs of their families and it was not him, said Cumber. President of the Jacksonville Firefighters Association Randy Wyse told Action News Jax he was disappointed to see the vote turn out the way it did. We felt that Mr. Davis was the best candidate, said Wyse. There appears to have been a concerted effort against Davis. Wyse confirmed a 2014 email sent by Davis to city leaders on behalf of the JAX Chamber was distributed to fire stations, highlighting his past support for cutting pension benefits. Wyse said Davis addressed those concerns with leadership. Were comfortable with his answer to that letter. So, you know, people can read it and take it as they will, said Wyse. The Davis campaign issued a statement pointing out, while Davis may have failed to clench the endorsement, he pulled majority support among firefighters. Daniel is grateful for the leaderships recommendation, and for the support of the majority of the voting firefighters, said Erin Isaac with the Davis campaign in a statement. UNF political science professor Dr. Michael Binder argued the Cumber campaign is right to see the failed endorsement bid as a victory, but in the grand scheme of things, it likely wont make or break the race. Story continues You can paint this a couple of different ways and I dont think this is a traumatic death nail to the Davis campaign, said Binder. The firefighters union said it likely wont endorse any candidate for mayor at this point unless the March election heads to a May runoff. Action News Jax has also confirmed we can expect another major endorsement announcement next week, from the local police union. [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. House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy failed yet again Friday night to secure the House speakership despite negotiations and concessions that appeared to be leading toward a breakthrough, in a 14th vote that ended with a confrontation on the floor between him and holdout Matt Gaetz. McCarthy received 216 votes in the latest round, falling short of clinching the post by just one vote, while Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.) won 212 votes. Two McCarthy opponents voted for Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio and another two voted for Representative Andy Biggs of Arizona. Representatives Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Matt Gaetz of Florida voted present. McCarthy previously failed in a 13th attempt for the position on Friday afternoon, but had flipped more than a dozen GOP detractors over the course of the day, suggesting the factions were steadily coalescing around giving him the gavel. The 15th holdout, Representative Andy Harris, joined the pro-McCarthy coalition for the 13th vote. Representatives Brecheen, Bishop, Cloud, Clyde, Donalds, Luna, Miller, Norman, Perry, Roy, Self, Spartz, Gosar, and Ogles were among the GOP hold-outs who voted for McCarthy on the prior vote. While McCarthy won a total of 213 votes during both ballots more than the Democrats unanimous 212 votes for Representative Hakeem Jefferies he needed 217 to win. On the first ballot Friday, the remaining seven hold-outs gave GOP Representative Jim Jordan four votes and GOP Representative Kevin Hern three votes. Donalds, who was nominated on a few earlier ballots, told ABC News Friday that hes confident McCarthy will be speaker. In a statement obtained by Politico explaining his reversal, Donalds said: As we continue negotiations, Im confident our conference is positioned to get the ball over the finish line. The Speakers Office must work for We The People, and I believed the concessions weve secured achieve this. In his statement on changing his vote to McCarthy, obtained by Politico, Self said: My vote today was to show support for significant Rule changes to transform the House from being dysfunctional to functional. I believe we are on the precipice of transferring significant power from leadership to individual members and the American people. Story continues McCarthy announced earlier Friday that negotiations over the House speakership had been approaching an agreement although he did not confirm a deal. He assured that the members had been working hard and in good faith, according to Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News. Im not telling you we have an agreement, I am telling you we are in a good position, McCarthy told members on a House GOP conference call, Politico reported. The House voted Thursday night to adjourn and reconvene on Friday at noon after McCarthy failed in an eleventh attempt for the speakership, the first time in 164 years that the vote went to nine rounds. The House voted five times on Thursday alone. Representative Chip Roy is one of the leaders of the House rebels that have lobbied for more power on the important Rules Committee, the last checkpoint for bills before they advance to the House floor. Bloomberg reported that hard-line conservatives want to claim four of the nine [Republican] seats on the House Rules Committee, which would give them outsized influence on what does and what does not get debated on the House floor. During the conference call, Representative McHenry reportedly said that Roy would not be chair of the Rules Committee, Sherman said. On Thursday, Roy told National Review that he would not specify what number of seats he and other anti-McCarthy Republicans are demanding on the 13-seat panel. That number has been floated in some previous conversations, he added. GOP Representative Ken Buck, who Politico claimed would return to Congress Friday to vote after it was rumored hed be away for a medical appointment, had publicly suggested before Friday that hed withdraw his support for McCarthy unless he secured a deal. Well, Ive had a number of conversations with Kevin, and I just basically told him that at some point this needs to break loose. He either needs to make a deal to bring the 19 or 20 over, or he needs to step aside and give somebody a chance to do that, Buck said on CNN Newsroom. GOP Representative-elect Wesley Hunt, a McCarthy vote, flew back home to Texas Friday morning, a source with the details reportedly told Politico, absenting himself from the speakership vote proceedings to meet his newborn child. More from National Review WASHINGTON GOP leader Kevin McCarthy beat back a conservative rebellion and won election as the 55th speaker of the House early Saturday morning, following a chaotic confrontation on the House floor between his allies and his far-right opponents, ending four days of deadlock. The California Republicans narrow victory came on the 15th ballot the fifth-longest speaker vote in American history by number of ballots, and the longest such vote in 164 years. McCarthy received 216 votes and all six of his remaining GOP detractors agreed to vote present, helping to lower the number of votes needed to win the coveted gavel. All 212 Democrats rallied behind their nominee, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. As he crossed the vote threshold, a beaming McCarthy received a raucous standing ovation and warm embraces from his colleagues. He acknowledged his wife and family in the gallery above as Republicans chanted "USA! USA!" "There was great hope and then crashing down and resuscitation," Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., a former member of McCarthy's leadership team who nominated him earlier in the day, told reporters of the "roller coaster" ride. "Theres so many twists and turns. Becoming speaker of the House has been a career ambition for McCarthy, who served as a House staffer and a minority leader of the California Assembly in Sacramento before being elected to the House in 2006. A prolific fundraiser and backslapper, he has methodically risen through the ranks of the House Republican leadership team chief deputy whip, whip, majority leader and GOP leader over the past 14 years. McCarthy, 57, is now the highest-ranking Republican in the nation, and second in line for the presidency. Jeffries handed McCarthy the gavel shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday. In his acceptance speech, McCarthy promised that the House would be a check on President Joe Biden and his policies. You know my father always told me: Its not how you start, its how you finish," said McCarthy, the son of a firefighter. "And now we need to finish strong for the American people." Story continues McCarthy's win came shortly after tempers boiled over and pandemonium broke out on the House floor late Friday night when McCarthy and his allies suffered defeat on the 14th straight ballot after miscalculating that they had the vote wrapped up. When his conservative detractors again denied McCarthy the gavel, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., the incoming chairman of the powerful Armed Services Committee, charged at McCarthy foe, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and began angrily shouting. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., had to physically restrain Rogers, pulling back his shoulders and at one point putting his hands over Rogerss mouth. Others nearby also stepped in before Rogers stormed off. "That was a very tense moment, and I was just trying to play a role to keep the tensions down," Hudson said as he left the floor. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., was seated between Rogers and Gaetz when the altercation occurred. Photographs show he also tried to restrain Rogers. Its just an unfortunate moment is all it was. It shouldnt have happened. He shouldnt have crossed that line," Burchett told reporters. "Nobodys gonna put their hands on me, nobodys going to threaten me. Thats it. Bottom line. Moments earlier, McCarthy himself had walked from his seat, down the center aisle to Gaetz and Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., to try to flip their present votes to yes; that would have secured the speakers gavel for McCarthy. But when he was unsuccessful, it set off Rogers, who has served alongside Gaetz for years on the Armed Services Committee. "Just another Friday in parliament," Burchett quipped. "You know, democracys not a pretty thing. It is a fight all the time." Image: Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., left, shakes hands with Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., after nominating him for the twelfth round of voting in the House chamber as the House meets for the fourth day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress on Jan. 6, 2023. (Alex Brandon / AP) For three days this week, a band of roughly 20 conservative hard-liners voted 11 consecutive times to block McCarthy from winning the prized gavel, even as former President Donald Trump was personally dialing up McCarthy foes to end their opposition. Some called on McCarthy to drop out, while others placed demands on him that jeopardized his fragile GOP coalition of moderates and conservatives. The intraparty standoff paralyzed the House of Representatives, preventing all 434 members from being sworn in, bills from being voted on and committees from being formed. Some lawmakers lamented they had lost their security clearances and could not receive classified briefings. It marked a rocky start for the new House GOP majority. But a breakthrough came on Day 4 of the stalemate. After days of difficult closed-door negotiations, leaders of the far-right House Freedom Caucus extracted a suite of concessions from McCarthy. They included promised spending cuts; a package of rules changes that empowered members and watered down the speakers power; and giving House Freedom Caucus members seats on Rules, Appropriations and other powerful committees. One key concession McCarthy gave to the agitators: Reinstating a rule giving a single lawmaker the power to force a vote to oust a sitting speaker in the middle of the term, a change that almost certainly will haunt McCarthy in the months to come. Previously, McCarthy had agreed that at least five members would be needed to make that motion to vacate the speakers chair. In exchange, when the clerk read the roll call on the 12th ballot Friday, 13 of the 20 conservative rebels switched their votes to McCarthy, handing him a surge of momentum after a grueling week of defeats. On the next ballot, a 14th holdout joined them. In a dramatic scene, Reps. Dan Bishop of South Carolina, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, Michael Cloud of Texas, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Byron Donalds of Florida, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Mary Miller of Illinois, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Andrew Ogles of Tennessee, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania and Keith Self of Texas and Chip Roy of Texas stood one by one on the House floor and announced their votes for McCarthy cheered by their Republican colleagues each time. On the 13th ballot, Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., threw his support behind McCarthy as well after repeatedly opposing him. A 15th Republican, Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana, changed her vote from present back to McCarthy. The fresh support still didnt earn McCarthy the majority of all House members voting, which he needed to win the speakers gavel. But it did hand him a much-needed surge of momentum as members closely watched to see whether his support would fall or rise as the impasse dragged on. By Friday evening, the final holdouts once dubbed the Never Kevins conceded that McCarthy would be elected speaker. Because of the GOPs razor-thin, four-seat majority, he needed every last vote to get him across the finish line. Rep. Wesley Hunt flew back to Washington from Texas, where his wife had just prematurely given birth to their baby. And Rep. Ken Buck flew back from his home in Colorado, where he had a medical appointment. After the successful vote, an exhausted but exuberant McCarthy walked into Statuary Hall, stood before reporters and television cameras, and made sure he publicly acknowledged Donald Trump. "I do want to especially thank President Trump," McCarthy said. "I dont think anybody should doubt his influence. He was with me from the beginning. ... He was all in." He and his entourage then walked into the speaker's office. Above the doorway was a brand new sign: "Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A McDonalds franchise owner with over a dozen locations in three western states will pay $1,997,500 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit. AMTCR, a franchise owner with restaurants in California, Nevada and Arizona, was sued in September 2021 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which alleged young workers had been harassed for years, violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to a Jan. 6 agency news release. Managers, supervisors and co-workers sexually harassed employees mainly teenagers at multiple McDonalds locations between 2017 and 2022, officials said. The young employees were subjected to persistent unwanted touching and sexual advances, as well as offensive comments and intimidation, officials said. Many workers eventually found the working conditions so intolerable that they had no choice but to quit, citing the severe emotional and mental toll, officials said. AMTCR, the franchise owner, was made aware of the atmosphere of harassment as early as 2017 and permitted it to continue, officials said. McClatchy News has reached out to a spokesperson for AMTCR for comment. In addition to the roughly $2 million settlement, the owner will hire a third-party auditor to monitor company practices and conduct training, among other measures, officials said. Teenage workers are especially vulnerable to harassment, EEOC Chair Charlotte Burrows stated in the release. The EEOC will continue to use all its toolsincluding outreach and education, technical assistance and, where necessary, litigation to tackle workplace harassment. Store worker stole over 750 lottery tickets and cashed in winnings, Texas police say 12-year-old wakes parent up to say she stabbed her younger brother, Oklahoma cops say 18-month-old was bound to chair with tape by daycare worker, Virginia police say Army hockey player suffers severe injury after skate cuts neck. Tragedy was avoided Gov. Henry McMaster is renewing his call for a massive state investment to begin work on Interstate 73 a project he said is essential to South Carolinas modern economy. This new interstate will connect supply chains to efficiently move goods and services across our state and infrastructure that connects our people to jobs, healthcare and education, McMaster on Jan. 6 asked the General Assembly in his 2023-24 budget proposal. He wants $300 million in seed money that will 95 allow development of I-73 a famously stalled priority for many state leaders to finally start. A map showing I-73s route thorugh South Carolina A completed leg of I-73 through the state would link S.C. 22 near Conway to I-95 in Latta and if ever finished, would connect Myrtle Beach to Michigan and create up to 29,000 jobs according to McMasters office. We do this every year, Horry County Council chairman Johnny Gardner told The Sun News Jan. 6 when informed of McMasters position. But my reaction is the same: If we could get the feds and the state to do that, that would be wonderful. Interstate 73 is included on the states transportation improvement program list not only because of the economic potential it holds but as a public safety benefit. I-73 will help save the lives of Grand Strand residents and visitors by providing a critical means of evacuation in the event of a hurricane or natural disaster and in some cases will reduce evacuation times by up to 15 hours. I-73 will be a transformative component in South Carolinas future economic prosperity; lets seize this opportunity, McMaster wrote Jan. 6. McMaster asked for the same amount money last year, but ran into political opposition from heavy hitters including Senate President Harvey Peeler, who insisted on a $1 billion tax rebate that sent between $100 and $700 back to residents. With the rebates doled out, state Sen. Luke Rankin hopes the time has finally come for I-73. We made a valiant effort before with a similarly flush position, and my hope is that this is as a good a time as any to do it, he told The Sun News Jan. 6. I say from the governors pen to the House and the Senate. In December 2021, leaders in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach approved resolutions affirming their financial support for I-73 with Myrtle Beach pledging $4.2 million over 30 years to help pay for its construction. CORRECTION: The state highway that would link to a completed Interstate 73 project was incorrect in an earlier version of this story. It would be S.C. Highway 22. (Updated: 9:31 a.m. 1/9/2023) Richard Saghian is the founder and CEO of Fashion Nova. Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images Richard Saghian is best known as the fashion mogul behind fast fashion brand Fashion Nova. Saghian is also snapping up pricey real estate. He recently purchased a $40 million home on Malibu's exclusive "Billionaire's Beach." But that isn't his first big real estate purchase in LA. Last year, he shelled out $126 million for a Bel-Air megamansion, the biggest modern home in the US. Richard Saghian is best known as the founder and CEO of fast fashion company Fashion Nova, but he's also racked up some record-breaking real estate deals. The billionaire exec recently shelled out $40 million for a 6,000-square-foot home on Malibu's exclusive "Billionaire's Beach," The Real Deal reported. Less than a year prior, Saghian bid $126 million at auction for a Los Angeles megamansion. Nicknamed "The One," the 105,000-square-foot property is considered the biggest modern home in the US. Taking into account the auction premium and commission fees, he ended up paying closer to $141 million for the home. "'The One' Bel-Air is a once in a lifetime property that can never be duplicated," Saghian said in a statement sent to Insider. "There is nothing else like it. As a lifelong Angeleno and avid collector of real estate, I recognized this as a rare opportunity that also lets me own a unique property that is destined to be a part of Los Angeles history." Here's a look at Saghian's life and career: According to Paper Magazine, Saghian was born in California to an Iranian-American family that operated a retail business. Richard Saghian and Meek Mill attend a Super Bowl party in 2022. Shareif Ziyadat/FilmMagic/Getty Images Source: Paper Magazine According to Saghian's LinkedIn, he founded Fashion Nova in 2006 and has served as the company's CEO since then. The first store opened in California's Panorama Mall. Lil Nas X performs at a Fashion Nova event in 2019. Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Fashion Nova/Getty Images Source: LinkedIn Fashion Nova is a fast-fashion brand based in Los Angeles. While the company manages a handful of brick-and-mortar stores, the business is largely based on social media-bolstered e-commerce sales. A model represents Fashion Nova at a show in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Noam Galai/Getty Images for FTM Fashion Week Source: Paper Magazine Saghian told Paper that the business has been fueled by social media engagement with influencers, models, and other "Nova Babes," especially on Instagram. Story continues A model represents Fashion Nova at a show in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Noam Galai/Getty Images for FTM Fashion Week Source: Paper Magazine "I realized early on, getting into the minds of my customers is what helped me grow," Saghian told Paper Magazine. "I don't think I would've been able to do it without all my retail experience from the brick and mortar days to the e-comm days." A model represents Fashion Nova at a show in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Noam Galai/Getty Images for FTM Fashion Week Source: Paper Magazine The brand has also engaged in notable celebrity partnerships with rappers Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. Cardi B strikes a pose at a Fashion Nova event. Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Fashion Nova/Getty Images Source: Paper Magazine According to the Los Angeles Times, Fashion Nova enjoys annual sales of over $1 billion. A model represents Fashion Nova at a show in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Noam Galai/Getty Images for FTM Fashion Week Source: The Los Angeles Times Saghian has spent some of his Fashion Nova fortune on eye-catching real estate. Last year, he bought a Los Angeles megamansion called The One for $126 million at auction. After the auction premium and commission fees, his total came out closer to $141 million. Joe Bryant Source: Insider The Los Angeles Times reported that buying The One could "make sense as a marketing tool for Fashion Nova, serving as a backdrop where its influencers could show off the company's affordable, of-the-moment designs." Inside "The One," a Los Angeles mega-mansion. Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Source: The Los Angeles Times Designed by architect Paul McClean, The One boasts 21 bedrooms and 42 bathrooms. An aerial view of "The One," a Bel Air mega-mansion. Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Source: Insider The home boasts features like a floating lounge ... A look at the floating lounge situated in "The One." Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Source: Insider ... a private 50-seat movie theater ... Inside the private movie theater in "The One." Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Source: Insider ... and a bowling alley. Inside the bowling alley in "The One." Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Source: Insider Other amenities at the home include a 10,000-bottle wine cellar, a 30-car garage, five swimming pools, a putting green, and a private night club. Joe Bryant Saghian also owns a Hollywood Hills residence on Blue Jay Way that McClean also designed. An aerial view of the Hollywood Hills. GRANDADAM/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images Source: The Los Angeles Times, The Los Angeles Times In 2021, the Blue Jay Way home was the site of a deadly shooting during an early morning armed robbery gone wrong, according to local news channel ABC7. Several people were injured and one suspect was killed after a shootout with Saghian's private security employees. Saghian was not at the scene at the time of the incident. A view from the Hollywood Hills. Getty Images Source: ABC7 Saghian's latest addition to his real estate portfolio is a $40 million beach home on Malibu's exclusive "Billionaire's Beach." The 6,000-square-foot home originally listed for $69 million in June but was marked down first to $59 million in September, and then again to $49 million in December. Richard Saghian is the founder and CEO of Fashion Nova. Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images Source: The Real Deal Read the original article on Business Insider Standing up to nominate Rep. Byron Donalds for House speaker, Republican Rep. Chip Roy addressed the woman presiding over the chamber as Madam speaker. The third-term congressman quickly corrected himself. Madam clerk, he acknowledged with a smile. The flub, coming on the second day of voting, illustrated the rising stature of House clerk Cheryl Johnson, a central figure in the drama that has become a dayslong effort to select a speaker. Round by round, she has called for the start of each vote and has announced at the end that, once again, no speaker has been elected. That is, until early Saturday morning, when she named Rep. Kevin McCarthy the victor after the 15th vote. A look at Johnson and her newly prominent role: WHO IS CHERYL JOHNSON? According to her official bio, Johnson is the 36th person to serve as clerk and was first sworn in by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2019. She is the first Black woman to preside over the House chamber. A New Orleans native, Johnson has worked for the House for nearly two decades, serving as chief investigative counsel and spokesperson for the Committee on Education and the Workforce. She was also counsel for the committee with oversight over the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution, where she worked for 10 years liaising with congressional committees with jurisdiction over its funding. A journalism and mass communication graduate of the University of Iowa, Johnson got her law degree from Howard University and graduated from the senior management program at Harvard Universitys John F. Kennedy School of Government. On Friday, in nominating Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries whom Democrats have unanimously supported throughout every round of voting outgoing House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn addressed Johnson, thanking her for her service during a contentious week. Madam clerk, I want to begin by thanking you for your contribution to maintaining the dignity and honor of this august body, said Clyburn, who as the No. 3 House Democrat had been the chambers highest-ranking Black member. The eyes of the country are on us today. Let us consider what they will remember. Story continues WHAT DOES THE CLERK DO? Until a speaker is chosen, and the members-elect are officially sworn in, the clerk is in charge of the chamber, tasked with calling each day's session to order, calling the roll and deciding procedural questions that may arise. It's also up to the clerk to maintain order in the House chamber, which at times has involved using her gavel to tamp down a dull roar of chatter during the debate. After there's a speaker in place, the clerk's role becomes more procedural, keeping records of floor activity, preparing, printing and distributing the daily journal, and certifying the passage of bills and resolutions. The clerk also acts as a go-between for the House and the Senate, as well as the White House, when the chamber isn't in session, receiving and delivering messages. He or she also supervises the staff of any member who dies, resigns or is expelled, until a replacement is elected. In addition to duties inside the chamber, there are a number of other offices whose jurisdiction falls under the clerk, including those tracking legislation, transcribing floor proceedings, and processing and retaining House records until they are transferred to the National Archives. John Beckley of Virginia was chosen as the first clerk of the House in April 1789. The clerk also served as librarian of Congress until 1815, when that became a separate position. HOW ARE CLERKS SELECTED? The clerk is a professional employee of Congress, one of the House officers elected every two years when the House organizes for a new session. Each caucus nominates candidates for those positions, but those elections can't happen until after the session's new speaker is selected. So, at least for now, Johnson remains in office. ___ Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP Meghan Markle was seen wearing luxurious loungewear in her recent docuseries Harry & Meghan. (Netflix) If you can't quite yet bear to leave your comfy festive wardrobe behind, then be inspired by Meghan Markle's go-to cosy pyjamas. The Duchess of Sussex, 41, made an appearance in luxury loungewear during her Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan. She can be seen in several episodes in red PJs with white piping detail from La Ligne. Priced at 195, the Bonne Nuit pyjama style comprises of a long-sleeved button-through top and elasticated drawstring wide-leg trousers. The Duchess of Sussex wore a red La Ligne Bonne Nuit set while at home during filming. (La Ligne) Shop the set According to the site, the PJs which are available in sizes XS to XL are made from "super soft T-shirt fabric for the ultimate in comfort and style when you need a little hygge", in reference to the Danish art of living cosily. There's also the option to have them monogrammed with your initials. Read more: Prince Harry's upcoming book number two on Amazon's best-seller list in UK and US In one scene, the royal mother of two is seen wearing the upmarket brand's red set with their camel 'Marin' jumper, featuring red stripes, over the top. Behind her, as she looks at the camera, is a Hermes throw draped over the back of an armchair. She also owns the chic set in white. (La Ligne) Shop the set The blanket, which is the designer brand's 'Avalon' style, is made from 90% merino wool and 10% cashmere and is priced at 1,430. At another point in the series, the duchess was seen mixing it up by wearing La Ligne's white PJ top and navy bottoms while playing with son Archie, now three. Read more: Meghan reveals why she didn't wear colour as a royal: 'I dont want to embarrass the family' Another memorable style moment from the docuseries saw Meghan getting ready for the Intrepid Museum's 2021 Salute to Freedom gala in New York. For the glamorous occasion, she wowed in a bright red Carolina Herrera gown along with a pair of red Giuseppe Zanotti slingback heels. Watch: Harry and Meghan documentary duke speaks of 'dirty game' in Netflix trailer DETROIT (AP) The Michigan attorney general said Friday there's "clear evidence" to pursue charges against pro-Donald Trump Republicans who claimed they were the state's presidential electors in 2020, despite Democrat Joe Biden's 154,000-vote victory. Dana Nessel referred the matter to federal prosecutors last year, but no public action has been taken. A year later, she said it's time for state authorities to step in. Let's be fair about what this was: It was an effort to overturn a lawful election, Nessel, a Democrat, said. That type of activity cant go without any consequences. ... There are laws that specifically speak to their actions. I plan to reopen the investigation. In December 2020, Michigans electors cast 16 votes for Biden, following his 2.8 percentage point win in the state over Trump. But a separate group tried to enter the state Capitol with Trumps Electoral College candidates. The federal government notified the state that it had received unofficial signed certificates from GOP electors. The group included Meshawn Maddock, co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party. Invalid certificates also were mailed to the U.S. Senate, the Michigan secretary of state and a federal court in western Michigan. There is clear evidence to support charges against those 16 false electors, Nessel told reporters, noting the work of the House committee investigating the 2021 post-election riot at the U.S. Capitol. In response, the state Republican Party accused the attorney general of engaging in political theater and using tax dollars to perpetually persecute her political enemies. Nessel in the past has said forgery could be a possible charge. I don't know what the federal government plans to do, she said Friday. Perhaps they are going to move forward, and I hope that they do, but I think it's important that a couple years later that there be some accountability. ___ Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwritez Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) is reopening her investigation into the false electors in the state who signed a certificate claiming that former President Trump won the state in the 2020 presidential election. The Detroit News reported that Nessel said during a press call with the Democratic Attorneys General Association on Friday that the release of witness testimony and the final report from the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection provided clear evidence to support charges against the 16 fake electors who tried to overturn President Bidens victory in the state. Nessel previously referred the case to federal prosecutors, saying last January that they were in a better position to look into what seemed to be a coordinated multi-state effort. But she said Friday that she was worried that a year has passed since then and was not sure what the federal government is going to do. I think that type of activity cant go without any consequences, she said. The group of Republicans reportedly met at Michigan GOP headquarters on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign the certificate. Nessel has said that the electors might have violated a Michigan law against forgery of a public record and election-related forgery. The certificate claimed that the electors gathered in the state Capitol, but they did not, according to The Detroit News. Some reportedly walked to the Capitol after the meeting at Republican headquarters but were not allowed to enter. Republicans have accused Nessel of having political motivation behind the investigation, The Detroit News reported. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A new state audit released Friday found Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency wasn't effective in processing unemployment insurance claims during the pandemic and improperly granted overpayment waivers to some claimants while not considering others that met the waiver criteria, one of several other findings related to the way the agency distributed benefits and handled overpayment waivers in the months that followed. The audit estimated the agency may have improperly granted $1.7 billion in overpayment waivers but didn't consider waivers for claims totaling $280.7 million that met its waiver criteria. The 126-page audit, the Office of the Michigan Auditor General's most comprehensive audit on the unemployment agency's performance in the pandemic to date, found issues with the way the agency communicated with claimants and detailed several problems with the way the UIA processed regular jobless claims, set up federal programs and granted waivers for overpayments. Some of the new findings: The agency did not investigate potentially misleading or inaccurate information provided by Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claimants to identify benefit overpayments or determine when overpayments resulted from intentional misrepresentation by the claimant. The UIA did not require some PUA claimants to certify they met federal eligibility criteria for those benefits and, therefore, the UIA could not support the appropriateness of PUA payments of $10.2 billion. The UIA should improve its administration of PUA requalification, recertification and overpayment waiver processes. The agency didn't require 314,000 known PUA claimants with no identifiable wages or recent income tax records to provide additional information to demonstrate they had a previous attachment to the workforce and were unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency paid these claimants more than $4.9 billion in benefits. The UIA did not maintain claimants' originally completed PUA applications when it revised its PUA application forms. Thus, it appears in the state's online unemployment insurance system that claimants had not followed the agency's instructions at the time they submitted income information. The UIA did not consistently require that regular unemployment insurance claimants certify they were able and available for full-time work. Story continues A new state audit found Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency wasn't effective in processing unemployment claims during the pandemic and improperly granted overpayment waivers to some claimants while not considering others that met the waiver criteria. Many of the findings in the audit stem from issues related to the agency's mission at the beginning of the pandemic of getting benefits out the door to as many claimants as quickly as possible. Under the then-director Steve Gray's leadership, investigations division staff were temporarily reassigned and rules were removed from the agency's automated fraud detection system. While this allowed for more staff to assist with claims processing and more expedient payments to claimants, the audit found, it "significantly diminished UIA's ability to help ensure unemployment insurance program integrity." On top of that, changing federal guidance and the agency's inclusion of qualifying questions that were not authorized by the U.S. Department of Labor led to confusion over who was eligible for benefits, issues that the agency is still dealing with the fallout from today. For example, the audit found the unauthorized qualifying questions the agency included directly impacted over 25% of all unemployment insurance benefits paid out from the start of the pandemic to the summer of 2022. The agency began the waiver process for overpayments it caused by using unauthorized criteria in June 2021, asking nearly 650,000 PUA claimants to requalify and/or recertify for benefits, using the specific federal criteria only. Generally speaking, the audit found that the claimants granted these waivers were PUA claimants who did not respond to UIA's request or responded to the requests without selecting an eligible reason and did not have a previously identified overpayment associated with their specific claims. Julia Dale, the director of the UIA who took over in October 2021, said in a letter dated Dec. 14 to Michigan Auditor General Doug Ringler, that the audit, which she received in advance, "misses the mark" in two respects: "It ignores the reforms the agency has made to resolve them and lacks the context behind what caused these problems." In an interview with the Detroit Free Press in mid-December before the audit was released, Dale said the "issues that are being addressed here (in the yet-to-be-public audit), frankly, have been addressed and addressed again, and addressed yet again, and it's a rehashing of old news." Michigan House Republican Leader Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, said in an emailed statement that oversight of the agency is now "more crucial than ever." "When the people of Michigan were struggling, the unemployment agency failed jobless workers who really needed help, cut corners and wasted billions of taxpayer dollars to fraud and mistake," Hall said. This is the fourth audit of the UIA in just over a year about its performance in the pandemic, when the agency, alongside others across the country, rushed to get out benefits to laid-off workers and implement new federal jobless programs amid changing guidance. The first, released in November 2021, found the agency "wasn't effective" in its implementation of the federal PUA program which expanded benefits to cover freelancers and contract workers, for example, who typically wouldn't qualify for regular benefits and included four eligibility criteria that were not authorized by the U.S. Department of Labor. An audit released a few months later found the agency routinely gave people previously convicted of fraud, embezzlement and similar financial crimes access to sensitive information that, in at least one case, was later used to steal public money. Most recently, an audit released in May echoed the findings from the prior audit. It said the UIA didn't limit access to sensitive information for certain employees and failed to conduct proper background checks for temporary workers. Dale said in December that more than a third of the findings in this audit have already been raised in prior audits. She said the time she and UIA staff have spent working over the last 19 months with auditor staff to address previously discovered issues "takes away from our efforts and energy to continue to improve and reform the agency, pay out claims and serve Michigan workers." Dale said when she saw the report, she was "disappointed." "I felt as though they had disregarded the conversations we've had in the past, the information that we have provided them about the course corrections we've made, the improvements we've made and the matters that we've already answered to in prior audits," she said. Some of those "course corrections" include: Selecting Deloitte to replace its decade-old unemployment benefits system. The new system is expected to be fully operational in 2025. Implementing a "zero-tolerance policy" on fraud: Dales letter said there have been 109 search warrants executed, 90 people charged, 94 pending cases, and another 28 who have pleaded and 15 who were sentenced. Meeting with several businesses and claimants to see how they "interact with the agency, what the needs and expectations are and how we can best meet their needs." Michigan employers are looking to hire despite inflation and economic uncertainty Michigan unemployment agency to pause collection activities for all pandemic overpayments The state auditor is working on another audit of the UIA regarding fraud. Contact Adrienne Roberts: amroberts@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Audit: Michigan UIA wasn't effective in processing pandemic claims The Pentagon has directed the military to proceed with plans to rename nine Army bases and hundreds of other items whose names honor the Confederacy. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin previously approved the recommendations submitted by the congressionally-mandated Naming Commission, and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment William A. LaPlante on Thursday instructed the military to begin the renaming process. The Defense Department must implement the commission's recommendations by the end of the year. Renaming ceremonies for the nine bases named after Confederate generals will take place over the course of the year, officials say, but work to take down Confederate iconography elsewhere has already begun. West Point announced it would start implementing the commission's recommendations over the academy's winter break by removing a portrait of Robert E. Lee in Confederate uniform, a bust of Lee, and a bronze triptych that has an image of a hooded Ku Klux Klan member. The recommendations in the Naming Commission's final report specified new names for nine bases: Fort Benning, Ga. rename Fort Moore after Lt. Gen. Hal and Julia Moore. Fort Bragg, N.C. rename Fort Liberty after the value of liberty. Fort Gordon, Ga. rename Fort Eisenhower after General of the Army Dwight Eisenhower. Fort A.P. Hill, Va. rename Fort Walker after Dr. Mary Walker. Fort Hood, Texas rename Fort Cavazos after Gen. Richard Cavazos. Fort Lee, Va. rename Fort Gregg-Adams after Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams. Fort Pickett, Va. rename Fort Barfoot after Tech. Sgt. Van T. Barfoot. Fort Polk, La. rename Fort Johnson after Sgt. William Henry Johnson. Fort Rucker, Ala. rename Fort Novosel after Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael J. Novosel, Sr. The bases are the largest items the Naming Commission recommends renaming, but it has also listed more than 1,000 items in the military's inventory that should be renamed, removed, or modified. Story continues The commission recommended specific new names only for the bases but has provided a list of possible names the services can choose from when renaming other items. That list includes names like former Secretary of State Colin Powell and recent Medal of Honor recipient Ralph Puckett. The Naming Commission estimated it would cost $62.5 million to implement all of the changes. Storm driven by atmospheric river turns deadly in California Biden unveils new immigration policies, aiming to curb migrant arrivals Bed Bath & Beyond warns of potential bankruptcy Sildian Torres-Betancourt, right. A 22-year-old Milwaukee man has been charged with homicide after a Milwaukee woman was shot and killed on Christmas Eve as she was driving with her family on the citys south side. Sildian Torres-Betancourt, 27, was on her way to her mothers Christmas party with her partner and 7-year-old son when gunfire erupted on the 1300 block of South 29th Street and a bullet went through her car door and struck her upper body. Although it may have initially seemed like Torres-Betancourt was the victim of a stray bullet, the man charged in the shooting, Omarion D. Danielson, told police he intentionally shot at her vehicle, according to the criminal complaint, but for reasons that are not entirely made clear. Torres-Betancourt has been remembered as someone who was humble, loved her family and she was a dedicated mother, Jose Massas-Caraballo, a friend of hers, wrote on a GoFundMe page seeking funds to support funeral services. The page raised more than $9,400 of a $10,000 goal as of midday Friday. Her mother is mourning and is at a loss from this tragic event, Massas-Caraballo wrote. Danielson has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide and two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety. He is in Milwaukee County Jail with cash bail set at $300,000. According to the criminal complaint: After running errands together, Torres-Betancourt and her partner picked up their 7-year-old son on the 1200 block of South 30th Street and were beginning to make their way to Torres-Betancourts mothers house for a Christmas party. The car made a left turn onto West Greenfield Avenue, heading east towards South 29th Street, when at 6:59 p.m. came a barrage of gunfire. Witnesses estimated between five and 15 gunshots while police recovered 11 casings. A witness said the car had emerged from an alley. Torres-Betancourt was struck and was unable to stop her vehicle, so her partner, in the front passenger seat, put it in park and the vehicle slid into another car. The partner was unable to open his door, so he took out a handgun and shot out the window to escape, retrieve his son and tend to Torres-Betancourt. Story continues She died at the scene. Shortly before that incident, shots had been fired about a quarter-mile away outside a corner store on the 1200 block of South 33rd Street. Police recovered five casings from there and, when compared to the casings recovered from the homicide scene, an analysis showed they were all likely fired from the same gun. Surveillance video from the store showed a man who officers recognized as Danielson because of frequent encounters with him. Danielson was being supervised by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections via GPS monitoring, which provided data on his movements to police. The data showed that Danielson was within a tenth of a mile of the fatal shooting scene eight minutes before shots were fired. In an interview with police, Danielson said he entered the corner store on 33rd Street while holding a gun and someone inside said to him, what the [expletive] are you looking at? After Danielson walked up to the person and said something back, the person put their hands up and walked out of the store with two other people and climbed into a car. As it drove away, Danielson said he opened fire. Someone from the departing car fired back and Danielson again returned fire. He initially told police he then went to eat pizza, but after police told him Torres-Betancourt was shot while trying to attend a holiday party with her family in the car, he changed his story. Danielson said he saw Torres-Betancourts car emerge from an alley a car he said he was not looking for and assumed there were many people inside. He said he somehow knew they had a gun and he wasnt going to let them shoot him, so he opened fire. He said nobody from her vehicle shot at him. When he opened fire, he said he did not make effort to aim, and that it was dark and he couldnt see much. 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: Charges filed in Christmas Eve fatal shooting of Milwaukee mother When my condo flooded, I moved into Wynn Las Vegas for a month. David Morris, T Photography/Shutterstock When my condo flooded, I moved into the Wynn Las Vegas resort for a month. Living in a luxury hotel came with perks like daily housekeeping, a VIP entrance, and dining credit. Here's what I learned about one of Vegas' best hotels, including how to get hot dining reservations. In late 2022, my Las Vegas condo flooded and I had to move out for repairs. For a month, I lived in the five-star hotel, Wynn Las Vegas. In my room at Wynn Las Vegas. David Morris Between working full time as a cardiologist and spending my limited free time traveling, it was a rare Saturday morning that I found myself at home. I live in a condominium atop a Vegas hotel and love the quiet of the building, so it was strange when I began to hear sounds of running water coming down my curtain wall. I quickly realized that this was the start of what would become a major flood. After contacting maintenance, they shared that my neighbor two floors up had been renovating their home and told me that, unfortunately, a plumber did not properly crimp a line resulting in significant water damage. Thankfully, my building handled all of the repairs, but while my floors were being refinished, wallpaper reapplied, and the master bath rebuilt, my home was uninhabitable. Fortunately, the contractor, my building and I were all well insured and I was provided with a healthy budget to find comparable housing. While I was not thrilled to be forced out of my home for weeks at a time, I learned that the nearby Wynn Las Vegas had suites similar in size to my home. I booked my stay through the Elite Travel Club, where a Virtuoso agent had access to rates that were 15% off what was available online. For one month, I moved into an 1,817 square foot, one-bedroom Salon Suite inside Wynn Las Vegas' Tower Suites. With taxes and a daily resort charge, my average nightly rate came to be $1,942.15. During my time as a long-term Wynn resident, I learned quite a bit about life inside this iconic property. Here's what I discovered, from how to snag hot restaurant reservations to maximizing a near endless list of amenities. Story continues I quickly learned that living in a luxury hotel meant daily pampering perks. By staying in a Wynn Tower Suite, I had access to a private motor court and reception. David Morris Wynn Las Vegas, along with its sister Encore Resort, are both rated as Forbes Five Star properties. I knew I'd be in for a lavish stay given the reputation, but my stay was elevated even further by booking a room in their private VIP Tower Suite category, which I thought was kind of like a hotel within a hotel. Before moving to Las Vegas full time, I always made it a point to stay in the Encore Tower Suites for their larger-sized accommodations and intimate, personal feel. Their doorman Dominic and much of their staff has been there since day one, and I love how the lobby always seems to buzz with a fashionable crowd. I even saw Lady Gaga arriving here before a concert years ago. While the Encore Tower rooms are larger than Wynn Tower rooms by about 100 square feet, I specifically chose to stay in a Wynn Salon Suite for this stay. My reasoning was that Wynn just completed a $200 million room renovation resulting in what I thought might be the most stunning accommodations anywhere, akin more to a posh flat than a hotel. I felt pampered from day one and quickly realized I could get used to hotel life. As a Wynn Tower Suite guest, I had access to a private motor court and reception and a twice-daily housekeeper at home I have one every other week. Every day, I relished in coming home to a spotless space and a bed made up with fresh, pressed linens. I was also given a $60 daily breakfast credit as part of my booking, complimentary pressing, valet service, access to a VIP pool, and front of the line privileges to the buffet, Terrace Point Cafe, as well as priority bookings throughout the property. It felt like the full star treatment. I thought the feel inside the Tower Suites was far more upscale and residential than any hotel I've ever stayed in, and I left thinking it was the only Vegas resort property I could see myself returning to for a long-term stay. Here, the doorman, security and reception learned who I was with in a few days. The name recognition, vehicle readiness in the mornings, and familiarity felt similar to my own building, albeit with a bit more panache. I became a bit of a spa aficionado, and developed strong opinions between the Wynn and Encore facilities. The Encore Spa lobby (L) and the Wynn Spa lobby (R). David Morris While I have a spa within my condo building and go for massage about once or twice a month, I was excited to mix things up a bit and try new treatments during my hotel stay. Given that the Wynn and Encore towers each boast their own five-star spas, I was particularly interested to see which I would enjoy more. I used both spas to gain access to their wet areas, which is included when booking a service, and has jacuzzis, saunas, steam baths, and deluge showers. Rather than using the spa as a weekend treat, I booked midweek services after learning on property that Las Vegas locals receive a 20% discount Monday to Thursday. I found it to be an incredible way to wind down after a hectic day at work, and used each of the spas at Wynn and Encore once during my stay. I determined that the Encore Spa is larger and gilded, while Wynn's spa feels like a nocturnal dreamscape. At Encore, I booked a four-handed massage that was incredibly decadent and the best service I've had on the Encore side. For me, The Spa at Wynn has a more opulent feel. The relaxation room is co-ed and I find it to be reminiscent of a moonlit forest. I thought the locker rooms' deluge showers also felt stronger. In the name of "research," I booked their Samadhi Enlightenment treatment. I thought it was one of the best services I've had in Vegas and should be booked well in advance as only a few providers offer this combination of Ayurvedic massage, chakra alignment, and vibrating singing bowls. I never thought I would like anything remotely new-age, but thought it was sublime, and left my stay with strong new opinions about prioritizing spa treatments namely, that it's best to book treatments when you can dedicate the most time to relaxing. As a long-term hotel guest, I learned to trade my typical on-the-go breakfast protein bar for sit-down plated meals in my suite. I ordered in-room dining for breakfast most week days. David Morris During the week, I took advantage of my daily $60 breakfast credit by ordering in-room dining. On weekends, I checked out the hotel's other eateries. In-room dining became a true luxury. While many Vegas hotels offer what I consider knock and drop service, Wynn is one of only two casino resorts, in my experience, with the other being The Venetian, that offers full carted service in my suite. During my stay, delivery estimates for room service ranged from 25 to 50 minutes based on hotel occupancy. But I soon learned I could preorder breakfast the night before. Food deliveries arrived as promised; I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't have one late order. As someone who normally grabs a protein bar or something quick on the way to work, it was certainly an indulgence to have a plated breakfast waiting for me on my dining table each morning. I tucked into dishes like chilaquiles, dim sum and congee, and overnight oats. I also quickly learned that I could order anything from the breakfast or lunch menus to my room from most of the resort's restaurants, as part of my included credit. These meals served as a reminder that I live in a major resort destination. While there are roughly 150,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas, according to the city's convention and visitor's authority, I must admit that I am not necessarily cognizant of that fact when rushing out the door as I start my day. Living in Vegas, I know how difficult it can be to secure reservations at popular restaurants. But by living at Wynn, I discovered new ways to snag them. The pagoda table at Mizumi. David Morris As a Las Vegas resident, I've often tried and failed to secure reservations at popular restaurants at the Wynn when friends, family, or colleagues visited. But by living full-time at Wynn, I discovered new ways to secure three of Vegas' hardest reservations. During the first weekend of my stay, I needed to host a work dinner and wanted to go somewhere impressive where the seven of us could hear one another speak. I selected Mizumi, which many consider to be one of the country's best Japanese eateries. I think chef Min Kim is so meticulous; he even flies in the water for his sushi rice from Japan, the restaurant's general manager told me. His steaks are also arguably the city's best, in my opinion. While the food is great and I have been here many times, I had never managed to sit at their outdoor pagoda table underneath a three-story waterfall. I figured this table must be held for high rollers. But when I called a few weeks out, they let me know anyone could book it with a spending minimum of $175 per person. By ordering sake and drinks, we easily cleared that. In terms of traditional steakhouses, SW is perhaps Vegas' most popular. I wanted to dine here on a Friday, but it was fully booked. Rather than give up, I went to my Wynn hotel concierge. He was able to get me in as they said they have priority for hotel guests, which I didn't previously know. After a great experience, I wanted to come back the next week, but SW was again fully committed. This time, the concierge couldn't do anything, so I checked with the hostess directly. She offered me a reservation someone had canceled. Before this stay, I never considered checking with the host at check in to ask if they can accommodate you at any time during your stay. Finally, a table at the supper club Delilah is something that even jaded locals like me covet. I consider it to be the scene-iest restaurant in town. Their strict no-photos policy and menu from Michael Mina alum Joshua Smith make this a favorite haunt for Justin Bieber, The Weekend and Kardashian-Jenners. While reservations are hard to come by, I found that persistence pays off. I dined here twice during my stay. The first time, I found a reservation on their website as I continued to check back in search of a cancellation, and the second time, the concierge secured one for their Sunday jazz night. I also learned through my stay that they open their reservation books four months out, so you can target the exact date you plan to visit. It was only because I had so much advance time living in the hotel that I was able to come to these realizations. With proper planning, I now think any Vegas hotspot is an attainable reservation. While I loved being pampered with room service and dining at Wynn's fanciest restaurants, I learned that sometimes I just wanted something simple after a busy day. My go-to pizza when I wanted a casual meal. David Morris Wynn has many fancy restaurants and dining options that I came to love during my stay, but I was surprised that at times, I wanted something simple to eat. As a single guy, I rarely cook for one, but often order in or use a meal prep service. I realized that I didn't always want to eat from room service or at upscale restaurants, and found myself looking for casual dining options even while living the luxury hotel lifestyle. Walking in from Wynn's parking garage, I would pass by the Italian eatery Allegro and often pre-order their pizza to go when I was about 15 minutes from the property. I was also happy to discover Red 8 for dim sum and Chinese staples, and found myself coming back time and time again for their Macau noodle soups. All of Wynn's restaurants featured a selection of grilled fish and lighter salads which I also requested to go so I could eat in my living room or dining nook while watching TV or catching up on work. I don't usually see many big shows or performances in Las Vegas, but living in a hotel changed my stance on that. At the entrance for the show, "Awakening." David Morris During the first week of my stay at Wynn, the production "Awakening" opened. I had mixed feelings going into the show as it replaced, in my opinion, what was one of the city's best productions, Le Reve. However, rather than watching Netflix on a Friday night, I thought it would be fun to see a new show given the theater was literally an elevator ride away. I was glad I broke away from my usual routine as I was immediately taken aback as the lights came down. I thought the costumes and visuals were stunning, and watched in awe as the performance was done in the round on a 60-foot prismatic stage with LED screens. While it was the only show I saw during my stay, I now plan to attend shows more often than a few times a year. While living in a hotel, I traded online shopping for in-person browsing. My mother, trying on her parka. David Morris Previously, I did most of my retail shopping online. But when I stayed at Wynn, I found myself changing my shopping habits to buy what I needed in person. When I ran low on my signature Le Labo scent, there was a perfumery in the Wynn Plaza shoppes that was able to compound this fragrance, which is normally exclusive to their Tokyo store, on the spot. Similarly, when my mom was in town and needed a coat for our upcoming trip to Finland this winter, I would normally help her find something online. But we came upon a new Canada Goose boutique inside the Wynn Plaza shoppes. The flagship store built out a -10F ice room where it actually snows, gave my mom the chance to see how the coat stacked up to extreme temperatures. I found shopping in a Vegas hotel to be over-the-top, but also satisfying and fulfilling. Even after checking out, I came back to Wynn to complete my holiday shopping instead of going online. Given their breadth of brands, and the sheer ease of finding what I was looking for, it's now my preferred place to shop. While I'm normally in bed by 10 p.m., living at Wynn made it harder to decline an invitation to a nightclub since it was just steps from my room. I also learned that buying a ticket helps bypass lines. At The Chainsmokers concert at XS Nightclub. David Morris Living at Wynn made it almost too easy to entertain visiting friends. Following dinner at Delilah, my friends asked where they could go for a fun night out. Knowing their interest in house music, I suggested they try XS Nightclub and go online to buy a ticket. Normally, I would have opted out of accompanying them so I could be in bed by 10 p.m. But this time, it was just too easy to join them, given that my room was so close. Our visit to the club ended up being the same night as a Chainsmokers concert. As a local, people often ask me how to get into clubs. I uniformly respond that bottle service affords quick entry and yields the best experience. But should you simply wish to come in, enjoy a few drinks, and see headliners like Kygo, Swedish House Mafia, and The Chainsmokers, you can also skip the lines by purchasing a ticket in advance. I think this is something that may not be uniformly known, but most Vegas clubs sell tickets on their website in advance. The ticketed-entry lines were uniformly empty most times when I walked by XS during my stay, while the general admission lines were quite lengthy. Events held at the Wynn made me discover my home city in a new way. A McLaren Elva parked in the Wynn for the annual car show. David Morris It takes a lot to move the needle in Vegas for someone who lives here, and I've found it can be easy to become a bit jaded. Throughout my time at Wynn, however, I came across a few experiences and events that made me discover my city in a new way. For example, I was wowed when I saw multiple super cars and priceless classic vehicles dotting the casino floor for the Concours d'Elegance. Having purchased an Aston Martin and a Ferrari in the past, I was invited to attend as a guest of my local car dealer. The event featured a "barbeque," albeit one with Wagyu hotdogs, lobster, sushi, and open bars. I walked around many mechanical marvels and even rubbed shoulders with the grand marshal, Jay Leno. I thought it was certainly far more over-the-top than a typical fall cookout with friends and I definitely plan to attend again next year. It was a far cry from my usual extracurricular activities, which are more in line with a trip to SoulCycle. My condo is a valet-only building and while I used the valet services at Wynn, I realized how much more convenient it can be to park yourself. I chose self parking more often than I thought I would. David Morris While I love my condo, it is a valet-only building. I was surprised to find that I liked being able to self-park as an option at Wynn, in addition to an included valet. Self-parking became a convenience I didn't realize I was missing when I was only running into the hotel for a quick minute between errands. Wynn is one of only a few Strip resorts to offer complimentary self-parking, and I was shocked that I never had an issue finding a space. I personally preferred to use the second level of the garage, from where I could directly access the resort. I did use the valet service as well, and when I contacted them five minutes before heading down for work in the morning, without fail, my car was always waiting. For me, the response time by making a call was faster than in my own building. Read the original article on Insider A Manhattan man accused of stabbing two Museum of Modern Art employees called himself an usher turned serial killer in an email to a previous alleged victim of his rage, court papers revealed Thursday. Gary Cabana faced two Manhattan court appearances for three alleged crimes including the museum knifing when he arrived back in the city from Philadelphia. The 60-year-old is accused of stabbing two MoMA workers on March 12, after he was denied entry to the W. 53rd St. museum, where he was a frequent visitor. Assistant District Attorney Matthew McCarthy attributed the violent outburst to Cabanas membership being revoked. Graphic surveillance video of the attack shows Cabana jumping over a ticket counter and shanking two terrified employees multiple times in the back, neck, and torso. Both survived their injuries. After the bloodshed, Cabana fled to Pennsylvania, where he was arrested for setting a Best Western hotel on fire. His extradition to New York came after he pleaded guilty to charges in that case. Cabana was arraigned on attempted murder charges in Manhattan Supreme court on Thursday. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro. The jurist also ordered medical attention for Cabana at his lawyers request. There is no question his client is dealing with significant mental health issues, the attorney said and asked that Cabana should continue to get the same medical care he did while in custody in the Keystone state. Theres obviously something very serious going on here, the lawyer, Javier Damien told the Daily News. The important thing is for him to continue treatment. When Cabana returned to New York on Wednesday, prosecutors charged him with assault and arson for unrelated crimes. On Jan. 2, 2022, Cabana allegedly punched the manager of the Nederlander Theatre, where he worked until he was fired the previous October. The manager, whose name was redacted from court documents, received 13 emails from Cabana between November and the week of the assault. Are you having fun torturing me? Guess what? Payback is coming, Cabana wrote in one email, according to court documents. Sincerely, Gary Cabana, Usher turned serial killer... A week before his MoMA rampage, on March 4, Cabana started a fire in an outdoor dining area outside Quality Bistro on W. 55th St., prosecutors said. Jeffrey Epstein and Leslie Wexner. Getty Images; Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Fragrance Foundation An anonymous "Doe 183" wants to keep documents sealed in a case regarding Ghislaine Maxwell. The judge hinted Doe 183's relationship with Epstein "has been a subject of intense media coverage." Redacted versions of the documents seem connected to Jeffrey Epstein's former benefactor Les Wexner. At a November 18 court conference, US District Judge Loretta Preska announced she would unseal the identities of eight "Does" trying to stay anonymous in a long-running lawsuit between Ghislaine Maxwell, the pal of Jeffrey Epstein who's been convicted of sex trafficking, and Virginia Giuffre, their most prominent accuser. The exception, Preska said, was "Doe 183," whom she identified as someone with ties to Epstein and whose name appeared repeatedly in Maxwell's criminal trial. "That Doe's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein has been a subject of intense media coverage, and Doe 183's name has appeared in numerous places in unsealed portions of Ms. Maxwell's criminal trial transcript," Preska said. "In the court's view, there's no reason to redact Doe 183 from the documents." But, Preska noted, Doe 183 wanted to appeal her ruling. So, she said, their name would remain secret for now. The lengths that Doe 183 has gone to in order to hide their identity are unusual. They have been fighting for months perhaps years to keep their name out of public court documents. Every court filing they've submitted in the case has been under seal. Nothing from them appears on the public court docket. Even lawyers for Julie K. Brown, the Miami Herald reporter who intervened in the case to bring documents about Epstein to light, have not been permitted to see them. What we do know, however, is that every document they object to unsealing seems to be related to one of Epstein's longtime friends and benefactors: Leslie Wexner. We also know that Doe 183 and Wexner have the same lawyer. And when Insider asked that lawyer about his work for Doe 183, a representative for Wexner responded, declining to comment. Story continues The documents feature deposition testimony from Maxwell, discussions of whether Maxwell and Epstein gave "massages" to girls on Wexner's properties, and more accusations of wrongdoing against Epstein and Maxwell. There are also swaths of blacked-out pages and paragraphs that we can't understand without the proper context. The public docket doesn't show any appeals filed yet. But if Doe 183 wins their fight to keep the documents redacted, their name and the context surrounding it would remain behind those blacked-out lines. Leslie Wexner made Jeffrey Epstein rich Wexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands which once controlled Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, and Pink was Epstein's main patron for more than a decade. Before his arrest on sex-trafficking charges and his eventual death in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial, Epstein claimed to be a financial savant who advised only billionaires how to invest their wealth. His only known client was Wexner, who between the 1980s and 2000s gave him millions of dollars, put him on the board of his personal foundation, and gave him power of attorney. It was Wexner's money that allowed Epstein to live his jet-setting lifestyle literally, on a private plane Wexner sold him. Epstein flew girls to his Palm Beach mansion, his New Mexico ranch, his compound in the Virgin Islands, and the eight-story Upper East Side Manhattan mansion that Wexner also sold him, and raped them. Upon his death, Epstein's estate was valued at $630 million, of which $125 million went to a compensation fund for 136 victims. Epstein even posed as a recruiter for Victoria's Secret to get close to girls in order to eventually abuse them, several women said in lawsuits. Carolyn Andriano, who testified in Maxwell's 2021 sex-trafficking trial, described getting lingerie from Victoria's Secret in the mail during a period of time when Epstein serially raped her. Another accuser, who testified with the pseudonym Jane, described going shopping at one of the company's stores with Epstein and Maxwell and buying underwear. "He said, 'Well, you know, I know everybody. I know all the agents. I know all the photographers. I know the owner of Victoria's Secret,'" Jane testified, quoting Epstein. "'So I can make things happen, but you just have to be ready for it.'" A photo of Sarah Kellen and Epstein in front of one of Epstein's planes that was entered into evidence in Ghislaine Maxwell's criminal trial. US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York In testimony for Maxwell's trial, Larry Visoski, one of Epstein's private jet pilots, described flying Epstein to Columbus, Ohio, where the financier maintained a home and office near Wexner. Maria Farmer, another Epstein accuser, said in an affidavit for a separate case that Epstein and Maxwell raped her in Wexner's compound in New Albany, on the outskirts of Columbus. "I believe they were friends," Visoski said of Epstein and Wexner. After Epstein's 2019 indictment in New York, Wexner said in a letter to his employees that he'd cut ties with Epstein 12 years earlier, when Epstein was convicted of soliciting girls for prostitution in Florida, and that he regretted ever crossing paths with him. Epstein had further "misappropriated vast sums of money from me and my family," Wexner wrote. Now Doe 183 is trying to keep documents, including some related to Wexner's relationship with Epstein and Maxwell, out of the public eye. A judge is methodically unsealing the names of anonymous 'Does' Leading up to the criminal charges against Epstein in 2019 and Maxwell in 2020, their victims filed numerous lawsuits against them. The most prominent among the accusers is Virginia Giuffre, who sued Maxwell in 2015. The case produced thousands of pages of depositions, flight logs, emails, an unpublished memoir, and other evidence almost all under seal. After Giuffre and Maxwell settled their lawsuit, in 2017, Giuffre and her lawyers began the long process of trying to get filings from the case to the public. If you've read a story about newly unsealed Epstein files, it's probably from that case. Other interests got involved in the case over the years, including Alan Dershowitz, a former friend of Epstein's who faced his own accusations from Giuffre in litigation that recently settled. Preska, the judge now overseeing the case, reasoned that the litany of names Maxwell and Giuffre discussed in their original court filings had privacy rights of their own and that their names should be redacted. An undated photo of Maxwell and Epstein entered into evidence during her criminal trial. US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York Many of these "Does" have stepped into the litigation, arguing to keep their names private. Pundits have widely speculated that the Does are rich and powerful associates of Epstein who were complicit in the sex trafficking and abuse of girls. Some have turned out to be victims of Epstein; their names remain hidden. Others, whose identities Preska made public, were people who were merely mentioned in court filings incidentally. Some occupy the gray area of having been accused of recruiting victims for Epstein but also identified as victims themselves. A few names turned out to be Epstein's powerful friends after all. In April, Preska ruled that the names of the hedge-fund giant Glenn Dubin and his wife, Eva Andersson Dubin, should be unsealed in the filings. While he was alive, Epstein maintained a close friendship with the couple. Eva Andersson Dubin, who dated Epstein in the 1980s, testified in Maxwell's defense during her trial. And then there's Doe 183. The Doe 183 documents all seem related to Wexner In a December 21 interview with Insider, Marion Little, an attorney representing Wexner, said he was unfamiliar with the fight to unseal the identity of Doe 183 in the Giuffre v. Maxwell case. Little had represented Wexner in a separate case between Dershowitz and Giuffre where Dershowitz subpoenaed Wexner for testimony. But on December 27, Insider obtained an official court transcript of the November 18 conference in the Giuffre v. Maxwell case in which Little spoke three times. While he never identified himself verbally, the transcript's cover sheet identifies him as an attorney representing Doe 183. After Insider reached out to Little again for a follow-up interview, a representative for Wexner contacted Insider and said Little was unable to comment on the Doe 183 case because "the whole protocol process is confidential." Little, through the representative, declined to comment on whether Doe 183 and Wexner are the same person. There are 21 docket entries that mention Doe 183's true identity. All contain redactions, some with several pages blacked out. Wexner's name and references to him can be seen in unredacted portions of many of the documents. Of those 21 documents, there are seven docket entries where Doe 183 is the sole Doe mentioned. Those seven files have been partially unsealed, with some redactions. Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump were among the powerful men mentioned in Maxwell's trial. Looking through the Doe 183-linked filings, it's clear that Wexner is a common thread. Wexner. Jay LaPrete/AP One docket entry where Doe 183 is the sole Doe mentioned is the deposition of Maxwell taken in July 2016. It includes a discussion of whether Epstein "shipped off" Farmer to Wexner's property in Ohio. Another contested entry, a 23-page excerpt from that same deposition, happens to zero into the discussion about Wexner's Ohio compound. Yet another filing where Doe 183 is the sole Doe mentioned is an argument from Giuffre's lawyer Sigrid McCawley asking the judge to force Maxwell to sit for another deposition because she didn't adequately answer several questions, including ones regarding Wexner's property. We hear from Giuffre in another docket entry linked to Doe 183. It's a mostly unredacted transcript of a conversation from 2011 between her and two of her lawyers in other litigation, Brad Edwards and Jack Scarola. Scarola asked her if Wexner would have information about Epstein's behavior toward underage girls. "I think he has relevant information, but I don't think he'll tell you the truth," Giuffre said of Wexner. Years later, in 2019, Edwards said Wexner's denials of having knowledge about Epstein's sexual proclivities were "very highly likely to be true." Doe 183 has claimed that unsealing certain documents would cause the public to assume they are guilty of wrongdoing and that they would suffer reputational damage, according to an April memo filed by McCawley, representing Giuffre in the litigation. McCawley said the public has an interest in seeing the sealed documents. "The public is more than capable of evaluating all the facts to which it is entitled, and making its own judgments about Doe 183's proclaimed innocence," she wrote. Correction: January 6, 2023 An earlier version of this story misstated that L Brands controls Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, and Pink. L Brands dissolved in 2021. Read the original article on Business Insider In a grim murder-mystery, Christian Bale's character is hired to find a killer, with the help of a young Edgar Allan Poe, in Scott Cooper's thriller The Pale Blue Eye (now available on Netflix). Based on the novel by Louis Bayard, the tone for the film is set by a quote from the macabre writer, poet Poe: "The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?" That famous quote from the story "The Premature Burial" leads us to the West Point U.S. military academy in 1830, where a young cadet has been found hanged, and his heart was carved out from his chest. Upon investigation, the cuts were done in a way to ensure the heart was preserved, with a portion of a note left as a piece of evidence. Christian Bale as Augustus Landor in The Pale Blue Eye (Scott Garfield/Netflix) That's where Bale's character Augustus Landor comes in, a detective whose wife died and his daughter has been missing. He has been hired to come to the school to investigate this death, evolving to dead animals and eventually a lesson on satanic rituals. Landor finds an unlikely partner is Poe, played by Harry Melling, a cadet at the academy. It begins with Landor looking at Poe skeptically, thinking hes something of a fool, not thinking he's trustworthy at all and he's a character who's destined for nobody to listen to him whatsoever, Bale told Yahoo Canada. Nobody really does at West Point, he doesn't fit in at all. But Landor comes to recognize this acute intelligence and great depth of soul within Poe. He sees through the performance that Poe has to the man underneath, and they come to make a very good duo. Poe becomes indispensable to Landor. For Melling, who some may recognize as Dudley Dursley from the Harry Potter franchise, being able to develop that dynamic with Bale was a "joy." I think Poe needs Landor, certainly to give him a sense of belonging and to give him a sense of home," Melling said. "I think that's the thing that Poes searched his entire life for, was this sense of home and belonging." Story continues "It was just everyday working with Christian, who's the most generous of actors, to work out what this relationship was, it was a real joy. Harry Melling as Edgar Allan Poe in The Pale Blue Eye. (Scott Garfield/Netflix) 'This is a man who's trying to invent his identity' While much of this story is around the mysterious investigation into a possible murderer, it's also an origin story of Edgar Allan Poe. While the famed writer is often described as quite mysterious and odd, The Pale Blue Eye is an exploration into what made him that way, what events could occur that would shape his approach to poetry and literature. I think people have a very fixed idea about who Edgar Allan Poe is and so it's really exciting to try and work out, what were the events in his life that maybe got him to that place, Melling explained. I think that's very much what Louis Bayard, who wrote the novel, and what Scott Cooper were exploring in terms of, who is this Poe. Can he afford to be more charming? Is he trying to find his feet? What is this performance he keeps doing? Why is he obsessed with telling everyone his latest poem? All of that territory was fascinating, because you're kind of exploring the idea of, this is a man who's trying to invent his identity. Filmmaker Scott Cooper also depicts a version of a young Poe that is a lot more witty and humorous than how he has generally been viewed. The events that take place in this film, the themes that course through its narrative, ultimately motivate him to become the writer that he became," Cooper said. "So that was more interesting to me, to take someone who is warm and humorous and witty, and prone to poetic and romantic musings, and then over the course of the film does he become the writer he became." (L to R) Christian Bale as Augustus Landor and Robert Duvall as Jean Pepe in The Pale Blue Eye (Scott Garfield/Netflix) Christian Bale, Robert Duvall, the most selective actors in the industry A particularly exciting part of The Pale Blue Eye is the presence of the iconic Robert Duvall, who plays a Jean Pepe, a Tolstoy-esque historian of occults and satanic traditions that Landor goes to for advice on his investigation. Cooper has a very personal connection to Duvall, who he describes as a "second father" to him. It began when they worked together as actors, including the Calgary-filmed Broken Trail, and their relationship became so close that Cooper even got married on Duvall's estate. Yhey now speak two to three times a week. This is also a bit of a Newsies reunion, with both Bale and Duvall having worked together in the 1992 Disney musical film. I would say that Christian and Robert Duvall are probably the most selective, well and Jeff Bridges, of the actors that we have, Cooper said. They rarely do things unless they want to, or something compels them to, because they've played so many characters in their illustrious careers. [Robert Duvall] read this screenplay and he said, I want to play [Jean Pepe]. That's the part I want to play. I was so thankful, and for someone who's 92 years-old, to have him in another film was just really incredibly meaningful for me and for Christian, quite frankly, and he loved Harry Melling. (L to R) Christian Bale as Augustus Landor and Scott Cooper (Director/Writer) on the set of The Pale Blue Eye. (Scott Garfield/Netflix) 'I think he tries to wrestle more with chaos' With this being the third film Bale has done with Cooper, the actor highlighted that what makes the filmmaker a particularly attractive collaborator is how he approaches the chaos of a story. The first thing you have to do as an actor is try to understand a director, what they're going for, what their style is, and adapt to them, Bale explained. Ethics of revenge are something that had been very dominant in the three films that we have made. You get one director who looks at life and the chaos of it and the randomness of it, and they say, great the way to deal with it is you surrender to it, you accept it, and you'll get a certain type of film coming out of that. Then with Scott, I think he tries to wrestle more with chaos. He likes to be precise. He likes to articulate himself well, and he likes to try to find order out of this chaos, and to really strive to find an answer. I know that about him and I enjoy that." When it comes to Cooper's precision as a filmmaker, an example of that is in the breadcrumbs left throughout the film that lead to the result of this investigation. This is a film that requires careful viewing and probably will be all the richer upon a second viewing, all of the breadcrumbs are there, Cooper said. Every scene, every character that interacts in the film, or is alone, everything is leading to the reveal. When one happens to see this film, a second time you'll say, oh my gosh, how did I not put this together? It was all there. But it took a great deal of consideration and a great deal of detail from everybody involved, from screenplay to the actors, to production design, props, everything was a real team effort. We're certainly on board with Cooper's recommendation to give The Pale Blue Eye a second viewing. This film is quite striking in its visuals, with the twists and turn in the plot keeping you on your toes, but it's easy to miss some of the clever clues. Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty The seemingly never-ending fight for the House speakership has exposed a glaring rift within the Republican Party, with a group of hard-right holdouts refusing to budge when it comes to electing Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. While McCarthy continues to negotiate and offer up every concession he can think of to try to sway this MAGA faction to finally give him the speakers gavel, the ultraconservative members have declared themselves Never Kevin while watching McCarthy squirm through 11 (and counting) unsuccessful votes. Throughout this ordeal, the majority of Fox News hosts and commentators have clearly thrown in with the establishment wing of the GOP (and former President Donald Trump) and urged the far-right contingent to do whats best for the party and stand down. Yet, at the same time, the conservative cable giants loudest and most influential voice has increasingly backed the anti-McCarthy crowd while taking swings at his own colleagues. With each round of speaker votes that McCarthy has lost since Tuesday, primetime star Tucker Carlson has grown increasingly more outspoken in his support for the rebel group of lawmakers opposing the California lawmaker. The View Dunks on Hannity for Battling the Lauren Boebert Monster He Created For example, after McCarthy fell short in his first three votes, Carlson called the inter-party struggle refreshing and a sign of true democracy while simultaneously praising McCarthywhom he has long criticized. To be fair, this is politics and McCarthy does have strengths, he declared. 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. The right-wing nationalist host, though, set a marker that night, listing off a set of demands that the holdouts would force McCarthy to accept in order to become speaker. According to Carlson on Tuesday night, McCarthy shouldnt be speaker unless he appointed Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) to chair a Frank Church committee probing the FBI and releasing all the footage from the Jan. 6 insurrection. (Carlson has pushed several conspiracy theories about the Capitol attack.) Story continues By the time Wednesday arrived, Carlson made it clear that he was fully siding with the Never Kevin crowd, all while most of his Fox cohorts were begging the group to fold and end the standoff. Oh, you've got reservations about Kevin McCarthy? You don't want to be ruled by a man who wears a Ukrainian flag lapel pin and lives with Frank Luntz? Carlson snarked on Wednesday night, referencing McCarthys close friendship with Luntz, a pollster and GOP insider. Carlson also blasted Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), a vocal critic of the anti-McCarthy hardliners, calling the conservative lawmaker the snarling face of the donor class for comparing the group to terrorists. Just an hour later, however, Carlsons primetime compadre Sean Hannity locked horns with Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), one of the leaders of the Never Kevin contingent. Repeatedly urging the pro-Trump congresswoman to pack it in and take the loss, Hannity grew increasingly agitated as Boebert dismissed his pleas. Hannitys shouting match with Boebert, meanwhile, prompted Foxs smaller far-right media rivals to pounce and call out the conservative network for casting in with the uniparty swamp rats. Newsmax host and serial plagiarist Benny Johnson, for instance, called Hannity the Praetorian Guard of the establishment while decrying his embarrassing interview with Boebert. Kevin McCarthy Searches for a Way Out of Speakership Purgatory If Hannitys face-off with Boebert made the far-right mad, Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeades description of the holdout group made them absolutely furious. Grousing on Thursday morning about the continued stalemate, Kilmeade fumed that this is how insincere the insurrectionists are. Realizing almost immediately how loaded that term is, especially on the right, Kilmeade tried to take it back. Probably shouldn't use that word, he scrambled. The people that don't wanna vote for Kevin McCarthy. His Fox & Friends co-host, Steve Doocy, was also irate over the dead-enders in the House GOP caucus. I heard so many people say, You know, thats just how democracy works. This is not democracy. This is a televised hijacking, Doocy asserted. They are intent, simply, on blowing up the party, which they are doing, and this Congress. They do not care. Despite the anger directed their way by MAGA media figures and ultra-right provocateurs, Fox News pundits have continued to rush to the networks airwaves to denounce the Never Kevin crew. Just as you cant give in to terrorists and you cant give in to hostage-takers, you can't allow them to take the conference hostage and win, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Fox News contributor, proclaimed on Hannitys show. They all look like idiots, and that's how they are acting, Fox commentator Ari Fleischer, a former Bush White House press secretary, exclaimed on Thursday. Fox News host Jeanine Pirro went even further on Thursdays broadcast of The Five, crying that the hardliners were making the Republicans look ridiculous while attacking Boebert personally. With all due respect, I mean, the woman barely won her race, she added. Fox News contributor Ben Domenech also compared the House impasse to a terrorist standoff during a Fox Business Network appearance on Thursdaya bridge that was apparently too far for Carlson. The primetime host included Domenechs remarks in a montage of other cable news personalities criticizing the holdouts, leaving his most biting mockery for his Fox colleague. Kevin McCarthy Learned What Happens When You Dance With Arsonists Another one of the buffoons in the clip you just saw went further and called the whole thing terrorism, which is the remorseless use of violence against a civilian population to effect a political goal, Carlson huffed, adding that Domenech was part of the moron community. (Of course, this is far from the first time that Carlson has taken public shots at his Fox News colleagues. Memorably, his mockery of veteran Fox News anchor Shepard Smithwho defended another Fox News personality that Carlson ridiculed on-airled to Smiths departure.) While Carlson continues to cheer on the GOP infighting and touts it as what democracy looks like, another one of his right-wing primetime colleagues has tried to thread a needle by supporting the process while calling on unity. What looks chaotic and kind of seems counterproductive to manyits actually, in its own way, refreshing because its democracy in action, Laura Ingraham said on Wednesday night. She also went on to say that the group was playing with fire and blocking McCarthy didnt help them in the long run. And on Thursday night, she was telling the rebels that it was time to end the standoff before confronting the top ringleader of the group, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). In the end, Gaetz told Ingraham that he would resign if the Republicans struck a deal with Democrats to get McCarthy the speakership. 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. Jan. 5Pregame Gonzaga is hoping to continue its seven-game win streak into the new year. The ninth-ranked Bulldogs (12-3, 1-0 West Coast) take on San Francisco tonight at War Memorial Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. on ESPN2. It will be Gonzaga's first of three consecutive road conference games, after beating Pepperdine 111-88 in its WCC opener last Saturday. The Dons (11-6, 0-2) have had a shaky start to conference play, losing at Santa Clara 79-67 and at home to San Diego 80-68 last week. A third straight loss tonight would mark a disappointing start for USF, which were ranked third in the preseason poll and qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season. USF beat then-No. 25 Arizona State 97-60 in nonconference on Dec. 21. Gonzaga hasn't lost since a one-point defeat to Baylor on Dec. 2. The Dons will honor basketball icon Bill Russell tonight, who starred at USF from 1953-56, winning the national title twice. Russell died at age 88 in July. Series history Gonzaga holds 24 consecutive victories over San Francisco, last losing on Feb. 18, 2012. The Zags hold a 68-22 advantage in the series. Game preview Gonzaga-San Francisco key matchup: Khalil Shabazz commanding more attention as Dons' top scorer SAN FRANCISCO There's good and bad that comes with preparing for a matchup with San Francisco's Khalil Shabazz. Read more More on the Zags Gonzaga senior Drew Timme in familiar spot on Wooden Award watch list Gonzaga's Drew Timme, who has been on multiple John R. Wooden Award watch lists in his decorated career, was named to another Wednesday. The senior forward is on the midseason top 25 watch list for the prestigious player of the year award. Read more Gonzaga ninth in national title odds, Drew Timme fourth in player of year race Gonzaga is playing its best basketball of the season over the last month. Drew Timme is arguably playing the best basketball of his career. Oddsmakers don't seem overly impressed. Read more Class of 2024 standout Zoom Diallo schedules Gonzaga visit for Jan. 14-15 weekend Zoom Diallo, a standout guard in the Class of 2024, is expected take an official visit to Gonzaga on the Jan 14-15 weekend. Read more Jody Greene won reelection as Columbus County, North Carolina, sheriff and then stepped down for a second time. Jody Greene won reelection as Columbus County, North Carolina, sheriff and then stepped down for a second time. A sheriff in a small North Carolina county resigned Wednesday, marking his second time stepping down from the position since making racist comments about Black deputies in his department. Jody Greene, the embattled former sheriff of Columbus County, initially resigned from his position in October after audio surfaced of him disparaging Black deputies. But he didnt withdraw from the November election and ultimately beat out his Democratic challenger. County District Attorney Jon David filed a petition last week seeking to permanently remove Greene from office. We simply do not feel as though Jody Greene should be someone who ever carries a badge again, David said in a media release. A hearing was set to take place this week, but Greene stepped down before a judge could issue a ruling on whether he should be permanently disqualified from serving as sheriff. Local activists including Curtis Hill, chairman of the Columbus County NAACP, said they were disappointed that Greene is still eligible to be sheriff. We were thinking we were going to have an opportunity to actually hear what the prosecutor has put in his petition to remove Jody Greene, which we thought was really important for the citizens of Columbus County, Hill said in a statement. Nothing they did today will prevent him from serving in law enforcement again, and that is very troubling to me and for the citizens of Columbus County. Jeff Loperfido, interim chief counsel of voting rights at Social Coalition for Social Justice, said Greene was trying to game the system by resigning before the judge determined whether he was eligible to serve in the future. Greenes comments, which were first reported by local TV station WECT in September, were recorded during a six-and-a-half-minute phone conversation with Jason Soles, a former police captain, in February 2019. Greene referred to some employees as Black bastards. He said he would clean house and that no one could stop him because he was still the motherfucking sheriff. Soles was Greenes Democratic opponent for Columbus County sheriff last fall. Greene won with 54% of the vote. Deputy Chief David Norris will take over the position of sheriff, the county district attorney announced. ALBANY Participants charged in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol would be barred from holding office in New York under a new bill being introduced by Sen. Brad Hoylman. Unveiled on the second anniversary of the deadly siege, the Manhattan Democrats measure would block insurrectionists from serving as a member of the state legislature, an executive officer, or as a judge in the Empire State. The Restrict Insurrectionists from Office Taking, or RIOT, Act would amend the New Yorks public officers law and prohibit anyone convicted of rebellion or insurrection against the U.S. of holding civil office in the state. [This bill] will bar anyone whos acted against the sanctity of our democracy from holding elected office and sends a strong message that violence is incompatible with government service, Hoylman said. We must continue to safeguard our democracy from the extremists attempting to destroy it. Supporters of former president Donald Trump stormed the Capitol two years ago in a violent attempt to prevent the certification of the results of the 2020 election. More than 960 people, including nearly 50 New Yorkers, have so far been charged with a range of crimes from disorderly conduct to assaulting police officers. One rioter was shot and killed by police inside the Capitol while hundreds of officers sustained injuries during the insurrection. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick suffered a series of strokes and died of natural causes a day after the attack. The Washington medical examiners office determined that the events of the previous day played a role in his condition. Four other police officers who responded to the riot died by suicide in the days and weeks following the attack. A House committee that examined Trumps role ahead of the insurrection issued a final report late last month that detailed how the twice impeached former president criminally engaged in a multi-part conspiracy to overturn the election and failed to act to stop his supporters from attacking the Capitol. Among the New Yorkers charged in relation to Jan. 6 was retired NYPD cop Thomas Webster, who was sentenced last September to 10 years in prison after being convicted of attacking a police officer with a flag pole during the siege. Brooklyn plumber Daniel Christmann, who ran a failed bid for a state Senate seat in 2020, was also charged with breaching the Capitol. The 40-year-old pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. Russians are carrying out raids and threatening to ban the Ukrainian hryvnia [the Ukrainian national currency] in Kakhovka, Kherson Oblast. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Quote: "Russian occupiers are trying to prohibit the circulation of the Ukrainian hryvnia in Kakhovka, Kherson Oblast." Details: According to the General Staff, the invaders are raiding retail outlets and threatening to seize not only cash, but also goods if Ukrainian money is found. In addition, according to the information available, since 1 January, employees of the so-called military commissariats in the city of Donetsk have started collecting information about citizens born in 2006 for military registration. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Boxes of mifepristone, used in medication abortion, line a shelf at the West Alabama Women's Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The FDA announced Tuesday that it will allow retail pharmacies to sell the drug. (Allen G. Breed / Associated Press) On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration took a first step toward making abortion pills available at retail pharmacies. They released new rules outlining how both bricks-and-mortar and mail-order pharmacies can get certified to dispense mifepristone, the first pill in a medication abortion. But the agency also left in place unnecessary restrictions, showing how far we have to go in offering access. As a public health researcher and abortion safety expert, I welcome efforts to make abortion pills more easily available. Research shows that medication abortion has a safety rating of over 99%. A pregnant person should be able to simply message their primary care provider about their unintended pregnancy and get a prescription for abortion pills filled at their local pharmacy, the way we obtain many other time-sensitive prescriptions. Theres been progress. At the end of 2021, the FDA updated its rules to allow patients to receive the medications by mail following a telehealth appointment, a method that our team of researchers at UC San Francisco has found to be safe and effective. This weeks recent announcement opens the door to all pharmacies to dispense mifepristone. However, the FDA also introduced a new unnecessary regulation: that pharmacies must be certified to dispense mifepristone. This requirement has absolutely no basis in science. Pharmacies dispense thousands of other medications every day without needing a specific certification for each one. It is just another hurdle and hassle that will deter pharmacies from selling this essential medication. The FDA also kept in place a preexisting requirement that the clinician who calls in the prescription be certified, unlike prescribers for most other medications. The certification process is fairly simple, requiring that clinicians who prescribe medication abortion be able to assess the gestation of the pregnancy (which research indicates can accurately be done based on the date of the patients last menstrual period and other medical history), diagnose ectopic pregnancies and provide treatment or referrals for complications. Story continues However, certification additionally means that a clinician who wants to prescribe abortion pills using a pharmacy must submit a prescriber agreement form to the specific pharmacy location filling the prescription, which will vary based on patient choice. Having to complete this prescriber certification for every pharmacy each patient wants to go to could be too large a hurdle for some clinicians. Studies from other countries, including Canada, show that any licensed healthcare professional can prescribe mifepristone and any pharmacy can dispense the medication without compromising safety. Another unjustified FDA requirement is that patients and prescribers must sign a patient agreement form. This extra step does not exist for most other prescription medications, including ones with greater risks. Similar to a medication drug label, the patient agreement form includes useful information on signs of a complication and the small likelihood of needing an additional procedure to complete the abortion. But it is unclear why in this case both clinicians and patients must sign this form acknowledging precautions already on the drug label. Now that abortion care is virtually inaccessible in 13 states, its imperative to remove as many barriers as possible where it remains legal. #WeCount, a recent nationwide analysis that I co-led, looked at access in the first two months after last years Supreme Court decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson that removed constitutional protections for abortion. We found that states where abortion care remained legal, such as Illinois, North Carolina, New York and Florida, saw thousands more patients than they did before Dobbs. Expanding access to medication abortion can help meet these dramatic surges in demand and reduce appointment waiting times at clinics. With Roe vs. Wade overturned, anti-abortion activists are now coming after abortion pills. They know these are increasingly popular more than half of all U.S. abortions are done with medications. In November, an anti-abortion group sued the FDA to try to remove mifepristone from the market, questioning its safety using bunk science. The public should be aware of mifepristones strong record: It has been used by nearly 5 million people in the U.S. since its approval in 2000 and is safer than Tylenol or Viagra. Since the Dobbs decision, healthcare advocates have been looking to the federal government to take stronger action to protect peoples rights to bodily autonomy. President Biden directed Health and Human Services to identify all ways to ensure that mifepristone is as widely accessible as possible. That promise is still far from being fulfilled. The Biden administration can assert the FDAs authority to preempt state law on FDA-approved medications in efforts to prevent states from banning medication abortion, and explore other avenues to make the pills more available. This weeks announcement at least shows an intent to expand access through retail pharmacies. But the FDA is maintaining other restrictions on this essential medicine without medical justification. Instead of yielding to anti-abortion pressures, the FDA needs to follow the science on mifepristone. Ushma D. Upadhyay is a professor at the Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health program in the obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences department at UC San Francisco. She is co-director of the University of California Global Health Institutes Center for Gender and Health Justice. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Hailey Bieber is a full-blown aficionado of the padded shoe trend. (Getty Images/Yahoo Life UK) If the pandemic has taught us anything, its that comfort is key. From leggings as daywear to the meteoric rise of hooded blankets, it's clear that perspective has shifted on the fashion front, and now it's the turn of accessories to be introduced to the fold. Enter: the padded shoe. Now, hear me out. Admittedly, this is a bit of a bizarre one, but comfy shoe trends are nothing new. Both Crocs and Uggs have made a notable resurgence and Birkenstocks Boston clogs have hit the top 10 list of products in Lyst's fashion index for the past five quarters. What were once considered ugly shoe trends and brands have made their way to the mainstream, with a little help from some of the worlds top models. Hailey Bieber was spotted in a Loewe pair of padded boots in Aspen, Colorado on New Year's Eve. (Getty Images) Read more: What's the Coastal Grandmother aesthetic? The summer fashion trend all over TikTok And next in line is the padded shoe. Think sleeping bags or puffer jackets for your feet cosy, right? No wonder supermodels Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner decided to try the trend out for themselves at the end of last year during their holidays in snowy Aspen. Bieber sported a black cushioned black boot version of the trend whilst walking around the Colorado ski town on New Years Eve, styling the leather-look puffed boots with an oversized wool coat with padded shoulders and micro-shades, both by Saint Laurent. Hailey Bieber doubled down on the padded shoe trend in the New Year with a pair of Puma slip-on mules. (Getty Images) 41.50 55 at ASOS Read more: Opera gloves: How practical is the Met Gala's breakout red carpet trend? Straight from the catwalk, the models Loewe boots come in at 895, but several more affordable versions of the style are already available on the high street. Not quite the same as a moonboot, the padded trend doesnt discriminate between shoe styles appearing on trainers and formal slip-on versions too. Bieber demonstrated her love for the trend again just three days later when back in Los Angeles she swapped out her books for a pair of padded Puma slip-on mules. Would you wear the padded shoe trend? Try the trend Buy it: Puma Suede Mayu mules in black | 41.50 (Was 55) at ASOS 41.50 55 at ASOS Buy it: Maxi Clog | 74.99 (Was 120) at Ugg 74.99 120 at Ugg Buy it: Shaka schlaf padded slipper shoes in khaki | 60.35 (Was 129) at ASOS 60.35 129 at ASOS Buy it: Contrast Sole Padded Shoe Boots | 24 (Was 40) at BooHoo 24 40 at Boohoo Buy it: Tommy Jeans padded boots in white | 160 at ASOS 160 at ASOS Buy it: Padded trainer boots | 34.99 at H&M 34.99 at H&M Jay-Z and The Parent Company have restructured their agreement. According to a press release, an agreement between The Parent Company and Jay-Zs Roc Nation and SC Branding has been modified. With the revision, the cannabis company is expected to save nearly $33.5 million over eight years. The agreement also includes Jay-Z and affiliates and Roc Nation returning approximately 7.1 million common shares of The Parent Company. Roc Nation has agreed to forgo future The Parent Company equity payments pursuant to the original partnership and SC Branding has agreed to forego future cash and/or equity payments, the press release details. Roc Nation and JAY-Z affiliates will keep their titles as shareholders and continue to work closely with The Parent Company. Collectively, we have agreed to restructure our partnership in order to afford The Parent Company the best opportunity to execute a longstanding and successful strategy, Jay-Z said in a press statement.We are excited for the continued growth of The Parent Company and our future together in the cannabis industry. Monogram In addition, ownership of the Monogram brand will be moved to an entity under SC Branding and the Hip-Hop billionaire. The Parent Company will have an exclusive and royalty-free license that will allow them to distribute the brand across the state of California over eight years. I want to sincerely thank JAY-Z, Desiree Perez and the entire ROC team for their significant creative contributions. I look forward to continuing our exciting work together to create products and brands that address the needs of consumers in the worlds largest cannabis market, said Troy Datcher, CEO and chairman of The Parent Company, according to a press release. Importantly, this arrangement significantly reduces our ongoing financial commitments and protects shareholders from future dilution while transforming our business into a platform for future brand collaborations. We will continue to leverage our position as a world-class brand builder by working with authentic leaders and innovators in the industry. As we prepare our Company for potential national exposure, Im thrilled with the innovative brand developments we expect to roll-out in the coming months. In order to justify the effort of selecting individual stocks, it's worth striving to beat the returns from a market index fund. But even the best stock picker will only win with some selections. At this point some shareholders may be questioning their investment in Malaysia Building Society Berhad (KLSE:MBSB), since the last five years saw the share price fall 47%. It's worthwhile assessing if the company's economics have been moving in lockstep with these underwhelming shareholder returns, or if there is some disparity between the two. So let's do just that. See our latest analysis for Malaysia Building Society Berhad There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. During the five years over which the share price declined, Malaysia Building Society Berhad's earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 4.2% each year. This reduction in EPS is less than the 12% annual reduction in the share price. This implies that the market is more cautious about the business these days. The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). Dive deeper into Malaysia Building Society Berhad's key metrics by checking this interactive graph of Malaysia Building Society Berhad's earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Malaysia Building Society Berhad's TSR for the last 5 years was -33%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. Story continues A Different Perspective It's good to see that Malaysia Building Society Berhad has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 12% in the last twelve months. And that does include the dividend. That certainly beats the loss of about 6% per year over the last half decade. This makes us a little wary, but the business might have turned around its fortunes. 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. For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Malaysia Building Society Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here. We will like Malaysia Building Society Berhad better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on MY 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 PC giant Dell is diversifying its supply chain away from China. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images Dell is planning to halt the use of Chinese semiconductor chips by 2024, per Nikkei. The move also applies to chips made in the China-based factories of non-Chinese companies. The PC giant also plans to slash the amount of other made-in-China parts in its products. American tech giant Dell is planning to halt the use of Chinese semiconductor chips as soon as next year, and will slash the amount of other made-in-China parts in its products, Nikkei reported Thursday, citing three sources with direct knowledge of the matter. The move underscores a shifting of supply chains out of China as companies seek to end their reliance on the manufacturing giant as geopolitical relations between Washington and Beijing sour, and as factory operations in China continue to be hit by the country's COVID-19 policies. It's not just made-in-China chips made by Chinese companies. Dell the world's third-largest computer maker after Lenovo and HP has also told suppliers that it plans to cut its use of made-in-China chips that are produced by non-Chinese firms, according to Nikkei. Other than chips, Dell has also asked suppliers of other electronic parts such as modules and circuit boards to ramp up production capacity in countries outside China, per Nikkei. "We continuously explore supply chain diversification across the globe that makes sense for our customers and our business," Dell told Insider. Dell's supply chain strategy reflects growing concerns among companies as the the Biden administration cracks down on China's strategic chip sector which Beijing is counting on, to dominate the world's tech industry. However, in October the US imposed export controls on shipping equipment to Chinese-owned factories making advanced logic chips. In December, the US Commerce Department added Chinese memory chipmaker YMTC and 21 companies in China's artificial intelligence chip sector to a trade blacklist. To navigate Washington-China tensions, companies from Apple to Nike have been making contingency plans to shift production out of China to other low-cost locations in Asia. This is especially as Beijing's pandemic policies drove home the uncertainty of depending on just one country for their supply chains. Story continues For much of 2020 to 2022, China's strict pandemic containment measures disrupted factory operations and logistics. Even tech giant Apple was burned late last year when its iPhone output was hit by the country's zero-COVID drive. And then, Beijing abruptly rolled back its zero-COVID policy, in turn triggering a wave of infections that is wrecking havoc on economic activities in China right now. The extent of the outbreak in China is not clear because Beijing has stopped publishing COVID case numbers and deaths from December 25. However, hospitals and funeral homes are reportedly overwhelmed. Beijing only acknowledged six new coronavirus deaths since December 6, when the country U-turned on its zero-COVID policies. But Airfinity, a UK health data company, estimated on December 29 that around 9,000 are dying from COVID each day in China. Read the original article on Business Insider VOLNOVAKHA, Russia-controlled Ukraine (Reuters) - Worshippers in the eastern occupied Ukrainian town of Volnovakha on Friday marked the Russian Orthodox Christmas Eve in a makeshift chapel that was set up in a home after their church suffered shelling damage. Vera Barda, 74, said the congregation had initially met in a tent after the church was hit during what Russia calls its special military operation in Ukraine. "I offered the priest (my place) saying there was a stove and electricity, so it was warmer than in a tent ... he agreed at once and in three weeks we restored everything," she said. During the service, carried out in a converted cramped room decked out in icons, an Orthodox priest dressed in a ceremonial white robe burned incense while the mainly elderly congregation made the sign of the cross. (Reporting by Reuters, editing by David Ljunggren and Grant McCool) Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in an interview with Bret Baier at Fox News on Thursday. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images) Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg deftly shut down accusations raised by Fox News anchor Bret Baier on Thursday about bringing his husband on an international presidential delegation, asking why it should be any different from trips taken by other government officials with their spouses. Appearing as a guest on Baiers show, Buttigieg was questioned about his travel arrangements and use of government jets, including an incident from last April that has been criticized by conservative media outlets in which Buttigiegs husband, Chasten, accompanied him to the Invictus Games, a multi-national sporting event for wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women founded in 2014 by Britain's Prince Harry. You also brought your husband, Chasten, on a military aircraft to attend a sporting event in Netherlands, Baier said in a video clip of the exchange that is racking up millions of views on Twitter. When asked if that travel was reimbursed, Buttigieg, a veteran and former U.S. Navy intelligence officer, said, Of course not. I led a presidential delegation to support American wounded warriors and injured service members the Invictus Games as has been tradition for many years, Buttigieg said. I led the American delegation as one of the great honors of my time in this job, and the diplomatic protocol on a presidential delegation is that the principal is often accompanied by their spouse. But heres what I want you to understand, he continued. Before me, it was the Secretary of the Army under President Trump who took that trip with his wife. Before that, it was Mrs. Trump as first lady who went to the Invictus Games. Before that, Mrs. Obama did the same thing. And I guess the question on my mind is: If no one's raising questions about why Secretary [Mark] Esper and his wife led that delegation, as well they should have, then why is it any different when its me and my husband? Baier responded, Understood, before quickly switching to the next question. Story continues At the U.S. Embassy in the Netherlands before the Invictus Games on April 15, 2022, front row from left: Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.; the Duchess of Sussex; Prince Harry; Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg; Chasten Buttigieg. (Handout/Chris Allerton/Invictus Games Foundation via Getty Images) Buttigieg, who was the first openly gay man to become a major contender for the Democratic Partys presidential nomination, has frequently encountered commentary in the conservative media related to his sexual orientation. During his presidential campaign, conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh said the United States was "not ready to elect a gay guy kissing his husband." In November, Chasten Buttigieg defended his husband after Fox News host Tucker Carlson claimed the transportation secretary had lied about being gay. A column full of homophobic tropes was published in the National Review shortly after the Buttigiegs became parents in 2021. By Akriti Sharma and Abinaya V (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc is exploring options for some early-stage treatments for rare diseases and cancer in a bid to focus on "high-impact" medicines and vaccines, the company said on Thursday. The U.S. drugmaker said these options included collaborations with other drug developers for these medicines, or establishing a new company. Pfizer now plans to focus on internally developing rare disease treatments using technologies such as gene editing, it said, while exploring external opportunities for early-stage gene therapy programs and its cancer-focused research facility in Boulder, Colorado. It would also seek to externally advance its gene therapy facility in Durham, North Carolina, the drugmaker said. That would free the company, which has been investing heavily in its internal pipeline of medicines and striking deals to boost revenue, to focus its internal portfolio of experimental treatments to areas where the company thinks it is "best-positioned". "We believe these actions will position us to lead the industry in reaching more patients," a company spokesperson said in an emailed statement, adding that depending on the externalization approaches taken, Pfizer may maintain ties to some of these programs through strategic investments. Pfizer in August 2022 announced a $5.4 billion deal for sickle cell disease drugmaker Global Blood Therapeutics, months after its $11.6 billion deal for Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding. Financial newspaper Barron's first reported on Pfizer's plans on Thursday. (This story has been corrected to say value for Global Blood Therapeutics deal is $5.4 billion, not $4.5 billion, in paragraph 7) (Reporting by Manas Mishra, Akriti Sharma, Abinaya Vijayaraghavan and Shubhendu Deshmukh in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Akanksha Khushi; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Nivedita Bhattacharjee) The Wall Street Journal is urging Phoenix police to investigate after one of its Black reporters was handcuffed and detained while working on an assignment on the citys north side. Phoenix police officials told NBC News on Thursday that the department has agreed to a probe after Editor-in-Chief Matt Murray wrote a letter dated Dec. 7 to Phoenix Police Chief Michael Sullivan expressing concerns regarding the incident. On Nov. 23, Dion Rabouin, who covers finance for the Wall Street Journal, was detained in a police car while conducting interviews outside a Chase Bank. An officer accused the reporter of trespassing and took him into custody. Were deeply concerned that Wall Street Journal reporter Dion Rabouin was detained, handcuffed and placed in the back of a police vehicle while reporting, a Journal spokesperson said in a statement. No journalist should ever be detained simply for exercising their First Amendment rights. Rabouin was interviewing passersby for a story about savings accounts when a pair of employees walked up to him, asked what he was doing and went back inside, he told ABC affiliate KNXV. He said the employees did not ask him to leave. Soon, Police Officer Caleb Zimmerman approached and told Rabouin he was trespassing, he said. I saw a police car pull up. And the officer came out, walked into the branch, after about five minutes came out and talked to me, Rabouin recalled to KNXV, adding that he told the officer he did not know that the sidewalk was private property. He asked me what I was doing. I identified myself. I said, Im Dion Rabouin. Im a reporter for The Wall Street Journal. Im working on a story. I told the people in the branch what was going on. And he said, Well you cant do that. Rabouin told KNXV that Zimmerman wouldnt look at his credentials and he told the officer he would leave, but Zimmerman blocked him when he tried to walk away. After we talked a little more, he said, Im done with this, Rabouin recalled. And he started grabbing me. Grabbing at my arms. And I was kind of flustered and drew back. And he was like, This could get bad for you if you dont comply and dont do what I say. So he grabs my arms and really wrenches them behind my back and proceeds to put me in handcuffs. Story continues Katelyn Parady, a bystander, said she saw the situation unfolding and began recording on her cellphone. Footage showed Rabouin speaking to the officer while detained in the patrol car with his hands behind his back. A Phoenix Police Department spokesperson told NBC News that bank personnel called the police after customers complained Rabouin was approaching them and asking personal questions. Zimmerman wrote in a police report that Rabouin had refused to leave the property or show him identification. Rabouin was ultimately let go. A spokesperson for Chase Bank said that officials have apologized to Rabouin directly, but would not comment on the employees actions. Follow NBCBLK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A cat poses in a window at Hostomel Animal Shelter in Hostomel, Ukraine A cat poses in a window at Hostomel Animal Shelter in Hostomel, Ukraine The Russian invasion of Ukraine has taken a huge toll on Ukrainians. Millions have been forced from their homes, and tens of thousands have been killed. Cities and towns are destroyed beyond recognition. And as the people of Ukraine and the world try to make sense of a senseless war, some victims cannot do so. Wildlife, farm animals and house pets, unable to evacuate from nonstop barrages of Russian artillery, are also caught up in the conflict that is tearing apart everything familiar around them be it forest, farm or house. A massive effort to rescue animals materialized as the war started and became a horrifying part of life in Ukraine. Thousands of animal rights activists, volunteers and other people found themselves in a position to lend a helping hand. Just as they did at the start of the war on Feb. 24, 2022, they wake up every day with a single mission to save another innocent being. Asia Sepinska, 77, sits in the kitchen that doubles as her office surrounded by several dogs. Dogs are everywhere; there is a German shepherd napping on a chair across from her; others run in and out of the kitchen into a large space that used to be a dairy farm that now hosts cats, chickens and other animals. Some try to sit on her lap or at least put their heads on her knees. This year, her shelter celebrated its 22nd birthday. It all started with Sepinskas visit to a government-run shelter in Borodyanka in 1999. The conditions there were so abhorrent and inhumane that they made a lasting impact on her. It was absolutely terrible, she said. Dogs were standing in mud mixed with their own excrement and snow. They werent fed. They were not being looked after. She recalled that the workers at the Borodyanka shelter didnt seem to care for animals at all. Dogs were eating each other, killing each other it seemed to her that they were brought there to die, and in the most horrific way imaginable. Story continues Asia Sepinska, 77, sits surrounded by dogs at her animal shelter in Hostomel, Ukraine. Asia Sepinska, 77, sits surrounded by dogs at her animal shelter in Hostomel, Ukraine. Maria Vronska, 24, helps her grandmother Asia Sepinska run the Hostomel Animal Shelter in Hostomel, Ukraine. Maria Vronska, 24, helps her grandmother Asia Sepinska run the Hostomel Animal Shelter in Hostomel, Ukraine. In May 2000, Sepinska opened the doors to her own shelter, hoping to provide ethical treatment and a loving home to all the street dogs she could find. She has managed to keep her shelter open since then. Her granddaughter, Maria Vronska, 24, now helps run it. They manage to support the operations with grants, individual donors and support from the city of Kyiv. Before the full-scale Russian invasion began last February, the shelter was taking care of about 870 dogs. The city of Hostomel, just northwest of Kyiv, saw some of the wars fiercest fighting, and the shelter wasnt spared from the shelling. More than a hundred dogs ran away or were killed by shrapnel. A few projectiles landed right on the property, damaging buildings and fences and killing animals. On the morning of Feb. 24, Sepinska rushed from Kyiv to Hostomel, worrying not about what could happen to her but to the animals under her care. As people rushed in the opposite direction, she traveled against traffic to make it back to her shelter. Miraculously, she was able to catch a ride to Irpin and then to Hostomel as the active fighting on the outskirts of Kyiv started. The following day, the Russians controlled the area. The Russian National Guard set up camp right next to Sepinskas property line, and the day after, on Feb. 26, the Russians were heavily shelled by Ukrainian artillery. Her property didnt have a bomb shelter of any kind, or even a basement. All the remaining shelter workers could do was hide inside the massive farm building and hope for the best. The shelling continued for another five weeks. The electricity was cut off, and the shelters water pump stopped running. They had no heat, electricity or water for the entire Russian occupation, which lasted a month and a week. Everyone had to stay put to avoid being killed by Russian soldiers. People were shot at for just walking on the street, Sepinska recalled. We had a body laying outside of the gates for five weeks, and nobody picked him up. For water, they melted ice, collected snow and prayed for rain. We didnt stop our work for one day, she said. Maryna Shumeiko, 46, holds an injured cat that was rescued after the Russian occupation of Kyiv at her shelter, CatDog, in Ivankiv, Ukraine. Maryna Shumeiko, 46, holds an injured cat that was rescued after the Russian occupation of Kyiv at her shelter, CatDog, in Ivankiv, Ukraine. On March 30, Russian soldiers stormed the shelter. They suspected that Sepinska and her team had been feeding the Ukrainian armed forces information about Russian units in the area. There were four people living on the premises, and the Russians found a hidden cell phone. After locking the three women in a back room, they took the only man with them, giving him a beating in front of everyone. The next morning, he was back. Bruised and tortured, but alive. The Russians retreated that day and left Hostomel. When Sepinska saw Ukrainian troops entering town on the following day, she broke down in tears. Now Sepinskas shelter has over 600 dogs and about a hundred cats, many of them saved from abandoned apartments and the streets after the occupation was over. But not all pets could be saved, and the survivors still have a tough life ahead of them as it gets harder to find people who want to take older and injured dogs Sepinskas specialty. Traumatized and often injured, animals that were abandoned or ran away often need much greater care. Maryna Shumeiko, 46, has been caring for pets like this since the first day of the war. Shumeiko is one of the founders of an animal shelter with the unassuming name CatDog in Ivankiv, a town about 50 miles from Kyiv. CatDog operates out of a small building donated by the town and depends on money from the local budget, which is never enough, as well as donations, grants and pure enthusiasm. Shumeiko is known as a fierce fighter for animal rights and animal sterilization, which often goes against the school of thought about how animals should be treated, particularly in rural Ukraine. During the occupation, people were fearful of venturing beyond their gates, at risk of getting shot by Russian soldiers. Shumeiko, however, would go to the shelter every day to feed the animals that were already there. Maryna Shumeiko, 46, works at her animal shelter, CatDog, in the village of Ivankiv, Ukraine. Maryna Shumeiko, 46, works at her animal shelter, CatDog, in the village of Ivankiv, Ukraine. Shumeiko would wait for a quiet moment between the artillery barrages, then hop on her bike and head toward the small red brick house where 17 dogs and 27 cats were waiting for her. I had a little icon in my backpack, and it protected me, she said. Not only has she been taking care of the animals in her shelter and her home, but she also feeds the pets left behind by neighbors who fled. I went on Facebook and wrote a judgmental post saying that I dont approve of it but Ill help you take care of your pets, she said. Shumeiko rescued five animals during the occupation that were either abandoned or had run away, probably scared of noises from the bombings, and has been taking care of every living soul she can find. But the work after liberation has been like nothing shes seen before. People started bringing wounded animals from all around the region. She had to find extra help from a veterinarian in Kyiv who would come and volunteer once a week. She also had to find a new home to accommodate all the animals coming in. European interest in rescuing Ukrainian pets picked up this year because of the war. But without an official mechanism in place to facilitate these adoptions, everything landed on volunteers and activists trying to find better homes for the rescued animals. The only proven way to deliver a pet to a new owner often, someone found via the internet in Western Europe would be to dispatch a person carrying a fully vaccinated and sterilized animal across the western border of Ukraine, either on a train, car or bus. Dogs wait in outdoor shelters at Sirius animal shelter in Fedorivka, Ukraine. Dogs wait in outdoor shelters at Sirius animal shelter in Fedorivka, Ukraine. Workers distribute food to dogs at Sirius animal shelter in Fedorivka, Ukraine. Workers distribute food to dogs at Sirius animal shelter in Fedorivka, Ukraine. A dachshund named Trudy who was in Shumeikos care during the occupation was the first to travel to Germany this way. Immediately after Ivankiv was back under Ukrainian control, Shumeiko headed to Kyiv with the injured dog in a crate, making the first leg of the journey to Trudys new family in Germany. After a seven-hour trip to the capital, which usually takes about an hour, Shumeiko put her first adoptee on a bus, accompanied by a volunteer who was taking several dogs across the border to their new homes. Since then, 11 dogs that went through Shumeikos shelter have been welcomed into new homes across Europe. Its a monumental task to deliver each of them to their new owners, but for the volunteers, each time means another life was saved. The process of bringing an animal across the western border of Ukraine can be tricky. During the first weeks of the war, amid the mass exodus, papers for animals being brought into the EU werent required. By the summer, the situation had changed and it became increasingly difficult to bring more than one or two pets over without supporting documents. For volunteers and organizations trucking rescue animals to European shelters or directly to new owners, it became a problem. They werent let across the land border with Poland and had to return to Ukraine. There were reported incidents of people in distress releasing scared animals into the fields near the Polish border. These organizations started withdrawing from the Poland-Ukraine border, partly because it became impossible to do their work and partly because interest in adopting a pet from Ukraine started fading. A stray dog runs along the road near a bridge that was destroyed near Irpin, Ukraine. A stray dog runs along the road near a bridge that was destroyed near Irpin, Ukraine. Now all shelters in Europe are overwhelmed with Ukrainian rescue animals, said Victoria Shaulska, a volunteer with the German nonprofit Save A Life Today. Shaulska had been working on finding new homes for rescue pets from Ukraine long before the war and saw the jump in enthusiasm and then a gradual decline during the war. Over the past eight years, Save A Life Today has found homes for around 7,600 dogs and cats in Germany, but the war changed everything. First, there was an explosion of desire to house pets from Ukraine, then a gradual decline. Pragmatic Germans are now worried to take on an additional member of the family, Shaulska said. Cynthia van de Kamp, 24, has felt this declining interest as well. She and her husband, Vadim, have become accidental animal activists during the war. They moved to Ukraine two months before the full-scale invasion, and a couple of weeks into the war, they found it impossible to focus on their work. Both of them were working remotely for a call center in Poland and took time off to find a cause for which they could be useful. Scanning the Telegram channels of volunteer organizations, they saw an unaddressed request for help with animals. Before the war, van de Kamp and her husband had two rescues and had just taken in a third a pitbull named Dio who arrived from Turkey, where he was facing a bleak future as a banned breed. Dio arrived at Kyiv Boryspil airport a few hours before the airspace was closed for civil aviation, as the first Russian missiles were on the way to their Ukrainian targets. The big war has started, and they wanted to help. Cynthia van de Kamp, 24, near SOS Kyiv animal shelter, where she volunteers. Cynthia van de Kamp, 24, near SOS Kyiv animal shelter, where she volunteers. Van de Kamp found her schedule full of tasks at one particular shelter, SOS Kyiv, finding and delivering cat food, picking up runaway dogs or saving abandoned pet rats from occupied Bucha. On top of that, they were delivering food and humanitarian aid to people in need. Anything we could do, we did, she recalled of the first weeks of volunteering. By summer, their little group had grown to six people and had picked up some steam. They chose the name Van De Kamp Group, made a website, and opened some social media channels for fundraising. The scope of their work expanded, and they delivered food and medicine to recently liberated territories and helped the military with supplies all while still rescuing animals. Their expenses also grew. In June and July, Van de Kamp also started seeing a decline in foreign enthusiasm. I guess it became boring for the people outside of Ukraine, she said, having noticed that YouTube videos and Instagram posts asking for help were not getting as much attention as before. Less and less people were watching videos, less and less people were donating. With the war continuing to be a very grim reality, larger organizations and nonprofits have developed some mechanisms to aid animals. Most large international organizations have representation in Ukraine and help local shelters and animal rescue efforts. However, the main goal for Ukrainian shelters is to find homes for animals suffering because of the war. I want to find them as many European and foreign families as possible, said Oleksandra Mezinova, 53, a Ukrainian animal rights activist and the founder of Sirius, the largest animal shelter in Ukraine, which hosts about bout 3,200 dogs and more than 300 cats, as well as two chickens and a hedgehog named Eugenia. We have a war going on, and our lives, as well as our animals lives, are uncertain. Mezinova founded Sirius on a farm she rented in 1999. She was running it out of her own pocket for about three years before the first donations started coming in. Now, the shelter gets by on a combination of her teams enthusiasm and donations, as well as grants and organizational support. Oleksandra Mezinova at the Sirius shelter in Fedorivka, Ukraine Oleksandra Mezinova at the Sirius shelter in Fedorivka, Ukraine Fedorivka, where Sirius shelter is located, was occupied early in the war. Facing the terrifying prospect of hundreds of animals starving to death, Mezinova took it upon herself to go to the Russian soldiers and convince them to grant her permission to drive around nearby villages looking for food from local farms. This gave her a bit more freedom under the occupation, but the risks were still great. Every time I was heading out, Id leave the instructions to the staff what to do if I dont return, Mezinova recalled. She came to terms with the fact that she could be killed on the road by the occupying Russian forces, like so many other civilians. Once, it nearly came to that. On March 22, while traveling in her minivan with two co-workers, Mezinova was stopped at a checkpoint by Russian soldiers who accused them of spying for the Ukrainians. Shelling erupted during the interrogations. Seeking cover with the Russian soldiers, they were first led into a nearby warehouse and then thrown into a basement. There, the three of them sat holding hands, confident that this was the last day of their lives. And you know whats funny? We were asking each other what each of us was thinking about, and every one of us said: that the dogs will go hungry. Eventually, Mezinova and her colleagues were released. At the shelter, cut off from the world no electricity, water or internet Mezinova found a way to communicate through a hidden cell phone. Typing up text messages throughout the day and saving them on her phone, she would walk over to a spot on a hill nearby where she could find a signal and send the messages out. Mezinovas assistant in Kyiv would receive the messages and resend them to a wide network of animal rights organizations and political parties across Europe, which started a campaign to help her shelter. One of the rescue dogs in the Sirius shelter. One of the rescue dogs in the Sirius shelter. This activity could have cost Mezinova her life, especially because she wasnt only passing on information about the needs of the shelter, but was also sharing intelligence on Russian movements in the area. As a result of her activism and cries for help, a stream of volunteers working for animal organizations from all over Europe started making their way to Sirius immediately after the region was liberated by the Ukrainian Army at the beginning of April. There was help coming to feed the animals and to find them new homes in Ukraine or elsewhere in Europe. If the percentage of Ukrainian pets adopted by people outside of Ukraine was only about 10% before the war, by mid-summer, it reached 70%. Though enthusiasm for Ukrainian animals started dwindling at the end of the summer, the number of animals coming to Sirius doors hasnt let up. We dont say no, Mezinova exclaimed. Every time Ukraine liberates a part of its territory, the shelter expects a new stream of animals. The last wave came from the Kherson area in November. Sirius is well-known by the military and volunteers, and many think of it first when it comes to finding an animal shelter. And even though Sirius, as well as most shelters in Ukraine, are way over capacity, Mezinova is looking forward to tomorrow. I hope well finish the cat house soon, contrary to Putins plans, she said laughing, standing in the middle of the half-built structure among dozens of cats who are waiting for their new homes in Ukraine, Europe or elsewhere. Photo: Rob Kruyt. Warning: This story talks about sexual assault and may be distressing to some readers. A Surrey man claims he was groomed for sexual abuse from an early age and then sexually assaulted hundreds of times by a man who was a Scout leader and United Church volunteer. A notice of civil claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court by S.C. alleges Jens Binderup Jensen also took advantage of his work in hotels to access rooms where the alleged assaults took place. The suit, filed Aug. 22, names as defendants Binderup, Scouts Canada, the United Church of Canada and Board of Trustees of the School District No. 39 Vancouver. The claim calls the aforementioned the youth group defendants. Also named as defendants: Nurmann Holdings Ltd, La Concha Holdings Ltd., La Concha Motel Ltd., Langley City Motor Inn Ltd., Aldergrove Motor Inn Ltd., the Estate of Isaac Sawatsky, the Estate of Nita Sawatsky and Best Western International, Inc. doing business as Best Western Hotels & Resorts. The claim refers to the businesses as the hotel defendants. Only the school board responded to Glacier Media's inquiries. The allegations The claim alleges S.C. in 1982 then five years old joined a Scouts Beavers group in East Vancouver when he was a Renfrew Elementary School student. The claim said the school district exercised control of the school property with regard to the plaintiff, people invited to the property and activities on the premises. Jensen was a Beavers volunteer, the claim said. It was that year, the claim alleges, that Jensen began the grooming. According to the court documents, he did that by developing trust, inserting himself in the childs personal life, giving his mother drugs and alcohol, desensitizing the child to his touch, introducing sexual topics and making threats of harm and demands for secrecy. The claim said escalating behaviour from 1982 through the mid-1990s included kisses, touching, invitations to touch, shaving the childs genitals, oral sex and anal penetration. At one point, the claim said, a hotels housekeeping staff found bloodied sheets from a room in which the boy and Jensen had been. It asserts the hotel failed to take steps to protect the child. The court documents further state the Langley and Aldergrove hotels failed to suspend or fire Jensen as a possible risk to the plaintiff or other children. The claim said the situation would not have occurred but for the activities organized at church, school and hotel premises. The vulnerable child living in poverty, according to the claim, was in a position of dependency on Jensen. The claim said Jensen used his status as an employee of the hotel defendants to host local chapter meetings of the North America Man/Boy Love Association or NAMBLA in Langley and Aldergrove. NAMBLA is a pedophilia and pederasty advocacy organization, the claim said. The claim said the defendants individually or collectively knew or ought to have known the risks Jensen posed to children in his care but failed to take steps to prevent harm. The claim notes 28 areas of injury, including depression, PTSD, homelessness, anger, work instability, diminished educational capacity, substance use problems, low self-esteem, nightmares and sexual dysfunction. None of the allegations have been proven in court. School board response Spokesperson Patricia MacNeil said the Vancouver School Board (VSB) cannot speak to the case particulars out of respect for the court process. The VSBs utmost priority is the safety and well-being of students, MacNeil said. Every step is taken to safeguard such. There are processes in place for educators and others charged with a duty-of-care to report concerns/suspected incidents. If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, help is available. In an emergency, call 9-1-1 In a crisis, call 1-800-563-0808 To report a person under 19 who needs protection to the Ministry of Children and Family Development, call 310-1234 (no area code required) You can find a full list of resources on the B.C. governments website. Jan. 5This report reflects public Pittsburg County District Court records filed at the Pittsburg County Courthouse between the dates listed. The reader should keep in mind that these are charges, and not evidence of guilt. Active arrest warrants issued by the court are included in this report. Dispositions of charges are published in subsequent reports. Many names are similar and, in some cases, identical to a person not being charged. When names are identical, the News-Capital will publish a disclaimer, which more completely identifies the person being charged. CRIMINAL MISDEMEANOR FILINGS: Chad Edward Lightle, 46, McAlester Possession of controlled dangerous substance Jesse Edward Perkins, 56, McAlester Possession of controlled dangerous substance Eric Chavez, 21, Muskogee Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, driving with license cancelled/suspended/revoked Linsey Nicole Collins, 35, Hartshorne Public intoxication Jared Alwyn McLemore, 31, McAlester Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol William A. Monroe, 75, Dow Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol Robdrick Wesleon Halton, 26, Longview, Texas Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol Chayse Alexander Riggins, 21, McAlester Public intoxication Cody James Hicks, 30, McAlester Knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property, carrying weapons Kristi Leann Ivy, 50, Keota Possession of controlled dangerous substance Samantha Oldman, 33, McAlester Trespassing after being forbidden Steven Vestal, 51, Stuart Petit larceny, breaking and entering dwelling without permission Blair Andrew Peterson, 38, McAlester Breaking and entering dwelling without permission, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia Robert Glen Northway, 53, McAlester Protective order violation CRIMINAL FELONY FILINGS: Charlie Lee Clark, 56, Kiowa Possession of sawed of shotgun/rifle, possession of firearm after former felony conviction, possession of controlled dangerous substance x2 Story continues Bryce Wayne Day, 31, Hartshorne Possession of firearm after former felony conviction Lawanna Renee Pogue, 40, Hartshorne Burglary in the second degree x2, knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property Cody James Hicks, 30, McAlester Burglary in the second degree, knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property, carrying weapons Brett A. Whinery, 35, Indianola Grand larceny Joshua Simon, 37, McAlester Safety zones around elementary and junior high schools, child care facilities, and playgrounds Shelby David Goodnight, 31, Jackie Brannon Correctional Center Escaping from Department of Corrections MISDEMEANOR DISPOSITIONS: Jeffrey Hodge, 39, Muskogee, received an 18-month deferred sentence for actual physical control of motor vehicle while under the influence. Possession of controlled dangerous substance was dismissed against Mark Leonard West, 54, no address given Knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property and carry weapons were dismissed against Cody James Hicks, 30, McAlester and were refiled as a felony. FELONY DISPOSITIONS: None [Source] The Seattle Police Department (SPD) has arrested a man who fell asleep in a park after attacking a woman on the way to work in the Chinatown-International District. The woman was walking on the 600 block of 5th Ave. South at 6:20 a.m. on Thursday morning when the 33-year-old man repeatedly called out to her, according to SPD Blotter. The man allegedly ran up from behind the woman and attempted to strike her in the face after she told him to leave her alone. According to police, the woman dodged his attack and ran. More from NextShark: Video Allegedly Shows Asian Man Attacking Random Black Man as Revenge for Attack on Asian Woman The victim contacted 911, and officers located the attacker sleeping in Hing Hay Park. He was arrested and booked into King County Jail for assault and a warrant for misdemeanor assault. Chinatown-International District experienced the highest rate of deadly shootings in Seattle in 2022, according to crime statistics from the SPD. The community also received multiple reports of thefts, break-ins and open-air drug dealings. More from NextShark: TikTok Admits it Censored Content That Criticized China in the Past Related stories: More from NextShark: Head of NYPDs Hate Crimes Task Force reassigned amid complaints about treatment of Asian victims Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Son of Pakistani Immigrants Becomes the First Muslim American Federal Judge in US History Pittsburgh police have issued an arrest warrant for a man after a woman was found stabbed in her home. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >> Woman fatally stabbed in South Side Slopes identified According to police, 50-year-old William L. Fitzgerald is wanted for the murder of Tarae Washington. Court documents said Fitzgerald is Washingtons estranged husband. Washington was found handcuffed, stabbed to death in her home on Arlington Avenue in the South Side Slopes on Thursday night, police said. Police said family members were concerned after not hearing from Washington. They went to check on her and found her unresponsive. Anyone with information on Fitzgeralds whereabouts is asked to call Pittsburgh police at 412-323-7800 or dial 911. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Homicide charges filed against tractor-trailer driver in I-79 crash that killed student, bus driver Man arrested, charged for allegedly shooting at postal carrier in Pittsburgh Target 11 Exclusive: Pittsburgh police officers told not to follow controversial traffic stop policy VIDEO: 'A beautiful human being': Vigil held for fallen Brackenridge police chief Justin McIntire DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Police believe a Utah man killed his family of seven in their home and then himself. At a press conference on Jan. 5, authorities said Michael Haight, 43, is suspected of shooting his wife, Tausha Haight, 40, his mother-in-law, Gail Earl, 78, and their five children, ages 4 to 17. The Haight family (Facebook) The children were not named by officials, instead only identified by their ages and genders: a 17-year-old female, a 12-year-old female, a 7-year-old female, a 7-year-old male and a 4-year-old male. Officials said they responded to the home on Jan. 4 to do a welfare check after someone reported Tausha missed an appointment the day before. Police did not name a motive in the shooting, but noted that Tausha had filed for divorce on Dec. 21, 2022. Enoch City is a small town of fewer than 8,000 located 180 miles northeast of Las Vegas. Image: A home where eight people were found dead in Enoch, Utah, is pictured on Jan. 5, 2023. (Ben B. Braun / The Deseret News via AP) Mayor Geoffrey Chestnut said the deaths have shaken the close-knit community. Its not too often something like this hits pretty close to home, he said, emotional. In fact, the Haights were my neighbors, the youngest children played in my yard with my sons. This is a tremendous blow to many, many families who have spent many, many nights with these individuals who are now gone. Enoch City Manager Rob Dotson said the Haights were well-known in town. Many of us have served with them in church, in the community and gone to school with these individuals, Dotson said. This community at this time is hurting. Theyre feeling loss, theyre feeling pain and they have a lot of questions. We all can pray that their families and the neighbors and all will come to an understanding of what happened in this place, probably in a day or two, or maybe longer, he said. In a letter to parents, school officials confirmed the Haight children attended schools in the Iron County School District. At the press conference on Jan. 5, the student services coordinator for the district said their crisis response team had been mobilized and there were counselors, therapists and social workers at the schools most impacted by the tragedy. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Phoenix police Phoenix police have identified the woman who was kidnapped and killed by her boyfriend on Dec. 30 in west Phoenix as 50-year-old Marie Tachell. Officers responded to a stabbing call about 10:06 p.m. on Dec. 30 near North 103rd and North 101st avenues and discovered the victim with stab wounds. Officers provided lifesaving measures to the woman until the Phoenix Fire Department arrived to take over, but she was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Phoenix police said the woman's boyfriend, 37-year-old Bobby Montano, was detained sometime after officers found the victim. He was later booked into a Maricopa County jail on suspicion of first-degree murder and kidnapping charges, police said. According to Phoenix police Sgt. Brian Bower, authorities discovered the relationship between Montano and Tachell based on Montano's statement to police and 911 operators. Officials believe Montano and Tachell got into an argument Friday evening. Detectives are continuing to investigate the events that led to her death, officials said. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Police ID woman kidnapped and killed by boyfriend in west Phoenix After kidnapping a third Wichita Public Schools student in two days, 21-year-old Manasseh Lemuel Ward then went to work about a mile away, police said Friday. Leaving his blue car in the parking lot of the fast-food restaurant at Harry and Woodlawn helped lead to his capture. Ward is currently on probation. He was arrested Thursday on suspicion of more than 15 charges including multiple counts each of aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, criminal threat and sexual-related charges in the cases involving a middle school girl and a boy and girl in elementary school. On Wednesday afternoon, Ward reportedly kidnapped a girl walking home from Curtis Middle School. Police said the suspect forced the girl into his car and sexually assaulted her. Police never reported the incident to the public and the school district only found out about the first kidnapping after a boy and girl were kidnapped Thursday morning while walking to Clark Elementary School. Court documents filed Friday for a probation violation against Ward list his last known address as being near 13th and Oliver, but when he was arrested in that case in September 2021, he lived about a half-mile from the middle school and less than 1.5 miles from the elementary school. The boy abducted Thursday was later dropped off before the girl was released, police said. The girl was sexually assaulted, police said. When the boy was dropped off, he reported to someone at school what happened and that was then relayed to the police. Police had spotted a possible suspect vehicle a blue car at the KFC business at Harry and Woodlawn where Ward was working, Wichita police spokesperson Trevor Macy said. The boy, while being taken by police to the hospital, was driven by the car and confirmed he believed it was the one being driven by the suspect, Macy said. Police went to the business and arrested Ward after a short foot chase. Ward is on probation after being found guilty of aggravated domestic battery and domestic battery, court records show. That incident involved a domestic partner who Ward knowingly impede(d) the normal breathing of, records say. He also had been found guilty of aggravated assault in a September 2019 incident that involved a gun. He was originally put on probation in that case as well, court records show. Photo: BC NDP Glen Clark is a former B.C. premier. He led the BC NDP to victory in the 1996 election Glen Clark is no longer president and chief operating officer of the Jim Pattison Group, but chairman Jim Pattison said he is not going far. The former B.C. NDP premier retired at the end of 2022 without fanfare, but will remain on the boards of two companies in which Pattison is the largest shareholder: lumber, pulp and paper producer Canfor (CFP:TO) and coal exporter Westshore Terminals (WTE:TO). We decided a year ago that at age 65 he would retire from his job with us, Pattison said in an interview. But he's still going to be involved. Clark joined Pattisons sign division as regional manager in 2001 and rose through the ranks to become president in 2011, and chief operating officer in 2017. He's been with us 20 years, hes done a good job, but time goes by and he's getting older, said Pattison, who is 94. Hes going stay on some of our boards, as a director, and the new president is going to be Ryan Barrington Foote, who is 44. Barrington-Foote, a Simon Fraser University business administration and economics grad, joined Pattison in 2001 from KPMG as a taxation manager who advanced through the accounting department before being named executive vice-president in 2019. Clark was Pattisons right-hand man, responsible for a substantial part of Pattisons privately held corporate empire, including Canadian Fishing Co., COMAG Marketing Group, Everything Wine, Genpak, Guinness World Records, Jim Pattison Lease, Montebello, Ocean Brands, Overwaitea Food Group, Pattison Sign Group, Ripley Entertainment, Sun Rype, the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group and TNG. Clark has not responded to an interview request. Why no public announcement or retirement party for Clark? Well, I can't answer that, Pattison said. Because we didn't really anticipate, we don't consider Glen leaving the company, because he's going to be still involved with some of the things that we're doing. Former union organizer Clark was elected the NDP MLA for Vancouver-Kingsway in 1986, was appointed finance minister under Premier Mike Harcourt in November 1991 and succeeded Harcourt as B.C.s 31st premier in February 1996. He led the NDP to victory in the 1996 election over BC Liberal Gordon Campbell. The NDP finished with six more seats than the BC Liberals, who had more than two per cent more votes provincewide. In August 1999, Clark resigned in scandal over the granting of a casino licence to a neighbour who performed renovations on his East Vancouver house. The conflict of interest commissioner ruled in 2001 that he broke the conflict laws, but a BC Supreme Court judge acquitted Clark of breach of trust in 2002. Even before he was found not guilty, Pattison had hired him, on the recommendation of former NDP premier Dave Barrett. Barrett hosted a talk show on Pattisons CJOR radio for three years in the mid-1980s before turning to federal politics. Pattisons website says the company had $14 billion in 2021 sales and 49,000 employees. Kim Petras German pop star Kim Petras, who broke a record with collaborator Sam Smith to become the first trans and non-binary artists, respectively, to hit number one on Billboards Hot 100 chart, will headline Sydneys WorldPrides closing concert. Sydney WorldPride runs from February 17 to March 5, and will feature an official opening ceremony, a human rights conference, and a First Nations Gathering. The seven-hour Rainbow Republic closing concert, which will be hosted by G Flip and out Australian actor Keiynan Lonsdale, will pass the WorldPride baton to the next host city for 2025 Washington, D.C. Im so excited to be back in Sydney this year, Petras says in a video posted on her own Twitter account. So exicted to be back in Sydney. See u at Sydney WorldPrides closing concert Rainbow Republic presented by Optus on Sunday March 5 !" I remember Mardi Gras in 2019, it was the best time, and Im so ready to take it to a new level, and do it again and see you guys, Im so so excited. Petras made history in 2022 as the first trans woman to not only be in the Billboard top 10, but to be featured on a number one single Unholy which garnered Petras and Smith a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and the banger hit top spots across the globe. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, Maine, is challenging the constitutionality of a 2021 law that removed the statute of limitations for claims of child sexual abuse, allowing alleged victims of older cases to file lawsuits but the plaintiffs are pushing back. Maine removed its statute of limitations for cases of sexual abuse cases in 2000. But the law wasnt retroactive, meaning that alleged victims of older crimes werent allowed to come forward with lawsuits. That changed in the summer of 2021, when a new law made it possible for alleged victims to sue for abuse claims that had expired under the status quo. Thirteen new sex abuse lawsuits against the diocese were filed after the state lifted its statute of limitations, the Portland Press Herald reported. Victims claimed the church failed to protect them from known abusers, with some cases dating back to the 1960s. States including New York have passed legislation enabling the same kind of lawsuits. But the Portland Diocese argues that Maines law violates both the state and the U.S. constitutions, saying the law is clear that legislation imposing or creating liability may not do so retroactively. Further, if the law becomes operational, the diocese will be defending a large but currently unknowable number of cases that have been time-barred for two decades or longer, demanding, in the aggregate, tens of millions of dollars, it stated. In late November, lawyers representing the diocese filed a motion in an effort to dismiss the cases. On Tuesday, attorneys representing the 13 clients who filed lawsuits pushed back against the dioceses claims and filed an opposition to a motion for judgment, News Center Maine reported. The diocese is adding insult to injury by trying to dismiss these claims, one of their attorneys, Michael Bigos, told reporters. The motion will be argued before Superior Court Justice Thomas McKeon later this month. Its going to be a powerful argument on both sides, said Jim Burke, professor emeritus at the University of Maine School of Law. Its not done until the Supreme Court sees it. With News Wire Services LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal will require air travellers from China to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test done no more than two days before departure, the health ministry said on Friday, following other nations that have implemented such restrictions. The requirements take effect at 12 a.m. (0000 GMT) on Sunday and "airlines are responsible for complying with the measure on boarding," it said in a statement. It said that passengers on flights from China could be subject to random testing on Saturday "for genomic sequencing of the variants in circulation, in order to contribute to an adequate assessment of the epidemiological situation". Authorities around the world are imposing or considering curbs on travellers from China as COVID-19 cases there have been surging following relaxation of "zero-COVID" rules. China has rejected criticism of its COVID data. (Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; Editing by Sandra Maler) U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday applauded the results of the December jobs report, which showed slowing but still strong hiring growth that came in above expectations. These historic jobs and unemployment gains are giving workers more power and American families more breathing room, Biden said in a statement. Real wages are up in recent months, gas prices are down, and we are seeing welcome signs that inflation is coming down as well. Its a good time to be a worker in America. The U.S. added 223,000 jobs in December, beating economist expectations of 202,000, while the unemployment rate fell to its lowest since 1969 at 3.5%. In total, 4.5 million jobs were added in the U.S. throughout 2022. According to the report, the unemployment rate stands 3% for white Americans, 5.7% for Black Americans, and 4.1% for Hispanic/Latino Americans, which Biden highlighted in his statement. The unemployment rate is nearly the same for men and women, at 3.1% and 3.2%, respectively. The first two years of my presidency 2021 and 2022 were the two strongest years of job growth on record, Biden said. And in December, the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in the last 50 years. Unemployment is near record lows for Black and Hispanic Americans, and the unemployment rate for people with disabilities has never been lower in our countrys history. Job growth showed some signs of slowing in December, a potentially welcome sign for the Federal Reserve as it tries to tamp down inflation. Average monthly job gains have come down from around 600,000 at the end of 2021 to around 200,000 at last year's end, Biden said. U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about U.S.-Mexico border security and enforcement, in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 5, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque This moderation in job growth is appropriate, and we should expect it to continue in the months ahead, even as we maintain resilience in our labor market recovery, Biden said. The president stressed that while the latest jobs report indicated a positive trajectory for the U.S. economy, inflation remains a persistent issue for millions of Americans. The latest CPI print released in December showed a 7.1% annual increase in prices, which represented the second-straight month of moderation. Story continues We still have work to do to bring down inflation, and help American families feeling the cost-of-living squeeze, Biden said. We have more work to do, and we may face setbacks along the way, but it is clear that my economic strategy of growing the economy from the bottom up and middle out is working. And we are just getting started. Adriana Belmonte is a reporter and editor covering politics and health care policy for Yahoo Finance. You can follow her on Twitter @adrianambells and reach her at adriana@yahoofinance.com. Click here for the latest economic news and economic indicators to help you in your investing decisions Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Download the Yahoo Finance app for Apple or Android Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, and YouTube Mykhailo Podoliak, adviser to the President of Ukraine, stressed that Russia did not "cease fire" on Orthodox Christmas. Source: Podoliak on Twitter Details: Despite Putins announcement of the so-called "Christmas truce" supported also by the Ministry of Defence of Russia, air raid siren was sounded on 6 January all throughout Ukraine. As a result children, had to hide in cold bomb shelters, and Russians launched an attack on a fire station in Kherson. Quote: "6 January. An air raid siren sounded all throughout Ukraine. Children are in cold bomb shelters. Fire station was hit in Kherson. Such is the essence of the Russian "truce." They stab you in the back while imitating peace. So never Never take Russias words seriously. It is always a primitive and cynical deception." Background: On 6 January in the afternoon, air raid siren was sounded all throughout Ukraine and lasted for two hours. There was a fighter jet threat. Moreover, Russians have been attacking fire stations in the city of Kherson for two days in a row. There are killed and injured. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence of Russia claimed that on Friday, 6 January at 12:00, the Russian forces temporarily ceased fire in Ukraine, following Putins order. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Prince Harry says that Prince William warned him not to propose to Meghan Markle out of fear the couples relationship was moving too fast. The Duke of Sussex makes the claim in his forthcoming memoir Spare, thats been leaked ahead of its release on 10 January. In it, Harry explained that William squashed the idea that Harry and Meghan would become a foursome with him and Kate because she was an American actress after all. After telling William that he felt like their late mother, Princess Diana, helped him find Markle, Harry says that William took a step back and told his younger brother that he was taking things a bit too far. The Independent has contacted Kensington Palace for comment. Despite his brothers cautions, Harry proposed to Meghan in 2019, just over a year into their long-distance relationship. In the memoir, Harry reportedly continues by explaining how the arrangements for his wedding drove a wedge between his relationship with William, reports Page Six. When it came to choosing a venue, William was against the idea of Harry and Meghan getting married at Westminster Abbey, where he and Middleton had wed seven years prior. He also didnt want to pair to choose St Pauls Cathedral, where Princess Diana and King Charles married in 1981, because it was reportedly too grand for the pair, as per the report. Prince Harry wrote that his brother warned him against marrying Meghan Markle (AP) Prince Harry also addressed a spat between the Princess of Wales and his then fiancee, Meghan. According to Harry, Kate texted Meghan days prior to their wedding about a problem with the fit of Princess Charlottes dress. The Princess of Wales told Markle that Charlotte had burst into tears when she tried on the dress because it was too big, long and baggy. Harry writes that the pair got into a heated argument during the alterations process, which left Markle on the floor in tears. The Duke of Sussex also branded the Prince of Wales his arch nemesis and said he was left with scrapes and bruises after he was allegedly attacked by William in 2019 as their relationship broke down. Prince Harrys ghostwritten memoir was accidentally released to bookstores in Spain on Thursday (5 January) just five days before its official release. Elsewhere in the memoir, Prince Harry reportedly opens up about experiencing penile frostbite and revealed that he killed 25 people during his military service in Afghanistan. Prince Harry has admitted doing cocaine and says a woman with powers passed on a message from his dead mother. They are just a few of the dramatic claims in his autobiography Spare, which has been leaked ahead of its official release next week. Harry describes Prince William as his archnemesis, and claims his older brother and Princess Kate encouraged him to dress up as a Nazi soldier an incident he has called one of the biggest mistakes in my life. In another explosive allegation, Harry claims his brother physically attacked him during an argument in 2019 over the Duke of Sussexs marriage to Meghan Markle, who William allegedly called difficult, rude and abrasive. Harry is quoted as saying: He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dogs bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me. The palace has declined to comment on the many allegations. Key Points Prince Harry claims brother physically attacked him in row about marriage What to expect from Duke of Sussexs new book, Spare King Charles asked sons not to make his final years a misery, book reportedly claims Harry rejects suggestion he is invading his familys privacy Prince Harry finally breaks silence over rumour that James Hewitt is his real father 04:28 , Graeme Massie Prince Harry abandons royal familys mantra of never complain, never explain in new autobiography Spare. Eleanor Noyce has the story. Prince Harry memoir finally addresses rumour that James Hewitt is his real father 04:06 , Chelsea Ritschel Despite his suggestions that he may be ready to put the past behind him, Prince Harrys memoir also criticises members of his family, including his father Charles. At one point, Harry reportedly reflects on jokes his father made about his paternity, and whether he is his real father. According to Harry, the jokes were in especially poor taste considering they were made amid rumours that Charles was not his biological father. Story continues Prince Harry claims Charles joked about possibility he wasnt his real father Prince Harry recalls fight with Meghan Markle that led him to seek therapy 03:35 , Graeme Massie Duke of Sussex recalled how he got sloppily angry during a fight with his wife in his new memoir. Amber Raiken has the details. Prince Harry recalls fight with Meghan Markle that led him to seek therapy 03:06 , Chelsea Ritschel Interestingly, Harry claims the ball is in their court when it comes to whether he will travel to London for King Charles coronation in May. The Duke of Sussex confirmed that he is waiting on the royal familys decision during a trailer clip ahead of his interview with ITVs Tom Bradby. Theres a lot that can happen between now and then. But, the door is always open. The ball is in their court, he said. The comment is just one of many that Harry has made about possible reconciliations with his family in interviews in the lead-up to his books release. Everything Harry has said about the royal family in interviews about his memoir Prince Harry claims William was livid he kept beard for his wedding, calls brothers baldness alarming 02:33 , Graeme Massie At one point he actually ordered me, as the heir speaking to the spare, to shave, Harry reportedly writes in his memoir. Meredith Clark has the story. Prince Harry claims William was livid he kept beard for his 2018 wedding 02:06 , Chelsea Ritschel The accusation is just one Prince Harry levels against the Queen Consort in the memoir, as he also claims that he and his brother Prince William begged their father not to marry his longtime love. According to Harry, he was worried that Camilla would become an evil stepmother. Elsewhere in the memoir, the Duke of Sussex likens his first meeting with Camillla to getting an injection. Harry compares first meeting with Camilla to getting an injection, reports say 01:06 , Chelsea Ritschel Harry also makes a number of claims about his stepmother, Camilla Parker Bowles, in his upcoming memoir, including that she allegedly changed his bedroom at Clarence House into her dressing room. According to the duke, despite trying not to care, he couldnt help but feel upset over the transformation. I tried not to care. But especially the first time I saw it, I cared, he writes. Prince Harry claims Camilla changed his bedroom into her dressing room 00:00 , Chelsea Ritschel Elsewhere in the forthcoming memoir, Prince Harry describes an encounter that took place between his wife Meghan Markle and his sister-in-law Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, shortly before the Sussexes royal wedding in 2018. According to Harry, an issue arose among the two women after Meghan remarked to Kate that she may be suffering from baby brain, as she had just given birth to her and Prince Williams third child, son Louis. Meghan was reportedly told off for the comment, on the basis she wasnt close enough to Kate to remark on her hormones. Meghan was told off for telling Kate she had baby brain, Harry reveals in new book Prince Harry says he made the mistake of Googling Meghan Markles sex scenes in Suits Thursday 5 January 2023 23:00 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harry expressed the extreme discomfort he felt after watching Meghan Markles sex scenes in Suits. From 2011 and 2018, Markle starred as lawyer Rachel Zane in the hit legal drama opposite Patrick J Adams, who played her love interest, Mike Ross. Markle married producer Trevor Engelson just after the shows first season premiered, before getting divorced in 2014. Read more: Prince Harry says he made mistake of Googling Meghan Markles Suits sex scenes People look at these things and are entertained, says Mark Borkowski Thursday 5 January 2023 22:30 , Eleanor Noyce Analysing the medias reporting on Prince Harry and the Royal Family in a Sky News Q&A, Mark Borkowski, PR agent and crisis consultant, has stated that people look at these things and are entertained. This is a public live soap opera with some of the most famous individuals in the world, Borkowski said. And lets not forget now that Harry and Meghan are US-based. They are in California. The media there are feeding on the story. The New York Times only a few weeks ago did an op-ed on how the Royal Family should reform. Its headlines across the world. Harry opens up about losing virginity to older woman behind pub Thursday 5 January 2023 22:00 , Eleanor Noyce The Duke of Sussex has opened up about losing his virginity to an older woman in a field behind a pub. In his memoir Spare, Harry writes about how he lost his virginity to an unnamed older woman at the same age, according to the Daily Mail. He claims it took place in a field behind a very busy pub and that the woman treated him like a young stallion. Rebecca Speare-Cole has more: Harry opens up about losing virginity to older woman behind pub You didnt know her: Harry recounts disliking shaking hands with the public after Princess Dianas death Thursday 5 January 2023 21:30 , Eleanor Noyce In his forthcoming memoir, Prince Harry recalls meeting members of the public following his mothers death in 1997. Remarking that he disliked the touch of those hands, he notes struggling as he walked with Prince William amongst the crowds following Princess Dianas death. I disliked the touch of those hands. Whats more, I disliked how they made me feel guilty. Why were all of those people crying when I was neither crying nor able to cry?, he writes. I wanted to cry, and I had tried, because my mothers life had been so sad that she had felt the need to disappear, to invent that monumental farce. I remember consoling several people who were prostrated, overwhelmed, as if they had met my mother, but also thinking: The thing is that no. You act as if you had met her... but you didnt know her. Harry details the moment he learned of mother, Princess Dianas car crash Thursday 5 January 2023 21:00 , Eleanor Noyce Detailing the 1997 car accident that would prove fatal for his mother, Princess Diana, Prince Harry has revealed that his father broke the news. Prince Charles sat on the edge of the bed and put his hand on my knee, he writes, as reported by Sky News. My dear son, mum has had a car accident. There have been complications. Mum has been seriously injured and has been taken to hospital, my dear son. He would always call me dear son, but he was repeating it a lot. He spoke quietly. It gave me the impression he was in shock. Harry accuses William of attacking him in row over Meghan in leaked extracts from memoir Thursday 5 January 2023 20:30 , Eleanor Noyce Prince William physically attacked his brother and knocked him to the floor during a furious confrontation over Meghan Markle, Prince Harry claims in a series of explosive leaked revelations from his memoir, Spare. The heir to the throne grabbed his younger sibling by the collar and ripped his necklace in the encounter, according to reported extracts from copies of the book obtained ahead of its launch. It is among several extraordinary claims that lay bare the scale of the rift at the heart of the royal family which threatens to overshadow King Charles coronation. Alastair Jamieson has more: Harry book accuses William of attacking him in row over Meghan Harry claims he and William were discouraged from requesting the investigation into Dianas death be reopened Thursday 5 January 2023 20:00 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harry has claimed that he and Prince William were dissuaded from asking for the investigation into Princess Dianas death to be reopened, Sky News reports. Especially the summary conclusion, that our mothers driver was drunk and, as a result, that was the only cause of the accident. It was simplistic and absurd, the Duke of Sussex writes. Even if the man had been drinking, even if he had been drunk, he wouldnt have had any problem driving through such a short tunnel. Unless paparazzi were following him and dazzled him. Why had those paparazzi got off lightly? Why werent they in prison? Who had sent them? And why werent those people in jail either? What other reason could there be apart from corruption and cover-ups being the order of the day? We agreed on all those questions, and also what we should do next. We would issue a statement, asking jointly for the investigation to be reopened. We might call a press conference. Those who decided dissuaded us. Harrys next TV appearance confirmed for The Late Show on CBS with Stephen Colbert Thursday 5 January 2023 19:37 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harrys next TV appearance has been confirmed. He will appear on The Late Show on CBS with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday night, or Wednesday morning UK time. Harry will also be on Good Morning America on ABC with Michael Strahan. In the UK, hell be on ITV with Tom Bradby. Prince Harry claims King Charles joked about possibility he wasnt his real father in new book Thursday 5 January 2023 19:30 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harry has claimed in his new book that his father King Charles III made a poor taste joke about his paternity after meeting a mentally ill individual who believed he was the real Prince of Wales. The Duke of Sussex reflects on the incident, and his fathers passion for telling anecdotes, in his new memoir Spare, according to the DailyMail, which obtained a copy of the book ahead of its release. The highly anticipated memoir will be released on 10 January. Harry reportedly claims in the book that his father especially liked to tell a story about his visit to a mental asylum where he met a mentally ill man who claimed he was the Prince of Wales. Chelsea Ritschel reports: Prince Harry claims Charles joked about possibility he wasnt his real father Prince Harry alleges a physical attack by William in new book Spare heres how to pre-order the memoir Thursday 5 January 2023 19:00 , Eleanor Noyce From the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan to an eagerly anticipated autobiography, Spare, Prince Harry has been busy forging a media career outside the royal family. Following months of speculation, publisher Penguin Random House confirmed Harrys tell-all book will be released on 10 January 2023, in 16 different languages, plus therell be an audiobook read by the prince himself. Its safe to say we can expect explosive revelations (and accusations) in the memoir, which has been ghostwritten by Pulitzer Prize winner JR Moehringer. In an extract obtained by The Guardian five days ahead of publication, Prince Harry has reportedly claimed his brother Prince William grabbed him, ripping his necklace and knocking him to the floor during an argument over his marriage to Meghan Markle. Heres everything you need to know about the upcoming memoir: What you need to know about Prince Harrys memoir It never needed to be this way: Everything Harry has said about the royal family in memoir interviews Thursday 5 January 2023 18:50 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harrys new memoir Spare will be published on 10 January just a little over a month after his and wife Meghan Markles Netflix documentary was released amid controversy. Ghostwritten by Pulitzer Prize winner JR Moehringer, the personal and emotional book reportedly includes claims that Prince William physically attacked Harry at his London home during an argument about the Duchess of Sussex in 2019. Harry also reportedly writes that King Charles asked his sons not to make my final years a misery during a conversation that took place after Prince Philips funeral in March 2021. Everything Harry has said about the royal family in interviews about his memoir Prince Harry says woman with powers gave him message from Diana Thursday 5 January 2023 18:40 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harry says the grief of losing his mother led him to a woman with powers who gave him a message from Diana. The Duke of Sussex describes the encounter in his new autobiography Spare, which has leaked ahead of its release next week. Harry said that while he recognised the high-percentage chance of humbuggery, he ultimately decided to meet the woman because she was recommended by friends. Maanya Sachdeva has more: Prince Harry says woman with powers gave him message from his late mother Diana Prince Harry says Prince William was gone forever after he married Kate Middleton in new memoir Thursday 5 January 2023 18:30 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harry has reflected on his relationship with his older brother, Prince William, and how he felt like his sibling was gone forever after he married Kate Middleton in 2011. In his memoir Spare, which is set for release on 10 January, Harry reportedly recalled how he felt on Williams wedding day. According to an excerpt of the book published by Page Six, the Duke of Sussex wrote about saying goodbye to his brother, whose childhood nickname was Willy, and reflected on some of their memories together. The brother Id escorted into Westminster Abbey that morning was gone forever. Who could deny it? he wrote. Hed never again be first a foremost Willy. Wed never again ride together across the Lesotho countryside with capes blowing behind us. Wed never again share a horsey-smelling cottage while learning to fly. Who shall separate us? Life, thats who. Amber Raiken reports: Harry says William was gone forever after he married Kate Middleton in new memoir King Charles asked Harry and William not to make my final years a misery, reports say Thursday 5 January 2023 18:20 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harry has reportedly claimed King Charles asked him and William not to make my final years a misery at Prince Philips funeral last year. Details about the conversation between Charles and his sons are believed to be part of the Duke of Sussexs forthcoming memoir Spare, which will be released next week. According to The Guardian, which said it had obtained a copy of the book ahead of publication on 10 January, Spare includes Harrys unsparing retelling of private scenes and conversations between senior royals. Maanya Sachdeva reports: Charles asked Harry and William not to make my final years a misery, reports say Prince Harry claims King Charles told Diana his work was done after duke was born in new memoir Thursday 5 January 2023 18:10 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harry claimed that his father, King Charles III, once told first wife Princess Diana that his work was done after the Duke of Sussex was born. In an excerpt of his new memoir, Spare, released by The Guardian, Harry described how his father reacted to the birth of his second son in 1984. Harrys older brother, Prince William, was born two years earlier in 1982. According to the publication, Harry wrote about the day of his birth and recalled a comment that his father told his wife: Wonderful! Now youve given me an heir and a spare my work is done. Amber Raiken reports: Prince Harry claims King Charles told Diana his work was done after duke was born UK bookshops agreed on Spare embargo to avoid early release Thursday 5 January 2023 18:00 , Eleanor Noyce UK bookshops state that they are under a strict embargo to ensure that Harry, The Duke of Sussexs autobiography is not released early. According to PA, dozens of independent bookshops are yet to receive their copies. One owner of a shop in north London reported that they had signed a document ensuring that the book is not released ahead of schedule. Many further reported that they are unlikely to receive the book until late on Monday ahead of its Tuesday release. One owner described these lengths as ridiculous. Meghan apologised to Kate over baby brain comment in run-up to Sussexes wedding Thursday 5 January 2023 17:50 , Eleanor Noyce The Duchess of Sussex upset Kate, now Princess of Wales, by remarking that she must have baby brain in the run-up to the Royal Wedding in 2019. Harry writes that Meghan apologised, his upcoming memoir, Spare, details. The Duke of Sussex states that Meghan made the comment during a phone call concerning wedding rehearsals, according to The Suns translation of a leaked Spanish copy of the book. Kate had recently given birth to Prince Louis, suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition caused by hormone imbalance, during all three of her pregnancies. Harry claims that during this altercation Kate admitted to making Meghan cry. According to the memoir, Meghan apologised to Kate, stating that this is how she speaks to her friends. Prince William, now the Prince of Wales, then pointed a finger at Meghan, saying: Well, its rude, Meghan. These things are not done here. Chelsea Ritschel has more: Meghan was told off for telling Kate she had baby brain, Harry reveals in new book Harry writes of losing his virginity to an unnamed older woman behind a very busy pub' Thursday 5 January 2023 17:40 , Eleanor Noyce In his upcoming memoir, Spare, The Duke of Sussex has opened up about losing his virginity to an older woman. According to the Daily Mail, he claims that it took place behind a very busy pub and that the woman treated him like a young stallion. Harry writes that one of the Royal Familys bodyguards Marko paid him a visit when he was a pupil at Eton College in Windsor. He told him that he had been sent to find out the truth. I suspected he was referring to my recent loss of virginity, a humiliating episode with an older woman who liked macho horses and who treated me like a young stallion, Harry details. I mounted her quickly, after which she spanked my ass and sent me away. One of my many mistakes was letting it happen in a field, just behind a very busy pub. No doubt someone had seen us. In an interview with The Times in December, actor and model Liz Hurley denied circulating rumours that she had taken Harrys virginity. Not me. Not guilty. Ha!, she remarked. Willy and Harold and the cursed dog bowl: How a sibling scrap threatens to topple the royal family Thursday 5 January 2023 17:30 , Eleanor Noyce I landed on the dogs bowl. Pieces cut into me. That particular detail in Harrys account of his scrap with his elder brother struck a rather tragi-comic note of bathos. It also gave the story the ring of truth, especially as we hear rumours that Prince William has a bit of a temper on him, rather surprising given his serene, slightly self-effacing public persona. He is alleged to have laid into Meghan verbally difficult, rude, abrasive and then it is claimed that he physically laid into his younger brother. It conjures up quite a disturbing image, this princely fracas, and is made all the more poignant as Harry uses their pet names: Willy and Harold. Sean OGrady has more: Willy and Harold and the cursed dog bowl could topple the royal family | Sean OGrady It never needed to be this way: Everything Harry has said about the royal family in memoir interviews Thursday 5 January 2023 17:20 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harrys new memoir Spare will be published on 10 January just a little over a month after his and wife Meghan Markles Netflix documentary was released amid controversy. Ghostwritten by Pulitzer Prize winner JR Moehringer, the personal and emotional book reportedly includes claims that Prince William physically attacked Harry at his London home during an argument about the Duchess of Sussex in 2019. Harry also reportedly writes that King Charles asked his sons not to make my final years a misery during a conversation that took place after Prince Philips funeral in March 2021. Read more: Everything Harry has said about the royal family in interviews about his memoir The Windsors? More like The Jeremy Kyle Show Thursday 5 January 2023 17:10 , Eleanor Noyce Whod have thought The Windsors would become an aristocratic version of The Jeremy Kyle Show? Well, anyone, to be honest; the crowns been slipping for years already. Long before Harry started snitching on his big brother, the royal familys public exposes, scandals, betrayals, disclosures and petty humiliations have turned the conditions that created the late Queens infamous annus horrriblis of 1992 into business as usual. Katie Edwards writes: Opinion: The Windsors? More like The Jeremy Kyle Show Prince Harry admits doing cocaine as teenager to feel different Thursday 5 January 2023 17:03 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harry has admitted taking cocaine when he was 17 years-old. In his new autobiography Spare, the Duke of Sussex explained that he took the illegal drug to feel different. Of course I had been taking cocaine at that time, Sky News quotes from the leaked book. At someones house, during a hunting weekend, I was offered a line, and since then I had consumed some more. It wasnt very fun, and it didnt make me feel especially happy as seemed to happen to others, but it did make me feel different, and that was my main objective. To feel. To be different. I was a seventeen-year-old willing to try almost anything that would alter the pre-established order. Read more: Prince Harry admits doing cocaine as teenager to feel different Prince Harrys memoir Spare accidentally goes on sale in Spain days before release Thursday 5 January 2023 16:10 , Andy Gregory Prince Harrys highly anticipated memoir Spare has accidentally gone on sale in Spain, days before the official publication date on 10 January, my colleague Thomas Kingsley reports. The memoir, titled En La Sombra in Spanish, translates to In the Shadow, and has Principe Harry at the top of the cover with his close-up shot on the front. One Spanish shopper bought two hardback copies of the book from the shelves, for a total of around 20, The Sun reported. Images published by The Sun show the book open on a page bearing a black-and-white photo of the Duke as a young boy with his mother, Princess Diana, alongside the words Primera parte - Desde la noche que me envuelve, or Part one - Since the night that surrounds me. Prince Harrys memoir Spare accidentally goes on sale in Spain days before release Prince Harry says he killed 25 people in Afghanistan during tour of duty Thursday 5 January 2023 15:39 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has reportedly claimed in his forthcoming autobiography that he killed 25 people when he was an Apache helicopter pilot during his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, writes my colleague Jane Dalton. He flew on six missions that resulted in the taking of human lives, something of which he is neither proud nor ashamed, The Telegraph reported. In the heat of combat, the prince did not think of the 25 as people but instead as chess pieces that had been taken off the board. Prince Harry says he killed 25 people in Afghanistan on tour of duty Close your eyes and you wont feel it: Harry compares first meeting Camilla to getting an injection Thursday 5 January 2023 15:15 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry reportedly compares his first meeting with stepmother and now Queen Consort Camilla to getting an injection in his new book, my colleague Maanya Sachdeva reports. According to MailOnline, which said it obtained copies of the book after it was accidentally released in Spain, Charless sons did not stand in the way of his relationship with Camilla, butbegged him not to remarry after the death of Princess Diana. Furthermore, Harrys book claims that Charles allegedly tried to win over the kids before asking the British public to accept his relationship with Camilla. He reportedly says that meeting Camilla referred to as the Other Woman in his book was like an injection, writing: Close your eyes and you wont even feel it. Harry reportedly continues: I remember wondering... if she would be cruel to me; if she would be like all the evil stepmothers in the stories. Harry compares first meeting with Camilla to getting an injection, reports say Pictured: The Suns front page on day pictures showing Harry in Nazi uniform emerged Thursday 5 January 2023 14:49 , Andy Gregory As Prince Harry reportedly claims that Prince William encouraged him to wear the Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party in 2005, in an incident previously claimed to have bred resentment at the treatment he received from the press, here is The Suns front page on the day the news emerged: A man in Paris reads The Sun on 13 January 2005 as it carried photographs of Prince Harry which triggered outrage (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images) Prince Harrys new book reveals royal family nicknames Thursday 5 January 2023 14:22 , Andy Gregory The extract from Prince Harrys memoir reported by The Guardian appears to reveal the nicknames by which he and his brother referred to each other Harold and Willy. My colleague Joe Sommerlad has more: Prince Harrys new book reveals royal family nicknames The unusual family link between Prince Harry and CNNs Anderson Cooper Thursday 5 January 2023 13:56 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has sat down with CNNs Anderson Cooper for a new interview due for broadcast on Sunday, two days ahead of release of his ghost-written memoir Spare. The pair allegedly bear family ties dating back to the 1930s when Coopers great-aunt, Thelma Furness, was known to have had an ongoing affair with the Dukes great-great uncle, King Edward VIII, reports Ellie Muir. Viscountess Furness was allegedly a mistress of Edward while he was Prince of Wales and while she was married to British shipping magnate, Marmaduke Furness, who was 20 years her senior. Later, Edward married American divorcee Wallis Simpson, for whom he abdicated and became the Duke of Windsor. The unusual family link between Prince Harry and Anderson Cooper All the times Prince Harry and Meghan Markles 2022 revelations were proved right, or wrong Thursday 5 January 2023 13:28 , Andy Gregory Throughout the past year, the Sussexes haves made a number of shocking revelations about their time as senior members of the royal family. From baby Archies nursery fire in South Africa to Meghans first meeting with Princess Kate, my colleague Meredith Clark examines some of Harry and Meghans most shocking claims in 2022: From nursery fire to meeting Kate: Harry and Meghans biggest revelations of 2022 Prince Harry memoir accidentally goes on sale early in Spain' Thursday 5 January 2023 13:01 , Andy Gregory Prince Harrys upcoming book due for release on 10 January accidentally went on sale early in Spain, according to The Sun. The Spanish version En La Sombra, which translates as In the Shadow, shows that Harry has dedicated his memoir Para Meg, Archie y Lili ... y, for supuesto, mi madre, meaning: For Meg, Archie and Lili ... and, of course, my mother. Nazi uniform claims echo allegations in 2020 book by royal historian Thursday 5 January 2023 12:32 , Andy Gregory According to Page Six, which reported Prince Harrys supposed claims that his brother encouraged him to wear a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party in 2005, the allegations closely echo those made in a previous book about the royal siblings by historian Robert Lacey. The 2020 book, Battle of Brothers, claims: Harry chose his costume in conjunction with his elder brother the future King William V, then 22, who had laughed all the way back to Highgrove (Charles country home) with the younger sibling he was supposed to be mentoring and then onwards to the party together. Lacey wrote: The young prince began re-evaluating his elder brothers involvement and the unfairness of Williams subsequent emergence smelling of roses, adding that the incident made Harry feel resentful and even alienated and alleging that William was the one who would coax Harry into his errant and self-destructive ways. For the first time, their relationship really suffered and they barely spoke, one former aide is quoted as saying in the book. Harry resented the fact that William got away so lightly. Harry claims William encouraged him to wear Nazi soldier costume in new book Thursday 5 January 2023 12:07 , Andy Gregory Prince Harrys forthcoming memoir reportedly includes a claim that Prince William and Kate encouraged him to wear the infamous Nazi soldier costume to a party in 2005 a decision he has described as probably one of the biggest mistakes of my life. The Duke of Sussex was aged 20 when he was photographed wearing the costume, complete with a swastika on his arm, to a native and colonial party hosted by Olympic show jumper Richard Meade. Page Six said it had obtained a copy of Spare and quoted Harry as claiming he had been choosing between a pilot uniform or a Nazi uniform, writing: I phoned Willy and Kate, asked what they thought. Nazi uniform, they said. They both howled. Worse than Willys leotard outfit! Way more ridiculous! Which, again, was the point, the 38-year-old continues. William also attended the costume party, dressed in a lion outfit. The Independent has contacted Kensington Palace for comment. My colleague Maanya Sachdeva reports: Harry claims William encouraged him to wear Nazi soldier costume in new book Comment | If Harry really wants his family back, hed be smart to stop talking so much Thursday 5 January 2023 11:42 , Andy Gregory Ahead of the publication of Prince Harrys new book, our relationships writer Olivia Petter offers her analysis that after all of this media face time, the Duke of Sussex risks winding up without the one thing he wants most in the world: his family. She writes: Anyone who has ever argued with a loved one will know too well that third-party interference rarely helps, let alone when that third party is everyone in existence. Think about all the times youve criticised one family member behind their back to another: did it help alleviate tensions? Of course it didnt. It probably just created more of it. Everyone has their own version of events, or a narrative they feel comfortable presenting to the world. And it will, in all likeliness, differ significantly from the narrative of the person youre at odds with. When it comes to Harry and Meghan, weve so far only heard one story; based on royal history and a firm never complain, never explain protocol I doubt well get another. You can read her thinking in full here: If Harry really wants his family back, hed be smart to stop talking so much Prince Harry says he and Meghan have been portrayed as villains Thursday 5 January 2023 11:17 , Andy Gregory In the first trailer for ITVs upcoming interview with Prince Harry, the royal claims that he and Meghan Markle have been portrayed as villains. Meanwhile, he alleges that they have shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile. It is unclear who he is referring to when he says they. I would like to get my father back, I would like to have my brother back, he says, adding: It never needed to be this way. The second trailer has been released today. My colleague Ellie Muir has the full report: Prince Harry says he wants a family, not an institution Prince Harrys new book likely to spark serious furore, report claims Thursday 5 January 2023 11:01 , Andy Gregory In its report detailing alleged claims of an attack by Prince William on his brother, The Guardian, claims that Prince Harrys new autobiography is likely to spark a serious furore for the British royal family. The newspaper, which claims to have obtained a copy ahead of the books publication on 10 January, called it a remarkable volume, which extensively covers allegations made by the couple in their Oprah Winfrey and Netflix interviews, including Meghan Markles thoughts of suicide and alleged racism within royal circles. What is the history of the two princes relationship? Thursday 5 January 2023 10:46 , Reuters Prince Harry and Prince William were once seen as very close after the death of their mother, Princess Diana, in a Paris car crash in 1997. But the brothers have fallen out since Harry married Meghan Markle, a former actress, in 2018 and the couple then stepped back from royal duties to move to California two years later. Since their departure, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as the couple are officially known, have delivered stinging criticism of the Windsors and the British monarchy which has included accusations of racism which William himself has dismissed. Last month, their six-part Netflix documentary, which attracted record audiences, aired with renewed accusations including that William had screamed at Harry during a crisis summit to discuss his future. The main criticism from Harry and Meghan is that royal aides not only refused to hit back at hostile, inaccurate press coverage but were complicit in leaking negative stories to protect other royals, most notably William. Prince Harry reportedly claims father King Charles referred to him as spare at birth Thursday 5 January 2023 10:32 , Andy Gregory The title of Prince Harrys forthcoming book, Spare, comes from an oft-cited quote in British aristocratic circles about the need for an heir, and a spare. According to the Guardian, which has obtained a copy, the books unifying theme is of the Duke of Sussexs resentment of being the spare. Harry is reported to claim that, on the day he was born to his mother, Princess Diana, his father King Charles told her: Wonderful! Now youve given me an heir and a spare my work is done. King Charles asked Harry and William not to make my final years a misery, reports say Thursday 5 January 2023 10:15 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has reportedly claimed that King Charles asked him and Prince William not to make my final years a misery at Prince Philips funeral last year, writes my colleague Maanya Sachdeva. According to The Guardian, which said it had obtained a copy of the Duke of Sussexs autobiography ahead of publication on 10 January, Spare includes Harrys unsparing retelling of private scenes and conversations between senior royals. One such moment occurred after the Duke of Edinburghs Windsor Castle funeral in March 2021, when Charles reportedly stood between Harry and William looking up at our flushed faces, the Kings younger son wrote. Please boys, Harry quotes Charles as saying, Dont make my final years a misery. Charles asked Harry and William not to make my final years a misery, reports say Prince Harry says he still believes in the monarchy Thursday 5 January 2023 09:58 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has said that he still believes in the monarchy but does not know whether he will play a role in its future. In a forthcoming interview with ITV, the Duke of Sussex who stepped back from his position as a senior royal in January 2020 alongside his wife Meghan Markle was asked whether he still believed in his familys constitutional role. Answering that he did, the duke was then pressed on whether he himself would play a role in the monarchys future, to which he replied: I dont know. Prince Harry says a lot can happen prior to King Charless coronation Thursday 5 January 2023 09:40 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has said that a lot can happen between now and then when asked whether he will attend his father King Charless coronation in May. A trailed clip of ITVs upcoming broadcast, Harry: The Interview, shows Tom Bradby asking the Duke of Sussex whether he will attend the ceremony if he receives an invite. Theres a lot that can happen between now and then, the duke replies. But, the door is always open. The ball is in their court. Theres a lot to be discussed and I really hope that theyre willing to sit down and talk about it. Prince Harry rejects suggestion he is invading his familys privacy Thursday 5 January 2023 09:24 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has claimed that those who accuse him of invading his familys privacy either dont understand or dont want to believe that my family have been briefing the press. In a second trailer released by ITV for the Duke of Sussexs forthcoming interview with Tom Bradby, due for broadcast on Sunday, in which he questions the royal about his decision to discuss his family relationships publicly in his new book, Harry says: I dont know how staying silent is ever going to make things better. Put to him that Prince William might question how his brother could do this to me after everything they went through together, the duke replies: He would probably say all sorts of different things. Confronted with the fact that his new book will spark accusations that, after railing against invasions of privacy all his life, he is now invading the privacy of [his] nearest and dearest without permission, the royal retorts: That would be the accusation from people that dont understand or dont want to believe that my family have been briefing the press. Meghan Markle was terribly sad about alleged attack, book reportedly claims Thursday 5 January 2023 09:09 , Andy Gregory After the alleged attack by his brother, Prince Harry claims in his book that he was left with visible scrapes and bruises on his back, according to The Guardian. The Duke of Sussex reportedly claims that he told his wife Meghan Markle of the alleged attack after she noticed the marks on his back, and that she wasnt that surprised, and wasnt all that angry but was terribly sad. Prince Harry questioned brothers attempt to help him prior to alleged attack Thursday 5 January 2023 08:54 , Andy Gregory Here are more details on the alleged row between the two brothers at Nottingham Cottage in 2019. Prince William claimed he was trying to help his younger brother, the book reportedly claims, with Harry replying: Are you serious? Help me? Sorry is that what you call this? Helping me? According to the Guardians report, Prince Harry said that his brother was angry and swore at him, and because he was scared, Harry went into the kitchen with William following him, before handing him a glass of water and saying: Willy, I cant speak to you when youre like this. Harry then reportedly proceeds to detail the alleged attack, writing: He set down the water, called me another name, then came at me. It all happened so fast. So very fast. What to expect from Prince Harrys new book Thursday 5 January 2023 08:46 , Andy Gregory Prince Harrys new autobiography will be released on 10 January, in 16 different languages, with an audiobook read by the duke himself, according to its publisher Penguin Random House. The title is said to offer a personal insight into Harrys life and, according to the publisher, it will be the definitive account of the experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape him. A source has claimed to The Sunday Times that the autobiography which has been ghostwritten by Pulitzer Prize winner JR Moehringer is tough on William in particular and even Kate gets a bit of a broadside. King Charles supposedly comes out of it better than expected, however. You can find out more details on its release here: What to know about Prince Harrys memoir Prince Harry alleges William physically attacked him in new book, report says Thursday 5 January 2023 08:42 , Andy Gregory My colleague Graeme Massie has the full report on the alleged claims by Prince Harry that his brother physically attacked him in 2019 during a row about his marriage to Meghan Markle. Prince Harry alleges William physically attacked him in new book, report says Thursday 5 January 2023 08:41 , Andy Gregory Good morning, well be using this liveblog to follow the latest updates on the claims allegedly made in Prince Harrys new autobiography, Spare. Prince Harrys memoir and his rolling dispute with the royal family could mark the beginning of the end of the monarchy, a biographer of King Charles has suggested. The books release is not just a celebrity knockabout story, Catherine Mayer warned, arguing that the status of a significant institution of state is ultimately at stake its peril exacerbated by the layers of secrecy and obfuscation surrounding the royals. Her comments arrived ahead of Prince Harrys highly anticipated interview with ITV News hitting our screens tonight at 9pm. The Duke of Sussex took part in an exclusive UK interview with presenter Tom Bradby ahead of the release of his tell-all memoir Spare, which arrives on shelves on Tuesday. It comes after the duke reportedly claimed in his new book that his brother William lunged at him during peace talks with their father after Prince Philips funeral, during a row about he and Meghan Markles interview with Oprah Winfrey. Key points Prince Harry claims William lunged at him after Oprah interview Harry accused of making Invictus Games a terrorist target with Taliban claims Pen Farthing evacuated from Kabul over fears Prince Harry confessions could invite reprisal attacks Prince William is burning with anger over Harrys claims but will never retaliate, friends claim Harry says he cried only once after mothers death Prince Harry memoir includes anecdotes showing tender relationship with father, report suggests 19:00 , Emily Atkinson Alongside some criticisms of his father in his memoir, Prince Harry is also reported to have included numerous anecdotes about King Charles conveying his warmth. These include revelations that the monarch used to ask his son, who he called darling boy, to write rather than call him, as he loved the letters Harry sent, and would leave notes under his sons pillow, sitting on his bed until he fell asleep to ease his fear of the dark, according to the Sunday Telegraph. Story continues A bemused King also reportedly empathised with his younger son when photographs of him playing naked billiards appeared in the tabloids, and said that he had also felt exposed on many occasions, with the pair speaking all night about their unusual life, the paper reports. A royal source told the paper: It would have been odd if Harry had painted anything other than a tender portrait of his father. They were very, very close and it would be impossible to hide that reality if you wanted to write your whole history. Prince Harry fallout could mark beginning of the end of monarchy, says King Charles biographer 18:30 , Emily Atkinson Prince Harrys memoir and the continuous toxicity of the royal family rupture could mark the beginning of the end of the monarchy, a biographer of King Charles has suggested. The books release is not just a celebrity knockabout story, Catherine Mayer warned, arguing that the status of a significant institution of state is ultimately at stake its peril exacerbated by the layers of secrecy and obfuscation surrounding the royals. A wave of leaked extracts of the Duke of Sussexs book Spare days ahead of its publication, fuelled by its accidental early release in Spain, crashed over Buckingham Palace this week, laying bare the scale of discontent at the heart of the royal family in often excruciating detail. Andy Gregory reports: Prince Harry fallout could mark beginning of the end of monarchy, says biographer King Charles must avoid mountain of resentment, insider suggests 17:50 , Andy Gregory Those close to King Charles are claimed to believe that reconciliation is the only way to prevent open warfare for years to come. The challenge here is not to build a mountain of resentment that cannot be bypassed, one source told the Sunday Telegraph. In many ways the Royal family is no different to any other family and it will be their normality, rather than their uniqueness, which offers their greatest chance of reconciliation. Although Harry resents the role he was dealt within the institution, it is the fact that they are father and son that will bring them back together. Smiling King seen for first time since Harrys tell-all book published 17:03 , Andy Gregory A smiling King Charles appeared in good spirits as he was seen for the first time since allegations from Prince Harrys memoir emerged, stopping to speak with well-wishers outside a service at Castle Rising Chuch in Norfolk this morning. Smiling King seen for first time since Harrys tell-all book published Prince Harry condemned by Caroline Flacks former agent for sharing details on tainted romance 16:14 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has been condemned by Caroline Flacks former agent for sharing details in his new memoir about his romance with the late star, which he reportedly writes was tainted by press intrusion, reports Ellie Harrison. She was described in one paper as my bit of rough, because she once worked in a factory or something, he continued. Jesus, I thought, are we really such a country of insufferable snobs? he reportedly recalls. They kept on seeing each other, Harry wrote, because we genuinely enjoyed each others company, and because we didnt want to admit defeat at the hands of these arseholes, but eventually realised it just wasnt worth the grief and harassment. Especially for her family. Flacks former agent Alex Mullen, speaking to The Mirror, branded the dukes actions as gross and accused him of using his past relationship to help sell his book, saying: Its absolutely gross for Prince Harry to reveal such private details about Caroline Flack. The way in which the press spoke about her at that time and the reason they split are both very sad and its disgusting hes brought up old long forgotten slurs she had to suffer in full view of the public around the world. Caroline Flacks former agent condemns gross Prince Harry for detailing romance The country is proud of royal family, Rishi Sunak says 15:28 , Andy Gregory Rishi Sunak has defended the royal family as an institution which the country is proud of. Asked whether the public can still have faith in the institution after claims in the Duke of Sussexs forthcoming book, the prime minister told the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg: I think the public like me have enormous regard for the royal family, theyre deeply proud of them. I certainly am, its one of the things Im most proud of when I think about what it is to be British. When I get to go around the world and champion Britain as an amazing country with so many things that we can be proud of, our institutions including the royal family are one of those. Questioned on whether he felt the royals have been damaged by Harrys allegations, Mr Sunak said: In general I wouldnt get into talking about the royal family but its something that Im proud of and I think the country is proud of. We saw that last year very movingly multiple times and Im confident well see it this year with King Charless coronation, which will be another fantastic occasion for the country to come together and celebrate something thats special about Britain. King Charles insisted on never complain, never explain response, palace insider reportedly claims 14:46 , Andy Gregory A palace insider claiming to have knowlege of past discussions about what Prince Harrys memoir may contain has claimed that it was King Charles who ultimately insisted on the family responding with its standard never complain, never explain strategy. The source claimed to Page Six: The King wanted to move ahead with the traditional stiff upper lip attitude and follow in the Queens famous footsteps of never complain, never explain, but the Prince of Wales argued that perhaps the family should, in fact, go on the offensive and release a statement, much in the same way he said We are very much not a racist family, but he was overruled by his father. However, an individual reported to be a close friend of Prince William told the Sunday Times that despite being a sitting duck in the face of his brothers claims about him, the heir to the throne had kept quiet for the good of his family and the country and would never retaliate. Palace advisers set up de-facto war room to plan for fallout from memoir, report claims 13:59 , Andy Gregory The royal familys senior advisers set up a de-facto war room to deal with any potential fallout from Prince Harrys memoir, the US publication Page Six has claimed. Insiders reportedly claim a plan was drawn up to deal whatever revelations emerged from the forthcoming book, with senior staff even discussing the issue at Sandringham over Christmas. One highly placed palace source told the outlet: There were undoubtedly fears about what Harry was going to write, and in particular they were worried about the highly personal moments of their lives being retold. Opinion | Warring royals should take a long walk with their father 13:12 , Andy Gregory In his latest Centrist Dad column, our former executive editor Will Gore suggests that there are no winners in the latest royal rumble except perhaps for arch republicans. He writes: Whether or not William grabbed Harry by the collar and pushed him into a dog bowl, as Harry alleges in his eagerly anticipated memoir, the breakdown of their relationship and the telling of it, both officially and unofficially isnt a good look for either of them. Its not quite Game of Thrones territory; more like posh EastEnders. And as it happens, the older the princes get, the more its possible to imagine them being played by Ross Kemp and Steve McFadden. ... Perhaps King Charles could try a tactic with his boys that Ive used with my kids. Take them on such a long walk together that the resentment they feel towards one another is eventually transferred to the idiot parent who forced them on the trek in the first place. Its definitely worked for me. You can read the full piece here: Warring royals should take a long walk with their father Prince Harry reveals he used laughing gas during birth of son 12:39 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has reportedly written that he used laughing gas and ate Nandos chicken to enhance my calm during the birth of his son in 2019, reports my colleague Maanya Sachdeva. In Spare, the Duke of Sussex describes the scene at Londons Portland Hospital on the day Archie was born, recalling how Meghan Markle was bouncing on a giant purple ball when she went into labour and how he placed a photograph of his late mother Princess Diana in the delivery room. According to MailOnline, Harry wrote: Meg was so calm, I was calm too. But I saw two ways of enhancing my calm. One: Nandos chicken (brought by our bodyguards). Two: A canister of laughing gas beside Megs bed. I took several slow, penetrating hits. He also reportedly revealed that, when the nurse came to give his wife laughing gas for the pain, there wasnt any left. I could see the thought slowly dawning. Gracious, the husbands had it all, he continued. Sorry, I said meekly. The duke also reportedly quipped that he didnt touch the laughing gas during the birth of his daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor in 2021 because there was none. Prince Harry reveals he used laughing gas during birth of son Prince Harrys memoir could be beginning of end of monarchy, Charless biographer warns 11:55 , Andy Gregory Prince Harrys memoir and its fallout could mark the beginning of the end of the monarchy, the author of a 2015 biography of King Charles has suggested. Catherine Mayer, author of The Heart of a King, also suggested that, while the layers of secrecy and obfuscation surrounding the royal family are intended as a defence, they will defeat the organisation if they concentrate on the personalities. The whole family is meant to be an idealised reflection of the British people themselves and Harrys marriage to Meghan made the job much easier, she told The Observer. The failure of that project is absolutely catastrophic for the royal family. Ms Mayer added: It is possibly something that will mark the beginning of the end of the monarchy, and that is what we should discuss. It is important, given the lack of trust in the state at the moment and an upsurge in rightwing politics. Members of the royal family have become our proxies for anger about racism, misogyny and wealth. This is, after all, an institution that stands for inequality, so there are huge things at stake. Prince Harry claims William lunged at him and used secret Diana code phrase after Oprah interview 11:13 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has reportedly claimed that his brother William lunged at him and grabbed my shirt during a confrontation over his and wife Meghan Markles Oprah Winfrey interview. During peace talks with King Charles, which allegedly occurred at Frogmore Cottage after Prince Philips funeral in April 2021, Harry writes in his memoir that he was trying to address the bullying allegations against Meghan Markle but that his brother and father werent listening, The Sun reported. William was allegedly really steaming and shouted at him: You never came to us. You never came to me, telling him to take up with Granny any grievances he had about the Megxit agreement. Harry reportedly claims William lunged and grabbed his shirt, saying Listen to me, Harold, and that he loved him and wanted him to be happy, adding: I swear, I swear on Mummys life. Harry wrote: He stopped. I stopped. Pa stopped. Hed gone there. Hed used the secret code, the universal password. Ever since we were boys those three words were to be used only in times of extreme crisis. Harry added: My voice broke as I told him softly: I really dont think you do. Harry claims William lunged at him and used secret Diana code after Oprah interview Prince William called Meghan Markle rude during reconciliation attempt over tea and biscuits 10:31 , Andy Gregory Prince Harrys memoir reportedly confirms that there had been several rows with William and Kate Middleton in 2018 the year that Vanity Fair first asserted that there was tension between the siblings. A reconciliation was attempted, after the alleged row between Meghan Markle and Kate during a bridesmaid dress fitting, according to the book but this too descended into chaos. Kate and William invited Harry and Meghan over to their flat in Kensington Palace for tea and biscuits to relax the atmosphere between the couples. But the conflict escalated, culminating in William calling Meghan rude and pointing a finger at her. Meghan told William: If you dont mind, keep your finger out of my face, according to the book. Harry and Meghan moved away soon after, first to Frogmore Cottage in 2019, to Vancouver in early 2020, and then to Los Angeles in March 2020. Charles biographer perplexed by Prince Harrys decision to publish memoir 09:42 , Andy Gregory Broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, who has written a biography of King Charles, reportedly his friend of 30 years, has said he was perplexed by Harrys decision to publish a book. I genuinely cant believe it is merely to make a great deal of money because of the perfectly natural urge to want to protect his family, his wife and his children in a very uncertain future, said Mr Dimbleby, who interviewed Charles in 1994 when the royal admitted having an affair. I think there is much more to that, but if he wants reconciliation, I dont understand how you do it by, as it were, metaphorically, sitting in your Apache and firing pot shots at people who are not going to fire back, as he must very well know. Does Charles have a responsibility to fix the feud between William and Harry? 08:51 , Andy Gregory Many psychologists recommend the involvement of a parent in resolving a sibling rivalry, and Prince Harrys memoir reveals that a kind of detente may have already been attempted by King Charles with his plea against misery, writes Ben Bryant. But if he wishes to pursue appeasement, the King will have to make peace with his own unflattering characterisations. The problem is further complicated by the fact that William is his heir, and therefore a kind of favourite (which Prince Harry alludes to in the title of his memoir Spare). The father isnt neutral in that the father has a dog in the fight, says Kevin Burch, a confidence coach who specialises in young men. Another challenge for Charles, Burch adds, is the risk that whatever he says is going to end up in the papers. You can read more analysis here: Does King Charles have a responsibility to fix the feud between William and Harry? Timeline of the bitter feud between Princes Harry and William 08:10 , Namita Singh Prince Harrys new memoir Spare has caused a sensation before it has even been published, not least over a passage describing an altercation with his brother William, illustrating just how far the pair have drifted apart in recent years. The row is said to have erupted at Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace in London in 2019, with the Duke of Sussex alleging his sibling had arrived piping hot to confront him about his marriage to the American actress Meghan Markle and their running battles with the British press. After a bitter exchange of views in which William allegedly branded Meghan difficult, rude and abrasive and Harry accused his brother of parroting the media narrative surrounding his relationship, the former allegedly attacked him, according to the younger princes account. More in this report from Joe Sommerlad: Timeline of the bitter feud between Prince Harry and William Pen Farthing evacuated from Kabul over Prince Harry confessions 07:50 , Namita Singh A former marine whose charity aims to expatriate animals from Afghanistan claims he has been evacuated from Kabul amid fears Prince Harrys confession of killing 25 Taliban members could invite reprisal attacks. The Duke of Sussex said in his forthcoming memoir Spare that the killings were like chess pieces removed from the board, and that those who had died were bad people eliminated before they could kill good people. Now Pen Farthing, who has been working in the country for some 18 months to get animals from shelters out of Afghanistan, has hit out at the dukes badly advised book. Tweeting last night, Mr Farthing told his followers of the alleged evacuation from his base. My colleague Emily Atkinson reports: Pen Farthing evacuated from Kabul as Prince Harry invites reprisal attacks Harrys claims are like that of a B-list celebrity, says Charles biographer 07:30 , Namita Singh Royal biographer Jonathan Dimbleby has said Prince Harrys leaked memoir contains revelations one would expect from a kind of B-list celebrity. During an appearance on BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Saturday, Dimbleby said he was perplexed and at a loss over Harrys memoir, calling the duke a very troubled man. He continued: Im concerned, incidentally, that everyone uses the word revelations. Read the details here: Harrys claims are like that of a B-list celebrity, says Charles biographer Harrys memoir slammed as tragic money-making scam 07:10 , Namita Singh Colonel Tim Collins, known for a pre-battle speech he made in Iraq, was one of many the many distinguished personnel to criticise Prince Harry, accusing him of turning against the military - his other family. Earlier in the week Col Collins called the revelations in the book a tragic money-making scam. In his controversial memoir, Spare, Harry wrote that flying six missions during his second tour of duty on the front line in 2012 to 2013 resulted in the taking of human lives, of which he was neither proud nor ashamed. Prince Harry, wearing his British Army ceremonial uniform of the Blues And Royals in his role as Captain Harry Wales visits Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, where veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are buried (Getty Images) The Daily Telegraph, which obtained a Spanish language copy of the memoir from a bookshop in Spain, earlier reported that Harry said he did not think of those he killed as people, but instead as chess pieces that had been taken off the board. So, my number is 25. Its not a number that fills me with satisfaction, but nor does it embarrass me, he wrote. Prince Harry mocks Prince Williams thinning hair 06:50 , Namita Singh Prince Harry has reportedly taken a swipe at his brothers hair loss, the latest blow from his tell-all memoir Spare. In the book, which is due to go on sale in the UK on Monday, the younger royal mentions seeing the Duke of Wales at his grandfather Prince Phillips funeral in April 2021. I looked at Willy, really looked at him, perhaps for the first time since we were little, Harry writes, bringing up his familiar scowl before describing his brothers thinning hair as alarming. He noted it was more advanced than mine despite only being two years his junior. Prince Harry allegedly mocks Prince Williams thinning hair Harry claims his role in Williams wedding was a bare-faced lie 06:30 , Namita Singh The Duke of Sussex has called his role as best man at Prince Williams wedding a bare-faced lie, according to reports. Extracts from Harrys autobiography Spare were published after the book was accidentally put on sale in Spain earlier this week, five days before it was due to be released on 10 January. In one part of the book, Harry reportedly wrote that he was forced to go along with the bare-faced lie that he was Williams best man at his wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011. More in this report: Harry claims his involvement in Williams wedding was a bare-faced lie, reports say Prince Harry opens up about tainted romance with late Caroline Flack 06:10 , Namita Singh Prince Harry has reportedly opened up about his tainted romance with Caroline Flack and reflected on the TV presenters death, in his leaked memoir. Sections from the book have been quoted by the UK press after the memoir was accidentally put on sale on 5 January in Spain. The book was officially supposed to be released next Tuesday (10 January). These include claims Prince William allegedly physically attacked the Duke of Sussex during a confrontation over Harrys wife Meghan Markle in 2019. My colleague Maanya Sachdeva reports: Prince Harry opens up about tainted romance with late Caroline Flack William keep quiet for good of family and country 05:50 , Namita Singh Friends of the pair said that William was keeping quiet about the book for the good of his family and the country. Speaking to the Sunday Times, one friend said: William is a sitting duck because Harry knows he isnt going to retaliate. How many shots can you take at a sitting duck? Its cruel, cowardly and so sad for William to keep taking the punches. Hes keeping quiet for the good of his family and the country. Prince William, Prince of Wales attends the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on 25 December 2022 in Sandringham, Norfolk (Getty Images) The same friend adds that William is burning on the inside. Another friend told the paper that William is thinking strategically, as he follows the example of his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. We know how closely he followed his grandmothers example, and the institutional response may win the day over the personal, the friend said. But he is staunchly protective of his own family, and hes not just going to roll over. Unable to cry in public because of familys preference for not showing emotion 05:30 , Namita Singh Prince Harry says in the book he thinks that he is unable to cry in public because of his familys preference for not showing emotion. According to the Daily Telegraph, Harry writes: I disliked the touch of those hands. Whats more, I disliked how they made me feel: guilty. Prince William and Prince Harry, the sons of Diana, Princess of Wales, bow their heads as their mothers coffin is taken out of Westminster Abbey following her funeral service (AFP via Getty Images) Why was there all that crying from people when I neither cried nor had cried? I wanted to cry, and I had tried, because my mothers life had been so sad... but I couldnt... not a drop. Perhaps I had learnt too well, had absorbed too thoroughly the family maxim that crying was never an option - never. Felt mourners tears on hand 05:10 , Namita Singh Prince Harry describes feeling the mourners tears on his hands when he shook them, following the death of his mother, Princess Diana. There were 50,000 bouquets of flowers to our mother and there we were shaking peoples hands, smiling, he says. Earl Spencer, Dianas brother, Prince Harry, her son, and Prince Charles, her former husband, join the gun carriage carrying the coffin of Princess of Wales at Marlboro Road in London during the funeral (AFP via Getty Images) Ive seen the videos, right, I looked back over it all. And the wet hands that we were shaking, we couldnt understand why their hands were wet, but it was all the tears that they were wiping away. Everyone thought and felt like they knew our mum, and the two closest people to her, the two most loved people by her, were unable to show any emotion in that moment. Harry says he cried only once after mothers death 04:50 , Namita Singh The Duke of Sussex has said he only cried once after the death of his mother, and has described feelings of guilt in one of a series of interviews ahead of the publication of his memoir. In a clip from Harry: The Interview, which will air on ITV at 9pm on Sunday, Harry speaks about being unable to show any emotion when meeting mourners following the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997. He also admits to feeling some guilt when walking among the gathered crowds outside Kensington Palace, saying the only time he cried was at his mothers burial. Read the report to find more about he said in the interview: Harry says he only cried once after mothers death in first interview on memoir Harry accused of making Invictus Games a terrorist target with Taliban claims 04:30 , Namita Singh The Duke of Sussex has been accused of making the Invictus Games a target for extremists by revealing he killed 25 people in Afghanistan. Admiral Lord West, former head of the Royal Navy, called Harry very stupid for giving details of his Taliban kills. The retired admiral told the Sunday Mirror the Invictus Games which were due to be held in Dusseldorf, Germany, in 2023 will now have serious security issues because of their direct connection to Harry. More in this report: Harry accused of making Invictus Games a terrorist target with Taliban claims Further revelations unlikely to sway views of Britons 04:10 , Namita Singh Polls suggest many Britons are becoming bored of the whole royal melodrama, and further revelations are unlikely to shake their views, whether sympathy for Harry and Meghan, or for those they criticise. However Harrys book was No 1 on Amazon UKs bestselling books list yesterday, available for pre-order ahead of its release. Royal commentator Emily Andrews said that given Britains current cost of living crisis, there could be limited support for the complaints of a privileged prince residing in a mansion in California. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive at the 2022 Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award Gala at the Hilton Midtown in New York on 6 December 2022 (AFP via Getty Images) They are polarising, Harry and Megan, and I think that this new book by Harry probably wont change many peoples opinions, Ms Andrews told Reuters. I think this is overkill, it becomes saturation point and people think I dont want to hear anymore: shut up, go away. No point in staying silent 03:50 , Namita Singh Prince Harrys public thoughts will keep coming, with three more TV interviews due to air. They had been timed for broadcast ahead of the official launch of Harrys book on Tuesday, and excerpts released ahead of time have shown Harry saying he wanted to give his side of the story. I dont know how staying silent is ever going to make things better, Harry says in his interview with Britains ITV, which will be the first to be shown. All this comes just four months after Queen Elizabeth died and Charles acceded to the throne. A woman poses as she watches an episode of the newly released Netflix docuseries Harry and Meghan' about Britains Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Britains Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in London on 8 December 2022 (AFP via Getty Images) So heres Charles trying to establish himself as the new king and now Harrys thrown this hand grenade and its all coming kind of crashing around him, royal biographer Tina Brown said. Since Harry and Meghan left royal duties and moved to California in 2020, they have railed at their treatment by the royals and the palace institution. Prince Harry set to deliver more broadsides at UK royals in TV interviews 03:24 , Namita Singh Days after Prince Harrys memoir accidentally went on sale early with new allegations of discord and conflict within the British royal family, a series of TV interviews with him will start airing on Sunday with the prospect of yet more damaging attacks on the monarchy. Harrys book "Spare", which went on sale in Spain on Thursday five days before its official release, chronicles not only hugely personal details, such as how he lost his virginity and took drugs, but also discloses more intimate private instances of family disharmony. A poster advertising the launch of Prince Harrys memoir Spare' is seen in a store window on 6 January 2023 in London, England (Getty Images) His elder brother, heir to the throne Prince William, knocked him over in a brawl, and both siblings begged their father King Charles not to marry his second wife, Camilla, now the Queen Consort, the book says. Commentators say it has plunged the monarchy into its biggest crisis since the days of the royal soap opera in the 1990s around the break-up of Charles marriage to his late first wife Princess Diana, William and Harrys mother. Tom Peck: Prince Harrys real betrayal is showing the royals for who they are' 03:00 , Emily Atkinson Harrys revelations show him to be exactly what they have all always been absolutely nothing special at all, and that wont do, writes Tom Peck. Prince Harrys real betrayal is showing the royals for who they are | Tom Peck All the explosive revelations and claims from Harrys leaked book Spare so far 02:00 , Emily Atkinson Prince Harry has continued his seemingly neverending wave of allegations and revelations about the royal family in his new autobiography. Leaked before the official release, Spare covers a wide range of subjects from his fractious relationship with brother William to the struggles after his mother Dianas death in 1997. With excerpts from the Duke of Sussexs tell-all book leaked in the run-up to its publication, here are the claims and revelations so far: All the explosive revelations and claims from Harrys leaked book Spare so far Timeline of the bitter feud between Prince Harry and William 01:00 , Emily Atkinson Prince Harrys new memoir Spare has caused a sensation before it has even been published, not least over a passage describing an altercation with his brother William, illustrating just how far the pair have drifted apart in recent years. The row is said to have erupted at Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace in London in 2019, with the Duke of Sussex alleging his sibling had arrived piping hot to confront him about his marriage to the American actress Meghan Markle and their running battles with the British press. After a bitter exchange of views in which William allegedly branded Ms Markle difficult, rude and abrasive and Harry accused his brother of parroting the media narrative surrounding his relationship, the former allegedly attacked him, according to the younger princes account. Here is my colleague Joe Sommerlad with a timeline of their falling out, largely as told by Harry since his break from the family, with William, the next in line to the British throne, largely preferring to remain silent. Timeline of the bitter feud between Prince Harry and William Pen Farthing evacuated from Kabul over fears Prince Harry confessions could invite reprisal attacks 00:00 , Emily Atkinson A former marine whose charity aims to rescue animals from Afghanistan claims he has been evacuated from Kabul amid fears Prince Harrys confession of killing 25 Taliban members could invite reprisal attacks. Pen Farthing, who has been working in the country for some 18 months to get animals from shelters out of Afghanistan, has hit out at the dukes badly advised book. Tweeting last night, Mr Farthing told his followers of the alleged evacuation from his base. To the idiots who made dumbass comments in support of #PrinceHarry in my tweet, know I have had to evac from #Kabul tonight in case of potential reprisal attacks on ex-forces people like me in the wake of his badly judged memoir.. the animals suffer not me. You happy? he wrote. It came after Mr Farthing had earlier tweeted: Well I was a Royalist until today. Cheers #PrinceHarry You have been very badly advised I would probably say. And glad you thought through the security implications of those of us still out in #Afghanistan trying to bring about some good. #idiot #notmyprince. To the idiots who made dumbass comments in support of #PrinceHarry in my tweet below, know I have had to evac from #Kabul tonight in case of potential reprisal attacks on ex-forces people like me in the wake of his badly judged memoir.. the animals suffer not me. You happy? https://t.co/lpNjTi727p Pen Farthing (@PenFarthing) January 6, 2023 Prince William is burning with anger over Harrys claims but will never retaliate, friends claim Saturday 7 January 2023 23:30 , Emily Atkinson Prince William is burning with anger over claims made by Prince Harry in his leaked memoir, but would never retaliate, close friends to the Prince of Wales have said. Williams confidante described him as a sitting duck amid the heaping revelations made by the Duke of Sussex in his new book Spare a memoir dominated by his rivalry with his brother and the death of their mother, Princess Diana in 1997. The explosive autobiography reveals many strained facets of the princes relationship, from bereaved boys and troubled teens, to warring senior royals and eventual arch-nemeses. Read our full report here: Prince William is burning with anger over Harrys claims but will never retaliate All the times Prince Harry and Meghan Markles 2022 revelations were proved right, or wrong Saturday 7 January 2023 22:54 , Emily Atkinson 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, Meredith Clark catalogues some of Harry and Meghans most shocking revelations of 2022: From nursery fire to meeting Kate: Harry and Meghans biggest revelations of 2022 Watch: Prince Harry speaks of guilt he felt for crying once after Dianas death in new trailer Saturday 7 January 2023 22:15 , Emily Atkinson Opinion: The royal family has a choice to make but it wont be easy Saturday 7 January 2023 21:45 , Emily Atkinson As a cathartic act of a man deeply resentful of the way he believes his family and the media have treated him and his wife, Prince Harrys memoir, Spare, has much to commend it. Read our latest editorial here: Editorial: The royal family has a choice to make but it wont be easy Prince Harry describes guilt following Dianas death in new ITV interview clip Saturday 7 January 2023 21:03 , Emily Atkinson Prince Harry has reflected on being unable to show any emotion while greeting mourners after the death of his mother Diana. The Duke of Sussex also revealed he only cried once after the former Princess of Wales was killed in a car crash in Paris, 25 years ago. These comments are part of a new teaser clip for Harrys forthcoming interview with ITVs Tom Bradby to promote his new memoir Spare. My colleague Maanya Sachdeva has more: Prince Harry describes guilt following Dianas death in new ITV interview clip Princess Dianas brother called idea of young William and Harry walking behind mothers coffin a barbarity' Saturday 7 January 2023 20:10 , Emily Atkinson Prince Harry has shared details of an alleged row over whether he and his brother Prince William should walk behind their mothers coffin at her funeral, reports say. His leaked memoir Spare recalls Princess Dianas brother Earl Spencer objecting verbally to an idea for the two young princes to flank their mothers funeral cortege, describing it as a barbarity, according to The Telegraph. But a second plan drawn up to replace the first was rejected by Prince Harry, he claims, which would have required the Prince of Wales, then aged 15, to walk alone behind the coffin. The Duke of Sussex claims he did not want his brother to undergo the ordeal by himself, the newspaper reports. Prince Harry opens up about tainted romance with late Caroline Flack Saturday 7 January 2023 19:10 , Emily Atkinson Prince Harry has reportedly opened up about his tainted romance with Caroline Flack and reflected on the TV presenters death, in his leaked memoir. Sections from the book have been quoted by the UK press after the memoir was accidentally put on sale on 5 January in Spain. The book was officially supposed to be released next Tuesday (10 January). These include claims Prince William allegedly physically attacked the Duke of Sussex during a confrontation over Harrys wife Meghan Markle in 2019. My colleague Maanya Sachdeva reports: Prince Harry opens up about tainted romance with late Caroline Flack King Charles likely to be extremely pained by Prince Harrys book, suggests biographer Saturday 7 January 2023 18:11 , Andy Gregory Royal biographer Jonathan Dimbleby has suggested that King Charles will be extremely pained by Prince Harrys forthcoming book. I can only imagine he is extremely pained, very frustrated and would be very anxious to bring it to an end, he told the Today show, because his concern, as he has demonstrated since he came to the throne impeccably, is to act as head of state for a nation which we all know is in pretty troubled condition. Dimbleby has reportedly remained friends with the new King since Charles famously revealed he had been unfaithful to Diana after their marriage broke down during a 1994 ITV interview with him, nearly 30 years ago. The author of Charless biography said he would be very suprised if Harry wasnt invited to his fathers coronation in May because that would fuel the flames. Harrys claims are like that of a B-list celebrity, says Charles biographer Saturday 7 January 2023 17:20 , Andy Gregory Royal biographer Jonathan Dimbleby has said Prince Harrys leaked memoir contains revelations one would expect from a kind of B-list celebrity, reports my colleague Maanya Sachdeva. Mr Dimbleby told BBC Radio 4s Today programme he was perplexed and at a loss over Harrys memoir, calling the duke a very troubled man. Im concerned, incidentally, that everyone uses the word revelations, the 78-year-old broadcaster said. Yes, there are obviously revelations about how he lost his virginity, taking drugs, and how many people he feels he might have shot down from his Apache. But those are the kind of revelations, in part, that you would expect, I suppose, from a B-list celebrity. What is much more significant, Dimbleby continued, are Harrys allegations, complaints against the royal family. His assertion that this is his side because so far there has only been one side. It seems to me Ive not heard the other side at all, because the other side is always silent, Dimbleby said. Harrys claims are like that of a B-list celebrity, says Charles biographer Prince Harry recalls role of late mothers hair as good luck charm Saturday 7 January 2023 16:29 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has reportedly recalled how Meghan Markle placed pregnancy tests on his nightstand, next to a box containing a lock of his late mother Princess Dianas hair, as the couple were trying to concieve their first child. According to the MailOnline, Harry writes that Meghan took two at-home pregnancy tests in the bathroom of Nottingham Cottage in 2018, and he awoke to find that she had placed the two tests on his nightstand. Among only a few things on the nightstand was a blue box with my mothers hair, he reportedly writes, recalling: Right, I thought, good. Lets see what Mummy can do with this situation. The couple soon discovered that the tests were positive, and Harry reportedly describes thinking to himself: Thank you, Mummy. Prince Harry addresses Uncle Andrew scandal in new book, reports claim Saturday 7 January 2023 15:36 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has reportedly addressed the scandal involving Uncle Andrew in his leaked book Spare. According to US Weekly, which said it had obtained a copy of the memoir, the Duke of Sussex wrote that he never imagined hed lose palace security after his uncle was permitted to retain it. In January 2022, Andrew was stripped off his royal title after he was accused of sexual assault by one of Epsteins trafficking victims, Virginia Guiffre. He previously claimed he had no recollection of ever meeting Giuffre and vehemently denied Giuffres allegation. In his book, Harry reportedly wrote that Meghan worried their family would be left unprotected after they moved to Montecito, California, and he reassured her, saying: Never. Not in this climate of hate. Not after what happened to my mother [Princess Diana]. Also, not in the wake of my Uncle Andrew. He was embroiled in a shameful scandal, accused of the sexual assault of a young woman and no one had so much suggested that he lose his security. Whatever grievances people had against us, sex crimes werent on the list, he reportedly writes. The Independent has contacted representatives for Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, and Penguin Random House for comment. Prince Harry addresses Andrew scandal in new book, reports claim Princess of Wales turns 41 on day prior to Prince Harry book release Saturday 7 January 2023 14:44 , Andy Gregory Prince Harrys forthcoming book will be published on the day after the Princess of Waless 41st birthday. Prince William and his wife have been left reeling by the allegations in the book, a senior royal source who reportedly knows the couple told Page Six, adding: Harry and Meghan do always have a knack of picking their timing. Voices | Were not asking the right question about Harry and Meghan Saturday 7 January 2023 13:51 , Andy Gregory In his latest column, our associate editor Sean OGrady highlights a question that doesnt get asked enough. He writes: Lets say everything the Sussexes say is 100 per cent true. And the global public believes them and sides with them. Well, whats the point? What do Harry and Meghan actually want? What would make them happy? What would heal the personal rift between them and the Prince and Princess of Wales, and between them and the King and Queen Consort? Ironically, according to sources, they want an apology for the wrongs they feel were done against them, and a royal summit to discuss the issues, also raised in the racism row about Lady Susan Hussey. If Hussey and her victim, Ngozi Fulani, can have a meeting of reconciliation, how about one for Harry and Megs? ... But I wonder whether what Harry and Meghan really want is much more a new, revised Megxit deal. Like Brexit, Megxit isnt working out that well for anyone. When Harry says he wants his father and brother back, he is sincere of course he does. But is he really seeking to renegotiate the terms of Megxit after the passing of the Queen? You can read his thinking in full here: Were not asking the right question about Harry and Meghan | Sean OGrady Sealing their fate: Prince Harry warned his good omen risked bloody demise for coastal dwellers' Saturday 7 January 2023 12:59 , Andy Gregory In his memoir, Prince Harry reportedly describes a series of good omens he noticed while he and the Duchess of Sussex sought to have their first child but recalls being warned that one such magical indicator risked luring Scottish wildlife to a bloody death. During a visit to the Queen Mothers former home on the north coast of Scotland, the Castle of Mey, Prince Harry talks of coming across a bob of seals which he began serenading but received nothing in response, according to the MailOnline. However, when Meghan started her own song, Harry says that the animals responded to her with their own seal opera, which he reportedly viewed as a good omen and like a fairytale, writing: She really is magic, I thought ... Even the seals know it. After jumping into the water and swimming towards the seals in celebration, the royal reportedly writes that the pair returned to the castle, where his fathers Australian chef informed them that parts of the Scottish coast were infested with Orcas and that luring the seals to the shoreline with their singing had heightened their chances of a bloody death. Prince Harrys memoir had to be translated from American English, publishing source claims Saturday 7 January 2023 12:33 , Andy Gregory Prince Harrys ghostwritten memoir at one point had to be translated from American English into its more British-sounding final form, someone involved in its publication has reportedly claimed. It was extraordinary, the US publishing source told The Times. A member of the royal family describing everything as awesome and using phraseology like: We had gotten ourselves into a difficult situation we had to go through the whole manuscript to make it sound like he was actually English. Nevertheless, the source added: Its a very well-written book which is both heartfelt and convincing. The same source claimed to the paper that Prince Harry had second thoughts about publishing the memoir, shortly after his visit to Britain for the late Queens Platinum Jubilee (see post below). Prince Harry had second thoughts about book after Platinum Jubilee visit, publishing source claims Saturday 7 January 2023 12:14 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry briefly decided to cancel the publication of his memoir, two weeks after his visit to Britain last June for the late Queens Platinum Jubilee, a publishing source has claimed with the team working on Spare supposedly told: Hes pulled it. He doesnt want to do it. Insiders at Penguin Random House speculated that the royal family had told the Duke of Sussex that if the book were published while Queen Elizabeth was alive there would be no way back. The US publishing source told The Times: The book was all ready to go but visiting his grandmother he had second thoughts. That was such a dark day. Everyone had been working so hard on this project in utmost secrecy and with the expectation this would turn out to be one of the biggest and most historic books we would ever get to publish. And then, just after Harrys last trip to London, the boss walked in and said: Hes pulled it. He doesnt want to do it. I cant tell you it is an enormous and expensive operation getting a book like this ready and everyone involved was devastated. Voices | Is it absolutely hypocritical for Prince Harry to feed the media beast? Saturday 7 January 2023 11:51 , Andy Gregory Here is the take on Prince Harrys latest relevations from our sketch writer Tom Peck: The front page of the Daily Mail announces, in its ingenious pun on the title of Prince Harrys autobiography, PLEASE SPARE US! before then devoting almost its entire edition to all of the details which it simultaneously claims to wish to be spared from, in a curious attempt to capture what it imagines to be the public mood: that at this point, Prince Harry simply needs to stop talking about himself for money, and most of all, stop throwing the rest of his family under the proverbial bus. And maybe theyre right. If you feel you have something important to say, there are ways of saying it that do not necessarily require six hours of Netflix documentary, an autobiography and yet more hyper-extended sit-down interviews. That if the act of making your argument also makes you a hundred million dollars or more, you may find that people do not take your argument altogether seriously. It has also been explained so many times now how Prince Harry is the new crown prince of all hypocrites. That if he cares so much about press intrusion, and the safety of his family, then he should simply shut up and not continue feeding the beast he claims to loathe. And thats also true. But in both cases, only up to a point. Prince Harry has a right to speak. Is it absolutely hypocritical to feed the media beast, if the alternative, as far as youre concerned, is to have the beast come and eat you? (And as far as he is concerned, the beast, dont forget, killed his mother.) Prince Harrys real betrayal is showing the royals for who they are | Tom Peck Princess Diana would be sad about relationship with Prince William, Harry suggests Saturday 7 January 2023 11:29 , Andy Gregory In clips of an interview promoting his book with Good Morning America, Prince Harry has said his late mother Princess Diana would have been sad about the fractured relationship between he and his brother William. I have felt the presence of my mum more so in the last two years than I have in the last 30, he told the US show. Prince Harry tells @michaelstrahan he thinks Princess Diana would be sad about his relationship with his brother Prince William now, in wide-ranging interview ahead of his memoir release. Watch @GMA Monday. https://t.co/me8QGyt663 pic.twitter.com/qYdY0169Hc Good Morning America (@GMA) January 6, 2023 Meghan Markle asked Princess Diana for guidance, Prince Harry writes Saturday 7 January 2023 11:04 , Andy Gregory The Duchess of Sussex kneeled and put her palms on the grave of Princess Diana and asked her for clarity and guidance on the 20th anniversary of her death, Prince Harry has said. In his forthcoming memoir Spare, Harry reportedly writes that he and Meghan rowed out to his mothers final resting place on an island on the Althorp estate in 2017. After some time reflecting, he sensed Meghan wanted to a moment to herself by the site in Northamptonshire. When I returned, she was on her knees with her eyes closed and her palms flat against the stone, Harry wrote, adding that she told him she had asked Diana for clarity and guidance, the MailOnline reported. Harry claims his role in Williams wedding was a bare-faced lie, reports say Saturday 7 January 2023 10:52 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry is claimed to have called his role as best man at Prince Williams wedding a bare-faced lie, my colleague Maanya Sachdeva reports. In one part of his memoir, Harry reportedly wrote that he was forced to go along with the bare-faced lie that he was Williams best man at his wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011. According to reports by MailOnline and The Mirror, Harry claimed he was made to act out the role at the royal wedding to spare scrutiny into the lives of his brothers two closest friends James Meade and Thomas Van Straubenzee. Harry was officially considered the best man, and travelled to Westminster Abbey with his brother and then Prince Charles in a Bentley. Willy didnt want me giving a best mans speech, the duke reportedly wrote in his book, adding that it was actually Meade and Straubenzee who gave the traditional speech at Williams wedding reception. Harry claims his involvement in Williams wedding was a bare-faced lie, reports say All the explosive revelations and claims from Harrys leaked book Spare so far Saturday 7 January 2023 10:40 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has continued his seemingly neverending wave of allegations and revelations about the royal family in his new autobiography. Leaked before the official release, Spare covers a wide range of subjects from his fractious relationship with brother William to the struggles after his mother Dianas death in 1997. His sex life, drug use and time served in the army are also covered in a memoir that appears to go into uncomfortable levels of detail. Laura Elston has this round-up of the most explosive claims: All the explosive revelations and claims from Harrys leaked book Spare so far Prince Harrys military comrades dismayed at unnecessary claim of 25 Taliban killings Saturday 7 January 2023 10:19 , Andy Gregory One officer, now a colonel, who knew Prince Harry in Afghanistan, recently defended him in remarks to our world affairs editor Kim Sengputa, saying: Harry served his country in a war how many of these people popping up now and accusing him of being unpatriotic have done that? Many of us feel rather sorry about whats happening. Its not just old soldiers who fade away, young ones do so as well. Harry will fade away when this circus is over: were losing him, and thats a shame. But he now describes Harrys comment about killing 25 Talibs as unnecessary. Everyone knows killing the enemy is something one may have to do in war. One reflects on this privately, theres no need to broadcast it. Its a moral thing, but there are also obvious security implications in saying things like this. You can read more in this analysis piece: Dismay of Harrys military comrades over Taliban killings claim Prince Harry criticises tabloid for claim Meghan Markle had poisonous flower crowns at their wedding Saturday 7 January 2023 09:54 , Andy Gregory In his forthcoming book, Prince Harry reportedly addresses claims by a tabloid which accused him and Meghan Markle of putting Princess Charlottes life at risk by having her wear an allegedly deadly flower crown to their wedding. Harry recalled the scandal that followed in the wake of the article being published and clarified how the flowers arent poisonous. He acknowledged that while the flower crowns were designed with lilies of the valley, which can be poisonous, those plants can only be deadly if they are eaten. Even then, the reaction would be discomfort, conceding to parents, but only in the rarest cases would such a thing be fatal, he wrote, adding: Never mind that previous royal brides, including Kate and my mother, had also used lilies of the valley. My colleague Amber Raiken has the full story here: Harry slams tabloid for claim that Meghan Markle had poisonous flowers at wedding Saturday 7 January 2023 09:27 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has revealed that he once believed that his mother, Princess Diana, had faked her own death to escape the press, Page Six reports. Diana died in a car crash in Paris when Prince Harry was 12 years old, at which point he was staying at Balmoral Castle, my colleague Holly Patrick reports. The prince reportedly writes in his forthcomign memoir that, during his stay, suspicion took hold, which then became a firm belief... Her lifes been miserable, shes been hounded, harassed, lied about, lied to. So shes staged an accident as a diversion and run away. A timeline of the bitter feud between Prince Harry and William Saturday 7 January 2023 09:01 , Andy Gregory The claims in Prince Harrys new book are shocking because he and his brother William were long understood to have been close, having grown up together in the privileged but rarefied atmosphere of the British royal family with all of the pomp, ceremony and press intrusion that entails, writes my colleague Joe Sommerlad. They were united by sorrow at their parents acrimonious and very public divorce and again by the subsequent tragic death of their beloved mother, Princess Diana, in a car crash in Paris in August 1997. Both went on to attend university, serve in the armed forces, carry out royal duties, marry and father children but their shared experiences do not appear to have been sufficient to keep them together. But their bond has gradually worn away over time to the point where Harry now refers to William as his arch nemesis. Here is a timeline of their falling out, largely as told by Harry since his break with the family, with William, the next in line to the British throne, largely preferring to remain silent: Timeline of the bitter feud between Prince Harry and William Former paratrooper describes idea of keeping a kill count abhorrent' Saturday 7 January 2023 08:38 , Andy Gregory A former US paratrooper in Afghanistan has described the idea of counting the number of people you have killed in war absolutely abhorrent, following Prince Harrys own claims to have taken the lives of 25 people whom he likened to chess pieces taken off the board. To me, the idea of counting or staying these totals is just abhorrent. You just dont do it. Killing is part of war, but that doesnt mean it isnt horrific even for those who are trained to do it. 9/ Andrew Fox (@Mr_Andrew_Fox) January 7, 2023 Writing on Twitter about his experience and of Andrew Fox said: I love that the British Army doesnt have a culture of glorifying this stuff. Its frowned upon in service and its frowned upon in the veteran community. He added: Human life is sacred. Its not chess pieces. Taking a human life is horrific and haunts you forever. This s*** will stay with me until my dying day. F*** war. Its [not] brave or glamorous, you do what you have to. Its f****** awful for everyone concerned. King Charles was jealous of attention received by Prince William and Princess Kate, Harry claims Saturday 7 January 2023 08:13 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has claimed that his father was jealous of the amount of public attention Prince William and Princess Kate received. In one translated extract of Harrys upcoming book in the Daily Telegraph, Harry claims: Willy did everything he [Charles] wanted, and sometimes he didnt want him to do much, because my dad and Camilla didnt like Willy and Kate getting too much publicity. One example he reportedly provides as apparent evidence involved the Kings staff making sure the then-Duchess of Cambridge was not photographed holding a tennis racket at a public engagement as that kind of photo would have pushed Dad and Camilla off every front page. And that couldnt be tolerated under any circumstances, Harry reportedly adds. King Charles feared Meghan Markle would steal his limelight, Prince Harry claims Saturday 7 January 2023 07:51 , Andy Gregory The Duke of Sussex has claimed that his father was jealous of his wife, Meghan Markle, fearing the novel and resplendent American actor would steal his limelight. According to the Daily Telegraph, Harry writes in Spare that his father had experienced that before and he had no interest in letting it happen to him again in an apparent allusion to his late mother Princess Diana. Prior to his engagement to Meghan, Harry claims his father raised the subject of her livelihood and asked if she planned to keep working after their marriage. When he told the now-King he did not believe so, Harry claims the reply was: Well, my dear son, you already know that we dont have money to spare. The US publication Page Six reports that Harry wrote: Pa might have dreaded the rising cost of maintaining us, but what he really couldnt stomach was someone new dominating the monarchy, grabbing the limelight, someone shiny and new coming in and overshadowing him. Prince Harry claims King Charles feared Meghan would steal his limelight Prince Harry says some outlets hunted his DNA to verify James Hewitt claims Saturday 7 January 2023 07:25 , Andy Gregory Heres more detail on our current headline story the news that Prince Harry has used his forthcoming book to address longstanding rumours that his real father is Major James Hewitt, with whom his late mother Princess Diana had a five-year affair in the 1980s. .... The rumour going around at the time that my real father was one of my mothers ex-lovers: Major James Hewitt, Prince Harry reportedly writes in Spare. One cause of the rumour was Major Hewitts red hair, but another was sadism. Tabloid readers loved the idea that Prince Charless youngest son was not Prince Charless son. They never got tired of that joke, for some reason. The Duke of Sussex wonders whether this rumour was used to paint him as a laughing stock noting that it didnt seem to matter that his mother hadnt met Major Hewitt until long after I was born. Harry claims that sections of the media went as far as hunting my DNA to verify it, remarking that he believed after torturing Princess Diana into hiding that soon they would come for me. The former Major previously remarked in a 2002 interview with the Sunday Mirror that there really is no possibility whatsoever that I am Harrys father as he was already walking by the time my relationship with Diana began. My colleague Eleanor Noyce has the full report: Prince Harry memoir finally addresses rumour that James Hewitt is his real father Alison Hammond and Carol Vorderman in hysterics as they discuss Prince Harrys virginity story from memoir Saturday 7 January 2023 07:00 , Eleanor Noyce Alison Hammond and Carol Vorderman were left in uncontrollable fits of laughter while discussing the story of Prince Harry losing his virginity. The Duke of Sussex recalls the escapade in his forthcoming memoir Spare, which is due for release on Tuesday (10 January) but leaked after it was accidentally released five days early in Spain. One of the most shocking stories in the book is the story of the first time Harry had sex, with the royal claiming he lost his virginity to an older woman in a field behind a very busy pub. Isobel Lewis has more: Alison Hammond and Carol Vorderman in hysterics during Prince Harry virginity talk Idiot: Londoners react to Prince Harrys book Saturday 7 January 2023 06:00 , Eleanor Noyce Londoners have given their two cents on Prince Harrys much-anticipated memoir, Spare, as excerpts bring about bombshell revelations. Newspapers shared details from the book after it was released in Spain on Thursday, January 5, leaving the British public stunned. The prince wrote about how he lost his virginity in a field behind a pub, his drug use, and how many Taliban fighters he killed. This video gives a glimpse of how the book has gone down with the public, with some saying Harry has caused irreversible damage. Mary-Kate Findon reports: Idiot: Londoners react to Prince Harrys book If Harry really wants his family back, hed be smart to stop talking so much Saturday 7 January 2023 05:00 , Eleanor Noyce Oh, Prince Harry. Finally, the time has come when I feel sorry for everyones favourite jet-hopping, mansion-dwelling, dirty laundry-dragging royal. To be clear, this is not because I worry about the quality of his life now that he has firmly established himself across the pond in sunny Montecito. Nor is it because Im concerned that he and Meghan might struggle to get any work done at their vast two-seater desk. Or because theyre too busy texting Beyonce again. No. Its because I fear that after all of this media face time, Harry is going to wind up without the one thing he wants most in the world: his family. Olivia Petter weighs in: If Harry really wants his family back, hed be smart to stop talking so much The detail in the Harry and William revelations everyone is missing Saturday 7 January 2023 04:00 , Eleanor Noyce In his forthcoming memoir Spare, Prince Harry claims Prince William attacked him during an argument at the younger brothers Nottingham Cottage home in 2019. The first person the Duke of Sussex called after the physical fight was not his wife who was the main subject of the brothers alleged squabble but his therapist. In an extract from the royals book, which is due for release on 10 January, Harry writes that his older brother grabbed him by the collar, ripped his necklace off and knocked him to the ground. The argument began when William allegedly called Meghan difficult, rude and abrasive, and escalated when Harry fell onto the dogs bowl with the broken pieces cutting into his back. After William left his brothers home, looking regretful as Harry recalls, the duke writes that he didnt immediately tell Meghan, but called his therapist after the altercation. It wasnt until his wife noticed scrapes and bruises on his back that he told her of the attack. Meredith Clark reports: The detail in the Harry and William revelations everyone is missing Prince Harrys memoir Spare half-price at major bookshops four days before official release Saturday 7 January 2023 03:00 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harrys autobiography Spare is already being offered at half price days before it is released. The Duke of Sussexs tell-all memoir, which has been ghostwritten by Pulitzer Prize winner JR Moehringer, hits the shelves on Tuesday (10 January). However, large parts of the book have leaked ahead of release after a Spanish-language version accidentally went on sale five days before it was meant to. Isobel Lewis reports: Prince Harrys memoir Spare half-price four days before official release Harry, no... Why Spare is a step too far even for this royals fan Saturday 7 January 2023 02:00 , Eleanor Noyce Its the biggest book release of the year, so why is Spare making this royal watcher want to run and hide? Jessie Thompson writes: Wait. Say that again. They call each other Willy and Harold? Harrys necklace was ripped?! He was injured by a dog bowl!?!?! The explosive account of a fight between Prince Harry and Prince William, from Harrys forthcoming memoir Spare, contains the kind of intimate, incidental details that usually make me giddily incredulous. Im the type of casual royal watcher who has vague political opinions about inherited privilege but will neck a new Tina Brown book like its a tasty mojito. I watch new seasons of The Crown in a single sitting. I have even googled Princess Margaret wearing sunglasses young. Basically, Im here for the drama. So I find myself in an unusual position. Harrys book is undoubtedly the biggest and most anticipated book release of 2023, offering a no-holds-barred look into the reality of his royal life. And yet the thought of actually reading it? Oh god. Now Im not actually sure that I want to. Harry, no... Why Spare is a step too far even for this royals fan Prince Harry claims King Charles resented Meghan for 'overshadowing' him Saturday 7 January 2023 01:00 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harry has claimed that King Charles III resented Meghan for overshadowing more senior members of the royal family. In his much-anticipated upcoming memoir, Spare, the prince says the now-King pulled financial support from the couple for personal reasons. Pa might have dreaded the rising cost of maintaining us, but what he really couldnt stomach was someone new dominating the monarchy, grabbing the limelight, someone shiny and new coming in and overshadowing him, he wrote. Mary-Kate Findon has more: Prince Harry claims King Charles resented Meghan for 'overshadowing' him How to watch Prince Harrys ITV interview with Tom Bradby Saturday 7 January 2023 00:01 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harrys highly anticipated interview with ITV News is hitting our screens this weekend. The Duke of Sussex took part in an exclusive UK interview with presenter Tom Bradby ahead of the release of his tell-all memoir Spare, which arrives on shelves on Tuesday (10 January). However, the book leaked on Thursday (5 January) after it was accidentally released in Spain five days early. Isobel Lewis has more: How to watch Prince Harrys ITV interview with Tom Bradby Prince Harrys military comrades dismayed at unnecessary claim of 25 Taliban killings Friday 6 January 2023 23:00 , Eleanor Noyce There are obvious security implications in saying things like this, a colonel tells Kim Sengupta. Prince Harry served bravely and well with the military in Afghanistan. One questions why he chose to announce that he had killed 25 Taliban fighters; it was not just distasteful but also raises the security risk for him and his family. The Duke of Sussex does not glory in the deaths in his leaked memoir, Spare. But talking about those he killed from an Apache helicopter-gunship not as people but as chess pieces that had to be taken off the board sounds crass. It may be a mindset he needed to get into for combat, but saying this publicly about a fallen enemy, however much one may be against what they stand for, was the wrong thing to do. Dismay of Harrys military comrades over Taliban killings claim Warring royals should take a long walk with their father Friday 6 January 2023 22:50 , Eleanor Noyce Warring royals should take a long walk with their father, writes Will Gore. Poor Princes William and Harry. Two brothers, once so close, now torn apart by... well, that depends on whose narrative you choose to believe. It sometimes feels as if everyone has to pick a side in affairs such as these. Its rather like the breakdown of a celebrity marriage: are you with Jennifer or Brad; Angelina or Brad? And even in the most clear-cut of cases, you can always find contrary voices who will merrily place the blame on an innocent party. Id like to think there is actually a sizeable, silent majority who arent spending their hours getting frothy at the mouth about Harrys outrageous behaviour! or about Williams despicable conduct!. There may even be a few people out there who couldnt give two hoots about the whole saga. Perish the thought! Read more: The detail in the Harry and William revelations everyone is missing Friday 6 January 2023 22:20 , Eleanor Noyce Meredith Clark writes: In his forthcoming memoir Spare, Prince Harry claims Prince William attacked him during an argument at the younger brothers Nottingham Cottage home in 2019. The first person the Duke of Sussex called after the physical fight was not his wife who was the main subject of the brothers alleged squabble but his therapist. In an extract from the royals book, which is due for release on 10 January, Harry writes that his older brother grabbed him by the collar, ripped his necklace off and knocked him to the ground. The argument began when William allegedly called Meghan difficult, rude and abrasive, and escalated when Harry fell onto the dogs bowl with the broken pieces cutting into his back. After William left his brothers home, looking regretful as Harry recalls, the duke writes that he didnt immediately tell Meghan, but called his therapist after the altercation. It wasnt until his wife noticed scrapes and bruises on his back that he told her of the attack. The detail in the Harry and William revelations everyone is missing All the revelations so far from Harrys leaked book Spare Friday 6 January 2023 21:50 , Eleanor Noyce With excerpts from the Duke of Sussexs tell-all book leaked in the run-up to its publication, here are the claims and revelations so far. All the revelations so far from Harrys leaked book Spare Why Harry has really gone and done it this time Friday 6 January 2023 21:20 , Eleanor Noyce Whod have thought The Windsors would become an aristocratic version of The Jeremy Kyle Show? Well, anyone, to be honest; the crowns been slipping for years already. Long before Harry started snitching on his big brother, the royal familys public exposes, scandals, betrayals, disclosures and petty humiliations have turned the conditions that created the late Queens infamous annus horrriblis of 1992 into business as usual. After all, theres only so much they can blame on Haz. Ranging from the Carry On sauciness of Fergies tabloid tickling toe-job in the early nineties to the truly tawdry Andrew and his sordid friendship with the notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein more recently, the royal family have racked up decades of muck without any help from Harry. The royal linen may be luxurious, but its caked in filth, and its been hanging out for all to see for years already weve just grown used to the sight. Katie Edwards reports: Opinion: Why Harry has really gone and done it this time How to watch Prince Harrys ITV interview with Tom Bradby Friday 6 January 2023 20:50 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harrys highly anticipated interview with ITV News is hitting our screens this weekend. The Duke of Sussex took part in an exclusive UK interview with presenter Tom Bradby ahead of the release of his tell-all memoir Spare, which arrives on shelves on Tuesday (10 January). However, the book leaked on Thursday (5 January) after it was accidentally released in Spain five days early. Isobel Lewis has more: How to watch Prince Harrys ITV interview with Tom Bradby Prince Harrys done more than most for this country, friend and Royal Marines veteran remarks Friday 6 January 2023 20:20 , Eleanor Noyce A Royal Marines veteran and longstanding friend of Prince Harry has spoken out following the leaked passages from his upcoming memoir Spare. I think hes said a lot, enough overall for us to work out how he feels about his family, Ben McBean, who knows the Duke of Sussex from their time together in the armed forces, told Sky News. Hes got enough money in the bank, hes got a beautiful family, go and enjoy the rest of your life and just chill. Right now, its not really going down too well. Its sad because hes such a good guy as well. What hes done in the military has been overlooked and hes done more than most for this country, he added. Cressida Bonas shares first photograph of baby son as Prince Harry opens up about romance Friday 6 January 2023 19:50 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harrys ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas has shared the first picture of her baby boy amid the release of the Duke of Sussexs tell-all memoir. On Thursday (5 January), Bonas who dated the royal from 2012 to 2014 shared a photo to Instagram of her embracing her newborn and sausage dog. Welcoming 2023 with these 2 treasures, she captioned the photo. Happy new year everybody. The post was shared after Prince Harrys forthcoming autobiography Spare leaked ahead of its release on 10 January. Ellie Muir reports: Cressida Bonas shares first photo of baby son as Prince Harry opens up about romance "I whispered that I hoped she was happy, recalls Harry of seeing his grandmother Queen Elizabeth on her death bed Friday 6 January 2023 19:20 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harry has described the last time he saw his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, following her death in September 2022. In Spare, the Duke of Sussex describes travelling to Balmoral Castle in Scotland. He discovered via the BBC News website after his flight landed that Her Majesty had died. Princess Anne welcomed him into the castle and took him up to his grandmothers room. I advanced with uncertainty and saw her. I stayed still, watching her carefully for a good while, he pens. I whispered that I hoped she was happy and that she was with grandfather now. I said that I admired her for having carried out her duties until the end - the jubilee, the welcoming of the new prime minister. Prince Harry has turned against military family by revealing Afghanistan kills, ex-colonel says Friday 6 January 2023 18:50 , Eleanor Noyce The Duke of Sussex has now turned against his other family, the military after revealing he killed 25 people in Afghanistan, a retired British Army colonel has said. Colonel Tim Collins, known for a pre-battle speech he made in Iraq, said Harrys conduct is not how we behave in the army. It comes as the duke faces an intense backlash after writing about his time in Afghanistan in his controversial memoir, Spare. Harry wrote that flying six missions during his second tour of duty on the front line in 2012 to 2013 resulted in the taking of human lives, of which he was neither proud nor ashamed. Rebecca Speare-Cole reports: Prince Harry has turned against military family by revealing Afghanistan kills Taliban taunts big mouth loser Prince Harry after he claims 25 kills in Afghanistan Friday 6 January 2023 18:20 , Eleanor Noyce The Taliban have criticised Prince Harry after he said he killed 25 people in Afghanistan while serving in the military. The Duke of Sussex said the killings were like chess pieces removed from the board, in his forthcoming memoir Spare. Bad people eliminated before they could kill Good people. My number is 25. Its not a number that fills me with satisfaction, but nor does it embarrass me. Read more: Taliban taunts big mouth loser Prince Harry as he claims 25 kills in Afghanistan "Those photos set off a frenzy: Prince Harry reflects on his relationship with Caroline Flack Friday 6 January 2023 17:54 , Eleanor Noyce In his forthcoming memoir, Prince Harry recalls his relationship with the late TV presenter Caroline Flack. Detailing how he felt they had to stop seeing each other because of pressure from the press, the pair visited a restaurant together in 2009. The press found out and hunted them down, with Harry remarking that those photos set off a frenzy. Within hours a horde of journalists was camped outside Flacks parents house, her friends houses and her grandmothers house, Harry writes. We kept seeing each other from time to time but we never felt free again. We kept going because we genuinely enjoyed each others company and because we didnt want to admit defeat at the hands of those imbeciles. But the relationship was tainted, irredeemably, and in the end we decided it just wasnt worth the grief and harassment. Especially to her family. We said goodbye. Goodbye and good luck. Caroline Flack died in 2020. She won Strictly Come Dancing and hosted The X Factor and Love Island. Titillating but tedious: Prince Harrys betrayal is showing the royals for who they really are Friday 6 January 2023 17:50 , Eleanor Noyce And so it should transpire that a young, moderately handsome and not especially bright young man has a) lost his virginity in regrettable fashion b) dabbled in recreational drugs c) had a moderately violent row with a brother of about the same age and d) done what was expected of him in the armed forces. Woah woah woah. Clear out all the front pages. This is jawdropping stuff. Surely all of these entirely plausible incidents cant be real. Scrape my pieces up off the floor. I am blown away. The front page of the Daily Mail announces, in its ingenious pun on the title of Prince Harrys autobiography, PLEASE SPARE US! before then devoting almost its entire edition to all of the details which it simultaneously claims to wish to be spared from, in a curious attempt to capture what it imagines to be the public mood: that at this point, Prince Harry simply needs to stop talking about himself for money, and most of all, stop throwing the rest of his family under the proverbial bus. Tom Peck writes: Prince Harrys betrayal is showing the royals for who they really are | Tom Peck Prince Harry says he 'gobbled mushroom chocolates' at Courteney Cox's house Friday 6 January 2023 17:20 , Eleanor Noyce The Duke of Sussex has recalled a time when he gobbled magic mushrooms at Courteney Coxs house in his autobiography, Spare. In an extract seen by US Weekly, Prince Harry wrote that he went to the Friends actors house after a party. Harry said that, as a Friends fanatic, the idea of crashing at Coxs house was highly amusing. The duke recalled that he spotted a huge box of black diamond mushroom chocolates at the house. My mate and I grabbed several, gobbled them, washed them down with tequila, he wrote. Holly Patrick reports: Prince Harry says he 'gobbled mushroom chocolates' at Courteney Cox's house Prince Harry claims King Charles resented Meghan for 'overshadowing' him Friday 6 January 2023 16:50 , Eleanor Noyce Prince Harry has claimed that King Charles III resented Meghan for overshadowing more senior members of the royal family. In his much-anticipated upcoming memoir, Spare, the prince says the now-King pulled financial support from the couple for personal reasons. Pa might have dreaded the rising cost of maintaining us, but what he really couldnt stomach was someone new dominating the monarchy, grabbing the limelight, someone shiny and new coming in and overshadowing him, he wrote. Mary-Kate Findon has more: Prince Harry claims King Charles resented Meghan for 'overshadowing' him Alison Hammond and Carol Vorderman in hysterics as they discuss Prince Harrys virginity story from memoir Friday 6 January 2023 16:21 , Andy Gregory Alison Hammond and Carol Vorderman were left in uncontrollable fits of laughter while discussing the story of Prince Harry losing his virginity. The royal claims in the book that he lost his virginity to an older woman in a field behind a very busy pub, referring to the incident as a humiliating episode with an older woman who liked macho horses and who treated me like a young stallion, adding: I mounted her quickly, after which she spanked my ass and sent me away. The subject was raised during Fridays episode (6 January) of This Morning, with hosts Hammond and Dermot OLeary joined by Gyles Brandreth and Vorderman to discuss the book resulting in hysterical laughter. My colleague Isobel Lewis has the details here: Alison Hammond and Carol Vorderman in hysterics during Prince Harry virginity talk Meghan Markle placed hands on Dianas grave and asked for guidance on 20th anniversary of her death Friday 6 January 2023 16:12 , Eleanor Noyce In forthcoming memoir Spare, Prince Harry has detailed the moment Meghan Markle placed her hands on Dianas grave and asked her for clarity and guidance. Rowing out to Princess Dianas final resting place on an island on the Althorp estate in 2017, the couple were visiting to mark the 20th anniversary of her death. After some time reflecting together, Harry gave Meghan a few moments alone. When I returned, she was on her knees with her eyes closed and her palms flat against the stone, Harry wrote, remarking that she told him she had asked Diana for clarity and guidance, the MailOnline reported. Opinion | Harry, no... Why Spare is a step too far even for this royals fan Friday 6 January 2023 16:05 , Andy Gregory In this feature, our arts editor Jessie Thompson writes: Wait. Say that again. They call each other Willy and Harold? Harrys necklace was ripped?! He was injured by a dog bowl!?!?! The explosive account of a fight between Prince Harry and Prince William, from Harrys forthcoming memoir Spare, contains the kind of intimate, incidental details that usually make me giddily incredulous. Im the type of casual royal watcher who has vague political opinions about inherited privilege but will neck a new Tina Brown book like its a tasty mojito. I watch new seasons of The Crown in a single sitting. I have even googled Princess Margaret wearing sunglasses young. Basically, Im here for the drama. So I find myself in an unusual position. Harrys book is undoubtedly the biggest and most anticipated book release of 2023, offering a no-holds-barred look into the reality of his royal life. And yet the thought of actually reading it? Oh god. Now Im not actually sure that I want to. Harry, no... Why Spare is a step too far even for this royals fan Voices | Harrys military claims point to one thing an enduring sense of trauma Friday 6 January 2023 15:20 , Andy Gregory Amid criticism of Prince Harrys admissions about his time in Afghanistan, former British Army Captain Mike Crofts notes that discussing kill counts openly often suggests that someone is processing a large amount of trauma linked to their service and possibly before it. He adds: Despite the misjudged oversharing of his service, veterans still need to stand by Harry and offer him support when he needs it in future. Lets get beyond the hysteria of what is in fact just a very sad tale. Beyond Harry, this episode should be a call for all veterans everywhere to reach out and check in with those they served with. We all carry trauma in different ways and a kind ear and forgiveness is sometimes what people need most. You can read his full analysis for Independent Voices here: Opinion: Prince Harrys military claims point to one thing Prince Harry reveals late Queen played a role in Chelsy Davy breakup Friday 6 January 2023 14:57 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has claimed that the late Queen Elizabeth IIs opinion on his ex-girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, played a role in their breakup, my colleague Meredith Clark reports. In an excerpt from the Duke of Sussexs forthcoming book, obtained by Page Six, Prince Harry reflected on his on-again, off-again romance with the Zimbabwean businesswoman, whom he dated from 2004 to 2011. I loved Chels ease, that she wasnt complicated, he is reported as saying. She didnt care what anyone thought. She wore miniskirts and high-heeled boots, danced however she wanted, drank tequila like me, and all of this made me really happy. I couldnt help what my grandmother thought about it. Or the people. And the last thing I wanted was for Chels to change to please them. Harry, 38, also admitted that he wasnt sure at the time whether Davy, now 37, was the one for him, saying: The whole world isnt made to put up with constant scrutiny, and I dont know if Chels could bear it, and I couldnt ask her to. Prince Harry reveals late Queen played a part in Chelsy Davy breakup Prince Harrys Afghanistan remarks could incite violence against British soldiers Friday 6 January 2023 14:35 , Andy Gregory Prince Harrys comments about personally having viewed Taliban fighters he killed as chess pieces taken off the board could incite people to attempt attacks against British soldiers anywhere in the world, a retired British Army officer has warned. This has tarnished his own reputation and it also has damaged if people believe it, and many will believe it the reputation of the British Army, unjustly, Colonel Richard Kemp told Sky News. Because the characterisation that he makes in this book is simply not true its in fact the opposite of the truth. Those people who want to kill British soldiers or former soldiers, they know that the British Army killed many more than 25, but it brings it into sharp focus ... I think this will incite some people to maybe attempt to attack against British soldiers anywhere in the world He added: I wouldnt overplay that aspect I think the impact on his own personal security is greater, but I dont think we can ignore that. Colonel Richard Kemp told Sky News that Prince Harry's claim he killed 25 people in Afghanistan could lead to violence against current and former military personnel. He added the characterisation of the army "is simply not true". Read more here: https://t.co/chqDzEVZak pic.twitter.com/C9dfQrqaLi Sky News (@SkyNews) January 6, 2023 Prince Harrys memoir Spare half-price at major bookshops four days before official release Friday 6 January 2023 14:12 , Andy Gregory Prince Harrys autobiography Spare is already being offered at half price days before it is released on 10 January. The books RRP is 28, but four days before its official release, the memoir is being offered for half price if you pre-order in store and online. This includes major UK bookshops Waterstones and WHSmith, the latter of which is opening some stores at midnight on Tuesday for Spares release. My colleague Isobel Lewis has more details: Prince Harrys memoir Spare half-price four days before official release Ex-security official would have advised Harry against Afghanistan disclosures Friday 6 January 2023 13:51 , Andy Gregory Lord Kim Darroch, former National Security Adviser, has said that he would have advised against Prince Harry discussing the number of people he killed while serving in Afghanistan. Lord Darroch said he slightly shared the security concerns military experts have raised after Harrys comments, telling Sky News: You have to respect all of those who fought in Afghanistan. I went there a number of times when I was National Security Adviser. Its a really tough environment, it was a really dangerous war, we lost more than 500 British servicemen. I respect and appreciate all those who fought there. Personally if Id been advising the prince, I would have advised against the kind of detail that he goes into there. But its out there now and I believe it was a just war and therefore what he has written about how he justified to himself what he was doing, I can understand and appreciate that. In terms of the detail, I personally wouldnt have gone there, but its done now. Prince Harry has turned against military family by revealing Afghanistan kills King Charles isnt a hugger, says Paul Burrell Friday 6 January 2023 13:32 , Andy Gregory The late Princess Dianas butler Paul Burrell has said he understands Prince Harrys recollections of his fathers response in the wake of his mothers death, claiming that the monarch isnt a hugger. When he talks about his father touching his knee at Balmoral and not hugging him, I understand that because Charles isnt a hugger and the royals dont hug, he told ITVs Lorraine show. The royals are not good at giving comfort, and thats what Harrys trying to tell you, he said, adding: Theyre not like us, theyre very different. Paul Burrell claims Prince Harry has done tremendous damage to monarchy Friday 6 January 2023 13:14 , Andy Gregory Paul Burrell, who worked as Princess Dianas butler 25 years ago, is back in front of the cameras and speaking to ITVs Lorraine Kelly this morning. Claiming to describe his late bosss son as a very angry, hurt young man, who is still living those moments of when he lost his mother, Burrell went on to accuse Prince Harry of doing tremendous damage to the system, which is the monarchy. Diana supported the monarchy, she was proud of her boys, proud that they were royal princes, proud they were part of the royal family and she would not agree with Harry pulling the rug from underneath his brothers feet as hes on his way to be king, and she would want them to be together, he claimed. The fallout has been a lot of hurt people and it has to stop, he added, because if it keeps escalating like this there will never be a reconciliation. Prince William didnt want Harry and Meghan Markle to marry in Westminster Abbey, book reportedly claims Friday 6 January 2023 12:52 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry has reportedly claimed that his brother William was against the idea of his marriage to Meghan Markle taking place in Westminster Abbey where he himself had married Kaate Middleton seven years prior. According to Page Six, Harry also claims in his forthcoming book that William also didnt want to pair to choose St Pauls Cathedral, where Princess Diana and King Charles married in 1981, because it was reportedly too grand. Prince Harry claims Prince William warned him not to propose to Meghan Markle Friday 6 January 2023 12:29 , Andy Gregory Prince Harry says that Prince William warned him not to propose to Meghan Markle out of fear the couples relationship was moving too fast, reports Ellie Muir. According to Page Six, the Duke of Sussex claims in his upcoming memoir that William squashed the idea that Harry and Meghan would become a foursome with him and Kate because she was an American actress after all. After telling William that he felt like their late mother, Princess Diana, helped him find Markle, Harry reportedly claims that William took a step back and told his younger brother that he was taking things a bit too far. Prince Harry claims Prince William warned him not to propose to Meghan Markle Rishi Sunak sidesteps questions on Prince Harrys Afghanistan claims Friday 6 January 2023 12:05 , Andy Gregory Rishi Sunak has declined to comment after the Duke of Sussex claimed to have killed 25 people as a helicopter pilot in Afghanistan. Asked if such a claim was wise, the Prime Minister told broadcasters: "I wouldn't comment on matters to do with the royal family. "I would just say I am enormously grateful to our armed forces for the incredible job they do in keeping us all safe. We're all very fortunate for their service." New Prince Harry ITV interview trailer teases alleged William attack and talk of a fair amount of drugs Friday 6 January 2023 11:47 , Andy Gregory My collegaue Nicole Vassell has this report on ITVs new trailer this morning for its forthcoming interview with Prince Harry, due to be broadcast on Sunday, two days ahead of the publication of his new book. New Prince Harry ITV interview trailer teases alleged William attack Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website Prince Harry has revealed he was suffering from penile frostbite at William and Kate's wedding. (Getty Images) Prince Harry has revealed that he was suffering from penile frostbite during Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton. In a turn of events no one expected, the Duke of Sussex said he was impacted by the intimate condition at the April 2011 celebration. The reveal was made in his new autobiography, Spare, which became available for sale at bookstores in Spain this week - five days before the official date of publication. In it, Harry reportedly describes his painful experience with frostbite following a 200-mile expedition to the North Pole in March 2011. While the condition impacted his ears and cheeks and he also said it affected his, ahem, "todger". Read more: Prince Harry's upcoming book number two on Amazon's best-seller list in UK and US In his book, Harry explains that while standing by his brother's side during his wedding in April 2011, he was still recovering from his injuries. "Pa was very interested, and sympathetic about the discomfort of my frost-nipped ears and cheeks," he writes, about the night before the wedding. "While the ears and cheeks were already healing, the todger wasnt," he continued. "It was becoming more of an issue by the day. Following the wedding, Harry says that he went to the doctor after using Elizabeth Arden cream, Page Six reports. Elsewhere in the book, Harry reveals that he was circumcised as a baby, despite many sources suggesting that he wasnt. There were countless stories in books, and papers about Willy and me not being circumcised, he wrote, according to The Independent. Mummy had forbidden it, they all said, and while its absolutely true that the chance of getting penile frostbite is much greater if youre not circumcised, all the stories were false. I was snipped as a baby. Read more: Prince Harry has finished writing 'intimate and honest' memoir of his childhood and life with Meghan Prince Harry on the Walking with the Wounded expedition in March 2011, which lead to him suffering penile frostbite. (Getty Images) What is penile frostbite? According to the NHS frostbite is damage to skin and tissue caused by exposure to freezing temperatures, typically any temperature below -0.55C (31F). Story continues While it can affect any part of your body, the extremities, such as the hands, feet, ears, nose and lips, are most likely to be affected. Symptoms of frostbite typically begin with the affected parts feeling cold and painful. If exposure to the cold continues, the NHS says you may feel pins and needles before the area becomes numb as the tissues freeze. Frostbite is a condition which usually occurs in fingers and toes in extreme cold circumstances," adds Dr Stuart Sanders, GP at The London General Practice. "The arterial blood supply is shut down by spasm in the artery and tissue that the artery supplies is denied oxygen as a consequence. This leads to tissue damage which is very painful." Dr Sanders says that while the same principle applies to penis frostbite, it is in fact very rare. It can cause severe pain which continues for some time during the healing process and, in extreme cases, death of the affected tissues, known as gangrene," he continues. I understand Prince Harry had recently returned from a trek to the North Pole in freezing conditions. He would have been in the recovery phase at the time in question; this would have caused pain. Watch: 'He wanted me to hit him back': Prince Harry claims he saw 'red mist' in Prince William Treating frostbite Abbas Kanani, pharmacist at Chemist Click online pharmacy advises that the treatment for uncomplicated frostbite is to expose the affected area to a warmer area, but suggests it is done so under medical advice/supervision. "A bath at temperatures of 37 degrees Celsius can be used," he says. "Hot water should not be used. The process is painful and may require painkillers." The NHS adds that it is important not to rewarm the affected area if there's a chance of it freezing again, as this can lead to further tissue damage. Read more: From Prince Harry's book to King Charles' coronation, this year's big royal events Prince Harry's autobiography has been released in Spain, ahead of the release in the UK next week. (Getty Images) When to get medical attention If you think you or someone else may have frostbite, call your GP or NHS 111 for advice. If the symptoms are more severe or there are signs of hypothermia, such as constant shivering or fast breathing (hyperventilation), the NHS advises you go immediately to your nearest A&E. A doctor will examine the affected area, check your vital signs, and ask how you got frostbite. You may need a follow-up appointment or referral to a specialist, as the full extent of a frostbite injury often isn't apparent until a few days later. Preventing frostbite Frostbite can largely be prevented by taking precautions during cold weather and avoiding unnecessary exposure to cold temperatures. The combination of wind and cold temperatures (wind chill) can also cause a rapid drop in temperature, so the NHS recommends avoiding going out when it's cold and windy, when possible. The site also suggests wearing appropriate clothing that protects your extremities, such as:well-insulated boots and a thick pair of well-fitting socks. Although in Prince Harry's case he may have benefited from a winter warmer protecting another of his extremities... Photo: The Canadian Press Bryan Kohberger, left, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, appears at a hearing in Latah County District Court, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, Pool) The DNA of the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students was found on a knife sheath recovered at the crime scene, and cellphone data shows he was in the vicinity of the victims' home around the time of the November attack as well as on a dozen other previous occasions, an investigator said in affidavit unsealed Thursday. Shortly after the affidavit was released, Bryan Kohberger, a 28-year-old criminology doctoral student at nearby Washington State University, appeared in an Idaho court to face four charges of first-degree murder. Kohberger, who did not enter a plea, was ordered held without bail. The affidavit details a chilling encounter between one of the victims' surviving roommates and a masked intruder the night of the stabbings in Moscow, Idaho. But many questions remain unanswered, including whether Kohberger and any of the victims knew each other, and why police werent alerted until nearly eight hours after the killings likely occurred. Traces of DNA from a lone male later determined to be Kohberger were found on the button of a leather knife sheath found in the rental home where the victims were killed, according to the affidavit written by Brett Payne, a police corporal in Moscow, Idaho. Investigators later closely matched the DNA on the sheath to DNA found in trash taken from Kohbergers parents home in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested last week. The sheath had a U.S. Marine Corps insignia on it, though there's no record of Kohberger having served in the military. The attack that occurred in the early morning hours of an off-campus home had spread fear throughout the university and surrounding area for weeks, as authorities seemed stumped by the brutal stabbings. Investigators made a breakthrough, however, after searching for a white sedan that was seen near the crime scene around the time of the killings. Surveillance footage captured near the home showed a white sedan later identified as a Hyundai Elantra drove by the home three times in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, returning a fourth time at about 4:04 a.m. The car was next spotted on surveillance cameras leaving the victims home 16 minutes later at a high rate of speed, according to the affidavit. The same car was later spotted on a different camera headed toward Pullman, Washington the town where Washington State University and Kohbergers apartment are located. The affidavit connects some of the dots between the surveillance footage and cellphone data. Kohbergers phone pinged communications towers in the region at the same time and in the same areas that the white Elantra was seen driving in the hours after the killings, the affidavit says. Latah County prosecutors have said they believe Kohberger broke into the victims home intending to commit murder. But investigators have made no public statements about a possible motive, whether any weapons have been found, or whether they think Kohberger knew any of the victims: Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20. Two other housemates were at home during the Nov. 13 killings, but were not physically harmed. One of the uninjured housemates told investigators that she was awoken by noises at about 4 a.m., and thought she heard another housemate say something like, theres someone here. She looked outside her bedroom and didnt see anything. Later she thought she heard crying coming from Kernodles room and looked outside again. Thats when she said she heard a male voice say something to the effect of, its OK, Im going to help you, according to the affidavit. She later opened her door a third time and saw a masked man in black clothing whom she did not recognize walking toward her and stood in frozen shock as he walked past her toward a sliding glass door, the affidavit said. She went back in her room and locked the door. Investigators believe the suspect then left the home. The document does not say what happened next at the home, or why police were not alerted for several more hours. Mental health experts say common physiological responses to frightening or traumatic experiences include an urge to fight, an urge to flee, or an urge to freeze. Location data from Kohbergers cellphone showed he had traveled to the area of the victims residence at least a dozen times between late June and the night of the killings, authorities said. Those apparent visits to the victims neighborhood all occurred late in the evening or in the early morning, the affidavit said. Investigators also obtained location data from the night of the killings, showing that Kohbergers phone was near his home in Pullman until about 2:42 a.m. Five minutes later, the phone started using cellular resources located southeast of the home -- consistent with Kohberger traveling south, the affidavit said. There was no other location data available from the phone until 4:48 a.m. from a cellphone tower south of Moscow suggesting Kohberger may have turned his phone off during the attack, the affidavit said. At that point, the phone began taking a roundabout route back to Pullman, traveling south to Genesee, Idaho, then west to Uniontown, Washington and north to Pullman just before 5:30 a.m. -- around the same time the white sedan showed up on surveillance cameras in town. An FBI expert identified the vehicle as a 2011-2016 Hyundai Elantra; Kohberger was driving a 2015 white Elantra during traffic stops in August and in October, the affidavit said. At the time, Kohberger's vehicle had a Pennsylvania license plate and was registered in that state. That registration was set to expire on Nov. 30, however. On Nov. 18 five days after the killings Kohberger registered the car in the state of Washington, getting a new license plate. Kohberger had applied to become an intern with the Pullman Police Department sometime in the fall of 2022, writing in his application essay that he wanted to help rural law enforcement agencies collect and analyze technical data in public safety operations, according to the affidavit. The document does not say if Kohberger was granted the internship. The Pullman Police Department did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press asking if Kohberger ever became an intern with the department. During Thursday's court hearing, Kohberger appeared with his attorney in an orange jumpsuit and remained silent while the magistrate ordered him not to have contact with the victims families. His next hearing was set for Jan. 12. Some of Goncalves' family members attended the hearing. It's obviously an emotional time for the family, seeing the defendant for the first time, the Goncalves family attorney, Shanon Gray, said outside the courthouse. This is the beginning of the criminal justice system and the family will be here for the long haul. In this image released on January 21, 2013, Prince Harry, shows a television crew his flight helmet as he makes early morning checks as he sits on an Apache helicopter at the British controlled flight-line at Camp Bastion on December 12, 2012 in Afghanistan. John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Harry revealed that he killed 25 people while serving in Afghanistan. The Telegraph obtained an excerpt of the book ahead of its release. "It's not a number that fills me with satisfaction, but nor does it embarrass me," Harry wrote. Prince Harry wrote in his upcoming memoir "Spare" that he killed more than two dozen people in Afghanistan after the army taught him not to view members of the Taliban as people, according to The Telegraph, which obtained an excerpt of the book. While he wrote he is "neither proud nor ashamed," his confession is likely to make him and his family a bigger terrorist target, The Independent reported, citing several critics including a publicist, a journalist, and a former commando. "In the era of Apaches and laptops," Harry said he was able to come up "with exactness how many enemy combatants I had killed. And it seemed to me essential not to be afraid of that number." The 38-year-old Duke of Sussex served as a forward air controller in the British Royal Army from 2007-2008 and piloted the attack helicopter between 2012-2013, Al Jazeera reported. "It seemed to me essential not to be afraid of that number. So my number is 25. It's not a number that fills me with satisfaction, but nor does it embarrass me," he wrote, adding that the number came from six missions during his second tour in the country. Harry claimed that the army engrained the idea that the Taliban members he was fighting against were "chess pieces" in him. "I made it my purpose, from day one, to never go to bed with any doubt whether I had done the right thing whether I had shot at Taliban and only Taliban, without civilians in the vicinity. I wanted to return to Great Britain with all my limbs, but more than that I wanted to get home with my conscience intact," Harry wrote. Harry's reps did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Penguin Random House, the book's publisher, has not widely shared excerpts of the memoir ahead of its January 10, 2023 publication, but the Telegraph wrote that it obtained a Spanish-language copy of the book from a Spanish bookstore. His memoir also revealed a time when Prince William attacked him during an argument over Meghan Markle, claimed that the royal family wants to view him and his wife as "villains," and detailed how Harry lost his virginity to an older woman. Read the original article on Insider Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Prince Harry said in a new TV clip today that his brother William was consumed by the red mist of anger when he physically attacked him, pushing him over and causing him to break a dog bowl, and wanted him to hit him back but he refused. He has also said, in other trailers, that he was probably bigoted before he met Meghan and that he believes the spirit of his mother is guiding him. Prince William Hates Harry and Meghan, Feels Utterly Betrayed, Friend Says Harry said in a trailer for his British interview with the journalist Tom Bradby: What was different here was the level of frustration, and I talk about the red mist that I had for so many years, and I saw this red mist in him. He wanted me to hit him back but I chose not to. Prince Harry: I saw this red mist in him. He wanted me to hit him back, but I chose not to. Harry: The Interview will air on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/6JWnzMgrOb Lizzie Robinson (@LizzieITV) January 6, 2023 In the clip, Bradby asks Harry about his decision to detail his drug use in his book. He may have been thinking about one particularly bizarre section of the book in which Harry describes a magic mushroom trip. He says his hallucinations caused him to see a bin in a bathroom and a toilet grow heads and start talking to him, while a friend thought his puffer jacket had turned into a dragon. Bradby says, Theres a fair amount of drugs. Marijuana, magic mushrooms, cocaine. I mean, thats going to surprise people. The duke agrees but says it was important to acknowledge, before insisting, yet again, that he wants to patch things up with his family. I want reconciliation, but, first, there needs to be some accountabilityThe truth, supposedly, at the moment, has been theres only one side to this story, right? But, theres two sides to every story. Story continues In another clip of his 60 Minutes interview with Anderson Cooper, he says, I went into this incredibly naive I had no idea the British press were so bigoted. Hell, I was probably bigoted before the relationship with Meghan. He then says: What Meghan had to go through was similar in some part to what Kate and what Camila went through. Very different circumstances, but then you add in the race element, which is what the press, British press, jumped on straight away. When asked by Cooper if he was saying he was bigoted before meeting Meghan, Harry responded: I dont know. Put it this way, I didnt see what I now see. Prince Harry Says He Lost His Virginity to an Ass-Spanking Older Woman And in an interview with Michael Strahan for GMA, Harry was asked what their mother Princess Diana might think of the current situation. He said: I think she would be sad. I think shed be looking at it long-term to know that there are certain things that we need to go through to be able to heal the relationship. I have felt the presence of my mum more so in the last two years than I have in the last 30. Harry said in his book that he visited a psychic who told him Diana was with him and that Diana had seen Archie break an ornament, in the shape of the queen, on the Christmas tree. The book has also lifted the lid on an astonishing series of personal intimate moments in the life of the family, including settling the question of how Harry found out about his grandmothers death. Buckingham Palace had previously insisted Harry was told in person by his father but in the book, Harry says he saw it on the BBC website as his charter jet came in to land in Scotland. When the plane started to descend I saw that my phone lit up. It was a message from Meg: Call me when you get this. I looked at the BBC website. My grandmother had died. My father was King. 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. Prince Harry has slammed a British tabloid for claiming that Meghan Markles flowers at her 2018 wedding were poisonous. In his upcoming memoir, Spare, Harry wrote about his and Meghans decision to sue the Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), after multiple tabloids made false allegations about the couple. While his peers discouraged him from filing the lawsuit, there was one particular article that he had a major issue with, according to an excerpt of the book shared by Us Weekly. However, it appears that the article he reportedly discussed was published by Express, a Reach PLC titled, so it was not published by ANL. He noted that in this piece, the magazine accused him and Meghan of putting Princess Charlottes life at risk by having her wear an allegedly deadly flower crown. Along with Prince William and Kate Middletons daughter, several other young members of the royal family wore those flower crowns as bridesmaids at the wedding. Harry recalled the scandal that followed in the wake of the article being published and clarified how the flowers arent poisonous. He acknowledged that while the flower crowns were designed with lilies of the valley, which can be poisonous, those plants can only be deadly if they are eaten. Even then, the reaction would be discomfort, conceding to parents, but only in the rarest cases would such a thing be fatal, he wrote. Us Weekly also reported that Harry explained how lilies of the valleys have been included in royal weddings throughout the years, so it wasnt Meghans decision to have them at the nuptials. Never mind that previous royal brides, including Kate and my mother, had also used lilies of the valley, the former military pilot added in his book. He also claimed that the tabloid chose not to include this information about the flowers since the story of Meghan the Murderess was just too good. Additionally, he noted how the publication allegedly shared a picture of Charlotte with her face looking contorted next to another image of Meghan looking sublimely unconcerned about the imminent death of this angelic child. Story continues (Getty Images) Over the years, Harry has been locked in legal battles with ANL. He previously sued the organization over two articles which claimed that he had snubbed the Royal Marines after stepping down as a senior royal. In February 2021, he accepted an apology and damages in this libel suit. In July, the High Court ruled that one of Mail on Sundays articles about Harry contained parts that were defamatory. The duke is now suing the the tabloids publisher over a story on a separate High Court case over the decision to remove his automatic granting of police protection in the UK. His wife also won a front-page apology and payout from the Mail on Sunday publishers in December 2021 after her copyright win against the group. Along with addressing how Meghan was treated by the British tabloids, Harry shared other revelations about his marriage in the memoir. In one excerpt, he candidly reflected on a fight that he had with Meghan where he got extremely angry. Maybe the wine went to my head. Maybe the weeks of battling the press had worn me down. For some reason, when the conversation took an unexpected turn, I became touchy, he wrote in the book, according to Us Weekly. Then angry. Disproportionately, sloppily angry. He also said the argument prompted them to have a discussion about therapy, with the duchess encouraging her husband to go to it. It came from somewhere deep inside, somewhere that needed to be excavated, and it was obvious that I could use some help with the job. he continued. Ive tried therapy, I told her. Willy [Prince William] told me to go. Never found the right person. [It] didnt work. No, she said softly. Try again. CBS on Thursday released another trailer for Prince Harrys upcoming 60 Minutes interview, which shows the royal telling Anderson Cooper about being probably bigoted before his relationship with Meghan Markle. What Meghan had to go through, in some part, was similar to what Kate and Camilla went through, Harry says in the new clip, adding that the women faced very different circumstances. But then you add in the race element, which was what the press the British press jumped on straightaway. I went into this incredibly naive, the royal says. I had no idea the British press were so bigoted. How I was probably bigoted before the relationship with Meghan. You think you were bigoted before the relationship with Meghan? Cooper presses. I dont know, Harry answers. Put it this way I didnt see what I now see. Prince Harry tells @andersoncooper, "I was probably bigoted before the relationship with Meghan." See the interview, Sunday on 60 Minutes. https://t.co/5XclKEFFVYpic.twitter.com/ALdU3golBB 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) January 5, 2023 Previous trailers for the interview have shown Harry speaking about leaks to the press and the royal familys motto of Never complain, never explain, and claiming that some royal correspondents are spoon-fed information to write stories. At the bottom of it, they will say that theyve reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment. But the whole story is Buckingham Palace commenting, he told Cooper in one trailer. So when were being told for the last six years, We cant put a statement out to protect you but you do it for other members of the family. There becomes a point when silence is betrayal. Story continues The Duke of Sussex also gave a firm no when Cooper asked in a separate clip if he would ever return as a full-time member of the royal family. Anderson Cooper will interview Prince Harry on 60 Minutes next Sunday, January 8, on CBS. It will be Prince Harrys first U.S. television interview to discuss his upcoming memoir Spare. https://t.co/fF1Sppo62Xpic.twitter.com/ylwzxJ6NzV 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) January 2, 2023 Harrys interview with Cooper airs on Jan. 8, three years to the day since he and his wife, Meghan Markle, announced they were stepping back as working members of the royal family. Another interview where Harry speaks to his friend Tom Bradby, an ITV newscaster is also scheduled to air Sunday. Both interviews are on behalf of Harrys memoir, Spare, which comes out Jan. 10. In a press release announcing the book, the royal said he is excited for people to read a firsthand account of my life thats accurate and wholly truthful. Days before the books release, The Guardian and Page Six each obtained excerpts of it. Spanish bookstores also released the book five days earlier than its expected publication date, leading to a media frenzy over translatedversions of the excerpts. More bombshells from Prince Harrys leaked memoir, Spare: Prince Harry calls William his beloved brother and archnemesis in the book. The Duke of Sussex claims that William and Kate Middleton encouraged him to wear a Nazi uniform to a Native and Colonial party in 2005. Harry said that the Prince of Wales physically assaulted him in 2019 during an altercation about Meghan Markle. Prince Harry says he is still undecided about attending King Charles coronation in May 2023. Related... Prince Harry is doing a series of interviews promoting the release of his bombshell memoir, Spare Most of them are taking place with US outlets, but one has been secured by ITV's Tom Bradby Bradby has been friendly with William and Harry for years, attending both of their weddings as a guest Read on below to find out what Bradby has said in the past about his relationship with the brothers Tom Bradby and Prince Harry have known each other for years and are said to get on well. (Getty Images) Tom Bradby is set to conduct the only UK interview with Prince Harry on ITV this Sunday to promote his new memoir, Spare, which is officially released next week. In promotional clips released by ITV, Bradby is seen quizzing the duke on a number of issues, including pressing him on accusations of hypocrisy that he has revealed private details about his family while complaining out his own privacy being compromised. Watch: Trailer for Tom Bradby's interview with Prince Harry released Bradby has previously alluded to his relationship with both brothers. In 2016 he described himself as a "friendly face in the media" to Prince William, and "someone he can talk to if he wants to" while he also also said he "knows Harry and Meghan". Who is Tom Bradby? Tom Bradby is a seasoned correspondent and broadcaster who works for ITV. He has over 30 years experience as a journalist and has released a series of novels. He has a long history with the royals, and is reported to have been hand-picked to conduct the 2010 interview to mark the engagement of William and Kate now Prince and Princess of Wales. Tom Bradby at Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2019. (Getty Images) This is said to be due to his long-standing acquaintance with William, but Bradby himself has admitted the pair aren't really "friends", saying in 2016: "William has his proper friends and I'm not one of them." How did Tom Bradby meet the royals? Bradby started covering the royal family in the early 2000s, including big events like the Golden Jubilee and the Queen Mother's funeral. He covered a trip of Prince Harry's to Lesotho in 2004, which is said to be when the two men got to know each other. Story continues Bradby was invited as a guest to both William and Harry's weddings, and is said to have maintained contact with Harry since his move to California. Bradby and singer Joss Stone on stage during the Sentebale Concert at Kensington Palace in 2016. Sentebale was founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and helps the vulnerable and HIV positive children of Lesotho and Botswana. (Photo by Tabatha Fireman/Getty Images) Speaking to GQ magazine in 2016, Bradby said of his relationship with William: "I've always tried to build relationships without calculation - you could say, 'Oh that's bollocks!' and, of course, it did occur to me that building a relationship with Prince William might be useful to the rest of my journalistic life. But I've tended to gravitate towards people I like, who have humanity." In October 2019, shortly before the Sussexes' royal exit became apparent, the couple spoke to Bradby as part of the ITV documentary, Harry & Meghan: An African Journey. The programme was notable for the moment Bradby, who travelled with the royals during their 10-day tour of Africa, got Meghan to speak candidly about her experiences of royal life. Tom Bradby and his wife Claudia at Prince Harry's 2018 wedding to Meghan. (Getty Images) She admitted she had been "naive" about Britain's tabloid press and claimed she had been warned they "will destroy your life". Bradby proceeded to ask Meghan if she was okay, to which she responded: "Thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if Im okay." The tour had been seen as a resounding success, but Harry and Meghan's comments revealed how unhappy they had been behind closed doors. It also saw Harry admit for the first time that his relationship with William was strained, with him admitting they were "on different paths". Months later, the Sussexes left life as working royals behind for good. Meghan, being interviewed by Tom Bradby in 2019, opened up about her mental health struggles. (ITV) Is Tom Bradby still friendly with William and Harry? In 2021, it was reported that William no longer saw Bradby as a friend by anonymous royal sources. Bradby himself has conceded in an interview in June 2020 that he found himself in the "middle" of the warring brothers. "The anxiety around that was that you dont want to let anyone down. I know Harry and Meghan, and William, and I found myself dragged into a maelstrom which I didnt particularly enjoy and which was quite stressful," he said. "You find yourself wanting to do the right thing, which becomes very difficult because you become caught in someone elses argument". But Bradby refused to be drawn on Harry and Meghan's relationship with the rest of the Windsors, and the press at large. He added: "I think Ive said all Im going to say on that. Im a working journalist and not going to get involved with their battle with the press. Its not my argument. They have got their story to tell and one day they may tell it. I just dont want to be involved any more". Watch: What The Crown completely made up about Diana and Dodi Pictures of Kieran Bond were reportedly posted on Facebook from his prison. (Reach) Prison bosses have launched an investigation after a teenager appeared to have post photos of himself on Facebook from inside his cell. Kieran Bond - who has a tattoo saying 'Bondy' on his forehead - sparked a nationwide manhunt when he went on the run for three months after failing to turn up at court in October. The 19-year-old was due to face charges of making threats with an offensive weapon after allegedly making threats while wielding a machete on a train on 29 March last year. Bond, of Lichfield Road, Stafford, was finally arrested on Christmas Eve but has now appeared to have shared pictures from his remand cell in Greater Manchester on Facebook. Kieran Bond - who has 'Bondy' tattooed on his forehead - had been on the run for three months after failing to turn up at court to face charges of making threats with an offensive weapon. (Reach) One of the pictures is tagged with the location of HMP Forest Bank in Salford while a second, which later appeared to have been deleted, showed him posing with fellow inmates while swearing at the camera. On New Year's Eve the Facebook profile - Bondy YnB - was updated to say: "They got me still got the phone tho hahahahhahah free me up." His friends were quick to react, with one saying: "See u soon my bruvva got dis all da way my g." Read more: Porsche driver's lucky escape after fence post smashes through window inches from his head A second added: "Lmfao. The cops came here looking for you! Take care lad and hope to see you soon bruv." And a third simply wrote: "Free Kieran 1000%." HMP Forest Bank has confirmed that it is illegal for inmates to have phones. A spokeswoman told Stoke-on-Trent Live: "The use of mobile phones in any prison is illegal, and we constantly review our activity to tackle the issue. "Where individual prisoners are identified, action is taken." By Humphrey Malalo NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenyan police on Friday said a suspect had been arrested in connection with the death of a prominent LGBTQ rights campaigner whose body was found stuffed into a metal box in the west of the country. Motorbike taxi riders alerted police after they saw the box dumped by the roadside from a vehicle with a concealed number plate, The Standard and The Daily Nation newspapers reported, quoting police sources. Activist Edwin Chiloba's remains were found on Tuesday near Eldoret town in Uasin Gishu county, where he ran his fashion business, independent rights group the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) said. Research suggests acceptance of homosexuality is gradually increasing in Kenya, but it remains a taboo subject for many. The country's film board has banned two films for their portrayals of gay lives in recent years. The death drew condemnation from several human rights groups, including the International Commission of Jurists Kenya section, which called for the speedy investigation and apprehension of those behind his killing. "Chiloba's death is a tragedy and an affront to human dignity and violation of the right to life #JusticeForChiloba," it said on Twitter. Resila Onyango, Kenya National Police Service's spokesperson, said officers had arrested one person in connection with Chiloba's death. "Police arrested one male suspect in Eldoret on Friday. He is the main suspect but the matter is still under investigation," she said in a text message to Reuters. "Words cannot even explain how we as a community are feeling right now. Edwin Chiloba was a fighter, fighting relentlessly to change the hearts and minds of society when it came to LGBTQ+ lives," GALCK, a Kenyan gay rights group, said on Twitter. Under a British colonial-era law, gay sex in Kenya is punishable by 14 years in prison. It is rarely enforced but discrimination is common. (Reporting by Humphrey Malalo; Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by George Obulutsa and William Maclean) A Miami police officer who shot a man in the head who was straddling another officer on the ground during a traffic stop that turned violent has been cleared of any wrongdoing by state investigators. Investigators from the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office determined that Sgt. Constant Rosemonds actions were reasonable and legally justified when he fired once and killed Antwon Leonard Cooper, 34, who tried to escape from police after being pulled over for speeding and tinted windows last March just outside of Miami Northwestern High School. Investigators said that Officer Olivier Gonzalez, who made the initial stop, was on the ground under Cooper when Rosemond arrived and that much of Gonzalezs police-issued equipment including his body-worn camera was dislodged from his uniform as the two wrestled to the pavement. Unbeknownst to Gonzalez, during this struggle, a firearm was dislodged or discarded by Cooper and ended up on the roadway. Sgt. Constant Rosemond, who arrives on the scene to find Gonzalez engaged in a struggle with Cooper, gives commands to Cooper which are ignored. He fires a single shot, striking Cooper, an investigative review team from the state attorneys office wrote. Antwon Leonard Cooper, flanked by his mother, Tilasha Cooper, left, and grandmother, Helen Bryant. The Miami police officer who shot and killed Antwon after a traffic stop last March was cleared of any wrongdoing by state investigators. Reached Thursday, family attorney Rawsi Williams said Coopers family was irate and devastated by more than just the reports findings. She said the state attorney promised to contact the family before releasing its findings. Because of that promise, she said, Coopers family delayed filing a wrongful death civil rights lawsuit in federal court. They now expect to file the lawsuit next week. There is no way based on the facts and physical evidence in the SAOs possession that the SAO didnt have probable cause to arrest him [Rosemond] and enough evidence to convict him, Williams said. That evidence will come out in court. Cooper lost his life back on March 8, just after Northwestern High School students had left campus for the day. He was driving an older model four-door Nissan in front of the school at the corner of Northwest 71st Street and 10th Avenue, when Gonzalez pulled him over. A friend named Rodney Bullard was in the passenger seat. Bullard told investigators they were on their way to inquire about buying another car. Story continues When the officer approached, Cooper lowered his window and explained how he didnt have a license, but had identification. The report said Gonzalez then ordered him out of the car and told him to put his hands on the roof as he began to pat him down. As Gonzalez reached for Coopers left side, he tried to run. But the officer grabbed him and both men fell to the ground. Rosemond, investigators said, arrived while Cooper was on top of the officer and fired a single shot, killing him. Gonzalezs body camera, which was on the ground, continued to record and showed a weapon that belonged to Cooper on the ground about 15 feet away from where the men grappled with each other. Bullard, who stayed in the cars passenger seat during the confrontation, confirmed most of what Gonzalez told investigators, the final report said. There was no indication Cooper ever reached for his weapon or threatened Gonzalez with it. And when family members gathered in Williams office three weeks after the shooting to air their grievances, they claimed police body camera footage showed Cooper wasnt fighting or swinging at Gonzalez, he was just trying to get away when he was shot and killed. They shot my son in the head, Coopers mother Tilasha Cooper said during the briefing in her attorneys office. He [Rosemond] deserves to go to jail for 35 years. He took my heartbeat. He took it. Every investor in Genting Singapore Limited (SGX:G13) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are public companies with 53% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. And individual investors on the other hand have a 39% ownership in the company. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Genting Singapore. See our latest analysis for Genting Singapore What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Genting Singapore? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. We can see that Genting Singapore does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Genting Singapore's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Genting Singapore. Genting Berhad is currently the company's largest shareholder with 53% of shares outstanding. This implies that they have majority interest control of the future of the company. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 1.7% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 1.2% by the third-largest shareholder. Story continues While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. Insider Ownership Of Genting Singapore The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Genting Singapore Limited in their own names. Being so large, we would not expect insiders to own a large proportion of the stock. Collectively, they own S$33m of stock. It is always good to see at least some insider ownership, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 39% stake in Genting Singapore. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Public Company Ownership Public companies currently own 53% of Genting Singapore stock. We can't be certain but it is quite possible this is a strategic stake. The businesses may be similar, or work together. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Genting Singapore better, we need to consider many other factors. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Genting Singapore that you should be aware of. Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. 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 China issues special stamps marking Year of the Rabbit Xinhua) 08:31, January 06, 2023 A stamp collector displays the newly-purchased special stamps marking the Year of the Rabbit in Dongxing District of Neijiang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 5, 2023. (Photo by Lan Zitao/Xinhua) BEIJING, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- China Post on Thursday released a set of two special stamps to celebrate the upcoming Chinese zodiac Year of the Rabbit. One of the stamps depicts a personified blue rabbit holding a pen in its right hand and a letter in its left hand, symbolizing the drawing of a blueprint for the new year, as "blue rabbit" is pronounced similarly to "blueprint" in Chinese. The other stamp features three rabbits running in a circle, an auspicious implication for the "circle of life" as well as family reunion and happiness. The background behind the three rabbits bears decorative patterns showcasing the legendary story of "a jade rabbit ramming herbal medicines", which conveys the sincere wishes for prosperity of the country and the well-being of the people. China has released zodiac stamps annually since 1980, a Year of the Monkey. The Chinese zodiac cycle contains 12 animals that record years and reflect people's attributes: the rat, the ox, the tiger, the rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the sheep, the monkey, the rooster, the dog, and the pig. Stamp collectors queue up to buy the special stamps marking the Year of the Rabbit at a post office in Haizhou District of Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 5, 2023. (Photo by Geng Yuhe/Xinhua) Philatelists collect commemorative postmarks after the release of the special stamps marking the Year of the Rabbit in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 5, 2023. (Photo by Yu Xiangquan/Xinhua) A staff member of China Post displays the special stamps marking the Year of the Rabbit in Dongying, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 5, 2023. (Photo by Liu Zhifeng/Xinhua) A staff member of China Post displays the special stamps marking the Year of the Rabbit in Fuyang, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 5, 2023. (Photo by Lu Qijian/Xinhua) People attend the issuing ceremony for the special stamps marking the Year of the Rabbit in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Li He) Guests attend the issuing ceremony for the special stamps marking the Year of the Rabbit in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Li He) People buy the special stamps marking the Year of the Rabbit at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Li He) A woman presents a set of the special stamps marking the Year of the Rabbit during the issuing ceremony in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Li He) A philatelist reattaches the special stamps marking the Year of the Rabbit at a post office in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) People buy the special stamps marking the Year of the Rabbit at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Li He) People buy special stamps marking the Year of the Rabbit at a post office in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) Photo taken on Jan. 5, 2023 shows a poster with pictures of the special stamps marking the Year of the Rabbit in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) Photo: The Associated Press Bereaved boy, troubled teen, wartime soldier, unhappy royal many facets of Prince Harry are revealed in his explosive memoir, often in eyebrow-raising detail. From accounts of cocaine use and losing his virginity to raw family rifts, Spare exposes deeply personal details about Harry and the wider royal family. The Associated Press purchased a copy of the Spanish-language edition of the book ahead of its publication around the world on Tuesday. Its revelations have electrified the British media but have been met with silence from Buckingham Palace. BROTHER AND SON The book opens with a quote from American writer William Faulkner: The past is never dead. Its not even past. Harrys story is dominated by his rivalry with elder brother Prince William and the death of the boys mother, Princess Diana, in 1997. Harry, who was 12 at the time, has never forgiven the media for Dianas death in a car crash while being pursued by photographers. The loss of his mother haunts the book, which Harry dedicates to wife Meghan, children Archie and Lili and, of course, my mother. The opening chapter recounts how his father Prince Charles now King Charles III broke the news of his mothers accident, but didnt give his son a hug. Harry reveals that years later he asked his driver to take him through the Pont de lAlma tunnel in Paris, site of the fatal crash, hoping in vain that it would help end a decade of unrelenting pain. He also says he once consulted a woman who claimed to have powers and to be able to pass on messages from Diana. Harry adds that he and William both begged their father not to marry his long-term paramour Camilla Parker-Bowles, worried she would become a wicked stepmother. Harry also is tormented by his status as royal spare behind William, who is heir to the British throne. Harry recounts a longstanding sibling rivalry that worsened after Harry began a relationship with American actress Meghan Markle, whom he married in 2018. He says that during an argument in 2019, William called Meghan difficult and rude, then grabbed him by the collar and knocked him down. Harry suffered cuts and bruises from landing on a dog bowl. Harry says Charles implored the brothers to make up, saying after the funeral of Prince Philip in 2021: Please, boys. Dont make my final years a misery. Neither Buckingham Palace, which represents King Charles III, nor Williams Kensington Palace office has commented on any of the allegations. WILD TEENAGE YEARS The memoir suggests the medias party-boy image of Harry during his teen and young adult years was well-deserved. Harry describes how he lost his virginity at 17 in a field behind a pub to an older woman who loved horses and treated the teenage prince like a young stallion. It was, he says, a humiliating episode. He also says he took cocaine several times starting at the same age, in order to feel. To be different. He also acknowledges using cannabis and magic mushrooms which made him hallucinate that a toilet was talking to hm. ARMY REVELATIONS Harry spent a decade in the British Army, serving twice in Afghanistan. He says that on his second tour, as an Apache helicopter co-pilot and gunner in 2012-2013, he killed 25 Taliban militants. Harry says he felt neither satisfaction nor shame about his actions, and in the heat of battle regarded enemy combatants as pieces being removed from a chessboard, Baddies eliminated before they could kill Goodies. Veterans criticized the comments and said they could increase the security risk for Harry. Retired Col. Richard Kemp said it was an error of judgment, and regarding enemy fighters as chess pieces is not the way the British Army trains people. I think that sort of comment that doesnt reflect reality is misleading and potentially valuable to those people who wish the British forces and British government harm, he told the BBC. The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi called the Western invasion of Afghanistan odious and said Harrys comments are a microcosm of the trauma experienced by Afghans at the hands of occupation forces who murdered innocents without any accountability. PERSONAL JOURNEY Harry credits Meghan with changing the way he sees the world and himself. He says he was wrapped in privilege and had no understanding of unconscious bias before he met her. The young prince notoriously wore a Nazi uniform to a costume party in 2005, and claims in the book that William and his now-wife Kate encouraged the choice of outfit and howled with laughter when they saw it. He was recorded using a racist term about a fellow soldier of Pakistani descent in 2006, but says he did not know the word was a slur. Meghan and Harry cited the U.K. medias treatment of the biracial American actress as one of the main reasons for their decision to quit royal duties and move to the U.S. in 2020. The book gives no sign that royal family relations will be repaired soon. Harry told ITV in an interview to promote the book that he wants reconciliation, but that there must be accountability first. In the final pages, Harry describes how he and William walked side by side during the funeral procession of Queen Elizabeth II in September, but spoke barely a word to one another. The next day, Meg and I returned to the United States, he says. Vladimir Putin ordered a 36-hour ceasefire among Russian troops on Friday to honour the Orthodox Christmas but Ukraine refused to do the same. The proposed truce is a significant moment for this long and brutal battle, although its worth noting that there have already been reports of shelling in the city of Bakhmut. This has prompted speculation that Russia breached its own ceasefire within hours. Even so, heres what we can gauge from what would have been the first major truce throughout the whole war. Why Did Putin Want A Truce This Week? Moscow suggested the ceasefire would allow Russias Orthodox Church to observe Christmas on Jan. 7, and any fellow followers in Ukraine. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, has been a keen supporter of the war, previously stating that military duty washes away all sins, but called for a Christmas truce shortly before Putin. However, the idea that Ukraine would be willing to halt the war effort temporarily in favor of a religious holiday is flawed, considering the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has cut ties with its Russian counterpart since the war began. Many Ukrainian believers also started celebrating Christmas on Dec. 25 in line with Europeans this year, as another means to distance themselves from their neighbors. But the ceasefire was not just about religion. The BBC noted that Putins ceasefire fits with the domestic narrative that Russian soldiers are the good guys and that the West are threatening Russia. The truce is also a handy tool that can be used to demonize Ukraine as the Ukrainians have dismissed the proposal, Moscow will claim that Kyiv does not respect religious believers and has no desire for peace, reporters Will Vernon and Samuel Horti said. CNN reported that the truce also came after Putin spoke with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan, who has tried to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. After their talks, the Russian president said he was open to serious dialogue regarding Ukraine, but Kyiv has to accept new territorial realities going forward. Story continues Why Did Ukraine Reject The Ceasefire? While it may seem bizarre that Ukraine would opt not to have a break from the war, Kyivs response to the ceasefire was less than enthusiastic. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the ceasefire was only meant to be a cover for Russia to resupply and stop Ukrainian advances in the eastern Donbas region. Zelenskyy said: What will this accomplish? Only another increase in the casualty count. Serhiy Haidai, who leads the Luhansk regional military administration, told Ukrainian media: They [Russia] just want to get some kind of pause for a day or two, to pull even more reserves, bring some more ammo. Russia cannot be trusted. Not a single word they say. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak also claimed on Twitter that Russia has to leave the occupied territories of Ukraine before any temporary truce. What Does The West Think? Kyivs Western allies seemed to feel the same way as Ukraine. U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said such a pause would do nothing to advance the prospects of peace. A 36 hour pause of Russian attacks will do nothing to advance the prospects for peace. Russia must permanently withdraw its forces, relinquish its illegal control of Ukrainian territory and end its barbaric attacks against innocent civilians. James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) January 5, 2023 Similarly, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that the promise a ceasefire would not bring either freedom or security. Hours after Russias announcement, Germany said it would follow the U.S. and offer a Patriot air defense missile system to Kyiv along with armou=red vehicles. France is also sending armoured fighting vehicles. U.S. President Joe Biden suggested that Putin was just trying to find oxygen through this proposal. Responding to reporters in the White House, he said: Im reluctant to respond to anything that Putin says. I found it interesting that he was willing to bomb hospitals and nurseries and churches...on the 25th and New Years. Russias ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, was quick to retaliate to Biden on Facebook: All this means [is] that Washington is set on fighting with us to the last Ukrainian and the fate of Ukraines people does not worry the Americans at all. Why Would Putin Need Oxygen? Bidens claim that the Russian president is trying to buy time touches on the series of failures Russia has faced recently. Not only did Moscow lose hold of its Ukrainian land grabs from the early days of the war when Kyivs successful counteroffensive swept through in the autumn, but missile strikes have started to reach deep inside Russia. Moscow has admitted that at least 89 Russians were killed on New Years Eve the most important date in the Russian calendar. Putin really does not want a repetition of that on Orthodox Christmas Day, political analyst Tatyana Stanovaya tweeted. The attack itself has led to backlash from respected Russian military figures too, especially as Moscow tried to blame its own soldiers for the missile strike. The U.K.s Ministry of Defense also shone a light on some of the divisions within Russia at the moment in its latest update. The Luhansk Peoples Republic (LNR) and Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) were two of the four illegally annexed Ukrainian regions Russia claims now belongs to Moscow. However, both areas have effectively been controlled by Russia since 2014. As the Ministry of Defense points out, the status and identities of both regions likely remain divisive within the Russian system. It adds: Even before the February 2022 invasion, these territories represented a significant drain on Russian finances. Now the Kremlin has overtly committed to supporting them, they will likely constitute a large political, diplomatic and financial cost for Russia which will last well beyond the current phase of the conflict. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 6 January 2023 Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/Kl5dKmec5D #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/tAU08v6IFp Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) January 6, 2023 Related... Cloud computing giant Rackspace has confirmed hackers accessed customer data during last month's ransomware attack. The attack, which Rackspace first confirmed on December 6, impacted the companys hosted Exchange email environment, forcing the web giant to shut down the hosted email service following the incident. At the time, Rackspace said it was unaware what, if any, data was affected. In its latest incident response update published on Friday, Rackspace admitted that the hackers gained access to the personal data of 27 customers. Rackspace said the hackers accessed PST files, typically used to store backup and archived copies of emails, calendar events and contacts from Exchange accounts and email inboxes. Rackspace said about 30,000 customers used its hosted Exchange service which it will now discontinue at the time of the ransomware attack. "We have already communicated our findings to these customers proactively, and importantly, according to CrowdStrike, there is no evidence that the threat actor actually viewed, obtained, misused or disseminated any of the 27 Hosted Exchange customers' emails or data in the PSTs in any way," said Rackspace. The company added that customers that haven't been contacted directly can "be assured" that their data was not accessed by attackers. Rackspace attributed the breach to the Play ransomware group, a relatively new gang that recently claimed attacks on the Belgian port city of Antwerp and the H-Hotels hospitality chain. Rackspace's stolen data is not currently listed on the ransomware groups leak site, and its unclear if Rackspace has paid a ransom demand. According to the incident report update, Play threat actors gained access to Rackspace's networks by exploiting CVE-2022-41080, a zero-day flaw patched by Microsoft in November that has been linked to previous ransomware incidents. (Bloomberg) -- South Africas African National Congress would immediately lose 20% of voter support if President Cyril Ramaphosa resigns, according to findings based on an internal poll, underscoring his popularity despite a scandal that threatened to derail his political career. Most Read from Bloomberg Ramaphosa won re-election as head of the ANC in December just weeks after an independent panel denounced his handling of the theft of foreign currency that was stuffed in a sofa at his game farm. The scandal raised concerns that he would quit as head of state and step aside as party leader if found guilty of bringing the organization into disrepute. A poll conducted by the governing party found that Ramaphosa has a popularity rating of 68% by South African voters, compared with 60% for the party, ANC Chairman Gwede Mantashe said in an interview on Friday. He is more popular than the party in terms of the latest statistics. It also showed that without Ramaphosa as its face, the party would get 40% of the ballots in next years national elections and 48% with him, as he continues to be a calling card with voters despite his reputation taking a knock over the scandal, he said. The results are similar to a survey of 3,200 registered voters that was carried out by the Social Research Foundation in July and released two days before the panel issued its report. It found that support for the ANC could collapse to between 30% and 40% should Ramaphosa leave the party. Read more: ANC to Hemorrhage Support If Cyril Ramaphosa Quits, Survey Shows Support for the 110-year-old ANC, which has ruled South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994, dropped below 50% for the first time in a local government vote in 2021, and several opinion polls show its in danger of losing its national majority in 2024. Story continues Confidence in the party has been eroded by its failure to head off an energy crisis and stem an economic decline thats spawned rampant unemployment, inequality and crime. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. AP Photo/Matt Sayles Rapper Flo Rida has sued energy drink company Celsius, alleging the company breached his contract. The "Low" rapper claimed that after 2014 and 2016 endorsement deals, he raised their profile. His legal team claimed that because of ambiguities, he was cut out of lucrative stock options. Rapper Flo Rida's relationship with sparkling energy drink brand Celsius is fizzling out as the "Low" rapper takes the company to court in January, claiming he was excluded from tens of thousands of dollars, and even more in stock options. The Florida rapper, born Tramar Dillard, sued Celsius in 2021, claiming the company breached their 2014 contract. According to the lawsuit filed in 2021 in Broward County, Florida, Flo Rida's legal team claims that a series of ambiguities in his 2014 and 2016 endorsement deals with the company meant that Celsius did not honor the promised bonuses and stock options for the rapper as he helped propel the company to financial success. "It was specifically contemplated that as Celsius profited in the future, additional compensation would be paid by Celsius in the form of shares of company stock and ongoing royalties," the lawsuit said. His team is seeking at least $30,000 in damages. Celsius did not respond to Insider's request for comment. The lawsuit alleges that Celsius failed to notify Flo Rida when key sales goals in his 2014 and 2016 contracts were met. Flo Rida is suing on counts of breach of contract, accounting, and unjust enrichment. "He's entitled to 500,000 shares of stock via the contract, and entitled to 250,000 shares of stock if certain things happen one of those yardsticks is that a certain number of units of products need to be sold, but unfortunately the contract doesn't specify which type of unit is it a box, is it a drink? And there's no timeframe or deadline," John Uustal, Flo Rida's lawyer told Insider. In 2014, Celsius traded for $1 per share and its share price has since hit $100, as its products hit shelves in GNCs, 7 Elevens, and Vitamin Shoppes nationwide. By 2021, Celsius raked in $130 million in sales revenue, according to The Miami New Times. Story continues "In Flo's mind this was always a Vitamin Water type of deal, he was signing on to 1% of the company of a multi-million dollar endorsement deal and was hardly getting paid anything for it," Uustal added. In the lawsuit, the rapper's legal team claimed that he was a "global brand ambassador" who was recognized by the company's top brass, but was never notified by the company as sales skyrocketed, and did not have access to financial records which would have allowed him to understand their earnings. In late December, Celsius' legal team lost in a last-ditch effort to avert a trial and toss out the case, meaning that Flo Rida will have his day in court against the energy drink company during a trial starting on January 10 in Broward County, Florida. Flo Rida featured the drink heavily in his music video for the track "Hola," with Colombian superstar Maluma, based in Medellin, Colombia. In the video, a group of young partygoers catch a festive second wind after a night of dancing earlier by drinking a "Celsius Heat," one of the products Celsius launched in recent years. And in a 2019 interview, rapper Doja Cat promoted Flo Rida's partnership with the drink in an interview with Los Angeles hip-hop radio DJ Big Boy, when she addressed a video where she was seen impersonating Cardi B. Doja Cat claimed she impersonated Cardi B because she was "so hyper" on the drink. "I'm advertising Flo Rida's energy drink right now," Doja Cat says in the interview. "I had this thing called Celsius, it's like 250 milligrams of caffeine, so I drank it and man, I've never been that hyper in my entire life." Flo Rida's lawyer told Insider that the rapper still drinks some of the products, but it's unclear whether he is still a brand ambassador. An Instagram post from late September 2022 and a tweet from November 2022 show Flo Rida promoting the "Celsius Heat" line. "He's still in his mind a good partner, and he's sad that they're not," Uustal said. "This has always been a moral issue for him." Read the original article on Insider Today is not so Shah-mazing for Jen Shah of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. The reality TV star, who was chased down by authorities on camera during season 2 of the Bravo series, has been formally sentenced to 78 months or, six and a half years in prison for wire fraud. In a statement provided to EW, Shah's lawyer Priya Chaudhry said, "Jen Shah deeply regrets the mistakes that she has made and is profoundly sorry to the people she has hurt. Jen has faith in our justice system, understands that anyone who breaks the law will be punished, and accepts this sentence as just. Jen will pay her debt to society and when she is a free woman again, she vows to pay her debt to the victims harmed by her mistakes." Shah's husband, Sharrieff Shah, and their two sons, Sharrieff Shah Jr. and Omar Shah, were present in court Friday in New York when U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein passed the official sentencing. "People should not confuse the character [Shah] played on an entertainment show with the person I have before me," the judge said, per NBC News. "The other is acting, and this is reality." Initially claiming innocence and pleading not guilty, Shah changed her plea to guilty in July on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Shah stated that she had "agreed with others to commit wire fraud" in a telemarketing scheme that prosecutors argued defrauded thousands of people nationwide, many of whom were older than the age of 55. The prosecution pushed for a 10-year sentence, though Shah's lawyers were confident the Bravolebrity would not receive more than three years in prison. A probation report urged Stein to give a six-year sentence. Jennifer Shah arrives to federal court in New York, . Federal prosecutors are seeking a 10-year prison sentence for the member of "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" who they say lived lavishly after defrauding thousands of people nationwide in a telemarketing scam, many of them elderly Real Housewives Fraud, New York, United States - 06 Jan 2023 Seth Wenig/AP/Shutterstock Jen Shah of 'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' arrives in federal court for her wire fraud case. In court Friday, Chaudhry stated that it was only after her client saw the full extent of the government's evidence that she realized what she had done. Shah and her assistant Stuart Smith, also seen on RHOSLC, were arrested in March 2021 on charges of wire fraud and money laundering. They were accused of selling "so-called 'business services' in connection with the victims' purported online businesses." Story continues Those services included "tax preparation or website design services, notwithstanding that many victims were elderly and did not own a computer," according to the indictment. Federal prosecutors used Shah's presence on RHOSLC against her. Shah notably said in her tagline for the show, "The only thing I'm guilty of is being Shah-mazing," but the opposing council argued that the line showed how she was mocking the system. Prosecutors also stated throughout the proceedings that Shah had used profits to live out a life of luxury, which included her nicknamed "Shah Ski Chalet" mansion in Park City, Utah (now listed for $7.4 million); a rented apartment in midtown Manhattan in New York City; a leased Porsche Panamera; hundreds of thousands of dollars in luxury goods; and various cosmetic procedures. The ensuing drama played out on RHOSLC as Shah's costars processed what was happening. Shah maintained her innocence across the third season, which premiered in September. Fans of the show gathered outside the court in New York for the judge's sentencing. "We are here for one reason: the innocent people who have suffered," Chaudhry said in court. "The [victims] worked hard and tried their best, and their lives are forever mangled now," Chaudhry added. "For the rest of Ms. Shah's life, she will remember their names." This article has been updated with a statement from Shah's lawyer. Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Related content: Jen Shah, star of Bravos The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, was sentenced to 78 months, or over six years, in prison as part of a plea deal created after she pleaded guilty to defrauding hundreds of people in a telemarketing scheme that started in 2012, per documents from the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Southern District of New York. Shah was ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on Feb. 17, NBC News reported, where she will serve her six and a half year sentence at a prison in Texas. Upon release, Shah will be under supervision for five years. Shah addressed the court before she was sentenced, saying she is not the "carefully created and edited" reality TV star fans see on "RHOSLC," according to NBC News. Jen Shah, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City - Season 3. (Chris Haston / Bravo) "I have to come to terms that I have gone against these core values and I am deeply sorry for what I have done," Shah said. "I want to apologize to all the victims and families and I take full responsibility for the harm I caused and will pay full restitution to all of the victims." Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement released Jan. 6 that Shah "finally faces the consequences of the many years she spent targeting vulnerable, elderly victims." "These individuals were lured in by false promises of financial security, but in reality, Shah and her co-conspirators defrauded them out of their savings and left them with nothing to show for it," Williams said. "This conviction and sentence demonstrate once again that we will continue to vigorously protect victims of financial fraud and hold accountable those who engage in fraudulent schemes." Shah and her assistant, Stuart Smith, were accused of committing wire fraud and money laundering in a scheme that "generated and sold 'lead lists' of innocent individuals for other members of their scheme to repeatedly scam," the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York said in March 2021. Story continues In short, the scheme which spanned from 2012 to 2021 involved operating telemarking and in-person sales teams selling "essentially non-existent services," according to an indictment. Shah initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, but entered a plea agreement with prosecutors in July 2022. As part of the plea deal, Shah pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, while the money laundering charge was dropped. As part of her guilty plea, she also agreed to forfeit $6.5 million and to pay $6.6 million in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. During her stunning courtroom reversal during which she changed her plea from not guilty to guilty, Shah said the services she had sold to the victims had little to no value, NBC News reported. When the judge asked if Shah knew what she was doing was wrong and illegal, Shah said, "Yes, your honor." Shah added she "knew it was wrong, many people were harmed and Im so sorry." Ms. Shah is a good woman who crossed a line. She accepts full responsibility for her actions and deeply apologizes to all who have been harmed," Priya Chaudhry, an attorney for Shah, said in a statement given to TODAY in July 2022. "Ms. Shah is also sorry for disappointing her husband, children, family, friends, and supporters. Jen pled guilty because she wants to pay her debt to society and put this ordeal behind her and her family." Smith, Shah's assistant, pled guilty to both counts in November 2021, according to court documents. Shah was arrested in March 2021 when she was filming Season Two of "RHOSLC." An episode of the show that aired in November 2021 showed the aftermath of the arrest, but did not show her being handcuffed on camera. On the show, she was supposed to go on a trip to Vail, Colorado, with her castmates, but she abruptly left the scene before her arrest. Bravo, part of NBCUniversal, TODAYs parent company, declined to comment. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Republican Rep.-elect Mike Bost of Illinois objects to remarks by Republican Rep.-elect Matt Gaetz of Florida on January 6, 2023. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images The House voted for speaker for the 12th time, with Republicans far from unified behind a candidate. Matt Gaetz nominated Jim Jordan again, trashing McCarthy's bid as a vanity project. GOP Rep. Mike Bost, a McCarthy supporter, rose from his chair and began screaming at Gaetz. Tensions rose among Republicans in the House chamber as lawmakers began their 12th vote for speaker of the House. Republican Rep.-elect Matt Gaetz of Florida rose to nominate Republican Rep.-elect Jim Jordan of Ohio to be speaker of the House. Jordan, set to be the next chair of the House Judiciary Committee, is not seeking the position and supports Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy. As Gaetz gave his speech, he trashed McCarthy's campaign which has taken a historic 11 votes to sort out over the last three days as a vanity project. "Mr. McCarthy doesn't have the votes today, he will not have the votes tomorrow, and he will not have the votes next week, next month, next year," said Gaetz. "And so one must wonder, Madam Clerk, is this an exercise in vanity?" As Gaetz continued speaking, fellow Republican Rep.-elect Mike Bost of Illinois rose and began screaming at him. "This is not going to bring anyone," Bost could be heard saying before other members began to call for order, and House Clerk Cheryl Johnson began banging the gavel. "Members are reminded not to engage in personalities against other members of the House," said Johnson once the yelling had quieted down. Some Republicans walked out of the chamber as Gaetz continued speaking. Bost, first elected to the House in 2014, had a reputation for angry outbursts when he served in the Illinois House of Representatives. "Enough! I feel like somebody trying to be released from Egypt! Let my people go!" he yelled during a debate about pension reforms in 2012. "These damn bills that come out of here all the damn time come out here at the last second and I've got to try figure out how to vote for my people!" Story continues At publication time, a 12th ballot was underway. Bost's office didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Photo: The Canadian Press Some of Canada's largest police associations say they are banding together to identify the root causes behind the killings of five police officers in the past four months. The Canadian Police Association, the Police Association of Ontario, the Ontario Provincial Police Association, and the Toronto Police Association say they are joining forces to examine the issues at play and will then call for change to make sure the "wave of violence" against police doesn't continue. The associations, which represent about 60,000 sworn and civilian police personnel, say they will review judicial and public policy frameworks, including bail and sentencing practices. They say they will also examine what they call a "growing and chronic" shortage of police officers and whether Crime Stoppers programs need to be boosted. A funeral was held Wednesday for 28-year-old OPP Const. Greg Pierzchala, who was shot while responding to a call for a vehicle in a ditch west of Hagersville, Ont., on Dec. 27. Four other police officers have been killed in the line of duty in Canada since September RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang was fatally stabbed in Burnaby, B.C., South Simcoe Police officers Devon Northrup and Morgan Russell were shot at an Innisfil, Ont., home and died in hospital, and Toronto Police Const. Andrew Hong was shot dead in Mississauga, Ont. Though Richard Avedon started his career as a fashion photographer, he later became known for his unflinching eye. Jack Mitchell/Getty Images What obligation does a portrait photographer have to their subject? Is it their duty to cast that person in the best light, or the most revealing light? As chief curator at the University of Arizonas Center for Creative Photography, I have worked with the images of fashion and portrait photographer Richard Avedon on a handful of occasions during my 16-year tenure. I curated my first exhibition of his work in 2007. The most recent show, Richard Avedon: Relationships, is now being exhibited in Milan. Avedons portraits include so many rich details that they can feel more revealing than seeing someone in person. In his photographs, gesture, expression, clothing and facial features all convey information about the subject their eyebrow hairs, wrinkles, makeup application, teeth and gaze all tell a story. The highly detailed pictures are an invitation to scrutinize the photograph and, of course, the person Avedon reveals. One of his subjects, the writer Truman Capote, became a collaborator and friend. Avedon made a radically different pair of portraits of Capote: the earlier in 1955, when both men were in their early 30s, and a later one in 1974 when the two were in midlife. The two images, which are on display in Milan side by side, show Avedons relentless scrutiny. One highlights Capotes youth and sensuality. In the later picture, the writers hard-lived years weigh on his face and suggest that age has dulled him. Friends and collaborators Avedon, who was born in 1923 and died in 2004, began his career in the 1940s as a staff photographer for Harpers Bazaar. His fashion photographs staged glamorous models donning the latest fashions and living it up in exotic Parisian locales. His studio portraits shimmered with elegance and, through a lighting technique he developed that he dubbed the beauty light, Avedon mesmerized the magazines readers. Avedon first photographed Capote in a solo portrait in 1955, when the writer was just 31 years old. At the time, Capote was a rising literary star. His 1948 novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms, had been published when the author was just 24, and was met with critical acclaim and controversy for its openly gay protagonist. Story continues The two were part of the New York art and culture scene and shared a number of friends and acquaintances. Avedons picture features the young man, his torso unclothed, eyes closed, arms back, and chin raised. The photographers choice of a pose underscores the vulnerability of the young Capote. Capotes face is relaxed and conveys no expression; since his eyes are shut, viewers are able to observe him even as he doesnt return their gaze. Avedon placed Capote in front of a light-colored backdrop, and the wide margin of space around Capote sets him apart from the world, offering a pure and guileless figure. In 1959, Avedon and Capote collaborated on a book, Observations, which included a range of Avedons portraits and a running narrative from Capote. The writer also appears, suspender-clad, toward the end of the volume, in a portrait by Avedon that has none of the transcendental qualities of the earlier 1955 picture. Capote also wrote a three-page essay about Avedon for the opening of Observations, praising the photographer for his clarity of vision, his prolific production and his expansive artistic influence. A 1959 letter to Avedon, in which Capote refers to the photographer as beloved collaborator, compliments the finished volume and lauds Avedon for doing handsomely with our little tale. Richard Avedon poses with his 1959 portrait of Truman Capote at a tribute event for the deceased author in 1994. Rose Hartman/Getty Images Then, in early 1960, Capote wrote to friends announcing he had just signed a contract for the book he had been researching. The true crime novel, In Cold Blood, was about the brutal murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas. In the letter, he mentioned that he intended to return to the Midwest with Avedon, whom he described as quite easily the worlds greatest photographer. Avedon traveled to Kansas to visit Capote during his research and to photograph accused killers Perry Smith and Richard Dick Hickock. The unflinching portraits of the men, with their white backgrounds and rich detail, were typical of Avedons style at the time. Dick Hickocks face appears damaged, but theres little to suggest that the subject, who appears defeated and vulnerable, could be capable of such unthinkable violence. Beautiful or cruel? In his later years, Capote started dishing out literary menace, publishing stories in his unfinished novel Answered Prayers that exposed secrets of New Yorks high society. Chapters of the book-in-progress were printed in Esquire in the mid-1970s, which led to broken friendships and Capotes social isolation. His alcoholism and drug use were well known, and after an unproductive decade, Capote died of liver cancer at age 59 in 1984. Avedon made his last portrait of Capote in 1974, when the writer was 50 years old. By that point, the two had maintained a relationship for nearly two decades. In this image, the lithe sensuality of the earlier portrait is gone. Avedon now focuses on Capotes head, which fills much of the frame. Capote looks out from puffy eyes, his thinning hair retreating from his spotted forehead. The mind that produced some of 20th-century Americas richest prose is there, but the face depicted is aged and damaged. Capote reportedly complained about the 1974 portrait, calling it very unflattering and claiming he had been ill the day the picture was made. Critics aimed at Avedon for unfairly wielding the power of his camera. As he shifted from a focus on early fashion works intended to celebrate fashion designers and sell clothes and magazines toward a focus on portraiture, his photography became more probing and revealing. The term cruel has been used to describe some of Avedons portraits, although the photographer pushed back on that charge. By the late 1990s, the photographer saw the portraits as functioning as works of art, and this, he believed, relieved him from concern about the feelings of those pictured. In a 1999 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, he said, Ive never thought of my pictures as cruel in any way, but as sort of beautiful. I really find great beauty in the sort of avalanche of flesh that happens to a face with age. Certainly, being the subject of Avedons photographic scrutiny could be uncomfortable. The detailed, relentless and permanent qualities of his black-and-white prints especially in their largest sizes could convey an honest brutality. When photographed by Avedon in 1976, then-U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is rumored to have said, Be kind to me. Back in his 1959 essay for Observations, Capote acknowledged Avedons attraction to and prowess for depicting the evidence of age. It will be noticed, for it isnt avoidable, Capote wrote, how often he emphasizes the elderly; and, even among the just middle-aged, unrelentingly tracks down every hard-earned crows foot. Capote, himself of sharp wit and quick tongue, should have anticipated that he would one day be subjected to that same unrelenting eye. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Rebecca Senf, University of Arizona. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Read more: I am the curator of the Richard Avedon: Relationships exhibition currently on view at the Palazzo Reale and am a contributor to the Gagosian exhibition in NYC that opens in May 2023. A Roswell daycare is appealing a decision by the state to revoke its license and shut down the facility. Channel 2s Steve Gehlbach was in East Roswell at the Parker-Chase preschool, where two staff members were arrested in 2022 and an investigation found more instances of possible abuse. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Thursday, Gehlbach learned the state moved to revoke the license to operate the school, but the school has 30 days to appeal the decision. In the meantime, the daycare can stay open. Back in June of 2022, a parent happened to be watching the live camera in her sons classroom when a teacher, Zeina Alostwani, seemed to step on one childs fingers as the 3-year-old sat in a circle. Then, the mother saw Alostwani knee a girl in the back in real time. A second teacher, 19-year-old Soriana Briceno, then got into the childs face and then a minute later, pushed her index finger into the girls forehead. TRENDING STORIES: The parents rushed to the school and demanded they be removed, which days later led to Alostwani and Bricenos arrests on child cruelty charges. It doesnt matter whose child it is, its a child, the parent said at the time. Theyre helpless. Both suspects are still awaiting trial, but prosecutors said theres not a much larger investigation. Several other children have come forward as additional victims in this case, Roswell police said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Roswell police and the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) went back and reviewed hundreds of hours of video recorded from the daycare. In their notice of revocation, DECAL states a non-correctable abuse, dereliction or deficiency exists and that a review of classroom footage over the summer revealed 24 instances of staff administering inappropriate discipline. Story continues The state and the school both would not comment on the ongoing appeal, but in a required letter sent to notify parents last month, the school leaders said: There have been no such incidents in the succeeding six months during which we have provided a safe environment for our children. We strongly disagree with the decision and will file an appeal. A hearing in front of a state administrative law judge has not yet been set and the daycare can stay open throughout the process. Gehlbach also check with Roswell police, who said their preliminary investigation is done and turned the case over to the district attorney. Their review of the video is done and they flagged instances of potentially concerning behavior, but detectives are now going back for a secondary look at each incident, so the investigation is still active. A woman in New York is suing former mayor Rudy Giuliani, claiming he sexually harassed her while she was an employee at his company and then threatened her after he fired her, noting his closeness with former President Donald Trump. Mr Giulianis attorney told The Daily Beast that he "categorically denies all of the allegations of this frivolous complaint," but did not offer any comment on whether or not the former mayor and the accuser had any preexisting relationship. The Independent has reached out for comment. Noelle Dunphy, the woman accusing Mr Giuliani, called him a "sexist sexual predator and abuser" in a summons filed on Wednesday in New York. The summons is seeking a jury trial and compensatory damages of $3.1m. It also names several of Mr Giulianis businesses as well as 10 John and Jane Does as defendants. Ms Dunphy is representing herself in the lawsuit. The accuser said she worked for Mr Giuliani in early 2019, and claims during that time the former mayor made frequent racist and antisemitic remarks, often during "confused and hostile alcohol-laced tirades." She claimed that Mr Giulianis alleged alcohol abuse was the result of his ongoing divorce and numerous political and legal controversies. Ms Dunphy claims in the summons that Mr Giuliani sexually harassed her and asked her for sexual favours until she was fired without substantial compensation in 2021. After her firing, she claims Mr Giuliani demanded she stay silent about her interactions with him. At these times, Giuliani threatened [Dunphy] with further retaliation if she did not stay silent, stating that his private investigators and political connections to President Trump enabled him to retaliate in other ways, express and implied, she wrote in the summons. Speaking with The Daily Beast, Ms Dunphy claimed she and Mr Giuliani were involved in a romantic relationship during her time under his employ. "It began with Rudy as my boss and lawyer and later turned romantic," she wrote in text messages to the publication. She went on to call him a "manipulative abuser." Story continues She went on to say that "seeking justice against a powerful man is terrifying," but that she "cant be silent any longer." Mr Giulianis attorney, Robert Costello, told the outlet that she "never worked for any Giuliani entity." These are libelous allegations drafted by an individual with no lawyer, because no lawyer would associate themselves with this nonsense, he told The Daily Beast. Unfortunately, when you are in the public eye, you become a target for these predators. Any cursory due diligence will reveal that this person is not truthful and any publication of these lies will be purely malicious on the part of your publication. Ms Dunphy told the publication that "his categorical denial is a huge red flag because he knows where there is smoke, there is fire." I have hard evidence to be introduced at trial and look forward to holding him accountable in court. Rudy Giuliani is lashing out because he has nothing else to offer and is afraid that the evidence I have will come before a jury," she said. Rudy is lashing out because he knows what I know and is frightened it is finally coming out." According to The Daily Beast, Ms Dunphy tried to back out of a previous suit she filed against another former romantic partner in 2015, citing psychological distress. An appeals court refused to allow her to back out after her initial filing, which alleged that a man repeatedly abused her. The target of that lawsuit counter-sued and claimed her allegations were false and meant to wrestle a payment out of him. He said she was trying to "defraud high net-worth men," citing a previous, allegedly false rape claim that he said earned her a $5m payout. Eventually the two settled their suits, and he agreed to pay her $10,000. The Independent has reached out to Ms Dunphy for comment. According to the summons, Ms Dunphy said Mr Giuliani offered her pro bono legal services in January 2019 for a court case involving "assault and abuse that she suffered as a victim of domestic violence." She says in the summons that Mr Giuliani was "frequently intoxicated while discussing matters of law, and he leveraged his counsel to pressure her for sexual quid-pro-quos during lawyer-client consultations." According to the summons, on every day of the week, Giuliani would begin drinking shortly after awakening and would continue consuming alcohol persistently and in excess, affecting his behavior as her boss and lawyer. George Santos. Illustrated | Getty Images George Santos, the 34-year-old Republican elected in New York's 3rd Congressional District in the 2022 midterms, has said a lot of things about himself. And presumably, some of them are true. But after his victory, The New York Times uncovered a lot of falsehoods in his biography. "My sins here are embellishing my resume," Santos told the New York Post two weeks before he was to take his oath of office. "I'm sorry." But his life story was only beginning to unravel. Here's a list of things Santos has said about himself that he now admits are not true or appear to be blatant fabrications: He attended an elite prep school Santos grew up in Queens, a child of Brazilian immigrants, and in 2019 and 2020 he said he attended the elite "Horace Mann preparatory school in the Bronx," but had to quit four months before graduation because "my parents fell on hard times" when their purported real estate portfolio imploded in the 2008 recession. A Horace Mann spokesman told CNN that a search of school records uncovered "no evidence that George Santos (or any alias) attended Horace Mann." He graduated from college Santos said he graduated from New York City's Baruch College in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in economics and finance, and also attended New York University but after officials at both colleges said they had no records of him attending, he came clean to the New York Post. "I didn't graduate from any institution of higher learning. I'm embarrassed and sorry for having embellished my resume." He worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup Santos also admitted to the Post he "never worked directly" for Goldman Sachs or Citigroup, despite claiming to have worked for both on his campaign website. He chalked up that resume "embellishment" to a "poor choice of words," telling Fox News that trying to explain the role he played as a middleman between the banks and clients would have been "way above the American people's head." He trashed Goldman Sachs at a financial conference In a June 2022 podcast, Santos bragged that he had "berated" his "employer," Goldman Sachs, on stage at Anthony Scaramucci's SALT conference. Goldman Sachs and Santos both agree now that he never worked there, and Scaramucci told CNN he has no record showing Santos was on the renewable energy panel he claimed to be on, or even attended the conference. Story continues He founded an animal rescue charity Santos claimed in his campaign biography that he started a nonprofit animal rescue called Friends of Pets United in 2013 that was "able to effectively rescue 2400 dogs and 280 cats." The IRS and attorneys general of New York and New Jersey said they have no record of a registered charity with that name, and the woman who hosted the one known fundraiser Santos held for his charity told the Times she never received any of the raised funds. He owns property Santos claimed in February 2021 that he and his family owned a portfolio of 13 properties they "worked hard to acquire," but the Times found no records that he owned any real estate. "George Santos does not own any properties," he confessed to the Post, adding that he currently resided at his sister's place on Long Island. He also confirmed the Times' report that he was twice evicted for not paying rent and said he still hasn't paid $12,000 he was ordered to give one of the landlords. He's half-Black Santos wrote on Twitter in 2020 that he identifies as "bi-racial," and when pressed to elaborate, he said he's "Caucasian and Black." Though both his parents were born in Brazil, he said his father has roots in Angola and his "White Caucasian mother" had "fled socialism in Europe" as "an immigrant from Belgium." He's Jewish Santos has claimed to be a nonobservant "proud American Jew" and a "Latino Jew." His maternal "grandparents fled Jewish persecution in Ukraine, settled in Belgium, and again fled persecution during WWII," his campaign biography began. Santos was listed as one of two Jewish Republicans elected in 2022 at a Republican Jewish Coalition convention in Las Vegas in November, and tweeted Nov. 3 that it "was an honor to address fellow members of the Jewish community." He told Jewish Insider he embraced both "my mother's Jewish background beliefs" and "my father's Roman Catholic beliefs" as his own and treasured his four trips to Israel. "I never claimed to be Jewish," Santos told the Post. "I am Catholic. Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background I said I was 'Jew-ish.'" His grandparents are Holocaust survivors Santos tweeted in 2000 that he's "the grandson of Holocaust refugees," said in a 2021 campaign video that his "grandparents survived the Holocaust," and suggested in a February 2022 interview that his family changed its "Ukrainian last name," Zabrovsky, like many "World War II refugees or survivors of the Holocaust." But both his maternal grandparents were born in Brazil decades before World War II, The Forward reports, and they don't "appear in Brazilian immigration cards in the 1930s or 1940s, or in the databases of Yad Vashem or the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, which list European Jewish refugees." Gea Sierdsma, a distant Dutch relative of Santos who has researched the family's genealogy, and professional genealogist Megan Smolenyak both found no evidence of Jewish or Ukrainian roots in the Santos family tree. He lost employees in the Pulse nightclub shooting Santos told WYNC in November 2022 that his company "lost four employees" who "were at Pulse nightclub" in Orlando during a tragic 2016 mass shooting. But a "review of news coverage and obituaries found that none of the 49 victims appear to have worked at the various firms named in his biography," the Times reports. His mother was a financial executive Santos also claimed on his website that his mother, Fatima Devolder, "came from nothing, but worked her way up to be the first female executive at a major financial institution," and "was in her office in the South Tower on September 11, 2001, when the horrific events of that day unfolded." But contemporaneous articles and interviews with Santos' friends and former roommates describe Devolder as a cook and house cleaner "who spoke only Portuguese," the Times reports, and none "could recall any instance of her working in finance." His mother died in the 9/11 attacks Santos tweeted in July 2021 that "9/11 claimed my mothers (sic) life." His campaign biography amended that to say "she survived the tragic events on September 11th, but she passed away a few years later when she lost her battle to cancer." Devolder died in 2016. 'I am not a criminal' Santos has not been convicted of a crime, but he is under investigation in two countries and he admitted to breaking the law in Brazil when he was 19, the Times reports. Police and court records show he used a stolen checkbook to make fraudulent purposes in 2008, confessed to the crime in 2010, and was charged in 2011, the year he moved back to New York. Brazilian prosecutors suspended the case when they couldn't find him, but reopened it after his serial lies as a congressman-elect allowed them to locate him. That makes his statement to the Post, that "I am not a criminal here not here or in Brazil or any jurisdiction in the world," suspect at best. He voted against the House omnibus bill Santos claimed on his website Jan. 4 that he voted "nay" on the House fiscal 2023 spending bill that passed on Dec. 23, more than two weeks before he was to be sworn in as a congressman. At the time he made that claim, he still hadn't been sworn in, because the House had not yet elected a speaker. Nevertheless, he also put out a statement a day earlier announcing that he had been sworn in as a member of Congress though in this case, it seems to be less a lie and more a failure to stop an automated email from sending. You may also like What happens if the House can't pick a speaker? Rep. Matt Gaetz votes for Donald Trump over Kevin McCarthy as speaker Damar Hamlin has shown 'remarkable improvement,' Bills say This is the beginning of the rest of RuPauls Drag Races lifeon MTV! The iconic drag competition show officially makes its MTV debut Friday with a two-episode premiere featuring guest judge Ariana Grande. This season, the competition will harken back to the first seasons of Drag Race with iconic challenges and, if the Meet the Queens interviews released in December have been anything to go by, tons of drama. Fans have often complained both about the lack of drama on certain seasons and other seasons having too much drama. But for sason 15, the queens have talked about how there will be enough drama to keep fans who want some controversy glued to their chairs. This is also the biggest season yet for Drag Race, with 16 queens competing for the crown and the largest grand prize every, $200,000 via Cash App. This season, however, there doesnt seem to be any reliance stunts (like the chocolate bar stunt from Season 14) that could keep queens sticking around after they sashay away, meaning the fight for the crown, which has been marked by these stunts in recent seasons, might have an intensity previous seasons have lacked. Another addition is a new judge. Online personality Ts Madison has been a guest judge for several seasons of Drag Race at this point, and this season, she has finally crossed over into becoming a permanent member of the judges panel with Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley and Ross Matthews. Guest judges this season include some of the biggest names in music, television, film and social media. Along with Grande, Ali Wong, Amandla Stenberg, Harvey Guillen, Hayley Kiyoko, Janelle Monae, Julia Garner, Maren Morris, Megan Stalter, and Orville Peck will also judge the queens on their runway looks and maxi challenges. The queens gunning for the crown this season are: Amethyst (West Hartford, CT), Anetra (Las Vegas, NV), Aura Mayari (Nashville, TN), Irene Dubois (Seattle, WA), Jax (Queens, NY), Loosey LaDuca (Ansonia, CT), Luxx Noir London (East Orange, NJ), Malaysia Babydoll Foxx (Miami, FL), Marcia Marcia Marcia (New York, NY), Mistress Isabelle Brooks (Houston, TX), Princess Poppy (San Francisco, CA), Robin Fierce (Hartford, CT), Salina EsTitties (Los Angeles, CA), Sasha Colby (Los Angeles, CA), Sugar (Los Angeles, CA), and Spice (Los Angeles, CA). Watch the interviews the queens conducted with Shadow and Acts managing editor, Trey Mangum, below. RuPauls Drag Race airs Fridays at 8/7c. The post RuPauls Drag Race Season 15 Queens On The Gaggiest, Most Historic Season Ever appeared first on Shadow And Act. Fighting has continued on the front lines of the war between Russia and Ukraine despite a 36-hour cease-fire that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to observe Orthodox Christmas this weekend. Russia has said that it is abiding by the cease fire in honor of the holiday, which is Saturday, but has blamed Ukraine for disrupting it, according to the state-run media outlet TASS. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the idea of Russias sincerity, saying that it is looking to institute the cease-fire to slow Ukrainian forces advance in retaking occupied territory in the Donbas region. Zelensky said in an address to the Ukrainian people that Russia is preparing a new wave of aggression against Ukraine and the rest of Europe. He said Russia wants to use the cease-fire as an opportunity to bring equipment, ammunition and soldiers closer to Ukrainian positions. The New York Times reported that residents of the city of Bakhmut have said they still heard fighting through Friday even though the cease-fire was supposed to start at noon local time. Russia shelled a fire station in the city of Kherson on Friday morning, killing at least one person, The Times reported. Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, called for the cease-fire for the holiday weekend before Putin made the announcement. Putin said he took Kirills request into consideration in making his decision. Zelensky has issued a 10-point peace plan to end hostilities in Ukraine, including the total retreat of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory. President Biden also dismissed the cease-fire as Putin looking for Russian forces to find some oxygen and noted that Russia attacked Ukraine during Christmas on Dec. 25 and over New Years weekend. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Russian citizen who had exceeded the period of stay in Ukraine drew the flag of Ukraine in his passport, adding the "Ukraine above all" and "Putin h**lo [d**head ed.]", so as not to be deported to his homeland. Source: State Border Guard Service on Facebook Details: In Kyiv Oblast, border guards found a Russian citizen who exceeded the period of stay in Ukraine. In the conversation with law enforcers, the man said that he did not want to return to Russia. In addition to the above actions, the man crossed out the citizenship column in his passport. The man was handed over to the police for further verification. "It's a shame to be a Russian," the border guards concluded. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russian artillerists shelled fire departments in the city of Kherson for the second time in two days. There are killed and wounded civilians. Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine on Telegram Details: Serhii Kruk, Head of the State Emergency Service, said "this is the second fire department in two days that was fired upon by the enemy, violating all the principles and norms of international law." Quote: "The Russians once again confirmed the fact that they cannot be trusted. Kherson. Another shelling of our unit. There are killed and wounded." Background: On 5 January, Russian troops hit the centre of Kherson. A 20-year-old man died on the spot. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Iryna Vereshchuk, the Minister of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories, has warned fellow citizens that the Russians are preparing terrorist attacks in the temples of the temporarily occupied territories for Orthodox Christmas. Source: Press office of the Ministry for Reintegration of the Temporary Occupied Territories, quoting Vereshchuk Quote: "There is information that the Russians are preparing terrorist attacks in churches in the temporarily occupied territories for Orthodox Christmas." Details: The minister called on citizens to be careful and, if possible, to refrain from visiting crowded places. "Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Wait for the Armed Forces," Vereshchuk added. Background: On 5 January, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to implement a ceasefire for Christmas. Mykhailo Podoliak, Advisor to the Head of the President's Office, commenting on Putin's statement, stressed that a "temporary truce" can only begin when the Russian aggressor leaves the territory of Ukraine. Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, said that Ukraine would not hold any negotiations with Russia regarding the so-called Christmas ceasefire. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Vladimir Putin was using the so-called "truce" to stop the advance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the country's east. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Photo: The Canadian Press A recent survey that looks at the racial composition of newsrooms across the country suggests media companies have a long way to go if they want to diversify editorial teams, especially when it comes to full-time and supervisory roles. National data released last month by The Canadian Association of Journalists on the racial and gender breakdown of newsroom staff shows 78 per cent of journalists identify as white, 4.6 per cent identify as Indigenous and 17.5 per cent identify as a visible minority. The survey, conducted between March and August 2022, is based on voluntary responses from 242 print, radio, television and digital media organizations, representing 5,012 journalists. The report says about eight in 10 newsrooms had no journalists on staff that identified as Latin, Middle Eastern, or mixed race, and eight in 10 had no Black or Indigenous journalists on staff. Nearly eight in 10 outlets also reported having no visible minorities or Indigenous people in their top three leadership positions. The CAJ acknowledges in the report there are limitations to the data and the snapshot it provides, including that not all newsrooms in the county participated in the survey and that race data was unknown for approximately one-quarter of journalists. John Miller, emeritus professor at Toronto Metropolitan University who has been championing for more diversity in the newsroom for about two decades, says he found the survey results disappointing and "equally as damning as last years," referring to the results of the CAJ's first diversity report in 2021. More work needs to be done as far as diversifying newsrooms in the country," Miller said in an interview last month. That burden rests on media executives of the various news organizations who must understand that our population is constantly changing and that they too must change to meet society where it is in terms of ... demographics." He added that Canadians want to see themselves represented in the media. Brian Daly, assistant professor of journalism at University of Kings College in Halifax, agrees. It is simply a matter of common sense. If a business knows that the demographics around it is changing, it has to change its modus operandi so it survives, Daly said. The top executives in media have to know that the current business model is counterproductive because people of colour will not want to buy into their product if they cannot see themselves in their operations. Thats the bottom line, he stressed. The CAJ notes media organizations should be transparent about the gender and racial makeup in their newsrooms as many of them regularly report on the diversity of political cabinets and businesses. It also notes similar data has been collected in the United States since 1978. The media should start acting right first before asking all of society to do the same, said Miller. Men outnumber women in top media leadership roles, with the survey finding 54.3 per cent of top newsroom leaders identify as men, 44.3 per cent identify as women and 1.3 per cent identify as non-binary. "Eighty-three per cent of supervisors identify as white, compared to 2.7 per cent who identify as Black, 3.5 per cent identify as Indigenous and 5.5 per cent who identify as Asian," the report states. The report also notes diversity is higher among part-time and internship roles. Black, Middle Eastern, and mixed-race journalists saw their percentages rise modestly in 2022, the data shows for instance, in 2021, Black journalists accounted for 2.5 per cent of newsroom staff, compared to 3 per cent in 2022. Author and journalist Desmond Cole says he is none too pleased with what he calls this incremental change." "I am sorry to say this is not change. As I read this report, far too many journalists of colour are still being hired partially, so they should not even count in the big picture of things, says Cole, who has spent many years working in several media outlets in Canada and whose book The Skin We're In is based on his efforts to fight anti-Black racism. I know many Black people in the journalism profession who cannot make a living wage working for these so-called big media companies. Cole said. According to the 2021 CAJ data, 21.4 per cent of the supervisory roles at the CBC were held by visible minorities or Indigenous people, which increased to 31.1 per cent this year. "There have been a lot of changes at the CBC in the area of diversity, said Susan Marjetti, general manager for CBC News, Current Affairs and Local, stressing that the CAJ should be lauded for its work because what gets measured gets changed. We are definitely taking this report seriously as we have in the previous year, says Susan Marjetti, general manager for CBC News, Current Affairs and Local. Apart from the CBC's Developing Emerging Leaders program, which began in 2017 to harness talent from equity-seeking groups for the future, Marjetti saysthe company also has a newsroom training program on inclusion, and the Indigenous Pathway project, both of which seek to train and hire more BIPOC journalists and include their voices in CBC coverage. I believe that commitment at the top of any organization is important, Marjetti said. Andrea Baillie, Editor-in-Chief of The Canadian Press, said in a statement the results of the survey show there is still a great deal of work to be done. "The Canadian Press has put various initiatives in place to add new perspectives to our newsrooms; its a top priority. The diversity of our workforce is slowly changing but we need to retain new staffers, ensure they feel heard and promote them into senior positions. Brent Jolly, president of the CAJ, says one major challenge for instigating change is an ingrained bias that hiring teams might harbour. Often, people hire those who look like them. That has been documented, he said, stressing the surveys the CAJ have embarked upon will serve as a call to action for those in charge ... Thats my hope, he said. Sam Bankman-Fried is arguing that he should retain control of around $450 million in shares of financial trading app Robinhood Markets (HOOD), disputing a rival claim by the estate of the company he founded and once ran, the bankrupt crypto exchange FTX. The 56 million shares, in principle owned by Bankman-Fried and co-founder Gary Wang through a holding company called Emergent Fidelity Technologies, are the subject of a complex legal battle that also includes bankrupt crypto lender BlockFi and the U.S. Justice Department. In a Dec. 22 filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, FTX now under the management of restructuring expert John Ray III said the shares were only nominally held by Emergent Fidelity and should be frozen until they can be divided up fairly among FTX creditors. Its claim was supported by those liquidating the company in the Bahamas. Bankman-Fried opposed that idea in a court filing Thursday, arguing that he and Wang had legitimately bought the shares using money borrowed from FTXs trading arm, Alameda Research, and that the loan was documented. BlockFi, a lender that FTX last year attempted to prop up before it also filed for bankruptcy, also opposed Bankman-Fried's attempt to seize control of the shares in a separate court filing on Thursday. It is improper for the FTX debtors to ask the court to simply assume that everything Mr. Bankman-Fried ever touched is presumptively fraudulent, Bankman-Fried's filing said. Mr. Bankman-Fried requires some of these funds to pay for his criminal defense. Bankman-Fried, who this week pleaded not guilty to federal criminal charges including money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, resigned as FTX's CEO on Nov. 11, the same day FTX filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware following a CoinDesk report that showed the unusually tight ties between FTX and Alameda. FTX's new management argued in December that Emergent Fidelity, owned 90% by Bankman-Fried and 10% by Wang, was a shell company, whose interests were sufficiently identical to those of the wider company. Ray has previously complained of defective record-keeping at FTX, and in particular of transfers being made to staff without proper documentation. In any case, the filings concede, the debate may prove academic, after a representative of the U.S. Department of Justice told the court Wednesday that the government was seizing the shares as part of its proceedings against Bankman-Fried. Read more: US DoJ Is Seizing Banking Assets, Robinhood Shares Linked to FTX, Court Told Photo: Peter Macdiarmid (Getty Images) Two privileged administrators of online encyclopedia Wikipedia were reportedly arrested by Saudi Arabian officials. The pair have been sentenced to 32 and eight years in prison for editing conflict critical of the government. The prison sentences predated a larger alleged Saudi espionage operation within the company which ultimately led Wikipedia to terminate each and every one of its administrators operating in the country. The bans were the result of an internal Wikimedia investigation revealed by Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) an advocacy group founded by deceased Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. DAWN says it learned of the arrests and Wikipedia bans from sources close to Wikipedia and the jailed administrators themselves. Wikimedia did not respond to Gizmodos requests for comment. Read more Wikimedia administrators, sometimes referred to as editors, arent paid employees at the site. Instead, they are volunteers who are granted privileged access to the website which can include the ability to fully edit sometimes protected web pages. Additionally, in some cases, administrators can also reportedly delete pages and block or unblock certain users. DAWNs report claims the alleged administrators close to the Saudi government became administrators and used those privileges to control information about the country. The imprisoned administrators, on the other hand, were reportedly arrested back in September 2020 and allegedly charged with swaying public opinion and violating public morals. The DAWN alleges those arrests were politically motivated and came in response to the administrators contributing information on the site viewed as critical to the Saudi government. Its despicable but entirely predictable that the Saudi government has prosecuted Saudis merely for posting content about the governments human rights abuses, DAWN Advocacy Director Raed Jarrar said in a statement. But Wikimedia also needs to take responsibility for the fact that its authorized editors are today languishing in prison for work they did on Wikipedia pages. Story continues DAWN claims Saudi administrators were the 16 users Wikimedia revealed it banned in a public December 2022 announcement. Wikimedia, which didnt provide details about the banned administrators at the time, said the users were penalized for engaging in conflict of interest editing on Wikipedia projects in the MENA region. Those removals followed an internal investigation started in January 2022. As Wikimedia projects have risen in prominence across the world, it has attracted increasing attention of those who would like to control the information published on it, for political or other reasons, Wikimedia wrote. Community members have addressed concerns of this sort for many years, but sometimes volunteers who intervene in such cases may themselves face retaliation for their actions. Wikimedia disputed several aspects of the DAWN report in a statement released after publication. The company said it was unlikely all 16 of the banned accounts were located in Saudi Arabia, though a spokesperson told Gizmodo they were unable to say definitely what country each banned administrator was based out of. The company also disagreed with DAWNs use of the word infiltrate in regards to the banned users actions, which they said was a mischaracterization. These organizations did not share the statement with the Foundation, and sources of knowledge as cited in their release can get things wrong, Wikimedia said. In addition, we do not have staff in the country named and never have, contrary to a message put out by the same groups on social media. The spokesperson added that its their goal to be as transparent as possible within essential protection policies, which is why we do not ban in secret, but instead disclose accounts impacted and (when large numbers are involved) have disclosed the rationale. Following its report, DAWN called on Wikimedia to publicly reveal more details about its investigation, disclose a full list of the Wikipedia pages the Saudi aligned administrators edited and subject them to new review. Additionally, the group said Wikimedia should conduct an internal review of those edited pages and attach wrapping labels stating they were edited by a Saudi spy. The Saudi governments infiltration of Wikipedia with government agents acting as independent editors, and imprisonment of non-compliant editors, demonstrates not only its persistent use of spies inside international organizations but the dangers of attempting to produce independent content in the country, DAWN Executive Director Sarah Leah Whitson said in a statement. Its wildly irresponsible for international organizations and businesses to assume their affiliates can ever operate independently of, or safely from, Saudi government control. Update: 1/6/2023 6:25 p.m: A spokesperson for Wikimedia reached out to Gizmodo after publication and said it disputed multiple elements of the Dawn report. The company questioned Dawns claim that all 16 of the banned administrators were based in Saudi Arabia. When asked to clarify, the spokesperson told Gizmodo they could not say specifically which counties the administrators were based out of and could only confirm they were based in the MENA region. Wikimeida also disagreed with Dawns use of the word infiltrate to categorize the banned administrator actions. Correction: 1/6/2023 6:25 p.m: A previous version of this story said Wikimedia fired the MENA-based administrators. The administrators were actually banned as they are not employees of the company. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Screenwriters Lena Dunham ("Catherine Called Birdy"), David O. Russell ("Amsterdam"), Samuel D. Hunter ("The Whale") and David Kajganich ("Bones and All"). (Celeste Sloman, Yuri Hasegawa / For The Times; Christina House, Dania Maxwell/ Los Angeles Times) Every good film begins with a story. Sometimes it's one that has already been written as a book or a play, and sometimes it comes straight from someone's head taken from history, from personal experience or created out of whole cloth. However it came to be, it must become a script, and every path to get there is different. Here, screenwriters who saw their films earn positive critical attention this awards season share their personal stories about, well, coming up with their stories. Charlotte Wells | 'Aftersun' Charlotte Wells (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) What challenges, I wonder, does being so guarded as an individual present when writing a film public by nature rooted in your own past and relationships, wrestling with something as private as grief? That paradox didnt occur to me until much later, Wells admits. After years of struggling to put words on the page, and never for a moment considering turning my attention elsewhere, it became clear that Aftersun was a way of trying to make sense of my own grief the loss of my dad as a teenager which I had long avoided. It seems hard to believe that this motivation wasnt immediately obvious, but Wells speaks of a necessary denial in the early stages of a new project; a veil of fiction or plot or structure that allows her to believe she is writing from more distance. Its a gently winding staircase to the depths of vulnerability that I need to access, but cant face all at once. Read more >> David Magee | 'A Man Called Otto' David Magee (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times) A number of people who have seen the film have asked me whether the isolation we all felt during the COVID pandemic influenced the writing of the script. Virtually no one had heard of COVID when I took on the project, so I cant take credit for being prescient, but COVID did hit as I was working on the first draft, and I saw along with everyone else how quickly loneliness and isolation can amplify social discord, driving people apart at a time when they need to connect to others the most. Story continues Otto is just going on a drive with friends when he says, This is living, but I think he is feeling the way many of us did when the pandemic abated and we began to reconnect with the world. Read more >> Rian Johnson | 'Knives Out: Glass Onion' Writer-director Rian Johnson. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) This was my foundation when I sat down to write Knives Out: try to shake off nostalgia and get back to what [Agatha] Christies books actually feel like. So set it in modern-day America. Make it personal, make it of the right here and now. And try something with it narratively that was genuinely exciting to me, the same way I imagine Christie did with each new book. Cut to several years later. People enjoyed Knives Out, and the idle idea of making more of these things was now not just a reality, but a pressing one. It was time to write a script and to ask the question that sends fear down the spine of any writer: Where to begin? Read more >> Samuel D. Hunter | 'The Whale' Screenwriter Samuel D. Hunter. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) During a NJ Transit ride back home one night, I read one students heartbreaking truth, a line that ended up staying in the play and the screenplay throughout mountains of drafts: I think I need to accept that my life isnt going to be very exciting. That single line was a turning point in my artistic life. Because right after I read it, I had the thought: Should I write a play about an expository writing teacher who is begging his students to write something honest? Is anyone going to want to watch that? More frightening than that, is this play a version of this exercise I had just given my students? Read more >> David Kajganich | 'Bones and All' Screenwriter David Kajganich tells ponders how he wrote "Bones and All." (Yuri Hasegawa / For The Times) I felt that if I were to write an adaptation that could connect with young people navigating the issues of identity and belonging that the film explores, it couldnt be as a 52-year-old trying to memorialize how things were then but somehow as the 18-year-old Id been in 1988 first discovering how things are. This isnt to say making the film regressed me, but it did become a surprisingly powerful time machine. I distrust nostalgia for the 80s. I found its bright, exploded pop response to the disillusioned 70s creepy. And 1988 was, personally, a terrible year. Growing up in the closet, in rural Ohio, was a time of hypervigilance, of seeking out anyone who might wish the real me well, while staying invisible to those who wouldnt. And this was on the comparatively simple calculus of merely being gay, which I could hide inside an otherwise safe profile of a physically enabled, white, middle-class American male. Others had it worse. Read more >> Lena Dunham | Catherine Called Birdy Lena Dunham. (Celeste Sloman / For The Times) Like many children without social gifts, I disappeared into books, searching for myself in their heroines. I loved Kay Thompsons Eloise for her independence, Madeleine LEngles Camilla for her romantic streak. I crafted elaborate fantasies around Frances Hodgson Burnetts A Little Princess, in which a girl who is separated from her war hero father is mistaken for an orphan and ignored by her schoolmates, forced to sweep the floors, until he reappears in a burst of satin and cinnamon buns. But no book transfixed me quite like Catherine, Called Birdy, Karen Cushmans 1994 ode to the long-ignored domestic realities of a medieval preteen. From the first page, I was enamored of the tone, part cheeky brat and part wise philosopher. I related to the heroines desire to be a part of something, dampened by her inability to keep her mouth shut. Read more >> David O. Russell | 'Amsterdam' Writer-director David O. Russell. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) The premise was: Imagine youve been through one global, hatred-fueled catastrophe, so you could hardly begin to think that it would happen again, which is, in fact, happening unbeknownst to many, many Americans. Taking a stand is important, but so is keeping your sense of humor, which these three decidedly do throughout the film. This was the whole thing that motivated us a history that none of us knew until we read about it and to imagine having to survive one senseless bloodiness, to recover, and now be finding your way to the vexing birth of another one all while remaining kind of funny and kind of optimistic because of their dark senses of humor. Read more >> Dana Stevens | 'The Woman King' Dana Stevens (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) It was always important to me and to our three female producers (Maria Bello, Viola Davis and Cathy Schulman) to address rape as a weapon of war. In conflicts both present and past, women face sexual violence from conquerors and captors. In light of this, what would it really be like to be a woman soldier? How would the trauma of warfare affect the lead character, Nanisca? Her strength comes from surviving the worst a soldier can face. For her, that includes rape. Like many survivors, she pushes down her painful memories. Her coping mechanism is to label emotion as weak. This gave me her heros journey. The relationship with the new recruit, Nawi, connects her to her own younger self, and ultimately allows her to heal. Read more >> Screenwriters from 2021-2022: Maggie Gyllenhaal | 'The Lost Daughter'; Adam McKay | 'Don't Look Up'; Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth | 'Dune'; Tony Kushner | 'West Side Story'; Zach Baylin | 'King Richard'; Erica Schmidt | 'Cyrano'; Steven Knight | 'Spencer'; Rebecca Hall | 'Passing'; Sian Heder | 'CODA'; Krysty Wilson-Cairns | 'Last Night in Soho'; Jeymes Samuel | 'The Harder They Fall'; Roberto Bentivegna | 'House of Guccie'; Fran Kranz | 'Mass' Screenwriters from 2020-2021: Darius Marder | 'Sound of Metal'; Sacha Baron Cohen, Dan Swimer, Peter Baynham, Anthony Hines | 'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm'; Tara Miele | 'Wander Darkly'; John Lee Hancock | 'The Little Things'; Kata Weber | 'Pieces of a Woman'; Lee Isaac Chung | 'Minari'; Andy Siara | 'Palm Springs'; Eliza Hittman | 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always'; Will Berson | 'Judas and the Black Messiah'; Julia Hart and Jordan Horowitz | 'I'm Your Woman' Screenwriters from 2019-2020: Gregory Allen Howard | 'Harriet'; Rian Johnson | 'Knives Out'; Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski | 'Dolimite Is My Name'; Mario Correa | 'Dark Waters'; Julian Fellowes | 'Downton Abbey'; Anthony McCarten | 'The Two Popes'; Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster | 'Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood'; Steven Zaillian | 'The Irishman'; Lorene Scafaria | 'Hustlers'; Charles Randolph | 'Bombshell'; Michael Schwartz and Tyler Nilson | 'Peanut Butter Falcon'; Lena Waithe | 'Queen & Slim' Screenwriters from 2018-2019: Diablo Cody | 'Tully'; Joe Robert Cole | 'Black Panther'; Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan | 'Wildlife' ; Josh Singer | 'First Singer'; Felix van Groeningen and Luke Davies | 'Beautiful Boy'; Peter Hedges | 'Ben Is Back'; Gillian Flynn | 'Widows'; Bo Burnham | 'Eight Grade'; Debra Granik | 'Leave No Trace'; Kevin Willmott | 'BlacKkKlansman'; Nick Vallelonga and Brian Hayes Currie | 'Green Book'; Elizabeth Chomko | 'What They Had'; Paul Schrader | 'First Reformed'; Chloe Zhao | 'The Rider'; and Jeff Whitty | 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?' This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. BRENTWOOD A Seabrook man charged in a drunken driving crash that killed his girlfriend in November 2020 was sentenced this week to 9 to 18 years in prison. Earl Ganoe Jr., 41, of Seabrook, pleaded guilty Wednesday, Jan. 4, in Rockingham Superior Court to one count of reckless manslaughter for causing the death of Stephanie Girard, 40, of Seabrook, and one count of falsifying physical evidence. Superior Court Judge Andrew Schulman handed down the sentence that he noted was "substantially less than what the state and victims (family) had asked for." Earl Ganoe Jr. Prosecutors were seeking a 15- to 30-year sentence while the defense wanted a 5- to 10-year sentence as part of a capped plea deal. Both agreed to a 10- to 30-year suspended sentence and indefinite loss of license for the falsifying physical evidence charge. "The court is guided by the principle of parsimony, i.e. it wished to impose a sentence that is sufficient to serve the legitimate goals of sentence but not excessive," stated Schulman in his order. The sentence, he stated, "provides for adequate general and specific deterrence, as well as rehabilitation." Ganoe was ordered to participate in drug and alcohol treatment programs in prison, where he could get an additional two years of the minimum sentence suspended if completed. More:Ex-Phillips Exeter Academy teacher agrees again to plead guilty to student sex assault The state's evidence Ganoe was arrested on Nov. 7, 2020. According to police, Ganoe was drunk when he lost control of a black 2013 Mercedes C300 and crashed into a telephone pole at around 11:10 a.m. while driving on Kensington Road (Route 84) in Hampton Falls. Witnesses told police the driver of the Mercedes was traveling at a pace above the speed limit, passing their vehicles and others on the two-lane road. They said the car struck a stone wall and finally stopped after hitting a utility pole. Ganoe, according to witness testimony, emerged from the driver's side of the car following the accident, tossed cans out of the vehicle, and pulled Girard from the car. Other drivers and bystanders responded, according to the arrest affidavit, performing CPR on Girard, who died from her injuries. Story continues Police said Ganoe was slurring his words and smelled of alcohol. Skateboard getaway?Exeter police arrest suspect in unusual burglary Ganoe later acknowledged he and the victim had been drinking that morning, specifically vodka and orange juice, according to the affidavit, So I should never have gotten behind the wheel, I understand that. He also admitted that following the accident he removed and discarded containers of screwdrivers, knowing he would be in trouble if law enforcement observed them in the vehicle. According to information state police found, Ganoe, who had just moved to Seabrook from Texas, never got a New Hampshire driver's license and his Texas license was suspended. He had three prior convictions of driving while intoxicated, the most recent being on May 5, 2020. As part of the capped plea deal, prosecutors agreed to drop the charges of negligent homicide and the aggravated driving under the influence charge. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Seabrook man sentenced in fatal car crash that killed Stephanie Girard Retired Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) announced on Friday that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has closed a 2 1/2-year investigation of his stock trading activities without taking action against him. This week, the SEC informed me that they have concluded their investigation with no action. I am glad to have this matter in the rearview mirror as I begin my retirement from the Senate following nearly three decades of public service, said Burr, who retired earlier this week after serving three terms in the Senate. The SEC had been investigating Burrs sale of $1.65 million worth of stock at the first outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020. The sale included a large share of hospitality industry stocks, which took a hit when worldwide travel and tourism ground to a halt a few weeks later. The agency had scrutinized communications between Burr and his sister and brother-in-law, Gerald Fauth, before they sold stocks before many retail investors fully realized the extent of the pandemics impact on the economy. Burrs trades were also reviewed by the Justice Department, which closed its investigation in early 2021. Sen. Burr is pleased that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as did the U.S. Department of Justice, conducted a thorough review and closed their investigation with no action, said Burrs lawyer, Alice Fisher of Latham & Watkins. We have believed all along that this is the right result. He is glad to put this matter behind him as he embarks on his retirement from his dedicated service in the Senate, Fisher said. Burr stepped down as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee in May 2020 because of the investigation, giving the gavel to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), with whom Burr is closely allied, praised the retiring North Carolina senator last month. For five years, Richards colleagues tasked him with helming the Intelligence Committee. Some of this institutions most sensitive and critical responsibilities wound up in his lap. But Senators on both sides knew that Richards thoughtfulness, fairmindedness, and discretion tailor-made him for that role, McConnell said. Burr most recently served as the ranking member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has objected to Binances U.S. affiliates proposed US$1 billion purchase of bankrupt crypto lender Voyager Digitals assets. See related article: Biggest blockchain trends for 2023 and beyond Fast facts The SEC made a limited objection in a court filing on Wednesday, saying that the purchase agreement lacked details of Binances ability to close the deal. The SEC also requested more information on the nature of Binances business operations following the acquisition. Securities and banking regulators from Texas, New York, New Jersey and Vermont have also objected to Binances deal that was announced in December. FTXs bankrupt trading arm, Alameda Research, has also objected to the purchase, saying it unfairly discriminates against Alamedas claims, as the company is a shareholder of Voyager. Binance and FTX offered the two leading bids for Voyagers assets in September, before the collapse of FTX and Alameda Research. Voyager Digital accepted Binances US$1 billion bid in December, but the acquisition will require court approval to be finalized. See related article: Binance acquires Indonesian crypto exchange Tokocrypto Read also: Ukraine dismisses Putins Christmas truce suggestion Let the announced ceasefire throughout the Orthodox Christmas be a step towards peace, she wrote. However, users of the social network soon pointed out that Russias Christmas ceasefire had so far been anything but peaceful. Some noted that there had been a Ukraine-wide air raid alert less than two hours into the supposed unilateral ceasefire, due to the launch in Belarus of a Russian hypersonic cruise missile-bearing MiG-31K warplane. Read also: Air Force explains reason for flight of Russian MiG-31 in Belarus, which sparked nationwide air alert in Ukraine Others pointed out that Russian forces had begun the morning by shelling a fire station in the city of Kherson, killing a fire fighter. Later, there were reports that Russia had shelled a local hospital in the town of Kurakhove, in Donetsk Oblast. And in the key Ukrainian-held Donbas town of Bakhmut, journalists from the U.S. news channel CNN reported that there had been no letup in incoming or outgoing artillery fire. Novak herself visited Kyiv in November and saw the places where Russian troops had committed atrocities in Ukraine. During the visit, she stated that dictator Vladimir Putins responsibility for the war was obvious. Read also: Hungarian president to meet Zelenskyy in Kyiv On Jan. 5, Putin instructed the Minister of Defense of Russia, Sergei Shoigu, to implement a ceasefire along the entire front line in Ukraine from 12:00 p.m. on Jan. 6 to 12:00 a.m. on Jan. 8. (Moscow time Kyiv times are one hour earlier). The dictator said the decision was prompted by the appeals of one of his regime cronies, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, as well as his own alleged concern for the religious community. Putin then called on Kyiv to join the Christmas truce and institute a similar ceasefire. Read also: Putins Christmas truce likely info-op aimed at damaging Ukraines reputation, says ISW Story continues Adviser to the head of the Presidents Office, Mykhailo Podolyak, noted in response that Ukraine, unlike Russia, does not attack foreign territory and does not kill civilians, but only destroys military occupation armies on Ukrainian territory. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba pointed to the Russian strikes on Kherson on Dec. 24, when many Ukrainians marked Christmas Eve, and the massive attack on Ukraine on New Years Day. He advised that the Kremlins statements not be taken seriously. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Photo: Glacier Media Pharmacies on Vancouver Island are running out of over-the-counter adult medications as cases of influenza, colds, COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses ripple through the population. Many pharmacies have bare shelves and are fielding multiple calls for medicines like Tylenol and Advil and anything else that can provide relief. Shortages of childrens medications seen over the past several months are now spilling into adult versions, said Leslie Cotter of Peoples Pharmacy in Colwood. My whole cough and cold section is looking pretty sad right now, said Cotter. She said parents are reducing doses of adult medication for their sick children under advice from health-care professionals, which is adding to the shortages of cold and flu medications overall. Were getting calls every 20 minutes with people asking: Do you have this, said Cotter. And its everyone, parents, grandparents even other pharmacies are calling us. At Fort Royal Pharmacy on Hillside Avenue, Vik Bawa said his company got a small shipment of childrens Tylenol on Wednesday and immediately sold half the supply. He was expecting it to sell out Thursday. Bawas three locations considered limiting the numbers of products each customer can buy, but ruled out the idea. It wasnt really that fair when you have two or three children and many people in your family [who are sick]. Health Canada is calling the situation unprecedented, after a months-long shortage of childrens pain and fever medication that has sent many parents and caregivers scouring bare shelves and swapping tips on drug sightings. Observers point to a complex web of factors driving demand, as the global supply chain still recovering from manufacturing shutdowns undergoes a slow recovery that is limiting supplies. An earlier-than-usual surge in influenza and respiratory illnesses, combined with difficulties sourcing active ingredients like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, has made it difficult for manufacturers to keep up. Its a perfect storm, said Pindy Janda, director of procurement for Imperial Distributors Canada, a Richmond-based pharmaceutical wholesaler that supplies cold and flu medicines in B.C. and Alberta. Janda said the shortages can be traced to the early days of COVID-19 in 2020, when closures happened, following by reopenings and consumer stockpiling. Now rampant cases of flu and other illnesses are squeezing supplies. Catching up with the demand has been a challenge for manufacturers, said Janda, who doesnt think the shortages will be resolved until spring. And Canada isnt the only country facing shortages its a global problem, she said. The products are made in Canada, the U.S., Australia, India and Europe, but the ingredients are sourced in a variety of places, including China. You can compare [Tylenol] to a car thats made in the U.S. Well, the car might be made there, but a lot of the components come from several places, said Janda. India is one of the worlds largest drug manufacturers, and China is one of the largest producers of raw ingredients, she said. It all has to come together, Janda said and when theres unprecedented demand, thats hard to do. She said pharmacies in B.C. are getting supplies of medicines but its only coming in dribs and drabs as illnesses in children and adults spike. The federal government promised fair distributions of supply across Canada in November when it reached out to manufacturers for more than a million bottles of childrens cold and flu medicines during unprecedented cases of illnesses across the country. But some pharmacists are saying B.C. is getting much less than Ontario and Quebec. Janda said some medicine manufacturers that ship to Canada use population as a barometer on how much to send. So compared to Ontario and Quebec, we dont get as much, she said. Angelique Berg of the Canadian Association for Pharmacy Distribution Management said manufacturers usually build inventory steadily from May through August, in preparation for cold and flu season. But spring and summer stock was depleted much earlier than anticipated. What happened was the demand shifted so much earlier and lifted so much more sharply that even trying to catch up is a mad task for producers, said Berg. I think everyone in the supply chain was hopeful that [demand] would taper off. It has not tapered off. Observers say it can take months for supply-chain issues to be corrected because of difficulties surrounding sourcing of raw materials, factory schedules and the shortages of labour. Bawa says he doesnt know what orders will arrive or when. The supply chain is very unpredictable. Cotter said everything cold- and cough-related is disappearing fast from shelves. Products like cough syrups and vaporizing gels are being seen as the only relief for some. The adult generic versions of Tylenol and Advil are now almost depleted. She said some are turning to clove oil, which is used for teething babies, and other natural products. Health Canada warns parents not to use adult fever and pain medications on children under 12 without consulting a health-care professional, citing a serious risk of overdosing, especially with acetaminophen, which can damage the liver. It also recommends using cold compresses on a child with a fever, and having them drink plenty of fluids. It says warm baths can be useful to help manage pain. Cotter suggests writing to elected representatives to keep up the pressure on the federal government to get more supplies to the province. STORY: A unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine, declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, was officially due to come into force on Friday. But the hours leading up to the temporary truce saw renewed fighting. Kramatorsks mayor said Russian shells hit the city close to the frontline. While Russia said Ukraine shelled its military positions in the Luhansk, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions - despite its troops observing the ceasefire. Reuters could not immediately establish if there had been a lull in hostilities after the deadline. The 36-hour ceasefire, which coincides with Russian orthodox Christmas in the region, was rejected by Kyiv as a trick, adding it had no intention of stopping fighting. Ukraine and Western allies have said the call is a ploy, aimed at giving Moscow time to reinforce troops and equipment along the eastern front. Shortly after the ceasefire was due to come into effect, Russian-backed officials accused Ukraine of shelling the city of Donetsk with artillery, according to Russia's state-run TASS news agency. Despite air raid warnings sounding in several regions, no major air strikes were reported by Ukrainian officials after the starting time. Putin called the ceasefire in a surprise move on Thursday. It is the first major truce since Russia invaded on February 24 last year. The war has killed killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and devastated swathes of Ukraine. With financial support and weapons from the United States and Europe, Ukraine has driven Russia back from some of its territory. But battles are raging over eastern and southern cities. Among the most intense battlegrounds is the city of Bakhmut, still in Ukrainian hands despite dug-in trench warfare and months of battering by Russian forces that have left much of it in ruins. On Friday (January 6), Germany announced that it wants to send 40 Marder fighting vehicles by the end of the first quarter to reinforce the country's defences. Simon Pegg has shared a furious response to Rishi Sunaks plan to make pupils study Maths until the age of 18. The actor, whose credits include Spaced and the Mission: Impossible franchise, couldnt hide his anger while addressing the subject in a video he shared on Instagram. So Rishi Sunak, our unmandated, unelected prime minister twice removed, has decided it should be compulsory for children to learn Maths up until the age of 18 what a pr***, he said. What about arts and humanities and fostering this country's amazing reputation for creativity and self-expresison? he asked, adding: What about that? What about the kids that don't want to do Maths? I hated Maths. I dropped Maths as soon as I could and Ive never needed it other than the skillset I acquired at the age of 12. Pegg continued: But no. Rishi Sunak wants a f***ing drone army of data-entering robots. F*** the Tories. Get rid of them. Please! F*** you, Rishi Sunak, and f*** the Tories. Sunaks plan, which is currently just an ambition, would not be implemented until after the next general election, which the Tories are projected to lose to Labour. Rishi Sunak (Getty Images) No 10 says further details will be set out in due course, but that Sunaks plan is intended to raise UK standards to meet those of similar nations as well as to boost peoples financial literacy. His plan has been met with criticisn, with education experts and unions calling it unattainable as the chronic shortage of teachers in the subject is at crisis point. EXETER A former Exeter man will be arraigned later this month on felony charges stemming from a burglary at a local business in which he allegedly used a motorized skateboard as the mode of transportation. Ryan Dean, 39, of Hinsdale, is charged with burglary and criminal mischief in connection with the break-in at New England Truck Center last September. The Exeter Police Departments investigation into Dean began when officers responded to the business at 156 Epping Road at approximately 10 p.m. on Sept. 18, 2022, to investigate a report of a burglary. Officers were called by New Hampshire State Police after a shattered window was discovered while a trooper was investigating an earlier motor vehicle crash on Route 101. Ryan Dean, 39, of Hinsdale, is charged with burglary and criminal mischief in connection with the break-in at New England Truck Center last September. During the course of the investigation, police learned that a rock was used to break the window. A review of surveillance video taken around the time of the burglary showed a person entering the property riding a motorized long skateboard amid a heavy rainstorm at approximately 8:30 p.m. Surveillance then showed the individual later identified by police as Dean making a wide loop through the parking lot on the skateboard before exiting with what appeared to be a cash box from the business with money and checks totaling in excess of $1,500, police allege. More:Ex-Phillips Exeter Academy teacher agrees again to plead guilty to student sex assault Shortly after leaving New England Truck Center on the skateboard, Dean is believed to have entered his silver 2014 Mercedes-Benz located nearby and left the area in the vehicle, police allege. Several minutes after the burglary, Deans car was involved in a crash on Route 101. Dean allegedly left the scene of the crash, which is being investigated by New Hampshire State Police. Exeter police issued an arrest warrant for Dean on the burglary and criminal mischief charges, but his whereabouts were unknown until he was arrested by the Keene Police Department on Dec. 19, 2022, following a motor vehicle pursuit in their city. Story continues Burglary suspect on skateboard in Exeter. 'Just happy nobody was hurt':Truck plows into cars at Exeter dealership The Exeter Police Departments Criminal Investigative Division has worked the case in conjunction with federal probation and parole attempting to track down Dean since Oct. 27, 2022. This was a very unusual case. In my 22 years in law enforcement this is the first time Ive seen a suspect using a motorized skateboard to carry out a crime. Fortunately, our detectives were able to piece this together quickly and identify the suspect, Deputy Police Chief Josh McCain said. Dean is scheduled to be arraigned on the Exeter Police Departments charges on Jan. 19 in Rockingham Superior Court. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exeter police say truck center break-in suspect caught on video MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Islamist militants from al Shabaab killed at least six people on Friday while raiding a village in central Somalia that they were pushed out of last week, a government-allied militia said. Somalia's government and allied clan militias have forced the militants from large swathes of territory since launching a major offensive last August, but al Shabaab has retaliated with a string of attacks, including bombings in the capital Mogadishu. It killed at least 35 people and wounded 40 more on Wednesday, when it detonated two car bombs in the central Somalia town of Mahas. Friday's attack targeted the village of Hilowle Gaab in Hirshabelle State, which Somalia's army and allied militiamen captured from al Shabaab last week. The fighters attacked the village during morning prayers at around 5 a.m. (0200 GMT) with car bombs, said Hussein Aden, a spokesman for the local clan militia. A gunfight ensued, during which the militants were repelled, he said, adding that soldiers and militiamen were among the six fatalities. "We were woken by three deafening blasts on the edge of the village, and then a heavy exchange of gunfire followed," said Mohamed Hussein, a resident of Hilowle Gaab. "Fighting has died down. I do not know how many died." Al Shabaab said in a statement that it had recaptured the village and seized military vehicles and weapons, but residents and a local politician disputed that claim. The offensive by the Somali army and allied militias has been backed by the United States and African Union troops. Al Shabaab has been waging an insurgency against Somalia's government since 2007, with the aim of enforcing its strict interpretation of Islamic law. It has been pushed back by government offensives in the past, only to regroup and return to areas that the army does not have the capacity to hold. (Reporting by Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar; Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Aaron Ross and Alex Richardson) By Dawn Chmielewski (Reuters) -Sony and Honda's year-old electric vehicle joint venture is considering a stock offering as one option to raise cash in the future, although those discussions are preliminary, the chairman of Sony Honda Mobility said on Thursday. Yasuhide Mizuno said the costs of building a "high-value" electric vehicle such as the newly unveiled Afeela, would be significant, and a stock offering has been discussed as one potential avenue for raising funds. "IPO is one of our options," Mizuno told a group of journalists Thursday in a roundtable discussion. "We have to be able to stand on our own two feet." Honda Chief Executive Toshihiro Mibe said in March that while he was not thinking about taking the joint venture public immediately, he would not dismiss that as an option to expand the firm. Sony unveiled the low-slung sedan prototype on Wednesday at a news conference in which it announced the Afeela brand name, intended to evoke an emotional connection with customers. Mizuno said the car is scheduled to be delivered in the United States starting in early spring 2026, then in Japan later that year. Sony Honda Mobility plans a global roll-out that includes Europe, parts of Asia and the Middle East, he added. Sony Honda Mobility also is contemplating selling the vehicle in China, which Mizuno described as an attractive but intensely competitive market for electric vehicles. Though Honda has an extensive network of auto dealerships, the Afeela will be sold online, said Mizuno. The joint venture is discussing how to service the vehicles. Mizuno declined to discuss pricing, saying the cost of chips and materials is variable. A full line of vehicles is planned under the Afeela banner, he added. Shares of Sony Group Corp rose 2.4% and Honda Motor Co Ltd advanced 1.9% in Tokyo trade on Friday. (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Editing by Richard Chang) By Joseph Ax (Reuters) - South Carolina's Republican-created congressional map deliberately split up Black neighborhoods in Charleston to diminish their voting power and must be redrawn, a three-judge federal panel ruled on Friday. The Republican-controlled legislature adopted the map last year after the 2020 U.S. Census as part of the once-a-decade redistricting process that all states complete. Friday's decision focused on the state's 1st congressional district, which has long been anchored in Charleston County. In 2018, Joe Cunningham became the first Democrat to win the district in nearly four decades in what was widely seen as an upset victory. In 2020, Republican Nancy Mace beat Cunningham by just over 1 percentage point. In redrawing the district last year, Republicans moved more than 30,000 Black residents in Charleston to the neighboring majority-Black 6th district, the court said, in a "stark racial gerrymander". Mace coasted to re-election in November under the new lines, winning by 14 percentage points. In a statement, the Republican speaker of the state House of Representatives, G. Murrell Smith, said he expects that lawmakers will appeal the decision. "I maintain that the House drew maps without racial bias and in the best interest of all the people of this state," he said. The judges all three appointed by Democratic presidents gave the state legislature until the end of March to submit a new map. No elections can take place in the 1st district until it has been redrawn, the panel said. The lawsuit was brought by the state conference of the NAACP. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Jan Harvey) COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Federal judges ordered South Carolina lawmakers to draw new congressional maps, ruling Friday that the U.S. House district lines of a seat flipped by Democrats four years ago were intentionally redrawn to split Black neighborhoods to dilute their voting power. The state used the maps in this past Novembers midterm elections after the Republican-dominated state Legislature redrew the lines earlier this year following the 2020 U.S. Census. With Republicans holding a thin margin in the U.S. House, any change to competitive districts has a chance to alter the balance of power after the 2024 elections. Friday's ruling said the coastal 1st District running from Charleston to Hilton Head Island was drawn to remove Black voters and make it a safer seat for Republicans. The judges requested state lawmakers pass new U.S. House maps by the end of March. They said no elections can take place in the 1st District until it is redrawn. South Carolina House Speaker Murrell Smith said he anticipated the decision would be appealed. I maintain that the House drew maps without racial bias and in the best interest of all the people of this state, the Republican said in a statement. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace currently represents the 1st District. She beat Joe Cunningham in 2020 after Cunningham became the first Democrat to flip a U.S. House seat in South Carolina in 30 years. Mace won by just over 1 percentage point in 2020. But after the district was redrawn, she won by 14 percentage points in November. After the new congressional maps were approved, civil rights groups swiftly filed a lawsuit charging the state Legislature with choosing perhaps the worst option of the available maps" for Black voters. The judges requested state lawmakers pass new U.S. House maps by the end of March. They said no elections can take place in the 1st District until it is redrawn. The judges ruled that to make the 1st District safer for Republicans, GOP legislative leaders who drew the new maps pulled Black voters out of the 1st District and placed them into the 6th District, which is the only one represented by a Democrat and was redrawn three decades ago to have a majority of minority voters. Story continues The 6th District stretches through a large swath of rural South Carolina into Columbia, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Charleston. The judges wrote in their ruling that Will Roberts, who drew the maps, used race to achieve the partisan goal of making the 1st District safer for Republicans, which is not allowed under federal law. When asked what community of interest the residents of North Charleston would have with the residents of Congressional District No. 6 in Columbia, Roberts could only think of their common proximity to Interstate I-26, albeit over 100 miles apart, the judges wrote. The panels decision delivered a victory for civil rights groups after the Supreme Court in 2013 tossed a key provision of the landmark Voting Rights Act. The trial marked the first time South Carolina maps had been scrutinized since the justices removed part of the 1965 law that required the state get federal approval to protect against discriminatory redistricting proposals. The judges did OK the split of some African American voters in the 2nd District around Columbia to include U.S. Army training base Fort Jackson in the district represented by Joe Wilson. He is expected to be chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and the district boundaries had been in place for 30 years. South Carolina's 5th District also was approved by the judges. Attorneys for state lawmakers said their changes were not driven by race, but by South Carolinas population boom. Much of the states 10% population growth from 2010 to 2020 occurred along the coast. The General Assembly also argued that the maps were driven not by race but by legitimate political interests like preserving the states 6-1 ratio of Republicans to Democrats representing South Carolina in the House of Representatives. The decision adds another urgent matter to the General Assembly's session that begins Tuesday. Weve got a lot of other things that we need to be focusing on, Republican Gov. Henry McMaster said at a Friday news conference where he was releasing his budget plan. - James Pollard is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Passenger stands near Southwest Airlines ticketing counter. Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Southwest's 2023 is already off to a rocky start. The airline's chaotic infrastructure meltdown, which left an estimated thousands of customers stranded and separated from their bags over the holidays, is poised to cost the company "between $725 million and $825 million," The New York Times reports Friday, per a filing from the carrier. That total, roughly half of which will come from lost revenue in ticket refunds, "represents about as much as the airline earned in the first nine months of last year." The compounding turmoil began with a massive winter storm and ended with more than 16,700 flights scrapped between Dec. 21 and Dec. 31, after the company's "crew scheduling processes failed to keep up with flight cancellations and quickly reassign pilots and flight attendants," the Times writes. It was a lesson in what can fail when a company "that millions of people rely on moves too slowly to invest in crucial but unglamorous parts of its operation." Many Southwest employees had been warning of such a mess "for years," Helane Becker, an investment bank analyst, told the Times. They believed the airline was "underinvesting and that they were one storm away from disaster." The company has said it plans to reimburse customers for expenses incurred as a result of canceled flights, and will also award those who were significantly delayed or canceled entirely with 25,000 in frequent-flier miles, a gift worth roughly $300. But the question now, the Times notes, is whether the carrier will go the extra mile and quickly update the infrastructure and processes that led to the meltdown in the first place. Previously, money was never a problem for Southwest; in fact, the carrier was "so flush with profits that it paid out nearly $10 billion to shareholders over the five years leading up to the pandemic, equivalent to half the cash generated by its operations over that period," the Times writes. But critics like the pilot's union and labor groups have argued that money could have been spent updating Southwest's technology years ago. Story continues Now, the company is expecting a loss in Q4 of 2022. And of course, the "ongoing cost" to its operations will depend on how many impacted customers take advantage of its reimbursement offer and how "generous or stingy" the carrier is in paying out those claims. Per CNN, shares of Southwest lost another 2 percent in early trading on Friday, but had already lost "8 percent of their value since Dec. 21." You may also like 9 brutally funny cartoons about Kevin McCarthy's speaker vote disaster CPAC chair Matt Schlapp accused of sexual assault by male Herschel Walker staffer What happens if the House can't pick a speaker? From the Vernon Jubilee Hospital to the people of Vernon, friendship is number one. The chimes announcing the birth of a child (at the hospital) cheer both the staff and patients. Different chimes for boys, girls and twins share the news. My neighbour had a stroke and was recovering in the hospital when one evening a caring nurse said she had a treat for her. The patient was thinking cookies but was pleasantly surprised with a warm bubble bath. Handi Dart is a busing service for disabled persons. The trip-booking ladies go out of their way to accommodate you. The drivers are friendly, caring and sometimes funny, or should I say try with humour. They always make you feel cared for. Save-On-Foods service is welcomed at all times. The store accommodates you with excellent substitutes and the delivery people are friendly. You can tell that they enjoy their jobs. Once, when I fell, all traffic stopped and everyone came to my aid. A Remax agent helped me up and a lady followed me home while taking care of my dog. We have amazing recreationSilver Star, Davison Orchards, beaches, Sparking Hills, Predator Ridge, O'Keefe Ranch and all the beautiful hiking trails. It really is a family-friendly place. We have the only Kleaners retail store in Canada, run by volunteers. (Sorry to the people and places I may have missed.) I was born and grew up in Alberta and have lived in Vancouver and Toronto. I have visited most of Canada and retired to Vernon, a place I call heaven. Canada is ranked as the No. 1 country in the world. Vernon should be the No. 1 city in Canada. Donna Colangelo A support piece from the Capitola Wharf is seen inside the storm-damaged Zelda's restaurant in Capitola, Calif., on Thursday. Giant ocean swells pushed debris through the front wall and a window, filling the interior with several inches of seawater. (Shmuel Thaler / Santa Cruz Sentinel via AP) The latest in a series of atmospheric river storms pummeled Northern California on Thursday, toppling trees, battering the coastline and swelling rivers and streams into furious torrents as residents braced for more intense weather set to arrive in the near future. Storms over the last week have killed at least six people, including three whose bodies were found in or near submerged cars after a levee broke near Sacramento. A toddler was killed when a tree crashed into a residence in Sonoma County. While many parts of Northern California escaped major damage, some coastal areas were swamped by high surf and flooding that left beaches in shambles. People living near the Russian River remain on edge, given the chance that waters could rise to dangerous levels over the next few days. But the biggest concern remains the effect more stormy weather will have across the already inundated region. Its going to remain wet and unsettled for the coming days, said Scott Rowe, a lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento. Through the weekend and next week were expecting at least two, three, possibly even more storms to be impacting Northern California, so its something were keeping a close eye on. After a short reprieve Friday, a moderate storm will blow back into the Bay Area over the weekend, renewing the risk of flooding. Forecasters are more worried about a much stronger storm that will hit Monday and Tuesday. During that event, widespread and potentially significant flooding is expected, as are gusty winds and landslides, according to the weather service. And more storms are still possible, with additional chances of rain late next week. That one-two punch will only add to what's been a soaking start to the year. Downtown San Francisco has already recorded its wettest 10-day period since 1871. Thursday's storm dumped 2 to 3 inches of rain across the San Francisco Bay Area, and isolated showers were expected to add to that total through the evening. Roughly an inch of rain fell over a 24-hour period across much of the Sacramento area as of early Thursday, less than forecasters initially expected. Story continues But, for some, the effects were no less profound. As of Thursday evening, about 10 of 30 beds were occupied at an evacuation shelter set up at the Barbara Morse Wackford Community Center in Elk Grove. Terry Sanford, the shelter's acting manager, said the clients were a mix of unsheltered people and those who saw their homes flooded. A lot of them are just worried about finding a safe spot, because when theres flooding, even if youre homeless, you lose your home, she said. We had one couple who lost their tent, their bikes, everything. They have nothing. Sanford said that the electricity at the shelter briefly went out Wednesday night and that shes concerned about the upcoming storms over the weekend and next week. We cant take any more water, she said. Everythings saturated. It has to run somewhere. Powerful waves batter the Capitola Wharf after the storm. (Shmuel Thaler / Associated Press) Santa Cruz County One of the areas hardest hit by this latest storm was the Santa Cruz County coast, where high tides and giant waves destroyed sections of the pier in the seaside town of Capitola and another in Seacliff. The Santa Cruz Wharf was evacuated Thursday morning as waves reaching up to 20 feet buffeted the structure and officials warned spectators to seek shelter. When Emma Simpkins, 23, an employee at the Picnic Basket near the wharf, arrived at the restaurant with her co-worker around 6:30 a.m., waves were breaking all the way up to the sidewalk. In her five years in Santa Cruz, Simpkins said shes never seen waves as large as the ones that pummeled the shore Thursday. I was here for the tsunami a few months ago, and even then it wasnt this bad, she said. Down at the Boardwalk, logs and debris were pushed up to the fence line, just below the amusement park platform making the beach seem more Olympic Peninsula in Washington state than California surf haven. At the base of the San Lorenzo River, huge swells carried surfers upriver, below the railroad trestle and toward downtown. Ive never seen anything like this, said Andrea Prost, who lives in Scotts Valley but drove to the coast with her dog, Shelby, to check out the scene. In Capitola, high tides and massive waves inundated businesses with water, prompting officials to evacuate thousands of residents. Police Chief Andy Dally said during a news conference that the flooding was triggered by a 5.6-foot high tide combined with a swell and rain runoff from the storm. Businesses sustained significant damage down in the Village, he said. The beach-adjacent Capitola Village includes shops and restaurants. Videos of the scene show torrents of water surging into seaside homes and businesses that had been boarded up in advance of the storm. Onlookers along Cliff Drive gasped and pointed at the wreckage below: The pier, broken in two, and the damaged restaurants along the beach. Sonoma County To the north, roads across Sonoma County were blocked by downed trees, while de-energized power lines knocked loose by tumbling branches swung above darkened homes and businesses. Jiminy Christmas, Ive never seen the winds so strong, said Richard Cappell, 68, who lives on a ridge above the town of Occidental. He stood on his front porch Thursday, the hum of a generator almost drowning out the sound of the rain. Down the hill in Occidental, the Altamont General Store was filled with people who had come in to get warm and use the available electricity to charge their phones and other electronics. Resident Susan Gray said she heard some people are expected to be out for up to two weeks. I expect to lose power every year, she said. Its been a while since weve [lost it] for this long. Aisha Tocchini stands at the site where her 2-year-old son, Aeon Tocchini, was killed by a fallen redwood tree. (Jessica Garrison / Los Angeles Times) Sonoma County issued an evacuation warning for residents living near the Russian River, including those in Guerneville, Monte Rio, Rio Nido and downstream of Healdsburg. As the rain stopped Thursday, nearly a dozen people came to the bridge over the river in Monte Rio to marvel at the rushing water, which whisked large trees and an overturned boat past onlookers. Forecasters no longer project that the river in Guerneville will flood Friday, as it is now expected to peak in the morning at 26.2 feet, below the flood stage level of 32 feet. But the danger has not passed as water levels could rise beyond flood stage Sunday night, following the arrival of weekend rains and as runoff continues to pour into rivers, creeks and streams. The Hopland area of the Russian River had exceeded flood stage as of Thursday morning, said Brett Whitin, a hydrologist at the California Nevada River Forecast Center. Its not as high as it was in the New Years Eve flood, Whitin said. Its a lower-level type of flooding going on there. He said the forecast center is anticipating more severe flooding during the upcoming storms through the weekend and next week. The Sacramento River will definitely see some flood stages exceeded, Whitin said. The Cosumnes River that had the levee breaks, that could see flood stage again next week. Theres that threat of exceeding flood stages at quite a few locations across the northern coast and the Sacramento Valley system. In San Jose, authorities have been closely watching possible flooding that could affect populated areas, including along Ross Creek at Cherry Avenue, Upper Penitencia Creek at Mabury and King roads, and Guadalupe River at West Alma Avenue. Elsewhere in Santa Clara County, officials ended evacuation warnings around the Pacheco Pass River Basin and Uvas Reservoir. Evacuation warnings were canceled in northern San Benito County, where officials had been concerned about a full Pacheco Reservoir spilling floodwaters beyond its dam into the already full Pacheco Creek downstream. A flood could have threatened businesses and homes in a largely agricultural area southeast of Gilroy, alongside Highway 152, a key road that connects the San Francisco Bay Area to Interstate 5. Pacheco Creek peaked and receded without causing damage, officials said. In Monterey County, officials Thursday expressed concern about the impact of another severe high tide overnight. Evacuation orders or warnings remained in place for some homes near the Carmel River Lagoon and the coastal Yankee Point community, south of Carmel. One home at Yankee Point was damaged by a giant wave, according to local news outlets. An "extremely large rogue wave" damaged a home in Cambria in San Luis Obispo County, shattering waterfront windows and knocking over a resident, firefighters said. The resident was expected to fully recover. Summer Lin reported from Sacramento, Rust from Santa Cruz, Garrison from Sonoma County, Rong-Gong Lin II from San Francisco and Fry from Los Angeles. Staff writers Terry Castleman, Grace Toohey, Alexandra E. Petri and Christian Martinez contributed to this story. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Noah Schnapp came out as gay in a TikTok video shared Thursday (5 January). Schnapp plays Will Byers in Netflixs hit series Stranger Things a character who the actor confirmed was 100 per cent gay after season four aired. On TikTok, Schnapp shared a clip of himself with the caption, When I finally told my friends and family I was gay after being scared in the closet for 18 years and all they said was we know while lip-syncing to an audio clip of someone saying, You know what it never was? That serious. It was never that serious. Quite frankly, will never be that serious. In the caption to his TikTok video, Schnapp wrote, I guess Im more similar to Will than I thought. Schnapp confirmed Wills sexuality in a June 2022 interview with Variety. Obviously, it was hinted at in season one: It was always kind of there, but you never really knew, is it just him growing up slower than his friends? he said. @noahschnapp I guess Im more similar to will than I thought original sound - princessazula0 Now that hes gotten older, they made it a very real, obvious thing. Now its 100 per cent clear that he is gay and he does love Mike. But before, it was a slow arc. I think it is done so beautifully, because its so easy to make a character just like all of a sudden be gay. Schnapp added that the fan response to Wills story has been positive, saying: I was just in Paris and this, like, 40-year-old man came up to me and he was like, Wow, this Will character made me feel so good. And I related to it so much. That is exactly who I was when I was a kid. That just made me so happy to hear. Schnapp also expressed his hope that Wills sexuality would be addressed openly in the shows next season. Theres so many different things they have to address. Obviously, we hope for a coming-out scene, he said. "Stranger Things" star Noah Schnapp revealed in a TikTok video that he is gay. (Evan Agostini / Invision / Associated Press) Actor Noah Schnapp has more in common with his "Stranger Things" character, Will Byers, than meets the eye. In an eight-second TikTok posted Thursday, the 18-year-old star seemingly came out as gay to his followers. Lip-syncing to a viral TikTok sound while lying in bed, he called his coming out "never that serious." "When I finally told my friends and family I was gay after being scared in the closet for 18 years and all they said was 'we know,'" he wrote in his TikTok. The actor's coming-out video comes months after he clarified for "Stranger Things" fans that his character is gay and has feelings for his friend Mike Wheeler (played by Finn Wolfhard). I mean, its pretty clear this season that Will has feelings for Mike, Schnapp told Variety in July. I think for Season 4, it was just me playing this character who loves his best friend but struggles with knowing if hell be accepted or not, and feeling like a mistake and like he doesnt belong. Will has always felt like that. He added that Will's feelings were "always kind of there." With his sexual orientation now public, Schnapp says the commonalities between him and his character aren't lost on him. "I guess I'm more similar to will than I thought," he captioned his TikTok video. In the comments section, followers are voicing their support for the "Hubie Halloween" actor. "LOVE YOU NOAH," commented content studio Flighthouse Media. "Slay," replied TikTok user Amanda Diaz. The official TikTok page for Netflix Brasil had lots of love for Schnapp, with its heart-filled reply. The supportive notes also made their way to Instagram, with MTV among the Instagram accounts populating Schnapp's latest post with heart and pride-flag emojis. And Twitter is no different, as Schnapp's fans celebrate his news. "So proud of as a bisexual girl I look up to you even more keep being you " @noah_schnapp," wrote one user. Story continues "i'm so happy for noah schnapp, it's gotta be such an insane feeling to come out to millions of people," said another fan. See more Twitter fan love below. Noah schnapp is a gay and my life is complete, Im so happy Not Steve Harrington (@GAlone24) January 5, 2023 SO PROUD OF NOAH SCHNAPP FOR COMING OUT!! R.A.B fan (@1CantSw1m) January 5, 2023 IM SO PROUD OF NOAH <33 @noah_schnapp sam (taylor's version) (@0taylorsversion) January 5, 2023 IM SO PROUD OF NOAH SCHNAPP RN (@scorpiosilja) January 5, 2023 Anybody have Noah Schnapp pulling a Will Byers & coming out of the closet on their 2023 bingo card? Alex E (@aemanuelson7) January 5, 2023 This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. It is doubtless a positive to see that the Saga plc (LON:SAGA) share price has gained some 83% in the last three months. But will that heal all the wounds inflicted over 5 years of declines? Unlikely. Five years have seen the share price descend precipitously, down a full 92%. It's true that the recent bounce could signal the company is turning over a new leaf, but we are not so sure. The million dollar question is whether the company can justify a long term recovery. We really feel for shareholders in this scenario. It's a good reminder of the importance of diversification, and it's worth keeping in mind there's more to life than money, anyway. On a more encouraging note the company has added UK26m to its market cap in just the last 7 days, so let's see if we can determine what's driven the five-year loss for shareholders. See our latest analysis for Saga Saga wasn't profitable in the last twelve months, it is unlikely we'll see a strong correlation between its share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Arguably revenue is our next best option. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth. In the last five years Saga saw its revenue shrink by 21% per year. That's definitely a weaker result than most pre-profit companies report. So it's not altogether surprising to see the share price down 14% per year in the same time period. This kind of price performance makes us very wary, especially when combined with falling revenue. Of course, the poor performance could mean the market has been too severe selling down. That can happen. The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). This free interactive report on Saga's balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. Story continues A Different Perspective We regret to report that Saga shareholders are down 49% for the year. Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 3.9%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 14% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Saga that you should be aware of. If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on GB 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 Southern Archipelago Ltd. (SGX:A33) has rebounded strongly over the last week, with the share price soaring 200%. But that is little comfort to those holding over the last half decade, sitting on a big loss. The share price has failed to impress anyone , down a sizable 57% during that time. So is the recent increase sufficient to restore confidence in the stock? Not yet. We'd err towards caution given the long term under-performance. The recent uptick of 200% could be a positive sign of things to come, so let's take a look at historical fundamentals. See our latest analysis for Southern Archipelago Given that Southern Archipelago didn't make a profit in the last twelve months, we'll focus on revenue growth to form a quick view of its business development. Generally speaking, companies without profits are expected to grow revenue every year, and at a good clip. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth. Over half a decade Southern Archipelago reduced its trailing twelve month revenue by 16% for each year. That puts it in an unattractive cohort, to put it mildly. It seems appropriate, then, that the share price slid about 9% annually during that time. It's fair to say most investors don't like to invest in loss making companies with falling revenue. You'd want to research this company pretty thoroughly before buying, it looks a bit too risky for us. You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). This free interactive report on Southern Archipelago's balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. A Different Perspective Investors in Southern Archipelago had a tough year, with a total loss of 25%, against a market gain of about 2.7%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 9% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Case in point: We've spotted 4 warning signs for Southern Archipelago you should be aware of, and 2 of them are a bit concerning. Story continues If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on SG exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Suspected killer Bryan Kohberger was caught dumping trash in his neighbours bins in the dead of the night in the weeks after four University of Idaho students were brutally murdered, it has been revealed. The 28-year-old criminal justice PhD student has been charged with the 13 November murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin that rocked the small, college town of Moscow, Idaho. The net had been closing in on Mr Kohberger for several weeks and he was placed under surveillance by law enforcement for four days leading up to his arrest at his family home in Pennsylvania on 30 December. The surveillance team was tasked with both keeping eyes on the suspect so that authorities could arrest him as soon as a warrant was obtained and obtaining a DNA sample that investigators could use to try to match him to DNA found at the crime scene. During this period of surveillance, investigators observed the criminology student behaving suspiciously, including wearing surgical gloves, secretly dumping trash and rigorously cleaning the inside and outside of his car. A law enforcement source told CNN that Mr Kohberger was seen wearing surgical gloves on multiple occasions outside of the family home near the Pocono Mountains. On one occasion, he was also spotted cleaning his white Hyundai Elantra inside and outside, not missing an inch. On another occasion, Mr Kohberger was caught sneaking out of his family home at around 4am to put trash bags into his neighbours garbage bins. Agents who had eyes on the suspect later seized the trash bags from the neighbours bins as well as trash from the bins of Mr Kohbergers family home and sent the items to the Idaho State Lab to be processed, the source said. The affidavit, released on Thursday, reveals that investigators had used DNA obtained from the trash at his parents home to match Mr Kohberger to DNA evidence left behind at the crime scene. The killer had left a tan leather Kabar knife sheath, which featured the United States Marine Corps symbol, inside the bloodied home, lying on Mogens bed next to the victims butchered body. Story continues Male DNA on the sheath matches that of Mr Kohberger, the affidavit states. Bryan Kohberger is escorted into Latah County District Court in Moscow, Idaho, on Thursday (AP) It is currently unclear if any evidence was found on the suspects Hyundai Elantra which was seized by authorities at the time of his arrest. Since early December, investigators had been asking for the publics help in tracking down a white Hyundai Elantra which had been spotted at the crime scene at the time of the murders. Investigators ultimately traced the vehicle to Mr Kohberger, with surveillance footage capturing the car driving from the direction of his home in Pullman, Washington state, to the King Road home in the early hours of 13 November and then back again, the affidavit reveals. Mr Kohberger was then driving the vehicle when he travelled 2,500 miles from Washington to Pennsylvania in mid-December to spend the holidays with his family. During the cross-country trip with his father, the suspect was pulled over twice by Indiana police for driving too close to the vehicle in front. Bodycam footage from those incidents reveals the suspects surprise both times. It is unclear whether those encounters with law enforcement spooked the suspect, prompting his unusual behaviour on his arrival at his parents home. The murder weapon a fixed-blade knife is yet to be found. Other chilling details about the murders were also revealed in the affidavit, showing how cellphone records had also been used to tie Mr Kohberger to the crime. Investigators believe that Mr Kohberger turned his cellphone off on the night of the murders in order to try to avoid detection. However, cellphone data shows that Mr Kohberger appears to have stalked the home at least 12 times in the run-up to the 13 November attack. The data also indicates that he returned to the scene of the crime at around 9am on 13 November around five hours after the stabbing frenzy. The home where the four students were brutally murdered (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) For the first time, the police report also revealed that one of the two surviving roommates came face to face with the masked killer inside the home and overheard his chilling final words to the victims. Two other female roommates were home at the time of the early morning attack but were left unharmed. In one of the roommates terrifying accounts to investigators, she revealed that she had a lucky escape from the killer as he walked right past her on the second floor of the home after he had just murdered four of her friends. The survivor, identified only as D.M. in the documents, told investigators that the four victims had all come back to the King Road home from their respective nights out at around 2am and were in their rooms by around 4am except for Kernodle who got up to collect a DoorDash order around that time. D.M. told investigators that she had gone to sleep in her bedroom on the second floor of the three-floor home and was woken by what sounded like Goncalves playing with her dog in one of the third-floor bedrooms. A short time later, D.M. said that she heard someone believed to be either Goncalves or Kernodle saying something to the effect of theres someone here. Minutes later, D.M. said that she looked out of her bedroom for the first time but did not see anything. She then opened her door for a second time when she heard what she thought was crying coming from Kernodles room, the documents state. At that point, she said she heard a mans voice saying something to the effect of its ok, Im going to help you. When she opened her door for a third time minutes later, she said she saw a figure clad in black clothing and a mask that covered the persons mouth and nose walking towards her. As she stood in a frozen shock phase, she said the man who she did not recognise walked past her and headed toward the back sliding glass door of the home. The witness said that she then locked herself in her room. Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, took this photo together hours before they died (Instagram/Kaylee Goncalves) Hours later, Mogen and Goncalves were both found stabbed to death together in Mogens single bed in her room on the third floor. The bodies of young couple Kernodle and Chapin were both found in Kernodles bedroom on the second floor of the property, with the 20-year-old woman found lying on the floor. In an eerie revelation it has emerged that Goncalves pet dog Murphy was found unharmed in Goncalves bedroom, which is also on the third floor, the officer wrote. Around the time that the roommate witnessed the suspect, a security camera near the home picked up the sound of a whimper followed by a loud thud. A dog was also heard barking numerous times starting at 4.17am, the documents state. More than six weeks on from the murders on 30 December, Mr Kohberger was arrested in an early-morning raid on his parents home. He was extradited back to Idaho on Wednesday to face charges and appeared in court the following day charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary where he was ordered to be held without bail. While Goncalves parents sobbed in the gallery, Mr Kohberger looked straight ahead and showed no emotion. The suspect who plans to fight the quadruple homicide allegations was not asked to enter a plea at the hearing. Mr Kohberger faces life in prison or the death penalty on each count of murder. As a criminal justice PhD student at Washington State University, he lived just 15 minutes from the victims over the Idaho-Washington border in Pullman. He had moved there from Pennsylvania in August and has just completed his first semester. Before this, he studied criminology at DeSales University first as an undergraduate and then finishing his graduate studies in June 2022. While there, he studied under renowned forensic psychologist Katherine Ramsland who interviewed the BTK serial killer and co-wrote the book Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer with him. He also carried out a research project to understand how emotions and psychological traits influence decision-making when committing a crime. After Two Days Of Failing To Elect A Speaker, House Continues To Hold Votes Members of the House of Representatives participate in an 8th vote for House Speaker in Washington, on Jan. 5th, 2022. Credit - Nathan PosnerAnadolu Agency/Getty Images No phones. No emails. No power. Three days after the newly elected members of the House expected to be sworn in, they are still waiting, as the battle for Speaker of the House rages on. With Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy unable to secure the support of a majority of the chamber, the House is unable to do basic business. The responsibility of swearing in members falls to the Speaker; without a Speaker, 434 lawmakers are left in a surreal limbo of being elected to represent their districts but having no authority or resources to do so. This is not at all how I thought the first few days were going to go, said Becca Balint, a Democrat who in November became the first woman to be elected by Vermont voters to Congress, on Thursday. New members and their staff are particularly hamstrung. While returning members already have their infrastructure in place and are trying to continue to work throughout the chaos, the few staff that freshman House members have hired dont even have email addresses. We were talking this morning, how desperately we want to be doing constituent services for our folks back home, but many of us dont have our phone lines or email lines up and running, Balint said. My technology isnt fully set up, added Rep.-elect Andrea Salinas, Democrat of Oregon. I dont even think we actually have water in our office because I need to be official in order to get the water system set up. Technically, the House doesnt even exist. It is not a continuous body, which means that every two years it must reconstitute itself. Even re-elected lawmakers are not technically members of the House until they are sworn in. That also means House members cant be assigned to any committees, which are formally established through House resolutions. New members are holding off on hiring their full teams as they wait for those committee assignments to be finalized. Story continues Balint says that members are paid in a lump sum delivered at the beginning of February, but that she was told by Democratic leadership in a caucus meeting on Thursday that staff payments will begin to be affected if the situation continues through next Friday, Jan. 13. Exactly which workers in the Capitol are in danger of not getting paid has been a constant source of discussion and debate at the Capitol. Guidance issued last week confirmed that staffers who work on committees may not receive a paycheck if the stalemate drags on, a circumstance first reported by Politico. Many committee staffers are also enrolled in a student loan payment repayment program run by the House. Those loan repayments are set to end if the House does not have a rules package by that date. It does not appear that the staff for House members personal offices are in danger of losing out on pay, but the historic nature of the drawn-out Speakers battle has left many of those staffers anxious, even as they continue to work through the long, unpredictable hours of votes. Staff, just across jurisdictions, are really worried, says a staffer with the Congressional Workers Union, who described the situation as a debacle. Whether or not people get paid, pay their bills is all on the line. Even returning members are running into roadblocks serving their constituents. Republican Rep. Don Bacon, a McCarthy supporter from Nebraska, tweeted Thursday that an agency had informed his office that it could not communicate with his staff about active casework because he is not yet a member of Congress. When Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a New York Republican, saw the tweet, she immediately asked her staff if they were running into the same problems and heard theyd gotten a similar communication from the IRS. The fact that no one has been sworn in means returning members who had security clearances during the last Congress have now lost those clearances. Without clearance, no House members can hold or participate in sensitive meetings. Rep. Mike Gallagher nominates Rep. Kevin McCarthy for House Speaker on the floor of the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 4, 2023. Kent NishimuraLos Angeles Times/Getty Images Don Bacon and I were supposed to be meeting with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs in the SCIF here to talk about matters in the Indo-Pacific, said Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin Wednesday evening, referring to the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility where lawmakers meet to discuss classified information with national security officials. But Im informed by House security that technically, I dont have a clearance. Im a member of the Intel Committee, Im on the Armed Services Committee, and I cant meet in the SCIF to conduct essential business, he continued. My point is, we have work to do that we cant do right now. Gallaghers staff is working to reschedule the meeting once he is sworn in and his security clearance becomes active, his office said. But in a gaggle with reporters on Thursday, Gallagher wondered about what would happen if a national emergency arises before members are sworn in. Can Congress declare war right now? he asked. Are we able to do anything? The inability to get started on any House business or even less urgent items has become increasingly frustrating for House Republicans who anticipated a triumphant rise into the majority. The conservative agenda is one that will accomplish the mission for the American people the best, Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas, a McCarthy supporter, told reporters on Wednesday. But we cant start that agenda until we start governing. The delay has also scrambled plans this week for dozens of family members of the newly elected House members, many of whom had traveled to Washington for a swearing in they expected to take place on Tuesday. Some extended hotel stays through the week, hoping to still witness that lump-in-your-throat moment in person. Randall Kaplan was in the House gallery on Wednesday intent on waiting out the Speaker fight so he could be there for his wife, Rep. Kathy Manning, to be sworn in for her second term. When the North Carolina Democrat was first elected in 2020, the pandemic meant her swearing in was unusually lowkey. Days later, she donned a gas mask in the House gallery during the Jan. 6 insurrection. Last time, because of COVID, there was no pomp and circumstance, Kaplan said on Wednesday. We were hoping that she was going to be sworn in yesterday. He made clear that he wasnt going to miss his wifes swearing-in ceremony this time, even if the leadership fight goes on for weeks. I will be here every day until it happens, he said. With reporting by Jasmine Aguilera/Washington TAIWAN-POLITICS-DEFENCE Taiwanese soldiers take part in a demonstration during a visit by Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen at a military base in Chiayi, Jan. 6, 2023. Credit - Sam YehAFP/Getty Images As Taiwan increasingly fears threats from China to its sovereignty, Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen on Dec. 27 unveiled plans to extend the compulsory conscription program for men born after 2005 from the current four months of mandatory service to a yearthe latest in several recent moves to boost the self-governing islands defense capabilities. The extension, set to take effect in 2024, is part of Taiwans new force realignment plan, which also includes increasing its reserve personnel. Data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Military Balance 2022 report shows that the islands 169,000-strong active military personnel is currently backed by some 1.66 million reservists. Taiwanese authorities have also beefed up the 2023 national defense budget to more than $500 billion Taiwanese dollars ($19B USD), a nearly 15% increase from 2022 allocations, for enhancements to air and naval combat systems. Whether or not these changes may do much to deter a potential near-term invasion from China remains to be seen, says Kitsch Liao, assistant director of the Atlantic Councils Global China Hub. Though Chinas 2-million-strong armed forces is undoubtedly superior, the threat of a costly armed engagement may encourage Beijing to pursue non-military scenarios to try to coerce Taiwan under its control. The entire situation is extremely complex, Liao tells TIME. Read More: These Are the Top Global Stories to Watch in 2023 Below is a breakdown of how Taiwans and Chinas armed forces compare to regional and global counterparts, based on figures from the 2022 IISS report. However, it should be noted that numbers alone may not illustrate the whole picture, Liao warns, citing Russias struggle to overpower Ukraine despite the latters relatively smaller defense forces. Story continues Taiwan Active personnel: 169,000 Reservists: around 1,660,000 Combat-capable aircraft: 474 Most recently available defense budget: $19 billion (2023) China Active personnel: 2,035,000 Reservists: around 510,000 Combat-capable aircraft: 2,921 Defense budget: $230 billion (2022) Considered the biggest threat to Taiwan, Chinas opaque Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) underwent a major restructuring in 2015 and is on its way to meet self-imposed modernization goals by 2035. A 1984 law requires males over 18 years old to register for two-year military service, but conscription has never been enforced due to high volunteerism. U.S. Active personnel: 1,395,350 Reservists: 843,450 Combat-capable aircraft: 3,757 Defense budget: $858 billion (2023) An ally of Taiwan, the U.S. military allocated a record defense budget for 2023, including $10 billion for financing weapons specifically for Taipei, a first-of-its-kind move that roiled Beijing. Read More: Why Protecting Taiwan Really Matters to the U.S. Though all men in the U.S. aged 18-25 must register with the Selective Service and may be drafted upon an act from Congress, the countrys armed forces have been entirely volunteer-based since 1973. Russia Active personnel: 900,000 Reservists: 2,000,000 Combat-capable aircraft: 1,391 Defense budget: more than $80 billion (2023) Russia conscripts men aged 18-27 twice a year: roughly 1.2 million are eligible at any given time, with only half called to serve. But embroiled in its invasion of Ukraine, the countrys military manpower is under strain, and its latest draft to reinforce the assault on Kyiv reportedly yielded recruits unfit for duty. Russia is also a strategic partner of China, with the two countries having conducted joint military exercises as recently as December. Australia Active personnel: 59,600 Reservists: 29,750 Combat-capable aircraft: 124 Defense budget: $38.3 billion (October 2022- June 2023) The Australian Defense Forces improved amphibious warfare capabilities in 2022. Its 2021 alliance with the U.S. and the U.K. is also seen as a response to the growing Chinese defense threat. Japan Active personnel: 247,150 Reservists: 55,900 Combat-capable aircraft: 587 Defense budget: $51.4 billion (April 2023 March 2024) Thanks to its proximity, Japan could be on the frontlines of any conflict over Taiwan. The U.S. and Japan have reportedly drawn up a plan in the event of a Taiwan emergency. South Korea Active personnel: 555,000 Reservists: 3,100,000 Combat-capable aircraft: 617 Defense budget: $44.8 billion (2023) With increasing tensions in the Korean peninsula, South Koreas military has also made recent improvements, including the procurement of stealth jets and surface-to-surface missiles. South Koreas military drafts all men aged 18-35 for 18 months, and avoiding conscription is illegal. Senior members of the Taliban responded angrily Friday to claims by Prince Harry in his much-anticipated memoir that he had killed 25 enemy combatants. Taliban members were quick to criticize his claims in "Spare" that looks set to escalate Harry and Meghans feud with the British royal family, as the couple seeks to present their side of a story pitting celebrity against the centuries-old institution. Anas Haqqani, a senior member of the Taliban and its powerful Haqqani network, considered to be the group's most formidable fighting force, wrote on Twitter that the people Harry killed were not chess pieces, they were humans. They has families who were waiting for their return. Among the killers of Afghans, not many have your decency to reveal their conscience and confess to their war crimes, he said. Several British news outlets, including the broadcaster Sky News, have reported that Harry has written that he did not think of those 25 as people." Instead, he writes, They were chess pieces removed from the board, bad people eliminated before they could kill Good people. The Taliban overthrew Afghanistan's Western-backed government in 2021 after two decades during which tens of thousands of Afghan soldiers, police and civilians were killed in combat, as well as terror attacks. It was not something that filled me with satisfaction, but I was not ashamed either, Harry wrote. NBC News has seen and translated extracts of a Spanish language version of Spare, which tells his side of the acrimonious royal split, ahead of its publication Tuesday. A poster advertising the launch of Prince Harry's memoir Harry, who served in Afghanistan as a forward air controller in 2007 and 2008 and again in 2012, when he was a co-pilot gunner in Apache attack helicopters, says that most soldiers dont know exactly how many people they have killed because under battle conditions, you often fire indiscriminately. But, he says, in the age of Apache helicopters and laptops, everything he did during his time in Afghanistan was recorded and time-stamped. Story continues I could always tell exactly how many enemy combatants I had killed, he adds. And it seemed essential for me not to be afraid of that figure. Among the many things I learned in the Armed Forces, one of the most important was to be accountable for my own actions. NBC News has approached Harry's representatives for comment. Bilal Karimi, a spokesman for the Taliban, also criticized the comments. He said that Harrys confession was proof that not only him, but all foreign forces during their occupation were involved in such crimes. He added that Afghans will never ever forget such war crimes and will continue to defend their country. A spokesperson for the British Defense Ministry said: We do not comment on operational details for security reasons. Harrys revelations about his time in Afghanistan are among several he makes in the book, whose title is an apparent reference to him being a royal spare and not the first in line to the throne. His elder brother, Prince William, is the next in line to their father, King Charles III. Among the most serious of Harry's accusations is that his brother physically attacked him during an argument over his marriage to Meghan. He also suggests that William and Kate, now the Princess of Wales, encouraged Harry to dress as a Nazi at a 2005 costume party for which he was widely criticized. Kensington Palace, which represents William, and Buckingham Palace, which represents Charles, declined to comment on the allegations made in the book, which comes at an awkward time for the monarchy, months after Queen Elizabeth IIs death and the ascension of the new king. Two interviews with Harry are also set to be broadcast on ITV News in the United Kingdom and CBS 60 Minutes in the United States this weekend ahead of the books release. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Senator Ted Cruz (R., Texas) accused Representative Dan Crenshaw (R., Texas) of using overheated rhetoric against GOP holdouts who refused to support House GOP leader Kevin McCarthys bid for speaker. My view is settle down. This will work out and itll be fine, Cruz said on his Verdict with Ted Cruz podcast on Friday. That kind of overheated rhetoric, calling people terrorists, is not terribly conducive to anything resembling Republican unity. Its not conducive to having strong leadership for the next two years in the House, engaging in vitriol and personal attacks. Crenshaw previously criticized the holdouts, telling Fox News Radio, We cannot let the terrorists win. After the terrorist comment sparked backlash, Crenshaw tweeted: Unclutch your pearls. Its a figure of speech. You cant insult, slander, and hold everyone hostage with no way out and not expect me to punch back. Grow thicker skin. Crenshaw also slammed the House holdouts in a comment to the Washington Posts Dylan Wells on Wednesday. Im tired of your stupid platitudes that some consultant told you to say on the campaign trail, alright. Behind closed doors tell us what you actually want, or shut the f*** up, he said of the defectors. They need to be men and adults and say what they want, instead of playing these little games, thats what were asking. Thats what Ive asked them. Some of them are my friends. Stop saying platitudes like, Washington is broken. We cant do the status quo, Crenshaw said. The House voted to adjourn on Friday until 10:00 p.m. after McCarthy failed to win the speakership in a 13th vote. However, McCarthy won over 15 of the 20 holdouts in the 13th round of voting. Representatives Ken Buck and Wesley Hunt are expected to return to the chamber in time for the 14th vote on Friday night, according to reports. Both are expected to vote for McCarthy. More from National Review Indian gay couple Supriyo Chakraborty, right, and Abhay Dang, gesture during their pre-wedding ceremony on the outskirts of Hyderabad, India, Dec. 17, 2021. In a first for the southern Indian state of Telangana, the two men celebrated their same-sex union with a wedding ceremony. There is no law allowing same-sex marriage in India, so the couple were not able to register their marriage, but they told local media they wanted to find a way to celebrate and officially mark their relationship. / Credit: Mahesh Kumar A/AP New Delhi India's Supreme Court has set the ball rolling on petitions by gay couples and activists seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriage. On Friday, the top court ordered all other courts across the country to transfer any legal petitions seeking recognition of same-sex marriage, effectively taking collective ownership of all related cases. The Supreme Court also gave the federal government about five weeks to make its stand on the matter clear. India's Supreme Court decriminalized homosexual sex with a ruling in 2018, striking down a colonial-era law that made homosexual acts punishable by up to 10 years in prison. That law had forced much of the country's LGBTQ community to remain underground, or risk harassment and discrimination. But same-sex marriages remain illegal in India. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court has given Prime Minister Narendra Modi's federal government until Feb. 15 to make clear its stand on the question. After the government files a response, the court plans to hear the collective pleas by gay couples and activists in March. Among the petitioners is a gay couple from Hyderabad, Supriyo Chakraborty and Abhay Dang, who have been together for 10 years and want to register their marriage under India's Special Marriages Act. Another petition was filed by Parth Phiroze Mehrotra and Uday Raj Anand, a couple who have been together for 17 years who are now raising two children. "We live together, we then started a family together through surrogacy. It's the natural next step," Mehrotra told the Reuters news agency this week. "I am just like you. I am just like anybody out there, and it's a natural next step for us to want to get married. And so, our plea to the court is give us that right to get married." Uday Raj Anand (left) and Parth Phiroze Mehrotra, a couple who have been together for 17 years and who are now raising two children, are among the litigants petitioning India's courts for legal recognition of same-sex marriage. / Credit: Reuters The couples say they're denied rights related to medical consent, pensions and adoption by being prohibited from marriage. LGBTQ activists in India have campaigned for same-sex marriage for decades, but some stress that, while legalizing marriage would be a step in the right direction, it won't solve all the problems facing the community in India, as broader social acceptance remains low. Story continues "Marriage is not the answer to every issue that we face," Rituparna Borah, a rights activist and co-founder of Nazariya, a queer feminist resource organization, told CBS News. "Despite the decriminalization of homosexuality, courts, police and several other organizations are not aware of various provisions of the law that protect transgenders." "Social acceptance and family violence of the LGBTQ community needs to be addressed, too," Borah said. Members of the LGBTQ community in India have long faced discrimination and violence at multiple levels, including from their own families, state institutions and law enforcement agencies. Borah told CBS News that her organization deals with cases of families trying to "correct" the sexual orientation of LGBTQ members through violence, medication and even rape, sometimes on a daily basis. A high number of such cases of violence go unreported in the country of 1.4 billion people. And the LGBTQ community likely faces an uphill battle for equal rights and social acceptance. Modi's government has opposed same-sex marriage in the past. "Same-sex marriage would cause complete havoc with the delicate balance of personal laws in the country," Sushil Modi, a Member of Parliament from Modi's Bhartiya Janata Party, or BJP, said in parliament last month. "Same-sex couples living together is one thing, but giving them legal status is a different thing," he said in a TV interview later that day, adding that there were a "lot of issues" still to be addressed. President of United Hindu Front Jai Bhagwan Goyal (C with beard) along with activists protest against same-sex marriage during a hearing outside the Supreme Court in New Delhi on January 6, 2023. / Credit: SHUBHAM KOUL/AFP/Getty On Friday, as the Supreme Court heard the petitions, members of the United Hindu Front, a right-wing religious organization, protested outside the court, decrying homosexuality as against Indian culture and insisting the Supreme Court shouldn't hear the petitions. Hans Zimmer | Sunday on 60 Minutes Why U.S. power stations are vulnerable targets for attacks COVID-19 Omicron subvariant rapidly spreads across the U.S. Britta Pedersen-Pool/Getty Images Tesla needs to separate itself from Elon Musk's personality to win back investors, according to NYU's Aswath Damodaran. Shares of Tesla have cratered more than 70% from their record high as investors grow concerned about Musk's focus on Twitter. "You're no longer buying a company, you're buying a human being," Damodaran said. Elon Musk's personality represents an overhang for Tesla stock, and the EV company needs to break ties with Musk's image in order to win back investors, according to NYU's Aswath Damodaran. Tesla was worth more than $1 trillion at the start of 2022 as investors saw a promising future of growth ahead for the electric vehicle company that was being run by what many considered to be a true innovator. Investors attributed the "Elon Musk premium" as partly the reason why even though it only sold a fraction of the number of cars, Tesla was worth more than Toyota, Volkswagen, Honda, Ford, General Motors, and Mercedes combined. Today, Tesla is worth $345 billion, less than double Toyota's valuation of $219 billion. In recent months, Tesla stock has crashed more than 70% to levels not seen since 2020 as investors grow concerned about Musk's ongoing antics as the new CEO of Twitter and his divided attention running Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter all at the same time. In order to win back investors, Damodaran, dubbed NYU's "dean of valuation" due to his expertise in value investing, told CNBC on Thursday that it's a double edged sword when a company's image is so closely tied to its leader. "It's a danger buying a company that's so closely tied to a personality that you're no longer buying a company you're buying a human being," Damodaran said. "In a sense, what you're getting here is a bet for or against Elon Musk." And that's all well and good when the perception of the leader is mostly positive, but public perception can change on a dime. Story continues "I think that Tesla needs to find a way to disconnect itself from personality, and that's going to be tough to do because it is a company built in Elon Musk's image. And once a company becomes equated with a person, you run all kind of risks and Tesla investors are facing those risks," Damodaran said. Investors are finally catching on to those risks as they push the Tesla board to reveal its succession plans in the event that Musk decides to focus his attention on his other business ventures. One of Tesla's largest individual shareholders has called for Tesla to start searching for a new CEO amid the volatility. Meanwhile, a Tesla shareholder in Iceland submitted a resolution for Tesla investors to vote on in May as to whether the board of directors should prepare and maintain a key-risk report, according to the LA Times. Read the original article on Business Insider HOUSTON (2-13-1) at INDIANAPOLIS (4-11-1) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Colts by 2 AGAINST THE SPREAD: Texans 6-10; Colts 6-10. SERIES RECORD: Colts lead 31-9-1. LAST MEETING: Colts and Texans tied 20-20 on Sept. 11, 2022, in Houston. LAST WEEK: Texans lost 31-3 to Jaguars; Colts lost 38-10 to Giants. TEXANS OFFENSE: OVERALL (32), RUSH (31), PASS (25), SCORING (T30) TEXANS DEFENSE: OVERALL (30), RUSH (32), PASS (13), SCORING (26) COLTS OFFENSE: OVERALL (29), RUSH (24), PASS (23), SCORING (T30). COLTS DEFENSE: OVERALL (16), RUSH (23), PASS (11), SCORING (28). TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Texans minus-1; Colts minus-13. TEXANS PLAYER TO WATCH: DL Ogbo Okoronkwo. The soon-to-be free agent couldn't have scripted a better finish to this season. He has a career-high five sacks, all since Week 13, making him one of three AFC players with five sacks in the past four weeks (New England's Josh Uche with 6 1/2 and Cleveland's Myles Garrett with five). And this week he faces an offensive line that has allowed the second-most sacks (58) in the NFL. COLTS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Sam Ehlinger. The former Texas star will make his third career start against one of his home state teams. Ehlinger went 0-2, completing 61.5% of his throws for 304 yards with one interception while getting sacked 11 times. He was more efficient in relief of the injured Nick Foles last week, throwing his first career TD pass. But this is an opportunity for Ehlinger to cement his future on Indy's depth chart. KEY MATCHUP: Houston QB Davis Mills vs. Colts secondary. Mills has shown the Texans he's not their long-term solution at quarterback and though he appeared to be making progress late this season, he took a step back last week when Houston failed to score a TD. If Indy can apply steady pressure, perhaps Mills will add to his interception total (13). Only three NFL players have thrown more picks this season. KEY INJURIES: Houston remains hopeful OL Jimmy Morrissey (concussion protocol) and TE Teagan Quitoriano (thigh) will return this weekend after sitting out last weekend. ... The Colts have already announced Foles (ribs) will not play. It's unclear whether WR Ahston Dulin and CB Brandon Facyson can return from the concussion protocol though Dulin has practiced this week. Story continues SERIES NOTES: The season-opening tie was the first in this series, the first in Texans' history and the first for the Colts since moving to Indy in 1984. ... Indianapolis won the first nine games between these AFC South rivals and has won seven of the past nine, too. ... The Colts won the only playoff game between the franchises 21-7 on Jan. 5, 2019 in Houston. ... The Texans are 3-17 all time in Indy, winning in 2015, 2016 and 2018. STATS AND STUFF: Houston can clinch the No. 1 overall draft pick with a loss. The Texans selected David Carr, Mario Williams and Jadeveon Clowney the three times they selected No. 1. ... The Texans have lost 10 of 11 overall with both wins this season coming on the road. ... Mills also is Houston's second-leading rusher with 102 yards this season. ... DE Jerry Hughes, Indy's first-round draft pick in 2010, leads the Texans with nine sacks. ... Safeties Jalen Pitrie and Jonathan Owens and LB Christian Kirksey each have topped the 100-tackle mark this season with Houston. ... The Texans have failed to score a touchdown twice this season. ... Coach Lovie Smith will finish his first season in Houston with the franchise's first winless home record in franchise history. ... The Colts have lost six straight since interim coach Jeff Saturday won his debut game. Indy has lost nine of its past 10 overall. ... Another loss Sunday would assure Indy of a top-five draft pick. ... Indy is 4-6-1 against division opponents over the past two seasons. ... Saturday's offense has scored just two touchdowns in the past 13 quarters and has had two turnovers returned for scores during those same 13 quarters. ... WR Michael Pittman Jr. needs 105 yards receiving for his second straight 1,000-yard season. ... LB Zaire Franklin needs four tackles to break Shaquille Leonard's single-season record of 163, set in 2018. ... LB Bobby Okereke had a career-high 17 tackles last week. ... Indy's defense has 46 sacks this season and needs four to break the franchise's single-season record. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL More than six months after the mass shooting in Uvalde, grieving families and the public are continuing a fierce fight for investigative records, including videos and officer statements, that would help reveal the full truth of the failed law enforcement response at Robb Elementary School. But as they press for answers from records that authorities insist remain confidential, six Texas lawmakers have quietly obtained investigatory information through written agreements with the Texas Department of Public Safety in which they vowed to keep the records secret, the American-Statesman has learned. The rarely used nondisclosure agreements, which are legal under state law, underscore the unusual amount of secrecy that authorities continue to exert on the investigation, deepening concerns about a lack of transparency that have persisted since the May 24 attack that killed 19 students and two teachers. The contracts, which have not been previously reported, are considered helpful among some lawmakers in preparing legislation targeting gun control and school safety. They say that, with a broader picture of what happened during the shooting, they will be able to draft stronger bills for the legislative session, which starts next month, rather than wait for authorities to conclude the investigation. "Every lawmaker needs to begin this session with the fullest body of knowledge," said state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, whose district includes Uvalde and who has received information through a nondisclosure agreement. DPS Executive Director Steve McCraw, right, speaks in October with state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, whose district includes Uvalde and who has received information from the DPS about the Uvalde mass shooting through a nondisclosure agreement. Gutierrez says he only agreed to the confidentiality agreement after trying multiple ways to obtain the information without it. But the contracts are also viewed by some elected leaders and transparency advocates as an unjustified extension of secrecy by the DPS and lawmakers for information that many contend should be widely available to the public by now. Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, said that, while she respects the need for confidentiality during the investigation, she is uncomfortable signing onto such agreements. "Ultimately, I believe public information belongs to the people of Texas, so I would not likely sign a nondisclosure agreement if it would prohibit me from eventually sharing matters of public interest with my constituents at the appropriate time, Zaffirini said. Story continues Among those most affected by the shooting, the slow flow of information continues to prolong their grieving. The parents should have that information, said Jesse Rizo, who lost his 9-year-old niece, Jackie Cazares, that in the attack. The longer it takes for that to come out, the longer that delays the healing process." Texas law guiding the release of public records makes it nearly impossible for a typical resident to access investigative files classified as confidential. But it makes an exception for certain elected officials. A state agency in this case, the DPS must turn over confidential information upon request from a state lawmaker who promises confidentiality. Reid Pillifant, a First Amendment attorney who represents a coalition of media outlets, including the American-Statesman, in a lawsuit seeking the public release of information from the DPS, said he does not fault lawmakers for getting the material but believes the agency should not require secrecy agreements. "I think most of the lawmakers who have access to this information have recognized that the public should also have access to this, he said. The families need to know what happened that day, and the public needs to be able to hold these agencies accountable." The records are even off-limits to the city of Uvalde. This week, the city filed a lawsuit asking a judge to compel the district attorney to hand over investigative files for its ongoing internal affairs investigation into the Uvalde Police Department. The agreements add to transparency concerns that have dominated the investigation since the beginning, when Gov. Greg Abbott heralded the responding law enforcement officers as heroes only to later backtrack amid reports that officers waited for more than an hour before entering a classroom to confront the shooter. A state legislative committee, empaneled to investigate the shooting, has routinely held hearings and fact-gathering behind closed doors. And the DPS, which faces prosecutors' scrutiny over its own failed response, is the controlling agency of the records and it is honoring a request by Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchell Busbee to withhold documents. The DPS does not track how often lawmakers have received confidential information through such agreements. Freedom of information advocates also have pointed out that the ongoing investigation will not result in charges against the shooter, an 18-year-old Uvalde resident whom officers killed during the rampage, diminishing the need for secrecy. And legal experts have told the Statesman that Busbee could face difficulty prosecuting officers for failing to act. In addition to Gutierrez, other state lawmakers who have received confidential information are Sens. Royce West, Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa and Paul Bettencourt, and Reps. Dustin Burrows and Tracy King, according to the DPS. Most of the agreements were signed in June or July. West, Hinojosa, and Bettencourt are among 11 members of a Senate committee investigating the shooting. Burrows chaired a similar three-person group in the Texas House. Adding to the secrecy, some lawmakers will not say what information they've requested from the DPS. A representative in Bettencourt's office declined to say, and West did not respond to requests for comment. Hinojosa's office shared his written request with the Statesman. He asked for 911 audio recordings, body-worn camera recordings, law enforcement vehicle recordings and communications among local, state and federal agencies. Hinojosa also requested any policy manual governing joint operations between the DPS and local law enforcement in an active shooter or hostage situation, all ballistics reports and any document that details the presence of all law enforcement personnel at the school. Did video release violate agreement? The clearest understanding of the massacre has come in a report from the House committee that investigated the shooting and from a 77-minute video from a hallway camera in the school. The video, which shows a disorganized army of officers pacing outside a classroom as they waited to take down the shooter, was released by the Statesman and KVUE-TV on July 12. Hours earlier, Burrows had announced his intention to release part of the video which he later did in possible violation of the confidentiality agreement he signed a month earlier. In the days before Burrows announcement, elected leaders had been calling for the video's release, and its lack of disclosure had intensified anger among Uvalde residents. The evening before Burrows announcement and the news outlets publishing of the video, Abbott also called for its release. The people of Uvalde, they deserve to know exactly what happened, the governor said. And I urge that it happens very quickly. Rep. Dustin Burrows released a portion of Robb Elementary School security camera video in possible violation of a confidentiality agreement he signed a month earlier. He has faced no punishment so far for releasing it. Burrows said that, behind the scenes, he was trying to determine if releasing part of the video would violate the nondisclosure agreement. He said, ultimately, he concluded that it was more important for the public to see the footage, an edited version that did not have sound and began playing after the gunman had entered the classroom. "There is no manual out there to tell you how to navigate an NDA in a situation like this, Burrows told the Statesman. I announced to the public at large my intention, and I told DPS specifically what I was going to do, why I was going to do it and when I was going to do it. I felt law enforcement at large had ample notice of my intentions and had an ample opportunity to try to dissuade or stop me if they so desired." Burrows said the DPS has not accused him of violating the agreement. Under state law, a lawmaker who misuses classified information obtained through a confidentiality agreement is guilty of official misconduct and may face a fine of $1,000 and six months in jail. DPS spokesman Travis Considine said the agency is not aware of anyone who has faced penalties for violating such an agreement. The DPS declined to say whether it will pursue action against Burrows for releasing part of the video. Agreement helps lawmaker form 'certain assertions' The Statesman obtained a copy of a nondisclosure agreement along with its conditions. The DPS, under Freeman Martin, the deputy director of Homeland Security Operations, asks the recipient to make only as many copies of the information as necessary and to secure the files. When the information is no longer useful, the copies and any notes must be destroyed. A lawmaker who receives the information is allowed to share it with an aide but only after making it known that the information is protected. And, Martin writes, if a member of the public requests the information, the lawmaker must seek to withhold its disclosure by requesting a ruling from the state attorney generals office. Please notify me of any such public information request and request for a ruling so that we may submit comments to the open records division arguing against disclosures, the DPS guidance reads. Gutierrez, the senator from San Antonio, said he finally agreed to the confidentiality stipulations after trying multiple ways to obtain the information without a nondisclosure agreement. First, he said he submitted a request under the Texas Public Information Act, but officials invoked an exception for an ongoing investigation. Then, he unsuccessfully sued. Gutierrez said he wanted to know what went wrong so he could draft legislation to address shortcomings in existing law. In his requests, he sought information on what he called failures by the DPS to take over the scene from Uvalde school police. For the upcoming legislative session, Gutierrez has proposed a bill that would use state money to compensate victims' families. Another bill he filed proposes to raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21. "I have to be able to start this session in a manner and means by which I will be able to make certain assertions," Gutierrez said. But, while recognizing lawmakers' interest in the material, government transparency advocates say using nondisclosure agreements to shield information from broad public release is an affront to the Uvalde community. Its like, What information can we hide and who gets it and who doesnt?' said Kelley Shannon, executive director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. You can have something if you sign this NDA, but you cant tell your constituents anything.' That game should not be played. Senate report coming soon Beyond Gutierrez, no other lawmaker with access to the information has filed a bill directly related to the Uvalde shooting. The first day lawmakers could file a bill for the upcoming 88th Legislature was Nov. 14. The deadline is March 10. Reps. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, and Diego Bernal, D-San Antonio, filed similar bills that would require sales of multiple firearms to be reported to law enforcement agencies. Moodys bill, which also includes magazine sales, would require the DPS to inform the sheriff where the buyer resides. The Uvalde shooter legally purchased multiple assault rifles right after his 18th birthday. A bill from state Rep. Shawn Thierry, D-Houston, would require a safety vestibule in any construction or renovation of a school's main entrance. Public entry must then be limited to the main entrance. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has suggested making schools safer by locking all but one door of the building. Meanwhile, the Senate committee formed to discuss measures on improving public safety is still drafting its report. "I can't commit to a day when the report will be issued, but it will be soon," said Shelby Conine, an aide to Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, who chairs the committee. As lawmakers gather information before the legislative session, residents in Uvalde remain frustrated. Diana Olvedo-Karau, a Uvalde resident who has helped lead a chorus for transparency, questioned the use of nondisclosure agreements among lawmakers. Why are only select individuals getting the information? she asked. Its very unfair to the families and the community at large. How can we expect parents, even our community, to move forward if we do not have answers? This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas lawmakers signed NDAs to obtain Uvalde shooting case file Boxes of the drug mifepristone sit on a shelf at the West Alabama Women's Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on March 16, 2022. On Tuesday, the FDA finalized a rule change that allows women seeking abortion pills to get them through the mail, replacing a long-standing requirement that they pick up the medicine in person. (Allen G. Breed/AP) The fight over medication abortion continues to escalate in 2023 as the battle over reproductive health rights rages on. More than half of all abortions in the U.S. are now performed by way of medication abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights. This week, the Department of Justice announced that the U.S. Postal Service can legally deliver prescribed abortion medication, even in states where abortion is illegal. The DOJ memo is clearly another example of the Biden administration's push for abortion on demand, Katie Glenn, state policy director at Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, told Yahoo News. The DOJs announcement came on the heels of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration giving the green light for pharmacies that complete a certification process to dispense prescriptions for mifepristone, the first pill taken in a two-drug regimen in medication abortion. This is truly unique to no other drug. The FDA is a federal agency that is empowered to regulate, to study, to review all of the medical evidence about drugs and decide what is right for Americans, Jenny Ma, senior counsel for the Center for Reproductive Rights, told Yahoo News. Because medication abortion is so politicized, it has kind of been this outlier. Previously, the pills could only be obtained directly from doctors, clinics or from a handful of mail-order pharmacies. The FDAs announcement solidified a pandemic-era change made in December 2021, when the agency allowed them to be sent by mail rather than requiring them to be dispensed in person. It's setting up women in a horrible situation because they're not getting screened for medical contraindications, they're not getting access to follow-up care, which the FDA and the Mayo Clinic still say is important, Glenn told Yahoo News. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June, which guaranteed the federal right to an abortion, more than a dozen states have implemented strict bans on most abortions, including medication abortions. Many of these restrictions require that abortion pills be taken in the presence of the prescribing physician. Story continues Since the fall of Roe v. Wade, a study led by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found an increase in requests for abortion medication increased in 30 states, with the largest surges in states with complete or near-total bans on abortions. Now that state legislatures are preparing to reconvene, many for the first time since Roe was overturned, conservative-led legislatures could attempt to take additional action to further restrict medication abortion. Yahoo News spoke with Ma and Glenn to get some clarity on what legal challenges lie ahead for medication abortion in 2023. (Some answers have been edited for length and clarity.) Yahoo News: Does the FDAs decision to allow certified pharmacies to dispense prescribed abortion medication change anything for people living in states with abortion bans? Jenny Ma: Medication abortion care still remains subject to abortion bans, and many of them are medically unnecessary restrictions in so many states. So the FDAs decision, unfortunately, will not have an impact on them. But I think what it truly does is it really highlights that Americans should not be receiving different types of health care based on where they live. None of these bans on medication has a basis in science. Its purely political. What are your thoughts on the FDAs decision to allow certified pharmacies to dispense prescribed mifepristone? Katie Glenn: Its very disappointing. I think its a continuation of the patient abandonment that weve seen from the FDA for the past couple of years. In 2016, they stopped collecting data on adverse events and then use that as a justification to say that there are no adverse events that would prevent this policy. So no data to collect, no data to point to, a pretty, pretty slick deal for the FDA. Now theyre saying that even though to be a certified prescriber, you need to be able to screen for and diagnose ectopic pregnancies, a woman doesnt actually need that screening or diagnosis because they say that a doctor does not need to see a patient in person. So unfortunately now for many women, the only medical professional that shell interact with potentially is a pharmacist. Thats not what they were educated to do. Thats not their job. And yet thats now the only person that she may see because many of these websites dont even do a telehealth call or a phone call, they just are an online portal where you fill in your information. Its putting pharmacists in a bad situation to be set up to answer questions that they dont know how to answer and cant answer. And to participate in abortion, if theyre having to explain this whole process. What are some of the foreseeable challenges to medication abortion in 2023? Ma: [In Texas,] theres a lawsuit that was filed by anti-abortion groups called Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. the FDA. This is a lawsuit that was filed basically asking a Texas trial court judge to remove mifepristone from the entire market and thats not just in Texas, thats nationwide. So that is a radical ask and a very radical lawsuit that the anti-abortion side has brought, and thats one to look out for. (A decision could come as early as February. If the judge, appointed by former President Donald Trump, decides to grant the request to temporarily block the FDA approval of mifepristone, the sale and shipment of the drug would have to stop immediately.) I also wanted to highlight a citizen's petition that was brought forth by Students for Life of America. These are anti-abortion student groups found in colleges and different graduate schools across the U.S. This was brought by individuals as well as those organizations. Basically, they have petitioned the FDA and have asked for several environmental restrictions on medication abortion. (Restrictions proposed require any doctor who prescribes abortion medication to be responsible for disposing of fetal tissue rather than flushed down the toilet into the wastewater.) Students for Life is an anti-abortion group. It's not an environmental group. So this is really shamelessly co-opting the environmental movement agenda for their own agenda. This petition I think is meant to bolster the recent lawsuit, attempting to undo the FDA's approval of mifepristone and I think it just shows the kind of extreme radical asks that are being made because now that the majority of Americans use medication abortion as their chosen form of abortion care, ending at Roe was never enough for anti-abortion organizations. I think that these more radical pushes will be what we see in 2023 because the anti-abortion side has just been more emboldened. Are there any plans in place for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America to work with state legislatures on enforcing abortion medication restrictions? Glenn: Around 20 states currently have prevented pill-by-mail abortion. They do require that in-person care prior to prescribing, and we think that's great, every state should have that in their policy. There are several states that currently dont or could certainly strengthen their laws. And I think Georgias one [that] will likely be engaging in. There was a bill last year [Senate Bill 456] that came up short at the last minute, and so I think thats definitely something their lawmakers are thinking about, and their lack of an explicit requirement for in-person care has been exploited over the past several years by the abortion industry. Companies have done studies in Georgia where they send pills by mail. So this is a real problem for their lawmakers and I think that the FDAs recent statements are definitely going to be energizing for the members of their legislatures who see this as an issue. Could prosecutors in states that ban medication abortion go after companies outside of the state that provides abortion medication? Ma: If a state prosecutor is so emboldened to do such a thing that is something that will likely be challenged. I think that the answer is that it will just have to be challenged. The Washington Post reported that Texas state lawmakers are preparing legislation that would essentially enable internet providers to block certain medication abortion websites. What sort of red flags does that raise? Ma: I think that there would be many constitutional arguments against such a piece of legislation that Texas is thinking about, or other states. From the state level every year anti-abortion legislatures just come up with more and more ways to restrict care from their citizens. I think a piece of legislation like that is incredibly problematic. New plastic pipe lays on the ground as workers for Peoples Gas prepare to install pipeline replacing century-old iron pipes at West Cortland and North Honore streets in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood on Dec. 14, 2020. Launched in 2011, the massive Peoples Gas pipeline replacement program was expected to take 20 years and billions of dollars to finish. The latest expected finish date is 2040. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Peoples Gas filed for a $195 million rate increase Friday with the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Chicago-based utility told the Tribune. If approved, the rate increase would add $11.83 per month to the average residential customer bill beginning in January 2024. That represents a 13% increase in delivery charges, but the utility is actually asking regulators for a lot more to continue its $8 billion pipeline replacement program, which is set to lose funding at the end of this year. Advertisement Peoples has legislative approval to automatically charge customers $15 per month to fund the pipeline program through December. The utility said it will not seek approval from lawmakers to extend the measure, but instead will ask state regulators to incorporate the costs about $207 million per year into delivery charges. That brings the utilitys total rate increase request to $402 million, including the pipeline replacement costs, which would no longer be reflected in a separate line item on customer bills. Whether regulators step in where legislators once did, and charge customers for the pipeline program, remains to be seen. Advertisement Our priority is the work, said Torrence Hinton, 46, who was promoted to president of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas in June. At this point, given everything we know, we feel the traditional rate-making path is the right path for now. Peoples Gas has more than 878,000 customers in Chicago and its co-owned North Shore Gas has about 164,000 customers in the northern suburbs. The utilities were acquired by Milwaukee-based WEC Energy Group in 2015. North Shore Gas filed for an $18.5 million rate increase Friday, which would add about $6 per month to the average residential customer bill, the utility said. It will be the first rate increase request for Peoples since 2014, when the utility was granted legislative approval to fund its massive pipeline replacement program and pass costs along to customers for 10 years. Launched in 2011, the System Modernization Program to replace 2,000 miles of aging iron pipes below Chicago streets was plagued from the outset by delays and budget overruns. More than a decade later, the pipeline replacement program is 35% complete, and Peoples Gas says it will take until 2040 and cost about $8 billion to finish. It was originally projected to cost $2.6 billion and take 20 years to complete. The pipeline replacement program was driven by pressure from the Obama administration to hold utilities across the U.S. accountable for aging infrastructure following a 2010 explosion in San Bruno, California, that killed eight people, injured 58 others and destroyed 38 homes. In 2013, Peoples got approval from state lawmakers to do the improvements, with funding set to expire at the end of this year. The work involves swapping out century-old iron pipes in neighborhoods across the city for plastic ones to boost pressure and cut down on dangerous natural gas leaks. Advertisement Consumer watchdog groups have been advocating for several years to end the built-in surcharge, putting Peoples spending under more regulatory scrutiny and forcing the utility to get infrastructure improvements approved through traditional rate cases. David Kolata, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board, said the end of the rider is welcome news, but the proposal to shift funding the pipeline replacement program through the rate hike is still an unacceptable and unaffordable burden for the citys gas customers. Its somewhat of a shell game, Kolata told the Tribune Friday. And theyre still spending lots and lots and lots of money on something that has been mismanaged from the start, and really is fundamentally unsustainable. Peoples decided not to pursue extending the legislation, given the opposition and an uncertain political environment in Springfield. But Hinton, a South Side native who started as an engineer for Peoples in 1999, said replacing the pipes remains a priority. They were encouraging states to think through some nontraditional rate-making options at the time our state put in the (legislative rider). Fast-forward 10-plus years, the environment is different, Hinton said. What isnt different is a need to continue to replace our older infrastructure. Other Chicago-area customers may also be seeing higher bills after Nicor Gas filed for a $321 million rate increase Tuesday. If approved that would raise the average residential gas bill by $9.28 per month, Nicor spokesperson Jennifer Golz said. Advertisement Naperville-based Nicor, which is owned by Atlanta-based Southern Co., has 2.3 million customers in suburban Chicago and across northern Illinois. Nicors rate-hike request is a gut punch to consumers who are in their second consecutive winter of painfully high gas bills, Kolata said in a news release. Enough is enough. CUB will review Nicors excessive request, and we will fight every penny the utility cant justify. Nicor Gas customers have seen their delivery rates increase by more than $500 million in the last five years, including a $240 million increase granted by the ICC in 2021. The ICC has 11 months to review rate cases, meaning the earliest the utilities could implement the current requests would likely be January 2024. rchannick@chicagotribune.com The most dangerous aspect of a water rescue for first responders isn't the treacherous environmental conditions, it's the terrified and panicked victim capable of pulling their rescuer under the waves along with them. Rather than risk national treasures like David Hasselhoff, the U-Safe self-propelled buoy from Portugal's Noras Performance will brave the waves in their stead. it's a u-shaped aquatic drone designed to sail out to and retrieve flagging swimmers. The U-Safe is an aquatic robot designed to drive out to a swimmer in distress using a pair of turbines mounted in its "legs." The turbines are omnidirectional and operate regardless of the U-Safe's orientation in the water. It can reach a top speed of 15km/h and range out to 3.2 nautical miles so long as the first responders can maintain a line of sight. The entire unit weighs just over 30 pounds with induction-charged lithium-ion battery providing power. it's a u-shaped aquatic drone designed to sail out to and retrieve flagging swimmers. It's controlled using a one-handed bluetooth remote, itself both buyant and waterproof so there's little risk of a rescue going sideways because you've dropped the control unit overboard. First introduced in 2017, and since adopted by both the Italian and Portuguese coast guards, the U-Safe is being readied for US release later this year. Just because a business does not make any money, does not mean that the stock will go down. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. Nonetheless, only a fool would ignore the risk that a loss making company burns through its cash too quickly. So should Vulcan Energy Resources (ASX:VUL) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? For the purpose of this article, we'll define cash burn as the amount of cash the company is spending each year to fund its growth (also called its negative free cash flow). Let's start with an examination of the business' cash, relative to its cash burn. View our latest analysis for Vulcan Energy Resources When Might Vulcan Energy Resources Run Out Of Money? A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. As at June 2022, Vulcan Energy Resources had cash of 175m and no debt. In the last year, its cash burn was 44m. Therefore, from June 2022 it had 4.0 years of cash runway. Notably, however, analysts think that Vulcan Energy Resources will break even (at a free cash flow level) before then. In that case, it may never reach the end of its cash runway. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time. How Is Vulcan Energy Resources' Cash Burn Changing Over Time? In our view, Vulcan Energy Resources doesn't yet produce significant amounts of operating revenue, since it reported just 7.5m in the last twelve months. Therefore, for the purposes of this analysis we'll focus on how the cash burn is tracking. Its cash burn positively exploded in the last year, up 596%. We certainly hope for shareholders' sake that the money is well spent, because that kind of expenditure increase always makes us nervous. While the past is always worth studying, it is the future that matters most of all. So you might want to take a peek at how much the company is expected to grow in the next few years. Can Vulcan Energy Resources Raise More Cash Easily? While Vulcan Energy Resources does have a solid cash runway, its cash burn trajectory may have some shareholders thinking ahead to when the company may need to raise more cash. Companies can raise capital through either debt or equity. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash and drive growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations. Vulcan Energy Resources has a market capitalisation of 622m and burnt through 44m last year, which is 7.0% of the company's market value. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money. So, Should We Worry About Vulcan Energy Resources' Cash Burn? It may already be apparent to you that we're relatively comfortable with the way Vulcan Energy Resources is burning through its cash. In particular, we think its cash runway stands out as evidence that the company is well on top of its spending. Although we do find its increasing cash burn to be a bit of a negative, once we consider the other metrics mentioned in this article together, the overall picture is one we are comfortable with. Shareholders can take heart from the fact that analysts are forecasting it will reach breakeven. Considering all the factors discussed in this article, we're not overly concerned about the company's cash burn, although we do think shareholders should keep an eye on how it develops. Taking a deeper dive, we've spotted 3 warning signs for Vulcan Energy Resources you should be aware of, and 1 of them makes us a bit uncomfortable. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies insiders are buying, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts) 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) - A top dissident Iranian Sunni cleric on Friday denounced as un-Islamic Iran's alleged use of forced confessions to convict detained protesters, as weekly demonstrations continued in the county's southeast. Meanwhile, the authorities' crackdown following nationwide protests continued with arrests, including that of a celebrity chef and a prominent journalist. Anti-government marches have been held on Fridays in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province as part of protests after the death in custody on Sept. 16 of a young Iranian Kurdish woman detained by the morality police for flouting a strict dress code for women. "If someone does not accept the accusation, they torture him to accept it. Confessions under coercion and the beating of the accused have no place in sharia (Islamic law) and our country's Constitution," Molavi Abdolhamid Ismaeelzahi said in a Friday prayers sermon, according to his website. Ismaeelzahi is based in Zahedan, capital of the impoverished Sistan-Baluchistan province, home to Iran's Baluch minority. Authorities have reportedly pressured him by banning him from traveling abroad and restricting his travels and contacts within Iran. Rights groups say convictions of dissidents in Iran's courts are often based on forced confessions. Iran denies that. Ismaeelzahi, a powerful dissenting Sunni voice in the Shi'ite-ruled Islamic Republic, also denounced mass arrests in Zahedan, after state media said security forces had arrested more than 100 "thugs and armed robbers" there in the past few days. After the sermon, demonstrators marched in Zahedan, chanting "Death to the Islamic Republic", according to videos posted on social media. Reuters could not immediately verify the footage. Separately, the chef and influencer Navab Ebrahimi was arrested in the capital Tehran and taken to Evin prison, where many political detainees are held, the rights group HRANA said. Story continues There was no immediate word from the judiciary on the reported arrest of Ebrahimi, who had 2.7 million followers on Instagram. His account was unavailable on Friday. Postings on social media said his arrest may have been linked to a video showing him preparing Persian cutlets, which may have been seen as a taunt amid state-sponsored events marking the third anniversary of the killing of Iran's top general Qassem Soleimani in a U.S. drone attack. Mehdi Beik, who headed the political desk of the moderate newspaper Etemad, was detained by security agents on Thursday, his wife said on Twitter. Officials are yet to announce the reasons for the detention of Beik, who had interviewed relatives of arrested protesters. The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists said on Twitter that, as of Jan. 5, it had documented the names of at least 84 journalists who had been arrested in Iran amid the ongoing protests, 36 of whom had been released on bail. (Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) Jan. 6TRAVERSE CITY Neither Traverse City Christian nor Ellsworth field their own track team. Both made up for it in Thursday night's boys basketball game at TC Christian, as the Sabres ran up a 79-61 score in a run-and-shoot affair. "I hear that a lot, 'Oh, that was a lot of fun,'" TC Christian head coach Rene LaFreniere said. "And I'm glad people enjoy it. I'm more appreciative of the fact that they come out and support it because there's a lot of other things they can do. But from my point of view, I'm like, 'OK, nice shot. Go play some defense.' That's how I see it." Levi Schultz certainly saw things clearly. The 6-foot-6 Sabres senior exploded for 31 points, including a third-quarter dunk as his team pulled away. Ellsworth head coach James Willingham said the Lancers like to play fast, but this one was too fast for their first game in just over two weeks. "We just we ran out of gas," he said. "It was our first game back from break, and we could tell there were some tired legs out there. A little bit of condensed lungs. But lots of credit to Traverse City Christian. They ran well, they got open, they were strong with the ball." TC Christian (6-1) led 23-19 after a quarter, turning it around after Ellsworth (4-2) sprinted to an early 10-2 lead. The Sabres' advantage crept up to 44-35 by halftime before Ellsworth started the second half with a 7-0 run to pull within four. "It was fun to watch," Willingham said. "The first quarter is really how we'd like to play. We'd like to be in your face as much as we can, and then go down and hit some shots. As the game went on, we just watched the ball get shorter and shorter and shorter." Schultz's fast-break dunk his 10th of the season put the Sabres up 63-47 late in the third for a 16-point lead that was the Sabres' biggest cushion until closing out the game on a 6-0 run over the last two minutes. Story continues "They had a few good shooters," Schultz said. "We tried to stop the threes as much as possible and just get to the boards and get in transition. We had height on them and we had athleticism, so if we can exploit those, that's what we try to do." Reece Broderick knocked down seven 3-pointers to score 25 points for the Sabres, with Garrett Schultz and Austin Miller each scoring five. "We'd get a run and then they would be able to just turn it back around," Willingham said. "That's what good teams do." Jacob Jenuwine matched Broderick with seven 3-pointers of his own, scoring a team-high 27. Kelan Pletcher scored 15 and Patrick Puroll 11 for the Lancers, drawing a pair of second-half charges on Schultz. "They're athletic. They're quick," LaFreniere said. "They've got that sort of athleticism where they're in control and they can finish, which is a little more than what we have. We're athletic, but we struggle on the finish sometimes." TC Christian has won four straight after a one-point setback against Onekama (4-1). "We tend to go on hot streaks and then go on cold streaks a lot, which is not good," Schultz said. "We just had more cold streaks than hot streaks that night. We should have beat them, but they made more shots." The Lancers are tied atop the competitive Northern Lakes Conference, as no NLC squad remains undefeated in league play. The three leaders Ellsworth, Mackinaw City and Harbor Light have traded wins, with each taking one loss to one of the others early in a league where every team plays twice. Ellsworth returns to conference play Monday, hosting Alanson. The independent Sabres travel Tuesday to Grand Traverse Academy before visiting Ski Valley Conference leader Gaylord St. Mary next Thursday. Both teams' seasons ended last year at the hand of eventual state semifinalist Lake Leelanau St. Mary. The Sabres and Lancers couldn't meet again until the regional finals, which would require Ellsworth to make it out of a competitive district and the Sabres likely needing to beat Lake Leelanau St. Mary in districts. Jeremy Hunt - Stefan Rousseau/PA Rishi Sunak is poised to cut energy bill support for businesses by 85pc in a blow to millions of struggling companies, as ministers scramble to protect the public finances. Number 10 and Number 11 have agreed to overhaul support for businesses in April after spending as much as 18bn on a six-month package of comprehensive support. It is understood that help for the following year will drop to around 5bn. This equates to 2.5bn every six months, a fall of 85pc. The new plan is due to be revealed early next week and costings have largely been agreed, according to multiple government sources tapped into negotiations. At present, businesses' wholesale energy costs are capped at 21.1p per kilowatt hour (kWh) for gas and 7.5p per kWh for electricity, with the Government paying the difference between that level and high real prices. However, this level of support is to be reduced. The Prime Minister and Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, need to give the deal the final sign-off, with the exact figure for the reduction in gas and electricity prices not yet fully locked down. The Treasury will argue that the reduction is in part a result of recent falls in wholesale gas and electricity prices, meaning less taxpayer money is needed to keep bills low. Government sources have also defended the move by arguing it is unrealistic to keep capping business energy costs, given other Treasury aims, including cutting taxes. But some business industry figures have argued that the drops in wholesale prices are not being fully passed on in the prices being offered by energy firms to companies. A senior government source familiar with the plans said: The Government is subsiding every household and business with their energy costs. It is not sustainable in the long-run. It means the Government has less space to focus on other priorities like lowering the tax burden. That is the raw reality. The huge interventions in the energy market, both for households and for businesses, were bought in by Liz Truss shortly after becoming prime minister in September. Story continues The future plan for households was announced before Christmas, with an energy price guarantee continuing to April 2024. A typical annual household bill will be 3,000, up from 2,500 this winter. The plan for businesses is expected to be announced next week. It too will be continued for a year, taking the support to April 2024, but there will be a sharp drop in the scale of support. The Telegraph understands the plan will remain universal, meaning all UK businesses will continue to get some support, as they currently do. There will also be a more generous offer for energy intensive industries such as steel, ceramics, paper, glass and cement. Wholesale energy prices have dropped this week with the unusually warm weather and are expected to continue falling in the coming months, according to estimates used by the Government. But the future of wholesale prices is unpredictable, especially given uncertainty over developments in Ukraine, and there are concerns energy companies will not pass on reductions to customers. Companies tend to be on fixed-term energy contracts, meaning any effect from the new support scheme will impact firms when those contracts are renewed. Kate Nicholls, the chief executive at UK Hospitality, an industry body which represents 100,000 pubs, bars and restaurants, expressed concern over the change. Ms Nicholls said: Hospitality has been recognised by the Government as a particularly vulnerable sector because of the impacts of Covid lockdowns and rail disruptions from strikes. That means we are much more fragile than other sectors. Half of our businesses are operating at or below breaking even. For our members, energy bills have soared to become the determining cost for whether they are viable or not. Therefore any very rapid reduction in energy bill support will be particularly damaging. We have been making that point to the Treasury for weeks now. Other business figures accepted that the scale of support the Treasury is currently providing to cap energy bills is unaffordable for the government in the longer term. A source at a leading business body said: This extension will bring relief for many businesses, especially small and medium enterprises. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme has been a major plank of support but its unrealistic to keep it going in its current form due to the cost. The big question now will be whether additional support will be coming for those industries which are heavy energy users. Gerson Fuentes, 27, who is facing two counts of rape of a child under the age of 13, sits next to his attorney, Bryan Bowen, left, and translator, Wolfgang Salazar, right, during a July 28 bond hearing. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without any possibility for parole. He is being held without bond pending his trial. The trial of a man accused of raping and impregnating a 10-year-old Columbus girl that drew national attention when the girl had to travel to Indiana for an abortion is likely to get pushed back. Gerson Fuentes, 27, is currently scheduled to go to trial on Monday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court on two counts of rape, both of which are first-degree felonies. However, Fuentes' attorney, Bryan Bowen, told The Dispatch that the case is likely to get pushed to a later date. Related coverage:What do we know about Gerson Fuentes, suspect in rape of 10-year-old? No formal paperwork had been filed as of Friday morning to ask Judge Julie Lynch, who is presiding over the case, to continue the trial date. Movement of a trial date can happen for a variety of reasons, including scheduling conflicts or a need for more time to review evidence in the case. Special report:Child sexual assault and abuse: They're more common than Ohioans may think Fuentes was arrested in July after Columbus police received a referral from Franklin County Children Services regarding the 10-year-old's pregnancy. The girl had gone to Indiana for an abortion because Ohio's law prohibiting the procedure after fetal cardiac activity is detected, usually after approximately six weeks of pregnancy, was in effect following the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The girl's existence was publicly called into question by some Republican officials and lawmakers, who disputed the reports of the Indiana doctor who performed the procedure and told The Indianapolis Star about it. The Dispatch was the first to report on Fuentes' arrest and confirmed the girl's pregnancy and abortion. In court hearings following his arrest, detectives have said Fuentes' DNA matches the DNA taken from the genetic material gathered at the clinic where the 10-year-old girl had the abortion performed in late June. Fuentes, a Guatemalan native not believed to be in the country legally, has remained in the Franklin County jail since his arrest. Lynch granted a request from prosecutors that Fuentes be held with no bond. Story continues bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Trial to be moved for man accused of raping, impregnating Ohio 10-year-old If you want to know who really controls Tropicana Corporation Berhad (KLSE:TROP), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are private companies with 36% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). And individual insiders on the other hand have a 35% ownership in the company. Institutions will often hold stock in bigger companies, and we expect to see insiders owning a noticeable percentage of the smaller ones. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Tropicana Corporation Berhad, beginning with the chart below. See our latest analysis for Tropicana Corporation Berhad What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Tropicana Corporation Berhad? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. Institutions have a very small stake in Tropicana Corporation Berhad. That indicates that the company is on the radar of some funds, but it isn't particularly popular with professional investors at the moment. If the company is growing earnings, that may indicate that it is just beginning to catch the attention of these deep-pocketed investors. When multiple institutional investors want to buy shares, we often see a rising share price. The past revenue trajectory (shown below) can be an indication of future growth, but there are no guarantees. Tropicana Corporation Berhad is not owned by hedge funds. Our data suggests that Chee Tan, who is also the company's Top Key Executive, holds the most number of shares at 24%. When an insider holds a sizeable amount of a company's stock, investors consider it as a positive sign because it suggests that insiders are willing to have their wealth tied up in the future of the company. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 15% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 11% by the third-largest shareholder. Story continues To make our study more interesting, we found that the top 4 shareholders control more than half of the company which implies that this group has considerable sway over the company's decision-making. 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. Our information suggests that there isn't any analyst coverage of the stock, so it is probably little known. Insider Ownership Of Tropicana Corporation Berhad The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own a reasonable proportion of Tropicana Corporation Berhad. It has a market capitalization of just RM2.6b, and insiders have RM891m worth of shares in their own names. It is great to see insiders so invested in the business. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying recently. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 24% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. Private Company Ownership We can see that Private Companies own 36%, of the shares on issue. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Tropicana Corporation Berhad (including 2 which can't be ignored) . If you would prefer check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, backed by strong financial data. 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 An employee fills bags of caramel and cheese Garrett's popcorn on Sept. 2, 2014, at a shop on Ontario Street east of Michigan Avenue. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune) A taste of Chicago came to the U.S. House floor amid the historically contentious speaker election that dragged into its third day Thursday. Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Robin Kelly, D-Ill., brought their colleagues Garrett Popcorn for the first day of the 118th Congress on Tuesday to celebrate the new members of the House of Representatives, and as a way to spark joy in anticipation of the long hours ahead. Advertisement I know this is serious business to choose a new speaker but for most, its a celebratory moment, Schakowsky told the Tribune on Thursday. Popcorn really sets the tone for a tasty start. Happy first day of the 118th Congress! I cant wait to continue my work on behalf of Illinois 9th Congressional District. It could be a long day, plus I want to celebrate my 35 new Democratic colleagues, so I brought Chicagos best, @GarrettPopcorn, to share with everyone! pic.twitter.com/uFaw3f2Y8k Jan Schakowsky (@janschakowsky) January 3, 2023 Before flying out of OHare International Airport, Schakowsky said she decided to bring the iconic CaramelCrisp, CheeseCorn and Buttery flavors that have won the hearts and stomachs of millions of Chicagoans for more than 70 years. Advertisement Snacking on Garrett Popcorn is an American tradition spanning seven decades. We love to see our delicious treats shared at all gatherings, said Megan Chody, owner of Garrett Popcorn Shops. Garrett was started in 1949 by a female entrepreneur, Gladys Otto, who used her familys secret recipe. Whether getting popcorn from one of its stores, drive-thrus or delivery options, Garretts signature offerings of cheesy, caramel or buttery kernels are made fresh daily and the wafting scent of fresh popcorn is a welcome signal to Chicagoans in the know that a shop is near. I got the biggest size they had, Schakowsky said of her signature bucket depicting the Chicago skyline. The classic bucket contains 14 cups of popcorn, enough for about 16 people. Schakowskys, the Celebration size, contains 111 cups of popcorn for a party of up to 133. The popular Chicago-born treat even inspired a Revolution brown ale this past fall. Ive got my popcorn ready. pic.twitter.com/UKmWhMabbO Robin Kelly (@RepRobinKelly) January 3, 2023 For an hour and 40 minutes Tuesday, Schakowsky whose 9th Congressional District includes north suburban Cook County and the Far North Side of Chicago said she sat the heavy tub of popcorn tucked under her knees, excited to introduce some of her colleagues to Garrett. 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 > Fellow Reps. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., Grace Meng, D-N.Y., and Nanette Barragan, D-Calif., also tweeted about the popcorn. Advertisement Garretts has several local rival popcorn chains, including Nuts on Clark and Wells Street Popcorn, which also offer caramel and cheese mix. [ Garrett Popcorn brown ale: Heres how the popcorn-packed Revolution Brewing collab tastes. ] Maybe not everyone will agree with me, but its the best of all the popcorn there is, Schakowsky said. My very favorite is the CaramelCrisp because its hard to just have one. Despite there being a delay in getting officially sworn in to the 118th Congress, Schakowsky said Garrett Popcorn brought some excitement to the room. Within hours, there was no popcorn left. People were asking, Whered it go? Schakowsky said. For Garretts, youve gotta get there right away. tatturner@chicagotribune.com MUDDY CREEK TWP. After more than a year of investigation, charges have been filed against a truck driver involved in a deadly school bus crash along Interstate 79 that killed a local man and a student. State police at the Butler County barracks have filed homicide charges against 30-year-old Karandeep Singh, of Calgary, Canada, for his involvement in a crash that occurred with a school bus transporting Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School students home on Nov. 2, 2021. The collision resulted in the death of the school bus driver, Lindsay Thompkins, 31, of Aliquippa, and Brylee Walker, 14, of Hermitage. As of Friday afternoon, Singh was not in police custody. According to police, Singh was driving his tractor-trailer north on I-79 and was struck from behind by the school bus around the exit to Muddy Creek Twp. Investigators say that Singh was carrying a loaded flatbed trailer and was traveling at 18 miles per hour when he was struck by the bus, which was traveling 67 miles per hour. The posted speed limit for the road is 70 miles per hour. The crash resulted in injuries for four students, two of which were flown to UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh after receiving first aid. Thompkins and Walker were pronounced dead on the scene of the crash, both killed by the impact, officials said. Initial reports from state police indicated that Singh was not injured in the crash. According to the charges, an inspection was later done on Singh's vehicle that revealed several violations were present within the semi-truck. Police said that some of these issues, including a mechanical problem that limited the truck's power from reaching highway speeds, would have "resulted in an out-of-service order for the truck." Singh currently faces 27 charges related to the incident, including felony charges for homicide by vehicle and aggravated assault by vehicle. Other charges include various instances of reckless driving, operating unsafe equipment and traveling too slow for road conditions. This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Truck driver charged with homicide in 2021 school bus crash that killed Aliquippa man and a student Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast During the nearly nine hours that Congress was under attack on Jan. 6, 2021, the official White House call logs show former President Donald Trump not placing a single phone call. And while historians may consider the missing call logs a crime of inaccurately memorializing history, it may also actually bolster the expected criminal case against Trump. The first thing one thinks of is the Nixon tapes, the missing 18 minutes. Its never been resolved, said American University professor Chris Edelson, who studies the power of the presidency. Edelson was referring to the Watergate scandal that took down President Richard Nixon, who taped White House discussions of the burglary coverup but conveniently erased 18-and-a-half minutes of those damning talksmuch to the chagrin of federal investigators. Trumpwho was already impeached a second time over his incitement of the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection and now faces a highly secret Justice Department investigationis now in the same boat. Jan. 6 Panel Subpoenas Wisconsin House Speaker Over Trump Phone Call Its exactly like that all youre left to surmise is that, for nefarious reasons, this particular president didnt want any record kept, said Barbara Ann Perry, presidential studies professor at the University of Virginia. The gap starts at 11:04 a.m. that day, when an incoming call was logged from then-Senator David Perdue (R-GA) with the attached note, Talked Ok. The next item appears nearly eight hours later at 6:54 p.m., when Trump asked the switchboard operator to ring his social media director. POTUS instructed operator to call back with Mr. Dan Scavino, it reads. From that point onward, the staff-written Trump presidential daily diary and switchboard call logs both record what happened next. Some 22 minutes later, the switchboard operator told Trump he had pending calls from all the presidents men and womenwho had assisted his coup plot in various ways. The list included Kurt Olsen, an attorney who tried to use the nations courts to overturn election results, Mark Martin, a former North Carolina Supreme Court chief justice who advised him on those frivolous lawsuits, and Cleta Mitchell, a lawyer who joined Trump on his menacing call to Georgias top elections official in a failed attempt to have him falsify vote tallies. Story continues Also in line were Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). According to the diary, Trump took the calls from the lawyers but rejected the ones from the senators. The call logs and diary show that Trump spoke with Olson for 11 minutes starting at 7:17 p.m., then Martin for nine minutes, then Olson again for another 10 minutes, then Mitchell for two minutes. But similar to Nixon, theres ample evidence that former President Donald Trump did indeed have damning conversations that arent reflected in the official record. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) have all admitted to having phone conversations with the former president during the harrowing hours while the attack unfolded in the afternoon, yet the White House switchboard typically used for official calls doesnt reflect any of those calls. Its unclear what phone he used to make these calls, but Trump was known to sometimes use the mobile devices of his aides or even his own cell at times. Yes, this is missing evidence of wrongdoing on the president's part, Perry told The Daily Beast. This would be part of that story. Why would he be hiding this? Trump Confidants Tried to Bar Ali Alexander From Jan. 6. Trump Wouldnt Budge. The records, which were turned over to the House Jan. 6 Committee investigating the insurrection by the National Archives under President Joe Bidens current administration, were released on Monday on the eve of the 117th Congress. We may never find out. It's certainly strange to say the least. We knew that Trump was speaking to people in this time period, Edelson said. Long before the insurrection, Trump had a troubled history with official presidential recordkeepinga particularly ironic point given that he ascended to the White House by berating Hillary Clinton over her dubious use of a private email server while in public office. Trump aides famously had to tape back together documents hed torn up, and administration officials resorted to using encrypted device apps to text each other disappearing messages. But over the years, Trump also developed a distaste for the official White House switchboard, drama that stemmed from his own staffs attempt to rein him in. Gen. John F. Kelly, the Marine who served as Trumps chief of staff during most of the first half of his presidency, would secretly monitor his bosss calls, according to a book published last year by Trump White House adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner. When Trump was later informed that Kelly had done that for months, he was stunned. Kushner recalled Trump saying, Kelly did what? and ordering staffers to end that immediately. At that moment, Kellys incoming replacement, Mick Mulvaney, had Trump sign a document that would end the practice Kelly started of listening to all of your phone calls. Mulvaneys replacement, Mark Meadows, later severely restricted which White House officials could access those call logs, according to CNN. Still, by then Trump had already grown accustomed to dodging the official White House switchboard by cutting landline calls short and instructing contacts to ring him directly on his cellphone instead, CNN reported. Meadows was still in that position as Trumps right hand man in late 2020, when he played a pivotal role in trying to keep his boss in power despite losing the general election. Meadows, who helped start the House Freedom Caucus while a congressman, tapped former colleagues in that group of far-right Republicans to assist in a ploy to stop Congress from certifying the nations electoral college results. Much of what we now know about the scheme came from emails and text messages he handed over to the House Jan. 6 Committee, which this week released documents it had accumulated during its probeincluding White House calls logs. The missing information was frustrating to congressional investigators, and the Representatives on the nine-member panel often complained about the Trump administrations lack of transparency when recording the events of that day. But the eight-hour phone log gap might prove to be just a speed bump for the Department of Justice, which is currently reviewing Trumps election reversal efforts as part of a larger probe into various criminal actions by the former president. Thats because FBI special agents can instead use subpoenas to quietly collect the phone toll records of McCarthy, Jordan, Tuberville, and anyone else who spoke to Trump during those hours to find which phones at the White House made those calls. Trump Immediately Responds to Jan. 6 Committee Report Blaming Him for Riots Billing records dont ever really go away. Could it be used against him? Sure. It could be seen as evidence of state of mind. Its relatively weak evidence, but it does suggest somethingthat youre staying off of certain comms, noted Benjamin Wittes, the editor-in-chief of the national security legal blog Lawfare. Should the DOJ make the historic but anticipated decision to indict the former president, a key challenge will be proving that Trump knew what he was doing was wrong. Political scientists who spoke to The Daily Beast wondered aloud if the the call log would prove to be as damning to Trump as the erased tapes were to Nixonparticularly if federal prosecutors determined that Trumps criminal intent was evidenced by him taking steps to deliberately avoid making an official government record of damning phone calls to key lawmakers who supported his insurrection. But theres another dimension to Trumps missing White House calls: the way this frustrates historians who are tasked with giving future Americans a clear picture of how this president attempted to harm the nations democracy. The White House switchboard is highly regarded in historical literature, said Bowdoin College presidential scholar Andrew Rudalevige, who emphasized how important these kinds of records are. I have very little doubt he was discussing things that were at best unsavory at that time, he said. But political scientists stressed that the missing records mean more than potential criminal evidencethey serve as a stark reminder of how low the Trump administration sank before its shameful exit. One thing we tend to lose track of with Trump is just how bizarre, unusual, unprecedented and unpresidential his term was. Normalization was a real thing. People have come to accept these things that in any other presidency people would consider out of bounds, delinquent, Edelson said. This is just so mind-blowing. Perry, the University of Virginia professor, noted that the incoming Congress now finds itself in the same position as the one that followed Nixons resignation. In 1978, four years after Nixon left the White House, lawmakers passed the Presidential Records Act to prevent future presidents from withholding or destroying records that document their time in office. But that law has proven to be too weak a deterrent, archivists and historians say. Democrats reeling from Trumps lawlessness would support tougher accountability measures. And Republicans who keep lodging accusations against the Biden administrationand now form a majority in the House of Representativeswould be wise to join them. I would hope that under normal circumstances, Congress would act and say, if nothing else, presidents have to keep the records of their phone calls. Right now I dont think theres such a law, she said. 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. On Wednesday, the LAPD/ATF Gun Violence Reduction Task Force conducted a search in Studio City and found several assault rifles, handguns, firearm suppressors, high-capacity magazines, assault rifle building parts/components and thousands of rounds of ammunition. (LAPD) Police arrested two music producers whom they discovered with a cache of assault weapons and ammunition inside a Studio City home, the Los Angeles Police Department said. The men, DeAvonte Kimble, 30, and Max Lord, 31, were taken into custody Wednesday after a barricade situation during which an LAPD SWAT team was called into action, according to police. When police entered the home and conducted a search, they found "several assault rifles, handguns, and 3 firearm suppressors, high-capacity magazines, assault rifle building parts/components, and thousands of rounds of ammunition," the department said in a news release. Kimble was arrested on suspicion of illegal firearm possession in Chicago in 2018 alongside rapper G Herbo, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He was listed as a producer on G Herbo's album "25". LAPD sources confirmed that Kimble is a Compton-based hip-hop producer for several rappers. Kimble was charged by LAPD with assault with a deadly weapon, though police did not disclose the circumstances surrounding the assault. He was also charged with being a parolee at large. He had his bail revoked and is being held at Van Nuys Jail. Lord was charged with possession of assault rifles and released on $35,000 bail. According to LAPD sources, Lord is a hip-hop producer and sound engineer for artists such as Cardi B, Future, Travis Scott and the late rapper Juice WRLD, whom the producer worked with for much of the rapper's career. Lord has also faced threats from Juice WRLD's entourage, according to sources. Lord told The Times on Friday that he was hosting Kimble whom he called a "very smart man most of the time" on the couch at his studio when the SWAT team arrived around 5:20 a.m. Wednesday. "There was a very heavy show of force. A high number of officers with a lot of equipment. Luckily, they didn't break too much stuff other than turn the house upside down." Lord said he did not know about Kimble's alleged assault with a deadly weapon. Story continues "They got a warrant that included the residence [Kimble] was in. Its my studio. Essentially, I got dragged into it because of the other warrant [for Kimble]," Lord said. When asked about the weapons and ammunition found at his studio, Lord declined to comment. "I wasnt targeted. The detectives told me this would never happen to me," he said. Kimble could not immediately be reached for comment. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. As thousands of angry supporters of then-President Donald Trump swarmed the U.S. Capitol two years ago today, the scene was one of chaos. But among that crowd were members of well-known extremist groups, some of whom had been planning their moves in the insurrection for months. They included members of the paramilitary group the Oath Keepers, wearing head-to-toe body armor, whose co-conspirators waited across the Potomac with a stash of weapons. Members of the extremist street gang the Proud Boys were decked out in bright orange beanies, tattoos and more body armor. QAnon conspiracists carried banners and wore garb emblazoned with the conspiracy theorys nonsensical slogans. Members of these factions would go on to be charged with some of the most serious crimes of the insurrection. A Proud Boy would grab a riot officers shield and use it to break one of the first windows of the riot. Oath Keepers would march in a military-style stack formation into the building, hands on one another's shoulders, carrying out a plan they had been hatching for months. A QAnon adherent would lead a vicious mob against a Capitol police officer. In the two years since that day, these groups have come to define much of what is known about the insurrection. Members of the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys and the extremist movement the Three Percenters have faced seditious conspiracy charges the most high-profile cases to come out of that day. The man known as Jacob Chansley or Jake Angeli the furry-horned-hat-wearing Arizona QAnon disciple who marched, bare-chested through the Capitol would, for people across the world, become a human emblem of Jan. 6. Jacob Anthony Chansley inside the Senate chamber on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Now, two years later, these groups are fractured and leaderless. Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, was convicted of seditious conspiracy late last year and faces decades in prison. With his demise, his organization has all but disappeared from public view. Who is Stewart Rhodes?: Vegas parking valet, Yale law graduate, unhinged Oath Keepers leader: Who is Stewart Rhodes? Story continues The Proud Boys, with their leaders facing similar charges, have largely abandoned national politics and large protests in favor of smaller, localized gatherings. Proud Boys splinter: Proud Boys splintering after Capitol riot, revelations about leader. Will more radical factions emerge? And QAnon with its figurehead, Trump out of office, increasingly shunned by Washington and facing multiple investigations has largely shrunk back into the dark corners of the internet whence it came. QAnon evolves: QAnon followers distance themselves from the movement's most bizarre conspiracy theories as they rebrand But the ideologies that underpin extremist hatred and conspiracy theories, and which galvanized thousands to march on the Capitol, are as present as ever in todays America, and should not be underestimated or forgotten, experts on extremism warn. Violent domestic extremism remains a top priority for federal, state and local law enforcement. Extremist ideologies including white supremacy and anti-LGBTQ hate have inspired or been linked to several mass shootings since the insurrection, with dozens of victims. Thus, while the groups that were central to the Jan. 6 insurrection may have come undone, the ideologies that fueled them stuck in the countrys subculture for decades show no signs of disappearing. Instead of forming specific groups, the far-right has spent the past two years rallied around opposing certain themes. Theyve fought COVID vaccine mandates. Theyve decried the teaching of ideas they dub Critical Race Theory. And, most recently, theyve protested all-ages drag shows. Some saw the shows as a proxy for progressive politics, and some claimed (without evidence) that theyre havens for child predators. What focus will unite extremists during 2023, experts arent sure. What they do know is that these ideologies, and their followers, havent gone away. Things are constantly evolving in the extremist landscape its a fluid threat, not a static one, said Jared Holt, a senior researcher at the think tank the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and an expert on domestic extremism. When power vacuums open up, whether that is a major figure going down, or somebody going to jail or a group breaking up, there's always somebody standing out there ready to step into that vacuum. An artist's sketch of Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes on trial in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta. Rhodes was convicted of seditious conspiracy on Nov. 29. Whats become of the big extremist groups? The most well-known extremist groups involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection have fractured over the last two years, but only one appears to have fallen apart. Late last year, Rhodes and another senior Oath Keeper, Kelly Meggs, were convicted of seditious conspiracy and other felonies, along with three other Oath Keepers who were convicted of lesser charges. Rhodes and Meggs, who are yet to be sentenced, could spend the rest of their lives behind bars. Rhodes, who was arrested last January, spent most of 2022 in prison. With its charismatic leader behind bars, the Oath Keepers largely disappeared from public view, said Alex Friedfeld, an investigative researcher with the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism. Friedfeld said he expects things to stay that way. Rhodes has been the guiding force of the Oath Keepers since its founding and has been behind every major decision they make and organized everything and without him I think it's going to be very difficult for the Oath Keepers to continue, Friedfeld said. I think it's telling that Rhodes got arrested last January, and we still don't know who's running the group. The Proud Boys are a different story. Members of the Proud Boys march in Manhattan against vaccine mandates in November 2021. Founded as a mens drinking club based on pro-western bigotry in 2016, the Proud Boys werent initially interested in a national political movement. But starting around 2018, the group began to step into the vacuum left by the fading alt-right movement. The group selected a national leadership that included a national Chairman, Henry Enrique Tarrio, and regional leaders. By 2020, the Proud Boys were so ubiquitous that then-presidential candidate Joe Biden questioned Trump about them in a live televised debate. The President infamously responded that the group should Stand back and stand by. Inside the Proud Boys: They joined the Wisconsin Proud Boys looking for brotherhood. They found racism, bullying and antisemitism. Tarrio and four other Proud Boy leaders are currently on trial for seditious conspiracy. But unlike the Oath Keepers, the group hasnt faded into insignificance, said Emily Kaufman, a researcher who specializes in the Proud Boys at the Anti-Defamation League. Where we might have expected the Proud Boys to be decimated by one of the highest number of arrests related to the insurrection, we saw the Proud Boys really become galvanized by their participation, Kaufman said. The Proud Boys pivoted away from a brief stint as a national force to more localized activity, organized on a chapter-by-chapter basis, Kaufman and other experts said. Instead of sending people to march in Washington, Proud Boys in 2022 were much more likely to be seen at local school board meetings or protesting all-age drag shows. What's concerning is that now, with the absence of national leadership that was at least ostensibly concerned about optics, it really is going to be up to individual chapters to determine the direction of the group going forward, Kaufman said. QAnon demonstrators protest in Los Angeles in 2020. More of a movement than a group: QAnon Followers of the conspiracy theory QAnon never had an organization per se. The QAnon community has never had leaders, or a command structure. Instead, it relies on an organic web of influencers and so-called experts who have helped shape and direct QAnon followers. But QAnon has always had a de-facto leader: Trump. The conspiracy theory was largely based on the belief that Trump was engaged in a complex game that would eventually result in the imprisonment of powerful Democrats, liberal celebrities and other left-leaning global power brokers. According to QAnon lore, which was dispensed online in drops of cryptic information, those global elites were engaged in widespread pedophilia and harvesting children for a compound called adrenochrome. This is, of course, all nonsense, and, after countless defeats for the QAnon belief system, including the 2020 election, the 2022 midterms and a dozen failed prophecies in between, even the most ardent supporters began to distance themselves last year. QAnon, some even claimed in a short-lived effort in 2022, never really existed anyway, but was made up by the media. The Q community really has transitioned away from the Q branding and become a mainstream anti-vaccine, anti-trans popular movement, said Mike Rothschild, a conspiracy theory researcher who wrote a book on QAnon. People share Q memes and slogans without knowing what they are, and Q promoters make little effort to push the drops or Q mythology. Several adherents to QAnon arrested for their activity on Jan. 6 have already been convicted, including Chansley, who was sentenced in November to 41 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release. Jake Angeli, also known and Jacob Chansley, from Phoenix, at the Capitol on the day Congress met to ratify Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election. He was later sentenced to a multi-year prison term for his role in the insurrection. A fourth extremist group that sits somewhere between the Oath Keepers and QAnon is the Three Percenters. More of an idea than a formalized organization, the Three Percenters was founded by an Alabama gun rights activist on the (again, untrue) theory that only 3% of Americans took up arms against the British during the Revolutionary War. Unlike the Oath Keepers, the Three Percenters movement has never had a clear leader or leadership structure. Self-professed members of the group espouse similar beliefs to the Oath Keepers, with the central themes being a deep mistrust of Washington, D.C., and the belief that Americans will have their guns taken away by a tyrannical federal government. Six men affiliated with the Three Percenters are also facing charges of seditious conspiracy and will go to trial later this year. Experts said its too soon to know whether that trial, which has received little media attention in the shadow of the more well-known Proud Boys and Oath Keepers prosecutions, will have much of an impact on the Three Percenters legacy or popularity. Extremist groups come, and go This is certainly not the first time in history that well-known far-right groups have fallen into disarray. In the 1980s and 90s, civil rights groups mounted challenges, often in the civil courts, against overtly white supremacist organizations like the Ku Klux Klan and the Aryan Nations. Court rulings eventually brought these groups to their knees, financially, with a corresponding erosion of their support base. Hate groups hit by lawsuits: Lawsuit over Charlottesville 'Unite the Right' rally In the mid 2000s and 2010s the alt-right movement, led by white supremacist Richard Spencer, gained traction among American racists, culminating in the deadly 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The ensuing lawsuits and criminal charges eventually gutted the Alt-Right, all but silencing Spencer, and leaving white supremacist groups bankrupt and languishing. In 2017, neo-Nazi Andrew Anglin, who published what was then perhaps the most influential white supremacist website, was sued by a woman who claimed his trolling subjected her and her family to months of abuse and death threats. Anglin lost the case, was ordered to pay $4 million, and claims to have fled the country. A judge ordered an arrest warrant for him in November. As one far-right group, or influencer, fades away, theres always somebody to take their place, said Kesa White, a researcher who tracks extremists at the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University. Theyll always still be there, White said. Just because they arent doing any action right now doesnt mean theyre not planning what they might do tomorrow. Watch the ideologies, not the groups While much media and law enforcement attention is paid to organized extremist groups, some experts believe that attention would be better focused on understanding how the extremist ideologies underpinning them are spread, and how they can best be countered. Cynthia Miller-Idriss, PERILs director, said research shows that only between 7% to 15% of extremists ever participate actively in groups or organizations. And not one hate-based mass shooting has been carried out by a card carrying member of an extremist group in recent years, she said. The man who shot up a Buffalo supermarket last year, killing 10 people, wasnt a member of any specific organization, but he espoused the same ideas spread by hate groups. Generally the most dangerous actors are not the ones that are messing around in the groups, Miller-Idriss said. The groups are reshuffling, but I think the question is what happens with the other 85% of people who are radicalized and are looking for something to glom on to. As American extremism enters its third year since Jan. 6, then, experts like Miller-Idriss caution its vital to watch which groups emerge to take the place of those fragmented by the Jan. 6 prosecutions. But, no matter who or what takes up the far-right mantle, they say, the ideas underpinning the movement always have a way of re-emerging. "Where I have caution is when I hear people say Oh, well, it's over like that moment has passed, Miller-Idriss said. I don't think you can put the genie back in the bottle quite that easily. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, QAnon: Their status two years after Jan. 6 Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they push barricades to storm the US Capitol in Washington D.C on January 6, 2021. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images Two years have passed since a group of pro-Trump supporters descended on the Capitol in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying the presidential election. In 2022, the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack interviewed over 1,000 people and held ten public hearings. The hearings, along with other sources, revealed a plethora of new findings regarding the insurrection. It's been two years since a mass of Trump supporters violently infiltrated the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to prevent Joe Biden from being duly certified as the winner of the presidential election. 2022 proved to be a banner year for learning the ins and outs of the disastrous event, which left both protestors and police injured, and some even dead. This was due to the ten hearings set up by the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack, a nine-member group consisting of seven Democrats and two Republicans, former Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger. After interviewing more than 1,000 witnesses, the committee used the hearings to publicly unveil key information about the planning behind the January 6 attack, a plot to overturn the presidential election results, and recommended charges against President Donald Trump. Revelations from cases from the Justice Department, which has arrested 978 Capitol rioters and seen 465 of them plead guilty, have also given insight into the events that occurred on January 6. Here are five things we learned in 2022 about the insurrection: 1. President Donald Trump deeply desired to attend the Capitol protest in person. In a speech given near the White House on January 6, Trump said he'd join protestors and march with them to the Capitol, though his march never occurred. Former White House Aide Cassidy Hutchinson testified that while in a vehicle, Trump demanded to his team that he be brought to the Capitol alongside his supporters on January 6. When his security team didn't allow him to do so, Hutchinson noted, the president lunged at a member of the Secret Service and tried to grab the steering wheel. Story continues Tony Ornato, a former White House aide, also mentioned in his deposition with the committee that other aides floated the idea of setting up a glass box atop a stage for Trump to "peacefully protest" alongside the crowd. 2. The plot to declare victory before votes were counted was hatched as early as 4 months before Election Day 2020 Former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale told the committee, which was later unveiled at a hearing, that the president had begun planning in July to say he won the election even in the event he lost. "As far as I'm concerned, we already have won this," Trump said on November 4, 2021, before several swing states had been called. The committee showed additional evidence that far-right media host and provocateur Steve Bannon knew of Trump's plans in advance. "If Trump is losing by 10 or 11 at night, it's going to be even crazier He's going to sit right there and say, 'They stole it. I'm directing the attorney general to shut down all ballot places in all 50 states,'" Bannon said on October 31, 2020."If Biden is winning," he noted, "Trump is going to do some crazy shit." 3. Trump never called any members of the military for help on January 6 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley told the committee that he was puzzled by Trump's inaction that day. "Nothing? No call? nothing? Zero?" he told members of the House January 6 committee. Speaking at an event, Cheney suggested that Vice President Mike Pence acted more presidential that day than Trump. "If you watched our hearings closely, you understand that Vice President Mike Pence was essentially the president for most of that day," she said. "White House staff knew it, and so did every other Republican and Democratic leader in Washington." Cheney reiterated in her speech that Trump absconded his duties and that committee testimonies showed "that President Trump was the only person who refused to respond to desperate calls for help, even from his own congressional allies. He refused to come to their aid." 4. Trump tried to call a witness of the January 6 committee Cheney ended the seventh of the hearings with a bombshell: Trump called a witness of the House January 6 investigation. It's unclear what his intention was, but it prompted House investigators to contact the Justice Department. "After our last hearing, President Trump tried to call a witness in our investigation a witness you have not yet seen in these hearings. That person declined to answer or respond to President Trump's call and, instead, alerted their lawyer to the call," Cheney said. Cheney also revealed that Trump allies were calling and pressuring witnesses, urging them to do "the right thing." 5. Several Republican members of Congress and White House staff requested preemptive pardons A series of White House aides said that GOP Reps. Andy Biggs, Mo Brooks, Matt Gaetz, Louie Gohmert, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Scott Perry each requested preemptive pardons from Trump following the Capitol riots. Hutchinson also said that former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows asked for a pardon, along with Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani. The January 6 committee revealed that John Eastman, a conservative attorney who peddled a plan to overturn the presidential election, asked Giuliani to relay his desire for a pardon as well. Read the original article on Business Insider By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -The U.S. government has launched a website for victims of FTX cryptocurrency exchange founder Sam Bankman-Fried's alleged fraud to communicate with law enforcement. In an order late Friday night, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan authorized federal prosecutors to use the website, and not have to contact victims individually. FTX could owe money to more than 1 million people, making it "impracticable" to contact each, prosecutors had said. Federal law requires prosecutors to contact possible crime victims to inform them of their rights, including the rights to obtain restitution, be heard in court and be protected from defendants. "If you believe that you may have been a victim of fraud by Samuel Bankman-Fried, A/K/A/ 'SBF,' please contact the victim/witness coordinator at the United States Attorney's office," the website read. The website had gone live by Friday afternoon. Bankman-Fried, 30, has pleaded not guilty to eight counts of wire fraud and conspiracy over November's collapse of FTX. Prosecutors have said he stole billions in FTX customer deposits to pay debts for his hedge fund, Alameda Research, and lied to investors about FTX's financial condition. The onetime billionaire has acknowledged risk management shortcomings, but said he did not consider himself criminally liable. Neither the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan nor Bankman-Fried's lawyers immediately responded to requests for comment on Friday. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York Editing by Leslie Adler, Alexandra Hudson) By Chris Prentice NEW YORK (Reuters) -The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seeking details about FTX investors' due diligence, according to two sources familiar with the inquiry, as fallout from the crypto firm's collapse spreads. The SEC has so far brought charges against three of FTX's top executives, accusing them defrauding investors in the crypto trading platform that has since filed for bankruptcy. The SEC is now asking financial firms what diligence policies and procedures they have in place, if any, and whether they followed them when choosing to invest in FTX, the sources said. The sources declined to be identified as the inquiries are not public. Reuters was not able to determine how many firms were fielding such queries from the regulator. The SEC has alleged the Bahamas-based crypto exchange raised more than $1.8 billion from equity investors, including 90 U.S.-based investors, since May 2019. The SEC inquiries do not indicate wrongdoing and Reuters could not ascertain if the firms are targets of the probe. But the sources said the SEC inquiries may mean the venture capital firms and investment funds that invested in FTX could face regulatory scrutiny even if they are considered victims of Bankman-Fried's alleged scheme. At issue would be whether the firms met their fiduciary duties to their own investors, they said. Reuters and others previously reported that U.S. authorities sent document requests to investors and potential investors in FTX, seeking details on their communications with FTX officials. Those inquiries predated last month's SEC charges against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried for allegedly defrauding such investors. The SEC's inquiries to investors have continued after SEC filed those charges, and the agency has now shifted its focus to the firms' diligence, the sources said. A spokesperson for the SEC declined to comment. FTX, once deemed a white knight for the crypto industry, crumbled in less than a fortnight due to a liquidity crunch. FTX filed for bankruptcy in November amid what its new CEO later described as a "complete failure of corporate controls". Story continues The SEC as well as the Justice Department and Commodity Futures Trading Commission have filed fraud charges against FTX founder and former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. On Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty to criminal charges including wire fraud and money laundering on Tuesday. Two former top associates, former Alameda chief executive Caroline Ellison and former FTX chief technology officer Gary Wang, have both pleaded guilty. (Reporting by Chris Prentice and Krystal Hu; editing by Megan Davies and Anna Driver) By Daphne Psaledakis and Arshad Mohammed WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Friday issued new sanctions targeting suppliers of Iranian drones that Washington said have been used to target civilian infrastructure in Ukraine during the conflict with Russia. Russia has been attacking vital Ukraine infrastructure since October with barrages of missile and drones, causing sweeping power blackouts as cold weather sets in. The U.S. Treasury Department said it imposed sanctions on six executives and board members of Iran's Qods Aviation Industries (QAI), also known as Light Airplanes Design and Manufacturing Industries. The Treasury described Qods Aviation Industries (QAI), which has been under U.S. sanctions since 2013, as a key Iranian defense manufacturer responsible for designing and producing drones. "We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to deny (Russian President Vladimir) Putin the weapons that he is using to wage his barbaric and unprovoked war on Ukraine," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in the statement. Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York and Russia's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Iran has previously 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. Friday's sanctions reflect U.S. concerns about Iranian-Russian military cooperation and Russias use of Iranian drones to hit Ukraine, a threat that could become more potent if Tehran were to provide missiles to Moscow to shore up Russian supplies. Among those designated was Seyed Hojatollah Ghoreish, QAI's board chairman and senior official in Irans Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics who "has led Irans military research and development efforts and was responsible for negotiating Irans agreement with Russia for the supply of Iranian (drones) for Russias war in Ukraine, the Treasury said. Story continues The Treasury also imposed sanctions on Ghassem Damavandian, QAIs managing director and board member, saying he had likely facilitated QAIs supply of drones to Iranian military services and the training of Russian personnel on use of QAI-made drones. Four others who have served as QAI board members were also placed under sanctions: Hamidreza Sharifi-Tehrani, Reza Khaki, Majid Reza Niyazi-Angili and Vali Arlanizadeh. The sanctions also targeted the director of Iran's Aerospace Industries Organization, which the Treasury said was the key organization responsible for overseeing Iran's ballistic missile programs. The move freezes any U.S. assets of those designated and generally bars Americans from dealing with them. Those engaged in certain transactions with them also risked being hit by sanctions. 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. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Edmund Blair) By Mike Stone WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new U.S. weapons aid package for Ukraine worth more than $3 billion is set to be announced later on Friday and will include Sea Sparrow missiles for air defense and Bradley Fighting Vehicles, according to a document seen by Reuters. The Sea Sparrow missiles will help curb Russian missile strikes on Ukraine, which are intended to exhaust Kyiv's air defenses and damage the country's energy infrastructure. The U.S. and Germany have also pledged to send Patriot missile systems to repel Russian missile and drone attacks. The RIM-7 Sea Sparrow will be an additional anti-air defense system for Ukraine. It is currently in production by Raytheon Technologies Corp and General Dynamics Corp. The armored Bradley Fighting Vehicle has a powerful gun and has been used regularly by the U.S. Army to carry troops around battlefields since the mid-1980s. The Army has thousands of Bradleys. The United States plans to send about 50. Politico reported on Thursday that the Sea Sparrow System would be used on the Buk launcher, a Soviet-era weapon that Ukraine currently uses. (Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Don Durfee and Nick Macfie) Britain's Prince William and Prince Harry walk beside each other after viewing the floral tributes for the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, Sept. 10, 2022. (Martin Meissner/AP) LONDON Bereaved boy, troubled teen, wartime soldier, unhappy royal many facets of Prince Harry are revealed in his explosive memoir, often in eyebrow-raising detail. From accounts of cocaine use and losing his virginity to raw family rifts, Spare exposes deeply personal details about Harry and the wider royal family. Advertisement The Associated Press purchased a copy of the Spanish-language edition of the book ahead of its publication around the world on Tuesday. Its revelations have electrified the British media but have been met with silence from Buckingham Palace. Brother and son The book opens with a quote from American writer William Faulkner: The past is never dead. Its not even past. Advertisement Harrys story is dominated by his rivalry with elder brother Prince William and the death of the boys mother, Princess Diana, in 1997. Harry, who was 12 at the time, has never forgiven the media for Dianas death in a car crash while being pursued by photographers. The loss of his mother haunts the book, which Harry dedicates to wife Meghan, children Archie and Lili and, of course, my mother. The opening chapter recounts how his father Prince Charles now King Charles III broke the news of his mothers accident, but didnt give his son a hug. Harry reveals that years later he asked his driver to take him through the Pont de lAlma tunnel in Paris, site of the fatal crash, hoping in vain that it would help end a decade of unrelenting pain. He also says he once consulted a woman who claimed to have powers and to be able to pass on messages from Diana. Harry adds that he and William both begged their father not to marry his long-term paramour Camilla Parker-Bowles, worried she would become a wicked stepmother. Harry also is tormented by his status as royal spare behind William, who is heir to the British throne. Harry recounts a longstanding sibling rivalry that worsened after Harry began a relationship with American actress Meghan Markle, whom he married in 2018. He says that during an argument in 2019, William called Meghan difficult and rude, then grabbed him by the collar and knocked him down. Harry suffered cuts and bruises from landing on a dog bowl. Harry says Charles implored the brothers to make up, saying after the funeral of Prince Philip in 2021: Please, boys. Dont make my final years a misery. Advertisement Neither Buckingham Palace, which represents King Charles III, nor Williams Kensington Palace office has commented on any of the allegations. Wild teenage years The memoir suggests the medias party-boy image of Harry during his teen and young adult years was well-deserved. Harry describes how he lost his virginity at 17 in a field behind a pub to an older woman who loved horses and treated the teenage prince like a young stallion. It was, he says, a humiliating episode. He also says he took cocaine several times starting at the same age, in order to feel. To be different. He also acknowledges using cannabis and magic mushrooms which made him hallucinate that a toilet was talking to hm. Army revelations Harry spent a decade in the British Army, serving twice in Afghanistan. He says that on his second tour, as an Apache helicopter co-pilot and gunner in 2012-2013, he killed 25 Taliban militants. Harry says he felt neither satisfaction nor shame about his actions, and in the heat of battle regarded enemy combatants as pieces being removed from a chessboard, Baddies eliminated before they could kill Goodies. Veterans criticized the comments and said they could increase the security risk for Harry. Retired Col. Richard Kemp said it was an error of judgment, and regarding enemy fighters as chess pieces is not the way the British Army trains people. Advertisement I think that sort of comment that doesnt reflect reality is misleading and potentially valuable to those people who wish the British forces and British government harm, he told the BBC. The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi called the Western invasion of Afghanistan odious and said Harrys comments are a microcosm of the trauma experienced by Afghans at the hands of occupation forces who murdered innocents without any accountability. Personal journey Harry credits Meghan with changing the way he sees the world and himself. He says he was wrapped in privilege and had no understanding of unconscious bias before he met her. The young prince notoriously wore a Nazi uniform to a costume party in 2005, and claims in the book that William and his now-wife Kate encouraged the choice of outfit and howled with laughter when they saw it. He was recorded using a racist term about a fellow soldier of Pakistani descent in 2006, but says he did not know the word was a slur. Meghan and Harry cited the U.K. medias treatment of the biracial American actress as one of the main reasons for their decision to quit royal duties and move to the U.S. in 2020. The book gives no sign that royal family relations will be repaired soon. Harry told ITV in an interview to promote the book that he wants reconciliation, but that there must be accountability first. Advertisement In the final pages, Harry describes how he and William walked side by side during the funeral procession of Queen Elizabeth II in September, but spoke barely a word to one another. The next day, Meg and I returned to the United States, he says. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Twitter that the Kremlin's call for a 36-hour ceasefire along the front line in Ukraine will do nothing to achieve peace. "A 36-hour pause of Russian attacks will do nothing to advance the prospects for peace. Russia must permanently withdraw its forces, relinquish its illegal control of Ukrainian territory and end its barbaric attacks against innocent civilians," he wrote. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin ordered Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to implement a temporary ceasefire along the entire front line in Ukraine from midday on Jan. 6 to midnight on Jan. 7, according to Russian state media agency RIA Novosti, citing an official Kremlin press release. Ukrainian and world leaders alike dismissed Putin's announcement, stressing that Russia had launched widespread attacks against Ukraine on Christmas Eve as well as New Year's. By Herbert Villarraga NEAR KREMINNA, Ukraine (Reuters) -Russian and Ukrainian forces exchanged artillery fire at the front line in Ukraine on Friday, even after Moscow said it had ordered its troops to stop shooting for a unilateral truce that was firmly rejected by Kyiv. President Vladimir Putin ordered the 36-hour ceasefire from midday on Friday to observe Russian Orthodox Christmas. Ukraine has said it has no intention to stop fighting, rejecting the purported truce as a stunt by Moscow to buy time to reinforce troops that have taken heavy losses this week. "What ceasefire? Can you hear?" said a Ukrainian soldier, using the nom de guerre Vyshnya, as an explosion rang out in the distance at the front line near Kreminna in eastern Ukraine. "What do they want to achieve if they keep on shooting? We know, we have learnt not to trust them." Russia's defence ministry said its troops began observing the ceasefire from noon Moscow time (0900 GMT) "along the entire line of contact", but said Ukraine had kept up shelling populated areas and military positions. Reuters heard explosions of what Ukrainian troops at the front line described as incoming Russian rocket fire. Ukrainians fired back from tanks. The Ukrainian troops said it was quieter than many other days because snowy weather had made it hard to fly drones and spot targets. "The situation today is exactly the same as yesterday, the day before yesterday, last week and last month," said one, concealing his face with a scarf. "There is no point in talking to them, in believing in their promises, orders and decrees." It was not immediately possible to establish whether there was any reduction in the intensity of fighting at other locations. One witness in the Russian-occupied regional capital Donetsk also described outgoing artillery fired from pro-Russian positions on the city's outskirts after the truce was meant to take effect. Story continues The Ukrainian governor of the front line eastern Luhansk province, Serhiy Haidai, said that in the first three hours of the purported ceasefire the Russians had shelled Ukrainian positions 14 times and stormed one settlement three times. "Orthodox murderers wish you a merry Christmas," he wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Russia's Orthodox Church observes Christmas on Jan. 7. The main Orthodox Church in Ukraine has rejected the authority of Moscow, and many Ukrainian believers have shifted their calendar to celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25, as in the West. Putin attended a service by himself inside a Kremlin cathedral rather than joining other worshippers in a public celebration. State television showed two live clips of Putin inside the gilded Cathedral of the Annunciation as Orthodox priests conducted the midnight service, known as the Divine Liturgy. U.S. OFFERS BRADLEYS Washington unveiled its latest $3.75 billion package of military aid for Ukraine and allies affected by the war, for the first time sending the U.S. army's workhorse Bradley Fighting Vehicles. That caps a week in which both Germany and France also pledged armoured vehicles, finally fulfilling one of Kyiv's most urgent requests from its allies, for armour to defeat Russian tanks in mechanised battles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who pleaded for the Bradleys in Washington last month on his first trip abroad since the war began, said on Friday they were "exactly what is needed". Shortly before the ceasefire was meant to start, rockets slammed into a residential building in Kramatorsk, close to the eastern front line, damaging 14 homes, though with no casualties as many people have fled. "It's bad, very bad," said Oleksnadr, 36, outside a supermarket at the time of the attack. "We need to pressure them, get them to leave, maybe more air defence systems would help. This happens often, not only on festive occasions. Every other day." One rescue worker was killed and four others injured when Russian forces shelled a fire department in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson before the deadline early on Friday, the regional governor said. Reuters could not immediately verify this. CHRISTMAS AS COVER Zelenskiy rejected the Russian ceasefire out of hand as a ploy for Russia to buy time to bring in equipment and ammunition after sustaining crippling losses at the front line. Scores of Russian troops were killed in one attack over the New Year weekend. Laura Cooper, a U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense focusing on Russia and Ukraine, remarked to reporters in Washington on Friday that Putin's statement about a ceasefire needed to be taken with a "grain of salt." "This is the same man who said he would not invade Ukraine," Cooper said. Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, starting a war that has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions of Ukrainians. With weapons and financial support from the United States and Europe, Ukraine has driven Russia back from some of its territory but battles are raging in the east and south. Ukraine's military General Staff said its soldiers repelled repeated Russian attacks over the past day, with Moscow focused on trying to take towns in Donetsk. (Reporting by Reuters bureausWriting by Peter Graff and Michael Martina; Editing by Angus MacSwan, Nick Macfie and Grant McCool) Vladimir Putin has praised the Russian Orthodox Church for its massive, complex and truly selfless work in supporting Moscows forces fighting his war in Ukraine. The Russian president was pictured alone at an Orthodox church in the Kremlin for a Christmas service this morning, which Russias RIA news agency said was the first time in years he had celebrated in Moscow. State television showed live footage of Putin inside the gilded Cathedral of the Annunciation as Orthodox priests conducted the midnight service, known as the Divine Liturgy. Mr Putins call for a temporary ceasefire appears to have had little impact, after widespread reports of infantry fighting, as well as artillery fire heard from the frontline. Air raid sirens have also rang out across the country, including the capital Kyiv. The Russian president called for a 36-hour ceasefire from midday on Friday, after the head of the Russian Orthodox church, which uses the Julian calendar, suggested it to mark Christmas. Britains Ministry of Defence also reported that fighting has continued on a routine level in eastern Ukraine. Key Points Vladimir Putin praises Russian Orthodox Church for supporting Moscows troops 'What ceasefire?': shells fly at Ukraine front despite Putin's truce Orthodox murderers wish you a merry Christmas Fighting in Ukraine has continued at a routine level over Orthodox Christmas - MoD London to host international war crimes meeting to discuss Ukraine White House announces new $3.75bn military assistance package Putin praises Orthodox Church for selfless support of Russian troops 13:02 , Andy Gregory Vladimir Putin has praised the Russian Orthodox Church for its selfless support for Moscows forces fighting in Ukraine. The Kremlin issued the Russian presidents message after he attended an Orthodox Christmas Eve service on his own inside a Kremlin cathedral rather than joining other worshippers in a public celebration. In his message, Mr Putin made clear that he saw the Russian Orthodox Church as an important stabilising force for society at a time he has cast as a historical clash between Russia and the West over Ukraine and other issues. Story continues It is deeply gratifying to note the enormous constructive contribution of the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian denominations in unifying society, preserving our historical memory, educating youth and strengthening the institution of family, said Mr Putin. Church organisations prioritise ... supporting our warriors taking part in the special military operation. Such massive, complex and truly selfless work deserves sincere respect. Putin praises Russian church for supporting our warriors in Ukraine 12:30 , Daniel Reast President Vladimir Putin has praised the Russian Orthodox Church for supporting Russian forces fighting in Ukraine in an Orthodox Christmas message Putins message came after the Russian leader attended an Orthodox Christmas Eve service alone inside a Kremlin cathedral rather than joining other worshippers in public celebrations. In his message, Putin made it clear he saw the Russian Orthodox Church as an important stabilising force for society at a time he has cast as a historical clash between Russia and the West. In a service on Friday, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow criticised Ukraine for cracking down on the branch of the Orthodox church with longstanding ties to Moscow. (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Putin said, It is deeply gratifying to note the enormous constructive contribution of the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian denominations in unifying society, preserving our historical memory, educating youth and strengthening the institution of family. Church organisations prioritise ... supporting our warriors taking part in the special military operation (in Ukraine). Such massive, complex and truly selfless work deserves sincere respect. Ukraine shelling civilian areas during ceasefire - Russian defence ministry 12:05 , Daniel Reast The Russian defence ministry has responded to claims of its own forces breaching its self-declared ceasefire with allegations of Ukrainian forces shelling civilian areas. Kyiv has not responded to these latest allegations. Ukrainian forces refused to recognise the Russian ceasefire, calling it a banal trick. Accounts of artillery fire and fighting have been widely reported through the Christmas ceasefire, including across positions in Donetsk, Luhansk and in the southern region of Kherson. Air raid sirens have also been sounding across Ukraine, including in the capital Kyiv. Talk about 'ceasefire': air raid alert right now all over Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/OoyJvccGgr Emmanuelle Chaze (@EmmanuelleChaze) January 6, 2023 In its daily briefing, the Russian defence ministry said its troops had only returned artillery fire when fired upon by Ukrainian forces. Governor for the eastern Donetsk region, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said on Telegram that two civilians were killed in Bakhmut and the nearby town of Krasna Hora on Friday. Seven others have been wounded, he added. 12:00 , Daniel Reast A man lights a candle as other parishioners attend the Christmas service in an Orthodox church in Dometsk, Russian-controlled Donetsk region (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) An Orthodox priest offers the holy communion to a woman during Christmas church service in Kostyantynivka, Ukraine (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) An Orthodox priest blesses believers during Christmas church service in Kostyantynivka, Ukraine (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) US to start training Ukraine forces on Patriot missiles later this month, says Pentagon 11:45 , Daniel Reast US armed forces will begin training Ukrainian forces on the Patriot missile system later this month, says the US Defense Department. Laura Cooper, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia told CNN that training Ukrainian forces will take several months. The Pentagon also told reporters that the US is considering bringing Ukrainians to the US to train on the Patriot missile system, as well as considering training overseas or a combination of both. Ukrainian forces have been trained in the UK as well as NATO member states (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Pentagon press secretary Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder told reporters at a press briefing on Thursday, I think clearly were at a point in this battle where were going to be able to provide that kind of training to enable Ukraine to sustain those kind of systems so that they can focus on defending their country and taking back territory. The US has committed to sending armoured vehicles, including 50 tank-killing Bradleys, to Ukraine after long-standing appeals from the Ukrainian president Zelensky. Orthodox Christmas services take place in Ukraine in first celebration since invasion 11:15 , Daniel Reast Services marking Orthodox Christmas have begun in Ukraine in the first celebrations to take place since Russias invasion. A service performed by Metropolitan Epiphanius of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine took place at the Holy Dormition Cathedral at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. Ukrainian Minister of Culture Oleksandr Tkachenko gave permission for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine to conduct its Christmas service, following disputes between the Russian and Ukrainian churches (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Other religious services will take place across the country. The celebrations take place as long-running tensions between Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox churches grew following the Russian invasion in 2022. Black Sea shipping costs rise by more than a fifth since new year 10:45 , Daniel Reast Costs of hiring ships to transport goods and commodities have risen by more than a fifth, since new year, according to insurance industry sources. With the new year renewing insurance policies, many reinsurers have revoked financial protection for shipping and transport companies operating in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. The Black Sea is a vital region for shipping grain, oil and oil products, as well as naval presence, with Russias Black Sea fleet based in occupied Sevastopol, Crimea. Six insurance sources, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said reinsurers leaving the market had added to unease over the risk of ship seizures by Russia and liabilities related to the war in Ukraine. The effect of [the exit of reinsurers] is reducing [underwriting] capacity in the market for war risk and will mean people will pay more this year, said one marine insurance source. Ukrainians urged to save electricity as grid under pressure from dropping temperature 10:30 , Daniel Reast Ukraines energy grid operator has issued an appeal to civilians to conserve electricity, amid dropping temperatures. Strained by persistent Russian attacks on infrastructure, grid operator Ukrenergo warned a significant drop in temperature is expected, which will lead to a rapid increase in consumption. In a statement posted on Telegram, Ukrenergo said The energy system is currently unable to fully cover it due to the damage and the enemys occupation of a number of power plants that produce electricity, in particular, and the most powerful - the Zaporizhzhia NPP (nuclear power plant). Cities across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, are experiencing regular blackouts to reduce strain on the electrical grid during peak hours. Ukrenergo said it was working with electricity providers to repair any damages on the grid but urged patience due to the complexity and scale of the damage. Ukrainian refugees living in hotels and growing number of homeless, say councils 10:00 , Daniel Reast Ukrainian refugees in the UK are being housed in hotels and temporary accommodation, with a growing number made homeless, say councils. Our colleague Holly Bancroft reports that nearly 3,000 Ukrainian households have been registered as homeless to English councils since the end of February 2022. Opora, a charity helping Ukrainian refugees settle in the UK, has also warned the numbers could be much higher. Executive director of charity Refugees at Home, Lauren Scott MBE, said: People opened their doors under Homes for Ukraine in 2022 as an alternative to housing refugees in hotels. But with no proper move-on strategy in place thats exactly where many Ukrainians may end up in 2023. A government spokesperson said: Homes for Ukraine has seen 109,000 Ukrainians welcomed to the UK, thanks to the generosity of sponsors, with most settling in well. Read more here: Thousands of Ukrainian refugees living in hotels as councils struggle to house them Putin attends Kremlin Christmas service alone 09:55 , Daniel Reast Russian president Vladimir Putin on Saturday attended an Orthodox Church Christmas service alone, inside a Kremlin cathedral, rather than joining other worshippers in public celebrations. Russias RIA news agency said it was the first time in years the president had celebrated Christmas in Moscow rather than in events held around the capital. State television showed live footage of Putin inside the gilded Cathedral of the Annunciation as Orthodox priests conducted the midnight service, known as the Divine Liturgy. Russian president Vladimir Putin attends the Christmas service at the Annunciation Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Friday, 6 January 2023 (AP) Putin celebrated Easter last year at the cathedral with thousands of others, but attended Christmas by himself last year in his official residence outside Moscow. The Russian Orthodox Church backs the war in Ukraine. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow on Thursday appealed for both sides to observe a 36-hour Christmas truce that Putin had subsequently announced. Ukrainian drone shot down over Sevastopol, says Russian-installed governor 09:30 , Daniel Reast The Russian-installed governor of the Crimean city of Sevastopol has said that local air defences had shot down a drone in what he suggested was the latest Ukrainian attack on a port where Russias Black Sea Fleet is based. Mikhail Razvozhaev, the Russian-backed governor of the city, made the allegation on Telegram, alleging that the incident had occurred in the early hours of Saturday, falling within Orthodox Christmas. There has been no immediate comment on the allegation from Ukraine, which has previously not confirmed similar alleged incidents in the past. Strikes on the Kerch Bridge in Crimea, targeted by Ukraine in October, with president Zelensky previously asserting peace in the conflict cannot be achieved with liberation of the peninsula (REUTERS) Russian president Vladimir Putins proposed temporary truce to coincide with Orthodox Christmas has been rejected by Kyiv as a cynical ruse to buy time for Russian forces to rest and regroup. Air raid sirens heard in Ukraine despite Russian call for ceasefire 09:15 , Daniel Reast Russian forces attacking targets in southern Ukraine despite ceasefire, say Ukrainian official 09:00 , Daniel Reast The deputy head of the President Zelenskys office also told reporters of Russian forces attacking a fire station in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson in an attack which cause several casualties. Kyrylo Tymoshenko said in response to the Kherson attack, They talk about a ceasefire. This is who we are at war with. Russias defence ministry has maintained it was respecting its unilateral ceasefire and accused Ukraines forces of continued shelling. Russian forces withdrew from the port city in November, following brutal fighting and artillery shelling, which sparked celebrations across the country. Our colleagues Inna Varenytsia and Jamey Keaten reported on the aftermath of Khersons liberation in December. Read more here: Free for a month, Kherson still toils to clear Russian traps Japans prime minister Kyiv visit depending on various circumstances 08:30 , Daniel Reast Fumio Kishida, prime minster of Japan, is considering a visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, says cabinet secretary. Any decision to visit Kyiv would be weighed on various circumstances, as stated by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno. The head of President Zelenskys presidential office extended an invitation to prime minister Kishida via the countrys ambassador to Japan. Kishida also held a phone call with president Zelensky on Friday, reaffirming Japans support for Ukraines fight against Russian aggression. Prime minister Kishida, who is assuming the rotating chair of the G7, is also due to visit the UK next week to sign a defence pact, scheduled in part as a response to shared concerns over Russias invasion of Ukraine. (Kyodo News) In a statement to reporters, Kishida said I strongly condemned Russias continued aggression, and stated that Japan would do its utmost to provide assistance, including to get through the winter, in order to protect the lives of the Ukrainian people. Fighting in Ukraine has continued at a routine level over Orthodox Christmas - MoD 08:15 , Daniel Reast Fighting in Ukraine is continuing to take place over the Orthodox Christmas period, the MoD has reported in its daily intelligence report. Major fighting is said to be centring on the town of Kremina, in Luhansk Oblast. The MoD has suggested that Russian generals will highly likely consider this fighting around Kremina as a threat to the right flank of their Bakhmut sector, which they see as key for enabling any future advance to occupy the remainder of Donetsk Oblast. Intelligence has also suggested that combat has resorted to dismounted infantry fighting, often at short range due to coniferous woodland providing some cover from air observation even in winter. Both sides are highly likely struggling to accurately adjust artillery fire, says the minister update. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 7 January 2023 Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/VZU0jzivhz #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/jCenYgCOSZ Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) January 7, 2023 Ukraine reclaims Kyiv cathedral amid church dispute 08:00 , Namita Singh The Ukrainian government has taken the main cathedral of the revered historic monastery from the church previously affiliated with Moscows patriarchate and allowed its Ukrainian rival to use it for Orthodox Christmas services. The move comes as the long-running tensions between the two churches exacerbated amid Russias war in Ukraine. Ukrainian minister of culture Oleksandr Tkachenko said on Thursday that the Dormition Cathedral and the Refectory Church of the nearly 1,000-year-old Pechersk Lavra also known as Monastery of the Caves in the Ukrainian capital have been taken over by the state after the lease of them held by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) expired on 31 December. More in this report: Ukraine reclaims Kyiv cathedral amid church dispute Putin war aims unchanged but lacks manpower, morale, says Pentagon 07:45 , Namita Singh President Vladimir Putins aim of seizing Ukrainian territory has not changed, but Russian forces continue to suffer from military weaknesses including the amount of troops they have, the Pentagon said yesterday, as Washington hopes the latest record weapons package for Kyiv will help Ukraine retake territory occupied by Russia. Putin has not given up his aims of dominating Ukraine and continuing to acquire Ukraines territory, said Laura Cooper, a deputy assistant secretary of defense focusing on Russia and Ukraine. But the reality of Russian weaknesses, the Russian armed forces weaknesses has collided with those aims, Ms Cooper said, adding that Russian troops also suffer from low morale. People in occupied Ukraine town mark Christmas Eve in home after church shelled 07:30 , Namita Singh Worshippers in the eastern occupied Ukrainian town of Volnovakha yesterday marked the Russian Orthodox Christmas Eve in a makeshift chapel that was set up in a home after their church suffered shelling damage. Vera Barda, 74, said the congregation had initially met in a tent after the church was hit during what Russia calls its special military operation in Ukraine. A priest blesses water for a woman as local residents dressed in national costumes celebrate Epiphany in Kryvorivnya village in the Carpathian Mountains near Ivano-Frankivsk, western Ukraine, 06 January 2023 (EPA) I offered the priest (my place) saying there was a stove and electricity, so it was warmer than in a tent ... he agreed at once and in three weeks we restored everything, she said. During the service, carried out in a converted cramped room decked out in icons, an Orthodox priest dressed in a ceremonial white robe burned incense while the mainly elderly congregation made the sign of the cross. Iranian drone maker sanctioned for supplying Moscow 07:15 , Namita Singh The US yesterday hit six executives and board members of an Iranian drone manufacturer with sanctions after the firm allegedly supplied Moscow with drones that Russian forces have been using to attack Ukraine. Qods Aviation Industries, a previously sanctioned Iranian defence manufacturer, is alleged to be responsible for the design and production of unmanned aerial vehicles used to conduct strikes on civilians during Russias invasion of Ukraine. The Treasury Department says the firm changed its name to Light Airplanes Design and Manufacturing Industries in mid-2020 to evade sanctions. Read the details in this report: Iranian drone maker sanctioned for supplying Moscow Putins Russian ceasefire falters as US pledges more military equipment to Ukraine 07:00 , Liam James A temporary ceasefire unilaterally imposed by Vladimir Putin on Russias forces in Ukraine appears to have little effect on the ground with artillery fire ringing out on the frontline (Lucy Skoulding writes). Russias Defence Ministry was at pains to point out that troops were upholding the pause along the entire line of contact, accusing Ukraine of shelling Russian-held territory despite the fact that Kyiv never agreed to the ceasefire, dismissing it as a ploy by Moscow to buy time to reinforce troops that have taken heavy losses. President Putin ordered the 36-hour ceasefire from midday on Friday (9am GMT) to observe Orthodox Christmas and called on Kyiv to reciprocate. The governor of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine Serhiy Haidai, accused Russian troops of opening fire 14 times during the first three hours of the ceasefire, adding that forces had tried to storm one of the villages liberated by Ukraine in the area. Explosions were also said to have been heard on other parts of the frontline in the east, which Ukrainian soldiers said were incoming Russian rocket fire. Putins Russian ceasefire falters as US pledges more military equipment to Ukraine Russian Orthodox Church backs war in Ukraine 06:45 , Namita Singh With Vladimir Putin attending midnight Christmas mass, the Russian Orthodox Church has announced its backing for the war in Ukraine. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow on Thursday called for both sides to observe a 36-hour Christmas truce that Putin had announced. In a service given to mark the Divine Liturgy, Kirill on Friday criticised Ukraine for cracking down on a branch of the Orthodox church with longstanding ties to Moscow. Russian president Vladimir Putin, background center, attends the Christmas service at the Annunciation Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, 7 January 2023 (AP) Ukraines security service has raided property owned by the church and last month accused a senior cleric of engaging in anti-Ukrainian activity by supporting Russian policies. Let us pray for our brothers and sisters and let us believe that someday these diabolical temptations will recede, said Kirill, mocking what he called the pathetic attempts by Kyiv to destroy the church in Ukraine. Putin attends Orthodox Christmas service by himself in Kremlin 06:30 , Namita Singh Russian president Vladimir Putin attended an Orthodox Church Christmas service by himself last night inside a Kremlin cathedral rather than joining other worshippers in a public celebration. Russias RIA news agency said it was the first time in years that Mr Putin had marked Christmas in Moscow rather than in the region around the capital. State television showed two live clips of him inside the gilded Cathedral of the Annunciation as Orthodox priests conducted the midnight service, known as the Divine Liturgy. Russian president Vladimir Putin attends the Christmas service at the Annunciation Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Friday, 6 January 2023 (AP) Russian president Vladimir Putin attends the Christmas service at the Annunciation Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin in Moscow, Russia (AP) Many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on 6 and 7 January. Mr Putin, wearing a blue jacket and a high-necked white sweater, was the sole worshipper and crossed himself several times before television coverage cut away to a public service in Moscows Christ the Saviour Cathedral. The Russian president, who celebrated Easter last year in the cathedral with thousands of others, also attended Christmas by himself last year in his official Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow. In 2021, he took part in a public Divine Liturgy in Novgorod. Puting trying to find oxygen: Biden expresses mistrust over Kremlin-ordered truce 06:15 , Namita Singh US president Joe Biden expressed wariness about the Russian ceasefire, saying it was interesting that Vladimir Putin was ready to bomb hospitals, nurseries and churches in recent weeks on Christmas and New Years. I think (Putin) is trying to find some oxygen Joe Biden US State Department spokesman Ned Price said Washington had little faith in the intentions behind this announcement, adding that Kremlin officials have given us no reason to take anything that they offer at face value. Priests bless water in a river as locals celebrate Epiphany in Kryvorivnya village in the Carpathian Mountains near Ivano-Frankivsk, western Ukraine, 6 January 2023 (EPA) The Institute for the Study of War agreed the truce could be a ruse allowing Russia to regroup. Such a pause would disproportionately benefit Russian troops and begin to deprive Ukraine of the initiative, the think tank said late Thursday. Putin cannot reasonably expect Ukraine to meet the terms of this suddenly declared cease-fire, and may have called for the cease-fire to frame Ukraine as unaccommodating and unwilling to take the necessary steps toward negotiations. And Anna Borshchevskaya, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute, said that whether or not the cease-fire holds, I dont take it at face value. When Russia announces cease-fires, in the way Russia conducts war, there are usually ulterior motives, she said. Historically, what the Russian government and Russian military usually do when they announce a cease-fire is to use it as a tactical opportunity, to just take a breather or gain a little bit of space. Belarusian President visits military base where Russian troops stationed 06:00 , Liam James Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko visited a military base where Russian troops are stationed, the countrys defence ministry said on Friday. During the meeting, Mr Lukashenko and an unnamed representative from the Russian army discussed the two countries joint military drills, it said. At this stage, units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are ready to carry out tasks as intended, the representative said. Belarus, which is closely allied with Moscow, said on Thursday that it will receive more weapons and equipment from Russia as the two boost their military co-operation, fuelling fears it could be used as a staging post to attack Ukraine from the north. Minsk has said it will not enter the war in Ukraine, but Russia used Belarus as a launch pad for its invasion in February and continues to use Belarusian airspace for drone and missile strikes, Kyiv says. Global food prices hit record high amid Ukraine war 05:45 , Namita Singh Global prices for food commodities like grain and vegetable oils were the highest on record last year even after falling for nine months in a row, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said, as Russias war in Ukraine, drought and other factors drove up inflation and worsened hunger worldwide. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly traded food commodities, dipped by 1.9 per cent in December from a month earlier, the Rome-based organisation said yesterday. For the whole year, it averaged 143.7 points, more than 14 per cent above the 2021 average, which also saw large increases. More in this report: Global food prices in 2022 hit record high amid drought, war Explainer: How armored vehicles aid Ukraine at critical time 05:30 , Namita Singh Looking ahead to a likely spring offensive, the US and Germany are sending Ukraine an array of armored vehicles, including 50 tank-killing Bradleys, to expand its ability to move troops to the front lines and beef up its forces against Russia as the war nears its first anniversary. The vehicles dont fulfill Ukraines request for combat tanks. But they provide a strategic war-fighting capability as the season change brings muddy terrain and Ukraine launches an aggressive campaign to recoup territory taken by Russia, particularly in the east. Read this report to find more about the Bradley and other armored carriers, and what they bring to the fight: EXPLAINER: How armored vehicles aid Ukraine at critical time Ceasefire needs to be taken with a grain of salt 05:15 , Namita Singh Shortly before the ceasefire was meant to start, rockets slammed into a residential building in Kramatorsk, close to the eastern front line, damaging 14 homes, though with no casualties as many people have fled. Its bad, very bad, said Oleksnadr, 36, outside a supermarket at the time of the attack. We need to pressure them, get them to leave, maybe more air defence systems would help. This happens often, not only on festive occasions. Every other day. A local resident pushes his bicycle past hedgehog' tank traps and rubble, down a street in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on 6 January 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine (AFP via Getty Images) One rescue worker was killed and four others injured when Russian forces shelled a fire department in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson before the deadline early on Friday, the regional governor said. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the Russian ceasefire out of hand as a ploy for Russia to buy time to bring in equipment and ammunition after sustaining crippling losses at the front line. Scores of Russian troops were killed in one attack over the New Year weekend. Laura Cooper, a US deputy assistant secretary of defence focusing on Russia and Ukraine, remarked to reporters in Washington yesterday that Russian president Vladimir Putins statement about a ceasefire needed to be taken with a grain of salt. This is the same man who said he would not invade Ukraine Laura Cooper 05:00 , Liam James The United States said it will send Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine to bolster Kyivs fight against Russias invasion. The delivery, expected to total around 50 units, comes alongside a commitment from Germany to send its own armored vehicles to Ukraine and a similar move by France last week. What is a Bradley Fighting Vehicle? The Bradley is a tracked, medium-armored vehicle armed with a 25-mm gun. Named after a general who commanded US troops in World War II, it is operated by a crew of three and depending on the version can carry seven soldiers around the battlefield. In addition to its turret-mounted gun it can carry a tube-launched, optically tracked, wireless-guided (TOW) missile launcher that can destroy tanks. Made by BAE Systems , they weigh 80,000 pounds and can go about 38 mph (61 kph), according to the US army. When will the Bradleys arrive in Ukraine? If shipped by sea, the trip could take several weeks. If Bradleys that the US has in Europe are sent to Ukraine, the timeline would be much shorter. Ukrainians will need training on how to operate the Bradleys. Why does Ukraine want them? The TOW missiles aboard a Bradley are tank killers and Ukraine can use that firepower in conjunction with its own tanks as a part of the mechanised combined arms team, an advanced fighting tactic Ukrainians will receive training for in the coming weeks. How many Bradleys does the United States have? The US has thousands of Bradleys. Does the decision to send armored personnel carriers mean that heavy tanks will come next? Its unclear. While Ukraine has requested advanced tanks such as the M1 Abrams, Nato has been reluctant to send them because of fears that this could further escalate the war. A US Bradley Fighting Vehicle in Latvia, 2019 (Reuters) Orthodox murderers wish you a merry Christmas 04:45 , Namita Singh The Ukrainian governor of the front line eastern Luhansk province, Serhiy Haidai, said that in the first three hours of the purported ceasefire the Russians had shelled Ukrainian positions 14 times and stormed one settlement three times. Orthodox murderers wish you a merry Christmas, he wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Russias Orthodox Church observes Christmas on 7 January. The main Orthodox Church in Ukraine has rejected the authority of Moscow, and many Ukrainian believers have shifted their calendar to celebrate Christmas on 25 December, as in the West. Locals clean debris after shelling in Kherson, Ukraine, 6 January 2022 (EPA) Vladimir Putin attended a service by himself inside a Kremlin cathedral rather than joining other worshippers in a public celebration. State television showed two live clips of Putin inside the gilded Cathedral of the Annunciation as Orthodox priests conducted the midnight service, known as the Divine Liturgy. Summit to discuss measures to expose atrocities 04:30 , Namita Singh Russias forces should know they cannot act with impunity and the UK will back Ukraine until justice is served, said justice secretary Dominic Raab as London prepares to an host international war crimes meeting in March. Almost a year on from the illegal invasion, the international community must give its strongest backing to the ICC so war criminals can be held to account for the atrocities were witnessing, he said. The meeting will allow countries to determine how to provide further help to the court, the Ministry of Justice said. A Ukrainian tank sits along a street in the town of Kupiansk which has experienced regular shelling from the Russians on 6 January 2023 in Kupiansk, Ukraine (Getty Images) Officials said this would include offering practical support, such as helping to gather information and share evidence of atrocities committed on the ground. Ministers will also discuss how to help victims and witnesses provide testimonies, without causing them further distress. Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius, co-host of the London meeting and the Netherlands minister of justice, said: The reports and images of Russias unlawful and unprovoked armed attack on Ukraine are horrific. For us it is crystal clear, these crimes may not go unpunished. Last year the UK offered a package of support to the ICC which included an additional 1m funding and dedicated police assistance. 'What ceasefire?': shells fly at Ukraine front despite Putin's truce 04:15 , Namita Singh Russian and Ukrainian forces exchanged artillery fire at the front line in Ukraine yesterday, even after Moscow said it had ordered its troops to stop shooting for a unilateral truce that was firmly rejected by Kyiv. President Vladimir Putin ordered the 36-hour ceasefire from midday on Friday to observe Russian Orthodox Christmas. Ukraine has said it has no intention to stop fighting, rejecting the purported truce as a stunt by Moscow to buy time to reinforce troops that have taken heavy losses this week. What ceasefire? Can you hear? said a Ukrainian soldier, using the nom de guerre Vyshnya, as an explosion rang out in the distance at the front line near Kreminna in eastern Ukraine. What do they want to achieve if they keep on shooting? We know, we have learnt not to trust them. People move through the town of Kupiansk which has experienced regular shelling from the Russians on 6 January 2023 in Kupiansk, Ukraine (Getty Images) Russias defence ministry said its troops began observing the ceasefire from noon Moscow time along the entire line of contact, but said Ukraine had kept up shelling populated areas and military positions. Reuters heard explosions of what Ukrainian troops at the front line described as incoming Russian rocket fire. Ukrainians fired back from tanks. The Ukrainian troops said it was quieter than many other days because snowy weather had made it hard to fly drones and spot targets. The situation today is exactly the same as yesterday, the day before yesterday, last week and last month, said one, concealing his face with a scarf. There is no point in talking to them, in believing in their promises, orders and decrees. Ukraine will need 1.5bn to restore telecomms damaged in war, UN finds 04:00 , Liam James Ukraine will need at least $1.79bn (1.5bn) to restore its telecommunications sector to pre-war levels, a UN agency said in a report published on Friday alleging Russia had destroyed completely or seized networks in parts of the country. The long-anticipated and sensitive damage assessment by the Geneva-based International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was commissioned in April to assess the extent of destruction of Ukraines communication networks as a result of Russias invasion last February. The report, which covers the first six months of the war, found that there was considerable damage and destruction to communications infrastructure in more than 10 out of 24 regions of Ukraine. Since the beginning of military attacks, with the purpose of using the facilities in its interests and for its own needs, the aggressor either destroyed completely or seized the regular operation of public and private terrestrial telecommunication and critical infrastructure in the temporarily occupied and war-affected territories of Ukraine, the report said. It also alleges that Moscow unilaterally switched Ukrainian dialling codes, fixed by the UN agency, to Russian ones and that there had been 1,123 cyber attacks against Ukraine. An official with the Russian diplomatic mission in Geneva dismissed the reports allegations, saying they were designed to divert attention from unspecified atrocities committed by Ukraine on Russian-occupied territory. The foreign ministry in Moscow did not immediately respond to a request for comment. London to host international war crimes meeting to discuss Ukraine 03:30 , Namita Singh The investigation into alleged war crimes in Ukraine will be at the top of the agenda when justice ministers from across the world meet in London in the spring. Deputy prime minister and justice secretary Dominic Raab will host the meeting in March at Lancaster House alongside his Dutch counterpart. People move through the town of Kupiansk which has experienced regular shelling from the Russians on 6January 2023 in Kupiansk, Ukraine (Getty Images) The group will hear from the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Karim Khan about the courts work and the role of the international community in supporting its investigations. It comes as Russian president Vladimir Putin continues to target crucial energy infrastructure as he looks to plunge Ukrainian citizens into darkness and wipe out central heating supplies during the freezing winter temperatures. Mr Khan is currently investigating accusations that Russian soldiers have carried out war crimes during Moscows invasion of Ukraine, with claims from Kyiv that civilians have been executed and raped during the 11-month conflict. Militias from Luhansk and Donetsk to drain Russian finances MoD 03:00 , Liam James The absorption of militias from the Luhansk Peoples Republic (LNR) and Donetsk Peoples Republic (LPR) carried out last week is set to squeeze out Russian finances and weigh heavily on Moscow politically, the British defence ministry said today. The status and identities of the DNR and LNR likely remain divisive within the Russian system. Even before the February 2022 invasion, these territories represented a significant drain on Russian finances, the defence ministry said in its latest intelligence update. Now the Kremlin has overtly committed to supporting them, they will likely constitute a large political, diplomatic and financial cost for Russia which will last well beyond the current phase of the conflict, the MoD said, noting Russias claim over the LNR and DNR as intrinsic parts of the Russian Federation following the fixed accession referendums in September last year. Russia has discreetly controlled both since 2014, creating DNRs 1st Army Corps and LNRs 2nd Army Corps and supporting them with Russian military officers, according to the ministry. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 6 January 2023 Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/Kl5dKmec5D #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/tAU08v6IFp Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) January 6, 2023 McDonalds set to exit Kazakhstan following supply chain issues caused by Ukraine war 02:00 , Liam James McDonalds is set to abandon business in Kazakhstan following supply chain disruption triggered by the Ukraine crisis (Eleanor Noyce writes). Its exit highlights the supply issues faced by many of the countrys businesses in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine and Western sanctions on Moscow, Bloomberg News reported. In November, the company was forced to temporarily close its 24 Kazakhstan restaurants owned by TOO Food Solutions KZ - after cutting ties with Russian meat suppliers. Faced with higher prices and freight costs to transport supplies, the Kazakhstan arm of the business was left unable to source a viable alternative to Russian-produced meat patties, faced with the threat of operating at a loss. The fast-food chain exited Russia in May, notably banning its local franchises from producing meat patties from Russian suppliers. McDonalds set to exit Kazakhstan following supply chain issues caused by Ukraine war Zelensky says US Bradleys are exactly what is needed' 01:00 , Liam James A US commitment to supply Kyiv with Bradley Fighting Vehicles for the first time is exactly what Ukraine needs, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address on Friday. Mr Zelensky said the formal announcement showed his visit to Washington last month had produced concrete results. The weapons are part of a new $3bn (2.5bn) US weapons aid package for Ukraine. For the first time we will receive Bradley armoured vehicles - this is exactly what is needed, Mr Zelensky said, thanking US President Joe Biden and the US Congress. Mr Zelensky who has been pressing allies relentlessly to send more weapons also thanked Germany, which will send Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles and a Patriot air-defence. So, as of now, there are more air defence systems, more armoured vehicles, western tanks which is a first - more cannons and shells ... and all this means more protection for Ukrainians and all Europeans against any kind of Russian terror, he said. Putins Russian ceasefire falters as US pledges more military equipment to Ukraine 00:00 , Liam James A temporary ceasefire unilaterally imposed by Vladimir Putin on Russias forces in Ukraine appears to have little effect on the ground with artillery fire ringing out on the frontline (Lucy Skoulding writes). Russias Defence Ministry was at pains to point out that troops were upholding the pause along the entire line of contact, accusing Ukraine of shelling Russian-held territory despite the fact that Kyiv never agreed to the ceasefire, dismissing it as a ploy by Moscow to buy time to reinforce troops that have taken heavy losses. President Putin ordered the 36-hour ceasefire from midday on Friday (9am GMT) to observe Orthodox Christmas and called on Kyiv to reciprocate. The governor of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine Serhiy Haidai, accused Russian troops of opening fire 14 times during the first three hours of the ceasefire, adding that forces had tried to storm one of the villages liberated by Ukraine in the area. Explosions were also said to have been heard on other parts of the frontline in the east, which Ukrainian soldiers said were incoming Russian rocket fire. Putins Russian ceasefire falters as US pledges more military equipment to Ukraine Putin pushing for same war goals despite lack of manpower, says Pentagon Friday 6 January 2023 23:00 , Liam James President Vladimir Putins aim of seizing Ukrainian territory has not changed, but Russian forces continue to suffer from military weaknesses including the amount of troops they have, the Pentagon said today, as Washington hopes the latest record weapons package for Kyiv will help Ukraine retake territory occupied by Russia. Putin has not given up his aims of dominating Ukraine and continuing to acquire Ukraines territory, said Laura Cooper, a deputy assistant secretary of defense focusing on Russia and Ukraine. But the reality of Russian weaknesses, the Russian armed forces weaknesses has collided with those aims, Ms Cooper said, adding that Russian troops also suffer from low morale. Ukrainians mark Orthodox Christmas Eve Friday 6 January 2023 21:29 , Liam James Worshippers in the eastern occupied Ukrainian town of Volnovakha today marked the Russian Orthodox Christmas Eve in a makeshift chapel that was set up in a home after their church suffered shelling damage. Vera Barda, 74, said the congregation had initially met in a tent after the church was hit during what Russia calls its special military operation in Ukraine. I offered the priest [my place] saying there was a stove and electricity, so it was warmer than in a tent ... he agreed at once and in three weeks we restored everything, she said. During the service, carried out in a converted cramped room decked out in icons, an Orthodox priest dressed in a ceremonial white robe burned incense while the mainly elderly congregation made the sign of the cross. Believers queue to approach a priest as they attend the Orthodox Christmas Eve service in a chapel located in a former residential building in Volnovakha (Reuters) Worshippers lit candles to mark the occasion (Reuters) A woman lights candles at the ceremony in Volnovakha (Reuters) Germany offers more support Friday 6 January 2023 19:20 , Sam Rkaina White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the Bradleys will be particularly useful to Ukraine in ongoing heavy fighting in largely rural areas of eastern Ukraine. Its very much tied to the war that were seeing on the ground right now and what we anticipate well see throughout the winter months, Kirby said. The new U.S. package was detailed by the White House as Germany announced it would supply around 40 Marder armored personnel carriers to Ukraine in this years first quarter. Germany announced its intention to send the Marder APCs following a phone call between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Joe Biden on Thursday. These 40 vehicles should be ready in the first quarter already so that they can be handed over to Ukraine, Scholzs spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, told reporters in Berlin. Germany plans to train Ukrainian forces to use the vehicles, and Hebestreit said experts expect that process to take around eight weeks. Germany has already given significant military aid, including howitzers, Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and an IRIS-T surface-to-air missile system, with three more of those set to follow this year. White House announces new $3.75bn military assistance package Friday 6 January 2023 18:47 , Sam Rkaina The White House has announced a new $3.75 billion military assistance package to help Ukraine and its neighbours on NATOs eastern flank as Russias invasion of Ukraine grinds on. The latest tranche of assistance will include for the first time Bradley armored vehicles for Ukraine. The armored carrier is used to transport troops to combat and is known as a tank-killer because of the anti-tank missile it can fire. The biggest U.S. assistance package to date for Kyiv includes a $2.85 billion drawdown from the Pentagons stocks that will be sent directly to Ukraine and $225 million in foreign military financing to build the long-term capacity and support modernization of Ukraines military, according to the White House. It also includes $682 million in foreign military financing for European allies to help backfill donations of military equipment theyve made to Ukraine. The war is at a critical point and we must do everything we can to help the Ukrainians resist Russian aggression, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in announcing the aid. The direct assistance for Ukraine includes 50 Bradleys as well as 500 anti-tank missiles and 250,000 rounds of ammunition for the carriers. The U.S. is also sending 100 M113 armored personnel carriers, 55 mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles, or MRAPS, and 138 HUMVEES, as well as ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and air defense systems and other weapons, according to U.S. officials. Russian hacking team targeted three nuclear research laboratories in the US' Friday 6 January 2023 16:57 , Sam Rkaina A Russian hacking team known as Cold River targeted three nuclear research laboratories in the United States this past summer, according to internet records reviewed by five cyber security experts. Between August and September, Cold River targeted three institutions by creating fake login pages and emailing nuclear scientists in a bid to make them reveal their passwords. The institutions targeted included Brookhaven (BNL), Argonne (ANL) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories (LLNL), according to internet records. Multiple personal email addresses used to set up Cold River missions belong to Andrey Korinets, a 35-year-old IT worker and bodybuilder in Syktyvkar, about 1,600 km (1,000 miles) northeast of Moscow. The digital blitz against the U.S. labs occurred as U.N. experts entered Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory to inspect Europes biggest atomic power plant and assess the risk of what both sides said could be a devastating radiation disaster amid heavy shelling nearby. In May, Cold River broke into and leaked emails belonging to the former head of Britains MI6 spy service. That was just one of several hack and leak operations last year by Russia-linked hackers in which confidential communications were made public in Britain, Poland and Latvia, according to cybersecurity experts and Eastern European security officials. Usage of these accounts left a trail of digital evidence from different hacks back to Korinets online life, including social media accounts and personal websites. It is unclear whether Korinets has been involved in hacking operations since 2020. He offered no explanation of why these email addresses were used and did not respond to further phone calls and emailed questions. Putins ceasefire announcement not credible, says EU foreign policy chief Friday 6 January 2023 16:40 , Lucy Skoulding The EUs foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says Putins announcement of a 36-hour ceasefire in the war to mark Orthodox Christmas is not credible. Mr Borrell said: The Kremlin totally lacks credibility and this declaration of a unilateral ceasefire is not credible. It was Russia that launched this illegitimate aggression. When the aggressor talks of a ceasefire, I think the response that comes to us all is scepticism in the face of such hypocrisy. He added: In the absence of such concrete actions, a unilateral ceasefire seems to be an attempt by Russia to buy time to regroup its troops and try to repair its damaged international reputation. Satellite images reveal scale of devastation in Ukraines Bakhmut over recent months Friday 6 January 2023 16:38 , Sukhmani Sethi The scale of the destruction of the besieged city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine during the past few months has been laid bare by new satellite images. Maxar Technologies published a series of before and after images of the city, which has been the focal point of intense fighting between forces from Ukraine and Russia. The images, comparing sites between August and the end of December/beginning of January, reveal extensive damage to buildings, homes, infrastructure and the fields in and surrounding Bakhmut, which had a pre-Russian invasion population of around 70,000. Satellite images reveal scale of devastation in Ukraines Bakhmut Germany to coordinate with the US on fighting vehicles and air defence with Ukraine Friday 6 January 2023 16:28 , Sukhmani Sethi German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht spoke with her U.S. counterpart today to coordinate on fighting vehicles and air defence for Ukraine, her ministry said. Lambrecht and U.S Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed the current war situation and how to coordinate further military support, particularly regarding infantry fighting vehicles and a Patriot missile defence system pledged by Berlin, the German defence ministry said in a statement. This follows after Berlin joined Washington and Paris in sending more weaponry to Kyiv. Together with out allies, we continue to support Ukraine in unity, solidarity and close coordination, Lambrecht said. BBC reports fighting is continuing in Ukraine despite ceasefire Friday 6 January 2023 16:10 , Lucy Skoulding The BBC has reported that fighting is still ongoing in Ukraine despite Putin declaring a temporary ceasefire at midday today. Its not been confirmed whether theres been fighting after the ceasefire or not, but there are reports artillery fire has been heard from the front and air raid sirens have been sounding across Kyiv. Serhiy Haidai, the regional leader of Luhansk said Putins Christmas ceasefire is a lie and a trap. He advised people not to attend Orthodox church services or gather in any crowded places in case of Russian attacks. Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun said: We are two and a half hours into this proclaimed ceasefire, and actually the whole territory of Ukraine is under air raid alert. So I think that speaks for itself. Basically the ceasefire, the Russians are making it up. So, two hours into the announced ceasefire, air raid sirens are blaring all over #Ukraine. Like literally, he couldn't even hold it for two hours. That's how much one can trust #Putin. Inna Sovsun (@InnaSovsun) January 6, 2023 Pictures show shelling damage in Kherson Friday 6 January 2023 15:40 , Lucy Skoulding New photos show the extent of damage in the Ukrainian city of Kherson after shelling from Russian troops. In one photo, a local resident runs past a burning house hit by the Russian shelling on Orthodox Christmas Eve. Photos also show extensive damage to buildings in the city after the shelling. Putin called a ceasefire from midday (9am UK time) today to last 36 hours to mark Orthodox Christmas. Russians and many Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on 7 January. It comes after Russian forces ramped up their attacks on 25 December and New Years Eve. A local resident runs past a burning building in Kherson, Ukraine (AP) This still from a video shows a person standing among rubble of a building hit and damaged by shelling in Kherson (via REUTERS) Reports of artillery heard from frontline Friday 6 January 2023 15:10 , Lucy Skoulding Reports are coming out of Ukraine that artillery fire has been heard after Putin called a temporary ceasefire earlier today. One witness in the Russian-occupied regional capital Donetsk, close to the front, described to Reuters that artillery fired from pro-Russian positions on the citys outskirts could be heard after the truce was meant to take effect. Denis Pushilin, the Russian-installed administrator in Donetsk, said on Thursday that Mr Putins order only covered offensive operations and his forces would hit back if fired upon. Putin called a temporary ceasefire from today for 36 hours to mark Orthodox Christmas (Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images) Ukraines presidential adviser says Putins ceasefire is primitive and cynical deception' Friday 6 January 2023 14:45 , Lucy Skoulding Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak has said Russias temporary ceasefire for Christmas is cynical deception. He tweeted: Air alert all over . Children are again in cold bomb shelters. A fire station was shelled in Kherson. This is the essence of Russian truce: kill in the back, imitating silence. Never. Never take any RFs words seriously. It is always a primitive & cynical deception. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak has said Russias temporary ceasefire for Christmas is cynical deception. Jan 6. Air alert all over . Children are again in cold bomb shelters. A fire station was shelled in Kherson. This is the essence of "Russian truce": kill in the back, imitating silence. "Never". Never take any RF's words seriously. It is always a primitive & cynical deception. (@Podolyak_M) January 6, 2023 New photos show ceremony of Russian reservists in Omsk ahead of departure Friday 6 January 2023 14:15 , Lucy Skoulding New photos show Russian reservist soldiers gathered in Omsk in Russia. They are gathering for a ceremony ahead of their departure. The photos show troops standing in lines together. Russian reservists gather in Omsk for a ceremony ahead of departure (REUTERS) Putin launched fresh strikes hours before temporary ceasefire Friday 6 January 2023 13:42 , Lucy Skoulding Russian shells hit the city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsky region of Ukraine just hours before Putins temporary ceasefire for Orthodox Christmas, according to Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the office of Ukraines president. Tymoshenko wrote on social media that Russians hit the city with rockets twice. A residential building was hit but there were no reported injuries. Mayor of Kramatorsk Oleksandr Honcharenko urged residents to stay in shelters, reporting that 14 homes were damaged as a result of the rocket that hit the residential building. Oleksnadr told Reuters: Its bad, very bad. We need to pressure them, get them to leave, maybe more air defence systems would help. This happens often, not only on festive occasions. Every other day. Putins ceasefire in doubt as sirens heard across Kyiv Friday 6 January 2023 13:15 , Lucy Skoulding There are doubts over Putins ceasefire as air raid sirens are reportedly still ringing out over Kyiv. Member of the Ukraine parliament Inna Sovsun tweeted: So, two hours into the announced ceasefire, air raid sirens are blaring all over #Ukraine. Like literally, he couldnt even hold it for two hours. Thats how much one can trust #Putin. So, two hours into the announced ceasefire, air raid sirens are blaring all over #Ukraine. Like literally, he couldn't even hold it for two hours. That's how much one can trust #Putin. Inna Sovsun (@InnaSovsun) January 6, 2023 President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected calls from the Kremlin for Ukraine to reciprocate, accusing Russia of wanting to halt Kyivs progress in the bitter fight in eastern Ukraine. The US President Joe Biden was also sceptical: I found it interesting. He [Putin] was ready to bomb hospitals and nurseries and churches on the 25th and New Years. I think hes trying to find some oxygen. Ukrainian priests holding service before start of Orthodox Christmas in Kyiv Friday 6 January 2023 13:02 , Lucy Skoulding Pictures from Kyiv show people lighting candles as Ukrainian priests hold a service before the start of Orthodox Christmas. In the photos, people are gathering in the St. Michaels Monastery in Kyiv. Today is Christmas Eve for many Ukrainians as well as Russians. Saturday 7 January is Christmas Day. People light candles to mark Orthodox Christmas in Kyiv (AP) Ukrainian priests holding a service before the start of the Orthodox Chrismas in Kyiv (AP) Germany plans to send 40 vehicles to Ukraine Friday 6 January 2023 12:15 , Lucy Skoulding Reuters reports that Germany is planning to send around 40 vehicles to Ukraine. This would constitute a battalion of Marders, which are armoured tanks. A Marder, which is an armoured tank (AP2011) Air raid sirens across Ukraine despite ceasefire from Russia Friday 6 January 2023 11:45 , Lucy Skoulding Air raid sirens have been heard all across Ukraine today despite Putin announcing a temporary ceasefire for Russia to mark Orthodox Christmas. The head of the Russian Orthodox church asked for a ceasefire to start at midday in Moscow (9am UK time) on Friday and last for 36 hours. Friday is Christmas Eve in Moscow and Saturday 7 January is Christmas Day. But member of the Ukrainian parliament, Kira Rudik, tweeted that air raid sirens can be heard all across Ukraine. Russian shells hit Kramatorsk in Ukraine Friday 6 January 2023 11:13 , Lucy Skoulding On Christmas Eve for Russians and for many Ukrainian people, Russian shells have hit Kramatorsk, a city in the Donetsk region of Ukraine that Russia has claimed. Mayor Oleksandr Honcharenko said on social media: Kramatorsk is under fire. Stay in shelters. There are not further details of damage at this stage. The Kyiv Independent tweeted: Mayor: Russian forces attack educational sites in Kramatorsk. Pictures posted by Mayor Honcharenko to Facebook show that Russian strikes hit a local design college and a mechanical engineering academy. No casualties were reported. Mayor: Russian forces attack educational sites in Kramatorsk. Pictures posted by Mayor Honcharenko to Facebook show that Russian strikes hit a local design college and a mechanical engineering academy. No casualties were reported. Oleksandr Honcharenko/ Facebook pic.twitter.com/9YsUycc7aJ The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) August 19, 2022 Casualties as Russian soldiers shelled fire station in Kherson Friday 6 January 2023 10:23 , Lucy Skoulding Russian soldiers have violated principles of international law after shelling a fire station in Kherson, Ukraine, causing casualties. Serhii Kruk, head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, said on the state emergency service Telegram channel on Friday: The Russians have once again confirmed the fact that they cannot be trusted. Kherson. Another shelling of our unit. Dead and wounded. He said the act was violating all the principles and norms of international law. It is the second time a fire department has been shelled within two days. It is not yet known how many people are dead or injured as a result of the shelling. Belarusian President visits military base where Russian troops stationed Friday 6 January 2023 09:31 , Lucy Skoulding Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko visited a military base where Russian troops are stationed, the defence ministry said on Friday. During the meeting, Lukashenko and an unnamed representative from the Russian army discussed the two countries joint military drills, it said. At this stage, units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are ready to carry out tasks as intended, the representative said. Belarus, which is closely allied with Moscow, said on Thursday that it will receive more weapons and equipment from Russia as the two boost their military co-operation, fuelling fears it could be used as a staging post to attack Ukraine from the north. Minsk has said it will not enter the war in Ukraine, but Russia used Belarus as a launch pad for its invasion in February and continues to use Belarusian airspace for drone and missile strikes, Kyiv says. Lukashenko and Putin (EPA) Russian troops to begin temporary ceasefire Friday 6 January 2023 08:58 , Lucy Skoulding Putins troops are starting a temporary ceasefire in the Ukraine war from midday in Moscow (9am UK time) on Friday to mark Orthodox Christmas. The head of the Russian Orthodox church called for a truce to start today and last for 36 hours. Zelensky has accused Putin of using the truce as a means to halt Kyivs progress in eastern Ukraine. And US president Biden believes Putin is using the opportunity to find some oxygen. He said: I found it interesting. He [Putin] was ready to bomb hospitals and nurseries and churches on the 25th and New Years. I think hes trying to find some oxygen. President Putin (Sputnik) Putins ceasefire announcement likely intended to damage Ukraines reputation' Friday 6 January 2023 08:45 , Lucy Skoulding The US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Putins ceasefire announcements is likely an information operation to damage Ukraines reputation. The ISW tweeted: #Putins announcement that Russian forces will conduct a 36-hour ceasefire in observance of Russian Orthodox Christmas is likely an information operation intended to damage #Ukraines reputation. It added: Putin cannot reasonably expect Ukraine to meet the terms of this suddenly declared ceasefire and may have called for the ceasefire to frame Ukraine as unaccommodating and unwilling to take the necessary steps toward negotiations. NEW: #Putins announcement that Russian forces will conduct a 36-hour ceasefire in observance of Russian Orthodox Christmas is likely an information operation intended to damage #Ukraines reputation. https://t.co/v9UjOap837 pic.twitter.com/MgBPo2FRQh ISW (@TheStudyofWar) January 6, 2023 Putin ally fighting for salt and gypsum mines in Ukraine Friday 6 January 2023 08:01 , Lucy Skoulding Vladimir Putins close ally Yevgeny Prigozhin wants to take control of salt and gypsum mines near the Ukraine city of Bakhmut, a White House official has said. Prigozhin is the founder of the Wagner Group, Russias most powerful mercenary force which has been critical in Russias offensive against Bakhmut. A US official said it was believed money was the motivator behind Russias obsession with taking Bakhmut. Bakhmut in Ukraine (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies) Militias from Luhansk and Donetsk to drain Russian finances - MoD Friday 6 January 2023 07:20 , Arpan Rai The absorption of militias from the Luhansk Peoples Republic (LNR) and Donetsk Peoples Republic (LPR) carried out last week is set to squeeze out Russian finances and weigh heavily on Moscow politically, the British defence ministry said today. The status and identities of the DNR and LNR likely remain divisive within the Russian system. Even before the February 2022 invasion, these territories represented a significant drain on Russian finances, the defence ministry said in its latest intelligence update. Now the Kremlin has overtly committed to supporting them, they will likely constitute a large political, diplomatic and financial cost for Russia which will last well beyond the current phase of the conflict, the MoD said, noting Russias claim over the LNR and DNR as intrinsic parts of the Russian Federation following the fixed accession referendums in September last year. Russia has discreetly controlled both since 2014, creating DNRs 1st Army Corps and LNRs 2nd Army Corps and supporting them with Russian military officers, according to the ministry. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 6 January 2023 Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/Kl5dKmec5D #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/tAU08v6IFp Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) January 6, 2023 Satellite images capture extent of Bakhmuts destruction Friday 6 January 2023 07:01 , Arpan Rai Fresh satellite imagery shows heavy destruction of eastern Ukrainian city Bakhmut. Images taken on Wednesday reveal extensive damage to buildings, homes, infrastructure and the fields in and near Bakhmut, said space technology company Maxar. Satellite views of Bakhmut showed extensive fortifications and dragons teeth tank obstacles that have been placed in fields and along roads east of the city. Previously lush green forests and northeast highway intersections are seen neatly manicured in aerial views taken before the destruction of Bakhmut during the war. Craters and charred grounds have replaced Bakhmuts scenic fields. Additionally, the northeastern highway intersection has also been heavily damaged as seen in satellite images. Highway intersection northeast of Ukraines Bakhmut city seen before the Russian invasion of the country (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies) Craters caused by artillery and shelling seen in the fields of highway intersection northeast of Bakhmut city in Ukraine on Wednesday (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies) An overview of apartment buildings and fields in August last year before fighting targeted southern Bakhmut in Ukraine (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies) Satellite images show destroyed apartment buildings and craters in fields of southern Bakhmut in Ukraine on Wednesday (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies) Buildings and fields seen east of Bakhmut city in Ukraine in August last year before the region came under heavy shelling and missile attacks (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies) Destroyed buildings and fields dotted with craters seen east of Bakhmut city in Ukraine on Wednesday (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies) Putins ceasefire pause likely to help troops rest and recoup, to frame Ukraine - report Friday 6 January 2023 06:15 , Arpan Rai Vladimir Putins call for truce could likely be to help his forces invading Ukraine catch a break before starting the offensive in critical positions on the front lines, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Putin could have been seeking to secure a 36-hour pause for Russian troops to afford them the ability to rest, recoup, and reorient to relaunch offensive operations in critical sectors of the front. Such a pause would disproportionately benefit Russian troops and begin to deprive Ukraine of the initiative, the latest assessment by the US-based think-tank said. It added that the Russian president cannot reasonably expect Ukraine to meet the terms of this suddenly declared ceasefire and may have called for the ceasefire to frame Ukraine as unaccommodating and unwilling to take the necessary steps towards negotiations. The sudden need for a ceasefire is an intentional information tactic that Russia has previously employed, the ISW noted. Russias intention to call for a ceasefire can also be used to frame Ukrainian forces who continue to fight throughout the timeframe of the ceasefire as unwilling to work towards peace and wanting to fight at all costs. US to dispatch around 50 Bradleys in $2.85bn aid package Friday 6 January 2023 05:48 , Arpan Rai The US is sending about 50 Bradley fighting vehicles to Ukraine, two US officials said, confirming that the US army staple vehicle is part of the package worth roughly $2.8bn (2.35bn). This tranche of the security package for Ukraine is expected to be unveiled today, the officials said. An armoured vehicle with a powerful gun, the Bradley fighting carrier is manufactured by BAE systems Plc and used by the US army to transport soldiers in battlefields since the mid-1980s. The Bradley is a light vehicle but more agile than a tank and can double up as a troop carrier. The vehicle can help carry additional ammunition and communications equipment as the war heats up during the thick of winter. It has been offered as France also sent light AMX-10 RC armoured combat vehicles to Ukraine amid debates if it qualifies as a tank. US to send Ukraine dozens of Bradleys in $2.85B aid package Volodymyr Zelensky rejects Russias truce call in a tit-for-tat move Friday 6 January 2023 05:31 , Arpan Rai Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has slammed Russias ceasefire call, set to start today, and reminded the Kremlin of previous two calls for peace in November and December when at least 95,000 Russian forces had been killed in the war. Apparently both of our proposals have not been heard by the leaders of your country... In the place where they are, apparently, it is too deep to hear, Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address and added that Russia has already lost almost 110,000 of its soldiers in the war. Now they want to use Christmas as a cover to at least briefly stop the advance of our guys in Donbas and bring equipment, ammunition and mobilised men closer to our positions. What will this bring? Just another increase in the death toll, he said. Everyone in the world knows how the Kremlin uses respites at war to continue the war with renewed vigour. But to end the war faster, that is not what is needed at all, Mr Zelensky said. He added: What is needed is the citizens of Russia who will find the courage to free themselves of their shameful fear of one man in the Kremlin, at least for 36 hours, at least at Christmas time. Russias 36-hour ceasefire will do nothing for peace, says James Cleverly Friday 6 January 2023 05:01 , Arpan Rai Vladimir Putins plans for a 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine over the Russian Orthodox Christmas holiday period will do nothing to advance the prospects for peace, the UKs Foreign Secretary has said, adding that Moscow should at once withdraw its invading forces. A 36-hour pause of Russian attacks will do nothing to advance the prospects for peace. Russia must permanently withdraw its forces, relinquish its illegal control of Ukrainian territory and end its barbaric attacks against innocent civilians, James Cleverly said. Volodymyr Zelensky had proposed a Russian troop withdrawal earlier, before 25 December, but Russia rejected it. Mr Cleverly, speaking at a press conference in London alongside German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock, said tanks may well be part of future support for Ukraine, but stopped short of committing the UK to sending them. Russias 36-hour ceasefire plan will do nothing for peace, says James Cleverly Biden says Putins truce call interesting Friday 6 January 2023 04:50 , Arpan Rai Joe Biden has termed his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putins call for ceasefire in the continuing Ukraine interesting, adding that the Kremlin leaders offer is a sign of desperation. "Im reluctant to respond to anything that Putin says. I found it interesting that he was willing to bomb hospitals and nurseries and churches ... on the 25th and New Years. I mean, I think hes trying to find some oxygen," he said. The ceasefire will be observed by the Russian forces starting today as Orthodox Christians living in Russia and Ukraine will mark the festival of Christmas. Friday 6 January 2023 04:15 , Arpan Rai Good morning, welcome to our coverage of the Ukraine war on 6 January, Friday. Key developments on Jan. 5: Russian President Vladimir Putin said he ordered his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to implement a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine, which was quickly dismissed by Ukrainian authorities as a facade. The so-called Russian ceasefire is set to take effect from midday on Jan. 6 to midnight on Jan. 7 "to allow Orthodox Christians to attend Christmas services," according to Russian state media agency RIA Novosti. President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Putin's words about an Orthodox Christmas ceasefire. "Those who continued the terror against our country and sent their people to be slaughtered definitely do not value life and even more so do not seek peace," Zelensky said. The truce offer has been met with skepticism from both Kyiv and the West, with many viewing it as a ploy by Putin to regroup. "Who will believe scum that kills children, bombards maternity hospitals, tortures prisoners?" Oleksii Danilov, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary, said. U.S. President Joe Biden said he believes Putin is "trying to find some oxygen" with the proposed truce. "I'm reluctant to respond (to) anything Putin says. I found it interesting. He was ready to bomb hospitals and nurseries and churches on Dec. 25 and New Year," he told reporters. On Dec. 24, Russia launched a rocket strike on central Kherson, the southern city that was liberated in November after eight months under Russian occupation, killing ten civilians and wounding 58. On New Year's Eve, Moscow carried out its latest mass missile attack on Ukrainian cities, which resulted in one death and 28 injuries around the country. Story continues President's Office Deputy Head Kyrylo Tymoshenko reported that Moscow attacked Beryslav, Kherson Oblast, shortly after Russia's proposal, killing three people, including a 12-year-old child. According to Tymoshenko, the family was preparing for the Orthodox Christmas celebrations when the attack occurred, "but a cynical blow by Russians killed them in their own home." Attempts to capture eastern Donetsk Oblast continue The General Staff said that Russian forces are focusing their main effort on an attempt to capture the eastern Donetsk Oblast, conducting offensive operations toward Bakhmut and Lyman. Bakhmut, a city with a pre-war population of around 70,000, is one of Russia's primary targets. Seizing it could allow Russian forces to launch attacks on urban areas such as Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast. According to the Ukrainian military, Moscow's forces attacked Bakhmut, 12 settlements nearby, and four settlements near Lyman. The Donbas region, made up of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, is the scene of the war's most intense fighting. Russia invaded and occupied parts of the oblasts for the first time in 2014, including the regional capitals of Donetsk and Luhansk. In late December, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said that Bakhmut is Ukraine's "eastern fortress," where Russia has concentrated the most military equipment and weapons. More troops arriving in Belarus The Belarusian Defense Ministry reported on Jan. 5 that Russian forces continue deploying personnel, weapons, military, and special equipment in Belarus. As part of efforts to ensure the "military security of the Union State," Russia and Belarus are planning to hold joint flight and tactical training in order to increase the combat readiness of their aviation units, the ministry added. While Belarus has allowed Russia to use its territory to attack Ukraine, Belarusian troops have not yet been deployed to the front line. At the same time, General Oleksandr Pavliuk, Commander of the Forces and Means of Defense of Kyiv, has announced that Ukrainian military forces have formed a special fighting group on the border with Belarus, ready to defend against any potential offensive action. "The multi-level system of protection of Ukrainian troops will not allow them (invading soldiers) to go beyond the Belarusian border," Pavliuk said. Pavliuk emphasized that fortified positions and long-term defense structures have been established, making it very difficult for any Russian and Belarusian troops to cross the border. He said that the defense system spans approximately 1,000 kilometers of total fortified lines. In an interview with The Economist on Dec. 15, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi said that Russia is almost certainly preparing for a new large offensive in spring, which could be a second attempt at taking Kyiv from the north. On the other hand, Ukraine's military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, said in an interview published on Jan. 4 that Kyiv 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 Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk urged people living on the territories occupied by Russia to abstain from attending church services and crowded places during the Orthodox Christmas celebrations. The Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 7 remains the main celebration date for most believers, although Ukraine has made the Western Christmas on Dec. 25 an official holiday as well. Ukraine has received information that Russians are preparing terrorist attacks in churches, Vereshchuk wrote on Facebook. A Ukrainian OSINT group InformNapalm also reported getting tip-offs about supposed attacks in churches in occupied territories, meant to frame Ukraine as an aggressor and motivate potential conscripts in Russia to join the army. On Jan. 5, Russian media reported that President Vladimir Putin ordered to implement a 36-hour ceasefire on Jan. 6-7, on the occasion of the Orthodox Christmas. Ukraine and its allies have dismissed the report as a lie and an attempt to win time. In the early afternoon of Jan. 6, during the supposed "truce," the air raid alarms went off across Ukraine following a reported take-off of missile carrying jets in Belarus. Shortly before, the city of Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast was hit with two missiles. The city of Kherson was shelled in the morning of Jan. 6, and at least one person was killed. KYIV (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he had spoken by phone to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday and thanked him for a "powerful defense package" that would help Ukraine fend off Russian troops and defend its cities. He also said they had discussed further defence cooperation but gave no details. In a joint statement with Washington on Thursday, Berlin said it would provide Kyiv with Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles and a Patriot air-defence system. "I thanked (Scholz) for the powerful defense package, including several dozen Marder vehicles and the Patriot system. We discussed further cooperation to strengthen the Ukrainian army," Zelenskiy wrote on Twitter. He and other top Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called for heavier and more advanced weapons systems following Russia's invasion, now in its eleventh month. France also announced this week that it was sending light AMX-10 RC armoured combat vehicles. Zelenskiy also said on Friday that he had met two U.S. senators in Kyiv, Jack Reed and Angus King, to discuss the battlefield situation and "the risks of potential escalation", hours after a Russian-declared unilateral ceasefire began. Zelenskiy called the ceasefire a "manipulation". (Reporting by Dan Peleschuk, Editing by Timothy Heritage) The court agreed to release Zhevaho on bail of 1 million euros. Now the Ukrainian billionaire cannot leave France, must hand in his two passports to the authorities, report to the local police three times a week, and respond to phone calls from the police. Read also: Ukraines Deposit Guarantee Fund sues former banker Zhevago for $1.25 billion Initially, the court was to hold a hearing on the extradition case on Jan. 5. However, both the prosecutor and Zhevaho's lawyers said they needed more time to prepare, to which the judges agreed, setting Jan. 19 as the new date. Thus, the court postponed for two weeks the date of the hearing on the extradition of Zhevaho to Ukraine. The detention of Kostyantyn Zhevaho in one of the top French Alpine skiing resorts, Courchevel, was reported on Dec. 28, 2022. Read also: Ukraine seizes assets of Boguslayev, Zhevaho, Kolomoisky worth $1 billion Forbes Zhevaho was detained over embezzlement of $113 million from the now defunct Ukrainian commercial bank Finance and Credit, of which the businessman was a shareholder. The banks license was withdrawn by the National Bank of Ukraine, the countrys central bank, in 2015, and its assets liquidated. Earlier, the court in the French city of Chambery confined Zhevaho to extradition arrest. Zhevaho was to be held in custody for the next 40 days while French law enforcement officers consider Ukraine's request for his extradition. The extradition hearing was scheduled to take place on Jan. 5. Zhevaho himself denies any charges. The embezzlement case also involves a number of former top managers of the liquidated Ukrainian bank. Since October 2019, Zhevaho has been on Ukraines national wanted list, and since July 2021 on the international wanted list. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine UNITED NATIONS (AP) The U.N. Security Council is set to vote Monday on a resolution that would continue humanitarian aid deliveries to Syrias rebel-held northwest from Turkey for another six months, and all eyes will be on Russia. Russia, which is allied with the Syrian government, has succeeded in reducing cross-border assistance into Syria in recent years, with the aim of eliminating it. There were no objections, however, to the final draft of the resolution, which was co-sponsored by Brazil and Switzerland, and several council diplomats said they expect Russia to abstain in Monday's vote. They spoke on condition of anonymity because consultations have been private. But there is still uncertainty, reflected in comments Friday from the United Nations and the International Rescue Committee, one of the major aid providers. Last month, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned in a report that the already dire humanitarian situation in Syria is worsening, and said if aid deliveries from Turkey to northwest Idlib arent renewed millions of Syrians may not survive the winter. Guterres said deliveries have increased across conflict lines within the country, which Russia has pressed for. But he said they cannot substitute for the size or scope of the massive cross-border United Nations operation. On Tuesday, the U.N. humanitarian chief and heads of the U.N. food, health, refugee, migration and population agencies issued a joint appeal to the Security Council to extend cross-border deliveries. They warned failing to do so will be catastrophic for 4.1 million people in non-government controlled areas. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday that the U.N. remains steadfast in our position that millions of Syrians desperately need humanitarian help. We need to have the cross-border permission that will work in tandem with the cross-line, he said. David Miliband, president of the International Rescue Committee, said it is critical to renew cross-border aid deliveries after a year in which an economic downturn and a cholera outbreak have added to the immense difficulties Syrians in the northwest face after more than 11 years of conflict. Story continues This resolution is a key lifeline that will ensure people can survive, Miliband said in a statement. The draft resolution would continue aid deliveries through the Bab al-Hawa crossing from Turkey to northwest Syria for six months, until July 10. In addition to pushing for more cross-line aid deliveries, Russia has also pushed for early recovery projects in Syria. Guterres said in the December report that at least 374 early recovery projects have taken place throughout the country since January 2021, directly benefiting over 665,000 people, but he said further expansion is needed. The draft resolution encourages efforts to improve cross-line aid deliveries and calls on all 193 U.N. member states to respond to Syrias complex humanitarian emergency and meet the urgent needs of the Syrian people in light of the profound socioeconomics and humanitarian impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It urges stepped-up initiatives to broaden activities to include providing water, sanitation, health, education, electricity, shelter and early recovery projects. The draft resolution would also put the Security Council on record as determining that the devastating humanitarian situation in Syria continues to constitute a threat to peace and security in the region. Russia has repeatedly said the cross-border aid deliveries that began in 2014 were meant to be temporary. In July 2020, China and Russia vetoed a U.N. resolution that would have maintained two border crossing points from Turkey for humanitarian aid to northwest Idlib. Days later, the delivery of aid was reduced to just the Bab al-Hawa crossing for a year as they demanded. In July 2021, Russia pressed for a further reduction, finally agreeing to a six-month extension with another six-months contingent on a report from the secretary-general on progress in cross-line deliveries. But last July, Russia insisted on U.N. authorization for just six months. The Federal Trade Commission has proposed banning companies from binding their employees to non-compete clauses that restrict them from jumping to a competitor, in a move long sought after by workers rights activists. Non-compete clauses were initially intended to bar employees with technological expertise or secrets from moving to a competing organization, which employers argue benefits smaller companies, companies at the cutting edge of their field, or those willing to train younger workers. Read: Amazon to cut more than 18,000 jobs Often, the clause blocks a former employee from moving to competitors within specific industries or distances from the employer for a set amount of time, such as a year. If the worker violates this clause, the employer can sue. But the use of these clauses has expanded over time. Now, companies force hairdressers and even some fast-food workers to sign the contracts, which activists say diminishes their ability to earn a better salary. Read: Stop WOKE Act puts pressure on Florida universities to cut critical race theory from curriculum Approximately one in five U.S. workers are held by a non-compete clause in the 47 states that allow them, FTC officials report. The commission published a draft on Thursday of its new rule, which said non-compete clauses would be prohibited in the United States, and any existing clauses would be nullified. Workers who sign any contract could jump to the business next door immediately upon the conclusion of their contract if they wanted to. Read: Experts say gas prices are increasing, heres why The owner or stakeholder of a business will have an exception if they sell that business to someone else. For decades, Ive fought for the notion that if your employer wants to keep you, they need to make it worth your while with good pay and benefits. Consistent with my Executive Order, today's FTC announcement to limit non-compete agreements is a huge win for workers. https://t.co/xs94XDaqKq President Biden (@POTUS) January 5, 2023 Thursdays proposal was met with mostly cheers from workers and activists, though some opposition emerged from people worried about employees spilling secrets. Story continues If the rule passes, employers have 180 days to notify workers that their non-competes are null and void. For more information about the announcement, click here. 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. The new year is nearly here, which means Americans will soon have an entire calendars worth of federal holidays to look forward to. At midnight on December 31, individuals around the world will celebrate the start of 2023. The date also marks the arrival of the first federal holiday of the year in the US, New Years Day on January 1. However, because New Years Day falls on a Sunday in 2023, the holiday will be officially observed on Monday, January 2nd. First introduced by Congress in 1885 when it was decided that federal employees should have certain days off from work, the list of US federal holidays is made up of 11 days of significance that Americans recognise - and celebrate. To ensure that these holidays are observed, certain guidelines have been put in place, with federal holidays that fall on a Saturday observed by federal employees on the previous Friday, while holidays that fall on Sunday are observed the following Monday. On these 11 days, all non-essential federal offices are closed, while banks, post offices and schools may also be closed. However, that doesnt mean that all Americans will receive a day off from work, as employees in the private sector may or may not get the day off, depending on their employer. From Juneteenth to Thanksgiving, these are the dates of the 2023 federal holidays. 2023 federal holidays: New Years Day: Sunday, January 1 (Observed Monday, January 2) Martin Luther King Jr Day: Monday, January 16 Presidents Day: Monday, February 20 Memorial Day: Monday, May 29 Juneteenth: Friday, June 16 Independence Day: Tuesday, July 4 Labor Day: Monday, September 4 Indigenous Peoples Day (also observed as Columbus Day): Monday, October 9 Veterans Day: Saturday, November 11 (Observed Friday, November 10) Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 23 Christmas: Monday, December 25 Other important days to note: Valentines Day: Tuesday, February 14 St Patricks Day: Friday, March 17 Passover: Thursday, April 6 Good Friday: Friday, April 7 Story continues Easter: Sunday, April 9 Mothers Day: Sunday, May 14 Fathers Day: Sunday, June 18 The Commodores: The funk and soul band first signed with Motown in 1972 and their Grammy Award-winning songs and albums from Brick House to Nightshift likely will live forever. The current band of Walter Clyde Orange, James Dean JD Nicholas and William WAK King is in concert in Joliet this weekend. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7 at Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet; tickets $44-$71 at 815-726-6600 and rialtosquare.com Great American Dog Show: The inaugural show is this weekend in Schaumburg. More than 2,000 exhibitors are expected, with four participating kennel clubs represented and 200 dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club competing across 12 indoor carpeted rings showcasing agility, scent work and trick dogs. Plus vendor booths, family activities and more. Through Jan. 8 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Road, Schaumburg; tickets $15-$25 at greatamericandogshow.com Advertisement Bowie Ball: Celebrate what would be David Bowies 76th birthday at Metro with a concert by Heaven Malone as well as Bowiesque drag performances by Lucy Stoole, Nico, Mick Douch and Sally Marvel. Dress up, glitter on, show up and glam out. 9 p.m. Jan. 7 at Metro, 3730 N Clark St.; tickets $12-$15 (ages 18+) at metrochicago.com The cast of "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" at Lookkingglass Theatre on Michigan Avenue. (Liz Lauren Photo) The Steadfast Tin Soldier: If youre still in the mood for a holiday-esque show, Lookingglass Theatre is reprising Mary Zimmermans creation for just a few more days. This truly is an all-ages show, wrote the Tribunes Chris Jones in his four-star review. Adults wont ever feel like theyve been misdirected to something for children. Its transformational, truly. Through Jan. 8 by Lookingglass Theatre in Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave.; tickets $65-$75 at 312-337-0665 and lookingglasstheatre.org Advertisement Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone in Concert: If you know what house youre sorted, if the Harry Potter stories run in your blood, come hear John Williams score performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Scenes from the film will play on a screen in Orchestra Hall. And as a warmup, theres always the walk-through experience Harry Potter: Magic at Play (harrypottermagicatplay.com) at Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue. Jan. 12-14 at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; tickets $115 and up at 312-294-3000 and cso.org Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular: Three different performers will recreate the different musical periods in the life of Elvis in a concert event coming to the Chicago area this weekend. Song after song from the king of rock n roll. 8 p.m. Jan. 7 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie; tickets $29.60-$62.50 at northshorecenter.org The White House on Jan. 6 announced new sanctions on Iran's aviation and defense sector for supplying the drones Russia uses to bomb Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. The sanctions will affect six executives and board members of Iran's top defense contractor, Qods Aviation Industries, as well as the director of Iran's Aerospace Industries Organization overseeing its ballistic missile program, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. "Iran is fueling Russias war in Ukraine with its provision of UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) technology. Today, the United States sanctioned seven people involved in Irans UAV and ballistic missile programs programs Moscow is using to target Ukraines critical infrastructure," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote on Twitter. Iran has been a key source of kamikaze drones that Russia has launched at Ukraine by the hundreds. The Joe Biden administration has scrambled to try to block Tehran from supplying the drones, many of which use Western-made parts. However, it's difficult to control these parts, many of which are widely available and have civilian applications. Ukraine has shot down more than 500 drones launched by Russia since September, according to the Air Force of Ukraine's Armed Forces. Lightning is one of nature's most powerful forces, and in 2022, there was an increase in lightning activity in the United States. In fact, there were more lightning bolts detected across the U.S. last year than there have been since the turn of the decade. Vaisala Xweather, an environmental measurements company, has released its annual lightning report for 2022 that details lightning trends across the country, how many bolts were observed in each state and which town in the United States is the new lightning capital. Chris Vagasky, a meteorologist at Vaisala Xweather, recently spoke with AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell about 2022, to discuss the 198,227,289 lightning events observed across the U.S. throughout the year. "One of the big things is that lightning trends or lightning counts are starting to return towards normal," Vagasky told Wadell, adding that there was a below-average number of lightning bolts over the U.S. in 2020 and 2021. The 198 million lightning events in 2022 were the most recorded since 2019 when 223 million events were detected. Lightning is seen in the sky over the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., Thursday, March 26, 2020. Strong winds and hail are forecast for the area. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) Texas topped the list of the states where the highest number of lightning events occurred, followed by Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Mississippi. This is the same order as the top-five lightning leaders of 2021 with the exception of Mississippi replacing Kansas for the #5 spot. However, the top-five ranking is only part of the story. While Texas maintained the top spot on the lightning list, there were 14 million fewer lightning events in the state compared to 2021, according to Vagasky. In 2022, Vaisala Xweather reported 27.7 million lightning events in Texas, compared to 41.9 million in 2021. Additionally, the 2022 lightning capital of the county was not located in the Lone Star State, but rather, in the Sunshine State. Story continues Four Corners, Florida, situated 20 miles southwest of Orlando and less than 5 miles southwest of Disney World, laid claim as the new lightning capital in 2022. Four Corners took the title away from Flatonia, Texas, a town located about halfway between Houston and San Antonio, which was the U.S. lightning capital in 2021. With an uptick in overall lightning across the U.S. came a noticeable increase in the number of lightning-related fatalities. In 2022, 19 people were killed due to lightning, the highest tally since 2019, according to NOAA. "A lot of people want to get back out. They want to get traveling, explore nature," Vagasky explained. "When people are out enjoying life and they're on a vacation, they're not necessarily thinking about the thunderstorm that's 5 miles away [or] 10 miles away." On Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, four people who were visiting Washington, D.C., were struck by lightning while standing in a park across the street from the White House. The incident left three dead and a fourth person injured. Additionally, nearly one-third of all lightning fatalities occurred on a weekend when people typically spend the most amount of time outdoors. "When there's thunder that you can hear [or] when you can see lightning, it is time to start thinking about getting inside because there is no safe place outside when thunderstorms are in the area," Vagasky said. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Hurricane Ian stood out in Vaisala Xweather's report as the historic hurricane produced an unusually high amount of lightning as it rapidly intensified before making landfall along Florida's Gulf Coast on Sept. 28. "Vaisala detected more than 34,000 lightning events associated with Hurricane Ian between September 27 and 28," Vagasky said. Nearly all of these flashes took place in the eyewall, the most intense part of the hurricane. "At the peak, Vaisala was detecting lightning in the eyewall every three seconds," he added. Check out this visible satellite loop with frequent lightning in the eye wall of intensifying Hurricane Ian on approach to southwest Florida. Agitated thunderstorm tops and gravity waves ripping all over the place @ChrisFLTornado @accuweather @theScantman pic.twitter.com/AmqnVsGA8K Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerAccu) October 11, 2022 One of the biggest standouts was not related to a thunderstorm or hurricane, but rather a cataclysmic volcano eruption. On Jan. 15, 2022, the Tonga volcano erupted in the Pacific Ocean with such force that it sent particles to the edge of space and created a shockwave that circled the globe twice. Nearly 400,000 lightning events were detected in six hours, including 25,500 in five minutes, according to Vaisala Xweather. This averages roughly 85 lightning bolts per second. "That was one of the most prolific lightning producers that we've ever seen," Vagasky said. "This is the most extreme concentration of lightning that has ever been detected by a global lightning network." This satellite image made by the Japanese weather satellite Himawari-8 shows the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai undersea volcano at the Pacific nation of Tonga on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. (Japan Meteorology Agency via AP) The volcanic eruption bolstered the number of global lightning strikes in 2022, and it may have impacted the weather on a global scale as it injected an influx of water vapor into the stratosphere. NASA said that "the huge amounts of water vapor from the eruption may have a small, temporary warming effect" in parts of the globe. The change in temperature could ultimately influence weather patterns, including the number and intensity of thunderstorms and the lightning produced, although the exact meteorological impact of the eruption is still unclear. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. Read also: Allies to transfer Bradley & Marder IFVs, second Patriot battery to Ukraine The missiles can be launched from the sea or on land to intercept aircraft or cruise missiles. With a battlefield innovation, the Ukrainian military has managed to tweak its existing Soviet-era BUK launchers to fire the Sea Sparrow, two people familiar with the matter said. According to Politico, up to this point, Taiwan has been the only country to operate the ground-launched version of the missiles, while the U.S. and multiple allied navies use the ship-mounted version. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Jan. 4 that the United States was preparing a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $3.8 billion. The package will include 50 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, additional HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, and other weapons. U.S. President Joe Biden also confirmed that Bradley infantry fighting vehicles were on the table for being made available to Ukraine. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A vigil for fallen Brackenridge police chief Justin McIntire was held Thursday night. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >> Brackenridge police chief killed, another officer injured in shooting; suspect shot, killed Hundreds of mourners from across the area and police officers from many different stations came together to mourn the loss of the chief. Ever since Monday night, people have been leaving flowers and other mementos outside the Brackenridge Borough building to honor McIntire. RELATED >> He made the ultimate sacrifice: Brackenridge police chief Justin McIntire killed in shooting The mayor of Brackenridge announced the candlelight vigil, saying everyone was welcome. Attendees were asked to wear blue. McIntire was well known and loved in the Brackenridge community. He had just celebrated his 46th birthday with his wife and kids last week. FUNERAL INFORMATION >> Funeral arrangements announced for Brackenridge police chief shot, killed He was born and raised in Brackenridge and attended Highlands High School. He was sworn in as chief exactly four years to the day before losing his life. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Damar Hamlin: Vikings defenseman Harrison Phillips buys family dinner, starts fundraiser Dollar General clerk charged after shooting, killing armed robber Target 11 Exclusive: Pittsburgh police officers told not to follow controversial traffic stop policy VIDEO: aWe are homelessa: Roosevelt building residents forced out after fire, many have nowhere to live DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts MEXICO CITY (AP) The operation to detain Ovidio Guzman, the son of imprisoned drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, unleashed firefights that turned the northern city of Culiacan into a war zone with 30 dead, authorities said Friday. In a blow-by-blow description of the battles Thursday that killed 10 military personnel and 19 suspected members of the Sinaloa drug cartel, Defense Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval said cartel gunmen opened fire on troops with a half-dozen .50-caliber machine guns. The army responded by calling in Blackhawk helicopter gunships to attack a convoy of 25 cartel vehicles, including truck-mounted cartel gun platforms. The running shootouts also killed one Culiacan policeman, and wounded 17 police officers and 35 military personnel. The cartel then opened fire on the military aircraft, forcing two of them down with a significant number of impacts in each of the two aircraft, Sandoval said. The gang then sent hordes of gunmen to attack fixed-wing aircraft, both military and civilian, at the citys international airport. One civilian airliner was hit. The gunmen also shot up airport buildings in a bid to prevent authorities from flying the captured cartel boss out of the city. But, Sandoval said, authorities anticipating the resistance had loaded Ovidio Guzman onto a military helicopter to fly him back to Mexico City. The Mexican administration bagged the high-profile cartel figure days before hosting U.S. President Joe Biden. Samuel Gonzalez, who founded Mexicos special prosecutors office for organized crime in the 1990s, said Guzmans capture was a gift ahead of Bidens visit. The Mexican government is working to have a calm visit, he said. Juan Carlos Ayala, a Culiacan resident and Sinaloa University professor who studies the sociology of drug trafficking, said Ovidio Guzman had been an obvious target for years. Ovidios fate had been decided. Moreover, he was identified as the biggest trafficker of fentanyl and the most visible Chapos leader. Story continues Ayala said the atmosphere was calmer Friday, but there are still a lot of burned-out vehicles blocking the streets. The scope of Thursdays violence was such that Sinaloa Gov. Ruben Rocha said cartel gunmen showed up at local hospitals, trying to abduct doctors and take them away to treat wounded fighters. Rocha said that gunmen would be treated if they showed up at hospitals, but that gunmen shouldnt try to abduct medical personnel. It got to the point that at one moment the doctors were saying, Were getting out of here, recalled Rocha, saying police reinforced security and convinced the doctors to stay. Culiacan residents posted video on social media showing convoys of gunmen in pickup trucks and SUVs rolling down boulevards in the city on Thursday. At least one convoy included a flatbed truck with a mounted gun in the back. Unlike a failed 2019 attempt to arrest Ovidio Guzman the government said it had to release him to avoid further bloodshed this time around there were fewer civilian casualties, just one 14-year-old boy shot but expected to survive. One difference was that the September 2019 raid was in the city of Culiacan itself around midday, while Thursday's raid was around dawn in a more sparsely populated area to the north. Victor Medrano, director of the Culiacan Chamber of Commerce, said that in 2019 everything happened in broad daylight, and we were caught on the street or at work. While most people stayed in their homes Thursday, by Friday people were starting to go back out on the streets, Medrano said. There is still some fear ... but as they day goes on, there are greater number of people out, he said. But Sergio Alvarez, head of another local business chamber, said that in some sense the effects of Thursday's violence were greater. There were blockades across the whole city." Ismael Bojorquez, director of the crusading local newspaper Riodoce, said the cartel appears to have only grown stronger since 2019, when 13 people were killed in the failed raid. They (cartels) have taken advantage of these four years to organize themselves, arm themselves, strengthen their structures, their finances, he said. I believe there are more weapons than three years ago. All of organized crimes armies have strengthened, not just the Chapitos, and this is the price that society is paying for this strategy of the federal government. Thursday's violence was unusual in that it also targeted and forced the closure of Culiacans airport, where one military plane and a civilian airliner were hit by bullets. The commercial flight waited for its chance to take off as two large military planes landed with troops. When the airliner was finally preparing to accelerate, passengers heard gunshots in the distance. Within 15 seconds the sound was suddenly more intense and much closer, and passengers threw themselves to the floor, some said. They said they did not know the plane had been hit by gunfire until a flight attendant told them. No one was injured, but the plane hastily retreated to the terminal. Guzman was indicted by the United States on drug trafficking charges in 2018. According to both governments, he had assumed a growing role among his brothers in carrying on their fathers business, along with long- time cartel boss Ismael El Mayo Zambada. Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard confirmed that the government had received a request in 2019 from the United States for Guzmans arrest for purposes of extradition. He said that request would have to be updated and processed, but he added that first an open case in Mexico awaits Guzman. ___ Associated Press writers Fabiola Sanchez and Christopher Sherman contributed to this report. ALIQUIPPA City officials are reviewing an arrest from Monday that resulted in a violent interaction between Aliquippa police officers and three people taken into custody. A witness took a video of the arrest and posted it on the internet, where it was spread widely throughout the week. Some are using the video to challenge the force officers used during the arrest and question how the incident was described in the official police report. The Times has reviewed the video posted to social media and it does appear to show some conflicts with the official police description of events leading to the arrest. No officers at the Aliquippa Police Department were available to answer a call for comment Tuesday afternoon. Mayor Dwan Walker said Wednesday he was unable to comment on the issue, but he did confirm city officials are reviewing the incident. The city's solicitor, Myron Sainovich, did not respond to calls for comment Thursday afternoon. The incident involving Aliquippa police officers began when 28-year-old Justin Carr contacted the police station Monday to report he had found his vehicle, which he had previously reported as stolen. Officers said Carr was aggressive over the phone, repeatedly swearing at officers and responding that the car was "behind the police station" when asked where he found it. According to an affidavit from Patrolman Bruce Tooch, officers traveled to Carr's home on Allegheny Avenue to confirm that he had recovered the vehicle. At this point, police said Carr answered the door and shouted obscenities at them. As they ran the plates for the car, Tooch said they did confirm it was reported stolen. Witnesses at the scene posted on social media that police told Carr they intended to tow the vehicle, as it was still marked as stolen in their system. This seemingly escalated the situation between Carr and the officers, attracting more attention to the incident. The police affidavit provided by Tooch does not mention officers making this statement to Carr. Story continues At that time, officers said 24-year-old Theaughn Lewis and 24-year-old Monica McCutchen arrived on the scene. According to the police affidavit, officers said the two began to scream obscenities at the responding officers and threatened them with violence. Police said neighbors began to move outside at this time, witnessing the incident as the volume escalated. During this time, one witness began recording a video that was later posted to Facebook. In the video, Lewis and McCutchen can be seen using racial slurs and vulgar language against the officers while getting in their faces. Tooch can be seen in the video moving toward Lewis as other officers stand back from the verbal altercation. This conflicts with the police affidavit provided by Tooch, which said Lewis "confronted officer (Paul) Woods." Woods can not be seen in the initial view of the video, but is later shown to be standing on the sidewalk nearby. After McCutchen stands between the two men and separates them, Lewis begins reading the names of the officers responding to the incident and continues to yell at officers and make threats. The Aliquippa officers can be seen looking at each other before moving forward, saying "all right, you're under arrest." Officers said as they moved to arrest Lewis, he refused orders to place his hands behind his back and threw a punch at Woods. This punch can not be seen in the video during the chaos of the physical altercation, but the video recording does not seem to show officers issuing a command before grabbing at Lewis and McCutchen. In the affidavit offered by Tooch, he said officer Woods "deflected the punch" from Lewis and McCutchen "shoved and jumped" on the officer's back. In the video from witnesses, McCutchen appears to grab at Lewis and Woods in an attempt to stop the physical altercation while shouting "nuh-uh." Tooch then puts McCutchen in a choke hold, dragging her into the nearby yard. Nearby, two officers wrestled Lewis to the ground as he continued to struggle and resist. As he was forced to the ground, McCutcheon can be heard shouting "they punched him in the face" to other witnesses. While pinned to the ground by Woods and Tooch, video shows Tooch punch Lewis in the head while Lewis' arms were restrained. As Lewis is handcuffed, Tooch can be seen leaning down to his ear and angrily shouting "now you're going to get it" while grabbing the back of his sweatshirt after he was restrained. While Tooch said McCutchen continued to swing at officer Woods behind his back while he subdued Lewis, the video footage of the incident shows McCutchen was not near officers during this period. McCutchen can be seen and heard telling officers to stop as one of the policemen takes the handcuffs off Tooch and walks down the street to arrest her. After Lewis and McCutchen were placed in handcuffs, officers also arrested Carr, who was seen leaning on a vehicle next to the incident. According to the police affidavit, he was arrested for shouting obscenities at the officers and cited for disorderly conduct. According to court documents, Lewis and McCutcheon were charged with aggravated assault, obstructing justice and resisting arrest. They remained held in the Beaver County Jail Thursday on $150,000 bond each. Carr also was listed in online court records as remaining in jail Thursday on a $5,000 bond. It is unclear what the job status is of the officers involved while the investigation is underway. This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Arrest by Aliquippa police officers under review after violent altercation caught on video [Source] A viral TikTok video from PragerU shows its non-Chinese host interviewing strangers in order to find out the answer to "Who's going to be offended?" in reaction to him wearing traditional Chinese clothing. PragerU, an American advocacy group that promotes conservative views through their online videos, uploaded the cultural appropriation topic video on Wednesday showing Chinese people reacting differently as compared to non-Asians. In the first part of the video, the white host walks around asking non-Asians what they think of his Tang suit. You are a f*cking joke! one man says. More from NextShark: Michelle Yeoh calls co-star and friend Jackie Chan a 'male chauvinistic pig' in resurfaced 1997 interview Strikes me as pretty insensitive, another man replies. Its from another cultural tradition that is not really something you should be using as a costume. In the latter part of the video, set to Chinese instrumental music, the host heads to Chinatown and interviews Chinese people to contrast their answers to the ones given by the non-Chinese individuals they asked. I really like your outfit. Looks great! a Chinese woman says. More from NextShark: Asian Americans most likely to fear zombies and ghosts, study finds Pretty! an Asian elder says of his outfit. The man also asks a woman if an individual has to be Chinese to wear the traditional clothing. You dont have to. Anybody can wear, she replies. More from NextShark: Chainsaw Man revs up the gore in bloody new trailer that announces Oct. anime adaptation premiere The video has since garnered more than 4 million views and over 635,000 likes, with many viewers agreeing with PragerU's sentiment. I swear, todays youth gets bothered about things they have no clue about, one user commented. Its sad that this is the reality of every college campus in the U.S., another viewer wrote. More from NextShark: 66-year-old man in China transforms his terrace into ice rink to play hockey with grandson Story continues The TikTok account has previously gone viral for a similar interview video, which garnered more than 7 million views, depicting the difference in reactions between Mexicans and non-Mexican students to the same man wearing traditional Mexican clothing. It only offends people that are looking to be offended, one popular comment on the video reads. PragerU was founded in 2009 by conservative radio talk show host Dennis Prager and screenwriter and author Allen Estrin to advocate for conservative views. Although PragerU is short for Prager University, it is not an academic institution. Related Stories: If President Biden opts to follow in the footsteps of his recent predecessors, he could wait until the spring to announce hes running for reelection. But Biden is under growing pressure to say officially whether hes seeking a second term. The will-he-or-wont-he narrative by political watchers has been swirling for months, while some Democrats spent the midterm campaign season playing coy over whether theyd support a 2024 candidate of their own party. All indicators are pointing toward another bid by Biden, but the constant questions surrounding his announcement has proven to be an anomaly specific to the 46th president. You have an unprecedented factor, which is that Joe Biden is very old, and he would be, by far, the oldest president, said Timothy Naftali, a presidential historian at New York University. Its only fair, I think, for the president and his family to think through the enormous physical cost of going for another term. Former President Obama announced his plans to seek reelection on April 4, 2011, at 49 years old. Similarly, former President George W. Bush announced his candidacy for reelection on May 16, 2003, at 56 years old, and former President Clinton announced his candidacy for reelection on April 14, 1995, at 48 years old. Biden is 80 years old this year, making him the oldest president to make a run for the White House. If he finished a second term, he would be leaving office at the age of 86. Allan Lichtman, a distinguished professor of history at American University, called it absurd to think Biden is behind the curve because he hasnt announced yet, adding that the presidents age is merely a subject that captures attention. Bidens age raises for the media questions about whether or not he would follow the precedent of virtually every other modern president and run for reelection, he said. I would say that its just something for the media to talk about. Just another issue, another question that can pique peoples interest. Story continues Former President Trump, meanwhile, is his own outlier on the matter. Trump announced an official run for a second term in June 2019, but was holding large rallies with staunch supporters pretty much since he took the White House in January 2017, making no secret of his intention to run again. Trump also took the unusual move of announcing his 2024 presidential run late last year just after the midterms and before any other major candidate, including Biden, had indicated officially they want the job. The Trump announcement sparked speculation that Biden would feel pressured to announce sooner, but many Democrats at the time disputed the notion that Biden should quickly follow. Mary Kate Cary, a former White House speechwriter for former President George H. W. Bush, acknowledged that Biden is faced with some unusual circumstances that previous presidents did not have to consider. The two biggest factors are that Trump has already announced, and thats unusual as well. The second is that, I suspect because of Bidens age, its not a foregone conclusion that he was going to run for reelection, said Cary, a senior fellow at the University of Virginias Miller Center. I think thats whats making it different than Obama, Bush, where it was just assumed, if you were in office, you were running as the incumbent and running for reelection. And its not as big an assumption this time. Biden has said he will officially announce early this year, after taking the time to talk to his family over the holidays. The Obama, Bush and Clinton announcements were early for their time by historical norms. Former President Reagan announced his run for reelection on Jan. 29, 1984, although the Reagan-Bush 84 reelection campaign committee was formed in October 1983. Naftali said that was another factor that should be considered. I think we, the members of the chattering classes, have created an expectation that is not historically founded. Why would it be late? Naftali said By the models that go back to Reagan, somebody who doesnt announce in January after a midterm is not late. If Biden wants to follow the Clinton, Bush, Obama model, well, he would announce in the spring of this year, he added. But the Reagan model of waiting for the election year to announce may be a thing of the past, in part because campaigns over time have also become more expensive. It has been normalized to get earlier and I can explain it to you in three words: money, money and money, Lichtman said. Campaigns are exponentially more expensive than they were during the Reagan era. Lichtman added that the larger media market is another differentiating factor. There was just so many more media outlets today that youre trying to get their attention, and that takes time, effort and energy. Not just a few networks and major newspapers anymore, Lichtman said. Theres also a matter of increased campaign competition. George H.W. Bush was the last president to lose his reelection bid before Trump. Bush announced his reelection campaign on Oct. 11, 1991, well past the usual spring timing, and the 1992 race had some of its own unprecedented factors. Bush faced a primary contest against Republican Pat Buchanan, but won the GOP nomination. Then, third-party candidate Ross Perot entered the general election, which Clinton ultimately won. Cary said she was surprised that a Democrat, like California Gov. Gavin Newsom, hasnt jumped into the race to primary Biden. But shes not ruling it out. I think its still a very fluid situation, and theres certainly a lot of younger voters who would be very interested in someone of a younger generation running, because it is pretty amazing how old both of these candidates would be, she said, referring to Biden and Trump. Bush, who was 67 at the time, kicked off his third year in office with a public and embarrassing health incident. The president vomited on the Japanese prime minister while on a foreign trip on Jan. 8, 1992, and fainted while first lady Barbara Bush held his head up. Republican critics often cite Bidens age by way of an incident in which the president fell off his bike while riding in Delaware. Biden also once stumbled up the stairs to Air Force One. Another factor, and one that has plagued Biden from much of the last year, is his approval rating, which has only in recent weeks ticked up but has yet to clear 45 percent. Obama, who made his official reelection announcement through an email and video sent to supporters 20 months out from Election Day, announced while his approval rating stood at 47 percent. A month later, by early May, it rose to 56 percent, according to Pew Research Center. In the month in between, the U.S. had killed Sept. 11 plotter Osama bin Laden, a huge legacy moment for Obama. Bidens approval rating hit its highest in more than a year on Thursday, coming in at 43.3 percent in new polling. He did not break 43 percent in 2022 and hit his lowest point in July around 37 percent. But, experts say, his current approval rating shouldnt factor into his decision to run again this far out. The approval rating almost two years out from an election dont mean very much, Lichtman said. They might mean something, you know, if he had to worry about a serious primary challenge, but I dont think he does. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. If you want to know who really controls MNRB Holdings Berhad (KLSE:MNRB), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. We can see that sovereign wealth funds own the lion's share in the company with 55% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). And individual investors on the other hand have a 28% ownership in the company. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of MNRB Holdings Berhad, beginning with the chart below. Check out our latest analysis for MNRB Holdings Berhad What Does The Lack Of Institutional Ownership Tell Us About MNRB Holdings Berhad? We don't tend to see institutional investors holding stock of companies that are very risky, thinly traded, or very small. Though we do sometimes see large companies without institutions on the register, it's not particularly common. There could be various reasons why no institutions own shares in a company. Typically, small, newly listed companies don't attract much attention from fund managers, because it would not be possible for large fund managers to build a meaningful position in the company. Alternatively, there might be something about the company that has kept institutional investors away. Institutional investors may not find the historic growth of the business impressive, or there might be other factors at play. You can see the past revenue performance of MNRB Holdings Berhad, for yourself, below. MNRB Holdings Berhad is not owned by hedge funds. Our data shows that Permodalan Nasional Berhad is the largest shareholder with 55% of shares outstanding. With such a huge stake in the ownership, we infer that they have significant control of the future of the company. Goon Khing Kong is the second largest shareholder owning 5.0% of common stock, and Goon Siong Kong holds about 1.0% of the company stock. 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. Story continues Insider Ownership Of MNRB Holdings Berhad The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our information suggests that insiders maintain a significant holding in MNRB Holdings Berhad. It has a market capitalization of just RM685m, and insiders have RM103m worth of shares in their own names. It is great to see insiders so invested in the business. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying recently. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 28% stake in MNRB Holdings Berhad. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand MNRB Holdings Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with MNRB Holdings Berhad . 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 "Museum without walls" improves protection of traditional culture in SW China 08:41, January 06, 2023 By Su Bin ( People's Daily In 1998, an eco-museum was established in Suojia Miao, Yi and Hui township, Liuzhi special region, Liupanshui of southwest China's Guizhou province, to preserve and extend the local original culture. Consisting of 12 villages, including Gaoxing village, the eco-museum is different from traditional museums. It is not enclosed by walls or fences and what it showcases is more than collections. Xiong Shaozhen, a 77-year-old resident of Gaoxing village, weaves everyday with a loom in a spacious hall of a low wooden house in the village. Her daughter-in-law even learned the craft from her. The costumes, language, music, and even the way of production of the local community are all "living exhibits" that are collectible, said Luo Gang, the curator of the museum, who joined the preparation of it after he graduated from university in 1997. Photo shows a spinning frame exhibited in the eco-museum of Suojia Miao, Yi and Hui township, Liuzhi special region, Liupanshui of southwest China's Guizhou province. (Photo provided by the government of Liuzhi special region) There are 25 such museums in eight cities and prefectures of Guizhou province, including those under planning, said Yang Zhengquan, an official with the provincial bureau of cultural heritage of Guizhou, adding that these museums are built to guide villagers to protect local natural landscapes, traditional customs, and ways of production. Compared with traditional museums, eco-museums come with different "collections" and are not confined in buildings. They are in line with sustainable development principles and able to benefit local communities through the promotion of original cultures. In 2014, Gaoxing village was listed in a traditional Chinese villages catalog. However, Luo found that there were fewer and fewer looms and spinning frames in the village. He then learned that many young people in the village went out of town for work, and most of the looms and spinning frames, which were manufactured by villagers, were not durable. Therefore, he applied for a budget from relevant departments and invited professional craftsmen to produce looms and spinning frames for the villagers. In just months, 50 looms and 50 spinning frames were completed. He asked each villager that received the machine to not only use it but also train an inheritor of the local weaving technique. In Suojia Miao, Yi and Hui township, most of the folk houses are built with local materials, such as wood, mud, and stones. However, their roofs are all made of straw and need regular replacement. As the living standards of the residents rose in recent years, some of them started using bricks and concrete to build their houses. However, Luo is not concerned about such an impact on local tradition because the villagers are aware of the importance of protecting their old houses. Photo shows batik clothing exhibited in the eco-museum of Suojia Miao, Yi and Hui township, Liuzhi special region, Liupanshui of southwest China's Guizhou province. (Photo provided by the government of Liuzhi special region) In 2017, the wood house of villager Yang Chaozhong began to lean, but he didn't want to transform it into a brick-concrete structure. Yang said this house has been passed down for generations, so he was not willing to make the trade-off. He planned to repair it but was on a short budget. Later, Luo learned that there were ten households in the village that were facing similar situations as Yang was. Therefore, Luo applied for a fund and invited a repair team to restore the original appearance of these houses. The repairing, which was also joined by the villagers, was completed in three months. "One of the features of the eco-museum is to guide the villagers to perform independent management and activate their passion for protecting their traditional culture," Luo explained. Photo shows villagers in traditional Miao ethnic costumes in a village in Suojia Miao, Yi and Hui township, Liuzhi special region, Liupanshui of southwest China's Guizhou province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Jing) The eco-museum also boosted local tourism, and villager Yang Ermei is one that has benefited from it. The woman offers traditional dancing performances for visiting tourists together with a dozen of other villagers. They also purchased a loom to make souvenirs. Wang Zhu, an official with the Guizhou Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, told People's Daily that thanks to the implementation of a series of policies in recent years, the protection of traditional culture has become a consensus in the local community. According to the official, the province is now home to over 300 intangible cultural heritage workshops, which not only create jobs and improve residents' income but also give villagers more vigor. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) Well be dealing with dramatizations of the lives of royals forever, if only because the public/private schism of They Who Wear The Crowns and those who live in their vicinity is so temptingly easy to map out on paper. All that circumstantial pomp, all those game-day faces and manners, colliding with so much backstage intrigue, away from prying eyes. The hypocrisy! The clothes! The wealth! The loneliness! Corsage is like that, but its really good, and far less hidebound than most treatments of its ilk. It stars Luxembourg-born actor Vicky Kriepsas Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie, the 19th century empress of Austria and queen of Hungary known popularly as Sissi. Advertisement Krieps worked steadily in Europe for years prior to her English-language breakout role as Alma, opposite Daniel Day-Lewis, in the lovely, twisted Phantom Thread (2017). The second you saw her in that film and heard that thrummy, expressive voice on the soundtrack, in voice-over it wasnt a star-is-born moment so much as a cinematic exhale, a recognition of someone who has everything. Corsage offers Krieps the most interesting role shes had since Phantom Thread. Austrian writer-director Marie Kreutzers brash and disarming historical drama keeps the leading actor front and center, while sustaining an intriguing guessing game regarding the interior life of Elisabeth, empress, royal emblem, thwarted free spirit. Advertisement The movie starts in 1877, and in some respects (all for the better) Corsage doesnt waste time orienting the audience. We learn a few things as we go, and we learn from the filmmaker not to take her account as historical fact. This ones full of impish anachronisms, on the soundtrack and on screen, as if to say the clothes and props may change, but the stifling cruelties of the royal court remain the same. Elisabeth married Emperor Franz Joseph I in 1854. As Corsage begins, she is 40 and terrified that her cachet and public allure are waning, fast. Weary of the Habsburg court life, she flees Vienna and travels to England and Bavaria. Mad Ludwig II, her dissolute cousin, provides a bit of solace, as does an English riding master. Back at court, meantime, the wheels turn against her. Kreutzers film is beautiful in ways that rarely take the chill off the central character. It recalls many previous royal-centric works, most recently Spencer, and The Crown, of course, but also the past/present epoch mashup of Sofia Coppolas Marie Antoinette. Corsage, I think, is the superior picture. It never reduces Elisabeth to one type of woman, or celebrity. Krieps is a wizard at commingled emotions; joy, release, contemplation, despair all share the same bloodstream, the same fastidiously preserved face and scarily corseted body, throughout the film. It may be her show, but Krieps has fine screen company, especially that of Florian Teichtmeister as the emperor. Cinematographer Judith Kaufmann is an equally valuable colleague, maximizing the grandeur of the locations (both interior and exterior) without going travelogue on us. Not all the anachronisms work, but Corsage works anyway because Krieps makes Elisabeth a dimensional woman for all seasons. Empress Elisabeth has already had her share of screen interpretations, most recently the German TV series The Empress; this one is very much its own thing, and worth seeing. Corsage 3.5 stars (out of 4) No MPA rating. Running time: 1:53 How to watch: Wide release in theaters Jan. 4. Advertisement Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic. mjphillips@chicagotribune.com Twitter @phillipstribune The White House on Friday downplayed concerns about the impact on national security without a House Speaker in place as Republicans in the lower chamber vote for a 12th time to elect a leader. National security spokesman John Kirby said that theres no particular worry or concern, but added that the White House prefers to see all of this resolved as soon as possible. His comments come after State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Thursday that a lack of a Speaker is likely to compound concerns on Capitol Hill over the ability of lawmakers to carry out their duties related to national security and foreign policy. A Speaker is necessary to swear in members and authorize committee formations, which then allows for members to be credentialed to attend briefings or meetings on sensitive and classified information with administration officials. Kirby said that even without a Speaker elected, there are vehicles in place to communicate as appropriate with both the House and the Senate. Were confident that we can continue to defend the United States of American while House Republicans are working through this process, he said. But Kirby added that he doesnt want to suggest that theres not going to be any national security impacts. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also told reporters on Friday that the White House hopes that the House resolves this soon. It has been a couple of days now. And we have important work to do for the American people, she said. After four days of voting, Republicans made some movement in Kevin McCarthys (R-Calif.) direction on Friday and he picked up multiple GOP holdout votes on the 12th ballot. On Thursday, Price also warned it is much more difficult for the State Department to take into account the prerogatives and the perspectives of members of both chambers of Congress when there is not a seated House of Representatives. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Warning: This article contains spoilers from Season Two of Ginny & Georgia. In just 20 episodes, Netflixs Ginny and Georgia has managed to address depression, self-harm, microaggressions, the importance of therapy and more heavy real-world issues. But at the center of the show is the mother-daughter dynamic between the two titular characters. Each episode shows Georgia (Brianne Howey) working to be the best mom she can be for he children, Ginny (Antonia Gentry) and Austin (Diesel La Torraca). Antonia Gentry as Ginny and Brianne Howey as Georgia in season 2 of After almost a two-year break in between seasons, the popular dramedy returned for its sophomore season on Jan. 5. The new batch of episodes unpack why Georgia continues to go to extreme lengths to protect her family. In Season One, viewers learn Georgia drugged and killed her first husband and later poisoned her second spouse. The revelations about Georgia's past continue in Season Two: She had another abusive relationship with Austins father Gil (Aaron Ashmore). While Georgia and Gil's backstory is revealed in flashbacks, Georgia in the present day tells her children about the crimes she committed to get them the picturesque life they currently have in Wellsbury. During one vulnerable conversation between Georgia and Ginny, the resolute mom tells her daughter, Im proud I got us here. I never said I was a good person. The line stands out as viewers and characters alike question Georgias parenting skills, considering she has killed and committed fraud (for children, but still). Online, fans have debated whether Georgia is a good or bad mom. This particular Reddit poll concluded that she is "doing the best she can," if you're curious). In an interview with TODAY.com, writers and executive producers Sarah Lampert and Debra J. Fisher explain why they arent really interested in critiquing Georgia as a parent. Lampert and Fisher say that they intended for Season Two to continue to show the messy and dynamic relationship between Ginny and Georgia while also highlighting how much Ginny needs her mom despite knowing her most horrific secrets. They choose to focus on the ups and downs of Ginny and Georgias relationship. Story continues I dont think were really interested in labeling a character good or bad or right or wrong, creator Lampert shares. We want people to have different opinions and exist in this kind of gray area where characters are dynamic. Just like life, sometimes they do the right thing. And sometimes they do the wrong thing. She explains that Ginny & Georgia does not intend to judge any of the characters but rather show the decisions people feel they have to make based on the challenges life has dealt them. Fisher agrees, calling complicated relationships the shows magic. Lampert adds that she and Fisher are frequently asked if they view Georgia as a bad mom, and avoid answering. Im not interested in answering that because the answer isnt simple, she says. "Her north star and her biggest truth is she genuinely and truly and deeply loves and will do anything for her children," Lampert shares. Even if this north star gets her in trouble, Lampert calls it one of her "best traits." No matter what, Georgia is centering her kids. Fisher likes to look at Georgia as a balanced character instead of a "good" or a "bad" one. The executive producer tells TODAY.com of the show, We balance the light and the dark, the tears, the happy, the sad." That balance is also seen in Ginny leaning on both of her parents to help her confront her self-harm and her struggles with her identity. Season Two begins with Ginny and Austin temporarily living with her dad Zion (Nathan Mitchell) as they grapple with the knowledge that their mom poisoned her second husband and collected his life insurance money. Antonia Gentry as Ginny and Diesel La Torraca as Austin in season 2 of The second season also shows Ginny finding safety and security with other characters, like her therapist, who is Black and can help Ginny unpack her mixed race identity. Lampert describes Ginnys connection with her father as her safe space. She reveals that she and Fisher spent a lot of time in the writers room discussing how they wanted to build on Ginnys search for identity and her coming-of-age story by introducing a therapist and featuring scenes between Ginny and her paternal grandparents. We never moved on until everyone felt really heard. We were always able to bring stuff back if we felt that things were veering off and we hadnt really gotten to the heart of something yet, Lampert says. We took a lot of care in the writers room. I think that the reason the show is so successful is because we have such a diverse writers room and diversity behind and in front of the camera. We really dug deep this season into all of our characters. Fisher also praises the Ginny and Georgia writers room for being filled with creators who have lived experiences that allow us to tell these multilayered stories in a really authentic way. We always want to inspire really meaningful conversations around all of this, Fisher says. While Ginny leans on her father and therapist for support, she also spends part of the season becoming closer with Bracia (Tameka Griffiths) and and her main group of friends, nicknamed MANG: Max (Sara Waisglass), Abby (Katie Douglas) and Norah (Chelsea Clark). Antonia Gentry as Ginny, and Tameka Griffiths as Bracia in season 2 of Ginnys moments with MANG and Bracia give her a break from her struggles at home. She laughs with her friends about crushes, joins them when they pretend to be mimes and enjoys just being a silly teenager. The show comments on the teens easygoing friendships in one of its many pop culture references. At one point, Max jokes to her friends, Where do you think we are? Euphoria?, referring to the HBO hit that also focuses on teens battling addictions, depression and other intense problems. The line wasnt meant to be a dig at the Zendaya-led show. Lampert and Fisher both compliment the drama series and tell TODAY.com they are fans. They say they included the line because although Euphoria and Ginny & Georgia have different tones, Lampert and Fisher see the shows as examples of coming-of-age stories that genuinely resonate with their younger audiences. Fisher is grateful her show can take time to fully explore storylines about topics like disordered eating, sexuality, depression and self-harm. Antonia Gentry as Ginny, and Sara Waisglass as Maxine in season 2 We have the ability to take the time to really get into these storylines (because) were not an issue-of-the-week show. We have the ability to expand these things over the course of the whole season really slowly and I love that about our show, says Fisher. Lampert adds, Me too. Its always a pet peeve when shows kind of wrap up serious issues that kids are really going through and that realistically dont wrap up neatly in the end of the season or the end of an episode arc. According to Lambert, a licensed psychiatrist reads every script and watches every cut to give the writer notes on all the difficult topics Ginny & Georgia tackles. Fisher notes that Mental Health America honored the show in 2021 with a media award for its portrayal of self-harm and conversations about mental health in Season One. Even if Ginny and Georgia facing some problems of soap opera proportions, the two prioritize making Ginny & Georgia relatable. Lampert explains, For us, its all about responsibly telling these stories that lead in a direction towards healing and hope, while sinking it in a really grounded honest place. She says any show can include surprising plot devices and twists, but viewers will not watch or care if they do not believe there is truth in the characters struggles. Ginny & Georgia feels universal because it proves that life is complicated whether you are a mom of two or a high school student," Fisher says. Fans will see just how hard Ginny and Georgias life in Wellsbury has become in all 10 episodes of Season Two, which ends in one of the shows biggest surprises so far. This article was originally published on TODAY.com By David Shepardson (Reuters) -Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers said on Friday he plans to join other states in banning use of the popular video app TikTok on government-managed devices. Evers, a Democrat, told WISN-TV in Milwaukee he would issue an order banning the short-video app owned by Chinese technology conglomerate ByteDance, early next week. His office confirmed the plan to Reuters. About 20 U.S. states have banned TikTok from state-owned devices, citing concerns about its Chinese ownership. Last month, President Biden signed into law a government funding bill that included a ban on federal employees from using or downloading TikTok on government-owned devices. The law gives the White House Office of Management and Budget 60 days "to develop standards and guidelines for executive agencies requiring the removal" of TikTok from federal devices. Republican governors have led the charge to ban TikTok from state devices and some Democratic governors have resisted the calls. Representative Mike Gallagher, a Wisconsin Republican who has backed legislation seeking to ban TikTok nationally, said Friday that "now that Governor Evers has recognized the threat posed by the app, I hope he will also delete his campaign's TikTok account." Evers' office said the governor does not maintain a personal or official TikTok account or have TikTok installed on any of his personal or state devices. His campaign did have an account but it was not maintained using any state government device. Calls to ban TikTok from government devices gained steam after U.S. FBI Director Christopher Wray said in November it poses national security risks. Wray flagged the threat that the Chinese government could harness the app to influence users or control their devices. Reuters reported Friday TikTok has put on hold a hiring process for consultants that would help it implement a potential security agreement with the United States, two people familiar with the matter said, as more U.S. officials oppose such a deal. For three years, TikTok has been seeking to assure Washington that the personal data of U.S. citizens cannot be accessed and its content cannot be manipulated by China's Communist Party or any other entity under Beijing's influence. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio) WASHINGTON The absence of rules at the start of the new Congress allowed rare, cinematic coverage of last week's House debate on who should be the next speaker. During the four-day saga, video cameras panned the chamber and focusing on lawmakers in areas not often seen on television screens. Still photographers had the leeway to find new angles to dramatize the action. Lawmakers were seen huddling in negotiation, racing to cast a vote or just sitting and reading. The more flexible access allowed cameras to capture rare images of lawmakers shouting at each other on the floor, huddling amid the contentious debate or racing to the floor to vote as the drama plays out. In one astonishing image, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., is seen being physically restrained by another lawmaker after getting into an argument with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. Cameras also caught quieter moments of a lawmaker yawning over the debate, holding a baby or just sitting and reading a book. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., pulls Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., back as they talk with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and others during the 14th round of voting for speaker as the House sought to elect a speaker on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. At right is Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. Why did cameras get a wider view of the House fight? The public got a wider view of the saga on Capitol Hill because the House had yet to set rules for the new session in the absence of a speaker. At the start of each new session, the House must reconstitute itself with incoming members and adopt new rules a process that can't begin until a speaker is chosen. The 117th Congress adjourned Tuesday morning and the 118th Congress waits to be sworn in. But before that can happen, the chamber needs to elect a speaker and adopt its organizing rules. For lack of a speaker, the lack of rules means that commonplace restrictions are temporarily not in place. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., left, and Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., listen to the eleventh round of votes in the House chamber as the House meets for the third day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. The lack of rules literally opened the doors of the House chamber to cameras both video and still that are typically restricted by what they can show. The new perspective reveals panoramic views of lawmakers in their seats listening to debate. Rep.-elect Nancy Mace (D-NY) holds a dog as she casts her vote to adjourn in the House Chamber during the third day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 5, 2023, in Washington, DC. Keeping a birds-eye perspective on the entire field of lawmakers allows the chance to capture a gesture such as Rep.-elect Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., giving a thumbs down to adjourning on Thursday. Story continues Rep.-elect Ilhan Omar (D-MN) gives a thumbs-down during a vote to adjourn in the House Chamber during the third day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 5, 2023, in Washington, DC. The 118th House of Representatives has filed to select a speaker eleven times, and voting will resume on Jan. 6, 2023. For video, the House traditionally controls cameras that remain fixed on the speakers rostrum or on the floor lecterns where lawmakers of each party debate legislation. The cameras cant pan the audience to see how many lawmakers are listening to a debate. During a vote, House cameras allow a wide angle of the chamber from the side. Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) looks on as Republican House members-elects speak to one another during the second day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 4, 2023, in Washington, DC. The House of Representatives will conduct day four of voting to select a Speaker of the House. In the absence of rules, news organizations including C-SPAN, which typically broadcasts the official House feed, brought their own cameras onto the balconies above the floor. The additional cameras offered panoramic views of who was present. The new views also offered the opportunity to focus tightly on two lawmakers speaking with each other away from the spotlight. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., left, talks with Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., in the House chamber as the House meets for a second day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. Likewise, still photographers who are typically limited to where they can stand and when they can shoot found new angles to portray. Reporters and broadcast producers were allowed into balconies above the floor debate, where they can see whispered conversations or catch a lawmaker yelling at the president during a speech. But cameras often portray a dramatic moment more emphatically than mere words. This rare camera access showed Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., sitting and waiting for the results of the latest vote. Rep.-elect Jim Jordan (R-OH) (L) and Rep.-elect Chip Roy (R-TX) confer before the House of Representatives reconvenes on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, trying to elect a Speaker of the House as the 118th session of Congress begins. Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Chip Roy, R-Texas, huddled away from the spotlight; or someone sitting and reading a book, like Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y. Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., reads a book in the House chamber during voting for the Speaker of the House. The House of Representatives reconvenes on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, trying to elect a Speaker of the House as the 118th session of Congress begins. Lawmakers often bring children onto the House floor for the celebratory first day of a new Congress. As the relaxed atmosphere continues for days during the speaker debate, Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., lifted a baby into the air. Here are some videos that would not be allowed under traditional House rules: New member George Santos temporarily misses roll call vote Lawmakers typically vote with electronic cards that are tabulated on a video scoreboard above the speakers desk. Its often tough to spot a specific lawmaker in the room. But in voting for speaker, each representative-elects name is called and the person stands to announce who they support. A video camera caught Rep.-elect George Santos, R-N.Y., failing to respond during one roll call until after the clerk had moved to the next name on the alphabetical list. He eventually raised his hand and wasnt recognized. But he was later able to record his vote. Dan Crenshaw says of McCarthy holdouts: 'They are enemies now.' Television cameras are typically prohibited from roaming the Capitol. This is especially true on the second floor, where the House and Senate chambers are located, and on the third floor, where offices for lawmakers and committees are located. While catching a lawmaker on video in the hallway of a congressional office building is commonplace, the lack of rules allowed a rare Capitol hallway interview with Rep.-elect Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas. Crenshaw expressed exasperation with GOP rebels who refused to back McCarthy, saying: "They are enemies now." Kat Cammack provokes reaction from Democrats during floor debate House rules traditionally prohibit criticizing another member by name or questioning an opponents motives. Insults can lead to disciplinary proceedings. The clerk who presided over the organization of the House, Cheryl Johnson, opened Thursdays session reminding representatives-elect to address their remarks to the chair and to refrain from remarks about personalities. The clerk has the responsibility to preserve order and decorum in the chamber prior to the election of the speaker, Johnson said before receiving lengthy applause. The reminder came after Rep.-elect Kat Cammack, R-Fla., said on the House floor Wednesday that Democrats enjoyed seeing Republicans divided. That much has been made clear by the popcorn and blankets and alcohol that has come out over there, Cammack said to shouts of protest. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kevin McCarthy House speaker fight: Dramatic moments caught on camera A Jacksonville woman is fighting for her life after she was hit by a car while trying to fix a flat tire on the Matthews Bridge Tuesday Morning. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Action News Jax spoke with the womans sister who says weather conditions played a big factor in her sisters injuries. Quandra Hightower says the fog in Jacksonville that happened that morning made it hard for people to see. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] She added that the man who hit her sister with his carmay never walk again. She was coming from hanging out with some friends, says Quandra Hightower. Hightower is still in shock after she says her 20-year-old sister, Denay Josey, was hit by a car. She was standing near the rear of her car looking for her spare tire, says Hightower. Read: Fatal crash reported on Blanding Blvd. near Jefferson Ave., FHP reports Thats when Hightower says the unthinkable happened Another car that was speeding and driving too fast for the road conditions hit her and ran her over and totaled both cars, says Hightower. Hightower says before the crash, conditions were very foggy that morning. She says since the accident, her sister has had numerous surgeries. She had major head trauma and leg trauma. The leg trauma was pretty bad to be honest. At first, they didnt know if they were going to be able to salvage her leg, says Hightower. She says seeing her sister in this condition is devastating. She is my youngest sibling; she is only 20. I feel like she has her whole life ahead of her, says Hightower. According to this Florida Traffic Crash Report, the driver was driving too fast for conditions. Hightower says she spoke with the family of the man driving the car that hit her sister. They told her he may never walk again. I definitely feel bad for both families. I wouldnt wish that on nobody, I just wish he wouldnt have been speeding, says Hightower. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Hightower says her sister is in intense pain and doesnt believe she knows the magnitude of what happened. She also believes that after her sister heals physically, she may experience mental hurdles in her recovery. Story continues A GoFundMe has been set up to help Denay Josey and her long road to recovery. Click here if you would like to help. STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories Carlos Alcaraz is out of the Australian Open (Adam Davy/PA) (PA Archive) World number one Carlos Alcaraz will miss the Australian Open because of a leg injury. The 19-year-old Spaniard, who won his maiden grand slam title at the US Open in September, revealed he suffered a muscle injury in his right leg during pre-season training. Writing on social media Alcaraz said: Its time to deal with another blow. When I was at my best in pre-season, I picked up an injury through a chance, unnatural movement in training. Id worked so hard to get to my best level for Australia but unfortunately I wont be able to play the Care A2+ Kooyong (warm-up event) or the Australian Open. Its tough, but I have to be optimistic, recover and look forward. See you in 2024 @australianopen. When I was at my best in preseason, I picked up an injury through a chance, unnatural movement in training. This time it's the semimembranosus muscle in my right leg. pic.twitter.com/nJbIlMtGyK Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) January 6, 2023 Alcaraz surged to the top of the rankings in a remarkable 2022 season, becoming the youngest man ever to hold the number one position after beating Casper Ruud in the final in New York. The teenager suffered a blow at the end of the campaign when he tore an abdominal muscle, forcing him to miss the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals. The timing of this latest injury is extremely unfortunate and robs the Australian Open of one of its most exciting drawcards. Alcarazs absence means his compatriot Rafael Nadal is set to be top seed for the defence of his title at Melbourne Park, with the tournament beginning on January 16. If youre a practitioner of the law, artificial intelligence (AI) could soon be coming for your job. The World's First Robot Lawyer In 2015, Joshua Browder launched the company DoNoPay as a chatbot designed to provide consumers troubled by late fees or fines with legal advice. Five years later, he transitioned the company into an AI model. Now, the software he has developed has been deemed the worlds first robot lawyer. According to the New York Post, the product is set to take on its first court case, thanks to the help of AI, and will assist a defendant during a legal battle to fight a traffic ticket. Where It All Started Browder, who became an expert in finding loopholes to get out of paying fines while racking up parking tickets during his time at Stanford University, said that he created the company by accident. Now, the founder aims to use his creation to eliminate the extensive fees that consumers face from racking up parking tickets. Browder believes he has created a workaround that will not only help people avoid paying the tickets but the legal fees associated with hiring a lawyer to help them fight their case. The goal of this company is to make the $200 billion legal profession free for consumers, said Browder. Who Wins In The End? According to Browder, the time that it took to train the application on covering a wide array of topics in case law was extensive, as it aims to replace certain types of lawyers altogether to save people money. Therell 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, he explained, according to the publication. The Goal Another goal for Browders company is to have the application he created and, according to him, took a long time to train on case law covering a wide array of topics replace certain lawyers altogether in an effort to save people money. Story continues Its all about language, and thats what lawyers charge hundreds or thousands of dollars an hour to do, he said, according to the New York Post. During the forthcoming case, the technology will instruct the defendant on what to say as they sort out a speeding ticket in a court of law. In addition to serving as a legal assistant, DoNoPay has made a pledge to fight corporations, beat bureaucracy and sue anyone at the press of a button. What happens when your home no longer feels like a home? When the rules of your life no longer make sense? When your body is not your own? When your children are not safe and neither are you? Do you look for justice? Revenge? Apologies? Do you make amends to keep the peace? Or do you search for something else? Something unknown, something new? For a crime as old as sexual assault, we still struggle to find the language to talk about it. No matter how enlightened were supposed to have become about these things, there is so much silence, so much shame, so much anger that just hangs in the air. Isnt it kind of sad, in a way, that the only words weve collectively agreed upon are me too? Advertisement Sarah Polley knows the terrible truth about sexual assault and the criminal and civil justice system: That there are no perfect victims. In her book Run Towards the Danger she writes about how she watched it unravel from the sidelines, in horrified silence at the advice of friends and lawyers, as a man she alleges assaulted her when she was 16, was found not guilty. The other women who claimed assaults publicly were deemed unreliable narrators, their memories imperfect. And so, for her extraordinary film Women Talking she approaches this societal, cultural conundrum from a different angle and in doing so makes the conversation undeniable. The women in her film have no memory of the assaults at all. What they do have are bruises, blood and babies and a trauma so deep, so intractable that they no longer feel like themselves. Advertisement This isnt helped by their faith, and the elders in their isolated religious colony who tell them that it was ghosts or Satan who did it, that theyre lying to get attention, or that it was an act of wild female imagination. But the film begins with an indisputable reality: One of the attackers is caught and this has led to a series of events in which three generations of women have 24 hours to decide what to do before they return, demanding forgiveness. Their three options as they see it are 1) do nothing, 2) stay and fight, or 3) leave. So, they talk. The film is an adaptation of a 2018 book by Miriam Toews, which was itself inspired by a real story out of a Mennonite community in Bolivia in which eight men were convicted of raping more than 100 women and girls. They used cow tranquilizers on their victims who had little to no memory of the incidents. Polleys version is expressionistic and lyrical, biting and poetic. The conversations are messy, the feminism contradictory and the trauma complicated. Among the grandmothers (Frances McDormand, Sheila McCarthy, Judith Ivey) there are those who have lived with these unspoken truths for so long that abandoning the end goal, the kingdom of heaven, is simply not an option. There are some who are open to a conversation and see a light. One tells allegorical stories about her horses Ruth and Cheryl. The younger mothers are different too. Jessie Buckleys Mariche is full of bitterness and nowhere to channel it. Claire Foys Salome is bubbling over with rage. Her 4-year-old was assaulted and she wants to kill. Rooney Maras Ona, newly pregnant from an assault, is serious but romantic, looking at things as a poet might, from a kind of ivory tower shes constructed for herself, despite the fact that none of the women have been taught to read. The teens (Kate Hallett, Liv McNeil, Michelle McLeod) giggle and act out too. No one has processed whats happened in the same way, and the conversations are equally messy. Conversations are often interrupted. Tensions rise and are punctured, sometimes with rage, sometimes with laughter. The men are not part of this conversation. They barely get names. And only one gets to bear witness to the proceedings, Ben Whishaws August, who knows the outside world, but has returned to teach the young boys at school but also out of love for Ona. Im not sure it would be possible for his performance to be sweeter or more heartbreaking. Polley and cinematographer Luc Montpellier shoot the story in a muted palette, not quite sepia but not quite color either, reflecting the limited world of its characters. Women Talking is told like a folk tale, from sometime in the future, with composer Hildur Gunadottirs poignantly minimalist, grassroots score, of guitars, strings, bells and cymbals, helping to save us from overwhelming despair. Women Talking is not melodramatic or desperate or exploitative. It is astute and urgent and may just help those previously unable to find words or even coherent feelings for their own traumatic experiences. And hopefully it might just inspire more works of wild female imagination. Advertisement Women Talking 4 stars (out of 4) MPA rating: PG-13 (for strong language, bloody images, sexual assault, mature thematic content) Running time: 104 minutes. How to watch: At the Music Box Theatre in Chicago, 3733 N. Southport Ave. Wide release Jan. 20. (Bloomberg) -- Duped donors. Embarrassed voters. Angry neighbors. Most Read from Bloomberg Such was the mood at delis, barbershops and train platforms across Long Island as Republican George Santos went to Washington to represent a gilded enclave of New York still baffled by the man they voted in. We feel betrayed, said Republican Lawrence Ripak, 79, of revelations Santos fabricated significant details about his education, career and religion. The retired aerospace executive, one of more than 100 people Bloomberg News reached out to about Santos, donated nearly $5,000 to the Congressman-elect over the last two elections. He voted for Santos in 2020, but because of redistricting wasnt eligible to vote for him in 2022. Still, Santos kept in touch and Ripak and his wife kept giving money. We had this long conversation about his ancestry, including now-debunked claims of Ukrainian Jewish heritage. I guess thats part of the smokescreen. Santos hasnt been sworn in, due to infighting among Republican House members, who havent elected a speaker. But Santos has moved into a Capitol Hill office and said he doesnt plan to resign. There is little New Yorkers many of whom say they dont want him in office can do to prevent him from taking office. Read More: Santos Sits Alone as Resignation Calls Mount Over His Lies Donor Regrets Hundreds of New Yorkers gave money to Santoss campaign, including well-known wealthy donors like Anthony Scaramucci, Len Blavatnik and John Catsimatidis. Scaramucci, the Skybridge Capital founder who lives in Manhasset, said he met Santos once at an event in Southampton for another candidate, Michelle Bond, who ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for New Yorks 1st Congressional District. Michelle asked me to help him out so I wrote him a check, Scaramucci said in an email. Didnt really know all the intrigue at that moment. Story continues Blavatnik didnt respond to a request for comment though his company, Access Industries Holdings. Catsimatidis said he was invited by his daughter, Manhattan Republican Party Chairwoman Andrea Catsimatidis, to a fund-raiser for Santos and would-be House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. And what dad do you know who can say no to his daughter? he said. So I showed up for breakfast, shook a few hands, gave Kevin McCarthy a hug, and left a check for $2,900. I didnt even stay for the whole breakfast. I did my duty. Catsimatidis, whose Red Apple Media includes New York talk radio station WABC, said both political parties and the media didnt do their job vetting Santos. He lied about everything, Catsimatidis said. Tell me what you want me to be and Ill be it. Thats what part of his strategy was. Donors described a charismatic and ambitious politician who seemed to say all the right things. I regret giving the guy money. I never even asked about the guys credentials, because he spoke intelligently, said Republican Dan Martin, a former Marine and accountant who gave $250 and ran unsuccessfully for Babylon Town Supervisor. One local news organization, the North Shore Leader, had raised questions about Santos in a September editorial that said for a man of such alleged wealth, campaign records show that Santos and his husband live in a rented apartment. But the concerns gained little traction as Santos garnered more than 145,000 votes for New Yorks 3rd Congressional District. Party Vote During a break from a two-hour Great Neck Village board of trustees meeting at which they debated issues like whether an alleged plot to hold a neighbors cat hostage was a building code violation Mayor Pedram Bral said voters often forgo research on individual candidates and vote along party lines. I dont think people today necessarily vote for the person. Unfortunately, they vote for the party, said Bral, who is a Republican but serves in a non-partisan village office. Bral, who voted for Santos, said the Congressman-elect had made a grave mistake and that he didnt have to lie about anything. He could have gotten it without lying. Now, Bral said it was up to district attorneys who are investigating whether Santos committed fraud. Any investigation could take months. Even if he were convicted of a crime, he wouldnt necessarily be compelled to step down. The House Ethics Committee can pursue an inquiry once hes sworn in, but expulsions are rare, according to Blake Chisam, an ethics lawyer and former staff director for the committee. If Santos resigns, New York Governor Kathy Hochul would call a special election to fill the seat. Otherwise, voters wont get a chance to unseat him until 2024. Theres nothing anybody can do to stop it, said Scott Zubrow, 50, as he walked his Australian Shepherd/Poodle mix, Taz, along a stretch of million-dollar homes in Port Washington. Zubrow didnt vote for Santos, but said his misrepresentations over religion and how his mothers death was linked to 9/11 were egregious. Thats not something you lie about. Its just pathetic, he said. Let It Go Around the corner, Daniels Barber Shop has a rule against talking politics but 74-year-old financial planner Edward Cohen couldnt help himself. He didnt vote for Santos but said many of his neighbors did. They were lied to. They believed him. Not everyone was as perturbed. Republican Bill Burke, a 69-year-old retired Wall Street broker and investment banker, said Santoss lies werent all that damning and that hed vote for Santos again. You know, what are you going to do? He didnt kill anybody, he said while walking home with groceries across from the Million-Dollar Deli in Locust Valley, a secluded enclave along Long Islands affluent Gold Coast. Let it go. --With assistance from Sri Taylor. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with U.S. senators Jack Reed and Angus King in Kyiv on Jan. 6, with whom he discussed the current situation on the front line and the risks of a possible escalation, Zelensky said on Telegram. Following the meeting, Zelensky noted that the Russian offer of a ceasefire is a manipulation by which the aggressor tries to hide his true military plans and intentions. Earlier on Jan. 5, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin ordered Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to implement a temporary ceasefire along the entire front line in Ukraine from midday on Jan. 6 to midnight on Jan. 7. Zelensky dismissed Putin's words about an Orthodox Christmas ceasefire later in the day. U.S. President Joe Biden said he believes Putin is "trying to find some oxygen" with the proposed truce. "I'm reluctant to respond (to) anything Putin says. I found it interesting. He was ready to bomb hospitals and nurseries and churches on Dec. 25 and New Year," he told reporters. According to CNN, after the Jan. 6 meeting with Zelensky, Reed said that the additional military support announced by Biden will give Ukrainian forces the ability to break through front lines, exploit that breakthrough and go on we hope to eject the Russians from Ukrainian territory. Reed also said he told Zelensky his and his countrys sacrifice has inspired the world and that they are fighting the fight for all of us, as quoted by CNN. A former Lynchburg resident who federal prosecutors said conspired to distribute more than $4.5 million worth of cocaine through Central Virginia was sentenced this week to 27 and a half years in prison, officials said Friday. Jermel Lawrence Storey, 45, pleaded guilty in July to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute and distributing cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute and distributing 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possession of a firearm (a short-barreled rifle) in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, according to a news release from Chris Kavanaugh, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia. Storey, who most recently resided in North Carolina, led a drug trafficking ring responsible for distributing more than 150 kilograms of cocaine in the region. Between January 2016 and January 2021, the organization brought cocaine to the Lynchburg area from Texas through North Carolina. Storey used guns for protection and to intimidate others, and he threatened the family members of co-conspirators when they did not comply with his demands, according to the news release. Dismantling this massive narcotics conspiracy makes a significant impact on the entire Central Virginia area, Kavanaugh said in a news release. Lynchburg Police Chief Ryan Zuidema said in the release the sentencing should send a clear message to those who prey on our community that their actions will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We know there is a clear connection between drug activity and violent crime, and this sentencing reinforces our communitys unwillingness to tolerate either, Zuidema said. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Lynchburg Police Department; the Virginia State Polices Central Virginia Drug and Gang Task Force; and the Office of the Commonwealths Attorney for the City of Lynchburg investigated the case. U.S. attorneys Sean Welsh and Ronald M. Huber prosecuted it. In September, Charay Lamont Trent, of Lynchburg, and Ricky Donnell Abner, of Charlotte, North Carolina, were found guilty by a jury for their involvement in the drug ring. Appearing at a news conference in the Hill City at that time, Kavanaugh said the trafficking organization had 25 members, and Abner and Trent were the 24th and 25th convictions of those members, with 22 defendants previously pleading guilty and another member being found guilty. Virginia State Police on Friday released the name of an 11-year-old found dead last week after an SUV apparently tried to cross the Rockfish River in Nelson County at a low point but was swept away by the current. The body of Jasiah Davis, of Arrington, was located on the riverbank. Davis was a sixth-grade student at Amherst Middle School. Authorities already had identified Christopher Doss, 17, of Arrington, who also was found on the riverbank. Doss was an 11th-grade student at Amherst County High School. The body of Pharoah Shabazz, 30, of Arrington, was recovered inside the vehicle once it was retrieved from the river, police said. Police still are searching for two other people believed to have been inside the vehicle: an 18-year-old man and a 12-year-old boy. Police said Friday that Shabazz was the court-appointed legal guardian of three of the passengers. The fourth was a friend. At 11:41 a.m. Dec. 27, VSP were alerted to the vehicle in the Rockfish River near the intersection of Bridgeport Lane and Johnson Hollow in Schuyler. Local and state search and recovery teams responded to the scene to assist with recovering the vehicle. It appears a 1997 Toyota 4Runner attempted to cross the Rockfish River at a low river crossing on Bridgeport Lane but was swept away by the strong current, police have said. The crossing is on private property. Authorities still are working to determine when the vehicle was washed into the river, and the investigation is ongoing. Virginia State Police on Thursday released the names of two of the three people found dead after an SUV apparently tried to cross the Rockfish River at a low point but was swept away by the current. The body of Christopher Doss, 17, of Arrington, and what are believed to be the remains of an 11-year-old boy were located on the riverbank. Virginia State Police still are waiting for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond to confirm the identity of the 11-year-old. Authorities recovered the body of Pharoah Shabazz, 30, of Arrington, inside the vehicle once it was retrieved from the river. At 11:41 a.m. Dec. 27, VSP were alerted to the vehicle in the Rockfish River near the intersection of Bridgeport Lane and Johnson Hollow in Schuyler. Local and state search and recovery teams responded to the scene to assist with recovering the vehicle. It appears a 1997 Toyota 4Runner attempted to cross the Rockfish River at a low river crossing on Bridgeport Lane but was swept away by the strong current, police said in a news release. The crossing is on private property. Police still are working to determine when the vehicle was washed into the river. State police were told there were two additional individuals inside the vehicle an 18-year-old man and a 12-year-old boy. VSP Search and Recovery Team divers returned to the river Jan. 3 to continue search efforts but have not found the two still believed missing. Its divers are continually assessing the water levels to determine when to conduct another search of the river, VSP said Thursday. None of the individuals were related, according to police. The investigation is ongoing. Doss was an 11th-grade student at Amherst County High School, Amherst County Public Schools Superintendent William Wells said in a statement Thursday. School officials also believe two additional students, one at Amherst County High School and one at Amherst County Middle School, were involved, though their names have not been released. The loss of Christopher during the holiday break has deeply affected us all. His life at school and in our community will be sorely missed, Wells said in the release. Additional counselors will be available at the middle school and high school to support students and staff. We would like to thank you for your prayers and support for everyone involved in this tragic incident. We express our deepest sympathies to his family and friends and ask that you continue to support them during their time of loss, Wells said. Starting Monday, T.C. Miller Elementary School students will temporarily attend school at West Lynchburg Baptist Church, at 3031 Memorial Avenue. T.C. Miller and R.S. Payne students have been attending remotely this week due to water damage and heating problems following the cold snap just before Christmas. R.S. Payne Elementary School students are expected to be able to return to school in person on Monday. New Jersey governor Phil Murphy and Netflix have reached a deal that will allow the company to redevelop a 292-acre parcel in Oceanport into a sprawling production campus. Located along Route 35, the property was formerly operated by the United States Army as the Fort Monmouth County defense post, and officially decommissioned between 2011 and 2012. When complete, the production campus will include 12 new sound stage buildings totaling nearly 500,000 square feet. Some of the existing Fort Monmouth buildings will be repurposed for production-related services, including mill space, studio backlots, and dining spaces, among a myriad of facilities typically found on a Class A production campus. Were thrilled to continue and expand our significant investment in New Jersey and North America, said Ted Sarandos, Netflix co-CEO and chief content officer. We believe a Netflix studio can boost the local and state economy with thousands of new jobs and billions in economic output, while sparking a vibrant production ecosystem in New Jersey. We look forward to working with governor Murphy, his administration, and local leaders to finalize this deal in the months ahead. Netflix was one of four applicants that submitted proposals in response to a request for offers to purchase issued by the Board of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority in March 2022. The contract specifies a $55 million payment for the parcel, including a $5 million utility contribution and $3 million office relocation fee paid to the authority. Total project costs are estimated at approximately $848 million. This transformative investment will serve as a cornerstone in our efforts to create a thriving industry from whole cloth, said governor Murphy. As a result of nearly a billion dollars in film production spending, New Jersey will further solidify its status as an emerging national leader in the television and film industries. According to Netflix, the development will create more than 3,500 construction-related jobs and more than 1,500 permanent production jobs when the studio is in operation. Governor Murphy is optimistic that the project will also stimulate the development of new housing, hotels, and ancillary businesses in the surrounding area. Netflix has not confirmed a construction timeline for the project, nor an anticipated date of completion. Subscribe to YIMBYs daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBYs Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews The Bellevue Chamber of Commerce & Community is suspending its programs and referring members to join the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce. Michelle Andahl, the Bellevue chambers president and CEO, announced this week that the chamber board of directors voted Dec. 29 to suspend programs at her recommendation. In a letter to chamber members and posted publicly online, Andahl said that the chamber lost its federal tax exempt status with the IRS in 2011 because it did not file the proper annual tax forms. While the chamber is listed as a nonprofit in good standing by the Nebraska Secretary of States Office, Andahl said the organization hasnt yet been reinstated by the IRS and that her personal ethics would not allow me to continue accepting any member funding in 2023 without this being resolved. Our Board is in full agreement and with that, we will be suspending chamber programming starting today, Andahl wrote in the letter, which is dated Jan. 2. I will continue to be a trusted resource for our Board as they work through this issue. With a heavy heart, this means I will soon be ending my time as President and CEO, but I will continue to find new ways to use my business and government experience to serve our community. Andahl said that the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce will now provide all Chamber of Commerce services to businesses and nonprofit organizations in the Bellevue area. She praised the Sarpy chamber for doing tremendous things and its expansion in Bellevue. While Andahl stressed the two chambers arent merging, she noted that many Bellevue chamber members are also part of the Papillion-based Sarpy chamber. Andahl said in the letter that both groups will focus on helping Bellevue Chamber members explore membership opportunities with the Sarpy Chamber. We view this as an incredible opportunity for all Bellevue businesses and nonprofit organizations to continue to have exponentially expanded chamber experiences, Andahl said. With a single membership investment in the Sarpy Chamber, youll be able to take advantage of the countywide organizations extended reach as well as their tremendous networking and business-building opportunities. Barry Haire, the Bellevue chambers vice president of membership, will join the Sarpy chamber staff. The Sarpy chamber will continue Bellevue chamber programming such as its networking groups and programs associated with Offutt Air Force Base. Andahl said she knew there would be extensive work to do when she took the reins of the organization from Kevin Hensel, who left the chamber in June 2021 to work for Habitat for Humanity of Omaha. The chamber requested retroactive reinstatement from the IRS in the 2017-18 fiscal year, and its filed tax forms annually since 2018, Andahl said in the letter. Last year, the chamber hired legal counsel to work on its application for reinstatement. There is no known timeline as to when, or if, the Chamber will be reinstated, Andahl said. Andahl said she had hoped the reinstatement would take place before 2023. She noted that organizations can legally continue with business as usual while seeking a retroactive reinstatement and that theres no impact on those who have had paid memberships or done partnerships with the chamber the issue is whether the chamber owes corporate taxes on revenue it has generated over the more than 11 years it has been without nonprofit status. I love this organization and community tremendously and the work we have been able to do together, Andahl said. It has been the privilege of a lifetime to work for all of you. The Bellevue chamber has served the Bellevue-Offutt community since 1961. Its members include the Bellevue Leader. Lighthouse Bible Church Lighthouse Bible Church, 2136 Fifth Ave., invites the community to participate in our live worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. The Sunday sermon is prerecorded and can be viewed on our website, lighthousemc.com. Dress is casual, and coffee and refreshments are provided. Upcoming events: Prayer and Study, 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Mt. Hope United Methodist Mt. Hope United Methodist Church, 290th and Highway 6, McClelland, would like to invite all to join us on Sunday mornings for our worship service at 9:30 a.m. Children are welcome for the regular worship service and childrens sermon during the worship service. You do not have to be a member to participate in our church activities. Everyone is welcome. Gethsemane Presbyterian Church Gethsemane Presbyterian Church, 224 Wallace Ave., invites you to worship with us. The service runs from 9 to 10 a.m. The Rev. Nancy Ross-Hullinger will deliver the message. Children are invited to participate in Sunday school. Please join us for refreshments following the service. Adult Bible study meets on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 to 10 a.m. Our church is collecting Iowa 5 cent-refund cans/bottles for one of our mission projects, the Kanesville Honor Guard Society. Your donations help! Bags can be dropped off anytime at our front door. Our Food Pantry is open on Mondays and Thursdays until 10:30 a.m. Donations are welcome. For more information, contact the church office at 712-366-2513 or visit us on Facebook at gethsemanepresbyterianchurch.org. Timothy Lutheran Church Timothy Lutheran Church, 3112 W. Broadway, offers services at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. The church alternates between traditional services and praise services each week. Bible study and Sunday school at 9:15 a.m. If a month has a fifth Sunday, the church hosts a combined service at 9 a.m. Food and fellowship after service on fifth Sundays and there is no Bible study or Sunday school on those days. The church is handicap accessible. For more information, visit the church website at timothylutheran.net. St. Pauls Evangelical Country Church St. Pauls Evangelical Country Church rings the church bell each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. to welcome people to worship at 11055 Dumfries Ave. There are directional signs from Wabash Avenue and Pioneer Trail leading to the church. We are a growing, caring and friendly, Bible-teaching church led by Pastor Jason Kinney. Sunday school for all ages including adults starts at 9:15. Following worship, we enjoy donuts and coffee in the fellowship hall. This Sunday, the message is titled, Wisdom from Above Part 2, and we will be continuing through the book of James using Chapter 3:13-18 as the Bible reference. Greeters will be Jan and Dave Clayton. The youth group will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. The church council will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. The mens breakfast will be Saturday at 9 a.m. Visit our website at www.stpaulsecc.org for more information. We are handicapped accessible. Underwood Lutheran Church On Sunday, Jan. 8, Underwood Lutheran Church, 10 Third Ave., will hold Sunday activities. Education begins at 9 a.m. In-person worship begins at 10:15 a.m. The online video will be available later in the day. Bethany Spiritual Director CeCe Mickells will deliver a sermon based on Matthew 3:13-17. Compass Christian Church Compass Christian Church welcomes you to worship with us Sundays at 10:30 a.m. We are located at 2007 S. Seventh St., just west of the South Expressway. The church is handicap accessible. During worship, a cry room is available, along with childcare for children ages 1-4. Compass Kids grades K-5 meet downstairs for special Bible lessons during the sermon. You may also worship with us at compasscb.online.church or on YouTube. The mens and womens Bible study groups will resume on Jan. 9 from 7 to 8 p.m. The Bridge Young Adults will meet again on the third Tuesday, Jan. 17. Students in grades 6-12 and children grades K-5 meet Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. For questions or more information, visit our Facebook page, Compass Christian Church CB, our website compasscb.org or call the church office at 712-366-9112. Broadway United Methodist Church Broadway United Methodist, First Street and Broadway, is seeking, growing and serving with unconditional love and acceptance. We hold a traditional worship service Sundays at 8:30 a.m. and a praise worship service at 10:30 a.m. Coffee and donuts are served at 9:30 in the DeLong Lounge. Our services are held in person and livestreamed to our Facebook page or broadwayunitedmethodist.com/live. Masks are optional. Student Life Breakthrough is held Sundays at 6:30 p.m. On Mondays, Philips Cupboard, a nonfood pantry, is open noon to 2 p.m. On Wednesdays, the Praise Band rehearses at 5:30 p.m. A community meal is held at 6 p.m., followed by bell choir at 6:30 and choir at 7:30. The Mens Brown Bag Bible Study will be held Thursday at noon. On Friday, the church office is closed but Philips Cupboard is open noon to 2 p.m. For more information, visit our website at broadwayunitedmethodist.com or call the office at 712-322-7741 (closed Fridays). Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church, 1800 Fifth Ave., invites the public to participate in our live worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. The Sunday worship service will be recorded live and can be viewed on our Facebook page: Fifth Avenue UMC, Council Bluffs. Face masks are optional. Upcoming events: Meal & Message at 6 p.m. on Jan. 11. Soup Supper & Game Night will be Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. Meal & Message will be held again on Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. The church office can be reached at 712-323-7374 or through our email at fifthaveumchurch@gmail.com. Bethany Presbyterian Church Bethany Presbyterian Church, 1900 S. Seventh St., will have worship at 11 a.m. Pastor Nancy Ross-Hullingers message will be The Servant Leader. The scripture is Isaiah 42:1-9. There will be a childrens chat. We will undecorate after the worship service. The Girl Scouts will meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. We are a handicap accessible facility. Community of Christ Church Community of Christ Church, 140 W. Kanesville Blvd., invites people to attend Sunday worship at 10:15 a.m. Our theme this week is Light of the World. Scripture readings will be Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29;Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 10:34-43. Sunday school starts at 9:15 a.m. We also have prayer service Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Please call our office at 712-323-4498 for any questions. There are virtual ministries out on our World Church Website under Ongoing Ministries at https://www.cofchrist.org. Epworth United Methodist Church Epworth United Methodist Church, 2447 Ave. B, worships on Sundays at 9:25 a.m. The people are friendly, the worship is meaningful and the building is handicap accessible. We also invite you to our Bible study on Thursdays at 9 a.m. We plan to start 2023 fasting and praying during the first two weeks of January, closing with a prayer service on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 10 a.m. We continue to pray for the healing of our community and nation under God. If you want us to pray for you personally, let us know. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone: 712-323-3124. You can find us on Facebook at Friends of Epworth UMC-Facebook. Faith Lutheran Church Faith Lutheran Church (LCMS), 2100 S. 11th St., invites you to join us for contemporary praise worship at our 9 a.m. Sunday service, when the Praise Team will lead the congregation in uplifting praise music. On Tuesday, there is a 9:30 a.m. adult Bible study in the downstairs fellowship hall that is open to everyone. Please enter by the rear door. The Elders will meet Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. Confirmation will be held Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. The Sewing Sisters will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. for quilting and fellowship, and all women of the congregation are invited to attend. Worship services are available on Faiths Facebook page and on YouTube by searching for Ron Rosenkaimer. For more information, contact the church office at 323-6445. New Horizon Presbyterian Church New Horizon Presbyterian will resume its regular schedule on Sunday, Jan. 8, with traditional services at 8 and 11 a.m. and a praise service at 9 a.m. Sunday school will also resume on Jan. 8, with youth and adult Sunday school from 10 a.m. to 10:45. The Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet Monday from 3 to 5 p.m. On Wednesday, the Building and Grounds Committee will meet at 4 p.m. and the Administration Committee at 5 p.m. The Praise Band meets from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m., the bell choir from 6:30 to 7:30 and the Chancel Choir from 7:30 to 8:30. The Good Grief Group will meet at 1 p.m. on Thursdays, Jan. 12 and 26. Children are welcome to attend, but the nursery will not be available. If you are ill, please worship from home by watching our Facebook page, facebook.com/NewHorizonPC. Westminster Presbyterian Church Westminster Presbyterian Church, 517 S. 32nd St., welcomes everyone to join us for worship on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. We are handicapped accessible through the northeast door of the church. Corpus Christi Catholic Parish Join us for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for The Epiphany of the Lord on Jan. 7-8. The Liturgy of the Word will come from Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalms 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; and Matthew 2:1-12. Our Weekend Mass in English is celebrated on Saturday at 4 p.m. and on Sunday at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. at Corpus Christi Queen of Apostles, 3304 Fourth Ave., Council Bluffs; and at 9:30 a.m. at Corpus Christi Our Lady of Carter Lake, 3501 North Ninth St., Carter Lake. Our Sunday Spanish Mass is at noon (Council Bluffs). Daily Mass is celebrated as follows: In English on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 8 a.m. (Council Bluffs) and in Spanish on Monday and Thursday at 6 p.m. (Council Bluffs). Eucharistic Adoration is held every Monday and Thursday from 9 am to 5:45 pm at Corpus Christi Queen of Apostles. Upcoming events include: Bingo on Jan. 14 at Carter Lake. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with early bird game at 6:30 p.m.; and Chili/Soup and Pie Cook-off Fundraiser on Jan. 21 at Corpus Christi Queen of Apostles after the 4 p.m. Mass to benefit our Missionary Sisters of the Divine Spirit in Colombia to assist them in serving our brothers and sisters living there. Schedule a Mass Intention in 2023 for your loved ones by calling the parish office. Many dates are still available. For more information, call the parish office at 712-323-2916 or 712-323-4716 (Spanish) or visit our parish website at www.corpuschristiparishiowa.org. Emanuel Lutheran Church Emanuel Lutheran Church, 2444 N. Broadway, welcomes everyone to come as you are and be who you are! You are invited to join us each Sunday for worship and Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. Other events this week include Tai Chi Monday at 10 a.m. in the youth center, Bible study Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the conference room, and Tai Chi Thursday at 10 a.m. in the youth center. Follow us on YouTube, Facebook or Twitter to stay up to date on events and view livestreamed services. Visit us online at emanuelcb.org. Saint John Lutheran Church Saint John Lutheran Church, 633 Willow Ave., will hold worship at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. Worship is also available to watch on YouTube. Our website is www.SaintJohnELCA.org, and our Facebook page is Saint John Lutheran Church Council Bluffs IA. Wednesday morning Bible study meets at 9 a.m., and Wednesday evening Bible study meets at 6:30 p.m. The bell choir practices at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, and the Chancel Choir starts practice at 7:30 p.m. Confirmation students and high school youth also meet Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. The building is handicap accessible. Please call the church office with any questions, 712-323-7173. Broadway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) The Rev. Carol Hall and members of our congregation invite you to join us for Sunday worship at 9 a.m. at Broadway Christian Church, 2658 Ave. A. We celebrate communion weekly; communion is open to all. A hearing loop is installed for those who need it. Guests are invited to join us in fellowship after worship for coffee and donuts. Overeaters Anonymous meets Mondays at noon. Alcoholics Anonymous meets Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Fridays at 7:30 p.m. The church is ADA-accessible. Masks are optional. To submit prayer requests or for more information, call the church office at 712-323-7741 or email us at office@bcccb.org. Visit us online at www.bcccb.org or on Facebook. First Congregational UCC Church Come and join us for worship at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at First Congregational Church (United Church of Christ), located at 611 First Ave. Coffee is available. Our service is also provided via Zoom. Please email the church for information on how to join the Zoom meeting: cbfirstcong@gmail.com. First Congregational offers a free Community Dinner the last Friday of each month. Everyone is welcome. Come and enjoy a meal and fellowship! Our Saviors Lutheran Church Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 600 Bluff St., can be reached at 712-322-6655. Everyone is welcome. Saturday evening worship is at 5:30. There will be no Sunday school or worship service on New Years Day. For more information, see our Facebook page under Our Saviors Lutheran Church of Council Bluffs or the website at oursaviorscb.org. Other activities this week include Al-Anon meetings Monday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Education Building. On Thursday, the bell choir practices at 6:30 p.m. and choir at 7:30. Food Pantry and Pet Food Pantry Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. To schedule an appointment, please call the Food Pantry directly at 712-522-3522 on the day of the pantry. St. Pauls Episcopal Church St. Pauls Episcopal Church is located at 22 Dillman Drive in Council Buffs. Our services are held each Sunday morning beginning at 11 a.m., and we invite visitors to attend and share with us these very enjoyable and enlightening services. For additional information, please contact the church at 712-323-7188. Something people might not realize is that yesterday at 10 a.m., we were closer to the sun than we will be on July 4, which will find us in the middle of Midwest summertime. The temperatures over the past couple of weeks have really felt like wintertime in southwest Iowa and I feel certain the warmth we usually get from the sun during spring and summer is something many, many residents are looking forward to. So you (as well as many others) might ask, if we are closer to the sun, why dont we feel the warmth? As Ive written about, as the planet Earth moves in its orbit around the sun, it continues to maintain an axial tilt of 23.5 degrees relative to the plane of its orbit around the sun. Because of this tilted axis, the sunlight falling on us at this time of year is hitting us with a glancing blow and the majority of that sunlight is being deflected back into space as opposed to striking us directly. Earth, as we know, moves in two distinct ways in space: (1) it is rotating on its axis, and (2) it is steadily progressing in its yearly trip around the sun which, of course, takes 365 days. Often, these motions are difficult to understand and we just ignore them because we find it very hard to make ourselves believe that the sun, stars, planets and other celestial objects are actually stationary while we are doing the moving. When Polish churchman Nicolaus Copernicus presented his On the Resolution of the Celestial Spheres, it was immediately met with great hostility from the Catholic Church, which held that God had created a universe with the Earth at its heart. In his book Pale Blue Dot, the late Carl Sagan wrote, What a beautiful sunset we say, or Im up before sunrise. No matter what the scientists allege, in everyday speech we often ignore their findings. But say you wanted your modern day child home by sunset. Imagine how well it might be received using this Copernican speak: Billy, be home by the tine the Earth has rotated enough so as to occult the sun below the local horizon. Billy would probably be gone before you even finished. We consider ourselves at the center and everything else circling us is actually built into our language, and we teach it to our children. Italian scientist Galileo Galilei in 1616 also professed that Earth was not the central portion of our universe, which immediately got him into a bunch of trouble with the church. It was in 1633 that the Roman Catholic Church condemned Galileo saying: The doctrine that Earth is neither the center of the universe nor immovable, but moves even with a daily motion, is absurd, and both psychologically and theologically false, and at least an error in faith. You may find it hard to believe, but it took the church until 1832 to remove Galileos work from its list of books that Catholics were forbidden to read at the risk of dire punishment of their immortal souls. 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. Morocco plans to upgrade its liaison office in Tel Aviv into an embassy if Israel recognizes its sovereignty over the Sahara, US media Axios said citing unnamed Israeli diplomats. Morocco restored its diplomatic ties with Israel in late 2020 as part of a deal that included US recognition of Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara region. The Kingdom and Israel re-opened their liaison offices with promises by Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita to visit Tel Aviv and open an embassy, but the visit has yet to be materialized amid vague and conflicting statements by different Israeli ministers that cast doubt over Israels position on the conflict. Last June, former Israeli Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked told local media that Israel recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. But the Israeli Foreign Ministry quickly walked back Shakeds statement, saying Moroccos autonomy plan for Western Sahara is a positive development. Several weeks later, Israels then-Justice Minister Gideon Saar visited Morocco and said publicly that Western Sahara is part of Morocco. But the Israeli Foreign Ministry once again distanced itself from the statement and reiterated its more nuanced position. Relatedly, US think tank, Abraham Accord Peace Institute, points out in its December newsletter, published at the beginning of this January, that Israel must officially recognize Moroccos sovereignty over its Sahara, deeming this recognition as a necessary step. Such recognition is all the more urgent as many countries, including the United States, have done so, state the authors of the paper, namely Meir Ben-Shabbat, national security adviser to the State of Israel, at the time of the conclusion of the resumption of relations between Rabat and Tel Aviv, in December 2020, and David Aaronson, Deputy Director for Israel of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute and former Senior Advisor to the Minister for Regional Cooperation. On the Israeli side, and in addition to promoting ties with Morocco, this recognition will also weaken the Polisario front, supported by Iran and Hezbollah, says the Institute. The Abraham Accords constituted the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Morocco and Israel. Only two years have passed since the ties between the two countries were restored, but it seems that they have never been severed, the report states, noting that the many opportunities available will bring prosperity and ensure that the peace with Morocco will continue to be an example and a model for all countries in the region. The institute which surveys the very positive results scored by Moroccan-Israeli cooperation since dec.2020 points out that it is therefore time to move up a gear and this inevitably involves official recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara. The stakes are immense, the think tank explains: Morocco and Israel serve as gateways to the Mediterranean Sea, from the west and the east. Israel, Morocco and Sudan can cooperate to provide solutions to the global food crisis, which has been exacerbated after the war in Ukraine. Even though Sudan has the fertile land needed to become an alternative wheat exporter, it lacks the know-how and tools (including fertilizers) to do so. Israel and Morocco can fill the void by providing the necessary levers for such a revolution, the institute says. The Abraham Accord Peace Institute was set up after the conclusion of the Abraham Accords, sealing the normalization of relations between Israel and four Arab countries, namely the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco. This American influential think tank is a non-partisan, non-profit organization, which campaigns for the implementation and expansion of the Abraham peace accords. Henri Rabarijohn, the governor of Madagascars Central Bank (BFM)) has stepped down from his position on health conditions ground. President Andry Rajoelina has accepted the resignation of Rabarijohn who, according to a statement from the cabinet, stepped down due to health issues and wants to leave the country for treatment abroad. The Malagasy leader appointed Aivo Handriatiana Andrianarivelo to replace Rabarijohn, the Banks board of directors having urged President Rajoelina to appoint a new governor as soon as possible because the position is strategic and cannot be left unfilled. The new Governor is a former executive manager of the International Monetary Fund (IFM). Prior to joining the Washington-based institution, Andrianarivelo held several state positions including the command of the countrys privatization fund from 2008 to 2020. Rabarijohn was appointed in 2019 and his one-time renewable mandate was expected to end in 2024. Reports in the African country alleged that Rabarijohns resignation was in the pipeline and the reason behind the delay in the salary payment for civil servants in December. A court in Tunisia has condemned former Environment minister Mustapha Aroui to three years in prison for involvement in the illegal import of household waste from Italy in 2020. The ruling was issued by Tunis Court of Instance. Aroui has been in prison since December 2020, only six months into the job. The case raised eyebrows in the North African country. A Tunisian company signed a deal with an Italian firm to ship home 120,000 tons of waste from the European country for a revenue of 48 euros per tons. The deal flied in the face of Tunisias ban of the import of household waste. Authorities, aside from Aroui, also arrested several officials of the ministry of environment and customs. The Court dropped charges against Chokri Belhassen, former minister of environment who held the department from 2016 to 2018. France and Germany are sending next week their Foreign Ministers to Ethiopia to consolidate the peace agreement signed early November between Addis Abba and Tigrayan rebels. The announcement was made by French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna Thursday. I will be going next week with my colleague and friend Annalena Baerbock to Africa, to Ethiopia, Colonna told LCI television. We will travel together to consolidate the peace agreement that has finally been reached to end the war that ravaged northern Ethiopia for two years and to support the action of the African Union, she added. It is unclear when the trip will take place but according to a diplomatic source quoted by Africa News the visit of the two foreign ministers will come off on January 12 and 13. The Ethiopian government reached a deal with Trigrayan rebels on November 2 to end a two-year war. Per the deal, the rebel will lay down guns, the federal government will turn to the region while central government will ensure the reopening of access and communications to this region, isolated since mid-2021. Colonna and her German counterpart are also expected to discuss food security as well as relations between Ethiopia and the European Union, as well as relations between the EU and the African Union. Kidane Zekarias Habtemariam, an Eritrean fugitive accused of being the worlds most wanted people smuggler has been arrested in Sudan in coordination with United Arab Emirates authorities, Interpol announced. The Eritrean national, on Interpols radar since 2019, has been accused of being a smuggling kingpin, running a camp in Libya where hundreds of East African migrants seeking passage to Europe were allegedly kidnapped, raped and extorted. Habtemariam, the subject of two Interpol red notices by Ethiopia and the Netherlands, was arrested on January 1 by Sudanese police in coordination with UAE authorities, UAE interior ministry official Saeed Abdullah al-Suwaidi told the press on Thursday, January 5. The Eritrean earned a reputation for particularly cruel and violent treatment of migrants, Interpol said. We have now shut down one of the most important trafficking routes into Europe, which illegally moved thousands of migrants from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan, through Libya and into Europe, al-Suwaidi said in a statement. Habtemariams arrest followed a joint UAE and Interpol investigation, beginning last year, that tracked illicit financial transactions made by his brother, according to al-Suwaidi. The Eritrean will now face trial in the UAE for money laundering, and authorities will review the possibility of his extradition after the case is closed in the UAE. Frances African soldiers, known as Senegalese tirailleurs who fought in the world wars and the countrys colonial conflicts, have now won their final battle the surviving fighters will be able to live out their days with their families back in Africa after a French government U-turn on their pension rights. The decision, made in Paris, on Wednesday January 4, allows an easier process of claiming pensions for some of the last survivors in France from a colonial-era infantry corps that recruited tens of thousands of African soldiers to fight in French wars around the world. It follows a years-long campaign on behalf of the tirailleurs Senegalais, who were recruited to fight from Senegal and other former French ruled nations in sub-Saharan Africa. The sad part of the story is that, according to the governments Solidarity Ministry, the pension decision concerns only 22 of the former soldiers who collect a 950-euro monthly payment. Theyll no longer have to spend six months of the year in France to be eligible and will continue receiving their pension payments even if they move away permanently, the ministry added. The decision, applying a principal of tolerance for the veterans, will be formalized in a government letter to be published in coming days. Many tens of thousands of African recruits served in tirailleur regiments, in colonial wars, in both World Wars, and in Frances Vietnam and Algeria wars before being disbanded in the early 1960s. In Senegal, the head of the National Office for Veterans and Victims of War said the decision was overdue, while others said it came too late. Spanish police have arrested 43 people in the south of the country, suspected of belonging to a criminal ring that exploited illegal migrants working in the agricultural sector, mostly from Morocco, to whom they sold fake employment contracts at exorbitant price. National police officers arrested 43 people in the province of Malaga and dismantled a criminal group allegedly engaged in labor exploitation and fraudulent regularization of migrants, the police said in a statement. The victims were mostly Moroccan citizens and that the detainees were of different nationalities, Spanish police said without giving any further details on the culprits nationalities. The victims were mostly Moroccan citizens and the individuals arrested were bearing different nationalities, indicated the Spanish police, without giving any further details on the culprits nationalities. According to the Spanish police, the network has a long history of preying on helpless migrants who would pay as much as 3,000 for a fake Spanish employment contract. At least seven agricultural companies are involved in the scheme, which aims to illegally employ these migrants, who, authorities say, have been forced to work and accommodated in inhumane conditions in the culprits houses. Spain is one of the main gateways for African immigration to Europe. In 2022, some 31,219 migrants entered the country illegally, a figure that is however 25.6% lower than the previous year. Moroccans represent the largest community of foreign origin legally settled in Spain, with nearly 800,000 souls, followed by the Romanian, British and Colombian communities, according to June 2022 data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Migrant workers are at greater risk of finding themselves in a forced labor situation than other workers, the International Labor Organization said in a report published in September. The European Unions High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, has hailed the role played by Morocco in peace and stability in the region as important. Speaking at a joint press briefing Thursday in Rabat, after talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, Josep Borell said the talks focused on old and new geopolitical challenges that Morocco and the EU must face, as well as the various issues relating to the regional neighborhood and the international scene, including the Maghreb, Libya, the Sahel, Iran and the Russia-Ukraine war. The head of European diplomacy expressed special thanks to Morocco for the important role it plays for the stability of Libya. Borrell also announced the launch of new initiatives to further strengthen the Morocco-EU partnership, citing in particular in this context the high-level dialogue on security to be held soon in Rabat. Touching on the structural reforms spearheaded by King Mohammed VI, Josep Borrell voiced the EUs commitment to support Morocco in these important reforms and welcomed the Sovereigns willingness to make Morocco move forward. The head of European diplomacy also stressed the importance of building a more ambitious vision for the Morocco-EU partnership. He said, in this context, that it is necessary to concretize the commitments made in particular in the areas of the fight against climate change and energy transition, but also in social protection, health and education. We have many topics to explore to deepen our partnership, he said, stressing the imperative to capitalize on common achievements to look towards a more friendly future. Borrell is on an official two-day visit to Morocco to deepen dialogue on the implementation of the EU-Morocco partnership, including in the context of the new Mediterranean Agenda. The landmark partnership between Morocco and the European Union has continued to develop in recent years, becoming a reference in the EUs neighborhood policy. Those back-to-back storms on either end of New Years Day paid off. For the first time since early August, Lincoln County was free of exceptional drought in the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor map released each Thursday. The category is the worst of five for below-average moisture conditions in the map from the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (droughtmonitor.unl.edu). For the previous three months, North Platte and the majority of Lincoln County had fallen into an exceptional drought arc that covered all or parts of nine southwest Nebraska counties from Deuel County to the Kansas line. Even the multiday blizzard that buried the Panhandle and northern Sandhills from Dec. 12-16 and the follow-up pre-Christmas blast of snow and bitter cold hadnt stretched quite far enough east to relieve the countys drought status. That changed with the Dec. 29 combination of rain and wet snow good for 0.73 inches of total precipitation at Lee Bird Field and another 0.74 inches of moisture from the Monday-Tuesday storm that left 7.9 inches of snow behind in North Platte. The new Drought Monitor map, presenting conditions as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, showed Lincoln Countys exceptional drought percentage had tumbled from 56% to zero from the previous map Dec. 27. Fifty-eight percent of the county roughly the same west and southwest areas that were in the worst category remains in extreme drought. The countys north and east is in severe drought, the middle of the maps five categories. The past weeks snowfalls also broke up southwest Nebraskas band of profound drought. Two exceptional drought remnants remain one covering southern Keith, northern Perkins and extreme eastern Deuel County and the other in southeast Hitchcock and southwest Red Willow counties. Nebraskas statewide percentage of exceptional drought land fell from 17.2% to 12.4% in the latest Drought Monitor map. The states total area in the two worst drought categories dropped from 56.7% to 46.3%. It took until Feb. 22 last year for North Platte to surpass the 0.74 inches of moisture from this weeks snowfall, which was preceded by freezing rain when the system moved in Monday. Unfortunately from a drought perspective, anyway chances to add to that total will be slight over the next week, according to the National Weather Services airport office. Friday will bring partly sunny skies, with patchy fog before noon and a high temperature around freezing. Clouds move in Friday night and Saturday, bringing a slight chance of flurries, the weather service said. Highs from Saturday through next Thursday will be in the mid-30s to near 40, with lows in the teens to near 20. Cloud cover and a slight chance of snow showers return Wednesday, according to the weather services latest seven-day forecast. UPDATED, Jan. 6, 2023, 12:25 pm: Updated to correct omission of one committee assignment. *** Bill introductions for 2023 opened in the Legislature Thursday with western Nebraska lawmakers making good on promises to reintroduce several bills with potential statewide impact. North Platte state Sen. Mike Jacobson took on a long-stalled effort to require at least two people on train crews for his first official bill. He introduced three other bills Thursday, one of which reflected a North Platte City Council dispute after voters on Nov. 8 approved a half-cent sales tax increase to upgrade recreation facilities. All five of the regions senators put their names on Gordon Sen. Tom Brewers latest constitutional carry bill, which would let Nebraskans eligible to carry a firearm keep it concealed without a permit. Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard submitted one bill and two constitutional amendments renewing his four-year-old push to abolish state property, sales and income taxes in favor of a consumption tax on new goods and services. He also offered another constitutional amendment that would scrap Nebraskas one-house, officially nonpartisan Legislature approved by voters in 1934 and functioning since 1937 and return to the two-house, partisan model of Congress and the other 49 states. Freshman Sens. Brian Hardin of Gering and Teresa Ibach of Sumner didnt introduce bills of their own among the 98 initial pieces of legislation offered Thursday. Bill introduction continues through Jan. 18. Lawmakers Friday will vote on approving their assignments to Unicameral committees. The Committee on Committees endorsed a final list Thursday, said Jacobson, a 3rd Congressional District member of that panel with Erdman. Jacobson, a North Platte banker, will serve on the Natural Resources and Banking, Commerce and Insurance committees if the full Legislature approves the committee list. Erdman, chairman of the Rules Committee, would return to the budget-writing Appropriations Committee. Senators on that panel typically dont serve on other full-time committees. Brewer, who won a third term Wednesday as Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee chairman, would also serve on the Agriculture and General Affairs committees. Hardin would join Brewer on the latter panel and also serve on the Health and Human Services and Urban Affairs committees. Ibach will be on the Judiciary, Agriculture, Business and Labor and Nebraska Retirement Systems committees. Bills to mandate two-person crews on trains have repeatedly stalled in past legislative sessions amid opposition from the states two major railroads, Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe. Jacobson introduced his version (LB 31) with Omaha Sen. Jen Day as a cosponsor. To the surprise of no one, the Union Pacific and Burlington representatives are falling all over themselves to try to get a meeting with me, said Jacobson, who vowed to introduce the bill before his Nov. 8 election to a full term. Hell probably meet with them, but theres nothing they can say. The bill is pretty much self-explanatory, he said. Im rock-solid on this bill. Jacobsons LB 33 would make clear that mayors in cities of North Plattes size can vote to create a City Council majority on most agenda issues when council members are absent. The mayor wouldnt be able to cast such a vote on a measure requiring a supermajority of the council to approve it, Jacobson said. LB 33 would clear up the situation that confronted North Plattes council after the Nov. 8 election, in which voters decisively approved a half-cent sales tax increase to expand the North Platte Recreation Complex, renovate Cody Pool and relocate the citys skate park. An ordinance to officially impose the tax increase fell one vote shy of first-round City Council approval Nov. 15, thwarted by three council absences one due to travel, the others due to illness and opposition from two other members. Mayor Brandon Kelliher cast a yes vote that night. But the council started over at a special meeting Nov. 16 after City Attorney Bill Troshynski rethought his initial advice that Kelliher could vote. Members finally passed the needed sales-tax ordinance Nov. 17. Jacobson said City Administrator Layne Groseth asked him to introduce LB 33 through the League of Nebraska Municipalities, which also favors the bill. League leaders said its been a problem for a number of years, he said. Frankly, the language in the statute is unclear, and this just clarifies when the mayor can vote and not vote. Kelliher said Thursday that he had discussed the November situation with Jacobson. Honestly, I dont care which way it gets clarified, as long as it gets clarified, he said. Hershey Marching Band students brought home trophies recognizing their hard work, but the memories made on their Alamo Bowl trip were at the top of their list. The Hershey students brought home several awards from the competition in San Antonio, Texas, on Dec. 29. They took first place in the following categories: Outstanding Marching, Outstanding Music, Outstanding General Effect, Outstanding Drum Majors and overall first place in Parade Competition. Director Becky Brittenham said the students excelled at the competition and represented their school well. The trophies are validation that were really good, with the passion and heart the students have and the work we put in every day, Brittenham said. We had fun, but at the end of the day we all had to pull our weight, and we uniformly did it. Five bands were in the competition and most of them averaged about 80 students. Hersheys band has 33 students in eighth through 12th grades. Junior drum major Ceiden Childears said it was an opportunity to showcase small-town Nebraska. It just really makes me proud that a little town in Nebraska can kind of show the United States what were really about, Childears said. It really doesnt matter the size of the band or how much money you spend on it or anything like that. Its just the heart and passion behind it is really the biggest thing about it. Childears and Cruz Brooks, senior drum major, were selected as the Outstanding Drum Majors at the competition. Both said the memories they made were the most important aspect for them, but Brooks said the highlight for him was when the students returned to Hershey. I think the highlight of the trip, even though technically it wasnt part of the trip, was coming back and seeing all that support from our town and our classmates, Brooks said. I thought that was amazing. Another part of the trip was the experience of being away from home for the first time, Childears said, and having to be responsible for once. Coming from the small town of Hershey, the students said it was overwhelming to see the size of San Antonio. Thinking about how many people we saw and didnt see in those five days kind of opens up your perspective of actually how big it is, Childears said. You realize Nebraskas not that big of a state. I thought Lincoln and Omaha were big cities, but theyre not, compared to San Antonio. The students had the opportunity to experience the famous River Walk and tried out the various foods available. Childears said he enjoyed the authentic Mexican food, but Brooks had a little different perspective. I grew up in a Hispanic household, so Ive already had a lot of Spanish food, Brooks said, but I think my No. 1 food experience would be Joes Crab Shack. Ive had seafood before, but Ive never had fresh, good seafood. Brooks ordered a full bucket of crab legs, lobster, shrimp, potatoes and corn. It was great, Brooks said. I ate every last bit of it so I got my moneys worth, because it was kind of pricey. It was really cool to have something that you dont get in rural Nebraska. Lori Evans, former band teacher, retired three years ago but went on the trip as a chaperone and supporter to Brittenham. The Hershey band performed in 2013 and 2016 at the Alamo Bowl, setting the tone for the current students. This was actually a three-peat because in 2013 we swept the awards with all first places; in 2016 we did it again, Evans said. They were supposed to go in 2019, but Id retired by then and the COVID thing happened. So coming back and trying to get that sweep was hard because the students had no collective memory. Evans said when the band makes the trip every three years, the juniors and seniors remember how hard they had to work to get to that point. Its the end of the semester and theyre exhausted, they have finals coming up and we were just pounding it in point your toes, make sure your step styles are the same and step sizes are the same, Brittenham said, all of the stuff theyve been hearing since August. Preparation was made more difficult because practicing outside in Nebraska in December is impossible, Brittenham said. The discipline the students showed drew the attention of their peers, as well as the officials. Brittenham and Amber Blessin, chaperone and photographer, said they received many compliments about their students behavior. We had waiters and waitresses tell us they were the best-behaved band they had ever had in their restaurant, Blessin said. She also pointed to the bands effort to strive to be the best they can be and said that goes back to the beginning of the school year. At the end of every competition when they get back in here, the two drum majors give the rest of the band a pep talk, kind of a rundown of this is what youve done, then dismiss the band, Blessin said. It was after a marching competition, and one of (the drum majors) mentioned, Were building a culture of excellence. Blessin said that resonates from marching band to pep band to concert band, and Brittenham added that it flows over into their other classes as well. I think other teachers recognize the respect and integrity that these band kids have, Brittenham said. Theyre authentic and real and are passionate about what they do and how they do it. Brooks said he believes all the students strive to be the best possible. No one settles for mediocre and everyone has like this mindset of we need to be perfect, Brooks said. I think thats what helps us get all these trophies. I think its awesome because no one wants to give up at a certain point and say, This is good enough. Were like we need to keep getting better and better. Keith L. Allen is appealing his first-degree murder conviction in the shooting of Brett Torres in May 2020, arguing that he received ineffective assistance from his trial attorney and that an allegation of jury misconduct was not sufficiently investigated. Allens new attorney, Charles Brewster, filed the 23-page brief to the Nebraska Court of Appeals Dec. 12 on behalf of Allen, 46, according to court documents. The state prosecutions response is due Wednesday. In February, Allen received a life sentence for killing Torres, 25, and an additional 20 to 30 years for use of a weapon to commit a felony. Torres family is suing Allen for wrongful death. A hearing in that case, which was filed in June 2020, is scheduled Monday afternoon in Lincoln County District Court. As he has throughout the case, Allen claims in the appeal brief that he acted in self-defense, spurred by previous threats from Torres against him and Amanda Beall. The confrontation happened as Torres pulled his Chevrolet Tahoe into an alley on the 100 block of North Chestnut Street, alongside a Ford Focus in which Allen was a passenger. The Tahoe was driven by Beall, with whom Torres had been in an on-again, off-again relationship. Evidence showed that Torres was shot nine times at close range with a .45 caliber Glock pistol. The appeal states that Allen suffered irreparable prejudice because his trial attorney, Todd Lancaster, did not call Beall to testify on the violent character of Torres. Instead, a North Platte police detective provided testimony based on his interview with Beall shortly after the shooting. The brief also finds fault with Lancaster not objecting to the admission of evidence, as the forensic pathologist who performed Torres autopsy was not called in the trial. Instead, another pathologist testified based on the notes and photos from the medical examination. Counsel for the appellant should have made objections based on lack of personal knowledge (foundation), chain of custody and hearsay, the brief noted. Lancaster withdrew as Allens attorney in July after Allen charged him with ineffective counsel in a letter directed to the Lincoln County District Court. Allen initially was to be sentenced in late January 2022, but sentencing was continued 30 days after allegations of inappropriate behavior by the jury or outside influence on it. The appeal contends that the verdict was impacted by the implied threat of revenge by the Torres family if Allen was acquitted. An affidavit by one jury member was provided as evidence. District Judge Richard Birch denied a request for a new trial in a subsequent hearing on the day Allen was sentenced. Birch wrote, The court finds that the statements made regarding the victims family during deliberations were not extraneous prejudicial evidence. The court further finds that even if the statements were extraneous, the defendant has not met the burden of proving jury misconduct. The appeal states that: Juror misconduct clearly occurred during the course of the deliberations of the jury and this misconduct was prejudicial towards the appellant ... The trial court did not conduct an evidentiary hearing or an investigation to determine if the appellants claim of jury misconduct was valid. The courts finding in its order denying appellants motion for new trial was quite sparse and left little for this court to review in this appeal. These errors are significant enough to warrant a reversal of appellants convictions. Prince Harry has compared Camilla to a wicked stepmother in a revealing passage from his memoir Spare. The Duke of Sussex says that both he and William were aware that she was the other woman but begged Charles not to remarry. The brothers had meetings with Camilla before she went public with her romance with Charles, and Harry compares the experience to getting a painful injection. This is nothing. Close your eyes and you wont even feel it, he writes. Prince Harry claims he "begged" his father not to marry Camilla. Photo: Getty The royal says that the now Queen consort wasnt interested in meeting with him, and writes that she seemed bored during their conversation. Harry believes this was because he wasnt the heir, so the meeting was simply a pure formality. Harry also claims that he was unsure about how Camilla would treat him once she became part of the family. I remember wonderingif she would be cruel to me; if she would be like all the wicked stepmothers in the stories, he writes. RELATED: The duke says that the brothers were open to forgiving Camilla if she was able to make their father happy. Harry writes: We saw that like us, he wasnt. We could recognise the absent glances, the empty sighs, the frustration always visible on his face. The brothers begged Charles not to wed Camilla, saying that they would accept her as long as he didnt remarry, he writes. Harry alleges that the King did not reply. He claims that the brothers were concerned that the now Queen consort would be constantly compared to the late Princess Diana. Charles and Camilla tied the knot on April 9, 2005. Photo: Getty Camillas secret campaign Harry claims that after meeting the brothers, Camilla embarked on a long-term strategy to wed Charles and take the Crown. The royal accuses his stepmother of leaking stories to the press as part of her plan. Story continues Shortly after our private meetings with her, she began to develop her long-term strategy, a campaign directed at marriage and with time, the Crown (with the blessing of our father, we supposed), he writes. SHOP: News stories started appearing in all the newspapers about her conversations with Willy, stories which recounted lots of small details, none of which came from my brother, of course, Harry says. The royal alleges that Camilla convinced Charles to hire a communications professional, resulting in numerous leaks to the press. Camilla married Charles in 2005, and received Queen Elizabeth IIs blessing to become Queen Consort once she passed. Harry has released some salacious details from his time as a senior royal. Photo: Penguin Random House What else do we know about Harrys memoir? The title of Harrys memoir Spare is a nod to the old adage the heir and the spare, with his brother William being the heir to the throne while Harry is the younger sibling unlikely to ever become king. A Spanish-language edition of the memoir reveals an even deeper insight into Harrys feelings about his position in the royal family with the subtitle En La Sombra, translating to in the shadow. The release date, January 10, is also significant as the memoir will not only be released four months after Queen Elizabeth IIs death but also two days after the three-year anniversary of Harry and his wife Meghan Markle leaving the royal family. Its believed that the book was pushed back following the Queens passing, but will still be released a few months before King Charles coronation. How much will the memoir cost? The 416-page memoir will cost $50 AUD for a hardcover version, with the e-book set at half price, and will be released alongside an unabridged audiobook read by Harry himself. The Duke of Sussex was reportedly paid a $31 million advance for the memoir as part of a three-book deal with Penguin Random House. His publisher revealed that he has already donated $2.3 million to Sentebale, a charity he co-founded that helps children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana affected by HIV/AIDS. He has also donated $530,000 to WellChild, a British charity for disabled children which he has been a patron of for the past 15 years. Never miss a thing. Sign up to Yahoo Lifestyles daily newsletter. Or if you have a story idea, email us at lifestyle.tips@yahooinc.com. DALLAS, December 28, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cue the pink fireworks: Mary Kay Inc. is celebrating its annual accomplishments. Throughout 2022, the iconic global entrepreneurship company has furthered its innovations in skin science, continued its sustainability and social impact efforts and garnered prestigious awards for its business and leadership. Its a thing of beautyand proof that the nearly 60-year-old brand continues its leadership position for women around the world. Below are some select accomplishments from throughout 2022. Click here to see the full list. ETHOS & ECOSYSTEM: BUSINESS EXCELLENCE A Great Place to Work Resume.io published a list of "The Companies Employees Dont Want to Leave," ranking Mary Kay #8. Other companies included: Virgin Atlantic, Merck & Co., and Thomson Reuters. Mary Kay received four top employer awards throughout Europe and Malaysia from Kincentric. Mary Kay was named one of Americas Best Midsize Employers 2022 by Forbes . Deloitte named Mary Kay one of the 2022 US Best Managed Companies. Mary Kay China was named "Best Employer of the Year" by Yidian Zixun. Mary Kay China was awarded the "Excellent Cases of Business Innovation in China from 2021 to 2022" at the 9 th China Business Innovation Conference for the Mary Kay Beauty Consultant as a contemporary model of flexible earning opportunity. Mary Kay China was awarded the "Best Career Development Platform Employer" by China Business Journal. Mary Kay China was featured as a DEI practice case in "Driving DEI, Best Practices Guide 2022" compiled by Page Group in collaboration with sHero. Mary Kay China was awarded the "Best Companies Prime Employers for Women" Award from sHero. Mary Kay Poland was named one of Polands "Best Employers for 2022" by Financial Magazine . Mary Kay Czech Republic / Slovakia received the "Best Employer" designation by the Kincentric Best Employers Program. Mary Kay Belarus received the "Direct Sales Cosmetic Company Number One Award" from the "Number One" Belarusian annual national awards. Mary Kay Spain received the "Best Employer" designation by the Kincentric Best Employers Program. Mary Kay Europe received the "Best Employer" designation by the Kincentric Best Employers Program. Mary Kay Malaysia received the "Best Employer" designation by the Kincentric Best Employers Program. Story continues Organizational Effectiveness Deborah Gibbins, Chief Operating Officer, expanded her role in operations to support the companys digital strategy to be a more technology-enabled business with all IT functions now reporting to her. Nathan Moore was appointed to the newly-created role of President, Global Sales and Marketing, and has assumed responsibility for all Mary Kay markets around the world supporting the Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants. Chaun Harper expanded his role to Chief Supply Chain Officer with additional responsibilities for direct procurement and contract manufacturing functions. Dr. Lucy Gildea expanded her role to Chief Innovation Officer, Product and Science. Her additional duties include new product development, product portfolio strategy and planning, process development & commercialization (PrD&C), package engineering (PE), and R&D Compliance. Leadership Recognition Science Behind the Beauty Six recipients from around the world received grants created to elevate young women in STEAM fields and encourage them to continue their passions and career pursuits. Mary Kay, in partnership with the Society for Investigative Dermatology, awarded four skin health/skin disease research grants to female researchers. Mary Kay received the Gold Stevie award for "COVID: Most Valuable Product" for its hand sanitizer at the 20th Annual American Business Awards. Digital Innovation Mary Kay App was named a finalist in the Technology Innovation category by the Direct Selling Association. Mary Kay China RC Store was a featured business case in the "Bridging the Gender Divide in the Digital Age" research jointly initiated by the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. PURPOSE & SOCIAL IMPACT: CATALYST FOR CHANGE Womens Empowerment & Equality Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Mary Kays Legal Department was awarded the Magna Stella Award for its DEI efforts by the Texas General Counsel Forum. Mary Kay China received the Prime Employer for Women Gold Award and Driving DEI China Best Practices Award at the 2022 sHero Awards Ceremony Through its partnership with the Equal Rights Trust, Mary Kay helped jumpstart the "Algorithmic Discrimination Initiative", a new research and advocacy program to gather evidence on patterns of discrimination arising from the use of artificial intelligence and algorithmic decision-making systems. At the SCC75 Annual Meeting of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC), Ms. ALelia Bundles, the great-great-granddaughter of Madam C.J. Walker, and Michelle Hines, Ph.D., Director of Product Formulation at Mary Kay, presented the Madam C.J. Walker Scholarships for under-represented minority students pursuing higher education in STEM disciplines related to cosmetics and the personal care industry. Mary Kay joined the UN Global Compact Target Gender Equality Accelerator as a follow up to the June 2021 UN Global Compact Gender Equality Strategy Consultation to deepen implementation of the Womens Empowerment Principles and to strengthen the companys contribution to SDG 5.5 which calls for womens full participation and equal opportunities for leadership by 2030. Gender-Responsive Procurement & Supplier Diversity Deborah Gibbins, Chief Operating Officer, signed the forward to UN Womens Gender-responsive Procurement Advocacy Brief, titled: "Procurements Strategic Value. Why gender-responsive procurement makes business sense." Mary Kay was named 2022 Silver Champion for Supplier Diversity & Inclusion for its commitment to global supplier diversity and inclusion regarding growing inclusive spending, policies, and proceduresalongside Bayer, Eaton Corporation, Goldman Sachs, and Marriott International. Julia Simon, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer spoke at the UN Women Europe and Central Asia (ECA) and KAGIDER event on the findings of a GRP survey conducted by IPSOS in Turkey to better understand the barriers women entrepreneurs face. Simon called on the private and public sectors to adopt gender-sensitive procurement strategies. Cancer Research Mary Kay Ash Foundation SM announced $1 million in grants awarded to ten researchers conducting groundbreaking research in cancers affecting women from the countrys top cancer research institutes and universities. Dr. Lucy Gildea, Chief Innovation Officer, Product and Science, accepted the Cancer Support Community North Texas Thrive Award on behalf of the Mary Kay Ash Foundation. Mary Kay Ash Foundation, in collaboration with the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, announced another recipient of the International Postdoctoral Scholars in Cancer Research Fellowship Dr. Maria del Rosario Chica Parrado, a post-doctoral student biologist from Malaga, Spain. Gender-based Violence (GBV) & Domestic Violence (DV) Mary Kay was recognized in the White Paper "Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: Private Sector Opportunities for Engagement" released during UNGA 77 by the UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict Network, a body of 21 UN entities working to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence and the organization Committed to Good. At the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66), the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Womens 2022 Annual Report on its 2021 activities recognized the Mary Kay Ash Foundation and Mary Kays efforts to eliminate violence against women and girlsalongside the governments of 15 countries and nine UN Women National Committees. Mary Kay and the Mary Kay Ash Foundation supported CAREs GBV Guidance for Development Programs, a practical tool for implementing high-quality GBV interventions across CAREs impact areas in developing contexts. Instituto Mary Kay was recognized by the Associacao Brasileira de Venda Direta (ABEVD) for their 2021 campaign bringing awareness to gender-based violence, "Sinal Vermelho." Emergency Response In conjunction with a statement of support, Mary Kay announced a donation to the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal of the Red Cross. Mary Kay received the American Red Cross Corporate Partner Award for its Emergency Response to the conflict in Ukraine. Mary Kay Ash Foundation received a Bronze Stevie award for its COVID-19 relief efforts at the 20 th Annual American Business Awards. Since March 2022, the Mary Kay China Charity Program has allocated 1,049,800 yuan to provide protective materials and living supplies to 73 communities in 15 cities in response to the COVID-19 epidemic. Global Social Impact & Local Community Mary Kay placed #91 on the Purpose Power Index. This is the third iteration of the largest study ever measuring perceptions of brand purpose, based on more than 20,500+ individual ratings amongst more than 5,500 U.S. consumers and employees, encompassing more than 200 different brands. SUSTAINABILITY & ESG: ENRICHING LIVES TODAY FOR A SUSTAINABLE TOMORROW Climate Change Mary Kay participated in an event organized by the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) Regional Secretariat. The discussion titled, "Women Leaders Protecting the Coral Triangle's Threatened Biodiversity and Endangered Species," spotlighted innovations and actions undertaken by women leaders across the Coral Triangle in protecting marine biodiversity. At the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66), the Womens Entrepreneurship Accelerator (WEA) hosted a panel titled "Investing in Women Entrepreneurs to Tackle Climate Change". The documentary Forest of Hope follows Dona Angelica, a 71-year-old ecosystem warrior, and her all-female team, from Mujeres Unidas Para La Conservacion De Laguna Sanchez, one of The Nature Conservancys partner organizations in Mexico. The film was officially selected for the North Dakota Environmental Rights Film Festival and the Hot Springs International Womens Film Festival. The short film, produced by Mary Kay in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and written, directed, and produced by an all-female team, was previously named a semi-finalist in the Films for the Forest festival. Water Stewardship Mary Kay participated in a consultation with the governments of the Netherlands and Tajikistan to help define the role of the private sector in the Water Action Agenda and the 2023 UN Water Conference. Mary Kay served on a panel titled, "Making Waves: Women in Water Conservation" in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy. The virtual conversation focused on women leaders from all over the world who are rising to the challenge and leading efforts to restore the health of our oceans. Transparency & Advocacy (Self-Reporting & Updates) Mary Kay completed the Women's Empowerment Principles' Gender Gap Analysis Tool and shared findings with BSR, a specialist organization in corporate responsibility, on how experts can take forward the results. Based on an analysis of Mary Kay's policies and practices across different business functions, Mary Kays score was in the "Achiever" category. The next steps are to address the remaining gaps in the implementation of the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs). Mary Kay submitted progress on its commitments to the 5 Generation Equality Action Coalitions. Mary Kay signed up for these Action Coalitions at the Generation Equality Action Forum in July 2021. Mary Kay submitted its UN Global Compact Communication on Progress Report which looks at the following sustainability categories: Governance, Human Rights, Labor, Environment, and Anti-Corruption. About Mary Kay One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty company in 1963 with one goal: enriching womens lives. That dream has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales force members in nearly 40 countries. As an entrepreneurship development company, Mary Kay is committed to empowering women on their journey to economic independence through education, mentorship, advocacy, networking, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in enriching lives today for a sustainable tomorrow, partnering with organizations from around the world focusing on promoting business excellence, supporting cancer research, advancing gender equality, protecting survivors from domestic abuse, beautifying our communities, and encouraging children to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221228005365/en/ Contacts Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications marykay.com/newsroom 972.687.5332 or media@mkcorp.com Prince Harrys memoir Spare has been released early in Spain, and he has finally described the moment he reached Queen Elizabeth IIs deathbed in September 2022. The Duke of Sussex didnt reach his grandmothers side before she died but shares the bittersweet words he uttered at her bedside upon arrival. Prince Harry has opened up about his emotional moment at the Queen's deathbed. Photo: Getty The 38-year-old says he whispered that he hoped she would be happy, and would be reunited with his grandfather Prince Philip, who had passed away the previous year. Harry writes that prior to her death, he had let the Queen know he admired her for having fulfilled her duties until the very end. The 96-year-old's final public appearance took place just two days before she died in September, welcoming politician Liz Truss to Balmoral Castle in Scotland. RELATED: As her final duty as Queen, she formally appointed the Conservative Party leader as the UKs new prime minister, a role she only held for 44 days before resigning. Harry and his wife Meghan Markle were originally in the UK for the One Young World summit but extended their stay so they could take part in the mourning period for the Queen. Royal fans were surprised to see Prince William, Kate Middleton, Harry and Meghan reunite in a walkabout, the first time the couples had stepped out in public together since 2020. The foursome walked outside the gates of Windsor Castle and accepted condolences from the public. The brothers' bond seemed to be restored as the couples presented a united front. The royal family reunited during the Queen's mourning period. Photo: Getty Harry claims William physically attacked him While some hoped that the brothers rift was slowly healing, Harrys explosive television interviews, Netflix series Harry & Meghan and his new memoir Spare will likely add more fuel to their feud. Story continues In a bombshell reveal, Harry claims that his brother William lashed out at him in a heated physical attack. The revealing excerpt was published by The Guardian and gives further insight into why the relationship between Harry and William has been damaged. Harry says that his brother came over to discuss the furore surrounding his relationship with Meghan and the way the couple were being treated by the press. However, Harry writes that the Prince of Wales was piping hot when he arrived and began complaining about Meghan, calling her difficult, rude and abrasive. After Harry accused William of parrot[ing] the press narrative about Meghan, the pair became embroiled in a shouting match before escalating further, Harry says. Harry has shared some extremely intimate details in his new book. Photo: Penguin Random House Harry then lashed out at William, accusing him of acting as an heir. The pair traded insults, when William told Harry he was attempting to help, Harry writes. Are you serious? Help me? Sorry is that what you call this? Helping me? Harry recalls telling his brother. SHOP: According to Harry, this made William furious, who swore before following him into the kitchen. He claims that he offered his brother a glass of water while trying to calm him down. Willy, I cant speak to you when youre like this, he recalls saying. Harry writes: He set down the water, called me another name, then came at me. It all happened so fast. So very fast. He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dogs bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me. I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out. Harry claims that his brother tried to get him to retaliate physically, but he refused to engage. Never miss a thing. Sign up to Yahoo Lifestyles daily newsletter. Or if you have a story idea, email us at lifestyle.tips@yahooinc.com. Company Logo Dublin, Jan. 05, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Molecular Diagnostics Market Research and Forecast, 2022-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global molecular diagnostics market is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR of 9.9% during the forecast period. Molecular diagnostics involves the application of a large array of techniques, right from the molecular biology to conducting various tests for analyzing biological markers in the genome and proteomes. Molecular diagnostic is used to keep close track of infectious disease including COVID-19, and AIDS, its monitoring, risks involved, and among other purposes. The applicability of such diagnostic practice is in demand owing to the rising trend of personalized treatment and personalized medication. The major factor fueling the growth of the market includes the rise in the prevalence of infectious diseases and cancer across the globe. The demand for a cost-effective and accurate diagnostic solution is another factor propelling the growth of the market. However, the stringent laws and regulations related the molecular diagnostics are the major factor restraining the growth of the market. The lack of adequate infrastructure in emerging countries is one of the major hindrances in the growth of the market in emerging regions. The extended support of the government in terms of funding and technological advancement for the development of more precise and cost-effective diagnostic devices will propel the market in the future. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Molecular Diagnostics Market The COVID-19 had shown a positive impact on the molecular diagnostics market. This industry is facing a downtrend earlier, however, the COVID-19 pandemic had brought the attention of governments across the globe towards the importance of this market. With the support of government initiatives and rapidly rising demand for COVID-19 diagnosis and its research had raised this market by manifold. However, this had sidelined the molecular diagnostics of other diseases, still, the COVID-19 alone is driving the market rapidly. Story continues Segmental Outlook The global molecular diagnostics market is segmented based on technology, product, and applications. Based on the technology, the market is segmented into PCR, ISH, DNA microarray, NSG, isothermal nucleic acid amplification, and other technologies. Based on the product, the market is segmented into testing equipment, diagnostic reagents & kits, and services & software. Apart from this, by applications, the market is segmented into infectious diseases, cancer, CVD, genetic testing, neurological disease, and other. Infectious Diseases are Dominating the Global Molecular Diagnostics Market The diagnostics of infectious diseases have taken a huge share in the molecular diagnostics market as these diseases tend to spread rapidly creating demand for their diagnosis. The spread COVID-19 in December 2019 is one of the best examples of infectious diseases. RT-PCR is guided to be the best testing method for its diagnosis. The diagnosis of other diseases are sidelined as per The Hindu news reports and the main focus of all the governments and market player across the globe is on the research and treatment of COVID-19. Cancer is at second in the molecular diagnostics market. According to an estimation of the American Cancer Society, four new cases have been recorded every minute in the US with one death. The weakening of the immune system as an impact of increasing pollution is resulting in the severity of these diseases. Genetic testing and research are emerging segments in this market. To get rid of genetic diseases this segment can play a major role in the future. Additionally, the extinguished species of plants and animals can also be revived through this technique. Revive&Restore organization is using it to bring Wooly Mammoth back into existence in Europe which was extinguished in the ice age. Regional Outlooks The global molecular diagnostics market is further segmented based on geography including North America (the US, and Canada), Europe (Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and Others), Asia-Pacific (India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Others, and the Rest of the World (the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America). The emerging countries such as India and China in the Asia-Pacific region are expected to grow significantly during the forecast attributed to the rapid development of the healthcare industry in such regions. North America is Leading the Global Molecular Diagnostics Market North America holds the major share in the molecular diagnostics market owing to the presence of a large number of companies both in the development and research of molecular diagnostic fields. The region also has the highest statistics related to cancer incidence. The European region follows North America in market share owing to the availability of well-established healthcare facilities and the increasing demand for personalized treatment. The Europe dominates in the testing kits segment of the market. The increasing geriatric population in Latin America is driving the market in this region. Diabetes patients are increasing in this region due to the adoption of a changed lifestyle. The emerging economy and infrastructure in Africa are restraining the growth of the molecular diagnostics market in that region. Market Players Outlook The companies engaged in molecular diagnostics provide reagent kits and testing equipment for the molecular diagnostic test. The market players also provide molecular diagnostic services for the treatment and diagnosis of infectious diseases and cancer. The key players in the molecular diagnostics market include Becton Dickinson and Co., Abbott Laboratories, Inc., bioMerieux S.A., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Danaher Corporation, Nanopore Technologies, and others. To develop an effective treatment of COVID-19, the governments across the globe are also supporting these market players with incentives and subsidies that will enable them to expand organically in the market. The Report Covers Market value data analysis of 2020 and forecast to 2027. Annualized market revenues ($ million) for each market segment. Country-wise analysis of major geographical regions. Key companies operating in the global molecular diagnostics market. Based on the availability of data, information related to new product launches, and relevant news is also available in the report. Analysis of business strategies by identifying the key market segments positioned for strong growth in the future. Analysis of market-entry and market expansion strategies. Competitive strategies by identifying 'who-stands-where' in the market. Key Topics Covered: 1. Report Summary 2. Market Overview and Insights 2.1. Scope of the Report 2.2. Analyst Insight & Current Market Trends 2.2.1. Key Findings 2.2.2. Recommendations 2.2.3. Conclusion 3. Competitive Landscape 3.1. Key Company Analysis 3.1.1. Overview 3.1.2. Financial Analysis 3.1.3. SWOT Analysis 3.1.4. Recent Developments 3.2. Key Strategy Analysis 3.3. Impact of COVID-19 on Key Players 4. Market Determinants 4.1. Motivators 4.2. Restraints 4.3. Opportunities 5. Market Segmentation 5.1. Global Molecular Diagnostics Market by Technology 5.1.1. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 5.1.2. In Situ Hybridization (ISH) 5.1.3. DNA Microarray 5.1.4. Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) 5.1.5. Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification 5.1.6. Other Technologies 5.2. Global Molecular Diagnostics Market by Product 5.2.1. Testing Instruments 5.2.2. Diagnostic Reagents and Kits 5.2.3. Services & Software 5.3. Global Molecular Diagnostics Market by Applications 5.3.1. Infectious Diseases (including COVID-19) 5.3.2. Cancer 5.3.3. Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) 5.3.4. Genetic Testing 5.3.5. Neurological Disease 5.3.6. Other 6. Regional Analysis 6.1. North America 6.1.1. United States 6.1.2. Canada 6.2. Europe 6.2.1. UK 6.2.2. Germany 6.2.3. Italy 6.2.4. Spain 6.2.5. France 6.2.6. Rest of Europe 6.3. Asia-Pacific 6.3.1. China 6.3.2. India 6.3.3. Japan 6.3.4. South Korea 6.3.5. Rest of Asia-Pacific 6.4. Rest of the World 7. Company Profiles 7.1. Abbott Laboratories, Inc. 7.2. Agilent Technologies, Inc. 7.3. AltheaDX, Inc. 7.4. AutoGenomics, Inc. 7.5. Beckman Coulter, Inc. 7.6. Becton Dickinson and Co. 7.7. Biocartis N.V. 7.8. bioMerieux S.A. 7.9. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. 7.10. CareDX, Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ikg2tt CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Every year U-Haul releases data on the top growth cities and states in America, as defined by the number of one-way truck rentals it sees in a calendar year. This annual report, called the U-Haul Growth Index, listed the Auburn-Opelika area as the No. 5 growth city in America for 2022. The past year marks a return to the top of the index for the local area. Auburn-Opelika was listed at No. 4 in 2020 but tumbled to No. 23 in 2021. According to the company, people coming to the Auburn-Opelika area in one-way U-Haul trucks actually dropped 10% over 2021. U-Haul departures, however, dropped 14%. Due to fewer people leaving the area, new arrivals in the community wound up accounting for 54% of all one-way U-Haul truck traffic, adding to the area's net growth. According to U-Haul Company of Central Alabama President, Kiya Blair, there are three reasons for so many people coming and staying: Auburn University, the convenient location along the I-85 corridor, and the schools. In my opinion, a lot of the growth comes from Auburn University, Blair said in a recent press release. Auburn-Opelika is also about halfway between Montgomery and LaGrange, Ga., so it makes for a good area to settle. LaGrange is home to a lot of support manufacturing companies for the automotive industry, so some people work there and settle in the Auburn-Opelika market because of the nice, safe neighborhoods. The public school system here is really good and many young families make their way to the area for schools alone. Blair added that Auburn-Opelika has seen a positive growth trend for years. The area isnt the only Alabama metro to appear near the top of the U-Haul Growth Index this year. The Huntsville market also cracked the top 10, coming in at No. 9 on U-Hauls list. The remainder of the top five cities included Ocala Fla. in first place, Sacramento-Roseville, Calif., in second, Madison, Wis., in third, and Palm Beach-Melbourne, Fla. in fourth place. The South continues to be a major draw for people moving from other parts of the country. U-Hauls top 10 growth states for 2022 was dominated by the southern region. Texas (No. 1), Florida (No. 2), South Carolina (No. 3), North Carolina (No. 4,) Virginia (No. 5), Tennessee (No. 6), and Georgia (No. 8) all placed within U-Haul's top 10. Additionally, Alabama placed at No. 20 on the list of 2022 top growth states in the country. That was a massive jump for the Yellow Hammer state over 2021 when it placed at No. 46. Alabama matched Virginia for the biggest jump on the U-Haul chart for 2022. Auburn University has announced the retirement of Jim Shepard, former dean and professor in the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment. Shepard, who is an expert in forest soils, forest ecology and wetlands policy, was the former professor and associate director of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center at Mississippi State University before being appointed dean of what was then the Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences in 2011. Among Shepards achievements as dean at Auburn, he oversaw the fundraising and construction of the Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation Learning Center in Andalusia, Alabama, the first official wildlife summer field practicum completed in 2012, and the establishment of the Natural Resources Management undergraduate degree. Shepard served as dean for four years before returning to an academic role as professor of forest soils, where he taught Forest Ecology, Forest Soils, Forest Wetlands Restoration Ecology and Natural Resource Policy. The primary emphasis of his research during his career has focused on natural resources policy and regulations, wetlands ecology and management and forest soils classification and mapping. In addition to his scholarly accomplishments in forest sustainability, environmental management and academia, we commend Dr. Shepard for his leadership to enhance the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center and the colleges academic programs, said Janaki Alavalapati, dean of the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment. With the construction of the state-of-the-art Solon and Marth Dixon Foundation Learning Center, the Dixon Center has become one of the finest educational facilities of its type in the nation, offering an unparalleled learning environment for our students and other agencies and institutions. In his previous roles, Shepard served as head of Mississippi States Department of Forestry from 2005-08. He also served 14 years with the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement in Gainesville, Florida, in positions such as sustainable forestry program manager and forest wetlands program manager. During this time, he worked for seven years as a courtesy associate professor in the University of Floridas School of Forest Resources and Conservation, where he helped initiate Floridas study abroad program with the Czech University of Agricultures forestry school. Shepard earned his doctorate from Mississippi State in 1985 in forest resources with a focus on forest soils. He then served as a research scientist for five years at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, where his work focused on the biogeochemical effects of atmospheric deposition. Shepard plans to relocate to Gainesville, Florida, with his wife, Cathy. - Bulgaria, which has a two-year exemption until the end of 2024, appears to be the only EU country still taking Russian crude as the rest is being moved to Asia. - The Kremlin vowed to ban all crude exports to countries observing the oil price cap in late December as Russian firms ramped up purchases of shadow tankers to transport their oil. - Even though the product price cap will go online - Russian seaborne crude exports dropped to a two-year low last month to 2.65 million b/d as the introduction of the oil price cap brought deliveries to Europe to an absolute minimum. - Exceeding analysts forecasts, the decline in manufacturing accounting for 11.3% of the US economy is perceived by many as a harbinger of a soon-to-come recession. - A robust labor market is by now pretty much the only thing keeping the US from plunging into a recession, though the December report is to be published this Friday. - The ISMs forward-looking new orders index plummeted even lower to 45.2, well below the 50 threshold that indicates contraction. falling for the fourth straight month. 2. Russian Oil Exports Edge Lower in December - US manufacturing contracted for a second straight month, with the manufacturing PMI index issued by the Institute for Supply Management coming in at 48.4 for December, the lowest since May 2020. 1. The Spectre of Recession Is Getting Closer 1. The Spectre of Recession Is Getting Closer - US manufacturing contracted for a second straight month, with the manufacturing PMI index issued by the Institute for Supply Management coming in at 48.4 for December, the lowest since May 2020. - Exceeding analysts forecasts, the decline in manufacturing accounting for 11.3% of the US economy is perceived by many as a harbinger of a soon-to-come recession. - A robust labor market is by now pretty much the only thing keeping the US from plunging into a recession, though the December report is to be published this Friday. - The ISMs forward-looking new orders index plummeted even lower to 45.2, well below the 50 threshold that indicates contraction. falling for the fourth straight month. 2. Russian Oil Exports Edge Lower in December - Russian seaborne crude exports dropped to a two-year low last month to 2.65 million b/d as the introduction of the oil price cap brought deliveries to Europe to an absolute minimum. - Bulgaria, which has a two-year exemption until the end of 2024, appears to be the only EU country still taking Russian crude as the rest is being moved to Asia. - The Kremlin vowed to ban all crude exports to countries observing the oil price cap in late December as Russian firms ramped up purchases of shadow tankers to transport their oil. - Even though the product price cap will go online in a month on February 5, Russian product exports into the EU continue so far uninterrupted, totaling 1.2 million b/d. 3. Glencore Under Pressure Amidst Coal Bonanza - Glencore shareholders with 2.2 trillion of assets under management will vote in May on a resolution that might force the companys executives to explain how coal fits into the international trading houses sustainability plans. - Coal has accounted for more than 50% of the Swiss-based companys H1 2022 profits, coming in at $9.5 billion, triggering the ire of global warming-conscious investors. - Before coal exports were this lucrative, Glencore promised to cap its coal production at 2019 levels and reach net-zero operations by 2050, putting an end to thermal coal mining by then. - Last year, Glencore traded 67.7 million tons of thermal coal and mined 103.3 million tons, retaining its title of the worlds largest coal trader and Australias top producer. 4. Warm Weather Cools Down European Gas Prices - The European gas markets have slid into contango as counter-seasonally warm weather and a robust flow of incoming LNG have depressed spot-traded natural gas prices. - At the turn of the year prices of LNG delivered into Northwest Europe fell below Asias JKM index, remaining there since and dropping below the $20 per mmBtu mark for the first time since May 2022. - With the first week of January being the hottest ever recorded in at least eight EU countries, gas inventories have seen several consecutive days of stock builds, currently at 83% of capacity. - European gas and power contracts delivering in Summer-23 and Q4-23 still price in a risk premium of lower inventories and reflect Germanys soon-to-come nuclear halt in April 2023. 5. China Close to Lifting Australia Coal Ban - Chinese authorities are rumored to be close to lifting a two-year blanket ban on coal imports from Australia, its main external source of the fossil fuel before the October 2020 decision. - Three state-owned electricity generating companies have reportedly received intimations from the government to resume purchases of thermal and coking coal from Australia. - Despite ramping up domestic production and hiking imports from other sources such as Mongolia, Russia, or Indonesia, Beijing sees the normalization as a key step to push prices of coal even lower. - Australia has so far not been able to reach export levels seen before 2020, with last years annual export tally of 345 million tons staying 15% lower than the peak recorded in 2019. 6. Renewable Lending Surpasses Fossil Fuels - Renewable energy projects have seen a total of 580 billion raised in the debt markets last year, topping fossil fuel financing (530 billion) for the first time in history, Bloomberg reports. - At the same time, analysts signal that as much as green lending is on the rise, the result is skewed because oil companies, thanks to high crude prices, have lowered their dependence on capital markets. - Banks involved in green bonds and loans are reportedly also generating disproportionately more revenue, cashing in around $3.3 billion in fees whilst the fossil industry stood at $2.5 billion. - French banks Credit Agricole, BNP Paribas, and Bank of America stood out as main providers of green financing, whilst oil and gas bonds were mostly served by RBC, Wells Fargo, and JPMorgan Chase. 7. Polysilicon Prices Plunge on Chinese Oversupply - A key element in producing solar panels, solar-grade polysilicon has seen its prices collapse over the recent months amidst tepid demand and rapidly expanding Chinese supply. - Having hit their highest level in a decade this autumn at $38/kg, polysilicon prices have effectively halved to $17.5/kg currently in less than two months. - The drop in polysilicon prices will lower the price of solar panels and stimulate global demand, so in a sense, Chinas overproduction will create a deeper market for its produce. Syria is re-emerging as a flashpoint as Turkey wages its war on Syrian Kurds and opens the door for more ISIS activity in a self-fulfilling prophecy. Last week, an attack in eastern Syria killed at least 10 oil field workers, and Syrian Kurdish-led forces are again on the offensive on two frontsagainst ISIS and Turkey. Turkeys allies in the region are Sunni opposition forces, whose leaders have long been luxuriating in Turkeys Cracks are showing in the Libyan stalemate/powder keg, with Italian sources saying they have intel that General Haftar is holding secret talks with the Government of National Unity (GNU) led by interim prime minister Dbeibah. In doing so, Haftar is betraying Fatih Bashagha, the rival prime minister from the east appointed earlier last year who has failed to take Tripoli from Dbeibah. We have earlier suggested that some sort of deal was being discussed between Haftar and Dbeibah, when the latter managed to oust the head of the National Oil Company and replace them with loyalists. Investors are still running for the hills in Brazil, where Lulas first day in office (and his return to the presidency for a third term) resulted in a market rout and sent shares of Petrobras tumbling further. Analysts predict lots of market intervention ahead, and the new incoming CEO of Petrobras (Lula ally Senator Prates) has suggested he is taking the company toward renewables in a big way. Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict Investors are still running for the hills in Brazil, where Lulas first day in office (and his return to the presidency for a third term) resulted in a market rout and sent shares of Petrobras tumbling further. Analysts predict lots of market intervention ahead, and the new incoming CEO of Petrobras (Lula ally Senator Prates) has suggested he is taking the company toward renewables in a big way. Cracks are showing in the Libyan stalemate/powder keg, with Italian sources saying they have intel that General Haftar is holding secret talks with the Government of National Unity (GNU) led by interim prime minister Dbeibah. In doing so, Haftar is betraying Fatih Bashagha, the rival prime minister from the east appointed earlier last year who has failed to take Tripoli from Dbeibah. We have earlier suggested that some sort of deal was being discussed between Haftar and Dbeibah, when the latter managed to oust the head of the National Oil Company and replace them with loyalists. Syria is re-emerging as a flashpoint as Turkey wages its war on Syrian Kurds and opens the door for more ISIS activity in a self-fulfilling prophecy. Last week, an attack in eastern Syria killed at least 10 oil field workers, and Syrian Kurdish-led forces are again on the offensive on two frontsagainst ISIS and Turkey. Turkeys allies in the region are Sunni opposition forces, whose leaders have long been luxuriating in Turkeys finest hotels. However, Turkey appears to be changing tactics and these Sunni allies have reason to be alarmed as Erdogan meets with Assad to cut some sort of deal that would mean cutting ties with his allies and betraying them in order to take out the Kurds. Ukraine this week launched a deadly attack on a Russian military barracks in the occupied Donetsk region. The Kremlin said 63 soldiers were killed in the attack, while Ukrainian officials claimed hundreds were killed. The attack is drawing particular attention in the Russian media because the casualties were conscripts who gave away their location by use of mobile phones. Putin has now called a ceasefire for Orthodox Christmas, from Jan 6-7. Fears now, spread by Ukraines Defense Ministry, are that the Kremlin is preparing for a new wave of mobilization this year, which Kyiv says indicates Moscow is in this war for the long haul. We are also now seeing internal political fighting in Russia, which is highly unusual, and in this case, very dangerous. Hardliners who make Putin look soft are publicly airing their grievances and gaining significant influence in the process. Those figures include Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov (who has felt emboldened to critique the failures of the war on Ukraine for months) and billionaire Yevgeny Prigozhin. Prigozhin, a former convict who now controls a huge media force along with a massive mercenary force (Wagner) is taking too much control in Ukraine, and hes also publicly taking on another elite figure in the process (again, this does not happen in Russia): St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov. While the Prigozhin-Beglov public feud does not necessarily mean anything directly for Ukraine, it does mean that hardliners have become more powerful in Putins Russia, and this is a threat to the regimeand the world. As for Kadyrov, he is also playing a significant role on the ground in Ukraine. Discovery & Development Talos Energy has discovered commercial quantities of oil and gas from its two deepwater wells in the GoM: Lime Rock and Venice. Talos holds a 60% interest in the discoveries, located near its Ram Powell platform. Expected combined gross production rates are in-line with pre-drill estimates, at 15,000- 20,000 boewith 40%-60% liquids. The two discoveries will help Talos return production from Ram Powell to levels last seen 15 years ago. Australia-based Invictus Energy said it would not go forward with its Mukuyu-1 and ST1 prospects citing unsuitable and not feasible conditions. The development would have been Zimbabwes first oil find. Equipment and staff have been demobilized. Invictus has, however, renewed a rig contract for Mukuyu-2 or Baobab-1 drilling later this year. TGS and CGG announced the second phase of the Foz do Amazonas 3D multi-client survey offshore Brazil. The survey will cover 11,425 km2. Var Energi and partner Aker BP have successfully proven a new gas field north of the Goliat production complex in the Arctic Barents Sea. The Lupa prospect well is the first well on the PL 229 E license. Early analysis estimates are between 57 MMboe and 132 MMboe. Var Energi is looking at options to tie back to Goliat. Turkeys Caycuma-1 probe hit a (58 bcm) 2 Tcf gas discovery in the Black Sea that has helped increase its gas reserves in the play to more than 25 Tcf when combined with the upgrades to the Sakarya complex. Bahrain has announced two nat gas discoveries in the Al-Joubah and Al-Jawef reservoirs located under onshore fields Al-Khuf and Al-Onaiza, with a plan expected within 6 months. The finds have been described as significant but were not quantified. Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions Zenith Netherlands (a subsidiary of Zenith Energy Ltd), has agreed to acquire OMVs energy assets in Yemen in a deal worth $22 million. The deal is pending approval of the Yemeni and Austrian authorities. OMV holds shares in the al-Uqlah oilfield, but it is controlled by the internationally controlled government in Yemen. The field produced 6,000 bpd last Januarydown from 15,000 bpd before the countrys civil war due to a lack of drilling activity. Two of OMVs smaller fields in Yemen are also part of the deal, which hold 571 billion cubic feet of recoverable gas. As the largest international oil player left in Yemen, OMV said in June it would exit the country as it backs away from the oil side of the business. A video meeting between Pakistani and Russian officials on buying crude and crude products from Russia was rumored to be held this week. Pakistan claimed in December that Russia would sell oil to Pakistan at a reduced price. Chinese President Xi Jinping said it was open to talks on oil exploration with the Philippines, with China vowing renewed focus on its relations with Manila. Exploration, specifically in the contentious South China Sea, was not mentioned. The largest crude oil refinery in the United States has returned to production, people familiar with the plants operations told Reuters on Friday. The nations largest crude oil refinery, Motiva Enterprises, shut down on December 23 as a cold snap ripped through much of the country. Motiva, located in Port Arthur, Texas, has a capacity of more than 630,000 bpd, according to the company website. The Motiva refinery in Port Arthurthe largest in the United Statesis wholly owned by Saudi Aramco, the state-run oil giant of Saudi Arabia. Motiva began the restart at the refinery on Christmas Day, although said at the time that the full restart could take until January 11, a notice filed by the company with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said. Gasoline prices rose earlier in the week with many U.S. refineries still shuttered due to the freezing temperatures from the week prior, including another refinery in Port Artur: TotalEnergies 238,000 bpd refinery. According to AAA data, gasoline prices had risen 12.4 cents on the week as of Tuesday. Today, according to AAA data, gasoline prices are still 11.1 cents higher than last Friday at an average of $3.290 per gallon. The weekly rise is the first weekly rise in two months, GasBuddys Patrick De Haan said in a note earlier this week. U.S. gasoline and distillate stocks dropped in the week ending December 30, according to the most recent EIA data, in large part due to the refinery shutdowns in the United States. Distillate stockpiles fell by 1.4 million barrels14% below the five-year averageaccording to the EIA, while total motor gasoline stocks fell by 300,000 barrels, to 6% below the five-year average. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Oil prices experienced the worst start to the year in over three decades this week, falling by more than 9% over the first two days of trading. They have since recovered some of that loss, but are still set to be down significantly week-over-week. Oilprice Alert: This month's Intelligent Investor looks for unrealized value in the oilfield sector, analyzing two very promising stocks. Sign up today to read that analysis, and if you aren't enjoying it after the first month we'll give you your money back. Friday, January 6th, 2023 Oil prices are set for a 7% week-on-week decline as US recession fears and Chinas troubled reopening amidst soaring coronavirus cases led market bulls to put their short-term optimism on the back burner. Lower gasoline and distillate stocks in the US, most probably a result of the recent bomb cyclone, have offset some of that downward pressure, but that has not been enough to move Brent back above $80 per barrel. Carbon Storage to Help Canadas Oil Sands. The Pathways Alliance, a group of six companies representing 95% of Canadas oil sands production, has started work on a vast $12 billion underground carbon storage site that will store emissions from 14 projects in northern Alberta by 2030. OPEC Production Rises as Nigeria Comes Back. Rebounding Nigerian oil production lifted OPECs collective crude output in December, with the oil group adding 120,000 b/d compared to November figures and coming in at 29 million b/d, some 800,000 b/d below its production quota. Colonial Shuts Key Product Lifeline to East Coast. Colonial Pipeline shut one of its lines after a product spill at a Virginia delivery station, halting 885,000 b/d of gasoline and distillate deliveries from Greensboro, NC to Linden, NJ, with a tentative restart set for 7 January. China Ready for Oil Talks with Manila. Chinese President Xi Jinping declared Beijing is ready to resume oil and gas negotiations with the Philippines, saying that regardless of the territorial disputes in the South China Sea they could jointly develop adjacent projects which are in non-disputed areas. Japan Buys into US Gas Producer. Japans largest gas company Tokyo Gas (TYO:9531) is reportedly closing in on the $4.6 billion purchase of US natural gas producer Rockcliff Energy in a deal that includes debt, boosting its portfolio with 1 Bcf per day of production in the Haynesville shale play. Copper Rises on China Stimulus Hopes. Reports of lower production from Chile and Chinas expected stimulus measures for its battered property market have pushed three-month copper prices at the LME to $8,475 per metric tonne, putting them back on a trajectory of growth. Russian Gas into Europe Halved in 2022. Pipeline gas exports of Russias gas major Gazprom (MCX:GAZP) to the European continent decreased by more than 50% last year, totaling just 86.9 bcm, with future deliveries remaining just as subdued on the back of the Nord Stream explosions. Dredging Woes Complicate Chevrons Venezuela Return. As US oil major Chevron (NYSE:CVX) seeks to ramp up operations in Venezuela as soon as possible, the shallow waters of the Maracaibo Lake allow only tankers with a draft of 10 meters as dredging has been completely neglected over the recent years. Key US Lithium Mine to See Court Decision Soon. A Nevada court stated that a decision on whether former US President Trump erred when he approved Lithium Americas Thacker Pass mining project the largest sedimentary lithium deposit in the US with 13.7 million tons of Li2Co3 will be coming in the next couple of months. ADVERTISEMENT Talos Boosts GoM Portfolio with Discoveries. US deepwater-focused producer Talos Energy (NYSE:TALO) discovered two new offshore fields in the Gulf of Mexico, finding oil and gas with its Lime Rock and Venice prospects, with first production expected in 2024 and boosting output by some 20,000 b/d. China In Taliban Talks to Drill for Oil. Afghanistans Taliban-led government is reportedly set to sign an oil exploration deal with Chinas Xinjiang Central Asia Petroleum and Gas Co. in the northern Amu Darya basin, the first-ever extraction deal signed by the Taliban since taking power in 2021. Chile Edges Closer to New Mining Royalties. Chiles congressional committee approved this week a controversial mining royalty bill that would increase royalties on copper sales, compelling large miners to pay an additional 1% to the state, to the dismay of the countrys mining industry. UAE Leads Middle East in CO2 Capture. ADNOC, the national oil company of the United Arab Emirates, pledged to invest $15 billion in low-carbon energy by 2030, aiming to capture 5 million tonnes of CO2 by the end of the decade and build a 1 mtpa blue ammonia facility Taziz. Pioneer Downplays Permian Prospects. Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD), one of the biggest US shale players, revised downwards its long-term projection for crude output from the Permian Basin by 1 million b/d, saying the Permian would be only producing 7 million b/d by 2030 amidst fading well productivity. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Mild weather and weak demand for natural gas in North Asia sent Asias spot LNG prices tumbling by 10.7% this week from last week, for a third consecutive week of declining prices, industry sources told Reuters on Friday. The average price of LNG for February delivery into northeast Asia stood at $25 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) this week. Thats 10.7% lower, or $3/ MMBtu lower, than last week, according to estimates from industry sources. Interest in spot LNG cargoes is weak despite the drop in prices in recent weeks, analysts say. Inventories are at comfortable levels, while the mild start to the year in most of the northern hemisphere also helps to keep inventories higher than usual, dragging spot LNG prices down. If the trend of falling spot prices continues, some speculative buying from South Asian customers can begin as buyers could decide to take advantage of low prices, Toby Copson, global head of trading at Trident LNG, told Reuters. According to Copson, spot LNG prices in Asia could continue falling in the coming weeks until the Lunar New Year which falls on January 22 this year. After the festive period in China, demand could start rising as China gradually re-opens, Copson told Reuters. Natural gas prices slumped this week in Europe and the U.S., too, due to mild weather. The benchmark U.S. natural gas prices tumbled again on Thursday to the lowest level in nearly a year on warmer-than-normal weather. Natural gas prices in Europe have also plunged due to a mild start to the year. The benchmark European price at the TTF hub dropped on the first trading day of the year to its lowest level since February 21, 2022, days before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On Wednesday, the benchmark European gas price dropped to below 70/MWh ($73/MWh) as mild weather and reduced demand drive a counter seasonal rise in gas stocks, Ole Hansen, Head of Commodity Strategy at Saxo Bank, noted. In addition, German power generation from wind has hit a record 47GW, around 83% of total domestic consumption. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Europe should look to Africa for a south-north energy axis that would deliver gas from Africa to the EU, which is scrambling to replace Russian pipeline supply, Claudio Descalzi, the chief executive of Italian energy giant Eni, told the Financial Times in an interview published on Friday. We dont have energy, they have energy. We have a big industry, they have to develop it . . . There is a strong complementarity, Descalzi said, referring to Africa and its energy resources. Italys Eni is a major player in many African countries and has signed several agreements to boost gas supply from Africa to Europe since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the slump in Russias gas deliveries via pipeline. In April 2022, less than two months after Putin ordered Russian troops into Ukraine, Descalzi and the president of Algerias state energy firm Sonatrach, Toufik Hakkar, signed an agreement that will allow Eni to increase the quantities of gas imported through the TransMed/Enrico Mattei pipeline as part of a long-term gas supply contract in place with Sonatrach. This agreement will allow to exploit the pipeline's available transportation capacities to ensure greater supply flexibility, gradually providing increasing volumes of gas from 2022, up to 9 billion cubic meters per year in 2023-24, Eni said at the time. In October, Eni announced the start of production from two gas fields within the new Berkine South contract in Algeria, with volumes intended for the European market. And the following month, Eni announced the first shipment of LNG produced from the Coral gas field in the ultra-deep waters of the Rovuma Basin offshore Mozambique. The first shipment of LNG from Coral South project, and from Mozambique, is a new and significant step forward in Enis strategy to leverage gas as a source that can contribute in a significant way to Europes energy security, also through the increasing diversification of supplies, while also supporting a just and sustainable transition, Descalzi said in November. Eni reported in October third-quarter core earnings and net profit beating analyst expectations amid what the Italian group described as an excellent performance of its Global Gas & LNG Portfolio. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: India continues to buy large volumes of discounted Russian crude and is importing some of Russias Arctic crude oil varieties for the first time, taking advantage of cheap Russian cargoes to meet robust demand. Indian refiners imported last month the first-ever cargo of the Varandey crude blend from the Timan-Pechora oilfields operated by Russian firm Lukoil, according to tanker-tracking data from Vortexa cited by Argus. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Indiathe worlds third-largest crude oil importerhas also bought cargoes of other Russian crude grades from the Arctic, such as Arco and Novy Port Light, Argus reported on Friday. India is also scheduled to receive another four cargoes of the Varandey crude this month, per Vortexa estimates quoted by Argus. Russia is now the single-biggest oil supplier to India after overtaking Iraq in November. Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India was a small marginal buyer of Russian crude oil. After Western buyers started shunning crude from Russia, India became a top destination for Russian oil exports alongside China. Russia overtook Iraq to become the single-largest oil supplier to India in November, as Indian refiners raced to stock up on Russian oil ahead of the December 5 price cap and associated bans on transportation services for Russias crude. India and China are buying Russias Arctic crudes, which used to be sold in Europe before the EU embargo. Now, these cargoes are heading East to the two biggest buyers of Russian oil since the invasion of Ukraine. In China, independent refiners have seen their refining margins jump in recent weeks as they have been able to negotiate steeper discounts for their preferred Russian crude grade, ESPO, even if they buy it above the G7 price cap. While China hasnt joined the Price Cap Coalition, the fact that a price cap now exists gives the worlds top crude oil importer, as well as other buyers of Russian crude such as India, more bargaining power to negotiate steep discounts for the Russian crude even outside the price cap mechanism, analysts say. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Norway became Germanys single-largest natural gas supplier in 2022, overtaking Russia, as total German gas imports dropped by 12.3% compared to 2021, the German Federal Network Agency, Bundesnetzagentur, said on Friday. Norway provided 33% of the gas Germany imported last year, followed by Russia, whose share fell to 22% for last year, compared to a 52% share in 2021, said the German regulator. Last year, Russia started gradually cutting gas supply via the Nord Stream pipeline to Germany in June until shutting down the pipeline in early September, claiming an inability to repair gas turbines for the pumping stations due to Western sanctions. The lack of gas deliveries from Russia was partly compensated for by additional imports, including from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway, the German network agency said today. Europes biggest economy also saved a lot of gas in 2022, partly due to household saving and to industrial production curtailments due to soaring gas prices. According to Bundesnetzagentur, Germanys natural gas consumption dropped by 14% in 2022 compared to the average consumption for the past four years. Industrial demand fell by 15% compared to the average for the past four years. Between October and December, industrial gas consumption fell by 23%, and consumption by private consumers and businesses was 21% below the previous years. As supply from Russia fell and then stopped in early September, Germany started looking at importing LNG and began construction of regasification terminals to be able to welcome cargoes. The first such terminal, a floating LNG import terminal, officially opened at the end of 2022 at Wilhelmshaven on Germanys North Sea coast. Earlier this week, Germany welcomed the first tanker carrying LNG at the newly opened LNG import terminal at Wilhelmshaven, with the cargo arriving from the Calcasieu Pass export facility in the United States. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Crude oil prices could end this week with a more moderate decline than expected at the start of the week, as optimism about Chinese demand reignited towards the end of the trading period, pushing prices higher earlier today. The increase, by more than 1 percent in pre-noon Asian trade today, followed the first trading session that ended with gains for the benchmarks this year, after two consecutive days of losses. The latest U.S. oil inventory report contributed to the price rise as the increase in inventories was more modest than analysts had expected, at 1.7 million barrels. That build followed a weekly draw of 5.9 million barrels. "It's been a few decades since oil had this bad of a start [to a new year] and energy traders jumped all over the news that the Colonial Pipeline had to halt operations after a leak occurred," said OANDAs Edward Moya, as quoted by MarketWatch. The Line 3 news comes just weeks after another oil pipeline had to be shut down because of a leak: TC Energys Keystone. It also comes amid news that fuel inventories in the United States are lower than average after the latest Arctic blast. "The oil market is looking better supplied in the near term and risks are likely skewed to the downside. However, our oil balance starts to show a tightening in the market from the second quarter through to the end of the year, which suggests that we should see stronger prices from 2Q23 onwards," said ING commodity analysts quoted by MarketWatch. Despite all these bullish developments, oil will almost certainly end the week with a loss because of the persistent and quite well-founded concern about the global economys immediate future. Fear of recession remains strong, especially after the head of the International Monetary Fund said she expected a third of the worlds economies to slip into negative growth this year. And it is strong enough to keep a lid on oil prices for now. ADVERTISEMENT By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: If the selloff in oil continues and prices continue down, OPEC may well swing into action, RBC Capital Markets head of global commodity strategy Helima Croft told the Australian Financial Review today. OPEC looks content to stay the course on the current production policy and is seeking to stay out of the confrontation between Russia and the West, Croft said. Nonetheless, we see clear scope for OPEC to adjust the production cut. OPEC+ agreed on production cuts last year as the oil price rally from earlier in 2022 fizzled out and demand concerns pushed benchmarks down. The cut, formally set at 2 million bpd from the collective production quota, but effectively at half that, should be in force until the end of this year. Yet the Saudis have repeatedly demonstrated that they are not averse to quick changes in policy, RBCs Croft told the AFR, noting Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salmans willingness to make quick course corrections in order to ensure market stability and safeguard national interests. As a result, RBC expects Brent crude to average $96 per barrel this year, with West Texas Intermediate seen at an average of $92 per barrel. At the moment, both benchmarks are trading below $80 per barrel. In her expectations of OPEC action on prices, RBCs Croft echoed the opinion of Pioneer Natural Resources Scott Sheffield, who said earlier this week that the Saudis wont let oil sit at $75 per barrel. Saudi is not going to let Brent stay around $75 a barrel, Sheffield said, adding that it wouldnt surprise him if they had another cut. Sheffield also forecast oil prices at a minimum of $80 per barrel this year, with a potential for rising to $150, joining a number of forecasters expecting higher oil prices this year despite the weak start to the year. ADVERTISEMENT By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Wind power generation reached a record high last year in the UK, accounting for a 26.8% share of total electricity generation, the BBC reported, citing data published by National Grid. Together with nuclear, the report noted, wind accounted for more electricity production than fossil fuels. Thats despite the fact that gas was the single largest source of electricity generation in the country in 2022, accounting for 38.5 percent of the total, per the National Grid numbers. The numbers also showed that for five months last year, more than 50 percent of the electricity produced in the country was generated by wind and nuclear. Even so, Britons paid exorbitant prices for electricity because, like in continental Europe, the electricity market in the UK has all prices based on the price of gas. "The UK has a good record with offshore wind. We're quite a giant in the offshore wind world and our industry is very attractive," said the head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, an energy non-profit, as quoted by the BBC. "Our old-fashioned energy grid urgently needs investment to maximise the opportunity that wind and solar offer to continue to reduce bills," Jess Ralson added. The UK has one of the largest wind power capacities globally, at 25.5 GW, and government plans should see this rise further, considerably. The target for 2030 is 50 GW of offshore wind power. The Governments Energy Security Strategy set out a series of steps to accelerate our transition away from reliance on expensive and environmentally harmful fossil fuels, the countrys energy market regulator Ofgem wrote in a report late last year. The invasion of Ukraine highlights that this transition is now not just a matter of meeting Great Britains Net Zero targets, but also highlights the need to reduce our reliance on gas from a security of supply perspective. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: LINCOLN The divisions on the newly seated Nebraska State Board of Education showed Thursday as a new president was elected on a split vote, and board members took 11 rounds to pick a vice president. Board members voted 5-3, on their first ballot, to select Patti Gubbels of Norfolk to serve as board president for 2023. The vote came during the boards first formal meeting of the year, held at the Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln. Gubbels, a former member of the Norfolk Public Schools Board of Education, was elected to the state board in 2020. Her career has included teaching education and psychology courses at Northeast Community College, Wayne State College, and the University of Nebraska. Kirk Penner, who nominated Gubbels, touted her experience in bylaws and policy. The votes were cast on secret ballots. Patsy Koch Johns nominated Jacquelyn Morrison of Omaha to serve as president. Koch Johns, who is from Lincoln, praised Morrison for her understanding and experience with legislation, law and policy. Deborah Neary of Omaha, who spoke in favor of Morrison, called her the most neutral, nonpartisan person on the board. Morrison made a pitch for herself, saying that if selected she would ensure everyone had a voice. She said she was committed to transparency. In an interview after the meeting, Gubbels was asked how shell lead a divided board whose members have strong and conflicting convictions. She said the members will have to agree on expectations what she called rules of operation. I think its also going to be really important that we sit together as a group and decide what our priorities are, she said. We have people who are very passionate, and thats not a bad thing. But I think we have to stay focused on why we exist, that we are state-level education policymakers. A measure of power comes with the board presidency. The president presides over board meetings, appoints committees, works with the commissioner of education to set meeting agendas, and determines when and if the board will take public comment at a particular meeting. Choosing the vice president was a bumpier ride. Penner, of Aurora, and Koch Johns were nominated. They tied 4-4 in 10 consecutive rounds of voting. Penner, who was nominated by Elizabeth Tegtmeier of North Platte, won in the 11th round, 5-3. Lisa Fricke had nominated Koch Johns. The 2022 election cycle was a brutal one for the board members and challengers as both sides traded accusations. Dissatisfaction with the board and the department led to the election last November of three conservative candidates to four-year terms on the eight-member board: Penner, Tegtmeier and Sherry Jones of Grand Island. Penner, who had been appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts, was running to keep his seat. The conservatives campaigned on a back to basics platform, emphasizing local control of schools and the importance of academic achievement. They called for keeping sexually explicit materials out of the classroom, and empowering parents to have a greater say in whats taught. Progressives had criticized the conservatives as anti-LGBTQ, racist, book-banning extremists who were out to destroy the public school system. Neary, a Democrat, held her seat in her Omaha district by a narrow margin. All four were sworn into office Thursday in a ceremony at the Nebraska State Capitol. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2023 The Omaha Public Schools board is looking for consulting firms that can shoulder the task of finding the districts next superintendent in time for the 2024-25 school year. District officials said that while the board has a goal of hiring the districts next superintendent by then, no decisions on the timeline have yet been made. During a Thursday meeting, the board issued a request for qualifications from firms, which allows companies to give a cost estimate for a superintendent search and propose why they are qualified to conduct one for OPS. The search firm request comes nearly one month after Superintendent Cheryl Logan announced her resignation, which also was approved by the board Thursday. She will leave the district in June with five years of service under her belt. While Logan hasnt disclosed her next steps, she said Thursday that she wont seek another superintendent position. I was selected five years ago this month, and I was sitting right in the middle of this room. I wont forget what that felt like, Logan told the board. Sitting here today in the same dress that I wore that night, I am humbled to have had the opportunity to serve this beautiful community. OPS will accept submissions through Feb. 9, and firms will be interviewed after Feb. 23. The board will select a firm March 6. Because the board intends to finish the search process before the 2024-25 school year, the finalist interviews will take place no later than January 2024, according to board documents. Bridget Blevins, spokeswoman for OPS, said specifics on whether or not interim leadership will be needed wont be determined until later in the search process. Matthew Ray, who was formerly the districts chief of staff and secretary for the school board, had his position changed to deputy superintendent at a Nov. 28 meeting. Blevins said the adjustment was solely a title change for Ray. The title change for Matt Ray did not include a change of job duties, Blevins said in an email. The updated title better reflects Mr. Rays current duties and more closely aligns with the job title for similar roles in comparable districts. After a firm is chosen, the company will work with the school boards accountability committee to create a schedule for the nationwide superintendent search. A short list of finalists to interview will be created after reviewing applications. Some application criteria include the firms financial resources and performance on previous projects, such as how many successful superintendents the firm has placed in the nations top 100 largest districts. OPS is the 81st-largest district in the United States, according to 2018 data from the National Center for Education Statistics. The firm also has to identify the number of successful superintendent placements in districts with more than 25,000 students, programs utilized to encourage diversity in superintendent applications, the tenure rate of its superintendent placements and experience in seeking community input during the search process, among other criteria. OPS has a rocky superintendent search history. In 2017, the board terminated its agreement with Omaha-based firm McPherson & Jacobson for an unsuccessful search following the resignation of Logans predecessor, Mark Evans. All three superintendent finalists ended up dropping out, and Evans agreed to postpone his retirement to stay on for an extra year. A month later, board members switched to Ray and Associates, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based firm. The firm considered 74 applicants before choosing Logan. In 2013, the OPS boards selection of Des Moines Superintendent Nancy Sebring to become superintendent also failed. Sebring resigned a month before starting the job over an email scandal. An interim superintendent, Virginia Moon, took charge for a year. In the search for Logans replacement, OPS will ask each firm to disclose any school district that terminated its services in the last five years. Omaha World-Herald best videos of 2022 The Ralston school board interviewed two additional superintendent candidates Thursday and will vote on the districts new leader next week. The board asked Mark Fritch, superintendent of the Nebraska City Public Schools, and Cecilia Wilken, assistant superintendent for learning at Ralston, how they would apply their experience to address budgeting, community relations and curriculum concerns. Fritch told the board that he has a long history with public schools, dating back to growing up in Palmyra, where his father was the superintendent of schools. Fritch focused on his experience at Nebraska City, a district he said is similar to Ralston demographically. He has been superintendent there since July 2020. I believe that this district is collaborative, progressive and working to meet the needs of all students, he said. Fritch said he would emphasize working collaboratively and using resources both within the district and out in the community to address concerns such as budgeting and learning outcomes. If you were to ask me what my vision is, I think its our vision, he said. And what I can do is create a collaborative team culture and bring people together to create that vision. Fritch said he thinks the attack on public education is a major issue that the district will face in the next five years. The conversation that Ive had with the board of education in Nebraska City is that we have to fight for our schools, he said. We have got to rally our community to support our schools. Before going to Nebraska City, Fritch was a secondary principal at the Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools for seven years and an associate high school principal at Council Bluffs Lewis Central for two years. Before that, he taught for seven years in the Papillion La Vista school district. Fritch has a bachelors degree from Peru State College and a masters degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. During her interview, Wilken focused on her 10 years of experience at the Ralston Public Schools and said she cares deeply about the district. I consider it an honor to be here today and an honor to say that I am part of the Ralston school district, she said. Wilken has been in her current job since July 2021. Before that, she spent two years as director of teaching and learning, two years as director of elementary education and three years as an elementary school principal. Wilken said she thinks hiring, funding and the impacts of COVID-19 are the three biggest issues facing public education in the next five years. Addressing funding will require forward thinking to anticipate what areas will continue to be priorities, Wilken said. When you can anticipate, you are able to manage and budget much more responsibly, she said. She also emphasized gaining community input in both formal and informal settings and empowering teachers and staff to lead. We have to invest in our people and make sure we have a culture of hope and high expectations, she said. Beyond academic achievement, Wilken said she thinks addressing social-emotional well-being and attendance are also crucial. Education is evolving and changing, so weve got to evolve and change with it, she said. Wilken holds a bachelors degree from the University of Iowa, masters degrees from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Creighton University and a doctorate from UNO. On Wednesday, the school board interviewed the other two candidates for the job: Angela Plugge, director of learning at Waverly Schools, and Jason Buckingham, assistant superintendent for business at the Ralston Public Schools. The school board will vote on the new superintendent Monday. The person chosen for the job is expected to start on or around July 1. The district enrolls about 3,300 students, 61% of whom are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches. Forty-nine percent of students are Caucasian, 37% are Hispanic, 6% are African American and 8% are other races. In the most recent state accountability ratings for 2021-22, the Ralston district was classified in the Needs Support to Improve category. On the annual Nebraska state assessments, 32% of Ralston students in grades 3-8 were proficient in English language arts. Thirty-three percent were proficient in math. Statewide, 47% of students were proficient in English language arts and 46% in math. Photos: Omaha World-Herald best photos of 2022 LINCOLN Nebraska officially has a new governor. Columbus hog producer Jim Pillen was sworn in as the states 41st governor Thursday afternoon. Pillen replaces Gov. Pete Ricketts, who was an ardent supporter of Pillens during his gubernatorial campaign. Pillen is Nebraskas fourth consecutive GOP governor since 1999. Thursdays inaugural ceremonies in the Capitols legislative chamber also saw the introduction of new Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly and new Attorney General Mike Hilgers, among several other incoming state officials. All officials were sworn in before Pillen took the podium for his inaugural address. Pillen fought off emotions at the start of the speech and when speaking about his family, who were seated in the front of the chamber. His seven grandchildren greeted him at the end of the line of lawmakers as he was escorted inside. The speech was light on policy and heavy on praise for Nebraska and its people. The only three issues he mentioned as priorities were addressing what hes described as the brain drain, referring to the trend of skilled workers leaving the state; fixing the states broken tax code; and adjusting Nebraskas school funding formula all of which were major pillars of his campaign. Pillen did not explain how he plans to accomplish any of these goals. In an interview with The World-Herald, Pillen mentioned he would take an income-based approach to reducing taxes, and he has repeatedly advocated for completely changing the states school funding formula to distribute aid through a per-pupil system, rather than per-district. In his address, Pillen vowed to work with legislators to focus on policies that benefit the whole state, rather than specific communities. He also promised to be fiscally conservative, treating state tax dollars as he would his own money. We treat nickels like manhole covers, making decisions with fiscal conservatism and the constant drive to do more with less, Pillen said. Pillen has several noteworthy tasks on his to-do list for the first days of his term. He has yet to name his appointment to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, though he is expected to do so in the next few days, with Sasses resignation taking effect Sunday. Many expect Pillen to appoint Ricketts to the seat. Pillen also has to draft the next state budget proposal, encompassing the next two fiscal years, which will be revealed during his State of the State address on Jan. 25. Many of his campaign promises, including school aid and tax relief, are likely to be reflected in the budget. However, Pillen also has to grapple with an extraordinarily high cash reserve of $2.3 billion, based on the states latest revenue projections. Pillen told The World-Herald that he plans to use some of the money on projects such as broadband investments and highway expansion, but for the most part he aims to give it back to its people, likely pointing to tax cuts. Photos: 2023 Nebraska legislative session LINCOLN The Nebraska Legislature on Friday spent the majority of the 90 minutes that made up the third day of the session debating the proposed lineup of legislative committee memberships, and failed to reach a consensus by the end. Multiple Democrats spoke out against the current proposal, which would give Republicans the majority on most committees and Democrats the majority on just one. The debate will continue when lawmakers reconvene on Monday. Speaker of the Legislature John Arch made the motion to adjourn at 11:30 a.m. with seven state senators still waiting to speak. The whole body votes on the committee memberships. The officially nonpartisan Legislature is currently made up of 32 Republicans and 17 Democrats. A group of lawmakers making up the Legislatures Committee on Committees submitted a preliminary report laying out the lineup of committee memberships, which drew immediate criticism from Democrats. Committees are an essential part of the Legislature. Virtually every bill that gets approved each session must first get through a designated committee. Many bills that get introduced never get debated on the chamber floor because they dont make it out of their committees. State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, a Democrat, argued that the partisan biases under the proposed lineup will reduce the Legislatures efficiency. Debates that would normally happen in committee executive sessions will now happen in the chamber, she said. Some Democrats alleged they were kicked off committees where they had incumbency or were not granted a seat on their preferred committee despite having seniority, in favor of giving Republicans more power. Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, a Democrat, said the Committee on Committees favored a radical political agenda over fairness. This is hyperpartisan politics at its absolute worst, Cavanaugh said. Hints of discord among lawmakers came up during the election of committee chairs on the first day of the session, when there were few contested elections. In one of them, incumbent Chair Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont was ousted by Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil for the Education Committee chairmanship. Though the votes were cast by secret ballot, Murman, a Republican farmer, received 32 votes, and Walz, a Democrat and former educator, received 17, indicating the votes likely were split down party lines. While the Committee on Committees was debating the makeup of committees, Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha said lawmakers were not following the traditional precedent of favoring incumbency, seniority and lawmakers preferences. It was all about partisan selfishness and favors for friends, Hunt, a Democrat, said in a tweet Wednesday. Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus, one of the few Republicans to speak in Fridays debate, argued that committee lineups arent always based on the three factors Hunt listed, and that members of both parties often make deals to favor their agendas. Conrad said Friday that the committee failed to follow proper protocol, including sometimes meeting without all members present. She said some members engaged in bullying and threats. Republican Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston, chair of the Committee on Committees, previously claimed that some of the lawmakers who were upset about their committee designation did not submit their preference sheets on time. Under pressure from Cavanaugh, Albrecht said Friday that while some lawmakers submitted their preferences the day before the deadline, all sheets were submitted on time. Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha made a motion to send the proposed lineup back to the committee in an effort to get new Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha a seat on the Judiciary Committee, of which Wayne is the chair. Wayne said Fredricksons perspective as a mental health professional is essential on the Judiciary Committee, which will soon be debating proposals on a new prison and criminal justice reform. Both Wayne and Fredrickson are Democrats. Wayne quickly withdrew his motion, however, saying he didnt have the necessary support. Immediately after that, Cavanaugh moved to send back the proposed lineup. That motion has yet to be voted on. Its unclear how long the debate will last. Moser argued against Cavanaughs motion, urging lawmakers to approve the lineup of committee memberships and move on. He said that if the proposed lineup is sent back, new membership disputes would probably emerge. We can talk about this however long they want, but I dont think its going to change anything, Moser said. Photos: 2023 Nebraska legislative session LINCOLN A western Nebraska lawmaker made good Thursday on his promise to bring back a bill that would allow Nebraskans to carry concealed weapons without a permit. State Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon introduced Legislative Bill 77 during the first day of bill introduction for the legislative session. He expressed optimism that the proposal will land on friendlier ground this year. A similar measure died last year after falling two votes short on a filibuster-ending cloture motion. Brewer said he expects the new bill to fare better in the Judiciary Committee this year, thanks to a new committee chairman, and he said he doesnt plan to muddy the waters by trying to compromise with law enforcement groups. Last year, he lost support after agreeing to a compromise amendment negotiated with the Omaha Police Officers Association and Omaha Police Department. Brewer also said he believes the new Legislature is a more pro-Second Amendment body. A total of 25 senators, all Republicans, have signed on as co-sponsors of LB 77. But it would take 33 senators to cut off an expected filibuster against the bill. Measures like LB 77 are sometimes called constitutional carry in reference to some gun rights advocates belief that the U.S. Constitution gives people the right to carry concealed guns without a permit. The bill was one of several familiar proposals tossed into the hopper Thursday. In total, 91 bills were introduced, along with six constitutional amendments. Among the noteworthy measures: Marijuana. LB 22, introduced by Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, would decriminalize marijuana use and possession. Waynes attempts in 2021 and 2022 to legalize marijuana through a constitutional amendment failed. More recently a petition to legalize medical marijuana failed to gather enough signatures to make it onto the midterm ballot. Wayne said he wants to make sure the Legislature has a conversation about it this year. Parent power. LB 71 would require that public schools disclose instructional materials to parents and allow parents to request that their child be excused from certain lessons or activities. Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue introduced the bill alongside other Republican Sens. Joni Albrecht, Tom Briese, Lou Ann Linehan and newly elected Education Committee Chair Dave Murman. Felon voting. LB 20 would restore voting rights of convicted felons who have completed their sentence, rather than after a two-year waiting period. Wayne also introduced this bill and has introduced a similar bill before. He said there is increasing support behind the effort and said it would help decrease Nebraskas high prison population. Training wage. LB 15, introduced by Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, would allow employers to pay young employees ages 14 through 17 less than the states minimum wage. It also would allow temporary training wages for young adults that would be less than the minimum wage. Under a recently approved ballot initiative, Nebraskas minimum wage rose to $10.50 an hour at the start of the year, and will gradually increase to $15 an hour by 2026. Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln already introduced a motion to indefinitely postpone the bill. Free IDs. LB 70, introduced by Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, would provide for free state identification cards to people who lack drivers licenses and are of voting age. The measure also would provide for free copies of birth certificates to people needing them to get identification to vote. The bill responds to a constitutional amendment passed in November that requires voters to show photo identification. Child abuse. LB 42, introduced by Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, would narrow the definition of child neglect. Among other things, it would limit neglect to situations in which parents willfully refuse to provide care for their children, despite having the ability to do so. It also would allow children to do some independent activities, such as walk to school, play outside or stay home alone, as long as parents have taken reasonable steps for their safety. Diapers. LB 56, introduced by Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha, would require any newly built or substantially renovated business or public facility to make at least one diaper changing station available in a mens restroom and one in a womens restroom, while LB 58, introduced by Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, would exempt diapers from sales taxes. Malcolm X. LB 53, also a McKinney bill, would create a new state holiday on May 19 to commemorate the birthday of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, also known as Malcolm X. The Nebraska-born human rights activist was named last year to the Nebraska Hall of Fame. Malcolm X, who was born Malcolm Little, spent time in foster care during his teenage years and wound up in prison as a young man. He went on to become a major advocate for Black empowerment and a prominent figure during the civil rights movement. Photos: 2023 Nebraska legislative session Former Nebraska volleyball player Madi Kubik on Wednesday signed a professional contract with Cangrejeras de Santurce, a team based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Kubik recently wrapped a storied career as a four-year starter at Nebraska. Among her accolades are two All-Big Ten first-team selections, a third-team All-American selection in 2021 and a freshman of the year nod from VolleyballMag.com in 2019. Kubik had the opportunity to return for a final college season next season but announced in November that this past season would be her last in Lincoln. She finished her career with 1,264 kills which is in the top 15 in program history and a hitting percentage of .219. "I think its been an awesome four years that Ive got to compete here and Ive absolutely loved my career," Kubik said at the time. "Im really excited for our younger players to get to be leaders in the program. Kubik will join fellow American Gabby Simpson on the Cangrejeras de Santurce roster. Simpson played at both Colorado and Kansas. 2024 class earns No. 1 ranking: The Huskers' 2024 class was ranked No. 1 by PrepVolleyball.com. BLOOMINGTON A Bloomington woman was sentenced to seven years in prison on a charge of neglect of an elderly person. Judge Jason Chambers sentenced Carrie Funk, 55, in line with the prosecutor's request. Funk was charged with neglect resulting in the death of her mother, Gudrun Ashley, in early December 2021. Ashley, 74 at the time, had been living with Funk, with Funk as her caregiver, after Ashley had experienced some strokes and a broken hip in years prior. Assistant State's Attorney Mary Koll had requested the seven-year sentence, the maximum agreed to by the parties under a plea agreement entered Nov. 1. She argued that a prison sentence was necessary to deter other people from similar offenses. Funk's attorney, Joe Moran of the public defender's office, asked for a probation sentence, saying Funk required mental health care that would be better provided outside the prison system. In her statement of allocution, Funk said she was not well at the time, nor well now, and that the pandemic had been very difficult for her. She was a certified nursing assistant at the time, working in COVID testing. "First and foremost, I loved my mother," she said. Funk's sister, Angela Funk-Wall, gave a victim impact statement, in which she said the guardianship system needed to be reformed to prevent similar incidents in the future. A home visit would have revealed the unsafe conditions and could have led to help for both Ashley and Funk, Funk-Wall said. "Carrie and my mother were failed by the courts and their attorneys," she said. While Funk was eligible for a probation sentence, Chambers said that would not reflect the seriousness of the offense. He said he would have considered an even longer sentence had the agreement not limited it to seven years. Updated mug shots from The Pantagraph Bryant Lewis Derek Roesch Justin M. Mata Marcus D. Wesley Phillip Tinch Trisha L. Hanke William B. Givens David L. Oliver Kenneth E. Funk Jordan R. King Holly M. Isaacson Kenneth L. Minton Tony L. Jackson Britley L. Hilger Jasmine L. Smith Jackie S. Claypool Noah R. Demuth Brandon L. Parsano Alexander N. Williams Carlos Sanchez-Solozarzano Jaylin S. Bones Jordan R. King Dominique M. Banks Austin T. Daugherty Sandra M. Lewis Samantha E. Morris Nolan C. Love Nikkita L. Sandefur Katlin M.B. Wilson Eli C. Garozzo Tysean T. Townsend Curtis J. Byrd Noral K. Nelson BLOOMINGTON Emergency officials in McLean County were honored this week for their storm-readiness certification with the National Weather Service. McLean County Emergency Management Agency Director Cathy Beck said the NWS office in Lincoln formally presented the "StormReady" accreditation during the countys Justice Committee meeting on Tuesday. Beck said its a first for the county; its also something shes wanted to do for a while, but had trouble finding the time. She said her agencys assistant director, Josh Walker, took up the initiative and got the documentation in order. Beck said she was excited and proud that the county finished the program. The most challenging part, she said, was meeting requirements for the promotion of public readiness. Beck said her agency is attending community events and using its Facebook page a lot. In addition to public awareness, the NWS website states the voluntary "StormReady" program calls on communities, universities, government sites and commercial enterprises to create a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center; offer to the public several methods of receiving severe weather warnings and forecasts; establish a system that monitors local weather conditions; and develop a formal hazardous weather plan that trains severe weather spotters and holds emergency exercises. Beck said COVID made it difficult to hold their yearly severe weather spotting classes. She noted their spotters, who are all volunteers, must retake the class every other year. Dates for future weather spotting classes have not yet been announced. Weather spotting tasks are a lot for EMA staff and volunteers, the director said, because storms dont come during workdays when youre sitting at a desk. She counted 25 community coordinators who work with the county and at least 100 observers on severe weather spotting. Ed Shimon, warning coordination meteorologist for the NWS Lincoln, presented the StormReady title to Beck. Recognizing that McLean County is the largest in the state by surface area, he told The Pantagraph that becoming StormReady is imperative for public safety. Shimon said Beck and Walker are effectively using the StormReady program. As the NWS office in Lincoln issues warnings and statements, he said McLean County EMA coordinators take action by quickly relaying that information. Illinois State University and the Central Illinois Regional Airport have already been certified as StormReady by the NWS. Other nearby counties that are certificated include Tazewell, Piatt and Woodford. Shimon said McLean County in November became the 35th in Illinois to receive this designation. A total of 36 counties in the state have been deemed StormReady. Photos: Storm damage at former Pla-Mor Lanes 010423-dec-web-plamor_01.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_02.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_03.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_04.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_05.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_06.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_07.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_08.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_09.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_10.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_11.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_12.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_13.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_14.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_15.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_16.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_17.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_18.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_19.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_20.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_21.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_22.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_23.JPG 010423-dec-web-plamor_24.JPG How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region. 100 years ago Jan. 6, 1923: With only a few finishing touches left before the John McBarnes Memorial Hall will be ready for occupancy by different soldier organizations of McLean County, notice was given the American Legion by the contractor that the state headquarters of the Legion, which is to be located on the first floor, can be moved in next week. Every effort is to be made to have the building completely furnished by Feb. 1 so that all organizations can be moved in by that time. 75 years ago Jan. 6, 1948: The body of Pfc. William M. Ervin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert M. Ervin of Lexington, will arrive in Lexington later this week. William Ervin entered service in June 1944, receiving his training at Camp Croft in South Carolina. He was sent overseas in December 1944 and killed in action in Germany on March 1, 1945. 50 years ago Jan. 6, 1973: The first two 950,000-kilowatt units at the Illinois Power Company's nuclear power station near Clinton will use General Electric Company boiling water reactors for steam supply, IPC President Wendell Kelley said. The first unit is scheduled for operation in 1980 and the second in 1982 or 1983. The plant will border a 5,000-acre lake to be built by impounding the waters of Salt Creek and its north fork. 25 years ago Jan. 6, 1998: An effort to stop cars that roll through stop signs in the El Paso area may just be convincing some drivers to push down a little harder on the brake pedal. In the space of 3.5 hours Dec. 20, a joint venture by El Paso police and state troopers resulted in 26 or 27 tickets, El Paso Police Chief Jeff Price said. The operation, which included residential streets and highways, was aimed at curbing complaints that motorists aren't stopping fully. 101 years ago: See vintage Pantagraph ads from 1922 Gerthart's Union Gas and Electric Co. Hoover Dr. J.A. Moore Dentists Moberly & Klenner W.P. Garretson W.H. Roland Pease's Candy Thor 32 Electric Washing Machine The Kaiser's Story of the War Ike Livingston & Sons Gossard Corsets Cat'n Fiddle 'Stolen Moments' Case Model X The Johnson Transfer & Fuel Co. The Pantagraph want ads Franklin Motor Car Co. 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' Calumet Baking Powder Mayer Livingston & Co. Newsmarket 'The Emperor Jones' 'California Fig Syrup' Mauritanian police at the Nouakchott airport have prevented former President Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz from travelling abroad, he says. Mr Abdelaziz was about to board an Air France flight when police officers told him he was not allowed to leave the country. They also seized his passport. "I am the former president Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz. The political police prevented me from traveling abroad. Although I am not under any judicial supervision. There is no legal reason from them to prevent me from travelling," the former president said in a video recording posted on social media. He accused the "corrupt regime" of "targeting him and mistreating him". The government has not yet responded. The former president together with top officials who worked under him from 2008 to 2019 are being investigated over allegations of corruption and mismanagement. Mr Abdelaziz says he is the victim of political score-settling, and says he should enjoy immunity under the country's constitution, according to the AFP news agency. 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 A Zambian chef has told the BBC's Africa Daily podcast that she does not take seriously international lists that rank the best cuisines in the world. It comes after Taste Atlas, which describes itself as a "world atlas of traditional dishes, local ingredients, and authentic restaurants published their 2022 list of the best 95 cuisines in the world. Only three African countries made it to the top 50, including Algeria, South Africa and Tunisia. Taste Atlas says rankings are based on audience votes for ingredients, dishes and beverages. Italy, Greece, Spain, Japan and India were the top five countries on the list. But some questioned the order of the list and why so few African countries made it to the top 50. "Those lists are based on tourists," said Lillian Elidah, a Zambian chef and the owner of Twaala, a restaurant in the capital Lusaka. The countries at the top of the list are "like top 10 tourists destinations for Europeans" so "obviously they're going to choose them", she said. Ms Elidah said Zambian chefs need to work on how they present their food and showcase a greater variety of dishes. But it is a tough task to make Zambians embrace their authentic cuisine, she said. "Most of our ingredients and dishes have really lost their true identity and meaning because most people have associated it with poverty so they have trauma of food poverty, and they dont really want to eat that." She added that she does not believe people have to physically visit Zambia to enjoy its cuisine. "They should be able to be intrigued by the food and how we promote it. This starts by having shows, having information and now with the help of social media, this should be so easy." The tourism boards across the world should also be doing more to promote African cuisine, she said. "Training our cooks and chefs" will also help to bring African food to a global stage, she said. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Manhyia Palace has already issued an official statement disregarding the Asanteman Association USA and severed all relations with the Association forthwith. The decision by the Manhyia Palace comes after it was alienated from the Asanteman Association USAs governance following a United States courts decision. The Asanteman Association (USA) earlier urged the general public that the issues have been resolved and are therefore on good terms with Manhyia. "It is true that the Asanteman Association of New York went to court over a disputed local election issue and inadvertently dragged the name of Manhyia into the dispute. Having realized this mistake, the Asanteman Association of New York has taken steps through intermediaries to apologize to Manhyia and restore normal relations with Manhyia. The Association accepts and recognizes the authority of Manhyia over its affairs. All members of the Association owe unflinching allegiance to Manhyia. The Asanteman Association of New York will never intentionally do anything that will tarnish the good image of Asantehene or Manhyia." But upon further investigation at the office of Manhyia Palace by the Private Secretary to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Lawrence Akwasi Prempeh stated that everything in the previous statement still holds hence nothing has changed. According to him, "the previous release signed by myself clearly discloses that the aforementioned persons who are said to preside over the enstoolment of these US-based Chiefs and Queens are seriously battling court issues with the Asantehene (Otumfuo Osei Tutu II). "For this reason, any of its scheduled or carried-out activities are illegal. With no exception to its widely circulated swearing oaths (enstoolment) of new Chiefs and Queens slated to hold on January 7, 2023." The release categorically cautioned the general public to discard any form of business or engagement with the enlisted persons under the pretence of Manhyia Palace or Otumfuo Osei Tutu. "If you need further clarifications or additional information on this matter you can reach me on +233 55 432 4070, or Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, Otumfuo Hiahene, on +233 24 338 3051. Thank you." Read the full statement below: I bring you compliments from Manhyia Palace, and write to express the appreciation of the Palace to the New York Board of Electors (Dr. Koti Antwi Boateng, Dr. Kwame Anyane-Yeboah, Rev. Dr. Yaw Frimpong-Manso, Kwasi Abrcfa Busia, and Regina Bonsu) for the good work you have done to provide guidance for the Asanteman Association, USA in the past year. Your efforts at getting the association united to follow a clearly defined roadmap which was approved by the general membership has been noted with much appreciation. Unfortunately, certain persons in the group led by Charles Manu found it necessary to take the matter to Court after Oheneba Boachie-Adjei (Otumfuo Hiahene, representing the Palace in this matter) intervened and instructed the group to unite and follow the Board of Electors roadmap for new elections. In response to the Court action and the decision of Judge Alison Tuitt on June 29, 2022 in the matter of Asanteman Association of USA vs The Board of Electors, Amaniampong and Hiahene, I am directed by Manhyia Palace to issue the following directives: As per the Courts decision following plaintiff Charles Manuss argument that it is irrelevant that the King of Asante played a role in the controversy as plaintiffs organization is governed by the Constitution and By-Laws mandated under New York law, hence alienating Manhyia from the Asanteman Association USAs governance, by virtue of the dictates of its own Constitution, Manhyia Palace, by this directive, officially disclaims the Asanteman Association USA and severs all relations with Asanteman Association USA forthwith. Henceforth, all groupings or associations of Asante citizens in the diaspora shall first apply and seek official recognition and endorsement from Manhyia Palace by satisfying specific conditions. If you need further clarifications or additional information on this matter you can reach me on +233 55 432 4070, or Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, Otumfuo Hiahene, on +233 24 338 3051. Thank you. Yours Sincerely, Lawrence Akwasi Prempeh Private Secretary to Asantehene 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 Peacefmonline.com can confirm that Trade Minister Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen has resigned from the Akufo-Addo administration. Peacefmonline's impeccable sources within Mr Kyerematen's camp and at the Presidency say he tendered in his resignation on Thursday, January 5, 2023. The President is however yet to be personally apprised of the news. Alan Cash, as he is popularly known, is one of the possible presidential candidates of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). What remains unclear is if this resignation is linked to Alan's presidential ambition. In 2007, Mr Kyerematen made an attempt at leading the ruling party as its flagbearer capturing 32.3% of the votes cast. He secured the first runner-up position after Nana Akufo-Addo had garnered 47.96% of votes cast. Undettered, Alan Cash made other attempts at the partys leadership in 2010 and 2014. But on both occasions, he placed second to Akufo-Addo who won the primaries. More details soon... Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Friday, 6th January 2023, accepted the resignation from office of Mr. Alan Kyerematen as Minister for Trade and Industry. This was after Mr. Kyerematen, on Thursday, 5th January, informed the President personally of his decision to resign, and subsequently submitted his letter of resignation to him. "President Akufo-Addo thanked Mr. Kyerematen for his services to his government and to the country, and wished him well in his future endeavours," a statement signed by Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications Office of the President said. The President has asked the Minister for Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, to act as caretaker Minister at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, until a substantive appointment is made. Trade and Industry Minister Resigns Trade and Indsutry Minister Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen has resigned from the Akufo-Addo administration. Peacefmonline's impeccable sources within Mr Kyerematen's camp and at the Presidency say he tendered in his resignation on Thursday, January 5, 2023. Alan Cash, as he is popularly known, is one of the possible presidential candidates of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). What remains unclear is if this resignation is linked to Alan's presidential ambition. In 2007, Mr Kyerematen made an attempt at leading the ruling party as its flagbearer capturing 32.3% of the votes cast. He secured the first runner-up position after Nana Akufo-Addo had garnered 47.96% of votes cast. Undettered, Alan Cash made other attempts at the partys leadership in 2010 and 2014. But on both occasions, he placed second to Akufo-Addo who won the primaries. 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 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: Schematic view of the tipping elements of the Earth climate system, their connectivity and teleconnections. The numbered symbols show the potential tipping elements in the Earth system. The dashed yellow lines show the possible connections between these tipping elements and the solid red lines show teleconnection uncovered in this article. The arrows show the direction of the influence. Credit: Nature Climate Change (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-022-01558-4 An international team of climate scientists has found evidence suggesting that deforestation in the Amazon rainforest is influencing weather in Tibet, more than 15,000 kilometers away. In their paper published in the journal Nature Climate Change, the researchers describe possible long-range impacts of deforestation of the Amazon rainforest. Valerie Livina, with the U.K.'s National Physical Laboratory, has published a News & Views piece in the same journal issue outlining the Hopf bifurcation theory and how it relates to climate tipping points and the work done by the team on this new effort. The Amazon rainforest is considered to represent one of the world's tipping points, where small, gradual changes can eventually lead to a large, sudden, permanent change. As deforestation progresses, it edges ever closer to this tipping point, at which point scientists believe the rainforest cannot be returned to its natural state, even if all of the cutting was stopped and the trees replanted. In this new effort, the researchers note that cutting down the forest has been going on for decades, and climate data has been gathered during the same time period. They wondered what impact the slowly diminishing rainforest might have on distant regions around the globe. To that end, they obtained and analyzed global climate data covering the years 1979 to 2019, looking for associations. They were surprised to find that due to tree loss, warmer temperatures in the Amazon correlated with rising temperatures in Tibet and the West Antarctic ice sheet. They also found that when it rained more in the Amazon, there tended to be less precipitation in both of the other two regions. The researchers were able to trace the route of climate change as the size of the rain forest grew smaller. Its approximate path, they saw, could be charted first to southern Africa, and then on up to the Arabian Peninsula and finally over to Tibet. The trip was found to take just a little over two weeks. This finding, the researchers note, suggests that if a tipping point is reached in the Amazon, it could create a tipping point in Tibet, where temperatures and rainfall would be permanently impacted. They note that prior research has already shown that warming is proceeding faster in Tibet and the Arctic than the global average. More information: Teng Liu et al, Teleconnections among tipping elements in the Earth system, Nature Climate Change (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-022-01558-4 Valerie N. Livina, Connected climate tipping elements, Nature Climate Change (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-022-01573-5 Journal information: Nature Climate Change 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: The Brazilian Amazon burns in southern Amazonas state in September 2022. Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon rose 150 percent in December from the previous year, according to government figures released Friday, a final bleak report for far-right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro in his last month in office. Satellite monitoring detected 218.4 square kilometers (84.3 square miles) of forest cover destroyed in Brazil's share of the world's biggest rainforest last month, according to the national space agency's DETER surveillance program. The areanearly four times the size of Manhattanwas up more than 150 percent from the 87.2 square kilometers destroyed in December 2021, according to the agency, INPE. Bolsonaro, who was replaced on January 1 by leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, triggered an international outcry during his four years in office for a surge of fires and clear-cutting in the Amazon, a key resource in the race to curb climate change. Under Bolsonaro, an agribusiness ally, average annual deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon rose by 75.5 percent from the previous decade. "Bolsonaro's government may be over, but his tragic environmental legacy will still be felt for a long time," Marcio Astrini, executive secretary of the Climate Observatory, a coalition of environmental groups, said in a statement. It was the third-worst December on record for the eight-year-old DETER program, after 2017 and 2015. Deforestation in 2022 was also at or near record highs during the crucial dry-season months of August, September and October, when clear-cutting and fires often surge because of drier weather. Experts say the destruction is mainly driven by farms and land grabbers clearing the forest for cattle and crops. Lula presided over a sharp drop in deforestation when he previously led Brazil from 2003 to 2010. He has vowed to reboot Brazil's environmental protection programs, fight for zero deforestation and ensure the South American giant stops being a "pariah" on climate issues. 2023 AFP 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: Publication trajectories of YTT scientists and their overseas counterparts, full sample. The y-axis reports the DID coefficients estimated from Poisson regressions comparing the knowledge productivity of returnee scientists with that of their overseas counterparts. The publication data are lagged by two years to take into consideration the necessary time lag between knowledge production and publication in print. Panel A examines annual article count without differentiating authorship position in publication. Panels B and C examine first- and last-authored publications. The bars represent the 95% confidence intervals of the estimates. The sample includes a) 339 returnee scientists who attended colleges in China, received their PhDs overseas, accepted the YTT offers and spent at least five years of their professional careers in China, and b) 419 overseas counterparts who shared similar education backgrounds (i.e. having attended colleges in China, received PhDs overseas, graduated in the same doctoral institutions, in the fields, and around the same eras as the YTT returnees) but have stayed in overseas academia rather than returning to China. Credit: Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.abq1218 A trio of researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Tsinghua University and the University of Hong Kong has found that a program launched by the Chinese government in 2010 to recruit and nurture Chinese scientists has been mostly successful. In their paper, published in the journal Science, Dongbo Shi, Weichen Liu and Yanbo Wang describe studying the career paths of Chinese scientists who went through China's Young Thousand Talents (YTT) program and comparing their publishing achievements with other Chinese scientists who remained abroad. In 2010, officials in China realized that college education was lagging in their country and prospective scientists were going abroad to study in places like Europe and the United States, particularly those working toward a Ph.D. Worried that the situation might result in brain drain if these students chose to remain overseas, education officials created the YTT programits goal was to recruit talent, nurture those accepted into the program and to support them upon completion of the program (getting their Ph.D.) with positions in research establishments in China. The program also gave funds to programs for YTT graduates. In this new effort, the researchers wondered if the program has met its goals. The work involved tracking the careers of 300 scholars from four cohorts who had completed the program and then measuring their success in their given fields by counting the number of papers they published. They then compared those numbers with Chinese students who had taken the traditional path, traveling overseas to attend college and remaining overseas. They found that YTT scientists were generally rated as higher-caliber research scientists based on the number of papers for which they were credited, compared to those scientists who remained overseas. But they also found that in aggregate, the group fell somewhat short of designation as top-category scientists as measured by listings as the last author on papers. They conclude that their overall success was mostly attributable to the large grants given by program officials to fund research efforts. More information: Dongbo Shi et al, Has China's Young Thousand Talents program been successful in recruiting and nurturing top-caliber scientists?, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.abq1218 Journal information: Science 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: Credit: Chart: The Conversation, CC-BY-ND Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Increased immigration, longer life expectancy and a decline in birth rates are transforming the U.S. workforce in two important ways. The people powering this nation's economy include far more people of color and workers over 55 than was the case four decades ago. And this diversity will keep growing in the years ahead, economists predict. The share of U.S. workers who are nonwhite, Latino or both nearly doubled to about 40% in 2019 from roughly 23% in 1979, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With more older people staying economically active, over 37 million U.S. workers are 55 and up today. They account for nearly 1 in 4 of the 160 million Americans engaged in paid work. In 1979, fewer than 1 in 7 U.S. workers were in that age group. The government's Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the ranks of older workers will keep rising in the years aheadincluding people who are well into their golden years. The number of Americans 75 and older remaining in the labor force will nearly double between 2020 and 2030, while the number of all workers rises by only 5.5%, according to the bureau. The share of white workers will have declined to 74.7% by 2031, from 77% in 2021, the bureau predicts. The agency is also tracking the prevalence of workers of Hispanic origin who can identify as white, Black or mixed race. It says that the share of such workers will rise during that decade to 21.5% from 18.3% of the workforceup sharply from 12.1% in 2001. How are U.S. employers responding to these changes? I'm a sociologist who studies how racial and gender inequality persist in professional occupations. One likely consequence I expect to see is employers finding themselves forced to do a better job of attracting and retaining underrepresented and older workers through diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Diversity initiatives already widespread It's already very common for employers to take diversity, equity and inclusion measures. A 2019 survey of 234 companies found that nearly 2 in 3 employed diversity managers. Their responsibilities can range widely. Some examples include creating a culture that values and welcomes workers from diverse backgrounds and increasing the numbers of employees from backgrounds that are underrepresented in a particular field. In finance this might mean bringing in more female, Black and Latino analysts. In nursing this could mean attracting more men of all races into a profession that's still dominated by white women. In these fields and others, changing the culture can mean collecting data about which workers are underrepresented, trying to fill any gaps detected, or revising dress and grooming codes that ban hairstyles more commonly worn by Black workers. Two common yet ill-advised strategies Credit: Chart: The Conversation, CC-BY-ND Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Unfortunately, many companies are using diversity strategies that aren't proved to work. These can include mandatory diversity training, often in the form of professional webinars or workshops with interactive exercises. Diversity training is supposed to make people better at working and interacting with colleagues and customers with cultural backgrounds that differ from their own. But it often fails to do that. One complication is that employees resent the feeling of being controlled. Another is that they may see this mandatory training as a waste of their time. And there's evidence suggesting that it can even be counterproductive by reinforcing rather than debunking stereotypes and alienating Black workers . The other strategy that's more common than it should be is the use of skills tests that job applicants must pass as a condition for hiring. In tech, for instance, a skills test could mean that applicants are asked to solve a particular problem so that hiring managers can objectively assess their skills as well as their ability to work cohesively with a team. The problem with skills tests is that hiring managers often weigh the outcome of these tests differently for Black and white workers due to a range of biases, some of which they may not be aware. Recent research also indicates that neither of these popular approaches is leading companies to make their workforces more racially diverse through their hiring practices. I believe that employers use these strategies anyway because they are easy, widespread and popular. Companies may proceed with what they've used in the past rather than trying something new. Fortunately, new research is pointing to more successful strategies. What seems to work better Employers can respond to today's and tomorrow's demographic realities by changing how they handle hiring. They can start by recruiting more workers from historically Black colleges and universities and Hispanic-serving institutions. A promising strategy that aids in the retention of workers of color is the development of mentoring programs that are open to all, rather than by invitation only. That way, implicit biases don't exclude workers of color. Companies can also implement what's known as "upskilling." Credit: Chart: The Conversation, CC-BY-ND Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Workers in upskilling programs try out a variety of different roles in the organization. This strategy helps develop underrepresented workers' skill sets and connects them to managers who might otherwise overlook them. Aging workers and those coming of age The aging of the workforce is especially marked in some sectors of the economy. While the median age of a U.S. worker was 42.2 in 2022, it was 55.6 for bus drivers and 49.9 for librarians. The prevalence of older workers in these jobs means that some employers will need to heed what these workers need to retain the staff they require. Those changes could include implementing phased retirement optionsthat is, letting employees gradually transition out of full-time work with the freedom to work part time for several years before exiting the labor force altogether. It's also a good idea to strengthen measures that protect these workers from age-based discriminationwhich is a common occurrence despite its being illegal. Older workers often find themselves mocked, harassed and bullied. They also get passed up for raises, promotions and other opportunities. But employers shouldn't adjust their expectations to accommodate only the needs of older workers. A growing share of employees under 40 are also making demands of their own. These workers, particularly those in their 20s and 30s, are being more open with their bosses about their preferences for work-life balance than their colleagues who are 50 and up. Many workers in their 20s or 30s are rejecting a model of work that requires them to be on call and available at all hours, demands inflexible scheduling and places ever-encroaching demands on employees. They want jobs that allow them to engage more fully with their families and in leisure activities. Employers may have no alternatives Ultimately, more workforce diversity in terms of age, race and ethnicity may force employers to change at least some of their ways. With the aging of workers born after 1990, employers may have to try harder to accommodate their preferencesparticularly as they stand to replace those older workers who retire or shift into part-time employment. Whether it's by design or necessity, I believe employers will hire staffs that are more racially and ethnically diverse. In addition, I foresee that they may have no choice but to let their workers have more flexibility and freedom. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. 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 humpback whale off Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. (NOAA) The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations agency that governs safety and environmental standards for shipping worldwide, has adopted a U.S. proposal to increase protections for endangered blue, fin and humpback whales off the California coast. The proposal takes effect this summer and expands areas that vessels should avoid to give whales more space, and extends vessel traffic lanes west of, in and around NOAA's Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council's Marine Shipping Working Group originally recommended the modifications in 2015. NOAA partnered with the U.S. Coast Guard to submit the proposal to the IMO in 2022. "The IMO's decision will enhance navigation safety and improve protection of whales," said John Armor, director of NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. "These adjustments demonstrate a successful collaboration between the United States, the IMO and the global shipping community." The U.S.-recommended adjustments will enhance navigation safety and protect whales from ship strikes in an area containing some of the highest densities of commercial maritime traffic in the world. The International Maritime Organization recently approved changes to vessel traffic lanes in and around NOAAs Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The changes will take effect summer 2023. Credit: NOAA A 13-nautical-mile extension of vessel traffic lanes, known as the "traffic separation scheme," will result in vessels lining up for port entry farther west and away from the continental shelf, in deeper waters where there are lower concentrations of whales. The area to be avoided by vessels is expanding by more than 2,000 square nautical miles, and will cover, in total, approximately 4,476 square nautical miles of important whale feeding habitat off Point Conception and Point Arguello in Santa Barbara County, California. Blue, fin and humpback whales are protected by the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act and National Marine Sanctuaries Act. 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: Researchers Courtney Duchardt, right, then a UW Ph.D. student, and David Augustine, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, examine a mountain plover in the Thunder Basin National Grassland. Mountain plovers, a bird that thrives when vegetation is kept shorter by prairie dogs, almost disappeared from the study area when plague decimated prairie dog numbers in 2017. Credit: Jacob Hennig When an outbreak of sylvatic plague decimated black-tailed prairie dog numbers in the Thunder Basin National Grassland in 2017, researchers saw an opportunity for a "natural experiment" to explore the impact of the rodents' die-off on the plants and other wildlife in that area of northeast Wyoming. What they learned was that the decline in prairie dogs, along with abnormally high precipitation in 2018, combined to bring about dramatic ecosystem changes. The findings highlight the serious conservation challenges caused by boom-and-bust disease cycles in remaining Great Plains grasslands, the researchers say. "We found that prairie dogs play a critical role for associated vegetation and wildlife communities in this system, creating important grassland habitat for numerous species while serving as prey for several predators," says Courtney Duchardt, an assistant professor in Oklahoma State University's Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management who led the research as a University of Wyoming Ph.D. student in ecology. "Our research highlights how precipitation can interact with disease-induced loss of a keystone species to induce drastic and rapid shifts in wildlife communities." The research is published in Ecological Applications, a journal of the Ecological Society of America that focuses on applications of ecological science to environmental problems. Others involved were Professor Jeff Beck, Associate Professor Derek Scasta and former graduate student Lauren Connell, all of UW's Department of Ecosystem Science and Management; Ana Davidson, of Colorado State University; Jacob Hennig, of the U.S. Geological Survey; David Augustine and Lauren Porensky, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and David Pellatz, of the Thunder Basin Grasslands Prairie Ecosystem Association. Black-tailed prairie dogs now occupy a small fraction of their historical range and are considered a nuisance in some areas because of their capacity to compete with livestock for forage. They also are highly susceptible to sylvatic plague, a nonnative pathogen introduced to North America in the early 1900s. The combined pressures of disease, habitat loss and control efforts that have reduced populations of the rodent also have resulted in declines in associated wildlife species. Those include birds such as burrowing owls, mountain plovers and raptors, as well as swift foxes, coyotes and badgers. This study, conducted from 2015-19 in the Thunder Basin grassland, may be the first to specifically examine the multispecies impacts of a wide-scale plague outbreak, which reduced the area covered by prairie dog colonies from nearly 25,000 acres to only about 125 acres in the study area. The 2017 outbreak was followed by abnormally high precipitation in 2018, which caused vegetation to grow quickly and taller without the presence of prairie dogs. A black-tailed prairie dog is on alert in the Thunder Basin National Grassland. Credit: Courtney Duchardt The researchers found that the mountain plover, birds that thrive when vegetation is kept shorter by prairie dogs, almost disappeared from the study area, while migrant songbirds such as the lark bunting, which prefer taller vegetation, increased in number. Meanwhile, species including ferruginous hawks, badgers and swift foxes declined dramatically as their prey base crashed. The researchers say that, while plants and animals in Great Plains grasslands historically have been subject to variations in precipitation and other factors, the boom-and-bust cycles are likely to "destabilize" the ecosystems further. That could even be a challenge for livestock managers. During the boom portion of the cycle, the capacity of prairie dogs to compete with livestock for available forage makes the rodents a nuisance. But the bust portion of the cycle isn't ideal for producers, either. "Although reduced prairie dog numbers yield increased vegetation biomass, the unpredictability of these cycles makes capitalizing on additional forage difficult for agricultural producers," the researchers wrote. "Essentially, the undesirability and unpredictability of these cycles is potentially the one thing that most, if not all, stakeholders can agree on." The scientists suggest that further efforts to predict prairie dog boom-and-bust cycles will help support the compatibility of managing rangelands for both livestock and biodiversity conservation. More information: Courtney J. Duchardt et al, Disease and weather induce rapid shifts in a rangeland ecosystem mediated by a keystone species (Cynomys ludovicianus), Ecological Applications (2022). DOI: 10.1002/eap.2712 Journal information: Ecological Applications 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: ITER, under construction at Saint-Paul-les-Durance in southern France, aims at emulating the Sun, which fuses particles together to release energy. An international project in nuclear fusion may face "years" of delays, its boss has told AFP, weeks after scientists in the United States announced a breakthrough in their own quest for the coveted goal. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project seeks to prove the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale and carbon-free source of energy. Installed at a site in southern France, the decades-old initiative has a long history of technical challenges and cost overruns. Fusion entails forcing together the nuclei of light atomic elements in a super-heated plasma, held by powerful magnetic forces in a doughnut-shaped chamber called a tokamak. The idea is that fusing the particles together from isotopes of hydrogenwhich can be extracted from seawaterwill create a safer and almost inexhaustible form of energy compared with splitting atoms from uranium or plutonium. ITER'S previously-stated goal was to create the plasma by 2025. But that deadline will have to be postponed, Pietro Barabaschiwho in September became the project's director-generaltold AFP during a visit to the facility. The date "wasn't realistic in the first place," even before two major problems surfaced, Barabaschi said. One problem, he said, was wrong sizes for the joints of blocks to be welded together for the installation's 19-by-11-metre (62-by-36-feet) chamber. The second was traces of corrosion in a thermal shield designed to protect the outside world from the enormous heat created during nuclear fusion. Fixing the problems "is not a question of weeks, but months, even years," Barabaschi said. A new timetable is to be worked out by the end of this year, he said, including some modification to contain the expected cost overrun, and to meet the French nuclear safety agency's security requirements. Barabaschi said he hoped ITER would be able to make up for the delays as it prepares to enter the full phase, currently scheduled for 2035. On December 13, US researchers working separately from ITER announced an important technical breakthrough. Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California said they had used the world's largest laser to create, for the first time, a fusion reaction generating more energy than it took to produce. "Some competition is healthy in any environment," Barabaschi said about the success. "If tomorrow somebody found another breakthrough that would make my work redundant, I would be very happy," he added. ITER was set in motion after a 1985 summit between US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Its seven partners are China, the European Union, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the United States. Russia still participates in ITER despite the start of the Ukraine conflict. In November it dispatched one of six giant magnets needed for the top part of the tokamak. 2023 AFP 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: Diversity and composition of the floor, escalator, greenbelt soil, and road dust microbial communities. (a) Shannon diversity of bacterial and fungal communities across different inhabitants. (b) Distribution patterns of microbial communities visualized using NMDS analysis based on Bray-Curtis distance. (c) Relative abundances of bacterial taxa (at the phylum level) and fungal taxa (at the class level). Credit: mSystems (2023). DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00576-22 People flock to shopping malls for all sorts of reasons. But money isn't the only thing they leave behindand shopping bags aren't the only things they take home. This week in mSystems, researchers report that the floors, escalators and other surfaces of shopping malls have their own microbial communities, assembled from the microbes of the people passing through. The mall microbiome, they found, includes a large fraction of potential pathogens, especially inside the building, suggesting that surface-to-person transmission could spread disease. "Mall surfaces act as a pathway through which microbes move between mall areas, even between very distant regions," said Xin-Li An, Ph.D, at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Urban Environment (IUE), in Xiamen. She co-led the study with Jian-Xin Xu, Ph.D., at the same institute. "Population exposure to the mall microbiome possibly alters the trajectory of health" by bringing people into contact with pathogens, she said. The findings suggest that the movement of pathogens in a mall isn't limited to person-to-person encounters but can also occur through person-to-surface or surface-to-person transmissions. In previous studies, researchers in China reported that shopping malls have been at the center of many local outbreaks of COVID-19 during the pandemic. Those reports led An and her colleagues to think about the role of mallswhich bring people together for a variety of activitiesin the spread of pathogens in general. "Shopping malls could be a superspreading environment for microbial contamination," An said. The researchers collected samples in spring and summer 2022 from the floors and escalators of 20 shopping malls in Xiamen, China, as well as from the immediate exterior of the building, including greenbelt soils and road dust. They used 16s rRNA sequencing to analyze the samples for bacterial populations and ITS amplification to identify fungal species. They found the highest bacterial species richness in the mall floors, followed by escalators, then road dust, then the greenbelt soils. The interior environments showed higher concentrations of human pathogens, as well as a higher-proportion of antimicrobial resistance-associated genes, than the outdoor samples. Which species dominated the population varied by season. And although the microbiomes varied mall to mall and season to season, the researchers did find a core microbial community that was shared in more than 80% of the 274 total samples. Most of those microbes were associated with potential pathogens. That core included Acinetobacter baumannii, a Gram-negative bacterium behind many nosocomial, or hospital-acquired, infections. It also included Kocuria kristinae, an ordinarily harmless, Gram-positive bacteria that lives on the skin and can cause infections in patients with compromised immune systems. Cladosprorium, a kind of mold that can cause allergies and, in some cases, infections, was also part of the core community. An's work at the IUE focuses on human pathogensespecially viruses and bacteria with antimicrobial resistance genesin urban environments. In addition to malls, those environments include wastewater treatment plants, wet markets and farms. Understanding the mall's microbiome is an important component of a larger goal of keeping watch for potential public health threats. The next step is to collect more data on how a mall microbiome changes over time and space, and to look for more commonalities. The new study suggests another direction for new research, An added, to study microbial exposures that arise through breathing. In a future study, the researchers plan to focus on the air microbiome in the malls. More information: Xin-Li An et al, Dynamics of Microbial Community and Potential Microbial Pollutants in Shopping Malls, mSystems (2023). DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00576-22 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 term neurodiversity comes from autistic communities and means that all brains and bodyminds work in diverse ways. Credit: Shutterstock The connection between language and meaning has been well established. The language we use is directly related to the way we view and treat others. Inclusive language is imperative to achieve equitable change, grounded in human rights and social justice. Many countries today have laws protecting against the use of any language that incites or wilfully promotes hatred against an identifiable group. Many municipalities, organizations and school boards have established inclusive language guides. Although the scope of these laws vary, what they have in common is recognizing the gravity of language. And yet, who decides on the right words? My research has considered this question with regards to disability in kindergarten to Grade 12 education. A community's own expertise Preferences regarding disability-related language are established by the disability community. These preferences are distilled over time through an ebb and flow of factors including advocacy and allyship, grassroots activism, legal and legislative proceedings and empirical research. In Canada, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights of individuals by enshrining those rights, and certain limits on them, in the highest law of the land. The Charter protects against discrimination, including disability hate speech. Internationally, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), of which Canada is a primary signatory, aims to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities without discrimination and on an equal basis with others. Parties to the UNCPRD are required to promote and ensure the full enjoyment of human rights for people with disabilities, including full equality under the law. Terminology about any community must reflect their autonomy, preference and ideals. The disabled community has been subjected not only to paternalism but also eugenics. Policymakers across society have ignored their inherent expertise. Systemic ableism in schools In a recent study involving adults with disabilities reflecting on their experiences in kindergarten to Grade 12 education in the United States, researcher Carlyn O. Mueller found schools continue to lag behind in terms of: a lack of disability representation in K-12 curriculum; a lack of disability community in K-12 schools; a lack of school staff with disabilities. These findings remain consistent today with what I have observed about systemic ableism in Canadian schools and in current research in the field of inclusive education and disability studies. Kindergarten to Grade 12 schooling is often stigmatizing for students with disabilities. Ableist slurs continue, and segregationist practices abound while disability representation in staff, programming and curriculum remains limited at best. A community The disability community is the largest diversity-equity group globally. It's also one that many of us will join throughout our lifetime. It is important to remember disability is not synonymous with notions of lacking, charity or pity. Nor do disabled people need to be fixed through interventions. Rather, disability is part of the human experience. Moving away from derogatory terms, such as "special" and "exceptional" is important. This promotes positive representation for people within the disability community, and respects their human rights. Human rights perspectives stress that our society recognizes and names disability as the consequence of a person interacting with an environment that does not accommodate their differences. This lack of accommodation impedes participation in society. Inequality is due to the inability of society to eliminate barriers challenging persons with disabilities. Some terminology The following is some terminology that schools and communities can use to promote inclusivity: Neurodiversity and neurodivergence: Neurodiversity, originating in the autism community, reflects the notion that all "bodyminds" work in diverse ways. As noted by the Critical Disability Studies Collective at University of Minnesota, the terms neurodiversity and neurodivergence "come from autistic communities, who have welcomed folks with other marginalized brain/bodyminds to use them, including but not limited to people with cognitive, brain injury, epilepsy, learning and mental health disabilities." Ableism advances the belief that "typical" abilities are normal and superior. Ableism assumes disabled people need to be fixed and an ableist attitude defines people as lesser while including harmful stereotypes about disabilities. Ableism often leads to discriminatory beliefs, attitudes and actions often resulting in segregationist and exclusionary measures. The medical model of disability says people are disabled by their impairments or differences. Under the medical model, impairment is equated with being broken and in need of a fix. Even when the impairment or difference does not cause pain or illness, the individual is considered lesser. The medical model lens can lead to stigma and may be considered a prelude to ableism. The social model of disability: Created by disabled people, the social model argues humans naturally come in a variety of bodyminds, which are changed and shaped by our environment. Disability is part of the human experience. The social model argues that nothing is wrong with the disabled bodymind but that inaccessible structures, systems and attitudes of society are the issue that need fixing. The social model sets the foundation for equitable approaches for inclusion. Wheelchair user/rider: Those who use a wheelchair. Educators, scholars, and allies must demand disability-appropriate terminology and representation in all K-12 schools. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. 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 initial open structure (IOS) is formed upon binding of human MCM double hexamer (hMCM-DH) to origin DNA. Image modified from original illustration of Li et al, 2023 Cell 186, 1-14. Credit: Cell (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.12.008 A research team led by Dr. Yuanliang Zhai from the School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), and his collaborators from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Institut Curie, France, has uncovered a new mechanism of the human MCM2-7 complex in regulating replication initiation, which can be used as a novel and effective anticancer strategy with the potential for the selective killing of cancer cells. The findings were recently published in Cell. Human life begins with a single fertilized egg in the mother's womb. This egg propagates through cell divisions and develops into our multicellular body. During each cell division, our genome DNA, the blueprint of genetic information, is accurately replicated. Each cell carries roughly 2 meters of DNA organized into 23 pairs of chromosomes. In our lifetime (~70 years), our body will synthesize more than a light year's length of DNA of ~1016 metersthe distance light travels in one year. The replication process requires the DNA duplex to be first melted and then separated into two single-stranded templates for DNA polymerases to synthesize as complement strands. Any misregulation of this process can cause dire consequences, such as tumorigenesis and inherited genetic disorders. "Unlocking the secret of DNA replication is key to understanding the mystery of life," said Dr. Yuanliang Zhai, Assistant Professor of HKU School of Biological Sciences, "Solving the structures of replication machines is central to inform their molecular functions as seeing is believing." Since 1953 when James Watson and Francis Crick determined the structure of DNA, how the DNA duplex is initially melted has been a long-standing question for biologists. In eukaryotes, the enzyme responsible for unzipping the DNA duplex during replication was originally identified as the minichromosome maintenance protein complex (MCM) genes from wine brewing yeast by our collaborator Professor Bik-Kwoon Tye at Cornell University in 1983. The products of six MCM genes, MCM2 to MCM7 (MCM2-7), form a six-subunit ring complex, serving as the catalytic core of the unzipping machine, the DNA replicative helicase. In cells, to initiate DNA replication, MCM2-7 complex must be first assembled into a head-to-head double hexamer (DH) encircling duplex DNA at thousands of places along each chromosome. Among a large reservoir of the assembled MCM2-7 DHs, only a subset of them will be finally selected and transformed into robust replicative helicases for DNA unwinding. It was believed that MCM2-7 DH could directly destabilize DNA to trigger an initial opening of duplex DNA. However, the underlying mechanism remained largely unknown. To address this question, the research team sought to use a cutting-edge technology, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), to visualize the atomic details of the MCM2-7 DH, which are millions of times smaller than the resolution limit of human eyes. In 2015, the team solved the first cryo-EM structure of MCM2-7 DH isolated from yeast at 3.8 A, which was documented in the journal Nature. Unfortunately, the captured DNA was unstable and failed to inform the state of the DNA duplex bound by the MCM2-7 DH. Recently, the researchers successfully purified the MCM2-7 DH from cultured human cells and determined its structure at 2.59 A. This high-resolution structure presents a clear picture of how the MCM2-7 complex destabilizes DNA, giving rise to an initial opening of DNA duplex right at the juncture of the two coupled MCM2-7 hexamers. The team also found that the MCM2-7 DHs are loaded onto DNA at tens of thousands of sites across the human genome, which are mutually exclusive with loci of active transcription. Furthermore, when this initial open structure is disturbed, MCM2-7 DHs can no longer assemble onto DNA, leading to a complete suppression of DNA replication initiation. "The atomic-resolution cryo-EM structures enabled direct visualization of the initial DNA melting, which is crucial for us to understand the molecular mechanism of DNA replication," said Dr. Shangyu Dang, Assistant Professor of Division of Life Science, HKUST, "This study also demonstrates the importance of collaboration. Efforts from research groups with complementary expertise are required to answer the fundamental biological questions." DNA replication has been targeted by several therapeutic cancer drugs. However, the available drugs indiscriminately kill all dividing cells because both normal and cancer cells must replicate their DNA for cell proliferation. Thus, the specificity of these drugs raises serious concerns about these anticancer chemotherapies. A more desirable alternative is to inhibit DNA replication initiation so that normal cells will be arrested in the G1 phase (first growth phase) or withdraw from the cell cycle into the G0 state (resting phase); but cancer cells will undergo apoptosis. Therefore, inhibition of replication initiation can be used as a novel and effective anticancer strategy with the potential for selective killing of cancer cells. The findings in this study provide high-resolution structural and mechanistic information on the human pre-initiation complex that can be used to develop nontoxic anticancer drugs using the MCM2-7 complex as targets in future. More information: Jian Li et al, The human pre-replication complex is an open complex, Cell (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.12.008 Journal information: Cell , Nature 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: Most former SpAds become 'shadow lobbyists' when they leave Whitehall, major new analysis of the career paths of political special advisors shows. Researchers found special advisers go on to corporate lobbying and policy advocacy roles, but they do not register with either the official lobbying register, or the voluntary one. A minority became politicians while numbers going on to careers in public service have declined. Daniel Orchard and Dr. Athanassios Gouglas from the University of Exeter, and Heath Pickering, from KU Leuven, examined the first post-government career moves of 521 former British special advisers who served from 1997 to 2017. Daniel Orchard said "Advisors land primarily in corporate lobbying roles and second in policy advocacy roles, lobbying on behalf of special interest organizations that influence government. The increasing trend of advisors moving to public affairs jobs which was apparent from the 1990s and early 2000s is now a dominant reality. "A very small percentage end up in public service roles. By contrast, the popularity of businesses as the first choice for SpAds has by and large evaporated." A third of the former SpAds who took corporate lobbying jobs went on to work for nonregistered for-profit companies, the study, published in the British Journal of Politics and International Relations, says. Dr. Gouglas said, "Our findings lend weight to increasing concerns about former political staff revolving to shadow lobbying and point to potential lobbying regulation loopholes first raised by the UK Committee of Standards in Public Life. Various loopholes in the UK lobbying legislation allow former SpAds to fly under the radar." Researchers tracked former special advisors using names in official Government records, getting information on their careers mostly through self-reported information online. The study used LinkedIn, information online including The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, company websites, industry newsletters, government reports and press releases, and news articles. Researchers also collected data on whether the former SpAd ever registered individually as a lobbyist; whether the SpAd's first post-government job was with a company registered on the lobbying registry and whether the person's first post-government job was with a company registered as a client of a lobbying firm on the lobbying registry. The data shows around 81 percent of former special advisors remain in policy positions and 18 percent move to other occupations. A total of 31 percent had moved to corporate lobbying, 22 percent in policy advocacy and 54 percent were in some kind of 'lobbying' role after they leave government. A fifth105entered politics but only 12 became MPs in the House of Commons and 5 in the devolved assemblies, while 25 became peers in the House of Lords and the remaining 63 landed in party roles. The percentage of former SpAds who went on to public service roles has decreased by more than half in the past 30 years. Heath Pickering said, "Our interpretation of this decrease is that public service has become less attractive in the course of the last decade given austerity measures and the growth of the lobbying sector." There are two lobbying registers in the UKone voluntary (UKLR) and one mandatory since 2014 (ORCL). In a post-2014 subset of the dataset researchers found no former SpAds registered with the ORCL and only two with the UKLR. They coded 89 as working in corporate lobbying and 32 in policy advocacy roles in the period 2014 to 2017. When researchers searched ORCL for consultant lobbying organizations instead of individuals they found 63 SpAds landed in 37 different organizations that were registered as consultant lobbyists post-2014. Since ORCL came into effect in 2014, about 31 percent of the 201 SpAds during that period, revolved out of government into an organization that was registered as a consultant lobbyist. All 37 registered organizations are for-profit companies. This in turn means that 70 percent of SpAds classified via this research as having revolved to corporate lobbying since 2014 (89) and were not individually registered as consultant lobbyists, landed in a firm that was listed on the lobbying registry. The study says that former SpAds who have meetings with SpAds and top civil servants should be registered in the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists (ORCL), which could be renamed as a lobbying and advocacy register. Additionally serving SpAds should be obliged to register all meetings with government outsiders in which public policy is being discussed. Conservative and Liberal Democrat party SpAds were more likely to enter corporate lobbying than Labor SpAds. More Labor SpAds land in policy advocacy roles or exit the policy professions than Conservative and Liberal Democrat ones. Previous careers also constrain future career choices, the study found. The majority of advisers come from politics (222), followed by non-policy professions (100) for example business, media and academia, then comes corporate lobbying (90), followed by policy advocacy (74) and public service (26). Corporate lobbying was the biggest destination after leaving politics (163), the number going into politics had reduced by half (106) and had been relegated in third place as a career option. A total of 96 people went into non-policy professions and 39 into public service. More information: Daniel Orchard et al, Life after Whitehall: The career moves of British special advisers, The British Journal of Politics and International Relations (2023). DOI: 10.1177/13691481221144228 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: Shutterstock After a few months in a different country, you may pick up a new phrase or favorite dish, but can studying abroad change how you participate in society? A recent study published in the Journal of Moral Education found that students who study abroad are more civically engaged than those who don't. Though formal classroom learning is an essential part of higher education, researchers at UChicago recognized that college is about more than what goes on in the lecture hall. "It's interesting to think about ways in which students' college experiences outside the classroom prepare them for the world out there," said Anne Henly, director of Undergraduate Studies in Psychology and principal investigator of the study. What impact do "co-curricular activities," like joining a club or playing a sport, have on a student's psychological development? As part of a grant awarded by the Self, Virtue and Public Life Initiative, the Center for Practical Wisdom's Jeannie Ngoc Boulware, Yena Kim, Howard Nusbaum and Anne Henly conducted a study focused on one specific co-curricular activitystudying abroad. Though programs differ in location and level of immersion, students traveling overseas usually find themselves navigating different socio-cultural norms. Being in a new place allows students to acquire language skills, meet new people from other cultures and encounter different ideas. "Our hypothesis was that because study abroad removes you from what you're familiar with and introduces you to ways in which other people live, that might encourage you to see things from their perspective," Henly said. "This might change basic perspective-taking abilities and empathic processes that affect social attitudes and engagement." To test this theory, researchers surveyed nearly 200 UChicago students: those who had studied abroad, those hadn't studied abroad but planned to and students who weren't interested in studying abroad. Participants in each group completed several scales that measured not only civic attitudes and behaviors, but also psychological qualities that support those behaviors, such as empathy, epistemic humility and cultural competency. All groups scored similarly on the "Need for Cognition" scale, which measures enjoyment of thinking. In fact, apart from a difference in overall cultural competency, students who planned to study abroad and students who weren't planning to were not fundamentally different. Likewise, civic attitudes were high for all groupsmost people believe they should participate in their community. However, students who had studied abroad were more likely to act on those beliefsfor example actually taking a volunteer position instead of simply believing volunteering is important. "Those students who go abroad report more often actually taking the actions to participate as opposed to just believing that they should participate," said Jeannie Ngoc Boulware, first author and assistant director of Communications & Research for the Center for Practical Wisdom. In addition, students who had studied abroad showed higher levels of empathy for others and greater epistemic humility, meaning they were more aware of the limits of their own knowledge. The researchers hypothesize that living abroad may alter one's sense of self in relation to others in a way that spurs civic engagement. They plan to investigate further by tracking students' civic engagement before and after they go abroad. The Center also plans to dig into other co-curricular activities and how they affect student development. "If you get out of your typical experiences, force yourself to be a little bit uncomfortable and just have a little bit of perspective change, that can greatly benefit who you are as a member of society," Boulware said. "We have this tendency to be in this echo chamber in our lives; to be able to step outside of that can really benefit us." More information: Jeannie Ngoc Boulware et al, Stranger in a strange land: The role of study abroad in civic virtues, Journal of Moral Education (2022). DOI: 10.1080/03057240.2022.2139668 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: Alisporites tenuicorpus the pollen grain used in this work. Note a human hair is approximately 70m so the samples analyzed are about half the width of a human hair. Credit: Prof Liu Feng from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology New research has uncovered that pollen preserved in 250 million year old rocks contain compounds that function like sunscreen, these are produced by plants to protect them from harmful ultraviolet (UV-B) radiation. The findings suggests that a pulse of UV-B played an important part in the end Permian mass extinction event. Scientists from the University of Nottingham, China, Germany and the U.K. led by Professor Liu Feng from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology have developed a new method to detect plant's sunscreen-like compounds in fossil pollen grains. The research has been published today in Science Advances. The end-Permian mass extinction event (250 million years ago) is the most severe of the big five mass extinction events with the loss of ~80% of marine and terrestrial species. This catastrophic loss of biodiversity was a response to a palaeoclimate emergency triggered by the emplacement of a continental-scale volcanic eruption that covers much of modern-day Siberia. The volcanic activity drove the release of massive amounts of carbon that had been locked up in Earth's interior into the atmosphere, generating large-scale greenhouse warming. Accompanying this global warming event was a collapse in the Earth's ozone layer. Support for this theory comes from the abundant occurrence of malformed spores and pollen grains that testify to an influx of mutagenic UV irradiation. Professor Barry Lomax from the University of Nottingham explains "Plants require sunlight for photosynthesis but need to protect themselves and particularly their pollen against the harmful effects of UV-B radiation. To do so, plants load the outer walls of pollen grains with compounds that function like sunscreen to protect the vulnerable cells to ensure successful reproduction." Photograph of the field area the fossil samples come from. Credit: Prof Liu Feng from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology Professor Liu Feng adds: "We have developed a method to detect these phenolic compounds in fossil pollen grains recovered from Tibet, and detected much higher concentrations in those grains that were produced during the mass extinction and peak phase of volcanic activity." Elevated UV-B levels can have even further-reaching and longer-lasting impacts on the entire Earth System. Recent modeling studies have demonstrated that elevated UV-B stress reduces plant biomass and terrestrial carbon storage, which would exacerbate global warming. The increased concentration of phenolic compounds also makes plant tissue less easily digestible, making a hostile environment even more challenging for herbivores. The impacts of ozone depletion and elevated UV-B levels on the terrestrial ecosystem. Credit: Conor Haynes-Mannering, University of Nottingham Summarizing the groups findings Dr. Wes Fraser based at Oxford Brookes University commented: "Volcanism on such a cataclysmic scale impacts on all aspects of the Earth system, from direct chemical changes in the atmosphere, through changes in carbon sequestration rates, to reducing volume of nutritious food sources available for animals." More information: Feng Liu et al, Dying in the Sun: direct evidence for elevated UV-B radiation at the end-Permian mass extinction, Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo6102. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abo6102 Journal information: Science Advances 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 unique optical characteristics of ultrathin vanadium oxychloride (VOCl) make the material an excellent candidate for use in nanotechnologies such as polarization-dependent electronics and optospintronics. Credit: Tsinghua University Press/Nano Research (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s12274-022-5358-0 The optical, electrical and mechanical properties of some materials change depending on the direction or orientation of the material. Depending on how wood is cut, for example, the orientation of the wood grain can result in a stronger or weaker material with different appearances. This same principal applies to ultrathin, two-dimensional (2D) materials with unique properties such as magnetism. Depending on the direction of a mechanical strain placed on one of these materials, the magnetic properties of the material change. This may facilitate the design of unique magnetic strain sensors that can convert force into a measurable electrical change. And while the anisotropy of the magnetic, mechanical, optical and other properties of these materials can, in theory, be predicted, the predictions must be supported or rejected based on empirical measurements to determine the true suitability of a material for a particular application. A recent study led by scientists at Beihang University was designed specifically to experimentally assess the physical properties of ultrathin vanadium oxychloride (VOCl) because of its potential suitability for various nanotechnologies based on theoretical calculations. The research team systematically characterized the directionality of the optical properties of the 2D material in response to the arrangement of its atoms, using polarized light. The findings are reported in the January 5, 2023, issue of Nano Research. The researchers synthesized bulk VOCl and mechanically separated the material into few-layer, nanometer-thick samples to assess the optical characteristics of 2D VOCl from different directions. Once the team established the atomic microstructure and composition of the synthesized VOCl, experiments were performed by shining polarized light on 2D VOCl samples rotated at different angles. The researchers determined how in-plane optical brightness, absorption, reflection, crystal orientation and symmetry of the ultrathin material changes due to its atomic structure and the angle of light directed at the sample. Together with ultrathin VOCl's predicted magnetism, the optical anisotropic properties assessed during the study will help determine the suitability of 2D VOCl for use in future nanotechnologies. "These results lay a solid foundation for 2D VOCl in the applications of spintronics and optospintronics," said Chengbao Jiang, professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Beihang University and lead PI of the research team. Spintronics is an emerging technology that uses the spin of electrons to code information, speed data processing, increase circuit density and decrease energy consumption. A newer branch of spintronics, called optospintronics, uses optics, or light, to either measure or control electron spin. "These optical anisotropic properties can be utilized to design novel functional devices, including photodetectors, linear-polarization light generators, strain sensors and artificial synapse devices," said co-lead author Shengxue Yang of Beihang University. VOCl, which forms a crystal structure of vanadium, oxygen and chloride atoms, is only one of many materials that can be mechanically separated into ultrathin layers and demonstrate directionally and orientationally dependent physical characteristics. Graphene, a single layer of carbon in a honeycomb structure, and black phosphorus, a material that is structurally similar to graphene but is instead composed of phosphorus atoms, have both been characterized for their strength and ability to conduct heat and electricity, with black phosphorus potentially serving as a replacement for more toxic graphene in biomedical applications. While the physical features of 2D materials are often theorized through predictive calculations, ultrathin materials must be characterized empirically to confirm their mechanical, optical, magnetic and other properties. Experimental results often align with theoretical calculations and can be used to confirm both the quality and composition of the synthesized material. With empirical confirmation of the ultrathin material's physical properties, unique features can be leveraged for the emerging nanotechnology applications of the future, including quantum computing, force sensing and energy storage. More information: Tianle Zhang et al, Strong in-plane optical anisotropy in 2D van der Waals antiferromagnet VOCl, Nano Research (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s12274-022-5358-0 Journal information: Nano Research Provided by Tsinghua University Press QUEENSBURY A Queensbury man was sentenced on Wednesday to 7 years in prison for sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13. Ricky A. Whiting, 26, was arrested in December 2021 on three felony charges two counts of predatory sexual assault against a child and one conduct of sexual conduct against a child. He was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Police said he was acquainted with the victim. Whiting had pleaded guilty in Warren County Court to the charges. Whiting also must serve 15 years of post-release supervision. QUEENSBURY A Queensbury woman was sentenced on Wednesday to 5 years of probation after admitting to selling crack cocaine. Hill was arrested on June 1, 2021 after an investigation by the Warren County Sheriffs Office Narcotics Enforcement Unit found that she sold the drug to a buyer on two separate occasions. BALLSTON SPA Moreau Supervisor Todd Kusnierz will continue to lead the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors for the third consecutive year. The board re-elected Kusnierz as chairman during their 2023 organizational meeting on Wednesday. Its truly an honor to be elected to a third term as chairman of the board and I appreciate the confidence my colleagues have placed in me to represent the interests of Saratoga County, Kusnierz said in a news release. Together, we have had great success by enacting policies that have made Saratoga County the fastest-growing county in upstate New York, where our residents have the lowest real property tax rate and sales tax rate in the state. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure this incredible work continues on behalf of our residents and that Saratoga County remains an exceptional place to live work and visit. On Friday, the supervisor explained his plans for the upcoming year before heading down to Albany for a meeting with Gov. Kathy Hochul about expanding the countys health department, which is required due to the size of the population under a new state mandate. He said this is the first health department expansion in a New York county in a decade and he is seeking whatever government funds are available to help with the costs of the new programs. Kusnierz said the county just received a memorandum of understanding, which will allow it to take the first steps to expand the department to enforce regulations in the county to keep the public and the environment safe. According to the Saratoga County release, the health department expansion project will reach a significant milestone in 2023. The department takes over enforcement of regulations that protect the publics health related to food, water, and indoor air quality in restaurants, camps, pools, beaches, hotels, motels and fairgrounds within the county. Kusnierz laid out his other goals for 2023 during the organizational meeting of the Board of Supervisors. He said he is happy to continue shepherding the projects he has already started since becoming chairman. He said he plans to use the $884,509 in opioid settlement funds to fight the problem of substance abuse in the county and assist those battling addiction and their families. Kusnierz was also excited about the approval of a $30 million renovation to Saratoga County Airport slated to begin in 2023, which he said signifies the countys continued commitment to investing in infrastructure. The county will also continue its support of the Saratoga County 250th American Revolution Commission, ensuring that the investments made during the commemorative period have a lasting impact on historic preservation and tourism in Saratoga County. Kusnierz also thanked the county workforce in the news release for their dedication in providing residents necessary services and programs. The chairman also noted the county will expand its role in economic development during 2023, working with partners including Saratoga Economic Development Corporation, local chambers of commerce, SPAC, and the New York Racing Association. Police in Mount Dora, Florida, late Wednesday night released the name of a person of interest in the double homicide case involving two former Queensbury residents. Vickie Lynn Williams, 51, was arrested Monday in Savannah, Georgia, after police said she was driving a stolen vehicle owned by Darryl Getman, 83, and Sharon Getman, 80. The Getman couple was killed in their Waterman Village Retirement Community apartment on Saturday in Mount Dora, a 45-minute drive northwest of Orlando. The woman was arrested on charges of stealing the car but is not currently charged with the killings, the Orlando Sentinel reported. The bodies of the couple were discovered on Saturday after a concerned neighbor called security when seeing their garage door open. The Getmans had lived on Twicwood Lane in Queensbury for about 15 years. Williams was being held at the Chatham County Sheriffs Office in Savannah, Georgia, and is to be extradited to Lake County Jail, just a 16-minute drive from the crime scene. Williams had been seen on the premises of the retirement community during the day Friday and had been escorted off the property on three separate occasions by security, police have said. The last time security was called on Williams was after she asked a resident to use their shower. Williams fled the scene after the tenant alerted security, police said. Michael Gibson, Mount Doras interim police chief, said additional criminal charges will follow pending further investigation, according to the Orlando Sentinel on Wednesday. The Getmans children, Anthony and Brittany, released a statement on Wednesday about their parents death, calling it a tragically unnecessary crime. 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, the statement said. We appreciate all the support we have received. It just shows how well thought of our parents were. Both the son and daughter expressed their support of law enforcement to find the motive behind the horrific murder of their parents. ALBANY Progressive Democrats in the state Legislature have opened a push to relieve individuals convicted of crimes from being compelled to pay fees and surcharges including ones that help fund the state DNA databank, parole supervision and New Yorks sex offender registry. Those advocating for the changes argue the fees are onerous on low-income individuals and have contributed to what they call mass incarceration in New York. The legislative intent is also to end New Yorks regressive reliance on generating governmental revenue by imposing surcharges, fees and fines on those least able to pay, states a bill authored by state Sen. Julia Salazar, D-Brooklyn. Her measure has 21 co-sponsors, including Sens. Michael Gianaris, D-Queens, the deputy leader of the Senate, and Liz Krueger, the influential chairwoman of the Senate Finance Committee. The bill is already getting some pushback from law enforcement officials and Republicans. Sen. Patrick Gallivan, R-Erie County, ranking member of the Senate Crime and Correction Committee, said he believes there is merit to some aspects of the bill, namely its focus on fees and surcharges, noting he would welcome a discussion on those issues. But he stated they should be considered separately from fines, which have a punitive intent. Gallivan, in an interview with CNHI,, also said he found the potential consequences of the legislation troubling. Who should be paying (for the DNA databank, the sex offender registry and parole supervision) if the defendant is not charged a fee for anything? Gallivan said. The victim and law-abiding citizens and taxpayers are left holding the bag for everything, and I dont think thats appropriate. In a statement provided to CNHI, Salazar said: The criminalization of poverty through the existence of mandatory court surcharges, fees, and mandatory minimum fines is a draconian practice that we are fighting to end with the End Predatory Court Fees Act. These harmful policies disproportionately impact people with low incomes and weaken what limited financial resources that folks have available to them. The chair of the Senate Committee on Crime and Correction, Salazar added: Interactions with the criminal legal system are already difficult and stressful without the added burden of predatory court fees. According to the legislation, the measure, if enacted, would result in the vacating of all warrants and civil judgments lodged against offenders based solely on their failure to pay fees and surcharges, including warrants arising from failure to pay DNA databank and sex offender registry fees. According to state documents, the DNA databank operated by New York State Police in collaboration with the Division of Criminal Justice Services gets offender DNA samples provided after a plea agreement or as a condition of participation in a prison temporary release program, as well as those participating in shock incarceration, alcohol and substance abuse treatment or have parole or probation conditions to provide a sample. In New York, any offender convicted of a felony or misdemeanor since 2012 has been required to provide a DNA sample. The DNA database is used by police to look for DNA matches from crime scenes. Courts require the offenders to pay a fee. Public information staffers at the state Division of the Budget, an agency controlled by Gov. Kathy Hochul, did not respond to questions seeking public information about the sums collected by the state from offenders for maintaining the DNA database and the sex offender registry. Peter Kehoe, executive director of the New York Sheriffs Assocation, told CNHI he is disappointed that the legislation to relieve offenders from fee and surcharge mandates has become a priority for some lawmakers at the statehouse as they open the 2023 session at the statehouse. This is another example of the Legislature spending their time and effort on finding ways to make life easier for the criminals at the expense of the taxpayers, Kehoe said. Kehoe noted the crimes committed by the offenders and resulting in their introduction into the criminal justice system spawns a variety of costs to the public, such as those arising for administering the sex offender registry and monitoring the offenders when they are released into communities. Contacted in Delhi, Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond echoed Kehoes frustration with the proposal. Its another sign to the criminals that there is no accountability for anything they do, DuMond said. Its staggering. But the New York Civil Liberties Union, in supporting the legislation, argues the system of fees on offenders encourages policing for profit and keeps people trapped in poverty. Gallivan, meanwhile, is advancing a bill that would remove persons convicted of murdering police officers, firefighters, corrections officers, paramedics and other emergency responders from eligibility for a gubernatorial commutation of their sentence of life without parole. Gallivan said when those convicted of such crimes complete lengthy educational programs they can live out their lives behind bars assisting other convicts in pursuit of their goals. Governors, he said, should not have the ability to derail the sentences imposed by the trial judges in such cases. Over the past decade, the New York City Police Benevolent Association, representing officers in the nations largest municipal police force, has strenuously protested the parole releases of numerous felons convicted of killing police officers in the line of duty. ATLANTIC CITY Crystal Lewis made history Thursday. The 53-year-old was formally introduced as the citys first female director of public works during a news conference. This is a historic moment. Im proud to make her the first female director of public works, Mayor Marty Small Sr. said. The people of the great City of Atlantic City are in good hands. On Wednesday night, City Council approved the promotion of Lewis to the position. She had previously served as assistant director for seven years. Dozens of friends, family and city officials gathered at the public works yard on North Albany Avenue for the event honoring Lewis. Im excited to finally be able to put my fingerprints on this department and set my thoughts and ideas into motion as director of public works. I offered everything I could as an assistant and will not stop now that Im director, said Lewis. Id like to thank Mayor Small for seeing something in me and allowing me this opportunity. He has been nothing but supportive of myself and my department since he took office. Randolph new City Council president in Atlantic City ATLANTIC CITY First Ward Councilman Aaron Sporty Randolph, in his 12th year on the gover Lewis is a graduate of Liberty University with a bachelors degree in criminal justice. She is pursuing her masters degree in public administration. Small said he hopes Lewis promotion will serve as an inspiration for Black girls in the resort. Not only is she a female, but an African American female, someone children can look up to and say, One day I want to be like her, Small said. Born and raised in the city, Lewis started her service to the city almost 40 years ago when she joined then-Mayor Michael Matthews youth program at the age of 14. Lewis first city job was in the clerks office more than 34 years ago. She also has worked in Vital Statistics, the Division of Planning and the Engineering Department, and has been working in the Department of Public Works since 2005. The people of Atlantic City can rest assured that any decision I make will be with the citys best interest in mind, and I will handle any issues and complaints that come my way in a fair and aggressive manner, Lewis said. Atlantic City Community Fund accepting applications ATLANTIC CITY In an effort to support local nonprofits, the Atlantic City Community Fund a Lewis replaces Paul Jerkins, who retired New Years Eve. Crystal is a true example of upward mobility in the workplace at its finest, Small said. Her career with the city started under Mayor James Usry, Atlantic Citys first Black Mayor, and continues today as the leader of public works under my administration. But her appointment during the citys reorganization was not without some drama. Councilman Jesse Kurtz suggested Lewis was required to live in the city as is required by city ordinance. Currently fire Chief Scott Evans is the only department head who lives in the resort. Council President Aaron Sporty Randolph said council would look into the ordinance and decide whether to start enforcing it. Chinese diplomat in New York refutes irresponsible COVID reports on China Xinhua) 09:23, January 06, 2023 NEW YORK, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The spokesperson of the Chinese Consulate General here on Wednesday refuted irresponsible reports by some U.S. media that smear and distort China's COVID-19 policy adjustment and anti-COVID effectiveness. "Since COVID began, the Chinese government has always put the people and their lives above all else. We have poured all our efforts and resources into protecting the life and health of every Chinese during the toughest time," said Qian Jin, who is also the Deputy Chinese Consul General in New York. Over the past three years, China has effectively dealt with the impact of five COVID waves, avoiding the spread of the original strains and the Delta variant strains, greatly reducing severe cases and deaths, and buying precious time for the research and application of vaccines and drugs, as well as the preparation of medical resources, Qian said. Globally speaking, China has had the lowest rates of severe cases and mortality. Despite the pandemic, average life expectancy in China went up from 77.3 to 78.2 years. During their visit to China, the expert team from the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed admiration for China's success in slowing down the curve of COVID-19 and spoke highly of China's achievements in fighting the epidemic, saying that China has created a miracle, said Qian. The spokesperson said China not only protects the lives and health of its own people, but also shows solidarity with the international community in its fight against COVID-19. China was the first to propose that vaccines should be used as a global public good, and China has provided vaccines and a large amount of anti-COVID materials to the world and donated to the WHO, he noted. With an open, transparent and responsible attitude, China has shared information with other countries from the very beginning of the epidemic and helped the international community in its response to the epidemic, he said. With Omicron much less pathogenic and deadly and the rate of severe cases and mortality decreasing significantly, China has taken the initiative to refine its COVID response measures, the spokesperson said. "The Chinese people are more concerned about their daily life, work, study and livelihood. When the people want something, the government must actively respond," he said. Based on the experience of other countries' COVID prevention and China's treatment, testing and vaccination capacity being steadily on the rise, China has issued steps to treat COVID-19 as a Class-B instead of Class-A infectious disease, shifting the focus of response from stemming infection to preventing severe cases and caring for its people's health. This shift is also important from a strategic and long-term perspective for effectively coordinating a COVID response with economic and social development and safeguarding the fundamental interests of the greatest majority of the people, the spokesperson said. As response measures are being refined, relevant Chinese departments have worked actively to beef up medical resources, set up a multi-tiered and category-based diagnosis and treatment mechanism, and increased the production capacity and supply of medicines, the spokesperson further said. "We have mobilized as many resources as possible to protect the elderly with underlying health conditions, pregnant and lying-in women, children and other key groups, and made every effort to reduce severe cases and deaths," said Qian. So far, China has supplied more than 3.46 billion vaccines doses for its people, with a coverage rate of over 90 percent, with 85 percent of 60-plus-year-old people and 65 percent of 80-plus-year-old people being vaccinated. Accelerating the vaccination of the elderly has achieved positive results and successfully protected the Chinese people during the toughest time. China is also upgrading its vaccines to improve their effectiveness and better deal with the mutation of the virus, the spokesperson said. Before COVID-19, more than 5 million people traveled between China and the United States across the Pacific every year, vigorously promoting mutual understanding, mutual trust and consensus, Qian said. "We've always believed that for all countries, COVID response measures need to be science-based and proportionate without affecting normal people-to-people exchanges. We have also noted that quite a few countries have spoken positively about China's provisional measures on cross-border travel and that they hope such travel will further pick up with greater ease," said the spokesperson. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) ATLANTIC CITY A landmark in the city is set to make its return. The All Wars Memorial Building, also known as the Old Soldiers Home, is set to reopen to the public at 9 a.m. Monday. The city closed the facility in the summer for renovations. Credit the hard work of our contractors and Public Works Department for allowing us to reopen Soldiers Home, Mayor Marty Small Sr. said in a news release Thursday. The All Wars Memorial Building, located at 1510 Adriatic Ave., is 99 years old and a critical part of the history of the city. It was founded in 1924 to honor Black veterans and was used as a hospital for Black soldiers during World War II. Today, the building includes several ballrooms and conference rooms and has hosted a range of events including parties, meetings, fundraisers, American Legion gatherings and funerals. The city temporarily closed the building Aug. 13 due to a broken air-conditioning system. To make the needed fixes, the city had to address outstanding problems that had beset the facility, ordering a roof replacement and other, interior repairs. When the closure was first announced several days before it went into effect, the city warned it could not offer a set schedule for reopening, due to expected supply-chain disruptions. It did estimate that the closure could last up to three months and told those who had scheduled events during that time frame to call and discuss rescheduling or refunds. The closure ended up lasting just under five months. Thursdays release described the closure as necessary to safeguard public health and safety. We apologize for any inconvenience the closing may have caused anyone, but we are just glad the issues are resolved and residents can once again begin utilizing this facility, Small said. The past five months had not been the first time the building was shuttered for an extended period of time. It was previously closed in May 2006 for an $11.19 million renovation project and reopened nearly two years later, in April 2008. A furor was set off in 2015 over suggestions that the city could sell the building to save money as it tried to navigate dire financial straits. Then-Mayor Don Guardian eventually dismissed the suggestion and guaranteed the facility would stay open, saying he would sooner sell City Hall. OCEAN CITY With four new members on the Board of Education sworn in at the beginning of Wednesdays meeting, the board saw a rare division over the appointment of a new president, and an even rarer deadlock on who should be vice president. The meeting also heard appeals for acceptance of LGBTQ students in the school district. Much of the election centered on new state standards, including changes to the teaching of sex education and gender issues. A majority of the board supported Chris Halliday for president, with nine votes out of the 12 members. Three of the new members, Catherine Panico, Elizabeth Nicoletti and Robin Shaffer, supported Shaffer for president at his first meeting as a board member. The three had run as a ticket in November and were vocal critics of the new state standards. The other successful candidate, Kevin Barnes, voted for Halliday as president. But there was no consensus reached on the board vice present, with six votes for Fran Newman, an Upper Township representative to the board, and six votes for Cecilia Gallelli-Keyes. There was no movement after three attempts, leading to one member jokingly comparing the votes to the effort to reach a majority for the speaker of the House in Washington, where Kevin McCarthy got no closer after repeated votes. Without a decision, it will be up to the Cape May County superintendent of schools to appoint a vice president for the school board. Local governments reorganize as 2023 begins Governing bodies across South Jersey are set to reorganize this week. Both members of the public and some board members said that would be a bad option. This is your first meeting sitting as a board together. What is the tone youre setting? That youre unable to work together, and I know thats not the case, said Lisa Mansfield, a city resident. The board considered going into a closed-door session to discuss the vice presidents position, but attorney Michael Stanton said that discussion would not fall under the exceptions to the Open Public Meetings Act, which requires most discussions to be held in public. Instead, the board took a recess, but when members returned, there was no change in the vote. Two votes were held, each with the same 6-6 split result. Some reiterated calls for acceptance within the district. During the election campaign, and since the vote, students and parents have expressed concern over the position of students in the district who are gay, nonbinary or otherwise may be ostracized or bullied. Ocean City school board vote inspires fresh rally by LGBTQ supporters OCEAN CITY Parents, students and residents bundled in heavy sweatshirts waved glow sticks In the public comment portion of the meeting, Ocean City High School senior Keely Calloway reminded board members that they represent everyone in the district, not just those they agree with. Whether the board likes it or not, LGBTQ people do exist, they will always exist and they will always be here, she said. There are many people in our community who share my concern regarding the newly elected board members and how they intend to represent the best interests of the students, teachers and the parents in a manner that is fair, equitable and inclusive of all, said a parent at the meeting. But other speakers said Panico, Nicoletti and Shaffer had taken extensive criticism for standing up for their beliefs. David Hayes and Marie Hayes, his wife, said the district should be concerned with repairing academics damaged by remote learning. The election was only about the rights of parents to be involved in their minor childrens education, and nothing else, Marie Hayes said. The opponents of parents rights speaking tonight are the same people who turned the school board campaign into divisive, hateful and dishonest attacks on the candidates who ultimately won the election in a landslide. Ocean City votes for change in school board election OCEAN CITY Voters opted for change for the Board of Education, with all four incumbents on She suggested teachers should focus on the Constitution instead of personal pronouns. Shaffer said he does not see people as being from Upper Township or Ocean City, or as people of color or representing various identities. I see human beings, he said. I see a bunch of people that care about the kids that go to school here in Ocean City. They want the best for them, and thats what Im here for. Gallelli-Keyes, whom Panico, Nicoletti and Shaffer had supported for the vice presidency, said the board has to be for all students in the district. Whatever they want to feel or look or smell or whatever the case is, were all human beings, she said. Disston Vanderslice and Jacqueline McAlister also supported Gallelli-Keyes, with Halliday, Barnes, Joseph Clark, William Holmes and Kristie Chisholm supporting Newman. Gallelli-Keyes and Newman each voted for themselves. Former board President Patrick Kane was one of the incumbents who were not reelected in November. In his final meeting as a board member in December, he said he has confidence in the district. Our schools are fantastic and successful because of the people that make up the schools, Kane said. He said the district will continue to thrive. I am extremely excited to see where this district goes, and extremely excited for my children to be a part of it. CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE Leonard Desiderio will lead the Cape May County Board of Commissioners, approved in a unanimous vote at the county government reorganization Thursday. At the same time, Commissioner E. Marie Hayes and new member Andrew Bulakowski were sworn in to three-year terms on the board. Hayes was named vice director of the board. Their election in November kept the county governing body an all-Republican board, which has been the norm for generations. In addition to thanking her supporters and family members, Hayes thanked the Democratic candidate for commission in 2022, Julia Hankerson, although she did not identify her by name. She said Hankerson ran a good campaign and that she had reached out to congratulate Hayes after the vote, which she said meant a lot. Hayes said it takes courage to run for office, and that political campaigns take a toll on the candidates and their families. Hayes family joined her for the swearing in. The event was held at Cape May County Technical High School, where there was more room than in the nearby county administration building where the commissioners usually meet. Still, the room was crowded, with attendees lined up along the walls, including the family members of the commissioners and municipal officials from multiple towns. Sea Isle City shines for tree lighting, holiday parade Friday The holiday season may have just begun, but Sea Isle City was in high gear on Black Friday a Desiderio, who also serves as the mayor of Sea Isle City, said he wants to strengthen ties between the county and its 16 municipalities. That may include quarterly meetings with municipal officials, as well as outreach from members of county government. We have common problems that we can work on together, Desiderio said. He told the municipal officials not to be surprised if they see a county commissioner in the audience at their meetings. Were not there to give away the farm, but were there to listen and to hear what your concerns are, he said. Bulakowski attended the meeting remotely. He had tested positive for COVID-19 and attended from his home, visible on large screens set up in the meeting room, wearing a blue jacket and a red tie. The meeting opened with a presentation of the American flag by a color guard from the county Sherriffs Office. Middle Township High School senior Rachel Miller sang The Star-Spangled Banner. GOP appears poised for a win in Cape May County MIDDLE TOWNSHIP As early returns trickled in, Cape May County Republicans were optimistic The countys legislative team was also at the event. Assemblyman Antwan McClellan offered a prayer at the start of the meeting, and Assemblyman Erik Simonsen sang God Bless America. There was routine business to take care of at the meeting, but the reorganization was primarily ceremonial, with everyone in attendance invited to The Bellevue in Cape May Court House for a celebration afterward. This is the first time in more than a decade that Cape May County government has had a new director. Veteran Commissioner Gerald Thornton decided not to seek a new term on the board last year. Thornton had served three years as director in his first stint on what was then called the Board of Freeholders, which ran from 1976 until 1987. He returned to the board in 1995 and has been the director each year since 2011. The county government tends to keep the same director for long periods. Over three decades, there have been just three directors: Bill Sturm, Dan Beyel and Thornton. Whether Desiderio will serve as long has yet to be seen. He said that will be up to his fellow board members, but he mentioned the longevity of the previous directors and said he is looking forward to long service in the county. Middle Township to honor Cape Commissioner Director Thornton CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE Commissioner Director Gerald M. Thornton, a figure in Cape May County With Thorntons departure, Desiderio is now the longest serving member of county government, having been elected to the board in 2002. He was elected mayor of Sea Isle City in 1993. It was once common for county officials to also hold municipal office, but a change in state law in 2013 prevents people from holding more than one elected office at once. Desiderio is grandfathered in under that law. Thornton was sitting in the audience for the meeting, which some commission members joked must have felt like a relief. Members praised Thorntons efforts in county government. In 2021, Commissioners Hayes and Will Morey abstained from a vote to reappoint Thornton as director. At the time, Hayes said the board should sometimes change leadership. MAYS LANDING The Township Committee voted at its reorganization meeting Tuesday to unanimously appoint Carl Pitale mayor. He won reelection to the committee in November and was sworn in Tuesday by state Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic. Pitale replaces former Mayor Charles Cain, who lost his bid for reelection to Pitale and Thelma Witherspoon, who was also sworn in by Polistina on Tuesday. Pitale called his win and unanimous appointment as mayor humbling and exciting. He said the reorganization meeting signified growth and solidarity for the township. I think its showing that we are coming together and were going to move forward and do everything we can for this township, Pitale said. Pitale was the sole vote against appointing Cain mayor in 2022. The two had disagreed on a range of topics, including how to fill the position of township administrator, which has experienced considerable turnover in recent years; and over a proposed takeover of the township Municipal Utilities Authority. Cain and Pitale both ran as Republicans, while Witherspoon is a Democrat. Traffic changes planned in Hamilton Township on Friday HAMILTON TOWNSHIP Guiderail repairs Friday will require traffic pattern changes likely to Witherpoon is a former Democratic nominee for the Atlantic County Board of Commissioners and a former president of the Atlantic City Board of Education. She had a 35-year career working for the Atlantic City Police Department and is the pastor of the Westminster Christian Worship Center in Atlantic City, according to her campaign website. I am very excited to have been elected by the residents of Hamilton Township, and Im looking forward to working in a bipartisan way with the entire committee in order to get things done in this township, Witherspoon said. It is about time that we put everything aside and put the residents where they belong, which is first. Committeewoman Judy Link, a Democrat, congratulated Pitale and Witherspoon. She said the choice of voters to send a Republican and Democrat to committee together demonstrated their desire to see bipartisan work. Link also congratulated Witherspoon for being the first woman of color to be elected to the committee and said she was uniquely qualified for the role. The win of Carl Pitale was a great win and a great win for Thelma, because the people spoke that they wanted more cooperation and a bipartisan-type government than was previously instituted, Link said. Pitale nominated Richard Cheek to serve as deputy mayor, and he was appointed on a 4-0 vote. The newly inaugurated members of the committee worked to fill the townships most prominent vacancy, voting to appoint Brett Noll acting township administrator. Noll began work in the township Public Works Department as a laborer in 2005 and worked his way up to public works director by 2013. He will serve as administrator for at most 60 days while the township looks for a candidate to assume the position full time. Hamilton Township administrator position in flux HAMILTON TOWNSHIP Uncertainty lingers over the workings of township government as it start Its been a long ride, Noll said. We have a lot of work to do. Although its a 60-day appointment, we have to get the morale back and we have to get the teamwork back in town hall. Noll is replacing Joseph Kostecki II, whom the committee appointed last February. Kostecki had previously served as borough administrator and municipal clerk for South Toms River. The change from Kostecki to Noll continues a series of rotating administrators. Peter Miller, who had worked as the administrator in Egg Harbor Township for 32 years, was appointed to interim administrator in Hamilton in June 2021. He replaced Arch Liston, who left to take a position in Trenton and whose administrator tenure had begun in March 2020. 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. Committeewoman Sue Hopkins expressed concern that the township did not specify the qualifications it was looking for in an acting administrator and was concerned that a pair of female candidates should have been given more consideration. She was not present for the vote Tuesday. Link said she anticipated the reorganization meeting would be very difficult. She said her decision, along with Witherspoon, to not deadlock the committee in 2-2 ties on partisan lines was reflective of their commitment to collaboration and compromise. She said she wanted to promote transparency in government and change how the township has awarded redevelopment agreements, which she described as the wild, wild west. 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 I think Thelma and I decided to take the high road in making the approvals happen, and I think we will move forward in a very positive way, Link said. Lets move forward and see what we can do to make things better for our community, make our community more informed and do the right thing as far as what is ahead of us. Pitale said he was looking to battle the stigma that the township had acquired in recent years and work together on redevelopment. Both he and Link said they were interested in exploring redevelopment plans for the old cotton mill and the Atlantic City Race Course and providing support to the Hamilton Mall. I want to keep looking forward; I dont want to look in the past, Pitale said. Lets move forward and do so with everybody in mind and be open, transparent, so that everybody knows whats going on and so we can lose that stigma that we got stuck with a little bit. More change could be coming to the township soon. Hopkins has resigned effective Tuesday, and her departure will create a new vacancy on the committee. As Hopkins is a Republican, the local GOP county committee will nominate a slate of replacements from which the Township Committee can choose one. Atlantic County Republican Chair Don Purdy said the county committee was looking at the opening and he was eager to work with whomever is selected. Noll said Wednesday the township had not yet received the Republican nominations for the vacancy. Eight municipalities in Cape May, Ocean and Burlington counties are recommended for gypsy moth treatment by the state Department of Agriculture in May and June. The department is looking to treat 5,100 acres of residential and county-owned property for the species, also known as LDD, after it conducted egg mass surveys from August to December of last year. Participation in the program is voluntary, the department said Friday in a news release. Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher said committing to the treatment program can help tame the insects population for several years. This program has been very effective over the last several years and helps preserve the valuable trees and plants that are a food source for this destructive pest, Fisher said. Stockton professor uses science to create album Stockton University biology professor Matthew F. Bonnan grew up fascinated by two things: di A meeting will be held at the Dennis Township Municipal Building at 10 a.m. Jan. 19 to detail the departments treatment plan. Wooded areas in the counties are eligible for treatment because they were found to have an average of more than 500 egg masses per acre and be at least 40 acres in size. A single egg mass holds up to 500 eggs, the department said. Any LDD defoliation can kill a healthy tree by making it more vulnerable to other forms of damage. Oak trees are the typical host for the insect. The department recommended 8,961 acres in both Cape May and Burlington counties for treatment last year. No areas in the state were considered for treatment in 2019 and 2020. The family of 20 year-old Anjali, who died after being dragged up to 12 kms by a car on January 1, is demanding to add section 302 (murder) of IPC against the five accused and also book her friend, Nidhi, under section 304 (culpable homicide). A Delhi court on Thursday extended the police remand of the five accused involved in the case, officials said. Rekha, Anjalis mother, along with her relative also met the station house officer of Sultanpuri police station and demanded to add the sections. They have killed my daughter and they should be punished for what they did, said Rekha. Deepak was driving Delhi Police on Thursday said that the car, which dragged 20-year-old Anjali several kms on January 1 leading to her brutal death, was driven by Amit Khanna and not Deepak, adding that the former did not also have a licence. Delhi BJP threatens stir Delhi BJP has threaten to gherao Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal if the Kanjhawala case will not be transferred to a fast-track court. IANS Shiv Sena (UBT) suffered a setback as nearly 90 dozen leaders and workers defected to the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena (BSS) led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, here on Friday. The activists, ranging from block to district-level leaders, numbered around 60 from Nashik and 30 from Parbhani, comprising local Shiv Sena (UBT), Nationalist Congress Party, Congress and others, who switched loyalties to the BSS. Welcoming them to the party fold this afternoon, Shinde said that in the coming days, many more would join the BSS which is functioning on the ideals of the late Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe. "The BSS-BJP government has been working very well in the past six months, that's why so many people are attracted to the party and in the coming days many more will support us as we take everybody together," said Shinde. He said, "We are working very fast and quietly, while some people who do nothing make tall claims of their contributions and this is the reason why the people of the state are backing the government." Reacting, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut tried to downplay the developments saying those who are leaving are insignificant and the party remained robust in both Nashik and Parbhani. Sena (UBT) Deputy Chairperson in the Maharashtra Legislative Council Dr. Neelam Gorhe said that if workers and leaders were quitting the party like this, then the party leadership should take serious note of the developments. The unexpected embarrassment came for former CM Uddhav Thackeray barely days ahead of his planned public rally in Nashik, later this month or early next month, for which Raut is currently making the preparations. Mirror finds most pavements across Pune in dilapidated state and encroached upon illegally by hawkers, structures of government agencies; authorities least bothered about the inconvenience caused to citizens PHOTOS: MAHENDRA KOLHE The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is busy sprucing up the city to welcome the G20 delegation this month. However, many footpaths are not fortunate enough to fall in the path from where the foreigners cavalcade will pass. Team Mirror fanned out across the city and discovered that the claims of citizens about the sordid affairs of walkways were true. NEAR CONGRESS BHAWAN Vendors illegally occupying and plying their business, two-wheelers either parked or moving, loose paver blocks, public toilets... the scene is pathetic. Bus stops occupying stretches of footpaths is another story. Utility cables and distribution panels of power supply were also found on footpaths at several locations, leading to a reduction of space. Activists blame the administration for the problems and say that the agencies giving assurances of removing their structures and material while constructing roads, fail to do so. CABLES ON FOOTPATH ACROSS THE CITY Harshad Abhyankar of Save Pune Traffic Movement (SPTM) said: Footpaths constructed in the last five years in the city are built following Indian Road Congress (IRC) norms but they still have issues like encroachment by government structures and illegal hawkers. This is because the agencies responsible to remove their establishments such as the electricity pole, distribution panels, utility cables, etc. assure to remove their structures at the time of the construction of the road, but they do not do it later. (L) To (R) FC ROAD,SHIMLA OFFICE CHOWK Abhyankar also said that the city needs to have a permanent urban designer. The civil engineers of the municipal corporation have designed footpaths for years. However, there is a need to have permanent urban designers for this job but the civic body does not have them. As per IRC norms, the minimum width of the road should be 1.8 metres and it should be increased based on the establishments but that is not followed, he added. (L) To (R) KOREGAON PARK,LAXMI ROAD Farooque Shaikh, a pedestrian, said: I often visit Laxmi Road for shopping with my family and friends. The footpath there is occupied by illegal hawkers. I have not seen the administration taking action against them during any visit. It is a major obstacle for pedestrians as there is hardly any space for them to walk on footpath during the peak hours. Piyush Patil, another pedestrian, said, The administration organises a pedestrian day but later on they forget the importance of making space available for citizens. People in the Baner area ride their bikes on the footpaths to avoid getting stuck in the traffic jam but there is hardly anyone to stop them or take action against them. This is a routine issue and has been going on for a long time. (L) To (R) GANESHKHIND,BANER It is wrong to blame the authorities for everything because people are also responsible for this issue. I notice shopkeepers parking their vehicles, and keeping their display boards for visibility of their shops names on footpaths. If they behave responsibly, I think pedestrians will have a safe way to walk, said Sayali Shinde, another pedestrian. Officials concerned in the Pune Municipal Corporation were not available for comment. Two groups brutally beat each other up over work distribution on a construction site in Nigdi Machindra Sopan Dhande (aged 42; a resident of Chinchwad) filed a complaint at Nigdi Police Station. Police have arrested five people, namely Kalu Bhanudas Dhande (aged 50), Digambar Kalu Dhande (aged 26), Rahul Kalu Dhande (aged 22), Dutta Raju Pitekar, and Sunil Kalu Dhande (aged 24; all residents of Nigdi). According to the report, the complainant and his son, Lakhan Dhande (aged 27), were working on the Rambo House construction site in Yamuna Nagar in Nigdi when the accused conspired asked them, "Why are you working here?". Not only this, the accused even brutally beat Macchindra with their bare hands and a Koyta (sharp weapon). When his son Lakhan tried to intervene, the accused beat him up as well. On the other hand, Sunil Dhande has filed a complaint against Macchindra Dhande, his son Lakhan Dhande, and two of their accomplices at the Nigdi Police Station. In their complaint, it is stated that while Sunil, the complainant, was operating the bobcat machine, the accused came there and abused Sunil, asking him to remove the machine and leave the site. Soon, a fight broke out between the two groups. Both the cases have been registered at the Nigdi police station, and an investigation is underway. Natalia Mulica graduated from St. Ambrose in 2020. In November 2021 she opened her business, and a year later was celebrating its first anniversary. But on New Year's Day 2023, her good fortune ran out. Mulica awoke to a phone call at 5 a.m. from the Davenport Fire Department. A pipe had burst on Mound Street in the Village of East Davenport, right beside her business. Grilled Cheese Bar is in the lower corner of the Village Market Place, the green building that faces River Drive. Initially, it was thought to be a water main break. However, Iowa American Water officials confirmed the water was caused from a broken fire service line inside the property, which is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain and repair. Because the pipe was inside the building, and not a water main, the damage was worse than she originally thought. Based on the phone call Sunday, Mulica thought she would come into a flooded bar, remove the water removed and reopen the next day. It wasn't that easy. "We come in the next day, I look behind the bar and the cement is all broken up. There was mud; you could walk up a hill of mud," she said. "It was immediately complete heartbreak because everything was destroyed." She discovered Monday that the water had pushed through the building's foundation and broke through the baseboards. Mud, silt and dirt poured in, destroying furniture, the walls and leaving a quicksand-like mess for Mulica and her team to clean up. "Tuesday we came back in, but it had rained. Everything we did the day before was washed away," she said. "So we had to start over again." Close Grilled Cheese Bar, 1019 Mound Street in Davenport, is temporarily closed after a water main break on Jan. 1. Grilled Cheese Bar, 1019 Mound Street in Davenport, is temporarily closed after a water main broke on Jan. 1. The break caused water, silt and mud to break through the floor boards and flood into the bar. Owner Natalia Mulica has started a GoFundMe to raise funds to help re-open the bar. Grilled Cheese Bar, 1019 Mound Street in Davenport, is temporarily closed after a water main broke on Jan. 1. The break caused water, silt and mud to break through the floor boards and flood into the bar. Owner Natalia Mulica has started a GoFundMe to raise funds to help re-open the bar. Grilled Cheese Bar, 1019 Mound Street in Davenport, is temporarily closed after a water main break on Jan. 1. The break caused water, silt and mud to break through the floor boards and flood into the bar. Thursday, the majority of the mud had been cleaned away. Owner Natalia Mulica has started a GoFundMe to raise funds to help reopen the bar. Grilled Cheese Bar, 1019 Mound Street in Davenport, is temporarily closed after a water main broke on Jan. 1. The break caused water, silt and mud to break through the floor boards and flood into the bar. Thursday, the majority of the mud had been cleaned away. Owner Natalia Mulica has started a GoFundMe to raise funds to help re-open the bar. Grilled Cheese Bar, 1019 Mound Street in Davenport, is temporarily closed after a water main broke on Jan. 1. The break caused water, silt and mud to break through the floor boards and flood into the bar. Thursday, the majority of the mud had been cleaned away. Owner Natalia Mulica has started a GoFundMe to raise funds to help re-open the bar. Grilled Cheese Bar closes temporarily after flooding Grilled Cheese Bar, 1019 Mound Street in Davenport, is temporarily closed after a water main break on Jan. 1. Grilled Cheese Bar, 1019 Mound Street in Davenport, is temporarily closed after a water main broke on Jan. 1. The break caused water, silt and mud to break through the floor boards and flood into the bar. Owner Natalia Mulica has started a GoFundMe to raise funds to help re-open the bar. Grilled Cheese Bar, 1019 Mound Street in Davenport, is temporarily closed after a water main broke on Jan. 1. The break caused water, silt and mud to break through the floor boards and flood into the bar. Owner Natalia Mulica has started a GoFundMe to raise funds to help re-open the bar. Grilled Cheese Bar, 1019 Mound Street in Davenport, is temporarily closed after a water main break on Jan. 1. The break caused water, silt and mud to break through the floor boards and flood into the bar. Thursday, the majority of the mud had been cleaned away. Owner Natalia Mulica has started a GoFundMe to raise funds to help reopen the bar. Grilled Cheese Bar, 1019 Mound Street in Davenport, is temporarily closed after a water main broke on Jan. 1. The break caused water, silt and mud to break through the floor boards and flood into the bar. Thursday, the majority of the mud had been cleaned away. Owner Natalia Mulica has started a GoFundMe to raise funds to help re-open the bar. Grilled Cheese Bar, 1019 Mound Street in Davenport, is temporarily closed after a water main broke on Jan. 1. The break caused water, silt and mud to break through the floor boards and flood into the bar. Thursday, the majority of the mud had been cleaned away. Owner Natalia Mulica has started a GoFundMe to raise funds to help re-open the bar. Originally from Chicago, Mulica stayed in Davenport after graduating with her business degree. Being from a family of entrepreneurs, she wanted to try bringing something unique to the region. "There's a lot of bar and grills, but I wanted to take the Chicago aspect, something different and touristy, and bring it to the Quad-Cities," she said By Thursday, the majority of the mud was cleared away, but the nightmare continued. After hours of back-and-forth phone calls, she found out her insurance company would not cover the damage. The landlord was deemed responsible because the pipe is inside to the building. To help recoup from financial loss, Mulica has started a GoFundMe page. More than $2,000 in food had to be thrown out, furniture was destroyed and walls have to be repainted, she said. "We have our bills we still have to pay, but we have no money coming in," she said. "When we do reopen again, we'll need that to get back on our feet." Mulica said the goal was to finish cleaning as soon as possible, then move on to getting health inspections scheduled. Her goal is to open for takeout only until the dining room is ready for guests. There is no estimated timeline for when the water main will be repaired, but Mulica is hoping to be up-and-running again in a few months. "We're just waiting for the water to be turned back on so we can finish cleaning up," Mulica said. As previously reported, many Quad-City homes and businesses sustained damage as a result of frozen water pipes that resulted from the pre-Christmas winter storm. In Mulica's case at the Grilled Cheese Bar, the landslide of mud and debris compounded the damage. Scott County residents interested in filling the vacant Scott County Board of Supervisors seat may submit applications this month. Under Iowa law, the county treasurer, county recorder and county auditor decide how and with whom to fill the vacancy. If the panel opted for a special election, County Auditor Kerri Tompkins estimated the countywide election would cost about $125,000. At a meeting of the three Thursday, County Recorder Rita Vargas suggested the panel accept applications and appoint for the vacancy. Newly elected Treasurer Tony Knobbe, who vacated the supervisor seat, and Tompkins agreed. The three agreed to ask applicants to email a resume and cover letter to auditor@scottcountyiowa.gov by the end of business day Jan. 24. The three plan to meet again at 2 p.m. Jan. 26 to discuss and decide on an appointment. Two of the three panel members are Republicans, but Knobbe in an interview said he wouldn't dismiss a Democratic candidate. If the panel does pick a Republican, it would make for the first all-Republican board since 1994. Two men await sentencing in federal court for a 2022 Davenport shooting. Authorities accused Leonard Fisher, 32, Davenport; and Timothy Eugene Angel, 39, Clinton, of being the gunmen in a Jan. 29, 2022, shooting that took place outside the Thunderguard Club, which at the time was at 1314 Washington St., Davenport, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa. On Wednesday a jury found Fisher guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and his sentencing is pending, the release stated. Angel has already pleaded guilty to a count of being a felon in possession of ammunition and has a sentencing hearing on Jan. 24. Fisher and Angel each faced up to 10 years in a federal prison, the release stated. According to the release: The incident that led to the charges began as an altercation inside the establishment and spilled into the street. Numerous shots were fired, and when police arrived, they found a gun beside a pool of blood. They also recovered two sets of shell casings. Testing showed Fishers DNA matched the blood, and video footage recovered by investigators showed him to be one of the shooters. The gun Angel used was not found, so he was charged with the count of ammunition possession. The Davenport Police Department, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, investigated the case. EAST ST. LOUIS A St. Louis man has pleaded guilty to a federal bank robbery charge in connection with a 2021 holdup in East St. Louis in which a security guard was shot dead, prosecutors said Thursday. Jaylan D. Quinn, 23, entered the plea Wednesday in federal court, prosecutors said. Wearing masks, Quinn and Andrew R. Brinkley, 21 of St. Louis entered First Bank in East St. Louis on Aug. 27, 2021, and gave a teller a note saying they had a bomb, court records say. After receiving money, the two men were running toward the door when guard Ted Horn, 56, of St. Libory, Illinois, tried to intercept them, but Quinn drew a semi-automatic handgun and shot Horn in the head, records say. The pair fled in a car and Horn was pronounced dead at the scene. Bank surveillance video quickly led to the identification of Brinkley as a suspect, records say, and the FBI arrested Brinkley and Quinn the next day at Brinkley's home in St. Louis. Agents recovered a loaded 9mm handgun, two marked bills from the robbery and clothing matching what the robbers wore, prosecutors said. Brinkley pled guilty to bank robbery, prosecutors said. He's scheduled to appear in court next Wednesday. Today in history: Jan. 5 1914: Henry Ford 1925: Nellie Tayloe Ross 1933: Golden Gate Bridge 1943: George Washington Carver 1949: Harry Truman 1998: Sonny Bono 2004: Airports 2011: John Boehner 2012: Barack Obama 2017: Donald Trump 2017: Gretchen Carlson 2018: Peter Martins 2018: Rose Bowl 2021: Georgia 2021: Kenosha 2022: Grammy Awards 2022: Kyrie Irving 2022: Novak Djokovic Davenport police arrested a man on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with a shooting early Thursday that left one man dead and another man wounded. Zachary Lee Beverlin, 28, was booked into the Scott County Jail at 2:53 p.m. Beverlin is charged with one count of first-degree murder. The charge is a Class A felony under Iowa law that carries a mandatory sentence of life without parole. Beverlin also is charged with one count of willful injury, a Class C felony that carries a prison sentence of 10 years, and felon in possession of a firearm, a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years. He also is charged with going armed with intent, a Class D felony, and assault while participating in a felony, a Class C felony. Beverlin was being held without bond Thursday night in the Scott County Jail. Earlier in the day, Davenport Police were called to the 3rd and Pine streets to investigate a report of shots fired. At 2:19 a.m., officers found two men suffering gunshot wounds. Both men were taken to Genesis Medical Center East, Davenport. One of the men, 40, was pronounced dead, while the other man, 33, suffered what police are calling serious injuries. The shooting occurred at Gilly's Corner Tap, 2148 W. 3rd St. The men's names were not released Thursday night. Bettendorf police also investigated a shooting that occurred at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the 3400 block of Towne Pointe Drive. A 20-year-old man suffered what police say appear to be non-life-threatening injuries. The victim was taken to Genesis Medical Center East, Davenport, for treatment. The police ask anyone with information to contact investigators. Bettendorf Police can be contacted at 563-344-4017. Davenport Police can be reached at 563-326-6125. People with information can also contact Crime Stoppers of the Quad-Cities at 309-762-9500. The two candidates who squared off for Scott County Attorney in Novembers election will team up to prosecute the man accused of kidnapping and murdering Breasia Terrell. Republican Kelly Cunningham won the 2022 Scott County Attorneys race, defeating Democratic candidate Caleb Copley to replace Mike Walton as he retired after a 15-year tenure as the countys top prosecutor. Cunningham confirmed Tuesday she will lead the prosecution of Henry Earl Dinkins, the man who is charged in the disappearance and killing of 10-year-old Breasia in July of 2020. Copley, who was working on the case before the election, asked Cunningham to remain on as an assistant prosecutor. The teaming of former political foes comes after Cunningham also announced Assistant County Attorney Amy Devine has taken an extended leave of absence from the office to, in Cunninghams words, rest and travel the country. Devine was Waltons lead prosecutor on the Dinkins case. His murder trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 8 in Linn County District Court in Cedar Rapids. He is being held in the Marshall County Jail in Marshalltown. I think I can come up to speed on the trial fairly easily in that time, Cunningham said. It is eight months and that should be enough time. Judge Henry Latham made the decision to delay the trial in early October 2022, granting a request filed by Dinkins attorneys, Chad and Jennifer Frese, in order to ... allow them adequate time to prepare. Walton filed a resistance to the motion. In arguing against the continuance, Walton pointed to the fact six previous continuances were granted in the case. Two of those requests were made by Dinkins defense teams and were not opposed by Walton. While the delay will give her time to get up to speed, Cunningham said, the continuance also made sense for the trials integrity and from a defense standpoint. As a prosecutor, you want the defense to do the best job it can do, she said. What almost always happens is a defendant will file for post-conviction relief on the grounds of incompetent defense. It is then the prosecutors job to defend those defense attorneys. You want to know they did the best job possible. And I can say, specifically in this case, the defense needed more time with discovery. Cunningham, who specialized in prosecuting drug crimes while serving as Muscatine County Assistant Attorney over the course of the last two years, has previous experience in murder cases. A Bettendorf resident, Cunningham previously worked for the Scott County Attorneys office from 1993 to 2016. The greatest challenge, she said, will be navigating the emotions and fear that come with a murder prosecution. Im someone who has the emotional strength and experience to guide the family, the witnesses, and the community through the process of trying this case, she said. I have experience preparing witnesses and helping them have the confidence needed to testify. I think that is something family members and the community will see. Dinkins is charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in Breasias death. Each charge is a Class A felony that carries a mandatory prison sentence of life without parole. The girl last was seen either late July 9 or early July 10 of 2020. She spent the night with her brother Dinkins son whom he had with Breasias mother at Dinkins home during the time period she disappeared. Her remains were discovered March 22, 2021, near DeWitt, and her identity was confirmed on March 31. The charges against Dinkins were announced May 5, 2021, in a news conference. SPRINGFIELD For retired elementary school teachers Karen Irvin and Diane White, the last straw was the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida in 2018. Watching the coverage of yet another school shooting, as a teacher that retired after 32 years in the school district, and having gone through the traumatic active-shooter trainings with young children, we both kind of reached that tipping point, said Irvin, of Bloomington. The pair helped form the McLean County chapter of Moms Demand Action, a group that advocates for stronger gun control measures. They have about 50 to 60 active members, Irvin said, with many more also expressing support for the mission. The group got an action call to come to the Capitol on Thursday, leading a handful of them to make the drive to Springfield to join about a hundred other gun control activists from across the state to advocate for legislation that would, among other actions, ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Today is about this action that we know legislators can take, Irvin told Lee Enterprises under the Capitol rotunda. And that we know the majority of people in Illinois are saying that they are supportive of this." "We also want them to know, yeah, we're here today and we might not catch them today," she said. "But our group has been calling and leaving messages and writing emails and sending letters. We are active behind the scenes for this bill because it has been on our radar for a while." Just hours later, with the clock a few strokes before 1 a.m. and Gov. J.B. Pritzker present in the chamber, the Democratic-controlled Illinois House fulfilled activists hopes, passing a landmark gun control bill banning several high-powered guns and high-capacity magazines. The vote was 64-43. Earlier in the evening, lawmakers also approved an expansive reproductive health bill meant to build on Illinois' already-established status as a haven for abortion rights. The measure passed on a 67-41 party-line vote. The measures follow through on Democrats' promises of legislative action on the topics after fall of Roe v. Wade in June and the mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Highland Park that left seven people dead and more than four-dozen injured. Both now head to the Illinois Senate, where they face an uncertain future. Senate President Don Harmon, in a statement Friday, said that his members "are giving these proposals an extensive review and careful evaluation," adding that they are "committed to enacting the most effective legislation possible." He also confirmed that the Senate will return to Springfield on Sunday, presumably to consider the measures. They will need to be considered before noon Wednesday, when the new General Assembly is sworn in. Pritzker's presence in the House chamber Thursday night and early Friday morning was notable. The governor spent more than two hours on the floor, sitting through the entire assault weapons ban debate next to House Speaker Chris Welch, D-Hillside. Pritzker, asked by reporters as he left the House chamber, called the early morning vote "terrific." "I was excited to hear the debate and, honestly, this is big progress for the state of Illinois," Pritzker said, adding that his presence on the floor was a signal that he's "been engaged in this process all along and wanted to see it through to the end." I know were going to get a bill," he said when asked about concerns over the legislation's fate in the Senate. The gun control package is a product of months of behind-the-scenes discussions between lawmakers and key stakeholders in working groups. Legislation was introduced in early December and three public hearings were subsequently held. State Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, who was marching in the Highland Park parade when the shooting occurred, has been the House Democrats' lead negotiator on the assault weapons push. However, it was Welch who dropped an amendment Thursday afternoon that featured key changes to the law as it was initially proposed by Morgan. The legislation that passed the House, dubbed by supporters as the Protect Illinois Communities Act, bans several kids of semi-automatic weapons. Those who currently own these weapons would be grandfathered in but required to register weapons covered under the ban with the state police within 300 days of the laws effective date. It also strengthens the state's "red flag" law, allowing family members or law enforcement to petition a court to have a persons firearms taken away for up to one year if they are deemed a danger to themselves or others. Currently, weapons can only be taken for up to six months. But in other ways, it is watered down from what what lawmakers introduced last month. Dropped completely from the legislation was a provision that would have prevented most under 21 from obtaining a firearm. Currently, 18-, 19- and 20-year olds can obtain a Firearm Identification card and buy guns with the consent of a parent. Morgan said this "reasonable" change was meant to accommodate hunters. Maximum magazine capacity was also increased from 10 to 12 rounds. Another change was the elimination of a felony charge for violating the high-capacity magazine ban, with each violation now a petty offense resulting in a fine of $1,000. This was meant to address concerns from gun rights advocates that law-abiding gun owners could be made felons overnight due to possession of high-capacity magazines. It also addresses some concerns from Black Caucus members and progressives over penalty enhancements. However, it was not enough for many lawmakers. All but one Republican, outgoing House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, voted against the measure. So did four Democrats. This bill is another encroachment on the Second Amendment rights that are guaranteed to each and every citizen of this state if they are of sound mind, said state Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, who added that all its going to do is create felons out of law-abiding citizens. Several Republicans also criticized the measure for not adequately addressing mental health issues surrounding guns. Morgan quickly retorted that lawmakers have passed increased amounts of funding for mental health in recent budgets, many that received no Republican votes. Proponents and activists acknowledged that the bill doesn't solve all gun-related problems. But, they say it will have a positive impact. "We know they don't solve all gun violence problems," said Sarah Breeden, a Mom's Demand activist from Bloomington. "No one bill is going to do that. This one has a chance of saving many lives and that's why we feel strongly that we should be here to make sure that our legislators and legislators across the state understand why it's important." Abortion rights The reproductive health measure, sponsored by state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, takes a number of actions meant to protect the abortion rights island that's been established in Illinois while also expanding capacity to accommodate the influx of out-of-state patients seeking care here. Among other things, the item allows advanced practice clinicians such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants to perform in-clinic abortions. Currently, advanced practice clinicians in Illinois can only prescribe abortion-related medications, which are typically only prescribed within the first 11 weeks of a pregnancy. But, by allowing them to perform "aspiration" abortions, which involve the use of suction to empty the uterus and typically occur 14 to 16 weeks into pregnancy, advocates believe this would help alleviate staffing shortages they are facing. The measure would also prevent doctors from automatically losing their licenses to practice in Illinois if it is revoked in another state for performing healthcare services that are legal in Illinois. It would also make it easier for out-of-state physicians, physicians' assistances and and advanced practice nurses to practice in Illinois. Many abortion clinics in states that have outlawed or severely restricted the procedure are setting up shop in states with more abortion-friendly laws. Cassidy said the measure "ensures that our providers, our patients, our families and our supporters are not subject to outrageous overreach from hostile states" and "would reinforce Illinois position as a national leader on reproductive freedoms." It heads to the Senate with an uncertain fate. Though the bill's language and a competing bill introduced yesterday by Harmon have near identical language in some areas, the two sides have disagreed on whether to include language defining gender-affirming care. Cassidy's bill includes it; the Senate's does not. Lawmakers have until Wednesday to wrap up work on these topics, or else they will be forced to start over as the new General Assembly is sworn in. Erin Henkel contributed to this report. Todays top pics: Chile Lights Festival and more Dramatic black bridal gowns and destination weddings are some of the hottest trends being unveiled at the 46th annual Bridal Showcase in Rapid City Saturday. Sally Samuelsen Wharton, coordinator of the Bridal Showcase, describes the event as the ultimate location where couples can meet vendors, sample food and wedding cake, and plan their wedding in one stop. The Bridal Showcase attracts couples from around the region and even from other states. The showcase gives future brides and grooms the opportunity to meet professionals who can help them achieve their dream wedding. Sixty vendors will be at the Bridal Showcase including photographers, florists, DJs, hotel and reception facility coordinators, jewelry professionals, wedding planners and officiants, beauty and makeup experts and more. The 2023 Bridal Showcase takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Best Western Ramkota, with bridal fashion shows at noon and 3 p.m. Because so many vendors for special events participate in the Bridal Showcase, its an ideal event for people who will be hosting family reunions and celebrations or even business gatherings to meet vendors and plan their events, Samuelsen Wharton said. Researching businesses online doesnt provide the same experience as meeting vendors face to face to see their products and get a sense of their personalities. If you go to the Bridal Showcase you cant get that experience any other way, she said. You can get everybody in one place so its much easier to (compare) vendors Theres nothing like being able to talk to people and ask them about their business. Its such a time-saver for people. Vendors know brides and grooms are planning now for weddings that may be happening later this year or in 2024, Samuelsen Wharton said. They want to get in front of the curve and want to be able to reach out to their audience (brides and grooms), and this is the perfect opportunity for them to do that, she said. Destination weddings trending This years vendors will include some new businesses that are meeting the growing demand for outdoor and destination weddings. One of the things were seeing as a trend in the bridal industry is that brides and grooms are making it much more an entire experience instead of guests just attending their wedding, Samuelsen Wharton said. We have a lot of people who travel here to get married. She attended a wedding in December the bride and groom hosted in Mexico. They planned three days of events, including a boat ride and a special meal for guests, as well as the wedding. Especially for destination weddings, couples try to give their guests mini-vacations, Samuelsen Wharton said. Especially since COVID-19, outdoor weddings have become very popular, she said. When people travel some place, its typically a place (such as the Black Hills) where people vacation, so the brides and grooms are planning activities in addition to the wedding. Were really seeing that a lot this year. Outdoor venues have become very popular, she said. Ive seen more venues open in the Black Hills than I have in all the years Ive done the Bridal Showcase. There are so many options for the brides that want to have a destination wedding People will learn about businesses that just opened or are planning to be open this summer and theyre going to be represented at the Showcase. Technology continues to change the way brides plan their weddings. Increasingly, brides announce their engagements on social media, set up wedding websites where guests can RSVP, and create invitations online or send invitations online. A new trend Samuelsen Wharton is seeing is the inclusion of dress codes. People have become so casual, she said. Whether the wedding is close to home or on a beach in Mexico, offering guests suggested attire guidelines including appropriate footwear will help the guests be well-prepared and well-dressed for the wedding and other activities that may be occurring. Samuelsen Wharton said there are online sites that put together packages that include photos of suggested attire for rehearsal dinners, weddings and other activities the couple may be planning. Giving people a suggested attire list is really new. I think its a good idea, Samuelsen Wharton said, noting that such lists make it easier for guests to plan what to wear and, if theyre traveling, what to pack. Grooms welcome Every year, Samuelsen Wharton said grooms are encouraged to attend the Bridal Showcase along with the brides. Last year, about half the brides were accompanied by grooms and Samuelsen Wharton hopes that number continues to grow. The Bridal Showcase includes a grand prize for a groom a 50-inch HD smart TV to entice more men to attend. The grand prize for a bride is a $500 gift certificate from Riddles Jewelry. We have about 40 prizes were giving away, Samuelsen Wharton said. We literally give away thousands of dollars of prizes. Thats always fun. Prizes include gift baskets, dinner reservations, overnight hotel stays, gift cards and more. Men wont feel out of place, she said. We do get more and more men that come. Theyre generally a little bit older and they want to be involved in the wedding. They want to help make decisions about the DJ, about the photographer. Brides in black Mens fashions are incorporated into the two fashion shows during the Bridal Showcase. This year, the fashion shows will feature black wedding gowns for the first time. Though black, the color of mourning, was long thought to be a taboo color for weddings, its a trend thats been elsewhere in the nation for a year or two and has made its way to the Midwest. Black dresses are appealing to brides of all ages who want a change of pace from the traditional white or ivory gowns, according to Frankie Stone, owner of Audras Bridal Gallery in Rapid City. Its somebody that wants something striking, Stone said. Theyre looking for something different and out of the box, and I foresee it being a trend for the next few years. Theres a lot of things you can do as far as color schemes. Were seeing a lot of wedding parties do the opposite the bride is in black and the bridesmaids tend to be in lighter colors, Stone said. If youre going for moody tones, Ive seen dark green or emerald green or dark maroon. Brides also are favoring modern, minimalist styles with a less is more vibe, Stone said. Its very classy, almost the black tie feel. Theres the classic black tux but then I also have the polar opposite to where the groom is wearing a bright-colored suit, Stone said. I feel like Audras tries to keep a lot of styles on hand so we can service anyone. A trend for bridal parties is for the bride to choose a color and let each bridesmaid select her own dress. One might opt for a beaded gown, while another chooses chiffon and another picks velvet, for example, Stone said. The likelihood of the bridesmaid wearing it again is higher, she said. Above all, brides in particular need to keep comfort in mind when choosing their dress and shoes, Stone said. A selection of glitzy gowns will be part of the Bridal Showcase fashion show. Those dresses are suitable for prom, military balls and other formal functions in the region, Stone said. She anticipates neon and gemstone colors will be popular this year. Admission to the 46th annual Bridal Showcase is $7.50 per person for those who pre-register by Friday, or $10 per person the day of the event. Go to https://blackhillsbride.com/events/bridal-showcase to pre-register. The Pennington County Sheriff's Office seized 14 horses and two donkeys from a home just north of Rapid City following an investigation into animal neglect by the property owner. A search warrant executed Thursday morning at a home in the 5000 block of 143rd Avenue uncovered more than a dozen animals in a state of extreme neglect. The Sheriff's Office says they will not confirm a name or address of the person under investigation until charges are filed. Holly Mattern, who keeps her horses on a property nearby, told the Journal last week that she's been contacting the Sheriff's Office about the neglected animals since June 2021. "There's alive horses that are starving to death sitting in the pens with dead horses," Mattern said. "No food... they're eating their own poop." Mattern said she and several neighbors along that road have been in contact with the PCSO, South Dakota State Vet and Humane Society multiple times. The animal neglect case is ongoing and is being jointly investigated with the South Dakota Animal Industry Board. Anyone wanting to help with the cost of care for the animals can contact investigator Jake Fredericksen at the Pennington County Sheriff's Office at 605-394-6113. The Alpine Room at The Monument was abuzz with activity on Thursday as dozens of local leaders gathered to talk crime and community issues ahead of the 2023 legislative session. Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender, Rapid City Police Chief Don Hedrick, Pennington County Sheriff Brian Mueller and Interim Pennington County State's Attorney Lara Roetzel headlined the event. They touched on everything from the prevalence of meth and the related violence to the need for laws strengthening protections for victims of crime. "Our message today was community safety needs to be at the forefront of the legislators' minds when they go to Pierre, and it was our mission to help them understand that we are at the frontlines of that, and we support them in that and it needs to be their top concern," Roetzel said. Chief Hedrick reiterated that meth in the community drives violence, saying that in a 10-hour shift on Wednesday, they made eight meth arrests. He also said that since 2020, Rapid City has averaged two babies per month born with meth in their system. For Roetzel, the focus is on victims' rights. "Yes, defendants should have every right in the American criminal justice system," she said. "But I feel like the victim has gotten lost in that." In her career as a prosecutor, she's noticed a change in the citizen response to crime and the criminal justice system, both in those willing to report crimes and criminals complying with their sentences. Roetzel said the Pennington County State's Attorney's Office has 27 open homicide cases and a mere three attorneys with experience prosecuting such a case. "It's hard to make the system feel like justice," she said, begging for a refocus on victims. Roetzel made several impassioned recommendations to the Pierre-bound leaders in attendance, all focused on victims and their rights. She asked them to consider codifying federal laws 413 and 414, which deal with presenting previous criminal evidence in rape and child molestation cases, respectively. Another focus is the ability to prosecute rape cases, since South Dakota does not include "without consent" in the rape definition. She shook her head when discussing the rape definition, asking why she should have to tell victims who were assaulted those who froze and couldn't say no or fight back that their cases can't be prosecuted as rapes. Roetzel said a child-informed consent bill is likely headed to the capital this session as well. Such a bill would provide accommodations for child victims of rape who are testifying against their abusers. The meeting was a chance for community leaders to meet and talk with local legislators before their trip to Pierre next week. "Keep an open line of communication with the local officials," Mayor Allender said when asked what some of his top priorities are. "Even though they are representatives of their constituents, we get to rub elbows with their constituents every day, and we have a unique relationship." Allender spoke of the need for more treatment resources in the community and advocated for a review of the state's codified laws, especially those that roadblock recently released offenders back into the system. Chief Hedrick previously said that many of those his officers come into contact with are already known in the criminal justice system. The speakers agreed that the funding needed, whether for jail space or rehabilitation centers a point of some minor disagreement between Allender and Mueller is critical to the overall crime and safety in the community. "Quality and effective public safety can be expensive, but communities can't afford to do [it] incorrectly," Mueller said. "We have to do it correctly, even though there's a cost to it." The 38-day legislative session begins Tuesday, Jan. 10 in Pierre. Note: This article originally published in High Country News For the past two years, La Nina, the cooling of ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, has wreaked havoc on weather around the globe. Now the World Meteorological Organization expects the phenomenon to return for a third consecutive year, a rare occurrence that forecasters predict could bring wackier-than-usual winter weather to the West, once again. La Nina is the yin to El Ninos yang. Normally, trade winds the tropical winds near the Earths surface blow west along the equator, moving warm Pacific Ocean water from the Americas toward Asia. This cycle is disrupted every two to seven years by El Nino-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO, events, which typically last about a year. During El Nino, the winds weaken, and warm water is pushed back toward the Americas. La Nina, meanwhile, strengthens trade winds, bringing cool water to the surface of the Americas West Coast. A study published this summer by University of Washington researchers suggests global warming could be to blame for this years La Nina encore. The two weather phenomena have different effects: El Nino tends to bring wetter conditions to the Southwestern U.S., while La Nina usually brings moist, cool weather to the Northwest and hot, drier conditions to the Southwest. Still, you might not want to plan your winter around these predictions. Meteorologists have been tracking these phenomena and their impacts on Western weather for about seven decades, but its hard to forecast exactly what they mean for any particular location. Pretty much the entire West was unusually moist during the La Nina winter of 2007-08, for example, and all of it including the northern regions saw above-average temperatures last year. When it comes to weather, its best to hedge your bets. To get some sense of what we might expect this year, we look back on some of 2022s notable weather events and trends to see how they followed and diverged from the expected La Nina patterns. 71 Number of monthly high-temperature records tied or broken in the West in February 2022. This included a 93-degree Fahrenheit reading in Chula Vista, California, but also several readings in the 70s in Oregon. The Southwest was indeed warm, as is typical of La Nina, but the heat in the Pacific Northwest was unusual. Chalk it up to climate change. 40 The high temperature in degrees Fahrenheit in Utqiagvik, Alaskas northernmost city, on Dec. 5, 2022. That shattered the previous high record of 34 degrees, set in December 1932, and also set a new record mark for the latest date the mercury hit 40 degrees F. It was also only the third December day on record that the temperature climbed above freezing. Much of Alaska is roasting relatively speaking under warmer-than-average temperatures so far this winter, even though the La Nina pattern would normally cause the state to be colder than usual. 13.4 inches Snow water equivalent a measure of snowpack in the Upper Colorado River Basin at its 2022 peak on March 23. Normally, the peak is about 16 inches and occurs more than two weeks later. It was, in other words, a dry, warm winter, following the typical La Nina pattern. But by summers end, precipitation for the entire water year had risen to the median level, thanks to heavy summer rains unusual for La Nina. 900,000 Number of acres burned in wildfires in New Mexico by the start of summer 2022, thanks to tinder-dry forests following a meager winter. 113 Percent of median precipitation the Yellowstone River headwaters received during Water Year 2022 (Oct. 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2022), in line with the typical La Nina pattern. 50,000 cubic feet per second Peak flow of the Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs, Montana, on June 13, 2022, about four times the median flow for the date. This 500-year flooding event was caused by abundant winter snowmelt, combined with an atmospheric river storm system that dumped record-breaking rainfall as much as 3.6 inches in 24 hours in and around Yellowstone National Park. July 24 Date that the Rio Grandes flow through Albuquerque, New Mexico, fell to zero cubic feet per second. While the river often dries up farther downstream, this was the first time since 1983 that it happened that far north. 1,810 cubic feet per second Flow of the Rio Grande through Albuquerque on Aug. 7, less than two weeks after it had gone dry. An unusually bountiful monsoon dropped 2.48 inches of precipitation on Albuquerque that month, the second-highest monthly amount since 1995. 48 Number of all-time high temperature records tied or broken in the West during a September heat wave. The temperature exceeded 115 degrees in several cities in Northern California. 1,160 cubic feet per second Flow of Mill Creek upstream from Moab, Utah, on Aug. 21 following a sudden deluge. The stream had been running at about 15 cfs just moments earlier, and the unexpected torrent flooded Moab streets and businesses. This does not jibe with typical La Nina patterns. .76 inches Amount of rainfall in the Phoenix, Arizona, area on Dec. 3, the wettest 24-hour period of the year not what youd expect for a La Nina year. Total precipitation in November was just .08 inches. SOURCES: World Meteorological Organization; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Weather Service; U.S. Geological Survey; National Resource Conservation Service; R.C.J. Wills, Y. Dong, C. Proistosecu, K.C. Armour and D. Battisti. S. (2022). Systematic Climate Model Biases in the Large-Scale Patterns of Recent Sea-Surface Temperature and Sea-level Pressure Change, Geophysical Research Letters, 49, e2022GL100011. Climate schematics based on those by Emily Eng/NOAA. Infographic design by Luna Anna Archey/High Country News Jonathan Thompson is a contributing editor at High Country News. A Gillette man pleaded guilty Wednesday to soliciting sex near military and navy establishments, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Montana said. Mark Jay Albrecht, 65, solicited sex in a Quality Inn room in Billings, Montana, in 2021. The Quality Inn is about two miles from a military recruitment center. Officers responded to a report of possible commercial sex activity at the hotel on April 21, the office said in a statement. They knocked on the door of the suspected room and announced themselves. Albrecht, his co-defendant Ashley Stella, and an unidentified female minor were inside. He allegedly buttoned up his shirt as he exited the room. Stella admitted Albrecht was in the room to pay for sex, and electronic communications from earlier that day showed discussions about the meeting. Stella, of Reno, Nevada, was sentenced to eight years in prison for transporting a minor for prostitution. A third co-defendant, Cecil Jerome Hatchett, of Las Vegas, N.V., is scheduled for a change of plea hearing Friday. Albrechts misdemeanor charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison, a $100,000 fine and one year of supervised release, the statement said. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 4. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released for public review and comment a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge proposes to remove a culvert and restore riparian habitat along North Burnt Fork Creek to improve fish passage, while maintaining visitor access, through the refuge in the Bitterroot River Valley of southwestern Montana. The refuge, in partnership with Trout Unlimited and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, is proposing to remove a barrier culvert and open approximately 2.5 miles of stream habitat on North Burnt Fork Creek as it passes through the refuge. Previously, an impoundment was built on North Burnt Fork Creek, 0.2 miles from its confluence with the Bitterroot River. The structure, a set of two vertical pipes leading into two culverts, effectively impounds water but also created a full passage barrier to fish migrating between the Bitterroot River and North Burnt Fork Creek. The structure has encouraged sediment to precipitate out, which, over time, has made this area less beneficial for waterfowl within the refuge. Reed canary grass, a highly aggressive non-native grass, has also established throughout the riparian area outcompeting the native riparian tree and shrub community, and simplifying habitat for migratory songbirds and other riparian-dependent species. Many fish species in the Bitterroot River Valley, including federally threatened bull trout and the Montana Species of Special Concern westslope cutthroat trout, migrate into tributaries like North Burnt Fork Creek to spawn. The proposed action is likely to enhance not only riparian habitat but also local fisheries and resultant fishing opportunities. The project is located within the refuges Wildlife Viewing Area (WVA), where visitors enjoy utilizing the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)-accessible trail system for walking, wildlife viewing and environmental education and interpretation. While access may be limited during construction anticipated in July and August 2023, the WVA would remain open for all users and closure notices will be posted on the refuge website. The refuge has prepared a draft EA to evaluate effects and alternatives associated with the proposed culvert removal and seeks public comment. The comment period for the draft EA will run for 30 days from Jan. 5 Feb. 3. A public meeting, with brief introductory presentation and open house style information sharing, will be held on Jan. 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Lee Metcalf Refuge Headquarters and Visitor Center: 4567 Wild Fowl Ln, Stevensville, MT 59870. Comments can be submitted by email to leemetcalf@fws.gov with the subject line Burnt Fork Creek Culvert Comment. Comments can be submitted by mail to: Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, Attn Burnt Fork Creek Culvert Comment, 4567 Wildfowl Lane, Stevensville, MT 59870. A copy of the draft EA can also be found on the refuge website library at: https://www.fws. The second of two East Helena brothers who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection in Washington, D.C., was sentenced Friday to 46 months in prison, 3 years of supervised release and $2,000 in restitution, federal officials said. Jerod Wade Hughes recently stated in court documents he was duped into believing the 2020 presidential election was stolen and was responding to the clarion call of a charlatan when he respond to then-President Donald Trumps pleas to save the country that day. The sentencing came on the two-year anniversary of the attack on the Capitol. Authorities had asked for Jerod Hughes, 39, to be sentenced to 51 months of incarceration plus three years of supervised release, and to be ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution and a mandatory $100 special assessment. His brother Joshua Hughes was sentenced Nov. 22 to 38 months of incarceration, three years of supervised release and $2,000 in restitution. The court recommended he be directed to a Bureau of Prisons facility in Sheridan, Oregon and begin his sentence Jan. 2. District of Columbia District Judge Timothy J. Kelly presided in both cases. "I felt the judge fairly considered what should be considered," Jerod Hughes' attorney, Jonathan Zucker, said Friday. "I would have preferred a short sentence." But he said he felt Jerod Hughes' sentence was on the short end of the spectrum and said the judge was "conscientious." Zucker said he did not think the fact the sentencing occurred on the two-year anniversary of the breach had any impact on the punishment given. "I dont think it affected it, not whatsoever," he said. In a defendants sentencing memo filed Dec. 30, Zucker asked the court to impose the shortest sentence the court believes justice would permit for Jerod Hughes. Defendant sincerely regrets his involvement in the instant case and is embarrassed that he allowed himself to be so gullible, Zucker, wrote. The 12-page memo states that Jerod Hughes was responding to the entreaties of the Commander in Chief to save the country. It is only in retrospect he has learned that he was responding to the clarion call of a charlatan, it says. Defendants intentions were noble in that he was responding to a call to sacrifice and civic duty as a citizen. It is only in hindsight that he recognizes that he was a misguided, naive dupe. The brothers pleaded guilty Aug. 25 to an obstruction of an official proceeding charge. At one time they faced nine felony counts each. Federal authorities said recently that more than 950 defendants have been arrested in nearly all 50 states and the District of Columbia. On Jan. 6, 2021, the brothers were part of a mob of Trumps supporters who broke into the Capitol to contest the Electoral College vote being certified that would name Democrat Joe Biden as president instead of Trump. An attorney for the brothers has said they are not members of the Proud Boys. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia has said the brothers placed themselves at the tip of the spear that day and were among the first 10 rioters to enter the Capitol building, actively engaged in the destruction of government property, harassed and interfered with Capitol police and obstructed a joint session of Congress. According to a six-page Statement of Offense signed Aug. 14 by Joshua Hughes and Aug. 17 by Jerod Hughes, the brothers acknowledge prosecutors could prove the allegations against them beyond a reasonable doubt. Officials say in the August detailed statement the brothers drove from Montana to Washington, D.C. to attend the Jan. 6, 2021 Stop the Steal rally. After the rally, the brothers joined a group of rioters on the northern set of stairs and were part of the crowd that pushed past law enforcement officers at the top of the staircase, forcing the officers to retreat, the document states. Federal authorities said in the Nov. 15 memorandums that the brothers advanced through a violent crowd on the west front and climbed scaffolding on the northwest steps to pass the crowd and advance even farther. The brothers entered the U.S. Capitol building about 2:13 p.m. through a window next to the Senate Wing door that had been shattered open by other rioters wielding weapons and a plastic riot shield. Jerod Hughes kicked open the Senate Wing Door to let hundreds of rioters inside. The brothers then, according to the memorandum, roamed the hallways and menaced police and chased Eugene Goodman, a Capitol police officer. Authorities said Jerod Hughes then screamed threats to police guarding the Senate chamber. Authorities said he then went into the Senate chamber and reviewed sensitive documents left behind by Senators forced to flee. The brothers turned themselves in to authorities after they returned to Montana and initially were incarcerated in early 2021. They pleaded not guilty and were released from custody pending trial, on their own recognizance. Including the two Hughes brothers, there have been six Montanans arrested in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 riot upon the Capitol. Gov. Glenn Youngkins administration is continuing its effort to expand school choice in Virginia by pushing legislation that would allocate a portion of per-pupil state funding to a savings account for parents to spend on private school tuition or other approved education expenses. The government-authorized accounts, known as education savings accounts, would be available to parents of any Virginia child enrolled in a public school for at least one semester. Families would be able to spend the funds on tuition, fees and required textbooks at private K-12 schools in Virginia or on homeschool expenses. Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears joined parents and legislators on Thursday afternoon to support the school choice bill and movement, which she compared to the fight for Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that effectively banned government-imposed racial segregation in schools. All of us pay for our childrens education. The problem is that the rich make a decision. The rest of us, we only have what the government has chosen to do, Sears said. Were not doing that anymore. The news conference followed a rally hosted by Americans for Prosperity-Virginia, which advocates for parental rights and school choice for Virginia families, as well as for lower taxes and less government regulation. The chief patron of the bill, Del. Glenn Davis, R-Virginia Beach, said the legislation reaffirms state law that provides parents the right to make decisions concerning the education of their children. For way too long, too many students have been trapped in schools that are failing them, especially in our historically Black communities, Davis said. All children should have access to the resources necessary to reach their full potential. Advocates and opponents of education savings accounts quibble over labeling the programs as vouchers, a politicized term that, to many, carries a negative connotation. The difference is that unlike traditional vouchers that give state funds directly to private schools, the funds for education savings accounts are deposited into savings accounts that parents can use for various educational purposes. The first education savings account in the U.S. was enacted in Arizona in 2011 after previous voucher programs were deemed unconstitutional. If the General Assembly passes the legislation and Youngkin signs it, Virginia would be the ninth state to enact education savings accounts. The money for education savings accounts would be pulled from state funding, which is about one-third of per-pupil funding afforded for each student, according to Davis. Federal and local per-pupil funding would stay with the school system. [School districts] lose the cost and the overhead of that child, but they still get to keep two-thirds of funding. I would challenge anyone to tell me a better business deal than that, Davis said. Some of Davis Democratic colleagues do not approve of using state funds to subsidize private schools. The bottom line is that for too long, our schools have been underfunded and our kids have suffered because of it, said House Minority Leader Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth. Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, called education savings accounts the new generation of vouchers, and said the limited oversight for the programs makes it hard to study them. There is no accountability with the money when kids go to private schools that pop up to take funding, VanValkenburg said. St. Christophers School and Collegiate School dont have more spots. Ideological schools and for-profit schools will pop up, offer inferior product, and discriminate based on their beliefs. All with public monies. Legislators will consider the bill during the General Assemblys 2023 regular session, which begins Wednesday. HCA Healthcare has proposed building a hospital in Hanover County. If approved, it would be the Richmond areas 13th public acute care hospital and the seventh operated by HCA. The health system on Tuesday submitted a request for a certificate of public need, which state officials will decide whether to approve. The project already has the support of the Hanover Board of Supervisors and other members of the Hanover community. The proposed hospital would include 60 inpatient beds moved from Henrico Doctors Retreat hospital in Richmond. It would have four operating rooms, one CT scanner, one MRI scanner and one cardiac catheterization lab. The facility would be operated as a campus of HCAs Henrico Doctors hospitals, and administrators of those hospitals would run the new facility. The project aims to better serve patients already seeking care from Henrico Doctors Hospital at a location closer to their homes, said Pryor Green, a spokesperson for HCA. If approved, the hospital would be built on a 39-acre plot on Sliding Hill Road in Hanover, adjacent to Interstate 95. HCA has the option to purchase the site and will propose rezoning the property as a general business district or community business district. HCA has not selected an architect, and a design for the hospital has not been completed. Hanover is part of Henrico Doctors service area, and traffic congestion can hinder access to health care, HCA said in its request. Traffic on I-95 between Richmond and Fredericksburg is expected to worsen over time, said HCA, citing a report by the Virginia Department of Transportation. The other Henrico Doctors campuses are on Skipwith Road and on Parham Road in western Henrico County and in the Fan neighborhood in the city of Richmond. If built, it would become Hanovers second hospital. Bon Secours operates Memorial Regional Medical Center roughly 13 miles to the southeast in the Atlee area of the county. Hanover has more than 110,000 residents. With just 60 inpatient beds, it would be one of the smallest hospitals in the area. HCA estimates the capital cost at $234 million, which it would pay. HCA would move the 60 beds and cardiac catheterization lab from Henrico Doctors Retreat to the new facility. The project would not increase the number of inpatient beds in the area. Among the 60 would be six intensive care unit beds. The 60 beds currently at Retreat are in rooms built in 1969 that are inefficient and too small to house a computer, the health system said. Retreat, which has 227 beds, would remain open with 167 beds after the new hospital opens. The beds are underutilized, HCA said in its request. Theres also a need for more CT scanners, the health system said. The six scanners at Henrico Doctors locations were used 50,000 times in 2021, which is more than recommended. The new facility would improve access to inpatient services, surgical services, CT imaging, MRI imaging and cardiac catheterization services for a significant number of Henrico Doctors patients at a location closer to their homes, HCA said. It would have an emergency department, but its size was not included in the submission form. Its staff would consist of roughly 293 employees, including 112 nurses. Most would be relocated from other HCA facilities. HCA estimates the new hospital would see more than 4,000 patients in its first year and turn a profit of roughly $3.8 million. The state health commissioner, Dr. Colin M. Greene, has the final say on whether to approve the request. But the Hanover Board of Supervisors supports it, citing traffic concerns. Del. Buddy Fowler Jr., R-Hanover; Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield; and Hanover Fire-EMS also said they are on board. As soon as we respond to a call, we know that we are fighting the clock, said Jethro H. Piland III, chief of Hanover Fire-EMS. Anthem said that as Hanover County grows, it needs more health care services. There are currently 12 acute care hospitals in greater Richmond that serve the public. For-profit HCA owns Chippenham, Johnston-Willis, Parham Doctors, Henrico Doctors, Retreat Doctors and TriCities which was recently renamed from John Randolph. The nonprofit Bon Secours operates Memorial Regional, St. Marys, St. Francis, Richmond Community and Southside. Virginia Commonwealth University operates the government-affiliated VCU Medical Center. McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center treats patients with VA health care. Its unclear how long it will take for the certificate of public need to be approved or denied. HCA expects it would begin construction roughly a year and a half after it receives approval, and the hospital would open another two and a half years later. After years of political engagement as a consultant and work as co-founder of CrowdLobby a website that connects everyday people to professional lobbyists Heidi Drauschak is running for a Fairfax County seat in the state Senate. Though Drauschak is the first person to declare candidacy for the newly drawn 35th District, she could face two Democratic incumbents in the area Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax, and Sen. David Marsden, D-Fairfax, both of whom have been drawn into the district. Maybe theyll decide to run against me, but Im not running against them, Drauschak said jokingly in a call with the Richmond Times-Dispatch ahead of her formal announcement. Redistricting has lumped Senate incumbents together in six potential nomination contests and in two potential general election match-ups, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Retirements could negate some of those potential battles. Energy and environmental policy are areas Drauschak said she would like to work in if elected. She noted that she plans to protect the Virginia Clean Economy Act and keep the state in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative a multi-state carbon market aimed at reducing emissions. The top of her list of legislative priorities is campaign finance reform. For the past two years she has been working with the advocacy group Big Money Out VA to press legislators on the matter and grew frustrated at the lack of urgency she said she experienced from lawmakers. Efforts to reform how candidates can receive donations and how to spend them have stalled over the years. A subcommittee created to focus on the matter failed to meet during 2022 after scheduling one meeting in December that ended up being canceled. Drauschak said that was a perfect example of the challenge to work on the issue. I thought, OK, I can either spend the next 10 years as an advocate and keep being told over and over again that none of this matters, or I can change my tactics and try to do something from within the legislature, she said. She also said campaign finance reform is a crucial step in solving a number of other issues across the political spectrum. For example, she singled out Dominion Energy the states largest utility and one of the top donors to many legislators and candidates. Im not anti-Dominion. Theyre a very important part of our ecosystem, she said. But I dont think they should be giving money to legislators or at least unlimited money to legislators, and then heavily lobbying that same legislature that then turns around and writes the rules for them. Another issue Drauschak wants to work on is enhancing paid medical leave and paid parental leave even though she may not take much time off herself. Drauschak found out she was pregnant this past August. I think, especially as a woman whos now going through this experience myself, Im extremely fortunate and have a lot of flexibility and its a flexibility that a lot of women are not afforded, Drauschak said. As a soon-to-be parent, she said shes passionate about bringing her child into a world that she and others try to make better. It definitely grounds me to constantly remind myself that you know, theres a child on the way and thats why Im doing this, Drauschak said. Two years after a presidential election protest turned into insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, state Sen. Jennifer McClellan said the stakes couldnt be clearer for American democracy as early voting began on Friday for a Feb. 21 special election to fill the congressional seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Donald McEachin, D-4th, on Nov. 28. Democratic nominee McClellan, an African American state senator from Richmond, recalled how she had celebrated the election of Raphael Warnock in a special election in Georgia the night before the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Warnocks victory then gave Georgia its first Black senator and Democrats a Senate majority, which they retained after he won again in Georgia in November. But supporters of then-President Donald Trump violently stormed the Capitol in a futile attempt to block Congress from certifying the election of Democrat Joe Biden as president. I went to bed full of hope, McClellan said Friday at an early voting rally outside the City of Richmond Office of Elections. And the next day, that hope turned into horror, when people tried to take by force ... what they could not win at the ballot box. McClellan, who introduced the Voting Rights Act of Virginia a week later, faces Republican nominee Leon Benjamin and political independent Elliott Cox-Wardrick in the special election. Later on Friday, Benjamin, a South Richmond minister in his third race for the 4th District seat, sidestepped questions about the insurrection or his refusal to concede his election losses to McEachin by 91,000 votes in 2020 and 73,000 votes on Nov. 8. Rehashing things that divide us are only going to keep dividing us, he said in an appearance outside the early voting center, accompanied only by Richmond City Republican Committee Chairman Hayden Fisher. We have to now to find a way to communicate unity. In his second campaign against McEachin last year, Benjamin said, Election integrity is the single most important issue facing America today and alleged that the election was STOLEN from our rightful President Donald J. Trump. He also promised to be an ULTRA MAGA Pro Trump congressman 100% of the time with ZERO COMPROMISE, referring to Trumps Make America Great Again slogan. Benjamin mentioned none of that on Friday. He spoke instead about curbing inflation, securing national borders, reducing crime and making schools safer. I am not going to be one that wants to be divisive and keep dividing us we have had enough of that, he said. It is time now to unite all people. Benjamin said his campaign team will contact McClellans team to challenge her to debate. We are ready, he said. Lets talk about the issues. Earlier on Friday, McClellan said hadnt heard from him or his campaign. They havent conceded that they lost the last two times, she said after her rally, which also featured U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and other top Democratic elected officials in Richmond. Democrats vowed not to be complacent about their chances in the heavily Democratic district, even though McClellan captured almost 85% of the vote in a four-candidate firehouse primary that drew 27,900 voters on Dec. 20 just eight days after Gov. Glenn Youngkin set the special election date. We cant take anything for granted, said 2nd District Richmond City Councilwoman Katherine Jordan. Weve got to get the same level of enthusiasm for every election because so much is at stake. Those stakes include an ongoing struggle over who will lead the U.S. House of Representatives after four days of Republican party infighting led to a deadlock in election of a new speaker. Newly elected or re-elected representatives cannot be sworn into office or, arguably, represent their constituents until a new speaker is chosen. As of late Friday afternoon, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California had gained support among a number of GOP holdouts and expressed confidence, but remained short of victory after 13 ballots. They show us each and every day how they would govern, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney said. Thats why its important to put the right people in office. Benjamin, asked about the impasse in the House, said McCarthy and the Freedom Caucus are now starting to work that out. Thats part of the process, he said. I think America needs to see what that really looks like real time. We are following the Constitution of the United States. The special election will feature three Black candidates to represent a district with a majority of racial and ethnic minority voters. If elected, McClellan would be the first African American woman to represent Virginia in Congress. I think people are going to be excited to be part of history, said Alexsis Rodgers, chair of the 4th District Democratic Committee. Carlos Joaquin sworn in as Mexico Ambassador to Canada Mexico City, Mexico Carlos Joaquin has been formally sworn in as Mexicos Ambassador to Canada. On January 5, the former governor of Quintana Roo, Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez, took his oath before the Comision Permanente in Mexico City. His swearing in came only one day after being approved for the position by the Senate of Mexico. During his swearing in, Carlos Joaquin assured that the presence of Mexico in Canada is of the utmost importance and will be a substantive factor in the work agenda that will be deployed in that country. The former governor highlighted the value of continuing the promotion and positioning of Mexican companies in Canadian markets. The embassy and the consular network should promote the study and research of binational relations aimed at promoting the productive chain, the reduction in the costs of exchanges and the development of knowledge and skills in a low carbon economy, he said noting that Canada is an important country for Mexico in the T-MEC. It is an important task. Canada is an important country in terms of economic and tourist exchange with Mexico and is part of the Free Trade Agreement. A country that is very close in terms of investment and that will surely be a very important issue, he said. Joaquin said it is an honor to accept the important position of Mexicos Ambassador to Canada, which was proposed last year by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Mexico welcomes migrant changes announced by US government Mexico City, Mexico In a joint statement between External Relations and the INM, Mexico says it welcomes the announcement of new actions by the US for orderly and humane migration. Mexico recognizes that, based on the positive results of both the Uniting for Ukraine program and the new system of humanitarian permits for Venezuelans, as of today, the United States Government will expand the new route of entry into the US labor market for up to 360,000 nationals per year from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The humanitarian permit model implemented by the United States for people from Venezuela has opened up a new method of orderly, safe, and regular entry into that country, while at the same time, it has significantly reduced irregular migratory flows in the region by up to 94 percent. The access of migrants to said country must be carried out exclusively by air and not through the land border with Mexico. Based on the objective of expanding labor mobility mechanisms in the Americas, recognized in the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection, the United States has responded positively to Mexicos requests to expand labor and humanitarian mobility mechanisms in the region. The humanitarian permit program for people from Venezuela, implemented in October 2022, shows positive results both in the creation of a new pathway for admission to the US labor market and in the reduction of irregular migratory flows in the region. As of today, the United States will process access for up to 30,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua or Venezuela per month. This would represent a total of 360,000 during 2023, the largest expansion in labor mobility in contemporary US history. Additionally, Mexico and the United States will expand their resettlement policies for refugees, in recognition of the importance of access to asylum in both countries and in the region. According to the information provided by the United States Government, migrants who follow the instructions of the program and do not appear at the land border between Mexico and the United States, will be able to enter that country by air and formally access its labor market. People of the aforementioned nationalities who do not meet the requirements or who do not follow the indications of the new program will be subject to Title 42 as has happened up to now with people of Venezuelan nationality. The expansion of the new measures prevents such persons from coming into contact with criminal organizations and, in contrast, from being able to enter the United States in an orderly, safe, regular, and humane manner. The Government of Mexico will strengthen dialogue and collaboration with international organizations from the humanitarian action group established in October 2022. The main purpose is to coordinate and increase protection measures for migrants and refugees who are in national territory from a human rights perspective. Likewise, the Mexican authorities will periodically evaluate the development of the new program with the United States Government in order to improve its results and assess its continuity. In December, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) referred to Greg Abbott, the Republican governor of Texas, as inhumane and anti-Christian for mobilizing migrants aboard trucks during the Christmas season. Recently escaped prisoner who was leader of criminal group killed in shootout Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua One of the prisoners who escaped Cereso No. 3 in Ciudad Juarez Sunday, was killed early Thursday morning by authorities. The Chihuahua State Attorney Generals Office (FGE) reported the death of Ernesto Alberto Pinon de La Cruz, leader of Los Mexicles criminal group. In a statement released by the Governor of Chihuahua, Maria Eugenia Campos, he was killed during a police search operation for the escaped prisoners Thursday. Pinon de La Cruz was wounded during a shootout with police and later died when authorities located the whereabouts of several of the escaped prisoners. Pinon de La Cruz was the leader of Los Mexicles criminal group, a group related to the Caborca Cartel, which is a splinter of the Sinaloa Cartel. On January 1, an armed attack against the prison resulted in a riot that left 17 dead and at least 27 escapees. The following day, authorities reported their investigation had lead them to believe the attack was a heist to free Pinon de La Cruz who was serving a sentence of more than 200 years. A Roanoke drug dealer who conspired to harm an undercover informant and almost had him killed was sentenced Friday to 15 years in federal prison. Sometime in 2020, William Ramey-Woodard came to suspect that a confidential informant working with police had helped to put him in jail on charges of distributing heroin and fentanyl. Ramey- Woodard began to talk, through coded telephone and email conversations while he was incarcerated, with a friend, Joseph C. Martin, about seeking vengeance against the man. On May 31, 2020, Martin went to the informants home with a 45-caliber pistol. He confronted the man and fired a single shot at point-blank range. The bullet narrowly missed its intended target, grazing the victims neck without causing serious injury. Martin pleaded guilty earlier and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Bassford likened Ramey-Woodards case to that of King Henry II of England, who in 1170 became embroiled in a bitter personal and political feud with the Archbishop of Canterbury. After King Henry spoke the infamous words Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest? four of his knights took the question as a command and used their swords to slay Thomas Becket. The king later said that he didnt intend for anyone to be killed. At his sentencing hearing Friday, Ramey-Woodard said the same thing. I didnt want the informant to be shot, he tearfully told U.S. District Judge Michael Urbanski. I didnt want him to be shot at. However, the 42-year-old agreed to a statement of facts that that read: He wanted the informant to suffer some consequence in retaliation for his work with the police, be that threats or perhaps a physical assault. Like King Henry, Bassford wrote in a sentencing memorandum, the defendant said the wrong thing at the wrong time to the wrong person. Like Henry, Mr. Ramey-Woodard, perhaps unintentionally, put in play a course of events that would not end well. Bassford asked for the 15-year sentence, which was at the top of a range recommended by a plea agreement. Defense attorney Murdoch Walker of Atlanta urged Urbanski to impose a lighter punishment, arguing that his client endured a difficult childhood growing up in Newark, New Jersey. After both of his parents died before he was 6 years old, Ramey-Woodard wound up in an abusive foster home, where he was berated and beaten. A lock on the refrigerator door often kept him hungry. He soon turned to drug dealing as a way to survive. The world around him was complete chaos, Walker said. Despite that, Ramey-Woodard later turned his life around and moved to Roanoke, where he ran a barbershop and became a loving father, family members wrote in letters to the court. He later succumbed to drug abuse. While a troubled childhood didnt excuse what happened later, Urbanski said in imposing the sentence, it helps paint the picture of where we are today. CULPEPER Culpeper County has declined to wade into the fray over the removal of a Confederate officers name from the town reservoir. Culpeper Town Council asked the board of supervisors for a letter supporting the towns October decision to rename Lake Pelham to Lake Culpeper. The town now has to get the new name approved for change on state and federal maps, and the process seeks county support. In response, the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors, at its meeting Tuesday, removed the item from its agenda. The lake name change issue was deemed unnecessary because the town owns the lake and it is really its decision alone, County Administrator John Egerston said Wednesday. The Town of Culpeper is applying in a form to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names Committee to adopt the change of Lake Culpeper on geographic government maps. The board is responsible for standardizing the names of geographic features within the 50 States and in other areas under the sovereignty of the U.S., according to the application form. The board retains legal authority to promulgate all official names and locations of natural features (e.g. mountains, rivers, valleys), as well as canals, channels, reservoirs and other select feature types. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources original description for the Culpeper lake is Pelham Reservoir, water supply reservoir for the Town of Culpeper. It covers 255 acres with a combination of forested and open sloped banks along its shores, according to the application. The town said it now prefers that the name of the reservoir not stem from a divisive individual. The name Lake Culpeper is felt to be more representative of the entire community. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names Committee only accepts proposals for names intended to honor a person deceased at least five years and will disapprove names that could be construed to honor living persons, according to the application. The person being honored should have had either some direct or long-term association with the feature, or have made a significant contribution to the area, community, or state in which it is located; or have outstanding national or international recognition. Though the town intended the new name to represent the name of the town of Culpeper, the town and county were named for Lord Thomas Culpeper, an English baron who was Colonial Governor of Virginia from 1680-83. Lake Pelham got its name in a 1970 naming contest. The winner was Alabama artillery officer John Pelham, who died in Culpeper at age 24 after being wounded in 1863s Battle of Kellys Ford, fought on St. Patricks Day on the banks of the Rappahannock River in the county. A classmate of Union cavalry officer George Armstrong Custer, Pelham left West Point a few weeks before graduation to join the Confederacy. Various markers around Culpeper town and county still recall his exploits and death. Not approved at the local board meeting was a form letter stating, The Culpeper County Board of Supervisors acknowledge and support the Town of Culpepers request to change the name of the reservoir located within Culpeper County, from Lake Pelham to Lake Culpeper, as demonstrated by the vote of the Town Council at the October 11, 2022 Town Council Meeting. Sincerely, Chairman, Culpeper County Board of Supervisors. After Del. Wren Williams was found not guilty of intentionally bumping Del. Marie March, she used social media to blame the justice system for her defeat in court on Wednesday. March, R-Floyd, twice declined comment to news media on Wednesday, except to say she was very disappointed, after a judge ruled that Marchs lawyers failed to prove Williams, R-Patrick, acted intentionally when the political adversaries collided in a crowded Wytheville event hall. From the start, March brought these charges as a political hit-job, Williams said in a written statement Wednesday. I am grateful Marchs allegations were proven false in court, so this controversy can officially be put to rest. But about two hours after the decision, March commented on her political Facebook page, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the two and a half-hour court proceedings, during which March was represented by the Wythe County commonwealths attorneys office. We had 8 more additional eyewitnesses wanting to testify about what they saw that evening, March wrote. The Commonwealths Attorney office did not call these witnesses after the Judge repeatedly sustained defense objections. The Wythe County commonwealths attorneys office did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. Judges are appointed by politicians and the Swamp is deep, folks, March wrote. Our country is in a sad state of affairs. All judges in the Wythe County circuit had been recused from hearing the case because it involved two sitting delegates. It is state lawmakers who appoint judges. Retired Alexandria-based Judge Becky Moore presided over the hearing. March has a pattern of using the criminal justice system to target people who stand in her way, Williams wrote Wednesday. This was a desperate move and its clear March is unhinged. About a month prior to the court hearing Wednesday, March lost another legal battle when a special prosecutor said there was no proof of a municipal government conspiracy to harm an embattled business she owns in Pulaski County. Pulaski County officials previously said they just want March to get proper permitting for The Big Red Barn events venue, which was previously listed for sale, though that listing is no longer online. Property records as of Thursday indicate the land at 4241 Lee Highway has not changed ownership. Both Williams and March are entering the second year of their first terms in the Virginia General Assembly, but only one can remain. Both were drawn into the same legislative district by the Virginia Supreme Court in 2021. The pair will face-off again in June, this time on Republican primary election ballots in the newly drawn Virginia House District 47. SPOTSYLVANIA The Spotsylvania Sheriffs Office and Commonwealths Attorney are looking into whether it is legal for private security guards hired by the Spotsylvania School Board to carry firearms on school property. Conversations are occurring between the Sheriffs Office, School Board Attorney, and the Commonwealth Attorney on whether the contracted armed security guards are legally able to possess a firearm on school properties, Sheriffs Office spokesman Troy Skebo said in an email Wednesday. The Spotsylvania Country School Board is contracting with Spotsylvania-based Sonny Inc., to provide armed security guards at board meetings, as well as in the School Board office on a daily basis. The school divisions procurement office issued a statewide request for proposals for armed security guard services on Sept. 22, after Spotsylvania Sheriff Roger Harris informed the board earlier that month that effective Oct. 14, his office would no longer provide security at School Board meetings. Harris said in a letter to the School Board that he was uncomfortable with deputies being put in a position to side with one or more [School Board] members regarding disruptive citizens. According to the request for proposals, armed security servicesspecifically, a minimum of two armed guardswill typically be required during regular, special and emergency meetings of the School Board. The request states that the contractor shall provide its guards with either 9mm or 40 caliber, standard police service-type semi-automatic, capable of firing 147-grain hollow-point ammunition recommended by the manufacturer and that the Contractor is responsible for ensuring that each armed officer is properly trained and certified in the use of firearms, and shall provide proof of such training and certification to the [School Board] upon request. Division spokesperson Jon Russell said in November that the board received two proposals for armed security services. The contract was awarded to Sonny, Inc.doing business as Security Solutions Group & Investigative Servicesand signed by its president, Andre Hutchinson, on Oct. 26, and by superintendent Mark Taylor on Nov. 7. According to the contract, Sonny, Inc. is charging $45 per hour for armed guard services and $67.50 per hour for overtime services. The Sheriffs Office was charging the school division $55 per hour per deputy for security at meetings until 10 p.m., at which point the rate increased to $110 per hour. The Free Lance Star requested a copy of the signed contract with Sonny, Inc., on Nov. 14 and did not receive it until Jan. 3. In addition to the contract, Taylor also signed an addendum, dated Nov. 1a week before he signed the actual contractwhich states that Sonny, Inc., will station one armed guard at the School Board office reception area between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. every weekday. That service was not requested by the initial RFP process. The Spotsylvania School Board has a policy prohibiting the use or possession of a firearm in any school building, on school grounds, in any school vehicle or at any school-sponsored activity without the authorization of the school principal or the superintendent or superintendent s designee. The superintendent or superintendents designee is permitted to give authority ... only to persons expressly authorized by statute to possess a firearm on school property, policy JFCD states. According to Virginia Code, school security officers are permitted to carry firearms if they meet certain criteria. The armed security guard must have worked as a law enforcement officer within 10 years of being hired by the school board, have retired or resigned in good standing, meet qualifications outlined by Virginia Code and have provided proof to the Department of Criminal Justice Services of completion of training in active shooter emergency response, emergency evacuation procedure and threat assessment. Virginia Code also requires the local school board hiring the security guard to [solicit] input from the chief law enforcement officer of the locality regarding the qualifications of the school security officer and [receive] verification from such chief law-enforcement officer that the school security officer is not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing, purchasing, or transporting a firearm. Skebo said in an email this week that no one from the School Board reached out to the Sheriffs Office to gather input prior to hiring Sonny, Inc. Once they were hired, I can confirm that one school board member has contacted our agency for input, he wrote. James Christian, manager of the Department of Criminal Justice Services Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety, said in an email this week that nine other school divisionsout of 132contract with private security companies to provide full-time security. If the school division is assigning these individuals as school security officers then they must also be certified as school security officers, Christian said. Christian also said there are no armed school security officers provided by private security companies to any public school division in Virginia. Skebo said the Spotsylvania Sheriffs Office is still providing resource officers for county schools. Donna Michaelis, director of the DCJS division of public safety training, said DCJS does not have any records of public school divisions that use armed private security for school board meetings. She said armed security officers and private security services businesses are regulated by the DCJS division of licensure and regulatory services, but that the division has no data regarding the clients serviced by licensed [private security services businesses]. It would be allowable for a private security services business to provide armed security officer services to a School Board if the meetings are not conducted in a zone that restricts armed carry, Michaelis said. A return to more typical January conditions is ahead for Virginia. For the last five days, from the Shenandoah Valley to the Roanoke Valley, and from Richmond to the Chesapeake Bay, temperatures have been consistently 15 degrees warmer than normal. The intense cold that engulfed the state around Christmas Day will not return, but temperatures will be much closer to normal starting this weekend, and there is some opportunity for snow by next weekend. In the shorter term, a weak system this weekend will bring rain toward dusk on Sunday, especially closer to the North Carolina state line. Most of the precipitation will be very light as it spreads northward across Virginia on Sunday night, with some light snow possible in the higher terrain west of the Blue Ridge. Once that system passes, the weather turns dry and seasonable for the first half of next week, meaning afternoon temperatures in the 40s to low 50s with daybreak temperature in the upper 20s and 30s. Another storm system squeezes by to the southeast of Virginia during the middle of next week. That system will likely be too far away to bring any rain or snow, but once it shifts east of Virginia, it will allow relatively colder air to return statewide for Thursday and Friday, and this presents an opportunity for significant snow between late Friday and Sunday next week (Jan 13-15). While too early for anything specific regarding timing, type, or intensity of precipitation in Virginia, there is more agreement in the extended weather forecast data to suggest a significant storm will push across Virginia during that time frame. For now, the data is still too inconsistent to promise significant snow. Having said that, this is the time to start watching the weather more closely over the next few days to see where the data trends lead. No matter where in Virginia you live, if you have plans for that weekend, whether they involve staying at home or traveling, be sure to follow the weather carefully over the coming several days. Expect modifications in the forecast until the picture becomes more clear toward the middle of next week on how this system impacts Virginia. Because this far in advance, there is still a reasonable chance that it misses Virginia entirely. Update: More money for Virginias flood prone areas Just before the new year, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation awarded Mathews County $1.34 million for three public waterfront projects, including the dredging of a channel to re-establish safe navigation for vessels along the working waterfronts. This award was among a series of grants from the DCR to ease flood risk in both rural and urban communities across the state. Included was also a $7.5 million grant for the city of Richmond toward the acquisition of Mayo Island, on the condition it would be converted into public green space. Earlier in the fall, flood protection grants were awarded to several communities in western Virginia, including Dickenson, Shenandoah and Tazewell counties, as well as Covington and Buchanan. The money comes from the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund, which is financed through Virginias involvement in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Since joining at the start of 2021, RGGI has returned $523 million to Virginia for flood improvements and energy efficiency programs. Tuesday marks one year since massive Virginia snowstorm Dennis Beaver Practices law in Bakersfield and welcomes comments and questions from readers, which may be faxed to (661) 323-7993, or e-mailed to Lagombeaver1@Gmail.com. Also, visit dennisbeaver.com. Aside from the perplexing question of why such a reckless, potentially lethal practice remains so popular, you may also be wondering, what actually happens to a bullet that's fired straight up into the sky? How high does it go? What stops it and sends it falling back to Earth? And when it descends, when and where does it land? Those aren't necessarily simple questions to answer. Ballistics researchers have spent a lot of time studying the performance of bullets fired horizontally because that's useful information for improving the accuracy and range of shooters. But when it comes to firing straight up in the air, which isn't something that soldiers, police officers, hunters or target shooters normally would do, there's not nearly as much data. Advertisement U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Julian Hatcher, who apparently was curious and had some time on his hands, did experiments in Florida in which he fired various weapons ranging from rifles to machine guns up into the air, and tried to measure how long it took for the bullets to come down, as well as where they landed. As he noted in his 1947 volume "Hatcher's Notebook," he calculated that a standard .30 caliber bullet fired from a rifle pointed straight up would rise to an altitude of 9,000 feet (2,743.2 meters) in 18 seconds, and then would return to Earth in another 31 seconds, and during the last few thousand feet would attain a "nearly constant" speed of 300 feet (91.4 meters) per second. But ballistics researcher James Walker, who holds a doctorate in mathematics and is department director of engineering dynamics at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, says that the altitude attained by a bullet fired straight up would depend upon the type of weapon and projectile, just as it does when fired horizontally. A handgun, which has a shorter barrel than a rifle and fires ammunition with a smaller cartridge that doesn't contain as much powder, isn't going to send a bullet soaring as high as a rifle will. Different types of rifles and ammunition vary as well. "With a .22, which isn't a big-game rifle, the cartridge is the same diameter as the bullet," Walker explains. "It doesn't have that much powder, and that bullet doesn't go fast. Rifles like the .30-06 have a much larger cartridge, which will go faster because there is more powder to burn." When fired horizontally, bullets tend to slow down rapidly due to air drag, so that a rifle bullet may be down to half of its initial speed by the time it gets to 500 meters (1,640.42 feet), Walker says. "If you choose to shoot it up, it will slow down faster because of gravity, not a whole lot." For altitude estimates, Walker pointed to this chart on the website of Close Focus Research, a ballistics testing company, which shows that a .25 caliber ACP handgun bullet might reach a maximum height of 2,287 feet (697 meters), while a .30-06 rifle bullet would rise to 10,105 feet (3,080 meters). 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. Council on Criminal Justice releases "Reflections on Long Prison Sentences: A Conversation with Crime Survivors, Formerly Incarcerated People, and Family Members" | Main | Some highlights from Ohio's sweeping new criminal justice reform bill January 5, 2023 Quite a remarkable account of one January 6 rioter's sentencing story The Washington Post has this very lengthy piece telling a remarkable story about the life and history of one of the January 6 rioters and where his sentencing fit in. The piece is fully titled "Prison or mercy? A Jan. 6 rioter weighs his sins and confronts his fate. Eight years before he stormed the Capitol, Jake Peart acted with unfathomable grace. A judge must decide if it matters." The long piece is worth the time, and here is part of its start: Nearly 18 months had passed since he stormed the U.S. Capitol and sought to halt the inauguration of a duly elected president. Now the time had come for the federal government to pass judgment on Jake Peart. The sentencing hearing was taking place via video, a necessity given the sheer number of defendants more than 950 and counting who, like Peart, had been charged with crimes related to the riot. Alone in his living room and free from custody as he awaited sentencing, Peart listened as a federal prosecutor summarized his offense: The 47-year-old real estate agent, husband and father of five had blown past police officers being attacked violently, the blaring of alarms and the smell of tear gas emanating from the seat of American democracy. Once inside the Capitol, he had banged on a broken piece of furniture, yelling, This is our house!... Peart was one of thousands of American citizens who on Jan. 6, 2021, sought to overturn the 2020 election on behalf of an angry and defeated President Donald Trump. Collectively, the mobs actions were egregious, outrageous, dangerous, the judge told Peart, calling them a direct attack on the rule of law and democracy as we know it. But each of the insurrectionists in the Capitol that day was also an individual. And so before the judge delivered his decision, he described a letter in Pearts case file from a woman who in 2013 was driving home drunk from a bar when she struck and killed Pearts 28-year-old sister. A truly remarkable letter, the judge called it. In it, Andrea Milholm Jung described how the mercy and love that Peart had shown her after the accident and while she was in prison had helped her to find redemption. Put yourself in Mr. Pearts shoes and ask yourself if you would do the same, she wrote to the judge. It is a question I ask myself every single day. Peart sat quietly in his leather chair, his Bible at his side, awaiting his fate. From his window he could see the soaring peaks of southern Utahs red-rock desert mountains. The entire hearing had lasted a little more than an hour and now boiled down to just a few difficult questions: Was Peart truly repentant? Did he grasp the severity of his crime? Did he deserve prison or mercy? January 5, 2023 at 08:54 PM | Permalink Comments Sentencing is an individualized process. I would hope that the judge weighs the defendant's overall history and not just relegate his punishment to the acts that occurred on January 6th. They were indeed tragic. They were an embarrassment to the people of our country and were incredibly reckless and dangerous---far more so than any of the street crime that the media fetishizes because those crimes went to the very core of our democracy. But we are all so much more than our worst act---including Mr.Peart. So, again, I would hope that the judge weighs the 18 U.S.C. 3553(a) factors and sentence him accordingly. Posted by: Eric Hicks | Jan 6, 2023 8:22:06 AM The "severity of his crime"--give me a break. Posted by: federalist | Jan 6, 2023 10:00:08 AM Six months of home confinement is a pretty sweet sentence. It's like an adult "Time Out"! Given the way real estate agents come and go at irregular times, I don't know how they will really be able to monitor his comings and goings from home confinement. Being a real estate agent isn't a 9 to 5 job. Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jan 6, 2023 12:19:20 PM I understand your point perfectly well Mr.Gormley. The tragic reality is that to a 'certain' faction of America only 'certain' kinds of crimes matter. Apparently, endangering members of Congress , Metropolitan Police and Capitol Police isn't a big deal if it's in furtherance of agenda that has deliberately chosen to disassociate itself from reality. And yet, I wonder how 'they' would react if Mr.Peart's name was Deonte Jenkins. Would he be considered a freedom-loving patriot? Would he judged similarly? I truly doubt it. Having said that, I trust that if a district court deemed that Mr.Peart's crime warranted 6 months of home con lineament, I can live that. Although I completely disagree with the reasons that Mr.Peart chose to make himself available at the Capitol, his life should not be defined by a single act of extreme ignorance and gullibility. Posted by: Eric A. Hicks | Jan 6, 2023 11:09:30 PM Wait...what? Is Federalist stating that this person's crime was not severe or egregious? (Federalist commented above: "The severity of his crime"--give me a break"). If so, one may come to believe that Federalist is a member of that wicked "soft on crime mob", heaven forbid. Say it ain't so, Fed. Posted by: Sg | Jan 8, 2023 6:55:44 PM This guy is truly a non-violent offender, and was basically doing the same thing as the anti-Kavanaugh lunatics. Don't recall seeing them get jail time--and do you remember all the charges being dropped against the violent Portland mob? Or the dropping of charges against the Trump inauguration rioters? Then there's this: https://www.foxnews.com/media/antifa-activist-probation-gop-senator-office-axe Posted by: federalist | Jan 9, 2023 10:24:30 AM https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/09/russian-trolls-twitter-had-little-influence-2016-voters/ Fun facts. Posted by: federalist | Jan 9, 2023 11:51:51 AM What should this judge get: https://www.abajournal.com/web/article/judge-is-accused-of-falsely-claiming-assault-in-dispute-over-mackinac-island-bike-rental Posted by: federalist | Jan 10, 2023 9:29:14 AM This appears to be latest account of the story in the local papers: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2023/01/05/mackinac-island-bike-shop-judges/69782731007/ Posted by: Doug B. | Jan 10, 2023 1:13:13 PM Doug, I'd think you'd be angry that this judge was sentencing people while this case has worked its way through the system--this imperiousness (and dishonesty) has to have carried over into the courtroom. I wonder how many defendants (or litigants) got on the wrong side of her. Posted by: federalist | Jan 10, 2023 2:37:06 PM I do not waste much time, federalist, being "angry" about people I do not know. But I do think it interesting you have spotlighted yet another reason that I do not share your rough confidence that 999 out of 1000 cases are generally handled fairly. Posted by: Doug B | Jan 10, 2023 2:55:42 PM Why in the name of everything holy would federalist bring up a black Detroit judge in the case of a January 6 rioter? And then something about Russian trolls? Surprised he isn't spewing Antifa! Antifa! Gott im Himmel. These people didn't merely protest, or even violently protest. They trespassed, in aggregate violently, on federal property, at the nation's Capitol, no less, while Congress was in session. They're lucky they didn't all get shot or brutally beaten. Their reason for so doing was less protest-worthy than the well-documented police brutality toward minorities, and others for that matter. The guy was convicted of a misdemeanor. Save your pity for felony defendants. Posted by: Fat Bastard | Jan 17, 2023 11:12:50 PM Post a comment Quite a remarkable account of one January 6 rioter's sentencing story | Main | Reviewing prosecutions and sentencings two years after January 6 Capitol riots From sentencing to prison reform to marijuana policy to record relief, Ohio has long been a state with all sort of dynamics developments across a range of criminal law and policy issues of great interest to me. And, as this local article details, these dynamic realities continued in the Buckeye State at the end of 2022 and into 2023 as the Ohio General Assebly finally completed a long-in-development major criminal reform bill known as Senate Bill 288. There is so much in the massive SB 288, I am still looking for an effective and complete summary. But the press piece reviews some of the parts I wish to highlight here: Gov. Mike DeWine on Tuesday signed into law an enormous criminal justice reform bill making it easier for Ohioans to adjust to life after their release, giving state officials wider latitude to release inmates early, reducing the consequences of minor marijuana offenses, and reducing underage drinking penalties, among dozens of other provisions. The most high-profile part of the new law, added shortly before it passed the legislature, toughens Ohios distracted-driving laws. But the 1,000-page bill, which passed the legislature with overwhelming support, also makes the greatest changes to Ohios criminal code in years. The new law, which takes effect in early April, was the product of nearly two years of work by state lawmakers and various agencies and groups. DeWine, before signing Senate Bill 288 during a Statehouse signing ceremony, said that while Ohioans might not agree with every part of the legislation, everybody was heard about their opinions. I think legislators should be complimented on the fact that they reached out to prosecutors, that they reached out to defenders, that they reached out to law-enforcement agencies, the governor said.... Two of the most important parts of SB288 will expand when people convicted of crimes can seek to have their criminal records sealed in other words, kept private with limited exceptions or expunged, meaning their record is destroyed altogether. Proponents argue that sealing and expunging helps to address widespread problems with former inmates getting housing, being offered a job, or securing a loan because of their criminal record. Other parts of the new law will: Allow prosecutors or city law directors to expunge thousands of low-level marijuana possession offenses, as well as ensure that arrests or convictions for possessing marijuana paraphernalia wont appear on Ohioans criminal records. Give the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, the states prison agency, more power to decide when inmates should be granted an early release. Set up a process for inmates to ask a judge for early release when the Ohio governor declares a state of emergency due to a pandemic or other public health crisis. Allow inmates to shave more time off their sentences for participating in educational, job training, or drug treatment programs. Expand Ohios Good Samaritan law that provides immunity from arrest or prosecution for people who seek medical assistance for an overdose either on their own behalf or for someone else as long as the person receiving that legal protection is referred to addiction treatment within 30 days.... Create the new offense of strangulation, which would range from a fifth-degree felony to a second-degree felony. Domestic-abuse advocates have worked for years to pass such a law, pointing to research indicating that victims who are strangled by their partner are more than seven times as likely to end up being murdered by their abuser.... Require a minimum five-year prison sentence for anyone convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide in cases where the victim is a firefighter or an emergency medical worker. The change was brought in response to the death of Cleveland firefighter Johnny Tetrick, who was killed during a hit-and-run along Interstate 90 last month. Decriminalize fentanyl test strips, used to test substances for the opioid. Test strips are currently classified by Ohio law as drug paraphernalia, and people found to possess them can face up to 30 days in jail. Supporters of the move argue it will help reduce fatal overdoses in the state; critics say the strips can help drug users look for fentanyl, which was involved in 81% of Ohio overdose deaths in 2020, according to the Ohio Department of Health. The three Majors of the 2023 Dota Pro Circuit season will be hosted in Lima, Peru; Berlin, Germany; and Bali, Indonesia. (Photo: Valve Software) Dota 2 developer Valve Software announced in a blog post on Friday (6 January) that the three Majors for the 2023 Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) season will be hosted in Lima, Berlin, and Bali. All three cities will be hosting a Dota 2 Major for the first time. Majors are the biggest events in the Dota 2 season, aside from The International (TI), the game's annual world championship tournament. The Majors are the concluding events of each DPC Tour and features the best-performing teams in the regional leagues competing for prize money and DPC points, which will go towards securing an all-important direct invite to the next TI. The Winter Tour, which will take place from 9 January to 21 February, will conclude with the Lima Major in Peru, scheduled from 24 February to 5 March. The tournament will be hosted by 4D Esports, the organisers of the South American regional league in the 2021-2022 DPC season. The Lima Major will notably be the first-ever Major to be held in South America, a clear sign of the region's rising prestige. Last October 2022, Thunder Awaken became the first-ever South American team to finish in the Top 6 of a TI at TI11 in Singapore. Following the Winter Tour will be the Spring Tour, which will take place from 12 March to 25 April. The Spring Tour will then conclude with the Berlin Major in Germany, scheduled from 28 April to 7 May. The Berlin Major will be hosted by ESL, who also hosted last season's Spring Major in Stockholm, Sweden. While the Berlin Major will mark the fourth time that a Major will be hosted in Germany, it will be the first one to be hosted in Berlin. Finally, the Summer Tour, taking place from 15 May to 27 June, will be the final leg of the 2023 DPC season before the next TI. The Summer Tour will fittingly wrap up with a Major in Bali, one of the best travel destinations in the world known for its beaches and temples. The Bali Major, scheduled from 30 June to 9 July, will also mark the first time that a Dota 2 Major will be hosted in Indonesia. The tournament will be hosted by IO Esports. Story continues While the venue and schedule for the three Majors has been released, other details on each tournament, such as format and prize pools, have yet to be revealed. Assuming this season's Majors will follow a similar format to those from the previous season, then we can expect the three Majors in Lima, Berlin, and Bali to feature 18 teams and a US$500,000 prize pool. The amount of DPC points up for grabs should also increase with each succeeding Major. "While history has shown that unforeseen underdogs can certainly vie for the Aegis at The International, these DPC Tours offer the most reliable path for consistent teams to secure invitations to this year's crowning event," said Valve in the post. If you're a fan of Dota 2 both as a game and as an esports title, check out our Dota 2 page. From news to results, to the latest game meta or builds, as well as player interviews, there's something for everyone. For more esports news updates, visit https://yhoo.it/YahooEsportsSEA and check out Yahoo Esports Southeast Asias Facebook page and Twitter, as well as our Gaming channel on YouTube. A female Tasmanian Devil at the Night Safari Singapore nocturnal zoo in Singapore. Four of the endangered marsupials were introduced in a new exhibit. (PHOTO: Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images) SINGAPORE The Night Safari welcomed four Tasmanian Devils, one of Australias most iconic predators, to its Wallaby Trail exhibition in November last year. The four females Crumpet, Snickers, Jesse and Panini are part of the insurance population managed by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Programme (STDP), an initiative of the Australian and Tasmanian State governments and an official response to the threat posed by Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). Tasmanian Devils are listed as endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Natures Red List. DFTD, a type of transmissible cancer, is highly contagious among Tasmanian Devil populations, and results in large facial tumours which can prevent them from eating, eventually causing starvation. Since the discovery of the disease in 1996, the wild population has declined by at least 80 per cent in diseased areas, now spread across the majority of the state. Prior to their arrival, we worked closely with our counterparts in Australia to design a suitable habitat for them here in Singapore and upskill our animal care team with the knowledge to care for these endangered marsupials," said Dr Luis Carlos Neves, Mandai Wildlife Group's vice-president of animal care. "Our newest residents will be important ambassadors to help raise awareness about the plight of their wild counterparts. Plans disrupted by COVID pandemic Planning and discussions for Night Safari to receive the Tasmanian Devils started as early as 2018, with the Tasmanian Devils projected to arrive in 2020. The nocturnal zoo's animal care team travelled to Tasmania in 2019 to undergo training on how to safely manage them for medical procedures, and the ways to feed the carnivorous marsupials. However, plans took a turn with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions. The teams had to work on preparations virtually, filming a video of the new exhibit to share with the Australian partners to verify that the facilities suited the animals needs. Story continues After four years of planning, the four Tasmanian Devils arrived safely in Singapore on 7 October last year, and were brought to their indoor dens for a mandatory 30-day quarantine. Small in stature, big in personality The launch of the Tasmanian Devil exhibit was graced by William Hodgman, Australian High Commissioner to Singapore. It consists of two climate-controlled indoor exhibits, two outdoor habitats for the animals to roam and explore, as well as back-of-house facilities. Tasmanian Devils are known to be small in stature but big in personality. They have unique vocalisations such as growls, screams and screeches when feeding or during confrontations with one another. Crumpet is a confident individual with a more dominant personality. She spends hours exploring her surroundings in the outdoor yard and does not like being picked up by the keepers for health checks," said Razak Jaffar, Mandai Wildlife Group's assistant curator for marsupials. "Snickers, on the other hand, is much more reserved, preferring to hide in her nest box when Crumpet expresses her dominance. "Jesse and Panini have formed a bond despite a rocky start. Their first introduction was full of open-jawed caterwauling and squabbles. The pair now thoroughly enjoy each others company, preferring to sleep together in the same nest box and appearing restless when they are not together." 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. Watch: Ukraine's military intelligence says Putin has cancer and that he hopes he 'dies soon' Vladimir Putin has been terminally ill for a "very long" period and may die soon, Ukraine's head of military intelligence has claimed. Kyrylo Budanov said Kyiv believes the 70-year-old Russian leader is suffering from cancer, citing sources close to the president. "He has been sick for a long time; I am sure he has cancer. I think he will die very quickly. I hope very soon," he told ABC News. Some, including a US senator, have suggested Putin's death is needed to bring the war in Ukraine to an end. When ABC correspondent Britt Clennett suggested the "transfer of power" following's Putin's death will not necessarily mean the end to the invasion, Budanov said the conflict "should be ended" before he dies. Vladimir Putin has been rumoured to have cancer or Parkinson's disease. (Reuters) Pressed on how exactly Kyiv knows about Putin's condition, Budanov said: "We think its cancer. We know it, we just know it, from human sources." Since Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February, there have been frequent reports that the leader is suffering from some kind of illness, including claims of either cancer or Parkinson's disease. The rumours appear to have originated from leaked audio, obtained by New Lines magazine, in which a Kremlin-linked oligarch appeared to suggest Putin had blood cancer and was "very ill". Read more: Putins Chef Admits His Mercenaries Hit Dead End in Ukrainian Stronghold However, a former CIA officer warned the publication that Moscow has an "instinct" to spread disinformation, and that encouraging chatter may be part of its plan. Throughout 2022, a number of photos emerged appearing to show track marks on Putin's hands, which some, including a former British Army chief, have suggested could mean he is receiving intravenous drips. Video footage of Putin gripping onto a desk in an apparent attempt to stop his hands shaking have led to further rumours, while others have suggested photos in which his face appears "puffy" could mean he is taking steroids as part cancer treatment. Story continues US intelligence appears divided over whether the former KGB agent really is terminally ill. Read more: Is Vladimir Putin suffering from a serious illness? Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has been forced to deny claims that Putin is in poor health. (Reuters) Officials told Newsweek in June that they believed Putin was treated for "advanced cancer" in April, but the following month CIA director William Burns told a security conference: "As far as we can tell he's entirely too healthy". In June, defence and security expert Professor Michael Clarke said there was "no convincing evidence" that Putin has Parkinson's or cancer, adding that the "little team of doctors" he keeps with him may just mean he's a "hypochondriac". The Kremlin has denied claims that Putin is in poor health, with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov telling French TV channel TF1: "I dont think that sane people can see in this person signs of some kind of illness or ailment." Read more: Putin's Russia 'could fall apart at the seams in next five years' Despite the denials, speculation has remained rife, and Putin's decision to cancel his end of year press conference for the first time in a decade added fuel to the fire. As the Kremlin offered no explanation for the cancellation, some suggested this was another sign of his ailing health. However, the UK Ministry of Defence tweeted: Although questions are almost certainly usually vetted in advance, the cancellation is likely due to increasing concerns about the prevalence of anti-war feeling in Russia. Could the Lincoln Airport become a major cargo hub? A Colorado company is optimistic that it can, so much so that it plans to invest tens of millions of dollars to make that happen. The Lincoln Airport Authority on Thursday approved an agreement with Burrell Aviation of Aspen, Colorado, that gives the company the right to develop about 30 acres of property on the west side of the airport with the aim of transforming it into a hub for air cargo and other aviation-related industries. The agreement includes a 30-year ground lease with options that could extend it to as long as 50 years. The lease allows Burrell to build on airport property at the south end of what's called the west ramp. Burrell CEO John Carver said the estimated $65 million investment, which does not include the cost of the ground lease with the Airport Authority, will occur over several years. Carver said the company plans to focus on three industries as it seeks to boost the airport's nonaviation operations: air cargo handling, cold storage and distribution. That could mean attracting air freight companies, logistics firms, food businesses and aircraft maintenance providers. "I think we'll find the interest here to be pretty robust," Carver said. Facilities would be built in phases, with two or three large buildings likely. Burrell is proposing up to 210,000 square feet of space. Carver said he believes the first tenants could occupy spaces as soon as 2025. At full build-out, he estimated the development could add anywhere from 180 to 350 permanent jobs with salaries averaging $60,000 to $80,000 a year. The Lincoln Airport is one of about 20 Burrell is working with across the country, from Alaska to New England. Most of them are in smaller cities like Lincoln. The company already has announced plans for similar developments at airports in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Carver said Burrell looked at the more than 5,000 commercial airports in the U.S. and used a filtering process to whittle it down to a few dozen it hoped to work with. Among the things it looked for as it seeks to take advantage of the need to serve the growing e-commerce industry was proximity to large cities, a good highway network and an airport administration that has a forward-thinking approach. Lincoln, Carver said, "checked all of those boxes." The Lincoln Airport is an ideal location to add to our portfolio, he said. It provides a strategic presence in the heartland of America, with an airport that is accessible to other major transportation modes such as interstates and rail lines. Lincoln Airport Executive Director David Haring said the agreement has nothing but upside for the airport. It gets rent from the ground lease and will eventually owns any structures Burrell builds once the lease term expires. "This is kind of an easy deal for the airport," Haring said. "The heavy lifting is being done by Burrell." "I'm really excited not just for the airport but for the community and all of Southeast Nebraska," he said. Local and state leaders had nothing but praise for the deal. "Landing this opportunity prepares Lincoln for yet another economic takeoff," Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said in a statement. "Were proud that Burrell Aviation identified our community as the location for the next project and look forward to supporting their exciting development at the Lincoln Airport. New Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, who took office on Thursday, called the Burrell proposal "another example of business stepping up and investing in the future of Nebraska." "I am excited about this opportunity and the growth it will bring to Lincoln," he said in a statement. While the Lincoln Airport took a big hit during the coronavirus pandemic, losing more than half its passenger traffic and one of its two airlines, it has been making strides over the past couple of years, especially when it comes to improving its infrastructure. The airport is in the midst of a $55 million terminal expansion and renovation project, the first phase of which it hopes to have done this spring. That phase will add gates, consolidate passenger screening and add new amenities. The airport also, likely in the next two or three years, will start a project to rebuild its main runway, which is one of the longest at any commercial airport in the U.S. Thanks to an agreement brokered by Sen. Deb Fischer, the National Guard Bureau has agreed to chip in to help pay to keep the runway at nearly 13,000 feet long, which is important because the Federal Aviation Administration, which covers 90% of the cost of most airport capital improvements, has said it likely wouldn't pay to rebuild a runway of that length. The length of Lincoln's runway was apparently a factor that Burrell considered in whether to invest here, a point that Fischer highlighted in a statement. "Thanks in part to my work to secure funding for the rehabilitation of the Lincoln Airport runway, one of the worlds leading cargo carriers and logistics companies is now coming to Nebraska," she said. SERGEANT BLUFF Roughly an hour before Michael Meredith was fatally shot by a sheriffs deputy, he told his mother he saw green caterpillars crawling on the ceiling in his home. Going on five days without sleep, Michaels longtime anxiety was reaching levels his mother, Carol Meredith, had never seen. The hallucinations began early in the morning that day, Jan. 12, when Michael called police to report a home intrusion by people he was seeing only in his mind. Hours later, he was shielding his eyes, believing he could kill people by looking at them. Yet through it all, he retained an air of calm that frustrated Carols attempts to convince him to get help. Earlier that day, after hours of strange behavior, he told his mother hed die before letting her take him to a hospital for a mental health assessment. He told me if I tried to commit him, he would commit suicide by police, Carol said, repeating the phrase shed never heard before that conversation. I said, What do you mean? He said, Ill do something so the police will shoot me. At 5:50 p.m., after officers responded to a report of a possible burglary in a Sergeant Bluff mobile home park, he was lying on the ground, dying from a gunshot fired by a Woodbury County Sheriffs deputy forced to take protective action after Michael rushed him and struck him with a tire iron. It was a tragic conclusion to a day in which Michaels family, unable to convince him to seek medical treatment on his own, made futile efforts to have police officers, his doctor and the court system force him to get help. Michael Meredith's grave Michael Meredith's grave sits at the top of a hill in St. John's Cemetery near Jackson, Nebraska. Meredith died Jan. 12 after being shot in an Trying to get him help The steps I took that day...I failed at every step, Carol said. You think youre following the rules to stop a tragedy. Everything we were told we should do didnt work. Why those steps didnt turn out the way theyre supposed to remains a puzzle for which the family has no solution. They place no blame on the deputy who shot Michael, ending his life at age 35. And they hope the circumstances surrounding his death might raise awareness about mental health and lead to changes so other families dont have to deal with the loss they feel every day. Michael Meredith was always anxious, and had been for years. Carol forced him to get his drivers license at age 18, though he hated to drive. He still did, disliking encounters with traffic on the streets. It seemed like over the years, he got more anxious as time went by, Carol said. He preferred the solitude of playing online video games at home after work. He didnt do social media no Twitter, Facebook or other similar platforms. But he enjoyed technology. As kids, he and older brother Chris would order parts and build their own computers. It was no surprise he eventually chose a computer-related career. After moving back to Sioux City from Minnesota in 2008, he did odd jobs and worked for Chris, a local contractor/developer. Michael enjoyed the construction field, and he paired that interest with his technology savvy to obtain an associate degree in computer drafting from Northeast Community College in South Sioux City. It led to a job at Gleeson Constructors, where he taught himself how to do 3D drafting and bring life to building plans. He could do a rendering and then walk them through it before it was built, Chris said. Michael Meredith's family tells his story From left: Nikki Young, Michael Meredith, Chris Meredith and Shelby Meredith, right, are shown at Chris Meredith's wedding. Michael Meredith d Anxiety builds Though he had a good job and a long-term relationship with Lauren Lanning, his fiancee hed been seeing for around 10 years, his anxieties did not ease. At the time of his death, he was taking a prescription medication for anxiety as well as two antidepressants, all drugs found in his system in a postmortem toxicology report. In spite of his medication, his anxiety seemed to be intensifying, Lanning said. It was becoming increasingly harder for him to interact with strangers, even family and people he was familiar with. Though he could be outwardly entertaining and funny while having a conversation, Michaels anxiety simmered unseen during those social interactions. It was something that affected him acutely, Lanning said. It was hard for him to go out and socialize. Instead of going out, Michael spent most of his free time at Lannings Sioux City home or in the Sergeant Bluff house he rented from his brother, playing online video games with a small group of friends on a gaming setup that included the latest components. To avoid interactions, Lanning said she and Michael usually ordered takeout and streamed movies at home instead of going to a restaurant or movie theater. Over time, she said, he became more withdrawn, even becoming reluctant to go to family gatherings. Michael would nonetheless show up to family cookouts. An outspoken liberal and a Bernie Sanders supporter, hed get into political arguments with his brother-in-law, showing a breadth of knowledge gained from extensive reading that kept him up to date on current events and politics. You could say anything, and he could talk to you about it, Chris said. He could explain every concept you asked him. And he was generous, spoiling his nieces and nephews with extravagant gifts, including top-of-the-line virtual reality headsets so they could play online video games with him. He never spent money on himself, his brother said. That wasnt quite true, given his love of video game systems and components ... and alcohol. - Carol first became aware of her sons drinking problem about five months before his death. Michael would have a few drinks at family gatherings, but his mother had no idea of his drinking habits while in the privacy of his own home. She remembers that night in August 2021 well. It was a Saturday, and Chris had received a call from a concerned friend who had been playing video games online with Michael. The friend said Michaels speech was slurred all night, and when he no longer responded to their banter during a game, the friend believed Michael had passed out. Chris alerted their mother, and Carol went to Michaels house, but he wasnt there. Instead, he was at Laurens home, intoxicated. I had never known him to be like that, Carol said. Lanning had, however. Michael had been drinking for years, she said, starting with a few beers after work and progressing into hard liquor for the past four or five years as he felt increasing pressures from his job and being around people. Alcohol was his release, Lanning said. It was a way to numb all the constant emotions he felt. Michael Meredith's family tells his story Michael Meredith's mother, Carol, and uncle David Gill discuss Michael's alcoholism and mental health condition in the days leading up to his A wedge develops Michaels alcohol intake increased over time, and Lanning moved out of his home four or five years ago because of it. Lanning said she asked him several times to go into treatment, but he refused because dealing with doctors and treatment providers could be daunting for him. Instead, he kept it a secret, telling Lanning not to inform his family about his drinking. Getting help was hard for him, she said. I definitely wanted him to, but it became a sore subject. He didnt want anyone to know. It was something I didnt feel comfortable telling his family about against his wishes. Carol finally found out that August night, an encounter Lanning said she doesnt remember. Carol took Michael home with her. He stayed a couple days, during which time he drank all the liquor in her home. Realizing her son had a problem, Carol confronted him one night, telling him he needed help. He wasnt very agreeable, she said. Carol went to bed and later heard a crash. Michael appeared to have had a seizure and had fallen down. She called her brother Pat Gill, who lives nearby, and they took Michael to the emergency room, where doctors told him he needed to get alcohol abuse treatment. They asked him if he was going to hurt himself, Carol said. He said no. Reaching out for help In the ER, Michael told his mother that for weeks hed been binge drinking, starting after work on Fridays and going until Sunday morning, when hed begin sobering up for work on Monday. He agreed to get help and was accepted into an inpatient program at Rosecrance Jackson Centers in Sioux City. After 20 days in treatment, he signed himself out. He said he was done drinking, Carol said. He just said he could do it himself and didnt need them to help him. He stayed sober for a few weeks, but it didnt last. Instead, a cycle of what Carol believed was a brief period of sobriety followed by a weekend drinking binge developed. Each time, Michael would call Carol, who would bring him to her home to sober up. I think he just felt more safe with me because Im a nurse, Carol said. But Michael wasnt being completely honest with his mother about his drinking habits, Lanning said. There were no cycles of sobriety and bingeing. He continued to drink nearly every night until the final days before his death. Though Lanning worked nights and slept during daytime hours and wasnt able to see him as often, she observed how Michaels drinking began to affect his personality and his mental well-being. He definitely was going through a period where it was harder for him to go out and interact with people, she said. Even going to the liquor store was difficult. On Friday evening, Jan. 7, Carol received a familiar call from Michael. He told her hed been drinking. She picked him up and brought him home. It was the last time he drank, to Carols knowledge. After that Saturday, he seemed all right, she said. He was completely acting normal. He just told me he couldnt sleep. Changes take place By Monday, Michaels anxiety had intensified. He hadnt been able to sleep all weekend. After arriving at work, he began sweating and feeling anxious and was sent home. He called his mother later, telling her hed made an appointment with his doctor to talk about his anxiety. He also said hed received a referral to see a counselor and had scheduled an appointment for Jan. 18, a meeting he wouldnt live long enough to make. By Tuesday, hed gone five days without drinking or sleeping and still wasnt feeling better. Nothing seemed wrong, Carol said, when she talked to him that day. Everything was normal, except he couldnt sleep, and he told me he was messed up, Carol said. He said, I think I keep hearing voices. I kind of blew it off. He was acting normal. Within hours, Michael was no longer behaving normally. Her ringing phone woke Carol up at about 3:30 the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 12. She didnt recognize the number, but answered anyway. It was Michael, calling from a Sergeant Bluff police officers phone while sitting in the back of a squad car. Everything is so messed up over here, and they just tore up my house, Michael told her. Confused by those comments, Carol got dressed and drove to Michaels house. About half an hour earlier, at 2:55 a.m., Officer Travis Hutzell was dispatched to Michaels home at 201 Fifth St. after Michael had called to report an intruder. In a recording of the 911 call, Michael can be heard telling the dispatcher, Some crazy ex-boyfriend came over here and he put like a false beating over her so now I got ... before the call disconnected. The dispatcher called back. Michael did not answer. michael calling 911.mp3 Your browser does not support the audio element. Footage from Hutzells body camera showed him walking up to Michaels house. Michael talked to Hutzell through an open window near the front door, telling him he had been with a woman whose ex-boyfriend barged in and got into a heated argument with her before the two left. Michael was adamant theyd file a false police report against him. A 96 issue Unaware the whole situation Michael had relayed to him was a hallucination, Hutzell returned to his vehicle to scan Michaels drivers license and run a background check. As Hutzell stepped out of his vehicle to return to the house, Michael exited and told Hutzell the man and woman had returned and were blowing marijuana smoke out the windows. When Hutzell asked to go inside, Michael realized hed locked himself out of his house. As they walked around the house, looking for signs of a break-in, Hutzell began to suspect a possible mental health situation. Sitting in his vehicle with Michael and waiting for Carol to arrive, Hutzell radioed to dispatch, Probably mark this down as a 96 issue, a reference to an Iowa police 10-96 code pertaining to mental health. Michael insisted the couple was going to ransack his house, steal items and fill it with cheese. Theyd already put his couches on the lawn, he told the officer, whose body camera clearly showed no furniture in the yard. After Carol arrived, Hutzell told her, I dont know if hes having a mental issue. Before leaving with his mother, Michael asked Hutzell what hed do about the people inside his house. Theyll steal everything, he said. Offering assurance Hutzell assured Michael hed take a look around to make sure nothing happened at his house before Carol took Michael home. On the way to her house, Carol said, Michael repeated the story about the couple trashing his house. The whole way, he was telling me this fantastic story that didnt make sense. Ive never heard him talk like that in my life, she said. Once at Carols home, she and Michael sat down in the living room. He continued to talk, still not making any sense. Carol continued to talk with Michael until dozing off around 5 a.m. When she woke up a couple hours later, he was gone. Coming tomorrow: Carol Meredith made several efforts to seek mental health treatment for her son in the hours leading up to his death. None of them were successful. SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa A Minnesota man was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without parole for the shooting death of his ex-girlfriend outside her Milford, Iowa, workplace. District Judge Carl Petersen handed down the sentence, which is mandatory under Iowa law, to Christian Goyne-Yarns, who was found guilty in December of first-degree murder. Goyne-Yarns, 26, of Jackson, Minnesota, shot Shelby Woizeschke on Feb. 3 in the parking lot at GrapeTree Medical Staffing as she arrived for work. According to court documents, she was shot at least twice and was able to call 911 and identify Goyne-Yarns as the shooter. He was arrested about an hour and a half later. Woizeschke, 24, of Spencer, Iowa, died in a Sioux Falls hospital Feb. 6. She had two young sons from a previous relationship with Goyne-Yarns. Petersen ordered Goyne-Yarns to pay $150,000 in restitution to Woizeschke's estate. The judge also denied Goyne-Yarns' motion for a new trial. The case was delayed for several weeks after a defense request for a psychiatric evaluation of Goyne-Yarns, who, his lawyers said, was unable to assist in his own defense. After he was evaluated by a psychiatrist, who submitted a report to the court, Goyne-Yarns' attorneys did not seek a second evaluation and withdrew their motion to suspend court proceedings. Petersen had moved the trial to Buena Vista County, granting the defense's change of venue motion, which said media coverage and publicity surrounding the shooting and subsequent hearings would have made it hard to find an impartial jury in Dickinson County. ODEBOLT, Iowa An Odebolt couple have been arrested for allegedly holding a woman against her will in Sac County early Wednesday morning. Edwin Edgardo Diaz, 34, and Amy Jo Hartwig, 40, were booked into the Sac County Jail on charges of extortion, a class D felony; false imprisonment, a serious misdemeanor; and obstruction of emergency communications, a simple misdemeanor. The Sac County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that law enforcement officers seized a firearm, ammunition, marijuana, methamphetamine, injectable steroids, unknown pills and drug paraphernalia, including assorted scales, while executing a search warrant Wednesday night at the couple's home in the 300 block of Willow St. in Odebolt. They also found "evidence that corroborated the victim's statement." According to a criminal complaint filed in Sac County District Court, Diaz and Hartwig had the victim get into the front seat of a red Chevy Cruze on Wednesday. Hartwig was driving and Diaz was in the rear passenger seat behind the victim, who was told they were going to a friend's house in Lake View. However, the complaint states that they never reached that destination. Hartwig and Diaz allegedly questioned the victim about a recent Ida County criminal case and asked her for her phone, which the victim handed over. The victim told authorities that she could hear the click of handcuffs in the back seat, according to the complaint. "(The victim) was forced to sign a statement that (she) would take responsibility for Diaz's drug charges in Ida County. (She) was asked to get out of the vehicle and was advised by Hartwig and Diaz that she could not until the paper was signed. Diaz recorded (the victim) reading the statement aloud," the complaint states. Diaz allegedly said that he would not hurt the victim but knew people that would, according to the complaint. The victim was eventually dropped off at a convenience store in Early, which was closed at the time, with a dead cell phone. Authorities found the note the victim was forced to sign and handcuffs, during the search of the couple's residence. A handcuff key was located in the back passenger seat of the red Chevy Cruze, according to the complaint. SERGEANT BLUFF Before the day her son Michael died, Carol Meredith had never heard the term suicide by cop, much less knew what it meant. Unfortunately, she would learn first-hand its meaning. Hours after Michael Meredith told her hed do something to make an officer shoot him if she tried to have him taken against his will for a mental health assessment, he rushed a Woodbury County Sheriffs deputy with a tire iron, forcing the deputy to grab his service weapon and fire two shots, one of them fatal. In review, it appears to be a suicide by cop situation: a subject draws police to the scene, then acts in a way to force officers to use deadly force. In many cases, the person will pull out a gun, or an object that looks like one, leading police to fire their weapons. In Merediths case, he prowled about a mobile home park, prompting a resident to call 911 and report a possible burglary. Once two sheriffs deputies and a Sergeant Bluff police officer responded, Meredith ran at them, forcing the fatal response. When they happen rapidly, theres really nothing you can do. You dont sign up as a police officer to shoot someone who wants to commit suicide, said David Klingler, a criminology and criminal justice professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a former police officer. Because its not always possible to determine if a police shooting was a suicide, theres no definitive data on how common suicide by cop incidents are. According to the Police Executive Research Forum, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit think-tank, there were approximately 900-1,000 fatal officer-involved shootings each year from 2015-18. An estimated 10% or more were suicide by cop incidents, meaning there could be roughly 100 or more a year. A research study in Los Angeles found that for each suicide by cop incident that ended in the subjects death, approximately 60 others were attempted, but police de-escalated the situations without using lethal force. Chuck Wexler, the Police Executive Research Forums executive director, said his group reviews videos of officer-involved shootings to better understand suicide by cop incidents. A current trend involves the subject, nearly always male, advancing toward officers until they shoot him. It doesnt always happen that way, but the point is, there are enough similarities to look for, Wexler said. Mental illness markersOne thing many have in common is the subject had a history of mental illness or was having a mental health crisis at the time of the shooting. Drugs and alcohol also may be involved. Those common factors, Wexler said, highlight the need for crisis intervention training so officers can more effectively communicate with the subject theyre encountering to defuse the situation before it leads to gunfire. Without training, you wouldnt know what to look for, Wexler said. The key is to teach police warning signs of someone who might be in crisis. If a 911 dispatcher learns the subject is suicidal or in crisis, relaying that information to responding officers is the first step toward a peaceful resolution. Officers then can alter their approach, staying a safe distance from the subject, keeping their weapons holstered and speaking calmly rather than shouting. That training can help officers better read a situation when arriving, Klingler said. As Merediths case illustrates, its not always that simple. He had a history of anxiety and alcoholism. His family said he told them he hadnt slept in the five days prior to his death and he was hallucinating, talking about fictional characters breaking into his home and, about an hour before he was shot, green caterpillars crawling on his ceiling. But the officers who encountered Meredith that night didnt know any of this. Even if they had, Meredith rushed and attacked Deputy Eric Fay immediately after being contacted, leaving Fay with little choice but to use his weapon. The entire interaction lasted less than 10 seconds. Fay and his fellow officers had no chance to gauge Merediths mental health status or de-escalate the situation. They would not have had time to process it. Oftentimes, yes, there is time for communication. The attack started as they saw him, Woodbury County Sheriff Chad Sheehan said. It was a case in which the deputies training was useless because they had no time to implement it. At least they had the training, Klingler said, pointing out that every state has a different mental health training curriculum for law enforcement officers and there are no national standards when it comes to that type of instruction. How thorough that training is, I dont know, he said. Im unaware of any national board that requires academies to look if youre going to be an officer, youre going to need training in crisis management and mental health. Iowa offers trainingIn Iowa, officers seeking certification at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in Johnston, a state agency that certifies all officers in the state and trains a large number of them, must complete 16.5 weeks of training, a lot of it pertaining to mental health. Its not just a one-and-done class. Its embedded in every course that we speak to, said Judy Bradshaw, the academys director. When she took over in 2014, Bradshaw said, there were no crisis intervention or mental health classes. Now its an emphasis, she said, including a four-hour class on mental health emergencies and other crisis intervention, classroom and scenario training. There is certainly more awareness, she said. Its hard not to be aware, when a large number of calls involve subjects with some type of mental health issue, Sioux City Police Chief Rex Mueller said. Certainly, we are aware of the fact a lot of people we are dealing with are in crisis, Mueller said. It can be a huge challenge because you can be dealing with someone who doesnt think as a rational person does. No matter the training, some people can be very hard to deal with. Mueller said Sioux City police officers are taught how to communicate not only with people who are mentally ill, but also autistic and developmentally challenged. That training is ongoing, he said, and exceeds state requirements. Looking for complianceSheehan said his deputies approach every call aiming to resolve it peacefully through de-escalation techniques theyve practiced, acting and speaking to project a calm demeanor in an effort to help an agitated individual feel more relaxed. Going in, the goal is to generate voluntary compliance, Sheehan said. We try to train all of our staff that you cant rationalize with everybody, but you can reason with everyone. And force is to be used only in response to a threat. First and foremost, the thing to remind the public is we dont dictate the use of force. We respond, Sheehan said. In Merediths case, deputies had to respond before they could utilize their training. But if all departments placed an increased emphasis on training for such encounters, Wexler said, some of those situations may have better endings. Its not easy, Wexler said. Sometimes things happen quickly. Not every situation will you be able to slow it down. Proper training could increase the chances officers can do so. This is about education, Wexler said. SIOUX CITY Jeremy Dumkrieger announced Thursday he will not seek re-election for chair of the Woodbury County Democratic Party. Dumkrieger has served as the chair for six years. He recently ran for election on the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors but lost to republican challenger Dan Bittinger. The Washington County Democratic Party is holding officer elections on February 22 and Dumkrieger said it is time for him to support a new chair with a new perspective. Dumkrieger was first elected in 2017 and served three, two-year terms. I've had the opportunity to work with a countless number of amazing people, received a world-class hands-on education in American politics, and fought on the right side of history in the fight against Donald Trump, he said in a news release. Born in Onawa, Iowa, and raised in Soldier, Iowa, Dumkrieger earned a bachelor's degree from Morningside University. He is an art teacher. He received the Bob Creech Award for Outstanding County Chairman from the Iowa Democratic Party in 2018. During his time as chair, Dumkrieger had advocated for well-funded county mental health programs to prevent crime, rather than seeing people with mental illness wind up in jail. Dumkrieger ran in the recent election for the open district 2 position on the board of supervisors. He received 10,504 votes or 38 percent of the votes. SIOUX CITY Multiple juveniles, ranging in age from 12 to 15, have been charged in connection with recent burglaries and vehicle thefts in Sioux City, according to police. Over the past seven weeks, the Sioux City Police Department has been investigating burglaries at gas stations, vape shops and a gun shop. The department made the announcement in a statement issued Thursday. According to the statement, two girls, ages 13 and 14, were charged with a burglary at Sarg's Mini Mart, 2329 West Second St., which occurred on Thursday. Five males between the ages of 12 and 15 were charged in connection with Nov. 26 and Dec. 2 burglaries at the Brew, 2026 Riverside Boulevard. The department also disclosed that five vehicles were reported stolen in the city on Wednesday. All of the stolen vehicles had keys left in them. "On today's date, two juvenile males, both 14 years old, were arrested after fleeing from a stolen vehicle," the department said in the statement. In addition to the charges related to operating stolen vehicles, those two 14-year-olds have also been charged with burglaries to American Brothers in Arms, Chasing Clouds Vape, Kure Vape, Bacon Creek General Store and Select Mart. The investigation is ongoing. Criminal charges will be filed against several others who were involved in this string of burglaries, according to the statement. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden said Thursday the United States would immediately begin turning away Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans who cross the border from Mexico illegally his boldest move yet to confront the migrant arrivals that have soared since he took office two years ago. The new rules expand on an existing effort to stop Venezuelans attempting to enter the U.S., which began in October and led to a dramatic drop in Venezuelans coming to the southern border. Together, they represent a major change to immigration rules that will stand even if the Supreme Court ends a Trump-era public health law that allows U.S. authorities to turn away asylum-seekers. Homeland Security officials said they would begin denying asylum to those who circumvent legal pathways and do not first ask for asylum in the country they traveled through en route to the U.S. Instead, the U.S. will accept 30,000 people per month from the four nations for two years and offer the ability to work legally, as long as they come legally, have eligible sponsors and pass vetting and background checks. Border crossings by migrants from those four nations have risen most sharply, with no easy way to quickly return them to their home countries. "Do not, do not just show up at the border," Biden said as he announced the changes, even as he acknowledged the hardships that lead many families to make the dangerous journey north. "Stay where you are and apply legally from there," he advised. "This new process is orderly," Biden said. "It's safe and humane, and it works." Separately, Mexican security forces captured Ovidio Guzman, an alleged drug trafficker wanted by the U.S. and one of the sons of former Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, in a pre-dawn operation Thursday that set off gunfights and roadblocks across the western states capital. The high-profile capture and Biden's announcement came just days before Lopez Obrador will host Biden for bilateral talks followed by their North American Leaders Summit with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Drug trafficking, along with immigration, is expected to be a top talking point. Biden plans to visit to El Paso, Texas, on Sunday for his first trip to the southern border as president. From there, he will travel on to Mexico City to meet with the other North American leaders on Monday and Tuesday. The new rules, while not unexpected, drew swift criticism from asylum and immigration advocates. "President Biden correctly recognized today that seeking asylum is a legal right and spoke sympathetically about people fleeing persecution," said Jonathan Blazer, the American Civil Liberties Union's director of border strategies. "But the plan he announced further ties his administration to the poisonous anti-immigrant policies of the Trump era instead of restoring fair access to asylum protections." Even with the health law restrictions in place, the president has seen the numbers of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border rise dramatically during his two years in office; there were more than 2.38 million stops during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the first time the number topped 2 million. The administration struggled to clamp down on crossings, reluctant to take hard-line measures that would resemble those of the Trump administration. That resulted in relentless criticism from Republicans, who say the Democratic president is ineffective on border security, and the newly minted Republican House majority promised congressional investigations on the matter. The new policy could result in 360,000 people from these four nations lawfully entering the U.S. in a year, a huge number. But far more people from those countries have been attempting to cross into the U.S. on foot, by boat or swimming; migrants from those four countries were stopped 82,286 times in November alone. Enyer Valbuena, a Venezuelan who was living in Tijuana, Mexico, after crossing the border illegally, said Thursday's announcement came as no surprise but a blow nonetheless. "This was coming. It's getting more difficult all the time," he said by text message. Some Venezuelans waiting along Mexico's border with the U.S. have been talking among themselves about whether Canada is an option, Valbuena said. He had been waiting for the outcome of the pandemic-related asylum ban before trying to enter the U.S. again and is seeking asylum in Mexico, which offers a much better future than Venezuela. "If it becomes more difficult (to reach the U.S.), the best path is to get papers in Mexico," said Valbuena, who works at a Tijuana factory. Mexico agreed to accept up to 30,000 migrants each month from the four countries who attempt to walk or swim across the U.S.-Mexico border and are turned back. Normally, these migrants would be returned to their country of origin, but the U.S. cannot easily send back people from those four countries for a variety of reasons that include relations with their governments. Anyone coming to the U.S. is allowed to claim asylum, regardless of how they crossed the border, but the requirements for granting asylum are narrow and only about 30% of applications are granted. That has created a system in which migrants try to cross between ports of entry and are allowed into the U.S. to wait out their cases. But there is a 2-million-case backlog, so cases often are not heard for years. WASHINGTON For a long and frustrating third day, divided Republicans kept the speaker's chair of the U.S. House sitting empty Thursday, as party leader Kevin McCarthy failed again and again in an excruciating string of ballots to win enough GOP votes to seize the chamber's gavel. Pressure was building as McCarthy lost seventh, eighth and then historic ninth, 10th and 11th rounds of voting, surpassing the number of votes 100 years ago, the last time there was a prolonged fight to choose a speaker in a disputed election. By nightfall, despite raucous protests from Democrats, Republicans voted to adjourn and return Friday to try again. With McCarthy's supporters and foes locked in stalemate, the House could not formally open for the new session of Congress, swear in elected members nor conduct official business. And feelings of boredom, desperation and annoyance seemed increasingly evident. One McCarthy critic, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, cast votes for Donald Trump a symbolic but pointed sign of the broad divisions over the Republican Party's future. Then he went further, formally nominating the former president to be House speaker on the 11th ballot. Trump got one vote, from Gaetz, drawing laughter. Ahead of the second anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters trying to overturn Joe Biden's election, Democrats said it was time to get serious. "This sacred House of Representatives needs a leader," said Democrat Joe Neguse of Colorado, nominating his own party's leader, Hakeem Jeffries, as speaker. McCarthy could be seen talking, one on one, in whispered and animated conversations in the House chamber. His emissaries sidled up to holdouts, and grueling negotiations proceeded in the GOP whip's office down the hall. McCarthy remained determined to persuade Republicans to end the paralyzing debate that is blighting his new GOP majority. McCarthy's leadership team presented a core group of the Republican holdouts with a deal on paper for rules changes in exchange for their support, said one of the opponents, conservative Republican Ralph Norman of South Carolina, as he exited a late-day meeting. It included mandating 72 hours for bills to be posted before votes, among other things, though details were scarce. Lest hopes get ahead of reality, he added, "This is round one." Holdouts led by the chamber's Freedom Caucus are seeking ways to shrink the power of the speaker's office and give rank-and-file lawmakers more influence with seats on key committees and the ability to draft and amend bills in a more open process. One of the holdouts' key asks is to reinstate a rule that would allow a single lawmaker to seek a motion to vacate the chair essentially to call a House vote to oust the speaker. It's the same rule a previous era of tea party Republicans used to threaten the removal of GOP Speaker John Boehner, and McCarthy has resisted reinstating it. The path ahead remained highly uncertain. What started as a political novelty, the first time since 1923 a nominee had not won the gavel on the first vote, devolved into a bitter Republican Party feud and deepening potential crisis. Jeffries of New York won the most votes on every ballot but also remained short of a majority. McCarthy ran second, gaining no ground. McCarthy's right-flank detractors led by the Freedom Caucus and aligned with Trump, appeared emboldened by the standoff even though the former president publicly backed McCarthy. Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., the leader of the Freedom Caucus and a leader of Trump's efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election, asserted that McCarthy cannot be trusted, and tweeted his displeasure that negotiations over rule changes and other concessions were being made public. "When confidences are betrayed and leaks are directed, it's even more difficult to trust," he tweeted. Republican Party holdouts repeatedly put forward the name of Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, assuring the stalemate that increasingly carried undercurrents of race and politics would continue. They also put forward Republican Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, splitting the protest vote. Donalds, who is Black, is seen as an emerging party leader and a GOP counterpoint to the Democratic leader, Jeffries, who is the first Black leader of a major political party in the U.S. Congress and on track himself to become speaker someday. Another Black Republican, newly elected John James, nominated McCarthy on the seventh ballot as nominators became a roll call of the GOP's rising stars. For the 10th, it was newly elected Juan Ciscomani of Arizona, an immigrant from Mexico whose speech drew chants of "USA! USA!" Several Republicans appear unwilling to ever vote for McCarthy. Ballots kept producing almost the same outcome, 20 conservative holdouts still refusing to support McCarthy and leaving him far short of the 218 typically needed to win the gavel. The longest fight for the gavel started in late 1855 and dragged on for two months, with 133 ballots, during debates over slavery in the run-up to the Civil War. Here's a look at trending topics for today, Jan. 5. Prince Harry Prince Harry has accused his brother of physically attacking him in his new memoir, which reveals a wide range of private conversations between him and other senior British royals and details his split from the family, according to media outlets who said they had obtained early copies of the book. Perhaps the most dramatic revelation to emerge Thursday was the accusation from the Duke of Sussex of an altercation with Prince William during an argument over his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in 2019, first reported by The Guardian. CNN has not seen a copy of the book but has requested an advance copy of the book from publisher Penguin Random House before its release on January 10. Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace and a spokesperson for the Sussexes declined CNN's request for comment on the alleged altercation. Here are the top lines of what is being reported so far: El Chapo son Mexican authorities have arrested Ovidio Guzman, son of notorious drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, a source from the federal government of Mexico told CNN, in a dramatic operation in the northern state of Sinaloa on Thursday that led to clashes around the city of Culiacan. Guzman is described as "a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel" in a press release issued by the United States State Department on December 16, prior to his arrest. He was previously arrested by federal authorities in October 2019, but was released on the orders of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to avoid further bloodshed. Chaos broke out in the city around Guzman's arrest on Thursday, with local officials telling citizens to shelter at home amid clashes with cartel members in various parts of Culiacan. Read more about it here: Amazon layoffs E-commerce giant Amazon and business software maker Salesforce are the latest U.S. technology companies to announce major job cuts as they prune payrolls that rapidly expanded during the pandemic lockdown. Amazon said Wednesday that it will be cutting about 18,000 positions. It's the largest set of layoffs in the Seattle-based companys history, although just a fraction of its 1.5 million global workforce. Amazon has weathered uncertain and difficult economies in the past, and we will continue to do so, CEO Andy Jassy said in a note to employees that the company made public. These changes will help us pursue our long-term opportunities with a stronger cost structure. Find out more here: *** Get more of today's trending topics here: M3GAN Chris Beard Bryan Kohberger WASHINGTON The State Department says it has adopted Turkey's preferred spelling for the name of the country, Turkiye, acceding to a request from the NATO ally after several months of hesitation. The department instructed that new official documents refer to Turkiye instead of Turkey, although the pronunciation will not change, officials said. "The Turkish embassy requested that the U.S. government use the name 'Republic of Turkiye' in communications," the department said. "We will begin to refer to Turkiye and Republic of Turkiye accordingly in most formal, diplomatic, and bilateral contexts, including in public communications." The move comes ahead of an expected visit to Washington later this month by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu during which Turkey's position on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its resistance to allowing Finland and Sweden to join NATO will be high on the agenda. Several other federal agencies, including the Treasury Department, already adopted the new spelling, leading to inconsistencies in documents across the U.S. government. The change was revealed as the State Department released a statement in support of a Treasury move to sanction several Turkey-related businessmen and companies for supporting the Islamic State. It later was confirmed by two department officials. Turkey asked last year for its name to be changed to Turkiye in international forums and most, including the United Nations and NATO, had switched to the new spelling. The State Department, however, does not often change its style on the names of foreign countries and, in at least one notable case, refused to do so for decades. The U.S. still refuses to refer to Burma as Myanmar, though the country's military rulers formally adopted Myanmar in 1989. The last two countries that the State Department renamed following requests by their governments were North Macedonia, which changed its name from Macedonia in 2019, and Eswatini, which changed its name from Swaziland a year earlier. 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 Allen's northwest Omaha home until Allen returned from her date, according to a Douglas County sheriff's 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 didn't 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 son's 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. Allen's 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 Scott's 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 Allen's 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, Topeka's 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 sheriff's 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, Scott's vehicle was at The Good Life Bar the evening of Nov. 19 and then in Allen's neighborhood about 10:30 p.m. that night. Allen didn't return home until about 11:30 p.m. Allen's car then was seen leaving her home at 2:48 a.m. toward the spot where Scott's SUV was parked, then returned to Allen's home at 3:04 a.m. About 20 minutes later, a person matching Scott's description was shown on video surveillance running from Allen's home toward Scott's vehicle, according to the affidavit. Investigators found that GPS data on Scott's 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 Allen's body on the farm property. According to the affidavit, it was buried in a shallow grave and wrapped in black trash bags. The Lincoln Journal Star's top photos from 2022 A UPS delivery driver crashed into a parked car and a utility pole before careening into a house in southern Lancaster County on Wednesday, according to the Sheriff's Office. The driver, a 37-year-old Lincoln woman, was headed south on 96th Street with an open container of alcohol in the company truck at around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday when she lost control just south of Panama Road in Holland, Sheriff Terry Wagner said in a news release. The truck crashed into a parked car, causing $15,000 in damage, before striking a Norris Public Power utility pole and continuing into a house at 22205 S. 96th St., Wagner said. The crash caused $3,500 in damage to the pole, $30,000 in damage to the house and another $10,000 in damage to the UPS truck, the sheriff said. The woman was cited for careless driving and having an open container. Deputies performed a DUI field test on the the 37-year-old, but she was found to be below the legal limit, Wagner said. Iowans will have to wait longer for the option of keeping their state-issued ID on their smartphones and not just their wallets. The Iowa Department of Transportation has delayed the public launch of its digital driver's license, or "mobile ID," as it seeks to develop and test a newer version of the application to align with new national and international best practices and standards. "After we began development, national and international best practices" for mobile identity were solidified, "and we have been building those into Iowa's app as we are developing," Andrea Henry, director of strategic communications for the Iowa DOT, responded in an email. The new guidelines prompted additional development and testing of the mobile ID app using newer software to add another layer of security, said Toni Smith, emerging technology program manager with the Iowa DOT. "We want to provide the highest level of security for citizens and relying parties," Smith said. That includes the incorporation of a QR code for retail establishments and other places to scan to verify a person's age, identity or address. The QR code includes an encryption key, and once scanned initiates an encrypted Bluetooth connection. All personal information is stored within the DOT's system and on the user's device, which isn't shared "until you release that information" through the app, Smith said. Previously, DOT officials had hoped to make the Iowa mobile ID available for download via Apple and Android smartphone apps sometime in 2022. Smith said the DOT has yet to set a firm date for the public rollout of the mobile ID app. "We will conduct a pilot with the new software version that will include enrolling in the application and then using features in the app to test functionality and user experience," Smith said. "The pilot will also include using the Iowa Mobile ID app with a verification tool to attain feedback on functionality and user experience of that transaction." While new security features have been added, the enrollment process has not changed, Smith said. To enable the mobile identification, a smartphone user will download and open the app, register their phone number, scan the front and back of his or her physical driver's license and take a "live selfie," or self-photo, that Iowa DOT officials can check against the image and information on file to verify the user. Once confirmed, the mobile ID will be enrolled. Users then create a six-digit PIN to unlock the app. They can also use biometric unlocking, like fingerprint or facial recognition, according to the Iowa DOT. The Iowa mobile ID app will be optional and free to users, who still will be expected to carry hard-copy licenses even if their mobile device is equipped with the digitized version of their ID. "It is a companion to your physical ID; it does not replace it," Smith said. "Users should still carry their physical ID." The new digital driver's license also will meet the federal REAL ID standard that will be required for boarding an airplane or entering a federal building beginning May 7, 2025. "The Iowa Mobile ID is an extension of a citizen's driver's license or ID," Smith said. "If the citizen has REAL ID for the physical ID, they will have REAL ID on their Mobile ID." She said the DOT is working to make sure the digital ID can be accepted by Transportation Security Administration ID readers at airports. While Iowans would still carry their physical ID, Smith said the digital version provides a convenient, secure and contactless way to verify one's identity. "Everything is on your phone; now your ID is, too," Smith said, noting people typically have their phone in their hand, and it's often "handier to get to than your wallet." In addition to encryption features to help protect against fraud, users can also choose the information they want to share, Smith said. For example, users can verify their age without having to relay sensitive data like their birth date or address. "It's a great opportunity to share only the information you need for that transaction," she said. "It offers convenience in a secure and private manner." DES MOINES Brenna Bird, Iowa's new attorney general, took the oath of office in the Capitol on Thursday, formally swearing in as the states first Republican attorney general since 1979. She was joined by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and former Gov. Terry Branstad, who praised her work as an attorney and in government. Bird was Branstads chief legal counsel from 2011 to 2015, and she was previously chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Steve King. Before becoming attorney general this week, Bird was most recently the Guthrie County Attorney. She was sworn in by Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen. Speaking to the crowd gathered at the Capitol Thursday, Reynolds said Bird stood out in Branstads administration when Reynolds was lieutenant governor. On the 2022 campaign trail, Reynolds said she was again impressed by Bird. As I watched her with Iowans, watched her sharing her vision for the AGs office and truly her passion to serve, it was clear that all these years later, this servant leader hasnt changed a bit, Reynolds said. Brenna Bird Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird speaks at her swearing in ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. The governor highlighted Birds campaign pledge to challenge President Joe Bidens administration. Reynolds said federal leaders have overstepped their bounds and Bird will work to keep the federal government in check. Were all familiar with that defiant declaration on our state seal: Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain, she said. The position of AG is one of the main tools the people of Iowa have that makes good on this promise. Bird campaigned on a message of challenging Bidens administration, and on Tuesday signed onto a series of lawsuits against rules set by Biden and national Democratic lawmakers. The state was already a party to those suits, but former Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller did not attach his name to them. Bird narrowly defeated Democrat Tom Miller in the November election, a victory that was marked by a large swing toward Republicans statewide and heavy support from Reynolds. In her new role, Bird said she was committed to upholding the state laws and the U.S. Constitution. Im going to serve all Iowans, whether folks voted for me or not, she said Thursday. Im here to work for everybody and serve everybody. Miller attended the event, and Bird thanked him for aiding her team as she transitions into the office. Miller said in a statement last week he was thankful to Iowans for giving him a record-setting 40 years in the office. Brenna Bird and Tom Miller Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird (right) speaks with former Attorney General Tom Miller (left) after her swearing in ceremony on Jan. 5, 2023. We did it our way, he said. We never compromised on our values and principles. That is enormously satisfying to me. In addition to joining anti-Biden lawsuits, Bird announced a top down and bottom up audit of the offices victim-services division. [I am] thankful to work with our prosecutors and law enforcement and crime victims, uphold the constitution, she said at the Capitol Thursday. Just looking forward to getting back to work. OMAHA The University of Nebraska Medical Center is offering a new scholarship program intended to draw nursing students from neighboring states to study at its campuses in Scottsbluff, Kearney and Norfolk. The "Nebraska Neighbors: UNMC Nursing Rural Advantage Scholarship" is available to students pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing degree in UNMC's traditional or accelerated program. Students from some surrounding states can apply for the scholarship at specific UNMC campuses. Students from Wyoming, Colorado and South Dakota can apply for the scholarship at the Scottsbluff campus; those from South Dakota and Kansas can apply for it at the Norfolk campus; and Kansas and Colorado students can seek it at the 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 students selected for the scholarships will not be taking seats from eligible Nebraska applicants, UNMC said. The scholarships are designed to make it easier for students from those neighboring states to study at one of the rural campuses, said Juliann Sebastian, dean of the UNMC College of Nursing. They will reduce the net cost of out-of-state tuition to at or near resident tuition rates. Some eligible students already have been awarded the scholarships. Applications for fall 2023 are now open. The initial deadline is Feb. 1. A list of prerequisites is available online. Students with questions can reach the nursing college's student services team at 402-559-5102 or by email at kezeiger@unmc.edu. 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 This article is from Full Stack Economics, a newsletter about the economy, technology, and public policy. When I saw the news on Thursday that the Federal Trade Commission wanted to ban most noncompete agreements, I thought of a friend Ill call Eric who had a stressful experience with these contracts almost a decade ago. Eric had recently earned his MBA and was working at a small consulting company in the Midwest. He wanted to change jobs, but had signed a sweeping noncompete agreement with his employer that prohibited him from working for a competing company for two years anywhere in North America. Advertisement Unfortunately, the agreement wasnt specific about which companies were considered competitors. Eventually, Eric took a job at a software company that helped customers solve some of the same kinds of problems as his old consulting firm. He hoped that software was different enough from consulting that he wouldnt get into legal trouble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a few months after switching jobs, Eric got a cease-and-desist letter from his old firm. Eric was lucky enough to get some pro bono legal advice through a family connection. The lawyer told him hed probably win in court, but the contract was so vaguely written that it was impossible to be sure. And while the lawyer was willing to help him negotiate a settlement, Eric would have to pay hefty legal fees if the case went to trial. Advertisement For months, Eric worked at his new company with the threat of a career-destroying lawsuit hanging over his head. With a mortgage and a young daughter, he couldnt afford to lose his job. But he also couldnt really afford to fight the case in court. It was the worst time of my life, Eric told me. I was constantly worried. Eric said he battled depression, lost friends, and was not a great spouse during that time period. Eric ultimately reached a settlement. Its terms were confidential and prohibited him from disparaging his old employer, which is one reason Im not using his real name in this article. He says that he wound up taking a three-month break from his new job to make the problem go away. Advertisement Advertisement Erics story is far from the worst abuse of noncompete agreements Ive heard about. Back in 2021, I wrote about three nurses who were ordered to stop practicing their profession in Wyoming. One was forced to take a new job across state lines that paid less and required a two-hour commute; she burned through her savings paying for extra child care. Another woman near retirement age was forced to take a grueling job as a traveling nurse. None of this would have happened in California, where courts have not enforced noncompete agreements since 1872. Now the FTC wants to make the whole country work like California. I wholeheartedly support that, Eric told me. Silicon Valleys Secret Weapon Defenders of noncompetes argue that these contracts are necessary so that businesses feel comfortable investing in their workers. One of them is Alden Abbott, the FTCs general counsel during the Trump years and now a scholar at the Mercatus Center. Advertisement Advertisement Companies could say Were not going to invest in specialized training or pass on trade secrets to employees, because they might just go off and use that against us, Abbott told me. Abbott worries that banning noncompetes could lead to companies investing too little in developing the skills of their workers. Advertisement Advertisement While that worry seems reasonable in theory, its hard to square with the existence of Silicon Valley. Californias refusal to enforce noncompete agreements really has promoted a culture of job-hopping in the states technology sector. But it does not seem like this has been a serious impediment to the development of Silicon Valley or its ability to innovatequite the contrary. In a famous 1999 article, law professor Ronald Gilson argued that Californias lack of noncompete enforcement was actually an important factor in Silicon Valleys success in the late 20th century. Drawing on earlier research by UCBerkeleys AnnaLee Saxenian, Gilson compared Silicon Valley to the tech corridor along Route 128 outside of Boston. Until the 1970s, both of these regions were major centers for the fledgling computer industry. But in the 1980s, Silicon Valley pulled ahead. And Gilson and Saxenian argued that Silicon Valleys job-hopping culture was a major factor. Advertisement Because Massachusetts law allowed businesses to limit employee mobility, many engineers spent their careers at a single company. In contrast, California law gave engineers the freedom to spend a few years at one tech company before moving on to another one. This job churn was surely frustrating to Bay Area employers, but it also promoted the rapid spread of ideas from one firm to another. Advertisement Californias approach has also been a boon for startup creation. One of Silicon Valleys first big successes was Intel, a company founded by veterans of another semiconductor pioneer called Fairchild Semiconductor. Fairchild, in turn, was founded by a group of engineers who left a company founded by industry pioneer William Shockley. Advertisement That tradition continues to the present day, with people regularly quitting jobs at Google, Facebook, or Apple to start new companies that might wind up competing with their old employers. Startups are free to poach talented engineers from the technology giants, allowing the startups to grow rapidly if they have promising ideas. Advertisement Again, this is undoubtedly frustrating for industry incumbents who are constantly losing talented engineersindeed, several tech giants got in legal trouble for maintaining a no-poaching agreement with one another. And some economists have theoretical models where easy job-switching harms innovation by discouraging companies from investing in new technologies or in employee training. But its hard to take these models very seriously given the spectacular success of Silicon Valley. Indeed, I suspect that these models are backward: that the rest of the country is being held back by the enforcement of noncompete agreements. If thats right, then it would be a good thing for the U.S. economy if workers outside of California were as free as California workers to hop from job to job, taking their skills and knowledgebut not the employers trade secretswith them. An Uphill Battle in the Courts The most important question about the FTC proposal is whether it will stand up in court. Federal law prohibits unfair methods of competition and gives the FTC authority to enforce that prohibition. To a layman like me, it seems plausible that a noncompete agreement could be an unfair method of competition. But Abbott, the Trump-era FTC lawyer, is skeptical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To understand this debate, its helpful to know a little bit of history. In the 1980s, there was an intellectual revolution that narrowed the scope of antitrust law. Scholars like Robert Bork argued that some business arrangements that might seem superficially anticompetitive can actually be beneficial in practice, and so should be allowed under antitrust law. These arguments were embraced by the Reagan administration and the Supreme Court, and as a result they have been the law of the land for the past 30 to 40 years. Advertisement The FTCs new rule on noncompetes is part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to roll back the Bork revolution. Biden laid out his vision for competition policy in a 2021 executive order, and he appointed the antitrust hawk Lina Khan to chair the FTC around the same time. Last November, Khans FTC published a new policy statement laying out its expanded vision for Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, which provides the legal foundation for Thursdays new rule on noncompete agreements. Advertisement Defenders of the antitrust status quo dont like the direction Biden and Khan are pushing antitrust law, and argument over the noncompete proposal is best understood as a front in that larger war. Advertisement Opponents core argument is that the FTC doesnt have a history of regulating noncompete agreements, and that its not appropriate for the agency to start regulating these agreements without explicit authorization from Congress. Christine Wilson, a Republican member of the FTC, wrote in her dissent that the FTC proposal was a radical departure from hundreds of years of legal precedent. Wilson also pointed to the Supreme Courts landmark decision in West Virginia v. EPA this year, which held that Obamas Clean Power Plan exceeded the EPAs authority under environmental laws. The high court held that regulatory agencies needed explicit authorization from Congress before they tackled major new policy questions. Wilson and Abbott argue that similar reasoning applies to the FTCs new noncompete proposal. They say that the FTC does not have a history of regulating noncompete agreements, and so it needs explicit approval from Congress to do so. Advertisement But advocates counter that Congress deliberately gave the FTC broad powers to define and regulate anticompetitive conduct. The law prohibits unfair methods of competition without defining this phrase in any detail. Presumably Congress wanted to give the FTC some discretion to deal with new issues as they came up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In our phone conversation, I asked Abbott about the story of the Wyoming nurses who were forced to quit their jobs and move out of the state to find work. Didnt that seem like it could be an unfair method of competition? Abbott didnt think so. The nurses noncompete agreement affects the nurses and harms them but it may not affect competition in the marketplace, Abbott told me. I pointed out that the term noncompete agreement literally has the phrase noncompete in it. That has to be a clue that it affects competition right? Abbott didnt buy it. Thats not the way antitrust laws define competition, Abbott told me. Antitrust laws talk about a relevant market, competition between two steel companies or two utility companies, or whatever. Antitrust laws didnt apply to the relationship between a nurse and her employer because that was a vertical relationship, he said. Ill confess that this did not make very much sense to me. But I do think theres a good chance that Abbotts view will prevail in court. While there is a lot of grassroots interest in more aggressive enforcement of antitrust laws, on both the left and the right, there has been little sign that the Supreme Courts six-justice conservative majority is ready to rethink the prevailing antitrust orthodoxy. On Thursday, the third day of the new, unorganized proto-Congress, Kevin McCarthy lost his 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th votes for the House speakership before the chamber adjourned for the night. McCarthys vote total fell from 201 to 200 over the course of the day. But nothing to see here. If you take the word of McCarthy and his allies, its all falling into place. Soon. Were going to go in here, were going to vote, nothings going to change, McCarthy told reporters before entering the chamber at the beginning of votes on Thursday, but what were doing is having really good progress and conversation. Advertisement Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick predicted wed see some movement in the next 24 hours. Good things are coming, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the most surprisingly staunch McCarthy ally of this saga, tweeted Thursday afternoon. Hold a little longer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just give it a little more time. By early Thursday evening, McCarthy was at least on the verge of a deal to pick up some of the 20 dissidents. This crew, led by Texas Rep. Chip Roy, among others, was negotiating with McCarthy and his team throughout the day on further rules changes after an offer McCarthy made Wednesday evening wasnt good enough. Most of the rule changes under discussion fall under the same umbrella: They would weaken the speakers grip over the chamber, either by limiting the number of allies he has on the powerful Rules Committee, limiting the speakers ability to ram bloated spending bills through the chamber, or by making it easier to oust the speaker should he stray from Freedom Caucus dogma. Advertisement One senior member of the Democratic rank-and-file seemed downright saddened by McCarthys giveaways, and the looming giveaways to come. I think what were seeing is the incredibly shrinking speakership in terms of all the deals that are being made and the rest, California Rep. Nancy Pelosi told reporters Thursday afternoon. And thats most unfortunate. Pelosi was also asked whether Democrats would ever step in to bail out McCarthy. Advertisement No. If this deal goes through and brings along many of the dissidents whove been dissenting in good faith to extract process and policy concessions, thats progress. It would still leave more than enough members, though, who are opposing McCarthy for other reasons. Some members just want bigger roles for themselves. Maryland Rep. Andy Harris, for example, was reportedly seeking the chairmanship of the Appropriations subcommittee in control of health spending, one of the biggest pots of money Congress controls. (Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt, whos in line to take that position, told me that allowing members to cut in line for committee gavels, such as his, would constitute crossing a red line. Understandable.) Advertisement Advertisement Virginia Rep. Bob Good simply hates Kevin McCarthy. You dont ever have to ask me again if Im a no, he told reporters Thursday. I will never vote for Kevin McCarthy. Montana (Maryland?) Rep. Matt Rosendale, who got into an argument on the floor with Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, still says he wont vote for anyone whos been in leadership over the last decade. Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert have burnt any and all bridges back to McCarthy. And Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs reiterated Wednesday night and Thursday that he was a hard no. Advertisement Advertisement McCarthys strategy is to cut his deal with the softer noes and then pressure enough of the slimmer group of remaining holdouts to fall in line. Those firmest Not Kevins arent even being invited to the negotiating meetings anymore. On Wednesday night, as he was leaving the Capitol, I had asked Biggs whether he thought he was being frozen out. Advertisement Yeah, I suppose so, maybe, he said. You know, Im not going to say I wasnt invited to one of the meetings. Its just, there was some miscommunication that several of us werent given the time and location. I ultimately got the location but not the time. Will the pressure work? Will having not just the 203 (er, 200) members whove voted with McCarthy every time, plus the flipped dissidents, plus Donald Trump, plus an increasingly pissed conservative media, all pressuring you to get it over with, actually work? This appears to be the final question of McCarthys speakership bid. As the day dragged on into the 11th ballot, I was sitting outside the House chamber when New York Rep.-elect George Santos, the infamous resume fabricator, was walking by in conversation with another member. The only words I overheard him say were, You cant make this crap up. It was time to go home. Ultimately, in politics, only voters can deliver the message, Youve hit bottom, and you need to change your ways. But the MAGA House majoritys inability to select a speaker may already be pushing voters to stage an intervention in 2024. Theres an irony in this early failure. Republicans came to it through a shameless addiction to power without principle. Starting in 2010, they gained political dominance across the country in state legislatures and wielded that power by gerrymandering congressional maps. The distorted districting maps they adopted herded minority voters and Democratic ones into electoral zones that looked like intoxicated amoeba. All that extreme gerrymandering has led directly to the current fiasco in the House. Advertisement The effort has put more Republican members of Congress in safe seats, with fewer Democratic constituents to answer to. That left the victors free to test the limits of their extremism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Momentously, in 2019, a radical Supreme Court majority composed of Republican nominees issued a 54 decision in Rucho v. Common Cause. It gave radical partisan gerrymandering the courts blessing as constitutional. The fifth vote in that ruling came from ultraconservative justice Neil Gorsuch, who was only seated after Senate Republicans unscrupulously refused to hold a confirmation hearing for Merrick Garland. He would have almost certainly cast the fifth vote the other way. If you doubt Ruchos effect in creating todays Republican House majority, look to Florida as a case study. In 2022, its governor, Ron DeSantis, strong-armed through the state legislature an extreme, gerrymandered map that eliminated half of Floridas Black-dominated districts. In Novembers election, the state flipped red three blue congressional seats. Advertisement Similarly, North Carolinas gerrymandering added three Republican seats that, based on the states Democratic vote-share, should have gone Democratic. (Incidentally, North Carolina is the state whose gerrymandered map the Supreme Court upheld in Rucho, and it is also the state whose map the court will judge in this terms much-discussed case of Moore v. Harper.) Similar results seem to have occurred in Texas and Kentucky, where partisan voter registrations are evenly divided. Yet in Texas, 25 of the 38 congressional representatives are Republican, a 2-to-1 ratio. In Kentucky, five of the six representatives are Republican. Advertisement Democrats, too, have gerrymandered in states whose legislatures they control, but their efforts have been far surpassed by Republicans, and without the destructive effects for the countrys institutions. Advertisement And so, the debacle weve been witnessing in Congress. From gerrymandered Republican seats come noncompetitive districts that elect hardliners with little to no incentive to compromise on choosing a speakeror anything else. They gain attention via television and social media and raise money from their MAGA base by standing firm and dropping pipe bombs on the system of governing, and rarely face consequences for the fallout. Advertisement The speaker-selection logjam is bound to break before long. But this saga will not be the last of gerrymanderings legacy. Kevin McCarthy has conceded to his partys extremists so much of the Republican speakers power that, whether or not he wins, the same people who have extorted him will spend the next two years treating the speakers podium as Kevins concession stand. Advertisement The next House leader will almost certainly lack the ability to herd the feral cats in the Freedom Caucus. Those who led the speaker fight will use their newfound power to drive Benghazi-style attacks on their political rivals, to initiate impeachment proceedings for Biden Cabinet members (if not Biden himself), and to investigate the investigators of Jan. 6. Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the MAGA House majority will almost surely introduce bills to further remove Americans reproductive and voting rights, to cut Social Security benefits and taxes on the rich, to defund the Ukraine invasion fighters, and to otherwise pursue an extreme agenda. Among the Republican Houses four-member majority are 17 from competitive districts across the country. The total vote differences in the closest five of those races were a mere 6,670 votes this past November. If the House majority remains as extreme and dysfunctional as it has appeared in its embarrassing speaker fight, thats a very surmountable margin, even with the current gerrymandered maps. Continuing vigilance in the next two years by citizens committed to keeping our republicand to fighting the erosion of democracy that gerrymandering has hastenedwill help energize a nationwide campaign to defeat the radical House majority in 2024. Maybe in that election, this version of the Republican Party will finally hit bottom and get onto the road to recovery. All is not well in Washington, clearly. Over three days of voting, Republican Kevin McCarthy has already lost 11 elections for speaker of the House. The 118th Congress still hasnt sworn in its new members. With 20 entrenched defectors, Republicans have had a hard time this week finding enough votes to even vote to stop voting. But amid the insanityand the Democratic glee at the Republican dysfunctiona very real problem with the concentration of power in Congress has surfaced, and the McCarthy holdouts have pushed for some changes that could hypothetically lead to some actual improvements in governance within the chamber. Advertisement Put another way, though McCarthys defectors are plenty pointlessly disruptive, they are pushing for a few things that count as actual solutions. In theory, those proposals could even benefit progressive Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The past 30 years have seen an extreme consolidation of power inside the House by members of leadership on both sides of the aisle, a trend which began in earnest when Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich tossed aside committee norms to elevate loyalists and hardliners in the mid-1990s. Majority and minority leaders now enjoy exorbitant control over rulemaking and the legislative and appropriative processes. Non-leadership members of both parties, meanwhile, have become historically disempowered, warm bodies expected to show up and vote the party line. Bills rarely come through committee, and as a result, see little input from all but the most senior members. This concentration at the top was something outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has often been referred to as the most powerful House speaker in modern history, used to her full advantage. Advertisement Part of what the arch-right House Freedom Caucus and its 20-odd McCarthy opponents say they want is a reversal of this trend. The group is pushing for a decentralization of the awesome power of the speaker, as Pelosi once put it, and an equivalent empowerment of factions within the chamber. As Oklahoma congressman-elect and McCarthy opponent Josh Brecheen said, he wants to end consolidation of power in the hands of the few at the expense of the many constituents of the 435 members of Congress. Advertisement In an Instagram stream Wednesday, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made a similar point: Im not gonna lie, some of the points that are madeI mean a lot of them are bad, most of them are badbut some of them, there is actually some common ground on. Like for example, democratizing the rules of the House and kind of breaking up that concentration of power that is so focused in a handful of leaders in both parties. Advertisement Advertisement To be clear, the Freedom Caucus isnt selflessly pursuing this change out of an abiding commitment to democratizing the chamber. The reforms they want would benefit them personally in their attempt to build influence in the House and, lest we forget, more than a few of their members voted to overturn the 2020 election. But they do have a point that power is too concentrated in the chamber. McCarthy, who has long pined for the all-powerful position of speaker, wants little to do with this kind of reform. People are mistaking dislike of the HFC for a dislike of the process, said Daniel Schuman, policy director at Demand Progress, a progressive policy group, referring to the House Freedom Caucus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats going on is not chaos. Its democracy at work and its fine, he said. The HFC has rightly identified that the fight over speaker, rules, personnel, and process determine policy. All the factions in the chamber should be looking to do this. The current configuration of influence is as historically anomalous as the contested speaker vote. As many have noted, this is the first time since 1923 that a speakers election has had to go to multiple ballots. But the dustup may have more in common with a 1910 revolt against House Speaker Joseph Cannon, a conservative Republican who was known at the time for using the inordinate power of the speakership to suppress progressive votes within his own party. After a series of votes, progressive Republicans and Democrats teamed up to permanently limit the power of his position. The resultthe removal of the speaker as the chairman of the Rules Committee, and the expansion of that committees membership from five to 15ushered in an era in which the speaker had limited power, one that effectively remained in place until Gingrichs tenure. Advertisement Advertisement The House Freedom Caucus is undeniably a strange group of emissaries for reforms that would break up concentrations of power in Congress. Troubling, too, are the ambitions driving their desire for said reforms, which range from sowing chaos in the chamber to forcing a default on the national debt. Advertisement But the reforms theyre pushing that could have a positive impact on overall governance include placing more members unaffiliated with the speaker onto the House Republican Steering Committee, which makes critical decisions on committee assignments, and empowering the entire conference to pick who sits on the powerful Rules Committee, rather than leaving it up to the speaker. These changes would meaningfully shift how Congress operates. They would be major wins for rank-and-file members. Advertisement Meanwhile, empowerment of committees in the legislative process, and a proposed opening up of the amendment process, would be advantageous for the left flank of the Democratic Party. Progressives make up almost half of the Democratic caucus, and the Progressive Caucus is the largest in the party. But progressives have long been shut out of leadership, and underrepresented on the most consequential committees, too. Pelosi, like Republican Speaker Paul Ryan before her, maintained an iron grip on election fundraising, committee appointments, the Rules Committee, and decisions over what bills are brought to the floor. The Democrats new leader, Hakeem Jeffries, who is very much a Pelosi understudy, would likely prefer to continue in her modus operandi, too. But even moderate Democrats have professed an interest in returning to that bygone era where membership is more empowered. Retiring Democrats have told the press they would like to see a return to regular order, which would empower committees and require bills to go through markups. Right now, that looks a long way off. Democrats are in the minority and are arguably over-unified in their support of their new leadership group (which is, of course, extremely similar to the old group). Its possible, too, that the Freedom Caucus will overplay its hand in these deliberations and end up with nothing. But while the ultra-MAGA caucus causes problems for mainstream Republicans, they are pointing a way for progressives to become more empowered both during this chaotic legislative session and whenever Democrats win the gavel back. Despite all the chaos currently raging on Capitol HillKevin McCarthy is preparing for a zillionth renomination for speaker of the House in front of a crowd that increasingly resembles the hyena legion from The Lion Kingit is important to remember one key fact: The MAGA contingency holding Congress hostage is not wielding a mandate. The hard-right corner of the GOP is in fact stinging from a suite of losses against rank-and-file Democrats. (Kari Lake, Dr. Oz, Herschel Walkerwe hardly knew you). While Republicans did edge out a slim majority in the House, the lower chamber tends to be the meagerest of victories during a midterm. In a sensible world, a drubbing of this magnitude would encourage political strategists to reconsider the alienating, bizarre, or flat-out minoritarian precepts that have been allowed to dominate the party. Perhaps, in a come-to-Jesus moment, they would mercifully nudge closer to the center. But this Republican Party? Weve given up on sensibility long ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And so, a handful Republican members-elect continue to stand in the way of Kevin McCarthys gavel. The reasons for their intransigence are difficult to coherently parse, though McCarthy has drummed up all sorts of last-minute red-meat concessions aimed toward the most aggressive actors in the GOP. He has, for instance, promised floor votes to a litany of culture-war stunt bills, and offered to add a number of Freedom Caucus wingnuts to various oversight committees. Its a continuation of a strategy favored by McCarthy ever since he ascended to congressional leadershipa long, deleterious pattern of chronic, fearful appeasement to the most vulgar associates of his coalition. And honestly? You cant say he doesnt do the work. McCarthys pinned tweet outlines his priorities for the upcoming session, which includes multi-paragraph sections dedicated to Hunter Bidens laptop, the COVID lab leak hypothesis, and also woke ideology. Last year, McCarthy pressured Republican consultants to freeze out Liz Cheney during her reelection bid simply because she had the temerity to vote for a Trump impeachment after Jan. 6. And yet, after all of this debasementhis prostrating surrender to every whim of the MAGA basetheyve eagerly thrown him to the wolves. The caucus wants his head, and nobody, especially not McCarthy, should be surprised. Advertisement Advertisement Negotiations have lacked traction, because its an impossible problem to solve. The truth is that the MAGA dead-enders dont hold substantial policy differences from Kevin McCarthy. Lauren Boebert, Paul Gosar, and Matt Gaetz arent pursuing many structural reforms or legislative pivotsthe kind of stuff that could be hammered out around a bargaining table. No, the primary reason McCarthy finds himself in such an unenviable position is simpler than any negotiation. It is just that despite all of his overtures to the unhinged members of his party, he will never be a genuine, dyed-in-the-wool maniac. The members of Congress who are hostaging his speakership are election deniers and certification objectors; they are in the hallowed halls of Washington primarily to wreak chaos and promote their own brands. And they can sense the Beltway insincerity in McCarthys gestalt. He is simply too much of a politician to ever garner their trust. They dont care about doing the job, and that will permanently put them at odds with someone like McCarthy; someone who believes that the U.S. government should be functional. Advertisement Advertisement For seven years now, Republicans have believed they could manage the unserious, ungovernable, incoherent sway in their party. Theyve leveraged MAGA derangement to squeeze out electoral victories while still accomplishing the partys goals (tax cuts, the elevation of anti-abortion conservatives to the Supreme Court, punitive immigration policy). But the nihilism of the post-Trump conservative milieu has finally caught up with the GOP. The Freedom Caucus group stands out mostly for its incoherence. One of the Freedom Caucuss few concrete demands is a more streamlined pathway to hold votes on the speakership. The takeaway here is that theyre not really interested in listening to anyoneand at this point, that includes even Donald Trump, whose urgings for them to line up behind McCarthy have gone unheeded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This group does share many of the former presidents basic inclinations: an intrinsic disinterest in the act of governing, a deep appreciation for evincing fealty from whoever currently occupies their enemys list. And, sure, some of them are still interested in MAGA: Gaetz even went as far to nominate Trump himself during the 11th ballot. But Trumps hold on American politicson both the far right of the party that used to answer to him and on the voters themselvesis slipping. American people giddily deflated MAGA hubris in the midterms; they flocked to the polls with the intention of voting for anyone who resembled the status quo. (Who wouldve thought mainstream Americans would prefer a former astronaut to the reptilian aura of Blake Masters?) Advertisement That means the hardliners are wildly out of step from the general American polity, and somehow more stubborn than ever before. It is telling, as the National Review pointed out, that even Marjorie Taylor Greene is supporting McCarthys nomination. If one of the most QAnon-friendly agents in Congress has run out of patience with the hardliners, then the movement has become truly fractious. The rickety axioms they stand fora vague, underlying paranoia about the utility of Washingtonhave made it so they no longer represent much of anything to anyone. Yes, progressives can enjoy the schadenfreude of watching a handful of malcontents call the shots in this clownish incarnation of the GOPat last the worm has turned. But the long-term consequences, for everyone in this country, is that a small fixture of nihilists have carved out enough leverage on Capitol Hill to demand conciliation at every turn. Their demands will only get more flippant and petty from here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, it seems like McCarthy will continue to churn through roll calls, steadily losing ground, until he either capitulates or steps aside, or the sun explodes. It is a fitting terminus to one of the more embarrassing sagas in modern American political history. The MAGA contingency was never going to be satisfied by simply taking an inch; there is no way to bargain with a fundamentally undemocratic bastion of power. How do you negotiate with a group of policymakers who dont believe in anything? That is the uncomfortable question that Republicans and Democrats alike are going to be answering for a long, long time. The South Carolina Supreme Court delivered a victory for reproductive rights on Thursday, though that victory may be short-lived. In a 32 decision, the majority found the state constitution protects abortion access as a component of the right to privacy. Its the first time a state Supreme Court has found a right to abortion in its state constitution since the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade in June. In sharp contrast, the Idaho Supreme Court upheld its states abortion ban by a 32 vote just hours later. Advertisement The South Carolina courts ruling ensures that abortion is once again legal in the state until 20 weeks of pregnancy. It leaves room, however, for the GOP-controlled legislature to impose a stricter limit. And it may prove vulnerable to reversal in the near future: The legislature will soon replace a justice in the majority, potentially flipping the court against abortion rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic v. South Carolina, arose after the legislature criminalized abortion after six weeks of pregnancy in 2021. At the time, Republican lawmakers anticipated that Justice Amy Coney Barretts confirmation to SCOTUS would assure Roes demise, and they were correct. Now that theres no more federal right to abortion, the decision of when to allow it lies with each stateincluding, as Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted, state supreme courts. Most state constitutions provide more expansive protections than the federal constitution, and South Carolina is no exception: It is one of 10 states whose constitution explicitly guarantees a right to privacy. Advertisement In Roes absence, reproductive rights advocates argued that the six-week ban constitutes an unreasonable invasion of privacy forbidden by the South Carolina Constitution. The state Supreme Court agreed, though all five justices wrote separate opinions, and no single opinion commanded a majority. Three justices agreed that the law violated patients right to privacy for basically the same reasons: The right to privacy includes control over personal medical decisions, including reproductive health; many patients dont even know theyre pregnant by six weeks, so the ban prevents them from making an informed choice about ending their pregnancy. Or, as Chief Justice Donald W. Beatty put it bluntly, the ban effectively usurps a womans authority to make medical decisions over her own body and places this power, instead, solely in the hands of a political body. Advertisement Advertisement While the three opinions that make up the majority are largely on the same page about the right to privacy, none of them identified the precise point at which the state can begin to ban abortion. State law already prohibits abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and the majority did not question that outer limit. To the contrary, it seemed to leave room for a ban thats stricter than 20 weeks. Justice John Cannon Few, who cast the decisive vote, wrote that patients must simply have an opportunity to make a meaningful choice. Elaborating, he suggested that the state cannot ban abortion at any point before a majority of women in South Carolina know they are pregnant. Few struck down the six-week ban precisely because the legislature failed to consider this question. Advertisement Advertisement As a result, if the legislature can demonstrate that a majority of South Carolina residents know they are pregnant by 12 weeks, Few may well uphold a 12-week ban. The same goes for a 10- or even 8-week ban. He took pains to give the state ample room for another, more stringent restriction, as long as it backed up the bill with empirical evidence. Advertisement Advertisement This will not be the last time a state Supreme Court finds a right to abortion under state law in the absence of Roe. The high courts of multiple other statesincluding Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Utah, and Wyomingwill soon decide similar challenges. Some will follow the Idaho Supreme Court in rejecting reproductive rights, but others are considerably more moderate than their GOP-controlled legislatures. Although the legal questions in those cases are distinct, courts may feel emboldened to push against legislative extremism. The Kansas Supreme Court, after all, was vindicated just last summer when voters refused to overturn a decision protecting abortion under the state constitution. Advertisement State court decisions are also much more vulnerable to political override than federal rulings, and the South Carolina decision may not last for long. The third justice who made up the majority, Kaye G. Hearn, will retire next month. (She is required to step down due to age limits.) Her retirement gives the legislature an opportunity to replace her with an anti-abortion hardliner, though that outcome is not assured. In South Carolina, Supreme Court nominees are selected by a judicial nominating commission that takes applications from lawyers across the state. It picks three top candidates to present to the legislature, which elects one of them to the court. Although the commission is dominated by Republicans, it has sometimes selected moderatesas Thursdays decision illustrates. Nonetheless, the South Carolina legislators who passed the six-week ban will presumably want to pick a justice whos more favorable to their anti-abortion legislation. At a time when abortion access is critically endangered in the South, though, every clinic counts. And the state Supreme Court has ensured that, for the time being and thanks to the right to privacy, South Carolinas clinics can continue helping patients who seek care. You are here: Business Visitors view health technologies during the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the United States, Jan. 6, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua] The 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world's premier tech show, kicked off in the U.S. city of Las Vegas on Thursday. The show, which runs through Sunday, draws more than 3,100 exhibitors from 170 countries and regions, according to the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), organizer of the CES. Participants are expected to experience new technologies from global brands, hear about the future of technology from thought leaders and collaborate face-to-face with other attendees. CES 2023 will highlight how innovations in sustainability, transportation and mobility, digital health, the metaverse and more areas are addressing the world's greatest challenges. The CES 2023 show floor will feature nearly 1,000 new exhibitors, one of the largest and fastest growing global auto shows, and an impressive list of CES 2023 Innovation Award honorees showcasing the future of technology. The 2023 show footprint will be over 70 percent larger than CES 2022, according to CTA. CES influential brands like TCL, Canon, Google, Hisense, Qualcomm, Lenovo, and Samsung have joined the show. In addition, some new and expanded areas are attracting attention, including automotive and mobility, digital health, sustainability, Web3 and metaverse, and human security. "CES is the world's most exciting technology event, from startups in Eureka Park to global brands on the main stages. We are thrilled to spotlight thousands of innovative companies at this year's show," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CTA. "Tech advances are helping to solve the world's greatest challenges, and CES 2023 will set the agenda for the year ahead," he said. As the new year begins, and as fallen cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried prepares for the legal battle of his life, the industry he helped drag low continues to strugglewith revenue, with investor confidence, with yet more crime. If you went in on BTC or ETH or DAOs or NFTs, its been bad news all around. But for the people reporting that news, its been a golden age. Recall that the disgrace of Sam Bankman-Fried and his crypto exchange FTX began with a report from a crypto-centric news website: On Nov. 2, CoinDesk published a leaked balance sheet from the SBF-founded hedge fund Alameda Research that made the business look not just iffy, but worryingly intertwined with FTX. Around the same time, the independent newsletter Dirty Bubble Media performed its own financial analysis of Alameda, asking whether the company was actually insolvent. Then, following FTXs collapse in early November, many of the juiciest and weirdest revelations about the company came from outsider sources. CoinDesk was first to the Bahamian orgy mansion allegations, for better or for worse. SBF copped to making GOP dark-money donations in a phone call with a Bitcoin enthusiast named Tiffany Fong, the audio of which she later posted on YouTube to great aplomb. (Its fans might have included federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York, who accused SBF of campaign finance violations, among many other charges.) Who is Tiffany Fong? Im not an actual journalist employed by anybody, she told me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As this crypto implosion has gone on, traditional media venturesincluding the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and New York magazinehave more than carried their weight, as have digital outlets like Vox, Bloomberg, and Puck. Andrew Ross Sorkins grilling of SBF at the New York Times DealBook Summit was harsher than many expected, following an earlier Times interview with the founder that many criticized as a softball. But the outraged crypto communities paying attention to this news saga have preferred to cheer for more homegrown sources. After Fong released the explosive audio of her call, members of Crypto Twitter praised her for exposing what the mainstream media couldnt. Its hardly surprising that the cryptocurrency industrywhich arose, with Bitcoin, from the wreckage of the financial crisis as an alternative to fiat economicswidely distrusts traditional media sources. But in FTXs case especially, enthusiasts have been able to turn to citizen journalism, whether Fong or Dirty Bubble or the popular YouTuber Coffeezilla, for legitimate news scoops and blunt confrontations with SBF, in contrast with a financial press that was far too deferential to the crypto titan in the past and even up through now. Advertisement Advertisement Its not unfair to traditional media (of which I am obviously a participant!) to question how it got SBF so wrong for so long. Its also important not to exaggerate how much better amateur coverage of FTX has been compared with traditional media; several overhyped Twitter Spaces hosted by crypto bros attempting to catch SBF in the lie turned out to be rather sloppy. And the crypto press did its share of SBF boosting over the years. As a CoinDesk op-ed noted, The media, perhaps especially crypto-native publications, is complicit in the rise of Bankman-Fried. Advertisement Still, it is remarkable to consider how unconventional the exposure of Sam Bankman-Fried really was. Especially given that CoinDesk, which earned a new level of prominence after its Alameda scoop, also itself got caught up in the crypto-industry contagion its reporting kicked off. The site is owned by the company Digital Currency Group, whose holdings include several crypto businesses. So when the scandal walloped the cryptocurrency markets, DCG took a financial hit, as Semafor reported, and is apparently looking to sell off the website. (The company is also facing various other issues, including a public beef with the Winklevoss twins. Crypto, man.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That a publication would report something that blows back on its parent company is not unusual; the Jeff Bezosowned Washington Post still reports on Amazons ugly ground-level working conditions. But it may seem strange to a lay observer that crypto-centric publications, which are invested in how the market faresthanks to crypto advertising and traffic fueled by general interestwouldnt just take that money and run with it. As Crypto Critics Corner co-host Cas Piancey put it to me: When your business model relies on cryptocurrency company advertisers, how critical can you possibly be of them if you dont want to lose them as clients? This is a conundrum further compounded by the way crypto-market troubles can then hit these publications bottom linesnot just in the example of DCG and CoinDesk, but also in the way crypto companies slow down ad buys or general investments in leaner times. Just look at how industry ad spending declined last year alone. Or at how the CEO of the news site the Block stepped down after confessing to taking undisclosed funds from SBF. Advertisement There are, indeed, publications that seem to mainly serve as pro-crypto or -Bitcoin propaganda. There are also those that also sternly follow old-school reporting guidelines and employ veterans of institutions like the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. And then there are the independent vigilantes. I decided to talk to some key people in the crypto-media space to see whether they think their future looks bright, or whether they too will be holding on for dear life. Advertisement To hear from the editors in chief of various crypto publications, there is a strong need for journalistic principles in their sector. I think there is too much rah-rah cheerleading in the industry, said Daniel Roberts, who runs the news site Decrypt. We try to cover things with integrity. Advertisement Roberts has a background in the mainstream media, as a former Yahoo Finance reporter who was writing about Bitcoin going back to 2011. He only joined Decrypt in 2021, when it appeared that cryptocurrency no longer felt niche as a coverage topic, and after he noticed flaws in media approaches to digital economics. The big publications used to only cover crypto in a sensationalistic way, when it was booming or crashing, and now theyre finally building out crypto coverage arms, he mentioned. I think people separate crypto media over here, and then the big outlets like the Times, FT, Bloombergwhich are considered the real journalistic outlets, but they often get stuff wrong. The balance appears to be how to be properly excited about the industryand gain the attention of experts, and everyday readers, and crypto advertiserswhile not coming off as something like a trade pub, a term Roberts said he resents. When it comes to Decrypts scrappy staff (only about 15 full-time journalists, Roberts counted), there are standards. For one, everyone discloses whether they own crypto and how much, and no one owns more than a fractional amount, he said. And you should have a little so you can test it for yourself and play around with it. Plus, we have a couple core contributors who are extreme skeptics, which is a good thing. But overall, Decrypts ethos is that we think crypto is a fascinating phenomenon that will be around for a while. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kristina Lucrezia Corner, who heads the website Cointelegraph, expressed similar sentiments to me. I considered my mission, when I started here in 2017, to bring quality journalism into this space, because I saw that it was a bunch of passionate crypto nerds, she said in a video call from her native Italy. We brought the journalism vibe to the community instead of bringing blockchain enthusiasm to the journalism space. Corners pre-Cointelegraph career included jobs in public relations, communications, and political research. Perhaps because of that, she says she thinks of Cointelegraph as being informational, relatable, and innovative. Corner pointed to stories that feature on-the-ground reporting from countries like Senegal and El Salvador as one example of what shed like her publication to do: highlight the human interest element and emotions of crypto. If we cant make crypto seem like something that is part of our daily lives, then it will never go mainstream, she told me. Another mission of Corners is to educate not just readers but regulators, who often lack education: Its not a critique, but an objective truth. (Corner did also say some regulation needs to happen to get rid of the bad actors.) Advertisement Advertisement Both Decrypt and Cointelegraph are independent websites with tiny staffs that very much dabble in the technology they cover. At Cointelegraph, you can purchase NFTs of custom illustrations that accompany stories, and at Decrypt, all published stories are cross-posted to the IPFS blockchain, ensuring a separate, permanent archive on the ledger. They also both have investors from the space, some of whom theyve occasionally clashed with after certain bits of coverage. Roberts mentioned controversies over Decrypts more skeptical coverage of big names like the MetaMask wallet and Bored Ape Yacht Club, while Corner talked about a negative listicle on altcoins that got the site in trouble with an investor who was involved with one of those coins. (Cointelegraph has also garnered other critiques from crypto observers whove accused the site, over the years, of posting fake news and purposefully rushing news posts or using biased headlines.) Advertisement Advertisement Both editors in chief noted their frustration with crypto YouTubers who moonlight as analysts, since so many of them propagate scams. They also dismissed independent bloggers and critics whom they perceive as having come to prominence simply by villainizing the entire space. Citizen journalists replacing real, trained outlets is very silly, said Roberts. People should trust established outlets, by which he means sites like Decrypt. Advertisement Advertisement Still, there are perhaps some advantages to careful forms of citizen crypto journalism. Tiffany Fong told me that the loss of her holdings in the implosion of the Celsius exchange last summer started her journey as an online voice. Crypto was not a big part of my life prior to Celsius going down, she said. I only started posting [on Twitter and YouTube] when it went down because I dont have a lot of friends in crypto in real life, so I wanted to complain about my losses. Advertisement Those complaints, plus Fongs persistent following of the Celsius bankruptcy proceedings, soon attracted unexpected attention. Some Celsius employees started sending me information without prompting, she said, even though Id never posted asking people for info or to send me anything. Fong then figured that the way to utilize these secretive communications was to share it with big publications. She was mentioned in a Sept. 13 New York Times report, in which the paper reported on audio of a Celsius meeting shed gotten hold of and credited her as the source. Incidentally, thats the day that Sam Bankman-Fried started following me on Twitter, Fong told me. The two chatted briefly and he continued to comment on her posts, though that was pretty much the extent of our relationship. Advertisement When FTX filed for Chapter 11, Fong figured shed try to personally talk to SBFwhy not? I messaged him on Nov. 11, and he responded on Nov. 16. So it really caught me off guard, because it was at almost 1 a.m. when he responded to me, and it was several days later. It was hectic all around. He responded to me saying that he was free for the next hour or so, she told me. I was, to be honest, coming home from drinks, so I really, truly was not prepared at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the conversation, Fong had no idea what to do. I initially was not planning on posting the audio, but I was trying to figure out the best way to summarize the information with credibility, since I dont work for a reputable outlet that people trust blindly, she said. And the experience with the New York Times had left her somewhat jaded. That was my first taste of working with traditional media, and it didnt feel as critical as I would have liked, Fong told me. I understand they probably wanted to be neutral and unbiased on it. But it wasnt the way that I wouldve personally interpreted the audio. Fongs previous YouTube videos about Celsius had gotten some attention from other crypto pundits, like Coffeezilla, and Fong decided to use that to her advantage: I think Coffeezilla has done some good work, so I respected that. And I thought it was kind of cool to not use traditional outlets this time. But even though she wasnt going back to the Times, she wasnt giving up on basic standards. I did want to take out the parts that he explicitly said not to repeat or were off the record, just because I think I need to abide by some sort of ethical framework, she told me. So she worked with Coffeezilla to upload the audio and break down its most newsworthy portions, and he used his platform to boost the interviewand Fongs own channelas well. (Contra SBFs claim to New York magazine that he never gave her permission to use the call, Fong told me, He was aware that I would post in some format. I didnt warn him that the actual audio would be posted, but I felt that it was the best and only way to convey all the nuances.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A painstaking, thought-through process for giving out such a huge piece of news is certainly preferable to the rantings of microcelebrities like BitBoy Crypto, a much-watched YouTuber whos been accused of undisclosed crypto shilling and recently found himself back in the news after a botched attempt to infiltrate SBFs Bahamian property. And its clear even to Fong that not all nonjournalist analysts are as diligent as she was: During a Twitter Space where SBF appeared and was asked about an allegation inaccurately attributed to Fongs call, she had to speak up to fix the error herself. What Fongs done with her reporting and analysis is one thing, but other citizen crypto journalists arent necessarily as rigorous; thats perhaps why she was also able to secure another interview with SBF from his parents house. It helps in Fongs case, too, that she had at least some experience in crypto going back. Advertisement Still, even though Fong has become quite prominent, it hasnt all been fun. There were plenty of people who doubted her after the first SBF audio drop, she said, simply because they didnt know who she was. And as bigger outlets have picked up on her reporting, shes also faced the kinds of sexist coverage that affect so many women journalists, especially those in the tech space. Advertisement Advertisement The great crypto pantsing of 2022 may have made skeptics out of just about everyone who reports on the industry, but another cadre of renegade journalists got there well before FTX became synonymous with massive fraud. Often, theyre not even full-time writers, or even part of the media scene; Dirty Bubble is helmed by a Michigan-based physician, and the popular Web3 Is Going Just Great blog is run by software engineer and longtime Wikipedia editor Molly White. Heck, one of the most prominent anti-crypto voices in the space right now is a former teen-soap star (and Slate contributor!). Advertisement Advertisement There are others whove made whole careers out of crypto skepticism, like the hosts of the podcast Crypto Critics Corner, who dont think much of some of their less-skeptical peers. Cryptocurrency news desks run on a bit of access journalism, said co-host Cas Piancey, whose podcast partner, Bennett Tomlin, also works with him at the crypto news site Protos. Both Piancey and Tomlin have ample experience questioning the biggest names in cryptolike Binfinex and Tether and Alamedaand receiving subsequent backlash. Piancey does think, however, that hes seeing more incredulity across the space, which, if anything, should be helpful for crypto fans. I think crypto criticism and skepticism are good, beneficial philosophies in general, so they benefit the industry ultimately, he said. After all, someones gotta clear out the riffraff and the scammers, right? And someone has to take an even sterner approach toward the systems that underlie the mass devotion to Bitcoin and crypto, but are not exclusive to them. Its the way that the American economy glorifies billionaires now and glorifies amassing paper wealth and power. We cover these VCs and these glorified greed machines as though that is what winning in society looks like. And its really unfortunate. The media should be asking itself questions about that, Piancey concluded. Its not a crypto thingits like an American dream thing. Its perhaps for that very reason that mainstream outlets, from Bloomberg to Forbes, are explicitly staffing up their crypto desks, and making the industry a core part of their business and financial coverage, with more specific resources dedicated to this journalism. And Piancey, overall, remains bullish on the prospects of crypto media even during this winter, as he declared in a Protos op-ed last month, precisely because the commentary and journalism in this space are probing further and asking deeper questions. What is clear to me is that every cryptocurrency media outlet, whether doing fine or struggling to make ends meet, has talented and brilliant journalists, willing to sacrifice anythingseemingly their jobs!to report the truth, he wrote. It cant hurt their prospects that certain CEOs keep talking. The life of a running back is much shorter than any other position in football. The punishment players at the position take on a daily basis makes it very hard for them to play at a high level for a long period of time. For Ohio State running back Miyan Williams who had a break-out season and battled injuries, he still had a big decision on his hands this off-season. Today, Williams let everyone know what his intentions are by announcing that he will return to Columbus for another campaign. We all know how tough Williams is, he attempted to play against our rivals along with Georgia, but he clearly wasnt as healthy as he would have liked. He will now have plenty of time to heal up in advance for the punishment that he will receive and dish out next fall. Last year Williams showed flashes of what he could be and really took a big leap forward. His touchdowns went up from 3 in 2021 to 14 this season, while his yardage jumped from 507 to 825 as well. If fully healthy next year, I expect Chop to go over the 1,000-yard mark even with splitting carries with TreVeyon Henderson. List Ohio State football 2023 NFL draft declaration tracker Ohio State football 2023 NFL draft declaration tracker | Buckeyes Wire Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Michael Chen on Twitter. Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today Story originally appeared on Buckeye Wire https://sputnikglobe.com/20230105/venezuelan-opposition-puts-final-nail-in-guaido-ouster-with-new-figuera-appointment-1106069914.html Venezuelan Opposition Puts Final Nail in Guaido Ouster With New Figuera Appointment Venezuelan Opposition Puts Final Nail in Guaido Ouster With New Figuera Appointment MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly replaced Juan Guaido as its head on Thursday, a week after ousting the nations... 05.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-05T22:08+0000 2023-01-05T22:08+0000 2023-01-05T22:03+0000 americas venezuela juan guaido opposition parties interim government /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/18/1105743638_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_a267e2b5149ac623c1c4bb420c2b9130.jpg The legislature, which was elected in 2015 and stayed on after a new chamber was created, announced the appointment of Dinorah Figuera as president and Marianela Fernandez and Auristela Vasquez as vice-presidents for the 2023-2024 legislative period. Washington and its allies recognized Guaido as de-facto leader of Venezuela in 2019, handing him controls over the oil-rich South American countrys foreign assets. However, Guaido was largely rejected by the Venezuelan public.Guaido's ouster from the assembly leaves him without a job in Venezuela and puts the congressional control of foreign assets in question. The latest came after the US confirmed on Wednesday that it would continue to recognize Guaido as Venezuelan president despite opposition parties having voted to do away with Guaido's so-called 'interim presidency.'Tensions between the US and Venezuela hit a new high in 2019 after the Trump White House claimed the presidential election won by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was fraudulent. The administration did not provide any evidence to support its allegations, and went on to impose sanctions on the mineral-rich country. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220612/video-juan-guaido-chased-out-of-venezuelan-restaurant-as-chairs-go-flying-once-again-1096233047.html americas venezuela Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International venezuela, juan guaido, opposition parties, interim government https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/ambassador-antonov-washington-does-not-want-political-settlement-of-ukraine-conflict-1106072292.html Ambassador Antonov: Washington Does Not Want Political Settlement of Ukraine Conflict Ambassador Antonov: Washington Does Not Want Political Settlement of Ukraine Conflict Russian Ambassador in the United States Anatoly Antonov said on Thursday, commenting on the White House's decision to deliver Bradley fighting vehicles to Kiev, that Washington does not want a political settlement of the Ukraine conflict. 2023-01-06T03:20+0000 2023-01-06T03:20+0000 2023-01-06T04:38+0000 anatoly antonov ukraine crisis us russia m2 bradley infantry fighting vehicle world /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0a/04/1101485130_0:321:3071:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_cb3d583769e1abf5c65f61885d131697.jpg Earlier in the day, the Defense Department said the Biden administration will announce another military assistance package for Ukraine on Friday that will include Bradley fighting vehicles. According to media reports, the package will include $3 billion worth of military equipment. "This step [the delivery of Bradley fighting vehicles] comes as a confirmation that our interlocutors in the United States have not even tried to listen to our numerous calls to take into account possible consequences of such a dangerous course by Washington," Antonov told journalists.The ambassador said that any talk about a "defensive nature" of weapons that Western countries supply to Kiev has long become "absurd," adding that "it is finally becoming clear to the whole international community that in 2014 the US unleashed a real proxy-war against Russia by supporting nazi criminals in Kiev." "The actions of the administration spur Ukrainian radicals to proceed with their terrible deeds. With every consecutive transfer of arms their feeling of impunity grows stronger," Antonov said. The ambassador noted the West started "to purposefully weaken Russia" under the US leadership long before the beginning of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, recalling statements made by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and ex-French President Francois Hollande. In December, Merkel told the Zeit newspaper that the 2014 Minsk agreement "was an attempt to give Ukraine extra time." The former chancellor said she doubted NATO countries could have done as much then as they were doing now to help Ukraine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230105/us-germany-intend-to-provide-ukraine-with-infantry-fighting-vehicles---joint-statement-1106069047.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukraine conflict, us position on ukraine, russian ambassador antonov on us role in ukraine, us arms package for kiev https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/armenia-says-turkey-lifted-ban-on-cargo-traffic-by-air-1106088412.html Armenia Says Turkey Lifted Ban on Cargo Traffic by Air Armenia Says Turkey Lifted Ban on Cargo Traffic by Air YEREVAN (Sputnik) - Turkey has informed Armenia about its decision to lift the ban on cargo shipments by air, effective immediately, Armenian Foreign Ministry... 06.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-06T16:24+0000 2023-01-06T16:24+0000 2023-01-06T16:24+0000 world turkiye armenia bilateral relations /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/06/1106088263_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_dad114cac565656c403bfe7d02fc4d45.jpg Turkish news channel Haberturk cited Turkish diplomatic sources as saying earlier in the day that cargo traffic between the two neighboring nations had been made possible starting January 1. "Turkey has informed Armenia about the end to the ban on airborne cargo shipments," he said. The move follows an agreement that Armenian and Turkish negotiators made in July during normalization talks. Hunanyan said Armenia expected that third country nationals would be next allowed to cross the land border with Turkey.The countries have had no diplomatic ties and their land border has remained closed since the early 1990s due to Ankaras support of Armenias regional rival Azerbaijan and its refusal to recognize mass killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire. turkiye armenia 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 turkey armenia relations, cargo shipments by air, turkey lift ban for armenia, airborn cargo shipments between turkey and armenia, relations normalization https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/avengers-star-jeremy-renner-gets-spa-treatment-in-hospital-after-snowplough-accident-1106083513.html Avengers Star Jeremy Renner Gets Spa Treatment in Hospital After Snowplough Accident Avengers Star Jeremy Renner Gets Spa Treatment in Hospital After Snowplough Accident Actor Jeremy Renner has been enjoying the spa treatment in his intensive care hospital bed. 2023-01-06T11:56+0000 2023-01-06T11:56+0000 2023-01-06T11:56+0000 viral celebrity accident us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/06/1106083245_0:9:1250:712_1920x0_80_0_0_43e76cf46857f3b149d01354976b1ffd.jpg Renner, known for playing the arrow-shooting superhero Hawkeye in the Avengers film franchise, tweeted a video from his intensive care hospital bed on Thursday. He joked it was spa day as his mother and sister massaged his scalp through a surgical cap. Yeah the woozy actor mumbles, adding: Thats the first shower in definitely a week or so Gross! Renner was rushed to hospital on New Years Fay with life-threatening injuries to his chest and leg. He had been clearing snow from the driveway of his family home in the Sierra Nevada mountains, near Reno, Nevada, when he was run over by his own tracked snowcat vehicle. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png 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 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png avengers star, jeremey renner, jeremy renner in hospital, avengers star in hospiral, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/benins-opposition-to-participate-in-upcoming-legislative-elections-on-sunday-1106087002.html Benin's Opposition to Participate in Upcoming Legislative Elections on Sunday Benin's Opposition to Participate in Upcoming Legislative Elections on Sunday This week Benin is getting ready to hold legislative elections scheduled on Sunday with several opposition parties taking part in the electoral race. 2023-01-06T15:22+0000 2023-01-06T15:22+0000 2023-01-06T15:22+0000 africa west africa benin elections parliamentary elections parliament political crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/06/1106085661_0:165:3053:1882_1920x0_80_0_0_eea1312cbc4fd8169b5f593bcc3f76be.jpg Benin is getting ready to hold legislative elections scheduled for Sunday, with several opposition parties taking part in the electoral race.Seven political parties, among which three are in opposition, are vying for 109 seats in the countrys legislative body, the National Assembly. The election campaign runs from December 23 to January 6. Members of the National Assembly, whose number has been raised from 83 since the last elections, are elected by proportional representation in 24 multi-member constituencies to five-year terms, with a limit of three terms. The parties vying for seats in the National Assembly include:The Democrats, an opposition party, was initially barred from running in the upcoming elections. However, in November, the Beninese Constitutional Court ordered the Electoral Commission to accept a reshuffled list of candidates from the party. The first two parties in the list were the only political blocs participating in the last elections, which were held in April 2019 and resulted in the Progressive Union winning a majority of seats - 47 out of 83, and the Republican Bloc coming in second. Both parties support the country's incumbent President Patrice Talon. In previous elections, the voter turnout had not fallen below 50%, while in 2019, just 23% of voters cast ballots. In July 2018, a new electoral code was introduced in the country that aimed at reducing the large number of active political parties by putting more strict conditions for entering parliament, including the creation of an electoral threshold of 10% of the national vote. The deposit required for a parliamentary list was also increased from 8.3 million to 249 million francs. The reforms forced the country's parties to merge and form blocs prior to the 2019 elections. Even though it was reported that the opposition would create a single bloc, only two blocs linked with the president were registered to contest. africa west africa benin Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Maria Konokhova Maria Konokhova 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 Maria Konokhova benin, west africa, legislative elections, opposition parties, beninese parliamentary election https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/chinese-army-says-us-made-a-fuss-by-sending-warship-to-pass-through-taiwan-strait-1106087558.html Chinese Army Says US 'Made a Fuss' by Sending Warship to Pass Through Taiwan Strait Chinese Army Says US 'Made a Fuss' by Sending Warship to Pass Through Taiwan Strait BEIJING (Sputnik) - A US destroyer's passage through the Taiwan Strait put China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) on high alert amid local tensions, with the... 06.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-06T15:02+0000 2023-01-06T15:02+0000 2023-01-06T15:02+0000 military us china taiwan strait /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/05/1106066963_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_22d3eb7aa45e2bb4cea7f0af98e2cfcf.jpg On Thursday, US guided-missile destroyer Chung-Hoon transited through the neutral waters of the Taiwan Strait in a demonstration of the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. China's armed forces monitored the passage of the US destroyer along its entire route, making sure all of its movements were under control, the statement read. Taiwan and China have been at odds since the end of a civil war in 1949. Beijing has insisted that other countries should respect the one-China principle after a visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei in August 2022 unleashed a wave of political pilgrimage to Taiwan. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221230/chinese-foreign-ministry-urges-us-to-stop-arms-sales-to-taiwan-1105926218.html china taiwan strait 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, china, taiwan strait https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/declassified-doc-reveals-how-uk-france-tried-to-whitewash-responsibility-for-wwii-1106090510.html Declassified Doc Reveals How UK, France Planned to Whitewash Responsibility for WWII Declassified Doc Reveals How UK, France Planned to Whitewash Responsibility for WWII Over 80 years since the start of World War II, debates continue to rage about who is responsible for the deadliest conflict in history. 2023-01-06T19:10+0000 2023-01-06T19:10+0000 2023-01-06T19:28+0000 world world war ii second world war joseph stalin adolf hitler neville chamberlain negotiations talks diplomatic relations diplomacy /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/06/1106090363_0:0:2049:1153_1920x0_80_0_0_45c214b300ac5974f921d914c16ec876.jpg Months after the start of the Second World War, the United Kingdom and France planned to release a blue book collection of doctored diplomatic correspondence to try to paint the USSR as the party responsible for the breakdown of the Soviet-Anglo-French defense pact talks of the summer of 1939.A document dated January 27, 1940, citing information provided by an undercover agent inside Her Majestys Government, published in the Russian Foreign Intelligence Services digital archive, detailed plans by the British to release the blue book, and its expected contents.This book will consist of a number specially selected and falsified documents, which, in the view of London, will prove to the world that while the English honestly negotiated with the USSR and intended to conclude a pact, the Bolsheviks played a double game, signing the Soviet-German agreement and unleashing a European war, the document reads.The agent characterized the task before the blue books curators as a hefty one, given the need to prove that white is black and in general to turn everything upside down.Soviet, British and French negotiators held talks in Moscow in the summer of 1939 in a last-ditch attempt to create a Soviet-Anglo-French triple alliance against Adolf Hitlers Germany, which by that point had annexed Austria, the Sudetenland, the rest of Czechoslovakia and set its sights on Polands Danzig corridor.The talks began after months of stalling by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who signaled a profound distrust of Russia and balked at the idea of an alliance with Moscow despite indications by Joseph Stalin of readiness to entertain such an unholy alliance of Western bourgeois democracies and the socialist Soviet Union. In the years leading up to 1939, Moscow accused Chamberlain, his French allies and US industrialists of assisting in Hitlers rise, and seeking to maneuver him into a war with the USSR.During their talks in the summer of 1939, Soviet, British and French negotiators tentatively agreed to provide military assistance to Germanys neighbors in the event of aggression, but London refused to pressure its Polish allies to allow Red Army troops in to help in defense in the event of aggression. Relations between Warsaw and Moscow remained hostile throughout the interwar period due to the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-1921, during which Warsaw bit off big chunks of Ukrainian and Belarusian territory from the fledgling Soviet state.When it came time for military-to-military negotiations, the tripartite talks immediately collapsed, with Britain and France diplomatically slapping Soviet Defense Minister Kliment Voroshilov in the face by sending minor military officials unauthorized to make any decisions to speak with him. When Voroshilov asked the negotiators point blank whether Poland and Romania would allow Red Army troops through to fight the Nazis in the event of aggression by Berlin, they shrugged and said they werent competent to answer this question, with talks broken off on August 21, 1939.Just days later, Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov and German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop non-aggression pact, setting the stage for Hitlers invasion of Poland.The blue book referred to in the declassified Soviet intelligence document was supposed to have come out in December 1939, but its publication was delayed, first to be cleared by William Seeds, the short-lived British Ambassador to the Soviet Union, who participated in the summer negotiations.Madchen was one of the code names used by Guy Burgess of the Cambridge Five. At the time the document was published, Burgess was working in British intelligence, and enjoyed regular contacts with senior government officials. The spys information proved crucial in helping the Soviet leadership assess Londons true intentions behind the smokescreen of negotiations. During the fateful summer of 1939 talks in Moscow, Burgess informed Soviet officials that Britain had no intention to actually signing a defense pact, influencing Stalins calculated move of negotiating a non-aggression pact with Hitler to buy Moscow time to rearm and prepare for a major European war.According to the document, another source, whose name was curiously redacted, shared roughly the same information as Agent Madchen on the existence of this draft blue book, one of them said to be in contact with Halifax, presumably Lord Halifax, Britain's ambassador to the United States.The Blue Books publication was ultimately scrapped, with the Nazis overrunning France in the summer of 1940 and kicking the British Expeditionary Forces off the mainland.The winter of 1939-1940 proved the tensest period in relations between the USSR and the Western Allies, with London and Paris considering a direct military intervention to fight the Soviets during the Winter War in Finland, and making plans to bomb Soviet oil fields in Azerbaijan. It took the Nazi occupation of almost the whole of continental Europe, and the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, to get Moscow and London to return to the idea of an alliance against Berlin. https://sputnikglobe.com/20150926/1027577179.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20150823/molotov-ribbentrop-pact-untold-story-1026098760.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20171006/nobel-prize-hitler-mussolini-1057997560.html 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 world war ii, negotiations, talks, diplomatic blue book, documents, declassified Beijing's foreign-invested companies have ramped up the pace to resume work, with many already back at full capacity, according to the municipal commission of development and reform. The Beijing China-Germany Industrial Park in the city's Shunyi district, home to 90 Germany-invested companies, is using every means to return to full operations. Thanks to preferential policies as well as a fine business environment, Wilo China Ltd., a German provider of pumps and pumping systems in the park, has enjoyed smooth development, according to Rong Guang, a governmental affairs officer at the company. "In the future, China will soon replace Germany as the largest market for Wilo. The development of Chinese market will boost the confidence of the German headquarters, who will further invest in China," Rong said. "We have accelerated research and development as well as production projects, and released more independently developed products," said Li Yijun, a person in charge of the operation of the Drager (China) Co. Ltd. in the industrial park. The company is projected to increase R&D expenditure by 20% from 2022, and plans to introduce more intelligent products with reasonable prices, Li said, adding that the number of orders is estimated to grow by over 15% in 2023. More Germany-invested companies are expected to open in the industrial park. The park's market development team visited Germany in December 2022, and more than 20 German companies said they would visit the industrial park. The municipal commission of development and reform said it has recently formulated a three-year plan and made relevant policies to deepen China-Germany economic and technological cooperation. The committee is planning to attract a number of foreign-invested projects on low-carbon development, digital economy, green finance, and electronic information. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Beijing has optimized communication channels with 1,300 foreign-funded companies and stepped up efforts to solve their difficulties in epidemic prevention and control and logistics. Most foreign-invested companies realized their annual goals and have strong confidence in their development in 2023. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/from-the-stop-the-steal-rally-to-a-doj-probe-how-the-us-capitol-riot-unfolded-1105989714.html From the 'Stop the Steal' Rally to a DOJ Probe: How the US Capitol Riot Unfolded From the 'Stop the Steal' Rally to a DOJ Probe: How the US Capitol Riot Unfolded Last week, the US House Select Committee investigating the 2021 Capitol breach withdrew its subpoena of former President Donald Trump 2023-01-06T05:00+0000 2023-01-06T05:00+0000 2023-01-06T05:00+0000 sputnik explains us us capitol donald trump breach security police investigation /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0a/1a/1090214575_0:283:3072:2011_1920x0_80_0_0_b5b73ab695db428ff56de60975e565d2.jpg Friday marks the second anniversary of the Capitol riot, when a crowd of protesters, among them Trump supporters, breached the US Capitol in Washington DC on January 6, 2021 to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 presidential election victory of Democrat Joe Biden. How did the breach unfold and what did it lead to?Trump's SpeechEarly in the afternoon on January 6, 2021, then-outgoing US President Donald Trump addressed a rally of his supporters on the Ellipse one mile from the Capitol in Washington, DC.He reiterated his claims of election fraud and called on then-Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the 2020 election results by refusing to certify key electoral votes. Trump expressed his anger at Big Tech, which he accused of rigging the election, and at the media for publishing what he described as fake news targeting him.He thanked the crowd for gathering in his support and called on them to stop the steal, a phrase used to refer to his critics "stealing" the election, which Trump claimed he had won.Protesters Break Through Capitol Security As Trump concluded his speech, several thousand protesters started marching towards the US Capitol, where a crowd had assembled, clashing with police. The rioters then managed to break through the police barricades and enter the Capitol building, with some protesters smashing through windows and doors.For several hours, rioters looted and ransacked congressional offices, including the office of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. They also invaded the Senate chamber and posed for pictures.Then-Vice President Pence and his family were immediately evacuated from the Senate chambers. Some members of Congress were escorted to an underground bunker while others barricaded themselves in offices or sheltered in the House chamber.Trump Urges His Supporters to Go Home More than two hours after protesters began storming the Capitol, Trump took to Twitter and released a video message, repeating his claims of election fraud and urging his supporters to go home.He went on to tout his supporters as very special and said, we can't play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home. We love you. You're very special. The remarks came as GOP lawmakers and former US Administration officials begged Trump to ask his supporters to stop the violence.National Guard Comes to Rescue After then-acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller called up 1,100 members of the DC National Guard, they eventually secured the perimeter, allowing law enforcement and the FBI to clear the chambers and offices of the US Capitol.By 8 p.m. local time (1:00 GMT), the US Capitol complex was declared free of rioters, and Pence called the Senate back into session, while Pelosi did the same in the House. Congress voted to confirm Joe Biden's electoral college win the following morning.At least five protesters died in the US Capitol breach, with four police officers dying by suicide in the aftermath of the attack. As many as 138 policemen were injured. The government earmarked more than $30 million for repairs and security measures following the riot.Twitter 'Permanently' Suspends Trump's Page Later on January 6, 2021, Congressional Democrats and some Republicans accused Trump of "inciting insurrection," with GOP Senator Mitt Romney arguing that the Capitol riot was the result of a selfish mans injured pride and the outrage of his supporters whom he has deliberately misinformed for the past two months and stirred to action this very morning.Republican Adam Kinzinger, in turn, described the January 6, 2021 events as a coup attempt, tweeting to Trump at the time, You are not protecting the country. Where is the DC guard? You are done and your legacy will be a disaster.The company added that the decision was made "after close review of recent Tweets from the Real DonaldTrump account. Almost two years after the ban, Trumps page was reinstated by new Twitter chief executive Elon Musk, who announced the decision in early December.Trump's Second ImpeachmentOn January 13, 2021, Trump was impeached by the House for a historic second time, charged with incitement of insurrection over the Capitol breach.Unlike the first impeachment, 10 House Republicans joined the Democrats, as the House voted 232-197 to impeach the 45th president, who was then acquitted in the Senate trial.In the final tally, 57 senators endorsed and 43 rejected a single article of impeachment. Seven Republicans sided with the Democrat senators in the vote to convict Trump.House Select Panel Opens Probe In July 2021, Pelosi formed a bipartisan House select committee, modeled after the commission formed in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks, to investigate the Capitol breach.On December 19, 2022, the January 6 select committee voted to refer former President Trump and others to the Justice Department for potential criminal charges, including inciting or aiding an insurrection.By December 2022, at least 964 people had been arrested and charged with a variety of crimes, making it the Justice Department's largest criminal investigation in history.Jan 6 Committee's Final Report On December 21, the House January 6 panel released its long-awaited final report, capping an 18-month probe into the Capitol breach.The 845-page document, in particular, called for creating a formal mechanism for evaluating whether to bar Trump from holding future federal office due to evidence that he violated his constitutional oath to support the US Constitution while engaging in an "insurrection."The panels Vice Chair Liz Cheney wrote in her own foreword, Every President in our history has defended this orderly transfer of authority, except one. According to her, January 6, 2021 was the first time one American President refused his Constitutional duty to transfer power peacefully to the next.Trump in a series of social media posts called the select committees report highly partisan and repeated the claim that the 2020 election was rigged against him.The document came weeks after the 76-year-old announced that he would seek the Republican nomination for president in the 2024 election.Jan 6 Panel Withdraws Trump SubpoenaIn late December, Thompson said in a letter that his committee was withdrawing its subpoena of former President Donald Trump, as the panel is set to dissolve before the Republicans take control of the chamber in January.The 45th president had sued to block the committees subpoena for documents and testimony related to the Capitol riot. Following its withdrawal, Trump claimed on social media that the development came because the panel knew I did nothing wrong, or they were about to lose in court. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220201/mike-pences-former-chief-of-staff-testifies-before-jan-6-capitol-riot-house-panel-1092650284.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20220915/trumps-ex-adviser-provides-documents-on-us-capitol-riot-to-justice-department-reports-say-1100794834.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.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 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg second anniversary of the us capitol riot, crowd of trump supporters, breach of us capitol, trump's permanent suspension on twitter, doj probe into the capitol riot, trump's second impeachment https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/gop-house-vote-drags-on-cnn-hires-warmonger-biden-drops-juan-guaido-1106071446.html GOP House Vote Drags On; CNN Hires Warmonger; Biden Drops Juan Guaido GOP House Vote Drags On; CNN Hires Warmonger; Biden Drops Juan Guaido The Biden administration has announced that they no longer recognize Juan Guaido as the rightful president of Venezuela. 06.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-06T04:40+0000 2023-01-06T04:40+0000 2023-02-03T08:39+0000 the critical hour israel china taiwan ukraine julian assange radio /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/06/1106071300_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_077eb97103d5f7e93c3026cc25e18437.png GOP House Vote Drags On; CNN Hires Warmonger; Biden Drops Juan Guaido The Biden administration has announced that they no longer recognize Juan Guaido as the rightful president of Venezuela. Craig "Pasta" Jardula, co-host of The Convo Couch & AM Wakeup on Rokfin, joins us to discuss domestic politics. The US House of Representatives is at a parliamentary stalemate as the GOP majority is unable to agree on a final vote for the position of speaker. Also, President Biden has raised eyebrows after a baffling gaffe about patches on jeans.Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss Ukraine. The Russian army is upgrading with new hypersonic missiles and helicopters. Also, France has pledged several light tanks for the Ukrainian army.Dan Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "America's Undeclared War," joins us to discuss the EU. The EU is struggling with the investigation of the Nord Stream Pipeline attack as most people suspect that the US is guilty of the act and a cover-up is afoot. Also, we discuss the long-term proxy war that has been waged against Russia in Ukraine.KJ Noh, peace activist and writer, joins us to discuss China. In the latest provocation, the US is sending a trade delegation to Taiwan. Also, Raytheon has a 412 million dollar deal to get wealthy from Taiwan's ostensible defense.Steve Poikonen, national organizer for Action4Assange, joins us to discuss the Western media. The US and allied media knowingly deceive the public. Also, CNN recruits one of the most rabid warmongers in Congress, Adam Kinzinger.Marjorie Cohn, Professor Emerita at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, joins us to discuss Israel. The Netanyahu government is the most anti-Palestinian in Israel's history. Also, an Israeli MP implies genocide against the Palestinians.Ricardo Vaz, political analyst and editor at Venezuelanalysis, joins us to discuss the Global South. The Biden administration has announced that they no longer recognize Juan Guaido as the rightful president of Venezuela.Jon Jeter, journalist and author, joins us to discuss foreign policy. The US-led unipolar order is unstable and in shambles. Also, Atlantic powers scramble to punish Julian Assange.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. israel china ukraine 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 israel, china, taiwan, ukraine, julian assange, , radio https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/gunfights-with-cartel-in-mexicos-culiacan-leave-1-dead-27-wounded-after-arrest-of-el-chapos-son-1106072803.html Gunfights With Cartel in Mexico's Culiacan Leave 1 Dead, 27 Wounded After Arrest of El Chapo's Son Gunfights With Cartel in Mexico's Culiacan Leave 1 Dead, 27 Wounded After Arrest of El Chapo's Son MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - One individual has died, and 27 have been wounded in gunfights with the members of the Sinaloa Cartel in the city of Culiacan, which... 06.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-06T03:54+0000 2023-01-06T03:54+0000 2023-01-06T06:11+0000 americas mexico sinaloa cartel el chapo airport /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/06/1106072493_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_49b61f140d73dd63a73dcb5ad882a935.jpg Mexican Defense Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval Gonzalez said earlier in the day that Guzman Lopez, the son of incarcerated drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, has been apprehended in Culiacan and later taken to Mexico City. The arrest spurred gunfights with the cartel in the city. According to local authorities, the cartel's members hijacked or burned about 250 cars. Security services had blocked at least 18 streets and halted the operation of three airports, some of which had come under fire. Local media reported, citing a source at the Culiacan airport, that the cartel fired large-caliber weapons at two helicopters and a Mexican Air Force transport plane, prompting the latter to burst into flames during landing due to engine damage. Cristobal Castaneda, the public security secretary in the state of Sinaloa, said earlier in the day that seven police officers and several military personnel had been injured, with no fatalities. He added that Mexico's security forces had prevented the attack on a local prison and the attempted escape of some prisoners. According to Mexican Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, the United States requested Guzman Lopez's extradition in 2019. He added that the criminal would not be immediately extradited to the US as he must answer for crimes under criminal cases currently underway in Mexico. According to Mexico's Defense Ministry, Guzman Lopez headed the youth wing of the Sinaloa Cartel and had criminal activities in several Mexico's states. He is the son of "El Chapo," the former leader of the cartel, who has been serving a life sentence in the US since 2019. Guzman Lopez was previously arrested in October 2019 but was released on the orders of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador following bloodshed in Culiacan organized by the cartel's members. The Mexican authorities then said that nine people had died and 23 had been wounded. americas mexico 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 mexico, sinaloa cartel, el chapo, airport https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/how-british-collector-stepped-in-to-help-struggling-russian-art-museum-in-spain-1106080643.html How British Collector Stepped in to Help Struggling Russian Art Museum in Spain How British Collector Stepped in to Help Struggling Russian Art Museum in Spain A British collector has saved a struggling Russian Art Museum in Malaga, Spain, from closure. 2023-01-06T13:59+0000 2023-01-06T13:59+0000 2023-01-06T13:59+0000 world russia art malaga spain museum cancel culture ukraine crisis saint petersburg /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105358/22/1053582226_0:77:1200:752_1920x0_80_0_0_c6131f55e9916641aa15a60df1a8616a.jpg A devoted British art collector has lend a helping hand to a Russian art museum in Spain that found itself in jeopardy.Jenny Green, who started accumulating Russian art about 20 years ago, offered to exhibit her own private collection of 76 works publicly for the first time to help keep afloat the Museo Ruso, in Malaga's Tabacaler (former tobacco factory) building.'Window Onto Cultural Soul of Russia'Museo Ruso, established in 2015, was in effect conceived as a Spanish offshoot of the State Russian Museum in St Petersburg. As such, its permanent and temporary exhibitions have relied on the St Petersburg museum's collection, serving as a "reference point for Russian culture in West Europe." However, once Russia's special military operation in Ukraine started, the branch of the Russian museum found itself facing a difficult challenge. The museum in Malaga had four exhibitions up and running when Russia found itself slapped with western sanctions. Works on display as part of War and Peace in Russian Art, the Russian Vanguards, Mayakovsky, Artist and Poet and Dostoevsky exhibits were returned to Russia in early May. The fact is, the initial agreement with the State Russian Museum was due to be renewed on April 17, 2022, but as this did not take place because of the conflagration, ensuing restrictions, and incidents of "cancel culture" targeting Russia. Accordingly, the carefully wrapped works of art loaned by St.Petersburg went back home.This left the museum with a conundrum: how to fill up the empty halls. This is where Jenny Green stepped in, offering to loan her own collection to the Museo Ruso. Works by renowned Russian artists like Venetsianov, Ivanov, Aivazovsky, Repin, Serov, Bakst, Benois, Kandinsky, Serebriakova, Larionov, Goncharova, Chelischev and Essaian, dating from 1876 to 1980, were to go on display for five months, until June 2023.Jose Maria Luna, the museums director, insisted that their commitment to bring Russian art to Malaga remained unchanged. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221228/almost-half-of-russians-say-culture-war-afoot-against-their-country-poll-1105854360.html russia malaga spain saint petersburg 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 british collector, help to struggling russian art museum, jenny green, museo ruso, spain, offered to exhibit her own private collection, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/human-trafficking-ringleader-arrested-by-interpol-in-sudan--media-1106082275.html Human Trafficking Ringleader Arrested by Interpol in Sudan Media Human Trafficking Ringleader Arrested by Interpol in Sudan Media Kidane Zekarias Habtemariam, a major human trafficking ringleader, sentenced to life in prison in absentia, was arrested by Interpol in Sudan, media report. 2023-01-06T13:10+0000 2023-01-06T13:10+0000 2023-01-06T13:10+0000 africa east africa sudan eritrea criminals interpol human trafficking refugees arrest /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/06/1106081365_0:298:3111:2047_1920x0_80_0_0_1f955b433c6e09b54bf987d9020cdb86.jpg A major human trafficking ringleader, sentenced to life in prison in absentia, has been arrested by Interpol in Sudan, media report.Habtemariam, an Eritrean national, was detained thanks to quick action by officers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and extensive international cooperation, established in March 2022 to combat human trafficking in the region.According to the UAE Ministry of Interior, Habtemariam's arrest will disrupt one of the major people smuggling routes to Europe.The criminal, described by Dutch police as one of the world's "most notorious and cruelest people smugglers," had been receiving Interpol's attention since 2019 and was arrested in Ethiopia in 2020, after a victim recognized him in the street. Later, Habtemariam managed to escape from the court, suspectedly bribing local police officers.As noted by Stephen Kavanagh, the executive director of Interpol police services, the human trafficker travelled across Africa under false identities, "continuing to think he was above the law." Now that he is detained, Habtemariam's criminal network is the main concern of the police. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221204/modern-slavery-all-around-us-african-activists-experts-warn-1105020980.html africa east africa sudan eritrea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Petr Baryshnikov Petr Baryshnikov 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 Petr Baryshnikov kidane zekarias habtemariam, human trafficker eritrea, human trafficker arrest, human trafficker sudan, interpol arrest, interpol uae, interpol africa, human smuggling, human trafficking https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/japan-uk-reportedly-to-sign-military-deal-on-mutual-access-during-kishidas-london-visit-1106080875.html Japan, UK Reportedly to Sign Military Deal on Mutual Access During Kishida's London Visit Japan, UK Reportedly to Sign Military Deal on Mutual Access During Kishida's London Visit MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Tokyo and London are planning to conclude a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) on facilitation of defense and security cooperation during the... 06.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-06T10:57+0000 2023-01-06T10:57+0000 2023-01-06T10:57+0000 military uk japan fumio kishida military cooperation /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107981/79/1079817906_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_65d6310375770e6ae5eab694cce714e0.jpg The agreement would reportedly provide a legal framework for temporarily waiving visas for military personnel and easing customs checks for equipment during joint Japanese-UK drills. Talks are now in their final phase, the report said. Kishida will be visiting the UK next Tuesday and Wednesday as part of his tour to several European countries, Canada and the United States from January 9-13. The UK would become the second country with an RAA with Japan if the deal is signed. Japan signed one with Australia in January 2022. 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 uk-japan relations, kishida visit in uk, kishida visit in london, uk-japan military cooperation, uk-japan military deal on mutual access https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/kiev-continuing-shelling-of-donbass-while-russian-troops-observe-christmas-ceasefire-russian-mod-1106082226.html Kiev Continuing Shelling of Donbass While Russian Troops Observe Christmas Ceasefire: Russian MoD Kiev Continuing Shelling of Donbass While Russian Troops Observe Christmas Ceasefire: Russian MoD The Russian military began observance of a 36-hour ceasefire regime in Ukraine at 12:00 noon on Friday, in accordance with a presidential decree. President... 06.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-06T11:21+0000 2023-01-06T11:21+0000 2023-01-06T12:30+0000 russian military russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine donbass ceasefire truce shelling /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/02/14/1093206407_0:88:1150:735_1920x0_80_0_0_22e71c7b7c6e065f35ddd474dc65947c.jpg Ukrainian forces have continued their shelling attacks on civilian settlements and the positions of Russian forces in Donbass, notwithstanding the Russian side's adherence to the Orthodox Christmas ceasefire, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated Friday.According to the MoD, in the 24 hours prior to the ceasefire, Russian forces hit Ukrainian troops, tanks, armored personnel carriers, US-made artillery, trucks, and an S-300 radar in missile and air strikes, shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 attack aircraft, and intercepted Ukrainian drones and HIMARS rockets in fighting across the front.Earlier in the day, the Donetsk People's Republic's mission to the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of issues documenting shelling attacks said that Donetsk had been shelled with 155mm NATO-caliber shells three times on Friday in two hours after the unilateral Russian ceasefire entered into force.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the Christmas truce proposed by Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, accusing Moscow of seeking to use the truce as a "cover" to try to halt the Ukrainian military's advance and gain a "respite" to later continue fighting "with renewed vigor."The Zelensky government's patrons in Washington also dismissed the ceasefire idea, with President Joe Biden accusing Vladimir Putin of "trying to find some oxygen" and claiming that Russia had "bomb[ed] hospitals and nurseries and churches" on Catholic Christmas on December 25 and the New Year's holiday. Biden did not elaborate on these serious allegations.Most Orthodox Christians, including Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians, celebrate Christmas on January 7, in accordance with the Julian calendar. About 70 percent of Russians and Ukrainians self-identify as Orthodox. A portion of Ukraine's Orthodox community has faced repression in recent months for its association with the Moscow Patriarchate, with parishes and churchgoers reporting Ukrainian Security Service raids on churches and monasteries in a search for saboteurs, as well as vandalism and arson attacks.Pope Francis of the Catholic Church congratulated Orthodox Christians on the upcoming Christmas holiday on Friday and called for peace in Ukraine. "In a special way, I would like to send greetings to our brothers and sisters of martyred Ukrainian people," Francis said at a prayer event."May the birth of the Savior bring comfort and hope, and inspire concrete steps that may finally lead to an end to the fighting and to peace. May we pray often for Ukraine and for peace," the Pope said.Friday's partial ceasefire (by the Russian side) was made possible after an appeal by Russia's Patriarch Kirill, who issued an "appeal to all parties involved in the internecine conflict to cease fire and establish a Christmas truce from 12:00 pm on January 6 to 24:00 on January 7, so that Orthodox people can attend services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day."Ukraine's authorities broke off peace negotiations with Russia in April, reportedly on direct orders from its Western patrons, just as Moscow and Kiev appeared to be on the brink of an agreement. In the months since, tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions more displaced, with Europe facing its most severe energy crisis since the 1970s oil crunch after unilaterally rejecting Russian energy deliveries. The continuation of the conflict has proven a boon for the US military-industrial complex, however, with weapons makers earning tens of billions of dollars, and US energy companies selling more expensive liquefied natural gas to the Europeans at several times the cost of Russian pipeline gas. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/zelensky-rejects-russias-christmas-truce-calls-it-cover-up-to-strengthen-positions-1106081164.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/it-is-immoral-to-fund-this-gop-rep-blasts-ukraines-zelensky-for-rejecting-christmas-truce-1106080468.html russia ukraine donbass 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 russian military, russia, ukraine, donbass, ceasefire, truce, shelling https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/kosovo-leader-condemns-shooting-by-albanian-who-injured-serb-youths-1106091650.html Kosovo Leader Condemns Shooting by Albanian Who Injured Serb Youths Kosovo Leader Condemns Shooting by Albanian Who Injured Serb Youths BELGRADE (Sputnik) - The leader of Kosovo condemned on Friday the shooting of two Serbian youths by an Albanian that marred the Orthodox Christmas Eve and... 06.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-06T20:24+0000 2023-01-06T20:24+0000 2023-01-06T20:19+0000 world kosovo shooting albin kurti condemnation /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/07/1f/1097985789_0:234:3053:1951_1920x0_80_0_0_2b1b18ece08adf497240bb7462c4b507.jpg "I unequivocally condemn the assault on two Kosova citizens today in Shterpce. A suspect has been arrested and will be dealt with promptly and fairly by our justice system," Albin Kurti wrote on social media. Kurti commended Kosovo police for the prompt arrest of the suspect, who opened fire at Serbs while driving a car to Ferizaj from Shterpce, a town with sizable Albanian and Serbian populations. The 33-year-old suspect, idenified by police only by his initials, shot at the 11-year-old and 21-year-old boys walking along the road. They were taken to a hospital in Gracanica. Serbs blocked the road to stop the gunman from fleeing. The Serbian governments office for Kosovo, which Serbia sees as its territory, described the drive-by shooting as a murder attempt. Serbian media identified the shooter as an ethnic Albanian member of Kosovo's paramilitary security force. kosovo 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 kosovo, shooting, albin kurti, condemnation https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/nato-eu-to-sign-new-joint-declaration-on-cooperation-next-week-1106089361.html NATO, EU to Sign New Joint Declaration on Cooperation Next Week NATO, EU to Sign New Joint Declaration on Cooperation Next Week MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The leaders of NATO and top EU institutions will hold a meeting on January 10 to sign a third declaration on Trans-Atlantic security... 06.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-06T17:25+0000 2023-01-06T17:25+0000 2023-01-06T17:26+0000 military nato european union (eu) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/06/1106089212_23:0:3664:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_4e5cd863ae4ba997c7e317d581c29dcb.jpg "On Tuesday, 10 January 2023, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, the President of the European Council, Mr. Charles Michel, and the President of the European Commission, Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen, will meet at NATO Headquarters to sign the third Joint Declaration on NATO-EU Cooperation," the statement read. The first two joint declarations on EU-NATO cooperation were signed in 2016 and 2018. They outlined how the EU and NATO would act together against common security threats, including cyber and hybrid threats. The EU and NATO currently have 21 member countries in common. 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 nato, european union, nato eu relations, nato eu new declarations, jens stoltenberg, charles michel, ursula von der leyen https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/raytheon-wins-208mln-coastal-missile-defense-contract-from-romania-1106086156.html Raytheon Wins $208Mln Coastal Missile Defense Contract From Romania Raytheon Wins $208Mln Coastal Missile Defense Contract From Romania WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Raytheon Missiles and Defense has won a more than $208 million Missile Defense Agency (MDA) missile coastal defense contract from... 06.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-06T13:51+0000 2023-01-06T13:51+0000 2023-01-06T13:51+0000 military us romania raytheon raytheon missile systems /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106873/57/1068735705_0:312:3000:2000_1920x0_80_0_0_2a80f6ca8dba742af15bbd4dc75632a2.jpg "Raytheon Missiles & Defense [of] Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $208,736,138 firm-fixed-price contract for the Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System for the Republic of Romania," the release stated. Most of the work on the project will be performed in Kongsberg, Norway (60%) and in Tucson in the US state of Arizona (34%), the Defense Department said. The Naval Sea Systems Command located at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, DC, is the contracting activity for the project, the release noted. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220615/raytheon-wins-nearly-44bln-contract-for-152-more-engines-for-f-35-jet---pentagon-1096320709.html romania 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 raytheon, us defense sector, pentagon, us dod, romania, us-romania military cooperation The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will reopen four more border points, allowing a daily total of 60,000 Hong Kong residents to enter the Chinese mainland starting on Sunday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said at a media briefing on Thursday. Among them, 50,000 with advance bookings are expected to pass through three land crossings the soon to be reopened Lok Ma Chau and Man Kam To, and the currently operating Shenzhen Bay Port. Lee estimated that a further 10,000 will pass through the four air, sea and bridge ports the China Ferry Terminal and the Hong Kong-Macao Ferry Terminal, both of which will be reopened, and the currently open Hong Kong International Airport and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. The government will control quotas at these entry points by managing the number of tickets available, with no requirement for booking in advance. Based on the daily quota, Lee estimated that up to 1.8 million Hong Kong residents could return to the mainland in one month and more than 3.6 million over two months. In addition, no ceiling has been set for the number of mainland residents in Hong Kong permitted to enter the mainland. Similarly, Hong Kong residents on the mainland will not be subject to a quota limitation when returning to the city. The resumption of normal travel will greatly revitalize Hong Kong's economic activities and help overseas visitors pass through Hong Kong to the mainland, thus enhancing Hong Kong's role as an international metropolis, Lee said. A booking system for travelers passing through land ports was rolled out at 6 pm on Thursday, allowing travelers to pick a specific checkpoint and a designated time slot before traveling. Those crossing via the four air, sea and bridge ports can depart the city to enter the mainland as long as they have bus, ship or airplane tickets. In the first phase, the system will provide booking services for the next eight weeks, from Sunday to March 4. The reservation system is on a first-come, first-served basis. Each applicant can make reservations for up to three companions. After the Chinese New Year, cross-boundary students can return to Hong Kong daily to resume face-to-face classes in Hong Kong. No advance booking is needed for students. After reviewing the operation of the first phase, the government will consider reopening more checkpoints, including for high-speed rail, and increasing the quota for travelers. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung said at the media briefing that the Hong Kong section of the high-speed rail will resume service no later than Jan 15, due to the extra time needed by the rail operator to prepare and for employees to familiarize themselves with operations after a three-year suspension of service. By then, passengers can take high-speed trains from West Kowloon Station to not only Shenzhen North Station and Guangzhou South Station, but also to Guangzhou East Station, Lam said. After the briefing, the number of Hong Kong travel-related searches on travel platform Tongcheng Travel increased 379 percent, and the number of searches for air tickets to and from Hong Kong increased 287 percent. Dennis Ng Wang-pun, permanent honorary president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, said the quota is enough for residents to return to their hometowns to celebrate the Chinese New Year. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/russia-urges-rights-watchdogs-to-defend-sputnik-editor-arbitrarily-arrested-in-latvia-1106086663.html Russia Urges Rights Watchdogs to Defend Sputnik Editor Arbitrarily Arrested in Latvia Russia Urges Rights Watchdogs to Defend Sputnik Editor Arbitrarily Arrested in Latvia MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian presidential council for human rights called the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and... 06.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-06T14:00+0000 2023-01-06T14:00+0000 2023-01-06T14:00+0000 russia sputnik journalist latvia freedom of speech /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107688/94/1076889494_0:95:1921:1175_1920x0_80_0_0_167f5f8030730774dced9086fd28d8ea.jpg "Members of the standing commission of the Council for Human Rights urge Deputy UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro, and the Council of Europes Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic to step in and help free journalist Marat Kasem," they said. Earlier in the day, the Russian ombudswoman urged UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Tuerk to weigh in on the arbitrary arrest in Latvia of Moscow-based Sputnik Lithuania editor.The Latvian national security agency said Thursday that Kasem, a Latvian citizen, was detained in Riga on Tuesday after returning home for family reasons. A Latvian judge rejected Kasems bailout bid and ordered him into custody. He is being held at the Riga Central Prison."I see repressive criminal charges against journalist Marat Kasem as an attack at freedom of speech and a violation of Latvias obligation to safeguard journalists rights," Moskalkova said.The journalist's lawyer in Latvia said on Thursday that Kasem was also accused of spying but the Latvian security agency did not confirm this. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric urged Latvia to follow a proper judicial process.Kasem, a Latvian national working at Sputnik Lithuania editorial desk in Moscow, was detained during a trip to the Latvian capital on Tuesday and sent to the Riga Central Prison by a Latvian judge two days later on accusation of having violated EU sanctions. The Russian council for human rights described the accusations against Kasem as "trumped-up, absurd" and "a flagrant disregard by the Latvian authorities of such principles as freedom of speech and fundamental human rights," which it said amounted to persecution. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/sputnik-editor-kasem-detained-in-latvia-felt-politically-persecuted-rossiya-segodnya-head-1106086499.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230105/rossiya-segodnya-head-kiselev-slams-latvia-for-illegal-detention-of-sputnik-lithuania-editor-1106065311.html latvia 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 russian journalist, sputnik journalist, journalist detention in latvia, russian journalist arrested in latvia, sputnik journalist arrested in latvia, freedom of speech https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/russian-embassy-slams-germanys-decision-to-send-new-heavy-weapons-to-ukraine-1106085810.html Russian Embassy Slams Germany's Decision to Send New Heavy Weapons to Ukraine Russian Embassy Slams Germany's Decision to Send New Heavy Weapons to Ukraine The Russian Embassy in Germany has condemned Berlin's decision to send tanks and other military hardware to Ukraine, saying the move was conducive to escalation and appeared "cynical" amid Russia's unilateral declaration of ceasefire for Orthodox Christmas. 2023-01-06T13:34+0000 2023-01-06T13:34+0000 2023-01-06T13:38+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia germany ukraine weapons /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105210/92/1052109270_0:361:6882:4232_1920x0_80_0_0_aa3185b8ad9faa7194c5f82a5e7029eb.jpg On Thursday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden in a phone call agreed on a new batch of military aid for Ukraine including heavy weapons. Germany announced plans to send Ukraine a battalion of about 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles and Patriot air defense systems, as well as train Ukrainian troops in their use. The Russian embassy said the speed with which Germany and the US coordinated the new military aid for Ukraine "leaves no doubt that Berlin did it under serious pressure from Washington, acting in accordance with the destructive logic of transatlantic solidarity." Berlin's decision to supply Kiev with heavy weapons will have "the most negative impact on Russian-German relations," the statement read. Supplying lethal weapons that are then being used not only against Russian servicemen but also civilians in Donbass is a "moral line that the German authorities should not have crossed, given this country's historic responsibility before our nation," the embassy said. The decision to send more heavy weapons to Ukraine also shows that Western countries are not interested in finding a peaceful solution to the conflict, the embassy said. "Through their [Western countries'] efforts, Ukraine has actually been turned into a firing range and the Ukrainian people into a tool to achieve the West's geopolitical interests, which in the end lead only to the prolongation of hostilities, pointless casualties and destruction," the embassy added. Since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine on February 24, Western countries have been providing Kiev with humanitarian, military and financial aid. Moscow has denounced the flow of weapons to Ukraine from its Western allies, saying it adds fuel to the fire. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov repeatedly noted that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine would become a legitimate target for Russia. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221223/report-pentagon-plotting-to-give-ukrainian-militants-patriot-missile-training-at-bases-within-us-1105715336.html russia germany ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International germany's aid to ukraine, german weapons in ukraine, what weapons has berlin sent to kiev https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/some-100000-north-koreans-attend-meeting-in-support-of-partys-decisions---state-media-1106074211.html Some 100,000 North Koreans Attend Meeting in Support of Party's Decisions - State Media Some 100,000 North Koreans Attend Meeting in Support of Party's Decisions - State Media About 100,000 citizens of the North Korean capital Pyongyang have attended the meeting, held in support of the implementation of the decisions of the Sixth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), a state-run news agency reported on Friday. 2023-01-06T05:40+0000 2023-01-06T05:40+0000 2023-01-06T07:13+0000 world north korea kim jong-un party /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/06/1106074284_0:102:3073:1830_1920x0_80_0_0_1a5e4b71a55cdc74339f071e9e9270d8.jpg The 6th Enlarged Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) was held from December 26-31. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presented a report during the second-day sitting of the plenary meeting, outlining Pyongyang's new goals for strengthening the country's defense in 2023 against the background of escalation on the Korean peninsula. According to the report, the meeting was held on Thursday at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang. Senior officials, workers of institutions, industrial establishments, farms, and the Sangwon Cement Complex, as well as youth and students, attended the meeting. The attendees listened to speeches by a number of participants, followed by a mass demonstration and a New Year's Eve concert, the report said. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International north korea, north koreans attend meeting at may day stadium, north koreans support workers' party decision https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/sputnik-editor-kasem-detained-in-latvia-felt-politically-persecuted-rossiya-segodnya-head-1106086499.html Sputnik Editor Kasem Detained in Latvia Felt Politically Persecuted: Rossiya Segodnya Head Sputnik Editor Kasem Detained in Latvia Felt Politically Persecuted: Rossiya Segodnya Head MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The detention of Sputnik Lithuania editor Marat Kasem by the Latvian intelligence agency in Riga was an act of revenge against the Russian... 06.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-06T09:55+0000 2023-01-06T09:55+0000 2023-01-06T13:59+0000 russia latvia sputnik journalist detention arrest /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0c/14/1091674939_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_2f3cbf785045d08b8fb27993d6a161d8.jpg "Since we see that there are no longer any containment centers there, we can expect that the Latvian authorities will escalate the charges against him up to the accusation of espionage. Unfortunately, in such conditions we have to prepare for this," Kiselev said. Kiselev drew a parallel with the situation of Kirill Vyshinsky, who was detained in Kiev in 2018 and sentenced for working for RIA Novosti Ukraine. Vyshinsky was released in 2019 as part of a prisoner exchange. Kasem expressed a view that the Latvian authorities are ready to take revenge indiscriminately on everyone who is connected with Russia. "Russia has already been demonized, now they are doing the same with everyone who works with it. The Latvian authorities have a usual approach - if there was a person, but there would be an article," Kiselev said. Kiselev described Kasems detention by the Latvian authorities on Thursday as an act of political persecution. Kasem, a Latvian citizen, is suspected of being in breach of European Union sanctions against Russia as well as of espionage - an offense punished by up to 20 years in prison. He has ten days to appeal the ruling. Kasem has been working in Moscow where he is employed by the Rossiya Segodnya news agency, whose director general is on the European Union blacklist. He returned to Latvia in late December for family reasons. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230105/rossiya-segodnya-head-kiselev-slams-latvia-for-illegal-detention-of-sputnik-lithuania-editor-1106065311.html latvia 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 russian journalist, sputnik journalist, journalist detention in latvia, russian journalist arrested in latvia, sputnik journalist arrested in latvia, freedom of speech, rossiya segodnya, sputnik https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/study-claims-two-thirds-of-worlds-glaciers-could-disappear-by-2100-1106088105.html Study Claims Two-Thirds of Worlds Glaciers Could Disappear by 2100 Study Claims Two-Thirds of Worlds Glaciers Could Disappear by 2100 A new study has predicted that two-thirds of the worlds glaciers could disappear by the end of the century thanks to global warming. 06.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-06T16:17+0000 2023-01-06T16:17+0000 2023-01-06T16:17+0000 science & tech antarctica greenland glacier climate change /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106312/61/1063126189_0:285:5472:3363_1920x0_80_0_0_8eeda4e58735471f4e906c12d591c9ae.jpg The article, published in the journal Science on Thursday, gave a best-case scenario of half of all the 215,000 inland glaciers melting by 2100, with five out of six doomed at the extreme end of the scale. The consequent release of between 38.7 trillion and 64.4 trillion metric tons of fresh water would see global sea levels rise by between 90 and 166 millimetres, meaning 10 million more people would find their homes by the high-tide line. However, the studys predictions do not apply to the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, by far the two largest bodies of land-locked ice on Earth. Between them they contain some 33 million cubic kilometres of ice, about two-thirds of the worlds fresh water. The studys lead author David Rounce, a glaciologist and engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University, said it was just a matter of how many glaciers would melt away and that was mankinds choice. Rounce said the world was facing an average temperature rise of 2.7-degree Celsius since pre-industrial times, 250 years ago. Co-author Regine Hock, a glaciologist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Oslo in Norway, also blamed man-made climate change for the predicted deluge. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220703/never-before-seen-microbes-trapped-in-glaciers-could-spark-new-pandemic-if-released-1096912993.html antarctica greenland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png 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 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png climate change, air pollution. glaciers, antractic, greenland, glaciers melting https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/theyre-helping-a-lot-biden-praises-non-existent-patriot-systems-in-ukraine-1106086263.html Theyre Helping a Lot: Biden Praises Non-Existent Patriot Systems in Ukraine Theyre Helping a Lot: Biden Praises Non-Existent Patriot Systems in Ukraine In December, Washington announced that it would send a Patriot missile battery to Kiev as part of a new $1.85 billion arms package. 2023-01-06T14:13+0000 2023-01-06T14:13+0000 2023-01-06T14:17+0000 ukraine joe biden patriot missile system patriot missiles patriot 3 (pac-3) air defence missile weapons aid assistance military /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/12/1105557591_0:156:3091:1894_1920x0_80_0_0_71c3bb6b67d196561d40d54da7d9f200.jpg US President Joe Biden has offered high praise for the non-existent Patriot missile systems the US has promised, but not yet delivered, to Ukraine.Were going to were going to pr- - were going to provide an additional Patriot air decis- - air defense battery. They work, and the Russians are beginning to realize that. They function well, and theyre helping a lot, Biden said in a cabinet meeting at the White House Thursday.Germany has also announced that today that its going to provide the Ukrainians a the to deal with air attacks, a Patriot air defense system, Biden added.The president did not elaborate on how the air defense systems, which by all accounts havent been sent yet, were helping Ukraine at the moment.Ukrainian officials indicated this week that preparations to take delivery of the Patriots have already begun and that Kiev look[s] forward to the deployment of the weapons as soon as possible.However, a senior US defense official told media late last month that the Patriots earmarked for Kiev would take several months to arrive owing to the need to train crews and deploy the systems in the combat zone.Patriot does require training and we expect it will take several months to ensure Ukrainian forces have the training they need to employ it successfully, the official said, promising that training would begin very soon. The official declined to comment on whether the Patriots slatted for delivery to Ukraine would feature the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement missiles (PAC-3 MSE) introduced into service with the US military in the mid-2010s, or the older PAC-3s, which have been around since the mid-1990s, and deployed with militaries around the world, including Germany, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Japan.A separate US media report last month citing a pair of Pentagon officials indicated that the US military was considering training Ukrainian troops to operate Patriots at bases inside the US.On Thursday, DoD press secretary Pat Ryder confirmed that the military is still scouting locations for training. The details on the training of the Patriot missile systems are still being worked out in coordination with our Ukrainian partners, Ryder said. I can tell you that were exploring a variety of options to include potential training here, in the US, overseas, or a combination of both.Also on Thursday, President Biden and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany jointly announced new heavy weapons deliveries to Ukraine, including Bradley and Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles, and a German battery of Patriots.A single Patriot battery consists of six launchers and a range of support equipment, including a phased array radar, optional antenna masts, optional diesel generators, and an engagement control/operations center.Unlike some of the other weapons systems provided by NATO to Kiev in the past, such as man-portable Stinger and Javelin missiles, the Patriot is a big, bulky piece of equipment that requires about 30 minutes to deploy and prepare to fire.Russian President Vladimir Putin warned last month that Russia would inevitably find an antidote to the US missile system, and assured that the Patriots delivery to Kiev would just prolong the conflict.Made by Raytheon, the Patriot Missile System has been in service with the US military since the mid-1980s, and exported to over a dozen countries in the decades since then. Despite its lauded status as the US Armys premier long-range missile defense system, the Patriot has demonstrated questionable performance against enemy targets. During the Gulf War, the system showed an effectiveness rate of 9 percent against Iraqi Scud missiles. In asymmetric warfare, the systems record is even worse, with Saudi Arabias PAC-3s proving unable to defend against drone and missile attacks by Yemens Houthi rebels, who have targeted Saudi cities, airports, military bases and even Patriot missile batteries. In 2018, a Houthi missile attack on the Saudi capital killed one person and injured two, with five Patriot interceptors launching but failing to take the projectiles down. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/russian-embassy-slams-germanys-decision-to-send-new-heavy-weapons-to-ukraine-1106085810.html ukraine 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 joe biden, patriot missile system, patriot missile, patriot, ukraine, weapons, weapons delivery, arms aid, weapons aid https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/us-imposes-sanctions-targeting-iranian-uav-ballistic-missile-industries-1106088673.html US Imposes Sanctions Targeting Iranian UAV, Ballistic Missile Industries US Imposes Sanctions Targeting Iranian UAV, Ballistic Missile Industries WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The US Treasury designated on Friday six executives of Iranian defense manufacturer Qods Aviation Industries (QAI) and the director of... 06.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-06T16:58+0000 2023-01-06T16:58+0000 2023-01-06T16:59+0000 world us iran sanction /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/08/1100562193_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_eb86830e4338f6c425ba241eb94d682d.jpg "We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to deny Putin the weapons that he is using to wage his barbaric and unprovoked war on Ukraine," US Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen said in the release. "The Kremlins reliance on suppliers of last resort like Iran shows their desperation in the face of brave Ukrainian resistance and the success of our global coalition in disrupting Russian military supply chains and denying them the inputs they need to replace weapons lost on the battlefield." Overseen by Irans Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), QAI is a major defense manufacturer responsible for the design and production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). AIO is the main organization responsible for overseeing Irans ballistic missile programs. The sanctioned individuals include Seyed Hojatollah Ghoreishi, chairman of QAIs board of directors and head of MODAFLs Supply, Research, and Industry Affairs section; deputy minister of defense Ghassem Damavandian, QAI managing director and board member; Hamidreza Sharifi-Tehrani, QAI primary board member; Reza Khaki, QAI board member; Majid Reza Niyazi-Angili, QAI board member; Vali Arlanizadeh, QAI board member; and AIO director Nader Khoon Siavash. Western countries have repeatedly accused Iran of supplying combat drones to Russia for use in Ukraine. Both, Moscow and Tehran, reject the allegations. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221020/43-years-under-sanctions-how-iran-built-drones-1102475565.html 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 us treasury, us sancitons against iran, us sanction against iranian uav, us sanctions iran drones, iran drones, iranian drones, iranian uav https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/us-reportedly-scrutinizing-ftx-ex-chief-engineer-amid-sprawling-probe-into-collapsed-crypto-empire-1106080695.html US Reportedly Scrutinizing FTX Ex-Chief Engineer Amid Sprawling Probe Into Collapsed Crypto-Empire US Reportedly Scrutinizing FTX Ex-Chief Engineer Amid Sprawling Probe Into Collapsed Crypto-Empire The US government in December indicted Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of FTX, over what prosecutors described as one of the biggest financial fraud cases in... 06.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-06T12:24+0000 2023-01-06T12:24+0000 2023-01-06T12:24+0000 us sam bankman-fried ftx cryptocurrency us securities and exchange commission (sec) us commodity futures trading commission americas /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/1c/1105845108_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_f0a1d808f0248fa9c14604aac30c0e0a.jpg After the arrest of Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), ex-CEO of the bankrupt crypto exchange FTX, his key associates have found themselves in the crosshairs of US authorities, including Indian-origin Nishad Singh. American prosecutors, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CTFC) are all reportedly probing Singh, according to US media reports. FTXs director of engineering Singh is said to have been a high school friend of Bankman-Fried's younger brother, Gabe. During his stint with Bahamas-based FTX, which Singh once referred to as his dream job, he resided with Bankman-Fried in a penthouse. The reportedly very close member of Bankman-Frieds tight-knit inner circle is now being scrutinized for any misconduct in regard to the crypto-empire's ignonimous collapse. He is suspected of having been aware of the decision to dip into FTX customer money to funnel it to cover debts for Alameda Research. It was that decision, ultimately, that sealed the fate of FTX, reports stated. It also prompts the question: was Singh a party to the multiyear scheme at FTX and trading firm Alameda Research to defraud investors and clients?Nishad Singh, a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelors degree in electrical engineering and computer science engineering, worked as the director of engineering at Alameda Research before assuming his FTX role. Singh was allegedly part of SBFs secret Signal chat channel called Wirefraud. according to a spate of US media reports. FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, former FTX chief technology officer Zixiao Gary Wang, and former Alameda Research chief executive Caroline Ellison, all allegedly resorted to this chat group.Singh, just as Bankman-Fried and Wang, was allegedly responsible for FTXs codebase, wallets, and trading engine. According to an earlier report in December, Nishad Singh authored code that hid Alameda Researchs ballooning liabilities. Nishad Singh has not officially been accused of wrongdoing, with his lawyer, Andrew D. Goldstein, declining to offer any comment.Epic CollapseSam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of FTX, pleaded not guilty to federal financial crime charges during a court hearing in New York in early January. Two of his former top associates, ex-Alameda chief executive Caroline Ellison and former FTX chief technology officer Gary Wang, have both pleaded guilty.In December, the US government indicted Bankman-Fried in what prosecutors declared was one of the biggest financial fraud cases in US history. A liquidity crunch in the wake of a swathe of customer withdrawals in November triggered by reports of dubious finances had forced FTX to declare bankruptcy. It was then that billions of dollars worth of missing funds came to light. Prosecutors allege that FTX violated US campaign finance laws and schemed to misappropriate customer funds to pay debts at his other company, Alameda. They announced eight criminal charges, including wire fraud, money laundering and campaign finance violations against Bankman-Fried. Sam Bankman-Fried was arrested in the Bahamas, where he fled after stepping down on December 12 as CEO of the company he co-founded. He was then extradited at the request of US authorities, and released last month on a $250 million bond, with his criminal trial set to begin on October 2. If convicted, he faces a prison sentence of up to 115 years. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221228/ftx-slapped-with-class-action-lawsuit-as-customers-seek-dibs-on-repayments-1105846827.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230103/former-ftx-ceo-sam-bankman-fried-pleads-not-guilty-to-federal-fraud-charges---reports-1106018906.html americas 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 ftx, collapsed crypto-empire, american prosecutors, securities and exchange commission, commodity futures trading commission, reportedly probing nishad singh, close member of sam bankman-frieds tight-knit inner circle, misconduct, crypto-empire's collapse, arrest of sam bankman-fried, ex-ceo of bankrupt crypto exchange ftx, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/zelensky-rejects-russias-christmas-truce-calls-it-cover-up-to-strengthen-positions-1106081164.html Ukrainian President Zelensky Rejects Russia's Christmas Truce Ukrainian President Zelensky Rejects Russia's Christmas Truce MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday rejected Moscow's offer for a ceasefire on Orthodox Christmas and called it a "cover-up"... 06.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-06T09:05+0000 2023-01-06T09:05+0000 2023-01-06T11:07+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine ceasefire donbass /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/05/02/1095192061_0:0:3000:1688_1920x0_80_0_0_d1f9acf5b8a0efae69b1b88e6b34730a.jpg Earlier in the day, following an appeal from Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to implement a 36-hour Christmas truce between January 6-7 along the entire line of contact. "Now Russia wants to use Christmas as a cover-up to at least shortly stop the advance of our guys in Donbas and bring equipment, ammunition, and mobilized men closer to our positions," Zelensky said in an evening address to the nations. He believes Moscow is using the proposed truce as a "respite" to continue fighting "with renewed vigor." Olexiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's national security and defense council, rejected the offer earlier on Thursday. The UN secretary generals spokesman said that Antonio Guterres would welcome a pause in fighting between Ukrainians and Russians during the holy period. Washington and Berlin also rejected the offer of the truce. US President Joe Biden suggested that Putin was "trying to find some oxygen," while top German diplomat Annalena Baerbock argued that a truce would bring "neither freedom nor security." Peter Stano, the spokesman of the European External Action Service, also told Sputnik on Thursday that Brussels does not believe in the proposed truce and would like to see concrete actions on the part of Russia, including the withdrawal of troops and equipment from Ukraine. He added that this unilateral ceasefire looks like Russia's attempt to buy some time to resupply and regroup troops. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230105/putin-orders-orthodox-christmas-ceasefire-across-ukraine-january-6-7-1106065134.html russia ukraine donbass Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia-ukraine conflict, russian special operation in ukraine, russian military operation in ukraine, russian ukraine ceasefire, orthodox christmas, christmas ceasefire in ukraine, ukraine rejects ceasefire, zelensky rejects ceasfire China optimizes regulations on travel between mainland and Hong Kong, Macao Xinhua) 09:33, January 06, 2023 BEIJING, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- China will optimize its regulations on travel between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao on Jan. 8, the State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said on Thursday. The office quoted a document released by the State Council joint COVID-19 prevention and control mechanism team, which said that travelers from Hong Kong will need a negative result from a COVID-19 nucleic acid test taken up to 48 hours prior to their trip. They will not need to take a second nucleic acid test after arrival. If travelers from Hong Kong report or are found with symptoms such as fever, customs authorities will ask them to take an antigen test. Those who are tested positive can be quarantined at home for self care or advised to go to the hospital depending on severity of their symptoms. Travelers from Macao will not need to take any test if they have not traveled overseas for seven days prior to their trip to the mainland, according to the document. The quarantine measures for people traveling from Macao to the mainland will remain as before. International travelers will be able to enter the mainland via Hong Kong and Macao, and restrictions on the passenger load factor for flights between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao will be lifted, per the document. Mainland residents' application for tourist and business travel permits for Hong Kong and Macao will be resumed. Passenger services at land and port borders will be resumed gradually, and tourism between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao will be restored in an orderly manner, the document said. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) You are here: China Regional medical authorities in China are adjusting medical insurance policies to address the medical needs of COVID-19 patients. These policies specified the medical insurance reimbursement rates for medical bills generated from COVID-19-related outpatient and inpatient treatment and online medical services. In the meantime, local medical authorities in several provincial-level regions, including Beijing, Hubei, Guangxi, Yunnan and Anhui, have made a number of drugs used for treating COVID-19 infection symptoms reimbursable as well. These adjustments have significantly relieved COVID-19 patients of their financial burdens. For instance, as per a new local policy introduced in East China's Anhui province in December, residents covered by medical insurance can have 70 percent of the fees generated from outpatient COVID-19 infection treatment reimbursed. As of Tuesday, the medical bills from these outpatient treatments in the province totaled 3.69 million yuan (about $535,357), of which 2.41 million yuan was covered by medical insurance funds. Diamond Creek has announced that Shes A Great Lady, 1:50.4 ($973,382) has passed away at the venerable age of 31. "When mares like this pass away, it is a hard time for the farm. They are more than just horses to us, they are the building blocks of what Diamond Creek is today," said Diamond Creek Farm in a statement issued on Friday (Jan. 6). "The present cannot exist without the past and these mares represent the history of Diamond Creek and how the farm has become what it is today. "When we tried to find words to memorialize this great mare, we found that Adam had already done so, when he wrote her story for our Golden Girls feature a few years ago." In his words from then: "A mare with her credentials barely needs an introduction. Shes A Great Lady is so great they actually named a race after her. She also held a world record that spanned more than a decade. "Born in 1992, she became a star on the track, setting a world record at Delaware not once but twice, at three and again at four, records that remained longer than most. Great horses are blessed to have races named after them and "Great Lady" was definitely that great. Earning just shy of $1 million and taking a mark of 1:50.4, she toured the ovals of North America from two through five earning respect from everyone she raced against. "After a budding broodmare career that began under the expert eye of Carter Duer at Peninsula Farm and owned by L&L Devisser, she was sold to us in the fall of 2006. "Great Lady's broodmare career spanned 12 years but she only produced six foals and none garnered the fame and fortune of their revered mother. After her final foaling in 2012, Great Lady has remained a fixture in our group of Golden Girls. The mare with a chewed off tail remained an unbreakable spirit, malevolent, dismissive, and otherwise healthy and happy, believing that her horse groupies and not humans care for her best." Lady spent the last years of her life living in retired mare bliss at the farm manager Gina Dailey's farm, where she was very happy to be left to herself, but would also tolerate the loving attentions of Gina's young daughter. She is survived by her best friend Armbro Nest, 31, with whom she has spent the last 16+ years with at Diamond Creek. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Shes A Great Lady. (Diamond Creek Farm) Culpeper County has declined to wade into the fray over the removal of an Alabama Confederates name from the town reservoir. Culpeper Town Council asked the Board of Supervisors for a letter supporting the towns October decision to rename Lake Pelham to Lake Culpeper. The town now has to get the new name approved for change on state and federal maps, and the process seeks county support. In response, the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors, at its meeting Tuesday, removed the item from its agenda. The lake name change issue was deemed unnecessary because the town owns the lake and it is really its decision alone, County Administrator John Egerston said in an email Wednesday. The Town of Culpeper is applying in a form to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names Committee to adopt the change of Lake Culpeper on geographic government maps. The board is responsible for standardizing the names of geographic features within the 50 States and in other areas under the sovereignty of the U.S., according to the application form. The board retains legal authority to promulgate all official names and locations of natural features (e.g. mountains, rivers, valleys), as well as canals, channels, reservoirs and other select feature types. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources original description for the Culpeper lake is Pelham Reservoir, water supply reservoir for the Town of Culpeper. It covers 255 acres with a combination of forested and open sloped banks along its shores, according to the application. The proposed name is Lake Culpeper, the form states. The existing name of Lake Pelham stems from an Alabama-native Confederate soldier, Major John Pelham. The Town would prefer that the name of the reservoir not stem from a divisive individual. The name Lake Culpeper is felt to be more representative of the entire community. The minutes of the Town of Culpepers October 11, 2022 Town Council meeting are attached which contain the Councils passing of the motion to change the name of the reservoir from Lake Pelham to Lake Culpeper. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names Committee only accepts proposals for names intended to honor a person deceased at least five years and will disapprove names that could be construed to honor living persons, according to the application. The person being honored should have had either some direct or long-term association with the feature, or have made a significant contribution to the area, community, or state in which it is located; or have outstanding national or international recognition. Though the town intended the new name to represent the name of the town of Culpeper, the town and county were named for Lord Thomas Culpeper, an English baron who was Colonial Governor of Virginia from 1680-83. Lake Pelham got its name in a 1970 naming contest. The winner was Alabama artillery officer John Pelham, who died in Culpeper at age 24 after being wounded in 1863s Battle of Kellys Ford, fought on St. Patricks Day. A classmate of Union cavalry officer George Armstrong Custer, Pelham left West Point a few weeks before graduation to join the Confederacy. Upon his death, thousands mourned the young Alabaman known for his marksmanship as he lay in state in Richmond, capital of the Confederacy. Various markers around the town and county of Culpeper still recall his exploits. Not approved at the local board meeting was a form letter stating, The Culpeper County Board of Supervisors acknowledge and support the Town of Culpepers request to change the name of the reservoir located within Culpeper County, from Lake Pelham to Lake Culpeper, as demonstrated by the vote of the Town Council at the October 11, 2022 Town Council Meeting. Sincerely, Chairman, Culpeper County Board of Supervisors. Stephen Kays research into western Nebraskas Japanese-American community led him to a 102-year-old state law from an earlier period of national controversy over immigration. Lincoln County residents and lawmakers were on both sides of debates leading to the 1921 Legislatures passage of the Alien Land Law, Kay wrote in the winter 2022 issue of Nebraska History magazine. That law, still in effect, blocks aliens and corporations not incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska from owning or leasing real estate for more than five years. But as introduced in the old two-house Legislature by state Rep. Edward S. Davis of North Platte, it would have specifically barred aliens eligible to citizenship under the laws of the United States, wrote Kay, a North Platte lawyer and historian. At the time, that group didnt include Japanese immigrants who began arriving in Lincoln County, the Panhandle and other parts of Nebraska after the turn of the 20th century. But state Sen. Walter V. Hoagland of North Platte succeeded in blunting the bills anti-Japanese thrust by extending its general land-ownership ban to all aliens who werent U.S. citizens. First-generation Issei immigrants became able to seek citizenship only after federal law changed in 1952, Kay wrote in his article for the longtime magazine of History Nebraska, formerly the Nebraska State Historical Society. This is a timely subject, because we have immigrants and refugees coming to Nebraska now, he said for this story. With work underway on North Plattes Sustainable Beef meatpacking plant and other economic projects, Im sure it will be relevant in Lincoln County because well probably have immigrants and refugees coming here, he added. Failed post-WWI attempt The debates leading to the 1921 law featured the public debut of Hiram Hisanori Kano, then a Sherman County farmer and later an Episcopal missionary and priest in North Platte and Mitchell serving Japanese-Americans in western Nebraska. Kano, born into Japanese nobility, emigrated to Nebraska in 1916 at the invitation of three-time presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan. FBI agents arrested him after his Sunday service at North Plattes Episcopal Church of Our Savior hours after the Pearl Harbor attack of Dec. 7, 1941. Kano spent three years in internment camps until paroled in 1944. The legal effort to exclude Japanese from owning Nebraska land began during the 1919-20 constitutional convention that made major changes to the states 1875 constitution. Delegate Joseph G. Beeler, a North Platte lawyer, offered a constitutional amendment to forbid aliens to buy real estate or lease it for more than one year. Those already owning land wouldnt have been affected. Kays article, quoting an Alliance Herald story, said Beeler had noted that Japanese aliens have been recently purchasing land in western Nebraska to an alarming extent, particularly in sugar beet country around Scottsbluff. Kano, then president of the Japanese Americanization Society of Nebraska, urged a committee of the constitutional convention to reject Beelers measure. Though the U.S. Constitution then limited citizenship to whites and African Americans, we Japanese have a strong desire to be adopted here, to live here permanently, desiring to be buried in Nebraska when our earthly life comes to an end, Kano told the committee. The committee killed Beelers proposal, but the full convention forwarded an amendment allowing the Legislature to regulate the right of aliens in respect to the acquisition, enjoyment and descent of property Voters adopted that amendment, still in the constitution as Article 1, Section 25. Davis, a former Lincoln County treasurer and North Platte postmaster, introduced his bill forbidding aliens to own land on Jan. 17, 1921. WWII foreshadowing Public reaction made clear it was targeted at Japanese-Americans, Kay wrote. Davis bill was backed by such lawmakers as Rep. Fred Hoffmeister of Chase County, who declared: Well have to fight them sooner or later, and we should begin right now to curb their influence in Nebraska and not let a big sore like Japanese influence grow in this country as the German influence did before World War I. Kano testified that February against the measure, encouraged by Bishop George A. Beecher, a former rector of Episcopal Church of Our Savior. Beecher later would ordain Kano a priest there in 1936. It is difficult for me to believe that the state of Nebraska, which has been a leader of democracy and justice, should make a discriminatory law against an industrious, law-abiding and honest people who desire to promote the welfare and prosperity of the state of Nebraska, Kano told the House Judiciary Committee. Three Issei from North Platte, Charles H. Shinn, Hugh Wada and Richi Ugai, wrote that month in the North Platte Semi-Weekly Tribune that Nebraskas Japanese population had fallen by half to 500 over the previous 15 years. Japanese-born Nebraskans will rank as high as aliens of any other country as an industrious, law-abiding, home-loving people, they wrote. Though the House Judiciary Committee voted to kill Davis bill, the full House overrode the committee and sent it to the Senate on a 60-29 vote. Thats where Sen. Hoagland, also a North Platte lawyer, entered the picture. After a bitter debate over Davis bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee, Kay wrote, Hoagland persuaded the full Senate to substitute his own measure extending the land-ownership ban to all aliens, not just those forbidden from citizenship. Kay wrote that such an extension already had been suggested by Kimball Rep. James Rodman, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, who said he opposed the unjust discrimination against Japanese-Americans. He had said Japanese immigrants then owned only two Lincoln County tracts, but there are thousands and thousands of acres owned by foreigners who could have become citizens and didnt. Senators passed Hoaglands substitute, 19-9, but it was thrown to a House-Senate conference committee when the lower chamber voted 63-6 against accepting it. The conference committee added the current laws ban on non-Nebraska corporations owning land. The House then voted 71-4 to send the bill to Gov. Samuel McKelvie, who signed it on April 26, 1921. Lincoln County aftermath Not only had North Platte lawmakers split over the bill, Kay wrote, but the citys business people had as well in letters to state legislators. In its final form, he told The Telegraph, the ban effectively applied only to aliens wanting to buy farm and ranch land. They could buy homes in towns, and they could buy land for a manufacturing plant, which is kind of interesting, Kay said. Second-generation Nisei Japanese-Americans who were natural-born U.S. citizens also could buy agland on their familys behalf, he said. Hoaglands intervention to extend the 1921 law to all aliens took the sting out of it somewhat for Japanese families, Kay said. But it was still not really a good situation. The Alien Land Law left the door open for Japanese-Americans to buy land should Congress enable them to seek citizenship. That happened when the McCarran-Walter Act became law in 1952, Kay wrote. Twenty-four Japanese-Americans joined by Kano, who recently had gained citizenship himself were sworn in at a Lincoln County District Court naturalization ceremony on Sept. 8, 1953, in the Crystal Ballroom of North Plattes Hotel Pawnee. Four others became citizens within a year. Kay noted in his Telegraph interview that some North Platte business and community leaders had shielded Issei and Nisei assets against post-Pearl Harbor federal seizure attempts. Others held items outlawed during World War II so their Japanese neighbors could reclaim them at wars end. There were Caucasians and Japanese at the 1953 ceremony, and they were celebrating them becoming citizens, he said. UPDATED, Jan. 9, 2023, 10:40 am: Updated to include possibility of local government consumption taxes under LR 7CA. *** Heres more on major statewide bills introduced by western Nebraska state senators Thursday in the Legislature: Constitutional carry Twenty-six of the 49 Unicameral lawmakers cosponsored Gordon state Sen. Tom Brewers Legislative Bill 77, which mostly resembles his 2021-22 measure that senators pulled out of committee but failed by two votes to grant first-round approval last year. That number sends a pretty strong message about passage of the bill this session, Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte said Thursday. He joined Sens. Steve Erdman of Bayard, Brian Hardin of Gering and Teresa Ibach of Sumner in signing onto LB 77. Besides letting most Nebraskans carry concealed weapons without a permit, Brewers bill would strip counties, cities and villages of any power to require firearms registration, block possession of concealed weapons or regulate gun ownership, possession or handling except as state law provides. LB 77 wouldnt apply to people prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under state or federal law. People younger than 21 couldnt possess weapons unless they are at least 18 and are in the military or a duly authorized law enforcement officer. The bill includes several other situations in which concealed weapons wouldnt be allowed. It doesnt include a so-called carve-out amendment from the 2021-22 bill that Brewer had agreed to in a failed effort to overcome opposition from Omaha and Lincoln police. Consumption tax Erdmans renewed bill package to abolish property, sales and income taxes includes two amendments needing voter approval (Legislative Resolutions 6CA and 7CA) and an enabling bill (LB 79). Supporters also intend to start an initiative petition drive, said Erdman, whose previous consumption-tax proposals failed in both 2020 and 2021. All current state and local taxes, except excise taxes, would be abolished on Dec. 31, 2025. An initial state 7.5% tax on the use or consumption of taxable property or services would take its place the next day. LR 7CA would require the state consumption tax to be adopted but also allow the Legislature to authorize local governments to adopt their own consumption taxes. The consumption tax wouldnt be collected on items subject to excise taxes, including motor fuels, cigarettes and alcohol-related products. Otherwise, only "grocery items purchased for off-premises consumption" would be exempted. Local governments under LB 79 would send preliminary budgets to their county, which would send them for funding to one of two Equalization and Review Boards one for schools, the other for cities, counties and other governments. Each review board would have five elected district representatives, two of whom would represent parts of western Nebraska. Local budgets that didnt conform to a manual approved by that board could be changed by their district representative to make them do so. Unicameral abolition Erdman would wipe out the one-house, officially nonpartisan Legislature after 86 years in LR 2CA. It would reinstate a 63-member House of Representatives and 31-member Senate, both elected on a partisan basis, starting in January 2027 if voters agree in November 2024. Nebraska had a two-house partisan Legislature from statehood in 1867 through the 1935 session. The Unicameral that replaced it has become less and less rural and has failed to eradicate partisanship, Erdman said. LR 2CAs modern two-house Legislature would elect House members by population like the current Unicameral and senators from each of 31 three-county districts. Such a proposal would appear to violate 1960s U.S. Supreme Court decisions that require all state legislative houses to be elected by population. But Erdman said he doesnt believe that decision has been tested at the highest level. He referred to a 1967 federal case in which a dissenting judge warned that the one man, one vote principle of the 1960s rulings would destroy rural America. I dont know if the Supreme Court has taken a look at that, Erdman said in an interview in the last weeks before senators convened Wednesday. If the U.S. Senate can have equal representation by states, we can take a look at doing it at the state level, too. A Lincoln federal court in 1964 overturned a Unicameral redistricting plan that weighed both geography and population in drawing legislative districts. It also rejected a subsequent law in 1965, warning that if senators didnt adhere to the one man, one vote principle, all 49 senators would have had to run at-large statewide. A 1965 population-only redistricting law won federal court approval in 1966. The people of Banner County which boasts a population below 700 people accomplished something extraordinary in November 2022. With eight elected positions on the ballot, voters put new faces in six of them, several via write-in votes. Those elected officials were sworn in on Thursday, Jan. 5, in a packed courtroom. More than 50 people showed up to witness what some called the beginning of a new Banner County, many of which were obliged to stand when seating ran out. Its a new year, new beginnings, new changes, said Banner County resident Barb Cross. I think were all ready to support the new people, and thats why were here. Among those sworn in, Banner County Clerk Katie West said, Ive never heard of this happening, not on any level. Everybody wanted a change, and they really showed it. West, who emerged victorious over incumbent Lisa Cross, ran as a write-in candidate. And she was not alone; new Banner County Commissioners Laif Anderson and Robin Darnall also ran successful campaigns as write-ins. While its uncommon to see a single write-in candidate win an election, its nearly unheard of to see so many at the same time win. Its hard to get even one write-in candidate elected. We did three, said Banner County resident Deborah Genz. What we did is unprecedented. I hope people take notice and everybody figures out that if you get together, you can do it. Genz became a leading voice in the countys shakeup, much of which can be traced back to events that took place in December 2021 and came to light early in 2022. In April 2022, County Treasurer Monty Stoddard, County Assessor Bernice Huffman, and County Clerks office employee Caily Reece were convicted of attempted public indecency, a Class III misdemeanor. Charges stemmed from the three being caught consuming alcohol and having intercourse in the county courthouse. The incident lit a fire in Genz and many other Banner County residents, who began to attend commissioner meetings and organize campaigns for change. I had to say something, because this is our house, Genz said, gesturing at the courthouse around her. What you do outside the house is your business, but what you do inside my house is my business. Shes the little mouse that roared, Banner County Treasurer Kathy Natale said. No one knew who she was, and then she gathered up all the people. The countys grassroots efforts were successful, culminating in a significantly altered slate of elected officials. Some, like West, have never held public office before. I had a bunch of people ask me to run, and I put it off for the longest time, she said. Finally, I realized that Banner County needed a change, and I needed a change, and it seemed to be good timing. Though newly elected to the role of treasurer, Natale served as deputy treasurer for many years previously, and became interim treasurer after Stoddards resignation in June 2022. The role was later given to Chelsea Mossberg, who ran as a write-in against Natale in Novembers election. Im glad to be back and Im ready to do what I can for everyone who supported me so much, Natale said. Im honored and humbled to be here. Incoming Banner County Assessor Kacy Krakow shares that enthusiasm. Im excited for the opportunity, and I look forward to getting to work, she said. Genz and Natale expressed hope that those who first heard of Banner County in the aftermath of last years events will get a chance to hear the new, more powerful story that its citizens have forged for themselves. This is a good county with good people, and when things went wrong, we took our stand, Genz said. This story is worth hearing, Natale said. How in a little underdog county, people gathered together and showed that they care about integrity. A Luohu-Macao investment promotion fair was held in Macao on Jan. 3, the first of its kind Luohu has held since China optimized its COVID-19 prevention and control policies. By participating in this event, the Macao delegation gained a deeper understanding of Luohu's industrial strengths and growth potential, which complement Macao's own industrial development. Both sides hope to continue close exchanges and cooperation in emerging strategic industries, commerce, trade, headquarters economy, and the low carbon industry. Leaders of Local business associations said they expected that the Macao business and trade enterprises can conduct fact-finding visits and explore more cooperation opportunities in Luohu. Deputy Head of Luohu Xiao Jiarui said that Luohu hopes to take this opportunity to establish a platform for communication and cooperation, strengthen information exchange and resource sharing, and promote the implementation of cooperation projects under Macao's close connection with Portuguese-speaking countries. By doing so, the district can work with Macao to jointly contribute to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Liu Chen, chief of Luohu's commerce bureau, introduced the development achievements and cooperation opportunities of Luohu's four leading industries: finance, commerce and trade, business service, and strategic emerging industries. He also highlighted the two outstanding industries in the region: gold and jewelry, and cultural creativity. Liu also introduced Luohu's new space, new sectors and new policies, and explained Luohu's "1+3+N" industrial policy system in detail. The two sides have reached a preliminary cooperation agreement to utilize the transformation and upgrading of Dongmen Pedestrian Street and Renmin South commercial zone to attract Macao companies and well-known Portuguese-language brands and specialty products. They plan to create a street dedicated to special local goods and enhance the international presence of the Luohu commercial zone. At the same time, based on Luohu's advantages of gold and jewelry industry agglomeration and mature supporting facilities, the two sides have agreed to cooperate on developing gold and jewelry brands and training jewelry designers. They plan to focus on attracting well-known jewelry brands and designers from Macao to Shenzhen and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in this field. A traffic stop for an equipment violation led to the arrest of a Statesville man on a drug charge. Christopher David Quattlebaum, 30, of Gay Street, was charged with felony possession of cocaine and felony maintaining a vehicle for sale or use of controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. A magistrate set bond at $7,500. Iredell Sheriff Darren Campbell, in a news release, said that on Dec. 30, Deputy Cory Wilson stopped a vehicle on West Debbie Lane for an equipment violation. As Wilson was talking to the driver, identified as Quattlebaum, Deputy Codey Moncus and his canine, Bosco, arrived to assist with a search of the vehicle. Campbell said cocaine and drug paraphernalia were found during the search. He said Quattlebaum is currently on probation for felony possession of cocaine. Quattlebaums history includes felony sell or deliver Schedule II and felony possession of cocaine, felony conspire breaking and entering and larceny and misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and driving while license is revoked. Kari Thomas Kovick of Floyd County is one of seven artists in the commonwealth who were named 2022-2023 Virginia Commission for the Arts Songwriting Fellowship. The VCA Artist Fellowships program recognizes the creative contributions of artists to society by supporting their pursuit of artistic excellence. Statewide experts and working artists serve as panelists to review and recommend Fellowship recipients. This is the inaugural year of VCAs Songwriting Fellowship, VCA said, which expands the list of disciplines including choreography, sculpture, photography, poetry and more. Fifteen Fellowships and $75,000 were awarded to artists this year through the program. Kovick is the founder and master teacher of Heart of the Child Music Education. She and her family moved to Floyd in 1999, the biography on her website states. Shortly thereafter she volunteered to lead music education classes at The June Bug Center and brought the program to Head Start classes in Floyd and Roanoke in 2001. Kovick currently teaches about nine classes, including Head Start, VPI and Special Education classes, she said. She also works with kindergartners weekly throughout the school year and hosts community classes for Heart of the Child Music Education at The Floyd Country Store. Classes are planned to return in the spring, following winter break. When I got the email saying I had been awarded the fellowship, I was stunned, Kovick said. Five years ago, Kovick recorded three songs for her debut album Its YOU I Like with producer Ken Whiteley. I know I have more songs in me, and I always need a little push to make things happen, so I applied for the fellowship to encourage my inner muse, Kovick said. Songwriting doesnt come nearly as easily to me as it does for the rest of my family. She has one specific project in mind to finally complete with VCA resources, she said one that was inspired by a local kindergartener several years ago. Kovicks songwriting abilities flow when she feels need from a child, or someone in my community, to meet them on an emotional level. Ive lost touch with her, but her name was McKenzie, Kovick said. She brought a song to class with her words written out in invented spelling. The song is about McKenzies favorite flowers and their colors, Kovick said, but she had forgotten her tune when she came to class. Kovick workshopped it on the spot, which landed in a thud, she said, and later took it home. She tried different tunes and got into a kindergartener mindset. I took the result back to the class the next week, and they loved it, Kovick said. Every time I have shared this song with my childrens musician friends, they have urged me to record it. She said shes ben itching to take it to producer Whiteley but lacked some resources. Now, with the help of the VCA funding and resources, recording the song is closer to becoming a reality. I heard the (Fellowship) competition was high, but I figured Id give it a shot, because this song is so special to me and the kids I taught that year, she said. Kovick said she wants to credit McKenzie on her song but lost contact with her several years ago. She would like McKenzie or her family to reach out so proper credit cant be given. Kovick said another project shes planning to work on is inspired by the upcoming birth of a new grandchild. It just occurred to me last night that my grandson, who is 2, is about to become a big brother. I am pretty sure that there will be a lot of need to help him process his feelings about that, so that seems like a great opportunity to be inspired, she said. Community members with siblings adjusting to a new baby are invited to contact Kovick with their stories (kari@HeartoftheChildMusic.com). Learn more about Kovicks Heart of the Child Music Education, hear songs and www.heartofthechildmusic.com. VCA Fellowships are available to artists over 18 years of age who are Virginia residents. Funding in this category is highly competitive and specific arts disciplines are eligible for support each year on a rotating basis, dependent upon the amount of state available to the Commission. New disciplines for Artist Fellowships are announced each summer with applications going live in October. Learn more about the fellowship program at www.vca.virginia.gov. A Cowlitz County Superior Court judge Tuesday sentenced a 34-year-old Longview man to more than six years in prison after he pleaded guilty to second-degree felony child assault from two separate incidents. Jacob W. Kunkle was arrested by Kelso officers in November 2021 after doctors said injuries on a 3-year-old toddler were consistent with child abuse and blunt force trauma, according to court documents. Charges were also brought against Kunkle while out on bail in August after parents of a 1-year-old infant told police Kunkle had choked the child while in their house. Kunkle pleaded guilty to both accusations and was sentenced to six years and three months with 18 months of community custody by Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Gary Bashor during a virtual hearing. The sentencing encompasses both cases. Bashor also applied a no-contact order for the victims. Theres no other way to describe these acts as anything than heinous and unbelievably cruel with essentially no explanation for why they occurred, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Sean Brittain told Bashor. Public Defender David Phelan represented Kunkle for both cases. Kunkle apologized in court, saying he struggled with drug addiction that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic and sent him into a spiral. Life got really dark, Kunkle said. I apologize for everything everybody had to go through. Im sorry for this misunderstanding. Bashor said relapses happen but do not explain or justify the actions to which Kunkle pleaded guilty. Its hard to view either of these cases as misunderstandings, Bashor said. Both of the victims mothers attended the Zoom sentencing hearing, as well as Kunkles mother Debbie Scott. I feel good knowing that this is out there, Anastasia McIntyre, the 3-year-olds mother, told The Daily News on Thursday. I dont have to explain myself or defend myself anymore. I feel at peace knowing that this is over, and I dont have to deal with it anymore. The mother of the 1-year-old infant, declined to make a statement. McIntyres other child told police they had also been verbally abused and hurt by Kunkle, according to court document. Scott told the court she believed Kunkles drug addiction and past trauma in his life had led to bad decisions. I am not defending or saying he is guilty, Scott said through tears during the hearing. Im just saying this is completely out of my sons character. ... This does not excuse my son for what has happened or didnt happen. I just know my son Jacob, in his right frame of mind, would not intentionally hurt an innocent, helpless child. So I just ask that you take this into consideration when sentencing him. He is a good son. He is a good brother. He is a good father. In the 15 months since her child was taken to the hospital with several bruises and a lacerated pancreas, McIntyre said her family has been trying to heal from the events. She said she had some peace hearing Kunkle plead guilty, adding that drug addiction doesnt make you a bad human. Everyone has it rough, but were not all out here hurting children, McIntyre said. The first WordFest of 2023 kicks off from 6 to 8 p.m., Jan. 10 at St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Longview. This regular gathering of readers and writers is free, open to the public and meets the second Tuesday of each month. An open mic follows the presentations. Due to Covid, organizers recommend people be vaccinated and boosted if possible, and wear masks when not eating or drinking. Local comedian Coree Spencer will present her activity book, Im Not OK, Youre Not OK, for people struggling with depression or anxiety. The book which includes conversation enders and a punch card for canceled plans is based on her own experience of using laughter to cope with mental health issues. This book is like being with a hilarious friend who has no good advice but totally gets what you are going through, she says. Shirley Clukey of Woodland will be reading from her book Dis-Membered: A Mormon Moms Memoir. This work-in-progress explains why Clukey joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 19 and why she left four decades later after her 20-year-old son came out as gay. Hans Schaufus will read several of his annual Christmas letters, which he has penned since 1996. The letters are fiction and represent different settings in America, Europe and Latin America. Schaufus is originally from Baltimore, studied history in Mexico and worked for the Longview Public Library for 25 years. Scam calls are getting out of hand these days. To tackle the issue, Whoscall has been appointed by the Royal Police Malaysia (PDRM) as the strategic partner to fight against serious fraud crime in Malaysia. This collaboration involves fraud number database sharing from the PDRM CCID portal to Whoscall's data system as an updated and reliable caller ID application for Malaysians. Whoscall is powered by Gogolook, a 100 million download caller ID application with the largest database in East Asia and Southeast Asia. During the launching ceremony, Manwoo Joo, Chief Operating Officer of Gogolook said it's the fifth partnership with global police departments to strengthen the anti-fraud alliance against scammers. The partnership between Whoscall and PDRM ramps up the ongoing PDRM Anti-Scam Campaign. Liew Voon Chang, a Malaysia Representative of Gogolook added that Whoscall was specifically developed to act as the first line of defence. According to the latest statistics provided by CCID, a total of 30,560 cases were reported between January and December 2022 compared to 2021 with 31,490 cases. Whoscall users can search phone numbers from unsolicited messages and call against Whoscalls growing list of potential scam-related numbers and reveal unknown caller IDs using their free app. Users can also manually update and also add numbers to the block list. Attending the launch were the Directors of Royal Police Malaysia and Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) YDH CP Dato Sri Mohd Kamarudin Bin Md Din, Deputy Director of CCID DCP, Dato Muhammed Hasbullah Bin Ali and DCP Dato Dr Mustafa Khan Bin Abdul Samat, together with the partners, Manwoo Joo, Chief Operating Officer of Gogolook and Gilbert Pang, President of Worldwide Wellness Club (WWC). Other than data sharing, Whoscall and PDRM CCID are also joining forces to organise a nationwide tour to schools and universities to educate the public about scam prevention and introduce Whoscall applications to block spam calls. You can now start downloading Whoscall app now for free right over here. For more information on the nationwide tour and updates, you can follow its Facebook page 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: Ducky demonstrates FluentPet dog communication buttons during the Pepcom Digital Experience before the start of the CES tech show, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, in Las Vegas. Credit: AP Photo/John Locher Tech companies are showing off their latest products this week at CES, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show. The show officially opened Thursday, with crowds of investors, media and tech workers streaming into cavernous Las Vegas venues to see the latest tech from big companies and startups alike. Here are some highlights: 'TALKING' PETS Have you ever wondered what your dog would say if it could speak to you? FluentPet promises the next best thingbuttons the company says you can train your pet to push if it's hungry, needs to go outside or wants to play. The buttons come in a hexagon-shaped plastic mat called a hextile. Hextiles can be connected to each other to form a bigger collection of buttons. "We find that actually when dogs kind of know that they're being understood because they have the precision and specificity of the buttons, then they complain less because they're no longer wondering whether they actually communicated what they wanted to," said Leo Trottier, FluentPet CEO. At CES, the company announced FluentPet Connect, a new app that notifies owners when their dog presses a button and collects data on how the buttons are used. An attendee looks at the GluxKind Ella motorized smart stroller during the CES tech show Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. Credit: AP Photo/John Locher Fluent Pet's starter kit comes with hextiles, a speaker and six buttons for $159.95. The app does not require a subscription. A HIGH-TECH STROLLER Canadian startup Gluxkind's smart stroller is designed to make life easier for parents on the go. The AI-powered stroller has a sensor that can tell when you've picked up a fussy baby, at which point it will roll in front of you while you walk without you having to touch it. When the baby is in the stroller, you need to keep your hands on it, but the battery will help propel it, making it easier to push uphill. It stops automatically if it gets too far away from whoever is pushing it. It can also rock a baby back and forth. The battery lasts for about eight hours and takes two to four hours to charge. "I looked into the stroller market and were really surprised that we didn't find anything that has some kind of level of automation or motorization present," said Anne Hunger, who co-founded the company with husband Kevin Huang after their daughter was born in 2020. Una expositora sostiene el perro robot Dog-E durnate la feria tecnologica CES, el miercoles 4 de enero de 2023, en Las Vegas. Credit: Foto AP/John Locher The company is currently taking pre-orders for the stroller and hopes to deliver them beginning in July. Prices start at $3,300. A CALMING PILLOW Need a break? Japan's Yukai Engineering says its robotic fufuly pillow can help users relax by mimicking the rhythm of breathing. The soft, fluffy pillow gently expands and contracts, vibrating as you hold it against your stomach. The idea is that you'll breathe more slowly and deeply as your breath starts to synch with the movement of the pillow. It was developed based on research done at the University of Tokyo. Yukai CEO Shunsuke Aoki said the pillow can help remote workers who struggle to switch off from their jobs. The version on display at CES is a prototype. The company is looking for partners and hopes to start producing it this year. ROBOT DOG Meet Dog-E, the excitable robodog. The Fufuly robotic cushion is on display during the CES tech show Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. Credit: AP Photo/John Locher Unveiled by toy maker WowWee, Dog-E has more than a million possible combinations of lights, sounds and personality traits. Dog-E begins as a blank canvas and develops its personality as you set it up. The app-connected toy has audio sensors to hear sounds, touch sensors on its sides and body, and a tail that you can program to display lighted icons and messages when it wags. Jessica Kalichman from WowWee says it's a good option for those who can't commit to owning a real pup, or perhaps for those with allergies. "I do think for anyone that's either not ready to have a dog yet, this is a great test to take care of it, learn to feed it, nurture it, and really have that trial run for a family," she said. WowWee expects to have Dog-E in stores in September. It will sell for $79. The app to control the toy's movements does not require a subscription. An exhibitor walks on the King Smith X21 WalkingPad Treadmill folding treadmill during the Pepcom Digital Experience before the start of the CES tech show, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, in Las Vegas. Credit: AP Photo/John Locher FluentPet dog communication buttons are on display during the Pepcom Digital Experience before the start of the CES tech show, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, in Las Vegas. Credit: AP Photo/John Locher People wait to enter the show floor before the start of the CES tech show Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. Credit: AP Photo/John Locher A FOLDABLE TREADMILL If you want a treadmill but don't have much space, WalkingPad offers a solutiona lightweight treadmill that can be folded in two when not in use and stored against a wall or under a bed. WalkingPad reaches speeds of 7.5 mph (12 kph). It also includes a detachable phone or tablet holder and tracks your exercises in a free app. Its creators envision it helping remote workers stay fit at home. An early version of WalkingPad went viral on TikTok as influencers added it to videos about their daily work-at-home routines. Walking Pad creator King Smith Fitness opened its first headquarters in Dallas in December. 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: Brunswick's autonomous docking technology on display at the CES consumer electronics show in Las Vegas. Whether on pleasure yachts or deep-sea cargo ships, AI-backed navigation assistance and autonomy are helping captains set sail for sunsets or simply moor in a port scratch-free. At the CES technology show in Las Vegas, boat builders are putting a big focus on technologies and artificial intelligence that make it easier for both the weekend yachtie and seasoned sailor to head out to sea. "On the water, there is wind, currents, sometimes waves, the boat does not stay in place, you always have to compensate," said Johan Inden, president of the marine business at Swedish company Volvo Penta. For more than ten years, the company's boats have helped mariners maneuver using a simple joystick that holds a ship in position or thrusts it sharply to the right or left. Volvo Penta unveiled a prototype in 2018 that was capable of letting the boat dock by itself, but customers weren't ready to park their ships at the click of a button, Inden said. Instead, the company developed the docking assistance system "that gives the captain a certain level of control" when mooring the boat, a moment "that remains one of the most stressful in sailing." In general, the idea is to improve "safety, comfort, relaxation" and eventually make boating more accessible, he said. A boat prototype by US company Brunswick offers the best trajectory to enter a port, avoid collisions and finds available places to dock a boat and does the job without human intervention. Another software program, offered by Hyundai's Avikus, can help maximize pleasure at sea. One setting will ensure that the boat is ideally positioned for sunbathing or will find the best spot to enjoy the sunset and get there in time to see it. The goal, according to company executive Carl Johansson, is to provide fuel savings, safety, and "peace of mind." The joy-stick developed by Volvo Penta to help the boat stay in place. 'Reduce crew' For merchant mariners, autonomous sailing is in test phase. In Norway, an autonomous electric cargo ship has been transporting fertilizer from factory to port since last year, with the aim of reducing truck traffic. While in Japan, an automated full-sized ferry has been in operation between two islands since last year, though for now with a crew on board. If the reality of ships entirely without human sailors remains elusive, many navigation tools can provide valuable help, in ports or to calculate the best route according to weather. A computer guided journey "provides much more reliable transportation," said John Cross of Memorial University in Canada. HD Hyundai, which at CES unveiled a project to collect and analyze shipping data, said that its software will slow a ship's speed if the destination port is congested, thereby reducing fuel consumption. Autonomy tools can also be useful in helping with maintenance by monitoring the condition of engines or propellers. In the long run, the goal of companies is to "reduce the number of crew members," said John Cross. They may see it as a way to save money, but also to reduce risks as accidents on board are still frequent. It is also a way of dealing with the aging of professional seafarers and difficulties in recruiting. The growth of work on autonomous navigation has recently been helped by the decision of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to work on setting rules, said Rudy Negenborn of Delft University in the Netherlands. It is still forbidden to operate an autonomous boat in international waters and new regulations are not expected before 2028. The technologies also need refining to enhance safety, reduce energy consumption and determine which are the best sensors and what to do if they fail, said Negenborn. In any case, "there will always be a human somewhere," he said. Whether it's a sailor following a computer on board or a supervisor on land managing several boats. 2023 AFP 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 traveler wades through a field of unclaimed bags at the Southwest Airlines luggage carousels at Denver International Airport, Dec. 27, 2022, in Denver. With its flights now running on a roughly normal schedule, Southwest Airlines is turning its attention to luring back customers and repairing damage to a reputation for service after canceling 15,000 flights around Christmas. The disruptions started with a winter storm and snowballed when Southwest's ancient crew-scheduling technology failed.Credit: AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File With its flights running on a roughly normal schedule, Southwest Airlines is now turning its attention to repairing its damaged reputation after it canceled 15,000 flights around Christmas and left holiday travelers stranded. CEO Robert Jordan said Thursday that Southwest has processed about 75% of the refund requests it has received. The airline has also returned most lost bags to their owners, and hired an outside firm to sift through requests for reimbursement of things like hotels and meals that stranded passengers paid out of their own pockets, he said. The massive disruptions began Dec. 22 with a winter storm, and snowballed when Southwest's ancient crew-scheduling technology was overwhelmed, leaving crews and planes out of position to operate flights. It took the airline eight days to recover. Jordan said in a brief interview that Southwest is still studying what went wrong, and he doesn't want to make changes in technology until that review is done. He expressed optimism but offered few specifics about avoiding a repeat meltdown. Southwest is giving 25,000 frequent-flyer points to customers whose flights were canceled or significantly delayed between Dec. 24 and Jan. 2, and seems to be making progress on refunds, but executives concede it will take many weeks to process the reimbursement requests. A ground operations crew member walks past a Southwest Airlines jet sitting at a gate, Dec. 28, 2022, at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix. With its flights now running on a roughly normal schedule, Southwest Airlines is turning its attention to luring back customers and repairing damage to a reputation for service after canceling 15,000 flights around Christmas. The disruptions started with a winter storm and snowballed when Southwest's ancient crew-scheduling technology failed.Credit: AP Photo/Matt York, File Danielle Zanin is still waiting to hear whether Southwest will cover the $1,995.36 that she spent during a four-day odyssey getting her family of four home to Illinois after their flight was canceled in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Even if she eventually gets the money, it may not be enough for her to try Southwest again. "It would take a lot for the airline to prove to me that they can fix whatever technology they use to get flight crews and planes where they need to go. It's just not worth the hassle that I went through," Zanin said. She said she plans to go back to flying on American Airlines even if it costs more. Southwest hopes that refunds, reimbursements and loyalty points will persuade people not to switch to other airlines, known in the industry as "booking away." "Book-away typically has a short half-life, perhaps as little as a month, given it appears from many accounts that Southwest is being very generous reimbursing not only flight but other out-of-pocket costs" and is serious about fixing the technological shortcomings that made the crisis worse, said Robert Mann, an airline consultant in New York. A person works behind the Southwest Airlines ticket counter inside St. Louis Lambert International Airport, Dec. 28, 2022, in St. Louis. With its flights now running on a roughly normal schedule, Southwest Airlines is turning its attention to luring back customers and repairing damage to a reputation for service after canceling 15,000 flights around Christmas. The disruptions started with a winter storm and snowballed when Southwest's ancient crew-scheduling technology failed. Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Roberson Retaining loyal customers is crucial if Southwest is to limit the financial damage of the meltdown. The company has yet to say how much money it lost because of the canceled flightsJordan promised more information before Southwest reports quarterly results on Jan. 26. Raymond James airline analyst Savanthi Syth estimated that the storm will cost Southwest about $585 million in lost revenue, plus higher expenses. Mann figures it's between $500 million and $600 million in cash, vouchers and frequent-flyer points. Airlinesincluding Southwest as recently as October 2021have recovered quickly from previous meltdowns, whether they were caused by bad weather, crew shortages, IT outages or other factors. Passenger numbers, if they declined at all, recovered quickly. "The reputational damage is only as relevant as what consumers can do about it," said Michael Mazzeo, who teaches strategy at Northwestern University's business school and has examined airline competition. "In a lot of markets, there is little or no competition to Southwest. When there is no outlet for consumers, the damage is more limited." A pilot rides an escalator down to the baggage claim area inside the Southwest Airlines terminal at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, Dec. 28, 2022, in St. Louis. With its flights now running on a roughly normal schedule, Southwest Airlines is turning its attention to luring back customers and repairing damage to a reputation for service after canceling 15,000 flights around Christmas. The disruptions started with a winter storm and snowballed when Southwest's ancient crew-scheduling technology failed. Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File Southwest, American, United and Delta control about 80% of the domestic air-travel market. Southwestit started 50 years ago as a low-cost competitor to big airlines but has gradually become much more like themhas a particularly outsized presence in some big states including California, Arizona and Texas. Southwest remained relatively quiet for several days even after it became clear that it was struggling while other airlines recovered from the winter stormand after it came under repeated criticism from consumers, media reports and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. As canceled flights piled up day after day, Southwest gave few updates and rejected requests for interviews with key executives. It posted a video apology by Jordan Dec. 27, followed a day later by a video with another executive. Company executives did not speak generally to the media until Dec. 29, when they announced that Southwest would resume normal operations the following day. "The company was slow to come forward in terms of corporate PR communications until the government went after them, the (Transportation) secretary called the CEO directly and demanded they move fast to take care of those people," said Larry Yu, a George Washington University professor who studies crisis management in the tourism industry. "Short-term, it's big damage." Canceled Southwest Airlines flights are displayed in red on the departures monitor at the Southwest terminal at the Los Angeles International Airport, Dec. 27, 2022. With its flights now running on a roughly normal schedule, Southwest Airlines is turning its attention to luring back customers and repairing damage to a reputation for service after canceling 15,000 flights around Christmas. The disruptions started with a winter storm and snowballed when Southwest's ancient crew-scheduling technology failed. Credit: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File But Yu also noted that Southwest has decades of reputation for relatively low fares and good service to fall back on. He praised the airline for promising refunds, reimbursements and frequent-flyer points. "They have to do something to win back those customers," Yu said. Now, he added, Southwest must make good on vows to improve its technology, "because you don't want to equate low-cost with low-tech." Jordan said Southwest has good technology, but he said the airline will re-examine IT priorities once it better understands how the December failure unfolded. The debacle has also focused attention on Southwest among lawmakers in Congress. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Wednesday that he will re-introduce a "passenger bill of rights," which failed to become law in the last Congress. "The Southwest debacle creates a moment when the forces in favor of this kind of consumer-protection measure could prevail," he said in an interview. Travelers wait on line for service at the Southwest Airlines check-in counter in Denver International Airport, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, in Denver. With its flights now running on a roughly normal schedule, Southwest Airlines is turning its attention to luring back customers and repairing damage to a reputation for service after canceling 15,000 flights around Christmas. The disruptions started with a winter storm and snowballed when Southwest's ancient crew-scheduling technology failed.Credit: AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File The Senate Commerce Committee said this week it will hold hearings on the Southwest meltdown. Blumenthal said witnesses should include executives from Southwest and other airlines. "This problem (of flight disruptions) is hardly limited to Southwest, it's hardly the first meltdown in airline travel, and it's hardly unforeseeable," Blumenthal said. He said it was baffling why Southwest had not improved its crew-scheduling technology after it had failed during previous disruptions in the summer and fall of 2021. Buttigieg has said repeatedly that his department is watching Southwest closely and will hold it accountable to treat customers fairly. Consumer groups have given mixed grades to the Transportation Department's oversight of airlines. They viewed the Trump administration as a low point, with few enforcement actions taken against airlines even in the face of record consumer complaints. The Biden administration fined Frontier Airlines and several foreign carriers last year for not quickly paying refunds to travelers whose flights were canceled during the early months of the pandemic, but advocates were disappointed that none of the four largest U.S. airlines were fined. A woman walks through unclaimed bags at Southwest Airlines baggage claim at Salt Lake City International Airport Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, in Salt Lake City. With its flights now running on a roughly normal schedule, Southwest Airlines is turning its attention to luring back customers and repairing damage to a reputation for service after canceling 15,000 flights around Christmas. The disruptions started with a winter storm and snowballed when Southwest's ancient crew-scheduling technology failed. Credit: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File A Southwest Airlines jet arrives at Sky Harbor International Airport, Dec. 28, 2022, in Phoenix. With its flights now running on a roughly normal schedule, Southwest Airlines is turning its attention to luring back customers and repairing damage to a reputation for service after canceling 15,000 flights around Christmas. The disruptions started with a winter storm and snowballed when Southwest's ancient crew-scheduling technology failed. Credit: AP Photo/Matt York, File The Transportation Department has the burden of enforcing consumer-protection laws aimed at protecting airline travelers. Several consumer groups are urging Congress to let state officials and private parties sue airlines to enforce those lawsan effort that has been unsuccessful so far. "The airlines are going to lobby hard to have as little regulation as possible, but with each passing meltdown it becomes more apparent that real change is needed," said John Breyault, vice president of public policy at the National Consumers League. 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: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain When NASA docks two spacecraft in orbit, timing is critical. Their movements must be precisely synchronized with each other to prevent catastrophic failure, which means the computer networks that control their thrusters must not be disrupted for even a split second; instructions on exactly how and when to move must be delivered on time, every time. Linh Thi Xuan Phan, Associate Professor in Penn Engineering's Department of Computer and Information Science, has collaborated with a team of researchers at the University of Michigan and NASA to identify a critical security flaw in the networking approach used in these and other safety-critical systems. Known as Time-Triggered Ethernet, or TTE, this approach has been used for more than a decade in aerospace, aviation and heavy industry applications. In those contexts, many different types of information are constantly traveling over their computer networks, but not all require the same level of timing precision. Time-Triggered Ethernet guarantees that the most critical signals get priority, removing the need for separate network hardware dedicated to them. Having multiple types of signals on the same physical network via TTE is especially important for NASA, which must account for every ounce of weight on a spacecraft. However, the research team was the first to show that TTE's safety guarantees could be compromised via electromagnetic interference, disrupting the timing of the high-priority signals enough to cause critical failure on a simulated docking procedure. Along with Andrew Loveless, Ronald Dreslinski and Baris Kasikci of the University of Michigan, Phan published these findings in the Proceedings of the 2023 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy. While working at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Loveless began investigating the possibility of this security flaw with simulation data. He and his Michigan colleagues recruited Phan, an expert on the safety of cyber-physical systems, to look at a flaw rooted in the hardware of the TTE networks themselves. They showed that low-priority signals could be sent in such a way that the Ethernet cables transmitting the message would generate electromagnetic interference, enough to slip a malicious message through switches that would normally block them. "This approach was in widespread use in critical systems because of the guarantee that the two types of signals could not interfere with each other," says Phan. "But if that assumption is wrong, everything else falls apart." The team privately disclosed their findings and proposed mitigationsincluding swapping copper cabling for fiber optics and other optical isolatorsto major companies and organizations using TTE and to device manufacturers in 2021. "Everyone has been highly receptive about adopting mitigations," Loveless says. "To our knowledge, there is not a current threat to anyone's safety because of this attack. We have been very encouraged by the response we have seen from industry and government." More information: Andrew Loveless et al, PCspooF: Compromising the Safety of Time-Triggered Ethernet, Proceedings of the 2023 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy (2023). DOI: 10.1109/SP46215.2023.00033. www.computer.org/csdl/proceedi 3600a572/1He7YmWugq4 Former Georgia Bulldogs star Herschel Walker failed in spectacular fashion against Democratic incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock in the runoff election last month, eventually conceding the race when he trailed by more than 100,000 votes on election night, a staggering amount given the Republican standing of the state and performance of other Republican candidates in Georgia. While Fox News dubbed him one of their biggest political losers of the year and the Republican Party would love to forget his campaign ever existed, there are still some harrowing details emerging from the failed campaign. And this latest one is pretty terrible, though it isnt anything that Walker himself was involved with. According to The Daily Beast, a staffer for Walkers Senate campaign has alleged that Republican activist Matt Schlapp made sustained and unwanted and unsolicited sexual contact with him while they were driving back from a bar in October. The staffer said that Schlapp, who is the chair of the American Conservative Union and lead organizer for the Conservative Political Action Conference, groped and fondled his crotch against his will after buying him drinks. Schlapps attorney Charlie Spies told the Daily Beast that the allegations are an attack and said Schlapp denies any improper behavior. While its still one persons word against another, it certainly wouldnt be the first time, or even the hundredth time, that a Republican claiming to be fighting for decency and family values turned out to be a creep. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Cloud services provider Rackspace on Thursday confirmed that the ransomware gang known as Play was responsible for last month's breach. The security incident, which took place on December 2, 2022, leveraged a previously unknown security exploit to gain initial access to the Rackspace Hosted Exchange email environment. "This zero-day exploit is associated with CVE-2022-41080," the Texas-based company said. "Microsoft disclosed CVE-2022-41080 as a privilege escalation vulnerability and did not include notes for [it] being part of a remote code execution chain that was exploitable." Rackspace's forensic investigation found that the threat actor accessed the Personal Storage Table (.PST) of 27 customers out of a total of nearly 30,000 customers on the Hosted Exchange email environment. However, the company said there is no evidence the adversary viewed, misused, or distributed the customer's emails or data from those personal storage folders. It further said it intends to retire its Hosted Exchange platform as part of a planned migration to Microsoft 365. It's not currently not known if Rackspace paid a ransom to the cybercriminals, but the disclosure follows a report from CrowdStrike last month that shed light on the new technique, dubbed OWASSRF, employed by the Play ransomware actors. UPCOMING WEBINAR Learn to Secure the Identity Perimeter - Proven Strategies Improve your business security with our upcoming expert-led cybersecurity webinar: Explore Identity Perimeter strategies! Don't Miss Out Save Your Seat! The mechanism targets Exchange servers that are unpatched against the ProxyNotShell vulnerabilities (CVE-2022-41040 and CVE-2022-41082) but have in place URL rewrite mitigations for the Autodiscover endpoint. This involves an exploit chain comprising CVE-2022-41080 and CVE-2022-41082 to achieve remote code execution in a manner that bypasses the blocking rules through Outlook Web Access (OWA). The flaws were addressed by Microsoft in November 2022. The Windows maker, in a statement shared with The Hacker News, urged customers to prioritize installing its November 2022 Exchange Server updates and noted that the reported method targets vulnerable systems that have not applied the latest fixes. NEW YORK (AP) Struggling Bed Bath & Beyond warned on Thursday that the home goods retailer may need to file for bankruptcy as sales continue to drop and it struggles to attract shoppers. The Union, New Jersey-based company said that it's looking at several options including selling assets or restructuring its business in bankruptcy court, but it acknowledged that even those efforts may not be successful. Shares lost a quarter of their value on the news to trade at $1.82, their lowest level since November 1992. "There is substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern," the retailer said in a statement. The company's assessment came as its dismal performance continued through the holiday season. Bed Bath & Beyond expects to report net sales of $1.26 billion for the third quarter ended Nov. 26. That would be a 32% drop from a year earlier. It also anticipates a net loss of roughly $385.8 million for the third quarter, wider than its loss of $276.4 million in the year-earlier period. The company's recently appointed CEO and president, Sue Gove, blamed the poor performance on inventory constraints and reduced credit limits that resulted in shortages of merchandise on the shelves. In August, Bed Bath & Beyond announced it would shutter stores and lay off workers in a bid to turn around its beleaguered business. It closed about 150 of its namesakes stores and slashed its workforce by 20%. It estimated those cuts would save $250 million in the company's current fiscal year. It also said in August that it had lined up more than $500 million of new financing. Mired in a prolonged sales slump, the company also announced back in August that it would revert to its original strategy of focusing on national brands, instead of pushing its own store labels. That reversed a strategy embraced by its former CEO Mark Tritton, who was ousted last June after less than three years at the helm. It said it would get rid of one-third of its store brands, which had started to be rolled out in the last year or so. Besides Bed Bath & Beyond, the company also runs the buybuy Baby and Harmon chains. Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, wrote in a report Thursday that Bed Bath & Beyond is "too far gone to be saved in its present form." He noted that the company could restructure under Chapter 11, but it would still need to come up with a credible plan to reinvent the business, and that is going to be challenging, particularly in a weakening economic environment. "A catalogue of missteps has run the company into the ground and has made it increasingly irrelevant," he wrote. "Only very radical action will allow it to survive and even if it does, it will be a shadow of its former self." The company is set to release final third-quarter results on Tuesday. Major retail chains that no longer exist Major retail chains that no longer exist Ames Anchor Blue BI-LO Blockbuster Borders Builders Square Century 21 Circuit City CompUSA Crazy Eddie Crown Books Delia's Dominick's Dressbarn Eckerd's Family Video Frank's Nursery & Crafts Friedman's Golfsmith Gottschalks Hollywood Video Hudson's Just for Feet Kaufmann's KB Toys Kids 'R' Us Linens 'n Things Marshall Field's Merry-Go-Round Mervyn's Modell's Sporting Goods Noodle Kidoodle Payless ShoeSource Pier 1 Imports Sam Goody Sharper Image Sports Authority Sports Chalet Steve & Barry's The Limited Thom McAn Tower Records Tweeter Virgin Megastores Waldenbooks Warner Bros. Studio Store Western Auto Wickes Furniture Woolworth's Zany Brainy In accordance with a 1981 state law, Jan. 5 is designated each year as George W. Norris Day in Nebraska. The unique holiday is set aside in recognition of the many great benefits bestowed upon the people of the State of Nebraska and the United States as a whole by Norris, a New Deal Republican who called McCook home. First among those benefits, at least in Nebraska state law, is the establishment of a nonpartisan unicameral legislative body in Nebraska. It is the only one of its kind since it was implemented in 1937. A proposed constitutional amendment that was introduced Thursday the first day senators could introduce legislation in the 108th Legislature would revert Nebraskas legislative branch to a time before Nebraska voters approved Norris vision for a one-house legislature. Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard introduced document LR2CA, which would revert Nebraska to a bicameral legislative body, saying it would result in better representation for rural parts of the state. Those areas have lost political power as half of Nebraskas population has concentrated in Lincoln, Omaha and the surrounding areas, Erdman said, with that trend expected to continue in the future. The redistricting process completed in 2021 moved one legislative district from central Nebraska to Omaha but avoided the prediction that two seats could be moved from rural to urban areas. The plan to end the unicameral form of government is supported by the Nebraska GOP, which in 2022 included in its platform a plank calling for a return to a bicameral legislature whereby the upper house has fewer members but larger territorial areas to include a more diverse set of interests in the legislative process. While he said a bicameral legislature would better represent the interest of Nebraskans, particularly those from areas west of Lincoln, Erdman said he doesnt think his proposal stands a chance of getting out of committee, much less be debated by the full Legislature or put to a vote of the people. Im not naive to think the people living in the east are going to say this is a good idea because the unicameral works really good for them, Erdman said. If the measure were to get on the ballot and be approved by voters, it would almost certainly face a court challenge. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires states to apportion all state legislative seats based on population. But Erdman said his proposal would add a second house to the Legislature, with 31 members who represent three counties each, along with a lower house with 62 members representing districts apportioned by population. The two houses, he said, would function as a better check on one another than the current system, where the people of Nebraska are referred to as the second house. Erdman said the people rarely have the chance to vote on petitions or referendums and arent likely to make a dent in lawmakers thinking by testifying during committee hearings. Erdman also wants people to know not all Nebraskans think highly of Norris, who is said to have worn out two sets of tires driving across the state to advocate for the unicameral legislature. Each session, senators typically read a speech delivered by Norris on the first day of the one-house Legislature. Norris, who was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1902, later served five terms in the U.S. Senate, changing his party from Republican to independent in 1936. Everybody worships George Norris like he was something special he wasnt, Erdman said. He was very liberal, the most liberal senator in the U.S. Senate. His mission wasnt honorable. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. I think being pope was difficult for him, but he tried to do so with dignity. He was more traditional in terms of his style and he was a very Police have responded to an active shooting situation in Carterville this morning. Unconfirmed online reports are that one person was shot at a health care facility located along Route 13 just east of the John A. Logan Campus and a suspect is driving a 2016 blue Kia with Illinois plate AV20202. The shooting has prompted Carterville High School, Marion High School and John A. Logan College to go on lockdown status. In an alert sent to students and other members of the college community about 9 a.m., recipients were told of an active shooter situation near the college. "Campus is on lockdown," the text message read. "Avoid campus until further notice. The directional west may have been in error in the text message. Steve OKeefe, assistant vice president for marketing, public relations and communications at John A. Logan College, said administrators were informed of the situation and made the decision to alert students, staff and faculty. We received word of an active shooter situation, so we took the precaution of going into a lockdown until we get word it has been resolved, he said. Its not on campus. Our campus police are on top of it and monitoring everything. Well shelter in place until we get word things are resolved. Officials with the Carterville Police Department and the Williamson County Sheriffs Office declined comment when contacted by The Southern. This developing story will be updated throughout the day. The suspect in a Carterville shooting is in custody. The identity of the alleged shooter has not yet been released. The individual was considered armed and dangerous. Carterville police, fire and EMS responded to a report of shots fired at Integrated Health, 310 W. Plaza Drive, just east of the John A. Logan College campus Friday morning. One person was shot and transported to an area hospital by ambulance and the suspect fled in a blue Kia, prompting an extensive search. The incident led several area schools and John A. Logan College to go on lockdown and shelter-in-place. This was domestic in nature and targeted to one person. It was not a random act of violence, Carterville Alderman Tom Harness told The Southern. Harness said the suspect was located and that there was no further risk to the public. In an alert sent to students and other members of the college community about 9 a.m., recipients were told of an active shooter situation near the campus and that individuals should campus until further notice. Steve OKeefe, assistant vice president for marketing, public relations and communications at John A. Logan College, said administrators were informed of the situation and made the decision to alert students, staff and faculty. "We received word of an active shooter situation, so we took the precaution of going into a lockdown until we get word it has been resolved, he said. Its not on campus. Our campus police are on top of it and monitoring everything. Well shelter in place until we get word things are resolved. Officials with the Carterville Police Department and the Williamson County Sheriffs Office declined comment when contacted by The Southern. Parents of students in the Carterville schools posted online that they had received all clear text messages about 10:20 a.m. John A. Logan College also lifted its lockdown about 10:30 a.m. Two people are dead following a shooting Friday morning in Carterville. According to Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Diederich, Robert Aumiller, 36, shot Michelle Aumiller, 32, as she was outside Integrated Health, 310 W. Plaza Drive, just east of the John A. Logan College campus. She reportedly was a massage therapist at the business and was either entering or leaving the building. She was transported by ambulance to SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale where she died from her injuries. The shooter fled in a blue Kia automobile. Police from a number of departments including Carterville, the Williamson County Sheriffs Department and the Illinois State Police participated in an extensive search for the suspect, eventually finding his car in a wooded area along Cardinal Road near Cambria. The suspect was found dead in his car, apparently of a self-inflicted gunshot. The manhunt prompted many area businesses and area schools including those as far away as Carbondale and Vienna to go into preventative lockdowns during the search. John A. Logan College alerted students, faculty and staff to avoid the campus and told those already at the institution to shelter-in-place. All of the lockdowns were lifted by 11 a.m. Diederich said the incident was domestic in nature and was not a random act of violence. Victims names are yet to be released. One Monday in January when my children were very young and impressionable, their father and I took them to a parade followed by a large event in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Our children took home many lessons that day about King's message of peace and justice, but what stuck with them most was his idea of having a dream. It's difficult enough for children to understand dreams as something that happens in the mind while asleep, but it is even more difficult to to explain the kind of dreams Martin Luther King spoke of in the speech he gave on Aug. 28, 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Dreams as cherished aspirations, ambitions and ideals was the stuff of King's speech to the 200,000 people who peacefully journeyed there that day and reverberates in our hearts and minds 60 years later. Martin Luther King taught my children, as he teaches us all, the power of keeping dreams alive. He sparked in them an understanding about the importance of having faith in big dreams not just their own, but those of their fellow man, and those of a nation. In 1922, Langston Hughes wrote in a poem called Dreams, "Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." Thirty years later, the same poet asked in another poem, "What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?" Martin Luther King refused to sit back and watch his dream be deferred. Nor did he want it to explode in violence or shatter and disappear. The Baptist minister gave his life to the dream of advancing civil rights in the United States through faith, nonviolent activism, and hope in the brotherhood of man. In his song Shed a Little Light James Taylor sings these words, "Let us turn our thoughts today to Martin Luther King and recognize that there are ties between us, all men and women living on the Earth. Ties of hope and love, sister and brotherhood, that we are bound together in our desire to see the world become a place in which our children can grow free and strong. We are bound together by the task that stands before us and the road that lies ahead. We are bound and we are bound." On Monday, if you are off from work, if the kids are home from school, if you find yourself grumbling that the bank and post office are closed, turn your thoughts to Martin Luther King. Contemplate his dream, your dream, your child's dream and every child's dream. Vow to hold fast to those dreams, to work to help make them come to fruition, and to never let them become a dream deferred. Business and community leaders in South Carolina are mourning the loss of Columbia city councilman and former state secretary of commerce Joe E. Taylor Jr. , considered a leader and visionary for his work both in the Columbia area and statewide. Taylor, 64, died unexpectedly on Dec. 29. A native of Columbia, Taylor has received accolades for his role in the states economic growth. During his tenure as commerce secretary under Gov. Mark Sanford, he was credited with leading the team that spearheaded efforts to attract Boeing to North Charleston in 2009. Taylor was elected to represent District 4 on the council in 2021 to take over a seat formerly occupied by Mayor Daniel Rickenmann. In his role as councilman, Taylor quickly became known as a fierce advocate for businesses and city residents, working both to make it easier for businesses to flourish and to reduce crime and other problems. He was chairman of the economic and community development committee and also served on the public safety and administrative policy committees. In a statement, Rickenmann mourned the loss of the man he called a friend as well as a colleague. Columbia has lost one of her biggest advocates, one of my best friends, Rickenmann said. Joe was a giant in our community. I can think of no person who cared more about Columbia, the Midlands or South Carolina than Joe. He led with his heart and passion to help others. Taylors fellow council members also released a statement addressing his impact on the business community. During his tenure on council, Councilman Taylor was an advocate for business development, particularly as it related to small business owners, and a champion of commerce, the statement said. He truly believed in the greatness of our city, and he was focused on making Columbia better for all citizens. Carl Blackstone, president and CEO of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, said Taylor cared deeply about improving life in general in the city he called home. His impact will be felt in Columbia for decades to come, Blackstone said in a statement. A keen instinct for business came early for Taylor. While still a student at Wofford College in Spartanburg, he founded Southland Log Homes with his late father and later became the companys president and CEO. Southland went on to become the largest producer of pre-cut log buildings in North America. He sold the company in 2005. His years in state leadership started in 2003 when Sanford appointed him chairman of the S.C. Jobs Economic Development Authority. He served as secretary of commerce from 2006 until 2011. After leaving state government, Taylor worked primarily in real estate development and private equity, among many other ventures. Taylor made an impact across the river in West Columbia as well, starting in 2014 when he founded his private equity venture, Southland Capital Partners, with offices on State Street. In an interview with SC Biz News, West Columbia Mayor Tem Miles said Taylors selection of State Street as home for his offices helped to jumpstart the commercial and residential redevelopment of the entire Meeting Street area. He also credits Taylor with helping the city redo its zoning codes to bring in further development, including the St. Anns Alley residential community. He was very passionate about what West Columbia could be and was willing to put his time and efforts into trying to get it there, Miles told SC Biz News. Joe had an unusual combination of vision and follow through. He had both vision and the backbone to follow through, to get out and make things happen. He was an incredible man personally. He was very giving with his resources and most importantly with his time and mentorship for the folks coming up behind him. Our region has lost an incredible leader. In 2021, SC Biz News honored Taylor as one of the Midlands business Icons at the annual Icons and Phenoms awards event. Taylor is survived by his wife, Amanda Taylor, a son and a daughter. Bamberg County will use $4 million from the Savannah River Site settlement to construct a new industrial speculative building at the CrossRhodes Industrial Park. The addition of this speculative building will position CrossRhodes Industrial Park for quicker company recruitment, occupancy and production, which will create a positive economic impact for Bamberg County, County Council Chairman Spencer Donaldson said in a Bamberg County press release. After years of litigation, on Aug. 31, 2020, the state of South Carolina settled its lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Energy. The DOE agreed to pay South Carolina $600 million ($525 million after attorney fees were paid) for pulling out of the Mixed Dioxide Fuel Fabrication Facility project at the Savannah River Site and leaving toxic, radioactive fuel at the site for years. As a result, the federal government has until 2037 to remove 34 tons of plutonium from the site. Last September, Gov. Henry McMaster and the South Carolina Legislature finally reached an agreement on how to disperse the funds. The majority of the funds were allocated to Aiken, Barnwell and Allendale counties, since they were the most negatively impacted. Neighboring counties also received a portion of the funds, including $4 million to Bamberg County to construct the CrossRhodes Industrial Park speculative building. The park is located at 61 Innovation Drive off of U.S. Highway 301 in Bamberg County. Bamberg County Administrator Joey Preston said, The construction of an industrial speculative building in the CrossRhodes Industrial Park is a critical step in recruiting and securing an industry that can provide needed jobs to Bamberg County residents and encourage economic growth in one of the states poorest counties. Preston also acknowledged key collaborators, saying We are so appreciative of the efforts of Sen. Brad Hutto, Rep. Justin Bamberg and South Carolina Alliance Executive Director Danny Black to help Bamberg County secure these funds. This endeavor would not be possible without their support. Orangeburg County Council on Tuesday unanimously tabled a request to rezone property outside of Holly Hill to allow for the placement of a boat, recreational vehicle and equipment storage facility. The property owner asked the county to rezone about 3.71 acres on Eutaw Road in Holly Hill from forest agriculture to rural community to allow the storage facility. The property is located near Garrett's Body Shop and Auto. Council tabled the matter to allow county staff to do further research after hearing concerns about the request from town officials. The town of Holly Hill for years has taken a back seat in the community, Mayor Billy Chavis said. And now is our time to come to the front. We have five neighborhoods coming to that area. All of those neighborhoods are going to have HOAs (home owners associations) involved. Chavis said the storage facility will not fit in with the neighborhoods that are planned. That outdoor storage is going to be able to have whatever they want to have, Chavis said. In five or ten years, we can potentially have an eyesore in the community. The town of Holly Hill deserves better because we are annexing all those properties into the town of Holly Hill as we speak. Rebecca Vance, a consultant and planner for the town of Holly Hill, echoed Chavis concerns. Vance noted there is a plan to build 74 single-family homes across the street from the property and a plan for over 390 single-family homes adjacent to the property. Annexation of the 390-home project has already received first reading, Vance said. The annexation has been recommended for approval by the Holly Hill Planning Commission. Although we understand there may be a need for self-storage at some point, we just don't think an open-air outdoor storage with gravel parking ... is going to necessarily be conducive or be an asset to the community with single-family housing, Vance said. The Orangeburg County Planning Commission approved the rezoning during its Dec. 14 meeting, but the town of Holly Hill was unaware of the rezoning request at the time of the commissions meeting. In other business: Harvey Elwood, operator of WOCS 93.7 FM in Orangeburg, said the station is about to start its own television network that will cover Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun counties. Elwood said the station has received about $1 million in mostly federal funds to help make the network a possibility. He said the county has also contributed some funds. The station will carry sports, news and weather. Council gave unanimous second reading to incentives for an unidentified company planning to invest $70 million in the county for the construction of a solar storage facility. There will be no new jobs as a result of the project. There will be construction jobs and maintenance jobs. The company is being identified at the time being as Project May. A company's identity typically remains anonymous until third and final reading is given. Solar storage refers to technologies that can capture electricity, store it as another form of energy, and then release it for use when it is needed, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Storage helps solar contribute to the electricity supply even when the sun isnt shining. The project incentives include fee-in-lieu of taxes as well as special-source revenue credits. The incentives are designed to reduce the property taxes the industry will have to pay. Council also gave unanimous first reading by title only to an ordinance placing the project into a multicounty industrial park with Dorchester County. Council unanimously passed resolutions approving a fee-in-lieu agreement between three landowners and two solar farms. The agreements were made with Orangeburg County Solar Project LLC and Supersod Real Property Holdings, LLC for a farm near Bowman and Homestead Road. The agreement was also made with Orangeburg South Solar Project LLC and R & R Poultry Farms, Inc. and Myers Family Holdings LLC, also near Bowman on Vance Road. Orangeburg resident William Green requested council address individuals in the county who do not take care of their rental properties. I think you should be held accountable for what your renters are doing on your property, Green said. They are coming into our neighborhoods, trashing neighborhoods. We have people bringing 18-wheelers, Green continued. I mean 18-wheeler trucks through neighborhoods on residential streets and they are not supposed to be there because streets are not built for that. That is what highways are built for. No one is holding these property owners accountable for what their renters are doing. (TBTCO) - Sau mot nam chay ua theo con uong hau nhu khong bi can tro e at uoc muc lai suat cao hon, FED ang phai oi mat voi o ga lon au tien khi cac quyet inh uoc ua ra trong hang tram cac quyet inh ieu hanh tien te se cong lai - hoac khong - dan en su hon loan trong hoat ong cua ngan hang ang inh vi lai nen kinh te. A man pleaded not guilty Friday to a pair of first-degree murder charges in connection to the shooting deaths of two people near Casper in August. Luke Thomas Young also pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated assault and battery at his arraignment shortly after 9 a.m. in Natrona County District Court. Young could face the death penalty or life without parole if convicted on either homicide charge. He is facing up to 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both, if convicted on the one count of aggravated assault and battery. He is being held at the Natrona County Detention Center. District Judge Josh C. Eames presided over Youngs arraignment. Eames is allowing a 30-day period before state prosecutors must decide if they are pursuing the death penalty. Young was very last on the courtroom agenda, so there was only one small group left sitting in the front row behind the lawyers representing the state. A woman cried as the court heard Youngs not guilty plea. Young is scheduled to appear in court again on March 27, but that date is likely to be pushed back, Eames said during the arraignment. The trial is expected to take five days. On the evening of Aug. 9, Young allegedly shot and killed Acacia Colvin, 19, and Kameron Young Johnson, 27. The shooting happened after all three had driven to Basin to sell $400 worth of drugs, including fentanyl, according to a law enforcement affidavit. Officials responded to a reported shooting on Highway 20/26 west of Casper late that night. An autopsy found Colvin had been shot in her arm, bottom, chest, and hand as well as her head; Johnson appeared to be shot at close range. A passing motorcyclist told authorities he saw a car in front of him swerve and then stop on the side of the highway. A woman was outside the car screaming and a man was slumped over the center console and appeared to have been shot in the head. The motorcyclist said Young pointed a gun at him, the affidavit states. As he drove away, the man heard six shots. Young escaped from a correctional facility in Gillette, where he was on work-release, about a week before the shooting, court documents said. He failed to return on Aug. 4. Flash A 42-year-old man fatally shot seven other family members, including his wife and their five children, inside their home in the U.S. state of Utah before taking his own life, authorities said on Thursday. Eight people were found shot to death inside a home Wednesday afternoon in Iron County's Enoch, a mostly rural and agricultural city, in the southwestern U.S. state. Enoch is nearly 400 kilometers south of Salt Lake City, the capital city of Utah. Police officers were summoned to the home in reference to a welfare check. Concerned family and friends contacted the police after not hearing from the victims, said the Enoch City in a news release. "While this intense investigation is ongoing, investigators currently believe there are no suspects outstanding," said the news release, noting that the suspect is Michael Haight. The seven victims were identified as Haight's wife, Tausha Haight, 40, Haight's mother-in-law, Gail Earl, 78, the couple's five children, including a 17-year-old girl, a 12-year-old girl, a 7-year-old girl, a 7-year-old boy and a 4-year-old boy, according to the news release. It's unknown when the shootings happened or how long the family was dead inside the home before they were discovered, reported KUTV, a television station in Salt Lake City. Enoch City Mayor Geoffrey Chesnut said during a Thursday press conference that the family may have been killed within the previous 24 hours, according to the report. Tausha Haight had filed a divorce petition on Dec. 21, 2022, which was apparently the reason her mother was staying at the residence, said the report, adding that it's unknown if the divorce played any part in a possible motive. Iron County School District said in a letter sent to parents that "eight members of a family residing in Enoch with five students in our schools tragically passed away." "This loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for our entire school district, especially our students," said the school district. "Our hearts go out to all those affected by this senseless violence. Please keep the community of Enoch in your prayers," Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox tweeted Wednesday night. "The president and first lady are mourning with the Enoch City, Utah community in the wake of a tragic shooting that has reportedly claimed the lives of five children and multiple adults in their family home," the White House lamented in a statement Thursday. Too many Americans have lost loved ones or had their lives forever changed due to gun violence, and gun violence remains the leading cause of death for children in the country, the statement noted, adding that less than one month after the country marked 10 years since the Sandy Hook tragedy, another mass shooting has claimed the lives of five more children in Enoch City. A gunman killed 20 first-graders and 6 educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012 in the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. A record number of more than 6,000 children and teens were injured or killed in shootings in the United States in 2022, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a website that tracks gun incident trends in the country. The website's data showed that there were more than 20,000 gun deaths, 38,300 gun injuries, and approximately 24,100 suicides in the United States last year. Some things just dont change. After years of futile efforts, Wyoming lawmakers will once again consider expanding Medicaid when they convene in Cheyenne starting next week. Health care advocacy groups continue to push for the legislation, which would see thousands of Wyoming residents gain health care coverage under the umbrella of Medicaid. But they face an uphill battle once again. Under legislation sponsored by the Revenue Committee, nearly all Wyoming adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level would be eligible for Medicaid. In 2021, a single adult who made less than $18,000 would qualify for the program, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a national health care policy nonprofit. A January 2022 analysis from the Wyoming Department of Health estimates the state would enroll somewhere between 12,000 and 27,000 new Medicaid members in the first two years of the program. The Department of Health is currently working to update its Medicaid expansion report, but the agency does not expect any significant changes to its enrollment projections, Kim Deti, the spokesperson for the Wyoming Department of Health, said in an email. The federal government would cover the overwhelming majority of the funding for expanded Medicaid, contributing nearly $230 million over the first three years with an additional $54 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds in the first two years of the program. Wyoming would be on the hook for $8.25 million from the state general fund for the first year and $13.75 million in state funds for the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years, according to an analysis prepared by the Department of Health and the Wyoming Legislative Service Office. However, the state would actually see state general fund spending decrease by $18.75 million in the first year and $13.25 in the second year of the expansion because of the American Rescue Plan Act contributions from the federal government, which are tied to expanding Medicaid. Ive been in the [State] Senate eight years now and theres never been a time I voted against it. Its that important to our well-being in Wyoming, to our economy, and frankly, right now, its actually a net positive income maker, said State Sen. Stephan Pappas, R-Cheyenne, a member of the Senate Revenue Committee. History of rejection For years, Wyoming lawmakers have balked at broadening eligibility for Medicaid. In the most recent attempt last year, legislation similar to whats proposed by the Revenue Committee failed multiple times. Wyoming is now the only state in the West that has not expanded Medicaid eligibility after South Dakota voters bypassed state lawmakers with a ballot measure in 2022, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The majority of voters in Pappas district want to expand Medicaid, and the benefits are clear, he said. In my mind, its always been logical to expand Medicaid to bring the 20,000 people that cant get coverage because of their economic situation into the pool, because if we bring them in, their health will be better and theyll be productive citizens in our economy instead of being sick, Pappas said. Uncompensated care Even with little success, health care advocacy groups continue to push for the state to expand Medicaid, not only because of the benefits for those who would obtain coverage, but also for medical providers. Wyomings hospitals provide between $120 and $130 million of uncompensated care each year, said Eric Boley, president of the Wyoming Hospital Association, which can be particularly significant for rural hospitals. Weve seen examples in surrounding states where, by expanding Medicaid, their small hospitals that have been struggling have actually had net gains and actually have profit margins for the first time, Boley said. Montana is one of those states. In the two years following the states expansion of Medicaid in 2016, uncompensated medical care for hospitals decreased by roughly half. It also generated billions in new economic activity and employment increased, according to state reports. Medicaid payments still lag behind the costs for many health care providers, such as nursing homes, but they make a difference, Boley said. When you compare getting paid something to getting paid nothing, its still a step in the right direction, he said. The Wyoming Medical Society has also been vocal about its support for Medicaid. But while the group, which represents Wyomings physicians, highlights many of the same benefits as other advocacy groups, it also points to a much larger issue facing the state. Amid an ongoing shortage of health care providers, expanding Medicaid can help the state attract and retain the doctors and nurses it needs, said Sheila Bush, executive director of the Wyoming Medical Society. Medical residents who are from Wyoming and who are training in the state want to practice where patients can access the care they need, she said. They want to go and get the very best training and return to a state that has demonstrated a commitment to health care and to taking care of people, Bush said. Wyoming is also an outlier in how it funds its residency programs for doctors. It is the only state in the country that does not use federal funds to support its training for burgeoning doctors, Bush said. Our residency programs are solely funded with state general fund[s] and with revenues they generate on the clinic side, she said. Expanding Medicaid has a really dramatic effect in helping to support and fund those training programs. Amid stagnant efforts over the last decade, AARP Wyoming is maintaining hope that this year might be different. Along with a handful of other organizations, AARP Wyoming funded a 2021 survey that looked at the reception of Wyoming voters to expanding Medicaid. The survey conducted by New Bridge Strategy, a Republican research group, found that Wyoming voters largely supported expanding the public health insurance program. What we found out is actually two thirds of those surveyed support expanding Medicaid coverage to Wyoming residents, said Tom Lacock, the associate state director of communications and state advocacy for AARP Wyoming. When you break that out by party, its actually 58% of Republicans supported expansion of Medicaid. Still, proponents of the legislation will face the usual uphill battle and then some. An emboldened Wyoming Freedom Caucus is looking to push the Legislature further to the right, and the group has vowed to block expanding health care. For the Wyoming Hospital Association and other advocacy groups, all they do is continue to work to change the minds of lawmakers. Im hopeful that the bill be considered, but I realize the path forward is difficult, Boley said. Were going to be out front advocating for it like we have been for almost the last decade. In the wake of school board races mired in controversy over books some call pornographic, a freshman lawmaker is pushing a bill to expand the definition of child pornography and reverse obscenity exemptions meant to allow the teaching of sexual health topics. The sponsor of House Bill 87, Casper Republican Rep.-elect Jeanette Ward, a hard-line social conservative, has been heavily involved in debates about what materials should and shouldnt be available in school libraries. The bill, which stems from concerns about explicit materials in school libraries, would amend the definition of child pornography to include any form of depiction of explicit sexual conduct where the visual depiction or the process of producing it involves, shows or has been modified to show a child engaging in an explicit sexual act. It specifies cartoons and drawings as included in the definition. It would also repeal a section of Wyoming Statute 6-4-302, which provides exemptions to people who produce, reproduce, possess or disseminate obscene material for the purpose of bona fide school, college, university, museum or public library activities or in the course of employment of such an organization. Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody, mentioned her intention to promote such a bill at an October event hosted by former interim state superintendent of public instruction Brian Schroeder. Ward said in an email to the Star-Tribune that she asked the Legislative Service Office to draft the bill of her own initiative and has not talked one-on-one with Rodriguez-Williams about the legislation. I drafted the bill of my own initiative based on concerns expressed to me by my constituents and my own experiences with the Natrona County School Board, she said. The bill has garnered 13 cosponsors, nine of which are incoming freshmen lawmakers. The new lawmakers are Republican Reps.-elect Bill Allemand, Abby Angelos, Ben Hornok, Tony Locke, Ken Pendergraft, Sarah Penn, Allen Slagle and Tomi Strock, and Republican Sen.-elect Bob Ide. Some of the veteran lawmakers who cosponsored the bill Republican Sens. Lynn Hutchings and Cheri Steinmetz also attended former state superintendent Schroeders October conference, which centered on concerns about the sexualization of minors in schools. The bill, if it makes it through the Legislature as its drafted now, would take effect July 1. Ward has been a forceful voice on the topic of explicit materials in school libraries, having appeared repeatedly at Natrona County school board meetings to speak against keeping two books that some had deemed pornographic out of the Kelly Walsh High School library. After a lengthy review process that involved the input of an outside committee, the school board ultimately voted in November to keep the two books in question Gender Queer, a graphic novel about the authors exploration of gender identity and sexuality, and Trans Bodies, Trans Selves, a resource guide for transgender and gender expansive individuals in the Kelly Walsh High School library. Advocates for banning the books called them pornographic. Those who wanted to keep the books pointed out that both concern LGBTQ individuals, and said they are important representations and resources for students who are LGBTQ. They voiced suspicion that the debate wasnt really about the books, but rather about opposition to LGBTQ identities. Over the course of debate on these books, some people who wanted to oust them from Kelly Walsh High School emphasized repeatedly that they were not asking for a ban of the books, since they would still be available on the marketplace and in public libraries. Broad scope The bill, however, would repeal obscenity exemptions not only for school employees, but also for employees of public libraries and other educational institutions. The Star-Tribune inquired with Ward as to whether repealing those exemptions would mean that public libraries, the resource that some have previously mentioned as an alternative to school libraries, could no longer provide materials that fall under obscenity definitions. Could the bill then be understood as a ban on these materials in public libraries? Not requiring tax payers to pay for obscenity is reasonable and just, she responded over email. These books will continue to be available in the marketplace, but not paid for by taxpayer dollars. Reasonable people everywhere recognize these books as obscene and reasonable people do not want their money used to subsidize obscenity. She clarified in a follow-up email that the bill would indeed prohibit not just schools, but colleges, universities, museums and public libraries from keeping or providing materials that fall under the definition of obscenity. Before the November general election, Ward endorsed three school board candidates, all of them members of the local Moms for Liberty group who ran partly on a platform of ousting explicit materials from school libraries. Two of the candidates that Ward endorsed Mary Schmidt and Jenifer Hopkins won seats on the Natrona County school board. COVID legislation While new to politics, Ward has nevertheless quickly taken action following her election to Wyomings House of Representatives in November. She initiated a letter last month condemning the University of Wyoming 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. Members of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus and other lawmakers added their names to the letter before it was sent to the school. Ward is also sponsoring a COVID-19 bill that blocks people from denying unvaccinated or unmasked individuals any public services, goods, facilities, advantages or privileges... It would also prohibit anyone from publishing, displaying or mailing any communication, notice or advertisement saying that a person has to wear a mask, get any kind of vaccine or undergo medical testing as a condition for receiving or accessing services, good, facilities, advantages and privileges that are public in nature or that invite the patronage of the public. Anyone who violates those rules would be subject to a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment of up to one year, or both. Ward said in her email that, while there are several other bills that she is cosponsoring, there are no other bills at the moment for which she is the prime sponsor. Support from the state could remain out-of-reach for communities struggling with housing shortages after a group of lawmakers working on the state budget went against a recommendation from Gov. Mark Gordon to set aside $15 million for low- and middle-income housing. The money would have come from Wyomings roughly $120 million unallocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. Its not the first time Gordon has asked the Legislature to invest ARPA money in housing. Gordon wanted lawmakers to dedicate $25 million to the cause last year, but that proposal, too, was denied. He tried again last month, when the Joint Appropriations Committee met to consider amendments to Wyomings 2023-2024 budgets. But theres a lot of need out there, and only so much money to go around. Gordon alone sent the committee 21 letters worth ideas for budget amendments, which addressed everything from the states retirement system to invasive species to arts and culture grants. Its up to the committee to decide which to prioritize, and which to throw out. Theres no denying that housing is becoming a problem for even Wyomings smallest towns. Last summer, the Wyoming Association of Municipalities told a group of lawmakers that 90% of its member communities were experiencing a housing shortage including places like Shoshoni, Cokeville and LaBarge, which all have less than 600 people. So what made the committee deny the housing recommendation? Lawmakers werent convinced the $15 million would make much of a difference, for one, said Rep. Tom Walters, R-Casper. Housing costs have risen dramatically over the last several years. Say you bought a house in Cheyenne for $150,000 in January of 2015. That same house could have sold for $250,000 or more in 2022, according to estimates from the Federal Housing Finance Agencys Housing Price Index calculator. The housing proposal would also require the state to launch an entirely new program. The problem, Walters said, is that there are strict deadlines attached to ARPA money it has to be obligated (set aside for a specific purpose) by the end of 2024, and spent by 2026. That means Wyoming wouldnt have much time to launch the housing program and get the $15 million out the door. On top of that, lawmakers didnt get a good sense for what the governors office wanted the program to look like. There just wasnt enough detail in the proposal, Walters said. Ivy McGowan-Castleberry, one of Gordons policy advisers, told the Star-Tribune in December that the plan was to give grants to shovel-ready affordable housing projects. By focusing on projects that are already in progress, the state could make the $15 million go farther. It would also make it easier to meet the 2024 and 2026 deadlines, McGowan-Castleberry said. We certainly recognize this is not going to solve all of the housing needs that we have, but it was an opportunity to use them to address it to some degree at least, she said. McGowan-Castleberry did not respond to a request for additional comment Thursday. The Joint Appropriations Committee doesnt get the final word on what the budgets will look like its just the panels job to propose changes. The Legislature will vote on those proposals during the regular session, which starts Tuesday. That means lawmakers could still vote to reinstate the housing funding in the coming weeks. Thats what happened to Gordons proposal last year to give Wyomings suicide hotlines $7 million in ARPA money. The Joint Appropriations Committee passed over the idea, but the Legislature later voted to give the hotlines $2.1 million. As of Thursday, at least 31 states have dedicated a slice of their ARPA money to housing needs, according to the National Council of State Housing Agencies. Idaho, for instance, put $50 million of its ARPA money toward workforce housing. It was the first time Idahos state government had invested in such a program. South Dakota also set aside $50 million of ARPA money for housing needs. Nebraska earmarked $39.5 million; and Montana, $15 million. (Utah has approved about $100 million for housing, and Colorado, roughly $550 million, for comparison.) As housing problems intensify across Wyoming, support for some kind of state intervention appears to be growing. But lawmakers have yet to throw their support behind a solution. Last year, the Joint Corporations Committee explored ways to address the states dwindling workforce housing stock. The group considered two main proposals: one to create a housing trust fund program, and another to enable communities to establish land banks. The committee ultimately voted to ditch the first proposal and table the latter. PHOTOS: Housing solutions in Teton County Housing Solutions Housing Solutions Housing Solutions Housing Solutions Housing Solutions Housing Solutions Housing Solutions Housing Solutions Housing Solutions Housing Solutions Housing Solutions Housing Solutions Housing Solutions 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. You are here: World Flash Mexican armed forces on Thursday arrested Ovidio Guzman Lopez, son of imprisoned Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, in Sinaloa state, officials and local media reported. The special forces operation was carried out in the town of Culiacan amid clashes, road blocks and vehicles set on fire, paralyzing the city since early morning and leading Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha Moya to urge residents to stay indoors. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador confirmed during his daily morning conference that there was an ongoing operation in Sinaloa, without providing further details. This is the second time Ovidio Guzman, alias "El Raton," has been arrested. He was quickly released following his first arrest in 2019 after violence broke out in Sinaloa, threatening public safety. Ovidio Guzman, a leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, is also wanted by U.S. authorities for alleged drug trafficking. Culiacan is considered a stronghold of the cartel, which continues its criminal operations despite the incarceration in the United States of its original leader El Chapo. 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. Howard Fischer Capitol Media Services PHOENIX Katie Hobbs offered Thursday to work with Republicans even as she warned them that some ideas and items are off limits and essentially would be courting vetoes. Let me say unequivocally to every elected official here today that if youre ready to make real progress on the issues that matter most to the people of this state, then my door is always open, the new governor said in her inaugural speech. Hobbs then detailed what she said are her priorities, some of which may not find that common ground she says she seeks. And near the top of that list, she said, is to defend reproductive freedom and womens rights. Hobbs no longer needs to fulfill a campaign promise to call a special legislative session to repeal a law that dates back to territorial days that outlaws all abortions except to save the life of the mother. The state Court of Appeals ruled last month that was superseded by a 2022 measure allowing doctors to perform the procedure through the 15th week of pregnancy. And with Thursdays speech, she sent the message that efforts to repeal that more permissive law would go nowhere if and when they reach her desk. But Hobbs in her campaign has staked out a broader position, seeking to return the law to the way it was in Arizona before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the historic Roe v. Wade decision that said women have a constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy at least through the point of fetal viability, generally considered to be 22 to 24 weeks. That, however, is unlikely to find a majority at the Legislature. Hobbs, aware of that, has said she would support a 2024 ballot initiative to accomplish the same goal. The other priority she emphasized is safeguarding elections. That comes after years of GOP lawmakers, often backed by Doug Ducey, her predecessor, have sought to impose new restrictions ranging from additional voter identification requirements to mandating hand counts of ballots, all in the name of election security. Hobbs had a particular message for proponents of not just those measures but other ideas that she finds unacceptable. Let me also says just as clearly that chasing conspiracy theories, pushing agenda for special interests, attacking the rights of your fellow Arizonans, or seeking to further undermine our democracy will lead nowhere, she said. Hobbs also called on lawmakers to invest in public schools and finally provide the support our students, teachers and parents deserve. While the GOP-controlled legislature recently approved additional funding for K-12 education, it also enacted a program of universal vouchers, allowing any student to get taxpayer funds to attend private or parochial schools. And some lawmakers already are asking for more dollars. Other priorities many expressed in more generic terms may find a better reception at the House and Senate. These include: Creating good paying jobs. Supporting public safety in all communities. Providing access to safe and affordable housing. Securing Arizonas water future. Protecting forest and public lands. The new governor also had an agenda item that could find bipartisan support. She wants to hold Washington accountable for our broken immigration system and its devastating impact on families and communities. But Hobbs provided no details of what she believes that means, either in terms of border protection something she has previously said is not the job of the state or as far as providing for work opportunities for migrants or creating a path to citizenship for dreamers, youngsters who arrived in this country illegally and, under a directive from former President Barack Obama, have been allowed to stay and work but with no clear law about their status. Hobbs also said the state needs to recognize that too many families are struggling to afford the rising costs of essentials like groceries, gas and rent. I know firsthand how families feel when they work hard all week and still come up short, how it feels to have to work a second and third job to make ends meet, how it feels to lose your home to foreclosure, how it feels to grow up in a family that relies on food stamps or other assistance just to get by, she said. Her speech, however, proposed no specific ideas to address that, leaving open the possibility there will be more when she gives her first State of the State speech on Monday. Hobbs also said the election outcome represents a new chapter in the story of our beloved state. You embraced the challenge before us and rejected those who seek to divide, to pit Arizonan against Arizonan, community against community, she said. Instead, you sent a message that its time your elected officials worked together to find real solutions and to build an Arizona for everyone. And she spoke particularly of her victory over Republican Kari Lake, albeit by only about 17,000 votes. You, the people of Arizona, gave me a clear directive: Find common ground, work with people and not political parties, and embrace the challenges that stand before us, Hobbs said. I pledge to you that I will not forget this charge because, just like you, I see challenge as opportunity, she continued. Its not always going to be easy, but just like Arizona, I never back down from a tough fight. PHOENIX Arizonas new secretary of state called for the prosecution of people who harass those involved in running elections. In his inaugural address Thursday, Adrian Fontes spoke of the lessons he learned as a boy in Nogales about honor. He said that carried him through his time in the Marine Corps and later to become Maricopa County Recorder. And when he was defeated two years ago by Stephen Richer, Fontes said it was a solemn but honorable duty to hand the office over to him, peacefully and without complaint. He and (Maricopa County) Supervisor Bill Gates, like so many around the nation, are now fulfilling their duties under the disgraceful and anti-American circumstances involving harassment and threats to their lives, Fontes said. This domestic terrorism is anathema to the constitutional order and must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, he said. Elected officials who do their work nobly, in the face of these threats, should be commended, properly compensated, and supported robustly in the work they do on behalf of the democracy that upholds this great republic. Fontes, who is now the states chief elections officer, said he wants to do more than make the process more efficient. I will use this office to educate the public about the work election officials do and promote the integrity and safety of these individuals, he said. Fontes also spoke about his agencys role in the states archives and libraries as not only repositories of state history but the accumulation of knowledge. We need to make them accessible, usable and attractive, because wisdom and experience and knowledge they contain can illuminate the road we take, he said. Fontes also vowed to increase the speed at which his office provides business services. These range from registering trade names and keeping track of companies that do telephone sales to regulating notaries public. Kris Mayes, the newly inaugurated state attorney general, laid out a series of promises for how her office will operate. I will fight to protect our most vulnerable residents, she said. I will fight to protect our most precious natural resources like water. And Mayes specifically vowed to fight to protect our bodily autonomy, a reference to her campaign promise not to enforce abortion restrictions. While the state Court of Appeals has said a territorial-era law virtually outlawing the practice cannot be enforced, that still leaves the state with a ban at 15 weeks, with no exceptions for rape or incest. That is a far shorter period than what existed before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and its constitutional right to abortion up to the point of fetal viability. Mayes contends that right remains in Arizona, legislative action notwithstanding, based on the fact there is a specific right of privacy in the state constitution. I am committed to following through with everything I said on the campaign trail, she said. And Mayes said that includes tackling the fentanyl crisis to prosecuting elder abuse and consumer fraud as well as protecting natural resources like water. I will fight to protect your families like I would fight to protect my own, the new attorney general said. She also vowed to work to secure the ports of entry at the border but made no mention of the state or her office having a role in curbing the flow of migrants or drugs brought in by smugglers through the spaces in between. State Treasurer Kimberly Yee, the only incumbent statewide office holder to gain reelection in 2022, boasted of the accomplishments of her office in the past four years, doubling state assets to $30.9 billion and having earnings of $2.3 billion. That produces material results, with K-12 education receiving $400 million this year from investments made from the proceeds of the state land endowment. But Yee took most of the time she was allotted at Thursdays inaugural to talk about her familys story of the American dream. It started with her grandparents immigrating from China and, in the 1930s, deciding to settle in Arizona and open one of the first grocery stores in South Phoenix. All of the children, including my mother, worked in the store stocking the shelves, taking inventory and even running the cash register, Yee said. Her paternal grandfather, she said, owned and operated a laundry business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And during World War II, Yee said, he worked a full day at that business while also having a night shift as a welder, building ships for the U.S. Navy. And she told the story of her father, at age nine, working at the laundry and asking, What if I dont want to do this anymore? Yee said her grandfather responded that he did not have to because they lived in the United States, this Golden Mountain where you can be anything you want to be in this great country. These values helped pave the way to allow me to become the first Chinese American Republican woman elected to a major statewide office in United States history, she said. Tom Horne, the superintendent of public instruction, vowed Thursday to increase academic results at Arizona schools. And he said that will show up through improved test scores. But Horne said getting there will require a focus on ensuring that students are being taught the things that are in the existing state standards of what children are expected to know. Our tests will be solely on materials that the schools have been told need to be taught, he said. That makes it fair to test for those standards. Horne said this means more than teaching to the test. The reading test asks students to read a passage and show in answering questions whether the have understood it, he said. The only way to teach to that test is have students do a lot of reading. Ditto, Horne said, of the math test which asks students to solve problems. The only way to teach to that test is to teach the required math and practice problem-solving, he said. These are reasonable requirements. Horne also wants a return to what he called traditional discipline in our schools. When a student misbehaves and there is no consequence, other students learn that they can also misbehave, he said. The situation gets out of hand, and teachers understandably dont want to teach under these conditions. He promised to have a discipline initiative to help schools do better and hold them accountable for orderly classrooms. Horne, who was state schools chief from 2003 to 2011, said while he and the new governor are of different parties we have the same imperative: to improve education in our state. PHOENIX Russell Pearce, the sponsor of Arizonas 2010 comprehensive and controversial law about illegal immigration, died Thursday at his home at age 75. The Mesa Republican gained international attention with his SB 1070, dubbed the Fair and Legal Employment Act, which was designed to give the state a role in identifying and detaining those not in this country legally. That included giving local police the power to charge migrants with violating state laws for seeking work in Arizona without being in this country legally and failing to carry federally issued registration cards. It also would have allowed police to make warrantless arrests if there is probable cause a person committed an office that makes them removable from the country under federal law. Those provisions were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court as conflicting with federal law. But the justices said there was nothing inherently illegal about what was known as the papers please provision. It says if police have stopped someone for some legitimate reason, they must reasonably attempt to determine that persons immigration status where there is reasonable suspicion he or she is not legally present in the United States. The high court sent the case back to a trial court to determine if that law can be applied legally. And in a 2016 agreement, immigrant rights groups gave up on challenging that section in exchange for some state-issued informal and non-binding guidance on how police should enforce it. But his sponsorship of that and other anti-immigrant legislation led to an effort in 2011 by voters in his Mesa legislative district to recall Pearce, by then the Senate president. The move was successful, resulting in the only such ouster of a state lawmaker from office in Arizona history. That special election represented a blow to the more conservative wing of the Arizona Republican Party which had portrayed the recall as a liberal effort to take down the author of SB 1070. Pearce raised money from across the nation as conservatives rallied around the lawmaker. It was a sharp turnaround for Pearce. He and his measure were popular in his district when the law was approved in 2010. But criticism grew in 2011 when he pushed a new round of anti-immigrant legislation that was so controversial that it could not muster a majority in the Senate. The legislation also triggered a letter from the CEOs of some of Arizonas largest companies urging the Legislature to put a hold on new immigration laws. There were other factors. Mesa city councilman Dennis Kavanaugh, who represented about half of Pearces legislative district, said the defeat was no surprise. He said the district had become more politically diverse, especially among independents. And Pearces views on immigration also had caused a stir in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which he was a member. That gave an edge in the recall election to Jerry Lewis, another member of the church. SB 1070 was not Pearces sole foray into the issue of illegal immigration. In 2004 he was a supporter of Proposition 200. The measure, approved by voters, made proof of citizenship a legal requirement not only to vote but also to receive any public benefits. But even that did not fully survive. Just last year Arizona voters approved a measure partly repealing that initiative. It allows children who were brought to this country illegally, to pay the same tuition at state universities and community colleges as any other resident if they meet other conditions. He also was the author of a 2006 ballot measure to have English declared the states official language. Pearce also was a staunch advocate of what he said are Second Amendment rights and ushered through Arizonas first law in 2010 allowing people to carry concealed firearms. Prior to that, all adults could be armed but only if the firearms were visible. Prior to being in the Legislature he was a deputy in the Maricopa County Sheriffs Department, including being the chief deputy under Joe Arpaio. Pearce said he was responsible for creation in 1993 of the Tent City that ensured the county would never run out of space to house inmates. But that was shut down in 2017 amid issues of cruel conditions especially during the summer. In 1995 he became director of the Motor Vehicle Division of the state Department of Transportation. Defense contractor Raytheon could end up repaying the Pentagon millions of dollars following a federal appeals court ruling that the company overbilled the government for employee time spent on lobbying and corporate activities. The case stems from a finding by a Defense Department audit agency that Raytheon Co. and its Tucson-based Missile Systems division billed the government for unallowable lobbying expenses and corporate-development work in 2007 and 2008. Raytheon Co. merged with United Technologies Corp. in 2020 to form Raytheon Technologies Corp. Now called Raytheon Missiles & Defense, the Tucson unit is the regions biggest employer and makes many of the nations front-line weapon systems. Based on a Pentagon audit, the Defense Contracts Management Agency filed claims in 2014 and 2015, including interest and penalties for about $17 million in unallowable costs claimed by Raytheon for 2007 and a total of about $4 million for 2008, challenging lobbying and corporate-development costs as well as expenses for employee recruitment, bonuses and air travel. After Raytheon withdrew some of its claims, about $3 million in claims for lobbying costs and $1.7 million in corporate costs for the two years remained in dispute. Raytheon appealed that ruling to the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, which held a hearing in 2017 and ruled in favor of the defense contractor. The Pentagon appealed the matter to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which on Tuesday, Jan. 3, issued a decision reversing the boards ruling and remanding it for a finding of costs and possible penalties Raytheon must pay. Raytheon declined to comment on the ruling. The case involves so-called indirect costs, which are part of normal business operations rather than a specific contract. Each year, contractors submit indirect-cost rate proposals including a schedule of all claimed expenses, but expenses for lobbying and work involving corporate matters like mergers or acquisitions are not allowed. The appellate court ruled that Raytheons use of a time-paid accounting procedure allowed the company to improperly overbill the Pentagon for time that staffers in its government-relations department in Arlington, Virginia, spent performing lobbying activities after normal work hours. Raytheons time-paid accounting is a fiction that necessarily overcharges the government when it ignores time spent working on unallowable activities after regular business hours, Judge Sharon Prost wrote in an opinion for a three-judge panel. The appeals court also ruled that Raytheon billed the government for unallowable work by staffers in its corporate-development department in Waltham, Massachusetts. Both lobbying and corporate costs are expressly unallowable under federal acquisition rules, the court noted. Raytheon testified to the contract-appeals board that the government was not charged for any night and weekend work. The company also contended that the distinction between unallowable and allowable corporate-development costs is unclear under federal acquisition rules, but it followed a bright-line distinction allowing general planning but disallowing planning for a specific acquisition or divestiture. Some of the best Arizona Daily Star photos of 2022 WASHINGTON The State Department says it has adopted Turkey's preferred spelling for the name of the country, Turkiye, acceding to a request from the NATO ally after several months of hesitation. The department instructed that new official documents refer to Turkiye instead of Turkey, although the pronunciation will not change, officials said. "The Turkish embassy requested that the U.S. government use the name 'Republic of Turkiye' in communications," the department said. "We will begin to refer to Turkiye and Republic of Turkiye accordingly in most formal, diplomatic, and bilateral contexts, including in public communications." The move comes ahead of an expected visit to Washington later this month by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu during which Turkey's position on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its resistance to allowing Finland and Sweden to join NATO will be high on the agenda. Several other federal agencies, including the Treasury Department, already adopted the new spelling, leading to inconsistencies in documents across the U.S. government. The change was revealed as the State Department released a statement in support of a Treasury move to sanction several Turkey-related businessmen and companies for supporting the Islamic State. It later was confirmed by two department officials. Turkey asked last year for its name to be changed to Turkiye in international forums and most, including the United Nations and NATO, had switched to the new spelling. The State Department, however, does not often change its style on the names of foreign countries and, in at least one notable case, refused to do so for decades. The U.S. still refuses to refer to Burma as Myanmar, though the country's military rulers formally adopted Myanmar in 1989. Flash Poland will not impose special COVID-19 restrictions on people coming from China, Poland's Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said on Thursday. Niedzielski told a press conference that introducing such measures "does not seem justified." There had been a decrease in the number of COVID-19 infections in the last two weeks, he said. "Second, and this is actually decisive, neither the WHO (World Health Organization) nor any institution responsible for health at an international level has identified that we are dealing with some new mutation of the virus in China," he said. "We are dealing with the regular structure of the virus's genome that we have in Poland," said the minister. MEXICO CITY 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. 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. Flash Jomar Abdon, a sorter working for a durian processing plant in Davao City in the Philippines, is delighted for an expected jump in his workload, as the country's durian on Wednesday officially embraced the vast Chinese market. On Wednesday, China and the Philippines signed an agreement allowing Filipino durian to export to China. As Abdon sees it, the deal will not only boost income of local durian growers but also help create many more jobs across the country. FRUITFUL AGRI-COOPERATION Philippines' durian sector is one of the many beneficiaries of thriving China-Philippines agricultural cooperation as varieties of Philippine fruits are imported into China. In Davao City, the Philippines' third-largest city, more than 3,000 farmers harvest about 48,000 tons of durian annually, Candelario Miculob, former head of Davao's Durian Industry Council Association, told Xinhua. Provided that each farmer plants 100 durian trees in an area of 1 hectare, the new deal is expected to increase their annual income by 2,800 U.S. dollars, making China the largest export destination for the Philippine durians, Miculob calculated. The Wednesday's deal on durian came during Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.'s state visit to China from Tuesday to Thursday at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the visit, the two sides have identified agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and people-to-people exchanges as four priority areas of cooperation. More than just goods trade, the mutual benefits of bilateral agricultural cooperation are manifested on many other aspects. During his Wednesday meeting with Marcos, Xi stressed that 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. Located in Nueva Ecija province of the Philippine main island of Luzon, the Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology established in 2001 has already accomplished three phases of projects, through which China helped the Philippines improve irrigation and agricultural technology. Back in the 1990s, having learned about the Philippines' hope to import the hybrid rice technology, Chinese agronomist Yuan Longping, famed as the "father of hybrid rice," visited the country for more than 30 times and brought the high-yielding variety to thousands of local rice farmers. Nowadays, the total area of hybrid rice cultivation has exceeded 1 million hectares in the Philippines, with yields up to 15 tons per hectare, a figure about three times higher than that of indigenous rice strains. Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said the country "owes a large part of our achievements in reducing poverty" to China and the late Chinese agronomist Yuan. BRIDGE BRINGS PEOPLE CLOSER In October, a time capsule was buried in Davao City by Marcos and builders from China at the groundbreaking ceremony of a China-funded bridge connecting the southern coastal city and a tourist island. Marcos promised to dig it out when the bridge is open to traffic. Once completed in 2027, the 3.81-km bridge will reduce travel time between Davao City and Samal Island from 50 minutes to less than five minutes. The cross-sea bridge is a century-old dream of Davao residents, and will help unleash the economic potential of Davao and Samal Island, as well as improve locals' access to employment, education and other services, said Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio who was born in Davao. Marcos thanked the Chinese government, a "dependable partner," for actively taking part in the country's infrastructure construction, saying these projects have benefited the Philippine people, and become a proof of friendship. When meeting with Marcos in November 2022 in Thailand, Xi said the two sides need to further deepen the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Philippines' "Build, Better, More" program, and ensure the success of the Davao-Samal Bridge project. The two sides are eyeing broader infrastructure cooperation. When talking with Marcos in Beijing on Wednesday, Xi 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. The two president's meeting has significantly strengthened the "three good relations" between the two countries as good neighbors, good relatives and good partners at the beginning of the year, and helped usher in a "new golden era" in China-Philippines relations. CONNECTING PEOPLE LEADS TO CONNECTING WORLD A video clip played during an exposition on Chinese language studies held in Manila went on viral last month. In the video, Marcos and Duterte-Carpio spoke Chinese to convey their good wishes to the participants in the event. In the past decade, the Chinese language has grown popular among Filipinos and has been introduced into their education. At least 12,000 students from over 150 public schools across the country learn Chinese every year, official data shows. Cavin Franco Pamintuan, Philippine director of the Confucius Institute at the Angeles University Foundation, said he always begins teaching Chinese at the start of a school year by asking students to think of a word in Tagalog, the most widely spoken language in the Philippines, or any word they use everyday that they think has a Chinese origin. "Most students will be fascinated that the Tagalog words they commonly use are of Chinese origin," the young administrator said. The Chinese language serves as a bridge that connects Filipinos and Chinese, Pamintuan said. "We want our roads to be connected; however, we can only connect roads if the hearts of our people are connected. Therefore, connecting people leads to connecting roads, which on the other hand leads to a connected world." Just as Xi said Wednesday, the two countries 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. Scores of high school students in the Philippines in early November just had an opportunity to closely observe China's achievements in aerospace. A live class delivered from China's space station was attended by young enthusiasts from ASEAN countries. They talked with Chinese astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-14 spaceship. The dialogue with Chinese astronauts provided "an opportunity for our younger generation to learn more about space engineering," Philippine First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos said during the live lecture. "We hope this exchange will further stimulate the curiosity of our Philippine youth regarding space and the bigger frontier out there." From tropical fruits traveling thousands of miles to Chinese tables to infrastructure changing the life of the Filipinos, from teaching Chinese language to talking with astronauts in outer space, the bond between China and the Philippines is growing closer and stronger. Get the new year started in an artful way at the first Tulsa Arts District First Friday Art Crawl, beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, in the district, centered around Reconciliation Way between Detroit and Boulder Avenues. Three area venues will be opening new exhibits as part of the event. Living Arts of Tulsa, 307 E. Reconciliation Way, will feature two new shows. Sunsets, Daydreams, & Platinum Blu by Michael Palazzo, which the artist describes as the result of a fascination with what happens on the other side of a black hole: the place where there is no more beyond specifically the calming or spacey feelings that ultramarines, violets and pinks evoke. Gabriel Rojas Nostalgia, Dreams, Ancestral Memory is a collection of large scale paintings that incorporate elements of textile design, quilt, collage and craft into abstract painting and are inspired by tales of Andean folklore. Internationally acclaimed artist Charles Compo will open a show of his work titled Psychodramatic Landscapes at the Tulsa Artists Coalition Gallery, 9 E. Reconciliation Way. The Henry Zarrow Center, 124 E. Reconciliation Way, will premiere All-Black Towns of Oklahoma, an exhibit highlighting the history of the 50 or so towns founded by Black Oklahomans, as places to offer safety, opportunity and freedom to their communities. Today, only 13 such towns still exist. Other exhibits on display include: Vision Makers 2022, at 108 Contemporary. Private collection sale of art at Chrysalis. Bruce Goff: The Art of the Continuous Present at Flagship-Tulsa Artist Fellowship. Jewelry Collection by K. Marina, at Colors of Etnika. Works by local craft artists at Made. During First Friday, the Bob Dylan Center and the Woody Guthrie Center will have $5 admission. Among the items on display at the Bob Dylan Center is the photographic exhibit Jerry Schatzberg: 25th & Park, while the Woody Guthrie Center has Woody Guthrie: People Are the Song. Antoinette Baking Co. will host its regular Pie Night from 5 to 10 p.m., while Elgin Park, The Chowhouse, and in the raw VU will have happy hour specials. Live music can be found with at Club Majestic with Latin Infusion, Duet Restaurant and The Hunt Club, with Brandon Clark performing. LOS ANGELES We're a week away from the beginning of Oscar nominations voting. Motion picture academy members presumably spent the holidays unwrapping tamales, spiking the eggnog and catching up on the movies they've missed. (Or, from what I'm hearing, watching the ones they love once again instead of doing their homework.) What might this year's slate look like when Oscar nods are announced Jan. 24? Here's what's settled ... and what's still up for grabs. Best picture Sure things: "The Fabelmans" "Everything Everywhere All at Once" "Top Gun: Maverick" "The Banshees of Inisherin" "Elvis" "Avatar: The Way of Water" "Tar" Vying for the remaining three spots: "Women Talking" "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" "The Woman King" "All Quiet on the Western Front" "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" "RRR" "Triangle of Sadness" "Babylon" It's easy to look ahead and envision Oscar pundits' heads exploding when "Top Gun: Maverick" wins the Producers Guild honor, "Everything Everywhere All at Once" takes the Screen Actors Guild Awards' ensemble prize and Steven Spielberg is feted by the Directors Guild for "The Fabelmans." Chaos! Who will win best picture??? ("The Banshees of Inisherin," of course.) How voters fill out the back end of their ballots is anyone's guess. The strong showing for Edward Berger's grisly adaptation of "All Quiet on the Western Front" in the Oscar shortlists turned some heads. (Makeup and hairstyling? Well, there is a lot of grime on the soldiers' faces.) It's certainly blunt enough in its antiwar messaging, adding some unnecessary plotting to Erich Maria Remarque's perfect novel. But in a year when maximalist movies are in fashion, maybe that kind of narrative pummeling puts it over the top. In that vein, there are even lesser options ahem, "Babylon" available. Director Sure things: Steven Spielberg, "The Fabelmans" James Cameron, "Avatar: The Way of Water" Vying for the remaining three spots: Daniels, "Everything Everywhere All at Once" Todd Field, "Tar" Martin McDonagh, "The Banshees of Inisherin" Sarah Polley, "Women Talking" Baz Luhrmann, "Elvis" Gina Prince-Bythewood, "The Woman King" Ruben Ostlund, "Triangle of Sadness" Women have won this Oscar the last two years, and early festival reviews for Polley's intimate, thrilling drama "Women Talking" had her as a favorite to land a nomination. She still might. But the woman everyone could end up talking about when nominations are announced is Prince-Bythewood, who staged staggering battle sequences in "The Woman King" that remained grounded by the emotional connections among the film's vast array of characters. She'd be the first Black woman ever nominated in this category. Actress Sure things: Cate Blanchett, "Tar" Michelle Yeoh, "Everything Everywhere All at Once" Michelle Williams, "The Fabelmans" Vying for the remaining two spots: Viola Davis, "The Woman King" Danielle Deadwyler, "Till" Margot Robbie, "Babylon" Olivia Colman, "Empire of Light" Ana de Armas, "Blonde" As I wrote out of Telluride, it's a great year for movies driven by women, which makes it feel weird to be convinced that Blanchett, Yeoh, Williams, Davis and Deadwyler are going to be the five to land nominations. The go-for-broke turns from Robbie and De Armas will win some votes, but between the bad reviews and the inflated running times, not enough people are bothering with their films. The bittersweet nostalgia in "Empire of Light" is more inviting at least, at first. But the movie isn't quite sure what it wants to be, though that scattershot approach doesn't negate Colman's vivid acting. Glenn Close would be the first to tell you: Underestimate Colman at your peril. Actor Sure things: Colin Farrell, "The Banshees of Inisherin" Austin Butler, "Elvis" Bill Nighy, "Living" Brendan Fraser, "The Whale" Vying for the remaining one spot: Hugh Jackman, "The Son" Tom Cruise, "Top Gun: Maverick" Paul Mescal, "Aftersun" Jeremy Pope, "The Inspection" Tom Hanks, "A Man Called Otto" In a big swings prediction piece I wrote a couple months back, I mused about the possibility of Cruise earning a lead actor nomination for his singular ability to take a 30-some-odd-year break between high-flying blockbuster action movies and still convincingly play an irresistible, arrogant fighter pilot capable of saving the world and not have audiences rolling their eyes. But now that people are jumping on the Cruise bandwagon, I'm hearing from more actors branch voters who just aren't feeling it. So if not Cruise, who gets that fifth spot? I'm leaning toward Mescal for his soulful turn in a movie that leaves people emotionally devastated. (That's good!) Then again, I attended a late-season academy screening of "A Man Called Otto," and Hanks won a huge ovation for making like a modern-day Scrooge. Enough to summon the ghosts of Oscars past? It'll be an uphill climb. Supporting actress Sure things: Angela Bassett, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" Kerry Condon, "The Banshees of Inisherin" Jamie Lee Curtis, "Everything Everywhere All at Once" Vying for the two remaining spots: Jessie Buckley, "Women Talking" Dolly De Leon, "Triangle of Sadness" Claire Foy, "Women Talking" Hong Chau, "The Whale" Stephanie Hsu, "Everything Everywhere All at Once" Janelle Monae, "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" Carey Mulligan, "She Said" Nina Hoss, "Tar" As you can see from this grouping, this is a complicated category with a lotta ins, a lotta outs, a lotta what have yous. Admittedly, I'm biased, but I think the Los Angeles Film Critics Association boosted De Leon's profile. "Triangle" has been pretty widely seen by voters and mostly enjoyed, if only for De Leon's commanding third-act performance. In the end, I can see the race shaping up as a battle between Bassett and Curtis, two legends long overdue for their Oscar moment. Supporting actor Sure things: Ke Huy Quan, "Everything Everywhere All at Once" Brendan Gleeson, "The Banshees of Inisherin" Vying for the remaining three spots: Barry Keoghan, "The Banshees of Inisherin" Paul Dano, "The Fabelmans" Judd Hirsch, "The Fabelmans" Ben Whishaw, "Women Talking" Brad Pitt, "Babylon" Brian Tyree Henry, "Causeway" Eddie Redmayne, "The Good Nurse" When I saw "The Fabelmans" at its AFI Fest premiere, the audience cheered at the end of Hirsch's bravura scene. "Family, art, life it will tear you in two!" He got an amen or three for that line. Dano, meanwhile, grounds the movie, which wouldn't work without him. Gleeson slings and slays in "Banshees." Whishaw holds his own as the sole male member of the "Women Talking" ensemble. Redmayne plays a creep; Henry, a yearner; Keoghan, a simpleton. And the Oscar will likely go to Quan, who plays several iterations of his "Everything" character, each one brilliant and true. First District Congressman Kevin Hern isnt saying no to the possibility of becoming a compromise candidate for U.S. speaker of the House. Hern, starting only his third term, received votes from new 2nd District Congressman-elect Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma and Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert on the eighth ballot Thursday afternoon and continued to receive votes through subsequent ballots. He received seven votes on the 10th and 11th ballots. With a bloc of 20 fellow Republicans holding firm against their conferences elected leader, Kevin McCarthy of California, anything is possible. Both Hern and Oklahoma 4th District Congressman Tom Cole have previously been mentioned as alternatives to McCarthy, who needs almost every GOP vote to be elected speaker because of the partys narrow majority. Asked about the two votes, Herns press office sent a link to a statement made to Reese Gorman of The Frontier that says, in part, If I hear my name, its something Ill have to think and pray about before deciding if its a job Ill run for. To a World reporters response that that doesnt sound like a no, Herns communications director said, You are not wrong. Hern, Cole and new 2nd District Congressman-elect Josh Brecheen have been in the middle of the speaker fight, now in its third day. Cole is a close ally of McCarthy and stands to become chairman of the powerful Rules Committee when a new speaker is finally chosen. Brecheen, on the other hand, is one of the 20 blocking McCarthys election and is holding out for a rules change that would lessen Coles power by opening up the amendment process. For the past several congresses and the proposed rules for the 118th Congress, amendments have had to go through the Rules Committee to get a vote on the floor. Brecheen maintains that the procedure leads to omnibus spending packages like the one passed at the end of December, which he says contributes to unsustainable deficits. Reportedly, Cole has been acting as an intermediary in trying to work out a deal that will get the votes needed for McCarthy to win the speakership. A request for comment from Cole on Thursday had not been answered by press time. Brecheen, speaking before his first vote for Hern on Thursday, did not answer directly when asked whether his position was causing conflicts with Oklahomas other four House members, all of whom have voted for McCarthy. As long as the motives of the people involved are pure, we can find a solution. I appreciation the others in the delegation, said Brecheen, who voted for Hern on the eighth and ninth ballots for speaker. Fifth District Congresswoman Stephanie Bice, who voted for McCarthy again Thursday, said Wednesday on Meet the Press that she plans to stick with him for the long haul. At the end of the day, we believe Kevin McCarthy is best prepared to lead this conference in the 118th (Congress), and were prepared to stay here as long as it takes, Bice said. Hern received seven votes, including from Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, in the 10th ballot. The late Carl Albert, a Democrat, is the only Oklahoma to have served as U.S. speaker of the House. He served from 1971 to 1977. OKLAHOMA CITY A Democratic state lawmaker is making a longshot attempt to repeal a controversial law that limits classroom instruction on race and gender. Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, a Norman Democrat and former teacher, filed legislation Wednesday to repeal House Bill 1775 a 2021 law that proponents say bans the teaching of critical race theory. Rosecrants admits that his bill is unlikely to advance in the GOP-dominated Oklahoma Legislature but said he wants to make noise about the law he thinks is harmful to public schools. The Republican authors of HB 1775 said they see no reason to change or repeal the law. Gov. Kevin Stitt, who signed HB 1775, and State Superintendent-elect Ryan Walters have touted the measure as a needed ban on critical race theory in schools. The term, which refers to an academic concept that says racism is embedded in American society through policies and legal systems, is not directly mentioned in the law. HB 1775 prohibits teaching that one race or sex is inherently superior to another and that anyone, because of their race or sex, is inherently racist or sexist. Rosecrants prefiled House Bill 1031, called the Restoration of Sanity in Education Act, ahead of the legislative session that begins Feb. 6. He argues that HB 1775 is overly broad and doesnt include protections for teachers, who could face suspension or the revocation of their certification if they violate the law. Saying critical race theory isnt being taught in K-12 schools, anyway, Rosecrants said the law was designed to solve a problem that doesnt exist. This never needed to be a bill, he said. It never needed to pass. Now that it has, its a pox on our state. Last year, the State Board of Education sanctioned Tulsa and Mustang Public Schools over reported violations of HB 1775. The board punished TPS for a 2021 professional development session on implicit bias for teachers. Mustang was punished for a self-reported incident that stemmed from a voluntary activity in one middle school classroom. Sen. David Bullard and Rep. Kevin West, who authored HB 1775, said the violations prove that some districts are teaching banned concepts and that the law is working as intended to end such practices. A former teacher and assistant principal in Durant, Bullard said he doesnt expect Rosecrants bill to get heard in either legislative chamber. Bullard also questioned why liberals are fighting HB 1775 if they think none of the concepts banned by the law is being taught. At that point, HB 1775 is a moot point, he said. It comes as no surprise that what they want is for a teacher to be able to shame a student because of their race or their sex, Bullard said. It comes as no surprise that they want someone to teach students they are racist because of their race or sex. Rosecrants said HB 1775 undermines local control of school districts, whose administrators should be able to handle any disciplinary action that may be needed. Others have advocated for the repeal of HB 1775. The Osage Nation Congress and leaders of the Five Tribes have demanded that HB 1775 be repealed. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. previously called the law a solution in search of a problem that derails progress Oklahoma has made in teaching the states full and complicated history with local Native American tribes. HB 1775 is the subject of an ongoing federal lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, a handful of Oklahoma students and teachers, and others. September video: Osage Nation Congress discusses resolution urging repeal of House Bill 1775 OKLAHOMA CITY Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday signed into law a bill that proponents say will ensure that students are not made to feel discomfort, guilt or anguish when being taught about race and history but which Tulsa racial justice proponents say fuels racism and will be a stain on Oklahoma. The new law, House Bill 1775, bans schools from teaching that one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or gender and outlaws teaching that a person by virtue of his or her race or sex is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously. We can, and should, teach this history without labeling a young child as an oppressor or requiring he or she feel guilt or shame based on their race or sex, Stitt said. I refuse to tolerate otherwise. The new law also bans the teaching that a person by virtue of his or her race or sex bears responsibility for past actions by other members of the same race or sex. It restricts the teaching of concepts that would create feelings of discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress based on race or gender. The bill additionally prevents colleges and universities from requiring students to participate in gender or sexual diversity training or counseling, though voluntary participation is allowed. Members of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission had asked the governor to veto the measure on the grounds that it would compromise an accurate teaching of history. If this bill becomes law, it will have serious implications on teaching the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in schools, as well as much of the history of the U.S. which is rife with racism, sexism and discomfort, wrote Phil Armstrong, project director for the Centennial Commissions Greenwood Rising History Center. In addition to prohibiting mandatory diversity training, it prohibits teachers from doing their job when it comes to teaching history, literature and other subjects where race or gender might cause discomfort, guilt or anguish, he wrote. After the bill was signed, the commission issued a statement, saying in part: We are extremely disappointed that Oklahoma Legislators, including Governor Stitt, chose to support HB1775 which diametrically opposes the work of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission. No matter how poorly written, the intention of the bill clearly aims to limit teaching the racial implications of Americas history. The bill serves no purpose than to fuel the racism and denial that afflicts our communities and our nation. It is a sad day and a stain on Oklahoma. Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, the House author, said the intent is to provide guardrails that ensure educators dont teach concepts that make students feel discomfort, guilt or anguish but that the measure does not prohibit the teaching of any subject or water down history. West said he and the Senate author, Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, had conversations with parents and students about the issue. It is so prominent nationally that it is just going to get more prevalent here, West said. The measure targets indoctrination, and critical race theory is one part of it, Bullard said. Critical race theory essentially argues that American society, including laws, politics and the economic system, have been shaped in ways to benefit whites at the expense of nonwhites. We never mentioned critical race theory in the bill, Bullard said. We mentioned what it is actually teaching. That language came from studying critical race theory and the writings of those in academia who are writing about critical race theory. Bullard, a former teacher, disagreed with critics who suggested the measure was a solution in search of a problem. It is a very prominent problem, Bullard said. Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, said the bill is poorly written and does not do what the authors say is intended. If we are teaching about history, we cant just teach the rosy parts of history, said Provenzano, a former teacher. We have to teach all of it. Otherwise, we wont learn from it, and we will repeat it. She said lawmakers need to focus on solving real problems. This is a waste of our time, she said. Sen. Kevin Matthews, chairman and founder of the 1921 Race Massacre Centennial Commission, said he was disappointed that Stitt signed the measure. He said the measure is subjective and a slap in the face of the curriculum created to teach about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The story will continue to be taught, he said. It is my hope we would address the fear in what I believe is the backlash to the Black Lives Matter movement and address the killing of unarmed black people at the hands of those sworn to protect and serve them, rather than to continue to be reactionary instead of addressing the real issue behind this fear, Matthews said. The commission also said in its statement Friday evening that despite this effort to squelch the truth-telling and discussion of our past we will not be moved. We are more dedicated than ever to our mission and we will not accept the ill-conceived constraints that this law seeks to impose through misdirection and deception. The fact that this bill becomes law 100 years after one of the worst acts of racial violence in our history will be noted throughout the world. The commission contends in its statement that the bill language does not preclude the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre history curriculum being taught in schools or students taking field trips to Greenwood Rising. We look forward to welcoming many students into Greenwood Rising over the coming months and years where we will continue to fight for reconciliation, truth-telling and racial healing. Stitt is a member of the commission, and the groups statement says that as a fellow Commissioner we thought our Governor would do better. The commission is planning a special meeting for Monday evening to discuss upcoming centennial events and the new law. Tulsa-area state legislators and how to contact them Sen. Nathan Dahm Sen. Dana Prieto Sen. Jo Anna Dossett Sen. John Haste Sen. Todd Gollihare Sen. Kevin Matthews Sen. Joe Newhouse Sen. Dave Rader Sen. Cody Rogers Rep. Meloyde Blancett Rep. Jeff Boatman Rep. Amanda Swope Rep. Suzanne Schreiber 032823-tul-nws-davis-dean Rep. Mark Tedford Rep. Scott Fetgatter Rep. Ross Ford Rep. Regina Goodwin Rep. Kyle Hilbert Rep. Mark Lawson Rep. T.J. Marti Rep. Stan May Rep. Monroe Nichols Rep. Clay Staires Rep. Terry O'Donnell Rep. Melissa Provenzano Rep. Lonnie Sims Rep. John Kane Rep. Mark Vancuren Rep. John Waldron Check out our latest digital-only offer and subscribe now Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki is set to visit Singapore and Vietnam to meet with high government officials from Jan. 10 to 13, the Ministry of Finance said on Friday. Theres no media opportunities during his trip, but the minister will brief the media on results of this trip at a news conference after he returns, the ministry said. Japan chairs this years meetings of ASEAN+3, including China and South Korea, and it also hosts the Group of Seven (G7) leaders meeting. Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki is set to visit Singapore and Vietnam to meet with high government officials from Jan. 10 to 13, the Ministry of Finance said on Friday. Theres no media opportunities during his trip, but the minister will brief the media on results of this trip at a news conference after he returns, the ministry said. Japan chairs this years meetings of ASEAN+3, including China and South Korea, and it also hosts the Group of Seven (G7) leaders meeting. The twisting road that leads to Indonesia's future capital is lined with dense rainforest and pockets of plantations, punctuated every so often with monkeys enjoying a laze out on the tarmac. Located in eastern Borneo -- the world's third-largest island -- Nusantara is set to replace sinking and polluted Jakarta as Indonesia's political centre by late 2024. But the two-hour drive from Balikpapan city to the sweeping green expanse of Nusantara's "Point Zero" reveals the scale of the new capital's potential impact on a biodiverse area that is home to thousands of animal and plant species. With construction set to ramp up this year, environmentalists warn building a metropolis will speed up deforestation in one of the world's largest and oldest stretches of tropical rainforest, estimated to be more than 100 million years old. "It's going to be a massive ecological disaster," Uli Arta Siagian, forest campaigner for environmental group Walhi, told AFP. The island that Indonesians call the "lungs of the world" -- shared with Malaysia and Brunei -- is home to long-nosed monkeys, clouded leopards, pig-tailed macaques, flying fox-bats and the smallest rhinos on the planet. But by 2045, the Indonesian government says Nusantara will host 1.9 million residents, more than twice Balikpapan's population, importing a wave of human and industrial activity into the heart of Borneo. The relocation to the 2,560-square-kilometre (990-square-mile) area follows capital moves by Brazil to Brasilia -- considered an urban utopia failure -- and Myanmar to the ghost town of Naypyidaw. Drastic changes to the land's topography and the man-made disasters that could follow "will be severe and far more difficult to mitigate compared to natural disasters", said Siagian. Indonesia also has one of the world's highest rates of deforestation linked to mining, farming and logging, and is accused of allowing firms to operate in Borneo with little oversight. The government, however, says it wants to spread economic development -- long centred on densely populated Java -- around the vast archipelago nation, and to move away from Jakarta before the city sinks due to excessive groundwater extraction. Located in eastern Borneo -- the world's third-largest island -- Nusantara is set to replace sinking and polluted Jakarta as Indonesia's political centre by late 2024. Photo: AFP 'Working with nature' Indonesian President Joko Widodo has pitched a utopian vision of a "green" city four times the size of Jakarta where residents would commute on electric buses. His city authority chief, Bambang Susantono, presented the initial plan to journalists in mid-December, pledging carbon neutrality by 2045 in what he dubbed the world's first-ever sustainable forest city. Architect Sofian Sibarani is in charge of creating a master plan for the new city, outlining everything from road maps to a transit system. He insisted that his plan envisaged "minimum changes to the environment". Sibarani spoke of a metropolis that appears out of the jungle, rather than replaces it. "We are trying to create (a city that is) working with nature instead of working against it," he said. Initial projects include a parliament, workers' homes, a dam, a grand mosque and a presidential palace shaped as the towering mythical bird Garuda. Experts, including Sibarani, however have warned authorities against breakneck building. "My concern is if you rush this, we may compromise," he said. 'Erased our traces' Nusantara could also displace generations-old Indigenous communities. Sibukdin, a local Indigenous Balik tribe leader who goes by one name, sat in a wooden house on land marked for the city as he expressed fears the development will drive away his people. Like other Indigenous groups in Borneo, thousands of Balik tribe members rely on the forest to meet their daily needs. More than 90 percent of the forest the tribe uses for hunting and foraging has already been lost to commercial activity since the 1970s, Sibukdin said. A nearby tribal cemetery was demolished because of the dam project, leaving him "heartbroken". "It erased our traces," he said. While officials have vowed to respect Indigenous rights and compensate those affected by Nusantara, provincial officials said they would verify all land claims and only accept ownership proof. Sibukdin said not all Balik tribe areas had been formally recognised. "When the new capital comes, where else can we go?" he asked. Threat to animals While Susantono said the first stage would be finished by next year, the city will not be completed for decades. The project will cost 466 trillion rupiah ($30 billion), with taxpayer money expected to cover about 20 percent, according to a government estimate. Jakarta has been wooing potential investors, including Saudi Arabia and China, with hefty tax breaks to cover the cost. It has secured the backing of three property developers to fund housing worth 41 trillion rupiah ($2.6 billion), Nusantara authority secretary Achmad Adiwijaya told AFP. But funding has proven elusive, with few commitments announced. Japanese tech conglomerate SoftBank pulled its backing for the project in March without elaborating. That left Indonesia with an uphill battle to swiftly relocate and find the money to open Nusantara's doors by the time Widodo leaves office, raising fears Jakarta could cut corners. Eka Permanasari, urban design professor at Monash University Indonesia, warned that there was still a lot of "homework that needs to be done". Life is already changing for the worse for some of the area's animal inhabitants. At an orangutan sanctuary home to around 120 apes on land marked for Nusantara's future expansion, illegal encroachments have intensified since the capital's location was announced. "Mines, land speculators, they encroach on our place," said Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) chief executive Jamartin Sihite. Around 40 percent of the BOSF-run sanctuary's 1,800-hectare reforested area has been damaged in recent years, including by an illicit mine built there, Sihite said. The rise in activity threatens all sorts of animals and vegetation in this ancient forest. Agus Bei, who runs a mangrove reserve, warned cutting down these green stretches for profit would leave an indelible mark. "The next generation will only be able to hear about their stories," he said, standing in the shade of the mangrove trees he protects. The twisting road that leads to Indonesia's future capital is lined with dense rainforest and pockets of plantations, punctuated every so often with monkeys enjoying a laze out on the tarmac. Located in eastern Borneo -- the world's third-largest island -- Nusantara is set to replace sinking and polluted Jakarta as Indonesia's political centre by late 2024. But the two-hour drive from Balikpapan city to the sweeping green expanse of Nusantara's "Point Zero" reveals the scale of the new capital's potential impact on a biodiverse area that is home to thousands of animal and plant species. With construction set to ramp up this year, environmentalists warn building a metropolis will speed up deforestation in one of the world's largest and oldest stretches of tropical rainforest, estimated to be more than 100 million years old. "It's going to be a massive ecological disaster," Uli Arta Siagian, forest campaigner for environmental group Walhi, told AFP. The island that Indonesians call the "lungs of the world" -- shared with Malaysia and Brunei -- is home to long-nosed monkeys, clouded leopards, pig-tailed macaques, flying fox-bats and the smallest rhinos on the planet. But by 2045, the Indonesian government says Nusantara will host 1.9 million residents, more than twice Balikpapan's population, importing a wave of human and industrial activity into the heart of Borneo. The relocation to the 2,560-square-kilometre (990-square-mile) area follows capital moves by Brazil to Brasilia -- considered an urban utopia failure -- and Myanmar to the ghost town of Naypyidaw. Drastic changes to the land's topography and the man-made disasters that could follow "will be severe and far more difficult to mitigate compared to natural disasters", said Siagian. Indonesia also has one of the world's highest rates of deforestation linked to mining, farming and logging, and is accused of allowing firms to operate in Borneo with little oversight. The government, however, says it wants to spread economic development -- long centred on densely populated Java -- around the vast archipelago nation, and to move away from Jakarta before the city sinks due to excessive groundwater extraction. Located in eastern Borneo -- the world's third-largest island -- Nusantara is set to replace sinking and polluted Jakarta as Indonesia's political centre by late 2024. Photo: AFP 'Working with nature' Indonesian President Joko Widodo has pitched a utopian vision of a "green" city four times the size of Jakarta where residents would commute on electric buses. His city authority chief, Bambang Susantono, presented the initial plan to journalists in mid-December, pledging carbon neutrality by 2045 in what he dubbed the world's first-ever sustainable forest city. Architect Sofian Sibarani is in charge of creating a master plan for the new city, outlining everything from road maps to a transit system. He insisted that his plan envisaged "minimum changes to the environment". Sibarani spoke of a metropolis that appears out of the jungle, rather than replaces it. "We are trying to create (a city that is) working with nature instead of working against it," he said. Initial projects include a parliament, workers' homes, a dam, a grand mosque and a presidential palace shaped as the towering mythical bird Garuda. Experts, including Sibarani, however have warned authorities against breakneck building. "My concern is if you rush this, we may compromise," he said. 'Erased our traces' Nusantara could also displace generations-old Indigenous communities. Sibukdin, a local Indigenous Balik tribe leader who goes by one name, sat in a wooden house on land marked for the city as he expressed fears the development will drive away his people. Like other Indigenous groups in Borneo, thousands of Balik tribe members rely on the forest to meet their daily needs. More than 90 percent of the forest the tribe uses for hunting and foraging has already been lost to commercial activity since the 1970s, Sibukdin said. A nearby tribal cemetery was demolished because of the dam project, leaving him "heartbroken". "It erased our traces," he said. While officials have vowed to respect Indigenous rights and compensate those affected by Nusantara, provincial officials said they would verify all land claims and only accept ownership proof. Sibukdin said not all Balik tribe areas had been formally recognised. "When the new capital comes, where else can we go?" he asked. Threat to animals While Susantono said the first stage would be finished by next year, the city will not be completed for decades. The project will cost 466 trillion rupiah ($30 billion), with taxpayer money expected to cover about 20 percent, according to a government estimate. Jakarta has been wooing potential investors, including Saudi Arabia and China, with hefty tax breaks to cover the cost. It has secured the backing of three property developers to fund housing worth 41 trillion rupiah ($2.6 billion), Nusantara authority secretary Achmad Adiwijaya told AFP. But funding has proven elusive, with few commitments announced. Japanese tech conglomerate SoftBank pulled its backing for the project in March without elaborating. That left Indonesia with an uphill battle to swiftly relocate and find the money to open Nusantara's doors by the time Widodo leaves office, raising fears Jakarta could cut corners. Eka Permanasari, urban design professor at Monash University Indonesia, warned that there was still a lot of "homework that needs to be done". Life is already changing for the worse for some of the area's animal inhabitants. At an orangutan sanctuary home to around 120 apes on land marked for Nusantara's future expansion, illegal encroachments have intensified since the capital's location was announced. "Mines, land speculators, they encroach on our place," said Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) chief executive Jamartin Sihite. Around 40 percent of the BOSF-run sanctuary's 1,800-hectare reforested area has been damaged in recent years, including by an illicit mine built there, Sihite said. The rise in activity threatens all sorts of animals and vegetation in this ancient forest. Agus Bei, who runs a mangrove reserve, warned cutting down these green stretches for profit would leave an indelible mark. "The next generation will only be able to hear about their stories," he said, standing in the shade of the mangrove trees he protects. The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security on Thursday filed charges against Tran Viet Thai, former Vietnamese ambassador to Malaysia, and Nguyen Hoang Linh, an ex-official at the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia, for their alleged implication in taking bribes in exchange for seats on Vietnams repatriation flights during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two were accused of abusing their positions and powers while on duty. Thai was taken into police custody, while Linh was let out on bail but banned from leaving his residence. They are the latest people prosecuted in an ongoing investigation in which many incumbent and former officials were accused of taking bribes from Vietnamese citizens abroad who wanted to return to their home country when commercial flights were not available during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, Chu Xuan Dung, vice-chairman of the Peoples Committee of Hanoi, and Vu Hong Nam, former Vietnamese ambassador to Japan, were detained for allegedly accepting bribes. Most recently, vice-chairman of the Peoples Committee of central Quang Nam Province Tran Van Tan was arrested on the same charge. Since the Ministry of Public Security launched an investigation into the case in late January, nearly 40 people have been prosecuted and detained, including many incumbent and former leaders and officials of nine ministries and agencies. The most high-ranking officials facing charges are former deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung and Vu Hong Nam. Nguyen Quang Linh, assistant to former Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, has also faced the same fate. During a press conference in late June, the Investigative Police Agency under the Ministry of Public Security stated that the bribes were valued at tens of billions of Vietnamese dong. (VND10 billion = US$426,173). Vietnam organized nearly 2,000 repatriation flights during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Ministry of Public Security. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security on Thursday filed charges against Tran Viet Thai, former Vietnamese ambassador to Malaysia, and Nguyen Hoang Linh, an ex-official at the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia, for their alleged implication in taking bribes in exchange for seats on Vietnams repatriation flights during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two were accused of abusing their positions and powers while on duty. Thai was taken into police custody, while Linh was let out on bail but banned from leaving his residence. They are the latest people prosecuted in an ongoing investigation in which many incumbent and former officials were accused of taking bribes from Vietnamese citizens abroad who wanted to return to their home country when commercial flights were not available during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, Chu Xuan Dung, vice-chairman of the Peoples Committee of Hanoi, and Vu Hong Nam, former Vietnamese ambassador to Japan, were detained for allegedly accepting bribes. Most recently, vice-chairman of the Peoples Committee of central Quang Nam Province Tran Van Tan was arrested on the same charge. Since the Ministry of Public Security launched an investigation into the case in late January, nearly 40 people have been prosecuted and detained, including many incumbent and former leaders and officials of nine ministries and agencies. The most high-ranking officials facing charges are former deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung and Vu Hong Nam. Nguyen Quang Linh, assistant to former Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, has also faced the same fate. During a press conference in late June, the Investigative Police Agency under the Ministry of Public Security stated that the bribes were valued at tens of billions of Vietnamese dong. (VND10 billion = US$426,173). Vietnam organized nearly 2,000 repatriation flights during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Ministry of Public Security. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Nearly 200 trees at several natural forests in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam have been cut down, with most of the wood having been taken away. Following reports from local residents, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper correspondents have arrived at various forest areas in Yen Thang Commune, Lang Chanh District. On Thursday morning, when the reporters came to a forest in Yen Thanh Village, dozens of trees, measuring 10-45 centimeters in diameter, had been felled. Most of the wood had already been taken away from the site. The path leading to the forest area where the illegal logging took place in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre Local residents said that the illegal loggers had brought along vehicles and machines to make their way into the natural forest and cut down the trees. The wood was then transported out of the forest by tractors and sold to traders along Provincial Highway No. 530. Le Duc Tien, vice-chairman of the Peoples Committee in Lang Chanh District, confirmed to Tuoi Tre that the illegal logging has been taking place at natural forest areas in Yen Thang Commune. A tree stump at a natural forest in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre A delegation of officials was established on Thursday to examine and verify the deforestation in the locality, Tien continued. Initial results of the inspection showed that the illegal logging took place at five locations within natural forest areas in Yen Thang Commune. A total of 198 trees measuring 20 to more than 40 centimeters have been chopped down. An officer examines a tree stump at a natural forest in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre Local authorities have been unable to identify the exact time when the trees were cut down. They are looking for the owners of the affected forest areas to determine the exact number of trees that were chopped down by the illegal loggers. Organizations and individuals behind the deforestation will be strictly penalized depending on the severity of their violations, the vice-chairman asserted. A tree stump at a natural forest in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre A tree stump at a natural forest in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre A tree stump at a natural forest in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre A tree stump at a natural forest in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre A tree stump at a natural forest in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Nearly 200 trees at several natural forests in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam have been cut down, with most of the wood having been taken away. Following reports from local residents, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper correspondents have arrived at various forest areas in Yen Thang Commune, Lang Chanh District. On Thursday morning, when the reporters came to a forest in Yen Thanh Village, dozens of trees, measuring 10-45 centimeters in diameter, had been felled. Most of the wood had already been taken away from the site. The path leading to the forest area where the illegal logging took place in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre Local residents said that the illegal loggers had brought along vehicles and machines to make their way into the natural forest and cut down the trees. The wood was then transported out of the forest by tractors and sold to traders along Provincial Highway No. 530. Le Duc Tien, vice-chairman of the Peoples Committee in Lang Chanh District, confirmed to Tuoi Tre that the illegal logging has been taking place at natural forest areas in Yen Thang Commune. A tree stump at a natural forest in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre A delegation of officials was established on Thursday to examine and verify the deforestation in the locality, Tien continued. Initial results of the inspection showed that the illegal logging took place at five locations within natural forest areas in Yen Thang Commune. A total of 198 trees measuring 20 to more than 40 centimeters have been chopped down. An officer examines a tree stump at a natural forest in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre Local authorities have been unable to identify the exact time when the trees were cut down. They are looking for the owners of the affected forest areas to determine the exact number of trees that were chopped down by the illegal loggers. Organizations and individuals behind the deforestation will be strictly penalized depending on the severity of their violations, the vice-chairman asserted. A tree stump at a natural forest in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre A tree stump at a natural forest in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre A tree stump at a natural forest in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre A tree stump at a natural forest in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre A tree stump at a natural forest in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Jollibee Foods Corporation Jollibee Group in Forbes List of Worlds Best Employers for 3rd straight year Jollibee Group in Forbes List of Worlds Best Employers for 3rd straight year 2022s highest ranking restaurant company in the world MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Media OutReach - 6 January 2023 - The Jollibee Group, Asias fastest growing restaurant company, has been recognized by Forbes as one of the Worlds Best Employers for a third consecutive year. This recognition affirms the brand of care that Jollibee commits to its employees across the globe, which continues to contribute to a rising perception of the company as a world-class employer of choice. aa For the third straight year, the Jollibee Group figures on Forbes list of the Worlds Best Employers in 2022. The Jollibee Group is not only the highest ranked Philippine-based company in the listing but also the highest ranked restaurant company in the world. The highest-ranking restaurant company and Philippine-based company on the Forbes 2022 global list, the Jollibee Group has continued to rise up the rankings since it was first included in 2020. The Companys rank rose to 106th this year, a significant jump from 239th and 256th positions it enjoyed in 2020 and 2021 respectively. "We are honored and grateful to receive this global recognition, which validates our company's commitment to providing excellent care to our employees. By incorporating a People Agenda into our business strategy, we can capitalize on our people's strengths and provide them with opportunities for growth and development," said Jollibee Group President and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong. Forbes and its market research partner Statista polled 150,000 employees from 57 countries to assess companies based on their image, economic footprint, talent development, gender equality, and social responsibility. Respondents were also asked how willing they were to recommend their own employers to family and friends. The final list includes the 800 companies with the highest total scores. Evolved People Agenda To support the business as we repositioned the Jollibee Group for post-pandemic growth, our People Agenda had to adapt. While we continued to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of our employees, we needed to focus on strengthening organizational capabilities, enhancing our talent development and succession, and creating new ways of working built around speed, agility, and collaboration, said Arsenio Sabado, Jollibee Group Chief Human Resources Officer. Critical to the success of our People Plans is Employee Communications that keeps our leaders and employees up-to-date as our growth strategies evolve, and keeps everyone aligned with our mission of serving great-tasting food, and bringing the joy of eating to everyone. This deep sense of purpose and love for our brands are the intangibles that endear us to our employees and to their families, our communities, and ultimately to our customers, he adds. The Jollibee Group also adopted a hybrid model for office-based employees after more than two years of remote work, where they are onsite for two days and on remote work the rest of the week. This arrangement is part of Jollibee Group's work reentry strategy which takes a more human-centered approach to redesigning new employees' work-life experiences. Aside from being recognized among the Worlds best Employers for a third straight year, the Jollibee Group was also recognized by Forbes as one of the Worlds Most Female Friendly Companies in 2021. It is also the first-ever Philippine-based company to be recognized with the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award (GEWA) in 2020. We dedicate these awards to all our teams whose passion for excellence and commitment to our values have contributed to the continued growth of the Jollibee Group. The continued development of our employees and their welfare will remain our top priority as we acknowledge that our people are our biggest competitive advantage, said Mr. Tanmantiong. # # # About Jollibee Group Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC, also known as Jollibee Group) is one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world. It operates in 34 countries, with over 6,300 stores globally with branches in the Philippines, United States, Canada, the People's Republic of China, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Panama, Malaysia, South Korea, India, and Australia. Jollibee Group has eight wholly owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger); four franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, and Yoshinoya in the Philippines, and Tim Ho Wan in certain territories in China); 80% ownership of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf; 60% ownership in the SuperFoods Group that owns Highlands Coffee; and 51% ownership of Milksha, a popular Taiwanese bubble tea brand. Jollibee Group, through its subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL) owns 90% participating interest in Titan Dining LP, a private equity fund that ultimately owns the Tim Ho Wan brand. It also has a joint venture with the THW Group to open and operate THW restaurants in Mainland China. Jollibee Group also has a business venture with award-winning Chef Rick Bayless for Tortazo, a Mexican fast-casual restaurant business in the United States. Jollibee Group was named the Philippines' most admired company by the Asian Wall Street Journal for ten years. It was also honored as one of Asia's Fab 50 Companies and among the World's Best Employers and Worlds Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes. In 2020, Gallup awarded the Jollibee Group with the Exceptional Workplace Award, making it the first Philippine-based company to receive the distinction. Jollibee Group has grown brands that bring delightful dining experiences to its customers worldwide, thus spreading the joy of eating to everyone. To learn more about Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com Media Contact: Katz Bernardo +639178780718 katz.bernardo@pulsephil.com Dissemination of a CORPORATE NEWS, transmitted by EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Prince Harry has broken the values of the armed forces by speaking about his number of kills in Afghanistan, a former senior military advisor has said. (Getty) Prince Harry has broken 'at least four values of the military' in his memoir that included his claim he killed 25 people while serving as an Apache helicopter pilot in Afghanistan. Former senior British military advisor Major General Chip Chapman joined several military figures in criticising Harry's claim in his memoir Spare, branding it "crassly and naively stupid" as well as "disloyal". He also warned that Harry's book opens him up to "every jihadist and nutcase out there". One Taliban leader has also condemned the duke for describing those he killed as chess players". Maj Gen Chapman said Harry's claims had broken the values of: respect for others, integrity, loyalty, and selfless commitment. In his autobiography, of which copies have been seen ahead of its official release on Tuesday, Harry reportedly writes about his two tours of Afghanistan, in 2007/8 and 2012/13. "He's just opened himself up to every jihadist and nutcase out there." It is 'naively stupid' for Prince Harry, his publisher and ghost-writer to have published details of his kills in Afghanistan, explains Major General Chip Chapman. @NotesFASMil | @RickKelsey pic.twitter.com/wvXuTdyoWt Times Radio (@TimesRadio) January 5, 2023 His accounts include a series of bombshell claims, including the story of a physical fight between him and brother William over a conversation about Meghan. His claim that he killed 25 people during his tours of Afghanistan, saying it was something he was neither proud nor ashamed of, has also attracted criticism from military figures. Read more: Did Prince Harry write the book himself? Story continues Speaking to Times Radio, Maj Gen Chip Chapman, a platoon commander in the Falklands conflict, said: "We have a code of conduct. It's the values and standards of the military and he's broken at least four of those values that include respect for others, integrity, loyalty, and selfless commitment. "You can't be any more disloyal, either both to the Crown and the Crown being a member of your family, so from both of those perspectives it's not really good." He added: "It's crassly and naively stupid from Harry, his publishers and his ghost writer." Harry served as an Apache Helicopter Pilot/Gunner with 662 Sqd Army Air Corps. (Getty) Maj Gen Chapman, former head of counter-terrorism at the Ministry of Defence, said while Harry is no longer a serving member of the military, books such as his often exclude sensitive details such as casualties in Iraq or Afghanistan but that the duke's places him and his family in greater danger. He added: "For him, who wants privacy and security, he's just opened himself up to every jihadist and nutcase out there." He also said he had never come across the "body count mentality" Harry seemed to be demonstrating by pinpointing the number of people he had killed, saying he had "never, ever" come across it in the forces. "It's an awful lack of judgement and maturity. It's a naive approach to how the miltary should act. "Also he was not on the ground. There's no way that he could ID anyone or bury them so to give a specific number is, quite frankly, slightly ridiculous." Prince Harry on active duty in Afghanistan in 2008. (Getty) In the book, which was released early by mistake in Spain, Harry says he would watch a video of every "kill" from a camera attached to the nose of the helicopters he flew, saying: "It seemed to me essential not to be afraid of that number. "So my number is 25. Its not a number that fills me with satisfaction, but nor does it embarrass me." Watch: Why did Prince Harry's memoir Spare get released early? Chapman is not the only military figure to criticise Harry's revelations over his time in Afghanistan. The security warnings were echoed by Colonel Richard Kemp, who served in Afghanistan. "In terms of the numbers hes talking about He himself is already under threat... and by resurrecting it in quite such stark terms now undermines his own security;" Col Kemp told the BBC. "That sort of figure that doesnt need to be given. It will remind people that 10 years ago there was this very high-profile man killing people that they might have sympathy for in Afghanistan and might well be provoked to attempt revenge." Anas Haqqani, Taliban leader in Afghanistan, condemned the duke for describing those he killed as chess players, but added that not many who killed Afghans have your decency to reveal their conscience and confess to their war crimes. Lord Darroch, former national security adviser, said he would have advised against Harry revealing those details, while former commando Ben McBean told the prince to shut up. Colonel Tim Collins, known for a pre-battle speech he made in Iraq, said Harry has now turned against his other family, the military. He told Forces News on Friday: Amongst his assertions is a claim that he killed 25 people in Afghanistan. Thats not how you behave in the Army; its not how we think. Former Royal Marine, Conservative MP for Beckenham Bob Stewart, who served seven tours in Northern Ireland and led UN troops in Bosnia, told the Daily Mail: "I wonder why he is doing such things. Real soldiers tend to shy away. People I know don't boast about such things. They rather regret that they have had to do it." Hong Kong signs MOU with Pakistan on education cooperation Xinhua) 09:39, January 06, 2023 HONG KONG, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Education Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training of Pakistan to enhance education collaboration. The MOU provides a framework to facilitate strategic education collaboration between Hong Kong and Pakistan and covers mutually beneficial initiatives, including the exchange of expertise and experience, exchange of educational literature, teaching aids and demonstration materials, as well as exchanges of scholars, teachers, experts, students and other education personnel, according to an official press release. Choi Yuk-lin, education secretary of the HKSAR government, said that the MOU marks the beginning of a new phase of close cooperation between Hong Kong and Pakistan in the area of education. The HKSAR government has signed nine MOUs with countries along the Belt and Road to date, which demonstrates the HKSAR government's commitment to and effort in enhancing the internationalization of education as well as strengthening educational ties and exchanges with the Belt and Road countries, Choi said. "I am confident that the MOU will facilitate more comprehensive exchanges and collaboration in education between the two places," she added. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) Prince Harry's book sold ahead of official launch date in Spain Briatin's Prince Harry's book "Spare" is seen in a bookstore in Barcelona By Charlie Devereux MADRID (Reuters) - Several bookstores in Spain were selling the much-awaited memoir by Britain's Prince Harry on Thursday, five days ahead of the book's official launch date. A Reuters reporter bought a Spanish-language copy of "Spare", which was due to be published on Jan. 10, at a large bookstore in Madrid. A scan of the book confirmed a passage first reported by Britain's Guardian newspaper in which King Charles' son described being knocked to the floor during an argument with his older brother and heir to the throne, Prince William. Initial attempts to purchase the memoir were unsuccessful. At one shop, the seller said the book had already sold out. At another, the book was displayed on shelves but a staff member withdrew it after the reporter asked why it was being sold in Spain earlier than in Britain. A spokesperson for the Spanish publisher, Barcelona-based Plaza y Janes Editores - which belongs to multinational conglomerate Penguin Random House - said: "A very clear launch protocol was established and communicated to all customers so that the book would not be marketed before that date. "Everything points to the fact that some customers have breached their commitment to the publisher and have put the book on sale before the agreed date." (Reporting by Charlie Devereux and David Latona; Editing by Janet Lawrence) All Blacks flyhalf Richie Mo'unga has issued a warning to New Zealand Rugby regarding eligibility for the Test team after completing his move to Japan. Mo'unga will not be eligible for the All Blacks after the Rugby World Cup as he signed a three-year deal with Japan Rugby League One side Toshiba Brave Lupus. Credit: Alamy All Blacks fly-half Richie Mounga has issued a warning to New Zealand Rugby regarding eligibility for the Test team after completing his move to Japan. Mounga will not be eligible for the All Blacks after the Rugby World Cup as he signed a three-year deal with Japan Rugby League One side Toshiba Brave Lupus. The All Blacks only select players based in New Zealand, with their eligibility ruling prohibiting the selection of players abroad, and Mounga believes these regulations need altering. New Zealand have to adapt Over the years, the All Blacks have been able to hold onto players for most of their careers, with the lure of the Black jersey keeping them on New Zealand soil until the twilight of their careers. But Mounga predicts this will change, and more players will leave at a young age, and New Zealand rugby should adapt accordingly. New Zealand are going to have to adapt a lot quicker. Otherwise, youre going to see players leave a lot earlier and not be able to represent their country, he told reporters in Tokyo. Weve seen a number of New Zealanders coming over to Japan, more and more every year. If New Zealand dont adapt to that sooner or later, I think youll see a drop in the standard of New Zealand rugby. Earning some coin 28-year-old flanker Shannon Frizell has also signed a deal to join Mounga at Brave Lupus, while Beauden Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Damian McKenzie and TJ Perenara all enjoyed short stints in Japan in recent years. Mounga believes that more players will follow him in signing longer-term deals to increase their earnings at a younger age due to the shelf life of a professional rugby career. Theres a mix of players wanting to represent their country and have a good crack at the international level, but theyre also left with a decision around life after footy, understanding that theres not a big period of time that you actually do play rugby, he said. You come over here to make some good coin. Its important for them and their families also. Story continues Opportunity to return to the All Blacks The 28-year-old fly-half has kept the door open on international rugby after the World Cup, explaining that he has signed a three-year deal in order to make an impact at Toshiba and possibly return to New Zealand in his thirties. Three years allows me both the best chance to succeed with Toshiba, but at the end, decide where things are at, and it leaves an opportunity to possibly come back for the All Blacks again, he said. He is likely to go to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, his second tournament, and returning to New Zealand in 2027 could see him make a late run for a third World Cup. But Mounga isnt looking too far ahead, saying he is focused on the upcoming World Cup. I can never look too far or too wide about whats happening my job is to focus on wanting to play each week for the All Blacks if I make the team, he said. That will always be my focus. My job is to focus on me and my performance and to control what I can control. READ MORE: Springbok captain reveals that Dan Carter is part of the reason he joined Racing 92 The article All Blacks: Richie Mounga warns players will leave New Zealand at a younger age appeared first on Planetrugby.com. Left: photograph by Leah Millis, part of this series. Right: poster for today's Stand Out for Democracy. Two years ago today an armed mob, fueled by lies of a stolen election, violated the United States Capitol. Some carried Confederate flags; others wore white supremacist insignia. The broken glass and splintered doors from their attack on the Capitol have long since been cleared away. The work of reconsecrating the sacred space of our democracy continues. I dont just mean the literal Capitol building, though anyplace where public servants gather to govern with integrity is a holy place in my eyes. Democracy flourishes most wholly when each of us is accorded a full measure of human rights and dignity in Jewish language, when we honor the innate holiness of every soul. Senator Raphael Warnock expressed it this way in his first speech to Congress in 2021: Democracy is the political enactment of a spiritual idea: that we are all children of God and therefore we ought all to have a voice in the direction of our country and our destiny within it. Democracy honors the sacred worth of all human beings. As you probably know, in addition to being a public servant Senator Warnock is a pastor, so he frames that idea in religious language. Im a rabbi, so I do too. But the inherent worth of every human being is a pillar of democracy whether or not the God-language resonates. And lets be clear: this is an aspiration and a value that our nation is still growing into. "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal..." That originally meant white property-owning men. Black people were considered of a person. White women lost autonomy, property, and rights the moment we married (which we didn't really have a choice about doing). Thankfully human wisdom continues to evolve. Today we sanctify our democracy by equally valuing people of every race, creed, gender expression, and marital status. We sanctify our democracy by repudiating the white Christian nationalism implicit in the Jan. 6 insurrection, and by rededicating ourselves to pluralism. White nationalists think that diversity is a weakness, but that limited and limiting worldview tarnishes the splendor of what humanity can be. Our diversity is an integral part of the America we want to call home. We sanctify our democracy with every act of justice with every act of truth-telling with every act of integrity. We sanctify our democracy when we resist falsehood and demand accountability. We sanctify our democracy when we live up to our responsibilities to one another and our responsibilities to those who are most vulnerable. Rep. John Lewis zl taught that Democracy is not a state. Its an act. Which is to say, an action. Democracy is something we do and keep doing. Our nations highest ideals have yet to be realized, but that doesnt mean we stop trying. As we learn in Pirkei Avot, , / It is not incumbent on us to finish the task, but neither are we free to refrain from doing what we can. These are the words I shared at the Stand Out for Democracy at First Congregational Church in Williamstown on the second anniversary of the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol. HA NOI The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee of HMC City and Phu Nhuan Jewelry JSC (PNJ) have jointly launched a zero-ong mini supermarket programme as part of their efforts to care for the needy in the city ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet), the most important annual festival of Vietnamese people. The programme, which aims to serve 20,000 needy residents with a total cost of over VN10 billion (US$425,803), is running until Sunday in District 1, Phu Nhuan, Binh Tan, and Hoc Mon districts, and Thu uc City. Addressing the launching ceremony, President of the VFF chapter in HCM City Tran Kim Yen said the programme is expected to bring a warm and joyful festival to all people in the city. Each shopper can get free necessary commodities, food and foodstuff with a total value of VN400,000 ($17), she said. Alongside this, the VFF Committee of the city and its members have also implemented many other programmes to ensure all residents enjoy a warm festival. Accordingly, 39,188 Tet gifts worth VN1-2 million ($43-85) each funded from the "Fund for the poor, "Fund for the national sea and islands for the fatherland frontline", and the relief fund of the city, along with about 20,500 others donated by local businesses will be provided to disadvantaged people in the city. This Tet, HCM City plans to spend more than VN43.36 billion (US$1.85 million) to care for needy people in the city. VNS Thanh Nga I met Harold Browning in the late afternoon at a cafe in Ha Noi while he was preparing for a guitar session with his friends ahead of a performance in bars in Tay Ho District. The 36-year-old is very tall and thin with a friendly smile. He has been a wild animal rescuer in Viet Nam for nearly eight years. The need for wild animal protection and conservation brought Browning from the UK to Viet Nam. Now, he works as an animal welfare consultant for about 600 animals at the Ha Noi Wildlife Rescue Centre in Soc Son District, where most of the animals are evidence of trafficking cases. "I've worked with animals for 30 years. My first job was on my parent's farm when I was six years old. They had 400ha of land. They had 1,200 sheep and 300 cows. Then I experienced many works related to animals," Browning told Viet Nam News. Every day, it takes Browning about 30 minutes from his home in Tay Ho District to the Ha Noi Wildlife Rescue Centre. In the morning, Browning often inspects cages. The number of animals is often changed daily, so it is always necessary to update information about care conditions, food and health recovery regime. The centre is being expanded, rearranging the cages to be reasonable. Each cage will be scientifically designed and suitable for each species. "The Ha Noi Wildlife Rescue Centre has a limited capacity. So a lot of new, amazing enclosures are being built. For example, we have new aviaries and primate enclosures which are huge and exciting. I designed them," Browning said. According to Browning, working with animals must understand what each species in the wild usually does and what they need. In captivity or rescue, it is necessary to make animals closest to natural life. The general rule is to give animals a choice to self-regulate their behaviour. Wild animals spend many days being separated from the natural environment, so when they are brought back to the centre, they will be in a separate isolation area to be monitored for 30 days. Then, they will be placed in a suitable cage if they are in good health. When receiving animals in a state of injury or after unsuitable grouping, they may beat or bite each other; Browning will work with the doctors to take care of the wound and help the animals recover. Browning was sent to Viet Nam by Four Paws in 2015. Here, he and his colleagues founded the Four Paws Viet Foundation. They designed and built the Bear Sanctuary in Ninh Binh Province with a total area of over 900sq.m, including housing facilities with outdoor playgrounds for bears to exercise. During his three years of working at the Bear Sanctuary, Browning and his colleagues have rescued and cared for 46 bears who were victims of illegal bear bile extraction and body parts. Over time, he became familiar with each bear while helping them return to good health. Browning said that just looking at the individual bears after being rescued gave him joy and motivation. Now, Browning also works directly with Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park in central Quang Binh Province and Hoang Lien National Park in northern Lao Cai Province to improve the welfare of rescued animals and is an expert in rescue facilities in Yok on National Park in the central Highlands province of ak Lak and Cat Tien National Park in southern ong Nai Province. Browning is also a consultant for many zoos in Viet Nam. "Ha Noi Zoo has great potential as a city zoo. However, the zoo needs to change before people realise their zoo isn't good enough," Browning said. Browning also has many upcoming plans, mostly for conservation animals in the rescue centres. The Ha Noi Wildlife Rescue Centre has released some birds, such as white-necked cranes and great hornbills, back into the wild. Browning has worked with experts on birds around the world to jointly support the release process with the appropriate methods for each species according to international standards to maximise the bird's survival rate after re-release. For his efforts to end the illegal wildlife trade and restore and conserve Viet Nam's ecosystems, Browning has been recognised as one of 70 individuals of "Good people, good deeds" of Ha Noi City. VNS In box: Harold Browning was a care manager for rhinos and ungulates at Longleat Safari Park, the UK, from 2011 2014. From 2014 to 2017, he worked as an animal manager for FOUR PAWS Kosovo and deputy director of Four Paws Viet Nam. Since 2018, he has worked at Ha Noi Wildlife Rescue Centre. HA NOI Police have launched criminal proceedings against and temporarily detained former Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Tran Viet Thai, on the charge of abusing position and power while performing duties. Nguyen Hoang Linh, a former official of the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia, also faces the same charge and has been banned from leaving his home, Lt. Gen. To An Xo, Chief of the Office and Spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), has said. These are the latest moves in a probe into the case of giving bribes, taking bribes; abusing position, power while performing duties; and swindling, appropriating assets at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ha Noi, and some other localities regarding the scandal-tainted repatriation flights for Vietnamese citizens from overseas during the border closure due to COVID-19 in 2020-21. Many incumbent and former officials have been arrested as part of the case. They included Nguyen Quang Linh, Assistant to the Permanent Deputy Prime Minister; To Anh Dung, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Nguyen Thi Huong Lan, Director of the Foreign Ministrys Consular Department. Total assets related to the case have reached VN88 billion (US$3.75 million) and the police have said they are striving to wrap up the investigation into the case in the first quarter of this year. VNS A HA NOI The use of e-cigarettes, or vaping, has been increasing among young people, leading to students experiencing psychosis, hallucinations or respiratory failure due to substances in e-cigarettes, resulting in hospitalisation. The latest case was seven third-graders of Ha Noi's Hoang Liet Primary School, Hoang Mai District, who were hospitalised for experiencing nausea, and headaches after smoking or inhaling e-cigarettes. On November 18, three male students in grade 12 of Thanh a High School, HCM City's Binh Thanh District, also showed unusual physical symptoms such as discomfort, shortness of breath, and fainting after using the e-cigarettes. In early November, a secondary school male student was taken to the National Children's Hospital in a state of panic with difficulty breathing and convulsions after using the product. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, an official from the Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund, Ministry of Health, said a recent study showed that the e-cigarette smoking rate among students in Viet Nam increased from 2.6 per cent in 2019 to 3.5 per cent in 2021. The smoking rate among male students increased from 3.6 per cent to 4.3 per cent and from 1.5 per cent to 2.8 per cent in female students. The percentage of students who had ever tried an e-cigarette was 7.8 per cent. This increase in numbers is a cause for concern, especially given how easily accessible e-cigarettes are for young people. The smoking rate among teenagers is increasing due to the emergence of new-generation cigarettes, which is changing nicotine addiction, said Nguyen Huu Hoang, a lecturer from the Medical Education Centre at HCM City's University of Medicine and Pharmacy. "E-cigarette devices that look like USB drives, pen or pen boxes are making it tough for parents to detect and keep their kids from vaping. They also make young people curious and excited by their eye-catching, fashionable and modern designs," Hoang told the Lao ong (Labour) newspaper. As well as easy access, different levels of nicotine and diverse flavours have made e-cigarettes attractive, increasing the risk of addiction. Studies show that new-generation e-cigarettes change smoking rates among youth under 18, making it necessary to implement more measures to prevent and reduce the usage of e-cigarettes. At a recent workshop to share research results on tobacco use among students aged 13-15 in Viet Nam, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan said the increase of new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes also hindered prevention. It remained easy for people to get access to cigarette products which were sold widely across the country. Tran Thi Trang, Deputy Director of the Legal Affairs Department at the Ministry of Health, said the ministry has proposed banning all new tobacco products, in line with the trend in regional countries and the world. Deputy Director of the HCM City's Market Management Department, Nguyen Tien at, affirmed that at present, there are no regulations regarding licensing cigarette sales at stores. In 2020-2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging, the unit discovered many violations related to new-generation tobacco products. In 2022 alone, 940 new-generation tobacco-related products were discovered. In early November, police in Tam Nong District, Phu Tho Province, apprehended a man in possession of synthetic drugs in the form of e-cigarettes. He confessed to purchasing e-cigarettes and e-liquids via social networks for local consumption. All seized e-liquids contained the ADB-Butinaca, an ingredient in some synthetic cannabis products. In September, police in Ha Noi's Nam Tu Liem District also discovered a group of illegal drug dealers. They bought e-cigarettes, and dried herbs, adding e-liquids containing ADB-Butinaca. The Ha Noi Police recommends that parents take time to care for, listen to their children, and observe their children's activities as co-ordinate with schools to learn more about activities and relationships of children to early found abnormal signs. It is necessary to contact a doctor or psychologist for support if needed. Schools should coordinate with competent agencies to organise drug testing to detect students using illegal drugs. VNS HA NOI Police and customs officers of Ha Noi have seized 98kg of synthetic drugs sent from Germany, police authorities announced on Friday. Colonel Pham Quynh, deputy head of the Drug Crime Investigation Department under Hanoi City Police, said three people have been arrested. Upon examining suspicious parcels sent from Germany to Viet Nam via Noi Bai International Airport, the police and customs found and seized 98 kg of synthetic drugs, he said. The drugs confiscated were 45 kg ecstasy (MDMA) and 53 kg ketamine hidden in parcels. Quynh said the drug traffickers took advantage of the express delivery to illegal transport drugs from abroad to Viet Nam which were hidden in goods such as coffee-making machines, air purifiers and candy bags to escape the inspection of the authorities. According to a report of Ha Nois Drug Crime Investigation Department, from November 15, 2022 to January 5, 2023, the police busted 472 cases and arrested 734 people for their drug related crimes, consficating more than 110.1 kg of drugs. Vietnamese law stipulates that those convicted of smuggling over 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kg of methamphetamine are punishable by death. Making or trading 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal drugs also carries the death penalty. VNS HA NOI Water shortages have long plagued the south central, Central Highlands, Mekong Delta, remote areas and islands of Viet Nam, but this year, the country is determined to end this cycle of scarcity. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has just released a Master Plan on water resources planning for 2021-30, which aims to overcome drought and water shortages by 2025 effectively. Under the plan, by 2025, the rate of clean water use for the daily life of urban residents will rise to 95100 per cent, while 65 per cent of the rural population will have access to clean water. Under the plan, 90 per cent of water exploitation and use activities will be controlled; the efficiency and capacity of water exploitation and use will be improved, and water losses in the system of irrigation works will be minimised by 2025. The master plan also aims to protect, control, prevent and minimise water sources' degradation, depletion and pollution. By 2030, 30 per cent of the total wastewater volume in urban areas has been treated and met standards before releasing into the environment. This will improve and restore important water sources that have been degraded, depleted, and polluted in the country. It will give priority to river sections flowing through concentrated population areas and water sources that play an important role in domestic water supply and service activities of socio-economic development, especially on the main streams of Hong (Red) River, Ca River, Vu Gia - Thu Bon River and Ba River. Chau Tran Vinh, director of the ministrys Water Resources Management Department, said that the master plan is an important milestone, marking the first national planning on water resources. It is the first national planning in the field of water resources, he said. It is the orientation for regulating and allocating water resources to serve the targets of the ten-year socio-economic development strategy during 2021-30, he said. The master plan also concretes the guidelines and directions of the Party, National Assembly and Government, such as Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW of the 11th Party Central Committee on a proactive response to climate change and strengthening resource management and environmental protection under Conclusion No. 36-KL/TW, dated June 23, 2022 of the Politburo on ensuring water source security and safety of dams and reservoirs until 2030, he said. The master plan is the overall orientation in the management, distribution, exploitation, protection and development of water resources, as well as the prevention and control of harmful effects caused by water. He added that during the planning process, the ministry has closely coordinated with relevant agencies and localities to ensure synchronisation between the water resource master plan and other national master plans. He said that the ministry also worked with many domestic and foreign organisations to exchange international experiences in the planning process. At the event, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh asked relevant agencies and localities to closely coordinate with the environment ministry in the master plans implementation. Thanh emphasised the importance of collaboration between various government agencies in ensuring the efficient, sustainable use and protection of natural resources and water and in achieving the socio-economic development goals set by the Party and State. The master plan on water resources for the period 2021-30, a vision towards 2050, was approved by the Prime Minister following Decision No. 1622/QD-TTg dated December 27, 2022. VNS New Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha "Natural resources, the environment, and climate change are issues that I am very passionate about and will be my responsibility for the rest of my life," emphasised new DPM Ha. My feelings right now are very emotional. I am very grateful to the leaders of the Party and state for trusting me, especially today with the vote by the National Assembly deputies showing their confidence. That is a great motivation for me to try my best in all positions and fulfil my responsibilities," Ha said at the sideline of the National Assembly. Showing tremendous enthusiasm, new DPM Ha said that he is very interested in issues relating to natural resources, the environment, and climate change. 60-year-old Ha, a native of the central province of Ha Tinh, served as an alternate of the 11th Party Central Committee and as an official member of the committee during the 12th term. He is currently a deputy of the 15th National Assembly and a member of the committee in the 13th tenure. NAs second extraordinary meeting: National Master Plan under review Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung presented a report on the National Master Plan for the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050, following the opening of the 15th National Assemblys second extraordinary meeting in Hanoi on January 5. Vietnam's rapid economic growth has resulted in a considerable increase in energy demand over the past 10 years, with fossil fuels currently providing the majority. In response to the rise, the Vietnamese government has made a considerable effort to promote renewable energy sources and has demonstrated a specific commitment to decarbonising its electrical infrastructure. However, in some parts of the country, this has caused grid integration problems due to the intermittent nature of renewables. PTSC, a subsidiary of the Vietnamese oil and gas group PetroVietnam, is a leading company providing technical services for offshore oil and gas, industrial plants, and renewable energy in Vietnam and across the region. 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, and non-polluting power to the grid. Under this MoU, the two parties will collaborate to develop, fund, and put HDF's multi-megawatt hydrogen power plant projects into operation. In addition, HDF and PTSC will investigate how green hydrogen could be produced in Vietnam as well as in other regional markets like South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. They will focus mostly on offshore wind farms, which can be used to generate green hydrogen to decarbonise local industries. HDF's director for Asia Mathieu Geze 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 off-takers. HDF Energy started addressing the Asian market in 2021 and this MoU with PTSC will accelerate our developments in the region. On the same note, PTSC President and CEO Le Manh Cuong stated, Entering into this MoU is an important milestone for PTSC's strategic business plan, which includes investment in and the 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 by 2050." The goals of both companies are consistent with the PDP8, Vietnam's main energy planning instrument for the years 2021-2030, which outlines the contribution hydrogen could make to the nation's goal of achieving net-zero emissions. Escalating national hydrogen production and exports When contemplating the growth of the hydrogen industry in Vietnam, it is necessary to examine the industrys export focus towards key Asian markets. Race for hydrogen energy heating up against backdrop of carbon-free future The emerging hydrogen market is set to be very complex, and for Vietnam to become a producer and exporter of green hydrogen over the next five years, there will be huge challenges, but the potential upsides are vast. For the first time in its history, Viettels telecom services revenue from outbound markets hit $3 billion in 2022, showing a 21 per cent jump on-year and maintaining double-digit growth for six consecutive years, 6.8 times the world average, and trending to become equal to its revenue from the domestic market. Accordingly, Viettels 2022 pre-tax profit approximated $188 million, 30 per cent beyond projections. Inward money streams touched $445 million, setting a five-year record, particularly from Peru where the market reached $202.5 million, setting an all-time record. After 16 years of ventures in 10 international markets, Viettel currently secures the number-one position in Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, East Timor, and Burundi. Viettel saw record growth in the number of broadband fixed line subscribers in Asia and they took the lead in mobile subscribers in African markets. Another major telecoms player, CMC Corporation, posted net revenue reaching $374 million, up 24 per cent on-year. CMCs revenue in international trade saw a 75 per cent hike as their S2K project, run by CMC Global, raked in $150 million in revenue, placing CMC among the top software exporters in Vietnam. Meanwhile, after 23 years of international ventures, FPT hit $1 billion in revenue from overseas markets for the first time, growing more than 30 per cent on-year. As of November 2022, FPT's American markets saw the fastest growth, surpassing 48 per cent, while Asia-Pacific surged 47 per cent, and the Japanese market rose by 27 per cent. 2022 marked Vietnam ICT firms robust landing in overseas markets. Also last year, FPT opened a string of representative offices in the US, Denmark, Thailand, and Japan, raising the number of software and resources development centres to 22 across 27 countries. Notably, revenue from digital transformation covered nearly half of the companys total revenue from overseas markets. Together with the community of local ICT firms, FPT helps place Vietnam second in the global digital map, just behind India, said Nguyen Van Khoa, CEO of FPT. Another eminent software firm, Rikkeisoft, wrapped up 2022 as a digital enterprise with 1,600 personnel coming from 10 different nations, with their Japanese office featuring a headcount of 1,000, making it the second-largest ICT firm in Japan. Also in 2022, game developer VNG successfully distributed 12 game titles to seven overseas markets. By the end of the year, VNG were running 80 game titles in 15 markets with frequent-user numbers surpassing 20 million. According to Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung, 2022 marked Vietnamese ICT firms robust landing in overseas markets. Vietnam could hardly be placed in the group of high-income countries not leveraging outbound investment ventures as well as counting revenue from outbound markets, said Hung. Hoang Tuan Hai, chairman and CEO of tech firm VMO Holdings, which operates in markets such as the US, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand, voiced the need for the state to support the opening of representative offices abroad. Vietnam needs to set up technology offices and centres in the worlds biggest markets to support firms that wish to increase networking with foreign partners, said Hai. Nguyen Viet Lam, deputy CEO of Rikkeisoft, called on the Ministry of Information and Communications to create platforms to promote cooperation with major foreign partners, as well as craft policies that connect businesses with professional training schemes to thoroughly prepare quality human resources to enter the global market. Stationery manufacturer Thien Long to increase outbound investment Thien Long Group a Vietnamese manufacturer of writing equipment and office stationery has just adjusted the overseas investment capital for its Flexoffice project a brand focusing on both domestic and export products from $814,400 to $1.3 million. According to the State Securities Commission (SSC), while the issuance of a sustainability report is considered a tool that could improve enterprises awareness of new business risks and opportunities, such issuance has not been taken full advantage of. In the 2022 reporting season, only 19 companies issued a separate sustainability report. Sustainability reports still underutilised. Photo: shutterstock Ta Thanh Binh, head of Securities Market Development at the SSC, said the top-performing companies in general are those that go above and beyond common norms. For instance, they often work hard to create an impartial report on sustainable development that meets all applicable international norms. One example is Vinamilk the only Vietnamese listed company to be included in the ASEAN Asset Class according to the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard. Non-financial matters are placing their increasing importance into investors consideration. Progressive financiers do not only gauge a companys success and performance by financial indicators like they did in the past, Binh noted. The concerted effort to launch a separate sustainability report, besides a sustainability section in an annual report, is an impetus, together with solid corporate governance. Nguyen Van Thang Long, senior lecturer of professional communication at RMIT University in Vietnam, assessed that in the midst of redundant corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments from businesses, regular transparency reports will help businesses gain trust from customers. For many objective and subjective reasons, the implementation of CSR activities at many businesses only stops at sponsorship and charity. The majority of consumers do not fully trust businesses CSR implementation, and see them only as PR and branding efforts, Long noted. Therefore, maintaining the disclosure of regular transparency reports will help businesses demonstrate the transformation of commitments into practical actions. Last year marked 10 years that Vietnamese listed companies have published information on sustainable development. According to Nguyen Viet Thinh, head of the sustainability report scoring team at the Vietnam Listed Company Awards, disclosure of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2022 has been superior to previous years. Many businesses have kept pace with changes in legal regulations as well as trends in combating climate change in Vietnam and around the world. Quite a few enterprises have published information on total GHG emissions by different ranges, with most mentioned programmes to combat climate change, Thinh assessed. He added that the trend of shifting business models from a linear economy to a circular economy is more commonly described. If in the last three reporting seasons, there were only a few emerging names, businesses in the past year are increasingly improving themselves to be in the ranks of enterprises with good information disclosure on sustainable development. Sustainable development for 2022 is seen more broadly from the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) point of view. Many enterprises have established committees at the board level to direct and supervise ESG activities, Thinh noted. He further noted that although the disclosure of information on GHG emissions has clearly improved, the number of enterprises that publish standard information on the subject is still minimal. According to the PwC Vietnam ESG readiness report 2022, Vietnamese companies lag global counterparts in seeking independent assurance on ESG disclosures. While 58 per cent of global companies obtain independent assurance on their ESG information, only 36 per cent confirmed in our report that their ESG reporting in Vietnam is audited or verified by external independent parties, the report said. On the other hand, while 53 per cent of Vietnamese business respondents indicate they have assessed the data required for external reporting, only 30 per cent have actioned on the ESG reporting/disclosure. This, once again, highlights the crucial role regulators can play in spurring action within the Vietnam business community. Visitors from all over the country will gather and wrap banh chung to donate to disadvantaged people and orphans on the occasion of the Lunar New Year. Organisers of the programme wish to deliver a welcoming space for tourists and volunteers and an opportunity for everyone to come together to promote traditional values and connect the community through a spirit of "mutual love" this festive break. The programme is expected to make and distribute over 10,000 vegetarian banh chung. There are also cultural and art activities planned along with clothes and shoe donations to help people in the northern mountainous provinces. According to a representative from Tam Chuc Tourism, a similar event was held two years ago and achieved positive results, with tourists and Buddhists coming together to support and donate to people in difficult circumstances so close to the Lunar New Year. Visitors arriving in Tam Chuc can not only worship the Buddha and visit the pagoda, they can also participate in meaningful social activities and admire the Bodhi tree, which has the longest life span of any tree in the world, given by the president of the National Assembly of Sri Lanka. Tam Chuc pagoda was also host to the 2019 United Nations Day of Vesak Celebration with 1,500 leaders of Buddhist churches from more than 100 countries and territories with about 10,000 Buddhists and Vietnamese tourists in attendance. Tam Chuc pagoda and Tam Chuc Spiritual Tourism Complex are located in Kim Bang district of Ha Nam province. China has experienced a surge in infections and its hospitals and crematoriums have been inundated after Beijing last month wound back tight restrictions. Thailand says no Covid test needed for travellers from China, photo: Mladen ANTONOV / AFP The United States, Canada, Japan and France are among the countries that have imposed new rules requiring travellers from China to provide negative Covid tests as concerns grow over the spike in cases. But Thai authorities on Thursday said all countries should be treated the same. "Thailand does not require Covid test results from tourists from any country," Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters on Thursday following a meeting between health, tourism and transportation officials. China was the largest source of foreign tourists for Thailand before the pandemic, with almost 11 million arrivals in 2019, according to government data. Tourism accounted for nearly 20 percent of national income before the pandemic, and tough border restrictions at the height of the health crisis took a toll on hotels, restaurants and tour operators across the country. "This is an opportunity to restore our economic situation and recover from losses we suffered for nearly three years," Anutin said. Tanes Petsuwan, deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said he expected about 60,000 Chinese nationals to enter Thailand this month and for numbers to steadily rise. "We expect Chinese tourists to come to Thailand after Chinese New Year," Tourism Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan said. In December Thailand clocked its 10 millionth international visitor for 2022 -- a major increase on the 430,000 seen in 2021 but still way off the 40 million arrivals of 2019. Thai officials are forecasting some 20 million arrivals in 2023, though they believe Chinese tourists could push the figure up to around 25 million. Thailand to cut subsidy for domestic tourism The subsidy scheme for domestic tourists might be reduced to 500,000 rooms from 1.5 million after the Thai cabinet this week cut the proposed budget of 8.7 billion baht (nearly 250 million USD) by half, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Wacos Blackhawk Aerospace, around since 1999, has become a major player in its niche field. It upgrades turboprop aircraft, installing new parts and even complete engines at its Waco Regional Airport headquarters. Controlling interest in the company has sold, with founder Jim Allmon announcing he struck a deal with New State Capital Partners. A press release says Blackhawk Aerospace management will remain in place. We will stay in Waco, right there at Waco Regional. There are no major changes at this time, but who knows what the future holds, Blackhawk marketing director Lindsay Allmon said. She said her father, originally from California, first launched Aurora Aviation at McGregor Executive Airport. It relocated to office space in downtown Waco before Allmon secured a hangar at Wacos municipal airport. Operating as Blackhawk, the company acquired a second hangar. It later placed a breezeway between the two hangars and remodeled the original hangar to replace storage space with offices, Lindsay Allmon said by phone. When Blackhawk took off, he sold Aurora, Allmon said of her father, who was traveling Thursday and unavailable for comment. Blackhawk employs 60 companywide, about 25 in Waco. Everyone is staying as long as they want to stick around, Allmon said. Blackhawk was founded as Blackhawk Modifications, but its name has evolved as it added locations in Huntsville, Alabama and Columbia, Missouri, and divisions that include defense support, maintenance, avionics, composites and aircraft sales. Allmon said the company has business contacts internationally, maintaining a presence in Europe, South America, Africa, Australia and, of course, North America. The buyer, New State Capital Partners, acquired controlling interest in all Blackhawk interests except its composites operations in Morgantown, Kentucky, to be operated separately. In announcing the deal, Jim Allmon said he is pleased to join New State Capital Partners aviation arm, New State Aviation Holdings. Our family of companies shares a singular focus: to increase an aircrafts capabilities to unrivalled heights while maintaining the highest level of safety possible, he said in the press release. This transformative acquisition more than doubles the size of our business and allows us to expand aircraft platforms serviced, New State Aviation Holdings CEO Chad Cundiff said in the press release. AVEX is a market leader in sales, brokerage and maintenance of the Daher TBM, and Blackhawk is the market leader in turboprop engine upgrades. Together, they will allow New State Aviation Holdings to offer a broader suite of services and meet more needs of light turbine aircraft owners, across a variety of aircraft manufacturers. AVEX, acquired by New State in 2021, specializes in selling and maintaining Daher TBM turboprop aircraft. Blackhawk is now pursuing Federal Aviation Administration certification to install upgrades on the airplane. AVEX was founded in 1985, and has operations in Colorado and California. Terms of the sale were not released. A news release says New State Capital Partners strives to be nimble, decisive, and cooperative. It strives to create lasting relationships with company founders, has the ability to invest up to $100 million in equity per transaction, and seeks to invest in companies with $8 million to $40 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. It has invested in more than 35 companies to date. Its portfolio is diverse, including companies such as United Medical Systems, ArborWorks, Capitol Pain Institute, Gautier Steel and Klein Hersh, an international job placement service focusing on health care and life sciences. WATERLOO A regular at Waterloo City Council meetings who became involved in a heated exchange with the mayor has been charged. Todd Alan Obadal, 54, was cited for disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, for allegedly causing a disturbance at the meeting in council chambers on Tuesday. The former county Republican Party co-chair and one-time state legislative candidate was briefly detained at the police department as officers completed the paperwork. He was released at about 7 p.m. The incident came as the council debated how to fill the vacancy for the panels Ward 4 seat through appointment or through a vote by residents in a special election. The original agenda called for filling Ward 4 City Council vacancy by appointment. As the item came up, Councilor Ray Feuss moved to change wording to fill it by election and discussion turned to piggybacking the vote with a Hawkeye Community College bond referendum March 7. Councilor Jerome Amos Jr. who is leaving the Ward 4 seat to serve in the state Legislature, said he was against the special election because of the cost and because Ward 4 residents wouldnt have representation until the election. Mayor Quentin Hart noted the city had received a petition to have a special election and opined that the matter would likely end up at the ballot box. Wearing an American flag bandana on his head and a camouflage T-shirt, Obadal argued for filling the seat by special election. He noted the city had missed an opportunity to offer the Ward 4 matter as part of an earlier special election for high-speed internet services and suggested hastening the election date. Hart responded that the council supports holding the election. Obadal added that the council had yet to vote. The mayor told Obadal he no longer had the floor. Im not playing with you tonight, Hart said. Obadal continued talking, and Hart directed Police Chief Joe Leibold to remove him. When Leibold approached Obadal, Obadal asked the chief to place him under arrest. No, Im not going to do that . Grab your stuff, lets go, the chief said. Obadal didnt budge until the chief took him by the arm and pulled him toward the door. Obabal said Leibold informed him he was being arrested when they were in the hallway outside of chambers. After two more residents public comments, council members voted to fill the vacancy by special election. While in the police departments holding cell, Obadal sent a Facebook post reading 2023 Bingo, Become a literal political prisoner with a check mark next to it. Ive always stood for equal representation and equal application of the law and for process. That was my motivation, Obadal said Thursday. He said he plans to attend and speak at future City Council meetings. This isnt the first time Obadal has been involved in a heated argument during a council meeting. In 2019, the mayor asked police to remove Obadal from the podium when discussion about a sewer leak led to a shouting match, according to Courier archives. WATERLOO A lawsuit against the city of Waterloo in a 2021 officer-involved shooting may be coming back to the docket following a ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court. On Friday, the high court reversed a district court decision that granted the citys request to throw out Marcelino Alvarez-Victorianos suit for good, instead allowing his attorneys request to temporarily dismiss the suit, effectively calling a timeout in order to later resubmit it. The district court incorrectly threw the penalty flag; there was no penalty on the play. We pick up the flag and reverse the district courts order, Justice Christopher McDonald wrote in the opinion. The plaintiff can bring players across the formation, shift them, call an audible at the line of scrimmage, or even take a timeout under our long-established rules governing amendment, repleading, and dismissal. Alvarez, 45, of Waterloo, was left paralyzed from the waist down in an April 7, 2021, shooting at the foot of the Sixth Street Bridge. Authorities were called to a report of a man with a long gun walking in the area in the pre-dawn darkness. Alvarez allegedly pointed the weapon at sheriffs deputies, and was ultimately shot by Officer C.J. Nichols with the Waterloo Police Department. Officers later discovered Alvarez had been wielding a BB gun. Alvarezs attorney filed suit against the city in September 2021, and the city asked the court to dismiss the case with prejudice meaning the dismissal would be final because the suit didnt have specifics about how the officer acted improperly. The city, which argued the officer was protected through qualified immunity, cited recent changes in Iowa law that heightened the requirements for municipal tort lawsuits. Alvarezs attorney, Molly Hamilton, countered with a request to dismiss the suit without prejudice which would allow it to be reinstated in the future. The city claimed the move would allow the plaintiff to refile the suit with the required specifics. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that the district court should have ruled on plaintiffs motion to dismiss before undertaking the citys dismissal request. The Black Hawk County Attorneys Office concluded Nichols acted reasonably and declined to press charges against the officer in an October 2021 report. Agents with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation filed misdemeanor assault charges against Alvarez in the incident. But he hasnt been arrested on the charges. Stills images from officer-involved shooting April 7, 2021 101521ho- Alvarez-shooting-11 101521ho- Alvarez-shooting-22 101521ho- Alvarez-shooting-33 101521ho- Alvarez-shooting-44 101521ho- Alvarez-shooting-55 101521ho- Alvarez-shooting-66 101521ho- Alvarez-shooting-77 WATERLOO Scott Konken starts his day in a rather unusual way for a student. Instead of hitting the books and going to classes, his education consists of working at Young Plumbing & Heating. There, hes learned how to read blueprints, weld black iron boiler pipes and cast iron drainage pipes. He recently finished his first level in the apprenticeship program. Im fortunate enough to be introduced to as much of the craft as I have, Konken said. Konken grew up in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area and went into the military after high school. After serving for almost five years, he moved to Texas with his new wife. Konken worked in landscaping and irrigation, a job he ended up liking, which set the jumping-off point for his exploration in hands-on careers, like plumbing or possibly carpentry. He is enrolled in the apprenticeship program at Hawkeye Community College, which offers programs in the construction trades of plumbing, electrical, HVAC and carpentry as well as a number of other career fields. Among those are healthcare, as a certified nursing assistant or a home health aide; commercial truck driving; industrial maintenance; and residential wireman. HCC hopes to expand the apprenticeship program into robotic operators and programmers soon with the smart automation center under construction at the downtown TechWorks Campus, said Srdjan Golub, the director of community education and workforce solutions. Golub said Hawkeye wants to offer a wider range of trade professions and skills to suit the growing need for more bodies in the workforce. The college is striving to meet potential workers where they are, he noted, and help with their specific needs. A lot of our folks are 25 and older, Golub said. Theyre non-traditional students. Most of the time, they went to school for something else and now they have to upscale or rescale, they have families, they have other jobs, potentially, theyre still paying off their student loans. They need the ability to (learn skills) and still work and have an income. Thats where the earn-to-learn model with registered apprentices comes in. It pays off in the long-run for those who complete a registered apprenticeship and for their employers. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 93% of apprentices who finish their programs retain employment, with an average annual salary of $77,000. Apprentice graduates also have a $300,000-plus lifetime earning advantage compared to their peers. Employers, meanwhile, realize an average return on investment of $1.47 for every $1 invested. For Konken, who recently bought a house, the apprenticeship program is working well. Right now, his job is concentrated on renovations of Grundy Hall at Hawkeye Community College. The work will result in a new dental clinic and the addition of emergency medical services training. As Konken installs pipes, hes paired with a journeyman from the company. That person has more knowledge about the trade and can guide the apprentice, said Andrew Tink, an employee at Young Plumbing & Heating. We currently have 20 apprentices ... that are in the Hawkeye Community College program, he said. The apprentices at Young Plumbing & Heating are full-time employees who receive appropriate full-time benefits. The company also pays their schooling fees in an effort to support them and improve retention. This is how it works at Young Plumbing & Heating, though other companies who work with HCC have similar policies, Tink said. You dont have to be enrolled at a community college to enter an apprenticeship; high schoolers also have access to similar opportunities. Hawkeye partners with the Waterloo Career Center in providing job shadowing and work possibilities for students. Were trying to build as many career paths as possible, Golub said. Konken recommends the apprenticeship program, saying it teaches life skills that are needed in any career not just in a trade field. Iowa Workforce Development also offers registered apprenticeship programs through the state of Iowa. There are 76,380 job openings as of Dec. 29. As long as youre humble and willing to learn, its well worth the skill set, Konken said. Its something no one can ever take from you, once you learn. And you can work anywhere, not just in this country, but you can work anywhere in the world with this experience and knowledge. Photos: 5th-graders experience EnviroFest 051419kw-EnviroFest-04 051419kw-EnviroFest-05 051419kw-EnviroFest-06 051419kw-EnviroFest-01 051419kw-EnviroFest-02 051419kw-EnviroFest-03 Iowa's top election official is proposing a bill aimed at bringing more uniformity to recounts. The proposal comes more than two years after a messy recount for the 2020 Mariannette Miller Meeks-Rita Hart congressional race, one of the closest House races in the country with a six-vote margin. In the most recent midterm election, a lengthy Davenport House District recount showed an unusual swing in results and officials braced for a statewide recount after a close state auditor race. A bill isn't yet filed with the Iowa Legislature, but in a news release on Thursday, the Iowa Secretary of State's office said the measure would standardize the recount timeline across Iowa's 99 counties, bolster recount boards in larger counties, and require more uniform methods for recounting, reconciling and reporting ballots. "The integrity of Iowa's elections is my top priority and this bill would help ensure we have clean, secure elections, and a recount process that is uniform across the state," Secretary of State Paul Pate said in an emailed statement. "We've had the opportunity to identify these areas of improvement while observing several large-scale recounts in recent years." The legislation would increase the size of recount boards, depending on a county's population. Currently, when a candidate requests a recount, three candidate-picked people make up the board that tallies the ballots. Under the proposed legislation, recount boards in counties with a population of 15,000-49,000 would grow to five members. Counties with a population of more than 50,000 would conduct recounts with seven-member boards. Another change under the bill would make just two of the recount board members candidate-picked. The remainder of the board members would be election poll workers selected by the chief judge of the judicial district, balanced by party. "Recounts in large counties are difficult for just three people to conduct," Pate said in the emailed statement. "I'd like to give the recount boards more members, so the tallying of votes is more manageable and more efficient." The bill, according to the secretary of state's office, also makes recount processes more uniform in multi-county races. In the 2020 then-2nd District race, some counties did recounts by hand and some did tallies by machine. "The proposed bill seeks to end that practice," the press release states. Another change would require all counties to hold an official canvass of elections on a certain day with a goal of making the recount timeline uniform for each county. In the back-and-forth race for House District 81, covering parts of Davenport, a recount board's result flipped the lead to the Republican in the race. The recount board, made up of three members, sorted through more than 23,000 absentee ballots for more than a week to count ballots cast in the House District 81. It's not yet clear what kind of support the bill will receive in the Legislature, but in an interview in late December, House Speaker Pat Grassley said he expected more conversations about ensuring recount uniformity and trust in elections. I think youre going to see the Legislature engage with the county level to see why are these things happening because we want Iowans to have full confidence in the election system and when they dont see a result until the second week of December on a state legislative race, people kind of think oh, whats going on there? State association of county auditors asks for more time to mail out ballots The state association of county auditors is asking Iowa lawmakers to lengthen the window for early and by-mail voting after running the first general election with the shortened 20-day window. A series of two legislative proposals in 2017 and 2021 cut the number of days Iowans could vote early from 40 days before an election to 20 days. Under the new law, auditors also can only mail out ballots beginning at 20 days. Leaders of the Iowa State Association of County Auditors say the best outcome would be for lawmakers to restore the 40-day early voting window. But the association is proposing a less strident solution to crunched by-mail balloting they hope will garner support. Allowing county auditors to mail ballots five days before in-person voting begins, Ringgold County Auditor and association President Amanda Waske said, could cut down on voter confusion. She sent ballots to an Iowa couple wintering in Arizona, and when they reported they didn't receive them, Waske said, there wasn't time to send another ballot by Election Day, another 2021 change in Iowa law. "I didn't have enough time to turn around and mail them a new one," Waske said. "They would've received it if I had that extra few days." All 99 county auditors have a vote on the association's legislative priorities for the year, and more than 70% of county auditors are Republicans, according to a review of the association's website. The association opposed the past legislation shortening the window of early voting and has made returning to the 40-day window a priority each year, said Past President Jennifer Garms, auditor of Clayton County. Appetite for returning to a 40-day window among Republican legislative leaders is likely very low. Sen. Jack Whitver said of election laws: "I don't envision a lot of drastic changes at this point going forward." Iowa is among 14 states that mail out ballots fewer than 30 days before an election, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Just Colorado and Washington State have a shorter period, sending ballots at 18 days. Kansas also sends ballots out 20 days ahead of an election. Among states that offer early in-person voting, early voting periods range from 3 days to 46. The average is 23. "I think 20 days is a very, very reasonable period for people to vote early," Whitver said. "And it's right in the middle of all the 50 states. There's a lot of liberal states out there that are a lot tighter." WATERLOO MercyOne is helping nursing students jump start their career through a new program aimed at strengthening Iowas nursing pipeline. MercyOnes JumpStart provides financial support while nursing students finish school and a job after graduation. If students are worried about bills or the cost of textbooks, this program helps by giving breathing room, says Bela Haferman, who works as a registered nurse on an acute floor at MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center and participated in JumpStart. Students accepted into the program receive a monthly stipend during their final semester at school. MercyOne also covers the cost of the Board of Nursing exam and licensure fees, said Kris Marmie, a senior recruiter at MercyOne Northeast Iowa. Once graduates become a licensed RN, MercyOne provides employment at one of its medical centers. Haferman grew up in Tanzania before moving to Iowa to attend Wartburg College. He worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse for many years before going back to school at Hawkeye Community College to become an RN. He started working for MercyOne in February 2022. This program is funded in part by the MercyOne foundations in Cedar Falls, Oelwein and Waterloo. Photos: The Couriers 2022 Top Cedar Valley Nurses celebration Nurses Event 1 Nurses Event 2 Nurses Event 3 Nurses Event 4 Nurses Event 5 Nurses Event 6 Nurses Event 7 Nurses Event 8 Nurses Event 9 Nurses Event 10 Nurses Event 11 Nurses Event 12 Nurses Event 13 Nurses Event 14 Nurses Event 15 Hello, I was drinking my morning cup of coffee & thinking about how Christmas is not even half over in Russia! I had my Christmas at the 25th of December but now the Russian version of Christmas is coming twice (?) on the 1st & 7th of January http://russian-crafts.com/customs/christmas.html New Year Eve instead of Christmas Few people in Russia remember, but when the communists took power in 1917 they banned the open expression of religion. While it was easy to pray at home, the Russian people were concerned about giving up their traditional Christmas celebration. But where there is a will, there is a way! They re-invented the New Years holiday tradition to include a decorated tree, and introduced a character called Grandfather Frost. Known as Ded Moroz, Grandfather Frost looked very much like the western Santa Claus or Pere Noel except he wore a blue suit. Actually, Ded Moroz was a character that existed in the pagan culture, centuries earlier. For a time, Christmas was all but forgotten. In fact, it was generally celebrated only in small villages, where the citizenry was far from the prying eyes of the Party. Today, Christmas is celebrated again, on January 7. But, to date, New Years remains the bigger event. Russian Christmas Thirteen days after Western Christmas, on January 7th, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates its Christmas, in accordance with the old Julian calendar. Its a day of both solemn ritual and joyous celebration After the 1917 Revolution, Christmas was banned throughout Russia, along with other religious celebrations. It wasnt until 75 years later, in 1992, that the holiday was openly observed. Today, its once again celebrated in grand fashion, with the faithful participating in an all-night Mass in incense-filled Cathedrals amidst the company of the painted icons of Saints. Christmas is one of the most joyous traditions for the celebration of Eve comes from the Russian tradition. On the Eve of Christmas, it is traditional for all family members to gather to share a special meal. The various foods and customs surrounding this meal differed in Holy Russia from village to village and from family to family, but certain aspects remained the same. An old Russian tradition, whose roots are in the Orthodox faith, is the Christmas Eve fast and meal. The fast, typically, lasts until after the evening worship service or until the first star appears. The dinner that follows is very much a celebration, although, meat is not permitted. Kutya (kutia), a type of porridge, is the primary dish. It is very symbolic with its ingredients being various grains for hope and honey and poppy seed for happiness and peace. Once the first star has appeared in the sky, the festivities begin. Although all of the food served is strictly Lenten, it is served in an unusually festive and anticipatory manner and style. The Russians call this meal: The Holy Supper. The family gathers around the table to honor the coming Christ Child. A white table-cloth, symbolic of Christs swaddling clothes, covers the Table. Hay is brought forth as a reminder of the poverty of the Cave where Jesus was born. A tall white candle is place in the center of the Table, symbolic of Christ the Light of the World. A large round loaf of Lenten bread, pagach, symbolic of Christ the Bread of Life, is placed next to the Candle. The meal begins with the Lords Prayer, led by the father of the family. A prayer of thanksgiving for all the blessings of the past year is said and then prayers for the good things in the coming year are offered. The head of the family greets those present with the traditional Christmas greeting: Christ is Born! The family members respond: Glorify Him! The Mother of the family blesses each person present with honey in the form of a cross on each forehead, saying: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, may you have sweetness and many good things in life and in the new year. Following this, everyone partakes of the bread, dipping it first in honey and then in chopped garlic. Honey is symbolic of the sweetness of life, and garlic of the bitterness. The Holy Supper is then eaten (see below for details). After dinner, no dishes are washed and the Christmas presents are opened. Then the family goes to Church, coming home between 2 and 3 am. On the Feast of the Nativity, neighbors and family members visit each other, going from house to house , eating, drinking and singing Christmas Carols all the day long. So I get very confused; I ask Svetochka when is Christmas? She tells me the 1st of January! Then she says but. It is also the 7th of January! (pause) Just that the 7th is not as important? I am not going to argue, I get lots of Winter Holiday fun & spend it with my Sweetie! I am a lucky man! Kyle WtR Kathryn Nance was sworn in as Reno Police Chief on Friday. The Reno City Council unanimously confirmed Kathryn Nance as Reno's newest police chief at a public meeting last month. Today is a monumental day for the Biggest Little City, said Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve said at the time. With over 26 years of law enforcement experience, Chief Nance will be an invaluable member of our public safety team. I am thrilled to have her vision and heart leading the charge at the Reno Police Department as we take important steps to continue making Reno a safer place for all. I am incredibly proud to start my role as Renos Chief of Police, said Chief Nance. I look forward to jumping right in and working with the RPD team to support the communitys needs, while also strengthening the department and providing stability for staff. Im overwhelmed by the genuine kindness and sense of community Ive experienced in Reno thus far, and I could not be more excited to get to work. Nance replaces former Police Chief Jason Soto who announced his retirement, effective January 2023. I would like to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to our former Chief of Police, Jason Soto, for serving our community with passion and grace for over two decades. Reno is a better and safer place because of his leadership, said Reno City Manager Doug Thornley. I cant think of a better person than Chief Nance to pick up where hes leaving off. The Reno City Manager previously nominated Nance for the role. About Kathryn Nance With 26 years of law enforcement experience, Nance is currently the Stockton Police Departments Deputy Chief of Operations, responsible for nearly 400 sworn and professional employees and a $107 million budget. Prior to this role, she served as the Stockton Police Departments Deputy Chief of Logistics, Police Captain of Strategic Operations, Patrol/Special Investigations Police Lieutenant, and Patrol/Investigations/Task Force Sergeant. Nance has a bachelors degree in criminal justice and is currently pursuing a masters degree in education (expected completion in 2023). Nance is a member of Women Leaders in Law Enforcement, the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives and the American Leadership Forum. "My leadership skills, extensive police experience, and commitment to organization wellness fit the expectations for Renos next Chief of Police, said Nance. As Chief, I will use data-driven policing to enhance deployment and create crime reduction strategies. I will also work to develop a department-wide mission and overall plan that supports the department and community needs, while strengthening the department and providing stability for employees. Nance and her husband, James, have a blended family of four children ranging in age from 30 to 23 and a five-year-old grandson. According to Nance, theyve always dreamed of relocating to northern Nevada. With family, including their oldest son living in Nevada, they are ready to make this transition. They look forward to the active outdoor lifestyle and sense of community that Reno offers. For more information about the hiring process and the latest updates, please visit Reno.Gov/ChiefofPolice. (City of Reno contributed to this report.) We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Copyright 2023 Albuquerque Journal Federal officials say a Border Patrol agent was shot and injured by someone inside a suspected smuggling vehicle just before noon Thursday in southern New Mexico. The agent was shot multiple times in his bulletproof vest and returned fire as the vehicle sped away on N.M. 146, which is north of Hachita, according to a news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The release states the vehicle crashed and six people were taken into custody two of them were flown to a hospital in El Paso. The agent, who is assigned to the Lordsburg station, was medically examined and released. The agent stopped the vehicle around 11:25 a.m. before the shootout ensued, according to the release. The vehicle rolled over a few miles down the road. The incident is being investigated by the FBI and the Office of Professional Responsibility with assistance from New Mexico State Police. More information will be shared as it becomes available, according to the release. State Sen. Crystal Diamond, R-Elephant Butte, whose district includes Hidalgo County, reacted to the incident, saying while many details are still unknown, what is clear is that today one of our brave Border Patrol agents took a bullet for this country and our community. Diamond added in her statement that New Mexicos southern border poses a clear and present danger to our citizens, our law enforcement, and the migrants caught in the criminal enterprise run by the cartel. Attorney General Raul Torrezs first week in office involved a hourslong evacuation on Wednesday due to a suspicious letter. Lauren Rodriguez, an AG spokeswoman, said everyone on the third floor of the Albuquerque office was evacuated due to a substance related to the letter. Were unsure of what the substance was but it was deemed not toxic, she said in an email Thursday. FBI spokesman Frank Fisher said the agency responded to a report of a suspicious letter at Torrezs office. No injuries were reported. This matter is currently under investigation and thats all the information can share at this time, he said. Copyright 2023 Albuquerque Journal As prescribed burns begin outside of Santa Fe, federal officials say their approach this year will be especially cautious and scaled back following last years massive Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire that began with prescribed burns. And while they are not required to, some nonprofits that also conduct burns are taking heed. The Forest Stewards Guild, a nonprofit that conducts prescribed burns and promotes forest conservation through education and advocacy, will conduct one of the first of the year. Southwest Associate Director Sam Berry said his organization will begin pile burns at Glorieta Camps outside Santa Fe as soon as the area receives at least 4 inches of snow. There will be smoke in the air, but were taking all the precautions we can, he said. The Forest Stewards Guild normally takes on a few projects in northern New Mexico each year, but Berry said it is taking on fewer projects as part of a more conservative approach. Although it was not involved with the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire, the organization is working to build back trust that Berry said was lost in the aftermath of last years wildfire. People still have a right to be concerned or interested, he said. The Guild is looking to connect more with the public this year to address concerns and make the process more transparent. Berry also said it gets tougher every year to schedule the burns, and that the organization has already pushed them back due to wet weather in the fall and little snow accumulation so far this winter. Julie Anne Overton, a Forest Service spokeswoman for the Santa Fe National Forest, said her team also would approach prescribed burns with extreme caution this year. Were kindve in uncharted territory, she said, following the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire, where two prescribed burns got out of control and merged into the largest fire in the states history. The fire lasted over four months, reaching 341,735 acres in size and destroying hundreds of homes in the Las Vegas area. In response to the fire, Forest Service Chief Randy Moore paused all prescribed burns for 90 days starting in May last year to conduct a national review of the federal program. The report that followed made several recommendations to Forest Service personnel that included more thorough reviews of environmental and weather conditions, such as temperature, winds and dryness of the forest, ahead of burns. It also called for agency administrators to authorize burns day to day, as opposed to giving approval for longer windows of time in advance. Overton said that means the windows when prescribed burns take place will be more in flux as climate change makes conditions more unpredictable. She also said that, in the Santa Fe National Forest, the Forest Service plans to go above and beyond the chiefs directives, even past what the Forest Service has planned elsewhere in the region. Its probably going to be a while before we take a drip torch to the ground, she said. At the same time, there is already movement by New Mexico state lawmakers to restrict burns. Sen. Ron Griggs, R-Alamogordo, is pre-filing a bill that would ban prescribed burns every spring. The Santa Fe National Forest posts regular announcements about prescribed burns on social media and encourages members of the public to join its news release list. The Forest Service Chiefs report stresses that prescribed burns are still a key tool in preventing megafires in the future, while acknowledging that risk of fires escaping, though low, is always present. The alternative (to prescribed burns) is more large and destructive wildfires like we have seen the past several decades a result of the combination of overgrown forests, climate change, a growing number of homes in the wildland-urban interface, and more than a century of fire suppression. Various groups, including nonprofits and federal agencies, coordinate on prescribed burns and though they are not required to, such nonprofits as the Forest Stewards Guild often follow federal recommendations. Editors note: An earlier version of this story listed an inaccurate depth of snow that the Forest Stewards Guild will wait for before beginning pile burns at Glorieta Camps outside Santa Fe. The correct depth is 4 inches. This story has been updated. Detectives have released the names of two men who died over the past week in separate incidents around Bernalillo County. No arrests have been made in either case. Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman, identified Felipe Vigil, 40, as a man found dead on East Central on Sunday. Jayme Fuller-Gonzales, a Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman, identified Cheyenne Barela, 43, as a man found dead on the West Side one day later. Gallegos said police responded around 5 a.m. to reports of a man lying in the street near Central and Pennsylvania. Officers found Vigils body and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Fuller said on Monday deputies responded around 1 a.m. to a suspicious death on Isleta, south of Arenal. She said they found Barelas body and investigators suspected foul play. Anyone with information on either case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 843-STOP or visit their website at crimestoppersnm.com Detectives arrested a suspect in the late-December stabbing death of a man during a fight at a motel in Northeast Albuquerque. Matthew Stevens, 32, is charged with an open count of murder in the Dec. 23 killing of 53-year-old Randy Heider. Stevens was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on Monday. It is unclear if he has an attorney. Stevens told police he stabbed Heider in self-defense after Heider hit him with a crowbar, but a witness told police Stevens was the aggressor, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. Police responded around 10:45 a.m. after an employee at the Extended Stay Motel on Menaul NE, near University, found Heider stabbed to death in his room. A friend told police Heiders girlfriend said Stevens stabbed him to death during a fight. Police said surveillance video showed Stevens, who was smiling at one point, go in and out of the motel room multiple times apparently after the stabbing. There were two police officers parked nearby, but neither couple contacted them before leaving the motel after the homicide. Stevens told police he went with the girlfriend to get her belongings and Heider pulled out a crowbar, according to the complaint. Stevens said Heider hit him with the crowbar multiple times before he stabbed Heider with a knife, adding that he never intended for him to die. Police said the girlfriend told them Stevens started fighting Heider out of nowhere before he hit Stevens with a crowbar. She said Stevens then beat up Heider nonstop until he was not moving on the ground, but she did not see the knife. Heiders girlfriend told police Stevens said everything is all good now afterward and they moved her belongings from the room, according to the complaint. Police found messages from Stevens where he appeared to threaten Heider before the fight, writing I not trying to scare you, but I can take it as far as I need to. Copyright 2023 Albuquerque Journal Its never a bad time to help those in need. New Mexico State University graduate student Hannah Martinez made a plan to help and achieved some amazing results. Last semester, Martinez showed up to Jardin de los Ninos, a Las Cruces-based nonprofit in Las Cruces with a $2,000 donation along with a trunkload of books. I am working on a project for graduation and I chose this project because Im more of a hands-on person when it comes to stuff like this versus numbers and research, Martinez said. I chose to work with Jardin de los Ninos, because I really aligned with their mission and I like the kids and family and just wanting to give back and help those who need it. Martinez received her Bachelors Degree in Communication Studies at NMSU. For her project, Martinez original goal was raising $1,200 along with 100 books donated, but she surpassed her goal and tripled the number of books to 300. Wanting to give back is something that I grew up with so when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do for my project, I knew that working with an organization that holds children and families so close to their hearts was going to be the best bet for me, Martinez said. I got in touch with Jardin and they gave me a tour and I was thinking about what I wanted to do with the progr am as it was something that I wanted for my project by raising money. Aside from books, Martinez also donated baskets with necessities such as detergent, paper towels, socks, blankets and other household items for families in the Adopt-A-Family program at Jardin de los Ninos.Those interested in helping can visit jardinlc.org. I think my favorite part is knowing that its going to someone who needs it, Martinez said.Its hard for people to ask for help, in more ways than one, whether its resources, but for money or supplies, or even the kinds of things, do just being able to give it without anyone asking but knowing that its going to be used and people are going to use this is I think my favorite part. The Good News File is a series of uplifting stories in partnership with KOAT-TV and KKOB Radio. The Journal will publish a Good News feature the first Friday of the month, KOAT-TV will present its feature each second Friday and KKOB each third Friday. MEXICO CITY (AP) The operation to detain Ovidio Guzman, the son of imprisoned drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, unleashed firefights that turned the northern city of Culiacan into a war zone with 30 dead, authorities said Friday. In a blow-by-blow description of the battles Thursday that killed 10 military personnel and 19 suspected members of the Sinaloa drug cartel, Defense Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval said cartel gunmen opened fire on troops with a half-dozen .50-caliber machine guns. The army responded by calling in Blackhawk helicopter gunships to attack a convoy of 25 cartel vehicles, including truck-mounted cartel gun platforms. The running shootouts also killed one Culiacan policeman, and wounded 17 police officers and 35 military personnel. The cartel then opened fire on the military aircraft, forcing two of them down with a significant number of impacts in each of the two aircraft, Sandoval said. The gang then sent hordes of gunmen to attack fixed-wing aircraft, both military and civilian, at the citys international airport. One civilian airliner was hit. The gunmen also shot up airport buildings in a bid to prevent authorities from flying the captured cartel boss out of the city. But, Sandoval said, authorities anticipating the resistance had loaded Ovidio Guzman onto a military helicopter to fly him back to Mexico City. The Mexican administration bagged the high-profile cartel figure days before hosting U.S. President Joe Biden. Samuel Gonzalez, who founded Mexicos special prosecutors office for organized crime in the 1990s, said Guzmans capture was a gift ahead of Bidens visit. The Mexican government is working to have a calm visit, he said. Juan Carlos Ayala, a Culiacan resident and Sinaloa University professor who studies the sociology of drug trafficking, said Ovidio Guzman had been an obvious target for years. Ovidios fate had been decided. Moreover, he was identified as the biggest trafficker of fentanyl and the most visible Chapos leader. Ayala said the atmosphere was calmer Friday, but there are still a lot of burned-out vehicles blocking the streets. The scope of Thursdays violence was such that Sinaloa Gov. Ruben Rocha said cartel gunmen showed up at local hospitals, trying to abduct doctors and take them away to treat wounded fighters. Rocha said that gunmen would be treated if they showed up at hospitals, but that gunmen shouldnt try to abduct medical personnel. It got to the point that at one moment the doctors were saying, Were getting out of here, recalled Rocha, saying police reinforced security and convinced the doctors to stay. Culiacan residents posted video on social media showing convoys of gunmen in pickup trucks and SUVs rolling down boulevards in the city on Thursday. At least one convoy included a flatbed truck with a mounted gun in the back. Unlike a failed 2019 attempt to arrest Ovidio Guzman the government said it had to release him to avoid further bloodshed this time around there were fewer civilian casualties, just one 14-year-old boy shot but expected to survive. One difference was that the September 2019 raid was in the city of Culiacan itself around midday, while Thursdays raid was around dawn in a more sparsely populated area to the north. Victor Medrano, director of the Culiacan Chamber of Commerce, said that in 2019 everything happened in broad daylight, and we were caught on the street or at work. While most people stayed in their homes Thursday, by Friday people were starting to go back out on the streets, Medrano said. There is still some fear but as they day goes on, there are greater number of people out, he said. But Sergio Alvarez, head of another local business chamber, said that in some sense the effects of Thursdays violence were greater. There were blockades across the whole city. Ismael Bojorquez, director of the crusading local newspaper Riodoce, said the cartel appears to have only grown stronger since 2019, when 13 people were killed in the failed raid. They (cartels) have taken advantage of these four years to organize themselves, arm themselves, strengthen their structures, their finances, he said. I believe there are more weapons than three years ago. All of organized crimes armies have strengthened, not just the Chapitos, and this is the price that society is paying for this strategy of the federal government. Thursdays violence was unusual in that it also targeted and forced the closure of Culiacans airport, where one military plane and a civilian airliner were hit by bullets. The commercial flight waited for its chance to take off as two large military planes landed with troops. When the airliner was finally preparing to accelerate, passengers heard gunshots in the distance. Within 15 seconds the sound was suddenly more intense and much closer, and passengers threw themselves to the floor, some said. They said they did not know the plane had been hit by gunfire until a flight attendant told them. No one was injured, but the plane hastily retreated to the terminal. Guzman was indicted by the United States on drug trafficking charges in 2018. According to both governments, he had assumed a growing role among his brothers in carrying on their fathers business, along with long- time cartel boss Ismael El Mayo Zambada. Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard confirmed that the government had received a request in 2019 from the United States for Guzmans arrest for purposes of extradition. He said that request would have to be updated and processed, but he added that first an open case in Mexico awaits Guzman. ___ Associated Press writers Fabiola Sanchez and Christopher Sherman contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected House speaker on a historic post-midnight 15th ballot early Saturday, overcoming holdouts from his own ranks and floor tensions that boiled over after a chaotic week that tested the new GOP majoritys ability to govern. My father always told me, its not how you start, its how you finish, McCarthy told cheering fellow Republicans. Eager to confront President Joe Biden and the Democrats, he promised subpoenas and investigations. Now the hard work begins, the California Republican declared. He credited former President Donald Trump for standing with him and for making late calls helping get those final votes. Republicans roared in celebration when his victory was announced, chanting USA! USA! Finally elected, McCarthy took the oath of office, and the House was finally able to swear in newly elected lawmakers who had been waiting all week for the chamber to formally open and the 2023-24 session to begin. After four days of grueling ballots, McCarthy flipped more than a dozen conservative holdouts to become supporters, including the chairman of the chambers Freedom Caucus. He fell one vote short on the 14th ballot, and the chamber became raucous, unruly. McCarthy strode to the back of the chamber to confront Republican Matt Gaetz, sitting with Lauren Boebert and other holdouts. Fingers were pointed, words exchanged and violence apparently just averted. At one point, Republican Mike Rogers of Alabama, shouting, approached Gaetz before another Republican, Richard Hudson of North Carolina, physically pulled him back. Stay civil! someone shouted. Order restored, the Republicans fell in line to give McCarthy the post he had fought so hard to gain, House speaker, second in the line of succession to the presidency. The few remaining Republican holdouts began voting present, dropping the tally he needed. It was the end of a bitter standoff that had shown the strengths and fragility of American democracy. The tally was 216-212 with Democrats voting for leader Hakeem Jeffries, and six Republican holdouts to McCarthy simply voting present. The nights stunning turn of events came after McCarthy agreed to many of the detractors demands including the reinstatement of a longstanding House rule that would allow any single member to call a vote to oust him from office. Even as McCarthy secured the votes he needs, he will emerge as a weakened speaker, having given away some powers and constantly under the threat of being booted by his detractors. But he could also be emboldened as a survivor of one of the more brutal fights for the gavel in U.S. history. Not since the Civil War era has a speakers vote dragged through so many rounds of voting. The showdown that has stymied the new Congress came against the backdrop of the second anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, which shook the country when a mob of Trumps supporters tried to stop Congress from certifying the Republicans 2020 election defeat to Biden. At a Capitol event Friday, some lawmakers, all but one of them Democrats, observed a moment of silence and praised officers who helped protect Congress on that day. And at the White House, Biden handed out medals to officers and others who fought the attackers. America is a land of laws, not chaos, he said. At the afternoon speakers vote, a number of Republicans tiring of the spectacle temporarily walked out when one of McCarthys most ardent challengers, Gaetz, railed against the GOP leader. Contours of a deal with conservative holdouts who had been blocking McCarthys rise had emerged the night before, and took hold after four dismal days and 14 failed votes in an intraparty standoff unseen in modern times. One significant former holdout Republican Scott Perry, chairman of the conservative Freedom Caucus, who had been a leader of Trumps efforts to challenge the 2020 election tweeted after his switched vote for McCarthy, Were at a turning point. Trump may have played a role in swaying some holdouts calling into a meeting of Republican freshmen the night before, and calling other members ahead of voting. He had urged Republicans to wrap up their public dispute. As Republican Mike Garcia of California nominated McCarthy on an earlier ballot Friday, he also thanked the U.S. Capitol Police, who were given a standing ovation for protecting lawmakers and the legislative seat of democracy on Jan. 6, 2021. But in nominating the Democratic leader Jeffries, Democrat Jim Clyburn of South Carolina recalled the horror of that day. The eyes of the country are on us today, he told his colleagues. Electing a speaker is normally an easy, joyous task for a party that has just won majority control. But not this time: About 200 Republicans were stymied by 20 far-right colleagues who said McCarthy was not conservative enough. Only the 12th ballot on Friday afternoon did McCarthy start making gains, flipping their votes to support. The House adjourned Friday until late in the night, giving time for last-minute negotiations and allowing two absent Republican colleagues to return to Washington. The disorganized start to the new Congress pointed to difficulties ahead with Republicans now in control of the House, much the way that some past Republican speakers, including John Boehner, had trouble leading a rebellious right flank. The result: government shutdowns, standoffs and Boehners early retirement when conservatives threatened to oust him. The agreement McCarthy presented to the holdouts from the Freedom Caucus and others centers around rules changes they have been seeking for months. Those changes would shrink the power of the speakers office and give rank-and-file lawmakers more influence in drafting and passing legislation. At the core of the emerging deal was the reinstatement of a House rule that would allow a single lawmaker to make a motion to vacate the chair, essentially calling a vote to oust the speaker. McCarthy had resisted allowing a return to the longstanding rule that former Speaker Nancy Pelosi had done away with, because it had been held over the head of Boehner. But it appears McCarthy had no other choice. Other wins for the holdouts are more obscure and include provisions in the proposed deal to expand the number of seats available on the House Rules Committee; to mandate 72 hours for bills to be posted before votes; and to promise to try for a constitutional amendment that would impose federal limits on the number of terms a person could serve in the House and Senate. ___ Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Kevin Freking and video journalists Nathan Ellgren and Mike Pesoli contributed to this report. NBC Celebrity The Duke of Sussex recalls turning to a woman with 'powers' in an effort to reconnect with his late mother as he struggled to come to terms with her tragic death. Jan 6, 2023 AceShowbiz - Prince Harry asked for help from a woman who "claimed to have 'powers' " in an effort to reconnect with his late mother. Princess Diana passed away in a car accident in Paris in August 1997, aged 36, and Harry has now revealed that he actually turned to the unnamed woman as he struggled to come to terms with Diana's death. "You're living the life she couldn't. You're living the life she wanted for you," Harry recalled being told by the woman as revealed in an extract from his new memoir "Spare" - which has been seen by the Guardian newspaper. In the book, Harry doesn't refer to the woman as a psychic or a medium. But he recalled turning to the woman after she was recommended to him by trusted friends. He shared, "The minute we sat down together, I felt an energy around her." During their meeting, she told Harry, "Your mother is with you." The prince then replied, "I know. I've felt that of late." Harry vividly remembers his neck becoming warm and his eyes watering during their conversation. The 38-year-old prince also recalled being told that his mother knew he was "looking for clarity" and that she "feels your confusion." Meanwhile, Harry recently revealed that he was determined that his wife wouldn't suffer the same fate as Diana. The prince also explained in his recent Netflix documentary series that he's tried to protect his relationship with the Duchess of Sussex. Harry - who now lives in California with his wife and their children - said, "I knew that the only way that this could possibly work was by keeping it quiet for as long as possible." Harry also admitted that he can see strong similarities between his wife and his late mother. The prince - who has Archie, three, and Lilibet, 19 months, with the duchess - reflected, "So much of what Meghan is, and how she is, is so similar to my mum. She has this same passion, she has this same empathy, she has this same confidence ... she has this warmth about her." You can share this post! Cover Images/Dutch Press Photo Celebrity In his upcoming bombshell memoir 'Spare', which is set to be released on January 10, the Duke of Sussex has claimed that he killed 25 Taliban fighters during a tour in Afghanistan. Jan 6, 2023 AceShowbiz - Prince Harry claims he killed 25 people while serving in Afghanistan. In his new memoir, "Spare", the Duke of Sussex has claimed that he killed 25 Taliban fighters during a tour in Afghanistan. Harry, who undertook two tours of the country, wrote, "It seemed to me essential not to be afraid of that number [of people killed]. So my number is 25. It's not a number that fills me with satisfaction, but nor does it embarrass me." The 38-year-old prince even likened the Taliban fighters to "chess pieces removed from the board." Despite this, the prince actually relished his time in the British military as it allowed him to escape the dramas of royal life. He said, "I was no longer Prince Harry, I was Second Lieutenant Wales of the Blues and Royals, second oldest regiment of the British Army." Harry launched the Invictus Games, an international competition for injured military veterans, in 2014. And the prince previously explained what the event means to him personally. Harry, who has Archie, three, and Lilibet, 19 months, with the Duchess of Sussex, shared, "When I was in the army, I promised myself I would be out before having a wife and kids, because I couldn't imagine the heartache of being apart for so long during deployment, the risk of possibly getting injured, and the reality that my family's lives could be changed forever if that happened." Harry also expressed his gratitude to other military personnel, observing that they and their families all make a significant "sacrifice". He said, "Every member of the Invictus community has experienced varying degrees of these things. I have tremendous respect for what they and their families sacrifice in the name of service." You can share this post! Cover Images/Sara De Boer Celebrity The 'Hawkeye' stars enjoys a spa treatment from his sister while he remains in ICU after a 911 call log reveals he was 'completely crushed' by his 14,330 pound Snowcat. Jan 6, 2023 AceShowbiz - Jeremy Renner is getting a spa treatment in ICU after a snowplow accident, thanks to his sister and mother. Sharing an update from his hospitalization, the actor took to his Instagram Story on Thursday, January 5 to show him enjoying "ICU spa moment" after not having a shower for around a week. In the clip, Jeremy was seen lying in hospital bed and breathing out of an oxygen mask, with his swollen eyes barely open. He appeared to be in good spirits as his sister can be seen massaging his head. "He's so sexy, yeah. Literally, look at all that blood," Jeremy's sister was heard saying to make him laugh. "First shower in definitely a week or so," the 51-year-old actor then admitted, before adding, "Gross!" In the caption, Jeremy wrote, " 'A not [so] great' ICU DAY, turned to amazing spa day with my sister and mama. Thank you sooooo much." He has since apparently reposted the video with an edited caption as it now read, "ICU spa moment to lift my spirits. Thank you mama. Thank you sister. Thank you all." Jeremy Renner enjoyed 'ICU spa moment' after getting run over by a snowplow. Jeremy was airlifted to a hospital on Sunday, January 1 after he was run over by a 14,300 pound snowplow while helping a family member free their stuck car near his home in Reno, Nevada. He suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries, and remains in the intensive care unit in critical but stable condition after undergoing a surgery on Tuesday. According to a 911 call log, the two-time Oscar nominee was "completely crushed." He was heard moaning as he was having "extreme difficulty" breathing due to his chest collapsing and his upper torso getting crushed. He also suffered a lot of heavy bleeding. In his first Instagram post since the accident, Jeremy shared his first picture from the hospital and wrote, "Thank you all for your kind words. [a praying hands emoji]. Im too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all." You can share this post! Cover Images/Sarah Silbiger/Pool/CNP Celebrity The oldest-ever president of the United States is clowned and ridiculed on social media after he once again refers to the vice president as 'president' during a border security press conference. Jan 6, 2023 AceShowbiz - Joe Biden has been clowned on social media. The president of the United States has become the butt of jokes on the Internet after he once again called Vice President Kamala Harris "President Harris" during a border security press conference. On Thursday, January 5, the 80-year-old politician discussed his upcoming trip to the southern border this weekend. During his speech, he mistakenly referred to Harris as "President Harris." He said, "President Harris led this effortled this effort to make things better in the countries from which they are leaving." Later in his remarks, he correctly identified Harris as the "vice president." The gaffe, which has happened on at least five prior occasions, was widely criticized on Twitter. "Biden STRUGGLED today in his press conference," wrote Congressman-elect Ronny Jackson on Twitter. "He called Kamala, 'President Harris.' It was a DISASTER." ACT for America chairman Bridgette Gabriel wrote, "It's time for Joe to retire." "After referring to 'President Harris', he said the seizure of 'more than 20,000 pounds of deadly fentanyl...[is] enough to kill as many as a 1,000 people,' " tweeted attorney Jonathan Turley. In a following post, Jonathan penned, "...Just 15,000 pounds is enough to kill every American," along with a link to a press release from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration outlining the sharp rise in "fentanyl-related mass-overdose events." One Twitter user chimed in, "So who is president? Biden doesn't know. In the speech he is giving he just called Harris PRESIDENT again. If he doesn't know who or what Kamala Harris is and doesn't know who or what he is half of the time, he damn sure shouldn't be running our country." Someone else added, "He manifesting she take over at this point lol." Back in October, the oldest-ever president, who has said that he intends to run for a second term in 2024, called Harris a "great president" while wishing her a happy birthday. Last January, he also referred to the veep as "President Harris" during a speech in Georgia, in which he also falsely claimed he was arrested multiple times fighting for civil rights. In December 2021, he told students of a historically black college in South Carolina that "of course President Harris is a proud Howard alum." Less than two months after taking office, Biden referred to "President Harris" while celebrating the U.S. nearing the milestone of 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses being administered in March 2021. In December 2020, after winning the presidential election, Biden referred to his running mate as "President-elect Harris" while discussing how she publicly received a COVID-19 vaccine shot. You can share this post! Cover Images/Dutch Press Photo Celebrity In addition to dishing on his strained relationship with British family members, the Duke of Sussex gets personal as he addresses speculations whether he and his brother William are circumcised. Jan 6, 2023 AceShowbiz - Prince Harry is telling all in his upcoming memoir "Spare". In addition to dishing on his strained relationship with British family members, the Duke of Sussex got personal as he addressed speculations whether he and his brother William are circumcised. Harry noted in the book that the question of whether he and William were cut or uncut "was a matter of public record, and indeed some public curiosity." He said, "There were countless stories in books, and papers (even The New York Times) about Willy and me not being circumcised." "Mummy had forbidden it, they all said, and while it's absolutely true that the chance of getting penile frostbite is much greater if you're not circumcised, all the stories were false," he clarified. "I was snipped as a baby." The topic was brought into discussion after Harry was recalling getting frostbite in his ears, cheeks and a decidedly more private location at a dinner prior to William's 2011 wedding to Kate Middleton. "Upon arriving home I'd been horrified to discover that my nether regions were frost nipped as well," the father of two wrote. "And while the ears and cheeks were already healing, the todger wasn't. It was becoming more of an issue by the day." Among other bombshells from Harry's new book was about how he lost his virginity to an unnamed older woman at the age of 17. The 38-year-old prince revealed that he lost his virginity in a field behind a "very busy pub" in 2001 when he was still a student at Eton College in Windsor, South-East England. "I suspected he was referring to my recent loss of virginity, a humiliating episode with an older woman who liked macho horses and who treated me like a young stallion," Harry, who is now married to Meghan Markle and shares two children together, wrote as he remembered a lunchtime meeting with one of the royal family's bodyguards. He continued, "I mounted her quickly, after which she spanked my a** and sent me away. One of my many mistakes was letting it happen in a field, just behind a very busy pub. No doubt someone had seen us." "Spare" is slated to hit the shelves on January 10. You can share this post! Facebook Music On the track titled 'Rat N***as', the Miami rapper makes his stance clear on fellow hip-hop stars who take plea deals and leave their friends behind in prison. Jan 6, 2023 AceShowbiz - Bobby Shmurda has seemingly weighed in on the YSL RICO case via his new song. On Wednesday, January 4, he debuted a new track titled "Rat N***as", in which he speaks about his stance against fellow hip-hop stars who take plea deals and leave their friends behind in prison. "Heard [you] snitchin' on all of your friends/ Took a plea deal, left the streets real/ but left your dawg in that pen, n***a," he raps in the snippet shared via his Instagram page. "That pain don't ever end/ What they play back in that courtroom gonna playback in his head, n***a." He continues rapping passionately in a recording studio in the clip, "Snitch! Man, all y'all n***as b***h/ Man, f**k all y'all rap n***as/ Most of y'all some rat n***as/ All y'all chit chat, n***a." He reiterated in the caption, "Mannn F*** all these rap N***aaas!!!!" While Bobby could be talking about anyone, people are convinced that he is taking shots at Gunna because of the lyrics, "What they play back in that courtroom gonna playback in his head, n***a." Footage of Gunna taking a plea deal surfaced in December after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. "Oh s**t Bobby might got one, I like how you said that fool!" 50 Cent weighed in on the song. Another wrote in the comment section of Bobby's post, "N***a made a Gunna Diss Record." A third added, "He might as well titled this Gunna." Bobby himself is known for his loyalty to his friends. He was arrested in 2014 and charged with conspiracy to murder, weapons possession and reckless endangerment. In 2016, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years in prison, which was reduced to five years after receiving credit for the two years he already served awaiting trial. He was released in February 2021. His release was widely celebrated across the hip-hop community. Meanwhile, Gunna was sentenced to five years in prison, but it was commuted to time served after taking the plea deal. Though prosecutors might call him to testify against Young Thug in a trial, his lawyer already stated that his client would invoke his Fifth Amendment right. You can share this post! Cover Images/Instagram/ROGER WONG Celebrity The '20/20' co-anchor is all smiles as she bundles up in a puffer jacket when leaving her boyfriend's New York City apartment, days after returning from their romantic Miami getaway. Jan 6, 2023 AceShowbiz - Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes continue seeing each other amid all the talks about their relationship. Seemingly unfazed by his estranged wife Marilee Fiebig's recent statement on the pair's widely-publicized romance, Amy has been spotted visiting her boyfriend in New York City. On Wednesday, January 4, the 49-year-old reporter was photographed as she was leaving T.J.'s NYC apartment. Dressing casually while walking briskly, she flashed a smile as she ignored a paparazzo's question about her future on "Good Morning America". In photos obtained by Page Six, the "20/20" co-anchor bundled up in a blue navy puffer jacket and dark gray jeans which she teamed with a pair of black sneakers. She also carried a large backpack and wore a pair of stylish aviator sunglasses while seemingly going makeup free. Amy kept her AirPods in her ears and iPhone in her hands. She stopped periodically to lift her shades to be able to see her screen clearly. She then headed to a nearby subway station, where she was later seen boarding a subway and mingling with fellow commuters. Amy's visit to T.J.'s apartment comes just hours after his estranged wife broke her silence on the pair's relationship. "During the holiday season and in light of the challenging times, Marilee's sole focus has remained on the overall best interest of her 9-year-old daughter," her divorce lawyer Stephanie Lehman, head of the New York/New Jersey family law practice Phillips Nizer, told Daily Mail. "To that end T.J.'s lawyer and I 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 party's daughter," the lawyer added. "Marilee has been touched by the outpouring of support and looks forward to a new beginning in this new year." T.J. filed for divorce on December 28, while he was on a romantic vacation with Amy in Miami. They had separated since August before his romantic relationship with Amy was exposed in late November. You can share this post! Cover Images/Dutch Press Photo Celebrity In his new memoir 'Spare', the Duke of Sussex also confesses to 'willing to try almost anything that'd upset the established order' and smoking cigarettes and cannabis while he was a student at Eton. Jan 6, 2023 AceShowbiz - Prince Harry took cocaine at the age of 17. The 38-year-old prince has recalled that he was offered a line of cocaine during a hunting weekend - but he didn't find it to be "much fun." In a translation of his memoir "Spare", which has been obtained by MailOnline, Harry writes, "It wasn't much fun, and it didn't make me feel particularly happy the way the others seemed to, but it did make me feel different, and that was my main goal. To feel. To be different." Harry admitted that at the time, he was a 17-year-old "willing to try almost anything that would upset the established order." The prince also confessed to smoking cigarettes and cannabis while he was a student at Eton. In 2005, Harry was widely criticized after he was photographed wearing a Nazi costume to a private party. The prince recently described the incident as "one of the biggest mistakes" of his life. He shared, "It was probably one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I felt so ashamed afterwards. All I wanted to do was make it right". Harry - who has Archie, three, and Lilibet, 19 months, with the Duchess of Sussex - was determined to learn from his mistake. And he subsequently made a concerted effort to educate himself about Nazi atrocities. In his "Harry & Meghan" documentary series, he explained, "I sat down and spoke to the chief rabbi in London, which had a profound impact on me. I went to Berlin and spoke to a holocaust survivor. I could have just ignored it and got on and probably made the same mistakes over and over again in my life, but I learnt from that." You can share this post! Netflix Movie The 'Morning Show' actress and the 'Uncut Gems' star reprise their roles as a detective couple who gets involved 'in some international intrigue' when attending their pal's wedding in Paris. Jan 6, 2023 AceShowbiz - Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler's "Murder Mystery" continues in its sequel. The pair reunite in "Murder Mystery 2", which will be released on Netflix later this year and has been teased via a first-look photo. Making its way out via USA Today, the picture features Sandler and Aniston reprising their roles as Nick Spitz, a New York City police officer, and Audrey Spitz, a hairdresser, murder mystery novel enthusiast and Nick's wife. The two appear to be on a romantic vacation in Paris based on the city view overlooking the river and the love lock bridge behind them. The pair stand close to each other as Aniston holds a travel bag in one hand and a phone in her other hand. Both of them look at her phone, as Sandler wears an arm sling due to an unknown injury. Scott Yamano/Netflix Plot details are still scarce, but according to the logline, it will follow the detective couple, Audrey and Nick, as they "get involved in some international intrigue when their pal is kidnapped at his own wedding in the comedy sequel." Directed by Jeremy Garelick and written by James Vanderbilt, "Murder Mystery 2" is loosely based on Agatha Christie's 1934 novel "Murder on the Orient Express". Principal photography began in January 2022 in Hawaii before moving to Paris, France. Filming wrapped in April. Adeel Akhtar and John Kani are reprising their roles from the first film, with Mark Strong, Melanie Laurent, Jodie Turner-Smith, Kuhoo Verma, Enrique Arce, Tony Goldwyn, Annie Mumolo and Zurin Villanueva joining the film as newcomers. The comedy mystery film is scheduled to be released on Netflix in March. The first film, loosely based on Christie's book "Death on the Nile", received generally unfavorable reviews from critics, but it managed to pull in huge viewer numbers. In July 2019, Netflix reported that the film was viewed by 73 million households in its first four weeks of release. You can share this post! Cover Images/Dutch Press Photo Celebrity In a new video from his forthcoming interview on '60 Minutes', the Duke of Sussex discusses how the British media mistreated the Duchess of Sussex, who is half black half white. Jan 6, 2023 AceShowbiz - Prince Harry detailed how his relationship with Meghan Markle. In a new video from his forthcoming interview on "60 Minutes", the Duke of Sussex revealed that he acknowledged that he was "probably bigoted" before dating the former "Suits" actress, who is now his wife. "What Meghan had to go through was similar, in some part, to what Kate [Middleton] and what [Queen] Camilla went through - very different circumstances," Harry says to host Anderson Cooper, while discussing how the British media mistreated his wife, who is half black half white. He continues, "But then you add in the race element, which was what the British press jumped on straight away. I went into this incredibly naive. I had no idea the British press was so bigoted. Hell, I was probably bigoted before the relationship with Meghan." When Anderson asks if he thought he was bigoted, he replies, "I don't know. Put it this way, I didn't see what I now see." This isn't the first time for Harry and Meghan to criticize the British press, which aided in their decision to leave the royal family in 2020. "We all know what the British press can be like and it was destroying my mental health," he said in the interview on "The Late Late Show With James Corden" back in 2021. "This is toxic. So, I did what any husband and what any father would do - I need to get my family out of here." The couple also sued Associated Newspapers and Mail on Sunday for invasion of privacy after the 2019 publication of excerpts of a private letter she wrote to her estranged father, Thomas Markle, was leaked. Meghan eventually won a decisive victory in her long-running legal feud in 2021. "60 Minutes" airs on Sunday, January 8 at 7:30 P.M. ET, on CBS, 2 days before Harry's bombshell memoir "Spare" is released on January 10. You can share this post! Instagram/Misan Harriman/YouTube Celebrity The Duke of Sussex believes his father resents his wife Meghan Markle for overshadowing other royals, adding that the king 'lived through that before' when he was married to Princess Diana. Jan 6, 2023 AceShowbiz - Prince Harry has accused King Charles of resenting his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex for "overshadowing" the rest of the royal family. The 38-year-old royal - who has become financially independent from the royal family since he and his spouse stepped down from official duties to start a new life in California in 2020 - recalls talking to his father in which he alleged the king told him there wasn't "enough money" to financially support the "Suits" actress, but he doesn't think things were as straightforward as that. The Duke of Sussex claimed Charles wrote in his memoir "Spare", saying he was "already having to pay" a lot to support Harry as well as his older brother Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales. However, Harry insisted, "Pa didn't financially support Willy and me, and our families, out of any largesse. That was his job. That was the whole deal." The BetterUp CIO told how he and William "agreed to serve the monarch" and stay "inside the gilded cage at all times" in exchange to be taken care of so he was confused by the king's remarks - until he realised it wasn't the money he was worried about. He wrote, "Pa might have dreaded the rising cost of maintaining us, but what he really couldn't stomach was someone new dominating the monarchy, grabbing the limelight, someone shiny and new coming in and overshadowing him." Harry noted that Charles - who became king in September following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth - had "lived through that before" when he married Princess Diana. Harry also claimed William had told him not to propose to Meghan because he was concerned their relationship was moving "too fast." And he explained his brother dismissed suggestions he and the former "Deal or No Deal" star - with whom he has children Archie, three, and Lili, 19 months - would "become a foursome" with him and Catherine because she was "an American actress after all." But as things grew more serious between Meghan and Harry, the younger prince told his brother he felt their late mother Diana had helped him "find" her, which made "concerned" William uncomfortable. Harry - who got engaged to Meghan in 2017 after a year together and married her in May 2018 - wrote that the Prince of Wales "took a step back" and told him he was "taking things a bit too far." You can share this post! Cover Images/Dutch Press Photo Celebrity A former British Army Colonel says the Duke of Sussex 'has shot himself in the foot' by publicly talking about killing 25 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. Jan 7, 2023 AceShowbiz - Prince Harry is called a "mad big mouth loser" and "dirty idiot" by the Taliban for claiming he killed 25 "chess piece" enemy fighters in Afghanistan. On Friday, January 6, 2023, members of the terror cell told Mail Online they don't believe the Duke of Sussex's death toll boast and said he committed war crimes and "needs a doctor." "We are still here ruling but he has fled to his grandmother's palace. He's a big mouth loser who has been trying to get attention," Taliban commander Molavi Agha Gol, 32, said from a checkpoint outside Islam Qala, on the border with Iran. "I do not even believe what he said about the Mujaheddin. He is a loser and scared to go to a combat zone. We made history by kicking him and his army out of our homeland and he should be very angry about that. Do not believe whatever losers tell you." "I see news about him a lot on my Facebook feed and really think he's gone mad and needs a doctor immediately. Even if he believes (he killed 25 Taliban), our martyred Mujaheddin are in heaven, but his invading friends are burning in hell and I really hope I was in Helmand when he was there, to make him understand what real chess pieces are. If he's a real man and not a f****** loser, come to Afghanistan again." Molavi Nabi Jan, a Taliban official in the western Afghan city of Herat, added, "He's a dirty idiot and a drunk jackal. He has destroyed all bridges behind him and is now just trying to avoid drowning in history. Using the Taliban and his family is his last tool to make people talk about him. I know him very well. God left him on his own to give him a very big punishment at the end." And Taliban official Anas Haqqani, tweeted, "Mr. Harry! The ones you killed were not chess pieces, they were humans; they had families who were waiting for their return. Among the killers of Afghans, not many have your decency to reveal their conscience and confess to their war crimes." "The truth is what you've said; Our innocent people were chess pieces to your soldiers, military and political leaders. Still, you were defeated in that 'game' of white and black 'square.' " Harry, 38, known as "Captain Wales" during his decade in the military, claimed in his memoir "Spare" he killed 25 Taliban fighters during his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. He said he thought of them as "chess pieces" he'd obliterated from a playing board rather than human beings, saying in the book, "You can't kill people if you see them as people." Harry was deployed to Helmand province as a forward air controller in 2007 and returned in 2012, and said in his book he flew on six missions that resulted in the "taking of human lives." Former British Army Colonel Richard Kemp has warned Harry may have put a target on his back with his remarks and, was quoted by The Sun on Friday, January 6, 2023 saying, "It undermines his personal security. He has shot himself in the foot." You can share this post! 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 The start of a new year is seen as bringing in new operational efficiencies, stronger strategies, a far greater emphasis on building deep bonds with various stakeholders and consumers. In keeping with the current market ecosystem, technology and a human approach are seen as going hand in hand. As 2023 kicks off, Adgully has approached key industry leaders to Crystal Gaze into 2023, as part of our annual Trending Now series, to highlight the major trends and developments that they see dominating the industry in the year ahead. Kaushik Mukherjee, Co-founder and COO, SUGARCosmetics, highlights the key trends that are expected to dominate the beauty and personal care industry in 2023. He also shares the beauty brands performance in the year gone by, as well as the major focus areas for SUGARCosmetics in 2023. Key trends dominating the industry in 2023 Looking at the current market growth, we strongly believe that 2023 will see notable shifts in how consumers shop and make purchases in the online D2C & retail space. This will largely be driven by factors such as higher mobile usage, personalized experiences, omnichannel marketing, and more. As an industry, we expect D2C businesses to gain momentum by expanding niche categories, new market entrants, and investors positive investments. Brands will continue to invest in technology and innovation that will help them in making an impact and disrupt the market. Major expectations We look forward to further cementing our position as a fan favorite and creating new pathways for customer acquisition, especially with the Gen Z and millennial audiences in India. The rise of minimalism beauty trends has accelerated; we assume new makeup products will be skewed towards skin-care benefits. Along with the launch of such hybrid products that come with multipurpose uses, lipsticks in innovative, newer textures and formulas, and fun colorful eyeshadows will see a surge. Keeping our audience in mind, we are also looking forward to tapping into different categories of the beauty industry. The brand will also focus on creating solid content to keep educating and engaging its community across all platforms digital and others. Over & above the consumer space, we expect Online D2C & the Retail industry to equally fuel with growing acceptance of omnichannel, online payments, consumer-friendly pricing, finding buyers through social media, innovative technology integrations offline & beyond, experiential marketing and more. Focus areas for SUGARCosmetics in 2023 You will see us consistently building and expanding our core pillars Product, Distribution, Content, and Community. Apart from keeping the brands fast-moving product range ahead of the curve, the team is relentlessly building both digital and retail distribution to further our reach in existing and new geographies. Our plans for 2023 include targeting and achieving a 100% Y-O-Y revenue growth over last year, expansion to more than 60,000 retail outlets, making our D2C platform base stronger & larger, and growing our team size to 3,000 employees. SUGARCosmetics will also be seen creating solid content to keep educating and engaging our large community across all platforms digital and beyond, and targets to become the number one brand in this space. We will also be collaborating with like-minded personalities, events, IPs across newer media and enhance the retail marketing and visual merchandising experience, explore newer product lines while enhancing our existing ones. Rewind 2022 The year 2022 was a year with almost negligible restrictions, leading to many brands like SUGARCosmetics as well, being experimental & innovative with their marketing approach. The year saw some powerful campaigns and great collaborations with strong yet appealing personalities. Brands went beyond money marketing and took memes and experiential marketing to the next level. Innovation in AR & VR tech along with experiments into gamified filters saw some of the emergences of viral trends across social media platforms. The emergence of Metaverse too shook up the world of marketing. Macro and micro-influencers continued to influence purchasing habits and are in fact one of the prime reasons why thousands of businesses and brands experienced continued growth over the past decade. We also saw an uptick in short-format videos; not just nationally but also at a regional level. There still remains a huge demand for vernacular content and untapped opportunities for regional platforms. While digital advertising remains a more accessible space, traditional advertising took a jump upfront and was in its prime. Marketers were able to reach out to the deep pockets of the country, in their native language and created an audience base that aligns with the same. Additionally, the digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising industry in India has seen considerable growth in recent times. Many traditional billboards have taken a turn and digital formats are on the rise, indicating the change. Key trends and developments in 2022 The beauty industry is ever-evolving and digitization in the past years has accelerated its growth and ever-evolving trends. In recent days, hybrid beauty products have gained momentum as consumers become more conscious of the ingredients in their makeup and demand more from each product. Additionally, the rise of minimalism beauty trends has heightened this growth. Consumers will be seen opting for single coverage products rather than layering a lot of products for their base. 2023 will be a year of makeup maximalism in terms of colours, graphics, and pigments. We do expect consumers to be more intrigued to try new pigments & textures in lip products and experiment with popping colors for their eye makeup. Hybrid cosmetics with skin benefits are a growing beauty category that is expected to explode next year. The hassle of using more products comes to an end with this innovation. While traditional beauty and makeup focus on cosmetics that reduce the appearance of blemishes, treat acne, or clear dark spots, it does not do it all together. Hybrid beauty opens a new avenue of customization for skin-specific concerns. At Sugar, we have always put our consumers first and ensured that we cater to their requirements. 2023 will not be any different, the consumers will be seeing a lot more in terms of innovative products in all categories (eyes, lips and face) coming their way. Performance during in 2022 The year 2022, was finally a year that saw almost no pandemic restrictions, after the previous few years which were a bit unpredictable. In 2022, SUGARCosmetics touched larger milestones like never before, as the brand managed to almost double its sales over the previous year. The brands omnichannel approach has led the company currently be one of the Top 3 cosmetics brands in India, with 45000+ retail touchpoints across 550+ cities, making us one of the select few brands that have launched 120+ of their own stores in retail and furthering their international presence across US, UAE, Russia, Nepal and exponentially expanding more. The brand-owned app has also garnered over 4 million downloads, shipping to more than 20,000 unique pin codes solely through the App. Sugars social media platforms are an active engagement from their fans and followers, reaching more than 48 billion women, as just on Instagram the brand crosses 2.4 million+ followers making it one of the top consumer brands in India to get that to the level of reach. We also along with our experiment into gamified AR filters that hit virality on platforms like Instagram and Moj. Our #ShukarHaiSUGARHai campaign with our campaign ambassadors Ranveer Singh and Tamannaah Bhatia was also a huge viral success! We also received solid support from impactful investors, namely L Catterton and Ranveer Singh (who made his first-ever investment with Sugar). Authored by Radhika Raheja, Head of Planning and Strategy, Schbang. Marketing to Gen-Z comes with its fair share of challenges. It may seem daunting, but with the right strategy in your arsenal, it is as simple as marketing to any other generation. There are a handful of Indian brands that have come close to building affinity with this audience. However, more often than not, this results from marketers suffering from chronic procrastination. In an era of constant change, the inability to adapt your brands marketing approach to this cohort is the perfect recipe for becoming irrelevant. If you think of it, every few years, you reach a spot when you feel a desperate need to re-write your marketing rule book. well, latch on to that feeling! The feeling of wanting to reconsider your approach and understand the nuances of new platforms and a fresh set of people. Now more than ever is the time to review, rethink and renew your strategy. Not just for every campaign but for your brand altogether. Most importantly, build a framework adaptable to constant change and apply a 2-year refresh rule! Most conglomerates still need to take the time to re-invent their approach and become relevant to this audience. This has led to a budding population with tremendous spending power shopping from young & local brands, creators and artists. According to EYs World Bank Population projections , 27% of the Indian population (about 375 million people) is Gen-Z, anyone born between 1995 to 2015. This cohort comprises 1.8 billion people globally, making up 24% of the worlds population. So lets understand the changes we can bring about to connect with this audience. Start with setting a foundational rule with this generation do not assume. It is a generation of digital natives, changemakers and challengers. Zoomers are not afraid of voicing their opinions and dropping truth bombs. To put it in simple terms, they are not only a generation with a new school of thought but also a generation that is indirectly schooling elders about how to think. In 2023, we have to rewrite some chapters of our marketing rule book. Begin with soul-searching your brand and its potential customer This audience has grown up watching ads with romanticised products, functional benefits & celebrity endorsements. But, in every Ad they do not skip, they look for a story or purpose they can relate to. According to a BBC study of Gen Z , 80% of Indian Gen Z respondents said that authenticity plays an influential role in their choice of brands. Here is an example of how McDonalds used the authentic voice of this generation to give a real take on festivals. Furthermore, they brought to life a consumer truth with absolute subtlety, the consumer insight that genuine excitement during every festival revolves around the meals eaten together. While this is a decent attempt at being relevant to Gen-Z, we need to see them push the needle more. Festivals make families | Meals Make Families | McDonald's India | Hindi If you want to be remembered, consumer research is your best friend. Cadbury attempted to depict best feeling in a 6-second asset, which is an outdated insight and brand tone. This definitely would fall on my dont do list. Cadbury Dairy Milk Bites - The best feeling, in a Bite. Learn from young challenger brands Young challenger brands are setting new standards. According to the BBC, the top aspirations for Gen-Z in India are being successful, authentic/true to yourself and at peace. Mokobaras simple brand promises to be quite crisp and beautiful. They claim to be on a mission to help folks who are #GoingPlaces to travel with ease and look sharp, coupled with the consumer callout of #JoinTheMovement has truly nailed a positioning that appeals to zoomers. And thats not all; their fresh take on visual identity creation is the cherry on top of their brand positioning strategy. Choosing to go with an astronaut as the face of the brand is one of the smartest decisions, which enables them to tap into what modern travel will feel & look like even 5 years from now. https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cfq2uyWgYuS/?igshid=YWJhMjlhZTc%3DO https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiukFpFIpP1/?igshid=YWJhMjlhZTc%3D Think Local, Not And Global Gen-Z is the most exposed to global trends and also consumes content in local languages. Master the art of localising global ideas, conversations and trends. Heres an example of Netflix touching the hearts of fans across the country with an anthem that spoke many languages simultaneously for an international show. The Money Heist Fan Anthem | Anil Kapoor, Rana Daggubati, Vikrant Massey, Shruti Haasan & More! Surprise a Millennial & relate to Gen-Z When you are pre-testing ads for this audience, test them with Gen-Z & Millennials. Hope to surprise the millennials and be relatable to Gen-Z. Accept that it may not always be possible to surprise a Gen-Z, but it is important to be relatable. Interact with this audience and understand their everyday stories to unlock the power of keeping them engaged even with long-format content. If Cinderella was a Gen Z ft @Tarini Shah and @Agasthya Shah Enhance their digital shopping experience to increase conversions If youre a D2C brand, upgrade your website to provide consumers with an immersive product experience. Use AR, VR & 3D to bridge the gap between digital and physical. 2023 will be the year you will see zoomers shop from platforms that provide experiences that satisfy and surprise them while they shop from home. For example, Nike has developed a feature within their app which uses augmented reality to scan your feet and determine the shoe that fits your right. Brands will upgrade to such shopping experiences throughout the year, and its time to get on the bandwagon if you do not want to be left behind. Marketing to Gen-Z in 2023 is about innovating a new approach across the different touchpoints of the consumer journey. So, its time for all of us to gear up for a new year of makeovers! This festive season gets merrier as DCB Bank offers a special offer of up to 20 paise off per Rupee to transfer funds before 15th January 2023. Resident Indians can use DCB Remit online service to send money via net banking to the designated countries from any bank account in India. Any citizen can seamlessly transfer funds to any person who may have travelled abroad for business or leisure. DCB Remit makes money transfers quicker, secure, transparent and cost-efficient too. For remittances of 2,000 to 5,000 in foreign currency, a DCB Remit user can use Code: CHRTEN and get 10 paise off. For remitting 5,000 to 8,000 in foreign currency, use Code: CHRFIF and get 15 paise off & for remittance above 8,000 in foreign currency, use Code: CHRTWE and get 20 paise off. Funds can be transferred in six currencies USD, AUD, GBP, SGD, CAD and EURO. This offer is valid on multiple transactions booked within the time period. Resident Indians can avail the services of DCB Remit without maintaining an account with DCB Bank. They only need to complete the one-time registration and send money abroad through DCB Remit. Simply log on to www.dcbremit.com to send money to an overseas bank account. After adding the beneficiary details and instructions to transfer funds in Indian rupees, DCB Bank will convert the amount into the required foreign currency and credit it to the beneficiarys overseas account. The money transfer can be tracked in real-time and even stopped while in process in the event of an unforeseen situation. Sunil Nair has decided to step down from his position as the Managing Director- APAC region of Firework, and will now be working with a few startups as an investor and mentor. Sunil joined the company as the India CEO in 2019 and launched Firework in India in the same year. Later he was promoted to the MD- APAC region and moved to Singapore in 2022. Before joining hands with Firework, Nair was working with ALT Balaji for over four years as the COO. Previously, he set up the first online video distribution platform Nautanki TV which has now been acquired by Hungama. He has also been associated with One Channel Media, Reliance Jio, and Star India Pvt Ltd. Flipcarbon, a boutique management consulting firm with a Pan India business presence, announces the appointment of Mr Rajesh Sahay as Partner - Enterprise Consulting and Dr Nidhi Shukla as a Principal Consultant at Mumbai. Rajesh will pioneer Enterprise Consulting Practices wherein he will drive CXO-level engagement for business consulting. In a career spanning over 3 decades, Rajesh has worked across the spectrum of industries spanning Energy, Textile, IT services Banking and FMCG. In Rajeshs last stint, he was the CHRO - Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting business, having a presence in 18 countries. Rajesh has been part of more than 10 M&A deals, some of them with multi-country operations, he has managed transitions related to divestitures and demergers of entities. In the last few years of his corporate career, Rajesh has also led the ESG & CSR initiative for Wipro Enterprises and supported the organisation in a new business set-up. Dr Nidhi Shukla joins Flipcarbon as a Principal Consultant in Mumbai and will be responsible for the Fractional CHRO business offering. In a career spanning over 3 decades, Nidhi, an alumnus of XISS Ranchi and a PhD in Management from IIT, has straddled both Enterprises and Academics, in her last stint, Nidhi was a Professor of Human Resource Management at XISS Ranchi. During Dr Nidhis academic tenure, she has trained numerous HR professionals and influenced many organisations. On these new appointments, Alok Ranjan, Chief Executive Officer, of Flipcarbon Integrated Solutions Private Limited says "Thinking big is our driver and we keep pushing our own capabilities to play a more meaningful role in our clients lives. As we embark on our next growth phase of Enterprise Consulting Rajesh Sahay and Dr Nidhi join our diverse leadership team to support our ambition. Both these professionals bring the right blend of academic research and industry excellence, this will put us in an enviable position in the industry. Gujarat Titans, the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 champions, will celebrate the festival of Uttarayan with a range of activities in Ahmedabad. Uttarayan is an iconic festive occasion and the Gujarat Titans will mark it by joining the fans in celebration. As a part of the celebration, Gujarat Titans will celebrate the festival across locations in Ahmedabad starting from January 7 culminating in an iconic finish on January 14. On January 7 and 8, Gujarat Titans will host the celebrations at the Alpha One Mall, Urban Chowk Ring Road and Urban Chowk Rajpath Club. These celebrations will kick-start at Alpha One Mall at 12 pm on both days, whereas it will start at 5pm at the two Urban Chowks. Fans can attend these events and participate in various activities organised by the Gujarat Titans with opportunities to win exciting merchandise. The festivities will continue in Ahmedabad from January 12 to 14. The Gujarat Titans are planning a special celebration on January 14 to finish a memorable week. The details of those events will be announced in due course. The people of Gujarat celebrate Uttarayan to mark the onset of a new season. The fans are the most important part of the Gujarat Titans family and we look forward to celebrating with them in Ahmedabad, our home city, said Arvinder Singh, COO Gujarat Titans. There have been posters of a missing dog all over Mumbai. Followed by huge hoardings about a missing dog called 'Shonku' which have been catching everyone's eyes since the beginning of 2023. The passersbys and spectators were encouraged to contact a number and even a reward was promised. The campaign caught the attention of many, and over 2000 callers reached out to find out who Shonku is & were greeted with the trailer of the upcoming film 'Lakadbaggha'. A select few were even rewarded with tickets to a special screening. Lakadbaggha is a homage to all the animal lovers and is a film that has the central protagonist, Arjun Bakshi played by Anshuman Jha who works tirelessly as a martial darts teacher by the day and a saviour for those who dont have a voice of their own aka the street dogs. A larger war is waged when an antagonist who is an illegal animal trader comes face to face with Arjun and its a fight between humanity and the evil. The trailer has been trending on Social Media Platforms since it's release less then 48 hours ago. And this animal lover vigilante film is already the most talked about release in January - courtesy Shonku, a pivotal character in the film. The marketing spokesperson of the film said, Anshuman had this idea even before he began shooting for the film & it has really caught everyone's imagination. It brought attention to concerned and curious citizens who wanted to know who and where Shonku is, the missing dog. The film is a love letter by the makers for animals and their undying love for them. The film produced by First Ray Films is set to release on 13th January 2023. Indias biggest dream realiser Mukesh Chhabra has time and again launched some of the greatest talents of all with his knack for casting. He has made several dreams come true and this year too, he wishes to do the same, and get even better at doing so. Understanding that work, money, fame, struggle are some of the important components of an actor's life, he takes to social media and writes a very warm note to all the aspiring actors out there. He writes Work, money, fame, struggle- it seems like these dreams have taken away happiness and peace from a lot of young actors these days. It saddens me a lot to see so many of you looking sad, hopeless and downcast. This new year happiness is something we all have to take care of, not just for ourselves, but also for those around us. As a community of creative people, we have to look out for each other, offer support, a helping hand and sometimes just a shoulder to cry on. There cannot be any place for envy, competition amongst our own community. I want to let you all know that on my end I am working day in and out to provide work to as many actors as I can, and promise to keep doing so. 2023 has so many amazing projects in the pipeline and I promise to give each and every talented individual an opportunity to showcase their artistic skills on-screen. From your end, I hope to see happier faces, brighter eyes and a community that supports and loves one another. I hope to work with you all amazing actors with dreams in your eyes, very very soon. So, please, keep the faith. Happy New Year Lots of Love So far, Mukesh Chhabra has given innumerable opportunities to talented actors and has turned them into stars and can certainly be called the Piped Piper of Bollywood. Mukesh Chhabra is a star maker and his passion to rope in actors from all quarters, be it from cities or small towns makes him the first to advance towards change. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today shared its vision for a calmer connected world through cutting-edge technologies that enhance the lives of users by providing smarter and more intuitive experiences. Speaking at a press conference at CES 2023, Samsung and its key partners came together to outline details about how they plan to build a better-connected world while contributing to a more sustainable future. Jong-Hee (JH) Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of the DX (Device eXperience) Division at Samsung Electronics opened the companys presence at CES by highlighting Samsungs strategy to deliver on the promise of the connected experience across the key touchpoints in our lives in our homes, cars, and at work while also working to build a more sustainable future. The strategy outlined during the press conference focuses on the companys aim of bringing calm to our connected world so that devices and innovation can genuinely enable better, more personal, and more intuitive experiences. To do this, Samsung is focusing on seamlessly connecting devices and designing products to make the everyday use of technology more sustainable. We recognize our vision is a big one, said CEO JH Han. Its about solving real challenges today and understanding consumers future needs and aspirations. It will take time, innovation, and cooperation with partners worldwide. But we are committed to achieving it, and already getting started. Samsung Incorporates Sustainability at Every Level To address our planets ongoing challenges, Samsung highlighted how it continues to prioritize the environment through a combination of sustainability targets, innovative product design, and strategic partnerships. As a result, by 2050, all of Samsungs businesses will match their electricity needs with renewable energy and reach net zero carbon emissions. In the nearer term, the DX Division will transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2027 and achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030. To further the companys sustainability goals, Samsung outlined how Everyday Sustainabilitybuilding sustainability features into the companys most popular products and serviceswill contribute to a healthier environment. This includes creating more sustainable products through innovative design in materials and energy efficiency. By building sustainability into the product experience, we, and the many people around the world who use our products, can contribute to a healthier planet, said Inhee Chung, Vice President of Corporate Sustainability Center at Samsung. As a result, some of our most popular products are now some of our most sustainable. Samsung announced that many of its TVs and smartphones use recycled materials, including recycled plastic from discarded finishing nets, while the companys home appliances, memory and 5G radio network chipsets are contributing to energy savings for customers. In addition, Samsungs connected services, such as SmartThings Energy and AI Energy Mode, are also helping consumers save energy and cut costs while lowering their overall climate impact. Samsung also shared the stage with Patagonia, a global leader in outdoor clothing, to discuss a partnership to combat the issue of microplastics the tiny particles often found in clothes and released into oceans, lakes, and rivers through the laundry. Vincent Stanley, Director of Philosophy at Patagonia, spoke at the Samsung press conference about how the two companies have developed a new wash technology called the Less Microfiber Cycle[1], currently being incorporated into Samsung washing machines, which can reduce microplastic release by 54%[2] during a laundry cycle. Like the Less Microfiber Cycle, Samsung and Patagonia recently developed the new Less Microfiber Filter,[3] which reduces microplastic discharge by preventing them from escaping into the ocean at the end of a wash cycle. Meanwhile, James Kwon, Product Manager, ENERGY STAR for Consumer Electronics at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Samsungs connected home experience with SmartThings is the first mass-market Smart Home Energy Management System to earn the prestigious ENERGY STAR SHEMS Certification. Samsung also continues to collaborate with diverse stakeholders in its sustainability efforts. For example, Samsung joined with the Carbon Trust and other technology leaders to develop the industrys first specification for measuring, accounting for, and decarbonizing the emissions associated with connected devices while being used by customers. A Connected Home and Connected Life Built on Convenience Samsung detailed plans to fulfill the connected experience today and in the future. During the companys press conference, Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of SmartThings, highlighted how features like SmartThings Home Monitor and SmartThings Pet Care bring convenience to the connected experience by monitoring and sharing alerts for anything out of the ordinary for people and pets. Prompted by Samsung Smart TV, these services are some of the many ways Samsung and the connected platform SmartThings are creating an even smarter home. A key part of this vision is increased interoperability, enabling consumers to connect more of their devices, whether they are Samsungs or from a partner brand. As the industry looks to bring about a new level of compatibility through the Matter smart home standard, Samsung stated its commitment to this partnership philosophy. SmartThings was one of the first brands to adopt Matter, and Samsung is a founding member of the Home Connectivity Alliance (HCA). Also, at the CES press conference, Samsung announced the latest smart home innovation, with the SmartThings Station its first product to have Matter support built-in right from the beginning. It is a convenient, new way to kick-start SmartThings experiences at home and make it easier to interact with connected devices. SmartThings Station turns Samsungs wireless charger into a smart home hub that can seamlessly transform the state of your home at the touch of a button[4]. The focus on connected experiences also extended to unveiling new partnerships, including announcing an expanded collaboration with Philips Hue. Jasper Vervoort, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Philips Hue discussed a new way to sync the content from Samsung TVs with Philips Hue lighting through the Philips Hue Sync TV app, which can be downloaded from the app store on Samsung TVs. This is the first solution to sync lighting and content from Samsung TVs without additional hardware. With more devices connected than ever, Samsung also detailed how security and privacy innovations will be keys to building connected device ecosystems. The company is taking its device security experiences to the next level with its upcoming solution, Samsung Knox Matrix, which will conveniently and safely sync credentials across devices, while protecting sensitive information via multi-layered mutual monitoring enabled by private blockchain technology. The connected experience is also extending to your commute. Marcus Futterlieb from Harman unveiled Samsung and Harmans plans to inject a new level of intelligence, personalization, and convenience into the in-cabin experience (ICX). Central to this effort is Harman Ready Care, which uses a machine learning algorithm to gather and process data from the cars sensors to measure driver drowsiness and distraction, providing tailored interventions to mitigate risks and help improve the well-being of the driver. A Vision for the Future The company also showcased next-generation innovations and technologies using the latest artificial intelligence (AI). Experiences enabled by Spatial AI like in the JetBot AI+ are laying the groundwork for better in-home experiences specific to the dimensions and environment of your space. Samsung also gave a preview of Relumino Mode, which will come to select 2023 Samsung Neo QLED 8K and 4K TVs this year to make content viewing possible for people with vision impairment. Relumino Mode highlights outlines and improves contrast and color so that content is clearer and easier to enjoy[5]. In addition, Samsung also displayed a new pair of Relumino glasses, which first debuted at CES 2018 as part of its startup acceleration program C-Lab project, as well as its mobile app to make the visual experience more enjoyable and personalized on every screen. For more information, please visit Samsung.com Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo (L) hands out a Spring Festival kit to a Chinses student during a "Warm Spring" activity for overseas Chinese held by the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam in Hanoi, Vietnam, Jan. 5, 2023. The Chinese Embassy in Vietnam on Thursday organized a "Warm Spring" activity for overseas Chinese in the country. Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo handed out Spring Festival kits to the Chinese citizens and students. (Xinhua/Hu Jiali) HANOI, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Vietnam on Thursday organized a "Warm Spring" activity for overseas Chinese in the country. Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo handed out Spring Festival kits to the Chinese citizens and students. The kits include traditional Spring Festival goods, Vietnamese specialties, as well as COVID-19 protecting items such as masks. The kits are to convey the Chinese government's care for Chinese citizens and students in Vietnam, as many of whom have chosen to spend the Spring Festival in Vietnam, said Xiong. The ambassador asked them to properly protect themselves from COVID-19 and ensure their own health. The "Warm Spring" activity is the first activity organized offline in the embassy after the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, according to the embassy. Participants pose for a group photo during a "Warm Spring" activity for overseas Chinese held by the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam in Hanoi, Vietnam, Jan. 5, 2023. The Chinese Embassy in Vietnam on Thursday organized a "Warm Spring" activity for overseas Chinese in the country. Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo handed out Spring Festival kits to the Chinese citizens and students. (Xinhua/Hu Jiali) Spring Festival kits are seen during a "Warm Spring" activity for overseas Chinese held by Chinese Embassy in Vietnam in Hanoi, Vietnam, Jan. 5, 2023. The kits include traditional Spring Festival goods, Vietnamese specialties, as well as COVID-19 protecting items such as masks. The Chinese Embassy in Vietnam on Thursday organized a "Warm Spring" activity for overseas Chinese in the country. Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo handed out Spring Festival kits to the Chinese citizens and students. (Xinhua/Hu Jiali) On Friday, December 16, 2022, I interviewed Mississippi state representative Dan Eubanks of Desoto County about his experience as a legislator and his views on federalism and abortion. Representative Eubanks has represented Desoto County since 2016. He has an impressive record, having helped Mississippi join the Convention of States and co-authored the Gestation Age Act, which ultimately led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. He is a co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Caucus. Being a state legislator Kennelly: What made you want to run for public office? Rep. Eubanks: I saw an assault on the Constitution, our freedoms, and our liberties. We got away from the republican form of government our Founders implemented and have started to become a centralized monarchy. Kennelly: What does a regular day look like for you in the capital? Rep. Eubanks: Mississippi has a citizen-led Legislature. Most legislators have other full-time jobs that they take breaks from or work in tandem with when in session. However, representing our constituents does not end when we are not at the capital. Each session starts in January. The first session of a four-year term is 120 days long; the other three sessions are 90 days. This is to allow time for new people to get situated into their positions, committee assignments, and for the governor to pick his Cabinet and advisers. In a given year, there may be 3,000 bills that get submitted between the House and the Senate. Maybe 200 of them will survive. We will work through all the House bills by a certain date, while the Senate works on all the Senate bills. Then the Senate will send all the bills that survived to the House, while the House sends its bills to the Senate. Once both bodies of government agree with the language of the bill, it is sent to the governor to either sign into law or veto. Kennelly: Do you have an act that you are most proud of passing? Rep. Eubanks: I am proud of multiple acts. In 2016, I was the co-author of the Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act. This bill prevented the state government from being weaponized and prosecuting someone for adhering to his religious beliefs. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law. I was also proud of our 15-week abortion ban that the Supreme Court used to overturn Roe v. Wade. Lastly, I was proud of last year's income tax reform. This was the biggest tax cut in state history. This ensured that Mississippians can keep more of the hard-earned cash that they earn. Federalism Kennelly: How often does Mississippi use other states' laws to influence its own laws? Rep. Eubanks: They do it all the time. There are groups such as the National Conference for State Legislators (NCSL) and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), along with other think-tank groups that help with this. These groups pitch model legislation to each state. A lot of the times, there is a peer pressure kind of thing that goes on among states. When a majority of states enact legislation, it puts pressure on other states to follow suit. There is sometimes legislation from another state that looks effective. When this happens, we could use that type of legislation as a model for our own state. For example, Florida passed a law that allowed employees working for private companies to refuse the COVID vaccine if they could show that they had previously recovered from COVID-19 or for health or religious concerns about taking the vaccine. Due to this, we could use Florida's vaccine law as a model for Mississippi's potential vaccine law. Additionally, Mississippi has problems with certain aspects of our elections. Five of our counties have more registered voters than residents. Ohio had a similar problem, but their secretary of state purged thousands of dead people from their voter rolls. Ohio's actions were challenged, but the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the state's actions. Due to precedent, Mississippi has tried to do something similar. At a state level, banking and insurance groups look at the best practices in the country to determine how to regulate our banking and insurance. Kennelly: You helped Mississippi join the Convention of States in 2018 and 2019. What types of amendments would a convention introduce to help rein in the powers of the federal government? Rep. Eubanks: There are three amendments that are a part of the Convention of States call: 1. a balanced budget amendment, 2. a federal overreach amendment, and 3. term limits. For states to call a convention, the language has to line up for each state which passes the resolution. Each of the amendments, should it pass, would then have to come back to the state legislatures to be ratified, just as when Congress proposes an amendment. The Founding Fathers said there may come a day when D.C. becomes so corrupt and so powerful that it would not do anything to regulate itself. The Convention of States gives us an avenue for the people and states to rise up and take matters into their own hands. You need 34 states to call a convention, and then 38 states have to ratify any amendment that comes out of the convention. Gestation Age Act and Abortion Kennelly: Why did you co-author the Gestation Age Act, which banned abortions after 15 weeks? Rep. Eubanks: It was the right thing to do. In the medical community, doctors look at whether there is brain activity and a heartbeat to determine whether someone is alive. If you have neither of these, you are not considered alive. You cannot pick and choose what is alive. In the womb, if you have brain activity and a heartbeat, then you are alive. Believing that life is sacred and that God is the giver of life, I am going to stand up and defend life. Kennelly: Is it true that the Gestation Age Act allows for abortions if the health of the mother is at risk after fifteen weeks? Rep. Eubanks: Yes, it still allows abortions when the mother's health is at risk. This would be an example of a medical emergency. Kennelly: What is your response to people who said the Supreme Court should not have overturned Roe v. Wade because of precedent or stare decisis? Rep. Eubanks: Just because you do something wrong for fifty years does not make it right. Roe was incorrectly reasoned because abortion was not rooted in our nation's history or traditions. All the Dobbs decision did was make the issue go back to the states for regulation. Liberal states may pass fewer restrictions on abortion, while conservative states may pass more restrictions on abortion. Kennelly: Were you surprised that the Supreme Court heard the Dobbs case? Were you surprised that the Court ruled the way it did? Rep. Eubanks: I was surprised that the Supreme Court took up the case. The Court hears only a limited number of cases a year. I had hoped and prayed that the Court would hear our case. Conservative justices showed great courage in overturning Roe v. Wade. Their lives were in danger leading up to and after the decision. Kennelly: What is Mississippi doing to make adoptions and foster care more accessible for women? Rep. Eubanks: That is a number-one priority for us this upcoming session. We are going to look at our adoption laws and foster laws. It should not cost $30,000 or $40,000 to adopt a child. We have to fix that. There are many families out there that can't have kids who would like to adopt children but are unable to because it is too expensive. Kennelly: What is Mississippi doing to help poor pregnant women have their children? Rep. Eubanks: We need to educate mothers about the other options they have besides terminating a pregnancy. Mothers need to be informed that adoption is the best option. The government should intentionally partner with private and religious nonprofits who are often better suited at educating and informing pregnant women about adoption and pregnancy care. These groups often provide these services at a fraction of the cost, too, and are usually more passionate about helping these women because it is what they exist for. In Mississippi, we have given tax credits to companies that donate to pregnancy crisis centers and will probably increase the cap this upcoming session. Edward Kennelly is a law student at the University of Memphis. He has written several political articles which have appeared in the American Thinker and the California News and Views. He has worked on several political campaigns. He hopes to continue working in politics. Image: Michael Rivera via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Many of the egregious earmarks embedded in recent federal spending bills may aptly be described as vanity projects. Indeed, some of the infrastructure and educational facilities will be defiled with the names of narcissistic senators who squealed, squeaked, and squished their pork projects into the budgeting pigsty. Appropriating legislators inappropriately ensured that their names are emblazoned all over their profligate projects. The University of Alabama is practically named after Senator Shelby, the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee. As for Senator Leahy, the appropriations chairman, $2.35 million of the $211 million he earmarked for Vermont is for a science and nature museum named for him. They stand out as lacking character, if that is defined as the deeds one does when no one is looking, but the political pigsty is crowded. Since porky politicians love seeing their names everywhere, perhaps we'll get fiscal responsibility when pigs fly. Following are a few suggestions for renaming airport facilities that are so integral to our transportation infrastructure. A whopping Federal Aviation Administration grant includes $60 million to improve the terminal and replace the bag-handling system at Denver International Airport. Maybe it can be called the Hickenlooper conveyor, after the Colorado senator. After all, John Hickenlooper is on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and the luggage in Denver Airport has such a problem looping around properly that they had to revert to a manual tug and trolley system. San Francisco International Airport is receiving funds from the FAA that will be used, in part, to complete the Harvey Milk Terminal 1 new check-in lobby. Since the airport ranks very high in flight delays, I suggest they call it the Pelosi "Read the Bill" Lounge. There should be time to catch up on her legislative monstrosities, including the infrastructure bill that procures hundreds of millions of dollars for SFO. And in the spirit of Pelosi's political vanity, they might include a salon for disheveled travelers named the Pelosi Petunia Parlor. No mask required. The main airports in Philadelphia will get more than $20 million each to renovate their restrooms. Maybe they should be named the "Fetterman Johns." Though he wasn't onboard to vote for the bill, Pennsylvania senator John Fetterman was awash with votes from Philadelphia precincts. He's junior, but the scruffy liberal has to start somewhere on the name recognition ladder. While Memphis International is a top cargo airport, the business travel side ranks very low (slide 8), partly because it has only one airport lounge. Unsurprisingly, Memphis officials are cajoling Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg for more funding to refurbish the terminal. If they get it, I hope its name reflects the city's cultural heritage. I certainly can't imagine many business people wishing to linger in a potential "Buttigieg lounge" while their flight is delayed. There is precedent for changing airport names, which might quell the impetus for more costly vanity projects elsewhere. For example, not long ago, Las Vegas Harry Reid Airport was named after a previous Nevada senator named McCarran. McCarran wrote the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, but some of his discriminatory views have since surfaced. Apparently, it matters not one whit to the Clark County commission that authorized the change that Harry Reid was a shameless liar, all too keen to destroy political opponents in Machiavellian fashion. Speaking of Machiavellianism, it's high time to rename the Bill and Hillary Clinton Airport in Arkansas, which doesn't conjure a smooth landing. While Bill does invoke the lascivious image of the Mile High Club, Hillary is a ghastly, cackling caricature who rode hubby's coattails. By contrast, the Huckabee name is less turbulent and is now associated with two Arkansas governors. It's also much easier to communicate, so Huckabee Airport it is, then. There is no Barack Obama airport yet. Since he loved apologizing for America, and "leading from behind," perhaps the naming authorities in Indonesia can add his name to Jakarta International Airport. It's currently called Soekarno-Hatta, but Soekarno-Hatta-Soetoro has a ready rhythm. Besides, the airport is often simply called Cengkareng by Indonesians. The updated name seems appropriate, since Obama spent several of his formative years in Jakarta; indeed, he said that "Indonesia is a part of me." Probably more a part of him than the good ol' U.S. of A., judging by his "America last" policies. I'm sure he'll enjoy ambling along the new Michelle Obama "not proud of America" trail if it is appropriately named, that is. Prior to Air Force One, Biden often rode on Amtrak, which certainly benefited from porky politician pecuniary profligacy. However, there is an airport that is perfect for his name. It's in Biden's hometown, and is called the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International airport. Renaming to the more "famous" local boy is suitable because it has no domestic or commercial services, and international is a misnomer if ever there was one. Essentially, the airport is as directionless and feckless as Biden's moral compass. If politicians exhibited just an ounce of character, just a smidgen of class, they would prevail upon various naming authorities to consider names of other luminaries or military heroes to adorn their facilities. For example, there are many standout graduates of the University of Alabama whose names could replace Shelby's. In Vermont, surely the Nettie Stevens Science and Nature center sounds better than Patrick Leahy. Her due is long overdue. But that's wishful thinking porky politicians love their names too much. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more. Or should that be: "oink, oink, grunt no more"? Image via Public Domain Pictures. The charging documents so far revealed in the University of Idaho students' murder investigation are both comforting and chilling. I suspect that I am far from alone in having gotten impatient with the length of time we saw no signs of progress in the media, and I may have made some unkind assumptions about the investigatory prowess of the small-town police department that was the first agency on the scene. So it is reassuring that the alleged perp of the horrific crime is under arrest and was methodically kept under surveillance and that police in Indiana acting at the behest of the FBI even stopped him twice while driving home to Pennsylvania to covertly observe his hands, looking for indications of involvement in knife violence. If Bryan Kohberger, the accused, is convicted of the crimes and punished, we can all breathe a sigh of relief and congratulate the police agencies involved the Moscow, Idaho P.D.; the Idaho State Police; the FBI; the Indiana Highway Patrol; and local authorities in Pennsylvania for getting their man. YouTube screen grab (cropped). And yet, it is disconcerting that the highly politicized and anti-conservative FBI is able to track our movements with surveillance videos and cell phone pings and match our DNA to a sample in its possession even if we've never had a DNA test ourselves, using relatives who have subscribed to 23 and Me, or otherwise have entered DNA databases that police can access. As it happens, mass murder or any other violent criminal activity is not on my bucket list, so do I have anything to worry about? I think I do, given my conservative political orientation and propensity for free thinking and expression. Conspicuously absent from the police work so far revealed is any involvement of Google, Facebook, or any other social media. But does anyone doubt that once Bryan Kohberger was a person of interest, his record of internet searches, social media history, and other aspects of his online life were given close scrutiny? We live in an era where words are characterized (almost exclusively on the left) as "violence," and a woman engaging in silent prayer was arrested in England for a thought crime. Is it really paranoia to wonder if the panopticon capabilities of the police will be brought to bear on political dissidents (up to half the country that voted for Trump)? Ask the parents in Virginia who were characterized as terrorists for publicly complaining about their school board covering up sexual assault by a "transgender" student. Back to the Moscow, ID P.D. I am not one who assumes that Idaho is a backwater and that officials there are incompetent. I have good friends who long ago chose to move to the state and make their adult lives there. I've visited Idaho (most recently the summer before last) a number of times and even seriously considered moving there myself, decades ago. It is both scenic and one of the sanest places in the country. I like the people there very much and would be happier to live among them than among Californians. But I did wonder if the small-town P.D. bungled the crime scene at first, and if the state cops were up to the challenge. I am glad that my doubts were misplaced. I am also glad that a suspect with lots of evidence against him is going to face trial. But I am scared that the tools used to identify, follow, and incriminate him might be misused for the purpose of political oppression by a justice system that has become warped and corrupted at the highest levels and is now used to oppress one side of the political spectrum. Joe Biden was asked about Republicans having trouble electing a speaker, and he said that it is "embarrassing for our country." You know what's embarrassing? This: Las Vegas police release the mug shot of Sam Brinton, a top energy official in the Biden administration who stands accused of stealing luggage from airports pic.twitter.com/R6h33MhFd2 Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) December 14, 2022 And this: And of course, this: Biden is headed to the VIRGIN ISLANDS for vacation. Joe's not too bright. He thinks the destination is his best chance to sniff the hair of young girls.#PresidentCreepy pic.twitter.com/jNqbmg9Muu On a Ledge Somewhere (@LedgeSomewhere) December 27, 2022 People who pretend to be journalists also say we should be embarrassed. In a Washington Post article published yesterday, Alexandra Petri said, "What's embarrassing about the House speaker election is that you were expecting anything else." Here is an abbreviated list of things that are much more embarrassing than diverse thought: Isn't it embarrassing when Democrats claim that election deniers should never be in Congress yet vote 100% for one to be the leader of the House? Especially when they say election deniers are a threat to democracy? How embarrassing is it to be $32 trillion in debt, and yet pass a $1.7-trillion bill loaded with pork that few, if any, had read? It is especially embarrassing when Republicans like McConnell vote for this pork bill. It's like having Pelosi securing 100% of the Democrat vote for Obamacare after telling them they would have to pass the bill to see what was in it. Dictators demand blind obedience, but it's embarrassing for what's supposed to be a functioning democracy. The media and other Democrats should have been embarrassed that Obama and others continually lied to get Obamacare passed, but instead they cheered Forbes ran this headline about what the bill's "architect" had to say: ACA Architect: 'The Stupidity Of The American Voter' Led Us To Hide Obamacare's True Costs From The Public It is embarrassing that we had Nancy Pelosi as a speaker, who refused to secure the Capitol on January 6, 2021. It is an embarrassment that the former speaker of the House can't even speak lucidly. It is an absolute embarrassment that we had a communist-style committee investigate an unauthorized tour of the Capitol, which acted as judge, jury, and executioner instead of having an actual investigation. The committee didn't allow a defense and didn't care that Pelosi didn't lift a finger to secure the Capitol. Was there anything more embarrassing and dangerous than when Obama and his administration decided how they should deal with Iran? Iran was collapsing and Obama built them back up as they spread terrorism around the world and continued to pledge death to America and Israel. Obama even dictatorially ordered the politicized Justice Department to let terrorist criminals run free to appease Iran. It should be embarrassing to the media and everyone that the Justice Department caved and terrorists were above the law. Read from a Politico article below: In its determination to secure a nuclear deal with Iran, the Obama administration derailed an ambitious law enforcement campaign targeting drug trafficking by the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah, even as it was funneling cocaine into the United States, according to a POLITICO investigation. The campaign, dubbed Project Cassandra, was launched in 2008 after the Drug Enforcement Administration amassed evidence that Hezbollah had transformed itself from a Middle East-focused military and political organization into an international crime syndicate that some investigators believed was collecting $1 billion a year from drug and weapons trafficking, money laundering and other criminal activities. How many people died in the United States and elsewhere because Obama cared more about his legacy than safety for all? Sadly, few seem to care. It's embarrassing to fire people, especially the military, for refusal to take a "vaccine" I thought Democrats believed that people had the right to decide what to do with their own body! How can people not be embarrassed about the destruction of children caused by school closures as the CDC and the Biden administration catered to political supporters and facilitated the mass mail-in ballot scheme? It is truly embarrassing that the U.S sends money to other countries to protect their borders while the man acting as commander-in-chief refuses to protect ours. It is more embarrassing that the media, entertainers, and other Democrats rarely say a word in protest. Politicians in lawless sanctuary cities in states should be embarrassed when they whine like little babies and beg for money when they get a few illegals, which they claimed they wanted. If I were a Democrat, I would be extremely embarrassed to vote for a Supreme Court justice who couldn't define what a woman is. She should recuse herself from all votes on sexual orientation, the climate, COVID-19, and abortion since her excuse for not being able to define what a woman was is that she isn't a scientist. Politicians have no shame when they take huge campaign contributions from a crypto-crook and fail to return the money to the bankruptcy trustee. Everyone should be embarrassed that we have a president whose family has gotten massive kickbacks with his help while the media hid the truth. It is an absolute embarrassment that most of the media have become campaign workers for Democrats instead of doing their job for the American people. Instead of the media performing real investigative journalism, they hid the truth from the public. We have a president that has lied for decades about his life story but somehow, we should be embarrassed because some Republicans are independent thinkers. The above is a very abbreviated list of things about which the media, other Democrats, and all Americans should be embarrassed. But no one should be embarrassed that a party is debating on who should be speaker for two years. Debate is necessary for the survival of our great country. Voting in lockstep is dangerous. Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required. Yesterday, January 5, President Putin ordered a 36-hour ceasefire effective 6 7 January for his forces in Ukraine. This was based on the Orthodox Christian celebration of Christmas on 6 and 7 January in both Russia and Ukraine with Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow earlier calling for the ceasefire so both sides could observe a Christmas truce. Putin said, "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," Ukraine apparently was not impressed with Putins order and made a particularly harsh response to the Russian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Kirill. A senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Mykhailo Podolyak, cast the Russian Orthodox Church as a "war propagandist" that had incited the "mass murder" of Ukrainians and the militarisation of Russia. "The statement of the Russian Orthodox Church about the 'Christmas Truce' is a cynical trap and an element of propaganda," he said. Granted, history is replete with examples of ceasefires being used by one side or both to re-cock and get ready for further action. US State Department spokesman Ned Price echoed that notion when he said: The truce order seems to be a ploy to rest, refit, regroup, and ultimately re-attack, Its hard to fathom though, the advantage Russian forces would get from a 36-hour lull given their months-long inept handling of the war both tactically and logistically unless they are executing another withdrawal hoping to do the operation without pressure from Ukrainian forces. Rest, refit, regroup, and re-attack would seem to be a tall order for Putins army even for a few weeks break much less 36 hours. The reaction to the Orthodox Patriarch is not surprising given that in addition to suppressing opposition political parties, Zelensky has shut down disfavored religions including the Russian Orthodox church, but this may be understandable given Kirill and the churchs backing of the Russian invasion. Nevertheless, the ceasefire has gone into effect along the 1,100 kilometer front and it appears Zelensky did not entirely ignore Putins request. Whatever advantage Russian forces gain from a 36-hour break in the action, Ukraine forces will also enjoy. We shall see what happens if anything, at the end of the ceasefire on January 7. John Smith is the pen name of a retired member of the US intelligence community Image via Wikipedia This is what toxic masculinity actually looks like: "Like, her dance will be on TikTok." Yesterday, Vox published an essay by senior correspondent Alex Abed-Santos in which he spoke with NYU professor Joe Vallese. The two gay men fawned over a new Hollywood horror production about a cherubic-looking but sadistic artificial intelligence doll that murders people as she becomes self-aware, all in an effort to decode why "LGBTQ people love" the horror genre. Abed-Santos's byline read, "How a beautiful murder doll left us no choice but to stan." I had to look up "stan," as I thought it was a typo; it's a modern invention meaning "to be an overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity." At the beginning of Abed-Santos's work, he notes he's typically a "scaredy cat" when it comes to horror flicks, but something about M3gan left him "deeply obsessed." Shortly into the article, he includes this passage: And while glamorous women who dance and are capable of homicide appeal directly to my homosexual tastes (I love Chicago!), I couldn't figure out why I desperately needed to see this movie. I wasn't alone, either. All over the internet were fan-made videos of M3gan dancing as well as declarations from people who hadn't even seen the movie that M3gan was coming for the crowns of fellow murder dolls Chucky and Annabelle. A lot of that love was from queer people who were already (ironically and unironically) anointing M3gan as a queer icon, not unlike the way we'd done for Ma's Ma, or the mother in Barbarian, or the Babadook, or Pearl from X, or Scream's Ghostface. Vallese then notes: I think that as soon as I saw that trailer, and I saw that dance. ... You know, it was very clear to me that it was going to be sort of instant gay iconography. Let me remind you, M3gan looks to be the same age as a prepubescent child and is dressed like a schoolgirl of yesteryear her aura is meant to evoke innocence. The dance to which Vallese refers is a hypersexualized strut (again, think TikTok) down a hallway as she (presumably) is about to murder someone. At one point, M3gan does a flip where her dress rises, exposing her tights as she spreads her legs. He goes on with this: The escapism of horror films I feel like it can be empowering. If you're not queer, you wouldn't necessarily understand what's exhilarating about a monster or a villain, and maybe it's one of the things that's not even totally explainable. To this, Abed-Santos responds: It's really not that different than loving our little M3gan murder doll, right? She didn't ask to be born into this world. She didn't ask for this life. Escapism is empowering. Gee, I wonder why. As a general rule, flamboyant behavior goes hand in hand with the queer crowd drag shows, Pride parades, the gay men in the article even use the word when describing one of the villains with whom they resonate but what is flamboyancy? It's a dramatic and overstated outward expression of cheer, often by using bright colors and, specifically for the queer community, costumes and makeup. By their nature, costumes and makeup are facades. Now, why would the queer community hyper-obsess over dramatic pseudo-realities? Well, a basic psychological analysis would recognize the deep-seated need to compensate and cover for the opposite. Dr. James Dobson, a renowned psychologist, provided a brief synopsis of a book from a fellow psychologist, Dr. Joseph Nicolosi: The bottom line is that homosexuality is not primarily about sex. It is about everything else, including loneliness, rejection, affirmation, intimacy, identity, relationships, parenting, self-hatred, gender confusion, and a search for belonging. This explains why the homosexual experience is so intense and why there is such anger expressed[.] "Such anger" would also explain the deep and admitted "obsession" the queer community (again, speaking in generalities) has with murderous villains from horror films. Five days ago, Abed-Santos even retweeted this: behind every gay person is a gayer, more evil gay person anania (@Anania00) January 1, 2023 (Time and time again, scientific studies conclude that members of the LGBT community are at a significantly higher risk of mental illness than heterosexual people.) It was all so clear when Abed-Santos ended with "[s]he [M3gan] didn't ask to be born into this world. She didn't ask for this life." Sure sounds like psychological projection if you ask me... Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required. Im sure I was not alone in feeling that Harry was one of those okay guys who fell in love with the wrong woman, turned into a milquetoast, and allowed her to call the shots in their relationship, no matter how stupid, cruel, or self-centered those shots were. Harrys memoir, however, establishes that the low-IQ but ordinary guy we thought we knew was, in reality, every bit as awful as his wife. The one-time Prince Harry always seemed like an impressively ordinary guy for someone raised in the Royal Family. He publicly went through his stupid teens and early 20s but seemed to settle down after seeing active duty in Iraq and founding the Invictus Games. When Prince William and Kate became an item, Harry seemed happy palling around with them. And then, Meghan Markle appeared. The world thought it witnessed her transforming Harry into an awful version of a California guy, whining with his posh accent about getting in touch with his feelings. We immediately knew that Markle was a bad apple using the royal familys stratospheric fame, along with the race and sex cards, to elevate her status in the world, maybe right into the White House. Image: Harry. YouTube screen grab. However, now that weve learned the contents of Harrys memoir, entitled Spare, is an anguished, existential scream, all stemming from the fact that his older brother is first in line to the throne, theres a new complexion on things. Harry, it turns out, found and married his emotional doppelganger. I have not and will not read the book. Just reading the Daily Mails headlines, though, tells you that only a person with a heart of stone could fail to laugh at the sheer horror of Harrys life as a young scion of the most famous family in the world: I remember back in the 1990s, before, during, and after Dianas death, how often the young royals were in the headlines because of their immature, self-serving lifestyles. Many people felt that those blessed enough to live such a rarefied life ought to be thinking in terms of public service rather than partying, sleeping around, and then sleeping around and partying. While it's true that Harry lost his flamboyant, self-involved mother at a painfully young age, that in itself is not a recipe for the kind of extraordinary narcissism we see here. Somehow, Harry managed to do this all by himself. You see, it turns out that Harry wasnt a cloistered naif overwhelmed by Meghans feminine wiles. Instead, he met someone who is a soulmate. Both are self-absorbed, shallow, petty, vindictive, and thin-skinned. When they look at each other, each sees his or her reflection looking backand rather than being horrified by the grotesquerie of the reflection, each feels calmed, validated, and empowered. Were being reminded, again, that character is the only thing that will make a person happy. Its not what life gives us that determines our contentment; its how we respond to what life throws our way. Harry, a boy born on a platinum platter, turns out to have been shortchanged when it came to the one thing that mattered most: being a good human being. I deeply pity his and Meghans children. Its tough enough to be a narcissists child. However, when youre hit with a double-whammy of over-the-top personality disorders, one must wonder if those children have any chance at all of being happy in life. "As our doors open up in the new normal, I will invite our Chinese neighbors to once again return to the Philippines as tourists, as students, investors," said Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. when leaving for China on Tuesday for a three-day state visit. 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). Produced by Xinhua Global Service Amid all the Republican Sturm und Drang over the simple matter of naming a House speaker, President Trump jumped in on the morass with some more-than-welcome humor: Ceci est un post authentique de Donald Trump sur Truth Social, d'un photoshop le montrant Speaker de la Chambre lors d'un discours de Joe Biden sur l'etat de l'Union...https://t.co/hQZTmRgdsa pic.twitter.com/h27j9IizZI Philippe Berry (@ptiberry) January 5, 2023 Who couldn't laugh after seeing that? It was a hilarious riff on outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's toddler antics, making faces and ripping up paper as President Trump delivered his state of the union to Congress. If Nancy could do it, rest assured, Trump could top her, now that the bottom had dropped out. It was done in response to Rep. Matt Gaetz's nomination of Trump to be House speaker as an alternative to Kevin McCarthy, a Quixotic move, given that Trump doesn't want the job and probably isn't suited for it, with all its petty gamesmanship, parsing of egos, and detailed rules contrivances. Trump wants the presidency back and would not have time to be Speaker and campaign for the job a second time, let alone relish its petty rules and oneupmanships. That explains why he garnered only Gaetz's vote. But it was good for a laugh, not only because it expresses true Republican sentiment about the Fraud-in-Chief, but if for nothing else, to see the left's reaction. Trump has always had a magnificent talent for showmanship, self-depreciating humor, and true comedy. He was in fine form here. It's why voters like him. Making light of the matter of the speakership, and getting a rise out of the left is a Trump speciality. Today, he's at it with elan. Let's see more humor from him soon. Image: Truth Social, via Twitter screen shot President Biden is flying to Mexico City this week. Normally, foreign dignitaries land at the large airport in the middle of Mexico City. I've landed there many, many times. It's a mess because of traffic, but that's not something that President Biden will have to worry about. So why are we talking about President Biden and a local airport? The answer is that his host, Presidente Lopez-Obrador, wants him to land at the new airport. This is the story: Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is asking President Biden to land Air Force One at a new airport farther from the center of Mexico City when he visits next month describing it as a favor to quell domestic criticism of the project. The unusual request sets up a potentially awkward start to the visit and would require Biden's motorcade to add time to its commute when the president arrives Jan. 9 for talks with Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "I am taking the opportunity to tell [Biden] that out of friendship, out of diplomacy, we ask him that his plane land at the Felipe Angeles International Airport," the 69-year-old Mexican president, known by his initials, AMLO, said Wednesday at a press conference. I guess it's always this or that with AMLO. All of this about the new airport reminds me of conversations I had the last time I visited Mexico. They liked the idea of a new airport, but nobody seemed to like this one, Felipe Angeles Airport. I got the feeling that most of my friends thought the airport was more of a presidential project than something the city needs. One friend mentioned how the Dallas area has two airports, Love Field for domestic and DFW for international flights. He said that most Mexicans, especially business people, were hoping for a more practical option rather than an airport so far removed. Based on what I'm hearing, getting to the new airport is possible only by car. It's a good deal for taxis, and Uber fares are very high. It's a beautiful airport, but not many flights are landing there so far. To be fair, Mexico City (pop. 22,004,810) needs an alternative airport, but I guess that President Lopez-Obrador's pet project is not getting a lot of "likes." In the meantime, AMLO needs someone to land at his new airport, and he is hoping that President Biden is the one. PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos. Image: Sharon Hahn Darlin, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Lenovo stole the show at CES with its beastly Lenovo Tab Extreme CES 2023 is going on now, and several tech companies are showing off their latest and greatest projects. Among them, Lenovo took the wraps off of its latest and most powerful tablet, and its a beast! This is the Lenovo Tab Extreme. This productivity-focused tablet will definitely help you get some serious work done. Theres a lot to love about this tablet that should appeal to most people looking for a powerful Android-powered device. It could even be enough to replace some peoples laptops depending on the type of work theyre doing. The Lenovo Tab Extreme appeals to people serious about getting work done Lets start off with the most notable thing about this tablet. The Lenovo Tab Extreme has a massive 14.5-inch display. This large OLED screen has a resolution of 3000 x 1876. Given the extra size, the extra pixels are a welcome addition. In fact, that resolution is approaching 4K. In short, you should expect some stunning visuals using this gorgeous display. As for the internals, were looking at the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC. This processor goes toe-to-toe with the most powerful chips from Qualcomm, so you know that youll have great performance. And, if thats not enough, this tablet comes with a whopping 12GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. Advertisement Moving onto the camera, this tablet has two cameras on the back. One is a 13MP main camera, and thats accompanied by a 5MP camera. On the front, this tablet will sport a 13MP selfie camera. Keeping the lights on will be a large 12,300mAh battery. Youll charge it with the included 68W charger. These features and specs are why the Lenovo Tab Extreme picked up our Best of CES 2023 award. Its perfect as a business companion. Samsung recently unveiled its UDR 2000 OLED display for smartphones with a peak brightness of more than 2,000 nits. The company showcased the new display product at CES 2023, which is currently underway in Las Vegas, US. The timing of this unveiling suggested this display solution may debut on the Galaxy S23 series next month. At least the Ultra model could have got it. But not to be. Two different tipsters have confirmed this. Samsung wont debut the UDR 2000 display on the Galaxy S23 Ultra You probably remember a rumor from November last year saying that the Galaxy S23 Ultra will get the industrys brightest smartphone display yet. We were told that the phone will comfortably surpass peak brightness levels of 2,000 nits and may even reach 2,200 nits. However, tipster Ahmed Qwaider recently quashed those hopes saying that the new Ultra will not get any brightness boost from the 1,750 nits of peak brightness offered by last years model. This came as a bit of disappointing news, with the only positive takeaway being the entire Galaxy S23 lineup getting the same level of brightness. However, with little backing from anyone else, we had reasons to believe that the Galaxy S23 Ultra may still get an upgrade in this area. After all, Samsung is the maker of the 2,000 nits display panel found on the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max. The company launching the UDR 2000 display at CES 2023 instilled more hope. But Ahmed has reiterated that 1,750 nits of peak brightness are the maximum youll get on any Galaxy S23 model. They specifically mentioned that the UDR 2000 OLED panel will not debut on the upcoming Samsung flagship. This claim has now received backing from another reputed industry insider. Ice Universe says they are 100% sure about the UDR 2000 display not featuring on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. They also appear to be nodding to Ahmeds claim that the new Ultra will not get any brightness boost. While the Galaxy S22 Ultra is already pretty bright, any improvement wouldnt have hurt. More importantly, the company already has expertise in it, so it could have taken things up a notch. It would have given Samsung users some bragging rights in this competitive market if not anything else. Advertisement Nonetheless, the Galaxy S23 launch is nearing and with each passing day, we are getting to learn more about the new Samsung flagships. We expect leaks to come thick and fast the closer we get to the Galaxy Unpacked event on February 1. We will keep you updated with all the latest information. As some of you already know, the OnePlus 11 launched in China a couple of days ago. OnePlus did confirm that the phones global launch will follow on February 7, with a launch event in New Delhi, India. Well, now we have a confirmation that the OnePlus 11 is coming to the US on February 7 as well. The OnePlus 11 is coming to the US on February 7 We assumed that the February 7 launch event is not only for India, but for the rest of the world too. For regions like North America, and Europe, as it usually is when the company hosts a global launch event. That has been confirmed by the company now, at least based on the info provided by Phone Arena. What is interesting, however, is that Phone Arena wrote: OnePlus has confirmed that the OnePlus 11 will launch internationally and will be hitting store shelves in the US as soon as February 7th, 2023. This suggests that the phone will go on sale on February 7 in the US. So, not only will it become official on that date for global markets, but will be made immediately available to purchase for consumers. Advertisement That does make sense, kind of, as the phone already had its initial launch in China. That probably means that users in both Europe and India will also get access to the device on that day. It seems like the phone will actually go on sale on February 7 We would assume that pre-orders will start on February 7, but based on the sources wording, these are actual sales of the device, not only pre-orders. Well have to wait and see. The OnePlus 11 is the only flagship OnePlus will launch in the first half of 2023. It is essentially a Pro handset without a Pro moniker. OnePlus did make two omissions this time around, though. The phone doesnt offer an IP rating, or wireless charging, unlike its predecessor. The OnePlus 11 is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, and it comes with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage. It has a 5,000mAh battery, and supports 100W wired charging. Advertisement The phones cameras do seem quite compelling on paper, and even some unofficial camera samples appeared. If youd like to know more about the OnePlus 11, click here. Samsung had a record-breaking final quarter of 2021 financially. But the company couldnt replicate that success last year. While we dont yet have accurate figures, the Korean firm has shared its earnings guidance for Q4 2022. And it is estimating a massive decline in operating profit. According to Samsungs estimates, it generated around KRW 70 trillion (approx. USD 55 billion) in consolidated sales revenue this past quarter. This isnt a bad figure by any means. The Q4 2022 revenue is only marginally lower than the companys quarterly revenue in the previous five quarters, with KRW 77.78 trillion (Q1 2022) being its highest ever. It never breached the KRW 70 trillion mark before Q3 2021. So Samsung hasnt lost sales revenue much in recent quarters even as the tech industry struggles with sluggish demand. However, despite a healthy sales revenue, Samsungs profit nosedived between October and December 2022. The Korean behemoth is expecting to make only about KRW 4.3 trillion (approx. USD 3.38 billion) in the year-ending quarter of last year. Thats a 69 percent drop in operating profit from KRW 13.87 trillion it made in Q4 2021 when its sales revenue was KRW 76.57 trillion. Samsung reported a profit of KRW 10.85 trillion in the third quarter of last year. So we are looking at a 60 percent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) drop as well. Low market demand for memory chips hits Samsungs Q4 2022 profit Since this is just an earnings guidance for investors and not the full Q4 2022 earnings report, Samsung isnt going into details about which business division contributed how much to its rather paltry profit this past quarter. However, we may already have an answer. The company has always made the bulk of its money from memory chips. And the current economic headwinds have caused a massive decline in semiconductor demand and prices. Samsung unsurprisingly got hit hard by this decline. It is already expecting its semiconductor profit to drop further this year. Advertisement Smartphones are another market where Samsung enjoys massive popularity globally. However, this market is closely contested by a host of other brands, so the profit margin isnt huge. Foldables and flagships have higher margins but the Korean brand is struggling in those segments. The Korean media recently reported that Samsung fell short of its Galaxy S22 sales target for 2022. It is now gearing up to launch the Galaxy S23 series in a few weeks. The new flagships bring plenty of upgrades over their respective predecessors. Time will tell if Samsung can its fortunes in the flagship smartphone market this year. After equipping its past three generations of Ultra flagships with a 108MP primary rear camera, Samsung is upgrading to a 200MP sensor this year. The Galaxy S23 Ultra will be the companys first 200MP camera phone. But its kind of a role reversal on the front. The selfie camera on the upcoming flagship will see a massive resolution downgrade from 40MP to 12MP. Samsung is equipping all Galaxy S23 models with a 12MP selfie camera, which means a minor upgrade from 10MP for the smaller two models. But this isnt just about a resolution change. The new selfie camera on the upcoming Galaxy flagships will also bring some new features. Noted tipster Ahmed Qwaider has provided a round-up of what to expect from the 12MP front-facing camera on the Galaxy S23 lineup. According to the source, Samsung is adding the Pro camera mode to the selfie camera on the new flagships. This shooting mode gives you manual control over various parameters such as ISO, White Balance, and more. Samsung already offers Pro mode for capturing photos and videos with the back camera on its Galaxy smartphones. The company is now adding those controls to the selfie camera as well. If you want even more granular controls like on a professional camera, Samsungs Expert RAW app offers that as well. This app also unlocks a host of other professional-grade camera features. It is available for most of the recent Galaxy flagships, including the Galaxy S22 trio. Samsung will offer Nightography on the Galaxy S23 selfie camera The Galaxy S23 series will also support Nightography with the selfie camera. Debuting on the Galaxy S22 series last year, this feature is already available on a host of other Galaxy models. Samsung touts Nightography as its best night mode camera. It lets you capture bright and crisp photos even in dark environments. This feature will work with the 12MP front camera on the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23 Ultra. The new Samsung flagships will also boast Dual Pixel camera technology on the front. Advertisement Samsung seems all set to launch the Galaxy S23 series on February 1st. While the company hasnt officially confirmed that, there have been enough credible reports supporting this rumor. We may soon see the Korean firm send out media invites for the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event. Itll reportedly be a full-fledged in-person event in the US. We will let you know when we have official word from Samsung. Kinji Imanishi, ein wegweisender Okologe, der Tiere als individuelle Personlichkeiten anerkannte 6. Januar 2023 Kinji Imanishi wurde am 6. Januar 1902 in Japan geboren. Er wirkte bahnbrechend auf dem Gebiet der Primatologie, der Anerkennung von Tieren als individuelle Personlichkeiten und bei der Erforschung der Bindungen und Freundschaften, die die einzelnen Tiere innerhalb ihrer Familiengruppen eingehen. Seine Arbeit bereitete den Weg fur zahlreiche Studien uber das komplexe soziale und kulturelle Leben von Tieren. Die Erforschung von Makaken Wahrend des zweiten Weltkriegs studierte Imanishi Wildpferd-Gemeinschaften in der Mongolei und legte seiner Forschung die individuelle Identifizierung eines jeden Pferdes zugrunde, was fur die damalige Zeit hochst unublich war. 1948 ging Imanishi auf die Insel Koshima, um Japanmakaken in Freiheit zu beobachten. Hier entwickelte er den fur ihn typischen Stil der Feldforschung mit Identifizierung von Einzelwesen, Gewohnung und langfristiger Beobachtung. Diese Forschungsmethode ist heute noch eine Standardtechnik bei der Feldforschung uber nichtmenschliche Primaten. Dank der Bemuhungen von Imanishi und seinen Kollegen verfugen wir jetzt uber ein tiefes Verstandnis des Soziallebens und Verhaltens freilebender Makaken. Imanishi und sein Team stellten eine ganz bestimmte Fortpflanzungszeit fest, sie entdeckten matrilinearen Aufenthalt, wobei die Weibchen in der Familiengruppe bleiben, in die sie hineingeboren wurden, und Mannchen von ihrer Geburtsgruppe in andere Gruppen uberwechseln. Sie vermerkten eine Dominanzhierarchie, dokumentierten mehr als 30 verschiedene Lautauerungen mit jeweils unterschiedlicher Bedeutung, die von anderen in der sozialen Gruppe verstanden wird, und fanden Belege fur Kultur, beispielhaft vorgefuhrt von der inzwischen beruhmten Makakin Imo, die ihre Sukartoffeln wusch. Imo, die Makakin, die Sukartoffeln wusch Imo, ein junges Makakenweibchen, wurde dabei beobachtet, wie sie Sukartoffeln in einen Fluss tauchte, bevor sie sie a, und die Forscher schlossen daraus, dass sie den Sand von den Kartoffeln abwaschen wollte. Junge Makaken schauen den alteren Familienmitgliedern zu und lernten in der Folge ebenfalls dieses Verhalten. Im Laufe der nachsten Jahre beobachteten die wissenschaftlichen Mitarbeiter, wie sich das neue Verhalten in der gesamten Makakenkolonie verbreitete, und innerhalb eines Jahres wusch jeder Makake auf der Insel, der dazu in der Lage war, seine Kartoffeln. Doch es war nicht nur die Technik des Kartoffelwaschens, die die Affen erlernten. Irgendwann entdeckte Imo eine weitere Methode, damit die Kartoffeln besser schmeckten, sie wurzte sie, indem sie sie ins salzige Meereswasser tauchte, und verbesserte so den Geschmack. Nach jedem Bissen tunkte sie die frische Abbissflache wieder ins Meerwasser, um nachzuwurzen. Dieselbe Gruppe von Makaken lernte auch, Sand von Weizenkornern abzuwaschen, indem sie die Korner zur Reinigung ins Meer warfen, und auch diese neue Gewohnheit verbreitete sich rasch unter den Makaken. Diese Verhaltensweisen zeigen ganz deutlich drei wichtige Aspekte von Kulturphanomenen: Herausbildung, Weitergabe und Modifizierung, und das Waschen von Sukartoffeln ist immer noch eines der besten Beispiele fur eine Kulturerscheinung bei nichtmenschlichen Tieren. Die Erforschung von Schimpansen Nach 10 Jahren der Erforschung freilebender Makaken ging Imanishi 1965 nach Afrika, um wilde Schimpansen in Mahale zu studieren. Diese Forschungsarbeit und die inzwischen beruhmtere Arbeit uber die Schimpansen von Gombe, die von Jane Goodall durchgefuhrt wurde, haben unsere Wahrnehmung der Schimpansen wie auch der Tiere allgemein verandert. Sie haben uns den Wert gelehrt, den es hat, Tiere als Individuen anzuerkennen, und die Bedeutung, die dem Verstandnis ihres komplexen Soziallebens zukommt, wenn wir sie und ihre kulturellen Verhaltensweisen erhalten wollen. An diesem Tag, dem 6. Januar 2023, wurdigen wir das Leben von Kinji Imanishi, das Erbe seiner Forschungsmethoden und die Erkenntnisse, die sein bahnbrechendes Werk uns uber das komplexe soziale, emotionale und kognitive Leben von Tieren verschafft hat. Lesen Sie weiter: Kinji Imanishi and 60 years of Japanese Primatology China targets OS breakthroughs 10:03, January 06, 2023 By MA SI ( China Daily Screenshot taken on June 2, 2021 shows the online launch ceremony of Huawei's operating system HarmonyOS 2 for smartphones in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Li Sijia) China will endeavor to achieve breakthroughs in developing operating systems that are considered key to digital transformation, and build a robust ecosystem for their application across a wide range of industries, officials and experts said. Vice-Minister of Industry and Information Technology Wang Jiangping said persistence is needed to develop such crucial technologies. So, more efforts will be made to enhance the supply of indigenous operating systems. An operating system or OS is the foundational software that powers a digital device. Google's Android, Apple's iOS and Huawei's HarmonyOS are among the leading OSs that power smartphones or smart devices, while Microsoft's Windows is considered the market leader in personal computer OSs. Promising that the ministry will strengthen top-level design, Wang called for a bigger push to jointly build a more active open source community, explore typical application scenarios and best practices of key software, and promote open cooperation. The field of OSs is a key area that Chinese companies are working on to reduce their reliance on foreign companies amid the US government's restrictions. Huawei Technologies Co is continuing its development of the OpenEuler OS as part of its broader push to solve China's lack of homegrown OSs for fundamental digital technologies. The OpenEuler is designed for enterprise customers and can be used in devices such as servers, cloud computing and edge computing. Last year, Huawei donated the Euler OS to the OpenAtom Foundation, a major open source foundation in China, to make Euler an open-source OS. Wang Tao, a member of Huawei's executive board, said the OpenEuler open source community now has 600 enterprise members. More than 3 million sets of equipment have been equipped with the OpenEuler OS so far. More importantly, the overseas version of the OpenEuler OS has seen more than 1 million downloads from 1,682 cities in 130 countries and regions, according to Huawei. "Huawei will focus on technology investment, improve the innovation and competitiveness of basic software, support the construction of digital infrastructure and the prosperity of application software ecology," Wang said. Ni Guangnan, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said the OpenEuler OS supports a variety of processor architecture. Relying on the OpenEuler open source community, it can promote the development of computing technology and industry through collaborative innovation with world peers. The OpenEuler OS is chiefly used in industries like finance, transportation and telecom. China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for the Development of Software and Information Technology Service Industry emphasized that by 2025, the country will significantly improve its supply capacity of key software such as basic software and industrial software, and will build two to three influential open-source communities globally. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called on the parties concerned to exercise restraint to prevent escalation of tensions following new Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem. China is deeply worried about the rise of tensions as a result of Ben-Gvir's visit, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. In recent years, unilateral actions at the holy site in East Jerusalem have intensified problems and confrontations, triggering bloody conflicts many times. This truly reflects the sensitivity of the character and status of the holy site, he told the Security Council. "China calls for the restoration and maintenance of peace and tranquility at the holy site, and calls on parties concerned to remain calm and restrained to prevent further escalation of tensions," said Zhang. "Israel, in particular, should stop all incitements and provocations, and should refrain from any unilateral action that may lead to the deterioration of the situation." China stands for upholding international rule of law and abiding by the international consensus on Jerusalem. Security Council resolutions unequivocally condemn all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem. The parties concerned should earnestly maintain the status quo of the holy site in Jerusalem and respect Jordan's custodianship, as set out in relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, he said. Having noticed the Israeli leader's expression of commitment to maintaining the status quo of the holy site, China hopes this commitment can be translated into constructive policies and actions, he said. What underlies the repeated cycles of tensions between Palestinians and Israelis is the repeatedly delayed implementation of the two-state solution. Facts have proved once again that piecemeal crisis management can hardly play an effective role, much less can it replace a comprehensive and just solution, said Zhang. The international community should, with a sense of urgency, promote the resumption of peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis as soon as possible on the basis of the two-state solution, resolve Jerusalem and other final-status issues, and realize the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel at an early date. Countries of significant influence should assume responsibility and effectively play a constructive role, he said. China supports the establishment of a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. China will continue to work with the international community to make positive contributions to the comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestine question and the attainment of durable peace and common security in the Middle East, he said. Thursday's Security Council meeting was held at the request of China and the United Arab Emirates. Billy Idol said he felt like he was having an out of body experience as he was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, beside actors and musicians he had admired in his youth. The British rock star said he was having the time of my life as he paid tribute to his fans and family at the ceremony in Los Angeles on Friday. Idol was an early architect of the sound, style, and fury of punk rock, with his lip-curling sneer and fist-pumping persona making him one of the most recognisable faces in pop music. He is best known for anthems including White Wedding, Dancing With Myself, and Rebel Yell. Billy Idol poses with his new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Allison Dinner/AP) The musician, who was born William Broad in 1955, was joined by fellow rocker Henry Rollins and artist Shepard Fairey at the ceremony, who both praised his punk rock spirit and influence on the genre. Idol told the fans gathered: I could never have imagined anything like this. I mean, initially, we did the music back in the mid-70s during a punk rock time: there wasnt much hope or anything. We decided if theres nothing, theres no future, were going to do what we love and thats what I did when I did the music because I loved it; wasnt for any other reason really. He continued: I came out here (Los Angeles) deliberately to have children and the fruits of that are here today. Its pretty incredible. Live stream of the star ceremony begins today at 11:30 am Pacific at https://t.co/PpCjIWuYqj pic.twitter.com/UyhRK2KHT5 Billy Idol (@BillyIdol) January 6, 2023 Im granddad Bill but Im having the time of my life! Idol also recalled being sat at home in Bromley, England, as a youth, watching Hollywood stars that he had now joined on the Walk Of Fame. Theres a lot of these people I looked up to as a kid, you know, I sort of saw what they would do and you know, I could never imagine really doing it myself, but you just had to try, he said. And thats what I did, I listened to their music or watched their films, and then I dreamt my own reality. Its an honour to be here with you. Its a bit of an out of body experience, thank you all and rock on! Musician Billy Idol is awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Allison Dinner/AP) Idol has sold 40 million albums while scoring numerous platinum albums worldwide, with 10 top-40 singles in the UK. More than 45 years after releasing his first music, he is still making records, with The Roadside and The Cage, two four-song EPs, released in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Aside from his successful music career, Idol supports various charitable causes including Teenage Cancer Trust, Teen Cancer America, World Wildlife Funds, and Autism Speaks. The Duke of Sussex has reportedly claimed his brother felt tremendous guilt for not speaking up about his fathers affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, now the Queen Consort. In the Spanish translation of Harrys memoir, which was accidentally released early in Spain and obtained by journalists from the US publication Page Six, the duke reportedly writes that the now-Prince of Wales had long harboured suspicions about the Other Woman. Their fathers cheating which was confirmed by the then-Prince of Wales in 1994 two years after his separation from Diana had caused the older prince immense suffering as a child and teenager, Harry claims. (It) confused him, tormented him, and when those suspicions were confirmed he felt tremendous guilt for having done nothing, said nothing, sooner, Page Six reports the duke wrote in a copy of his book translated from Spanish. Their father and mother had separated in 1992 but in January 1993, transcripts of audio recordings between Charles and Camilla were published in the British tabloids which had been recorded in December 1989 when both were still married to other people. The audio had made clear the pair were romantically involved with each other. In June 1994, the now-King would admit to his affair with the now-Queen Consort in a televised interview with Jonathan Dimbleby. A year later, in a now widely-condemned BBC Panorama interview with Diana, she would famously tell Martin Bashir that there were three people in this marriage. The then-Prince of Wales admitted to the affair with Camilla in 1994 (PA Archive/PA Images) In his yet-to-be-released memoir, Harry refences this line from his late mother, and writes that her maths was off as he and his brother, who he calls Willy in the book, were equally impacted by their fathers betrayal. She left Willy and me out of the equation, the 38-year-old writes. We didnt understand what was going on with her and Pa, certainly, but we intuited enough, we sensed the presence of the Other Woman, because we suffered the downstream effects. Their father would eventually marry Camilla in April 2005. In an earlier leaked extract from Spare, the Duke of Sussex claims he and his brother begged their father not to marry the now-Queen Consort and that he wondered if she would one day be his wicked stepmother. The Princess of Wales with her children on board the Maid of Mist for a close-up look at Niagara Falls (Martin Keene/PA) The autobiography, which is ghost-written by JR Moehringer, alleges that Charles once joked to his youngest son: Who knows if Im even your real father? Harry said it was in bad taste due to long-existing rumours about a five-year affair between his mother Diana, Princess of Wales and cavalry officer James Hewitt. Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace have declined to comment on the leaked claims from Harrys book which emerged five days before the explosive, tell-all memoir is due to be published. The book includes details of the moment he was introduced to Camilla for the first time, according to The Sun newspaper, which also said it obtained a Spanish copy. Charles and Camilla were married in 2005 (Reuters/PA) The duke reportedly claims he and his brother had separate meetings with her before she married the now-King in 2005. He said seeing her for the first time was like avoiding pain while getting an injection, writing: This is nothing. Close your eyes and you wont even feel it. Harry also alleges that Camilla appeared bored during the meeting. In an interview with the PA news agency in 2005, Harry denied that Camilla was a wicked stepmother, declaring that he and William loved her to bits. The duke described his father as a much more relaxed person since he married Camilla, and urged people to feel sorry for her. Everyone has to understand that its very hard for her. Look at the position shes coming into. Dont always feel sorry for me and William, feel sorry for her, he said at the time. He added: Shes a wonderful woman and shes made our father very, very happy, which is the most important thing. Also in the book, the duke claims he and his brother were willing to forgive her if she could make Charles happy, adding: We saw that like us, he wasnt. We could recognise the absent glances, the empty sighs, the frustration always visible on his face. Harry also claims that he and William told Charles they would welcome Camilla into the family on the condition he did not marry her and begged him not to do so. He alleges that his father did not respond to their pleas. James Hewitt (Fiona Hanson/PA) The brothers feared Camilla would be unfairly compared to their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, Harry also claims. Harry writes how Charles would tell of a visit to a mental health unit where he met a man claiming to be the Prince of Wales. The duke said his father then joked: Who knows if Im even your real father? Perhaps your father really is in Broadmoor, my dear son! Harry says the joke was in poor taste due to the rumour that his real father was Mr Hewitt. He said the rumours continued even though his mother hadnt met Major Hewitt until long after Harry was born. Other revelations from the book include the dukes claims that a campaign was launched for Charles to marry Camilla and that his stepmother leaked details of her conversation with William to the press. Harrys book reportedly claims he and his brother saw Camilla as the Other Woman (Barry Batchelor/PA) The Guardian, which said it was able to obtain a copy of Spare despite the tight pre-launch security, reported that Harry claims he was physically attacked by William and knocked to the floor during a furious confrontation over the Duchess of Sussex. Harry writes: (William) called me another name, then came at me. It all happened so fast. So very fast. He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dogs bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me. I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out. Other reported revelations include how the brothers call each other Willy and Harold and that Charles pleaded with his sons during a tense meeting after the Duke of Edinburghs funeral: Please, boys. Dont make my final years a misery. The book comes just weeks after Harry and Meghans bombshell Netflix documentary in which Harry said he was left terrified when William screamed and shouted at him at a tense Sandringham summit in 2020. The Duke of Sussex has spoken out again over the alleged confrontation between himself and his brother, the Prince of Wales. In a newly-released clip from ITVs forthcoming interview with Harry, the duke said his brother was so frustrated during the incident which reportedly took place in 2019, he saw the red mist in him. He wanted me to hit him back, but I chose not to, he says of his brother who he earlier claimed in his book had physically attacked him as was first reported by The Guardian. In the clip, released early on Friday morning, Harry tells Tom Bradby: What was different here was the level of frustration, and I talk about the red mist that I had for so many years, and I saw this red mist in him. The duke first recounted the confrontation in his autobiography Spare an extract from which was leaked by The Guardian on Thursday. The newspaper reported the book claims the Prince of Wales grabbed Harrys collar and knocked him to the floor, ripping his necklace and shattering a dog bowl under his back. The short clip from the ITV interview, which is due to be aired on Sunday, also had Harry addressing the drug use detailed in Spare. Mr Bradby tells the duke: Theres a fair amount of drugs (in the book). Marijuana, magic mushrooms, cocaine. I mean, thats going to surprise people. The duke appears to agree and says it was important to acknowledge. The Duke of Sussex claimed he was physically attacked by his brother over his marriage to Meghan Markle (Jerome Delay/PA) The royal also states he wants to reconcile with his family something which he says cannot happen without some accountability. I want reconciliation, he says, but, first, there needs to be some accountability. The duke also states: The truth, supposedly, at the moment, has been theres only one side of the story, right? But, theres two sides to every story. It comes after Harry reportedly alleged in his book William had called his American wife Meghan difficult, rude and abrasive comments which the younger brother said parroted the press narrative about his wife. The Guardian, which first reported the dispute, said it was able to obtain a copy of the book, due to be published on January 10, despite strong security measures around its release. In an earlier-released teaser of the ITV interview, Harry says he is publishing his memoirs because he does not know how staying silent is ever going to make things better. The full ITV interview is due to be broadcast two days before publication and, in a trailer, Mr Bradby asks: Wouldnt your brother say to you, Harry, how could you do this to me after everything? After everything we went through? Wouldnt that be what he would say? Harry replied: He would probably say all sorts of different things. Mr Bradby, a former royal correspondent and current presenter of ITV News at Ten, is a friend of the Sussexes and has previously interviewed them for a documentary about their 2019 Africa tour. He told Harry: Some people will say youve railed against invasions of your privacy all your life but the accusation will be here are you invading the privacy of your most nearest and dearest without permission, that will be the accusation. Harry answered: That will be the accusation from people that dont understand or dont want to believe that my family have been briefing the press. Asked if he will attend his fathers coronation later this year, he said: Theres a lot that can happen between now and then but the door is always open, the ball is in their court. There is a lot to be discussed and I really hope they are willing to sit down and talk about it. Harry said he still believes in the monarchy but asked when asked if he believes he will play a part in its future he said: I dont know. The show, called Harry: The Interview, will be broadcast on ITV1 and ITX at 9pm on January 8. Harry saw red mist in William but wants reconciliation despite controversies The Duke of Sussex has described how a red mist came over the Prince of Wales during his alleged physical assault, as the revelations from his memoir continued. Harry has insisted he still wants reconciliation with the royal family, but warned there needed to be some accountability first. He shared more details with ITVs Tom Bradby, in an interview to be broadcast in full on Sunday, about his claims William knocked him to the floor during a furious confrontation in 2019. I talk about the red mist that I had for so many years, and I saw this red mist in him, Harry said. He wanted me to hit him back, but I chose not to. In a clip from an interview with US show Good Morning America, Harry says his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, would have been sad over her sons fractured relationship. Meanwhile, he also told CBS he was probably bigoted before he started dating his now-wife the Duchess of Sussex, and he was incredibly naive about how the British press would treat his relationship with the American mixed race actress. In the controversial tell-all book Spare, which was leaked ahead of publication next week and also put on sale early in Spain, Harry also recounts his final words to his grandmother, the Queen, when he visited her body after she died at Balmoral. I whispered that I hoped she was happy and that she was with grandfather now. I said that I admired her for having carried out her duties until the end. The Jubilee, the welcoming of the new Prime Minister, Harry revealed. Other claims in the book include: William was tormented over their fathers affair with Camilla and felt tremendous guilt for not speaking up sooner, despite having long harboured suspicions about the Other Woman. Both princes had begged their father not to marry Camilla, now the Queen Consort, and Harry alleges Camilla sacrificed him to improve her public image and leaked details of a conversation with William. The royal family in 2015 (Jonathan Brady/PA) The King refused to allow Meghan to join him at Balmoral as Queen Elizabeth II was dying, prompting Harry to say: Dont ever speak about my wife that way. Harry killed 25 people as a helicopter pilot in Afghanistan but saw them as chess pieces taken off the board. The duke took cocaine at 17, and lost his virginity at the same age in a field behind a very busy pub to an unnamed older woman who treated him like a young stallion and spanked my ass. He also took magic mushrooms in California in January 2016 when he was 31. Harry asked a driver to replicate the journey though a Paris tunnel that his mother Diana took in the lead-up to her death, mirroring its speed of twice the limit. Charles pleaded with William and Harry, please, boys. Dont make my final years a misery, during a tense meeting at Windsor just after the Duke of Edinburghs funeral. Charles did not hug Harry when telling him about the death of his mother. Diana with Harry (Martin Keene/PA) Meghan upset Kate by saying she must have baby brain in the run-up to the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs 2018 wedding, and William pointed a finger at Meghan and called her rude. Harry called a former army colleague a racist term in 2009, but did not know it was an insult as he was isolated from the real world and wrapped in privilege. He was circumcised as a child and his penis suffered frostbite on a trip to Antarctica before Williams marriage. Kate reluctantly lent Meghan her lip gloss, was taken aback by the request to borrow it and grimaced when Meghan squeezed some onto her finger and applied it to her lips. Harry claims William and Kate encouraged him to wear the Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party in 2005. William and Harry call each other Willy and Harold. Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace have declined to comment, but the inflammatory claims and intimately personal book are being seen as damaging Harrys fragile relationship with his brother a future king beyond repair. The duke, however, told Bradby: I want reconciliation. But, first, there needs to be some accountability. The truth, supposedly, at the moment, has been theres only one side of the story, right? But, theres two sides to every story. The Duke of Sussex, the then Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex, following the bearer party carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II (Jacob King/PA) Harry alleges the heated confrontation with William took place at his then-home in London, Nottingham Cottage, during a row about Meghan, and that it left him with scrapes and bruises to his back. Harry writes: (William) called me another name, then came at me. It all happened so fast. So very fast. He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dogs bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me. I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out. The book, due out on January 10 and ghost written by JR Moehringer, comes just weeks after Harry and Meghans Netflix documentary, in which the duke said he was terrified when William screamed and shouted at him during a tense Sandringham summit in 2020. The memoir is being published only four months after the death of Harrys grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and the start of his fathers reign as King, and follows years of turmoil for the royal family amid the Megxit crisis, Philips death, accusations of racism in the Sussexes Oprah interview and the brothers long-running feud. A highly regarded Londonderry-born journalist touched the lives of many people, his funeral has heard. Brian Hutton, 46, died suddenly last weekend after becoming unwell. Irish president Michael D Higgins was among those who have paid tribute, last week describing Mr Hutton as a fine journalist and someone with a reputation for reliability. During his career, Mr Hutton worked for the Belfast Telegraph and the PA news agency, before most recently writing for the Irish Times. A mourner holds an order of service outside St Patricks Roman Catholic Church in Derry, after the funeral of former Press Association journalist Brian Hutton, who died suddenly on Saturday (Liam McBurney/PA) He reported on a wide range of stories from the Saville Inquiry, to most recently the tragedy in Donegal in which 10 people were killed in a service station explosion. Former Foyle MP Mark Durkan and current SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan joined the reporters family, friends and work colleagues for a funeral service at St Patricks Church, Pennyburn, on Friday. Mr Hutton was laid to rest across the border at St Muras Cemetery, Fahan, in Co Donegal. Father Michael McCaughey described him as a fine journalist who people trusted and a proud Derry man. His life has touched many people, and always his great love for his daughter Issy, he said. Outdoor pursuits, music, playing the guitar, his sense of humour, his warm hearty laugh, were all part of his qualities. Former Ireland editor of the PA news agency Deric Henderson (centre) outside St Patricks Roman Catholic Church in Derry, after the funeral of journalist Brian Hutton who died suddenly on Saturday (Liam McBurney/PA) And of course his great respect and appreciation in the world of journalism. He had, as someone said, a great nose for a story so many events and tragedies in recent times, he had his hand on them, he did so effortlessly, even-handedly, no drama, and an extensive network of contacts. Brian was someone who was able to carry the facts with a story, one with a great intellect. He was highly regarded with a skill for reporting and his sensitive nature. He told through the years the Saville (Inquiry) report, election results, state papers of recent weeks, 50 years of the EU, and the recent tragedy in Creeslough. Mr Huttons brother Kevin said he was devoted to his family and friends. This week so many of you, his devoted friends, have shared how he is a positive influence on you all, more than a few have said life wouldnt be the same, wouldnt be what it is today, without Brian. His loyalty was without measure. To say youre a friend of Brians was a character reference of the highest degree. His devotion to Issy above all else, he loved spending time sharing interests, creating memories with his beautiful daughter. Many of the characteristics that made him a great influence on our lives also made him a great journalist. He was warm, he had emotional intelligence, wit, and he just loved life and he loved people. He was authentic, honest, direct occasionally he had a great intellect and a great mind. He was an avid reader and had a great ability to absorb information, information that he would share generously with those he knew in conversation. To honour his memory, his optimism and his curiosity, lets live our lives with his devotion, his passion and his laughter. Holiday companies expect bookings to reach or even exceed pre-coronavirus levels on Saturday. The first Saturday of the year is known as Sunshine Saturday by the travel industry as it is typically the most popular day to book a foreign trip. Trade association Abta said tour operators and travel agents expect this Saturday will be one of the busiest for a number of years due to the UK scrapping Covid restrictions except for arrivals from China. Spain is expected to remain the UKs favourite foreign holiday destination (Owen Humphreys/PA) It commissioned a poll of 2,000 consumers which indicated that 61% of people are planning to take an overseas holiday this year. Some 31% of respondents to a separate survey of 500 people said they plan to book a holiday earlier than normal in an attempt to get the best price. Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said: The start of the year usually brings lots of enthusiasm for booking holidays and we know many people will be really looking forward to getting away in 2023. Peoples appetite for holiday taking has remained remarkably resilient despite the ongoing pressure on peoples finances, though theres definitely a strong focus on securing great value for money. Our number one piece of advice is to book with a reputable travel company, such as an Abta member travel agent or tour operator, who can help you find the holiday youre looking for at the price you want to pay. Abta said there is a trend for more people choosing holiday locations closer to home this year. Spain is expected to retain its position as the most popular foreign destination for UK holidaymakers this year. There is also strong demand for Greece, Turkey and Italy. The electricity produced in Britain was close to the greenest it has ever been last year, second only to the pandemic, when demand was lower than usual. New data from the grid operator showed that in 2022 Britain had the greenest day and month on record, and wind power hit new highs. For every unit of electricity produced in Great Britain last year, 182 grams of carbon equivalent was released into the atmosphere, just one gram more than in 2020. It has been a tough year for the energy sector with prices for gas and oil soaring, and helping to push up the price of electricity in turn. It has led to the Government signing a deal which would keep two coal power plants as backup in case they were needed because the country could not get enough gas. However, this did not stop zero-carbon energy sources, which include nuclear power, from making up a much larger portion of the countrys electricity mix than fossil fuels. Over the 12 months zero-carbon electricity accounted for 48.5% of the total, compared to 40% from gas and coal power. The lions share of the green electricity was from wind turbines, both onshore and off the coast. In total 26.8% of Britains electricity came from wind, second only to gas, which produced 38.5% of the total. Nuclear power was responsible for 15.5% of the production, biomass which includes burning wood pellets in power plants contributed 5.2%, solar produced 4.4%, while coal power plants produced 1.5% of Britains electricity. The rest came from electricity that was imported from Europe (5.5%) hydropower (1.8%) and storage (0.9%), National Grid Electricity System Operator said on Friday. It added: The use of coal in our day-to-day energy mix has continued to decline, with coal responsible for only 1.5% of generation in 2022, illustrating the significant reduction that has taken place over the last ten years, when coal represented 43% of electricity produced in 2012. February was the greenest month since records began, with just 126 grams of carbon per unit of electricity. The greenest day on record was on December 28, at 52 grams of carbon, and in November more than 20 gigawatts of electricity came from wind for the first time, a record beaten again in December. Employment lawyers are predicting there will be a legal challenge to the governments controversial announcement of legislation to ensure minimum levels of service during strikes. Unions reacted with fury to the move, saying it would do nothing to resolve the current wave of strikes sweeping the country. One of the industries targeted by ministers is the railways, which was hit by another strike on Friday by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union. Richard Arthur, head of trade union law at Thompsons Solicitors said there were very serious legal question marks around the governments proposals. He added: The measures go further than the minimum service levels envisaged by the Transport Strike (Minimum Service Levels) Bill published in October. The Human Rights Memorandum accompanying that Bill set out reasons why minimum service levels were not justified in fire services, health settings and education and yet this is what is being proposed. The government is referring to minimum safety levels and we anticipate legal challenge around what they are and who defines them. The introduction of minimum safety levels does not comply with the United Kingdoms legal obligations under Convention No.87 of the International Labour Organisation on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, and Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The legal challenges when they come and they will are not something that the government can sidestep saying Brexit has set us free. The breaches will be of conventions that the government has signed up to that come from the Council of Europe and the International Labour Organisation, not the European Union. (PA Graphics) Tom Long, employment partner at law firm Shakespeare Martineau, said: While this is the latest attempt in a series of governments since 2010 to restrict the right to strike, the proposed legislation could have a relatively short lifespan. Aside from the fact that trade unions will be unlikely to accept it without a fight, it may take months to go through parliament and even if passed, the Labour Party have been vocal about their intention to repeal it if they are elected in the next two years. Designed to protect minimum service levels, the current legislation is limited to what the Government considers important public services, such as nurses and the fire service, so will have no immediate effect on businesses outside of these areas. However, it could be argued that those important public services are areas where the Government could be held responsible for the knock-on effects of strike action, for example delayed operations and hospital appointments. This announcement will naturally garner a lot of attention, especially with the country in the midst of strike action across a number of sectors. However, with trade unions already threatening a potential legal challenge through the courts, it remains to be seen whether the Prime Ministers bold plans will translate into reality. Business Secretary Grant Shapps said the Government was reaching out to unions (Victoria Jones/PA) David Hopper, employment partner at law firm Lewis Silkin, said the proposed legislation will not resolve the current unrest. It will take time to be enacted and there is no guarantee that it will make it past the House of Lords, as only transport strikes are covered by the governments 2019 manifesto commitment to introduce minimum service levels. If it does become law, it may still not be effective without numerous additional sets of regulations, industry agreements and even court rulings, which would actually set the particular minimum standards. Even then, unions can be expected to resist the new requirements and will almost certainly challenge any enforcement action against them on human rights grounds. Minimum service levels also actually risk prolonging strikes, by preventing unions from being able to generate sufficient leverage through causing disruption to secure their demands. The Labour Party has already promised to repeal the legislation if enacted. So, with the polls as they are, these reforms may be of no lasting significance in any event. The government said it will introduce a Bill in Parliament in the coming weeks to ensure vital public services will have to deliver minimum safety levels during industrial action. Minimum safety levels will be set for fire, ambulance and rail services and the government will consult on the adequate level of coverage for these sectors. For other sectors covered in the Bill, which includes health services, education, nuclear decommissioning, other transport services and border security, the government said it expects to continue to reach voluntary agreements, and would look to consult only on minimum safety levels should these voluntary positions not be agreed. Business Secretary Grant Shapps said: We hugely value the work of our public services and were reaching out to unions to have an honest conversation on pay, conditions and reform. Industrial action is disruptive for everyone from people relying on essential services to get to work or care for their family to hard-working business owners whose sales suffer. It also costs those striking at a time when family budgets are tight. As well as protecting the freedom to strike, the government must also protect life and livelihoods. While we hope that voluntary agreements can continue to be made in most cases, introducing minimum safety levels the minimum levels of service we expect to be provided will restore the balance between those seeking to strike and protecting the public from disproportionate disruption. RAMALLAH, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday said the Palestinians would continue to take legal measures with international legitimacy to respond to the Israeli government's violations. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's entry into Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem "is the beginning of the implementation of the new policy of Benjamin Netanyahu's government that they announced," Abbas said at a meeting of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) that he chaired in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. "We categorically reject the policy of this (Israeli) government, but we also heard a lot of rejection of it in various countries of the world, and inside Israel," Abbas added. Meanwhile, in an official statement, the PLO executive committee warned of the dangerous consequences of Ben-Gvir's visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque, calling for a speedy convening of the Arab League's council and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation "to confront this serious crime politically." It also called for immediately establishing practical mechanisms "to curb the aggressive escalation of the occupation government." On Tuesday, Ben-Gvir entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and wandered in the mosque's courtyards for some time under strict security protection from Israeli police personnel, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources. The boss of Starling has said the digital bank expects to more than quadruple its profits in 2023 after a strong performance in December. Anne Boden, the chief executive and founder of the UK bank, cheered its profitability, surging customer base, and lack of reliance on a silly valuation to raise cash. In her new year update, she distanced Starling from rival digital banks and fintechs who are looking to raise cash, having become profitable last year for the first time in its eight-year history. Ms Boden said: Were profitable, very well capitalised and have no need to raise money. Its no accident that we have never sought a silly valuation, even when the prospect of one was dangled before us. Starling was founded in 2014 and now has more than 3.4 million customer accounts (Starling/PA) We, and here I mean the fantastic executive team, just had difficulty buying into the fanciful views of the world held by some of the funds that had so-called vision. She told staff and customers that Starling is now a big player and no longer up against the plucky scale-ups, having racked up millions of customer accounts. Ms Boden revealed that the bank which has more than 3.4 million customer accounts, including 520,000 small businesses expects to more than quadruple its pre-tax profits in the new financial year. She said that Starling generated annualised pre-tax profits of more than 250 million for December, which means it has calculated what its yearly profit would be if every month was like December. It also generated 600 million of annualised revenue, based on Decembers income. The actual full-year profits will be unveiled after March, when the financial year ends. Nevertheless, Ms Bodens optimistic profit expectations are a significant jump from Starlings latest full-year financial results, with pre-tax profits totalling 32.1 million for the year to March 31. In the previous year, to March 2021, it had suffered a loss of 31.5 million. The banks loan book hit 4.7 billion this year, driven by mortgage lending, Ms Boden said. Starling recently said it would be opening a new office in Manchester, creating around 1,000 jobs and adding to its existing bases in London, Southampton, Cardiff and Dublin. Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries has hit out at political bias by arms-length bodies during an attack on Arts Council England for cutting funds for English National Opera. Arts Council England (Ace) has said it would remove the opera company from its grant portfolio, which equates to a cut in annual funding of 12.6 million. Writing on Twitter, Ms Dorries accused Ace of having pulled this as a stunt to try reverse #levellingup and funding being transferred to poorer communities in the north of England. Its lazy and political. Their money comes from you, the tax payer via Gov but only they get to decide where it is spent. But Ace has pointed to Ms Dorries instruction when she was culture secretary to reduce its funding for London and to disburse money elsewhere. Ms Dorries said on Twitter: There is something fundamentally wrong with arms length bodies such as (Ace) being given large amounts of public / taxpayer funding over which the Secretary of State with departmental responsibility has no say and no control. The public dont pay their taxes for unelected individuals on generous salaries to sit in swanky offices deciding how they think it should be spent. The reason it happens is to ensure decisions taken are not made with undue political bias. However, this reasoning is now nonsensical as political bias in the decision making process is rife. I saw it over and over when I was a health minister and I had to deal with it as (culture secretary). This is not the fault of civil servants, who have to pick up the fallout. And who also have to oversee a difficult process. It is a process which is now openly abused. English National Opera (ENO) has been offered 17 million over three years, conditional on relocating outside of London. ENO chief executive Stuart Murphy reportedly told The Stage earlier this week that it now has three options, to relocate, reshape or close, but that the decision would ultimately be in the hands of Ace. Ms Dorries resigned as culture secretary two months before Ace announced its funding decisions last November, having held the post for about a year before resigning when Liz Truss was set to take over as prime minister. In a letter to Ace, sent in February last year, Ms Dorries said of arts funding: For too long there has been an imbalance in funding with a large proportion of the pot going to London-based organisations compared to those based in other parts of the country. She added: I am instructing the Arts Council to significantly increase investment outside of London over this spending review period, and to rebalance funding between regions to achieve a more even distribution of funding, including through a reduction in the Arts Councils London budget. In her thread on Twitter criticising Ace, Ms Dorries said she was not a fan of opera when she became culture secretary but turned that around in a flash. She said organisations like ENO reach out into deprived communities and have been the front runners in levelling up for a very long time. A spokesperson for Ace said: We have delivered on the instruction given to us by the Government in February 2022 to disburse additional funding we received to benefit areas outside of London and to reduce the budget for London. We were clear with organisations throughout the funding application process that a smaller budget for London would result in difficult decisions. Each year, over the next three years, 43.5 million will be invested in 78 levelling up for culture towns and cities, and 294 million will go to 708 organisations outside the capital, ensuring that more people in more places will find fantastic, fulfilling art and culture on their doorsteps. Northern Ireland saw one security-related death and five bombing incidents in 2022, police figures have revealed. The number of deaths in the region considered by police to be security related dropped from two in 2021. Sean Fox, 42, was shot dead at a west Belfast social club in front of more than 100 people in October last year. Police believe the murder was carried out by the same gunmen who killed Mark Hall in west Belfast in December 2021. They did not attribute the murders to a particular organisation but said the two deaths bore the hallmarks of dissident republican killings. The latest figures compiled by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) from police records also show there were five bombing incidents, the same number as in 2021, and 29 shooting incidents, which is up from 27 in 2021. The PSNIs Security Situation Statistics covering the 12 month period 1st January 2022 to 31st December 2022 have been published today. The publication is available on the @PoliceServiceNI website at https://t.co/l9aU89SuSu pic.twitter.com/R3Sxk2jGLE NISRA (@NISRA) January 6, 2023 Most of the bombings took place in the Derry and Strabane area (three), and included an attack in November claimed by the republican paramilitary group known as Arm na Poblachta (ANP) where a delivery driver was forced to take a bomb to a police station. The incident came just days after police said they believed another dissident republican group, the New IRA, could be responsible for an incident in which two officers escaped injury when their car was targeted in a bomb attack in Strabane, Co Tyrone. Belfast and Mid Ulster each experienced one bombing incident during the past 12 months. Of the shootings, most (12) took place in the Derry and Strabane council area, while seven were recorded in Belfast and three each in Causeway Coast and Glens and Ards and North Down. A drop was recorded in the number of paramilitary-style assaults and shootings. There were 25 casualties of paramilitary-style assaults in 2022, compared to 37 in 2021. These attacks often involve victims being beaten with iron bars or baseball bats by loyalist or republican paramilitary groups as a so-called punishment attack. There were also eight victims of paramilitary-style shootings. In these attacks, victims are usually shot in the knees, elbows, feet, ankles or thighs by paramilitaries who claim they are punishment for anti-social activities. The 2022 figure for paramilitary shootings was a drop from 14 in 2021. Police also recorded 110-security related arrests under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, compared to 130 in 2021, and 13 people were subsequently charged, compared to 23 in 2021. Meanwhile there were fewer firearms found in 2022 (24) compared to 39 in 2021, which was attributed to the finding of a large quantity of firearms in May 2021. Some 0.65kg of explosives were discovered in 2022 compared to none in 2021, and 1,898 rounds of ammunition were found in 2022 compared to 1,002 rounds in 2021. PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan (Rebecca Black/PA) Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan paid tribute to the support of the public. The support of the community alongside proactive efforts to tackle terrorist activity has led to 110 security-related arrests under the Terrorism Act in 2022 with 13 people subsequently charged, he said. Its a signal of some success in the long-term efforts towards achieving the kind of society that we all want and deserve. Thats efforts made by police officers and staff, our partners and, in particular, the community. It is vital that people continue to tell us about crime and anti-social behaviour when they see or experience it. We can only work to address issues when we know about them. I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of crime or has information about crime to report it to us. Our priority will remain the same to deliver a visible, accessible and responsive community-focused policing service to keep people safe. Visitors to the Royal Mint Experience will be able to strike a 2 denomination coin bearing the Kings portrait for the first time. The tails side of the 2 coin, which can be struck from Friday, features a design to celebrate physician Edward Jenner, who pioneered the concept of vaccines. More than 227,800 coins have already been struck by visitors to the Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant, South Wales, since it opened in 2016. Previously, visitors have been able to strike their own memorial coin for Queen Elizabeth II and as well as a Harry Potter 50p. The Mint said it is the first time visitors can strike a 2 denomination coin featuring Charless effigy. A Royal Mint coin celebrating Edward Jenner (Royal Mint/PA) Dan Johnson, visitor attraction manager, said: The change of monarch is such a significant occasion in UK history, and we are delighted to be able to welcome visitors to the Royal Mint Experience and offer them the opportunity to be a part of this momentous historical occasion. Visitors will be charged an additional 7.50 to strike their own coin as part of their tour. The 2 coin celebrating Edward Jenner will also be available to buy from the Royal Mints website from January 26. Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp has come out as gay. The actor, 18, shared the news with his fans online in a video posted to his TikTok account on Thursday, after telling his friends and family. When I finally told my friends and family I was gay after being scared in the closet for 18 years and all they said was we know, he wrote in the video. The actor, 18, shared the news with his fans online in a video posted to his TikTok account on Thursday (Alamy/PA) Schnapp rose to fame playing Will Byers in the hit Netflix show, alongside Millie Bobby Brown, Winona Ryder and David Harbour. His performance won him the 2022 Peoples Male TV Star award. Following the final two episodes of the Stranger Things season four finale, Schnapp told US publication Variety that his character was gay, and in love with his best friend Mike, played by Finn Wolfhard. I guess Im more similar to Will than I thought, the actor captioned his TikTok video. MANILA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The "strengthening relationship" between the Philippines and China "can only smooth the way to a greater, deeper and stronger partnership," Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. said on Thursday. Marcos made the remarks after returning to Manila after a three-day "fruitful" state visit to China. Describing China as "an important bilateral partner," Marcos expected that bilateral ties will be strengthened in many areas, including agriculture, education, energy, environment, infrastructure, science and technology, trade and people-to-people exchanges. "As we embark on a new chapter of our bilateral ties," said Marcos, his country and China share the commitment to ensuring that both sides will "continue the positive trajectory of our relations," which have been elevated to a comprehensive strategic cooperation since 2018. "We are more than willing to cooperate whenever possible," he said. YEREVAN, JANUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. Turkey has lifted the ban on direct air cargo transport with Armenia, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan said in response to a query from ARMENPRESS. Indeed, the Turkish side notified us today that the ban on direct air cargo transport has been lifted. Wed like to remind that conducting Armenia-Turkey direct air cargo transport was one of the agreements reached at the 1 July 2022 meeting of the special representatives [for normalization]. We expect that the other agreement ensuring the possibility of land border crossing for citizens of third countries will also be swiftly realized, Hunanyan said. Earlier on January 6 Turkish media reported that Armenia and Turkey started direct air cargo trade. Today's headlines: India detects 11 subvariants of Covid-19; Millions hired to administer Covid tests in China now out of work; Moving Indonesia's capital risks being a "huge ecological disaster"; Renunciation of Belarusian citizenship will cost nearly twice as much; Iran closes French institute; Russian dissident Viktor Feinberg dies at 92. CHINA-AFGHANISTAN. The Taliban government has signed a contract with a Chinese company to extract oil in northern Afghanistan. The 25-year deal is the first major one since the "Koranic students" returned to power. A Chinese state-owned company is also in negotiations for copper mining in the east of the country. INDIA India has detected 11 subvariants of Covid-19 in international travelers who entered the country between Dec. 24 and Jan. 3, Health Ministry sources said yesterday, adding that these are new and existing divarsities. Of 19,227 passengers tested during the period, 124 tested positive. Testing is currently mandatory for arrivals from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. CHINA Millions of people who had been hired to administer swabs to people in China are now out of work. These are pharmacists, health workers, laboratory technicians, or temporary staff who are now mainly involved in selling quick swabs or other drugs used to treat flu symptoms. INDONESIA Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, is expected to rise in eastern Borneo and replace increasingly waterlogged Jakarta by the end of 2024. But the city is likely to have a severe impact on the region's biodiversity. Environmentalists fear it will be "a huge ecological disaster." BELARUS As of Jan. 1, Belarus has increased consular fees for services regarding passports, expatriates, and identity, which compatriots can receive at offices abroad; in particular, renouncing Belarusian citizenship will now cost 400 euros instead of 250, passport renewal will cost over 100 euros, and divorce decree 200 euros. RUSSIA Russian dissident Viktor Feinberg, who organized the demonstration on Moscow's Red Square in August 1968 to protest the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, has died at 92. He was arrested after five minutes with his comrades, had his teeth knocked out in his cell, and was convicted of "spreading false information and discrediting the authorities." IRAN - FRANCE. Iran shut down the Tehran-based French institute after Charlie Hebdo published cartoons mocking Ayatollah Khamenei that were submitted by readers in support of anti-government protests by Iranian youth. The French weekly published a special edition on the anniversary of the attack on its offices in Paris. by Emanuele Scimia The Philippine president ends a three-day state visit to China with 14 bilateral agreements and a direct line between the two countries foreign ministries. Philippine nationalists and activists want a tougher stance towards China. Marcos Jrs flexibility will not solve maritime disputes. Rome (AsiaNews) Chinese investors have agreed to funnel US$ 22.8 in the Philippines, Manila's Presidential Communications Office said today. The pledge marks Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jrs three-day visit to China, and has had the effect of moderating his government's rhetoric against Chinas territorial claims in the South China Sea. In a joint statement following the meeting between Marcos Jr and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, the two sides agreed to set up a direct communication link between their respective foreign ministries to handle peacefully any dispute involving the South China Sea. In the Philippines, nationalists and activists actually want their president to enforce a ruling by the International Court of Arbitration to protect their countrys maritime borders from China's territorial claims. In 2016, the court in The Hague (Netherlands) ruled that China's claim to nearly 90 per cent of the South China Sea was baseless, a decision Beijing has never accepted. Together with Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and to a lesser extent Indonesia, the Philippines is opposed to Chinas claims. Over the past few years, China has pursued a policy of militarising some islands and coral reefs in the sea. To contain it, US warships and warplanes regularly patrol near these military outposts. Marcos Jr. said that Xi promised to find a compromise on the problems of Philippine fishermen operating in disputed areas. As Philippine online news website Rappler points out, fisher folk have seen their catch dwindle or dry up completely, either because of larger scale Chinese fishing or harassment by Chinese coast guard vessels. During the state visit, the two countries signed 14 bilateral agreements, and have expressed willingness to reopen talks on joint oil and gas exploration of the sea basin. In early December, Marcos Jr said his country needed to find ways to exploit hydrocarbon resources in the disputed region, with or without an agreement with China. The Philippines needs investment to build new infrastructure. Not surprisingly, Marcos Jr. went to Beijing to ask for money. Still his flexibility over the South China Sea does not mean a solution to the crisis is at hand. Since 2016, as part of a strategy of reducing tensions, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been negotiating a code of conduct with China over the South China Sea; however, this has dragged on with poor results, mainly because the Chinese refuse to make the code legally binding. Marcos Jr. must also take into account the United States, the Philippines main ally. Manila recently reported that Washington wants to build five new military outposts in the country, two of them in the northern province of Cagayan. The area overlooks the Luzon Strait, which separates the Philippines from Taiwan: a focal point in case of conflict between Beijing and Taipei but also for the United States. The US is in fact developing an active anti-Navy defence strategy to prevent Chinese naval attacks against Taiwan, which includes ground forces scattered in the western Pacific and the use of precision missiles to keep Chinese naval forces at bay. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. ABUJA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 people were killed and six others went missing after a boat capsized earlier this week in northwest Nigeria, the official News Agency of Nigeria reported on Friday. About 100 rice farmers were aboard the boat when it capsized on Tuesday evening on a river in the Koko/Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State, the report said, adding that 80 people have been rescued alive. In a statement on Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari mourned the victims of the accident and commended the efforts of rescue workers who, according to him, worked for days searching for the missing persons. The president urged stakeholders to pay more attention to proper regulation of transportation by boats, especially in rural areas. Boat accidents are not uncommon in Nigeria, often due to overloading and faulty operation. Last summer, we got to see footage of the new C-8 and a conventional powerboat showing their prowess side by side. It was a test conducted by Candela in Sweden, meant to demonstrate the electric boats superiority. Indeed, the C-8 looked amazing as it flew over the waves in a typical hydrofoil manner, while also being remarkably silent and smooth.A lot of that is owed to the Candela C-Pod, claiming to be the most efficient and durable boat motor not just in todays world, but in all history. A direct-drive electric motor, entirely submerged, the C-Pod is responsible for the silent ride with no transmission losses, while also being built to last literally a lifetime, with zero maintenance.In addition to the powerful motor, the C-8 is fitted with advanced avionics that uses multiple types of sensors to enable an unprecedented level of control and precision on a boat. This Flight Controller also keeps tabs on the hydrofoil system, making automatic adjustments, with no hassle for the rider. This is supposed to result in a smooth, stable ride, no matter how challenging the weather may be, with water friction reduced by 80% compared to standard powerboats.Numbers speak for themselves: the C-8 can hit a whopping top speed of 30 knots ((34.5 mph/55.5 kph) and even its cruising speed is impressive for an all-electric model (24 knots/27.6 mph/44 kph). At the same time, the all-electric boat doesnt compromise on range. At cruising speed, it can handle up to 50 nautical miles (57.5 miles/92 km) which apparently is about four times more than other electric boats.Candela put it best, saying that a racing car meets flying carpet in the new C-8 hydrofoil boat. It was impressive enough to convince electric vehicle maker Polestar to join the ride. Last year, the two companies announced a partnership focusing on battery and charging systems technology.Meanwhile, the C-8 is already available for pre-order, with a 100 ($105) deposit (the price tag is somewhere around $310,000). The production version is currently making its official debut in Las Vegas no better place than CES to showcase this truly innovative watercraft.And the Swedish manufacturer is just getting started. The P-8 Voyager long-range explorer, and the P-12 Shuttle are also coming soon. If you were impressed with the C-8s capabilities, youll definitely want to watch out for these electric powerhouses. Its said that Steve Jobs fascination with computer technology began after he saw a computer for the first time, during a visit at NASAs Ames Research Center. Located in Silicon Valley, this 80-year-old facility is one of the worlds most important research hubs. Its main focus is a combination of biology and space technology, an essential area in order to advance human space exploration.This is where NASA's Psychomotor Vigilance Task Test (PVT+) was developed, at the Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory. This research was primarily meant for astronauts, but its benefits are now available to anyone, thanks to a new feature developed by the Citizen watchmaker.Called The CZ Smart YouQ Alert Monitor, this feature incorporates a series of precise tests that can be taken on a daily basis. Just as the original PVT+ studied astronauts mental acuity, this feature helps measure your alertness. And it comes in the simple and practical form of a smartwatch.This NASA research-derived function is part of the CZ Smart YouQ application, based on AI (Artificial Intelligence) models that were built with the IBM Watson Studio. First of all, the app gets to know you personally in about a week of observing the wearers sleep patterns, it registers his or her chronotype. Then, the Alert Scores provided by the feature weve talked about earlier personalize this knowledge even further.What you get is basically a watch thats meant to be your wellness buddy. Thanks to this advanced dynamic recognition model, it can provide real-time feedback on things such as sleep patterns, heart rate and daily activity. Based on that, its then able to recommend so-called Power Fixes that will be tailored to the wearers specific needs. The end game is to prevent fatigue, keep you more alert, and improve your wellness-related habits.The app comes with the new Citizen CZ Smartwatch, recently launched at CES 2023. It comes in casual and sport versions, with a variety of interchangeable straps available. Powered with Wear OS by Google, its compatible with both iPhone and Android. This is the brand's second-generation CZ Smartwatch, after the first one was launched in 2020.If you want to stay in top shape like an astronaut would, watch out for March, when this new watch will become available for order in the U.S. As for the price tag, it ranges from $350 to $435. kW The engineer, who died in 2005, was also arrested and charged with cocaine trafficking by the FBI in 1982 and later acquitted. Netflix delves into the dark side of this fascinating character.His most famous creation is the DeLorean DMC-12, the mid-engined car popularized by the Back to the Future movies, which was only produced for a few years. However, before the film, this car was unpopular, unloved, and even one of the biggest flops in automotive history.The DeLorean DMC-12 was introduced as a prototype in March 1976, with series production lasting kicking off in Northern Ireland in 1981 and ending in 1983. It was to be the ultimate car. It was constructed of various materials, including fiberglass and stainless steel, materials capable of standing the test of time and which were called eco-friendly at the time.Its engine, a fuel-injected V6 made by the PRV (Peugeot Renault Volvo) partnership, met U.S. pollution standards. This was a secondary choice, the first being a Wankel, a rotary engine developed in partnership by Mazda and Citroen, the same engine found in Mazda's RX7 and RX8.DeLorean's parents were John Zachary DeLorean and William T. Collins. One was a former General Motors executive and the other was a Pontiac chief engineer.The famous gull-wing doors and stainless steel bodywork were eye-catchers and made it look like a car built to last. This was a philosophy that didn't sit well with other manufacturers, who wanted a shorter life cycle for their cars to encourage consumption.For its era, the DeLorean was a high-tech vehicle par excellence. Aside from the metal look and doors, the model rolled off the assembly line in Belfast with what was considered innovative equipment at that time, such as air conditioning, car radio, and power windows.Interestingly, unemployment was high in Belfast back then. So the factory easily found the necessary workforce. Paid good wages and provided with the best possible equipment, the unfortunately inexperienced employees built the first models rather poorly. This led to numerous breakdowns on the first vehicle series, which sold for $25,000 in dealerships, more than double the original price (DMC-12 for $12,000).Everything was breaking down, and the electrical system was constantly failing. It wasn't until 1982 that well-built DeLorean examples drove through the factory gate, and it was mostly in 1985 that we saw the final version that stars in the movie.At the end of 1982, however, John Zachary DeLorean was arrested for drug trafficking. This was far from alleviating the company's financial difficulties. Following the arrest, the last DeLorean in production was finished and sold new by 1983. The company went bankrupt. Later, John Zachary DeLorean was released following a mistrial: in reality, it was the FBI who framed him. A setup that cost him the company and several years of his life. Ironically, an investor called him on the day of his arrest to offer him another $200 million to develop a twin-turbo version. However, the cars didn't sell well, between the DeLorean story, reliability issues, and the risk of the company going bankrupt (which was soon confirmed).Clearly, t he DeLorean had its technical flaws, it was heavy and lacked dynamism. But on the other hand, it was unlike any other car. It was a symbol of the future, just like it is today a symbol of the past. An innovation presented as a revolution that failed and was discontinued after only three years. It's what drove the scriptwriters to create a film. At the time, they needed a car that looked futuristic but was realistic enough to fit into the present (the early 1980s). Back then, no one knew if the film would be successful and no one suspected that a car with such a complicated and inconsiderate fate would become the symbol of an entire generation.So it was the fate both sad and glamorous of the DeLorean DMC-12 that allowed it to become a famous model. But we have to admit that, deep down, we all love the DeLorean in one way or another.But for those who want to go from being just a fan to a collector, you can find one for sale on eBay. Right now, there's a $35,200 bid on the car in the ad. At the time of writing, this is the 24th bid, so we suspect its price started much lower.It's a 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 with 64,736 miles (104,182 kilometers) on the clock. It is equipped with a still-running rear-mounted 2.85-liter V6 engine rated at 97 132 ps (130 hp) and 153 lb-ft of torque (207 Nm). From the photos, we can see that the car is mostly in pretty good shape, but inside a flaw in one of the pillars is obvious. But the two elements, paint and bodywork, dont have to be present at the same time on a ride for it to qualify as a chicano. Why, such a project doesnt even have to be born in the U.S. or Mexico, for that matter, as the Germans from Thunderbike proved time and again.One of their most recent such builds is this here El Impulso. For those who dont speak Spanish, that would be momentum in English, a name chosen for undisclosed reasons for a build described as a "gentlemans chicano."As said, the thing that sets this thing apart from others of its breed is the absence of brightly colored bodywork. For this once-stock Harley-Davidson Heritage Thunderbike chose various shades of black with silver flakes, offset throughout the build by yellow and red pinstriping.And theres a bit of white in there, too, going round the wheels on the Shinko tires. The aluminum wheels are part of the shops Digger series, the same used on the El Magico the shop rolled out more than a year ago. On the El Impulso, the 20-spoke pieces come in 23 inches at the front and 18 inches at the rearThe build is one of the most extensive put together by Thunderbike in recent times, with no less than 40 aftermarket or custom parts thrown in there. The parts alone, not including the man-hours and paint job, are worth close to 15,000 euros, which is about $15,500 at todays exchange rates.The long list of items includes everything from fenders to all sorts of covers, but the most important ones clearly stand out from the pack. Were talking about the triple tree with larger rake needed to fit the front wheel, a modified swingarm to accommodate the rear one, and an air ride system to allow the bike to be lowered or raised as needed. Some original Harley-Davidson bits, like the engine covers, Defiance grips, pedals and running boards were also used.The engine on the bike is the original Milwaukee-Eight 114, only improved by the use of a Screamin Eagle Stage II Torque Kit. Relatively cheap to own (Thunderbike sells them for about $700), the upgrade brings forth an instant increase in torque of five percent, and then it keeps growing to 14 percent.The not-so-colorful El Impulsos final price is not known, but given the $18,999 starting price of a stock, new Heritage, and the $15k in extras on this one, were left with a bike worth at least $34,000. ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- More than 3.3 million people in Ethiopia's conflict-affected northernmost Tigray region have received humanitarian aid since early October, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The OCHA, in its latest Ethiopia situation update issued Thursday, said humanitarian partners have assisted more than 3.3 million people, constituting 61 percent of the total planned caseload of 5.4 million people in Tigray under the second round of food distribution, which was launched in early October and continued as of the end of December. It said humanitarian supplies, mainly food, continued to be transported into Tigray via four corridors through neighboring Afar and Amhara regions. Humanitarian aid is flowing into the Tigray region following the peace agreement that was signed between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in early November 2022. The deal includes restoring law and order, restoring services and unhindered access to humanitarian supplies. Telecommunications and electricity supply have been restored and improving as infrastructure restoration works continue, including water supply systems in several towns, the OCHA said. Amid the improving security situation, Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopia's flag carrier, resumed its commercial passenger flights into two major cities across the region, including the regional capital of Mekele. EV 2022 was even titled the year of the SUV in North America for the Japanese automaker with the all-new HR-V (now a larger, dedicated compact CUV based on the Civic for the region titled ZR-V internationally), the next installment for the best-selling CR-V, and the family-oriented mid-size three-row Pilot (now also available as a rugged TrailSport). But that was not all, as the company had a lot of love for passenger cars, too.Honda enthusiasts welcomed with open arms the latest (and possibly greatest) Civic Type R hot hatchback while mid-size aficionados probably only had eyes for the eleventh-generation Accord. The latter is now competing for the publics attention with Honda and Sony joining forces to introduce the odd-named Afeelaat the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. And it is certainly winning, if you ask about our two cents on the matter.So, the Japanese carmaker not only announced the all-new Accord is ready to hit nationwide dealerships with a base trim level MSRP of $27,295, but it also celebrated four decades of local U.S. production at the Marysville Auto Plant (MAP) with the start of manufacturing for the new iteration of the traditional Toyota Camry rival. Speaking of the latter, all this Honda Accord commotion in the real world probably also gave novel ideas to the folks dwelling across the imaginative realm of virtual automotive artists.A good case in point could be made here with Jim, the pixel master better known as jlord8 on social media, who continues his return to major form with modern CGI ideas, and now has something for Honda too, also with a station wagon twist. So, not long ago in between a Chevy Impala-based Biscayne wagon revival and a Ford Crown Victoria Zephyr reinvention, the author thought he liked the 2023 Toyota Camry Nightshade edition more than enough to morph it into a neat coupe or a cool, sporty grocery-getter station wagon.Now, piggybacking on that estate idea, here is also a Honda Accord Touring station wagon transformation. Interestingly, the changes are more than subtle just a larger rear greenhouse and a modified trunk lid plus a longer roof which clearly suggests that the eleventh-gen Accord would look great as an estate, too.Plus, just to be sure it could duke it out properly with the digital Camry Nightshade Wagon foe , there is also a nice set of large, bronze aftermarket-style wheels along with red brake calipers. As for technical details, there are none but it would surely bode well for the virtual project if it had Accord hybrid credentials, right? 10. 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Photo: Hoonigan 9. 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Photo: Hoonigan 8. 2011 Ford Fiesta (Oslbergs MSE) Photo: Hoonigan 7. 2012 Ford Fiesta HFHV Photo: Hoonigan 6. 2018 Ford Fiesta WRC Photo: Hoonigan 5. 2013 Ford Fiesta ST RX43 Photo: Hoonigan 4. 2017 Ford Focus RS RX Photo: Hoonigan 3. 1991 Escort RS Cosworth Photo: Hoonigan 2. 1977 Ford F-150 Hoonitruck Photo: Hoonigan 1. 1965 Ford Mustang Hoonicorn Photo: Hoonigan AWD Only a few months have gone by since we've last seen Ken Block going all bonkers in a Gymkhana-style race car on the streets of Las Vegas. And none of us realized that this would be his last project of this scale. As much as some people loved to complain about the Audi S1 Hoonitron from Electrikhana , you have to acknowledge that this was probably the most amazing project Ken Block has ever driven. After all, this wasn't just built in someone's shop, it was developed by Audi from scratch! But just like in our previous story, we will only be focusing on cars that were used in Gymkhana videos.During his lifetime, Ken Block was the main star of 10 of these, as Travis Pastrana took over in the latest two episodes. As you're probably already aware, five cars were used for Gymkhana Ten. Developing a new car for each video must have been both complicated and expensive, but we'll get to that in a minute.We've ranked the 10 best Gymkhana vehicles ever built, and it was no easy task. Some cars were used in more than one episode, but we've already seen that Gymkhana Ten was quite generous from this point of view. This list might look different for some of you, depending on your personal preferences. And we'd love to hear your opinion on the topic as well!This was the original Gymkhana series car, which Ken Block drove back in 2008. It wasn't quite as fast or spectacular as some of the more modern vehicles in the series, but it did inspire a lot of people to go out and buy one too.The sound of the boxer engine is something any enthusiast will be happy to hear at full blast, and many folks were ecstatic to see that Gymkhana 2020 also featured an Impreza.As the team pointed out, this 2005 WRX STI was not a race car and it didn't even have a roll cage. It just so happens that this was previously used for the Gumball 3000 rally when Block drove it from London to Monaco!Ken Block drove the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI for Gymkhana Two. This car was built by Crawford Performance, just like the first Subaru, and had a maximum output of 566 whp and 611 lb-ft (828 Nm) of torque. There was more emphasis on the livery of this model, signaling the start of a new era for the American icon.It's a well-known fact that boxer engines tend to lose that special exhaust note past a certain tuning level, which seems to be the case here. But overall this third-generation model felt better prepared and considerably more nimble for the task at hand.The Gymkhana series jumped to the next level once Ken Block partnered up with Ford in 2010. The 2011 Ford Fiesta used in Gymkhana 3 was prepared by Olsbergs MSE, and it quickly became clear that it was much faster than the previous two Subarus.The 2.0-liter Olsbergs Duratec engine was good enough for about 650 whp and 660 lb-ft (894 Nm) of torque, and you can tell how mad this thing was just by looking at Block's face when he's pushing it to the limit.The 2012 Ford Fiesta HFHV (which is short for High Function Hoon Vehicle) was a two-door model as opposed to the previous car. This was based on M-Sport's WRC rally car and was meant to provide flexibility in achieving three different objectives: stage-rally, Gymkhana, and rallycross. You'll immediately notice the Fifteen52 prototype wheels on the car, which worked great with the Hoonigan livery.At the time, Ken Block mentioned he was struggling to adapt to the car, as he didn't get as much seat time as he would have wanted to. He would use the same vehicle for Gymkhana Five as well, but with the additional fine-tuning, he felt much more confident driving it around the streets of San Francisco.Sixth place on our list today goes to the 2018 Ford Fiesta used in Gymkhana Ten. This WRC-spec machine was limited to 380 hp and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque, which might not sound like much compared to some of the other vehicles we've seen so far.But then again it was more than enough for the icy layout in Lulea, Sweden, where Ken Block even got into a power-sliding tandem with Oliver Solberg at one point!Ken Block had worked with M-Sport on previous projects, but this time there was a joint effort in developing the newly purposed-built Fiesta ST RX43 Gymkhana car. This vehicle would go on to shred tires in both Gymkhana Six and Eight, with performance levels once again reaching 650 hp and 650 lb-ft (881 Nm) of torque.Even more effort has been put into developing the livery of the car to provide that visual impact, and for Gymkhana Eight you might have noticed that Block used a golden hand-brake lever too.After so many variations of the Ford Fiesta, seeing the 2017 Ford Focus RS RX was a breath of fresh air for the Gymkhana series. This vehicle was used in both the ninth and tenth episodes of the series, with mostly visual changes done to it in between.This car was auctioned off during a Barrett-Jackson event, and its new Australian owner paid $200,000 for it. That sounds like a pretty good deal given its history!Gymkhana Ten also brought forth the historic 1991 Ford Escort RS Cosworth, which despite its age didn't look much slower than the competition. Block's idea of bringing more diversity to the Gymkhana series was phenomenal, and this was a great way of engaging with older rally fans as well.With 645 hp and 527 lb-ft (715 Nm) of tap, this thing had quite an aggressive anti-lag setup and didn't mind taking on a serious amount of abuse during the final episode to feature Ken Block.Now, all of the Gymkhana cars we've talked about so far were amazing, to say the least. But the team went the extra mile in creating the last two cars on our list today. After all, when was the last time you've seen a 1977 Ford F-150 truck with 914 hp and 702 lb-ft (951 Nm) of torque on tap? But this wasn't just another high-strung pickup truck, it was capable of performing the kind of stunts we've become accustomed to seeing in the Gymkhana series.After wreaking havoc in Shamrock Texas for Gymkhana Ten, Ken Block shipped it over to China for Climbkhana Two!Without a doubt, the most iconic Gymkhana vehicle ever built is the 1965 Hoonicorn Ford Mustang. This wild project is like nothing we've ever seen before, featuringand a Roush Yates 410 ci Ford V8 engine. In Gymkhana Seven that setup was good enough for 845 hp and 720 lb-ft (976 Nm) of torque, but twin-turbos came into play later on for Climbkhana and Gymkhana Ten.So the final output went up to 1,400 hp and 1,250 lb-ft (1,694 Nm) of torque, which was more than enough to obliterate any set of tires that would go on the car. This vehicle was also used in the Hoonicorn vs the World drag racing series, and you might remember that few competitors ever stood a chance against it.Initially, the codename for the project was "Unicorn" but that later transformed into Hoonicorn, given the Hoonigan brand name involved in the creation of the series.Ken Block worked with Vaughn Gittin JR to design and build this project, given Vaughn's expertise with Mustangs and V8 setups. What's even more amazing is that Block only got to drive the car for about five minutes before shooting on Gymkhana Seven started, and yet that video topped our 10 Best Gymkhana Films list recently. It's also worth pointing out that Block also had fun with the Hoonicorn in London, with Matt LeBlanc in the passenger seat. If youre reading this, chances are pretty high that you have heard of Manny Khoshbin. If you havent, hes a self-made Iranian millionaire, who built quite an empire and is one of the most popular car collectors in the world. He's also a YouTuber, sharing his diverse collection of limited-edition models with his 1.5 million followers.And I guess now you have a pretty good idea about how much he likes bespoke, unique models. And this Ultimate Boss Duo from one of his most recent Instagram posts is the cherry on top.Because it features his custom-made Bugatti Chiron "dressed by Hermes" and a one-off Jacob and Co timepiece designed to match the $4 million Bugatti masterpiece.The watch replicates the Chiron Hermes to perfection, coming with 16 cylinders and shock absorbers, with the crankshaft and pistons pumping up and down just like a real Bugatti engine.While the Jacob and Co watches usually come with lots of diamonds and bling, Khoshbin wanted to keep his as elegant and simple as possible. It comes with the same Craie (which means chalk) off-white color as the exterior of his Chiron Hermes Edition, with rose gold components and silver accents.I just wanted to really put the focus on the engine, so I went with rose gold for all the pistons and left everything else in silver, Craie, and red, Manny explained.A standard Bugatti Chiron Jacob & Co watch comes with a price tag of $1.3 million, based on which gems you choose for it. While Khoshbin didn't share how much he spent on it, it's possible his watch is even more expensive. However, he did share that he felt $1.2 million is out of his price range Khoshbin received the watch just ahead of Christmas last year and quickly rushed to Instagram a few days ago to share a photo shoot of the timepiece next to the one-off hypercar.We cannot ignore the specs of the Bugatti Chiron either, which is powered by an 8.0-liter W16 engine, rated at 1,480 horsepower (1,500 ps) and 1,180 lb-ft (1,600 Nm) of torque, sent to all wheels via a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission. It can do 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) in just 2.3 seconds, with a whopping top speed of 261 mph (420 kph).The exclusive hypercar also has the optional "Sky View" glass roof, two fixed panels above the driver and passenger seats, with no visible carbon fiber. Coincidentally, he also received the Bugatti Chiron Hermes Edition before Christmas in 2019.The Bugatti Chiron isn't the only car in Khoshbin's garage to have received the Hermes treatment, because the real estate mogul has previously asked the French brand to touch up one of his other hypercars, the Pagani Huayra kW The supercar, which is a tuned version of the Ferrari F8 Spider , looks better under natural light, and it has all the premises to become a head-turner even in Dubais exotic car scene.Finished in British Racing Green, unless that is a wrap, it has a few yellow accents, like the racing stripes on the apron, front and rear hoods, and rear spoiler. The F8XX decals on the doors sport the same hue, and this color is also visible on the diffuser, trim between the taillights, side skirts, and add-ons at the front.Some of the aftermarket bits have a forged carbon look , and speaking of carbon, we also have to mention the trim above the headlamps, apron with side blades, side canards, side skirts, and air intakes on the rear quarter panels, which were made of the lightweight material. The double-piece wing at the rear, and diffuser with an additional brake light integrated in the middle were also signed by Mansory. The 21-inch front and 22-inch wheels are called the YT.5 Air, and pretty much round off the makeover on the outside.In the cockpit, it has a similar color scheme, albeit with the occasional white and red accents, reminiscent of the Italian flag, because that is where the Ferrari F8 Spider comes to life. The Italian flag motif is visible on the lower parts of the dashboard, on the center console, and on the floor mats, which sport a yellow contour, and read F8XX towards the sides. More yellow was used for the air vents, and can be seen on the seats too, in the form of contrast stitching and piping. Mansorys logo decorates the steering wheel, and elsewhere, the entire cabin was reupholstered in green leather.Just like one of the tuners latest projects, that bad-to-the-bone Mercedes-AMG E 63 S , this Ferrari F8 Spider ahem, the Mansory F8XX has more power than stock. According to the tuner, they have upgraded the turbochargers, and they have given it high-performance downpipes. The result is 880 ps (868 hp / 647) and 960 Nm (708 lb-ft) of torque.Unfortunately, the new performance numbers are still unknown, but in all likelihood, it should be a bit faster than the stock variant, which needs 2.9 seconds to sprint from rest to 100 kph (0-62 mph). Top speed officially stands at 340 kph (211 mph). An untouched copy of the Ferrari F8 Spider has 720 ps (710 hp / 530 kW) and 770 Nm (568 lb-ft) of torque developed by its twin-turbo 3.9-liter V8 engine. kW BEV Photo: Stellantis All other electric pickup trucks currently for sale offer 400V systems, which demand more charging time and can cope with lower charging speeds than 350, which is what Stellantis says the concept can accept. Unfortunately, that seems to be the only advantage the future Ram 1500 Revolution may offer in terms of technology. All other appeals have more to do with design than anything else.The concept is the first to propose third-row jump seats, which may make it a six-seater (there are only two seats in the second row). They are placed on the powered mid-gate that gives access to the truck bed and allows the vehicle to carry objects up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) long.The Ram 1500 RevolutionConcept is powered solely by a battery pack and two motors, one per axle. Stellantis seems particularly proud of the cavernous frunk and the tuning fork interior. We have to agree that it looks pretty good.However, we expected the carmaker to share how big the battery pack is and how powerful the motors are. None of that is disclosed, probably not to anticipate too much on the STLA Frame architecture that the production version of this pickup truck will introduce. As crucial as the range is for battery electric vehicles, just saying it will charge faster than its competitors is not enough to make the latter fear the newcomer.As usual, the concept is free to present elements that should be very hard to spot in the production version, such as the lack of B-pillars, massive 24-inch wheels, and 35-inch tires. The gigantic glass roof is another thing we can visualize in leisure vehicles, but not that much in a pickup truck that should also be a working instrument for several people.One way to make an electric pickup truck travel longer is to make it lighter and more aerodynamic. Stellantis gave the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept a very streamlined profile. As for the weight, the automaker said it developed lightweight seats and side-view mirrors to help. If that helped the battery pack be smaller for the same range offered by its main competitors, that could also bring competitive gains. A smaller battery pack is also a cheaper one.To make the concept more maneuverable, Stellantis gave this electric Ram four-wheel steering. The rear wheels have up to 15 degrees of articulation, which will allow drivers to think they are driving something much smaller than the electric pickup truck really is. Stellantis just has to rush that a bit: if the production version of the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept takes too much time to hit dealerships, it may have to offer more than 800V to attract customers. Photo: ICOMA Photo: ICOMA Photo: ICOMA Tatamel Bike was introduced as a concept in 2020, and further developed in 2021, when the announcement came that a production version was in the works. Created by Japanese company ICOMA, it was described as the perfect city bike for the daily commuter: chic, customizable, reliable, and most importantly, foldable down to the size of a suitcase.In fact, ICOMA said at the time, the Tatamel Bike wasperfect for city life that you could roll it under your desk at work and none would be the wiser. Thats because it could fold onto itself, down to nearly half its roadworthy size, and because you could customize its side panels to match whatever color materials your desk was made from. Plus, in folding mode, the Tatamel is very compact, so you have nothing sticking out to inconvenience you.The daily commute can be a nightmare if you dont own a car, dont want to rely on public transportation too much, or are generally averse to traffic jams and who isnt? Biking to work is always a good solution, especially given the increasing number of options available, most of them electric. Theres also the possibility of ride-sharing an e-scooter or buying your own, but all these have downsides.A bicycle can and will probably be stolen if you leave it outside the building for eight hours, and will require storage space inside your apartment. A scooter, on the other hand, is lighter and more compact, so you can bring it inside, but it doesnt make for the most comfortable ride , especially on bad infrastructure. The Tatamel was the compromise: comfortable as a bicycle and compact like a scooter, but with extra charm to boot.When we last covered the bike, we noted that there was no mention of whether ICOMA planned to sell it outside of Japan. The good news is that it probably is, since they just brought it to CES 2023 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which marks the bikes first public outing. With it comes the announcement that the production model will be out this year, at an unspecified date.Furthermore, the production version of the Tatamel Bike is very close to the concept weve already seen. It is still very compact, yet rugged and reliable, still customizable, still versatile, and still incredibly cute. Now for the bad news: its incredibly expensive. Talk about a sucker punch.ICOMA says that Tatamel is the original bike you can customize to suit your style, much like it were a smartphone or a computer. Dont take that too literally, though: the only elements that can be personalized are the side panels, which can be either painted to your liking or branded. In the future, ICOMA imagines a possible use for them as digital billboards or screens, so you can either advertise your business as you ride, or use it as your own small-size cinema screen in your downtime.In fact, the most promising thing about Tatamel is its imagined potential. It could be a portable power supply that is useful in case of emergencies, because it would be modular and you could add more functions to it that would turn it into a portable power source, including for private power generation using a solar panel.For the time being, though, Tatamel is a foldable city e-bike that rides on too-small wheels and has the range to qualify for a first- and last-mile solution. Power comes from a 12-Ah 51V battery pack that delivers 30 km (18.6 miles) of range per charge, and a 600 W motor that peaks at 2,000 W and takes it to a top speed of 25 mph (40 kph). The front wheel is 10 inches, while the rear is smaller, at 6.5 inches, but you do get front suspension and a large-diameter mono-suspension in the rear.At its most compact, the Tatamel is 70 cm (27.5 inches) long, 68 cm (26.7 inches) tall and 26 cm (10 inches) wide, but for road use, it folds out to 123 cm x 100 cm x 65 cm (48.5 x 39 x 25.5 inches). Theres no mention of maximum payload, but dont even think about hauling weekly groceries with this thing.As for the claim that you can simply roll it inside a building to park it under your desk, well, heres to hoping there are no stairs to climb. The Tatamel weighs 50 kg (110 pounds), which makes it heavier than any other city e-bike and nearly impossible to carry on your own, and places it right into moped category. In fact, it classifies as a standard Class 1 moped, which means you will need a drivers license to operate it in its home country.Still, as far as creative two-wheelers for the daily commute go, the Tatamel Bike stands out. Its cute, its practical to a point, and its slightly personalizable. Too bad its estimated starting price of $4,000 puts it in the novelty category: the kind of novelty item that maybe many city dwellers would buy just for fun, if not for how practical it is, but they wont because theyre put off by pricing. EV SUV It is true that Tesla sells a rear-wheel-drive version of the Model Y in China and has no such option in the U.S. Despite that, the entry-level Model Y costs RMB259,900, equivalent to $37,765 at the current exchange rate. The cheapest Model Y Americans can buy is the Dual Motor All-Wheel-Drive, which starts at $65,990 in the U.S. The $28,225 difference represents 42.7% of the American price tag for this. If we use the Chinese vehicle as a reference, thats 74.7% more than Chinese customers buy for the most affordable Model Y available in their country.We can also compare the Model Y single motor rear-wheel-drive to the Model 3 that Tesla sells in the U.S. with the same spec for $46,990. In that case, the Chinese Model Y is 19.6% cheaper than the American Model 3. If you invert the comparison, the electric sedan sold in the U.S. is 24.4% more expensive than the Chinese electricAnyway, wed better compare the entry-level Model Y sold to American customers to its true equivalent in China. The Model Y Dual Motor All-Wheel-Drive costs RMB309,900 ($45,031) in China, which is also cheaper than the most affordable Model 3 customers can buy from Tesla in the U.S. The price difference from the same spec in the U.S. is $20,959, which represents 46.5% of the price of the Chinese vehicle and 31.8% of the American price tag for this EV.Tesla reduced prices in China in the past in an attempt to make its vehicles fit the government incentive for EVs. They had to cost less than RMB300,000, but the financial aid is no longer valid. Despite that, electric cars in China still can get free or cheaper license plates in crowded megalopolises such as Shanghai. Tesla is probably trying to convince these customers to choose its vehicles instead of those from the competition.It will not be easy. Tesla only has four vehicles in its lineup, and they are already considered old. The most recent EV from the brand the Model Y should receive a midcycle refresh in 2023. Yet, the vehicle that the company confirmed it would try to renew is the Model 3.In December, Tesla sold 55,796 EVs in China. BYD sold 111,939 units, more than the American EV maker managed to deliver in November in China: 100,291 units. BYD has recently increased prices for its EVs.Compared to what Tesla sold in December 2021, that result is still a setback: the EV maker sold 70,847 vehicles one year ago.For a company that would present 50% better results yearly, regardless of what it achieved before, thats concerning. Unfortunately for Tesla, reducing prices does not seem enough to revert the demand drop. Photo: Google The rollout is happening in stages Photo: Google Only enabled with a server-side switch Photo: Google It also supports cars with control knobs Announced at I/O last year, the Android Auto overhaul was received with much enthusiasm by users across the globe. With a card-based interface that reminds of the CarPlay Dashboard, Coolwalk finally made it possible for users to run multiple apps side by side on the same screen.Previously, this was only possible on widescreen displays, but even in this case, the experience was incredibly limited, with no further customization options.Coolwalk is, therefore, one of the biggest updates ever released for Android Auto, and as such, its really not a surprise that everybody out there wants to try it out right here and now. However, this isnt actually possible, and here are three essential things that you must keep in mind for the time being about the new-generation Android Auto.While Google announced the Android Auto redesign a few hours ago, the rollout of the updated experience is happening in stages.In many ways, this approach is rather frustrating for users out there, pretty much because some are getting the new features faster than others. But at the end of the day, the whole concept was developed to prevent major bugs from hitting users devices and eventually, to be part of a straightforward and flawless update experience.Software companies across the world are using the same approach too. Microsoft, for instance, is rolling out Windows feature updates in stages, as it wants to collect feedback, analyze it, and only then expand the availability. This system allows the company to pause the rollout if it detects a major bug, thus limiting the damage that could eventually be caused.In other words, Google will enable the Coolwalk treatment on Android Auto for you when the device enters the rollout. Until then, theres not much to do than wait. And this leads us to the next chapter.Since the wait for Coolwalk could be painful, especially because Google missed the original release target, many users are looking for workarounds that would allow them to get the new interface without waiting for the company to enable it on their devices.While some users claim theyve managed to activate Coolwalk on the stable version of Android Auto by installing build 8.6.6250 and then clearing the cache and the data of the app, this shouldnt actually be the case. Most likely, this was just a coincidence, as Coolwalk would have been enabled on their devices anyway because they were included in the first phases of the rollout.The Mountain View-based search giant is enabling the updated interface using a server-side switch, so Coowalk should show up in your car without the need for anything on your side. Its impossible to tell when this is going to happen, though, but I expect Google to complete the rollout in just a few weeks, especially because Coolwalk feels pretty stable and reliable at this point.Ive been running Coolwalk for several weeks already, and the only glitch that I noticed was an occasional lag that showed up when switching apps. Otherwise, everything is running pretty smoothly, so theres no reason for Google to hold back the update for the rest of the users out there.While its pretty clear that Android Auto was first and foremost designed to be used with touch, Google knew from the very beginning that not all cars come with touchscreens.As a result, Android Auto was updated with support for control knobs as well. This happened a long time ago, so its not necessarily a surprise that the rotary dial is also feeling at home on Coolwalk as well.Ive tried Coolwalk in a 2019 Mazda3 , and to be honest, I wasnt expecting the experience to be so smooth. Using a control knob on Coolwalk feels a lot more natural than on the old version of Android Auto, and in some way or another, its easier to browse the menus and click whatever you want to click.However, you shouldnt be too surprised if you still come across occasional glitches. Google says the Android Auto redesign was optimized to be used on screens of all sizes and aspect ratios, so in theory, the new interface should be rather polished overall. But on the other hand, Coolwalk debuted in the beta program only a few weeks ago , and I doubt that Google had enough time to collect much feedback from users to ensure a smooth experience from one end to another.Most likely, the search company will continue to further refine Android Autos redesign in the coming months, so expect the work on Coolwalk to continue behind closed doors. One thing that Google should improve, however, is how it releases updates for Android Auto.The company typically ships just a single update every month, usually two or three weeks after a beta build goes live. However, given Coolwalk is a major overhaul and occasional glitches are still possible, Google should accelerate the pace and roll out small updates more frequently. Furthermore, the company should start publishing changelogs for Android Auto updates, as installing the latest versions and trying to figure out whats new has long been a frustrating experience for users out there. HP But while many automobiles bearing the Spirit of Ecstasy ornament reside in fancy and famous museums, some are being kept in more low-profile showrooms. Howard Lengert's "Hooper Place" in Leduc County, Canada, is one of those places. And while it's not as fancy as the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, it's home to Canada's largest collections of Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars. And needless to say, it includes a few incredible gems.For starters, the building they're being kept in is a smaller replica of the Hooper factory, which produced Rolls-Royce bodies until the 1950s.The tour kicks off with a 1953 Bentley R-Type chassis, one of only 12 shipped to Canada. And before you say it's not a Rolls-Royce, do keep in mind that Bentley was under RR ownership from 1931 to 1970. In addition, the R-Type was pretty much identical to the Silver Dawn beyond the front grille.The collection also includes a few notable pre-WW2 models, starting with a 1929 20boat-tail speedster. Also known as the Twenty, this series was built from 1922 to 1929 with inline-six engines. Its successor, the 20/25, is also here in the form of a gorgeous 1934 version.The lineage continues with a very special 1937 25/30 that was custom-built for a wealthy family. Not only does it come with a bespoke writing desk and a vanity case, but it also features the family crest on its rear doors. Howard also owns a couple of 1930s Phantom IIs, including a super-rare Landaulet variant.The two-tone 1936 Phantom III is even more special, because it was used in the Peking to Paris Rally in 2010, completing the journey without issues aside from a split wheel.If you're into slightly more modern vehicles from the brand, you'll also see a 1951 Silver Dawn and a 1953 Silver Wraith. Howard also bought a Camargue, an oddball Rolls-Royce that doesn't get as much love as it deserves nowadays.Introduced in 1975, the two-door luxury coupe was the company's first post-war production car not designed in-house. Penned by Paolo Martin at Pininfarina, it came with a 6.75-liter V8 engine and remained in the assembly until 1986. Despite the long production run, only 531 units were sold, which makes it rarer than most iconic models from the British brand.Speaking of rare, Howard also owns a very early Silver Ghost. One of the company's first production models, the Silver Ghost is the origin of Rolls-Royce's claim of making the "best car in the world." Unfortunately, the Silver Ghost was not parked in the museum at the time our host did the tour, but you can check out the other vehicles by watching the video below. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA Based on the dealers report, the safety boffins decided to conduct an investigation with Arcomex, the supplier of the wiring harness for the 12-volt battery connecting cable. As fate would have it, certain cables supplied by the Mexico-based company arent within specifications.The concern was ultimately presented to the Volkswagen Product Safety Committee, which determined that a safety recall is necessary. The 12-volt battery cable may contact the steering column shaft, thus causing the insulation to wear through, leading to a short circuit. In case of a short, drivers may experience a loss of motive power. Increased risks of a crash and vehicle fire cannot be ruled out. On the upside, the cable in question presents no risk of a high-voltage shock to occupants or service techs.According to documents filed with the, the bend in the suspect cable was not made to specifications. The bend assures the correct routing of the 12-volt battery cable, as well as the adequate clearance from the steering column shaft. In the event of a short, warning messages such as low 12-volt battery charge will be displayed in the crossovers digital instrument cluster.As the headline states, Volkswagen Group of America advises affected owners of the 2023 model year Volkswagen ID.4 rear-wheel drive to park outside, away from buildings and other vehicles. 1EA.971.227 is the part number of the affected and replacement 12-volt battery connecting cables, which can be visually differentiated by the location of the bend. The automaker has also introduced an additional check on the production line at Chattanooga to assure a cable clearance of more than 10 millimeters.Both dealers and owners will be informed of recall number 22V-956 before February 27th. The Auburn Hills-based U.S. division of Volkswagen estimated that 3 percent of 1,042 recalled vehicles will need a replacement cable. The vehicles in question all come with VINs starting with 1. As a brief refresher, the first digit refers to where the vehicle was built. 1, 4, and 5 means U.S., 2 means Canada, and 3 stands for Mexico.The rear-wheel-drive vehicles were manufactured between October 18th, 2022 and December 15th, 2022 for the model year 2023. Volkswagen Group of America provided thewith a non-sequential VIN range as well, namely 1V2CMPE86PC001704 through 1V2CMPE84PC009915.Twinned with the ID.3 hatchback the U.S. doesnt get, the ID.4 can be yours for $38,995 excluding destination charger for the most basic of specifications currently listed by the configurator. The EPA-estimated driving range of the most affordable ID.4 available is 209 miles (336 km). Waleid Gamaleldien, chairman of Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), addresses the China-Egypt Economic and Investment Forum held in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 5, 2023. Organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Egypt and the Egyptian-Chinese Friendship Association on Thursday, the China-Egypt Economic and Investment Forum was attended by more than 290 officials and entrepreneurs from the two countries, who discussed "golden opportunities" for bilateral economic and trade cooperation covering new energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and automotive industry, among others. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) CAIRO, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The pragmatic economic cooperation between China and Egypt has yielded fruitful results and mutual benefit in recent years, Chinese and Egyptian officials said at a bilateral forum held in Cairo. Organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Egypt and the Egyptian-Chinese Friendship Association on Thursday, the China-Egypt Economic and Investment Forum was attended by more than 290 officials and entrepreneurs from the two countries, who discussed "golden opportunities" for bilateral economic and trade cooperation covering new energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and automotive industry, among others. "The pragmatic cooperation between China and Egypt has achieved a historic leap in recent years, as China has been Egypt's largest trading partner for nine consecutive years," Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang said at the forum. China is one of the countries with the most active and fastest-growing investment in Egypt in recent years, he added. Speaking of China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, Liao said the zone has attracted 134 Chinese enterprises to settle in and provided job opportunities for more than 50,000 Egyptians, constituting an important platform for investment and technological cooperation between the two countries. In addition, Chinese financial institutions have provided more than 10 billion U.S. dollars in funding to Egypt in support of a large number of key projects in the North African country, according to the Chinese ambassador. Chinese companies have also undertaken the Central Business District project in the new administrative capital city and built the light rail transit system for 10th of Ramadan City, Liao said. "These fruitful results fully demonstrate that the economic and trade cooperation between China and Egypt is mutually beneficial in nature," he noted. For her part, Egyptian Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala Al-Saeed highlighted the success of the two countries in strengthening the bilateral economy and investment in the face of international and regional challenges. "China has an inspiring development experience characterized by a great deal of inclusiveness in economic and social aspects, through which the Chinese economy has achieved great successes, especially in driving industrialization, increasing exports, attracting domestic and foreign investment, and maintaining high and sustainable economic growth," the minister said. Amr Moussa, former secretary-general of the Arab League and honorary chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Egyptian-Chinese Businessmen Association, also pointed to the mutually beneficial cooperation between Egypt and China, "which gives impetus to future cooperation between the two countries." Waleid Gamaleldien, chairman of Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), said the Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone has become a model of China-Egypt cooperation, as the more than 130 Chinese companies in the zone that operate in different fields have played a significant role in major projects in Egypt. "We intend to launch a promotional tour to China this year to highlight what has been achieved in the infrastructure in the SCZone to attract more Chinese investments," Gamaleldien told Xinhua. Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang addresses the China-Egypt Economic and Investment Forum held in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 5, 2023. Organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Egypt and the Egyptian-Chinese Friendship Association on Thursday, the China-Egypt Economic and Investment Forum was attended by more than 290 officials and entrepreneurs from the two countries, who discussed "golden opportunities" for bilateral economic and trade cooperation covering new energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and automotive industry, among others. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Participants attend the China-Egypt Economic and Investment Forum held in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 5, 2023. Organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Egypt and the Egyptian-Chinese Friendship Association on Thursday, the China-Egypt Economic and Investment Forum was attended by more than 290 officials and entrepreneurs from the two countries, who discussed "golden opportunities" for bilateral economic and trade cooperation covering new energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and automotive industry, among others. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Egyptian Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala Al-Saeed addresses the China-Egypt Economic and Investment Forum held in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 5, 2023. Organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Egypt and the Egyptian-Chinese Friendship Association on Thursday, the China-Egypt Economic and Investment Forum was attended by more than 290 officials and entrepreneurs from the two countries, who discussed "golden opportunities" for bilateral economic and trade cooperation covering new energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and automotive industry, among others. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) The supreme head of the church, Catholicos Garegin II, appealed to the Karabakh Armenians as he celebrated a Christmas mass at the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Yerevan. Dear people of Artsakh, the thoughts and gazes of our people these days are mainly directed towards you, Garegin said. You have never given up and never backed down in the face of difficulties. Today as well you continue to fight heroically for your free and independent life, for the sake of restoration of historical justice. Following the glorious example of your brave ancestors, remain firm and unshaken in your determination to live and create in your native land. Our Holy Church with its worldwide dioceses is with you, assisting and supporting you, he added during the annual liturgy which was again boycotted by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and other Armenian officials. The head of the ancient churchs Karabakh diocese, Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamian, echoed that message when he addressed worshippers at Stepanakerts Holy Mother of God Cathedral. He said the Karabakh Armenians must not fall into despair because of the deepening shortages of food and other essential items resulting from the nearly month-long blockade. Remember how the people of Israel ate the same food for 40 years in the wilderness, Abrahamian said in his homily read out during a Christmas mass held there. The Karabakh authorities decided earlier this week to supply local food stores with cooking oil, sugar, rice and salt from their strategic reserves. Some of those shops are currently closed because of having run out of stock. The Karabakh premier, Ruben Vardanyan, said on Thursday that the authorities are bracing themselves for a prolonged blockade and will not bow to the Azerbaijani pressure. The sole road connecting Karabakh to Armenia has been blocked by Azerbaijani protesters since December 12. They are demanding that the Azerbaijani government be allowed to inspect illegal ore mines in Karabakh. Baku has backed the demands rejected by the Armenian side. The Apostolic Church, to which the vast majority of Armenians around the world nominally belong, celebrates Christmas on January 6. For the third consecutive year, Pashinian and members of his government and political team were conspicuously absent from its main festive liturgy, underscoring the Armenian prime ministers strained relationship with Garegin. Garegin and other senior clergymen had joined the Armenian opposition in calling for Pashinians resignation following Armenias defeat in the 2020 war with Azerbaijan. Pashinian openly attacked the church when he campaigned for the June 2021 parliamentary elections. In November 2022, the church authorized one of its bishops to address an opposition rally in Yerevan that warned Pashinian against recognizing Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh. Also, the churchs Supreme Spiritual Council headed by Garegin said that the Artsakh peoples right to self-determination is non-negotiable. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. At 80 years old, Doris Shotwell has experienced many merry Christmases. This year, however, theres one gift that would be the best ever, she said. PHNOM PENH, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia attracted fixed-asset investment of 4.68 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, up 7.5 percent from 4.35 billion dollars in a year earlier, a Council for the Development of Cambodia's report showed on Friday. Major foreign investors in the kingdom last year were from China, Japan, Cayman Islands, Thailand and Singapore, the report said, adding that investment projects had been focused on agriculture and agro-industry sectors, manufacturing, tourism and infrastructure, among others. Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's Undersecretary of State and Spokesman Penn Sovicheat said the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade pact, the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) and Cambodia's favorable investment law are the key factors attracting more foreign investors to Cambodia. "Both the RCEP and the CCFTA are magnets to attract foreign investors to Cambodia," he told Xinhua. "Also, Cambodia's successful control of the COVID-19 pandemic through vaccinations is another attractive factor for investors." RCEP comprises 15 Asia-Pacific countries including 10 ASEAN member states, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and their five trading partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Lim Heng, vice president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, said new investments would bring about new capital, technologies and job opportunities. He said the ironclad friendship and the Belt and Road Initiative are also the key factors attracting more Chinese investors to the kingdom. "Chinese investment is crucial to help boost Cambodia's economic and trade growth," he told Xinhua. Watchdog Group Says Keep Lookout for Birds with Avian Flu on Oregon Coast Published 12/17/22 at 1:25 AM By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Oregon Coast) Oregon officials have been warning about this for awhile, and this week the watchdog group Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition (OSCC) wants to remind visitors on the Oregon coast: watch for signs of avian flu along the beaches of the region. (Photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection: gulls at Yachats) Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has been asking the public to report any sightings of three or more sick or dead wild birds, not just on the beaches but anywhere in the state. It's a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a contagious disease confirmed in multiple species of birds around the area. ODFW wants to test any such birds that fit the symptomatic descriptions. To report such finds, call the Wildlife Health Lab at 866-968-2600 or email odfw.wildlifehealth@odfw.oregon.gov. Near Florence OSCC said the typical signs of the disease include cloudy eyes, shaking or swinging the neck around, swimming in circles, and incoordination. Areas that also include abnormal wild mammals should also be reported, as avian influenza has spread to other species beyond fowl. As a reminder, although rare, HPAI can spread to humans, OSCC said. It has also been reported in black bears (in Alaska), so it is clearly not only 'avian.' Do not handle any sick wildlife, and wash your hands thoroughly if you have any interactions." ODFW said the highly pathogenic avian flu is the H5N1 Eurasian strain or EA H5, first detected in 2021 in different species of every waterfowl flyway in the continent. It's unknown how many have been found along the Oregon coast, but ODFW said it's been detected in aquatic birds and shorebirds, including gulls. ODFW said back in May it hasn't detected anything yet in hunter-harvested birds that were turned over after being deemed suspicious. OSCC said you should take extra precautions if you happen across an area along the Oregon coast with such issues. Please sterilize your footwear after you visit the beach by dipping or spraying your shoes in a bleach/water solution before entering your home to keep pets and you from spreading any germs, the group said. According to US Fish and Wildlife Service: "Outbreaks of Eurasian lineage highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses have been impacting domestic poultry and wild bird populations in Europe and Asia since August 2020. The introduction of the Eurasian lineage HPAI to North America occurred in late 2021, and at least two additional virus introductions have occurred since then. HPAI cases have now been confirmed in both domestic and wild birds in numerous locations throughout Canada and the United States. The strain of HPAI now present in North America has caused extensive morbidity and mortality events in various wild bird species, similar to that seen in Europe and Asia." ODFW said more transmissions have been found in fowl in captivity than in the wild, however wild birds have had a higher mortality rate. Oregon Coast Hotels in this area - South Coast Hotels - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW Brown pelican courtesy Portland Audoban Snowy plover photo courtesy Oregon State Parks More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted More of Artful 'Message In A Bottle' Finds on South Oregon Coast in January Published 12/27/22 at 5:05 AM By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Bandon, Oregon) A new south Oregon coast tradition is blooming in the scenic burgh of Bandon, as Message In A Bottle - Bandon Style returns on January 10 and going through March 15. It's not unlike the glass floats that Lincoln City drops all the time and those periodically at Gold Beach except these are bottles. (Above courtesy photo) They're not just any kind of bottle, either. For one, they come with messages (yup, just like that The Police song), and they are artisan-crafted little wonders of intricate designs. Even better: these arty little babies can win you prizes and get you some interesting swag that will make these light up. Message In A Bottle works like many of the glass float promotions on the Oregon coast: bottle faeries leave these on the sands of Bandon. Once you find one, you'll want to take it into the Creations by the Sea shop or other participating businesses in town and collect the special lights that go inside, allowing you to make something literally luminous out of these glassy lovelies. Each bottle hosts an upbeat and beachy message of some sort, with designs relevant to Bandon that make them true keepsakes. The one caveat is that there is one per person per year. On top of all this, there is a registration number at the bottom of each bottle. You use these to register the bottles with the Bandon Visitors website. Then you'll be in the pool for a chance at a random prize. You can also call them to register it at 541-347-9616, or in person at the Bandon Chamber Visitors Center, 300 Second Street SE, Old Town Bandon. Last summer was the original installment of the event, said Bandon Chamber of Commerce president Margaret Pounder. She told Oregon Coast Beach Connection it wasn't a stand alone thing. This will be our second drop, Pounder said. We plan to have minimum two per year, hopefully more as it grows. Kim Bell of Creation By The Sea is the artisan behind each glass bottle, and she was integral to not just the beginning of Message In A Bottle Bandon Style, but she's its backbone. Pounder explained its genesis. Our staff was brainstorming on how to have something different, but similar to the glass floats being dropped on beaches, Pounder said. Kim Bell, of Creations by the Sea, came up with this idea, and it was so great. We don't think anyone else on the west coast for sure does this. Then came a bit of dotting the i's and crossing the t's by doublechecking with other Bandon-area agencies. We had to be sure it was a safe and non-litter project, had to reconfirm with many departments/organizations, but we finally came up with the finder of the bottle/s would go to a sponsoring business to collect their 'fairy lights' that go in the bottle to have wonderful memories of Bandon and the adventures they had, she said. Indeed, these become ethereal treasures with the lights inside. How to find them? Hit the beach, baby. Courtesy Creations By The Sea The Chamber's said its bottle faeries only hide them during the day and do not come out at night. They will be found somewhere near one of the public beach accesses in Bandon, above the high tideline but below the embankment. Bandon officials want to stress be careful of the nearby environment as you search for these nuggets. Once you find your Message In A Bottle, make sure you share a photo of it on social media such as Twitter (@BandonOregon), Instagram (@BandonOregon) or the Bandon Visitor's Facebook. Use the hashtag #BandonMIAB. MORE PHOTOS BELOW South Coast Hotels - Where to eat - Maps - Southern Oregon Coast MORE PHOTOS BELOW Above Bandon photo courtesy Manuela Durson - see Manuela Durson Fine Arts for more More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Biggest Oregon Coast Stories of 2022: History, Landmarks, Explosives, Washington Mermaids Published 12/29/22 at 4:55 AM By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Manzanita, Oregon) In many ways, 2022 was not as wild a ride as many previous years, and that's simply a good thing. COVID began to be in the rearview mirror, and that meant no more dramatic closures on the Oregon coast and Washington coast, no beaches shut down, and even storms kind of took a season off at the beginning of the year. (Photo courtesy Capture.Share.Repeat) That isn't to say nothing happened. It just wasn't as dire or depressing the tourism news stories were more upbeat. With Oregon Coast Beach Connection being a publication that's fairly niche, it's geared towards whatever the visitor can use. The articles that got the most attention here were largely good news again, and with our coverage range expanding into the Washington coast and south Oregon coast in recent years, it's been an interesting period of discovery. Here's what got the most attention: People love to read about trains, and this year the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad spiked readership considerably most of the time often well over 10,000 people reading in a few days. Among the fun stuff was how it had acquired a bunch of new steam engines, with the Garibaldi Rockaway Beach attraction snagging 14 more antique rail machines. Only a handful of that will ever see live use, but it's going to mean more debuts. Courtesy Manuela Durson - see Manuela Durson Fine Arts for more A rather massive controversy broke out quietly with an article about Bandon's Wizards Hat Rock and Howling Dog Rock, which also opened up a few new mysteries. Which rocks were called what turned out to be in dispute, and every local official contacted had a different answer. Through some suggestions and more digging the original story was completely changed, and the names of local south coast landmarks were likely settled upon. Here's a wacky tip: there will have to be more articles on this in the future as different periods had different names for these landmarks. Courtesy Manuela Durson - see Manuela Durson Fine Arts for more More, deeper articles on regional sites sometimes just exploded with readers. Among them was a roundup of the south coast's Arizona Beach and its unique qualities, as well as others. Wild history of some of areas become a little better known, including the jaw-dropping fact that someone was trying to build a nuclear power plant next to Cape Kiwanda in the '70s. Can you just imagine the nightmarish impact? Readers ate this one up. The Great 1936 Fire at Yachats hit a chord, which wound up some history about the area many had no clue about. Another was the taught tale of the 1919 Wreck of J.A. Chanslor, which had 36 people dead near Cape Blanco. It was also discovered that World War II mines washed up on the Oregon coast and Washington coast just after the war a bit more than most people knew. Photo: one of the timbers from the galleon, courtesy Scott Williams By far and away the biggest historical tale was a new development: parts of a 300-year-old Spanish galleon wreck were found near Manzanita. That story snagged tens of thousands of readers. Oregon Coast Beach Connection was one of the very few media to actually interview those who made the find, and this publication was even quoted in larger, national media like the Smithsonian Magazine. Another incredibly uplifting development was the addition of new beach wheelchairs to more towns on the north Oregon coast. That new tidbit touched a lot of people's hearts. Visitors love to read about new hotels, so when Lincoln City's Nordic Oceanfront Inn changed names and approaches with the Surfland Hotel, it raised a lot of heads towards their devices to check it out. One story seemed to light up all over the Pacific Northwest, with the Mermaid Festival on the Washington coast in late March. Many in Washington and Oregon had not heard of this and the article went nuts. Another fab event that went viral was the Pirates of Pacific Festival in Brookings back in August. It's likely the first time this and a lot of other south coast events got ink farther north, and this audience ate it up. Stories on glass float drops in Gold Beach and Lincoln City went bonkos as well, and thousands were engaged in the idea of glass bottles with messages getting dropped in Bandon. Photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection Also an enormous development: Tillamook Rock Lighthouse went up for sale. It only takes a cool $6.5 million, which in turn somehow caused an extraordinarily large amount of people to complain about the cost. Kind of an odd gripe, actually. Orcas reigned supreme on the Oregon coast this year, with so many more eyes out there looking for them than ever before. Some incredible video popped up early in the year, and subsequent stories often went through the roof. Perhaps the most delightful find Oregon Coast Beach Connection made was an amazing mention of Astoria in Star Trek: Discovery. It's the 24th century and one character called the place heaven. That story caught fire in spurts, finally erupting with attention by Goonies fans and Star Trek fans around the world to the tune of some 30,000 folks. Oregon Coast Hotels in this area - South Coast Hotels - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast. LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted N. Oregon Coast Winter Fun and Frolic, Insider Tips Part II Published 12/27/22 at 6:45 PM By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Oceanside, Oregon) So much north Oregon coast, so little time. (Above: Oceanside with an incoming storm - Oregon Coast Beach Connection) This is true any time of the year: hence this part two in Oregon Coast Beach Connection's roundup about winter in what is known as the upper third of the coastline, encompassing all of Tillamook and Clatsop counties. Part I looked at the secrets of Arch Cape, Seaside and why you should let go of your fear of nasty weather sometimes. See Winter Fun and Frolic on N. Oregon Coast Part I: a Primer (Video) Astoria The town has a lot of titles, including being greatly associated with Graveyard of the Pacific - which actually runs from California to Alaska, but the region around the Columbia River bar seems to be among the worst. So when the weather outside gets frightening, indoor attractions abound that look at the north Oregon coast town's long history (two hundred years of it) and its shipwreck legacy. Columbia River Maritime Museum is of course the biggie, but there's a host of other museums like the Victorian Flavel House, Heritage Museum and for the Goonies and celluloid fan crowd there's the Oregon Film Museum. The Lightship Columbia lets you actually board an old vessel and there is always that wowing wreck of the Peter Iredale in Warrenton just south of town. Getting even deeper, winter in Astoria gets literally sideways at times with the rains and winds, but another possibility here is all the waterfront brewpubs. There's quite a handful of them, where you can watch such atmospheric melees rage and pound on this place that's the oldest city west of the Rockies. It's not all stormy and crazy, however, and it's then that you should be wandering these ancient streets on foot, or climbing to the top of the Astoria Column to get one of the more spectacular coastal views on the west coast. Hotels in Astoria - Where to eat - Astoria Maps and Virtual Tours Oceanside Stand in awe at the waters of one of the more magical beaches on all of Oregon's coast - in front of a tiny town that's like one big hidden secret, all sitting just west of Tillamook. There's but a handful of businesses here: an espresso shop, two restaurants, and a smattering of motels and rentals. Most of the buildings are nestled up on the steep hill overlooking the ocean, looking a bit like Astoria or a primitive San Francisco. This pristine beach features miles of sand to the south, until you hit one end of Netarts Bay. Capping the northern end of town is the imposing Maxwell Point - and the Three Arch Rocks just offshore. But that's not the end of Oceanside. Indeed, there's a tunnel built here in the early part of the century which still survives, letting you visit the other side. This secretive strand contains a myriad of surprises, like coves, caves and giant rocky slabs and small sea stacks in odd shapes. It all looks somewhat like something out of the old "Star Trek" series. Hotels in Oceanside - Where to eat - Oceanside Maps and Virtual Tours North Coast Stormwatching Plenty of spots here make for exceptional wave action. Cape Kiwanda is good to watch in high winds because you can shelter in your car, and if you're lucky waves will be high enough to leap over from the other side. Crazed waves at Cape Kiwanda Cape Lookout and Oceanside provide some gnarly sights but you'll have to stick to the parking lot. Just a bit further north, the north jetty of Tillamook Bay can get rather intense, viewed from Garibaldi. Up at Rockaway Beach, ol' Twin Rocks puts on quite a show as it gets ravaged by the minions of Poseidon, and the viewpoints at Neahkahnie Mountain can be downright stunning as you watch wintry monsters come pounding ashore below. Hug Point is downright scary to behold in storms but you'll have to watch it from above at the path next to the parking lot (just keep way back from the ledge as that could give way in stormy weather). That first cove will have your hair rising when you see it fill up. Other great spots include watching Cannon Beach's Haystack Rock from afar as it gets pummeled, or the wind-ravaged viewing tower the south jetty at Warrenton's Fort Stevens State Park. North Coast Food Trail Tillamook Bay - Oregon Coast Beach Connection Need to eat while wandering this region? Duh..... However, what may surprise is the North Coast Food Trail, where you can not just feed your grumbling tummy but fire up your palate. It's about 100 miles of foodstuffs, drinks and culinary-themed adventures, which starts at the southern edges of the Tillamook County line at Neskowin and runs up through Cannon Beach, Seaside and now Astoria. This self-guided tour of all things yummy takes you through a huge array of food-oriented firms and not just restaurants. Discover farms, farmers markets, breweries, wineries, distilleries, butchers, guided tours and experiences, lodgings and retail stores that all feature grub. Just check out the North Coast Food Trail site and set your sails. Coming soon: winter insider tips for the south coast and central coast. See Winter Fun and Frolic on N. Oregon Coast Part I: a Primer (Video) MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted 20 to 30-Foot Waves on Washington / Oregon Coast: Wind and Surf Advisories Published 01/04/23 at 12:09 AM By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Newport, Oregon) A rather forceful offshore storm is bringing a variety of warnings and advisories to parts of the Oregon coast and upper Washington coast, as wave height offshore will be producing large breakers well over 20 feet on Thursday. (Photo of Boiler Bay near Depoe Bay, courtesy Amy Kathleen Williams / Oregon King Tides) The southern Oregon coast will be getting some of the most dramatic conditions, with a high surf warning for everything south of Reedsport, looking at breaking waves around 30 to 35 feet. This is in effect for Wednesday through Friday morning. The period between swells is also sizable in this area, at around 15 seconds at times. This brings in a high chance of sneaker waves. That entire half of the coast also sees a high wind warning from 10 a.m. on Wednesday to Thursday at 4 p.m., with gusts up to 80 mph at times. This includes the cities of Coos Bay, Bandon, Port Orford, Gold Beach and Brookings. Photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection: Fogarty Creek near Depoe Bay The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued these warnings, and the agency said the area south of Cape Blanco will get the highest winds and surf. On the upper Washington coast and the inner coastline, there is a high wind advisory in effect from 4 p.m. Wednesday to 4 a.m. Thursday. East winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected in areas like Forks and Aberdeen, with gusts up around 50 mph. On the upper Oregon coast and southern Washington coast, surf conditions will still be rather hefty, although the NWS has not issued any alerts for that region. Thursday will be the most active, the NWS said. With uptick of winds, will see a lot of wind-driven waves, creating chaotic seas of 20 to 25 ft, with highest seas Thursday afternoon into Thursday night, the NWS said. Seas will gradually drop back to the mid-teens on Friday. This active weather pattern continues into the weekend. Whatever this brings in terms of storm watching, it will nonetheless be unpleasant conditions to be outdoors, with lots of wind and rain. On any beach from Reedsport southward, it will not be a good idea to get onto the sands or close to any rocky ledges where the surf is breaking. The NWS said to stay off any beach during this period. See Oregon Coast Weather - Washington Coast Weather Watch the action from the Oregon Coast Sky Cams - Web Cams, Weather Cams Extremely large breaking waves will create very hazardous conditions along beaches and area shorelines, the NWS said in its warning for the south coast. Waves will inundate beaches and surge into normally dry areas. Infrastructure damage and significant beach erosion can be expected. Power outages due to the high winds may well occur on the south coast. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles, the NWS said of that area. In fact, a semi truck was turned over on the Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport during last week's storm, because of such winds. Areas like Shore Acres or Cape Arago near Coos Bay will be putting on quite a spectacle. Watching the Devil's Churn from above (near Yachats) should also be raucous, as will areas around Depoe Bay or Oceanside. Oregon Coast Hotels for this event - South Coast Hotels - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW Ecola State Park in a storm, courtesy Seaside Aquarium Shore Acres, photo courtesy Oregon's Adventure Coast More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast. LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted COLOMBO, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Lotus Tower, a landmark in Colombo, has received half a million visitors by Friday morning since the tower opened to public, said its management. Head of Lotus Tower management Prasad Samarasinghe told journalists that the 500,000th ticket was sold to a person who arrived from Matara in Sri Lanka's Southern Province and he was rewarded with a plaque and gift voucher. Over 268 million rupees (730,000 million U.S. dollars) of revenue has been collected since the tower was opened to public, Samarasinghe said. Sri Lanka and China signed the Lotus Tower agreement in 2012 to build the highest TV tower in South Asia, with a Chinese company being the general contractor. The Lotus Tower was opened to public in September 2022. Police officials and rescue workers inspect damage after a truck bomb exploded outside a building housing police officers and their families in Muang, a district of southern Thailands Narathiwat province, Nov. 22, 2022. One person died and more than two dozen were injured in the attack, the provincial governor said. The separatist insurgency in the mainly Malay Muslim provinces of Thailands southern border region just entered its 20th year. Violence in the Deep South inched upwards in 2022, a sign that frustration may be growing on the rebel side with the governments lip service to the peace process. Overall, violence rose last year but remained quite low by historical standards, according to an open-source data set kept by this author. The numbers are conservative in that not every attack or incident of violence was reported in the media. In all, about 30 people not including insurgents were killed and 123 others were wounded in violence in the Deep South last year. Although that represented an increase in casualties, these numbers are a blip compared with a decade ago, when more than 10 times the number of people were killed and six times the number were wounded. In 2022, a total of 29 people were killed an average of 2.5 a month well below the monthly average of four over the past five years. However, the number of injured people, 123, represented a 156% increase over 2021. Among the dead, 38% were members of the security forces. They also made up 68% of the people injured in regional violence in 2022. In short, security forces remain the primary target. But when compared with civilians, they have better protection, body armor, and are equipped with life-saving medical equipment. The number of attacks involving homemade bombs rose sharply. There were 69 IED attacks in 2022, an average of 5.75 a month. In contrast, there were only 33 and 19 IED attacks in 2020 and 2021, respectively. In 2022, bomb-squad personnel defused six improvised explosive devices. There were also six grenade attacks. In addition, there were 17 targeted killings during the year an average of 1.42 a month below the five-year average of 2.45 a month. People deliberately targeted in such attacks could be a member of the security forces riding a motorcycle with his family, an informant, or a critic of Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), the most powerful of the armed insurgent groups in the Deep South. Other violence included 11 arson attacks, and eight attacks on cellular and electricity towers. There were some 11 separate attacks on the railways, including a Dec. 3 bombing that derailed 11 of 20 freight cars. That was followed by a bomb the next day that targeted first responders. On Aug. 17, insurgents detonated 17 small bombs. They mostly targeted 7-11 convenience stores simultaneously and caused three casualties. There were a few bold attacks, including a 10-man assault on the maritime police and customs facility in Tak Bai in May, that left three officers wounded. Overall, though, the number of attacks on hardened security force posts fell to 5. There were only 11 prolonged firefights between security forces and insurgents, another indicator of the latters limited resources. It was a rough year for the insurgents. In addition to killing 18 suspected rebels, security forces arrested 11 suspects. In all, security forces have killed more than 60 suspected rebels since the BRN declared a unilateral ceasefire in May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, an unsustainable rate of loss. The peace process Meanwhile several rounds of peace talks, both virtual and in-person, were held in 2022. Although the BRN appeared to have made two major concessions in agreeing to negotiate under the framework of Thailands constitution and accepting the principle of the unitary Thai state, there were no breakthroughs. At a meeting in March, the two sides agreed to a Ramadan ceasefire as a sign of good will. In return, the Thai government made an unprecedented gesture when the Internal Security Operations Command announced that rebels could safely return home for Ramadan, in an initiative called Masjids San Jai Soo Santi (To Mosques for Peace). As such, the ceasefire actually held longer than the negotiated 40 days. The sixth round of talks, scheduled for October, was postponed due to the Malaysian elections. But in December, the two sides drew up a draft agreement that would provide for a ceasefire and lift arrest warrants for the BRN negotiators. Yet a ceasefire seems unlikely. The year 2022 saw an increase in violence perpetrated by the Patani United Liberation Organization, a rival to the BRN. PULO staged a few attacks, including a double bombing in April during the BRNs Ramadan ceasefire. Though a much smaller organization with fewer military capabilities, PULO is trying to leverage a seat at the negotiating table. In January 2023, Anwar Ibrahim, the new Malaysian prime minister who has a personal interest in the situation in southern Thailand, picked the former military chief, Gen. Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, as the new facilitator for the Malaysia-brokered peace process. Zulkifli replaces former police chief Abdul Rahim Noor, who was tied to the beating of Anwar, when the latter was incarcerated in 1998. But as a Malaysian analyst put it, the Special Branch has largely muscled the Army out of southern Thai affairs. Thailand continues to worry about the internationalization of the conflict, and remains somewhat suspicious of Malaysian facilitation efforts. In January 2022, Kuala Lumpur tried to build up trust by handing over three suspected BRN militants to Thai authorities, the first handover since 1997. While Malaysians see the appointment of Zulkifli as something to inject new life into the peace process, its very hard to see any momentum as Thailand heads to elections, currently planned for May. Any new government will only be able to move within the parameters set by the Army leadership. The Army has gotten violence to a low enough level that they can attribute it to criminality, without making any meaningful concessions or addressing any of the BRNs core grievances. The governments strategy appears to be using protracted peace talks to cause rifts amongst the rebels. The frustration on the part of Barisan Revolusi Nasional appears to be mounting, which explains the rise in violence. Its also not clear whether BRN fighters in the field have endorsed the concessions made by the leadership. As such, violence looks set to climb even more in 2023. Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or BenarNews. Philippine Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla presents a document during a news conference at the Department of Justice in Manila, Oct. 21, 2022. A Philippine court freed the son of the countrys justice secretary Friday, acquitting him of drug possession charges three months after his arrest when officers seized marijuana during a sting operation. A political activist group complained that the swift trial and release of Juanito Jose Diaz Remulla III, who was taken into custody on Oct. 11, occurred in a country where even petty crimes usually take years to be settled in courts. Trial Court Judge Ricardo Moldez II, in Las Pinas city south of Manila, dismissed the prosecutions drug possession case against Remulla, the son of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who had sought to distance himself from the case. After news of the arrest broke in October, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that his justice secretary should not resign. For his part, Jesus Crispin Remulla assured the Filipino public that he would not interfere in his sons case and would let justice take its own course. Customs police arrested the younger Remulla, 38, during a sting operation in southern Metro Manila involving the controlled delivery of a confiscated shipment of marijuana valued at $22,000 (1.3 million pesos). In a 34-page decision, Moldez pointed to several lapses on the part of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operative who handled the shipment. The judge said that the parcel was not properly marked and there was no proof it was meant for Remulla. While the court noted that drug enforcers enjoyed the presumption of regularity in performing their duties, it cannot prevail over the constitutional right of the accused to be presumed innocent. This is especially true when there are unexplained lapses such as those present in this case, according to the ruling obtained by BenarNews, adding that glaring lapses and or irregularities had effectively destroyed the presumption of regularity in the police operation. Remulla III has denied that the drug shipment of about one kilo of a hybrid strain of marijuana known as kush, and originating from California, was his. In the ruling, Moldez said the mere designation or acceptance of a package containing illegal items wasnt enough to prove that the recipient was involved in unlawful activities. The prosecution failed to show that [the] accused, by receiving the parcel, knew that he was also possessing illegal drugs, the judge said. The court also noted that as early as September, the Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force already possessed or was at least aware of the existence of the parcel that allegedly contained illicit drugs. That package was not turned over to a customs examiner until Oct. 4. Because of this, this Court is unable [to] to discount the possibility of evidence tampering on that occasion. On Friday, the PDEA issued a statement accepting the verdict. With utmost respect to the courts decision, PDEA will carefully study the reasons behind the exoneration and exercise due diligence in the conduct of similar operations in the future. The court has seen both sides of the case and is in the best position to rule over the merits, it said in the statement posted on Facebook. Front-running presidential candidate Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (center) talks to Juanito Victor Jonvic Remulla (right) and Jesus Crispin Boying Remulla (standing behind him to the left) after his meeting in Manila with politicians who shifted political support to his camp, April 29, 2016. Jesus Crispin Remulla now serves as Philippine Justice Secretary. [Bullit Marquez/AP Photo] Reputation tarnished Defense attorney Pearlito Campanilla told reporters that Remulla III and his family welcomed the acquittal but said that the arrest had tarnished his clients reputation. He has to contend not only in the legal battle in court, but also with the equally debilitating battle of public opinion. He may have won in the first, but the battle continues in the second, Campanilla said. Renato Reyes, secretary general of political activist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, described the swift resolution of the case as reflecting a wide disparity in how court cases are handled in the Southeast Asian nation. He got a speedy trial, and his case was resolved within 75 days. Many others, especially the poor, are not so fortunate. And that is what is wrong with our justice system, he said. The acquittal came days after Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. called for the voluntary resignations of all national police colonels and generals, saying that illegal drug syndicates may have corrupted the forces senior leaders. Abalos stance ended the protection enjoyed by police officials in the last six years under former President Rodrigo Duterte who directed the national police to carry out his war on drugs that killed thousands of Filipinos, mostly from poor communities. ISLAMABAD, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Eleven terrorists were killed when the Pakistani army conducted an operation in the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a military statement said on Thursday. The security forces conducted the operation by acting on an intelligence tip-off regarding the presence of the militants in South Waziristan district, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in the statement. The militants were planning a high-profile terrorist activity, which was successfully foiled by the army, the statement added. The terrorists which were killed in the intense exchange of fire included a commander and two suicide bombers, the ISPR added. "Huge quantity of weapons and ammunition was also recovered from the killed terrorists," the statement said. 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. Features Editor Jennifer Huberdeau is The Eagle's features editor. Prior to The Eagle, she worked at The North Adams Transcript. She is a 2021 Rabkin Award Winner, 2020 New England First Amendment Institute Fellow and a 2010 BCBS Health Care Fellow. You are the owner of this article. As the pandemic has raged on over the past year, many of us have reflected on ourselves, our families and on the disparate impacts the virus h You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close CANBERRA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Researchers from Australia's national science agency have used specialized cameras to capture the first images of new deep sea creatures. Flying sea cucumbers, glowing spiny sea urchins and giant crabs are among the new species photographed for the first time in the country by a team from the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) conducting marine park surveys off Australia's west coast, local media reported on Thursday. The scientists on board the research vessel (RV) Investigator used two specialized cameras to capture high-resolution videos and photos at the depth of up to 4,000 meters in the Gascoyne Marine Park. The baited remote underwater video system (DeepBRUVS), which was designed by a CSIRO engineering and technology team, can run uninterrupted for 36 hours in one deployment, allowing the team to better understand marine species' behaviors. John Keesing, the chief scientist on the voyage, said the new images would help support better management of the marine park. "We've found things that have only ever been recorded before in other countries, and we've seen species of lobsters and crabs that we have never caught in any of our sampling gear," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "There are at least three new species of shark and a large number of marine invertebrates that have never been seen before," Keesing said. The first surveys of the previously unexplored Gascoyne and Carnarvon Canyon Marine Parks off the coast of Western Australia (WA) in the Indian Ocean were a joint venture between the CSIRO and Parks Australia, which manages 60 marine parks covering 39 percent of Australian waters, in a bid to better understand the complex ecosystems. LENOX One auto dealership seeking to relocate from Pittsfield to the busy Lenox commercial strip on Route 7 & 20 got its green light this week. A second dealership faces more scrutiny. Berkshire Mazda, established by Jim Salvie on Pittsfields auto mile at Silver Lake on East Street in 2007, gained unanimous special permits and site plan approvals from the Zoning Board of Appeals Wednesday night. The dealership is buying the Knights Inn motel at 474 Pittsfield Road and a 17,000-square-foot section of land at the adjacent Howard Johnson by Wyndham inn from hotel entrepreneur Navin Shah. The motel would be demolished, but the 44-room Howard Johnson would remain in business. The 14,500-square-foot dealership, including a showroom, outdoor sales and a service area, will stand just north of the Holmes Road intersection. The project by 474 Pittsfield Road LLC represents an investment of at least $5 million, including purchase of the site and construction costs. Construction is expected to begin this spring, with an opening in 2024. Site visit set on McGee project At the same meeting, a planned public hearing was postponed for the McGee Automotive Familys project to move its Berkshire BMW/VW/Audi dealership from Merrill Road in Pittsfield to the intersection of Pittsfield Road and New Lenox Road. It would be built at the current Different Drummers Kitchen and three adjoining properties. The ZBA will visit the site Jan. 25 at 3 p.m. for a tour, but not for discussion by the public. The board will reopen the public hearing Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall. A robust turnout of at least 50 residents, many from two condo complexes near the proposed dealership, signaled potential opposition to the dealership proposed by McGee, a regional chain based in Hanover. Tight fit on Mazda lot Detailing the special permits sought by the Mazda dealership, civil engineer Jim Scalise, president of SK Design Group, listed key points: The business would be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. The new parking area would include 113 spaces, including 76 to display new vehicles, and the rest for customers, employees and the service department. Construction of the facility would be limited to 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, with occasional interior work Saturdays. Once its operating, the dealership would generate less traffic than the current motel, according to a traffic study presented by Scalise 412 trips a day on a section of the state highway that is used by 23,000 vehicles daily, on average. The greatest challenge is a tight fit on the available 1.4-acre land area, Scalise said. The elevation of the site will be lowered by 8 to 10 feet by excavating up to 50,000 cubic yards of material (1,350,000 square feet), allowing the new building to be lowered into the ground to provide what he called a bathtub effect. A benefit will be improved visibility and access from Pittsfield Road (Routes 7 & 20), he pointed out. Subdued lighting will be used, resulting from an agreement with residential neighbors on Holmeswood Terrace and Holmes Road. Plantings will augment the landscaping plan. The project meets standards for customer parking, erosion control and stormwater drainage. Redevelopment of the site is supported by Police Chief Stephen OBrien, Fire Chief Chris OBrien and DPW Superintendent William Gop. Members of the ZBA voted 5-0 in favor of special permits and a site plan. Before the vote, member Albert Harper said the proposal meets all requirements for a special permit. It also meets a community need by improving the current use of the site from 2-star motel to a reputable business, he said, by enhancing fire safety and potentially reducing crime in Lenox at a location that has required frequent police responses. This is a benign change that has enormous benefits to the community, said Harper, increasing the towns tax base, increasing employment and beautifying the neighborhood. Zoning Board Chairman Robert Fuster, praising the detailed presentation by Scalise, cited the crime rate in the area and suggested public safety would be increased by the development. This is a commercial zone full of commercial projects, said associate board member Kimberly Duval. I see no problem with it and I think its good that theyre doing this. Public comment included a letter to the ZBA from Kari Nixon of New Lenox Road opposing any new auto dealerships on Pittsfield Road as unthinkable because of safety concerns and a threat to the small-town vibe of Lenox. HK to reopen more crossing points 10:07, January 06, 2023 By Oasis Hu, Shadow Li, and Xi Tianqi in Hong Kong ( Chinadaily.com.cn Fireworks explode to celebrate the New Year in Hong Kong, south China, Jan. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Duo) The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will reopen four more border points, allowing a daily total of 60,000 Hong Kong residents to enter the Chinese mainland starting on Sunday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said at a media briefing on Thursday. Among them, 50,000 with advance bookings are expected to pass through three land crossings the soon to be reopened Lok Ma Chau and Man Kam To, and the currently operating Shenzhen Bay Port. Lee estimated that a further 10,000 will pass through the four air, sea and bridge ports the China Ferry Terminal and the Hong Kong-Macao Ferry Terminal, both of which will be reopened, and the currently open Hong Kong International Airport and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. The government will control quotas at these entry points by managing the number of tickets available, with no requirement for booking in advance. Based on the daily quota, Lee estimated that up to 1.8 million Hong Kong residents could return to the mainland in one month and more than 3.6 million over two months. In addition, no ceiling has been set for the number of mainland residents in Hong Kong permitted to enter the mainland. Similarly, Hong Kong residents on the mainland will not be subject to a quota limitation when returning to the city. The resumption of normal travel will greatly revitalize Hong Kong's economic activities and help overseas visitors pass through Hong Kong to the mainland, thus enhancing Hong Kong's role as an international metropolis, Lee said. A booking system for travelers passing through land ports was rolled out at 6 pm on Thursday, allowing travelers to pick a specific checkpoint and a designated time slot before traveling. Those crossing via the four air, sea and bridge ports can depart the city to enter the mainland as long as they have bus, ship or airplane tickets. In the first phase, the system will provide booking services for the next eight weeks, from Sunday to March 4. The reservation system is on a first-come, first-served basis. Each applicant can make reservations for up to three companions. After the Chinese New Year, cross-boundary students can return to Hong Kong daily to resume face-to-face classes in Hong Kong. No advance booking is needed for students. After reviewing the operation of the first phase, the government will consider reopening more checkpoints, including for high-speed rail, and increasing the quota for travelers. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung said at the media briefing that the Hong Kong section of the high-speed rail will resume service no later than Jan 15, due to the extra time needed by the rail operator to prepare and for employees to familiarize themselves with operations after a three-year suspension of service. By then, passengers can take high-speed trains from West Kowloon Station to not only Shenzhen North Station and Guangzhou South Station, but also to Guangzhou East Station, Lam said. After the briefing, the number of Hong Kong travel-related searches on travel platform Tongcheng Travel increased 379 percent, and the number of searches for air tickets to and from Hong Kong increased 287 percent. Dennis Ng Wang-pun, permanent honorary president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, said the quota is enough for residents to return to their hometowns to celebrate the Chinese New Year. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) ANKARA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the latest development in the Ukraine crisis over the phone on Thursday, Turkiye's presidential office said in a statement. The two leaders discussed the developments in the grain corridor, along with Turkiye's humanitarian aid and energy support to Ukraine, the statement reads. Erdogan told Zelensky that Turkiye was ready to facilitate and mediate for a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine. The efforts on the prisoner exchange will continue, Erdogan said, adding that Ankara could make diplomatic contributions to speed up the handling of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant issue. Erdogan had a phone talk with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin earlier on Thursday and urged him for a "unilateral ceasefire," Erdogan's office said. Ankara and Moscow achieved positive results in the negotiations on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, along with the issues of resuming the grain corridor, prisoner exchange, and the safe zone initiatives regarding the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Erdogan said. He said calls for peace and negotiations should be supported by a "unilateral ceasefire and a vision for a fair solution" in the Ukrainian conflict. Today Rain showers this evening with mostly cloudy conditions overnight. Low 36F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Tonight Rain showers this evening with mostly cloudy conditions overnight. Low 36F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Tomorrow Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 56F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. WPP has acquired Fenom Digital, one of the fastest-growing digital transformation agencies in North America, to join WPP's global commerce capability within Wunderman Thompson. Source: Cup of Couple pexels WPP has acquired Fenom Digital to join WPPs global commerce capability within Wunderman Thompson This acquisition is part of Wunderman Thompsons strategy to help clients drive growth across all major digital routes to market in all major markets and will complement the 3500 commerce experts within the Wunderman Thompson group. Wunderman Thompson drives over $30bn in GMV for brands such as Nestle, Bosch and Microsoft. We have been highly impressed at the sales growth Dylan and the Fenom Digital team have achieved for their clients. Their expertise complements and strengthens the world-class Salesforce capability that we already have in North America. We are looking forward to bringing our combined expertise to service clients across multiple Salesforce clouds, says Neil Stewart, CEO of Wunderman Thompson Commerce & Technology. More than $5bn digital sales Founded by Dylan Runne, now CEO, three years ago in New York, Fenom Digital specialises in delivering enterprise commerce, order management systems, supply chain, marketing, and customer experience solutions to retailers and brands across North America. We couldnt be happier to be joining the Wunderman Thompson family and bringing our best-in-class commerce solutions to the worlds leading digital agency. Wunderman Thompsons commerce focus and breadth of capabilities and experience open the door for Fenom to accelerate growth and continue executing on the vision of being the leading global Salesforce Digital Transformation Agency, says Runne. The company calls upon over 190 highly skilled technologists to deliver solutions that drive more than $5bn digital sales for clients annually, including Basset Furniture, Casper, Crocs, David Yurman, GNC, PacSun and Snipes. In 2022, Fenom Digital achieved Salesforce Crest Partner status and won Salesforce Commerce Cloud Partner of the Year for Best Up and Coming Partner. Strengthening WPPs overall digital commerce capabilities The announcement follows other recent Wunderman Thompson acquisitions in the commerce space including Diff and Newcraft. These further strengthened WPPs overall digital commerce capabilities and reflect the companys ongoing investment into its commerce offer for clients as consumer needs continue to change. Accelerated growth strategy It is aligned with WPP's accelerated growth strategy, building on existing capabilities in the areas of commerce and technology. Expanding our business in high-growth commerce areas continues to be a high priority for WPP as we enter 2023. The Fenom team brings a proven track record of success paired with deep industry expertise and Im delighted to welcome them to WPP, says Mark Read, CEO of WPP. Sealand, the premium outdoor brand produced in Cape Town, and intimates label Jockey South Africa, which is manufactured in South Africa, have incorporated sustainable textiles Econyl and Modal respectively into their product ranges. Source: Sealand Fashion and apparel companies have been urged to use more recycled materials and environmentally-friendly textiles from natural regenerative sources to help combat the scourge of plastic waste. Experts recently called for the United Nations to set a global target of zero new plastic pollution by 2040, and at the COP27 conference delegates also agreed that the management of plastic waste should be a core element of combatting carbon emissions and tackling climate change. Because most plastics are derived from fossil sources, they contribute to global warming throughout their production, consumption and disposal lifetime, as well as being a massive contributing source of ocean and land pollution. Regenerated nylon from waste Sealand recently launched its first range of gear made from Econyl nylon, marking the first time that a company in Africa will be using this innovative material in bags and outdoor gear. Econyl is regenerated nylon that is made from collected nylon waste that would otherwise pollute the earth, including fishing nets, fabric and industrial carpet scraps, and industrial plastic. This nylon waste then goes through a regeneration and purification process that creates a new nylon product that is exactly the same as brand-new, fossil-based nylon. It can be recycled, recreated and remolded repeatedly. Source: Sealand Speaking about the new range, Sealand co-founder Jasper Eales explained: Sealand was built around our love for the sea and the land that we live on. Our mission is to protect nature and the outdoors that we love, and to ensure that every decision that we make keeps the planet and its people front and centre. All of our bags and apparel are made from upcycled or recycled waste, or from responsibly and carefully sourced materials. The launch of the product range made with Econyl is the biggest product and material progression that Sealand has made to date, and it takes our commitment to the planet one step further. Its said that up to a million tonnes of lost and discarded or 'ghost' fishing nets enter the ocean every year, causing untold damage to marine life and habitats. To be able to use a fabric that can create value out of waste such as this, and which can play a role however small in removing it from our natural environment, is incredibly important to us, he continues. Econyl has been used globally in collections by leading global fashion names including Stella Mccartney, Gucci and Louis Vuitton. This is a premium material, which is also incredibly durable and functional. It has a water retardant built into it, so it is also water-resistant. Our products are built for adventurous high-performance lifestyles, so these are a natural extension to our range, continues Eales. The new range made with Econyl includes four products - the Buddy S backpack, Rowlie backpack, Moon cross body bag and the Dune M duffle bag - in three colours. Bio-based fibre from beech tree pulp Jockey South Africa aims to contribute towards the 'greening' of the local fashion industry by introducing garments and upcoming ranges that use bio-based fabric Modal. Deriving its origin from sustainably harvested Beech tree pulp, Modal is a soft textile is a natural semi-synthetic material made by transforming the liquid found in the Beech tree bark using an environmentally-friendly process. Source: Jockey South Africa General manager for Jockey South Africa, Bruce McMurray explains, As a company we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of innovation to give our customers the best possible quality products that they love. Part of this innovation is ensuring that our products adhere to the strictest quality controls, as well as incorporating sustainable production methods in our factories. These measures have resulted in massive savings in electricity, water usage and wastage. We are introducing in our garment ranges the use of Lenzing Modal, a trademark brand that specialises in sustainable and environmentally-friendly production processes. Lenzing reuses and recycles about 80% of solvents used in the production process and converts them into non-toxic goods such as cleaning products. The emphasis is on clean manufacturing and sustainable harvesting. The textile has been used in Jockey South Africa's latest underwear range For Me, which launched on 13 December. Aimed at South African women, this new environmentally-friendly collection utilises Modal as the main fabric. Especially soft to the touch, Modal fibre is lightweight and flexible yet durable, preventing rigidity after washing. Modal yarn is also naturally breathable and 50% more water-absorbent than cotton. The benefit to this is that it keeps the wearer of the garment cool throughout the day and night and prevents sweating and moisture from being trapped which can cause skin irritation. Furthermore, it won't shrink like 100% cotton products, giving the wearer peace of mind that their garment wont lose shape. There are so many benefits to using Modal to create an underwear range, which also includes allowing for all-day comfort because this fiber is naturally breathable and 50% more water absorbent than cotton. So, our shoppers will be kept cool and happy over the hot festive season while the modal fabric helps to prevent sweating and moves away from the skin which can cause unwanted skin irritation, adds McMurray. According to Jockey, added benefits of this breakthrough fibre are its superior durability over yarns such as viscose and rayon which are also created from wood pulp. However, they are not sourced from a specific tree type. With its ability to hold dye more easily, it will keep colours vibrant even after multiple washes. Modal can also be blended with other fibres such as cotton and spandex for extra strength. The style of underwear available within Jockeys For Me range features thong, boyleg, brazilian, midi hipster and bikini silhouettes in six colours. Several suspects are expected to appear in Magistrates Courts in the Northern Cape on drug related crimes following Operation Vala Konke successes in the province. Image source: Kindel Media from Pexels Police spokesperson, Captain Olebogeng Tawana, said drugs confiscated during the arrests include crystal meth, dagga and mandrax tablets. On Thursday... two male suspects were arrested by members of the ZF Mgcawu District Task Team, K9 Unit, Paballelo Visible Policing and Upington Border Police... in possession of dagga weighing 6.25kg, with an estimated street value of R156,250. Police... in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District pounced on crystal meth with an estimated street value of R17,100, including copper cables weighing 4kg, resulting in the detention of the suspects. Another suspect was found in possession of dagga with an estimated street value of R2,300 in Mapoteng village near Mothibistad. [In Kathu], a 26-year-old suspect is behind bars subsequent to being found in possession of suspected stolen property, which included bicycles, laptops, a television set, computer monitors, an iPad, shoes, a hammer and crystal meth. A joint operation by members of Marydale and Prieska Visible Policing yielded positive results when they arrested a 29-year-old suspect for dealing in drugs. The suspect was found on his premises in possession of crystal meth with an estimated street value of more than R22,000, he said. Tawana added that another 24 suspects were arrested on various other charges during daily wanted suspect tracing operations in the provinces Pixly Ka Seme District. These suspects have been evading arrest and failed to appear before various courts, as warned by the Magistrates Courts. They are facing different charges ranging from murder, attempted murder, theft, malicious damage to property, rape, assault to cause grievous bodily harm, robbery and contravention of protection order, he said. Meanwhile, police in KwaZulu-Natal have arrested three suspects following a business robbery in the Durban central business district. Police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said the suspects were caught in the act by Vigilant Tactical Response Team (TRT) members during routine patrolling. Four armed men are reported to have stormed into a shop and allegedly demanded money, cigarettes and cell phones. One suspect reportedly left the shop with the robbed items, and the other three remained behind and continued ransacking the shop. At that point, the TRT members who were patrolling the area noticed what was happening and acted swiftly. The three suspects were duly arrested and three firearms were found in their possession. No shots were fired and no injuries were reported. The search for the outstanding suspect is underway, Netshiunda said. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a dramatic effect on the tourism industry worldwide. International arrivals dropped by 74% globally in 2020 and tourist accommodations, businesses, borders and heritage sites had to close, resulting in a loss of income for those working in the tourism sectors. In Africa, the impact was deeply felt. In Kenya, tourist arrivals shrank from nearly 620,000 in April 2019 to 393,000 the following April. In South Africa, they fell from 10.2 million in 2019 to 2.8 million in 2020, and while almost 174,000 visited Tanzania in the third trimester of 2019, only 13,000 did so during the same period of 2020. CC BY-SA The Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Baluarte is just one of the attractions on Mozambique Island. Francesco Monteiro/UNESCO Yet is this situation been such a bad thing? A number of studies have lamented that international tourism has often generated an unequal distribution of economic benefits, increased social disparities, marginalised local communities, and exploited local resources. This is particularly the case in Africa, where tourism has mainly benefited international and foreign companies and individuals, with the core tools of air travels and e-commerce concentrated in the Global North. As part of our research, we wanted to understand whether and how the Covid-19 pandemic has been and could be used to transform the tourism sector into a more sustainable field in Southern Africa. Particularly important for us was how tourism could be improved to meet the needs and expectations of local communities in terms of enhanced living standards and quality of life. Another aspect was to explore how to safeguard the environment for the health and well-being of locals. Interviews were carried out with tourism professionals, local community members, and heritage site managers at the World Heritage sites of Lamu Old Town (Kenya), the Stone Town of Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro National Park (Tanzania), and Robben Island and Cape Floral Region (in South Africa). Professor Labadis latest book Rethinking Heritage for Sustainable Development (UCL Press, 2022), provides additional data and analyses. Changing needs and expectations The global health crisis has shown the negative consequences of an overreliance on international visitors as a primary source of tourism-generated income. It has shown how visits of heritage sites should be diversified to make the tourism industry more resilient and sustainable. A popular suggestion research participants made for overcoming this issue is to stimulate domestic tourism, and regional tourism from neighbouring countries. Some of the tourism professionals interviewed, particularly in Kenya, pointed out that since the country came out of lockdown in August 2020, domestic tourism has been blossoming, with many Kenyans visiting the Maasai Mara National Reserve, and holidaying in Lamu and other coastal destinations. Changing the profile of tourists is a long-term challenge. As explained by a lodge manager in Kenya, exclusive hotels would rather have a low rate of occupancy, rather than slash their prices and attract different, less privileged people and/or accommodate a larger number of people. Currently, offers target Western and international visitors through a focus on colonial history, particularly for cultural heritage destinations. Attracting local, national and regional visitors for staycations would require changing the tourism maps and attractions, so that they focus on regional, national and local history. This will not happen overnight, and attempts to change those maps and destinations have already faced serious challenges. In the case of Namibia, the government and international community have sought to refocus tourism on the countrys war of independence and indigenous communities rather than German colonial history. These efforts have faced challenges, including lack of support from the private sector as well as inadequate infrastructures and facilities. Travel bounces back With wide-scale vaccination and reduced rates of contamination, international travel is on the rise again. Unfortunately, some projects funded by international aid have fallen back on recipes from before the pandemic, providing training and capacity-building activities so that locals can cater to the needs of international visitors. Instead of helping to change the narrative and build a more resilient sector based on local, national and regional visitations, the international community is back to promoting the unsustainable model that was dominant before the pandemic. One positive aspect of the pandemic has been a greater environmental sustainability, the reduction of pollution, of CO 2 emissions, and a decrease of international tourism. Considering that these benefits can help with tackling the climate crisis, the world post-pandemic and the future of the World Heritage Convention, should promote a world beyond tourism. On Mozambique Island, a World Heritage site in the countrys north, governmental and international projects aim to promote and increase tourism. However, a university has recently opened on the island, so why not take this opportunity to provide goods and services based on local resources, to respond to the needs of students? Not only would this bottom-up approach fulfil several sustainable development goals, including education, reducing inequalities and boosting gender equality, but it would also provide a function for historic and vacant buildings on the island, in dire need of a new life. Such a move beyond tourism, that adopts a more systemic, integrated and bottom-up approach aligned with local needs would help World Heritage sites to be better aligned with the fight against climate change, environmental protection, heritage conservation, poverty reduction and health and well-being. This article was co-written by Francesca Giliberto, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Leeds. Sophia Labadis latest book, Rethinking Heritage for Sustainable Heritage, has been released in open access by UCL Press. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The cryptocurrency and digital asset sector is facing further reckoning with US authorities lodging two separate fraud cases against operators in the space while a once-major trading platform considers filing for bankruptcy. Overnight, New York authorities took legal action to ban the former boss of cryptocurrency lender Celsuis Network, Alex Mashinsky, from doing business in the state. New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a lawsuit filed against Mashinsky that the former CEO of Celsius Network misled investors, leading them down a path of financial ruin. A horror year for bitcoin has seen the cryptocurrencys value plummet. Credit: Bloomberg In her lawsuit filed in state court in Manhattan, James said Mashinsky, a co-founder of Celsius, engaged in a scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands of investors by getting them to put billions of dollars worth of their digital assets in his platform. The last weeks of poet Robert Adamsons life flowed with conversation at the house above the Hawkesbury River where he lived with his wife, photographer Juno Gemes, and their cats and rescued bowerbird. When Adamson, aged 79, was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer, he and Gemes decided to spread the news widely. I didnt want to tell anyone. I was just going to carry on, Adamson said soon after Gemes posted on social media in early November. But she remembered an avalanche of beautiful things that were said about poet Martin Harrison after his sudden death in 2014. I loved Martin and I thought, why didnt he get to hear this? Encouraged by her friend, Petrea King, an adviser on end-of-life matters, Gemes said it seemed to me like a generous thing to do, because you didnt know what you were going to get back. But I kind of had a feeling. A flood of messages began, turning Gemes phone into a love bomb and leading to a stream of visitors who had been touched by Adamsons 50-year career as a celebrated poet, editor, publisher, teacher, mentor and friend. First to arrive were Luke Davies, Mark Mordue and Judith Crispin, younger poets grateful for Adamsons support. Old friends from the circles of books, arts and activism came, such as Morry and Anna Schwartz, Garry and Rose Shead, Wendy Whiteley, Linda Burney, Robyn Ravlich, Anne Summers and Tracey Moffatt. As a result, the sprawling coalition of government and activist forces dedicated to killing off coal now believes the first phase is already achieved the pipeline of new coal power stations has effectively been shut. Loading Countries such as China and India are still building plants permitted and contracted over the past decade, but are rapidly turning towards renewables. At the end of 2021, the coal industrys key financiers China, Japan and South Korea declared they would no longer invest in new offshore coal plants. As an Australian miner complained in a parliamentary inquiry last year, banks no longer wanted to finance coal projects because the grief to income ratio was not worth it. Activist shareholders were becoming too much of a pain. Camilla Fenning, who leads the coal program for the British-based climate think tank E3G, told me this week the speed of the retreat from coal over the past couple of years has been startling. There are now only around 35 countries that have a coal pipeline [of planned new plants], Fenning said. None of those are now in Europe, and only four are in the OECD thats Turkey, Australia, the US and Japan. Of those 35 countries, something like 16 only have one planned new coal plant, so even they are near the tipping point of no new coal. And also, of those 35, probably half of them were dependent on China or Japan or Korean investment, and now they have pulled the plug, its pretty unlikely they will get the investment to build. So now we have a domino effect. And with coal costs so high, even Chinas new plants are running far below capacity. The problem is that a new coal plant lasts for about 40 years. So even with the pipeline of new plants cut to a trickle, if the existing global fleet is allowed to live for the course of its natural life, the emissions it creates will blow the worlds limited remaining carbon budget to keep warming under 1.5 degrees or even 2 degrees. So now the anti-coal movement has shifted its attention to how it can most effectively shut them down sooner. Huge steps were taken in this direction at the last two world climate talks in Glasgow in 2021 and Sharm El-Sheikh in November. In Glasgow, a new model to accelerate the process was finalised and announced. Loading Under the so-called Just Energy Transition Investment Partnership (or JET IP, as it is now referred to in the jargon-rich world of climate diplomacy) the United States, Britain, Germany, France and the European Union agreed to provide $US8.5 billion ($12.59 billion) in grants and cheap loans as seed money for a fund to purchase and close South Africas coal fleet and replace it with renewables. South Africa is the perfect laboratory for such a program because it has some of the worlds best access to sun and wind. And because it has, even by a dirty industrys standards, a particularly dirty coal fleet. As a result, a dollar spent greening South Africa cuts far more carbon than a dollar spent in, say, Europe. The model is also in keeping with one of the Paris Agreements core principles, which recognises that nations have common but differentiated responsibilities in tackling climate change. In simple terms, this means that poor nations agreed to take action if rich ones which caused the problem in the first place agreed to pay for it. Loading In Egypt in November, the JET IP backers and South Africa detailed impressive progress in the plan and now negotiations have begun for similar agreements to accelerate coal retirement in Indonesia and Vietnam. Because each nation has different energy demands and different coal industries, developing the plans is complicated, says energy analyst Tim Buckley. And care must be taken to ensure the money is well spent. There is no point in buying out a coal plant only to later see it resold, Buckley explains. Nor is there any point in shutting off the power before it is adequately replaced with clean alternatives. Due to generations of failure to properly address climate change, even this rapid progress is not fast enough, says Fenning. She hopes the South African model will be improved as versions of it are deployed in Indonesia and Vietnam, and then, hopefully, across the world. Many climate scientists believe the 1.5 degrees target has already slipped from our grasp, though rapid decarbonisation could see temperatures stabilise and then slowly drop by the end of the century. Until then, we will face unfeasibly warm winters across Europe, and a return to infernal summers in Australia. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here. More from our award-winning columnists Sky-high cost-cutting: Do we really need two pilots in the cockpit? With advances in technology, wont one pilot on a flight do? Heres what QF32 hero and Sully Sullenberger think Peter FitzSimons The photos transported me back to a tremendously fun evening that I had all but forgotten. Yet I wondered how there could be so many photos from just one night. How do I decide which to keep and which to get rid of? Loading This kind of data explosion is a result of economics, said Brewster Kahle, founder of the Internet Archive, a nonprofit group based in San Francisco that saves copies of websites and digitises books and television shows. Taking a photo used to be expensive because it involved film that needed to be developed. It cost a dollar every time you hit a shutter, Kahle said. Thats no longer the case so we hit the shutter all the time and keep way, way too much. I had captured the 2007 evening in Tampa, Florida, pre-smartphone on a digital Canon camera that had a relatively small memory card that I regularly emptied into Google Photos. I found more than 4,000 other photos there, along with 10 gigabytes of data from Blogger, Gmail, Google Chat and Google Search, when I requested a copy of the data in my account using a Google tool called Takeout. I just pressed a button and a couple of days later got my data in a three-file chunk, which was great, although some of it, including all my emails, was not human-readable. Instead, it came in a form that needed to be uploaded to another service or Google account. Takeout was created in 2011 by a group of Google engineers who called themselves the Data Liberation Front. Brian Fitzpatrick, a former Google employee in Chicago who led the team, said he thought it was important that the companys users had an easy off ramp to leave Google and take their data elsewhere. But Fitzpatrick said he worried that when people stored their digital belongings on a companys server, they dont think about it or care about it. Some of my data landlords were more accommodating than others. Twitter, Facebook and Instagram offered Takeout-like tools, while Apple had a more complicated data transfer process that involved voluminous instructions and a USB cable. The amount of data I eventually pulled down was staggering, including more than 30,000 photos, 2,000 videos, 22,000 Twitter posts, 57,000 emails, 15,000 pages of old Google chats and 16,000 pages of Google searches going back to 2011. The Missing The trove of data brought forgotten episodes of my life back in vivid colour. A blurry photo of my best friends husband with a tiny baby strapped to his chest, standing in front of a wall-size Beetlejuician face, made me recall a long-ago outing to a Tim Burton exhibit at a museum in Los Angeles. I dont remember what I learned about the gothic filmmaker, but I do remember my friends horror when their weeks-old son, now 11, had a blowout and they had to beg a comically oversize diaper from a stranger. The granularity of what was in my digital archive accentuated the parts of my life that were missing entirely: emails from college in a university-provided account that I hadnt thought to migrate; photos and videos I took on an Android phone that I backed up to an external hard drive that has since disappeared; and stories Id written in journalism school for publications that no longer exist. They were as lost to me as the confessional journal I once left in the seat of a plane. The idea that information, once digitised, will stick around forever is flawed. Margot Note, an archivist, said members of her profession thought a lot about the accessibility of the medium on which data was stored, given the challenge of recovering videos from older formats such as DVDs, VHS tapes and reel film. Note asks the kinds of questions most of us dont: Will there be the right software or hardware to open all our digital files many years from now? With something called bit rot the degradation of a digital file over time the files may not be in good shape. Individuals and institutions think that when they digitise material it will be safe, she said. But digital files can be more fragile than physical ones. Where to Put It Once I assembled my data Frankenstein, I had to decide where to put it, so I turned to professional archivists and tech-savvy friends. They recommended two $299 12-terabyte hard drives, one of which should have ample room for what I have now and what I will create in the future, and another to mirror the first, as well as a $249 NAS, or network-attached storage system, to connect to my home router, so I could access the files remotely and monitor the health of the drives. Loading Getting all your data and figuring out how to securely store it is cumbersome, complicated and costly. Theres a reason most people ignore all their stuff in the cloud. What to Keep I noticed a philosophical divide among the archivists I spoke with. Digital archivists were committed to keeping everything with the mentality that you never know what you might want one day, while professional archivists who worked with family and institutional collections said it was important to pare down to make an archive manageable for people who look at it in the future. Bob Clark, the director of archives at the Rockefeller Archive Centre, said that the general rule of thumb in his profession was that less than five per cent of the material in a collection was worth saving. He faulted the technology companies for offering too much storage space, eliminating the need for deliberating over what we keep. Theyve made it so easy that they have turned us into unintentional data hoarders, he said. Paring It Down Rather than just keeping a full digital copy of everything, I decided to take the archivists advice and pare it down somewhat, a process the professionals call appraisal. An easy place to start was the screenshots: the QR codes for flights long ago boarded, privacy agreements I had to click to use an app, emails that were best forwarded to my husband via text and a message from Words With Friends that nutjob was not an acceptable word. There was also a lot of data exhaust, as security technologist Matt Mitchell calls it, a polite term for the record of my life rendered in Google searches, from a 2011 query for karaoke bars in Washington to a more recent search for the closest Chuck E. Cheese. I will not keep those on my personal hard drive, and I may take the step of deleting them from Googles servers, which the company makes possible, because their embarrassment potential is higher than their archival value. Mitchell said super hoarders should pare down, not to make memories easier to find, but to eliminate data that could come back to bite them. Inactive Accounts Right now, its cheap to hoard all this data in the cloud. Loading The cost of storage long term continues to fall, said George Blood, who runs a business outside Philadelphia digitising information from obsolete media, creating 10 terabytes of data per day, on average. They may charge you more for the cost of the electricity spinning the disk your data is on than the storage itself. Aware of the potential value of data left behind by those who euphemistically go inactive, Apple recently introduced a legacy contact feature, to designate a person who can access an Apple account after the owners death. Google has long had a similar tool, prosaically called inactive account manager. Facebook created legacy contacts in 2015 to look after accounts that have been memorialised. Vlad thrived as a young musician, becoming successful with his own group and then the famous Anatoly Kroll Big Band, with whom he performed across Russia. In 1967 Khusid married Galina Kirilova, known as Gala, and they had two children, Sophia and Zev. Seeing the impact of the Soviet system on his children, particularly their indoctrination at primary school, made him resolve to flee with the family. In 1980 they travelled to Brest in Belarus. Crossing the border into Poland, Vlads trumpet was seized by guards and he didnt know if he would play again in whatever country might take them in. But during three-and-a-half months spent in Italy, he bought a mouthpiece just in case. Granted a visa to migrate to Australia, Khusid was grateful upon arrival to find a job as a labourer in a factory his bullish build and strength suiting him for the work. Seeing gigs at Sydneys original Basement introduced him to the local jazz scene and before long he was auditioning with Don Burrows for a Diploma of Jazz at the Conservatorium of Music. He went with a friend to help as a translator. Through his friend, he explained that he couldnt speak English, to which Don replied: If you understand the music, you know the language. And Khusid understood the music. After graduating in 1982, more odd jobs followed courier driver, cleaner at a takeaway chicken shop, kitchen hand in a bakery before he found work teaching music at St Peters Primary School. This led him to other part-time teaching roles, including at The Kings School, then to a job interview at Sydney Grammar School. The Grammar headmaster, Alastair Mackerras, must have been impressed. On the spot, he offered far more than the one-day-a-week job advertised; he proposed making him the schools new Head of Brass, a full-time position. Vladimir Khusid with the Sydney Grammar School Big Band at the Manly Jazz Festival in 2017. Vlad initially refused the offer, feeling loyal to the pupils at his three other schools. Mackerras, however, would hear none of it: he called up his counterpart at Kings and soon Vlad was being given firm directives from both headmasters to stop being so loyal and take the job! I dont know why Mackerras decided to give me this opportunity, Khusid recalled years later. My English was horrible! But the contract was signed, and in February 1988, he took up the role. Until Khusids appointment, jazz was not considered a serious discipline in the school and students from those days remember the changes he ushered in. He understood, and helped students recognise, that true improvisation requires mastery, passion and humility. Explaining his approach to teaching he said: I never force the boys to do anything it does not work. I want them to enjoy it. As a teacher I try to perform my role and teaching is a performance with as much passion as I can. Music and teaching too are forms of play, what Stephen Nachmanovitch calls lila (divine play in Sanskrit). If you lose that sense of play the boys lose interest. Vladimir Khusid with James Morrison. By 1993, after only five years, the schools big band was chosen to perform at the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival. The schools one jazz band would soon become two, with the addition of a junior band, and then in 2001, with the support of then-headmaster Dr John Vallance, a third was added. Started as a way for old boys to maintain their connection with jazz at the school, Dr Vs Swing Thing, named for Vlad, with an honorary Doctorate of Swing being bestowed by its members, continues to perform after 21 years, including at the Manly and Wangaratta jazz festivals. From the mid-1980s, Khusid established himself as a performer in his own right, playing in Latin bands such as Espirito, and experimental ensembles the Bruce Cale Orchestra and Great White Noise. Loading He found his niche in world music, earning two Aria awards with Monsieur Camembert in 2002 and 2004 and delighting crowds as part of the frontline of Marsala. He was never one for empty virtuosity, but could thrill with what critic John Shand described as his blazing, diamond-edged trumpet. In 2021 Khusid was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Notwithstanding the challenges posed by COVID-19 restrictions, in May 2022 over a thousand people turned out for a concert at Grammar to honour him. His friend of 40 years, jazz legend James Morrison, was just one of those who played and spoke to his legacy. For Morrison, it was Khusids sheer passion and excitement for music that stood out and made him so inspiring to be around. Vlad remained a friend and mentor to many former students, his gentle wisdom providing guidance through lifes twists and turns. One of those former students, Dr Richard Malpass - trumpet player and now Sydney Grammars headmaster - recalls Vlad as one of the warmest and most enigmatically inspirational people one could ever hope to meet. Repatriated IS bride granted bail after being charged with Syria incursion Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss The main reason for the growing optimism is that Australia has a prime minister actively working to try to secure Assanges release, even if it requires spending diplomatic capital with our most important ally. The Morrison government took a hands-off approach on the grounds Assanges case should be allowed to play out in the British and US legal systems. Loading In opposition, Albanese said he believed Assanges case had dragged on too long and needed to come to an end. During his early months as prime minister, he kept quiet about the issue, vowing not to pursue megaphone diplomacy. That changed in November when he gave a strikingly forthright response to a question by independent MP Monique Ryan. I have raised this personally with representatives of the United States government, Albanese told parliament. My position is clear and has been made clear to the US administration. I will continue to advocate, as I did recently in meetings that I have held. Albanese was essentially confirming he had raised the issue directly with Biden, given the pair met for 45 minutes just a fortnight earlier in Phnom Penh. Then came Albaneses decision, just before Christmas, to appoint former prime minister Kevin Rudd as Australias ambassador to the US. As far back as 2010, when WikiLeaks published the war cables, Rudd has repeatedly insisted the US government and Manning should be held responsible for the disclosure of secret material rather than Assange. Loading In June, when Priti Patel, then the British home secretary, certified Assanges extradition to the US, Rudd tweeted: I disagree with this decision. I do not support Assanges actions and his reckless disregard for classified security information. But if Assange is guilty, then so too are the dozens of newspaper editors who happily published his material. Assanges supporters also see promising signs in the American media, where his case has received surprisingly little attention despite his high-profile and controversial past. In a joint open letter published in late November, The New York Times and four European news outlets called on the US government to drop the charges because the prosecution sets a dangerous precedent that threatens to undermine freedom of the press. Obtaining and disclosing sensitive information when necessary in the public interest is a core part of the daily work of journalists, the letter said. If that work is criminalised, our public discourse and our democracies are made significantly weaker. Soon after, Ari Melber a prominent host on left-leaning cable network MSNBC devoted a 12-minute monologue to arguing for Assange to be let free. Loading Since founding WikiLeaks, Assange has done some questionable even despicable things. Robert Muellers report into the 2016 US election found Assange fuelled dangerous conspiracy theories by falsely suggesting that murdered Democratic Party employee Seth Rich, rather than Russian hackers, had leaked damaging information about Hillary Clintons campaign to WikiLeaks. Brad Bauman, a former spokesman for the Rich family, said at the time the report showed Assange was a monster, not a journalist. But you dont have to consider Assange a noble figure or even a journalist to support his release after so many years in captivity. It is very easy for people to understand the hypocrisy of this, Shipton says. Why is the Australian publisher being held in prison while the US whistleblower walks free? It doesnt pass the pub test. Theres no indication that Biden, or his attorney-general Merrick Garland, are invested in Assange being punished. The charges against him are a holdover from the Trump administration. The Obama-era Justice Department declined to prosecute Assange because of the precedent it could set of jailing journalists for doing their jobs. Still, the notion that asking Biden to drop the extradition would take nothing more than a simple phone call needs to be tempered with reality. This is not simple, stroke-of-a-pen stuff, a senior government source says, speaking on condition of anonymity. The idea that Biden can just wave a magic wand on this is nonsense. This is hard and complicated. One of Trumps litany of sins during his time in office was trying to reshape the Department of Justice into his defacto personal legal firm. Biden has said that one of his priorities as president is to re-establish the reputation and integrity of the Justice Department, which he argues was corrupted by Trump. Biden had to speedily backtrack in October after saying he wanted to see individuals prosecuted for defying subpoenas from the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riots. I did not, have not and will not pick up the phone and call the attorney-general and tell him what he should or should not do in terms of who he should prosecute, Biden insisted. Loading Instructing Garland to drop the charges against Assange would be a clear breach of this vow. A more realistic hope is that Garland quietly takes another look at the case and decides it is taking up resources that could be better used elsewhere. The Justice Department prides itself on its independence, as spokesman Anthony Coley made clear in October: The Department of Justice will make its own independent decisions in all prosecutions based solely on the facts and the law. Period. Full stop. Importantly, the judicial process had already run its course when Obama granted clemency to Manning; its an entirely different story with Assange. Figures inside the US national security establishment who contend Assanges behaviour, including allegedly conspiring with hackers, went beyond normal journalist practice want him to be held accountable. And many Democrats still regard Assange with disdain for his role in elevating Donald Trump to power by publishing Hillary Clintons emails in the 2016 campaign. The argument for the charges against Assange to be dropped has always been powerful on press freedom grounds. It only becomes more compelling as time passes. Hes suffered in jail long enough. Albanese should be commended for working to secure his release. Achieving this goal, however, will take subtlety and patience. If Assange is a free man by the end of the year, let alone the next two months, it will be a foreign policy triumph. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here. More from our award-winning columnists Sky-high cost-cutting: Do we really need two pilots in the cockpit? With advances in technology, wont one pilot on a flight do? Heres what QF32 hero and Sully Sullenberger think Peter FitzSimons But there are salient lessons from the Nationals for the Liberal Party on how to broaden your appeal, reinvent your brand to better reflect modern Australia, and elect more women to parliament. Walsh is hesitant to give gratuitous advice to the Liberal Party. Instead, he is at pains to point out that the seeds of an election victory are over the entire parliamentary term. Loading Too often you see MPs who [think] its all about them and their role in parliament, rather than the fact theyre elected to represent their electorate ... Its a very good grounding to come home from parliament, stand on the boundary line at a footy game, and understand whats going on in your community, Walsh says. On election night over a month ago, when the Nationals trounced three independents to reclaim the regional seats of Mildura, Shepparton and Morwell, the partys state director Matthew Harris breathed a huge sigh of relief. Independent MPs are notoriously difficult to knock off, and the redistribution in Morwell had made it a notional Labor seat. Harris decided to focus on a few things heading into the 2022 state election including preselecting good quality candidates, preferably women. Loading Unlike the Labor Party which has quotas for female MPs and relies on a factional system to deliver gender equality in caucus, the National and Liberal parties have been generally opposed to the idea because they have a grassroots democratic system in which branch members choose their local candidates. Women make up just a third of the Liberal party room. Party elders, including Walsh and Harris, travelled across the state to speak with branch members predominantly older male farmers about the need to diversify the partys appeal and shake off the perception it was the farmers party. Harris says it was a tough slog over four years but when nominations opened for National Party preselection, branch members did not see their wishes as an imposition. Instead, they embraced the candidates. Steph Ryan, Sandra OSullivan, Gerard OSullivan and Annabelle Cleeland during the flood clean-up in Seymour on October 18. Credit: It was a four-year process: we talked a lot, we socialised a lot, we went around all over the state, Harris says. We had to explain that we cant just be the farmers party and that we have to field candidates who are different, and who arent just white, male farmers. Jade Benham, who snared Mildura from independent Ali Cupper, was the mayor of Swan Hill Rural City Council and ran a small business specialising in digital media. Kim OKeeffe, who won Shepparton from independent Suzanna Sheed, was mayor of Greater Shepparton City Council and the owner of a small business. Martin Cameron in Morwell ran his familys small plumbing business and unseated Nationals-cum-independent Russell Northe. Annabelle Cleeland, who replaced retiring deputy Nationals leader Steph Ryan in Euroa, is a former journalist, while new upper house member Gaelle Broad was a former political staffer, but most recently worked at a bank. Harris also partly credits the partys decision to heavily invest in a research program. The National Party will need to appeal to a range of voter groups. Leanne White, Insightfully Leanne White, from Insightfully, conducted the Nationals research program, andbelieves the partys success on November 26 came down to several factors: the preselection of good, strong, local candidates; its brand as a team of MPs who fight for regional Victoria; and MPs who talk about the issues that matter in their local communities. Loading She also says her research showed a strong anti-Daniel Andrews sentiment in regional Victoria. It became clear to voters that some of these independents were essentially in Dan Andrews pocket based on their voting records, White told The Age. Unlike the Liberal Party, the Nationals start with an advantage: they dont have a women problem the way the Liberals do, according to Resolve Strategic director Jim Reed, with women just as likely as men to vote for the junior Coalition partner. And while they need to be mindful of their ageing base, Reed says, they are not in immediate danger like the Liberal Party because regional areas tend to skew much older. Part of [the Nationals] success lies in the natural need for Nationals MPs to be quasi-independent, representing the unique interests of large swatches of [the] country. This shows how the Liberals might defend against teal independents in inner-city seats, Reed says. Harris acknowledges that it is simpler for the Nationals to run hyper-local campaigns. They were able to run a campaign in Mildura that entirely focused on healthcare, while running a separate parallel campaign in Morwell that focused on jobs and the shutdown of the power and timber industries. Former Shepparton MP Suzanna Sheed said her victory in 2014 and 2018 had proved the Shepparton was no longer a National Party stronghold and could be won in the future by another independent. Credit: Jason South Monash University senior politics lecturer Dr Zareh Ghazarian said the Nationals, although conservative, tended to be less ideological and more pragmatic about issues. Theyre able to present a much more united front ... but I think the strength of the performance of the Nats this time around was that they were able to get seats off independents, which is quite hard. Once an independent wins a seat, its really hard for an established party to reclaim that seat, Ghazarian says. The Nationals purport to represent regional Victoria, but they dont. Suzanna Sheed, ex-Shepparton independent MP Ali Cupper, the former first-term independent MP for Mildura, declined to be interviewed but in a Facebook post last month said she and her team had done remarkably well against massive political headwinds, including a pandemic, angry opponents, and a million-dollar-plus big-party war chest. Former Shepparton MP Suzanna Sheed, who was first elected in 2014, said she would not run at the next election, but her two-term victory had shown an independent could break the Nationals stronghold in the regional city. The anti-Francis constellation should not be underestimated. While they represent a minority of Catholics, they are well organised, backed by serious money and have a strong social media presence. A key figure here is Steve Bannon, former chairman of the far-right Breitbart News, one-time Trump adviser and founder of the Academy for the Judeo-Christian West in a disused monastery south of Rome. Bannons academy was supposed to be a gladiator school for conservative politicians and culture warriors, but he and his associates have since been evicted. Cardinal Robert Sarah. Credit: AP Ironically, then, it is a cardinal from the global South who is seen as the front-runner for this faction: 77-year-old Robert Sarah, from Guinea. Appointed Archbishop of Conakry in 1979, he showed courage and national leadership in opposing the Marxist dictator Ahmed Sekou Toure, who imposed one-party rule in Guinea and ruthlessly killed his opponents. Sarah moved to the Vatican in 2001 and has become one of Francis most effective opponents. Deeply spiritual, he is a somewhat humourless ascetic who is very uncomfortable with women and extremely conservative theologically. He claims that Western homosexual and abortion ideologies and Islamic fundamentalism [are] almost like two apocalyptic beasts, similar to Nazism and Communism. Another possible candidate for the anti-Francis faction is Hungarian Peter Erdo, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, aged 70. Like John Paul II, his early ministry occurred under Communism. He is a canon lawyer who has served two terms as president of the Council of European Bishops Conferences. But his ambiguous relationship with the authoritarian, right-wing Hungarian government of Viktor Orban has raised questions about his leadership style and while he is highly intelligent, he is very Euro-centric and theologically conservative. What will happen when Francis goes? The two to three-week interregnum before the conclave begins will be decisive. Many cardinals, especially peripherals, wont know each other, so theyll spend time getting acquainted and discussing the kind of pope they want. Cardinal Peter Erdo celebrates Christmas Mass in Esztergom, Hungary, in 2020. Credit: AP Theyll do this through the daily general congregations, formal meetings for speeches and discussions, and informally through sounding each other out. Conversations will occur in language groups, or at embassy cocktail parties, or discussions in religious houses and national colleges. Who will emerge from this process? There is a feeling abroad that the peripheral cardinals might favour an Italian, someone like Matteo Zuppi, the 67-year-old Archbishop of Bologna. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi at a press conference in Rome in May. Credit: AP Born in Rome, he has a doctorate in history from La Sapienza University. He worked for 30 years in Roman parishes and is a member of the SantEgidio Community, an association of lay Catholics who work in interreligious dialogue, peace activism and support for the poor and immigrants and whose logo features a rainbow and Noahs dove. Zuppi is very much in the Francis who am I to judge? tradition. He also comes with a broad historical perspective. He says that weve reached the end of Christendom when the church was dominant, but that doesnt mean the end of the Gospel or of Christianity. He says Catholicism has to talk to everyone and start again. The Gospel, he says, should not be reduced to morals. Zuppi played a key role in the SantEgidio Communitys work helping to end the civil war in Mozambique in 1992, and he is now an honorary citizen of that country. Another Italian often mentioned is Pietro Parolin, the Vaticans Secretary of State, aged 70. For the last 37 years he has worked in the Vaticans diplomatic service, including a difficult period as nuncio (papal representative) in Venezuela. While identified with Francis program, he has hardly any pastoral experience and has never run a diocese. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vaticans Secretary of State, speaks at the UNs climate summit in Egypt in November. Credit: AP There has also been criticism of Parolins judgment in conceding too much to the Chinese government in negotiations over bishops appointments. One notable critic is Hong Kongs last British governor, Chris Patten, himself a Catholic. The Secretariat has also been involved in an expensive London property development scandal with a loss of some 200 million ($310 million). London: The feud between Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and her sister-in-law Catherine, Princess of Wales, has captivated royal watchers and the tabloids for years. But the moment that started it all came when the former Hollywood star told the future queen she must have baby brain because of her hormones, according to early reports of Prince Harrys new memoir, Spare. Harry details the origin of the row between the two women in his memoir, which was available for sale in Spain five days before its official release despite security measures meant to rival the protection given JK Rowlings blockbuster Harry Potter manuscripts. Harry, Meghan and Catherine. Credit: Getty Catherine is said to have asked Meghan for an apology, telling her soon-to-be sister-in-law that she didnt know her well enough to talk to her about her hormones in that way. Catherine gave birth to Prince Louis a month before Harry and Meghan married at Windsor Castle. In his rational mind, Prince Harry knew an attempt to invoke the spirit of his dead mother through a medium could involve, in his words, a high chance of humbuggery. But he so desperately wanted to be close to her. The minute we sat down together, the Duke of Sussex wrote of his meeting with the unnamed conduit, I felt an energy around her. The woman told him his mother felt his confusion and was with him right now. Diana, she said, knew her son was looking for clarity. Youre living the life she couldnt, youre living the life she wanted for you. For a brief moment, Harry felt validated and comforted by the mother he has mourned since he was 12. Childhood trauma has a long tail. Psychologists know more about its profound, lasting impacts than they did in 1997, when Diana died in a violent car crash in a Paris tunnel, and 2 billion people watched her sons walk behind her coffin. Harry faced other traumas, too, in his gilded cage. His parents bitter divorce, played out in the public eye; a life of media scrutiny; and an eccentric, hierarchical family, with a sibling who would always take precedence and who Harry both loved and considered an arch nemesis. That trauma has stayed with him, says Juliet Rieden, the author of Royals in Australia. We know this is common for anyone whos had a traumatic childhood. We are seeing that now, and its difficult to watch. It is playing out now in a very public way. Mexico City: Nineteen suspected gang members and 10 military personnel were killed in a wave of violence surrounding the arrest of Mexican drug cartel boss Ovidio Guzman in the northern state of Sinaloa, Defence Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval said. Mexican security forces captured Guzman, the 32-year-old son of jailed kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, in the early hours of Thursday morning (Mexico time), prompting hours of unrest and shootouts with gang members, the minister said. The Mexican government was previously forced to hand over Ovidio Guzman Lopez, a son of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. Credit: AP Guzman was extracted by helicopter from the house where he was caught and flown to Mexico City, before being taken to a maximum security federal prison, Sandoval added. The arrest spurred the powerful Sinaloa Cartel once headed by El Chapo himself to go on a rampage, setting vehicles on fire, blocking roads, and fighting security forces in and around Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa. By Nupur Anand and Munsif Vengattil MUMBAI (Reuters) - Loss-making Indian telecom operator Vodafone Idea has sought at least 70 billion rupees ($846 million) in emergency funds from local banks, which are however reluctant to extend fresh loans, four sources familiar with the matter said. The company needs the funds to remain in business. But the lenders will wait for either a capital increase by its main shareholders - UK-based Vodafone Group and local investor Aditya Birla Group - or a debt-to-equity conversion by the government before granting the debt-laden operator more funding, the sources told Reuters. "Without that (capital injection) it looks difficult for the company to ...survive," said one top official at a state-owned bank. Mumbai newspaper Financial Express reported in November that the carrier needed to raise about $3 billion in all to avert an immediate financial crunch - with any government rescue package coming on top of that. Vodafone Idea is awaiting a final nod on a government package that would allow it to convert interest of $1.95 billion on deferred adjusted gross revenue owed to the government into equity. Also Read Banks unwilling to extend new credit to Voda Idea without promoter funding MPC after-effect: SBI, ICICI Bank, YES Bank, BoI raise lending rates Vodafone Idea zooms 9% on heavy volumes, hits highest level since May Vodafone Idea's fundraising put on hold as govt delays equity call Vodafone Idea's chief financial officer Akshaya Moondra named CEO Telecom service providers against administrative allocation of 6G bands Amazon plans to lay off around 1,000 employees in India: Report Zydus Lifesciences launches generic anti-epilepsy drug in US market Oil firms making Rs 10 a litre profit on petrol, Rs 6.5 loss on diesel Q3 results preview: Strong tender activity to aid capital goods firms According to its latest earnings enclosure, the carrier had total gross debt of $26.6 billion at end-September. Vodafone Idea, the telecom ministry, and State Bank of India - the country's largest lender which the company has approached for financing - did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday that conversion of equity alone would not solve the company's financial problems, and it needed a capital injection from multiple sources. A second senior source at a state-owned lender said the carrier was caught in "a bit of a catch-22 situation." A third banking source said it was not yet in default on its bank loans. The government wanted its shareholders to bring in cash first, for which they had approached the banks, "whereas we would first like the government to convert their debt into equity," the second source added. A feasibility study shared by Vodafone Idea with its bankers suggested the business might need a radical restructuring in order to survive, several of the sources said. As the carrier was systemically important, "banks will need to have a joint consultation as a consortium, and also with all the stakeholders including the government before a final call on granting the loan can be taken," the first source added. An equity conversion by the government would be expected to raise its stake in the company to beyond 30%. ($1 = 82.7330 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Nupur Anand in Mumbai and Munsif Vengattil in New Delhi; Additional reporting by Ira Dugal; editing by John Stonestreet) India was not even among the top 10 markets for Skoda Auto in 2021. "The year 2022 was the biggest for Skoda Auto in India. We have achieved 53,721 units' sales in 2022, which were more than twice the unit sales in the previous year," Solc said during a virtual press conference. With Skoda Auto's unit sales in India jumping by 125 per cent to 53,721 units in 2022, the country has become the third largest market for the Czech automobile company, its brand director Petr Solc said on Friday. He said India was not very far away from the Czech Republic in 2022 in terms of unit sales. "If we (India) continue to grow, we may make it happen (getting number two position)," he added. "We (in India) have managed to be in the top three markets for Skoda Auto globally. India is the biggest market for Skoda Auto out of Europe," he noted. In 2022, Germany and the Czech Republic were the No.1 and No.2 markets for Skoda Auto. In 2021, the top 10 markets for Skoda Auto were Germany, Russia, Czech Republic, China, the UK, Poland, France, Italy, Turkey and Spain. "All the markets in Europe were in decline in 2022. There are very few markets where Skoda Auto reached an all-time high, because of the trouble with semiconductor chip supply," Solc noted. Also Read Want to be profitable irrespective of the numbers: Skoda Auto Volkswagen MD FAME-II: Subsidies to Hero Electric, Okinawa halted for non-compliance Centre freezes subsidy of EV makers for violating PMP norms under FAME-II Central government to introduce 7-8 PLI schemes in next Budget: Report Govt working on PLI schemes for more products to boost manufacturing: Goyal A growth glitch for Freshworks amid stalling economy, class action suit Amazon India to lay off around 1,000 staff as part of mass retrenchment Reliance Jio rolls out 5G services in Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ludhiana, Siliguri Mercedes-Benz to drive 10 new models into India in 2023: MD & CEO Banks reluctant to fund loss-making Vodafone Idea before capital hike "In 2023, for Slavia and Kushaq, we have got very good momentum and we would like to further make sure that these cars are well established in the Indian market," he mentioned. He said the company has taken a conscious decision to not take part at the auto expo in Delhi that begins on January 11. "We want to choose the right moment to disclose them (new models)," he added. He said the company aims to launch its first electric vehicle Enyaq in India in the next fiscal year. "Enyaq is the first electric model in Skoda's global range. Skoda is ready to export the cars. We (India) would like to be the next market where Skoda will bring Enyaq," he said, adding that Enyaq is already being tested in India. Skoda Auto had never had such a wide product range as it has right now in India, he noted. "After the successful introduction of Kushaq in 2021, we launched Slavia in the first quarter of 2022," he added. Skoda Auto also sells Kodiaq, Octavia and Superb in India. The German carmaker recorded its highest sales in India in 2022 at 15,822 units, clocking 41 per cent growth over 2021. When one goes a bit deeper into 2022 volumes, the fastest growth has come from top-end vehicles (which are priced more than Rs 1 crore) and they have shown growth of 69 per cent, Iyer told Business Standard in an interview. Mercedes-Benz India will launch 10 car models in 2023 and a majority of them would be in the top-end category, said Santosh Iyer, managing director and chief executive officer, on Friday. Iyer said 22 per cent of the companys sales come from these top-end vehicles. Before the Covid pandemic, in 2018, the share of such cars in Mercedes-Benz Indias sales was 12 per cent. So, thats again a very good mix, which shows that a real luxury customer prefers Mercedes-Benz over any other brands assets, he mentioned. The company on Friday launched this year's first top-end vehicle: Convertible AMG E53 Cabriolet 4MATIC+, which is priced at Rs 1.30 crore (ex-showroom) and can accelerate to 100 km/hour in 4.5 seconds. Mercedes-Benz has achieved its best-ever sales in India in the last 28 years of its presence here, he mentioned. Despite the headwinds the carmaker had in terms of supply shortages, the company not only sold many cars but it also has a huge order book of about 6,000 units leading to a waiting period of up to nine months, Iyer said. With this size of the order book, he noted, the company is looking at double-digit growth in 2023. We will be launching 10 new products in 2023. The majority of them will be in the top-end vehicle segment, he mentioned. Iyer did not clarify how many of these 10 products would be electric vehicles (EVs). He said the company aims to have about 33 per cent of its total unit sales from these top-end cars in the next 2-3 years. Also Read Mercedes-Benz India on road to best-ever sales: MD & CEO Martin Schwenk Merc's new EQS stays focused on luxury and comfort, EV or not Mercedes-Benz in top gear, sees the highest ever June quarter sales Santosh Iyer to lead Mercedes in India as Martin Shwenk moves to Thailand Macro issues not impacting demand: Mercedes India CEO Martin Schwenk Banks reluctant to fund loss-making Vodafone Idea before capital hike Telecom service providers against administrative allocation of 6G bands Amazon plans to lay off around 1,000 employees in India: Report Zydus Lifesciences launches generic anti-epilepsy drug in US market Oil firms making Rs 10 a litre profit on petrol, Rs 6.5 loss on diesel Since we have a long waiting period, they (customers) will be able to see cars for the next one year which are going to be produced and block (book) them. So, if there is a wedding or a birthday in October, they can already check its availability in that month and block it, Iyer explained. Iyer said that the company received about 2,000 online orders for its cars in 2022. Before Covid-19, the company was selling about 1,000 cars per year through its online store. Mercedes-Benz will enhance the customer journey in the online space, Iyer said. So far, the customers were able to see cars that will be produced in the next three-month period. Therefore, we are trying to make the journey simple. So, a customer can log on and give details of his current used car online and he will get an indicative price of the car immediately. Then, they can select a franchise partner and they can then decide whether to trade in with the partner or not, Iyer said. Via its online store, the company is also trying to boost its used car business. Mercedes-Benz India sells 3,000-4,000 used cars per year. We saw 20 per cent growth in the used car business last year, Iyer mentioned. Iyer said the company launched EQC, its first EV, in India about two years back but the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. So, when (electric) cars were there, we had Covid-19. Then, we sold the cars and then there was a huge waiting period and we couldn't supply the (electric) car, he mentioned. Mercedes-Benz India is also coming with an artificial intelligence-powered evaluation app for this purpose, he added. There are more than 170,000 Mercedes-Benz cars parked in India so moving forward, the company expects double-digit growth in its business, Iyer noted. Mercedes-Benz is the market leader in the luxury car market of India with about 44 per cent share. Around 38,000 units were sold in the luxury car segment in India. The other two electric cars -- EQS and EQB -- were launched between October and December last year. Both cars have a waiting period of three-four months, he said. Therefore, our projection is that EV sales would be around 25 per cent of our total sales in three years, he mentioned. The lenders have, however, sought clarity from the telco on the government's potential shareholding and its plans to infuse capital in Vi. The bulk of the loans will be used to pay a part of its dues to Indus Towers. Vodafone Idea (Vi) has reportedly approached several banks to get loans adding up to Rs 7,000 crore, a report in the Economic Times (ET) said on Friday. The State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, HDFC Bank and IDFC First Bank are among the banks that the telco has approached. "Yes, Vi has approached us for a loan, but we haven't committed anything to them; it's at a logjam," a senior official at a bank told ET. Another banker said that Vi has asked them to factor in Rs 15,000 crore in bank guarantees and grant fresh loans, the report added. Vi has dues of Rs 7,500 crore that it needs to pay to Indus Towers. The company has committed to the tower company that it would pay 100 per cent of the dues from January onwards. Indus Towers has warned Vi that if the company fails to clear its dues, it would lose its access to tower sites. "Vi could face stern action from Indus if it fails to meet the latest payment timelines, starting from January...if it does not pay up on time, things could escalate and stronger measures to recover its dues may be discussed at Indus' next board meeting later this month," a person familiar of the matter told ET. Another official was quoted in the report as saying that a loan cannot be given to a company "that has a negative net worth". As of September 2022, Vi's negative net worth stood at Rs 75,830 crore. Also Read Vi to lose access to towers if it fails to clear dues, says Indus Towers 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 Here's why IDFC, IDFC First Bank shares jumped up to 5% on Wednesday Indus Towers revises report, drops para on govt stake in Vodafone Idea Now connect to WhatsApp by choosing proxy server if denied the right AI confirms incident of passenger urinating on co-passenger's seat, blanket Housing sales momentum likely to sustain in 2023, says JLL India Srei's CoC to take cognizance of the valuation report on Friday Google India to mentor 1 mn Indian women entrepreneurs: Antony Blinken Apart from Indus Towers, the company also needs urgent funds to pay Nokia and Ericsson. It also needs funds for the rollout of 5G services and expanding its 4G coverage to arrest the fall in customer base. Zydus Lifesciences on Friday said it has launched generic epilepsy treatment medication in the US market. Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc, a unit of the company, has launched Topiramate extended-release capsules in the American market. The company had earlier received final approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market the product in strengths of USP 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg, Zydus Lifesciences said in a statement. Zydus is the first company to receive final approval and launch the medication in the above mentioned strengths, it added. Topiramate extended-release capsules are indicated for epilepsy: initial monotherapy in patients who are six years of age and older with partial onset or primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. It is also indicated for prophylaxis of migraine in patients 12 years of age and older. Also Read Drug makers Glenmark, Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy's recall products in US Zydus Lifesciences Q2 net profit down 82.6% to Rs 523 cr on rising costs Zydus Lifesciences US arm gets tentative USFDA nod for Sugammadex injection Zydus gets USFDA approval to market generic antifungal medication Zydus gets establishment inspection report from USFDA for Moraiya plant Oil firms making Rs 10 a litre profit on petrol, Rs 6.5 loss on diesel Q3 results preview: Strong tender activity to aid capital goods firms Sobha Q3 sales bookings up 36% to Rs 1,425 cr on strong revival in demand Dabur India expects low to mid single-digit revenue growth in Q3 Signature Global sells housing properties worth Rs 1,330 cr in Apr-Sep FY23 As per IQVIA data, Topiramate extended-release capsule had annual sales of USD 488 million in the US. The man who allegedly urinated on a female co-passenger on an Air India flight in November had apologised to the victim and begged her to not lodge a complaint, saying he did not wish his wife and child to be affected by the incident. Delhi Police on Wednesday registered an FIR against the accused based on the victim's complaint to Air India. The victim alleged that despite her willingness, she was forced to confront the accused and negotiate with him, further disorientating her, according to the FIR. Shortly after lunch was served and the lights were switched off on board AI 102 of November 26, the inebriated male passenger seated in Business Class seat 8A walked to the elderly woman's seat, unzipped his pants and urinated on her, the FIR stated. He kept standing there until the person sitting next to the woman told him to go back, at which point he staggered back to his seat. "I immediately got up to notify the stewardess of what had happened. My clothes, shoes and bag were soaked in urine. The bag contained my passport, travel documents and currency. The flight staff refused to touch them, sprayed my bag and shoes with disinfectant, and took me to the bathroom and gave me a set of airline pyjamas and socks. Also Read Running airline in JV a challenge, says Air India CEO Campbell Wilson Air India to get fresh brand identity: CEO Campbell Wilson tells staff MHA gives security clearance to Air India CEO-designate Campbell Wilson Air India leases 12 more aircraft to enhance international operations Air India close to finalise deal of 50 Boeing 737 MAX planes for AI Express Air India CEO tells staff to report any improper behaviour on aircraft Delhi reels under cold wave, dense fog; temp plunges to 1.8 degrees Celsius Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes second phase of Haryana leg from Sanoli-Panipat Govt to release first advance economic growth estimates for FY23 today Andhra govt inviting Musk, Tim Cook, Bezos for Investors Summit in Vizag "I asked the staff for a change of seat but was told that no other seats were available. However, another business class passenger who had witnessed my plight and was advocating for me pointed out that there were seats available in first class," the victim was quoted as saying in the FIR. After standing for 20 minutes, the victim was offered a small seat used by airline staff where she sat for about two hours. She was then asked to return to her own seat. When she refused, the victim was offered the steward's seat for the rest of the journey, the FIR stated. Later, the flight staff informed the victim that the offender wanted to apologise to her. In response, she said that she did not wish to interact with him or see his face and wanted him to be arrested on arrival. "...However, the crew brought the offender before me against my wishes and we were made to sit opposite each other in the crew seats. I was stunned when he started crying and profusely apologising to me, begging me not to lodge a complaint against him because he is a family man and did not want his wife and child to be affected by this incident. "In my already distraught state, I was further disoriented by being made to confront and negotiate with the perpetrator of the horrific incident in close quarters," the FIR stated. A lookout circular has been issued against the accused to prevent him from fleeing the country, the police said, adding that efforts were being taken to nab him. Based on the victim's complaint, a case was registered under 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) of the Indian Penal Code as well as under Aircraft Rules. Air India on Wednesday had said it had imposed a 30-day flying ban on the accused passenger and set up an internal panel to probe whether there were lapses on part of the crew in addressing the situation. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, in an internal communication to employees, told airline staff to report any improper behaviour on aircraft to authorities at the earliest even if the matter appeared to have been settled. Shankar Mishra, the man accused of urinating on an elderly female co-passenger onboard a New York-New Delhi flight in November last year, has been sacked by his employer Wells Fargo, an American multinational financial services company with corporate headquarters in San Francisco. Mishra worked as the Vice President of the India chapter of the US-based firm. "Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards of professional and personal behaviour and we find these allegations deeply disturbing. This individual has been terminated from Wells Fargo. We are cooperating with the law enforcement agencies and ask that any additional inquiries be directed to them," the company said in a statement issued on Friday. Meanwhile, two teams of Delhi Police are on the lookout for Mishra, who is continuously changing his location to evade arrest. Delhi Police police teams have carried out raids in Mumbai and Bengaluru, where they questioned various persons, including the relatives of the accused. "The police went to Mishra's home in Mumbai, but he was not there. They have got clues and are trying to trace him," said a source. Delhi Police has booked Mishra under Sections 510 (misconduct in public by a drunken person), 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman), 294 (sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place), and 354 (intending to outrage modesty) of the Indian Penal Code as well as a section of the Aircraft Rules Act in a case registered at the IGI airport police station. Also Read Wells Fargo to pay $3.7 bn to settle charges of consumer law violations IIT Kanpur extends GATE 2023 registration deadline; check details here LIVE: Wells Fargo sacks man who urinated on woman on Air India flight World shares slide ahead of US' inflation data, earnings hurdles Asian stocks shuffle higher as Pelosi presses on amid tension with China Delhi's peak winter power demand rises to a record 5,526 MW amid cold wave Delhi excise scam: ED files supplementary charge sheet against 12 Uzbekistan arrests four people over cough syrup deaths in India India to deploy single largest platoon of women peacekeepers in Abyei Clinical trials of new BCG vaccine for TB to start soon: Former CSIR chief --IANS ssh/arm Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Microsoft Executive Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella are on the invitees list of the Andhra Pradesh government for its Global Investors Summit (GIS) to be held in Visakhapatnam on March 3 and 4. Fifteen Union Ministers, 15 Chief Ministers, 44 global industrialists, 53 Indian industry bigwigs and ambassadors of various countries are being invited for the two-day event on which the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government is betting big to attract large-scale investments into the state. Amazon Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos and Samsung Chairman and CEO Oh-Hyun Kwon are also on the invitees list for the summit to be held in the port city. Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Anand Mahindra, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Adi Godrej, Rishad Premji and N Chandrasekaran are some of the Indian giants being invited. In his message ahead of the event, the Chief Minister noted that the GIS was being hosted "with the goal of preparing for the future." He has extended an invitation to all concerned to attend the event and "work with us" to "see your business flourish." Soon after it assumed power in May 2019, the Jagan Mohan Reddy government had conducted a diplomatic outreach programme in Vijayawada seeking investments from different countries. Now the state government is seeking to showcase "Advantage Andhra Pradesh" in a big way through the GIS, proclaiming "abundance in every sphere" and a conducive business environment for investors. Also Read Nadella, Pichai, Narasimhan: Indian-origin CEOs at the helm of American cos 'Would be silly': Musk refutes claims of building private airport in Austin Elon Musk to speed up Twitter upload time, live video top priority How will Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter change the public square? Tesla CEO Elon Musk may build his own airport outside of Austin: Report PM to chair second National Conference of Chief Secretaries in Delhi today Cold wave: 25 die due to heart attack, brain stroke in a day in UP's Kanpur Cold wave in Rajasthan, Govt extends winter break in Baran till Jan 9 Adityanath says UP safe for investors, interacts with Bollywood in Mumbai Demand for power remains hot as chill sets in, touches record summer highs YSR Congress MP V Vijayasai Reddy said in a tweet, "In 2022, the AP State government cleared investment proposals worth Rs 1,26,750 crore, of which Rs 81,000 crore were towards green energy projects. 2023 will be bigger as we put all our strength behind the Global Investors Summit on March 3 and 4 in Vizag. AP is rising." Official sources said though a "specific target" has not been fixed for prospective investments, it was expected to garner "anywhere between Rs 5-8 lakh crore" into different sectors. "The summit will offer an all-inclusive platform to international and domestic investors, policy-makers, diplomats from various countries, country business delegations, influencers, industry associations and trade bodies to explore opportunities and enter into long-term partnerships," a top official of the Industries and Investment Department said. The event would have Business-to-Business (B2B) and Government-to-Business (G2B) meetings and sector-specific plenary sessions to exhibit opportunities for global leaders. "Our focus sectors are agri-food processing, aerospace and defence, automobile and electric vehicles, industrial and logistics infrastructure, petroleum and petrochemicals, electronics and Information Technology, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, MSMEs and tourism, among others," the official said. He said the state government has already unveiled sector-specific policies covering pumped storage power, bulk drug parks, retail parks, electric mobility, renewable energy export, electronics and IT, apart from the industrial development policy. The state government will conduct roadshows in Germany (January 20-26), Japan (Jan 25-27), South Korea (Jan 30-31) and USA (February 6-10) to propagate the Summit. Roadshows will be held in the UAE and Taiwan as well but the dates have not been fixed yet. In India, a roadshow of the Summit will be conducted in New Delhi from January 10-14 and in Mumbai on February 3. Dates for the event in Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad have not been finalised. He was addressing the gathering on the occasion of 76th Foundation Day of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in New Delhi. Portal for mapping of Industrial Units and Laboratories was launched on the occasion on Friday. This is a centralised platform for information on industrial units and laboratories across the country. This will enable analysis of test facilities in the country and help entrepreneurs in accessing information about testing facilities. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Friday said that we must recognise and accept the importance of quality to make India a developed nation. He further added that these countries were able to engage with the world from a position of strength and inculcate the spirit to have high quality products, goods, services, in turn leading to high quality of lifestyle for the people. If we look at the history of developed nations, we find that those countries who adopted Quality in early stages of their development cycles progressed faster, said Goyal. Through standard clubs in schools, BIS aims to expose science students of class 9th and above to the concepts of quality and standardisation through student centric activities. BIS has till date established over 4000 Standards Clubs across India. Besides the portal, Goyal also launched standards clubs in schools, Standards National Action Plan (SNAP) 2022-27, revised National Building Code of India (NBC 2016) and National Electrical Code of India 2023. Also Read Bureau of Indian Standards to engage e-commerce players for self-regulation BIS should help facilitate zero defect, zero effect policy: Piyush Goyal Goyal reviews ongoing FTAs; deliberates ways to fast track negotiations India opts out of joining IPEF trade pillar, to wait for final contours Quality standards for gig, shared economy players soon: top govt officials Report improper behaviour during flights promptly: Air India CEO to staff Air India 'pee-gate': Wells Fargo terminates accused Shankar Mishra Delhi's peak winter power demand rises to a record 5,526 MW amid cold wave Delhi excise scam: ED files supplementary charge sheet against 12 Uzbekistan arrests four people over cough syrup deaths in India SNAP (2022-27) effective implementation to strengthen quality culture. It will serve as a strong foundation for standardisation to meet the emerging technologies and concerns of sustainability and climate change. The standards authority has also set a target to create 10,000 clubs by the end of 2022-23. Through the National Building Code Sectional Committee, BIS is initiating the Exercise of Revision National Building Code of India to include sustainable city planning norms, new and sustainable building materials, design concepts, construction technologies and building and plumbing services. On Standards National Action Plan (SNAP) 2022 - 27, the Minister said, it lays down the roadmap on which we will all have to work to make quality a part of the very thinking and philosophy of every citizen in our country. Some of the important new Chapters added in the revised NEC are requirements related to Electrical installations at special locations like Hospitals, Community facilities, Hotels, Swimming Pools, Amusement Parks, Supplies for Electric vehicles, multi-storied buildings etc. With the launch of Revised National Electrical Code of India 2023, BIS aims to regulate the electrical Installations practices across the country. Indias first National Electrical Code was formulated in the year 1985, which was subsequently revised in the year 2011. "EV manufacturers had committed to the government that they would gradually increase the quantum of localisation in the vehicles they sell in the country," a senior official told ET. The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has already initiated the process to find out the quantum of subsidy claimed without meeting the localisation commitments. The Centre is planning to recover the subsidies wrongly claimed by electric vehicle (EV) makers in India, a report in the Economic Times (ET) said. The subsidies were availed of under the Rs 10,000 crore Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of EVs in India (Fame) scheme created by the Centre for promoting local manufacturing and adoption of transport that does not have tailpipe emissions. "The complaints were mainly related to the violation of Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP) guidelines under FAME India Scheme Phase-II," he said in response to a question. Under Fame, the EV makers can provide a discount of up to 40 per cent on the cost of a vehicle to the customer. That discount can then be claimed as a subsidy. In December, heavy industries minister Mahendra Nath Pandey told the Lok Sabha that the ministry had received complaints that some companies were not following rules. Fame-II was started on April 1, 2019. The sale of EVs under the scheme has jumped manifold throughout the years, the report said. As of December 9, 2022, a total of 443,000 EVs were sold in India in FY23. The official cited above said that the government would recover the wrongly claimed subsidy. Also Read Centre freezes subsidy of EV makers for violating PMP norms under FAME-II FAME-II: Subsidies to Hero Electric, Okinawa halted for non-compliance Delhi makes power subsidy optional: Know how to apply for it here Delhi govt offers power subsidy opt-out amid dwindling liquor revenue 2.5 million apply for power subsidy in Delhi; more expected in coming days US to send Ukraine dozens of Bradleys in $2.85 billion aid package Adityanath says UP safe for investors, interacts with Bollywood in Mumbai Ukrainian mining boss gets bail, declares wish to "fight Russians" Top headlines: Govt may go easy on capex in FY24, India-US trade dispute TMS Ep341: Auto exports, IPL valuation, car safety, green hydrogen In 2022, after the allegations of misuse by the companies came to light, MHI stopped subsidies to the companies that were in question. The IMD had issued a long-range monthly forecast that the temperatures will likely remain below normal over many parts of northwest India throughout January 2023. According to the current IMD forecasts, coldwave to severe coldwave conditions will continue to prevail over the Indo-Gangetic plains. The pleasant chill of December has turned into a severe cold wave with dense fog in parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. The cold wave conditions will likely continue over northwest India during the next two days, and the intensity will decrease after that. The dense fog has reduced visibility all over North India and disrupted air and rail traffic. In its January 5 forecast, the IMD predicted that "cold wave to severe cold wave conditions" will prevail in isolated pockets of northern parts of Rajasthan and cold wave conditions in isolated pockets over Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi during next 24 hours. On Thursday, Delhi recorded the minimum temperature at 2.8 degrees Celsius at Lodi Road. The IMD has said that the minimum temperature will likely stay consistently below 4 degrees Celcius till Saturday, December 7, in Delhi. "Light winds and high moisture near the surface over Indo-Gangetic plains, dense to very dense fog very likely to continue in some/many pockets during night/morning hours over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in next two days and dense fog thereafter; in isolated pockets over Uttarakhand and Rajasthan during next two days." the IMD said in its All India weather summary and forecast bulletin. Also Read What happened during the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union What is climate finance? At COP27, India supports early warning systems on climate impacts Energy colonialism, climate reparations: COP27 and key concepts to know What is the Mangrove Alliance for Climate? Bad weather hits operations in northern, central India; flights delayed Delhi, Bengaluru among 10 best-performing airports globally in 2022: Cirium Delhi's Kanjhawala horror: What we know so far in the hit-and-run case Blue and grey-collar job demand in India up four-fold in 2022: Report Centre bars tourists at Shri Sammed Shikharji in Jharkhand, amid protests What is a cold wave? However, today on January 6, a red warning prevails in Punjab's Moga district, while a red alert continues over most of North India. Due to these conditions, the IMD issued a red warning (meaning 'take action') over these regions on Wednesday and Thursday. The "red alert" has replaced the "red warning" today, January 6. According to IMD, when the minimum temperature dips below 10 degrees Celcius in the plains, the subsequent maximum temperature drops at least 4.5 degrees Celsius below normal. And a severe cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature dips to 2 degrees Celsius or the departure from normal is more than 6.4 degrees Celcius. What is the difference between a red alert and a red warning? The IMD has four categories to depict weather conditions on India's map. It uses red, orange, yellow, and green to show these climate conditions. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is in the process of undertaking a third party assessment of Startup India Seed Fund Scheme to see its impact on the ground, a senior government official said on Friday. The Rs 945-crore scheme was launched in 2021. It aims to provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry, and commercialization. The fund was divided into four years for providing seed funding to eligible startups through eligible incubators across India. Joint Secretary in DPIIT Shruti Singh said though the department has received "good" feedback from incubators and startups on the scheme, "we are still doing a third party assessment so that somebody on ground can go and see". Over 85,000 startups have been registered with DPIIT, she told reporters here. Startup India was launched by the government on January 16, 2016. Under Startup India, to provide capital at various stages of the business cycle of a startup, the government has implemented Fund of Funds and Startup India Seed Fund schemes. She also said that from the Rs 10,000 crore Fund of Funds scheme, about Rs 7,900 crore has been committed to the Alternate Investment Funds so far. Also Read Women's Entrepreneurship Day: 5 women who are breaking the glass ceiling Delhi HC stops Andhra company from using Kohinoor Seed Fields trademarks Foreign equity funds pile into Indian financials as credit cycle picks up How to select an equity fund? Every campus must become incubators for startups, promote innovation: Goyal SC seeks govt's response on petitions for recognising same-sex marriages Joshimath land subsidence: Admin launches rescue, rehabilitation ops Private trainer aircraft crashes into temple in MP's Rewa, pilot dead Cold conditions persist in Haryana, Punjab; Narnaul reels at 2.5 degrees C Air India accused apologised to victim, asked her not to complain: FIR The department would want to seek more funds from the finance ministry under the scheme once it is exhausted by 2025, she added. Similarly, from the Rs 945 crore Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, Rs 455.25 crore has been approved to 126 incubators of which Rs 186.15 crore has been disbursed as of November 30. Singh also said the MAARG portal will go live from January 16. Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience and Growth (MAARG) is a one stop platform to facilitate mentorship for startups across diverse sectors, functions, stages, geographies, and backgrounds. Further, DPIIT is celebrating January 10-16 as Startup India Innovation Week. Under this, a number of seminars and workshops will be organised in different parts of the country to further strengthen the startup ecosystem. "Startup India Innovation Week 2023 aims to engage startup ecosystem stakeholders across the nation during January 10-16 and spur the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation in India," she added. New Delhi, Jan 6: France's visiting presidential adviser Emmanuel Bonne and India's National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, have exchanged notes on a long list of topics, including ways to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, India-China border standoff and transfer of state-of-the-art military technology under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' route. Bonne also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who invited French President Emmanuel Macron to visit India. 'Had a fruitful meeting with Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor to President Macron, covering a wide range of issues from Defence and security to culture. Glad that our strategic partnership is further deepening. Conveyed invitation to my friend @EmmanuelMacron to visit India,' PM Modi tweeted. Ahead of the strategic dialogue, the Hindustan Times reported that manufacture of aero-engines, using the assembly line to manufacture Kalvari class submarines at the Mazagon Docks for retrofitting existing subs so that they have longer endurance was part of the agenda of the dialogue. Also Read Terrorist networks in Afghanistan a matter of concern: NSA Ajit Doval NSA Ajit Doval, Russian counterpart discuss security cooperation in Moscow Financial support is 'lifeblood' of terrorism, says NSA Ajit Doval Priority should be given to countering terror financing: NSA Ajit Doval Owaisi targets NSA Doval, asks who are 'some elements' spreading bigotry Delhi: MCD House adjourned without mayor election amid AAP's protest DPIIT to undertake third party assessment of Startup India Seed Fund Scheme SC seeks govt's response on petitions for recognising same-sex marriages Joshimath land subsidence: Admin launches rescue, rehabilitation ops Private trainer aircraft crashes into temple in MP's Rewa, pilot dead The Kalvari class submarine is an adaptation of the French Scorpene subs. Indian naval planners now want to add Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) to the existing subs so that they can remain underwater for a much longer time to avoid destruction when they surface for refuelling. Eventually the Indian Navy plans to have a mixed fleet of SSNs, SSBNs and AIP-enabled platforms, which together can deter Pakistani and Chinese inroads into the Indian Ocean Region. SSNs are powered by nuclear engines but do not fire nuclear tipped ballistic missiles whereas the SSBNs, of the Arihant class are nuclear submarines that also board missiles with atomic warheads. With support from France, India wants to convert all the Kalvari class submarines into the AIP mode. In the aviation sector, India is looking not only for 100 per transfer of technology for making aircraft engines to power its indigenous twin engine fighter but also designing and development of next-generation high powered military and civilian engines for future fighter and transport platforms, the HT report said. It added that the Tata group has tied up with Airbus to manufacture C295 tactical transport aircraft in Vadodara in Gujarat. This line will expand to manufacture other civilian and military aircraft in a joint venture mode with France. At a strategic level, India, France and the United Arab Emirates are partnering with each other for greater awareness of the maritime domain starting from the east African coastline of the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. France is an established Indo-Pacific power with military bases at La Riunion and Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, apart from New Caledonia and French Polynesia in the Pacific. Since the time of Charles de Gaulle, France has regarded itself as a 'third pole' of the international system and was only a late entrant into NATO. The undercurrent of an independent foreign policy in Paris docks well with India's doctrine of strategic autonomy that allows New Delhi to engage with all powers in the east and the west without becoming an alliance partner with any. An official statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs said that during the Strategic Dialogue and the meetings, India and France reiterated their commitment to take forward their strategic partnership to ensure peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific based on common beliefs in rules-based international order and strategic autonomy. The statement added that two sides discussed the global security environment, expanding the scope of defence cooperation to include co-development of futuristic technologies in line with India's priorities of 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. The agenda included discussions on the situation in Afghanistan, Africa, South East Asia, Eurasia; Third Country Cooperation; cooperation in the lndo-Pacific, nuclear energy, space and cyber domains. Both sides also agreed to strengthen bilateral defence and security cooperation, including in the South West Indian Ocean Region and the Indo-Pacific and pursuit of new initiatives in critical and emerging technologies. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Also Read India pushes for settlement of international trade in rupee with Sudan JK Paper surges 10% on robust Q1; West Coast, Andhra Paper rally up to 16% IND vs SA 1st T20I highlights: Arshdeep, Surya shine in India's 8-wkt win Diversity in India Inc: Women got only 21 out of every 100 new jobs in FY22 India is catching up but the road is still long, say women leaders Clinical trials of new BCG vaccine for TB to start soon: Former CSIR chief If you can't respect verdict, then why elections: Sisodia slams BJP Maharashtra has more than 92 mn voters, special summary revision shows Centre must improve tele-density; 5G should not be publicity stunt: BJD With the land subsidence continuing at the Joshimath town of Uttarakhand, the district administration has launched relief and rescue operations in the area. Garhwal Commissioner of Police Sushil Kumar said that he visited the affected areas last night. "I will visit the affected areas today also after meeting with the affected people along with the Disaster Management Secretary," he added. The tourists have been banned from staying in the hotels damaged by land subsidence and the operation of the ropeway going from Joshimath to Auli has also been stopped in a view of public safety. Notably, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday said he would hold a high-level meeting in Dehradun this evening. "I will hold a high-level meeting with top officials in Dehradun this evening regarding landslides in Joshimath and cracks in houses," Uttarakhand CM said while talking to ANI. Also Read Uttarakhand: CM Dhami to visit sinking Joshimath, promises necessary action Kejriwal inaugurates four Mahila Mohalla Clinics exclusively for women Winter sets in as higher reaches of Uttarakhand receive heavy snowfall Covid complications more likely in children with primary immunodeficiency Biden tells Democrats he wants South Carolina as 1st voting state: Report Private trainer aircraft crashes into temple in MP's Rewa, pilot dead Cold conditions persist in Haryana, Punjab; Narnaul reels at 2.5 degrees C Air India accused apologised to victim, asked her not to complain: FIR Air India CEO tells staff to report any improper behaviour on aircraft Delhi reels under cold wave, dense fog; temp plunges to 1.8 degrees Celsius Apart from the officials of the Disaster, Irrigation, Home Department, Commissioner Garhwal Mandal and District Magistrate Chamoli will also participate in the meeting. Dhami further said that he would visit Joshimath on Saturday and take stock of the situation. Residents of Joshimath, a sacred town in Uttarakhand, have become alarmed after noticing fissures in the town's houses and roadways and have been evacuated and shifted to night shelters of the municipality by the administration. The affected people, their families, and children are currently living in night shelters, officials said. The locals said that the people affected by the landslide, have been assured by the government that they will get pre-fabricated houses. However, they are worried about when the houses will be allotted to them. Cracks have reportedly developed in as many as 561 houses in Joshimath as a result of continued land subsidence in the town, stated the District Disaster Management Department. Following the appearance of cracks in the houses, a total of 66 families are reported to have migrated from Joshimath as of now. According to an official statement, engineers from the Geological Survey of India, Wadia Institute, and IIT Roorkee have been included in the team formed on the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Latest LIVE: The National Statistical Office will release the first advance estimates of economic growth for 2022-23 on Friday evening, three weeks ahead of presentation of General Budget in Lok Sabha on February 1. The first advance estimates of national income for 2022-23 is significant because the data is used for preparing the Budget of the central government for next financial year of 2023-24. ...Read More The CBI has filed a new case against Unitech Limited and its former directors in connection with an alleged fraud in the IDBI bank involving an amount of Rs 395 crore, officials said. Nearly six months after a complaint from the bank, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked the company and its former promoters and directors Ramesh Chandra, Ajay Chandra and Sanjay Chandra under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections dealing with criminal conspiracy and cheating and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the officials said. The accused Unitech founders are facing another CBI probe pertaining to an alleged fraud in the Canara Bank. The company was allegedly enjoying a vendor bill discounting (VBD) facility, a kind of credit, of Rs 400 crore from the IDBI bank in 2012, the officials said. "Due to slowdown in real estate sector and pile up of inventory, the company was facing liquidity mismatch, and the payment of VBD bills was delayed," the complaint, now a part of the FIR, said. The company agreed to pay for the liability and sought a rupee term loan of Rs 395 crore, taking over the liability of VBD, the officials said. Also Read RBI to set up fraud registry to check banking frauds: Executive Director CBI registers two separate cases in connection to Rs 2100 cr bank fraud Elon Musk's alarm over Twitter bots takes the lid off advertising frauds How can you protect your bank account from cyber attacks? CBI arrests Videocon Group founder Venugopal Dhoot in ICICI loan fraud case Delhi hit-and-drag case: Sixth accused sent to three-day police custody Punjab to install solar panels in all state govt buildings, says minister Central Vista: CPWD floats new tender, cuts down project cost by Rs 225 cr GM-free India alleges regulatory lapses in nod granted to DMH-11 mustard India, France hold talks on Ukraine war, expanding military partnership According to the complaint, the exposure of the IDBI bank on Unitech was Rs 974.78 crore as on June 30, 2022. It said a Supreme Court-directed forensic audit of the company conducted by Grant Thornton showed that the funds received from home-buyers in 74 projects were siphoned off and diverted to offshore tax havens. The transactions were undisclosed, and disclosed related entities were found in the audit, which prompted the apex court to suspend the existing board of Unitech Limited, the complaint said. Another forensic audit by the IDBI bank for the 2015-2018 period concluded that the borrower company had committed fraud, diversion and misappropriation of funds. The bank asked the CBI to lodge a "suitable case" under the appropriate sections of law for perpetrating a fraud on it to the tune of Rs 395 crore, the officials said. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi who was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here on Wednesday with a viral infection is stable and is recovering well, doctors attending on her said on Friday. "Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson UPA, who is admitted at the hospital for a viral respiratory infection is stable and is making a gradual recovery," said a statement from the hospital. The 76-year-old Congress leader was accompanied by her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra when she was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday. Trade dispute: India likely to propose out-of-court settlement to US India may propose an out-of-court settlement to the United States (US) in a case relating to the provision of export subsidies, which the World Trade Organizations (WTOs) dispute panel said violated its rules. Budget 2023-24: Govt may go easy on capital expenditure growth in FY24 India may take up the matter on the sidelines of the India-US Trade Policy Forum (TPF) in Washington on January 11, a person aware of the matter told Business Standard. Read more... For this fiscal year (FY23), the 2022 Union Budget had targeted a capex outlay of Rs 7.5 trillion, which is 35.4 per cent higher than the FY22 Budget Estimate (BE) of Rs 5.54 trillion. And that, in turn, is higher than the FY21 BE of Rs 4.12 trillion by 34.5 per cent. Read more... The Central government may not expand its capital expenditure (capex) for the next fiscal year (FY24) to as large a degree as the increase in the previous two Budgets in the belief that private-sector capex is recovering strongly. Also Read IPL 2023: Updated squad list of all teams after the mini-auction in Kochi IDBI Bank net profit jumps 46% to Rs 828.09 crore in Sept quarter Govt asks Sebi to ease public shareholding norms for IDBI Bank: Report IDBI Bank's Q1 net rises 25% to Rs 756 cr as provisions, contingencies dip Central government to begin Budget 2023-24 preparations from October 10 TMS Ep341: Auto exports, IPL valuation, car safety, green hydrogen As Covid-19 infections surge in China, US begins testing more travellers Russia Prez Putin orders 36-hour holiday weekend cease-fire in Ukraine Census to be further delayed, postponed till Sept 30, say officials Geologists should do surveys in parts of Uttarakhand: Ramesh Pokhriyal TCS pushes the pedal to get self-driving cars on road with new algorithms Tata Consultancy Services has trained and tested its cloud-based self-driving vehicle platform using over 300,000 kilometres of real-time vehicle data across different geographies to help OEMs power their next-generation vehicles onto roads. Sebi nod to reclassify govt holding in IDBI Bank as 'public' after sale The geographies included the US, Japan, and Europe, and India. The Tata group has numerous companies working in the technology space in electric vehicles as well as in the autonomous space. These include Tata Technologies (which works closely with Tata Motors) and Tata Elxsi, apart from TCS. TCS has been working with leading global OEMs in Japan, Europe and the US on autonomous and electric vehicles. In India, it is helping OEMs to launch their electric cars with autonomous features in the domestic market. Read more... This is subject to the condition that the governments voting rights in the bank will not exceed 15 per cent of the total voting rights after the sale. Also, the government must specify its intention to reclassify its shareholding in the bank as public holding in the letter of offer dispatched to the shareholders of the bank in connection with the open offer made by the acquirer. Read more... In a major dispensation, capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) acceded to the central governments request to reclassify its shareholding in IDBI Bank after its disinvestment as public holding, the lender told the stock exchanges on Thursday. 'Unprofessional': Aviation regulator slams Air India for urination incident Air India was unprofessional and devoid of empathy in dealing with the female passenger who was allegedly urinated upon by a male co-traveller on a New York-Delhi flight on November 26, the aviation regulator said on Thursday. Canada's merchandise exports decreased 2.3 per cent in November 2022, in large part because of a decline in exports of energy products, according to official figures. Statistics Canada said on Thursday that imports were down 2.1 per cent, partly on lower imports of consumer goods, reports Xinhua news agency. As a result, Canada's merchandise trade balance with the world went from a surplus of C$130 million ($104 million) in October to a deficit of C$41 million in November, it added. According to Statistics Canada, exports of energy products fell 4.7 per cent in November, a fifth consecutive monthly decline. Notable decreases were observed in several sub-categories. Coal led the way, down 24.3 per cent with lower exports to Asian countries. Following a 1.8 per cent decline in October, imports of consumer goods were down 5.7 per cent in November. Also Read Have India's exports hit a rough patch? Canada's inflation steady at 6.9% in Oct: National statistical agency Uttar Pradesh's merchandise exports surge 32% to Rs 60,578 crore Dip in demand from China, Italy may have hit India's merchandise exports Amid global headwinds, Indian exporters hope to tide over slowdown Ukraine under largest economic slump post-independence, war 'accountable' Ukraine's economy fell 30.4% in 2022, largest annual drop in 30 years Trade dispute: India likely to propose out-of-court settlement to US US provided nearly $60 mn to Pakistan for humanitarian assistance in 2022 Pakistan to seek over $16 bn for flood rehabilitation at UN conference As was the case in October, imports of pharmaceutical and medicinal products, down 11.5 per cent, decreased the most. In November, there was a decline in imports of drugs, notably for the treatment of Covid-19, as well as imports in the category "vaccines for human medicine other than for influenza", which includes vaccines, the national statistical agency said. When international trade in goods and services were combined, exports decreased 1.6 per cent to C$78.5 billion in November, while imports were down 2.1 per cent to C$79.9 billion, it added. --IANS ksk/ The Biden administration on Thursday said it would immediately begin turning away Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans who cross the US-Mexico border illegally, a major expansion of an existing effort to stop Venezuelans attempting to enter the US. Instead, the administration will accept 30,000 people per month from the four nations for two years and offer the ability to legally work, as long as they come legally, have eligible sponsors and pass vetting and background checks. These four affected nations are among those for whom migrant border crossings have risen most sharply, with no easy way to quickly return migrants to their home countries. Do not, do not just show up at the border," Biden said Thursday. Stay where you are and apply legally from there. It was Biden's boldest move yet to confront spiralling arrivals at the US border with Mexico, a major change to immigration rules that will stand even if the US Supreme Court ends a Trump-era public health law that allows American authorities to turn away asylum seekers. The president has seen the numbers of migrants crossing the US-Mexico border rise dramatically during his two years in office; there were more than 2.38 million stops during the fiscal year that ended September 30, the first time the number cracked 2 million. Also Read Will expand temporary legal status for Haitians residing in country: US 1 reported dead as 6.8 magnitude earthquake shakes buildings in Mexico Danish authorities issue warning amid gas leak in Nord Stream 2 pipeline Fiscal, monetary authorities should be watchful amid global gloom: Finmin Tax-authorities tighten noose around under-invoicing of Chinese imports Mexico security nabs son of drug lord 'El Chapo' before Biden's visit Putin orders cease-fire for orthodox Christmas; Kyiv won't take part US removes more than 300 Cuban migrants from remote Florida islands Germany to supply armoured personnel carriers, Patriot battery to Ukraine Russian President Putin orders 36-hour weekend cease-fire in Ukraine The administration has struggled to clamp down on crossings, reluctant to take hard-line measures that would resemble those of the Trump administration. That's resulted in relentless criticism from Republicans who say the Democratic president is ineffective on border security, and the newly minted Republican House majority has promised congressional investigations. The new policy could result in 360,000 people from these four nations lawfully entering the US in a year, a huge number. But currently, far more people from those countries are attempting to cross into the US on foot, by boat or swimming. Migrants from those four countries were stopped 82,286 times in November alone. This new process is orderly, Biden said. "It's safe and humane, and it works. Biden planned a trip to El Paso, Texas, this weekend, his first trip to the southern border as president, before a planned trip to Mexico City to meet with North American leaders on Monday. Mexico has agreed to accept each month from the four countries up to 30,000 migrants who attempt to walk or swim across the US-Mexico border, according to the White House. Anyone coming to the US is allowed to claim asylum, regardless of how they crossed the border, and migrants seeking a better life in the US often pay smugglers the equivalent of thousands of dollars to deliver them across the dangerous Darien Gap. But the requirements for granting asylum are narrow, and only about 30 per cent of applications are granted. That has created a system in which migrants come between ports of entry and are allowed into the US to wait out their cases. But there is a 2 million-case immigration court backlog, so cases often are not heard for years. The move, while not unexpected, drew swift criticism from asylum and immigration advocates, who have had a rocky relationship with the president. Sen. Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, called it an affront to restoring rule of law at the border and a circumvention of immigration law that will exacerbate chaos and confusion. He welcomed allowing in more migrants, but said it will only benefit those who can afford it, not migrants fleeing violence and persecution. The only lasting way to change the system is through Congress, but a bipartisan effort in Congress on new immigration laws failed shortly before Republicans took the House majority. The actions we're announcing will make things better, but will not fix the border problem completely," Biden said, in asking Congress to pass new legislation. Under then-President Donald Trump, the US required asylum seekers to wait across the border in Mexico. But massive delays in the immigration system created long delays, leading to fetid, dangerous camps over the border where migrants were forced to wait. That system was ended under the Biden era, and the migrants who are returned now to Mexico under the new rules will not be eligible for asylum. Biden has agreed to triple the number of refugees accepted to the US from the Western Hemisphere, to 20,000 from Latin America and Caribbean, over the next two years. Both refugees and asylum seekers have to meet the same criteria to be allowed into the country, but they arrive through different means. At the US-Mexico border, migrants have been denied a chance to seek asylum under US and international law 2.5 million times since March 2020 under the Title 42 restrictions, introduced as an emergency health measure by Trump to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but there always has been criticism that the restrictions were used as a pretext by the Republican to seal off the border. Even with the restrictions, there are still large increases in the number of migrants arriving. Homeland Security officials stopped migrants 2.38 million times during fiscal year that ended September 30, the first time the number exceeded 2 million. Biden moved to end the Title 42 restrictions, and Republicans sued to keep them. The US Supreme Court has kept the rules in place for now. White House officials say they still believe the restrictions should end, but they believe they can continue to turn away migrants under immigration law. Cubans, who are leaving the island nation in their largest numbers in six decades, were stopped 34,675 times at the US border with Mexico in November, up 21 per cent from 28,848 times in October. Nicaraguans, a large reason why El Paso has become the busiest corridor for illegal crossings, were stopped 34,209 times, up 65 per cent from 20,920 in October. But Venezuelans were seen far less after Mexico agreed on October 12 to begin accepting those expelled from the United States. They were stopped 7,931 times, down 64 per cent from 22,045 in October. Venezuelans have said the changes have been difficult, particularly with finding a sponsor who has the financial resources to demonstrate the ability to support them. And even if they find a sponsor, sometimes they delay their arrival because they don't have the economic resources to pay for the flight to travel to US. Other times, the Venezuelan passport that they need to come is expired, and they cannot afford to pay for the renewal. Many Venezuelans who want to come to the US face economic difficulties, do not have a job or do not earn enough money to support their families in their country. Sometimes they delay their trip to leave money for them to survive, or just one of them can come to the US hoping to find a job and send money to the rest of the family, while they get some stability before bringing the rest. Meanwhile, border officials are also creating an online appointment portal to help reduce wait times at US ports of entry for those coming legally. It will allow people to set up an appointment to come and ask to be allowed into the country. Without basic data like number of deaths, infections and severe cases, governments elsewhere have instituted virus testing requirements for travelers from China. The greatest concern is whether new variants will emerge from the mass infection and spread. As Covid-19 rips through China, the World Health Organization is calling on its government to share more comprehensive data on the outbreak. Germany will supply Ukraine with armoured personnel carriers and a Patriot missile battery, the government said on Thursday. The announcement came in a government statement after Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke with US President Joe Biden. Germany's decision to supply Marder armoured personnel carriers comes after France said it will soon hold talks with Ukraine to arrange for the delivery of armoured combat vehicles France's presidency says that will be the first time this type of Western-made wheeled tank destroyer will be given to the Ukrainian military. The German government didn't specify how many Marder APCs will be supplied or when. It noted that the US last month announced that it would give a Patriot air defence missile battery to Ukraine and said that Germany will join the United States in supplying an additional Patriot air defense battery to Ukraine. Musk laid off roughly 50 per cent of Twitters more than 7,000 employees on Nov. 4, just a week after taking control of the company. Almost 1,000 of those who were terminated lived in California, according to documents filed with the state. Those workers were required under state and federal law to keep receiving regular paychecks over the past two months. Twitter Inc. employees who were laid off shortly after Elon Musk took over are still awaiting details of their severance packages months after being let go, leading to further legal trouble for the new owner. Musk tweeted at the time that everyone was offered 3 months of severance. But that 60-day period ended on Wednesday, the official termination date for California employees. Employees have still not heard any details about additional severance, or continuation of health coverage, known as COBRA, according to three laid-off workers. Twitter faces multiple suits over unpaid bills, including for private chartered plane flights, software services and rent at one of its San Francisco offices. Since acquiring the social media platform for $44 billion, the billionaire has scrambled to cut costs, warning that the company may face bankruptcy. Earlier this week he eliminated other employee benefits, including commuter benefits and meal allowances, according to Platformer. Also Read Ford India offers final severance package for Chennai unit employees Do you need to pay 18% GST on rent? Ford India reaches severance package settlement with employee union Is the Meta Inc severance package a lesson for others? Laid off? Seek advice before claiming tax exemption on severance pay Samsung profit tumbles by 69% in historic drop on chip price falls Russian companies barred from displaying tech products at CES 2023 US moves to ban non-compete agreements in labour contracts: Reports French regulator fines Apple $8.5 mn over App Store ad targeting breach Tech companies continue slashing jobs amid uncertain 2023 economy No one has gotten any severance pay, said Liss-Riordan. The Boston-based labor attorney has filed private arbitration cases and several federal class-action lawsuits and US labor board complaints related to the mass terminations, alleging a mix of retaliation, discrimination, and failure to provide required notice and pay. She said 100 arbitration claims were filed on Thursday, on top of 100 already pending. Lawyer Shannon Liss-Riordan said hundreds of Twitter workers she represents have now had their last day at the company and have received no severance notice or pay. Twitter has asked the judge in San Francisco overseeing the severance suit to throw it out or, alternatively, move it to Delaware where Twitter has litigated other cases including the fight over his buyout of the company. To the degree the suit remains intact, wherever it eventually lands, Twitter argues its former employees are bound by contractual agreements requiring them to resolve any disputes with the company in closed-door arbitration rather than in open court. We dont know what Elon Musk is doing we expected that those severance agreements would have been sent out by now, because a lot of people had their last official day, Liss-Riordan said. Were wondering what hes planning to do but meanwhile were pushing forward with our legal actions. At the time of the layoffs, some of Twitters employees were pregnant or dealing with other medical issues, complicating the fact that they dont have clarity over insurance coverage. Employees who were laid off in New York, where Twitter also has a big office, have a 90-day period where the company must continue to pay them, according to state labor laws. A message sent to Twitters press email wasnt immediately returned. Twitter no longer has a public relations team. Hes got to make a decision here: does he really want to get into this costly drawn-out legal battle which is going to be very, very, very expensive for Twitter, or does he want to do the right thing and just take care of it now? said Liss-Riordan. The San Francisco case is Cornet v. Twitter, 22-cv-06857, US District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco). Mercedes-Benz says it will build its own worldwide electric vehicle charging network starting in North America in a bid to compete with EV sales leader Tesla. The German luxury automaker said at the CES gadget show in Las Vegas on Thursday that it will start building the North American network this year at a total cost of just over 1 billion euros (USD 1.05 billion). When completed in six or seven years, the network will have 400 charging stations with more than 2,500 high-power plugs, the company said. Networks in Europe and China and other markets will follow, with completion of the full network by the end of the decade, when the company intends to sell all electric vehicles depending on market conditions. The full network will have more than 2,000 charging stations and over 10,000 plugs worldwide, Ola Kllenius, chairman of Mercedes-Benz's management board, told reporters. The company said the Mercedes-branded network will be open to owners of all electric vehicles, but Mercedes owners will be able to reserve charging ports and get preference over other makes. Also Read Mercedes-Benz India on road to best-ever sales: MD & CEO Martin Schwenk With EV policy in focus, Delhi to get 18,000 new charging stations by 2024 Mercedes-Benz in top gear, sees the highest ever June quarter sales Santosh Iyer to lead Mercedes in India as Martin Shwenk moves to Thailand Macro issues not impacting demand: Mercedes India CEO Martin Schwenk Twitter security headaches mount with data leak of over 230 mn users Laid-off Twitter workers await severance pay, Musk in for legal trouble Samsung profit tumbles by 69% in historic drop on chip price falls Russian companies barred from displaying tech products at CES 2023 US moves to ban non-compete agreements in labour contracts: Reports The move will help the company compete with Tesla, which says on its website that it has 40,000 charging ports worldwide. Tesla's network is mostly for exclusive use of Tesla owners, although CEO Elon Musk has said there are plans to open it to other brands. The network gives Tesla a competitive advantage over other EV brands, which have to rely on a patchwork of network of privately owned charging stations. Each Mercedes station will have four to 12 ports with up to 350 kilowatts of charging power. Mercedes will share the cost of the North American network equally with MN8 Energy, a large solar energy and battery storage operator in the US EV charging network provider ChargePoint also is a partner. The network will address customer concerns about not having enough range to get to their destination, and finding a working charging station, said Markus Schfer, Mercedes' chief technology officer. While other charging networks are being developed, We thought we had to go further and take the initiative here and create our branded global Mercedes-Benz network, Schfer said. The charging hubs will be built in key cities and population centres, close to major roads and near retail businesses and restaurants. Some will be at participating Mercedes dealerships, the company said. We know where our customers are in North America, we know where we're selling electric vehicles, Schfer said. The stations will be in safe, well-lighted locations, Schfer said, not in the backyard somewhere of a shopping centre next to a dumpster. Mexican security forces captured Ovidio Guzmn, an alleged drug trafficker wanted by the United States and one of the sons of former Sinaloa cartel boss Joaqun El Chapo Guzmn, in a pre-dawn operation Thursday that set off gunfights and roadblocks across the western state's capital. Defense Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval said Army and National Guard personnel had captured a son of El Chapo. Sandoval identified him only as Ovidio, in keeping with government policy. Ovidio Guzmn, nicknamed the Mouse, had not been one of El Chapo's better-known sons until an aborted operation to capture him three years ago. That attempt similarly set off violence in Culiacan that ultimately led President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador to order the military to let him go. Thursday's high-profile capture comes just days before Lpez Obrador will host US President Joe Biden for bilateral talks followed by their North American Leaders' Summit with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Drug trafficking, along with immigration, is expected to be a top talking point. This is a significant blow to the Sinaloa cartel and major victory for the rule of law. It will not, however, impede the flow of drugs into the U.S. Hopefully, Mexico will extradite him to the U.S., Mike Vigil, the DEA's former Chief of International Operations, said Thursday. Vigil said that Ovidio Guzmn was involved in all of the cartel's activities, especially the production of fentanyl. A 2018 federal indictment in Washington, D.C., accused the younger Guzmn of conspiring to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana in the United States. Also Read World Test C'ships finals in 2023, 2025 to be hosted in Lord's: ICC 48,787 Lord Ganesh idols immersed in Mumbai in two days: Civic official 1 reported dead as 6.8 magnitude earthquake shakes buildings in Mexico Mexico plans to ask US Prez Biden for up to $48 bn for solar projects Journalist shot dead in Mexico, 15th media person to die so far this year Putin orders cease-fire for orthodox Christmas; Kyiv won't take part US removes more than 300 Cuban migrants from remote Florida islands Germany to supply armoured personnel carriers, Patriot battery to Ukraine Russian President Putin orders 36-hour weekend cease-fire in Ukraine US to provide $30 million in aid to Moldova hit hard by war in Ukraine The CDC said last July that more than 107,000 Americans had died from a drug overdose during the year ending January 2022, most of them involving opioids including illegally made fentanyl. Lpez Obrador's security approach reversed years of what came to be known as the kingpin strategy of taking down cartel leaders, which led to the fragmentation of large cartels and bloody battles for dominance. Lpez Obrador put all his faith in the military, disbanding the corrupt Federal Police and creating the National Guard under military command. The capture was the result of six months of reconnaissance and surveillance in the cartel's territory, and then quick action on Thursday, Sandoval said. National Guard troops spotted SUVs, some with homemade armor, and immediately coordinated with the army as they established a perimeter around the suspicious vehicles and forced the occupants out to be searched. The security forces then came under fire, but were able to gain control of the situation and identify Guzmn among those present and in possession of firearms, Sandoval said. Cartel members set up 19 roadblocks including at Culiacan's airport and outside the local army base, as well as all points of access to the city of Culiacan, Sandoval said, but the Air Force was able to fly Guzmn to Mexico City despite their efforts, and he was taken to offices of the Attorney General's organized crime special prosecutor. Sandoval said Guzmn was a leader of a Sinaloa faction he called los menores or the juniors, who are also known as los Chapitos, for the sons of El Chapo. Other little Chapos include two of his brothers Ivn Archivaldo Guzmn and Jess Alfredo Guzmn who are believed to have been running cartel operations together with Ismael El Mayo Zambada. The Chapitos have been taking greater control in the cartel because Zambada was in poor health and isolated in the mountains, Vigil said. The Chapitos know that if el Mayo dies, (the cartel) is going to break apart if they don't have control. It's going to be very important that the U.S. requests Ovidio's extradition quickly and that Mexico does it, Vigil said. U.S. Homeland Security Investigations had posted a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Guzmn early last year. Alleged cartel members responded to Thursday's operation by carjacking Culiacan residents and setting vehicles ablaze in the cartel stronghold. Local and state authorities warned everyone to stay inside. Intermittent gunfire continued into the afternoon Thursday in Culiacan as Mexican security forces continued to clash with cartel gunmen and few people ventured out. Airports there and in several other Sinaloa cities remained closed. Airline Aeromexico said in a statement that one of its jets was struck by a bullet Thursday morning as it prepared for takeoff. Passenger video posted online showed people cowering on the floor of the plane. The company said passengers and crew were safe. Later, Mexico's Civil Aviation Agency said in a statement that an air force plane in Culiacan had also been hit with gunfire. In addition to the Culiacan airport, the agency said airports in Los Mochis and Mazatlan were also ordered closed and all flights cancelled for security reasons. David Tllez was aboard that flight with his wife and children, preparing to return to Mexico City after visiting his in-laws. Their plane had been waiting for its chance to take off as two large military planes carrying personnel landed as well as three or four military helicopters. Marines and soldiers deployed along the perimeter of the runway. When the commercial flight was finally preparing to accelerate, Tllez heard gunshots in the distance. Within 15 seconds the sounds were suddenly more intense. We heard gunshots and threw ourselves to the floor, he said. He did not know the plane had been hit until a flight attendant told them. The plane quickly returned to the terminal and they were hustled into a room. Late Thursday afternoon they were still in the airport, unsure of when they would be able to return to Mexico City. Elsewhere in Culiacan, local reporter Marcos Vizcarra had sought shelter in a hotel after gunmen stole his car. Then he explained via Twitter that armed men had entered the hotel where he had sought shelter and are threatening guests to give them their car keys. Later, Vizcarra reported that they had taken his phone, but he had made it home safely. Such attempts to create chaos often come in response to arrests of important cartel figures in Mexico. One of the most notorious came when federal security forces cornered Ovidio Guzmn in October 2019, only to let him escape after gunmen shot up the city with high-powered weapons. Lpez Obrador said at the time he had made the decision to avoid the loss of life. Lpez Obrador entered office highly critical of the toll of his predecessors' drug war. He embraced the phrase hugs, not bullets to describe his approach to Mexico's chronic violence, which would focus on social programs aimed at weakening the draw of organized crime. But four years into his six-year term, the death toll remains high. In July, Mexico captured Rafael Caro Quintero, once one of the godfathers of drug trafficking and the man allegedly responsible for the murder of a DEA agent more than three decades ago, just days after Lpez Obrador met with Biden at the White House. At the time, the capture was seen as a signal that Mexico could be willing to go after high-profile cartel bosses again, something Lpez Obrador had been loathe to do. Some 8 million people remain "acutely displaced" after last summer's floods in Pakistan, since waters still have not receded in some areas, the country's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva has said. Khalil Hashmi told a press conference on Thursday that there was an urgent need for housing, and that flood damage had impacted agriculture, and people's livelihoods, Xinhua news agency reported. Hashmi was speaking ahead of a high-level conference on Climate-Resilient Pakistan next week to be attended by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Knut Ostby, Resident Representative in Pakistan of the UN development agency UNDP, told Thursday's press conference that more than 1,700 had been killed in the monsoon flooding disaster. Meanwhile, at least 2 million homes were destroyed or damaged, along with around 13,000 km of road, 3,000 km of railway track, 439 bridges, and 4.4 million acres of agricultural land. Since there is still standing water in several areas, "many people cannot get back to their regular livelihoods" and therefore remain reliant on humanitarian assistance, he added. Also Read India's expectation from Pakistanis never very high: Jaishankar on Pak FM Over 20 mn Pakistanis rely on underfunded floods aid as winter sets in: UN Indonesian diplomats laud India's rich culture at G20 Working Group meeting Write, edit, verify: Everything you need to know about how Wikipedia works Pakistan's remittances declined 4.8% in November, says central bank Authorities order evacuations in California as deadly storm pounds state US to send Ukraine dozens of Bradleys in $2.85 billion aid package Ukrainian mining boss gets bail, declares wish to "fight Russians" Do not just show up at the border: US President Biden tells migrants As Covid-19 infections surge in China, US begins testing more travellers He also warned that although the Pakistan flooding was "unprecedented", it could happen in other countries. The International Conference on Climate-Resilient Pakistan, co-hosted by the Government of Pakistan and the United Nations, will take place at the UN Office in Geneva next Monday. The aim of the conference is to bring together public and private sector leaders to generate international financial support for communities impacted by the floods in Pakistan, as well as to rebuild damaged infrastructure. --IANS int/sha China has denied allegations that it is hiding Covid infection or death figures, saying the severe illness and death in the country compares favourably with other nations, the media reported on Friday. According to South China Morning Post, Beijing's embassy in Washington, DC, countered allegations after several countries, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), criticised China for withholding actual Covid figures, requesting the country to come clean on the infection surge and hospitalisations. "China has always shared its information and data responsibly with the international community," Liu Pengyu, spokesman for Beijing's Washington embassy, said in a news briefing. Chinese scientists are "now working with WHO to have further discussions about the data," he said, adding that in the last month, "we have two exchanges with the WHO". Last week, Mike Ryan, the WHO's emergencies director said that the current figures being published from China under-represented the numbers of hospital admissions, ICU admissions and "particularly in terms of death". The WHO had said that the curbs on travellers from China by various countries is "understandable" in the absence of comprehensive information from the ground. Also Read Japan reports highest single-day Covid-19 deaths amid 8th wave of pandemic China's zero covid policy fails badly as new cases found everyday: Report Over 6,000 birds killed in Kerala's Kottayam amid bird flu outbreak Flu vaccine that can protect against all 20 known influenza virus developed Amid Covid resurgence, China's hospitals seem to be filling up: WHO Rain dampens Australia's hopes of sweeping South Africa off the series Nearly 8 mn Pakistanis still displaced after summer floods, says diplomat Authorities order evacuations in California as deadly storm pounds state US to send Ukraine dozens of Bradleys in $2.85 billion aid package Ukrainian mining boss gets bail, declares wish to "fight Russians" "In the absence of comprehensive information from #China, it is understandable that countries around the world are acting in ways that they believe may protect their populations," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had said in a tweet. China's National Health Commission (NHC) has stopped publishing daily Covid-19 case data, handing over the charge to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as nations, including India, ask the country to share actual Covid data on an urgent basis. However, it will still take days for the CDC to activate the epidemic monitor reporting system and allow the organisation to collect and report infection data effectively. --IANS na/dpb Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered his armed forces to observe a unilateral 36-hour cease-fire in Ukraine this weekend for the Orthodox Christmas holiday, the first such sweeping truce move in the nearly 11-month-old war. Kyiv indicated it won't follow suit. Putin did not appear to make his cease-fire order conditional on Ukraine's acceptance, and it wasn't clear whether hostilities would actually halt on the 1,100-kilometer (684-mile) front line or elsewhere. Ukrainian officials have previously dismissed such Russian moves as playing for time to regroup their invasion forces and prepare additional attacks. At various points during the war that began Feb. 24, Russian authorities have ordered limited, local truces to allow civilian evacuations or other humanitarian purposes. Thursday's order was the first time Putin has directed his troops to observe a cease-fire throughout Ukraine. Based on the fact that a large number of citizens professing Orthodoxy live in the combat areas, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a cease-fire and give them the opportunity to attend services on Christmas Eve, as well as on the Day of the Nativity of Christ, according to Putin's order to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, published on the Kremlin's website. Putin's order didn't specify whether it would apply to both offensive and defensive operations. It wasn't clear, for example, whether Russia would strike back if Ukraine kept fighting. Ukrainian officials dismissed Putin's move. Also Read Russian President Putin orders 36-hour weekend cease-fire in Ukraine Terror attacks surge in parts of Yemen despite truce brokered by UN Ukraine war: Why Moscow could go nuclear over Kyiv's threats' to Crimea A day after US warning, Russian President Putin set to visit Iran next week Germany won't back European nations' call to end Russian tourist visas US removes more than 300 Cuban migrants from remote Florida islands Germany to supply armoured personnel carriers, Patriot battery to Ukraine Russian President Putin orders 36-hour weekend cease-fire in Ukraine US to provide $30 million in aid to Moldova hit hard by war in Ukraine Humanitarian aid priority to ensure people's recovery in Ethiopia: FAO Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted that Russian forces must leave the occupied territories -- only then will it have a temporary truce.' Keep hypocrisy to yourself. Ukraine's National Security Council chief Oleksiy Danilov told Ukrainian TV: We will not negotiate any truces with them. He also tweeted: What does a bunch of little Kremlin devils have to do with the Christian holiday of Christmas? Who will believe an abomination that kills children, fires at maternity homes and tortures prisoners? A cease-fire? Lies and hypocrisy. We will bite you in the singing silence of the Ukrainian night. U.S. President Joe Biden said it was interesting that Putin was ready to bomb hospitals, nurseries and churches on Christmas and New Year's. I think he's trying to find some oxygen, he said, without elaborating. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Washington had little faith in the intentions behind this announcement, adding that Kremlin officials have given us no reason to take anything that they offer at face value. It does not appear to be a strategic change in in Russia's plan or its approach," he said. "It appears to be a bid to continue to do what it has inflicted upon the Ukrainian people for nearly a year now as it seeks to rest, refit, regroup, and ultimately reattack. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric welcomed the move but said it "will not replace a just peace in line with the U.N. Charter and International law. Putin acted after the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, proposed a truce from noon Friday through midnight Saturday Moscow time (0900 GMT Friday to 2100 GMT Saturday; 4 a.m. EST Friday to 3 p.m. EST Saturday). The Orthodox Church, which uses the Julian calendar, celebrates Christmas on Jan. 7 later than the Gregorian calendar although some Ukrainian Christians also mark the holiday on that date. Kirill has previously called the war part of Russia's metaphysical struggle to prevent a Western liberal ideological encroachment. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had proposed a Russian troop withdrawal earlier, before Dec. 25, but Moscow rejected it. Political analyst Tatyana Stanovaya said Putin's cease-fire order is intended to make him look reasonable. It fits well into Putin's logic, in which Russia is acting on the right side of history and fighting for justice, she said. We must not forget that in this war, Putin feels like a good guy,' doing good not only for himself and the brotherly nations,' but also for the world he's freeing from the hegemony' of the United States, Stanovaya, founder of the independent R.Politik think tank, wrote on Telegram. She also linked Putin's move to Ukrainian forces' recent strike on Makiivka that killed at least 89 Russian servicemen. He really doesn't want to get something like that for Christmas, she said. Ukrainians reacted with suspicion to Putin's announcement. Frankly speaking, the 8th of March (Women's Day), (Ukraine's) independence day, Christmas (Dec. 25) and the New Year, there were no cease-fires. Why should there be one now? said Sophiia Romanovska, a 21-year-old student who fled Mariupol for Kyiv, peppering her comments with expletives. Putin issued the truce order after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged him in a phone call to implement a unilateral cease-fire, according to the Turkish president's office. The Kremlin said Putin reaffirmed Russia's openness to a serious dialogue with Ukrainian authorities. Erdogan also told Zelenskyy later by phone that Turkey was ready to mediate a lasting peace. Erdogan has made such offers frequently, helped broker a deal allowing Ukraine to export millions of tons of grain, and has facilitated prisoner swaps. Russia's professed readiness for peace talks came with the usual preconditions: that Kyiv authorities fulfill the well-known and repeatedly stated demands and recognize new territorial realities, the Kremlin said, referring to Moscow's insistence that Ukraine recognize Crimea and other illegally seized Ukrainian territory as part of Russia. Previous attempts at talks have failed over Moscow's territorial demands because Ukraine insists Russia withdraw from occupied areas. Coupled with talk of diplomacy were new pledges Thursday of military support for Ukraine. Germany said it would match a U.S. announcement last month to supply Ukraine with a Patriot missile battery, the most advanced surface-to-air missile system the West has provided to Kyiv. Germany also said it would supply Marder armored personnel carriers, and France said it will hold talks with Ukraine on delivery of armored combat vehicles that can destroy tanks. U.S. officials said they will send Ukraine nearly $3 billion in military aid in a massive new package that will for the first time include several dozen Bradley fighting vehicles. The aid is aimed at getting as much to Ukrainian forces as possible before spring sets in and fighting increases. An announcement is expected Friday, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the package have not been announced. The Kremlin says the West's supply of weapons to Ukraine is prolonging the conflict. While more weapons arrive, the battlefield situation appears to have settled into a stalemate, increasingly a war of attrition. As winter sets in, troop and equipment mobility is more limited. In the latest fighting, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential office, said at least five civilians were killed and eight wounded by Russian shelling in the previous 24 hours. An intense battle has left 60% of the eastern city of Bakhmut in ruins, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said. Ukrainian defenders appear to be holding the Russians back. Taking the city in the Donbas region, an expansive industrial area bordering Russia, would not only give Putin a major battlefield gain after months of setbacks, but would rupture Ukraine's supply lines and allow Moscow's forces to press on toward key Ukrainian strongholds in Donetsk. In what appeared to be a move to entice more men to join the fight, the first convicts recruited for battle by the Wagner Group, a Russian private military contractor, received a promised government pardon after serving six months on the front line. A video the state RIA Novosti news agency released showed Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner Group's millionaire owner, shaking hands with about 20 pardoned men. Also Read Tesla's petition against racial discrimination lawsuit denied in US Tesla deliveries miss estimates in Q3, slowed by supply-chain snarls How will Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter change the public square? Tesla announces Model S, X launch in China, prices to be unveiled on Friday Elon Musk demands ex-Twitter product chief testify in takeover fight Cerberus drops purchase of Apollo's Unit after Arcion Revitalization deal Teslas now over 40% cheaper in China as prices cut again amid competition Mercedes to build its own electric vehicle charging network in N America Twitter security headaches mount with data leak of over 230 mn users The database, which was posted on Wednesday, contains the names and email addresses of politicians, journalists and bankers, among others. The data was siphoned out because of a flaw in Twitters software, experts say, which has since been fixed. An anonymous user on a hacker forum has published a massive database that they claim contains basic information on more than 230 million Twitter users, such as email addresses and screen names. Experts believe the database dates to 2021 or so, before Elon Musk took ownership of the company. Still, it may represent a risk for some users, in addition to representing yet another another security headache for Twitter. As of July, Twitter had 237.8 million daily active users, according to company data. The publication of the leaked data this week comes amid ongoing investigations of Twitter in the US and Europe, which could result in fines. Irelands Data Protection Commission said its probing a breach of 5.4 million Twitter users data. Separately, the US Federal Trade Commission has been examining if the company is complying with its 2011 consent order. In September, former Twitter security chief Peiter Mudge Zatko described to lawmakers and regulators a platform suffering from outdated software and a reactive security policy that had engineers running from fire to fire. In 2020, a Florida teenager was accused of orchestrating a breach of high-profile Twitter accounts, including those of Joe Biden, Elon Musk and Kanye West. Also Read How will Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter change the public square? How to recover your hacked Instagram account: Check details here Elon Musk demands ex-Twitter product chief testify in takeover fight Indian Railways denies IRCTC data breach but launches investigation What is a cybercrime portal? Here's how to check complaint status online Laid-off Twitter workers await severance pay, Musk in for legal trouble Samsung profit tumbles by 69% in historic drop on chip price falls Russian companies barred from displaying tech products at CES 2023 US moves to ban non-compete agreements in labour contracts: Reports French regulator fines Apple $8.5 mn over App Store ad targeting breach Here's what this means for Twitter users: What data was stolen? Twitter said in August that it learned of the leak in January 2022 through its bug-bounty program, which provides rewards for programmers who spot software flaws. A database with what appears to be more than 230 million users email addresses, screen names and full names was posted on the website BreachForums. A Bloomberg News review of the data shows it also contains the number of each accounts followers and when the account was created. How did it happen? Experts say malicious actors discovered in 2021 that one of Twitters services for programmers, known as application programming interface, or API, was flawed. That allowed them to extract certain details about user accounts if the API was given an email address, said Jamie Boote, associate software security consultant at Synopsys Inc. That list grew to the hundreds of millions of users data posted this week. Should I be worried? Bloomberg contacted Twitter for comment, but communications staff was cut in Musks layoffs. Alon Gal, the co-founder of Israeli cybersecurity consultancy Hudson Rock, said the database included celebrities and politicians Twitter handles and emails raising concerns about their security if combined with other information available on the web. Bloomberg was able to independently confirm the presence of some well-known names in the list of Twitter users posted on BreachForums. The data that was leaked doesnt contain sensitive details like credit card information, Social Security numbers or home addresses, and so far, it appears that bad actors havent exploited it to cause harm. But experts say that the ability to match Twitter user names to emails could prove worrisome for high-profile individuals. How can I protect my account? Separately, if email addresses are tied to prominent accounts that criticize repressive regimes, those dissidents or human-rights activists could be targeted in countries where criticism of the state is banned, experts have warned. You can also change your email address using the same tab. See Twitters advice page for more information on how to do this. If you believe your account might have been compromised, or even if you just want to be extra secure, change your Twitter password while you are logged in, under the Account Settings tab. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will co-host the 2023 US-Japan Security Consultative Committee meeting with Japanese counterparts on January 11, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a press briefing on Thursday. "Secretary Blinken and Secretary Defence Austin will co-host the 2023 U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi and Defence Minister Hamadaon on January 11 here at State Department. The U.S.-Japan alliance remains the cornerstone of a free and open Indo-Pacific region," Ned Price said. Addressing a press briefing, Ned Price said that US and Japan will discuss their shared vision to tackle challenges in the Indo-Pacific and around the world. He further said that the defence and foreign ministers of US and Japan will discuss the challenges posed by North Korea. "We face a threat and a series of challenges from the DPRK that will of course be on the agenda as well, especially as the DPRK has accelerated its provocations, may have plans for additional provocations in the days and weeks ahead," Ned Price said. The meeting between foreign ministers and defence ministers will be held two days before the meeting of US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement released on the White House website stated that Biden looks forward to welcoming Kishida to further strengthen ties between the two nations. "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," Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. Also Read HP unveils new range of Smart Tank printers in India: Details here India is an invaluable partner: US State Department on Jaishankar-Blinken US Secretary of State Blinken discusses Ukraine war with EAM Jaishankar Blinken will have several opportunities to travel to India in 2023: US Antony Blinken affirms 'extraordinary' ties between US, Philippines Republicans divided, McCarthy fails for 3rd day in GOP House speaker fight UN calls for de-escalation following Israeli minister's Al-Aqsa visit War in Ukraine at critical point right now, says US President Biden Do not just show up at the border: US President Biden tells migrants Mexico security nabs son of drug lord 'El Chapo' before Biden's visit Karine Jean-Pierre noted, "Over the past year, the two leaders have worked closely together to modernize the U.S.-Japan Alliance, expand our cooperation on key issues from climate change to critical technologies including through the Quad, and advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida will build on these efforts." Furthermore, Karine Jean-Pierre said that Biden and Kishida will discuss regional and global issues, North 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." She said that Biden will reiterate his full support for Japan's 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 war in Ukraine is at a critical point right now, US President Joe Biden said Thursday as the US and Germany announced additional support for Ukraine. "Right now, the war in Ukraine is at a critical point. We have to do everything we can to help the Ukrainians resist Russian aggression. And Russia is not attempting to slow up. The actions they're taking are as barbaric as they were a year ago, and they're not letting up at all," Biden told reporters during a Cabinet meeting. Earlier this afternoon, Biden said, he had a long discussion with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about Ukraine and their alliances in Europe and the EU. "We have a much larger contingent of countries that share our view, including Japan and others. But we talked about what we're going to do, he said. "Today we jointly announced a statement saying that we're going to increase support for Ukraine. We're going to provide the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles to the Ukrainians, and the Germans are going to provide the Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles that they have to the Ukrainians, Biden said. "In addition, we're going to help defend Ukraine against Russian air attacks. Germany has also announced today that it's going to provide the Ukrainians to deal with air attacks, a Patriot air defense system. We're going to provide an additional Patriot air defense battery. They work, and the Russians are beginning to realize that. They function well, and they're helping a lot, he said. Also Read 130 Indian-Americans in key positions of Biden administration: White House Joe Biden, First Lady host largest ever Diwali reception at White House China casts long shadow over US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington Biden administration appoints over 130 Indian-Americans at key positions White House state dinner draws names from fashion, business, politics Do not just show up at the border: US President Biden tells migrants Mexico security nabs son of drug lord 'El Chapo' before Biden's visit Putin orders cease-fire for orthodox Christmas; Kyiv won't take part US removes more than 300 Cuban migrants from remote Florida islands Germany to supply armoured personnel carriers, Patriot battery to Ukraine Earlier during a call, Biden and Scholz exchanged views on the ongoing war of aggression waged by Russia against Ukraine and reiterated their support for Ukraine's sovereignty and independence. They reaffirmed their unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in the face of Russia's aggression, the White House said in a readout of the call. Biden and Scholz expressed their common determination to continue to provide the necessary financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine for as long as needed. "In light of Russia's ongoing missile and drone attacks against Ukraine's critical infrastructure, President Biden and Chancellor Scholz affirmed their intention to further support Ukraine's urgent requirement for air defense capabilities. In late December, the United States announced its donation of a Patriot air defense missile battery to Ukraine. Germany will join the United States in supplying an additional Patriot air defense battery to Ukraine, said the White House. During the call, Biden and Scholz expressed appreciation for the military support provided by other allies and partners to Ukraine, endorsed the ongoing coordination efforts of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, and welcomed additional donations of air defense systems and combat vehicles. A second man has died after being injured in a shooting on Route 15 in Hamden on New Years Day, according to the Connecticut State Police. Qualon Wilkes, 22, of Bridgeport died at Yale New Haven Hospital on Thursday after he was shot while in a vehicle on the morning of Jan. 1. Wilkes is the second person killed in the incident. Adrian Lopez, 23, of Bridgeport was found dead in the drivers seat by responding officers. Police responded to Route 15 South near Exit 60 in Hamden for a report of individuals with gunshot wounds in a vehicle after 2 a.m. on Sunday. Officers found four individuals in the vehicle, including three with injuries. Wilkes was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital and was in critical condition before his death on Thursday, state police said. Taquan Donald, 20, of Bridgeport was transported to Yale New Haven with non-life-threatening injuries. A 25-year-old Bridgeport man was also in the car but did not sustain any injuries, state police said. The investigation into the incident is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Troop I at 203-393-4243. Leading stock exchange BSE on Friday said it has joined hands with the government of Goa for the development of SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) in the state. With the association of Goa government, the exchange will look at creating awareness amongst SMEs in the state on the benefits of listing on the exchange. BSE will also guide them on the efficient ways of raising capital through equity infusion. In this regard, BSE has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Goa, the exchange said in a statement. Besides, the exchange will also provide training and capacity-building support to District Industries Centre officials and facilitates SMEs with respect to registration/listing on the platform. "This association with the government of Goa will play a significant role in opening a plethora of opportunities for small-medium enterprises," Sundararaman Ramamurthy, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BSE, said. BSE is the largest SME Exchange in India with over 400 companies listed on the platform. Unsubscribe to continue This is a subscriber only feature Subscribe Now to get daily updates on WhatsApp Ambuja Cements: The company has incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary company in the name of AMBUJA RESOURCES LIMITED on 5th January 2023 for manufacturing of cement & allied product, alternate fuel and power generation. Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M): Mahindra and Mahindra South Africa (Proprietary) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the company ('MMSAPL') has informed the company that Mahindra West Africa Ltd, a subsidiary of MMSAPL and of the company ('MWAL') which was under voluntary liquidation in Nigeria is shown as dissolved on the website of Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigeria as on 4th January 2023. Pursuant to the above, MWAL has ceased to be a subsidiary of MMSAPL and that of the company. Rail Vikas Nigam (RVNL): RVNL - ISC Projects Private Limited JV has received Letter of Acceptance for supply and commissioning of ballastless track for Surat Metro Rail Project under Phase-1. The accepted contract amount is Rs 166.26 crore excluding GST and custom duties. Muthoot Capital Services: Muthoot Capital Services has issued Commercial Paper (CP) of Rs. 30 crore on 4th January 2023. Mukand: The company has completed the transfer of 45.94 acres of the land at Kalwe/ Dighe facility in Thane District by executing the necessary Deeds of Conveyance in favour of the Purchaser - AGP DC Infra Two Private Limited for aggregate consideration of Rs.796.46 crore. The entire consideration is received by the company. Vishwaraj Sugar Industries: The board of directors of the company approved raising of funds by way of offer and issue of equity shares to the existing members of the company on rights basis for an amount aggregating up to Rs. 150 crore. Also Read Muthoot Finance tumbles after Q1 PAT slips 17% YoY to Rs 802 cr Muthoot Finance Ltd soars 1.28%, rises for third straight session ACC and Ambuja Cements win IconSWM-CE awards Ambuja Cement and ACC establish leadership in water positivity Mahindra & Mahindra records highest ever monthly sales of 64,486 units HUL, NTPC, HPCL, Marico in focus NTPC, Avenue Supermarts, Godrej Properties in focus Maruti Suzuki, Dabur India, HFCL, PSP Projects in focus TCS, Tata Motors, Aster DM Healthcare, RITES in focus RIL, Eicher Motors, Elin Electronics in focus Powered by Capital Market - Live News Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan on Friday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra is a campaign that was beyond politics and stated there was a duty to 'reclaim' the country's "lost honour." Haasan had joined Gandhi in Delhi last month in the latter's pan-India foot march that started from Tamil Nadu in September last. "It is our responsibility to reclaim the lost ethos of our Bharat. This (Bharat Jodo campaign) is a yatra that is beyond politics," the actor-politician told reporters here. He further said he wanted to conduct the bulltaming sport 'Jallikattu' in Chennai and that efforts were on to secure permission for the same. The aim was to ensure the city-dwellers get a glimpse of the sport's glory, he added. Jallikattu is generally held in Madurai coinciding with the harvest festival Pongal in the second week of January. With an aim to cater to audiophiles, German audio brand Sennheiser on Friday launched its wired earphones, IE 200, for consumers in India. Priced at Rs 14,990, the Sennheiser IE 200, will be available for pre-order on January 17, and will go on sale from January 31 across online and leading retail outlets in India, according to the company. "Committed to the Indian market and continuing our history of excellence with the IE range, we are thrilled to announce the global launch of the Sennheiser IE 200 with an open invitation for everyone to enjoy high-end sound," Kapil Gulati, Sales Director -- Consumer Hearing Business, Sonova, said in a statement. The IE 200 features a seven-millimetre extra-wide band transducer for exceptional quality. Moreover, the IE 200 can appeal to a variety of listening preferences due to its unique dual-tuning feature. Users can mount the included ear tips in one of two positions, giving them control over the balance of their audio experience -- from deep and emotional bass response to texture-rich treble presence, said the company. Also Read Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT review: Great headphones minus extravagant frills Audio-Technica launches ATH-M50xBT2 wireless over-ear headphones: Know more Sennheiser launches MOMENTUM 4 Wireless headphone for Indian buyers Spotify to allow users to post audio reactions to music playlists Sony India launches headphones WH-1000XM5 with active noise cancellation Xiaomi launches Redmi Note 12 5G series smartphones in India: Details here Samsung launches Galaxy F04 smartphone at Rs 9,499: Sale info, specs, more Xiaomi to launch Redmi Note 12 5G series smartphones on Jan 5: Details here Apple Arcade to get 3DS Pocket Card Jockey's remake, says Pokemon developer Blaupunkt launches new soundbar 8-inch Woofer at Rs 7,999 in India The inconspicuous design of IE 200 boasts a proven ergonomic design that promotes a secure seal and lasting comfort, which can accommodate ears of all sizes. --IANS shs/svn/ Samsung will expand its 5G portfolio in India with two new Galaxy A series smartphones this month, industry sources said on Friday. The new smartphones -- Galaxy A14 5G and Galaxy A23 5G -- are likely to launch in mid-January in the country at a price starting around Rs 15,000, sources told IANS. Galaxy A14 5G is likely to come with a 6.6-inch Full HD screen for an immersive viewing experience. It will sport a 50MP rear camera, a 5000mAh battery and an Octa-Core processor. Galaxy A series is known for bringing powerful performance and innovative features at an affordable price for young consumers. The South Korean tech giant is planning several 5G smartphones to consolidate its leadership in the country this year. Samsung finished 2022 as the leading 5G smartphone manufacturer in India, backed by its large portfolio of innovative 5G devices. Also Read Samsung Galaxy Z fold 4 and Galaxy Flip 4 - Price, Features and Specs Samsung Galaxy M13 series launched in India: Know price, specs, and more Samsung to reveal next-gen Galaxy laptops alongside Galaxy S23: Report Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 review: A refresh with experience-oriented upgrades Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S24 Ultra may feature new telephoto sensor TikTok adds new feature for users to find specific parts of videos Google Maps' navigation feature on Wear OS now works without smartphone CES 2023: Qualcomm announces 'Snapdragon Satellite' for android smartphones CES 2023: Samsung unveils OLED display with peak 2,000 nit brightness Apple Books launches new audiobook catalogue with AI-based narrations According to Counterpoint Research, Samsung led the 5G smartphone segment in India for the fourth straight quarter in Q3. Samsung was also the fastest-growing brand in the premium segment. According to the company, it had the biggest 5G portfolio in the country last year, with more than 20 5G smartphones and tablets selling in the country right now. --IANS na/ Whats new: Chinese mainland residents will soon be able to get inoculation with BioNTechs omicron specific messenger RNA Covid vaccine in Hong Kong as quarantine-free travel across the border is set to resume Sunday. Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., the Chinese marketing partner of Germanys BioNTech, said Friday that it will start supplying the bivalent Covid shot to the privately run health-care system in Hong Kong. The shot targets the omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. No speaker in U.S. House elected as voting drama drags on Xinhua) 10:19, January 06, 2023 U.S. Congressman Kevin McCarthy arrives at the House chamber as the House meets for a second day to elect a speaker in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jan. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) U.S. Congressman Kevin McCarthy from California, the House Republican leader, fell short of the necessary votes to take the gavel in two more rounds of voting Thursday afternoon. WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. House of Representatives hasn't elected a new speaker as the election entered the third day on Thursday. U.S. Congressman Kevin McCarthy from California, the House Republican leader, fell short of the necessary votes to take the gavel in two more rounds of voting Thursday afternoon. The 435-seat lower chamber -- where Republicans have a slim majority over Democrats -- is unable to conduct any legislative business until a speaker is elected. The 118th Congress convened on Tuesday with newly-elected and re-elected senators sworn in while the House has been holding the speaker election for three days. McCarthy has the support of most House Republicans and former U.S. President Donald Trump but a handful of hardliners have pressured him to decentralize the speaker's power. 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. All House Democrats have voted for Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, to be speaker in the election. 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 and Democrats held onto their majority in the Senate. U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday that it's "embarrassing for the country" not to have a fully functional Congress, the legislature of the federal government. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) Members of Connecticuts congressional delegation are expressing frustration that the U.S. House of Representatives remained at a standstill Wednesday night after Republicans failed to elect a speaker for the second day in a row. But they are also reveling in a silver lining of the days-long saga: Democrats are starting the new session of Congress on a united front even as they lose control of the House to a narrow GOP majority. Without the election of a speaker, the House is essentially inoperable: No members can be sworn into the 118th Congress, no committees can be formed and no rules governing the chamber can be adopted. On the other side of the U.S. Capitol, the Senate is operating normally as new members were sworn in on Tuesday and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., began his second term as majority leader. The state of Congress stands in juxtaposition to the opening day of the Connecticut General Assembly, which began without any drama in electing leadership as well as the inauguration of Gov. Ned Lamont for his second term. There is only one house in Congress that is meeting, and thats the Senate. We are not constituted yet. That creates a problem, U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1st District, said in a Wednesday evening interview. Were all in limbo, as the saying goes. While Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has secured the support of most House Republicans, he has repeatedly fallen short since he needs the votes of the majority of Congress. Twenty GOP members and one voting present blocked McCarthys bid for speaker on the sixth vote. In every vote cast Tuesday and Wednesday, all five members of Connecticuts delegation have supported Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., for speaker. He will become the first Black member to lead a party when he likely becomes House minority leader. Some Democrats have been openly relishing the drama that has unfolded with Republicans unable to unify and get behind a speaker. But others are frustrated about the lack of progress and that the House cannot function until then. This thing started to become almost embarrassing, given the fact it was clear that 20 or so [members] were not budging with these consecutive votes, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, said in a Wednesday interview. And whatever sort of strategy that Kevin McCarthy had on first roll call and sixth roll call, it clearly hasnt worked at all. The House initially adjourned for a few hours until 8 p.m. Wednesday as McCarthy and his supporters met with his critics to try to find a path forward. While they said progress was made, McCarthy wanted to hold off on a seventh speaker vote until Thursday to allow talks to continue. When the House gaveled back in, McCarthy-aligned Republicans immediately sought a motion to adjourn, which narrowly passed after Democrats and a few Republicans sought to block the measure. The House stands adjourned until noon on Thursday. The lack of a resolution has had a ripple effect on the work of lawmakers and how congressional offices function. Courtney noted that lawmakers lost their security clearances on Tuesday and that briefings for some returning members had to be canceled. If this thing gets resolved tonight or early tomorrow, 48 hours isnt going to be catastrophic, Courtney said. If it really drags on this, I think this thing is really going to impact constituent case work, committee assignments. The long series of roll call votes have taken hours as the clerk goes one by one through each members name as they declare their vote. That has given members long stretches on the House floor to talk with each other and strategize. McCarthys allies and critics have huddled on the House floor to hash out the disconnect and find a way to break the impasse. For Democrats, they also have had time to chat with their colleagues and keep tabs on the vote. Larson said it has been amazing to see the body language of members as Republicans make nominating speeches attacking their own. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, tweeted the past two days his updates on the floor proceedings, sharing a photo of a notepad as he tracks which members are voting for someone other than McCarthy. Most of the dissenters have voted for Rep. Bryon Donalds, R-Fla. The Connecticut delegation, however, feels that it has ultimately been positive for Democrats. Courtney, who said he was chatting with Jeffries earlier, said it has been a pretty powerful bonding experience. Larson, who is entering his 13th term in the House, said the energy among Democrats feels similar to when Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., became the first woman to lead a party in Congress. The process and the experience is frustrating right now, Larson said. But on our side, the House morale is as energized as Ive ever seen it. The Connecticut Mirror/Connecticut Public Radio federal policy reporter position is made possible, in part, by funding from the Robert and Margaret Patricelli Family Foundation and Engage CT. A program offering free legal representation to low-income tenants facing eviction likely saved the state millions it would have otherwise spent providing emergency shelter services, child welfare, health care and education services, a new report shows. Evictions, which rose last year after pandemic-era protections expired, can have serious, long-term consequences for tenants, including to their health, mental health, education, and future housing stability. The report, which was submitted to the state legislature, on Connecticuts right to counsel program outlines the impact the program has had on tenants access to legal representation during the eviction process. By preventing evictions or helping tenants obtain additional time to find new housing before theyre evicted, Connecticut likely saved between $5.8 and $6.3 million from the end of January to the end of November 2022, the report says. That count is likely understated, the report says, because it doesnt include certain costs for childrens services after an eviction, mental health care, or the cost of providing public benefits to people who lose their jobs after an eviction, among other expenses. We are representing more people than weve ever represented before, providing high-quality services to those folks and generally getting good results, said Elizabeth Rosenthal, deputy director at New Haven Legal Assistance, in a previous interview. I would say we are ensuring that they are in a much better position than they would have been if they had to go to court without an attorney. Stout, an independent advisory firm, prepared the report after reviewing data from participating legal aid groups and the Connecticut Bar Foundation. Right to counsel launched about a year ago, making Connecticut the third state to provide such a program. Its available to low-income tenants in certain ZIP codes and veterans statewide. Since its start, the number of tenants with legal representation in right to counsel ZIP codes increased by about 176% from an average of 401 pre-pandemic to 1,109 tenants this year. The program aimed to close the gap between the number of tenants and the number of landlords who have legal representation in eviction cases. Ahead of its launch, only about 7% of tenants had attorneys. State lawmakers approved the use of $20 million in COVID relief dollars to establish the program. Officials expect funding to last until about 2024. The report found that attorneys were overwhelmingly successful in helping clients achieve goals including avoiding eviction judgments, avoiding a forced move, and getting at least 30 days to move. Evictions disproportionately affect women, people of color and particularly women of color. Right to counsel clients are more likely to be female, Black and have multiple people living in their homes. !function(){use strict;window.addEventListener(message,(function(e){if(void 0!==e.data[datawrapper-height]){var t=document.querySelectorAll(iframe);for(var a in e.data[datawrapper-height])for(var r=0;r