Hong Kong: Alice Mak tours polling station Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak today visited a 2023 Rural Ordinary Election polling station at Fanling Public School in North District. Noting the smooth operation of the polling station, Miss Mak said that eligible electors should vote according to the date, time and venue specified in the polling notice. She added that the electors should carry their identity documents or statutory alternatives to collect ballot papers and appealed to them to vote for their desired candidate for building a harmonious rural community. There are 1,640 candidates in the Village Representative Election. Since one of the two candidates contesting in the Indigenous Inhabitant Representative Election has passed away, the remaining candidate was returned uncontested. As such, 1,083 candidates have been returned uncontested in the poll, while 566 candidates will compete for 286 seats. This story has been published on: 2023-01-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. People attend a rally in solidarity with the protests in Iran and to honor protesters allegedly killed by the Iranian government, in Zurich, Switzerland, Jan. 7. EPA-Yonhap Iran's Islamic clerical regime is divided in its response to months of unprecedented protests, wavering between repression and what it views as conciliatory gestures trying to quell the discontent, analysts say. "The conflicting messages we are getting from the Iranian regime suggest an internal debate on how to deal with ongoing protests," said Nader Hashemi, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Denver. "In most authoritarian regimes, there are hawks and doves" who disagree on how repressive the state should be during crises, he said. The granting of retrials to several death-row protesters, and the release from detention of prominent dissidents, are signs that some seek to take a softer approach. But a reminder of the hardline tack came Saturday when Iran executed two men for killing a paramilitary member during protest-related unrest. Demonstrations began after the September 16 death in custody of Kurdish-Iranian Mahsa Amini, 22. She had been arrested by morality police who enforce a strict dress code which requires women to wear a scarf-like covering over their hair and neck. The protests have escalated into calls for an end to the Islamic regime, posing the biggest challenge for the clerics since the 1979 revolution deposed the shah. Authorities have responded with deadly violence that has left hundreds dead. Thousands have been arrested and 14 detainees sentenced to hang, many for killing or attacking security force members, according to the judiciary. A police motorcycle burns during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the Islamic republic's "morality police", in Tehran, Iran Sept. 19, 2022. Reuters-Yonhap 'Experimenting' The Supreme Court has upheld some of the death sentences and a total of four men have now been executed. The judiciary has also announced retrials for six of the 14. This reflects a "political calculus", said US-based Iran expert Mehrzad Boroujerdi, co-author of "Post-Revolutionary Iran: A Political Handbook". "They know that mass executions will bring more people into the streets and further agitate them. On the other hand, they want to send a signal that they are not reticent to execute protesters so that people are intimidated." In what analysts see as another attempt to calm the situation, two prominent dissidents arrested early during the protests, Majid Tavakoli and Hossein Ronaghi, were freed weeks later. Ronaghi had been on a hunger strike. The regime is using "everything from pressure release valves to long prison terms and executions. They are experimenting with these as they struggle to formulate a more clearly articulated policy," Boroujerdi said. Anoush Ehteshami, director of the Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at the UK's Durham University, said the retrials partly reflected mounting foreign and domestic pressure. "But also within the regime there is division about how to handle this," Ehteshami said, with hardliners on one side and others who see executions as further encouraging resistance. Retrials and the release of dissidents are "measures of appeasement... to try and throw a bone" to the protesters, he added. While such measures may appear insignificant, from the perspective of a "securitized, beleaguered regime... they think they are being magnanimous and responding to public pressure". Protesters march past the U.S. Capitol during a rally and vigil in solidarity with ongoing protests in Iran and to honor protesters allegedly killed by the Iranian government, Dec. 17, 2022, in Washington. AP-Yonhap Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday pitched for contesting the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly and the Lok Sabha polls together with the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena and Congress. Talking to reporters, he claimed that despite a split in the Shiv Sena, majority of the hardcore Shiv Sainiks who work on the ground stand behind Uddhav Thackeray. Pawar said MLAs and MPs may have aligned with the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena after the split, but when polls take place, they will also know what the views of people are. After the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Thackeray had snapped ties with long-term ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and tied-up with the NCP and Congress to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state. The Thackeray government collapsed in June last year after a revolt led by Shinde against the Sena leadership. To a query on the issue of alliance, Pawar said, The understanding is that the Congress, NCP and Uddhav Thackeray should work together (for the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra polls). The Republican Party and some groups should be included. But we are having discussions. We take decisions jointly on many issues, so there should not be any problem in this." The NCP chief had last year also said the MVA allies should fight the Maharashtra Assembly elections together. Also Read Centre should change its attitude towards cooperative banks: Sharad Pawar 2023 will be a great year if country gets good rainfall: Sharad Pawar Congress 'mukt' Bharat not possible, says Sharad Pawar at Pune party office Filing cases, arresting Opposition leaders Centre's flagship project: Pawar Pawar backs Nitish Kumar, accuses BJP for finishing regional allies Oppn legislators stage demonstration demanding Maharashtra guv's removal MVA's collapse, its aftermath kept political pot boiling in Maha in 2022 Border dispute resolution efforts started with 'weak mindset': Shinde Rajasthan minister Gudha criticises own government over paper leak row Maharashtra's ex-minister Anil Deshmukh walks out jail after 14 months The Lok Sabha polls are due in May 2024 and the Maharashtra Assembly elections are due in October next year. Thackeray had in November last year predicted mid-term polls in Maharashtra and asked his party workers to start the preparations. On the issue of the ongoing border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka, Pawar said Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had convened a meeting with different parties. The case should be strongly presented before court by roping top legal experts of the country, he added. The border dispute is currently pending before the Supreme Court. The issue dates back to 1957 after the reorganisation of States on linguistic lines. Maharashtra laid claim to Belagavi, which was part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency, as it has a sizeable Marathi-speaking population. It also laid claim to over 800 Marathi-speaking villages which are currently part of Karnataka. Karnataka maintains the demarcation done on linguistic lines as per the States Reorganisation Act and the 1967 Mahajan Commission Report as final. The ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC in Telangana K Kavitha on Sunday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not holding a single press conference in the last nine years. Addressing the second state-level conference of Telangana Union of Working Journalists at Patancheru near here, Kavitha, the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said the Prime Minister has so far "avoided" any direct interaction with journalists but gives select interviews. "Our misfortune is such that in the last nine years the Prime Minister has never held a open press conference once. As far as I know no journalist asked him any question. Because he (Modi) gives interviews to a select few. But, here (in Telangana) our Chief Minister conducts press conference with 300 to 350 journalists and answers the questions raised by reporters," she said. Stating that a leader should be transparent and responsible, Kavitha said the Prime Minister should be invited to 'Meet the Press' and added "we are with you and let's question him and see". The former MP from Nizamabad further claimed that the situation has become such that when "we leaders ask question then it is dubbed as political. But when you journalists ask questions it will be neutral and it will be that of people". She demanded Modi to grant funds for the welfare of journalists on par with the measures being initiated by the Telangana government. Also Read Telangana CM leaves for Bihar to give financial aid to Galwan martyrs 'Need double-engine non-BJP govt at the Centre,' says Telangana CM KCR KCR promises free electricity for farmers 'if non-BJP govt comes to power' KCR unfurls tricolour to mark 75 years of Hyderabad's annexation Summoned by CBI in Delhi liquor policy case, Kavitha meets father KCR Rahul Gandhi invokes Gita, says Congress is doing 'tapasya' unlike BJP Assam CM accuses Left of distorting history, making it a tale of defeats New members of Himachal Pradesh cabinet led by Sukhu to swear in today Over 96% of TMC's income came from electoral bonds in 2021-22: Audit report Colourful processions mark Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra in Haryana's Karnal Kavitha said the Telangana government was giving utmost priority to issues of journalists. The government had granted funds of Rs 100 crore for welfare of journalists in the State, but the Centre had never even worried about journalists, she alleged. Expressing concern over the "disappearance" of investigative journalism, she also sought to know an example of investigative journalism in the country and added "let it be on our own government...(there is) no problem". According to Kavitha, some media organisations, which had no recognition, were at the forefront of spreading misleading news against the Telangana government. Telangana Minister V Srinivas Goud, MLA Kranti Kiran, Media Academy Chairman Allam Narayana and several delegates from various states attended the conference. The ambitious 130-km long Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline (IBFPL), constructed at a cost of Rs 377.08 crore, is likely to be commissioned by next month, official sources said on Sunday. The international oil pipeline, IBFPL, will carry fuel from Assam-based Numaligarh Refinery Ltd's (NRL) marketing terminal at Siliguri in West Bengal to the Parbatipur depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC). The mechanical works of the bilateral project, being funded by India, was completed on December 12 last year, a senior official of NRL told PTI on condition of anonymity. "We have set the commissioning target completion in February 2023," he added. The ground breaking ceremony for the 130-km IBFPL was held in September 2018 in the presence of Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh through video conferencing. "The project is in a true sense an engineering marvel. We faced lots of hurdles but with mutual cooperation and technological understanding between the two countries, this international project will see the light of the day," another senior executive of the Northeast's largest refiner said. Also Read Mizoram govt plans to set up state's maiden rail-fed oil depot near Aizawl Cash-strapped Mizoram gets Bangla refugee influx; border talks with Assam Home Depot beats sales estimates in June qtr on demand from builders Do India-Bangladesh ties still lack depth? Assam Cabinet to increase medical seats for communities demanding ST status LIVE: 'Bade log hain', says Prashant Kishor on Rahul's Bharat Jodo Yatra Andhra Pradesh govt appoints inquiry commission to probe recent stampedes Congress says confident of forming govt in Nagaland over anti-incumbency PM stresses on working to improve lives in conference of chief secretaries Kerala becomes country's first fully digital banking service: CM Vijayan The IBFPL has been successfully implemented because of the true friendship between India and Bangladesh, and it will remain as a testimony of best relationship between the two South East Asian nations, she added. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his meeting with Hasina in 2017 had agreed to finance this pipeline with a capacity of one million metric tonne per annum (MMTPA). The total project cost for construction of the IBFPL is Rs 377.08 crore. Out of this, NRL's investment is Rs 91.84 crore for the India portion of the pipeline, while the remaining Rs 285.24 crore for Bangladesh portion is being funded by the Indian government as grant-in-aid. According to a recent report, prepared by Assam Assembly on the visit of a delegation of the legislators to the neighbouring country, Bangladesh will start importing gas and oil from NRL later this year. The delegation met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who said that "importing fuel oil from India through pipeline" will start from this year, it added. "She said that Bangladesh wants to import oil from India through pipeline... The 130-km India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFPL) project aims to export oil products from India to Bangladesh," the report said. NRL and BPC had in April 2017 inked a long-term agreement for selling High Speed Diesel (HSD) from India to Bangladesh through the IBFPL. Later in October of the same year, the state-run NRL signed another 15-year agreement with the BPC for export of gas oil (diesel) to the neighbouring nation. In NRL, Oil India Ltd has 69.63 per cent stake, while Assam Government and Engineers India Ltd have 26 per cent and 4.37 per cent holding respectively. South Koreas Ex-leader Park Geun-hye made her first appearance in a year Tuesday as she visited a Buddhist temple in Daegu, a conservative-leaning city in southeast Korea. After spending nearly five years in prison on corruption charges, Park has largely stayed out of the public eye since being pardoned by then-President Moon Jae-in in December 2021. Park was greeted by a senior monk at the temple and paid her respects by burning incense in front of a Buddha statue, South Korean media reported Apr 12, 2023 07:36 PM President Joe Biden speaks about border security in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Jan. 5. Biden is heading to the U.S.-Mexico border on Sunday for his first visit as president. AP-Yonhap President Joe Biden will visit the U.S.-Mexico border on Sunday for the first time since taking office nearly two years ago, tackling one of the most politically charged issues in the country as he prepares for a reelection bid. Biden on Thursday announced fresh plans to block Cuban, Haitian and Nicaraguan migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, expanding the nationalities of migrants who can be expelled back to Mexico, and the visit to El Paso, Texas, isn't expected to yield any new policy breakthroughs. Instead, it is meant to demonstrate that the U.S. president is taking the issue seriously, stop nagging questions about when he plans to visit, shore up relations with border patrol, and potentially give him another chance to push Congress to pass new laws to fix a broken system. However, Republicans' newly assumed control of the House of Representatives essentially blocks prospects for any legislative fixes, leaving Biden with few good options. "The trip is recognition that this is a serious issue, one with real hardships, but it's also one that will only get solved with the help of Republicans, said Karen Finney, a Democratic consultant. Republicans have continually used the border issue as a cudgel against Biden, blaming him for failing to crack down harder. And with a thin Republican majority in the House that gives the party's hardliners greater clout, there is little hope for compromise. Biden will meet at the border with local officials and community leaders, and assess border enforcement operations in El Paso, where the Democratic mayor declared a state of emergency last month, citing hundreds of migrants' sleeping on the streets in cold temperatures and thousands being apprehended every day. U.S. border officials apprehended a record 2.2 million migrants at the border with Mexico in the 2022 fiscal year that ended in September, though that number includes individuals who tried to cross multiple times. Biden's effort to try and crack down on the tide of migrants has drawn criticism from all sides. Human rights activists and some Democrats say the new restrictions are a retreat from Biden's 2020 campaign promise to restore historical rights to asylum-seekers. And while winning praise from some U.S. industry groups desperate to solve pressing labor shortages, the policy is likely to trigger legal challenges from both those who favor restricting immigration and advocates for asylum seekers. Biden on Thursday did open legal, limited pathways into the country for Cubans, Nicaraguans and Haitians, while also calling on Congress to enact comprehensive reform, something the U.S. law-making body has failed to do for decades. After the El Paso visit, Biden travels to Mexico to meet with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in talks that will also touch on immigration issues. Republicans, furious about Biden's reversal of some close-the-border policies of former President Donald Trump, have seized on record crossings, deaths of migrants and reports of fentanyl pouring across the border to demand the impeachment of Biden's homeland security secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas. Some pro-Trump Republican hardliners who finally helped elect Kevin McCarthy speaker on Saturday have pushed for zero cooperation with Democrats. "It's a problem that's not going away, and he has to mitigate it or take it off the table in the upcoming election," a senior Democrat told Reuters. "Biden needs to address the issue instead of letting opponents dominate the narrative." Biden sent Congress an immigration reform plan on his first day in office, but it has floundered amid opposition from congressional Republicans, who also blocked his request for $3.5 billion to beef up border enforcement. Americans give Biden failing grades for immigration policy, polls show. An average of polls gathered by Real Clear Politics shows 37% of the public disapprove of Biden's handling of immigration, a number lower than his overall approval rating. The issue has bedeviled presidents from both parties, Democrats note. "This is not something that has popped up in the last two years. This has been 30 years in the making and a result of a mishmash of Democratic and Republican policies," said Jennifer Holdsworth, a Democratic strategist. "The electorate is tiring of the craziness and the talking points. They want serious solutions." (Reuters) Japanese producer and distribution company Toho, which has redoubled its efforts in the animation space over the past year, has completed a multi-million investment to acquire a 50% stake in three of Frederators original productions: Bee & Puppycat, Bravest Warriors, and the upcoming spinoff of the latter, Catbug. Heres what we know about the deal: The Sea Beast director Chris Williams signed an overall deal with Netflix in late 2022, and is now developing two feature projects for the streaming service. Heres what has been announced: Williams is working on a sequel to The Sea Beast, which last year became the streamers most viewed original animated feature (based on the viewership of the film in its first 28 days of release, which is Netflixs de facto viewership measurement period). The sequel reunites back monster hunter Jacob Holland with Maisie, who is now his adopted daughter. It is still undecided whether the starring monster, Red, will appear in the sequel. The second feature is an original fantasy film. Williams described the film as such to The Hollywood Reporter: Tonally, it would be between Lord of the Rings and Princess Bride. Its like Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings where you have a history that leads up to the point where the story begins, and its a huge world with multiple events going on outside the story being told. But at the same time, I want to have fun with some of the conventions that Princess Bride did. Its not parody and its not making fun of it, but it has a perspective that is light and refreshing. Williams is actively developing both films, but he doesnt know yet which one hell direct first. They are both growing organically and the goal is for one of them to take the commanding lead, he said. Right now, though, Im going back and forth. The intention is to ultimately make them both. Williams was upbeat about his experience making an animated feature for Netflix: I felt so supported throughout the making of Sea Beast, even though it was a massively ambitious movie. That represents a financial investment and risk, and they were always cool letting me making the movie I wanted to make. I always value peoples opinions and I will always listen to what anyone has to say. But they never forced my hand and they never made me do anything other than let me do the movie I wanted to make. The business model is fundamentally different [at Netflix]. If youre at Pixar or Disney, you make one or two movies a year. And all the eggs are in that basket, so theres a lot of concern and consternation about that one thing. And when youre working on it, its a conscious thing and its also an unconscious thing. You feel that nervousness. If it doesnt succeed, it can be an existential problem. Two people were shot in the 3300 block of Hughes Avenue on Saturday afternoon in an incident involving a stolen car. At 2:14 p.m., Chattanooga Police responded to a call of a person shot. A man called police stating he had been shot and was driving himself to the hospital. The victim said he had been searching for his vehicle that had been stolen and believed was in this area. While driving through the area, the victim located a vehicle he believed to be his. While attempting to make contact with the vehicle, several shots were fired and the victim was subsequently struck. A short time later, police were notified of a second victim who was dropped off at a local hospital by a vehicle matching the stolen vehicle. Both victims have non-life threatening injuries. The investigation is ongoing. Members of the Rhea County Fire Department Rhea County Rescue Squad, Rhea Emergency Medical Services along with the Rhea County Sheriff's Department and Spring City Police Department escorted the body of former County Executive George Thacker to Spring City Cemetery Saturday afternoon. The procession, which was led by Sheriff Mike Neal, included fire engines from each of the nine fire districts in Rhea County and units from the Rhea County Rescue Squad. After the procession entered Spring City Cemetery for a private burial, the fire trucks, the Rescue Squad and Rhea Ambulance lined Highway 27 behind the cemetery. In his four terms as County Executive, George Thacker was a continuous supporter of the fire departments and the Rescue Squad. He also responded to any emergency, especially during storms. It was not out of place to see him with a chainsaw in hand assisting in cutting up trees to clear a roadway. He was the longest serving county executive - serving 16 years. Before becoming county executive, he was a regular performer at the Grand Ole Opry playing several instruments, especially the harmonica. He said he got a harmonica for Christmas as a kid and practiced on it. He could also play guitar, mandolin, and banjo. Before he was elected as county executive, he owned and operated a body shop at the Highway 27 and Highway 68 junction. He also operated five Quick lubes in Rhea, Roane, and Cumberland Counties. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Rhea County High School with Rev. Bobby Harris officiating. The family will receive friends from 1-3 p.m. before the service in the high school auditorium. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to Rhea County Firefighters Association. Donations can be dropped off at Linda Shavers office, 375 Church St., Suite 100, Dayton, Tennessee 37321. A local man told police he believes that his mother killed his step-father. He has a gut feeling about this, he told police. He said prior to the step-father passing, his mother would not let him speak with the step-father. He thinks his mother only did it for the money she would get when he passed away. He still does not talk to his mother because of the situation. He said he believes his step-father did not have any issues and that his mother might have poisoned him so he would die. * * * A woman told police that while she was in the parking area of the City Greenway Apartments, 1720 Urban Trail, she found two passports, a vehicle owners manual and a small zip bag in the lane of travel. When checking the items, police discovered the passports belonged to a couple. Police were not able to locate a vehicle registered to the couple listed on the passports and the office was closed. When checking records, police found no U.S. identification or registration for the two. All items were then taken to the Chattanooga Police Property Room for safe keeping until the owners could be located. * * * An anonymous caller told police a silver PT Cruiser with a Tennessee tag was "abandoned" on the Chateau Royale Apartments lot at 25 S. Germantown Road. The vehicle did not return as stolen nor did police locate a CPD sworn BOLO for the vehicle. Law enforcement can do nothing in regards to the vehicle as it is parked on a private lot. A report was made as documentation of the call for service in regards to the vehicle. * * * A man on Weir Way told police he left his home to get away from "them." He was unable to tell police who "them" was because he never "catched" the people that mess with him. The man set up his phone on "record" in his room while he left. He locked himself out and realized the phone stopped recording. He believes someone walked into his room and stopped the recording to mess with him. The people he talks about keep following him and he does not know what to do. Police attempted to get video footage from management, but were unable to do so. The man said he would just check out and let it be. * * * Police were called about an abandoned red Mitsubishi Mirage on the shoulder of the Exit 181A off ramp. TDOT notified Dispatch that their cameras captured footage of the vehicle appearing to be broken into by a red pickup truck. The truck left the scene prior to police arrival. Police observed a broken front passenger window. The vehicle was unsecured. Police found the vehicle owner to be a woman. Dispatch was unable to make contact with her through a phone call. Officers attempted to reach the woman at her registered address, but were unsuccessful. Due to this, the vehicle was towed by United Wrecker to prevent further crime. * * * Police were called to a residence on E. 48th Street. They spoke to a woman who was very difficult to communicate with because she had difficulty speaking due to possible medical issues. Police attempted to get the woman to write and read questions they had for her, but she was unable to do so. The woman was pointing to the sides of her residence, as if to signal that she was having some sort of issues with her neighbor, possibly a noise complaint. Police spoke very slowly to the woman, asking if the neighbor's noise was the issue, and it appeared that she was able to indicate that was the problem. Police attempted to make contact with her neighbors, but were unable to do so. Police did not hear any excessive noise going on in the area of the woman's residence. Additionally, nothing was located in the area of the woman's residence to indicate any criminal activity was taking place. * * * A woman on Loftis Street told police she believed someone may have broken into her house. When police spoke with her further, she then said she never actually heard or saw anyone in or around the house, but she heard her dogs barking, so she just assumed someone was outside. She also said that her back door was slightly open when she went to check it out. She said her door does not easily latch and that it gets left open on accident sometimes and she is not sure if she properly secured it the last time she used it. There was no evidence of forced entry or tampering with the door or any of the woman's items. Police searched the area, but did not locate anything. * * * Police were called from an anonymous person at a residence on Wilcox Boulevard. Officers were notified that the anonymous caller was saying he was locked in his residence. Police attempted to make contact with the caller. They requested the caller to come to the door, but the caller did not comply. Police attempted to speak with the caller, but could barely hear anything said due to their location in the residence. Police heard no signs of distress and asked the caller if medical attention was needed. The caller informed police that no medical attention was needed and that they were just locked inside. Dispatch attempted to make contact with the caller, but were unsuccessful. The caller was uncooperative during this interaction. Officers spoke with a supervisor and were informed that forced entry is not needed. * * * A woman called police from her car on Commons Boulevard and said her stolen credit card was used at Kankus on E. 23rd St. between 10:48 a.m. and 11:04 a.m. She said she did not know the amount spent at Kankus, as charges are pending. She said three different charges for GotIT.com equaling roughly $1,400 were also applied to her stolen card during the same time frame. * * * A woman on Gillespie Road told police she had last seen her Taurus pistol in her vehicle sometime last week. She believes she left her vehicle unlocked and someone took it out of her vehicle. She has no specific time of occurrence or suspect information. The firearm was entered into NCIC as stolen. Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report: ATKINSON, VALORI RUTH 727 EAST 11TH CHATTANOOGA, 37403 Age at Arrest: 63 years old Arresting Agency: East Ridge DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE BARFIELD, CLINTON 1609 LONG ST CHATTANOOGA, 374081164 Age at Arrest: 45 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD THEFT OF SERVICES BUSTILLO-FUNEZ, WILMER ALEXI 4929 APPOLOOSA WAY OOLTEWAH, 37363 Age at Arrest: 34 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) CAMERON, JESSICA 2075 CLINGAN RD NW CLEVELAND, 37311 Age at Arrest: 36 years old Arresting Agency: Collegedale Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) CONNAR, LAURA BETH 727 E 11TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37403 Age at Arrest: 39 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) DUNCAN, DEMETRIOUS J 1007 N SANCTUARY RD CHATTANOOGA, 37421 Age at Arrest: 42 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD POSS. Here are the mug shots: ATKINSON, VALORI RUTH Age at Arrest: 63 Date of Birth: 12/20/1959 Arresting Agency: East Ridge Last Date of Arrest: 01/07/2023 Charge(s): DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE BARFIELD, CLINTON Age at Arrest: 45 Date of Birth: 05/23/1977 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 01/07/2023 Charge(s): THEFT OF SERVICES BUSTILLO-FUNEZ, WILMER ALEXI Age at Arrest: 34 Date of Birth: 02/26/1988 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 01/07/2023 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) CAMERON, JESSICA Age at Arrest: 36 Date of Birth: 09/29/1986 Arresting Agency: Collegedale Last Date of Arrest: 01/07/2023 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) CONNAR, LAURA BETH Age at Arrest: 39 Date of Birth: 12/17/1983 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 01/07/2023 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) ELKINS, ANGELA BLANCHE Age at Arrest: 52 Date of Birth: 09/12/1970 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 01/07/2023 Charge(s): DOMESTIC ASSAULT FENNESSEE, TAQUARIUS LAMAR Age at Arrest: 29 Date of Birth: 01/29/1993 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 01/07/2023 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) HUNKAPILLER, JEREMY EDWARD Age at Arrest: 49 Date of Birth: 04/12/1973 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 01/07/2023 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE HEADLIGHTS ON MOTOR VEHICLES (INCLEMENT WEATHER) JONES, KENYA SAMONE Age at Arrest: 24 Date of Birth: 03/13/1998 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 01/07/2023 Charge(s): DISORDERLY CONDUCT PUBLIC INTOXICATION MCCOMBS, JERRI LIANE Age at Arrest: 47 Date of Birth: 05/23/1975 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 01/07/2023 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) MIDDLETON, TYLER WILLIAM Age at Arrest: 36 Date of Birth: 10/03/1986 Arresting Agency: East Ridge Last Date of Arrest: 01/07/2023 Charge(s): PUBLIC INTOXICATION RESISTING STOP, FRIST, HALT, ARREST OR SEARCH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ORTIZ-RIOS, DIEGO DESHAUN Age at Arrest: 28 Date of Birth: 12/18/1994 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 01/07/2023 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) RUSHING, KIMBERLY LYNN Age at Arrest: 50 Date of Birth: 09/30/1972 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 01/07/2023 Charge(s): DOMESTIC ASSAULT STARCHER, VANESSA LOUISE Age at Arrest: 44 Date of Birth: 07/23/1978 Arresting Agency: Collegedale Last Date of Arrest: 01/07/2023 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) TURNER, BRANDY ELIZABETH Age at Arrest: 41 Date of Birth: 03/20/1981 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 01/07/2023 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) WARR, JOSEPH WILLIAM Age at Arrest: 37 Date of Birth: 11/30/1985 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 01/07/2023 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF HANDGUN WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCEDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEOPEN CONTAINER LAWVIOLATION OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICEELKINS, ANGELA BLANCHE9107 BRAMLETT RD HARRISON, 37310Age at Arrest: 52 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDOMESTIC ASSAULTFENNESSEE, TAQUARIUS LAMAR7610 RIDGE BAY DR HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 29 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)GLADDEN, DEIZMON L610 MOOREMONT TERRACE CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDPOSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMEDHOLLAND, LAMORO LABRON4731 FAIRWOOD LN CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)HUNKAPILLER, JEREMY EDWARD145 HENDRICKS BLVD CHATTANOOGA, 374054633Age at Arrest: 49 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEHEADLIGHTS ON MOTOR VEHICLES (INCLEMENT WEATHER)JONES, KENYA SAMONE1185 MOUNTAIN CREEK ROAD APT 1001 CHATTANOOGA, 37405Age at Arrest: 24 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDISORDERLY CONDUCTPUBLIC INTOXICATIONMANGHANE, ANGELA TINIKA1234 WHEELER AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 39 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDPOSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMEDPOSS. OF HANDGUN WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCEPOSS OF FIREARM DURING A FELONYDRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALEPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAMCCOMBS, JERRI LIANE914 HICKORY AVE HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 47 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)MIDDLETON, TYLER WILLIAM3824 ALTAMERA DR CHATTANOOGA, 37412Age at Arrest: 36 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgePUBLIC INTOXICATIONRESISTING STOP, FRIST, HALT, ARREST OR SEARCHAGGRAVATED ASSAULTORTIZ-RIOS, DIEGO DESHAUN6559 SANDSWITHC ROAD HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 28 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)RIVERS, SEAN7538 NOAH REED ROAD APT A CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 28 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDVIOLATION OF PROBATION (THEFT OF PROPERTY-UNDER 10RUSHING, KIMBERLY LYNN806 W 13TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37402Age at Arrest: 50 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDOMESTIC ASSAULTSHARP, JAMARION LEMAR5325 MEADOWBROOK LN CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDPOSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMEDSTARCHER, VANESSA LOUISE413 OLD CHATTANOOGA PIKE CLEVELAND, 37311Age at Arrest: 44 years oldArresting Agency: CollegedaleBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)TORAN, KATREIA MONIQUE201 EAVS STREET APT 441 EAST RIDGE, 37412Age at Arrest: 25 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeDOMESTIC ASSAULTTURNER, BRANDY ELIZABETH5002 DAYTON BLD CHATTANOOGA, 37343Age at Arrest: 41 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)WARR, JOSEPH WILLIAM385 W BELL AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37405Age at Arrest: 37 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE The Tennessee National Guards 241st Engineering Installation Squadron conducted a change of command ceremony at Volunteer Air National Guard Station on Bonny Oaks Drive on Sunday, at 2 p.m. Lt. Col. Dave Moss is the 12th and outgoing commander of the 241st EIS. He relinquished command to Maj. Chris LaBanca, a resident of Knoxville. After taking command on Jan. 2018, Lt. Col. Moss placed heavy emphasis on readiness and ensuring the 241st was trained and equipped to meet any contingency at a moments notice. During his tenure, the 241st supported statewide COVID-19 and tornado recovery missions. Lt. Col. Moss also commanded two deployments to Iraq and Africa and oversaw the 241st as they received multiple state and national awards. Lt. Col. Moss will be joining the leadership team of the Cyber Operations Squadron, based in his hometown of Knoxville, after relinquishing command in Chattanooga. Major LaBanca was the Chief of the Plans Division for the 241st and he has more than 20 years of military experience. He enlisted in the Air Force as a security forces airmen in 1994 and earned his commission in 2010 through the Academy of Military Science. He is a graduate of Saint Leo University in Florida. The 241st consists of over 100 Airmen and one of only 16 Engineering Installation Squadrons in the nation. Duggar family followers continue to keep up with Josh Duggar now that hes in prison for the next decade. Josh was charged with obtaining child sexual abuse material. And many insiders suggested he may face danger in prison due to the nature of his crimes. An insider recently suggested that Josh isnt in danger at FCI Seagoville. An inmate at FCI Seagoville says Josh Duggar isnt in any danger in prison Josh Duggar | Kris Connor/Getty Images Many prisoners face violence while serving their time, and Duggar family followers wondered if Josh Duggar would have to fend for himself while serving his lengthy sentence. Hes currently residing in FCI Seagoville in Seagoville, Texas. And according to a fellow inmate, Josh isnt facing any danger while in prison despite what the tabloids claim. The fellow inmate, Anthony Accurso, told The Marshall Project that there were the sensationalist, gossip rag articles centered on how Josh was scared of getting attacked. But sex offender prisons are just not like that, and the BOP makes sure high-profile people are safe because itll be a black eye on the Bureau if they get hurt. So, they send them to the safest prisons they can, and those are the sex offender prisons. The inmate then went on to explain that FCI Seagoville didnt have a lot of prison gangs. In regular facilities, sex offenders usually arent involved in prison gangs because most wont allow them in, Accurso continued. Here, its a little different because people in gangs are in the minority, so they will accept some sex offenders to keep up their numbers. Its on a case-by-case basis; it depends on how heinous the crime was. Other inmates allegedly filed lawsuits due to prison assault and staff negligence #CountingOn alums Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar returned to social media after a seven-month hiatus following their oldest son Josh Duggar's prison sentencing. https://t.co/X3giwNFrrO In Touch Weekly (@intouchweekly) December 27, 2022 Josh Duggars fellow inmate claims FCI Seagoville doesnt have much violence. And this might be especially true for high-profile offenders. But The Sun reports some inmates at FCI Seagoville filed complaints and lawsuits due to assault. I was assaulted with a lock by an inmate who was paid by other inmates to do the assaulting, an inmate alleged in their filing in October 2022. I informed [staff] I am in fear for my life and cant stay here. On Sept. 16, I was released back to the general public to only have my life threatened again. The medical team afterward put the attacked prisoner in the high-security Special Housing Unit. The judge then dismissed the case on Dec. 19, 2022. The Sun reports another inmate filed a complaint against FCI Seagoville in October 2022 for failure to provide [his] prescribed medication for 31 days while he was confined in the special housing unit at the total mercy of BOP staff. Is Anna Duggar still married to Josh? Insiders suggest hes worried shell leave him Anna Duggar and Josh Duggar | Kris Connor/Getty Images With so much chaos surrounding Josh Duggar in the media, Duggar family followers wonder about Anna Duggar. Thus far, Anna remains by Joshs side. But some insiders suggested Josh remains concerned that outside influences might persuade Anna to leave him. The insider states Josh wants Anna to remain in Arkansas near his family so that others dont get into her head. The problem is that Josh doesnt want Anna and their kids moving away from his family, a source told In Touch. He thinks it will create too much of a disconnection for her and his kids. The insider continued that he cant raise his kids from prison and hes afraid of outside influences. He doesnt want anyone but Anna and his immediate family to guide his children, they added. He also fears that if Anna is distanced from his family, she might be influenced to leave him. How to get help: If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 for free and confidential support. For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel. President Joe Biden walked a muddy stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border and inspected a busy port of entry Sunday on his first trip to the region after two years in office, a visit shadowed by the fraught politics of immigration as Republicans blame him for record numbers of migrants crossing into the country. At his first stop, the president observed as border officers in El Paso demonstrated how they search vehicles for drugs, money and other contraband. Next, he traveled to a dusty street with abandoned buildings and walked along a metal border fence that separated the U.S. city from Ciudad Juarez. His last stop was the El Paso County Migrant Services Center but there were no migrants in sight. As he learned about the services offered there, he asked an aid worker, If I could wave the wand, what should I do? The answer was not audible. Bidens nearly four-hour visit to El Paso was highly controlled. He encountered no migrants except when his motorcade drove alongside the border and about a dozen were visible on the Ciudad Juarez side. His visit did not include time at a Border Patrol station, where migrants who cross illegally are arrested and held before their release. He delivered no public remarks. The visit seemed designed to showcase a smooth operation to process legal migrants, weed out smuggled contraband and humanely treat those who have entered illegally, creating a counter-narrative to Republicans claims of a crisis situation equivalent to an open border. But his visit was likely do little to quell critics from both sides, including immigrant advocates who accuse him of establishing cruel policies not unlike those of his hard-line predecessor, Donald Trump. In a sign of the deep tensions over immigration, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, handed Biden a letter as soon as he touched down in the state that said the chaos at the border was a direct result of the presidents failure to enforce federal laws. Biden later took the letter out of his jacket pocket during his tour, telling reporters, I havent read it yet. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy dismissed Bidens visit as a photo op, saying on Twitter that the Republican majority would hold the administration accountable for creating the most dangerous border crisis in American history. El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego welcomed Bidens visit, but said a current lull in arrivals prevented the president from seeing how large the group of newcomers has been. He didnt get to see the real difficulties, said Samaniego, who was in the local delegation that greeted Biden. It was good that he was here. Its a first step. But we still need to do more and have more time with him. Elsewhere in El Paso where Biden did not visit, hundreds of migrants were gathered Sunday outside the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where they have been sleeping outdoors and receiving three meals a day from faith groups and other humanitarian organizations. The migrants included several pregnant women, including Karla Sainz, 26, eight months along. She was traveling in a small group that included her 2-year-old son, Joshua. Sainz left her three other children back home in Venezuela with her mother. I would ask President Biden to help me with a permission or something so we can work and continue, she said. Juan Tovar, 32, one of several people in her group, suggested he also had political reasons for leaving his home country. Socialism is the worst, he said. In Venezuela, they kill us, they torture us, we cant talk bad about the government. We are worse off than in Cuba. Noengris Garcia, also eight months pregnant, was traveling with her husband, teen son and the small family dog from the tiny state of Portuguesa, Venezuela, where she operated a food stall. We dont want to be given money or a house, said Garcia, 39. We just want to work. Asked what hes learned by seeing the border firsthand and speaking with the officers who work along it, Biden said: They need a lot of resources. Were going to get it for them. El Paso is currently the biggest corridor for illegal crossings, in large part due to Nicaraguans fleeing repression, crime and poverty in their country. They are among migrants from four countries who are now subject to quick expulsion under new rules enacted by the Biden administration in the past week that drew strong criticism from immigration advocates. Bidens recent policy announcements on border security and his visit to the border were aimed in part at blunting the impact of upcoming investigations into immigration promised by House Republicans. But any enduring solution will require action by the sharply divided Congress, where multiple efforts to enact sweeping changes have failed in recent years. From Texas, Biden traveled south to Mexico City, where he and the leaders of Mexico and Canada will gather on Monday and Tuesday for a North American leaders summit. Immigration is among the items on the agenda. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met Biden at the airport Sunday night and joined him in the presidential limousine for the ride to Bidens hotel. The numbers of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has risen dramatically during Bidens first two years in office. There were more than 2.38 million stops during the year that ended Sept. 30, the first time the number topped 2 million. The administration has struggled to clamp down on crossings, reluctant to take measures that would resemble those of Trumps administration. The policy changes announced this past week are Bidens biggest move yet to contain illegal border crossings and will turn away tens of thousands of migrants arriving at the border. At the same time, 30,000 migrants per month from Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela will get the chance to come to the U.S. legally as long as they travel by plane, get a sponsor and pass background checks. The U.S. will also turn away migrants who do not seek asylum first in a country they traveled through en route to the U.S. Migrants are being asked to complete a form on a phone app so that they they can go to a port of entry at a pre-scheduled date and time. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters aboard Air Force One that the administration is trying to incentivize a safe and orderly way and cut out the smuggling organizations, saying the policies are not a ban at all but an attempt to protect migrants from the trauma that smuggling can create. The changes were welcomed by some, particularly leaders in cities where migrants have been massing. But Biden was excoriated by immigrant advocate groups, which accused him of taking measures modeled after those of the former president. Administration officials disputed that characterization. For all of his international travel over his 50 years in public service, Biden has not spent much time at the U.S.-Mexico border. The only visit that the White House could point to was Bidens drive by the border while he was campaigning for president in 2008. He sent Vice President Kamala Harris to El Paso in 2021, but she was criticized for largely bypassing the action, because El Paso wasnt the center of crossings that it is now. Trump, who made hardening immigration a signature issue, traveled to the border several times. Associated Press writers Andres Leighton in El Paso, Texas; Anita Snow in Phoenix; Morgan Lee in Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report. Prince Harry Should Discuss These 5 Topics in Spare and They Have Nothing to Do With the Rift Spare is almost here, and the topics Prince Harry discusses in the book remain largely unknown. Sure, theres been speculation since the Duke of Sussex announced the memoir in 2021. But no specifics on the content have been revealed. While Harrys publicly aired grievances with the royal family, there are unrelated topics the 38-year-old should discuss in his book. Ahead, five things Harry should cover in Spare that have nothing to do with the royal family estrangement. 1. Prince Harry Spare topics: When he found out Princess Diana and King Charles were separating Prince Harry Spare memoir cover | Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images One of the topics Harry should touch on in his memoir is a defining moment from his childhood when his parents split up. King Charles III and Princess Diana officially divorced in 1996 after separating in 1992. Harry, now a father of two, has occasionally talked about being a child of divorce. However, in Spare he might share more details on how he reacted to his parents split. 2. Prince Harry Spare topics: The last time he saw Princess Diana before her death Harry opened up about the last phone call he had with Diana before she died in 2017s Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy. Although less is known about the last time Harry, then 12, saw his mom before that fateful night in Paris, France. 3. Prince Harry Spare topics: walking behind Princess Dianas coffin Although hes talked about his mothers funeral through the years, its a topic Harry should and very likely will touch on in his book. Despite being the last topic on the list, Dianas funeral may, in fact, be where Spare begins. Publisher Penguin Random House practically said the book will transport readers to September 1997 when the title and cover were unveiled. Spare takes readers immediately back to one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mothers coffin as the world watched in sorrow and horror, the publisher said in a statement per Today. As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling and how their lives would play out from that point on, the statement continued. 4. Prince Harry Spare topics: Those nude photos from Las Vegas Prince Harry | Chris Jackson-Pool/Getty Images Another potential topic in Spare for Harry is when photos of him naked in Las Vegas, Nevada, surfaced in 2012 after a game of strip pool. In recent years hes talked about suppressing his grief over his mothers death with partying but Spare gives Harry an opportunity to delve deeper into that turbulent period of his life. 5. Prince Harry Spare topics: Wearing a Nazi costume to a 2005 party Yet again, another event Harry might discuss in Spare that has nothing to do with the tension between him and the rest of the royal family. It was 2005, and a then- 20-year-old Harry wore a Nazi uniform to a party. Harry reportedly resented William because theyd picked out their costumes together. In Netflixs Harry & Meghan, the now-38-year-old called it one of the biggest mistakes of my life, saying he felt so ashamed afterwards. All I wanted to do was make it right, he said, noting he had a profound conversation with a London rabbi before going to Germany and speaking to a Holocaust survivor. I could have just ignored it and made the same mistakes over again in my life. But I learned from that. Spare is available starting Jan. 10. 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 Bank settles lawsuit against Celebration Church founders over $700K debt Six months after suing Celebration Church founders Stovall and Kerri Weems and several companies they control for defaulting on more than $700,000 in loans, First Citizens Bank revealed that they've reached a settlement with the former megachurch leaders. The couple, who founded Celebration Church in 1998 and resigned as leaders in April 2022, were sued by the bank in May 2021 for defaulting on $716,123.14 in loans. Last month, however, an attorney for the bank filed notice at the Duval County Courthouse in Florida stating that they were voluntarily dismissing the suit as a result of [an] amicable settlement. The couple, who have been mired in legal fights since being ousted from their roles as leaders of the 12,000-member Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida, are still involved with two other lawsuits yet to be resolved. A hearing regarding a defamation lawsuit the couple filed against Celebration Church and its board of trustees is still pending while the church is seeking to remove the couple from a Black Hammock Island home they purchased as a parsonage. The megachurch founders filed their defamation lawsuit following the release of an internal investigation commissioned by the church that painted them as abusive leaders who exploited church staff and finances until they were forced to resign. The single word used most frequently to describe Stovall Weems was narcissist. Nearly every witness we interviewed used that specific word, a 22-page report on the investigation produced by the Nelson Mullins law firm said. According to the report, the Weemses leadership had been inconsistent and unbiblical" since at least 2019. Investigators allege that Stovall Weems leadership was marked by rampant spiritual and emotional abuse, including manipulation, a profound sense of self-importance and selfishness, superiority and entitlement, overbearing and unreasonable demands on employees time, a lack of accountability or humility, and demands of absolute loyalty. Last October, however, the Weemses' defamation case was dismissed by a judge who pointed out that the church autonomy doctrine, or ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, is rooted in both the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses of the United States Constitution and ensures that the highest ecclesiastical authorities, as opposed to the secular courts, have the final say on ecclesiastical matters. A new version of the defamation case was later allowed to be filed in court offering the couple another chance to argue their case. Celebration Church is also going after the Weemses in another lawsuit demanding that the couple vacate a million-dollar waterfront home owned by the church since they completely resigned from all work with the church in April 2022. Church officials argued in the lawsuit filed on June 1 that on June 6, 2021, Stovall Weems purchased the disputed home located at 16073 Shellcracker Road on behalf of the church and Weems Group, LLC, which he managed himself. The purchase was made without authorization from the churchs board. Redfin reports that the home, which has an estimated value of $1,412,024, was last sold for $1,286,900 The Weemses remain in possession of the property despite Stovall Weems resignation of employment, the Weemses refusal to pay rent and the churchs demands that the Weemses vacate the premises, the lawsuit says. Lawyers for the Weemses and the church are expected to present their arguments on the property dispute before Duval County Judge Mose Floyd on Jan. 23, while a hearing on the defamation case is expected to proceed on Jan. 24. Passion 2023: Louie Giglio urges Christians to break free from TikTok, apps that steal time and money Louie Giglio warned those gathered at the Passion 2023 Christian conference this week about the dangers of society operating an economy of attention through social media platforms and sites that absorb Christians by distracting them and taking their money. The 64-year-old pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta told the mostly Gen Z audience at the three-day conference that social media is absolutely pointless. And he called out the $4.6 billion company TikTok as a platform that is profiting off viewers and users time. People are getting paid and they're counting on you to pay them. We wake up and start paying people because we are caught up in this economy of attention, Giglio said at the annual event held Jan. 3-5. Giglio explained that social media is designed to make it hard for people to stop watching and clicking while companies are benefiting financially. If you have an addiction and you end up on certain sites, you [are] literally paying people. It's going out of your bank account into their bank account, he said. And you're thinking that you're getting a desire, the flesh, gratified. And really, they're just getting paid. They couldn't care less about you, except that you're paying them. Giglio proposed the idea that rather than dedicating long portions of time to social media platforms, Christians should begin to guard their time by devoting more time to God. The way the economy works is based on your attention. And multiple lifestyles now are emerging of people of all kinds with all different messages, all different lanes, all different purposes, Giglio warned. But they're banking on you giving them your attention. And if you will give them your attention for five seconds, they get paid, he continued. If you click on that link for five seconds, they get paid. If you watch 100 TikToks in a row, 100 people get paid. If they're monetizing and a lot of people are all they're trying to do is get five seconds of your attention. If you give them 15, then that's even better for them. But they'll take five. When I give [God] my attention, He gets paid. Not that He needs more money, but He gets the glory that He deserves. But when He gets my attention, I also get paid because I get Him, and so it works out great for God because He gets the glory He should be getting from my life because He created my life by and for Him, Giglio preached. But I also get God. And when I get God, I get the very best thing that there is on the planet. And you and I need to heighten our desire to guard our attention. The Spirit of the Lord, Giglio said, is trying to break into [the] mindset that Christians have that leads them to devote more time to online sites and social media platforms than they spend with the Lord. God wants Christians to behold Him by being in awe of Him, Giglio added. Join David, the Psalmist, when he said, One thing I asked the Lord and that will I seek that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple,' to lock onto true glory, and true beauty and true fame and to stay there, Giglio said, reciting part of Psalm 27. Giglio pointed out that far too many Christians need to recalibrate our willingness to give our attention away easily. I'm not knocking any TikToker or YouTuber who has got their little phone and microphone out on a college campus. But apparently, a lot of them do. I'm just saying that you and I have the choice where we want to aim our attention, he said. Every human is a mirror, Giglio added, because each one reflects whatever their main focus is. You don't have to believe in Jesus to be a mirror. You're a human being. You're going to be a mirror. You're going to reflect something to the world. You're going to say to the world: this is what my attention is focused on. ... This is what I want the world to hear from my life. I just pray that God will give us an awakening, a spirit of revelation of the glory of God, something that is bigger and something that is better, so that we cannot just opt into a slogan of passion, but really believe it deep in our heart. The Passion movement was launched in 1995 by Giglio. This years conference featured a number of Christian leaders and pastors, including Jackie Hill Perry, Pastor David Platt, Tim Tebow and others. Passion movement's ministry statement declares: For us, what matters most is the name and renown of Jesus. We believe in this generation and are watching God use them to change the climate of faith around the globe. What is Epiphany? 5 things every believer should know It might not be the biggest holiday on the Christian calendar, but Epiphany, otherwise known as Feast of the Epiphany or Three Kings Day, is, along with Christmas and Easter, one of the three principal and oldest festival days in the Church. Traditionally marked on Jan. 6, Epiphany which comes from epiphaneia, Greek for manifestation" is typically celebrated by Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans and some Eastern Orthodox churches. While some traditions link Epiphany with the wise men from the East who sojourned to Bethlehem for Jesus birth, some Orthodox traditions say its more aligned with the baptism of Christ. Here are five things to know about Epiphany, whether you celebrate it or not. A third of Americans have stopped going to church: survey A new study on how the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns impacted church attendance in the United States has found that roughly one in three Americans now say they've stopped attending religious services. The pandemic lockdowns disrupted religious participation for millions of Americans, notes the study, titled Faith After the Pandemic: How COVID-19 Changed American Religion, conducted by the Survey on American Life, a project of the American Enterprise Institute. In the summer of 2020, only 13% of Americans reported attending in-person worship services, which increased to 27% by the spring of 2022, but the rates of worship attendance were still lower than they were before the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, it adds. In the spring of 2022, 33% of Americans reported they never attend religious services, compared to 25% who reported this before the pandemic, as per the survey, which clarifies that only a few among the most religiously engaged Americans are part of that group. The largest declines in attendance were seen among adults younger than 50, adults with a college degree or less, Hispanic Catholics, black Protestants, and white mainline Protestants, it explains. However, the largest increases in attendance during these two periods were seen among adults aged 3049, adults with less than a college degree, and black Protestants. Conservatives, adults age 50 and older, women, married adults, and those with a college degree were more likely to attend than were other groups in both periods. Much of this decline in attendance was due to people completely abstaining from worship, the survey says. Nationally, religious identity among American adults stayed largely consistent during the pandemic, with minimal evidence of religious switching during this period, the study adds. While 19% of adults changed their religious identification during the pandemic, including 6% who were unaffiliated pre-pandemic but reported a religious identity in spring 2022, 5% who reported a religion pre-pandemic were unaffiliated in spring 2022. Last Augusts edition of the "State of the Bible: USA 2022 report from the American Bible Society found that 40% of Generation Z adults ages 18 and older attended church "primarily online." They were followed closely by 36% of churchgoers ages 77 and older. However, the report suggested that among Gen Z and millennials who had made a meaningful commitment to Jesus, about 66% did not attend church either in person or online at least once a month. Last November, Lifeway Research released the results of a phone survey of 1,000 Protestant pastors conducted from Sept. 6 through Sept. 30, 2022, which showed while churches were resuming the majority of their in-person services, on average, attendance at their churches in August 2022 was 85% of their Sunday attendance levels in January 2020. Still, those attendance levels marked the highest in over two years. The average church reported 63% of its pre-pandemic in-person attendance in September 2020. By August 2021, that number climbed to 73% and jumped another 12 points in 2022, according to the study. "While there are a handful of exceptions, we can definitively say that churches in the U.S. have reopened," Lifeway Research Executive Director Scott McConnell said in a statement at the time. "While masks began to rapidly disappear in many settings in 2022, churchgoers have not reappeared quite as fast." Last March, Pew Research Center released a report showing that the percentage of Americans who said they had attended religious services in the previous month had leveled off as more churches and houses of worship had lifted various COVID-19 meeting restrictions and safety precautions. Sam Rainer, president of Church Answers and pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church in Florida, told The Christian Post at the time that he believed there are times and there are seasons in the life of the church where a plateau is not a bad place to be. If you are holding your own with attendance right now, if you are stable in attendance, I view that as a victory because its been harder to draw new people in during this season, Rainer said. Catholic priest murdered in Burkina Faso as country grapples with terrorism Unidentified armed men killed a 67-year-old Catholic priest in northwestern Burkina Faso, which is witnessing one of the fastest-growing displacement and protection crises globally due to terrorism and other challenges, according to the United Nations. Fr. Jacques Yaro Zerbo was assassinated on Dedougou-Gassan road in Soro village, which is situated in one of the most affected regions by terrorism, Boucle du Mouhoun, Catholic news agency Fides reported, citing a statement by the Bishop of Dedougou, Prosper Bonaventure K.Y. The gunmen took with them the vehicle of the Malian-born Catholic priest and his other belongings, ACI Africa reported. A priest from the Dedougou Diocese since 1986, Zerbo founded a youth re-education center in the Tougan region, which he later relocated to Dedougou because of terrorist attacks. Last June, at least 100 people were reportedly killed by an armed group in Seytanga district in northern Burkina Faso near the Niger border, where al Qaeda and Islamic State-affiliated militants are conducting an insurgency. The attack was said to be among the deadliest since the insurgency in Burkina began in 2016, when there has been an increase in Islamic State fighters fleeing from the Middle East to Africa, leading to a sharp rise in extremism across the Sahel and other regions in Africa. In 2021, as many as 160 civilians were killed in an attack in the Yagha province of northeastern Burkina Faso. The rise of extremism in Burkina Faso has led to international concern as both Muslims and Christians continue to bear the brunt of Islamic extremism. Over 1.4 million people have fled their homes in search of safety making the situation in Burkina Faso one of the fastest-growing displacement and protection crises globally, UNHCR said. Displacement in Burkina Faso rose 1,200% in 2019, according to the U.N. According to the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project, Christians comprise just over 20% of Burkina Fasos population, while Muslims make up over 60%. In its Persecution Trends 2022 report, Release International said, The situation facing Christians in Burkina Faso is now similar to Nigeria, where terror groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have killed thousands and displaced millions. In 2021, jihadis targeted Christians in the north of Burkina Faso, forcing churches to close and meet in secret, the report noted. The attacks ranged from bombings, killings, kidnappings and school burnings to assaults on religious leaders and places of worship. Release International had warned that pressure in the region was likely to continue in 2022, particularly following the drawdown of French troops in the area. Open Doors USA, which monitors persecution in over 60 countries, ranks Burkina Faso as the 32nd worst country regarding Christian persecution. The central government is very weak, particularly in the east of the country where Islamic law is informally implemented by groups who've gained control over these areas, Open Doors warned in a factsheet. Jihadist violence has been rapidly increasing in recent years, and extremists have exploited the government's weakness during the COVID-19 crisis to gain control of the country's infrastructure. Minnesota pastor left paralyzed after slipping on ice outside church After slipping on ice in front of his church in Minnesota, which left him partially paralyzed, 64-year-old Pastor David Kent recounted his devastating experience while showing faith in God as a healer. Took one slip, I was down on the ground. My hands, my arms, my legs were all paralyzed, Kent of Christian Life Center in Golden Valley told KSPT, recalling the Dec. 16 accident. I couldnt move, my hands were in the snow. I knew that wasnt good. The pastor, who broke his neck, was taken to North Memorial Health Hospital where surgeons operated on his spine and he remains paralyzed in his arms and legs. They said we need to do surgery quickly, because hes broken his C4 and C5, the pastors wife, Susan, told KSPT. They said spinal cord injuries have to have surgery within 24 hours and if they didnt do it fast, (the area) below the C5 could be damaged as well. Pastor Kent was walking down the street that is owned by the church to talk to some tree-trimming workers when he slipped, according to an online fundraiser for his treatment, which is likely to cost more than $350,000. According to CCX Media, the pastor has self-pay health insurance. It will be a long road ahead of rehabilitation, occupational therapy and physical therapy, to determine when/if he will regain feeling and movement in his body, the fundraiser says. The rehab may be slow and take months, even years. Rehab will also work with the family and David to gain as much independence as possible. The pastor told KSPT he remains optimistic. It may be a slow healing, but I believe he is going to walk again, his wife, Susan, was quoted as saying. I dont know how long it will take, I dont know how much rehab hell have to go through. But we have hope. Pastor Kent added, I wouldnt wish this on anybody. Definitely, its been an experience where I can say Ive been blessed because of all the people that have come alongside and been a strength to me. He told CCX Media, I serve a mighty big God. Hes able to do exceeding, abundantly, above all that were able to ask. So, I have total faith. My God is a healer. The required 90-day in-patient rehab will cost about $3,900 a day. After David completes hospital inpatient rehab, he will need outpatient therapy which will bring much additional medical equipment expenses. The pastors family says they typically would never ask for money from friends, family and the community. However, David has given so much of himself that we are now asking the community to give back. We do not have the resources required, but we know that anything is possible when we all band together. Satanic Temple dedicates 'largest satanic gathering in history' to Boston mayor The Satanic Temple announced its dedicating the largest satanic gathering in history to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, accusing the city of trying to unconstitutionally bar them from public spaces. On its website, The Satanic Temple invites people to register for SatanCon 2023, which will take place from April 28 to April 30 in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. The theme is "Hexennacht in Boston, which translates to Witches Night in Boston. Hexennacht is an ancient German holiday that takes place annually on April 30, commemorating the canonization of Saint Walburga, who was known for exorcising demons from sick people. Earlier this month, The Satanic Temple advertised SatanCon 2023 on its Instagram, promising that the groups 10th-anniversary celebration would be the largest satanic gathering in history. The event will feature discussion panels, satanic rituals and a satanic marketplace. A video published in August promoting SatanCon includes the Latin phrase Sicut matribus sit satanas nobis, which means "Let Satan be to us as a mother. The Satanic Temple did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment. Despite its name, the group claims that it does not believe in Satan as a spiritual entity, stating on its website that its mission is to encourage benevolence and empathy among all people, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense and justice, and be directed by the human conscience to undertake noble pursuits. As CP reported, The Satanic Temple disclosed in May that it had filed a request in Boston to fly a flag over the city hall after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Boston could not prohibit a Christian group from flying a flag. The group filed a request with Bostons property management department to raise and lower a flag from July 23 to July 29 that reads Satan Appreciation Week. The Satanic Temple ultimately did not raise its flag over city hall, as the city announced in October 2021 that it was no longer accepting flag-raising applications. In 2021, The Satanic Temple filed a lawsuit against the city of Boston, accusing the city of excluding them from delivering invocation prayers during city council meetings. The group claims the city rejected two of its requests filed in 2016 and 2017 to bless the council, stating that The Satanic Temple lacked sponsorship from a councilor. The Satanic Temple has faced opposition in other jurisdictions, especially regarding its afterschool program, After School Stan Club. The group filed a civil suit in Pennslyvania last April after the Dillsburg-based Northern York County School Board rejected the establishment of an After School Satan Club. The district voted down implementing the club at the Northern Elementary School in an 8-1 on April 19, a decision applauded by district parents. Mathew Kezhaya, general counsel for The Satanic Temple, told CP that the lawsuits purpose was to determine whether the school district discriminated against the group by refusing to approve its club. "The First Amendment prohibits a government from considering the popularity of communicative activity when determining whether to facilitate that communicative activity on equal terms with other, similarly situated, groups," he stated. In November, the Golden Hills Elementary School in California announced it would adopt an After School Satan Program. However, Tehachapi Unified School District Superintendent Stacey Larson-Everson said the approval was not a sign of endorsement. "TUSD has long-held policies and procedures in place which allow varied community groups to use our publicly-funded facilities outside of the school day," Larson-Everson wrote in a statement to CP. "This is a common practice among school districts around the state and nation. Religious groups are among those that the District has allowed to rent our facilities over the years." Some members of the district expressed disapproval of the decision, feeling that such a club is inappropriate for children. "I think it's disgusting," Sheila Knight, a grandmother to a fifth-grade student, told KBAK. "I understand the school has to allow them because they allow other after-school programs such as the Good News [Club], which is a Christian-based after-school program, that one I'm OK with, but I can't imagine why anyone would want their child to attend this Satanic group." Another grandmother whose grandson is in fourth grade told the outlet that the school approving the club was a mistake, and her grandson would not participate. In a December interview with CP, Lydia Kaiser, the spokeswoman for the Good News Club, a Christian organization with afterschool clubs on campuses nationwide, warned that Satan clubs were only started in schools with Good News Clubs as a direct attack on teaching Christianity to children. The TST website states that satanic clubs meet at select public schools where Good News Clubs also operate. While we don't believe The Satanic Temple is a real church because it claims to not even believe in God or Satan, they clearly worship man, said Kaiser. Other people worship nature. Everyone worships someone or something and should be free to do so, Kaiser stated. The USA was founded on Christian principles by many Christians who believed that even God gave man the free will to choose who or what to worship. Why Mr. Rogers was better than Barney, but he'd be in big trouble today Not that long ago, culturally speaking, someone known throughout the world for being neighborly said some things that most likely would have gotten him fired today. And, believe it or not, he said these things on public television! Fred Rogers of "Mister Rogers Neighborhood"often performed songs he wrote to address issues that confused children or caused them to struggle. One of these songs, Everybodys Fancy, was featured in numerous episodes of his hit show from 1968 to 1991. He hoped to help children love and value their bodies and to respect other children, too. Rogers was, of course, completely unaware of the modern controversies over LGBTQ identities that would soon dominate the culture, but, in several lines of the song, he expressed truths that are no longer permitted to be said out loud. "Boys are boys from the beginning. Girls are girls right from the start. Everybodys fancy, everybodys fine. Your bodys fancy and so is mine. Only girls can grow up to be the mommies. Only boys can grow up to be the daddies." Can you imagine someone saying these things on PBS today? In fact, in a segment last year from the "Lets Learn" TV series, PBS stations across the country featured a drag queen who goes by the stage name Lil Miss Hot Mess singing lines from his book, The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish, to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round. Hot Mess is a grown man who dresses in flamboyant and exaggerated womens clothing and makeup, and then seeks an audience with children. The most obvious takeaway is that any trust previous generations of parents and kids had for public television was, long ago, squandered. A second takeaway is just how quickly some ideas have shifted from being unthinkable to unquestionable. Therefore, we should doubt anyone who tries to gaslight us into thinking were regressive bigots for believing male and female are realities built into human nature. Only a short time ago, some facts were considered so obvious and universally accepted that Mister Rogers could sing about them to children on a publicly funded medium, and no one thought anything whatsoever about gender dysphoria, transgender identity or drag queens when he did. Does that mean Fred Rogers was a bigot? Was he a transphobe? No. In fact, no one had ever heard of such accusations at the time. As an ordained Presbyterian minister, Rogers viewed the world in a noticeably Christian way. Though he didnt often discuss his faith publicly, his dedication to and concern for children was, in very real ways, Christ-like. For example, Rogers did not avoid difficult subjects if he believed kids needed to talk about them. So, he dealt with death, divorce, and racism, and he had a way of empathizing with the especially deep sorrow and confusion children can feel over such things. Everybodys Fancy was Rogers way of teaching children that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. For Rogers, that included talking about the human body as something good, as worth appreciating and caring for. Mister Rogers even taught children that one thing that made bodies special was that they were gendered, and that this gender had significance for who and what they would become in life. As he said, only boys can grow up to be daddies, and only girls can grow up to be mommies. In this, "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood" was unlike so many childrens shows that vaguely taught and sang about how everyone is special. Barney was not only irritating, it was gnostic. Mr. Rogers, at least in this song, had a robust applied creational theology. Thats not to say Mr. Rogers always got it right. It seems, for example, that his compassion eventually got in the way of clear thinking on sexuality and gender, though he kept his views quiet for the sake of avoiding controversy. Even so, his strong affirmation of the goodness and permanence of male and femaleand the fact that he generated no controversy for saying these thingsshould make us think. What he sang then is no less obviously true now, and its absurd to suggest that Mister Rogers was some hate-filled bigot for holding these views, as our president seemed to imply recently. No, its those who tell children that their fancy bodies may, in fact, be the wrong bodies and in need of social, chemical, or surgical alteration, who are living in the land of make-believe. Originally published at Breakpoint. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form 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. (CNN) Chinese billionaire Jack Ma will no longer control Ant Group after the fintech giant's shareholders agreed to reshape its shareholding structure, according to a statement released by the company on Saturday. After the adjustment, Ma's voting rights will fall to 6.2%, according to the statement and CNN calculations. Before the restructure, Ma possessed more than 50% of voting rights at Ant via Hangzhou Yunbo and two other entities, according to its IPO prospectus filed with the exchanges in 2020. Ant added in the statement that the voting rights adjustment, a move to make the company's shareholder structure "more transparent and diversified," will not result in any change to the economic interests of any shareholders. Ant said its 10 major shareholders, including Ma, had agreed to no longer act in concert when exercising their voting rights, and would only vote independently, and thus no shareholder would have "sole or joint control over Ant Group." The voting rights overhaul came after Chinese regulators pulled the plug on Ant's $37 billion IPO in November 2020, and ordered the company to restructure its business. As part of the company's restructuring, Ant's consumer finance unit applied for an expansion of its registered capital from $1.2 billion to $2.7 billion. The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission recently approved the application, according to a government notice issued late last week. After the fund-raising drive, Ant will control half of its key consumer finance unit, while an entity controlled by the Hangzhou city government will own a 10% stake. Hangzhou is where Alibaba and Ant have been headquartered since their inceptions. Ant Group is a fintech affiliate of Alibaba, both of which were founded by Ma. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Jack Ma to relinquish control of Ant group." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 8) The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomes the appointment of lawyer Faydah Dumarpa as its new commissioner, but the institution still needs two more officials for its leadership to be complete. In a statement released on Sunday, the CHR said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Dumarpas appointment papers last Dec. 28 and it was transmitted to the institution last Jan. 5 Dumarpa will serve until 2029 along with CHR chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc and Commissioner Beda Espres, who were appointed by Marcos last September. CHR looks forward to her future contributions in the policy, protection, promotion, and prevention work of the Commission, it said. Similarly, we welcome the gender balance that Commissioner Dumarpa brings to CEB VI (Sixth Commission en banc). Her overall multidisciplinary perspective comes as a great benefit to the ever-flourishing landscape of human rights, it added. READ: CHR wants comprehensive law, special court to tackle human rights lapses in PH The Lanao del Sur native served as deputy executive director for administrative and financial service in the National Nutrition Council in 2021. She then became a director for administrative and financial group in the procurement service of the Department of Budget and Management in September 2022. Dumarpa also worked as a political affairs officer in the House of Representatives for nine years. In the Senate, she served as a legislative staff officer in 2012 then had a supervising role in 2013. In the same year, she joined the National Power Corporation as its corporate lawyer. Commissioner Dumarpa not only offers her expansive experience in the legal, socio-political, and administrative and finance fields, her Southern and Muslim roots also reflect plurality crucial to the Commissions highest decision-making body, the CHR said. Dumarpa is the daughter of former Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Faysah Racman Dumarpa and Salic Biston Dumarpa, a former commissioner of the National Labor Relations Commission. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 8) Some 88,000 devotees took part in the Walk of Faith procession to celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene early Sunday morning, the Manila Police District (MPD) reported. The procession started at 2 a.m. and the Catholic faithful walked for two hours from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church. They brought with them candles and small images of the Black Nazarene. The march replaced the traditional Traslacion where millions of devotees usually flock to Manila to witness the transfer of the Black Nazarene from Luneta to Quiapo as it is still suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nakakagaan ng feeling, devotee Doms Leda described the walk. Napapatunayan na wala yung Nazareno, hindi siya nag-Traslacion, hindi siya lumabas, marami pa rin mga tao handa mag-Traslacion para sa Kanya. [Translation: I feel lighthearted. This just shows that even without the Black Nazarene, the image was not brought outside for the Traslacion, but many devotees are still ready to do it for Him.] JonJon Dionisio, the president of Hijos del Nazareno MBBN who are in charge of protecting the Black Nazarene in the traditional Traslacion, shared the same view. Dionisio told CNN Philippines Newsroom Weekend that Nazareno activities can still continue even without the usual procession. Siyempre po nalulungkot kami bilang hijos, matagal na po namin gustong ilabas ang poon, pero syempre iniisip rin po namin ang kapakanan ng ibang deboto dahil sa COVID-19, he added. [Translation: Of course, we're sad as hijos because we had wanted to bring out the image for the longest time, but, of course, we are also thinking about the welfare of other devotees because of COVID-19.] According to the Manila Police District, no untoward incident was reported during the walk and activities went smoothly and according to plan. District Director PBGen. Andre Dizon said he believes that the traditional Traslacion could return next year. Kung bibigyan ako ng pagkakataon, kung kukunin ang aking opinion, I would agree na isama na po 'yung image ng Black Nazarene, Dizon said. [Translation: If given the chance to share my opinion, I would agree that we should include the image of the Black Nazarene in the procession.] The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), on the other hand, reported it served 144 patients as of Sunday noon. The PRC said 120 people availed their services for blood pressure monitoring while 24 were minor cases, including abrasion, chest pain, contusion, laceration, and abdominal pain. It also transported one patient who went unconscious. As of 3 p.m., the Quiapo Church Command Post recorded that a total of 142,027 people have been at the Quiapo Church since 12 a.m. At the Quirino Grandstand, a total of 43,148 devotees were logged. There were long lines at the grandstand as devotees participate in Pagpupugay, where they approach and touch the Black Nazarene, in lieu of the traditional Pahalik. Father Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of the Quiapo Church, said he was happy to see the devotees gather again at the grandstand. Hindi natin pwedeng biglainso dahan-dahan, unti-unti. Ipagdasal natin na sana next year back to normal na tayo, he said. [Translation: We shouldn't do it abruptlyso it must be gradual. Lets pray that by next year we'll be back to normal.] Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula will preside over the Eucharistic celebration at the Quirino Grandstand at midnight of Jan. 9, the culmination day of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, with church officials expecting more devotees. Yun ang paanyaya namin para nga maipakita natin na hindi lang tayo basta prusisyon lang, kundi nakasentro ang ating debosyon sa banal na misa, Badong said. Yun ngang tagline natin -- wala ngang prusisyon pero tuloy ang selebrasyon, he added. [Translation: Thats our invitation to show that its not just the procession, but that our devotion is centered on the holy mass. Thats our tagline -- theres no procession but the celebration remains.] CNN Philippines correspondents Crissy Dimatulac and Paige Javier contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 8) The low pressure area (LPA) that exited the countrys weather monitoring area Saturday night may still reenter in the coming days, the state weather bureau said on Sunday. Ayon sa ating latest analysis ay nananatiling mababa yung tiyansa nito na maging bagyo at nananatili din na nagiging pabago-bago yung pagkilos nitong low pressure area kaya hindi natin inaalis yung possibility na sa mga susunod araw ay pumasok ito muli sa loob ng ating area of responsibility, state weather specialist Grace Castaneda said in a briefing. [Translation: Based on our latest analysis, the chances of the LPA developing into a tropical cyclone remains low, but its movement continuously change thats why we are not discounting the possibility that it will reenter our area of responsibility in the coming days.] According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the trough of the LPA will bring moderate to heavy rains over Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and Misamis Oriental. It also forecasts light to moderate with at times heavy rains over the Western Visayas, Davao region, the rest of Caraga, and the rest of Northern Mindanao. Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in areas with significant antecedent rainfall, PAGASA advised. Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon, or amihan, is affecting Luzon skies. State meteorologists warned residents and authorities of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Bicol Region, Aurora, and Quezon for possible flash floods or landslides caused by moderate with at times heavy rains. Aurora and Bulacan have been experiencing bad weather conditions and flooding in the past few days, which displaced thousands of residents. READ: Bad weather, flooding displace thousands in Aurora and Bulacan Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 9) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on the Catholic faithful to find new meaning in their passions and sufferings as a people in his message for the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Monday. As the Catholic Faithful expresses their devotion to the Black Nazarene, let us also remember its deep rootedness in our Filipino culture of overcoming the great trials and tribulations in our midst. Indeed, it is through our faith that we can conquer the storms that loom ahead of us and bring forth a life filled with grace and steadfastness, the president explained. May the image of Jesus Christ inspire us to center our existence around love, hope, and compassion as we open up ourselves to others and the world during these extraordinary times. Together, let us embody these values as we write a new chapter in our nation's narrative so we can altogether usher in an era of peace and prosperity for all, he added. Marcos has declared Jan. 9 as a special non-working day in Manila in celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene. The annual Traslacion the procession commemorating the transfer of the image of the Black Nazarene from Luneta to Quiapo Church in 1868 was cancelled for third year in a row starting in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. RELATED: Around 88,000 devotees join Nazareno 'Walk of Faith' In lieu of the Traslacion, a Walk of Faith was held Sunday morning. Around 88,000 devotees joined the Walk of Faith, according to the police. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 8) A right-of-way (ROW) issue continues to stall the completion of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) interchange, with the private landowner demanding higher payments, a government official said. The company which owns the 450 square meters of land needed to finish the 3.9-kilometer Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange is now seeking compensation ranging from 50 million to 60 million, Department of Public Works and Highways (DWPH) Public-Private Partnership Service Director Alex G. Bote said in a recent meeting with Silang, Cavite Mayor Kevin Anarna. The government valuation for the property, however, was only at 16 million. "Were okay to bring this matter to the court. It should be placed under just compensation. The government will still pay for that if the court decides that its really 60 million," he said. In a mobile message over the weekend, Bote said the DPWH would seek the issuance of a writ of possession after the agency failed to resolve the ROW issue last month. A letter to the Office of Court Administration requesting for assistance has been prepared as well. If settled within January, the DPWH official said that it was still feasible for the CALAX operator, MPCALA Holdings, to finish the segment in the first quarter of 2023. Once operational, the interchange is expected to boost traffic volume along the operating segments of CALAX from the current 33,000 vehicles daily to 40,000. (CNN) German police have detained an Iranian national on suspicion of planning a terror attack, authorities in the country said Sunday. Police in the western city of Munster said the 32-year-old man is believed to have procured unspecified amounts of the toxins cyanide and ricin in preparation for an "Islamist-motivated attack." The suspect was detained following an investigation by the North Rhine-Westphalia Central Office for the Prosecution of Terrorism, a unit of the Dusseldorf Public Prosecutor's Office, according to police. Police retrieved materials during a search of the suspect's home in the city of Castrop-Rauxel and an investigation is ongoing, police said. Another person is also being held in connection with the case, police said, without providing more details. This story was first published on CNN. "Germany detains Iranian national suspected of planning a terror attack" (CNN) Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Sunday breached security barriers set up by the Armed Forces and gained access to key buildings for each of the three branches of government, including the congressional building, the Supreme Court and the Planalto Presidential Palace, according to images shown in Brazilian media. Footage showed massive crowds in the capital of Brasilia walking up a ramp that leads to the congressional building, where they had reached the Green Room, located outside the lower House of Congress' chamber, Interim Senate President Veneziano Vital do Rogo told CNN Brasil. Other outlets showed Bolsonaro suporters entering the Supreme Court and the presidential palace, where CNN Brasil showed the arrivals of anti-riot police and the Brazilian Armed Forces. Inside, protesters were using furniture to build barricades to prevent police from entering, CNN Brasil reported. The floor of the Congress building was flooded after the sprinkler system activated when protesters attempted to set fire to the carpet, according to CNN Brasil. Additional videos showed protesters inside the building taking gifts received from international delegations and destroying artwork. The breaches come about a week after the inauguration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose return to power after a 12-year hiatus comes after he defeated Bolsonaro in a run-off election on October 30. Bolsonaro's administration previously said it was cooperating with the transition of power, but the far-right leader has stopped short of explicitly conceding his election loss, and he left the country for the United States prior to Lula's inauguration. Supporters of Bolsonaro have been camped out in the capital since then. Justice Minister Flavio Dino had authorized the Armed Forces to set up the barriers and guard the congressional building Saturday due to the continued presence of pro-Bolsonaro supporters. Neither house of Congress is currently in session. And while President Lula is not currently in the building, a team assembled for the newly-elected president was working inside the palace at the time the protesters entered, CNN Brasil reported. Officials at Planalto Palace are waiting for the Air Force to evacuate them from the building, per CNN Brasil. President Lula on Sunday described the events as "barbaric" and called the Bolsonaro protesters who breached the government buildings "fascists." "These people are everything that is abominable in politics, to invade the government headquarters, the headquarters of Congress and the headquarters of the Supreme Court like true vandals destroying everything in their path," Lula said. Lula also said there was a "lack of security" and said "all the people who did this will be found and punished." The president held the press conference in Araraquara, Sao Paulo, where he had been surveying areas damaged by heavy floods. Brazilian officials condemned the actions of demonstrators, which were reminiscent of January 6, 2021, when rioters stormed the US Capitol in an effort to prevent the certification of the 2020 election and President Joe Biden's win over former President Donald Trump. "The National Congress has never denied a voice to those who want to demonstrate peacefully. But it will never give room for turmoil, destruction and vandalism," Arthur Lira, president of the Lower House of Congress said on Twitter. "Those responsible for promoting and abetting this attack on Brazilian democracy and its main symbols must be identified and punished in accordance with the law." Brazil's Attorney General's office (MPF) said in a statement it is investigating all involved in the breaches. "The Attorney General of the Republic, Augusto Aras, monitors and follows with concern the acts of vandalism to public buildings that occur in Brasilia this Sunday (8)," the MPF said. Aras has also "requested the Attorney General's Office in the Federal District (PRDF) to immediately open a criminal investigation procedure aimed at holding those involved accountable." Dino, who said he was at the Ministry of Justice headquarters, condemned the actions of Bolsonaro's supporters in a statement on Twitter, saying, "This absurd attempt to impose the will by force will not prevail." Federal District Security Secretary Anderson Torres -- and the former justice minister under Bolsonaro's government -- similarly called the scenes "regrettable," adding he had ordered "immediate steps to restore order in the center of Brasilia." Gleisi Hoffman, president of the Worker's Party, called the breaches "a crime announced against democracy" and "against the will of the polls." NEW MEXICO Proposal would professionalize only unsalaried legislature SANTA FE Lawmakers in New Mexico the nation's only unsalaried legislature are looking for ways instill greater professionalism in their work that could result in a steady paycheck and lengthier legislative calendar. Democratic state State Rep. Joy Garratt of Albuquerque told the Santa Fe New Mexican that she plans to co-sponsor a ballot initiative to create a commission with the authority to set salaries for legislators. Legislative approval is required to schedule the vote. Members of the New Mexico House and Senate receive a daily stipend and reimbursement for travel that can add add up to more than $20,000 in some instances, with an optional pension plan for long-serving lawmakers. New Mexico's Legislature meets for as few as 30 days a year, with 60-day sessions in odd-numbered years. There are more extensive duties and travel for members of year-round budget and policy committees. Critics of the system say legislative salaries would help younger candidates who hail from working households serve as lawmakers and alleviate conflicts between legislative advocacy and private careers. In New Mexico, money is currently no obstacle to expanding pay for legislators. State government is forecasting a multibillion-dollar windfall from surging oil production and robust energy prices. Economists estimate state government income of nearly $12 billion for the fiscal year running from July 2023 to June 2024, exceeding current annual general fund spending obligations by 43% or $3.6 billion. Anxiety added as condition for medical marijuana SANTA FE Officials in New Mexico have approved anxiety disorders as a qualifying condition under the state's medical marijuana program. When approving the move, the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Advisory Board cited that up to 25 percent of New Mexico's adult population roughly 465,000 people could be experiencing the effects of such disorders. The ruling takes effect Jan. 1. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the change, which could expand the medical cannabis program to thousands of new patients, came about after two advisory board members, physician assistant Stephanie Richmond and Dr. Jean-Paul Dedam, petitioned the board to add anxiety as a qualifying condition. Richmond said she hopes the measure will reduce the need for benzodiazepines, common pharmaceutical drugs prescribed for anxiety disorders with the potential for dependency and negative side effects. She also hopes it will encourage more discussions between patients and doctors about the plant's use, especially because strong stigmas and misinformation still exist. Dispensary managers view the measure as a positive step forward, but they say dosage and treatment protocols will ultimately remain the responsibility of cannabis shop employees until more medical doctors are versed in products and their effects. KANSAS Pipeline section with oil spill is back in service TOPEKA A pipeline operator put a damaged section in Kansas back into service on Dec. 29, a little more than three weeks after a spill dumped 14,000 bathtubs' worth of crude oil into a rural creek. Canada-based T.C. Energy announced that it had completed repairs, inspections and testing on its Keystone pipeline in northeast Kansas to allow a "controlled restart" of the section from Steele City, Nebraska, near the Kansas line, to Cushing, in northern Oklahoma. The 2,700-mile Keystone system carries heavy crude oil extracted from tar sands in western Canada to the Gulf Coast and to central Illinois. A spill on Dec. 7 shut down the Keystone system after dumping 14,000 barrels of crude oil into a creek running through rural pastureland in Washington County, about 150 miles northwest of Kansas City. Each barrel is 42 gallons, the size of a household bathtub. The U.S. Department of Transportation's pipeline safety arm gave TC Energy permission to restart the section of pipeline after telling the company that it would have to operate it at lower pressure than before. The company's announcement disclosed that it still is working to determine the cause of the spill. The rupture occurred on local farmer Bill Pannbacker's land, and he said he's bothered the company reopened the section of pipeline when "they haven't at least given an official cause" of the accident. The company reported that as of a week before reopening the pipeline, it had recovered almost 7,700 barrels of the spilled crude oil, or a little more than half. The company and government officials have said drinking water supplies were not affected. No one was evacuated, and most of the Keystone system was back in operation in eight days. ARIZONA Group want jaguars reintroduced to US Southwest PHOENIX An environmental group on Dec. 12 petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help reintroduce the jaguar to the Southwest, where it roamed for hundreds of thousands of years before being whittled down to just one of the big cats known to survive in the region. The male jaguar, named Sombra shadow in Spanish has been seen in southern Arizona several times since first captured on a wildlife camera in the Dos Cabezas Mountains in 2016, including a 2017 video by the Center for Biological Diversity. There are a handful of jaguars known to be living across the border in the Mexican state of Sonora. The center wants the federal agency to help expand critical habitat for jaguars in remote areas and launch an experimental population in New Mexico's Gila National Forest along the border with Arizona. Jaguars ranged throughout North America before they were killed to the point of extinction for their stunning spotted pelts and to protect livestock. Jaguar populations in many places from Mexico to South America are shrinking as well. They are being reintroduced to their historic range in Argentina through a program in which they are bred in captivity and released. Concerns about the jaguar's future were mentioned in a letter the center sent Oct. 19 to Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, giving his administration a 60-day notice of its intent to file a lawsuit to halt the ongoing placement of shipping containers along the U.S.-Mexico border. The letter says the San Rafael Valley in southeastern Arizona is among the last established corridors for jaguars and ocelots between the two countries. Trial reset for polygamous sect leader PHOENIX The trial date for a polygamous sect leader charged with kidnapping and tampering with evidence in a federal investigation into his community on the Utah-Arizona border has been pushed back. Samuel Bateman has pleaded not guilty to the charges in U.S. District Court in Arizona. He was scheduled to go on trial on Jan. 3, but his attorney asked for more time to prepare. The trial now is scheduled to start March 14. Bateman faces a raft of state and federal charges, including child abuse, obstructing a federal investigation and aiding in kidnapping girls who were placed in the state child welfare agency after his arrest earlier this year. Federal authorities also have accused Bateman of taking more than 20 wives, including underage girls, though he does not face any charges directly related to that accusation. Bateman and his followers practice polygamy, a legacy of the early teachings of the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The faith known widely as the Mormon church abandoned the practice in 1890 and now strictly prohibits it. 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. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. The Shadow Minister had a twinkle in his eye. Wait for Keirs speech tomorrow, he told me. Theres a fun little rabbit in it. Hes going to wind up Boris and his people. The rabbit turned out to be the Labour leaders announcement that he would place a Take Back Control Bill at the centre of his first Kings Speech if he becomes Prime Minister. The pledge itself fell flat, with no details provided about what this supposedly transformational piece of legislation would actually contain. But the political symbolism was clear. Im coming for Boriss Blue Wall voters! Starmer was declaring. The next day, I bumped into another Shadow Minister. We chatted about the general political landscape, with him offering an upbeat assessment of Labours chances. Then he asked with a hint of trepidation: Whats going to happen with Boris? Do you think they might try to bring him back? The official line from Team Starmer is no complacency. The next General Election due in 2024 will be a tight battle. Even securing a small majority will be a struggle. Nothing can be taken for granted. Im coming for Boriss Blue Wall voters! Starmer was declaring. Pictured: Giving a speech during a visit to UCL at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London However, the private line is different. Senior Labour strategists are convinced that Rishi Sunak is already a busted flush. For some reason Sunak has decided to adopt a steady as she goes approach to the worst economic and social crisis since the 1990s, one told me. If the Tories want to turn things round, they need to try something radical. Even Liz Truss understood that. But Sunaks sitting back and playing safe. And thats fine with us. Which is why if Boris Johnson isnt directly in Starmers sights, hes in his head. There is nothing Sunak has done since becoming PM that has given Labours leader sleepless nights. But the thought of a dramatic return for the Tory Partys favourite Prodigal Son most certainly does. I looked back at our focus groups from around the time Boris resigned, one Shadow Minister explained, and there were a group of 2019 Labour-to-Tory switch-voters who were saying, Thats it, Boris is dead to me. Hes let me down. I wont vote for him again. And there were enough of those to just give us a majority. But he added: There was an even larger group and it was growing who were saying, Look, we know who Boris is. We dont agree with what he did on Partygate. But he got us through Covid. He delivered the vaccine. Hes done OK on Ukraine. Just get off his back, and let him get on with it, and see if he can deliver for us again. Another Labour strategist framed it more graphically. The Tories getting rid of Boris was gold dust for us. It brought into play this whole group of voters who were out of reach. There are a clump of constituencies we thought we could win that we now think we should win. And that means we can start prioritising in terms of resources and leadership visits. There is, of course, an element of mischief-making attached to the candour with which Starmers allies talk up their fear of Boriss return. As one commented to me: Sunak isnt going to be able to get Boris off his back. The months between now and Mays local elections are going to be taken up with endless speculation about whether Boris will make a move or not. Its more than just speculation. As Nadine Dorries, one of Boriss closest friends, bluntly sets out in todays Mail on Sunday: The future of Conservative MPs rests in their own hands and they have a simple question to ask themselves: Do they want to remain as MPs, or not? It is an undeniable fact that, with Boris at the helm, more of them will return to Westminster following a General Election than with any other individual leading the party Its bring back Boris or die. Such a scenario is creating a strange convergence between the interests of Sunak and Starmer. Inside No 10, theres a growing realisation that Boris represents a genuine threat. Inside Starmers office, theres a belief he is the only threat. As a result, some Labour MPs think parts of Downing Street have decided the time has come for the Boris threat to be neutralised with their assistance. Weve been putting in some parliamentary questions that raise issues about Boris and his time in Government, one Labour MP told me, and until now, such questions would have been blocked. But suddenly were getting quite a lot of good information. Its almost as if someones decided, If you want to kill off Boris, were not going to stand in your way. Meanwhile, theres another reason why some on the Tory side believe the Johnson sore cannot be allowed to fester for much longer. Sunaks focus is solely on finding a way to grapple with the myriad crises besieging his Government. Senior Labour strategists are convinced that Rishi Sunak is already a busted flush A friend of the PM told me: Hes just not stopping. His officials cant believe the amount of time he spends buried in his papers. He was on a plane the other day, but when his dinner came he just waved it away. He worked through the entire flight. But around him the war-gaming of the next Election is already under way. The political gurus who delivered victories in the Brexit referendum and the 2019 Election are staring at their laptops and whiteboards, trying to devise a strategy to deliver one more upset. And theyre struggling. The problem is that were trying to put together a plan for winning the next Election, one Cabinet Minister confessed, but we dont know who the plans for. If its Rishi, well have to follow a particular strategy. If its Boris, well need a completely different one. But its impossible to come up with adverts, attack lines or manifesto commitments that work for both men because theyre such completely different politicians and personalities. To an extent, Labour have a similar problem. Theyre putting together a campaign aimed at defeating Rishi Sunak. And if Boris were to return to No 10, their own plans would have to be torn up. But unlike their Tory counterparts, Starmer and his team arent conflicted about which opponent they would prefer to be up against in 2024. Keirs not a demonstrative man, one of his friends confided, but you should have seen him the day Boris announced he was going to resign. He was walking round the office high-fiving everyone. Id never seen him do a high-five in his life. Many Tory MPs view the prospect of Boris returning with dread. It cant happen. It wont happen. I will do everything in my power to make sure it doesnt happen, one Cabinet Minister told me. That antipathy may be well founded. A Boris leadership challenge would inject fresh chaos into the heart of Government. And voters are unlikely to look kindly at yet another bout of Tory infighting one that could result in a fourth Prime Minister in the space of a year. But theres no doubt who Labour fear most. With Rishi in No 10, we are heading into the long, cold and brutal wasteland of thankless opposition, Boriss cheerleader Nadine Dorries writes today. Sir Keir Starmer will wholly agree. In the six weeks running up to Christmas, my wife and I found ourselves suffering with the bronchial illness that seems to be sweeping the country. We had the chest infection, the blocked nose and ears. Between Christmas and New Year, Margaret developed dizziness and nausea and our GP decided to call an ambulance. The crew, charming and professional, delivered Margaret to Sheffields Northern General Hospital. It was then the state of our beleaguered health service really became apparent. Margaret was stuck along with half a dozen more ambulances waiting to discharge poorly passengers. It took four-and-a-half hours before she was admitted. To be clear, I have nothing but praise for the staff. Margaret, a recently retired GP, was in good hands at all times. But what happened to our family is replicated across the country. We are coming to accept long and often frightening delays before an ambulance arrives. Traumatic waits outside hospitals are now routine. DAVID BLUNKETT: We are coming to accept long and often frightening delays before an ambulance arrives. Traumatic waits outside hospitals are now routine. Pictured: Ambulances outside The Royal London Hospital in London (file photo) DAVID BLUNKETT: In the medium term, we need a joint funding plan to cover both medical and social care, with local plans setting out key milestones and practical steps forward. The funding must be made available This dangerous state of affairs has been developing for a long time. Three decades ago, when I was Labours Shadow Cabinet health spokesman, A&E departments were in chaos. Substantial reform, and not just money, were needed. When we got into government a few years later we began to put things right. It took time, but it happened. Average waiting times in the NHS came down from 18 weeks to eight. Reforming the internal system really did change things for the better. It is a lesson we should learn today, because the whole health system is now collapsing about our ears. DAVID BLUNKETT: In the six weeks running up to Christmas, my wife and I found ourselves suffering with the bronchial illness that seems to be sweeping the country Im not talking about a mass reorganisation. We have just had the second in ten years. But heres a start. Take the problem of bed blocking, by those fit enough to leave but who cannot go straight home. Why not invest in some form of intermediary care? Years ago, we examined what was happening in Stockholm, where the Karolinska Hospital was using a range of (properly equipped) facilities, including hotels. Then there is the chaos overwhelming the ambulance service because of the shortage of free beds. The two-man crew who cared for Margaret were superb. Such was their commitment that when their shift was over at 2am, they popped to see my wife. Yet it is absurd to have two skilled people looking after one patient for all those hours, meaning they could deal with a total of only two cases in a 12-hour shift. What about setting up emergency units with comfortable prefabricated facilities allowing ambulance crews to drop off patients before returning to attend other urgent calls? Field hospitals could be set up within hours rather than days. The military could use their logistical skills to unblock the overload. Army medics could be deployed. This is a genuine emergency, and unless the current pressure is relieved the long-term consequences for patients will be extremely worrying. And what about the old-fashioned economics of supply and demand? If you have a shortage of labour, you must make the job attractive by paying the wages necessary. We need to attract people back into the various healthcare professions those who have left but still have much to offer. DAVID BLUNKETT: We must also listen to those working at the sharp end and take their ideas for reform on board. Only then can we break the inertia and ineptitude which is the hallmark of the present administration In the medium term, we need a joint funding plan to cover both medical and social care, with local plans setting out key milestones and practical steps forward. The funding must be made available. We must also listen to those working at the sharp end and take their ideas for reform on board. Only then can we break the inertia and ineptitude which is the hallmark of the present administration. Our family were lucky: Im glad to say that Margaret is making a full recovery. Others have not been so fortunate. And unless we act right now, many more lives will be at risk. Not long before she died, Princess Diana sat William and Harry down together on the striped sofa in her drawing room at Kensington Palace. The brothers had been bickering, as they often did, and Diana decided to dispense some maternal advice. Listen, she began, you have to look after each other. She reminded them that because of their unique position as royal princes, and objects of curiosity and envy to the world, each was the one person the other should always her emphasis be able to rely on. Papa, she said of her ex-husband Charles, has his life and I have mine, so its important that you two have each other, be there for each other. Not long before she died, Princess Diana sat William and Harry down together on the striped sofa in her drawing room at Kensington Palace She reminded them that because of their unique position as royal princes, and objects of curiosity and envy to the world, each was the one person the other should always her emphasis be able to rely on As brothers, she said, they must know they could always depend on each other. She ended by saying: I want you to promise that you will be each others best friend. Will you promise me that? Will you swear it? Both boys, then aged 14 and 12, crossed themselves and swore that they would. I was reminded of that story, which Diana once related to me, as I searched in vain for Harrys account of it in the Spanish version of his explosive and one-sided memoir, Spare. Perhaps I missed it amid the rage and resentment that threads through the 416 pages. Perhaps it was lost in translation. Or perhaps it simply wasnt there. It is tempting to wonder how the princess would have viewed Harrys book. Anger, certainly, at the airing of so many intimate family secrets. Many of her close friends agree she would have been horrified at the world reading of the strife between her beloved boys. But her overwhelming sentiment, they say, would have been sadness that it had ever come to this. While she was alive, the princes were as close as could be, their shared experience providing a reassuring protective screen. One figure, who often had the princess and her sons to stay, recalls: When they were together they were cheerful, jolly, happy boys. A bit cheeky sometimes and, of course, they fought non-stop like most close siblings do, but it was no matter for concern. When they were at Ludgrove, the Berkshire prep school where they were boarders, William was always the considerate elder brother. Diana was proud that he would step in if Harry complained about being bullied or teased. Hardly a week went by when William wasnt rescuing Harry from some scrape or another, one of Dianas friends says. She was always pleased that Wombat, as she called her elder son, was looking out for his brother. She was so proud of how protective he was of Harry. It is tempting to wonder how the princess would have viewed Harrys book. Anger, certainly, at the airing of so many intimate family secrets As brothers, she said, they must know they could always depend on each other Eyes glowing, Diana once described William as the protective male in our little unit. The unit was the three of them and, of them all, William was the shrewd one. It was why, despite her reservations that Harry might find Eton College academically challenging, she was determined that this precious fraternal bond would ensure he didnt just survive there but also thrive. How heartbreaking she would have found Harrys bizarre account that once he arrived at the school a year after his mothers death the prince claimed he was ignored by his brother and left to cope alone. The question is, would she have believed it? There was always something needier about Harry as a child and Diana knew it. More vulnerable and less confident than his older brother, he was never happier than sitting sucking his thumb, curled up on his mothers lap. What he especially loved was having his mother to himself. A dental appointment or a visit to the doctor was an opportunity to ensure he had her undivided attention; no pesky big brother to share her with. While she was alive, the princes were as close as could be, their shared experience providing a reassuring protective screen Where could this lethal jealousy that Harry now seems to have been harbouring have sprung from? Diana went to enormous lengths to raise both her sons together, trying to ensure that, whenever possible, the spotlight shone on both equally. (Diana knew that being born the spare was not necessarily an easy role. She herself complained that, as the youngest of three girls, she was a disappointment to her parents, who longed for a son to continue the Spencer family line a claim that her mother Frances, incidentally, told me was untrue.) In the Royal Family, where the first-born was always treated differently, this was both a brave and a pioneering approach. Charles, whose own memory of childhood was of a sometimes remote existence from his parents, happily agreed with the strategy. So when, in 1995, William started at Eton and she knew photographers would be there to record his first day, she insisted that Harry came, too. During her last summer and in the middle of her romance with Dodi Fayed, she took close interest in the plans by the then Prince of Wales to invite the cameras to Balmoral, where he was on holiday with William and Harry. Eyes glowing, Diana once described William as the protective male in our little unit. The unit was the three of them and, of them all, William was the shrewd one I remember her telephoning me that August day in 1997, as I watched from the bank of the River Dee the princes skim stones and play with family dogs, while they reluctantly posed for photographs. It was their first official photocall since that one at Eton and Diana was anxious to know from me their reaction and their mood. When she subsequently learned that the Palace was planning a further opportunity for pictures, but this time with William alone when he returned to begin his third year at Eton, she angrily put her foot down. This is one thing that Charles and I have always agreed on, she told me. She called her office, instructing them to tell the Prince of Waless staff that Harry had to be included. It was vitally important, she said, that they eliminated any point of difference between the brothers. Soon enough they will have to travel separate paths, but I am determined that this should be delayed as long as possible and that the boys are treated in exactly the same way, she said. She meant it, too. On another occasion she told me how, once, she had gently asked the Queen Mother to stop showing special favour to William, because Harry had started to notice and mentioned it to her. Whenever they went to see her she always made a point of putting William next to her. I asked her not to and told her that Charles and I were united on this. Every surface at Kensington Palace was filled with framed photographs of William and Harry just as they were at Highgrove, Charless home. The princess would often pull out the large, leather-bound photo albums to leaf through the many pictures she had of her two boys. They werent separated into heir and spare, but lovingly side by side. At times, the scrupulous impartiality bordered on comedy. During that last summer, Diana heard Charles had suggested that one of his alternative medicine gurus a figure the princess did not trust should examine the boys when the therapist next paid a visit to him. Diana was appalled at the proposal and said the boys were too young. All the same, she believed this fairness would be to the long-term benefit of the monarchy. It was vitally important, Diana said, that they eliminated any point of difference between the brother One way or another, she was bringing up her sons in a way strikingly different from how their father had been raised less formally and with more affection. Which is why I am convinced that Diana would have been devastated by the tragedy of the brothers shattered relationship, which looks broken beyond repair. At the same time, I am certain that she would have been appalled by the petty vindictiveness of Harrys grievances. For all the bitterness of her protracted and very public marriage breakdown, Diana did not indulge in personal mudslinging at Prince Charles to anything like the same degree. In her Panorama interview she was critical of Charless ability to be king, questioning whether he was cut out for the task. But nowhere in the interview, or in her collaboration with the author Andrew Morton for his book Diana: Her True Story, did she set about her husbands reputation with the kind of deeply personal attack that Harry has made on his brother. The fact is, Diana never uttered an unkind word about their father to either William or Harry when goodness knows there had been every provocation for her to do so, says one of the princesss girlfriends. She was a monarchist and she knew she had a precious role as the mother of the future king. Why would she do anything to undermine her childrens future? I am convinced that Diana would have been devastated by the tragedy of the brothers shattered relationship, which looks broken beyond repair Harry, by contrast, has, either deliberately or foolishly, not only savaged his brothers image a brother he now describes as his arch-nemesis but inflicted great damage on the monarchy. Isolated within the family after her divorce, Diana knew implicitly that each of her sons needed the support of the other; William as a future monarch and Harry with all the privileges of royalty but none of the responsibilities. She knew that, while one would quite possibly be bowed down by the pressures, the other would face all manner of temptations. They have to be a team, she used to say. She liked to say that the country was lucky to have William. But she had the same view of Harry, too. Indeed, as they grew up, she sometimes speculated that maybe the brothers would be happier if their roles were reversed. On such occasions she mischievously took to describing Harry as GKH. It stood for Good King Harry. How very far away such a notion seems today. Harrys book is not just a betrayal of his brother, father and the monarchy. It has also undermined the very principles by which the mother he worshipped and to whom, along with Meghan, the book is dedicated wished him to lead his life. A dog lover has revealed she has been left at a loss because her pup has become so aggressive that she is contemplating putting the dog down. An unnamed British grandmother explained that she got a German Shepherd before the Covid-19 pandemic four years ago, and that the pet started to become aggressive from the age of six-months. Despite consulting with six training experts and behaviourists, she told the online forum Mumsnet that she feels she can't take her anywhere or have family visit. After confessing she is thinking about having the dog put down, other users were quick to share their advice with the older woman. A British grandmother has revealed how she ended up feeling 'stuck' and 'exhausted' after her German Shepherd became aggressive as a puppy (stock image) The woman explained that the dog was the breed she wanted, and that she was 'perfect' when she first got her. She said: 'Four years ago, I bought a puppy. 'I did everything by the book, training classes, socialisation classes etc - she excelled in all her classes and she really was perfect.' However she said that when the puppy reached six months old, she 'changed', adding: 'She became dog reactive - no idea why as Id socialised her so much (in hindsight, too much). The woman said looking after the aggressive dog has been exhausting and she has started to resent the pet for keeping her away from her grandchildren 'I worked on that but she became dog aggressive - then people aggressive.' The dog grew up to hate men and children, which means her owner cannot have her grandchildren over because she feels the situation is not safe. Expert reveals how to help a dog which has become aggressive and difficult to cope with Rachel Casey, Director of Canine Behaviour and Research at Dogs Trust, offered guidance on what should be the first steps to take when dealing with a dog who is aggressive. She said: 'It's not uncommon that our beloved dogs can develop behaviours that we find to be a problem. 'Although it sometimes seems that unwanted behaviours appear from nowhere, there is usually a reason from the dogs' perspective. 'The skill of a behaviourist is in putting themselves in the dogs' paws to work out what has led to the change in behaviour,' she added. 'The first thing we recommend is checking with your vet, because sometimes a change in behaviour can be a sign that your dog is unwell or is in pain. 'Its important to rule these out or to ensure your dog is being treated accordingly. Your vet can then refer you to a qualified behaviourist,' she said. 'When seeking a behaviourist, ensure that they are registered with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council, that they have appropriate qualifications as well as experience, and use welfare compatible reward-based approaches. 'Undesired behaviours are very common, and most owners need extra guidance and support at some point during their dogs life. 'We urge owners to get in touch with Dogs Trust on our Training and Behaviour helpline on 0303 003 6666 and we will do everything we can to help,' she concluded. Advertisement She added: 'Infact we cant have anyone over, nobody visits anymore. All walks with her are stressful so we stick to the same route everytime and I try and walk her at times when the kids are at school so were less likely to see any. 'We cant go anywhere as were so restricted with where she can go. 'I got a dog so I could take it to the beach, to the woods, to the park etc etc I cant take her anywhere. 'Ive just braved a quiet beach with her and she screamed the place down before lunging and barking at anyone we came across, it was so embarrassing and after 10 minutes I gave up and came home.' She continued: 'I feel like a prisoner with her, every day is stressful and exhausting. 'Im at the point now where I no longer want to walk her. But shes so full of energy she needs it. 'I cant rehome her as shes aggressive. Im stuck.' Meanwhile she added she has had a number of dog trainers, saying: 'Ive been told its all about managing her behaviour. 'Sounds awful but Ive started to fantasise about the time shes no longer here. 'I feel so guilty saying that as she adores me and I love her but I cant do this for another 10 or so years. 'Im really resenting how much time Im missing out on with my grandkids because of her.' 'All the places we cant go, the days shes ruined . Just needed a rant really. So fed up.' She added that the 'constant' banking was driving her 'insane', finishing: 'Shes constantly on guard. Im so tired of it.' Many people had a lot of sympathy for the woman's story, advising talkinf to rehoming centres to see what they advise. 'Unpopular opinion here but speak to a rehoming centre and see what they advise. They may say they will take her a few months down the line or may run behaviour management classes that can help you,' one said. 'Either way, how you're currently living isn't sustainable so it's re-home or throw everything at her,' they went on. 'Nobody could blame you for feeling this way, it sounds awful. It also sounds like you have really tried to address the problems,' another wrote. 'I think what you've been told is correct, at this stage it is about accepting/living with her behaviour and trying as best you can to manage the triggers,' they added. 'You are right, rescues don't take dogs with history of aggression. I would talk to the vets about quality of life,' one said. 'Just seen she's a German shepherd, I know the police and military take in wayward reactive shepherds so a last ditch way to prevent putting her to sleep might be to see if they can take her,' one suggested. Some people suggested that the woman should speak to a rehoming centre for guidance, while others said she faced a very hard decision However others confessed they felt the only option was to put the dog to sleep. 'Dont give her to a rescue. Face the end of the road, tell her you love her and take her on a one-way trip to the vets. Its the right thing to do,' one said. 'You've done everything you can by the sounds of it, training etc, some dogs are just not cut out to be family pets. For your own sanity and family life you need to have her put to sleep if no one will take her. 'Sounds heartless but you can't live like this,' another wrote. Read more: Generous teacher creates monster toys for her students based on their drawings for Christmas - and warms the hearts of thousands Ex BBC journalist who adopted 'terrified' Romanian rescue dog says turkey scraps and pet psychology have helped coax traumatised animal from behind the sofa - where she's been hiding for 10 days Trainer reveals the one popular game you should NEVER play with your dog: 'I beg of you, don't do it' I didnt go to meet Midlands Man at the Ivy in Harrogate for dinner. The weather was sub-zero, and I couldnt face an hour each way driving on ice. I also wasnt well, having caught a bug in London: my throat hurt and I ached all over. But the main reason was that I knew I would only be meeting him to fuel this column: he just isnt my type. (What is her type, I hear you asking, given I married a chubby Indian with huge dark eyes, and was in love for 40 years with a skinny rebel with piggy blue eyes.) I have decided not only that I wont meet a man to give me something to write about, but that I will no longer do anything that will, yes, make life more interesting, but will also be detrimental to my wellbeing. When my marriage failed, I got a horse. I love horses, but Im also scared of them. They are ruinously expensive. But the trips to see her made two columns. I sold my London house and moved to Somerset: those columns were heartbreaking, given I lost my pristine Georgian townhouse, was forced to sleep the first night in my farm on the floor, my cat Squeaky on my chest. I remember my editor saying, Will moving to the country be interesting enough? And I replied: Well, I am sure to fall out with builders and neighbours when I renovate. ILLUSTRATION: Tom Peake at Meiklejohn. Liz Jones starts by explaining that she didn't go to meet Midlands Man at the Ivy in Harrogate for dinner The pressures were enormous. I remember one builder standing on my yard, looking at the roof of a barn, saying, You will have to keep earning to afford the upkeep on all this. No one tells you the cost of oil, or mending fences, or the constant driving of huge distances. Its romantic at first, then cold, hard reality kicks in. I dated the rock star even though he was self-obsessed and arrogant My horse turned up with a stubby New Forest pony called Benji, whom Id never clapped eyes on. He was to be my thoroughbreds companion, except of course I didnt know ponies have very different needs to a racehorse: they cant always be kept on grass, for example. That first night, he started dripping with sweat, unable to breathe. I called the woman who had brought him, begging me to take him as he was due to be shot. Are the stable lights too bright? she asked me. Of course not! I called an emergency vet, remember hopping up and down in the lane, looking for his car, out of my mind with worry. JONES MOANS... WHAT LIZ LOATHES THIS WEEK Budget hotels. I had to stay in one in West London last week. After travelling for 300 miles, I arrived at 1pm to be told check-in time is 3pm. But is the room ready? I asked. It is, but if you enter early, we charge an extra 20 an hour. When I checked in, the room was icy, the TV didnt work and there wasnt even a bottle of water (Id been told they dont do room service). I also had 50 reserved on my card in case you smoke in the room, trash it or steal anything. Classy! Advertisement It turned out Benji has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, meaning he can never be kept on straw, or eat anything other than soaked or steamed hay. But, of course, the rescue centre hadnt told me that. As I had owned him for less than two weeks, the insurance people wouldnt pay up. It has gone on like this, pretty much for 15 years. I only got married for a series of increasingly disastrous columns. I knew David wasnt the man for me after our first lunch following a hiatus of 35 years: he seemed too old, too fragile. I ignored the flashing red light: the fact he let me pay for lunch. I dated the rock star even though he had run to fat and was so self-obsessed and arrogant, he would go out to buy milk and not return. Im always writing things to my detriment. Take the piece on the horrors of renting in your 60s a few weeks ago. I was so worried about the fallout from my landlady, I hid in my house for three days. Anyway, I suppose what Im saying, in slightly delayed New Years resolution fashion, is that I have decided to put me and my welfare first. Not drive two hours on ice to later eviscerate some unfortunate chap. Oh, and do you know what might have brought about all this? I think I might have met someone nice, worthy of me: a writer. That is all I am going to say for now. Honestly? Will I not be writing about him? We all know I probably wont be able to resist MailOnline is once agian challenging you to try and solve the same problems posed to an 11-year-old child preparing for an 11+ exam. Every year, some 100,000 pupils across the country sit 11+ exams in the hopes of achieving a highly sought-after grammar school place. Adults have started sharing numbers puzzles online this week in response to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's pledge to make maths compulsory for every student up to the age of 18. So, MailOnline asks... can you solve these recent 11+ questions set to prospective grammar school pupils? (Answers at the bottom of the page) MailOnline is challenging you to try and solve the same problems posed to an 11-year-old child preparing for an 11+ exam In an attempt to combat high rates of innumeracy in the UK, Mr Sunak declared this week his new plan for every pupil in England will study some form of maths until they're 18. Young people will be forced to take 'some form' of maths delivered either through new courses or existing qualifications such as A-levels, T-levels and Core Maths. The PM promised to equip children for the 'jobs of the future' by combating high rates of innumeracy in the UK. For most the drive is likely to involve practical skills rather than algebra. Around eight million adults in England have numeracy skills expected of primary school children, according to Government figures. Currently only around half of 16 to 19 year-olds study maths in some form. The problem is particularly acute for disadvantaged pupils, 60 per cent of whom do not have basic maths skills at age 16. The UK remains one of the only countries that does not require children to study some form of maths up to the age of 18. Several countries in the OECD economic forum including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Finland, Japan, Norway and the US all insist that pupils maintain the subject. Every year, some 100,000 pupils across the country sit 11+ exams in the hopes of achieving a highly sought-after grammar school place But union leaders have warned that teachers are now more likely to strike after backlash to Mr Sunak's maths pledge. Kevin Courtney, who oversees more than 300,000 educators as joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), accused Sunak of a 'baffling failure' to notice the obstacles facing the industry. 'Sunak's plan is disappointing not only in its lack of realism but its lack of vision', Mr Courtney said. 'It overlooks the increasingly detailed and urgent discussions about curriculum reform that have been taking place across the education sector and even within his own party. 'Most people who voted will have voted. But I think there will be a few people who will look at this and think 'is that all they've got to say about education?' 'It doesn't sound like they're taking the problem of the teacher recruitment crisis seriously because they've missed their maths teacher recruitment targets every year for the last 11 years.' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared this week his new plan for every pupil in England will study some form of maths until they're 18. He is pictured during a visit to Harris Academy at Battersea in south-west London today Teachers, who are currently balloting, say the plan fails to tackle the recruitment crisis currently gripping the sector. More than 500,000 teachers across three unions are considering possible strike action in England and Wales, with deadlines for votes from January 9. Unions have urged staff to vote as soon as possible amid fears that postal chaos may delay the return of ballots. Meantime, opposition parties have dismissed the initiative as 'empty' - while Tories urged Mr Sunak to focus on tackling illegal immigration instead. Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said the Prime Minister 'needs to show his working', as 'he cannot deliver this reheated, empty pledge without more maths teachers'. She added: 'Yet the Government has missed their target for new maths teachers year after year, with existing teachers leaving in their droves.' A Labour source said: 'In their desperation to ensure Sunak's speech doesn't happen after Keir's, No 10 have revealed they have nothing to offer the country except double maths. 'As the health service falls to pieces after 12 years of Tory rule, criminals terrorise the streets, and working people worry how their wages will last the month, the country is entitled to ask: is this it?' Former Cabinet minister John Redwood tweeted: 'As the Prime Minister turns his attention to maths teaching he should not forget his choice as most pressing priority was to stop illegal migration. 'Parliament needs to legislate urgently on small boats and public services.' Nigel Farage also waded in, saying: 'So Rishi Sunak's big idea to save the nation is maths until the age of 18! How will quadratic equations help to solve broken Britain?' WHAT ARE THE ANSWERS? Princess Charlotte is proving that you're never too young to be a style icon. The seven-year-old has been pulling off chic outfits and cute hairstyles for a number of years now. The daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales will grow up and a big question is: how will she experiment with her hair and style as she gets older? It is safe to assume that, right now, her mother Kate Middleton is responsible for her cute plaits and curls. The 40-year-old, mother-of-three once revealed that she tried to teach her daughter how to do a plait but admitted that it didn't go well. Princess Charlotte, seven, is proving to be just as stylish as her mother. Speaking to The Sunday Express, a hairstylist has predicted how she may style her hair as she gets older But, as Charlotte approaches those pre-teen years she will most likely want to experiment with styles and colours herself. According to one expert, Princess Charlotte is no exception and will be just like any other teen who wants to discover herself through fashion and hair style. Milk + Blush hairstylist Nicole Petty, told Express.co.uk that: 'Currently, the young royals hair is a gorgeous bronde colour that looks like it has natural highlights running through it, and it is often seen half-up-half-down or in adorable plaits.' And as many Britons look to Kate for style inspiration, they have started to do the same with the seven-year-old. The Princess of Wales' gorgeous brunette locks cascade over her shoulders and down her back. She often wears her hair straight, in buoyant waves tucked behind her ears It is safe to assume that, right now, Princess Charlotte's mother Kate Middleton is responsible for her cute plaits (pictured) and curls Milk + Blush hairstylist predicts that Charlotte may copy her mother's hairstyles as she gets older but will probably experiment as she enters her pre-teen years Charlotte is her mother's daughter after all, so Nicole suggested she might take a leaf out of Kate's book when it comes to her hair. The Princess of Wales' gorgeous brunette locks cascade over her shoulders and down her back. She often wears her hair straight, in buoyant waves, tucked behind her ears or styled in a loose chignon style. Nicole explained that as Charlotte gets older she will most likely keep a classic hair style, not dissimilar to the Princess of Wales'. Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Kate Middleton visiting Cardiff Castle together in the summer Yet, with access to some of the wold's most notable hairstylists, there is a high chance that Charlotte will try new looks. Nicole suggested that Charlotte may come to take after her stylish mum. She said: 'If Charlotte is to follow in Kate's footsteps as she enters her teen years, she might cut in some curtain bangs or add subtle layers.' She even suggested that the young Princess may even opt for hair extensions to add extra volume to her hair. Princess of Wales Princess Charlotte arriving for a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of the Duke of Edinburgh Charlotte already has a signature hairstyle and while she may experiment in her teen years she will most likely opt for classic styles Yet, Nicole said that Charlotte wouldn't overly experiment with hair dye, but may try lowlights to complement her complexion. However, Charlotte has more round face than her mother and so opt for a box bob, a style that members of her family have tried in the past. The Milk + Blush hairstylist explained that the super blunt cut makes the hair look thicker and suggested that Charlotte could keep it longer through the front to add length, if she wanted something a little more daring. The Prince and Princess of Wales with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis READ MORE: Prince of the ponytail! William reveals he's learned how to style daughter Charlotte's hair - but admits it's been a 'nightmare' to master Confident Princess Charlotte sends royal fans wild after she was filmed flipping her hair as she arrived with her mother and brother for the Queen's funeral Prince William and Princess of Wales have adopted the 'Middleton parenting model' and want George, Charlotte and Louis to see them as their 'best friends', expert claims Prince William's friends have referred to the future king as a 'sitting duck', saying Prince Harry knows his brother knows won't respond to the bombshell accusations made in Spare. Despite Prince Harry's explosive Oprah Winfrey interview with Meghan, the Netflix documentary and now inflamed memoir Spare, Prince William's friends, according to The Sunday Times, say he will continue to keep his silence. So far, William has not responded to the accusations because, as a friend of William explained, revenge is not he rolls as he is 'dignified and unbelievably loyal.' The friend, in question, told The Sunday Times: 'It's cruel, cowardly and so sad for William to keep taking the punches. He's keeping quiet for the good of his family and the country.' Scroll down for video In his explosive memoir Prince Harry (pictured) has assassinated the character of his older brother Prince William They explained that he is contemplating Harry's explosive 416 pages of revelations, but is anxious and sad, but concentrating on his family and making sure they are okay. The friend went out to state: 'He's handing it so well on the outside - inside he's burning.' This was reiterated to the publication by another friend who described how the Prince of Wales will be going through a range of emotions and will be thinking strategically and weighing up his personal feeling against the institutional reaction. His companion detailed William's desire to follow his grandmother's example, and so the institutional response could win over his personal feelings, 'but he is staunchly protective of his own family, and he's not just going to roll over.' Friends of Prince William have said he is punchbag for Prince Harry's anger. Speaking to The Times, they refer to the Prince of Wales as a 'sitting duck' The Duke of Sussex (left) during an interview with ITV's Tom Bradby in California, US, for the programme Harry: The Interview The Princess of Wales has not escaped Harry's pen either. He writes in extraordinary detail about how her and Meghan were both left in tears during the infamous bridesmaid dress row, while also detailing a disagreement over a shared lip gloss and how Kate was left hurt by Meghan's comments about her 'baby brain' while pregnant. And in the next four days Harry will say more in four broadcast interviews before his book's official publication on Tuesday. William and Kate will resume their official duties however next week after their Christmas break in a joint engagement. A royal aide explained how their focus is on their duty and service and would not concentrate their energy on Harry's book. Another friend of the royal family told The Times: 'William is tough, the family can play the long game in the way Harry and Meghan cant. They can channel their inner Queen Elizabeth: show, dont tell, demonstrate this is the role youve taken on with courage and decency. Thats a very powerful counterpoint to all this.' So far, William has not responded to the accusations because, as a friend of his explained, revenge is not he rolls as he is 'dignified and unbelievably loyal' Once 'Harold' and 'Willy' were brothers in arms but now, throughout his book, Harry has adopted very different nicknames for his brother Friends have speculated that Harry may have think he has won by playing all of his cards on the table Harry also broke royal protocol in Spare when he detailed his father, King Charles III, back and neck pain issues. Revealing that his father had to do physiotherapy every day. He also detailed how he and William feared Camilla would be a wicked stepmother and that after the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral in 2021 Charles begged his sons: 'Please, boys, don't make my final years a misery.' Friends of Charles have speculated over his grief at Harry's actions across the Atlantic, but say the monarch is 'resilient.' And while fisticuffs in the Nottingham Cottage kitchen in 2019 have long been known about, friends say they didn't think that Harry would go there. Harry also broke royal protocol in Spare when he detailed his father, King Charles III, back and neck pain issues. Revealing that his father had to do physiotherapy every day Friends have said that William is anxious and upset about his brother's accusations but will resume royal duties this coming week The furious row allegedly broke out in the kitchen of his London home, Nottingham Cottage, in the grounds of Kensington Palace in 2019 shortly before Megxit. William is said to have branded Meghan 'difficult', 'rude' and 'abrasive' and insisted he was trying to help his younger brother during a meeting about 'the whole rolling catastrophe' of their failing relationship and Harry's rows with the Press. Harry accused his brother of 'parroting the Press narrative' about his American wife before a screaming match ensued, ending in a physical altercation, the book claims. He says he gave the heir to the throne a glass of water and said: 'Willy, I can't speak to you when you're like this'. Describing what he claims happened next, and insisting he was scared, the former soldier said: '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 dog's 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 has spoken about the rift between his wife Meghan Markle (pictured) and his sister-in-law the Princess of Wales Harry claims that William had then urged him to fight back, saying that is what would happen when they scrapped as children. But the duke claims he refused, claiming that William left and then returned 'looking regretful, and apologised'. William then 'turned and called back: "You don't need to tell Meg about this".' Harry claims he said: 'You mean that you attacked me?', to which William replied: 'I didn't attack you, Harold'. Friends have been baffled at how Harry could reveal such things publicly and say that William could also reveal such things about his younger brother. In his interview with the ITV presenter Tom Bradby (pictured right) Prince Harry (left) has said that he hopes for reconciliation with his family Another close friend of both brothers revealed that it was not smart of Harry to put his narrative out there as there have been many times when William has cleaned up his messes over the years. In the aftermath of the Sussexes Oprah interview, the Queen said 'some recollections may vary', and following their Netflix documentary former royal aides described some of their claims as 'lies'. Harry promised the whole truth in his book, but some of his accounts have left those in the know scratching their heads. And while some friends say that Harry may think he's already won by playing all of his cards, others say he hasn't thought through his actions. Meghan and Harry last month revealed that they wanted a reconciliation summit with the family prior to King Charles' coronation in May Last month it was revealed that Harry and Meghan wanted a reconciliation summit with the royal family prior to King Charles' coronation in May, but that they also want an apology and accountability for their grievances. Harry has reiterated all of that in his interview with the ITV presenter Tom Bradby, which will be broadcast tonight, adding: 'I would like to get my father back, I would like to have my brother back' but 'theyve shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile.' Yet, it has been claimed that Prince Harry has been written out of King Charles' Coronation script, as royal insiders said Prince William is 'burning with anger' amid the bombshell revelations in the Duke of Sussex's memoirs. News of Harry's removal from the ceremony comes as the Duke appeared on ITV to speak about the guilt he felt following the death of his mother, the Princess of Wales, in 1997. However, it has now been revealed that Prince harry has been written out of the script for the Coronation 'Prince Harry has been written out of the script for the Coronation, with no official role in the service if he attends,' the paper's Royal Editor tweeted. 'Breaking with tradition, Charles will scrap royal dukes kneeling and paying homage to the monarch. Only William will perform that role 'As things stand, there is no role for Harry in the service,' a royal source reportedly declared.' MailOnline has approached Buckingham Palace and the Duke of Sussex's representatives for comment. READ MORE: Prince Harry says he rowed with Prince William over whether he could keep his BEARD when he married Meghan - and whether they could wed in Westminster Abbey or even elope to Botswana Prince William 'lunged at Harry, grabbed his shirt and used shocking secret code phrase about Diana' during row over Oprah Winfrey interview as the pair tried to hold peace talks in front of Charles moments after Prince Philip's funeral Some independent bookstores have revealed they don't plan on selling the Duke of Sussex's explosive memoirs. While the book will surely provoke a lot of interest when it is released on Tuesday, some shop owners have made the decision not to stock Prince Harry's Spare, saying its 28 hardback price is the reason they won't have it on their shelves. Other said that there is no point stocking the book at full price in their shop when online giants like Amazon have had it on pre-order at half price for months. Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph, Vivian Archer, who runs Newham Bookshop, in east London, said she doesn't believe her clientele will want to buy the books any way. Some British bookshop owners have made the decision not to stock Prince Harry's Spare, invoking its hardback's 28 price as the reason they won't have it on their shelves. Speaking to the Telegraph, Vivian Archer, who runs Newham Bookshop, in east London, said she doesn't believe her clientele will want to buy the books anyway Asked whether she would be stocking the book she said: 'Certainly not. We havent ordered any copies. Anyway, I dont think our customers would want to buy it.' Tim West, who owns The All Good Bookshop, in Harringay, in the north of the capital, said: 'We cant afford to swim with the big boys. If youre going to lose a game, dont play it.' Meanwhile, the Bookseller reported last week that shop owners felt the price of the book was too high for them to compete with the discounted rates of Amazon and Waterstone. It was reported in October that the book was already available to pre order for 14 on Amazon and popular retailer WH Smith. The fact that the book has been available for half-price on pre-order on Amazon or WH Smith's website has discouraged independent shops to put it on their shelves. Pictured: Prince Harry and Prince William in September 2022 in Windsor The book has been available to pre-order since October. It was accidentally released in Spain last week Mr B's Emporium bookshop, in Bath, will stock the book, putting faith in the customers who will want to buy it full price Some independent shops, like Mr B's Emporium, in Bath, have revealed they will be stocking the book, only on the faith that their customers will want to support their business and will be happy to buy it full price. The shop's owner Nic Bottomley talked of the difficulty of selling books at discounted prices in the age of Amazon, saying that the people who tried to sell discounted book when the retail giant came on the scene in 1994 were forced to close shop. The book will be available to download and buy from Amazon from midnight on Tuesday, with countless readers expected to receive their pre-ordered copies in the coming days. Tim West, who owns The All Good Bookshop, in Harringay, in the north of the capital, said he won't be stock Spare because he can't compete with Amazon It is not known how the fact the book was accidentally sold in Spain last week, leading to several leaks, will impact sales number. MailOnline obtained copies of the bombshell book in Spain last week, before it was hastily pulled from the shelves. The memoir is titled En La Sombra in Spanish, which has the translation 'In the Shadow', with 'Principe Harry' at the top of the cover. The hardback copy was selling for 21.90 in the 'recommended' section of the Casa del Libro, which is a nationwide chain of booksellers. Publishing sources had said arrangements for Harry's 'explosive' memoir's release were ultra-closely guarded and being managed in minute detail, with only a handful of senior executives aware of the exact details. Deliveries to bookshops were said to be being scheduled to be last-minute to avoid unauthorised copies being leaked. Guarded sites across the world have been secured to house copies of the book prior to distribution. Read more: 'Harry likes an older lady': Reality star, 51, who had a 'fling with toyboy prince' when he was 21 says he's a 'good kisser'... as guessing game over the identity of mature woman who took his virginity in a Cotswold field continues Did Harry have a secret best man too? Friends of the warring royal brothers hint 'favoured usher' Jack Mann really had the top job at his wedding... after Duke of Sussex claimed his role at Wills' and Kate's wedding was also just 'for show' Prince Harry claims William wasn't keen on a public 'walkabout' before his wedding to Meghan - and cancelled plans to stay with him the night before The Duchess of Sussex has been warned that Americans may turn against her and she could be faced with a huge backlash, following the release of her husband's memoir Spare. Meghan Markle, 40, has been told that the US are tired of her 'endless whining and complaints,' after her recent claims against the Royal Family. Last month Meghan and her husband Prince Harry, 38, released a six-part docu-series on Netflix, in which they revealed their feelings of ill-treatment from the British press and their escape from UK life to the US. They say that they retreated to America for 'freedom,' and throughout the episodes portrayed a much happier life at their home in Montecito, California. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their bombshell interview with Oprah. Meghan has now been warned that she may face an American backlash Yet, in light of the series where they made bombshell claims against the Royal Family and the Duke of Sussex's explosive memoir Spare, where he makes a series of accusations against the Royal Family, a Washington-based commentator has warned Meghan that Americans have grown tired of her claims against the royals. Nile Gardiner, a foreign policy expert, told Express.co.uk: 'It is striking Meghan has had very little support from the woke liberal elites who haven't come out in force to defend her. 'The scale of Meghan's vanity and arrogance has even put off some of her natural allies on the American left.' He went on to say that her's and Harry's recent revelations have 'backfired spectacularly' on them and has not met their expectations. Meghan had Harry made serval claims against the Royal Family in their docu-series last month and now Harry has released his memoir Spare Not only has it alienated the British people but Garner believes that it hasn't generated significant support in America. He explained that American's dislike endless whining and complaints from Meghan, and labelled her 'divorced from the reality' of American people. He said: 'Americans have no time for her complaints against the British monarchy or complaints of being a victim.' Mr Gardiner added the Royal Family remains hugely loved by Americans - a feeling that has steadily grown since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September. When the Queen passed, there was a huge outpouring of grief in America and US flags were flown at half mast for over a week. This love of the Royal Family suggests that Meghan and Harry's attacks will not be as popular as they might have hoped. During the Netflix docu-series, Meghan joked about having to curtsey to the late Queen after Harry recounted the conversation he had with his wife when he first introduced her to Her Majesty. In one clip, the duke referenced to 'institutional gaslighting' before Meghan tells the camera: 'I wasn't being thrown to the wolves, I was being fed to the wolves.' The couple have continued to make extraordinary claims against individual members of the Royal Family, with the biggest coming from Harry. Speaking to express.co.uk a foreign policy expert explained that the US is getting tired of the Sussex's endless complaints against the Royal Family In the docu-series Meghan and Harry revealed that they left the UK to be safe in the US and shared happy moments in the California home Prince Harry claims his brother 'lunged' at him and 'grabbed his shirt twice' in front of their father during a row over his interview with Oprah Winfrey. Details of the row emerged just days after it was revealed that Harry claims in his book that a 'piping hot' William once injured him by pushing him onto a dog bowl on the kitchen floor of his cottage home in the grounds of Kensington Palace in 2019. In his new autobiography 'Spare', the Duke of Sussex, 38, writes how his brother got heated during a half-hour walk near Frogmore Cottage following Philip's funeral on April 17, 2021. In his new autobiography 'Spare', the Duke of Sussex, 38, writes how his brother got heated during a half-hour walk near Frogmore Cottage The Duke of Sussex (left) during an interview with ITV's Tom Bradby in California, US, for the programme Harry: The Interview Harry, William and Charles were reportedly discussing the interview he and Meghan Markle gave to Oprah the month before. Harry claims was trying to address bullying allegations made against Meghan, but his father and brother 'weren't listening.' READ MORE: 'Queen would have been devastated' by Harry's memoir mudslinging, source close to the late monarch reveals - adding they are 'almost comforted' she died before it was released after string of excruciating attacks on Royals by exiled Duke Prince Harry appears to take swipe at William after claiming royals told him 'why should your girlfriend be treated any differently to mine' when he complained of harassment of Meghan Buckingham Palace remains silent on Harry's bombshell memoir claims: Officials refuse to comment on series of revelations about Prince's closest relatives The West Yorkshire police officer who has advised the cast of hit BBC drama Happy Valley on all three of its successful series says Sarah Lancashire's Sergeant is so authentic 'I'd have worked with her any day of the week.' Lisa Farrand, 60, from Kirklees in West Yorkshire, was a police officer for 30 years before she retired and has worked alongside Lancashire, 58, on the latest series of Sally Wainwright's hit BBC One series. Lancashire plays Sergeant Catherine Cawood, a no-nonsense officer whose personal life and professional life are uncomfortably meshed - thanks to psychopath Tommy Lee Royce, played by James Norton. The second episode of the third series airs this evening; the show has been well received by critics and viewers alike. Scroll down for video The second episode of the third series of BAFTA-winning Happy Valley, written by Sally Wainwright, is currently airing on BBC One Mother-of-two sons and now also a great-grandmother, Farrand, who's married to former police constable Richard, 62, has consistently worked closely with the show's makers and actors, teaching them everything from authentic hand-cuffing of criminals to authoritative door knocking. She told The Sunday Times she'd told Lancashire to bash on doors like she means it, saying she told the star: 'Sarah, you're not selling Avon. You need to go and knock on the door so he knows that you're there. And don't engage him in dialogue on the doorstep: as soon as he opens the door, you make your way in and take control.' Ex WPC Lisa Farrand, 60, from Kirklees, has advised the cast on storylines and dialogue since the first series Lisa now works as a police adviser on television programmes and says the aggression shown on screen in Happy Valley is true to life. Right, pictured in 2014 with actress Sarah Lancashire at a television awards ceremony Retired former West Yorkshire WPC Lisa Farrand, pictured on the set of the second series of Happy Valley, has advised the cast and crew behind the police drama Critics' reviews of Happy Valley's series three premiere The Guardian's five-star review said: 'From its impeccable acting talent to a writer who captures the female experience like no one else, this drama's final series is as excellent as ever' In The Telegraph's five-star review, critic Anita Singh said: 'TV drama doesn't get much better than this' The Daily Mail's Christopher Stevens commended James' 'superbly menacing' performance as villain Tommy Lee Royce Advertisement While in service, Farrand, who didn't join the police force until she was 26, was awarded the prestigious Queens Police Medal...and was once almost run over by a group of young Asian men after the Bradford riots in 2001. She said that the levels of aggression show on screen were accurate, and that 't he uniform doesn't protect you one iota, particularly today when people have been taking drugs, or alcohol-induced.' An old schoolfriend of Wainwright's, she said in 2013 that she asked the writer 'if shed been following me around when she wrote the part of Catherine!' She added: 'But I think so many police women who joined the service at a certain time will see elements of themselves in her character.' A host of familiar faces joined the final series, including Game of Thrones star Mark Stanley and former Coronation Street actress Mollie Winnard, who play a married couple. The pair lead a subplot about domestic violence as Stanley plays controlling PE teacher Rob Hepworth, who padlocks the fridge and beats his wife Joanna, who is addicted to diazepam. The first episode of the series saw Sarah's character discover the remains of a gangland murder victim in a drained reservoir, sparking a chain of events leading back to her former nemesis and the father of her grandson Ryan, played by Rhys Connah. Among the 4.92 million viewers watching, one fan wrote on Twitter: 'Happy Valley is just brilliant TV isn't it. The writing, the casting, the acting, it's just phenomenal. TV Drama at its best.' (Pictured: James Norton as Tommy Lee Royce) 'Sarah Lancashire is a GODDESS!' Happy Valley fans lauded the 'sensational' BBC crime drama as it returned for its third and final series on New Year's Day, after a seven year break Talented: After the first episode aired, viewers and critics alike heaped praise upon 'goddess' Sarah, as well as her co-star James Norton (pictured) and writer Sally Wainwright Critics have praised the third series. In the Telegraph's five-star review, critic Anita Singh said: 'TV drama doesn't get much better than this.' Despite four stars in The Independent, it was dubbed 'one of British television's greatest sagas' while the Daily Mail's Christopher Stevens commended James' 'superbly menacing' performance as villain Tommy Lee Royce. Among the 4.92 million viewers watching, one fan wrote on Twitter: 'Happy Valley is just brilliant TV isn't it. The writing, the casting, the acting, it's just phenomenal. TV Drama at its best.' Read more: Prince Harry says he rowed with Prince William over whether he could keep his BEARD when he married Meghan - and whether they could wed in Westminster Abbey or even elope to Botswana Prince William 'lunged at Harry, grabbed his shirt and used shocking secret code phrase about Diana' during row over Oprah Winfrey interview as the pair tried to hold peace talks in front of Charles moments after Prince Philip's funeral Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden wrapped up warm to attend the annual Folk och Forsvar Conference (Society and Defence Conference) in the village of Salen today. The mother-of-two, 45, appeared in the frosty conditions in a large black waterproof coat and straight leg trousers as she made the journey to West Sweden. The stylish royal put her best foot forward in a pair of black walking boots and matching tote bag. Looking effortlessly elegant, despite the temperature, Victoria was joined by her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf, 76, and mother Queen Silvia, 78, for the important conference on peace and defense. Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia of Sweden and Crown Princess Victoria attend the annual Folk och Forsvar Conference (Society and Defence Conference) in the village of Salen The Swedish royal opted for a trendy oversized grey check single breasted blazer under her winter coat and on top of her charcoal knit polo neck. She kept her brown tresses tied up in a low bun and her make up bronzed and natural. The conference's aim is to create understanding of issues and processes that affect peace and freedom in today's world. The association was founded in 1940 with the goal to 'build a bridge between society and the armed forces'. Mother-of-two, Victoria, 45, appeared in the frosty conditions in a large black waterproof coat and straight leg trousers Queen Silvia, 78, (pictured) like her daughter made winter-wear elegant in an oversized dark brown coat and black yeti-inspired boots The Swedish royal opted for a trendy oversized grey check single breasted blazer under her winter coat and on top of her charcoal knit polo neck It advertises itself to be an accessible forum in which people with different opinions can engage in constructive debate. For the event in Salen, Queen Silvia like her daughter looked effortlessly stylish in a large dark brown winter coat, over a brown gilet and off-white shirt. The Queen combined the practical with the stylish, as she stepped out in yeti-inspired black winter boots and clutched a colourful silk scarf. The Swedish royal family regularly attend prolific cultural and society events, and last week they attended the Swedish Academy's Annual Grand ceremony. Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia of Sweden, and Crown Princess Victoria arriving in Salen for the annual conference Crown Princess Victoria kept her brown tresses tied up in a low bun and her make up bronzed and natural Victoria put her best fashion foot forward in a statement purple gown, featuring an elegant round neck and long sleeves, for the occasion at the Old Stock Exchange building in Stockholm. Looking effortlessly elegant, Victoria was joined by her husband Crown Prince Daniel, 49, and her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf, 76, and mother Queen Silvia, 78, for the glitzy event. Victoria dazzled in the form-hugging plum gown, which espoused her slender silhouette. On the dress, she was wearing her royal sash and her honours, pinned to the outfit with a blue ribbon. Crown Princess Victoria arriving at the conference, which aims to create an understanding of issues and processes that affect peace and freedom in today's world She was wearing the Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Order of the Seraphim, as well as the Grand Cross of the Social Order of Innocence, and her father's Jubilee medals. The Crown Princess styled her hair into a bun and kept her accessories to a minimum, with just a round silver necklace adorned with a blue gem and matching earrings. READ MORE: Red-y for business! Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden dons a stylish crimson checked suit for a day of engagements in Gothenburg Why an over-sized suit is the new royal must-have! Princess of Wales and Meghan Markle are ditching slim fit for the trendy silhouette which 'keeps them relevant', expert reveals All aboard! Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar of Sweden steal the show as they visit a local traffic depot with their parents on Christmas Eve Advertisement Passengers travelling on the London Underground partially disrobed today in celebration of The No Trousers Tube Ride, which today returned to the capital for the first time since the pandemic hit in March 2020. Hundreds of Sunday travellers joined in the no trousers fun, which first began on the other side of the Atlantic in New York 20 years ago. The Elizabeth Line, which opened last year, welcomed its first trouser-free passengers, with hundreds of people travelling in their underwear for the annual event, which began in New York two decades ago. Organised by The Stiff Upper Lip Society, the event saw people donning smart office wear on their top halves, with just underwear, shoes and socks on the lower half of their bodies. The event is part of the worldwide No Pants Subway Ride, which began in New York in 2002 and has since spread to more than 60 cities across the globe. The quirky tradition was created by Improv Everywhere, a comedy performance art group, in New York City in 2002. 'The mission started as a small prank with seven guys and has grown into an international celebration of silliness, with dozens of cities around the world participating each year,' Improv Everywhere's website says. Photos taken during the eye-catching event show people casually riding subway trains and nonchalantly pulling their pants off with indifference. The No Trousers Tube Ride, which started in New York 20 years ago, returned to London's transport system this weekend for the first time since the pandemic Hundreds stripped down to their pants and took to the city's transport system for the unique event The Elizabeth Line, which opened last year, welcomed its first trouser-free passengers, with hundreds of people travelling in their underwear At Paddington, bare-legged passengers take to the escalator ahead of joining regular communters on the Tube The event is part of the worldwide No Pants Subway Ride, which began in New York in 2002 and has since spread to more than 60 cities across the globe Organised by The Stiff Upper Lip Society, the event saw people donning smart office wear on their top halves, with just underwear, shoes and socks on the lower half of their bodies 'As soon as the doors shut at the stop before yours, stand up and take your pants off and put them in your backpack,' the group says. 'If anyone asks you why you've removed your pants, tell them that they were 'getting uncomfortable' (or something along those lines.' The quirky tradition was created by Improv Everywhere, a comedy performance art group, in New York City in 2002 Three travellers don bright underwear to join others - including those fully dressed - for the 12th annual No Trousers Tube Ride One passenger perhaps gave a subliminal message to their fellow trouser-free passengers, with these shark mouth pants Still gotta queue though: commuters wait for a train to pull up on the platform at Paddington Office wear and just underwear: three smartly-attired chaps join in the fun Legs eleven: There were some interesting sock and shoe combos on display too Tickets please: Travellers in their underwear buy tickets for their journeys Attempting Dry January but missing the booze already? Light up one of these delightfully alcohol-inspired candles instead. Thats right, forget the florals the new trend in home fragrance is a surprising one: candles scented with your favourite tipple, from cider and whisky to mojitos and espresso martinis. But would our drinks expert wax lyrical about them? Or do they simply smell a bit rum? Here, Helen McGinn puts a selection to the test LONG-LASTING CIDER AND CINNAMON Yankee Candle Home Inspiration Cider Tasting 538g, 14.99, ryman.co.uk Yankee Candle Home Inspiration Cider Tasting 538g, 14.99, ryman.co.uk. Good value but not very boozy As with most Yankee candles, the scent is not exactly subtle. In fact, its not really that cidery either; more baked apple and cinnamon spice with a subtle woody note which, say the makers, is a nod to whisky barrels. Made from premium-grade paraffin wax, it certainly smells more natural than some of the eye-watering Yankee candles Ive tried over the years. And with a burn time of up to 125 hours, itll see you through many a long winter night. Good value but not very boozy. 6/10 TRY AN UPCYCLED ESPRESSO MARTINI Upcircle Espresso Martini Soy Candle 180ml, 21.99, upcirclebeauty.com Upcircle Espresso Martini Soy Candle 180ml, 21.99, upcirclebeauty.com. Its sustainable and the burn time is 35 hours. Seriously impressive Co-founder Anna Brightman and her brother Will secured investment on BBCs Dragons Den for their waste-fighting beauty brand Upcircle. Made using leftover arabica coffee grounds sourced from artisan coffee shops, then infused into soy wax, these candles have a smell thats more cappuccino than espresso martini but hats off to the company for creating something so good from ingredients that would otherwise go to waste. Its sustainable and the burn time is 35 hours. Seriously impressive. 8/10 HEADY AROMA OF DARK RUM Malin + Goetz Dark Rum Candle 225g, 46, malinandgoetz.co.uk Malin + Goetz Dark Rum Candle 225g, 46, malinandgoetz.co.uk. It might leave those who prefer something light and floral overwhelmed, but rum fans will be hooked If you like Dark & Stormy highball cocktails, you are going to love this candle from the hip American apothecary brand founded by friends Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz back in 2004. Inspired by the colour and scent of dark Caribbean rum, this natural wax candle contains 16 per cent perfume oil. At first, the smell is almost sweet but then comes the spice and the result is wonderfully warm and heady. It might leave those who prefer something light and floral overwhelmed, but rum fans will be hooked. Pricey but with a 60-hour burn time, its pretty good value. 10/10 WARMING NOTES FOR WHISKY FANS Arran Hot Toddy Candle 30cl, 25, arran.com Arran Hot Toddy Candle 30cl, 25, arran.com. Not really that boozy but beautifully done, with a long, lingering scent Produced on the Scottish Isle of Arran, this limited-edition festive scented candle pays homage to the Hot Toddy. Contrary to popular belief, the drink wasnt invented in Scotland but in India in the 17th century, and was originally based on fermented palm sap. However, the Scots made it their own by warming it up and adding whisky to the mix. This particular take is certainly warming, with a mix of spicy nutmeg and patchouli and the woody notes are a nice nod to whisky. Not really that boozy but beautifully done, with a long, lingering scent. 7/10 MAKE MINE A SUMMERY MOJITO Malin + Goetz Mojito 225g, 46, malinandgoetz.co.uk Malin + Goetz Mojito 225g, 46, malinandgoetz.co.uk. If heavy scents are not your thing, this lighter take on the boozy candle trend is likely to hit the spot Another one from the U.S.-based skincare and fragrance brand, this contains a generous shot of mojito perfume oil. The overall effect is positively spirit-lifting, with lots of fresh lime and muddled mint aromas upfront, just like its namesake. With notes of lavender and musk too, it evokes English summer rather than cold, cosy January. But if heavy scents are not your thing, this lighter take on the boozy candle trend is likely to hit the spot. 8/10 READ MORE: Mum slammed as a 'Karen' for shaming non-alcoholic bottle shop for letting her 15-year-old daughter sample products SHANE WATSON: How to Dress Like a Grown Up... Beat the Winter Blues by Wowing in White Why are millennials scared to turn 30? Psychologist reveals how to tackle anxiety over the milestone age (and why you SHOULDN'T feel pressure to 'settle down') Liz shared tips for transforming a space and said you need a mood board To do this, she needed to pressure wash and paint the area entirely She said she wanted to create a 'Bora Bora-inspired' tropical oasis outside Mum-of-four Liz Amaya shared how she transformed her 'tired' old pool deck A mum-of-four has revealed how she transformed her 'tired' old pool deck into a stunning tropical oasis inspired by Bora Bora, and her tips for helping you to do the same. Stylist Liz Amaya, 40, from Brisbane, and her family spent just over a 'week of work' painting, renovating and decorating the deck, and she said she wanted to do something that was 'easy to maintain' but also stylish and 'coastal in vibe'. 'Our deck was looking tired and needed freshening up and staining again,' Liz told FEMAIL. 'Part of the renovation was the deck needing updating, and part of it was doing something that was easy to maintain because painting requires less maintenance than oil staining. 'The space is in the sun most of the day therefore timber dries so easily.' A mum-of-four has revealed how she transformed her 'tired' old pool deck into a stunning tropical oasis inspired by Bora Bora, and her tips for helping you to do the same (Liz Amaya pictured) BEFORE: She said she wanted to do something that was 'easy to maintain' but also stylish and 'coastal in vibe' AFTER: Stylist Liz Amaya , 40, from Brisbane, and her family spent just over a 'week of work' painting, renovating and decorating the deck Liz said the Amaya family went 'back and forth' about painting it white or white washing it and eventually decided to paint the space. 'We chose white because it's fresh and bright, and I was keen for more of a coastal vibe by the pool. The project brief was take me to Bora Bora,' she said. Because they already owned a Gerni high pressure timber cleaner, they were able to clean the deck relatively cheaply. Liz estimates she spent $700 on paint and non-slip and timber cleaning materials, and another $200 on the new head cleaner for their pressure timber cleaner. AFTER: Liz said the Amaya family went 'back and forth' about painting it white or white washing it and eventually decided to paint the space The mum-of-four (pictured in the space) said she spent about $5,800 all up on the area, including decor, furniture, plants and lighting She splashed out a bit and added $3,000 worth of furnishings by way of a beautiful L-shaped sofa, a table and chairs and cushions. The remainder of the $5,800 total spend went on pots and plants ($1,600) and additional decor ($300). 'We worked on the deck in stages based around our work commitments and parental duties, aka being an Uber to our four kids,' Liz said. 'It was around one week's worth of effort over a month in duration, depending on the weather.' DURING: She said they spent about a week's worth of work doing the project, but split it over the month due to weather and work and home commitments The first step was cleaning the deck, which was followed by the pressure wash on the timber and then three coats of white paint (pictured during) The first step was cleaning the deck, which was followed by the pressure wash on the timber and then three coats of white paint. After this, it was just styling the furniture and plants to recreate a coastal feel. Liz shared her tips for would-be renovators, and said it's all about researching and creating a budget. 'Have a vision of the space with moodboards and inspiration before you start a project,' she said. 'Always refer to it when making selections and as the project continues. This helps achieve the overall aesthetic in a space and execute your vision.' AFTER: When Liz shared the results of her work on Instagram, she was met by compliments from thousands AFTER: She said the most important thing when renovating an outdoor space is that you have a mood board (pictured) that you can refer back to Elsewhere, the 40-year-old said you should always use a 'quality' outdoor paint, as well as one specifically for timber exteriors. 'Rolling paint applies the paint easier and more consistently over timber,' she added. 'Using a non-slip sand mix to add adhesive to the deck especially in a wet area was good too.' The mum-of-four shared the results of her work on Instagram, where thousands were quick to compliment it. 'This is amazing,' one person commented. 'Looks fabulous,' added another. Everybody knows by now that junk food is filled with sugar, salt and saturated fats that can lead to obesity and chronic obesity. But many will be surprised to learn there are even more harmful ingredients lurking in their favorite treats. In a report last month, researchers found toxic metals in every dark chocolate bar they tested, including big-name brands like Hershey's, Lindt and Tony's Chocolonely. It may also be a surprise that a chemical used in explosives sometimes finds its way into breads, muffins and cookies, or that an ingredient in lighter fluid is used to keep chicken nuggets fresh. In recent weeks experts also have issued warnings about red food dyes in candy, Doritos and sodas, which have been linked to cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. Here are some of the most surprising toxins in your food: Pictured above are six foods containing toxins that you probably never realized were there. They include a powder used in bread to help it rise faster that is also included in explosives, lead from car exhausts in dark chocolate and a substance found in lighter fluid that is also added to chicken nuggets to keep them fresh for longer Substance found in lighter fluids, is also in chicken nuggets Butane isnt just for lighters anymore it's also added to chicken nuggets, potato chips and some fast foods to keep them fresh for longer. The chemical tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is considered to be safe in low doses in foods. But in higher amounts it has been linked to tumors, liver enlargements, convulsions and paralysis. Food companies swear by TBHQ because it can preserve food, keeping its flavor, color and nutritional value for longer. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the chemical for use in foods back in the 70s, when fast foods were becoming ever-more popular. Now it is claimed to be in everything from McDonald's chicken nuggets and nstant noodles to snack crackers. The FDA currently allows for no more than 0.02 percent of an item's total fat and oil content to be TBHQ. Authorities in Europe have also determined that TBHQ is safe to use in foods in low concentrations. The chemical is made from butane, which is stored in lighters as a liquid and released as a gas ignited by a spark. Explosive material in breads, muffins and cookies Potassium bromate has been used as an explosive for decades. But the white powder is also mixed into flour used for baked goods such as breads and cookies, because it can help dough to rise and keep its shape. Lab studies have repeatedly linked it to cancers in the thyroid and peritoneum the thin layer of cells covering the bladder, rectum and the uterus. But the FDA is yet to outlaw its use in the United States, and continues to consider the substance as 'GRAS', generally recognized as safe. This contrasts with the view in many other countries and blocs, including the UK, Canada, India, Brazil and the European Union which have all outlawed it. Warnings over its potential to cause cancer date back to 1999, when reports on this risk began to be released. The food industry has long argued it is safe to use because during cooking the powder is converted into potassium bromide, a non-carcinogen. But tests in the UK back in 1994 showed that potassium bromate remains in foods even after cooking. This included all six unwrapped bread products tested, and seven out of 22 wrapped that were checked. California has taken action against the ingredient, requiring products that use it to carry a warning label for consumers. The above graphic shows the 28 chocolate bars tested by New York-based nonprofit Consumer Reports. All were found to contain lead and cadmium. Consumer Reports compared levels of the heavy metal in about an ounce of the chocolates to the recommended daily exposure levels from the Californian Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Heavy metals in dark chocolate Dark chocolate has been repeatedly lauded for its health benefits, from promoting heart health to packing a heavy punch of antioxidants. But a recent investigation into 28 popular brands including Lindt, Hershey's and Trader Joe's found all the bars contained alarming amounts of cadmium and lead. HEALTH EFFECTS OF LEAD EXPOSURE Lead exposure in children is often difficult to observe, with no immediate symptoms. But if there is suspicion a child has been exposed, then parents should talk to their child's healthcare provider about getting a blood test. Lead is more harmful to children under six years old because their body is still developing. Children: - Damage to the brain and nervous system; - Slowed growth and development; - Learning and behavior problems; - Hearing and speech problems. This can lead to: - Lowered IQ; - Decreased ability to pay attention; - Underperformance in school. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advertisement Cadmium ends up in chocolate when it is sucked up through cacao tree roots, with exposure over a long period of time linked to kidney failure and weak bones. But lead, which is well-known to be dangerous to humans, gets into chocolate after cacao beans are left out to dry by roadsides and become coated with lead from car fumes. Lead exposure over long periods is linked to memory loss, abdominal pain and low mood in adults. But in children it can damage brain development, as well as leading to learning and behavior problems and issues with speech and hearing. Experts say there is too little heavy metal in each individual bar to poison someone, with this only likely to happen after eating more than an entire sharing-sized bar. The FDA sets no national limit for lead and cadmium levels in chocolate. A spokeswoman for the agency told DailyMail.com last month: 'The FDA continues to monitor and regulate levels of environmental contaminants, including lead and cadmium, in foods. 'If the agency finds that the level of a contaminant causes the food to be unsafe, we take action.' Vomit chemical hiding in butter and parmesan It turns out that a chemical found in vomit is also present in some butters and parmesan cheeses. Called butyric acid, it is a short-chain fatty acid made naturally that ends up in animal products such as those using milk. About three to four percent of butter is butyric acid, which is behind the disagreeable smell created when the food turns rancid. Few studies have been carried out into the substance, but those that have suggest it has positive health benefits. The substance has already been linked to a lowered risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), colon cancer and improved insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetics. No estimates are available on how much of the acid is needed to prompt health benefits in people. But raising fiber intake may be the best strategy, scientists say, because this triggers bacteria breaking it down to produce chemicals like butyric acid. Carcinogenic chemical in candy A substance deployed in paints, rubber and plastics is also hidden in many popular candy brands. Industries often use titanium dioxide to give their products a white color and glossy sheen. But manufacturers of popular candies, salad dressing and chewing gum also use it to give a smooth texture or as a white colorant. The FDA has imposed strict guidelines on how much can be used in food, setting a maximum limit of no more than one percent. While US regulators say the compound is safe in small amounts, the additive has been banned in European Union countries. Microplastics lurking in fast foods Popular fast food items from major chains like McDonald's and Burger King contain small amounts of industrial chemicals called phthalates, the compounds used to make plastic pliable. Scientists have repeatedly found evidence of these insidious chemicals in a majority of foods tested. A study published in 2021 tested 64 fast food items from national chains including McDonald's, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Chipotle, and found the majority contained these chemicals. They have previously been linked to health problems including hormone disruption, infertility and an increased risk for learning, attention and behavioral disorders in children. The substances mainly get into foods when they come into contact with packaging and handling equipment, such as cellophane and papers. Concerns are being raised over microplastics as they are introduced into the food chain amid widespread use of plastics. But researchers say the levels being detected in foods at present are not such that they would raise alarm at federal agencies. Women of reproductive age should be asked every year about their thoughts on pregnancy, experts have advised. Doctors, pharmacists, sexual health clinics, teachers and social media websites could encourage women to think about their ideas on starting a family and better prepare them for pregnancy. Health experts say discussing this every 12 months could identify those who are close to getting pregnant and need to lose weight, take folic acid or exercise more. Research shows simply asking women if they are trying for a child is not in-depth enough, with those who say no actually more likely to become pregnant in the next year. But using as few as three questions whether women would mind becoming pregnant in the next three months, would find pregnancy exciting, and believe a baby would make it hard to achieve other things in life could identify those likely to soon get pregnant. Health experts say discussing pregnancy plans every 12 months could identify those who are close to getting pregnant and need to lose weight, take folic acid or exercise more These women could then be helped to enter pregnancy in a healthier state, reducing the risk of miscarriage. Dr Jenny Hall, from University College London, has led research looking at how 1,000 women aged 15 to 50 respond to questions about pregnancy. She said: GPs have enough to do at the moment so it doesnt necessarily have to be them who speak to women about pregnancy. But it could be brought up in school, by nurses giving routine blood tests, or through social media questionnaires which link to advice. Identifying women who are soon going to get pregnant can help them prepare... rather than getting healthier only when they are already pregnant, which can be too late. Researchers tested a survey, developed in the US and approved in the UK last year, on womens desire to have a child. This asks how strongly they agree with statements such as that thinking about having a baby within the next year makes them feel sad or stressed. It was found to work extremely well, predicting almost 80 per cent of women who would become pregnant in the next 12 months. A study led by Dr Hall, not yet published, found womens level of agreement with the statement I wouldnt mind if I became pregnant in the next three months was the best for predicting if they would become pregnant. Experts recommend women be given the full 14-statement survey every year, or a shorter list of just three statements. Less than half of women actively trying to conceive actually prepare for pregnancy, according to a study also soon to be published. Almost half of women in the UK are overweight when they get pregnant. And evidence shows around 60 per cent have a greater risk of problems because of things before pregnancy, such as drinking, smoking or their weight. Male partners, who are also important, could lose weight and become more healthy too. Dr Halls team has published a paper in The Lancet Public Health journal calling for clearly signposted information for women before they become pregnant. The title works in ways that Prince Harry may not have intended. In modern jargon, 'to go spare' means 'to become very angry'. The example offered by my dictionary is, 'When she found the children drawing on the walls, she went spare'. This could now be updated to: 'Whenever Harry spoke of his family, he went spare.' Spare is a book suffused with rage: rage at his father, his father-in-law, his stepmother, his great-aunt, his staff, the press, his brother Boys! Boys! Might Liam and Noel Gallagher be persuaded to play the title roles in William and Harry: The Musical? Anger what Harry calls his 'red mist' appears every few pages, and sometimes leads to fisticuffs Spare is a book suffused with rage: rage at his father, his father-in-law, his stepmother, his great-aunt, his staff, the press, his brother; particularised rage, generalised rage and sometimes, you feel, rage at life itself. Anger what Harry calls his 'red mist' appears every few pages, and sometimes leads to fisticuffs. In this way, the book is in strange contrast to the recent Harry & Meghan series on Netflix. The series was soft and scented; the book is jagged and raw. From time to time, Harry writes about the benefits of therapy. But has it made him any happier? On the evidence of this book, it may well be the disease for which it claims to be the cure. The book opens with a quote from freewheeling American author William Faulkner: 'The past is never dead, it's not even past.' Faulkner is best known for troublesome novel The Sound And The Fury about a crazy, warring family down on its uppers. It seems unlikely that Prince Harry, who proclaims himself a non-reader, is familiar with Faulkner. Where the series was soft and scented; the book is jagged and raw. Meghan and Harry pictured in their recent Netflix series On the other hand his distinguished ghostwriter JR Moehringer is a fan and mentioned Faulkner several times in his prize-winning autobiography The Tender Bar. How much of Spare is Moehringer's and how much Harry's? By far the most touching and lyrical passages are about Harry's childhood and his intense, unassuageable grief after the sudden death of his beloved mother. Of walking with his brother behind his mother's coffin, he writes: 'I remember keeping a fraction of Willy in the corner of my vision and drawing loads of strength from that. Of walking with his brother behind his mother's coffin, he writes: 'I remember keeping a fraction of Willy in the corner of my vision and drawing loads of strength from that' 'Most of all I remember the sounds, the clinking bridles and clopping hooves of the six sweaty brown horses, the squeaking wheels of the gun carriage they were hauling I believe I'll remember those few sounds for the rest of my life because they were such a sharp contrast to the otherwise all-encompassing silence.' In all the hoo-ha surrounding the book, there is a danger these more poignant pages will be overlooked. In the days after his mother's death, Harry kept thinking that she might still be alive: Had she faked her own death? Was she now hiding out somewhere in disguise? Before very long, she would send someone to collect William and Harry and all would be well. At his boarding school, he was encouraged to write a letter to Diana, telling her how he was feeling. 'I have a vague memory of wanting to protest that she was still alive. Mummy would read the letter when she came out of hiding, so it wouldn't be a total waste of effort.' In some of his dreams, she would make a triumphant return. In others, he would bump into her on the street. These dreams went on for years. Throughout his school years, he found studying impossible. Learning requires memory and he had no wish to remember. Instead, he rejected his darkest thoughts and 'declared a merciless war against my mind'. 'A list of names, a column of numbers, a mathematical formula, a beautiful poem to learn it, you had to upload it into the part of the brain that stored stuff, but that was the part of my brain I was resisting.' Yes, these thoughts may sound as though they have been processed through therapy, and then through his ghostwriter, but that does not make the feelings behind them any less authentic. In some of the Prince's dreams, Diana would make a triumphant return. In others, he would bump into her on the street As the book progresses, his anger and resentment build. When things go wrong, he is forever on the look-out for someone to blame, and that someone, more often than not, is his elder brother. William ignores him at school and he ignores him again when they go to Botswana. They regularly biff each other in the back of the car while their father is driving. That this is a regular dynamic between siblings seems never to have occurred to him. Spare might just as easily have been titled Spar. As it is, his gripes about being the Spare to the Heir soon become tiresome. 'I was the shadow, the support, the plan B. I was brought into the world in case something happened to Willy. I was summoned to provide backup, distraction, diversion and, if necessary, a spare part. Kidney, perhaps.' Bad luck, I suppose, to be born third-in-line to the throne and now, with the advent of George, Charlotte and Louis, to have plummeted to No 5. But what about everyone else, situated in the high millions in the line of succession? How Spare does that leave the rest of us? At Eton, Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men is on the curriculum and Harry manages to read it. He spots the resemblance between William and himself and George and Lennie, two companions who lived through the same ups and downs and who cared for each other. He is struck by the quote, 'A man needs someone, someone who is close. You go crazy if you don't have anyone'. 'So true,' thinks Harry. 'I wanted to share it with Willy. Too bad he was still pretending not to know me.' Their sibling rivalry culminates in the notorious episode of William knocking Harry over in the kitchen of Nottingham Cottage, at Kensington Palace, sending his brother's necklace flying and shattering the dog bowl. Boys! Boys! Might Liam and Noel Gallagher be persuaded to play the title roles in William and Harry: The Musical? Harry's motto is not Forgive and Forget. He recalls every last brotherly spat, however petty, with forensic intensity and guess what? William is always to blame. Their sibling rivalry culminates in the notorious episode of William knocking Harry over in the kitchen of Nottingham Cottage, at Kensington Palace, sending his brother's necklace flying and shattering the dog bowl When William marries Kate, that gives Harry someone else to blame. We hear Meg asked Kate if she could borrow her lip gloss. Kate rummaged in her bag and 'reluctantly' pulled out a tube. Meg put some on her finger and applied it to her lips. 'Kate grimaced.' Rather than ignore it, Harry stored the incident away, ready to list it alongside all the other grievances in his book. When she first read Spare, did it occur to Meghan that, stuck out in California, with no one left to blame, his vengeful gaze may soon turn towards her way? Had the press or a 'Royal expert' come up with this book, you can bet Harry would now be on the phone to his lawyer or to Oprah Winfrey, or both, railing against this monstrous invasion of his privacy. 'Does the public really need to know about my family disagreements, how I killed 25 Taliban soldiers ('chess pieces removed from the board'), my drug-taking, the older woman who took my virginity in a field behind a busy pub, 'treated me not unlike a young stallion' and 'smacked my rump'?' 'What possible public interest is served by making public the various Freudian remedies I once applied to my frostbitten penis? '('My mum used to put that [Elizabeth Arden cream] on her lips. You want me to put it on my todger?').' For those of us who love Royal tittle-tattle, the book is a treasure trove. By the end, we know that he disliked Princess Margaret ('she could kill a house plant with one scowl... I kept my distance'), that he has conducted conversations, both sober and drug-addled, with, among others, a fox, seal and a bathroom pedal bin, that he once hit his bodyguard in a drunken rage, that he worries about the feng shui at Balmoral and that he is circumcised 'I was snipped as a baby'. You could argue that anyone has the right to invade their own privacy. Yet still all this gossip seems strange, coming from a young man who claims to have given up his Royal duties and chosen to emigrate to California because he could no longer bear the intrusion. At one point, he bitterly attacks Diana's hammy old butler Paul Burrell for telling everything in his memoirs. we know that he disliked Princess Margaret 'she could kill a house plant with one scowl... I kept my distance' It was, says Harry, 'merely one man's self-justifying, self-centring version of events'. But isn't this exactly what he has just done? It is one thing to tell your own secrets and quite another to betray the secrets of your friends and family. From the evidence in Spare, it seems Harry considers no conversation too intimate to keep from the book-buying public. Before Prince Philip's funeral, their father begs William and Harry not to 'make my final years a misery': hey presto, in it goes! Years ago, Charles confided to Harry he was bullied mercilessly at Gordonstoun, to the extent that 'I didn't survive' and in it goes! After all those years of braying for privacy, Harry has turned out to be the Blabbermouth's Blabbermouth, the Snitch's Snitch, the Prince of the Paparazzi. He has failed to offer any of his victims the right of reply he incessantly demands for himself. Odd then that he tells of heading his personal letters to his father, around the time of Megxit, 'PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL', fearful that he would leak them to the media. The headshot on the cover of Spare is so close up as to be lifesize. Anyone wanting to go to a fancy dress party as Harry need only apply an elastic band to the book and strap it round their head He criticises the press for bending the truth, while bending it every which way himself. He likes to portray Meghan and himself as castigated, when they weren't. He says the press proclaimed Meghan's first public outing with the Queen as an 'unmitigated disaster', portraying her as pushy, uppity and ignorant. But a glance at the archives shows the opposite: the press cooed over Meghan as a natural and revelled in the way the pair got on. The headshot on the cover of Spare is so close up as to be lifesize. Anyone wanting to go to a fancy dress party as Harry need only apply an elastic band to the book and strap it round their head. But the reaction may not be what you expect. Not long ago you would have commanded respect. Now you are more likely to provoke pity or even contempt. A grieving mother says she is still looking for answers, five years after her son was murdered by his father on holiday in South Africa. Noah Smith had travelled to Johannesburg with Dr Vuyo Tame for Christmas and new year celebrations at the end of 2017, but the nine-year-old cub scout never made it home to the UK. Staff at the four-star Radisson Blu hotel in the city found them both dead in their room on January 8, 2018. Noah, from Burham, near Maidstone, Kent, had been poisoned by an over-the-counter drug and possibly smothered with a pillow, before Tame shot himself with a pistol, an inquest heard. Noah Smith had travelled to Johannesburg with Dr Vuyo Tame for Christmas and new year celebrations at the end of 2017, but the nine-year-old cub scout never made it home to the UK Noah's mother Vicky is still looking for closure, five years on from the tragedy Coroner Ian Wade was told how South African authorities had allegedly bungled the investigation, reporting that Noah had bruising round his neck consistent with strangulation - a claim disputed by British detectives. Noah's mother is desperate for closure, but has been warned a backlog of homicide cases in South Africa means it may be a decade before police reach conclusion. Vicky Smith told MailOnline how she is still waiting for toxicology results and of her frustration in trying to get updates from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCO). She said: 'They're meant to be there for you but all you get is empty promises with nothing behind them. 'A post-mortem was carried out at the time but I still haven't had a death certificate. 'I don't think it'll show anything different if it did, they might have to re-open the inquest. 'I want answers and I want closure but I don't want the trauma of having to go through that again.' Being stuck in limbo for so long has only added more stress to a woman who worked as a nurse on the frontline during Covid and split up from her partner, all while living out every parent's worst nightmare in the most horrific circumstances. 'I'm just trying to get on with life as best I can,' she said. 'It's had a massive impact on me, I'm a completely different person now. I was in a very dark place for a long time. 'I've had therapy which is helping but it's been really difficult. I find this time of year particularly hard. 'You wonder what Noah would have been like, he'd be 14 now so you think about what he would have done at this age. 'I've had to move house as well, just seeing his bedroom every day was so difficult, there were too many memories. 'I've made quite a lot of changes but you can't escape it, it's always there.' Noah had been poisoned by an over-the-counter drug and possibly smothered with a pillow, before Tame shot himself with a pistol, an inquest heard The nine-year-old (pictured) was described by his mother as 'such a positive little boy' The inquest in Maidstone heard how Ms Smith tried to be fair with Tame seeing Noah after they broke up, but he would regularly be late or not show up at all when he was due to have him. She also described how the father became 'verbally aggressive' and shouted at Ms Smith and staff because Noah was taking his mother's name, later demanding a DNA test to prove the boy was his. Tame had previously taken Noah overseas to Canada and South Africa, and Ms Smith said her worst fear of them going away together was that her ex would 'abduct' him. She told the inquest how people believed Tame was 'obsessed' with Noah, who loved his father. The last time Ms Smith spoke with her son was on the phone on December 30, when she was told he was on a beach and having a good time. Speaking about Tame, she said: 'He made my life hell for years but people always let him get away with it because he was a doctor. 'I was treated like a second class citizen. It's hard to put it into words. 'I still can't really come to terms with it, there's no reason for him to have done it. 'It beggars belief, it's so cruel. He must have done it out of pure spite and selfishness.' An FCDO spokesperson said: 'We are supporting Ms Smith and her family during this difficult time and remain in contact with the South African authorities.' Once he put on the wolf costume, the man said it was a 'dream come true' The unnamed man paid three million Yen (18,800) for the life-like costume The Japanese man said he wanted to 'look like a real wolf walking on hind legs' A man has spent more than 18,000 on an ultra-realistic costume so he can fulfil his life-long dream of looking like a wolf. The unnamed man asked Japanese special modelling company Zeppet to make the suit for him, spending a staggering three million Yen (18,800) to transform into the grey-furred predator. It took Zeppet some fifty days to complete the incredibly life-like costume. With the specialised company releasing the images of the mystery client in the suit, the bizarre request is undeniably life-like. A man has spent more than 18,000 on an ultra-realistic costume so he can fulfil his life-long dream of looking like a wolf The unnamed man asked Japanese special modelling company Zeppet to make the suit for him, which took them 50 days to complete The anonymous customer with the four-legged aspirations wrote on Zeppet's website: 'Because of my love for animals since childhood and some realistic animal suits appearing on TV, I dreamed of being one someday. 'At the final fitting, I was amazed at my transformed self in the mirror. It was a moment when my dream came true.' The Japanese company Zeppet usually provides costumes and figures for TV commercials and films. The company said that for the incredibly intricate wolf design, they studied images of the predators so that they could match every fine detail. The mystery client was overjoyed with the final outcome of his order, praising the specialised company for their craftsmanship. The man spent a staggering three million Yen (18,800) on the costume to transform into the grey-furred predator The mystery client was overjoyed with the final outcome of his order, praising the specialised company for their design and craftsmanship He said: 'My order to 'look like a real wolf walking on hind legs' was difficult to say the least but the complete suit looked exactly like what I imagined.' 'Not only did the specs perfectly cover all of my preferences, but the ventilation slit for the wearer's comfort and the devices that let the wearer put it on without help showed me that the designers paid close attention to the wearer's comfort.' This is not the first time the Japanese company has fulfilled such a peculiar order, having previously made international headlines with another of their creations. Last year another Japanese man has similar aspirations of becoming a four-legged animals. The man, who identified himself as Toko, spent two million Yen (12,500) on a dog costume. Zeppet told local media that they enhanced the 'fluffiness' of the coat to hide the shell of the dog and made the mouth open and close by itself A Zeppet employee commented on how creating the life-like animal was difficult due to the amount of detail needed in creating a dog suit to fit the human body He went viral in Japan and featured in local news and television where Toko can be seen rolling on his back and trying on the suit for the first time Zeppet spent 40 days making the bespoke Collie costume. Following the outfit's completion, Toko posted the photos of himself online with an accompanying video on YouTube. He wrote: I made it a Collie because it looks real when I put it on. 'I thought that a big animal close to my size would be good - considering that it would be a realistic model, so I decided to make it a dog.' A picturesque Indian town has become 'an atom bomb' as it is begins sinking with huge cracks opening up in collapsing houses. Residents of Joshimath, in the Chamoli District of India, have had to evacuate their homes as a result of land subsidence in the local area. The town which holds a population of around 25,000 has seen over 500 houses develop huge cracks as others began to sink over the past ten days. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has called for a detailed report from the district magistrate of Chamoli, Himanshu Khurana, which will decide if the 50 affected families are 'shifted' or rehabilitated. Joshimath, located in the Chamoli District of India, has seen over 500 houses develop huge cracks as others began to sink over the past ten days. Residents have had to evacuate their homes as a result of land subsidence in the local area Given the extreme nature of the matter, officials have also been instructed to require relief to residents and traders 'who were facing financial losses', according to The Times of India. Additionally, the Chief Minister said that he would hold a high-level meeting on Friday evening to take stock of the situation. Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Convener of Joshimath, said: 'All of us are living on a ticking "atom bomb" that can explode at any moment. Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Convener of Joshimath, said: 'All of us are living on a ticking "atom bomb" that can explode at any moment Officials have been called to support residents and traders who are struggling financially as a result of the damage 'Cracks are also visible on the national highway, government schools. as well as hospital' Despite objections from local experts, warning that the land cannot support a high rate of construction, the continuous projects and widening of the National Highway have added to the instability of the ground over the last decades. It is believed that the predominant cause of the cracks was a 12km-long National Thermal Power Corportaion tunnel, Tapovan-Vishnugad 520 MW hydropower project. It is believed that the predominant cause of the cracks was a 12km-long National Thermal Power Corportaion tunnel, Tapovan-Vishnugad 520 MW hydropower project The Power Corporation previously acknowledged in 2010 that the tunnel was experiencing water seepage from a punctured aquifer, which in turn lead to the drying of water sources in Joshimath. As a means of repairing the damage, they provided the Rs 16 core to the town to supply water and agreed to insure houses, however, this has not been done until now. The Chief Minister called for a detailed report from the district magistrate of Chamoli, Himanshu Khurana, which will decide if the 50 affected families are 'shifted' or rehabilitated Despite objections from local experts warning that the land cannot support a high rate of construction, the continuous projects added to the instability of the ground Shailendra Panwar, a Joshimath Municipal Board chairperson said: 'The work on the tunnel started in 2006 and in 2009, a tunnel boring machine was trapped, leading to the bursting of an aquifer which discharged water at a speed of 600 liters per second. 'The tunnel is still under construction. After the 2010 Raini flash floods, the entire project was disrupted.' The Power Corporation previously said that the tunnel was experiencing water seepage from a punctured aquifer, which in turn lead to the drying of water sources in Joshimath in 2010 Environmentalist Ravi Chopra claimed the puncturing of the aquafer inside the mountain left it unable to support the land above it, which led to the subsidence of the area Officials from the NTPC have claimed that as the tunnels are now completely dry, the sinking is not due to their project. However, environmentalist Ravi Chopra said that the puncturing of the aquafer inside the mountain, which is now devoid of water, is unable to support the land above it, subsequently leading to the subsidence of the area. When President Joe Biden makes his first visit to the border with Mexico on Sunday, he will hear from aid workers helping manage the immigration crisis and from local officials desperate for more support. What he won't see are the miserable makeshift camps dotted around El Paso that triggered headlines last month about migrants taking over the streets. On Tuesday and Wednesday law enforcement teams moved through the downtown area, picking up migrants who had entered the country illegally. As a result, he may get a view of the border but not of the crisis, say infuriated border agents who wanted him to see the scale of the chaos last month. Slide me In December, migrants were sleeping rough in makeshift camps around the Greyhound Bus Station in downtown El Paso. But last week the camps were cleared before Joe Biden's visit on Sunday. These images show how the area looked before and after the operation The end of the year brought a surge in migrant arrivals to coincide with what was expected to be the end of Title 42, and its tough restrictions. El Paso declared an emergency But on Saturday, the same streets had no sign of the migrants who had camped there WHAT IS TITLE 42? Title 42 border restrictions are a public health order that enabled U.S. authorities to turn back most migrants, including people seeking asylum from persecution. They were introduced during the pandemic and were set to expire on December 21, after several extensions. It was eventually left in place under Supreme Court orders. But hopes that it would be lifted triggered a surge in the number of migrants attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border at the end of the year - with even larger numbers expected to arrive once the pandemic-era order is eventually lifted. Many of those were repeat crossers because Title 42 carries no legal or criminal consequences. Title 42 authority has been applied unevenly across nationalities. Mexico has agreed to take back migrants from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico - and limited numbers from Cuba and Nicaragua. Title 42 is one of two major surviving Trump-era policies to deter asylum at the border. Advertisement 'It's a dog and pony show,' said a volunteer helping dozens of migrants seeking shelter at the Sacred Heart Church. 'They've cleaned it all up for him.' Officials say they are just enforcing the rules and that any timing is coincidence. But a day before the president's arrival and the scene could not be more different to the chaos of late December. Migrant numbers surged then as arrivals timed their journeys to coincide with the expected end of Title 42 a Trump-era restriction that eventually won a stay of execution at the Supreme Court. Then hundreds of mainly Venezuelan refugees camped out on the sidewalks around the Greyhound Bus station in downtown. Now their bundles of clothes and belongings are gone after border agents moved through the area during the week. Only a few dozen migrants remained on the sidewalk around the Sacred Heart Church downtown on Saturday. Illegal arrivals say they are protected by the church's sanctuary status so long as they do not step off the kerb. Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, said his 18,000 members had been waiting two years for Biden to come and see what they had to deal with every day. He said the White House knew what it was doing with a January visit. The number of daily encounters had dropped from about 7500 a couple of weeks ago, he said, to about 3300 now a seasonal pattern that happens every year. 'Biden has all those figures. He knows all the trends. He knows when the best time to come to the border. And he knows that the beginning of January is absolutely the best time,' he said. Border agents' union were dismissive of the visit to a cleaned-up El Paso in a Friday tweet Slide me Biden will see a very different El Paso to the one he would have seen three weeks ago - much to the anger and frustration of border agents who he is being shown a sanitized version These streets were filled with migrants as they surged into El Paso in December Migrants were sleeping in below-freezing temperatures in December His union issued an acerbic tweet when the visit was announced. 'El Paso being cleaned up as if nothing unusual ever happened there. Just in time for Biden's "visit to the border,"' it said. 'We suggest just landing in Des Moines, Iowa and telling him it's El Paso. He'll never know the difference.' Biden is expected to be on the ground for just three hours, according to the official White House itinerary. That was not nearly enough time to get a grip on the issue, added Judd. 'You've got to spend a little bit of time you've got to be able to speak with people,' he said. 'You've got to be able to get their ideas and three hours is not going to give him that.' At the same time, a security officer told DailyMail.com that the number of encounters along the El Paso sector of the border had fallen to a trickle after 400 troops were deployed at the end of last month. The Texas National Guard deployed along the border in El Paso at the end of last year. They are still there and have set up two miles of extra fencing with razor wire Officials say their presence has forced migrants away from El Paso as they look to cross into the U.S. from Mexico, although numbers have dwindled anyway as they always do in January This is what Biden would have seen in mid-December when crowds crossed the Rio Grande river that separates the two countries and handed themselves in to border patrols El Paso declared an emergency last month and set up a shelter in its convention center. But last week it said it was closing the shelter as it was no longer needed Official figures have yet to be released, but he said: 'We have Texas National Guard deployed, setting up about two miles of additional concertina wire and soldiers on the border right now. 'And we've seen our number of encounters and illegal crossings in urban El Paso go down dramatically.' That makes for a remarkable turnaround. In the last week of December, when migrants were hoping that Title 42 would be lifted, officials said about 2,500 migrants were arriving in El Paso daily. Among them was Jose Vargas, who said he was fleeing the oppressive regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. He said he managed to avoid border guards and had yet to claim asylum. Now the 32-year-old said he was working out what to do next. 'I'm hoping that the government of the U.S. will let us stay until Maduro has gone,' he said. 'And then I will go back.' Biden will be hoping his visit silences opponents who say he has failed to take the crisis seriously. And he arrives days after unveiling his latest plan to tackle the problem. On Thursday he announced he was expanding Trump-era restrictions to rapidly expel Cuban, Haitian, and Nicaraguan migrants caught illegally crossing the southern border. Instead, the U.S. will accept 30,000 people per month from those three countries, as well as Venezuela, so long as they arrive legally. There are only a handful of migrants here and there in El Paso, like these Venezuelans who stole across the border at the end of December President Joe Biden on Thursday unveiled plans for dealing with migrants arriving at the border with Mexico, as the administration prepares for the end of Title 42 BIDEN'S PLAN TO ADDRESS HISTORIC MIGRANT CRISIS Accept 30,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela every month Can come to the U.S. for two years if they are sponsored, have background checks and receive work authorization Expel migrants from those countries who try to cross the border illegally and impose a five-year ban on reentry Individuals from Mexico and Panama will not be eligible for parole in the U.S. Mexico has agreed to accept 30,000 expelled migrants a month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela Welcome 20,000 refugees from Latin America and Caribbean nations in 2023 and 2024 Migrants will have to set up an appointment using a cell phone app for appointments at border entry points U.S. giving $23 million in humanitarian assistance to Mexico and Central America Increasing funding available to border cities and those receiving an influx of migrants Advertisement It represents an attempt both to head off Republican criticism that it has allowed record numbers to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, and to address concerns from within the Democratic Party that Biden has been too slow to shake off Trump-era restrictions that prevent those in need from seeking asylum. The administration is preparing for the end of Title 42, a public health regulation that allows the expulsion of migrants before they can claim asylum in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Yet the proposals immediately triggered anger on both sides, with Republicans saying it was too little, too late and some Democrats saying it expanded restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump. Even in announcing the plan, Biden acknowledged that it was far from perfect. 'The actions we're announcing today will make things better ... will make things better but will not fix the border problem completely,' he said. Local politicians are not holding their breath. They see Biden's as nothing but a carefully-managed photo opportunity. Robert Pena, executive director of the El Paso Republican Party, said he expected it to go down like Vice President Kamala Harris's trip in 2021. 'He'll get to have his picture taken at the border. But he'll only see what they want him to see, and he won't see the thousands of people coming across,' he said. Local officials, as they confirmed the clearances, said they were part of regular programs to enforce the law. 'Border Patrol agents conduct enforcement actions in accordance with DHS policy without denying access to needed medical care, access to schools by children, access to places of worship, access to disaster or emergency relief sites and other protected areas,' El Paso sector Border Patrol officials said in a statement. A young Australian couple have handed in the keys of their rental home to wake up to stunning views and dolphins as neighbours. Phoebe Kempson, 25, and Brad Crane, 27, moved out of their Adelaide home and onto a boat docked at North Haven Marina. After buying the 13.8m vessel they called Tiburon for $59,000, the couple pay just $400 a month for mooring and $50 per quarter for electricity. They admitted they were still adjusting to life on a boat and had to sell most of their possessions, including all their furniture. The plan is to spend several years on the boat while saving for a house deposit. Brad Crane and Phoebe Kempson have no regrets about trading their rental home for a boat 'At the moment we're paying off our loan for the boat also, so it's probably the same as living in a rental,' Ms Kempson told the ABC. 'But at the least at the end of this we're going to be able to keep the boat and it's ours instead of wasting money on a rental.' Their backyard and daily visits from their adorable neighbours make up for the cons, such as going to a laundromat to wash their clothes. 'I was cooking breakfast the other day and up pops a dolphin right in front of my face, about two metres away, you just don't get that in the other marinas that are closed, Ms Kempson said. For just $400 a month , Phoebe Kempson (pictured) wakes up to spectacular views The couple have no issues with their adorable and friendly neighbours (pictured) 'It's really beautiful to be woken up by the natural sun, step outside and it's the ocean, it's just stunning.' Ms Kempson and her husband are documenting their adventures on the Tales of Tiburon Instagram page. 'Still plenty of decorating, rearranging and renovating to be done but that's half the fun,' she captioned photos inside the boat. The most daunting challenge for the novice sailors was sailing the boat back home from Port Fairy in Victoria. The couple endured seasickness while Mr Crane broke his ribs after he was flung to the other side of the vessel during a night of rough seas. 'Phoebe spent the first two hours crying on and off, we both took turns vomiting for five hours, 4m swell and 18 knots is some scary s**t,' the couple wrote at the time Adelaide rents rose 12 per cent in the 12 months to September 2022, according to the latest PropTrack report. It was the South Australian capital's biggest rent hike on record. An elderly Jewish woman whose family survived the Holocaust was terrified when a balding Neo-Nazi said 'Heil Hitler' to her as she shopped at Coles in Melbourne. The woman, in her 70s, was at the supermarket in Elsternwick - south-east of the CBD, and in the heart of the city's Jewish community - in December when a stranger noticed her Star of David jewellery. As the man passed her in the aisle, he did the Nazi salute and walked away. She was so shocked and scared that she didn't report the incident to police, but was eventually encouraged to tell Jewish lobby group the Anti-Defamation Commission about her experience. 'This is Coles Elsternwick, not Nazi Germany,' she told commission's chairman, Dr Dvir Abramovich. The woman, in her 70s, was at the supermarket in Elsternwick - south-east of the CBD, and in the heart of the city's Jewish community (stock image of Coles in Elsternwick, pictured) 'As a child of Holocaust survivors who fled Europe to give their family a peaceful life, it brought back all the traumas of my past - my parent's guilt for surviving the Holocaust and their struggles.' She described the man as tall, middle-aged, balding, and wearing a dark jacket. The woman said she would not stop wearing the Star of David, but she was traumatised by the incident. Dr Abramovich told Daily Mail Australia the elderly victim felt as though she had been 'stabbed in the heart'. 'I've never heard of a Jewish woman being confronted like that, and she never thought it would happen in Australia in 2022,' he said. 'She's scared it will happen again and that she'll see that man again.' Dr Abramovich said the incident stems from a growing number of antisemitic acts reported in Victoria. The woman was wearing the Star of David (pictured) when the Neo-Nazi approached her in Coles 'To openly do the Nazi salute in a supermarket at the heart of the Jewish community shocks the conscience and demonstrates that these Hitler worshipper are less inhibited about expressing their savage, dangerous sentiments in public,' he said. 'Such violent gestures not only scar and traumatise the victims but shake the affected community and leave many scared and vulnerable.' Daily Mail Australia contacted Coles for comment. In June last year, Victoria became the first Australian state to ban the public display of the Nazi symbol. The Summary Offences Amendment (Nazi Symbol Prohibition) Bill 2022 made it a criminal offence for a person to intentionally display the Nazi symbol (the Hakenkreuz, often referred to as the Nazi swastika) in public. Anyone who intentionally displays the Nazi symbol in public faces penalties of up to $22,000, 12 months imprisonment, or both. One of Australia's biggest unions wants to charge all workers fees for negotiating collective pay deals even if they don't want to be members. United Workers Union national secretary Tim Kennedy even questioned the sustainability of the movement as membership plunges to historic lows. This is despite unions regaining the power to make agreements covering more than one company - and theoretically entire industries. United Workers Union national secretary Tim Kennedy (pictured front centre) has suggested non-members should pay a fee to unions to take part in collectively bargained agreements Unions can drag businesses in to these agreements if they met certain conditions, and workers voted in favour. Early childhood workers, 150,000 of whom are represented by the United Workers Union, will be a test case of the laws. 'As it currently stands, it is an expectation this minority of workers will carry the burden for up to 50-60 per cent of the workforce... so you've got a lot of free-riding going on,' Mr Kennedy told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'Most people would say to you: that doesn't strike you as fair, does it?' Early childhood workers, such as these seen during a Melbourne protest in 2017, will be part of a test case of the new multi-employer bargaining brought in by the Albanese government According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, union membership is just 12.5 per cent of the workforce, after decades of decline. Mr Kennedy said his union's ability to negotiate was hampered by its dwindling membership. 'Ultimately, we're going to need hundreds of thousands of workers deciding to join our union maybe a million workers if it's going to be sustainable in the longer term,' he said. Mr Kennedy admitted the mechanism of charging non union members a levy to take part in collective agreements had not yet been worked out. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar dismissed the idea as one of 'self-interest' from union officials who were failing to entice new members to join. Children hold up signs supporting striking early childhood educators, with the peak union representing the sector concerned at how sustainably it can bargain with dwindling membership 'Australians are not going to cop paying a compulsory tax to unions for so-called services they didn't ask for and don't use, to subsidise unions they have actively chosen not to join,' he said. 'Unions should rethink the product they are offering to working Australians before complaining about workplace entry rules that already give them a more than fair go.' ACTU secretary Sally McManus also argued that non-union members 'free-ride' on the bargaining efforts of unions. 'Union members, if we achieve those outcomes, doesn't mean everyone else that's not in the union is going to get those pay increases,' she said in June. 'They won't they'll have to fend for themselves. That's the way the system works.' Unde Australia's new industrial relations laws, which were passed in an extended week of parliament in November, employers won't be able to ban staff from discussing their wages. Workers will be able to demand flexible hours and more easily sue ex-employers to recover lost wages and entitlements. The laws also beef up the Fair Work Commission's powers to close the gender pay gap. ACTU head Sally McManus (pictured front centre) has also pointed out that non-union members get to 'free ride' Rolling short-term contracts that effectively keep workers on endless probation will be banned, 'zombie agreements' from the WorkChoices era ended, and red tape cut from the better off overall test. At the time they passed parliament Mr McKellar called the laws fundamentally flawed and argued they put Australian jobs and businesses at risk. He said the laws 'will do nothing to achieve the aim of increasing wages, and will only add cost and complexity to Australian businesses at a time when they are dealing with deteriorating conditions'. 'Ultimately, this Bill represents a fundamental de-linkage of wages with productivity and will detract from the flexibility and dynamism required by modern economies,' he said. A seven-year-old Louisiana girl was mauled to death by a free-roaming pit bull while playing outside a relative's home. Sadie Davila, of East Baton Rouge, was rushed to the hospital after the dog attacked her on Friday night, and later passed away from her grave injuries, WAFB reports. The dog's owner, Erick Chinchilla Lopez, 20, a neighbor of Sadie's relative, was arrested and charged with negligent homicide for failing to confine or restrain the dog. Sadie's parents were left devastated by their daughter's death, with mother Haley Anselmo demanding justice for her shattered family. 'My mini me. The light in my heart,' Anselmo wrote on Facebook in describing her daughter. 'Words don't exist for what this feeling is. 'My family is shattered. Please pray for us. Pray they press charges on the dog's owners & hold them responsible.' Sadie Davila (left), 7, of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was mauled to death by a roaming pit bull on Friday night. Her mother, Haley Anselmo (right) said her family is shattered and demands the dog's owner, Erick Chinchilla Lopez, 20, is held accountable Sadie, pictured with her father Mikey Davila, was playing outside a relative's house when the pit bull attacked her. Police found Lopez failed to restrain the dog in any way Anselmo confirmed Sadie's death after the child was rushed to the hospital Police investigating the scene along Kendalwood Road on Friday night The attack occurred at around 6:30pm along Kendalwood Road, near Hoo Shoo Too Road. According to the arrest report, Lopez's home didn't even have a fence or other barrier to keep the dog from roaming the streets. The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office said Sadie's relative tried to rescue her from the dog, but was not able to stop the vicious attack. Animal Control was notified about the attack and has the dog in custody. Her father, Mikey Davila, said he was at a loss of words over the tragedy that befell his family. In an Instagram post sharing the news, Davila wrote: 'RIP my sweet Sadie Elizabeth, 7-years-old & taken from us in the most violent way. The world is a cruel place. You were the light in my heart. EBR Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux joined the community in mourning for the first-grader's death. 'This is an awful, heartbreaking tragedy,' he told WAFB. 'My heart goes out to this family, and they will remain in my prayers.' Staff at the EBR Parish School District described Sadie, who attended the Woodlawn Elementary School, as a girl who brought joy to her class. In a heartbreaking post on social media, Mikey mourned his daughter's death while posting pics of her playing at a local park Police said a relative tried to save Sadie, but was unable to stop the attacking dog. Pictured: Sadie with her father Sadie was described by teachers as a kind-hearted girl who loved to sing to classmates Her teacher, Grace Feucht, said in a statement: 'Sadie was fierce and spunky, but she was also tender-hearted and kind. 'She was fearless and would sing her heart out in front of her classmates. She was a gift to me and made me smile and laugh many times. 'I sadly expect our classroom to feel considerably emptier Monday without her precious presence. I am so grateful to have had the honor of teaching her.' District Superintendent Sito Narcisse added: 'This news is devastating to our entire school community, as young Sadie was blossoming in the dawn of her life and education with so much promise awaiting her. 'It is difficult to comprehend the enormous pain and remorse her family and friends are experiencing in the wake of this tragedy.' Pictured: Police searching for the pit bull that killed Sadie Lopez was arrested and charged with negligent homicide for failing to confine or restrain the dog that attacked the seven-year-old girl 'This is an awful, heartbreaking tragedy,' Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said Michael Novakhov, a Republican assemblyman from Brooklyn, has been accused of being a socialist in GOP clothing after drawing attention for his left-leaning positions and history as a Democratic campaign donor. Novakhov, who was born in the Soviet Union and has previously been registered as a Democrat, only switched parties in August 2020 just before running for office in a deeply red district which covers parts of Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach. A good many of his constituents moved there after fleeing from the former Soviet Union. Federal Election Commission records show that Novakhov made numerous donations to Democrats, including $170 to socialist Bernie Sanders during the 2016 election cycle, but there are no such recorded donations to Republicans. At one stage despite representing a district won by Republican Lee Zeldin, Novakhov expressed support for Democratic politicians on social media and at events, including New York State Governor Kathy Hochul's inauguration. Brooklyn Republican assemblyman Michael Novakhov won a surprise victory over a long-serving Democratic incumbent in the last election After taking office, he hired a chief of staff who is a Democratic donor and has hosted fundraisers for Democratic politicians. He is seen here with Democratic Mayor Eric Adams Novakhov has expressed support for Democratic politicians on social media and at events, including New York State Governor Hochul's inauguration, pictured above 'Proud to have witnessed Her-story being made!!! Honored to have been invited to join my fellow legislators and elected officials to attend the inauguration of New Yorks first female Governor,' he wrote. Novakhov received endorsements from several prominent Republicans, including Lee Zeldin, Staten Island Representative Nicole Malliotakis, and Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, during his campaign against Democratic incumbent Steven Cymbrowitz. Despite these endorsements, including from the Brooklyn Conservative Party, Novakhov's public positions have often been far more progressive. One of his campaign issues was 'social equity' and he expressed criticism of New York Mayor Eric Adams' plans to remove violent vagrants from city subways. He has also been associated with several prominent city socialists on social media and has been seen wearing a Communist-themed sweater. He has also been associated with several prominent city socialists on social media and has been seen wearing a Communist-themed sweater, pictured above Some voters in the deeply conservative district may have unknowingly elected a liberal politician In addition, Novakhov has been linked to Democratic figures, including Gregory Kirsopp, who he hired as chief of staff and who has previously worked for Democratic city council members, and has expressed support for Democratic politicians on social media. In September 2021, a fundraiser was held on behalf of Democratic Mayor Adams by Kirsopp. The event, held at the Salmagundi Club, required a minimum donation of $1,500. Kirsopp, who is chief of staff to Novakhov, expressed his honor at being able to host the fundraiser in a photo with Adams on Instagram. Gavin Wax, president of the New York Young Republicans, criticized the Brooklyn Republican Party for supporting Novakhov, a former Democratic donor, in a heavily pro-Trump district. Novakov only switched parties in August 2020 before running for office The Brooklyn Republican Party has defended its decision to include Novakhov, stating that the party must be a 'big tent' in order to win elections. 'Michael was born under Communist rule in Soviet Russia and was able to escape to the United States to build a better life. As an immigrant-American he, like many others in his district, registered as a Democrat,' a Novakhov spokeswoman told The New York Post. 'He made a number of small dollar donations to the Bernie Sanders campaign, subscribing, with the intention of seeing if the messaging of the campaign to donors differed from that of someone who solely subscribed to a newsletter. 'In 2020, after years of frustration with the Democrat party and a continuing decline in representation of his district and the city, Michael proudly re-registered as a Republican.' A huge cannabis farm with more than 2,000 plants hiding near a tiny outback town has been uncovered and shut down. Five men will spend the next month behind bars after police raided a property in Kokeby in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region last week. Officers discovered a greenhouse on-site where they allegedly found and seized more than 50kg of dried cannabis and in excess of 2,000 cannabis plants ready for harvest. Bodycam footage released by police showed the sophistication of the set-up with hundreds of rows of cannabis crops and dried plants being powered by large generators. WA Police found a greenhouse filled with excess of 2,000 cannabis plants in Kokeby A closer inspection of the remote rural property shows various drug-making equipment and generators being stored while another greenhouse appeared to show space to grow and expand the set-up. Police will allege the drug operation was run by five Mandarin-speaking men aged 28 to 49. They were each charged with one count each of cultivating a prohibited plant with intent to sell or supply and drug possession with Intent to sell or supply. Tony Kittu, 43, Kaki Ko, 28, Karwai Lau, 49, Kam Soo, 47 and Hung Cheng-Pin, 30, briefly appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday, where they were refused bail to appear in court next month, The West Australian reported. Located 130km south-east of Perth, Kokeby is home to just 85 residents. Police also seized more than 50 kilograms of dried cannabis found in the greenhouse Five men have charged and refused bail in relation to the alleged drug operation The cannabis haul is the largest seized in recent times by WA Police. 'This is a significant quantity of drugs to be seized and taken off the streets, produced as part of a plan to make huge profits for a serious organised crime group,' Detective Superintendent John Hutchinson said. 'These profits are utilised for the purposes of funding other serious crimes all of this contribute to causing harm to the community. 'These seizures break that cycle and disrupt the crime groups involved, ultimately reducing that harm.' A walk-though of the property by police shows space to expand the alleged drug operation Ronald Reagan's daughter said Prince Harry should have 'been quiet' and said he'll regret writing his tell-all memoir Spare as she did with her own. Patti Davis, 70, wrote her own explosive memoir The Way I See It in 1992 and has since come to regret exposing the inner workings of her family - much like the Duke of Sussex is gearing up to do on January 10. As new bombshells drop about the book, including a claim that the two Princes got into a physical altercation, Davis is worried for Prince Harry and is now offering her advice. 'Years ago, someone asked me what I would say to my younger self if I could. Without hesitating I answered: 'Thats easy. Id have said: "Be quiet,"' she wrote in a New York Times op-ed. Patti Davis, 70, wrote her own explosive memoir The Way I See It in 1992. She is now warning Prince Harry ahead of the release of his own memoir Spare Davis advised the Prince to 'be quiet' and warned he'll regret his memoir. 'Years ago, someone asked me what I would say to my younger self if I could. Without hesitating I answered: 'Thats easy. Id have said: "Be quiet,"' she said 'Not forever. But until I could stand back and look at things through a wider lens. Until I understood that words have consequences, and they last a really long time.' It seems Prince Harry himself might be getting cold feet about his bombshell memoir, as it was revealed he reportedly wanted to pull Spare from shelves after the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. But in her warning to the prince, Davis has opened up on the negative consequences of her own memoir. 'My justification in writing a book I now wish I hadnt written (and please, dont go buy it; Ive written many other books since) was very similar to what I understand to be Harrys reasoning. I wanted to tell the truth, I wanted to set the record straight,' she wrote in the op-ed. 'Naively, I thought if I put my own feelings and my own truth out there for the world to read, my family might also come to understand me better,' she continued. 'Of course, people generally dont respond well to being embarrassed and exposed in public.' She urges Harry to take Prince William and King Charles' perspective into account. In regard to the physical fight allegations between the brothers, she touts that although Harry prided himself on not hitting his brother back in the moment, that he did so anyways 'by writing about the fight.' She also claimed that Harry 'expanded' the battlefield between him, his brother, and his father and the only way to heal such a wound is to 'be quiet.' She said her own justification for her book was similar to Harry's and she came to regret writing and had to apologize to her father (pictured in 1984) She also urged Harry to take William and Charles' perspective into account. She also claimed that Harry 'expanded' the battlefield between him, his brother, and his father and the only way to heal such a wound is to 'be quiet' 'Harry has called William not only his "beloved brother" but his "arch nemesis." He chose words that cut deep, that leave a scar; perhaps if he had taken time to be quiet, to reflect on the enduring power of his words, hed have chosen differently.' She herself apologized to her own father years after her book was published while her dad was in the throughs of his Alzheimers disease. Now looking back, she said she would have benefited from being silent herself, as 'silence gives you room, it gives you distance.' 'Harry may look back as I did and wish he could un-speak what he has said,' she speculated. Davis observed that Harry - and by extension, his wife Meghan - have operated in the perspective that silence isn't an option, but she is now arguing through her own experience, 'that it is.' Prince Harry's explosive memoir Spare (pictured) will make its debut on January 10 Spare - which is ghostwritten by JR Moehringer - has been lauded as 'well written... heartfelt and convincing' and is generally getting more positive feedback than the 'repetitive and one-dimensional' Netflix docuseries Harry & Megan. The memoir, which opens with an account of the 1997 funeral of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, was said to give 'historic context' for the Duke's feelings about his family. Prince Harry feels he 'grew up in a closed and dysfunctional institution' and he holds it - at least in part - responsible for his mother's death, the source close to the publisher reportedly said. Despite not being released yet, Spare has already caused controversy after PR experts warned Harry's 'truth-bombs', such as revealing he took cocaine and killed 25 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan, could have dire consequences for Meghan's political hopes. M&M's is launching woke 'all-female' packs to celebrate female empowerment and attempt to shake things up in a continued shift toward progressive branding. Mars, M&M's parent company, debuted the feminist candy wrappers earlier this week, exclusively featuring the company's three female mascots: green, brown and the newly-introduced purple. The all-female package - upside down, to show how powerful women have 'flipped the status quo' - will be the first time the brown and green M&Ms have been featured together since a viral tweet from 2015 sparked rumors they were a lesbian couple. The tweet contained a picture of the two characters holding hands on the beach, posted just two days after the Supreme Court effectively legalized gay marriage. In fact, a search for the two characters in the notorious fan fiction site Archive Of Our Own produces 11 different results. The green M&M supposedly posted the tweet herself, writing: 'Its rare Ms. Brown and I get to spend time together without some colorful characters barging in.' M&M's will be honoring women with an 'all-female' packages to celebrate female empowerment and attempt to shake things up Each of these limited run packages will only include the female-coded green, brown and purple versions of the miniature candies. There will be milk chocolate, peanut and peanut butter versions of the upside down packages, showing how women 'are flipping how they define success.' Mars has shifted the M&M's brand in recent years multiple times in attempts to appear more progressive, with new CEO Poul Weihrauch looking to continue the trend. They debuted 'Purple' - the first ever female peanut M&M spokescandy, who has been designed to represent acceptance and inclusivity and is 'quirky, confident and authentic'. More than 10 million fans voted to add the color to the confectionary's current rainbow in May, beating aqua and pink. Purple's arrival was announced with 'I'm Just Gonna Be Me,' a new promotional song and music video, which launched on Tuesday. The all-female package - upside down, to show how powerful women have 'flipped the status quo' will be the first time the brown and green M&M's have been featured together since a viral tweet from 2015 of the two characters holding hands on the beach This viral tweet from 2015 of the two characters holding hands on the beach, posted two days after the Supreme Court effectively legalized gay marriage, led to rampant speculation on the web of a possible flirtation between them. Now, Mars says their relationship is based on the two 'together throwing shine and not shade' Mars has shifted the M&M's brand in recent years multiple times in attempts to appear more progressive, with new CEO Poul Weihrauch (pictured) looking to continue the trend The Mars US-based company has debuted 'Purple' - the first ever female peanut M&M spokescandy, who has been designed to represent acceptance and inclusivity More than 10 million fans voted to add the colour to the confectionary's current rainbow (pictured) in May, beating aqua and pink Jane Hwang, global VP at Mars Wrigley said: 'There is so much about our new spokescandy that people can relate to and appreciate, including her willingness to embrace her true self - our new character reminds us to celebrate what makes us unique.' Purple joins the legendary cast of M&Ms characters, who were given a refresh with updated looks and more nuanced personalities back in January. The iconic M&M characters - ubiquitous in commercials for the chocolate candies for decades - are getting a makeover that the company claimed will fit them in a 'more dynamic, progressive world.' The changes, which took effect immediately, gives the characters a more modern look to emphasize characters' 'personalities.' The biggest changes appear to be to the two female M&M's, the green and brown ones. Mars, the maker of the candies, has been criticized in the past for making the green M&M too sexy, and either pushing a rivalry or a possible flirtation with the brown M&M. The new 'progressive' M&Ms after Mars announced a rebrand and redesign effort the company claims will fit them in a 'more dynamic, progressive world.' BEFORE: The original M&M characters. Mars, the maker of the candies, has been criticized in the past for making the green M&M too sexy, and either pushing a rivalry or a possible flirtation with the brown M&M. A before-and-after of the well known green M&M, often criticized as being sexualized. She will now where sneakers instead of stiletto boots A before-and-after of the brown M&M, who will no longer go by the name 'Ms. Brown' to emphasize personality rather than gender and will now wear a 'more professional' heel The solution appears to be the green M&M losing her stiletto boots in favor of sneakers and the brown M&M wearing slightly lower heels than before to what Mars spokespersons called a 'professional height.' Mars wants the green M&M to be 'better represented to reflect confidence and empowerment, as a strong female, and known for much more than her boots.' As far as the relationship between the green and brown M&M's, it will be based on the two 'together throwing shine and not shade,' as a reaction to how the two have been at odds at times in promotional material. Each M&M has been given a Q&A to explain their new characters on the candy's website, in which the brown M&M claims to be 'not bossy, just the boss.' Mars is also doubling down on the anxious orange M&M, whom the company believes is 'one of the most relatable characters with Gen-Z, the most anxious generation.' The orange M&M previously wore his shoes untied, but now will have them tied in an effort to represent his cautious nature, according to Mars. The red M&M - voiced by cartoon icon Billy West in commercials and often vacillating between leader and bully toward the other M&M's - will be adjusted to be more kind to his fellow characters. The yellow M&M, classically dim-witted, appears to remain so. He once was quoted saying that the first thing he would do if today was his last day ever is 'wake up.' Mars hopes these changes will show the importance of 'self-expression and power of community.' A before-and-after of the anxious orange M&M, which has been redesigned to show his shoes tied, emphasizing his cautious nature. Mars believes it is 'one of the most relatable characters with Gen-Z, the most anxious generation' M&M's will also use a variety of different shapes and sizes of the brand's iconic, colorful candies Mars also plans to commit to gender-balanced leadership teams and an independent 'annual diversity audit' of the company's advertising. 'M&M's has long been committed to creating colorful fun for all, and this purpose serves as a more concrete commitment to what we've always believed as a brand: that everyone has the right to enjoy moments of happiness, and fun is the most powerful way to help people feel that they belong,' said Cathryn Sleight, Chief Growth Officer at Mars Wrigley. New laws would compel landlords to give reasons for rejecting pets in rentals People locked out of the rental market because they want to keep their pets could soon get a reprieve. NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns promised to make rental laws much more pet friendly if he won office in the March state election. Under current laws, a landlord has to approve a renter owning a pet and doesn't have to give any reason for not doing so. People with pets may find it easier to secure rental properties in NSW if proposed new laws come in (pictured stock image) This has left many pet owners out in the cold with Australia suffering a severe shortage of rental properties. Mr Minns vowed to change the laws to put the onus on landlords to show why a pet can't kept. Under his proposed changes, landlords will have a 21 days to give a reason that is acceptable to a newly created Rental Commissioner and if they don't, tenants will by default be legally entitled to keep pets. NSW Labor leader Chris Minns (pictured) has promised to change the laws giving landlords the default right to ban pets Mr Minns said the aim of the policy was to take the stress out of finding a rental and make the rules simpler. 'Just because a person lives in a rental, it doesn't mean they can't make it a home, and for so many people renting across our state that includes a family pet.' he told the Daily Telegraph. 'Under NSW Labor the rules will be simpler and fairer for both renters and owners. 'Labor's plan will streamline the process and set a firm deadline so that renters can have more certainty.' Australia's rental crisis has made it hard for many to find a home and bans of pets make it even more difficult (pictured stock image) The NSW Liberal government put up similar proposed law changes for consultation but hasn't committed to implementing them. Earlier this year animal welfare charity Companion Animal Network Australia said the rental crisis was hard enough as it without having to choose between a home and their furry companions. Chief executive Trish Ennis called for governments to impose regulations preventing landlords from discriminating against renters with pets. Ms Ennis said there had been far too many pet surrenders as a result of rental and housing issues. Queensland changed its rules in October to stop landlords banning tenants from having pets or advertising rentals with a no pet-rule. Tenants still need consent to have a pet but landlords who reject requests have to provide an explanation on prescribed grounds. Fiona Batemen is pictured with her cat Kitten, who she and partner James had to put down, in order to find new rental accomodation However, the change was not universally welcomed with some property investors expressing their displeasure on social media. An Adelaide couple was last July forced to put down their longtime pet cat to find a new place to live. James and Fiona Bateman had to put down their cat Kitten, who they had for seven years, after struggling to find a rental place that allowed pets. The Invictus Games could be under threat of terror attacks following Prince Harry's boasts that he killed 25 Taliban fighters, military veterans have warned. Admiral Lord West, former head of the Navy, told the Sunday Mirror: 'The Invictus Games is very much labelled to him and so I would have thought the threat level there will definitely be higher. 'There will be serious security issues because of what he said. The Taliban will be reading it thinking there's this prince calling us all chess pieces and is quite happy about killing us. 'And there will be a lot of people, I am sure, in Islamic State and other terrorist organisations, who will think this is something which should be avenged.' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, hug Lisa Johnston, a former army medic and amputee, who celebrates with her medal at the Invictus Games venue in The Hague, Netherlands, Sunday, April 17, 2022 File photo dated 27/02/08 of Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt during his deployment to Helmand province in southern Afghanistan The Duke of Sussex is the Founder of the Invictus Games, an international sporting competition for wounded military veterans that was launched in 2014. The next competition is set to be held in Dusseldorf, Germany, in September, but military experts say extra measures will likely need to be put in place to protect the veterans. It comes as Harry's comments were condemned as a 'terrible mistake' by the grieving father of one of his Afghanistan comrades, who killed himself after returning home. Derek Hunt, whose son Nathan served as a bomb-disposal expert with Harry's unit in 2008, said: 'A lot of soldiers and veterans will find his comments about killing very upsetting and perhaps [they] may even trigger some people into having flashbacks of their time in combat.' It comes as an ex-Army mental health expert told the Mail on Sunday he had been contacted by upset former patients who read about the Duke of Sussex's comments in his forthcoming memoir, Spare. File photo dated 27/02/08 of Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt (front right) with Prince Harry (back centre), Dean Smith (back left) and other members of their battle group on deployment in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. Mr Hunt, who was mentioned in dispatches for his courage in locating roadside bombs while serving alongside Prince Harry in Afghanistan was found hanged after suffering years of nightmares and sleepless nights Derek and Maria Hunt, parents of Nathan Hunt, Royal Engineer, who took his own life in Jan 2018 In the book, Harry breached a long-standing military custom by going into detail about shooting insurgents from his Apache helicopter gunship. He said he rationalised the killing by regarding the enemy fighters as pieces on a chess board. Nathan Hunt, a warrant officer in the Royal Engineers, is said to have saved Harry's life on numerous occasions when he discovered hidden roadside bombs buried by insurgents. But he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after coming home from war, and took his own life in January 2018 while still serving in the Army. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are seen at the Invictus Games in the Hague, 17 Apr 2022 Soon afterwards, Harry penned a moving letter to Mr Hunt and his wife, Maria, writing: 'Grief can be a long and burdensome road. Please know you and your family remain in my thoughts.' Mr Hunt, also an Army veteran, said his son would have been 'disappointed' by Harry's comments about killing insurgents, adding: 'Many of those still serving or who are veterans would have spent years trying to forget about the fact that they have killed people. 'Taking someone's life is a very difficult thing to live with for most people it's not something to boast about. That's why they never talk about it. 'My son Nathan never told us about what he had seen or done because he knew it would be upsetting for us and he didn't want to relive it. 'He suffered from nightmares because of what he had witnessed and he also suffered from PTSD. Harry's boasts about killing people and removing them from the battlefield will not sit comfortably with a lot of people and will bring back a lot of bad memories. 'I really can't understand why Harry has done this. It's thoughtless. He doesn't seem to have given it any consideration.' Previously unissued picture dated 12/12/2012 of Prince Harry at Camp Bastion southern Afghanistan, where he served as an Apache Helicopter Pilot/Gunner with 662 Sqd Army Air Corps Prince Harry mans a 50mm machine gun aimed at Taliban fighters on January 2, 2008 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan Taliban fighters patrol along a street during a demonstration by people to condemn the recent protest by the Afghan women's rights activists, in Kabul on January 21, 2022 Leading military figures have already criticised Harry's remarks, voicing their concern that they could 'trigger' trauma for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Last night, such fears were confirmed as it emerged that veterans with mental health issues who had seen news reports about Harry's claims have called on professionals for support. Former Army Major Cormac Doyle, a mental health nurse who served for 25 years and specialised in treating service personnel with mental health problems including PTSD, said: 'I've already received calls from many of my former patients who are very upset by what Harry has said. In all my years serving and treating troops I've never heard anyone speak like this. 'Harry is meant to be a mental-health campaigner, so what he said was badly thought out. This is not what I expected from him as a member of the Royal Family, but also, more importantly, as a former Army officer. Words have implications, and he has upset a lot of people struggling mentally.' It will come as a devastating blow to Harry, who spent years building up his reputation as a mental-health campaigner. Taliban fighters guard outside the airport in Kabul on August 31, 2021 Prince Harry being shown the Apache flight-line by a member of his squadron (name not provided) at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan, where he operated from during his tour of duty as a co-pilot gunner One Guards officer said: 'Most of us have spent the last decade dodging probing dinner party questions by drunk guests with the gory fascination of the hardest part of service life. 'By revealing his war tally in such a public way he will no doubt drag up many of the ghosts of this conflict for other veterans.' Former Army Major Wayne Owers, 52, a highly decorated soldier who was discharged with PTSD, said: 'As a campaigner for mental-health awareness, he should be acutely aware of the impact his comments will have on those he apparently strives to support. Harry's comments are insensitive and unnecessary.' Trevor Coult, a Colour Sergeant who was awarded the Military Cross, warned: 'There is a reason why most veterans don't like to talk about what they did in combat and that's because it takes them back to a very dark place. 'For a so-called mental-health campaigner to talk like this is shameful and his words will trigger very many bad memories for a lot of traumatised veterans.' Falklands veteran and former Royal Marines Sergeant-Major Jeff Williams, 64, of the support group Veterans United Against Suicide, added: 'For many veterans this will bring back terrible memories of killing and losing friends in combat. 'I'm amazed that Harry, who is meant to be a mental-health campaigner, has not realised this. It is crass in the extreme.' Last night, a spokesman for the veterans charity PTSD Resolution, which has helped more than 3,500 cope with PTSD, said the organisation was working to 'manage' the fallout from Harry's book. A woman who claims she is 'not part of the state' clashed with a police officer after she was pulled over for not displaying number plates. Chloe Fisher was stopped by police while she was driving near Gundagai, in rural NSW. She used her phone to film her conversation with the policewoman who asked her for forms of identification and whether the vehicle was registered. Chloe stepped out of the car and explained she hadn't displayed any number plates because she was in the process of 'going sovereign'. Chloe Fisher was stopped by police while she was driving along the road at Gundagai, in rural NSW 'I'm slowly removing myself from being under your corporation,' she said. 'You're actually a corporation. You actually just collect money.' Chloe handed the officer an ID card that described her status as a 'sovereign living woman' with the date of birth category replaced with 'first breath'. 'First breath location' was among the bizarre headings with 'Earth' written next to it. The policewoman remained composed in the video as the driver continued to ramble, explaining that her plates were being kept in the car. 'I'm just transitioning... getting all my certificates and everything I need to state that you have no authority over me,' Chloe said. 'Because without the number plate and without the licence, I'm not actually under your membership.' She tried to explain the 'law' to the police officer. 'You can rightfully pull over anyone who has a registration plate, in whatever state, because you're registered into a membership,' she insisted. 'But without that, technically you end up in court and it gets thrown out because they say you've got loss of licence, but if I don't run under a licence, then there's nothing to lose.' The officer asks Chloe to retrieve the number plates from her car before she demanded that her identification card be handed back. The police officer remains composed in the video as the driver continues her ramble explaining her plates are being kept in the car 'Can I have my identity?' she said. 'I'm not finished with it yet,' the officer said. 'Can you grab the plates out for me?' Chloe went back to her car and handed over the plates, explaining she had taken them off the day before. 'I'm not part of the state... I'm not property of the state so you can't take me,' she said. The police officer explained to the Chloe that she had to display the number plates on the vehicle before she could drive it. 'Your opinions can be whatever they want to be, that's fine,' she said. 'Unfortunately, the law is the law in this state.' 'L.A.W?' Chloe spells out. 'L.A.W? Yes, I'm not going to get into a discussion with you about what your beliefs are.' Footage of the encounter was shared to Twitter with social media users praising the police officer for remaining composed. 'Exemplary effort from this NSW Police Officer at Gundagai in the face of an entitled, not so smart alec,' former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack wrote. Writer Graham Linehan is considering taking legal action against Apple TV after he was branded anti-transgender. The streaming service made the claim in a short biography provided in the cast and crew section of the series Motherland. Linehan co-wrote the original series of Motherland, a humorous take on the tribulations of motherhood. While information for cast and crew members is ordinarily limited to their other shows, the Apple TV entry for Linehan describes him as not only an Irish television writer but also an anti-transgender activist. It states he became involved in anti-transgender activism after an episode of another sitcom he wrote, The IT Crowd, was criticised as transphobic. An Apple TV entry states that Graham Linehan (pictured) became involved in anti-transgender activism after an episode of another sitcom he wrote, The IT Crowd, was criticised as transphobic Linehan, who has won multiple Baftas for hit comedy shows including Father Ted, told The Mail on Sunday that the biography was a bunch of smears and lies. He said: Im incredibly angry about being painted like this. The 54-year-old writer said he was being smeared for daring to criticise aspects of transgender ideology. Apple TV was contacted for comment, and last night all references to Linehan being anti-transgender had been removed. An elderly widower who was invited on a Christmas dinner date by a kind-hearted Sainsbury's worker is facing extradition over alleged child sex offences. Edwin Holmes, now 92, was asked to dinner in 2017 by a Sainsbury's worker who was just 22 at the time, as she felt sorry for the 'lonely' man who had 'no friends and family left'. The pair shared a meal at the store's restaurant in Leeds, and Mr Holmes, whose date described him as 'cute', 'chatty' and her 'favourite customer', arrived bearing flowers and sharply dressed in a crisp blue suit and tie. But the retired painter and decorator is now one of the oldest Britons to ever face extradition after it was revealed yesterday he is wanted in Australia over alleged sex attacks on a girl under the age of 13 between 2008 and 2014. Edwin Holmes, now 92, was asked to dinner in 2017 by a Sainsbury's worker who was just 22 at the time, as she felt sorry for the 'lonely' man who had 'no friends and family left'. Little did she know he would be accused of sexually abusing a girl under 13 Holmes lives in Leeds but has no family left in Britain as his daughter and two grandchildren live in Australia. His wife passed away in August 2006 after 45 years of marriage. He was a painter and decorator from the age of 14 until he retired at 76. But in 2020, Holmes was arrested when an international warrant was issued after an Australian schoolgirl levied shocking allegations that he sexually abused her for years. A district judge at London's Westminster magistrates' court ruled in favour of extradition and then-Home Secretary Priti Patel approved the decision. The pair went on a 'date' at the store's restaurant and Mr Holmes even dressed up for the occasion and brought her flowers Holmes has appealed to the High Court in an attempt to avoid extradition to Australia, where he faces a maximum of 10 years in jail if found guilty. The alleged sex offender's legal team claim the elderly Holmes suffers from a litany of health problems due to his advanced age and argued that he should not be extradited as a result. During his extradition hearing in December 2021, Holmes was assisted by a carer and took several breaks to use the disabled restroom. Back in 2017, the Sainsbury's employee told The Sun: '[Holmes] is without a shadow of a doubt my favourite customer. 'He is the cutest man and so chatty. I thought if it was my granddad and he was alone I would want someone to talk to him.' Holmes was quoted as saying: 'The dinner made me very happy as it was unexpected and I had very pleasant company. 'As for the suit, it was my first date for about 55 years, and [I got] the flowers because I wasn't going to go empty handed.' Thousands of British Gas customers must wait months for defective smart meters to be fixed, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The devices automatically send suppliers meter readings and allow households to track their gas and electricity usage. But faulty displays mean customers are unable to see how much they have spent. British Gas, Britain's biggest energy firm, said the problem had affected about 4,000 of its customers, adding that the units were unlikely to be mended until June. Thousands of British Gas customers must wait months for defective smart meters to be fixed. [File image] Smart meters are being promoted as a way to help keep bills low, with struggling households bearing the brunt of the 13.5 billion installation cost through a 'stealth tax' on bills. But the nationwide rollout has been plagued by gremlins. Consumers across different energy suppliers have complained of meters displaying wildly incorrect readings including one Bulb customer last week whose smart meter showed she had used 39,025 of energy in a day. British Gas customers have been told to try turning their smart meter on and off again but that has failed to solve the problem. Smart meters are currently being promoted by energy firms and the Government as a way to help keep bills low. British Gas customers have been told to try turning their smart meter on and off again but that has not solved the problem But the nationwide roll-out of smart meters has been under mounting scrutiny in recent months as devices have been plagued by gremlins. Customers across different energy suppliers have complained of smart meters displaying wildly incorrect readings in recent months, while others have simply lost connectivity. One customer at Bulb, which has been run by the Government for more than a year, complained last week her smart meter falsely showed she had used 39,025 worth of energy in one day. More than 20 million smart or advanced meters have been installed across the UK. Struggling households are bearing the brunt of the 13.5billion installation bill through a 'stealth tax' on bills. The standing charge, which also pays for network costs and includes the bill for about 30 failed suppliers, currently costs each household 273 a year. That figure has increased by about 50 per cent in the past year. Figures seen by the Mail on Sunday show that the cost of smart meters makes up around five per cent of the average standing charge. Centrica, which owns British Gas, said just 0.1 per cent of its 4.1 million in-home display smart meters are not working as they should. A company spokesman said: 'We have installed around 4.1m smart meters with hand-held IHD devices. 'Most display units work as expected but if there are any issues they can be fixed remotely or via an engineer visit. 'There is a small number of customers, less than 1 per cent of those with smart meters, who'll need to wait a little longer if their IHD stops working as a software update is needed at our end which we are we're working on. 'We're sorry and we know this isn't ideal - the vast majority of our millions of customers with smart meters don't have issues with their devices.' Prince Harry could be barred from the US and has put visa 'at risk' after admitting about his illicit drug usage, immigration experts have warned. The Duke of Sussex, 38, confessed to doing cocaine, smoking cannabis and taking hallucinogenic mushrooms in his upcoming memoir. Typical applicants would be denied a visa over their history with illegal substances, but US authorities note entry into the country is granted on a 'case-by-case' basis. It is unclear if Harry, who moved to California with his wife Meghan Markle in 2020, detailed his drug use on his visa application. Immigration experts warn that if he 'lied' about his past, the Duke could have his visa revoked. Prince Harry could be barred from the US and has put visa 'at risk' after admitting about his illicit drug usage, immigration experts have warned. The Duke of Sussex is pictured drinking in Belize in March 2012 Harry (pictured with his wife) moved to California with Meghan Markle in 2020. Most applicants with a history of drug use would be denied American visas, however immigration decisions are made on a 'case-by-case' basis In his new autobiography 'Spare', Harry revealed that he first took cocaine on a shooting weekend at age 17. He did a 'few more lines' on other occasions. The one hard-partier also admitted to hallucinating during a celebrity-filled event in California and smoking cannabis after his first date with Meghan. Most applicants with a history of drug use would be denied American visas, however immigration decisions are made on a 'case-by-case' basis, The Sunday Times reported. US immigration rules state an individual's 'current and/or past actions, such as drug or criminal activities . . . may make the applicant ineligible for a visa'. It is unclear what type of US visa Harry holds, but analysts speculate he either holds a spousal visa - sponsored by his American wife - or a O-1 visa which is given to people with 'extraordinary ability'. If Harry holds an O-1 visa, which is often given to celebrities and athletes, it would have to be renewed after three years. The Sussexes relocated to California in 2020, meaning his visa could be set to expire this year. His renewal application could be impacted by his newly admitted history with drugs. It is unclear what type of US visa Harry holds, but analysts speculate he either holds a spousal visa - sponsored by his American wife - or a O-1 visa which is given to people with 'extraordinary ability' US State Department officials declined to answer queries about Harry's immigration status Immigration experts, however, note Harry should have been denied residency in the US if he failed to disclose his drug usage during the application process. Anyone seeking temporary or permanent residency in the US must answer a series of questions about their criminal and drug history during when applying. 'He would have been asked [about drug use]. If he was truthful in his answers, he should have been denied,' Prof Alberto Benitez, director of George Washington University's Immigration Clinic, told The Telegraph. The professor argued that if Harry did not detail his drug use, he would have been 'perjuring himself on an official US government document'. He claimed honesty would have been in the Duke's 'best interest' and noted he may have received discretion from immigration officials because of his royal status. 'If he wasn't Prince Harry, if was 'Fred Jones' and he had this kind of a background, he'd have a lot more scrutiny and I could certainly see the green card being denied,' Prof Benitez added. Immigration experts claim Harry may have received discretion during his visa application process because of his royal status. He is pictured leaving Public Nightclub in London in December 2010 after partying with Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice US State Department officials declined to answer the newspaper's query about whether or not his admission of drug use would 'cause difficulties' with his immigration status. 'Visa records are confidential under US law; therefore, we cannot discuss the details of individual visa cases. We cannot speculate on whether someone may or may not be eligible for a visa,' a spokesperson told the Times. 'Whenever an individual applies for a US visa, a consular officer reviews the facts of the case and determines whether the applicant is eligible for that visa based on US law.' The spokesperson added: 'All visa applications are adjudicated on a case-by-case basis.' MailOnline has approached representatives for Harry and the US State Department for comment. US. Rep. Lauren Boebert was accused of telling fellow congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene to 'Get the f**k out of my face' during the House Speaker vote. Amid a series of contentious voting sessions that saw Kevin McCarthy fail 14 times to become Speaker of the House before succeeding, the GOP congresswomen were caught confronting each other when Boebert was one of the holdout votes. Cameras caught the moment Greene, a staunch supporter of McCarthy, rolled her eyes and tapped Boebert on the shoulder, telling her, 'You need to stop.' Boebert is seen giving only a prompt response before staring straight ahead, with viewers suggesting that she had cursed out her fellow member of the Freedom Caucus. It was just one of Friday night's heated moments in the final day of voting, which was followed by Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama charging at Rep. Matt Gaetz, who McCarthry pleaded with to stop delaying his certification. US. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (top right) could be seen rolling her eyes as she approached fellow GOP congress members Matt Gaetz (left) and Lauren Boebert (center) As Greene tells Boebert to stop opposing Kevin McCarthy, the Colorado congresswoman gives a prompt response and ignores her colleague Viewers have suggested that Boebert said get 'the f**k out of my face' The confrontation with Boebert was not the only time Greene butted heads with her fellow representatives during Friday night's voting. Greene also reportedly went up to Arizona Rep. Matt Rosendale and told him that Donald Trump was on the phone. A shot of Greene waving her phone showed she was on call with someone labeled 'DT.' Rosendale, one of the earlier holdouts, could be seen brushing her off. According to Politico, a person familiar with the exchange said Trump told the group to 'knock it off.' The confrontation was a change for the two Freedom Caucus members who were celebrated as friends after yelling at Joe Biden during his State of the Union Speech last March Boebert wasn't the only detractor Greene tried to confront on the final day of voting. She is pictured tried to get Arizona Rep. Matt Rosendale to take a call from Donald Trump Following the exchange with Greene, Boebert and Gaetz left GOP heads frustrated when they voted against McCarthy, forcing him to call for the 15th and final vote. It was around this time that Rogers lunged at Gaetz for delaying the certification yet again. A visibly angry Rogers, one of McCarthy's top backers, had to be restrained by Rep. Richard Hudson, of North Carolina. It's been reported that Rogers told Gaetz he is 'finished' for continuing to wreck the speaker's vote and was also heard saying, 'I won't forget this.' Boebert and Gaetz (pictured together on Friday night) were among the key figures standing in opposition of Kevin McCarthy's bid to become Speaker of the House After pushing the night to its 15th voting session, US Rep. Mike Rogers appeared to charge at Gaetz, with congressman Richard Hudson holding him back (above) Rogers is expected to be appointed as the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and multiple reports have suggested that Gaetz was holding out on supporting McCarthy until he was promised the role. When asked about this, McCarthy told the media 'no one gets promised anything.' In the fallout, Greene, an ardent McCarthy supporter, told reporters: 'There will be consequences' for Rogers' actions. Greene added: 'Mike Rogers lost his temper and was basically going to, you know, put his hands on Matt. And it was actually Richard Hudson grabbed Mike Rogers from behind and pulled him away.' She added, 'So yeah, that was completely out of line. And then I'm sure it'll be dealt with.' While Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina chimed in about the scuffle saying, 'I've seen three or four moments like that would even approach that in my 18 years, and that, that might have just taken the cake.' Fellow Republican Congressman Tim Burchett, of Tennessee said, 'I'm honestly I'm not going to be threatened by anybody, and if somebody puts their hands on me, I will drop them like a bag of dirt," Burchett told reporters early Saturday. "I really will, man. That is not I am not one to back down from a fight.' A stealth tax on household energy bills could jump to more than 500 in plans to cover the cost of failed energy giant Bulb. Families have already been hit by an increase to gas and electricity bills through the hidden levy that costs billpayers around 273 each. But this could skyrocket under proposals being considered by ministers to pay for the eyewatering 6.5billion cost of Bulbs collapse. A stealth tax on household energy bills could jump to more than 500 in plans to cover the cost of failed energy giant Bulb Many are unaware of the standing charge payments which are quietly added to every bill. The charge covers the daily cost of connecting customers to their gas and electricity supplies, and the upkeep of networks. The Mail on Sunday revealed last week the charge has risen by almost 50 per cent in a year to pay the cost of around 30 energy firms going bust. That has added more than 2 billion to standing charges, an average increase of 87 since the end of 2021. A further 230 could be added to pay for Bulbs collapse. The cost could come down if a drop in energy prices is sustained through the winter. Industry sources said the final bill for Bulb, which had 1.7m customers when it collapsed in November 2021, will come to light in spring. They added that a recent fall in the cost of wholesale gas could reduce the bill by billions if prices remined low. The standing charge levy is set at a fixed rate with no consideration of how much gas and electricity customers actually use. Campaigners have expressed fury, saying the move would pile more pressure on people struggling with a cost of living crisis. Matt Copeland, head of policy and public affairs at National Energy Action said: We are concerned that if the costs of the failure of Bulb are passed through in the same way as for other suppliers, the increase in the standing charge would be significant, causing acute detriment to low income households in the middle of an energy crisis. Many are unaware of the standing charge payments which are quietly added to every bill BEIS and Ofgem must work together to ensure that the costs of Bulb, which have been significant and exceptional, must not be passed on to energy customers through increased standing charges in a way that causes detriment to those most impacted by the crisis. Cash-strapped pensioners could be impacted the most by the increase as they pay the same standing charge as millionaires living in large, well-heated homes. The charge is a stand-alone levy and should not have been affected by the vast rise in wholesale energy prices worldwide exacerbated by Russias invasion of Ukraine. Energy regulator Ofgem approved the use of the levy to cover the cost of its bungled regulation of the market, which led to around 30 firms going bankrupt in less than two years. Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of Citizens Advice, has sought assurances from Business Secretary Grant Shapps that Bulbs controversial rescue will not burden billpayers. She warned: This is, in reality, a levy on customer bills. Like other suppliers that failed during the energy crisis, Bulb collapsed because it was financially unprepared for a sudden spike in energy prices. BEIS declined to comment on when a decision would be made. The Government has ordered a recall of breast milk supplied to newborns after an investigation found some was contaminated with lead, the Mail on Sunday can reveal. Around 30 families have been contacted by the Food Standards Agency after tests found milk supplied by NeoKare Nutrition and given to their infants via the NHS contained elevated levels of the toxic metal, which can be particularly harmful to young children. NeoKare is the country's only private milk bank and the discovery raises fresh concerns about the growing commercial trade in human breast milk in the UK. Around 30 families have been contacted by the Food Standards Agency after tests found milk supplied by NeoKare Nutrition and given to their infants via the NHS contained elevated levels of the toxic metal, which can be particularly harmful to young children While NHS milk banks have existed for decades and rely on donations, NeoKare sources its milk from women prepared to 'pump for profit'. Its milk products including powdered and frozen breast milk have been used to feed babies in seven NHS hospitals, according to the FSA. The FSA recall of four of NeoKare's products yesterday included a powdered 'milk fortifier' used to boost the nutrient content of human milk given to premature babies. It was given to some infants as part of a clinical trial at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. Breast milk naturally contains some traces of the metal, and there is no legislation which sets a legal maximum level. But the fortified product, which is designed solely for medical purposes, does have a maximum legal limit. Lead can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, and delayed growth and development, but problems are generally linked to repeated exposure to high doses over a long period of time. The firm was investigated after an anonymous tip-off to Trading Standards, who took samples from NeoKare's processing plant in Redditch near Birmingham and then ran tests at a government lab. Junior Johnson, of the FSA, said: 'This situation is understandably worrying for the parents and guardians affected. We have worked closely with public health authorities and the NHS to assess the risk to health, which is likely to be low.' The FSA investigation shines fresh light on the increasingly popular trade in human breast milk in the UK a practice campaigners say should be made illegal over fears women are being exploited amid the cost-of-living crisis. There is growing demand for human milk sold online in private Facebook groups, predominantly to other mothers, who buy it for around 1 an ounce. But there is also a more surprising and growing market from men, such as those with breast milk fetishes. Breast milk also can appeal to bodybuilders believing its high nutrient content boosts muscle mass, and athletes hoping to enhance their performance, as well as to cancer patients. While women working with NeoKare are screened for infectious disease before selling their milk, and the milk is processed and pasteurised at a specialist plant in Worcestershire, unregulated online trades are not subject to health checks. The milk can be diluted with water or mixed with milk from other sources. Auction site eBay has banned its sale on the site. Linden Jack, head of food safety policy at the FSA said: 'We strongly advise against buying breastmilk from individuals, including over the internet, as it could be harmful. If you are sourcing breastmilk for your babies, you should seek advice from your health care professional.' But the profits to be made are substantial. Last year, British mother Mila De'Brito called breastmilk 'liquid gold' in a viral TikTok post where she claimed she had made 10,000 selling it to bodybuilders. Many women selling online have now been recruited by NeoKare, which has driven down the price it is prepared to pay them, some told the MoS. Anna, from North Somerset, sold to endurance runners and bodybuilders on private social media groups before signing up to NeoKare when the cost-of-living crisis hit while she was on maternity leave with her second child, now 18 months. She said the firm contacted her via private message on Facebook after seeing her post offering her spare milk for sale. She said: 'The income helped a lot financially. At the height of it, when the rate was 1 an ounce, I was making 1,000 a month.' Yet she soon felt 'exploited' when NeoKare slashed the price to 25p per ounce. Parents buying it privately from the company online pay 45 for six 50ml bottles of frozen milk over 20 times what Anna was paid. Anna said: 'The mark-up is insane. At 1 an ounce, it was a relatively decent little sideline to have while on maternity leave, but I got the feeling that NeoKare realised the cost-of-living crisis was happening, women were getting desperate, and so they could lower their price and women would still pump because they need the money.' Lace Scott, from Ballymena in Northern Ireland, relied on donor milk provided at no cost - to help feed her daughter Luna, now 19 months, because she had a breast condition that prevented her from making enough milk. But she said charging for it was 'unethical'. 'When I read about NeoKare's prices I remember being horrified and thinking I could never afford that,' she said. 'I think they really take advantage of mothers and babies.' The Baby Feeding Law Group, an alliance of 30 health organisations including the National Childbirth Trust and the Royal College of Midwives, has previously written to the Department of Health warning about NeoKare's practices. It said last night: 'No other bodily fluids or parts are allowed to be sold in the UK, and we believe that breastmilk should be no different.' Dr Sarah Steele, a health researcher at the University of Cambridge, agrees it should be banned. 'The Government should ask serious questions if we want mums who are struggling to be selling valuable calories,' Dr Steele said. 'There is a difference between donating excess milk that isn't being consumed to the NHS, and selling milk that would otherwise go to one's own child in order to afford the heating bill.' Dr Steele's research has also found that NeoKare is using 'aggressive sales tactics' to market directly to NHS Trusts, with sales reps even showing up on hospital neonatal wards to try and sell their products a practice she described as 'concerning' and 'reminiscent of the way Nestle marketed formula milk in the 1970s'. NeoKare is the sister company of an Indian firm called NeoLacta Life Sciences. The Indian Government has twice revoked NeoLacta's licence to sell breastmilk following concerns it had exploited poor Indian women used as donors. Companies House documents show the company has only one registered director, 39-year-old Australian national Surabh Aggarwal, who lives in India. NeoKare did not respond to calls from the MoS. A statement on its website said: 'We have been working with the local authority and the Food Standards Agency because lead has been found in a small number of our products. Putting public health in the forefront, we have taken the precautionary basis to recall all the products manufactured by NeoKare Ltd.' Mary Fisher lives in a High Tower on the edge of the sea, viewers are told in the first episode of the ground-breaking drama The Life And Loves Of A She-Devil. She writes a great deal about the nature of love. She tells lies. This tantalising opening sets the scene for the tumult that follows in the award-winning 1986 BBC adaptation of the chilling revenge drama penned by Fay Weldon, who died last week aged 91. It proved essential but uncomfortable viewing from the moment it was broadcast. Viewers were thrilled and horrified in equal measure by Julie T. Wallaces eponymous She-Devil Ruth, who wreaks havoc on her unfaithful husband Bobbo (Dennis Waterman) and Mary Fisher (Patricia Hodge), who has become his mistress. Belle Tout Lighthouse, at Beachy Head near Eastbourne in East Sussex, stood in for Marys High Tower and its imposing structure and the crumbling, chalky cliffs surrounding it proved a key part of the atmospheric series, The Life And Loves Of A She-Devil But there was another character that also caught viewers attention. Belle Tout Lighthouse, at Beachy Head near Eastbourne in East Sussex, stood in for Marys High Tower and its imposing structure and the crumbling, chalky cliffs surrounding it proved a key part of the atmospheric series. The BBC acquired a year-long lease to film at what is widely seen as Britains most famous inhabited lighthouse. And it boasts a colourful past that rivals any of the dramas in which it has featured. It has a fascinating history and Fay Weldon is a huge part of that history, says current owner David Shaw, who has run it as a bed-and-breakfast with his wife Barbara for 12 years. Were very proud to be part of it, too. Certainly much has changed since the first rudimentary structure was erected at Beachy Head in 1828 although not the treacherous seas swirling beneath. Due to the areas rocky outcrops, there were so many shipwrecks through the 17th and early 18th Centuries that the region became known by locals as the Mariners Graveyard. By 1691, a petition was started to erect a lighthouse. It went nowhere, and for years, it was left to a local parson, Jonathan Darby, to act as the areas guardian angel. So concerned was he by the maritime loss of life, that, working with a chisel and pickaxe, he single-handedly set about enlarging an old smugglers cave at the bottom of the cliffs. There, on stormy nights, he hung out lanterns to warn passing ships of the dangers. Following his death in 1726, the abandoned cavern was again taken over by smugglers, and little further appeared to have been done to prevent the shipwrecks. Sir James Purves-Stewart and Lady Purves-Stewart walking the cliffs in front of Belle Tout lighthouse, their home on Beachy Head, East Sussex, in August 1938 Then, in 1822, The Thames, an East Indiaman trading ship travelling from London to China, was driven ashore by heavy gales. While no lives were lost, the dramatic scenes were enough for a captain of the Royal Navy to petition Trinity House, an association concerned with lighthouse erection and maintenance, to act. The first attempt was no more than a temporary experimental wooden structure, topped with a revolving light, which became operational on October 1, 1828. Rudimentary though it was, the lighthouse was deemed successful enough for a more permanent structure to be put in its place, and in 1831, local architects Hallett and Walker began their design incorporating local limestone and huge blocks of Aberdeen granite. Thirty oil lamps, each housed in separate reflectors fixed to a platform that revolved every two minutes, and using two gallons of oil an hour, were first lit on October 11, 1834, and could be seen from 22 miles out to sea. However, the lighthouse was not as effective as had been hoped. Sea mists often hugged the clifftops, obscuring the light, while vessels that sailed too close to the rocks were unable to see Belle Touts lamps because they were blocked by the edge of the cliff. The shipwrecks continued, so in 1899 work began on an alternative at the foot of the cliffs, where the present Beachy Head lighthouse is located. Belle Tout remained in service until its replacement became operational on October 2, 1902, at which point it was decommissioned and sold by local estate agents, who described it as a small, substantial three-storey building. Initially a tea shop, it changed hands several times before it was bought in 1923 by neurologist Sir James Purves-Stewart for 1,500. He carried out significant modernisations, constructing an access road, installing an electric generator and adding an extension, turning it into an unusual family home. Its uniqueness was enough to draw the attention of King George V, who in 1935 was convalescing from illness in nearby Eastbourne, and requested a visit. Sir James later recounted that the King and his wife were delightful visitors and easy to entertain. My wife conducted Queen Mary all over our home, displaying our modest family treasures, he recalled. Meanwhile, King George entrusted himself to me as a separate guide and took a keen sailors interest in the various gadgets. When we came to the foot of the spiral staircase leading to the lantern room, Queen Mary was already aloft, enjoying the stunning view. She called down to him, George, dont come up here, its far too steep for you. 'To which His Majesty replied, Dammit, Im coming! In 1948, having been evacuated from the property during the war, Sir James offered the lighthouse to Eastbourne Borough Council. One councillor suggested turning it into a tourist attraction, but the idea was quickly dropped given the expense of renovation and the limited income it was likely to pull in. Eight years later, in 1956, it was leased to another doctor, Edward Revill Cullinan, who with his family carried out the refurbishments with his own hands, adding a septic tank, mains electricity and water. In 1962, the lease of Belle Tout was again sold on, changing hands as a private dwelling a number of times, including to novelist Noel Davidson, who lived there for six years from 1980. When he left, the BBC took on the lease for a rumoured 250,000 having decided it would be the perfect setting for Fay Weldons High Tower. When filming was complete, Belle Tout was once more put up for sale, initially bought by businessman Paul Foulkes and his wife Shirley, before being purchased for 350,000 in 1996 by Mark and Louise Roberts, who set about trying to turn it into a family home. They faced a bigger renovation crisis than most: the erosion of the cliffs was threatening the foundations of the building and drastic steps had to be taken to stop it falling into the sea. A rescue package was desperately needed, and it came courtesy of construction firm Abbey Pynford, which devised a pioneering scheme to move Belle Tout 56ft away from the cliff edge. The project involved excavating the ground around the building, putting up beams to support each wall, then moving it using a system of hydraulic jacks which pushed the building along four steel-topped concrete beams lubricated with grease. It was a remarkable feat of engineering and at an estimated 250,000 cost, an expensive one. On a bright March day in 1999, Belle Touts monumental move began, unfolding over two days in front of media gathered from all around the world until it reached the position it stands in today. The award-winning 1986 BBC adaptation of the chilling revenge drama was penned by Fay Weldon, who died last week aged 91 Further changes lay ahead: in 2007, the Robertses put Belle Tout up for sale with the guide price of 850,000, and it was purchased the following year by the Shaws, who admit they bought it on a whim. I had a few months thinking what I was going to do with it, as it wasnt in a great state and needed considerable TLC, David Shaw confides. Builders worked on it pretty solidly until we opened in 2010. Hundreds of guests have since enjoyed the 360-degree views from its dining room: east to the red-and-white Beachy Head lighthouse, west to Birling Gap, south across the ocean, and north over the Sussex Downs. David hopes they can do so for years to come although the lighthouse will need to be moved back again. The cliffs are eroding at about 2ft a year on average so I think weve got another 20 years or so before it becomes rather urgent, he says. I dont need to worry about it just yet. Growing calls from experts to close off western end of K'Gari to holidaymakers Girl was airlifted by LifeFlight to hospital where she remains in a stable condition Fifth child to be stung by venomous species a popular tourist spot in 10 days A little girl has become the fifth child within days to be stung by a deadly jellyfish while holidaying at a popular tourist spot. The girl, 5, was swimming at a beach near a creek on the western end of K'gari (Fraser Island) on Saturday when she was stung on her lower back and leg by an iIrukandji jellyfish. Her parents treated the sting with vinegar and water as they waited for paramedics to arrive. A RACQ LifeFlight Rescue crew was deployed from Bundaberg to treat the girl on the island. She was airlifted to Hervey Bay Hospital, where she remains in a stable condition. A girl has airlifted to hospital after she was stung by a irukandji jellyfish on K'Gari Another rescue helicopter RACQ rushed to Keswick Island 30km east of Mackay after reports a young swimmer had suffered a suspected irukandji jellyfish sting. A 13-year-old on holidays from Biggera Waters was airlifted to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition The five-year-old girl holidaying on K'gari was the fifth child within 10 days to be airlifted from the island with suspected Irukandji stings. Three young girls, including two sisters, were airlifted to hospital in back-to-back LifeFlight missions on December 27. Crews returned to K'gari to airlift a boy suffering symptoms of from a sting. A five-year-old boy was also rushed to hospital after being attacked by a dingo on the popular island off the Queensland coast on December 18. Irukandji jellyfish is a small, extremely venomous species of box jellyfish about 2cm in diameter, making it difficult for swimmers to notice in the water. The species are usually found in tropical Australian waters from November to May. The latest incident follows a spate of jellyfish sings K'Gari, a popular tourist spot Three young girls, including two sisters, were airlifted to hospital in back-to-back LifeFlight missions on December 27. Pictured is one of the patients The Queensland Department of Environment and Science recently issued alerts for marine stingers in the waters off K'gari, Hervey Bay and the Great Sandy Strait during summer and right through to May next year. 'Marine stingers have been reported by swimmers on the western side of K'gari (Fraser Island) in particular Platypus Bay and around creeks, including Awinya and Wathumba,' the department states on its website. 'Several visitors have been stung in recent years, with symptoms requiring paramedic attention. 'Medical assistance is limited on K'gari and visitors are advised to take this into consideration.' 'Marine stingers and some other marine life can cause serious injury or death. The spate of jellyfish stings has prompted calls for parts of K'Gari to be closed off from tourists. It can take up to 45 minutes to feel the painful effects of an irukandji jellyfish (pictured) 'If you're down on Fraser Island on the western side of the island at the moment, I would not be getting in the water, it is that simple,' James Cook University Associate Professor Jamie Seymour recently told Yahoo. 'We have no research on what happens down there apart from stuff we had 15 years ago when we first found them there. 'So the only option you have, and I am surprised that they haven't done this, is shut the beach and shut that western side of Fraser Island where people are.' Symptoms of Irukandji envenomation are not always immediate and may appear up to 45 minutes after the initial sting. Symptoms to watch out for include severe backache or headache, shooting pains in the muscles, chest and abdomen, nausea, anxiety, restlessness, vomiting and breathing difficulties. They are pictured holding hands in the cockpit, terrified and covered in blood Graphic photos show survivors of a doomed Sea World helicopter crash holding hands in the cockpit while covered in blood - just moments after the mid-air collision killed a pilot and three tourists. Elmarie Steenberg and Marle Swart were visiting Queensland's Gold Coast from their home in Auckland with their husbands on January 2 when the two Eurocopter EC130s collided over the theme park about 2pm. Four people died when the other helicopter plunged into a sandbank after its main rotor detached: Vanessa Tadros, 36, British newlyweds Ron Hughes, 65, and wife Diane, 57, and chief pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40. Three other passengers who were rushed to hospital in serious conditions included Vanessa's son Nicholas Tadros, 10, and Leon de Silva, 9. They were both placed on life support, along with Leon's mother Winnie, 33, who suffered broken bones. The confronting images, released by Steenberg and Swart families, showed the aftermath of the crash - when pilot Michael James managed to land on a sandbank in Southport Broadwater. Pictured: Elmarie Steenberg and Marle Swart sitting inside a helicopter after it collided with another on January 2 Good Samaritans can be seen helping the survivors out of the helicopter on January 2 In one photo, Ms Steenberg and Ms Swart could gripped each other's hands in terror while sitting at the front of the broken aircraft. Others showed Ms Steenberg sitting in the shallows washing her blood-soaked legs with sea water, and a pair of thongs on the beach - dripping with blood. Two additional photos showed the women recovering in hospital before they were released last week. They are planning to return to Auckland with their husbands, Riaan Steenberg and Edward Swart. In a statement, the families said they sent footage from inside the doomed chopper to Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators - and were 'distressed' when it was aired on Channel 7. 'We do not know how [Seven] obtained it, but it was only provided to investigators as part of their inquiries at the crash scene and after,' they said. Elmarie Steenberg washed the blood off her legs in the sea (left). A pair of blood-soaked thongs could be seen on the beach (right) Elmarie Steenberg and Marle Swart recovered together in hospital after the crash (pictured) 'This was intentionally kept out of the public domain out of respect for all the individuals affected by this tragic accident and is extremely traumatising.' The families also extended their sympathies to the loved ones of the victims who lost their lives, and to those who are still in hospital. 'Our hearts are deeply saddened by the loss. This has been traumatic for us as survivors, and we cannot imagine the terrible sadness their families and loved ones must be feeling,' they said. 'We continue to pray for Nicholas, Leon and Winnie as they are still in hospital with severe injuries and are mourning the loss of Ash Jenkinson.' They described their pilot, Mr James, as a 'hero', along with the Good Samaritans who raced to help - including an off-duty paramedic. The Steenberg and Swart families (pictured together in hospital) extended their condolences to the other victims' families Elmarie Steenberg lies in hospital with her legs and hands heavily bandaged Mr James was released from hospital on Thursday afternoon where he was interviewed by police. Nicholas remains on life support at Gold Coast University Hospital. His father Mr Tadros - who lost his wife in the crash - told the Courier Mail that his son would be on a ventilator for some time. 'I have amazing support by my side, though you can only imagine the nightmare we are living. I'm not in a good headspace at all,' he said. Meanwhile, Leon woke up from his induced coma on Thursday and was able to give his mother a thumbs-up during a video chat in what has been described as a miracle. 'He gave me a 'thumbs up' and one of his big, beautiful smiles,' she said, in a statement penned from her bed at Gold Coast University Hospital. Survivors of the Sea World helicopter crash Winnie de Silva and her son Leon. Ms De Silva revealed Leon's first words out of his coma were 'my leg' Leon has spent the last three days in an induced coma in Queensland's Children's Hospital 'He spoke two words - 'my leg' - which gives me hope that he is getting stronger each day. 'With more surgery scheduled for me next week, my complete focus is on getting better so that within the next couple of weeks I can be with Leon and support his recovery. 'I can't wait to hug my beautiful, brave boy!' The De Silva family, including Winnie's husband Neil, had decided to splurge on the helicopter ride during their holiday from Geelong West, in Victoria. Mr De Silva was not on board the helicopter with his wife and son when he watched it lift off from the helipad, before colliding with the blades of a second landing helicopter. Local authorities and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau in the early stages of their investigation of the incident have not speculated on the cause of the crash. The transport safety chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said the investigation's initial evidence collection phase would last about six to eight weeks. A man violently attacked his roommate, leaving him blind in one eye, before holding him and two others 'hostage' in a terrifying domestic altercation, a court has been told. Even while on remand in custody for the vicious attack, Marc Joseph Loborec rallied his family members to intimidate the victim, 62, his son and other witnesses from attending court. In calls to his relatives from behind prison walls, Loborec warned that those planning to make statements against him would enter 'witness protection' and threatened to kill them when he got out. 'I am not doing eight years mate. If I have to do eight years, I will get out and go back there and kill all their f*****g children,' he told his own mother in December last year. The chilling threats can be revealed after Loborec, 29, pleaded guilty to a raft of serious charges at Brisbane District Court in December. They included multiple counts of serious assault and other charges of grievous bodily harm, wilful damage and attempting to pervert justice. Mark Joseph Loborec made chilling phone calls while in custody on remand for viciously assaulting his 62-year-old roommate. In court documents seen by NCA NewsWire, the ordeal began on August 19, 2021, at Alexandra Hills after a dispute broke out over Loborec using the victim's phone to stream videos onto the house's TV. At the time, he was living there with the 62-year-old and two others. Loborec hurled the phone at the victim, hitting him in the left eye. 'The complainant felt something running down his face, which he assumed was blood but later realised it was fluid from his eye,' a statement of facts from Loborec's case reads. 'The complainant's eye was very sore and bleeding.' The man was taken to hospital the following day, lying to staff he was hit by a flying fox. He had sustained serious injuries, including a left globe rupture requiring emergency surgery. Despite this, the man was rendered blind in his left eye. A doctor said if the eye injury had not been treated, it would have endangered the man's life or caused permanent injury to his health. When the man returned home six days later, a drunken Loborec was celebrating in the kitchen, cheering they were 'rich' because he had 'ripped off' a motorbike for $14,000. As he grabbed the complainant's head, jumping up and down, Loborec's finger went into the man's injured eye. 'What are you doing? For f**k sake, be careful that is my eye. I cannot see out of it, I am blind,' the complainant screamed. 'I am going to be blind for the rest of my life in that eye. Just be careful. Just calm down,' he continued as he went to lie down. Later in the day, the man told Loborec to turn down the TV's volume. The court heard that in multiple monitored phone calls from prison and reviewed by police, Loborec expressed no remorse for the offending Loborec responded by putting his arm around the man, punching him multiple times in the face in front of his other horrified roommates. He then threw an ashtray at the man's nose, causing it to bleed. Loborec then joked that he should be 'pitching for the Yankees' as the victim screamed before he smashed the man's phone. 'Stop your whingeing. Shut up you old c**t, you are nothing but a piece of s**t, no-one would miss you if I killed you,' he said to the man. When his other roommates went outside for a cigarette, Loborec said: 'What the f*** are you doing? Nobody is leaving. 'You are all being held hostage. I am going to f*****g kill all of you. You cannot f******g leave. If you f--king call the police, I will kill all of you,' he told the pair. Loborec then grabbed a butter knife, lunging at the complainant and telling him: 'I should kill you, you old c**t.' He said he would rather spend 'the rest of his life in prison' because he got three meals a day and he had 'lost the plot' and no one would help him, the statement of facts tendered to the court reads. Later that night, Loborec hit and kicked the victim while shouting: 'I want f--king heroin and you go and get it now!' He relented after his other housemates confronted him about the assaults. The next day, the 62-year-old found a phone and called police before he was transported to hospital. Loborec was arrested and remanded in custody. In multiple monitored phone calls from prison, reviewed by police, he expressed no remorse for the offending. 'You're blind in one eye, boo f*****g hoo, bad luck c**t,' he says in one call. In another, he says: 'I f*****g tortured the c--t and f****d him up. He is lucky I did not f*****g murder the c**t.' Court documents reveal Loborec showed no remorse for viciously assaulting the man. Loborec continued that he hit the man so hard 'his eye popped out' and it was 'not his fault' because 'his life is over anyway so who gives a f--k about his vision'. The statement of facts continues with Loborec phoning his family members while on remand in custody, asking them to contact the victim and other witnesses to discourage them from attending court. 'I am telling you, if these c**ts go Crown witnesses against me, they will literally have to enter witness protection program,' he tells his mother in October 2021. He then says he has 'a mate' who will go and see the witnesses if they put in statements against him. In another call, Loborec says he met a 'cool c**t' in prison and explained they would go see the victim and 'have a chat'. He said the pair were going to go around and say: 'Make sure you do not show up for court or you are f****d. 'They are going to have to enter the witness protection program if they come to court and give evidence against me,' he says on October 26, 2021. 'I am telling you right now, I do not give a f**k, whether it is 10 years from now, these two mother f*****g junkies. 'I hate junkies. Tell my lawyers to tell them if they go Crown witness against me they better f*****g enter the witness protection program.' Marc Joseph Loborec rallied his family members to intimidate the victim, 62, his son and other witnesses from attending court Police obtained statements from the victim and his son after reviewing the calls. According to the facts, the son told officers he was approached by Loborec's father on May 11. He told him he would be 'waiting outside of the courthouse' and would be 'flogging' his father. The son said Loborec's father repeatedly said: 'Your dad's dead, we are going to kill your dad. Pass the message on.' Loborec's father had also went to the victim's home and threatened him and one of the housemates who witnessed the offences, the facts say. While there, he gestured as if he was holding a rifle, pointing in their direction while saying: 'If my son does substantial time in jail ... You know what I am talking about? You got it. You know what I mean?' Loborec's father approached the victim again while he was walking to the shops, offering him a lift. As he realised who he was and tried to get out, Loborec's father said: 'Do not get out of this f*****g car. We are going to have a talk.' Loborec pleaded guilty to seven charges, including seriously assaulting a person over 60, grievous bodily harm, wilful damage and attempting to pervert justice. At Brisbane District Court on December 8, Loborec received a head sentence of three years from judge Michael Burnett. Marc Joseph Loborec rallied his family members to intimidate the victim, 62, his son and other witnesses from attending court In a psychology report seen by NCA NewsWire, Loborec claimed throwing the phone was 'an accident'. 'He demonstrated little insight or awareness into the consequence of this action, exhibiting a sense of entitlement to being forgiven,' his treating doctor opined. 'He denied any intent to hurt the complainant's eye.' In the documents, Loborec claims to his doctor he had stepped on a needle in the living room on the day he assaulted the man returning from hospital. His doctor said he appeared to be minimising the seriousness of the offending. Loborec told the doctor he grew up in a 'dysfunctional' home and only completed up to grade 10 schooling because he found it 'stressful and difficult to pass'. He was bullied, got into fights and disliked being around other people due to his anxiety. 'He reported having been told he had a learning disability and was prescribed Ritalin at 14 after he was diagnosed with attention hyperactivity deficit disorder (ADHD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD),' the documents state. Loborec reported to his psychologist that he began misusing and forming a dependence on Ritalin before being introduced to the drug speed and then ice by 18. He also developed serious drinking problems - consuming up to 12 beers a day, the documents state. The psychologist said Loborec explained that substance abuse was a 'way of coping' with his mental health problems. He reported having been diagnosed with schizophrenia, drug-induced psychosis and bipolar disorder, she explained. In the documents, Loborec's psychologist said he reported experiencing auditory hallucinations but expressed they were 'not distressing at the time' and were being appropriately managed with medication. A Canadian doctor who's personally euthanized more than 400 people said she helped kill a man who was previously deemed unsuitable for assisted suicide. Ellen Wiebe, a doctor who works with Dying With Dignity Canada, boasted in a seminar for physicians working in assisted suicide about the time she treated a patient who did not qualify for the end of life service. A Medical Assistance In Dying (MAID) assessor had rejected the unnamed man because he did not have a serious illness or 'the capacity to make informed decisions about his own personal health.' But the man eventually made his way to Wiebe, who cleared him, flew him out to Vancouver, and euthanized him, The New Atlantic reports. 'It's the most rewarding work we've ever done,' Wiebe said of MAID during a 2020 event in a video that's since been shared online. Obstetrician Stefanie Green, a colleague of Wiebe, also revealed that she's helped 300 people die in Canada's controversial MAID program, which eclipses similar programs in the US. Dying With Dignity Canada associates Ellen Wiebe (left) and Stefanie Green (right) reportedly euthanized more than 700 people between them She uses the term 'deliveries' to describe both her work helping women give birth - and people end their lives. In 2021, only 486 people died using California's assisted suicide program, but that same year in Canada, 10,064 died used MAID to die that year. MAID has now grown so popular that Canada has both anti-suicide hotlines to try and stop people killing themselves, as well as pro-suicide hotlines for people wanting to end their lives. MAID has fallen into further scrutiny over claims that people are now seeking assisted suicide due to poverty and homelessness or mental anguish, as opposed to the traditional method of the terminally-ill seeking a painless death. Among the new type of patients was Rosina Kamis, 41, who said she needed to be 'euthanized ASAP.' According to an analysis of Kamis' medical history and messages sent to doctors and family reviewed by The New Atlantic, the 41-year-old was facing eviction, needed to crowdfund to pay for food, and was afraid that she would 'suffer alone.' She also feared being institutionalized, and saw MAID as 'the best solution for all.' Although Kamis suffered from chronic leukemia and other health problems, her condition was not terminal, The New Atlantic reported, and a letter seemingly made for her attorney painted a different picture as to why she sought euthanasia. 'Please keep all this secret while I am still alive because the suffering I experience is mental suffering, not physical,' she wrote. Kamis was approved for MAID and chose to die on September 26, 2021, the date of her ex-husband's birthday. She passed away in her basement apartment after a doctor gave her a lethal injection. Rosina Kamis, 41, suffered from chronic leukemia, but a letter in her will read that the mental anguish she was suffering was the reason she chose to end her life A review of Kamis' final days revealed that she was afraid of dying alone, was struggling to pay for food, was facing eviction and feared she would be institutionalized. She chose to die in her basement apartment on her ex-husband's birthday Some of these new cases were highlighted in a 2021 MAID presentation by Althea Gibb-Carsley, a recently retired care coordinator and social worker for the Vancouver Coastal Health's assisted dying program. In the presentation, Gibb-Carsley describes a 55-year-old patient by the name of Mary, who suffers chronic pains and cannot tackle the issue due to her low income. 'She does not want to die, but she's suffering terribly and she's been maxing out her credit cards. She has no other options,' the presentation reads. Gibb-Carsley goes on to describe similar situations with a patient named Nancy, 68, a former doctor who ran out of savings, and another named Greg, 57, a writer suffering from a history of trauma who lacks housing. Gibb-Carsley also highlighted a case of a 38-year-old trans woman named Lucy, an immigrant who suffers from chronic pains and felt trapped in her one-room studio apartment with 'no air or light and creepy men all around.' It is unclear if any of these people were ever approved for assisted suicide. Gibb-Carsley's presentation concluded with a note that the problem points out the inadequacies of the welfare state that is incapable of helping those who are struggling to make ends meet. The report appears to suggest that Canada should bolster its social welfare programs based on the rising number of people seeking to end their lives due to poverty. A presentation for MAID providers highlighted that people would seek end of life services because of financial and housing struggles In regards to these types of patients, Wiebe told The New Atlantic: 'It is rare for assessors to have patients who have unmet needs, but it does happen. Usually these unmet needs are around loneliness and poverty. 'As all Canadians have rights to an assisted death, people who are lonely or poor also have those rights.' Green, who describes her work as an obstetrician and euthanasia assistant as helping with 'deliveries,' told the publication that stories about the poor seeking MAID are just 'clickbait.' 'You cannot access MAID in this country because you can't get housing,' she said. 'That is clickbait. These stories have not been reported fully.' However, that is one person who is one step closer to MAID services despite listing poverty as his primary reason for seeking assisted suicide. Lee Landry, 65, is one doctor's signature away from being approved for MAID despite listing poverty and homelessness as his primary reason for wanting to die Lee Landry, 65, told assessors for the procedure he 'doesn't want to die' but has applied for MAID because he can't afford to live comfortably. Astonishingly, a doctor has given one of the two signatures required for Landry to end his own life. Landry is awaiting the decision of a second doctor who has assessed his eligibility. If that doctor rejects the application, Landry says he will simply 'shop' around for another who's prepared to sign off on his death - something that's allowed under Canada's assisted dying laws. The shocking case lays bare the increasingly relaxed approach to euthanasia in Canada, where experts say 'choosing to die is more accessible than support for people with disabilities'. Landry uses a wheelchair and has several other disabilities that mean he is eligible for MAID, including epilepsy and diabetes. But until recently, he was able to live comfortably, sharing his modest home in Medicine Hat, Alberta, with his service dog. Changes to his state benefits when he turned 65 in May meant his income was cut and he's now left with around $120 per month after paying for medical bills and essentials. Landry is also braced for a rent hike in January that could mean his benefits no longer cover the cost of essentials, placing him on the brink of homelessness. 'I don't want to go homeless,' he told the DailyMail. 'I don't want to end up living in a van so I can't make the van payments. I don't want to end up homeless. Who would want to be homeless at 16, never mind 65?' Many of gone on to blast Canada's euthanasia program, including former Paralympian Christine Gauthier, who slammed her government for offering to euthanize her when she grew frustrated at delays in having a wheelchair lift installed in her home. Army Veteran Christine Gauthier, a former Paralympian, testified in Canadian Parliament on Thursday that a Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) caseworker offered her euthanasia after she expressed frustration about delays in installing a wheelchair lift at her home Gauthier competed in the 2016 Paralympic Games and Prince Harry's 2016 Invictus Games (above) where she took gold in indoor rowing and heavyweight powerlifting Gauthier, a retired Army Corporal testified in Parliament last month that a Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) caseworker made the assisted suicide offer. After years of delays in getting the home lift, Gauthier says the caseworker told her: 'Madam, if you are really so desperate, we can give you medical assistance in dying now.' The worker who made the offer hasn't been named, but they are feared to have offered three other veterans who contacted VAC with problems the same 'solution', Global News reported. The scandal emerged a week after Canada's veterans affairs minister confirmed that at least four other veterans were similarly offered access to Canada' MAID law in response to their troubles, a situation Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called 'absolutely unacceptable'. Gauthier said that she has been seeking VAC assistance in getting a chairlift for her home since 2017. 'It has isolated me greatly, because I have to crawl down my butt with the wheelchair in front of me to be able to access my house,' she told Global News. She said she was shocked by the offer of suicide from the caseworker, which came in a conversation in 2019. 'I was like, 'I can't believe that you will give me an injection to help me die, but you will not give me the tools I need to help me live,'' she said. 'It was really shocking to hear that kind of comment.' Gauthier was injured in an Army training accident in 1989, suffering permanent damage to her knees and her spine. She competed in the 2016 Paralympic Games and Prince Harry's 2016 Invictus Games as a canoeist, power-lifter, and indoor rower. Use of medically assisted suicide in Canada has surged in recent years. More than 10,000 people used in in 2021, an increase of 31 per cent Starting March 2023, Canada's medically assisted suicide eligibility will expand even further, allowing people who do not have a physical ailment to receive one. They mush receive approval from two doctors and wait 90 days between application and time of death Gauthier's testimony, and reports of other similar cases, have drawn public outcry, and Trudeau vowed to make changes. Medically assisted suicide was first legalized in Canada for terminally ill patients in 2016, but last year, the law expanded to offer euthanasia to patients whose natural death is not believed to be imminent. Now, people with long-term disabilities can also receive medical assistance in dying. Last year more than 10,000 people in Canada died by euthanasia. Starting next year, a new law will allow people suffering from mental illness, which had not previously be a qualifying condition, to receive medically assisted suicide. The expansion of Canada's euthanasia laws, already among the most permissive on the planet, has raised concerns from some quarters. Amid the latest expansion, Canada has two hotline systems for people looking for help in for assisted suicide, as well as those who want to be talked out of killing themselves. The elderly CEO of a shipbuilding company in Hawaii was arrested for a $28 million fraud while attempting to flee the island of Oahu on a fully fueled boat, stocked with food supplies and loaded with about $30,000 in cash. Curtiss E. Jackson, 70, had previously been arrested last month, on December 24, on suspicion of defrauding 400 Semisub investors of tens of millions with the help of his business partner and wife Jamey Denise Jackson, 59. He is accused of misusing a significant portion of the millions he raised from investors intended for his semiclear-bottomed boat and blowing the cash on personal luxuries including weed and a Mercedes. Over the course of 10 years, investors were told the Jacksons were working on a boat with a partially-clear hull that would enable visitors to view marine life, and which they insisted would be a profitable draw for tourists. Pictures from Star Advertiser photographer Cindy Ellen Russell show him being escorted off his own boat with his hands cuffed behind his back while being frogmarched by two armed federal marshals and members of the U.S. Coast Guard. Curtiss E. Jackson, 70, was arrested by U.S. Marshals after the U.S. Coast Guard seized his vessel Semisub One Federal authorities on Friday arrested the fugitive owner of an embattled Hawaii shipbuilding company who tried to flee Hawaii on his boat ahead of his hearing Jackson was deemed a fugitive after he attempted to make a getaway but was forced to return by the Coast Guard. Jackson, who is facing federal securities fraud charges, fled with the boat on Wednesday but was arrested on Friday Curtiss E. Jackson, 70, of Honolulu was taken into custody on suspicion of defrauding investors of Semisub. of almost $30 million He faced federal charges of securities fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud each carrying a maximum 20-year sentence. On January 4, federal pretrial agency Pretrial Services received a tip that Jackson was planning to flee before his trial and alerted U.S. Marshals and the U.S. Coast Guard. Federal officials raced to the harbor to prevent Jackson from leaving, but upon arriving, they discovered that both the boat and Jackson were missing according to Hawaii News Now. A warrant was issued for his arrest and he was deemed a fugitive after Marshals discovered Jackson's slip in Honolulu empty. The Marshals enlisted the help of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service and the Office of Law Enforcement for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to locate the boat. Jackson was arrested on Friday morning after he was forced to return to Oahu and dock in order to seek assistance for a problem with his rickety boat. But after fixing the problem he decided to try and flee once again. The authorities ultimately caught up with him and his boat early on Friday morning, bringing him back to shore. He was taken into custody and returned to Oahu without incident, and is now being held at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu pending his court appearance. Jackson, on his boat with his hands in cuffs after the vessel was seized by the Coast Guard Jackson was originally arrested on December 24, 2022, for federal charges related to securities fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud. He was then released on pretrial release pending his trial date but appeared to make an attempt to feel the island state 'Brother-man took this boat out by himself without really knowing how to drive a boat, not to mention not knowing how to work the GPS,' said Kalahele, a Coast Guard-certified captain to the Star Advertiser. 'He just couldn't understand where he was in relation to where he needed to be,' Kalahele said. 'He was on the other side, around the corner, Barbers Point side; but he thought he was in front of the South Shore, but he was more toward the west. He was a little lost. 'I was a little bit nervous,' Kalahele said. 'After a long night we finally made it.' One of the boat's two motors was malfunctioning and on board the vessel the boat was said to be strewn with junk, tools and several pink polo shirts for a nonexistent crew. On the upper deck of the boar there were said to be five bags of Whole Foods bagels, various canned goods, ketchup and two boxes of creme sandwich cookies, together with 12-packs of Maruchan instant ramen and Cup of Noodles One of the boats two motors was malfunctioning and on board the vessel was said to be strewn with junk, tools and several pink polo shirts for a nonexistent crew In terms of supplies for his voyage to nowhere, there was 400 'classic mellow' American Spirit cigarettes, half a dozen containers of Whole Foods-brand organic cinnamon applesauce, three apple bananas and a bag of clementines all in the Captain's wheelhouse. On the upper deck were five bags of Whole Foods bagels, various canned goods, ketchup and two boxes of creme sandwich cookies, together with 12-packs of Maruchan instant ramen and Cup of Noodles. In the bathroom sat a toothbrush, disposable razor, plastic comb and washcloth. 'That really stood out to us, you know. We have never had to go get someone at sea. He was by himself with no direction,' said officials involved with Jackson's capture to KOIN. Jackson and his wife Jamey Denise Jackson were accused of selling securities to investors with the promise of creating a fleet of tourism vessels with glass bottoms that would enable tourist sailors to view Hawaii's marine life. After sailing back out to sea Jackson was found and arrested for violating the terms of his pretrial release The alleged scheme took place over the course of a decade where they raised money for a prototype boat with a partially transparent hull for viewing marine life. The couple would continually attempt to reassure investors that their prototype vessel would launch very soon. But it all appears to have simply been part of the ruse and the couple instead allegedly misused a significant amount of the funds for their own gain and used the money to pay for personal expenses such as luxury homes, pricey vacations together with psychics, marijuana, high-end cars - including a Mercedes-Benz - and personal credit card bills, the DoJ wrote. Jackson had earlier been released on a $50,000 bond in October with the strict conditions that he remain on Oahu, not contact anyone involved in the case, refrain from drug use, and adhere to a curfew. However, prosecutors had sought to detain Jackson before his trial, citing concerns that he might flee and pose a risk to his wife and investors, as he had already violated the conditions of his release by asking investors for money and assaulting his son. Tribunal denies him visa for committing fraud despite admitting he is in danger A confessed spy for Beijing who sensationally went on national TV to expose the extent of China's overseas espionage activities has been denied the right to stay in Australia. Liqiang Wang, 32, has lost his appeal for refugee asylum after a tribunal ruled he had committed serious fraud against an Australian citizen. This leaves the Chinese national open to deportation despite the tribunal saying Mr Wang had 'well-founded' fears of what might happen should he return to his homeland. Liqiang Wang who outed himself as a spy for China on Channel Nine's 60 Minutes in 2019 has lost his bid to stay in Australia Mr Wang appeared on Nine's 60 Minutes in 2019 to out himself as a Chinese operative who had been tasked with undercover work in Hong Kong and Taiwan to further Beijing's interests. During his media appearances Mr Wang said he met the head of Chinese spy operations in Australia, who he said worked in the energy sector, and passed a dossier to ASIO detailing his activities and what he knew of Beijing's spy network. Despite Mr Wang's claims he would be killed if was returned to China immigration officials refused to turn his tourist visa into a refugee one because of an alleged fraud committed against Sydney businessman Filip Shu. Mr Wang claimed he was involved in the kidnapping of Hong Kong bookseller Lee Bo (pictured on a sign held by a protester) in 2015 for selling works that did not please the Chinese Communist Party Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen was a target of Chinese spies who tried to stop her election, according to Mr Wang The Australian Appeals Tribunal has upheld that decision, the Daily Telegraph reports. Mr Wang has been living with his wife Mia, who is studying in Australia, and the couple's young son in Sydney. The Daily Telegraph reported there was no sign of the family when they visited the address this week. Beijing has consistently denied Mr Wang's claims and says he is wanted on fraud charges in Shanghai, although international law enforcement agency Interpol is yet to issue an arrest order despite China's requests. Mr Wang said that as a Chinese undercover operative he had been involved with the kidnapping Hong Kong bookseller Lee Bo in 2015 for selling works that displeased the Chinese Communist Party. Mr Wang was denied a refugee visa because immigration officials found he committed a serious fraud against an Australian businessman Mr Wang said his espionage job was to undermine the Hong Kong democracy protests, here seen in 2020 While Mr Bo has appeared on mainland Chinese TV to say he went there of his own free will other booksellers who were targeted and kidnapped at the time assert that is not the case. Mr Wang said his other activities in Hong Kong included infiltrating universities, stealing military intelligence and weapons while undermining the strong democracy movement of the time. In Taiwan Mr Wang said he carried out Beijing's orders of manipulating election results and embezzling public assets to undermine the anti-China presidency of Tsai Ing-wen. Mr Want also alleged China has attempted to get an agent elected to Australian parliament, who he identified as 32-year-old Bo Nick Zhao. Weeks later Zhao was found dead in a hotel room after allegedly telling ASIO he had been approached to run for parliament and offered financing by a Chinese government operative. A professional drag racer who was killed when his car flipped over a barrier and smashed into a camera tower at 320km/h had a lucky escape three years ago when he walked away from a similar crash. Sam Fenech was competing in the New Year Nitro race at Willowbank Raceway, west of Brisbane, before 7pm on Saturday when he lost control of his Chevrolet Camaro in front of a horrified crowd. He was treated by paramedics at the scene but died a short time later. It can now be revealed the 55-year-old was in a similar accident at the Sydney Dragway in January 2019. Sam Fenech (pictured with his wife) died in a drag racing accident on Saturday night in Brisbane Mr Fenech hit the tyre barrier at the end of the braking area at when his parachutes failed to blossom after the 410km/h run, according to Drag News Magazine. While the crash appeared dangerous to spectators, Mr Fenech walked away from the car unharmed. 'I've had a lot of phone calls and a lot of messages and a lot of words of encouragement,' he said at the time. 'Thankfully I am feeling really good today. I have no injuries that I know of, all the safety gear did its job. The track staff, the ambulance crew, everybody did an unreal job. 'Unfortunately the car is gone, but we had a really good win. As far as the team goes we are strong and everything is good, so thanks for all the well wishes.' Sam Fenech was a professional drag racer who was involved in a similar crash in January 2019 Sam Fenech (pictured) was competing in the New Year Nitro race at Willowbank Raceway, west of Brisbane, before 7pm on Saturday when he lost control of his Chevrolet Camaro Tributes from friends, family, and shocked spectators started pouring in online following the tragedy on Saturday night. Mr Fenech's cousin remembered him as a good person. 'I am blessed with the most amazing family. Love them so much. People filled with empathy and love. I think of each of my cousins on the Fenech side and smile,' she wrote. 'They are truly good people. They make you want to be a better person. Rest in peace, Sam Fenech.' A friend said: 'Still can't believe you're gone Sam Fenech RIP my friend. Thank you for your friendship, help and knowledge over all the years, you're are one of the kindest people I have ever known.' 'Condolences to your family and you will always be in my heart mate.' Sam Fenech was competing in a race at Willowbank Raceway west of Brisbane in his Chevrolet Camaro when the crash occurred just before 7pm on Saturday One devastated fan who witnessed the tragedy said: 'I am still shaking from what I have just witnessed.' V8 Supercar driver Todd Hazelwood, who was in the crowd, wrote on Twitter that he was 'absolutely lost for words'. 'To witness this tragedy at Willowbank Raceway tonight is absolutely heartbreaking,' he wrote. 'My heart goes out to Sam's family, pit crew, friends and supporters. Also wishing the cameraman a fast recovery.' The shocking footage shows his car scraping against the barrier wall before taking off, soaring through the air and breaking into pieces upon impact. Mr Fenech was participating in Willowbank's New Year Nitro drag racing event which included 'top fuel dragsters'. Mr Fenech was filmed admiring his car shortly before the race started. The Willowbank Raceway confirmed his death on social media Paramedics attempted to save Mr Fenech, a high-profile drag racer, but he died at the scene He was driving a Chevrolet Camaro and competing against a Ford Mustang being driven by Kelvin Lyle. Mr Fenech was filmed admiring his car shortly before the race started. The Willowbank Raceway confirmed his death on social media. 'It is with great sadness that Top Fuel Racing Australia announces that Sam Fenech, driver of the Fabietti Racing Doorslammer, has succumbed to injuries suffered in a racing accident at Willowbank Raceway and passed away this evening,' it wrote. 'We send our love and support to the Fenech family and the whole team at Fabietti Racing. 'The accident is under investigation by [Queensland] Police and other agencies, and as such there will be no further public comment.' Police said its forensic crash unit was working with Workplace Health and Safety to investigate. George Santos was revealed to be a pathological liar after he won the 2022 midterm elections to represent New York's 3rd congressional district. His lies and fabricated stories span almost every topic from his education background to his family's heritage. Santos flipped the New York seat red and is on track to make history by being sworn in as the first openly gay Republican member of Congress. The New York Times originally broke the story of Santos' resume embellishments on December 19. They reported that there was no evidence Santos had ever worked at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs and did not attend Baruch College. Now he is under investigation by both federal and local New York prosecutors, while more accusations about his history surface. DailyMail.com breaks down the lies Santos has been caught in - so far: Santos says he is of Ukrainian Jewish descent In one interview, Santos said his family name on his mother's side was the historically Jewish name 'Zabrovsky.' 'My grandfather was born in Kyiv and left in the late 20s and migrated to Belgium where he met my grandmother and then started a family,' Santos told Fox Digital in February. 'We don't carry the Ukrainian last name, for a lot of people who are descendants of World War II refuges or survivors of the Holocaust, a lot of names or paperwork were changed in the name of survival.' George Santos was revealed to be a pathological liar after he won the 2022 midterm elections to represent New York's 3rd congressional district. His lies and fabricated stories span almost every topic from his education background to his family's heritage Reports indicate that there have been no successful efforts to find any Jewish or Ukrainian heritage in his family tree according to the Forward. Santos said in a separate interview in 2020 that he was raised by 'a white Caucasian mother, an immigrant from Belgium. But Santos' mother, Fatima Devolder, was born in Brazil, according to her obituary in 2016. Additionally, newly resurfaced tweets show that Santos, who is Brazilian-American, claimed in July 2020 on Twitter that he was biracial, meaning 'Caucasian and black.' Santos' claims his mother died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks Santos wrote in a July 2021 tweet that he was 'blocking' an account with the handle '9/11 was a victimless crime' because his mother was a victim of the terrorist attack. He wrote, '9/11 claimed my mother's life so I'm blocking so I don't ever have to read this again,' after the user responded to a tweet from Santos regarding immigration. An obituary for Santos' mother, however, states that she died in December 2016, which is more than 15 years after the attack took place. He also confirmed the real date in a December 2021 tweet where he said: 'December 23rd this year marks 5 years I lost my best friend and mentor. Mom you will live forever in my heart.' Santos' campaign website said his mother 'survived the tragic events of September 11th' in the South Tower office of the World Trade Center and died 'a few years later when she lost her battle to cancer.' A New York Times report had described Santos' mother as a 'domestic worker' or 'housekeeper.' His campaign website described his mother as a top executive. 'George's work ethic comes from his mother, who came from nothing, but worked her way up to be the first female executive at a major financial institution,' the website states. The congressman-elect said in a 2021 tweet that, '9/11 claimed my mother's life,' however Fatima Devolder died in 2016 of cancer and it's unclear if it was 9/11-related. It's also unclear if she was an executive or a housekeeper Santos said he attended a prestigious New York prep school The Representative-elect said that he attended Horace Mann School an elite private school in the Brox where tuition costs $59,800 per year. 'He began Horace Mann preparatory school in the Bronx, however, did not graduate from Horace Mann due to financial difficulties for his family,' read a 2019 biography during his first campaign for Congress, which Santos lost. 'He obtained a GED during his senior year,' it added. The school said, according to CNN, that he never attended. 'We've searched the records and there is no evidence that George Santos (or any alias) attended Horace Mann,' spokesperson for Horace Mann Prep School Ed Adler said. CNN reported late Wednesday that the New York Republican never attended Horace Mann School (pictured), an elite private school in the Bronx Former call center worker Santos' resume includes time at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup Santos said that he worked on Wall Street for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup but now says he used a 'poor choice of words' when describing his relationship with the two firms. The incoming congressman worked at a DISH Satellite call center from October 2011 to July 2012. He also worked for LinkBridge, where, in an attempt to justify his lie, Santos said that he did business with Goldman and Citi and made 'capital introductions' between clients and investors. Santos said he 'never worked directly' for either firm. George Santos (right) poses with his then fiance at Mar-a-Lago on New Year's Eve Santos' claim his family-owned real estate portfolio of 10+ properties Santos posted on Twitter in February 2021 that 'my family and I' had not received any rent on 13 properties allegedly owned by him. A review property taxes owed or paid for in New York state shows no evidence of ownership. He claimed to have a brain tumor On March 30, 2020, at the start of the U.S. coronavirus pandemic, an interview with Santos was published on YouTube titled 'George Santos: A Corona Story.' The video has since been set to private In the video, according to Newsweek, Santos tells two men, one wearing a 'Guns and Freedom' hat and the other seated by a 'Don't Tread on Me' flag, that he had 'battled a brain tumor.' Discussing his health Santos said: 'I have an immunodeficiency and I also have acute chronic bronchitis. I also battled a brain tumor a couple of years ago and I had radiation done which really lowers your immunity in general.' Claimed that he lost four employees in Pulse nightclub massacre During an interview with WNYC, Santos alleged that four 'people that work for me' were killed during the June 2016 mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, which left 49 dead. No connection has yet to be establish between any of the victims and Santos. Said he was the founder of a charitable foundation Santos said he founded a tax-exempt animal rights group, Friends of Pets United, which rescued more than 2,500 cats and dogs. But no records relating to the group's charitable status could be found by the IRS, nor could either the New York or New Jersey attorney general's offices uncover documentation confirming Friends of Pets United had been registered as a charity. Public records, however, show that Santos was previously married to a woman named Uadla Vieira, a native of Brazil, until 2019 In 2016, he claimed $2,250 was stolen in a mugging on his way to pay rent - but cops have no record of the incident Santos claimed that in 2016 he was mugged on his way to pay his apartment rent in Queens. In a sworn statement battling eviction, he said $2,250 was stolen. According to Gothamist, he wrote: 'I have been mugged at approx 1:15 p.m. on 01/15/16 on Queens Boro Plaza, as I was on my way to pay the lawyer.' 'I have gone to the checks cash location located on 31st and 23rd Ave in Astoria to request a stop payment. 'I am unable to provide a police report today as I was requested to go back Tuesday to pick it up.' The NYPD, however, have no record of the incident, the outlet reported. Santos eventually moved out of the apartment as a result of the case and paid the rest of what he owed in rent. -- by Katelyn Caralle Advertisement An iconic Dodge Challenger known as the 'Black Ghost' which was used by an off-duty police officer for illegal street races in 1970s Detroit is about to head to auction, where it's expected to sell for millions. The Challenger, so famous it has been placed on the Library of Congress' National Historic Vehicle Registry displayed at the National Mall in Washington, will go up for bid at the Mecum Spring Classic in May. Mecum Auctions vice president of consignments Frank Mecum said that 'this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and the value is well into seven figures.' The 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE was owned by Motor City cop and Army veteran Godfrey 'Dennis' Qualls. The Black Ghost Dodge Challenger is expected to sell for millions at the Mecum Auction in Indianapolis in May Its late owner Godfrey Dennis Qualls - who served in the 1960s and was awarded a Purple Heart - was infamous for picking the spots where he'd show up to the races on Woodward and Telegraph Avenues in Detroit and would try to remain as inconspicuous as possible due to his job An iconic Dodge Challenger known as the 'Black Ghost' which was used by an off-duty police officer for illegal street races in 1970s Detroit is about to head to auction, where it's expected to sell for millions Qualls - who served in the 1960s and was awarded a Purple Heart - was infamous for picking the spots where he'd show up to the races on Woodward and Telegraph Avenues in Detroit and would try to remain as inconspicuous as possible due to his job. However, he'd almost always win with the famed muscle car and then quickly drive away. Qualls' ability to win races and then speed away before being recognized led to the 'Black Ghost' nickname. The car and its driver quit the scene after a few years, with his identity and the location of his wheels a hidden secret. In 2014, however, Qualls told his son Gregory about the car, which he remembered from riding alongside as a boy. 'We'd go for rides,' Gregory told the Detroit Free Press in 2020. 'I'd know Dad was taking the car out because starting it shook the house.' He'd even play a game with his son, taping $100 bill to the dashboard before he started and saying if the boy could grab it, he could keep it. The Challenger, which was placed on the Library of Congress' National Historic Vehicle Registry and has been displayed at the National Mall in Washington, will go up for bid at the Mecum Spring Classic in May The 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE was owned by Motor City cop and Army veteran Godfrey 'Dennis' Qualls 'He hit the gas and I flew to the back of the seat,' he said, laughing. 'I never touched that bill.' The next year, Dennis Qualls passed away from prostate cancer and left the Black Ghost to his son. Gregory Qualls got together a group of friends and fixed the vehicle and revealed it to the rest of the world, with the news of its reemergence leading to its place on the National Vehicle Historic Registry, according to Fox News. Despite the black exterior, the top of the car is actually very colorful, with a gator skin pattern on the roof. In honor of the Black Ghost, Dodge produced a limited run of 300 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeyes as a tribute. In 2014, however, Qualls told his son Gregory (pictured center left) about the car, which he remembered from riding alongside as a boy In honor of the Black Ghost, Dodge produced a limited run of 300 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeyes as a tribute Despite the black exterior, the top of the car is actually very colorful, with a gator skin pattern on the roof The cars are powered by an 807 hp supercharged V8. Whereas Qualls paid just over $5,000 for the 1970 version, the tributes will run you about $100,000. That may end up a bargain compared to the at least seven figure pricetag Mecum Auctions may end up selling the original for. It will be a showpiece for the famous auctioneer's event in Indianapolis this May. Experts say that some of the Black Ghost's parts - the Hemi and 4-speed manual transmission and high-quality survivors - would be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars on their own. The car was left unrestored by Qualls' son at 45,000 miles, as he used it largely to drive it to car shows, though he would often take his own son, Gregory Jr., on short rides in the Black Ghost, keeping the car's legacy going. Other messages have impersonated aging parents pretending to need cash Scammers have targeted jobseekers and children of aging parents in a new spate of text messages aimed at cheating vulnerable Australians out of their hard-earned cash. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has warned that people looking for work to beware of a fresh wave of scam messages circulating via social media - including on popular chat site WhatsApp - claiming to offer unusually high rates of pay for minimal work. One of the messages purports to be a website provider running a service to increase sales and invites recipients to be a partner in the business, for which they 'can earn between A$200-500 AO' for just one hour's work a day. Another claims a role with their supposed company can 'be done without affecting your current job, earn up to $300-$500 per day'. Delia Rickard, deputy chair of the ACCC, says any offer that sounds too good to be true, is typically not what it appears to be. Australians looking for work have been warned of a fresh wave of scam messages circulating via social media claiming to offer unusually large rates of pay for minimal work (a scam message posted on popular chat app WhatsApp pictured) How to make sure you don't get scammed Delia Rickard, deputy chair of the ACCC, says any offer that sounds too good to be true, is typically not what it appears to be. Here are the employment scam red flags to watch out for: *Being told to act quickly to secure the job. *Being offered a job without an interview. *Being asked to hand over personal bank account details. *Being asked to transfer money to a third party. *The amount of money offered is unusually high. Advertisement 'What [recipients] need to do is make bookings at a hotel or buy goods from the store, and are told they'll be paid back and get a commission,' she told 7News. 'If they look at their app they'll see the money they're making go up and up.' Such scams have resulted in victims having their personal information stolen and facing the dreaded possibility of having their bank accounts drained. The ACCC said 3194 job scams were reported in 2022 and Australians lost a whopping $8.7million. Australians aged 25 to 44 reported the biggest losses, and it is believed this is due to the frequency of job changes in this demographic. Ms Rickard said these figures were potentially only the 'tip of the iceberg' because most people do not report their losses. 'So, we're actually likely losing tens of millions to these scams,' she said. Employment scam red flags include being told to act quickly to secure the job, being offered a job without an interview, handing over personal bank account details or being asked to transfer money to a third party. Another wave of brazen texts have been targeting children of aging parents, pretending to be in financial distress. One recipient posted a suspicious message they had received to social media offering a 'heads up for anyone with aging parents'. 'I just received this text message from 'Mum' asking me to send money to a bank account,' the post read. 'I'll admit, my first instinct was to just send the money and not question it at all. Putting it out there for others who may do the same.' The message appears to be sent from a contact called 'mum', who claims to be shopping at a Woolworths store. Text message scams have resulted in victims having their personal information stolen and face having their bank accounts drained of their hard-earned money (stock image pictured) The scammer alleges to have brought the wrong bank card to the store and therefore requires a money transfer from the recipient. The message includes a BSB and account number. In August last year, Australians took to social media to issue a dire warning about scam texts alleging to be from a parent asking for urgent financial assistance. The family impersonation texts shared online show the messages appearing in a conversation thread as being sent by 'Mum' or 'Dad', making them more convincing than other scam messages which are attached to a random number Image of a scam text message shared on social media from a contact claiming to be the recipient's 'mum' and asking for money The dubious texts involved scammers introducing themselves as 'Mum' or 'Dad' before asking for money for groceries or petrol. This series of cons followed the ubiquitous 'Hi Mum' scam that robbed Australians of more than $2.6million last year. The 'Hi Mum' scam was thrust into the spotlight after police revealed fraudsters were preying on vulnerable older Australians by impersonating their children. Once the scammers engaged the vulnerable victim in text conversation, they typically requested an urgent payment because they could not access their own money. Ms Rickard has urged anyone who thinks they are caught up in a recruitment scam to contact Scamwatch and could seek help from cyber support charity IDCARE. Dramatic photos and videos show the moment a pit bull who killed a seven-year-old Louisiana girl while she was playing outside in a relatives' yard was finally captured before being euthanized. Sadie Davila, of East Baton Rouge, was rushed to the hospital after the dog attacked her on Friday night, and later passed away from her grave injuries, WAFB reports. Officials said it took Animal Control about an hour to find the dog and capture it. Video of the night-time hunts shows the moment the officers load the canine into a cage in the back of a truck using snare poles. Officials said the dog was put down that same night and tested for rabies. The dog's owner, Erick Chinchilla Lopez, 20, a neighbor of Sadie's unidentified relative, was arrested and charged with negligent homicide for failing to confine or restrain the dog. Animal Control used snare poles to put the killer pit bull inside the back of the transport van an hour after it mauled Sadie Davila, 7, to death It took officials about an hour to track down the dog in the dark following the attack Sadie (above), of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was playing in a relatives' yard when the roaming dog attacked her. She was taken to the hospital, where she died from her injuries Sadie's parents were left devastated by their daughter's death, with mother Haley Anselmo demanding justice for her shattered family. 'My mini me. The light in my heart,' Anselmo wrote on Facebook in describing her daughter. 'Words don't exist for what this feeling is. 'My family is shattered. Please pray for us. Pray they press charges on the dog's owners & hold them responsible.' Her mother, Haley Anselmo (right) said her family is shattered and demands the dog's owner, Erick Chinchilla Lopez, 20, is held accountable Sadie, pictured with her father Mikey Davila, was playing outside a relative's house when the pit bull attacked her. Police found Lopez failed to restrain the dog in any way Anselmo confirmed Sadie's death after the child was rushed to the hospital Police investigating the scene along Kendalwood Road on Friday night The attack occurred at around 6:30pm along Kendalwood Road, near Hoo Shoo Too Road. According to the arrest report, Lopez's home didn't even have a fence or other barrier to keep the dog from roaming the streets. The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office said Sadie's relative tried to rescue her from the dog, but was not able to stop the vicious attack. Her father, Mikey Davila, said he was at a loss of words over the tragedy that befell his family. In an Instagram post sharing the news, Davila wrote: 'RIP my sweet Sadie Elizabeth, 7-years-old & taken from us in the most violent way. The world is a cruel place. You were the light in my heart. EBR Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux joined the community in mourning for the first-grader's death. 'This is an awful, heartbreaking tragedy,' he told WAFB. 'My heart goes out to this family, and they will remain in my prayers.' Staff at the EBR Parish School District described Sadie, who attended the Woodlawn Elementary School, as a girl who brought joy to her class. In a heartbreaking post on social media, Mikey mourned his daughter's death while posting pics of her playing at a local park Police said a relative tried to save Sadie, but was unable to stop the attacking dog. Pictured: Sadie with her father Sadie was described by teachers as a kind-hearted girl who loved to sing to classmates Her teacher, Grace Feucht, said in a statement: 'Sadie was fierce and spunky, but she was also tender-hearted and kind. 'She was fearless and would sing her heart out in front of her classmates. She was a gift to me and made me smile and laugh many times. 'I sadly expect our classroom to feel considerably emptier Monday without her precious presence. I am so grateful to have had the honor of teaching her.' District Superintendent Sito Narcisse added: 'This news is devastating to our entire school community, as young Sadie was blossoming in the dawn of her life and education with so much promise awaiting her. 'It is difficult to comprehend the enormous pain and remorse her family and friends are experiencing in the wake of this tragedy.' Pictured: Police searching for the pit bull that killed Sadie A Chicago pizzeria was broken into by a thief in search of a stash of cash despite the joint stating clearly in a sign that the entire restaurant is cashless. Surveillance cameras captured the entire incident as George's Deep Dish was smashed into as the burglar broke in through the front door and ransacked the restaurant looking for money. Eventually the crook made it into the office and kitchen before stealing a framed display of two $20 bills and two $50 bills before making a run for it. A Chicago pizzeria was burgled despite posting signs that the business does not keep cash on the premises The burglar broke in through the front door and ransacked the restaurant looking for money The owner, George Bumbaris, said that the display had sentimental value and was never meant to be spent with the frame containing 'lucky bills'. The money consisted of banknotes that had signed by family and friends, including the very first $20 the pizza joint ever made. 'It was only sentimental to me. I was never going to spend that money,' Bumbaris told CBS News. 'I was more distraught than anything,' he added. Bumbaris is upset the thief didn't see the sign stating that no cash was used at the location Bumbaris opened the restaurant during the pandemic and adopted a cards-only model due to recent crimes in the area Surveillance footage showed the thief breaking through the front door Bumbaris opened the restaurant during the pandemic and adopted a cards-only model due to recent crimes in the area. 'It's the last call you wanna get in the middle of the night,' he said. 'I wish they had read the [cashless] sign before coming in.' Bumbaris noted. Replacing the smashed door cost the entire weekend's takings. Chicago police are now investigating the incident along with number of other burglaries that have been reported since Christmas. No arrests have been made. Thefts have soared in Chicago buy 56 per cent year on year, while robberies are up 14 per cent. Overall crimes soared 41 per cent in 2022, from a total of 47,452 recorded incidents in 2021, to 66,855 the following year. Democrat Mayor Lori Lightfoot has come under increasing pressure to tackle the crime wave, as corporations and businesses continue to close their doors. Bumbaris said the smashed door cost him the entire weekend's takings A bitter love triangle is allegedly at the centre of the double stabbing of a young couple, a court heard. Rebecca Mossman-Riley, 29, allegedly crossed paths with her ex-boyfriend, 29, and his partner, 31, at Wyong Leagues Club just before 9:30pm on Saturday while on a night out. Police allege an argument between the two parties erupted before the trio were asked by club security to leave the venue. Once in the car park Mossman-Riley is accused of stabbing her former lover three times in the back before knifing his new girlfriend in the arm. She has been charged with with two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and was granted bail at Newcastle Local Court on Sunday. Rebecca Mossman-Riley (pictured), 29, allegedly stabbed her ex-boyfriend, 29, and his new girlfriend, 31 Rebecca Mossman-Riley, 29, allegedly crossed paths with her ex-boyfriend, 29, and his partner, 31, at Wyong Leagues Club (pictured) just before 9:30pm on Saturday while on a night out Horrified witnesses rushed to provide first aid to the couple and called for an ambulance. Police and ambulance crews treated the pair at the scene before the male was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital and the female was taken via ambulance. One person on social media said they had 'never seen so much blood'. They are both in a stable condition. Mossman-Riley was arrested at her unit on Cutler Drive in Wyong around 12:30am on Sunday. Mossman-Riley was arrested at her unit on Cutler Drive in Wyong around 12:30am on Sunday Mossman-Riley was taken to the police station and faced Newcastle Local Court on Sunday where she was granted strict bail conditions She was taken to the police station and faced Newcastle Local Court that morning where she was granted strict bail conditions. She cannot leave her home unless its for a medical or legal appointment, cannot drink alcohol, take drugs or carry a knife in a public space, The Daily Telegraph reported. Mossman-Riley will front Wyong Local Court on January 12. Two children have been airlifted to hospital with neck injuries after a family's four-wheel drive rolled on Fraser Island, now known as K'gari. The Bundaberg-based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Helicopter was called to a beach on the eastern side of the island, about 250km north of Brisbane, just after 7:30am on Sunday. It is understood a family of five, including two parents and three children, had been travelling along the waterline when the vehicle rolled and landed on its side. Two children have been airlifted to hospital with neck injuries after a family's four-wheel drive rolled (pictured) on Fraser Island, now known as K'gari The Bundaberg-based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Helicopter (pictured) was called to a beach on the eastern side of the island, about 250km north of Brisbane, just after 7:30am on Sunday One primary school-aged boy was treated on the beach and then driven to the waiting rescue helicopter. He suffered neck injuries but was in a stable condition when he was airlifted to Hervey Bay Hospital, accompanied by his mother. After the medical team handed the child over to hospital staff, the chopper crew returned to the island to retrieve the second primary school-aged boy. He also suffered neck injuries and was airlifted to the same Hospital in a stable condition with his father and sister by his side. The helicopter's critical care doctor and Queensland Ambulance flight paramedics were met by members of the public at the helipad, who then drove them to the scene for the crash. One boy suffered neck injuries but was in a stable condition when he was airlifted to Hervey Bay Hospital, accompanied by his mother A second boy also suffered neck injuries and was airlifted to the same Hospital in a stable condition with his father and sister by his side The incident comes after a five-year-old girl was also airlifted to hospital on Saturday after being stung on her lower back and leg by an iIrukandji jellyfish while swimming at a beach near a creek on the western end of K'gari. The little girl became the fifth child within days to be stung by a deadly jellyfish while holidaying at a Australian tourist hot spot. She was also taken to Hervey Bay Hospital, where she remains in a stable condition. A German 'double agent' reportedly leaked British intelligence on the war in Ukraine to Russia. The suspect known as 'Carsten L' was arrested on 21 December 2022 on charges of state treason after a foreign agency found a German intelligence document among Russian data. As head of the signal intelligence wing at Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (BND), the spy had access to classified information from global intelligence divisions, including sensitive battlefield information from Ukraine. Erich Schmidt-Eenboom, an expert on the BND, told The Sunday Telegraph that the scandal will have 'deep implications' for the German agency's relationships with partners abroad. British intelligence are 'most incensed' and will reconsider whether they continue to provide the BND with highly classified information. German authorities arrested 'Carsten L' on charges of high treason at the end of last year BND President Bruno Kahl (pictured) said releasing more on the case could benefit Russia German authorities have embargoed any information that could alert Russia to surrounding spy activity. Foreign intelligence chief Bruno Kahl said releasing more information about the case could benefit Russia. Carsten L's motives remain unclear as a result. Federal prosecutors did not say whether information was shared with Russia before or after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Until relatively recently, Germany sought to build closer ties with Russia, using trade routes and pipelines to ensure interdependence between the two states. Germany changed its stance after Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent in Russia in August 2020. Pressure mounted on Germany to cancel its contentious Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, connecting Russia with Germany via the Baltic Sea. The project was finally paused by Chancellor Olaf Scholz in February 2022 after Russia recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. Soon after, the Chancellor acknowledged a new 'Zeitenwende', or 'turning-point awakening', which will see a shift in Germany's defence and security policy. AfD leader Alice Weidel has held NATO, not Russia, responsible for the war in Ukraine Experts warn the scandal will hurt the BND's cooperation with partner intelligence services Last year, Mr Scholz committed 100bn to growing Germany's armed forces. However, not all support a wider role for the German military overseas. On Friday, DW reported a year-on-year spike in the number of Germany personnel seeking exemption from deployment in combat zones. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has also sought German neutrality in the war in Ukraine, calling for Germany to reopen Nord Stream 2 and to stop weapons deliveries to Ukraine. A source told The Telegraph that the BND is investigating whether Carsten L had links to right wing extremism in Germany after an AfD pamphlet was found in a locker belonging to the spy in Bavaria. The arrest of Carsten L is the first time a BND employee has been arrested for treason since 2014. Markus Reichel, a German triple agent, was jailed for eight years after handing sensitive information over to both the CIA and to Russian intelligence. The BND faced another scandal in 2015 after thieves broke into its then-unfinished Berlin headquarters - the 'most closely guarded building site' in Germany - and removed taps, flooding the building. Prince Harry has revealed he only cried once over the death of his mother, Princess Diana. The Duke of Sussex said he felt like he was 'unable to show any emotion' in public after her death in 1997, and that he had only shed tears when she was buried. The 38-year-old told ITV's Tom Bradby he felt 'some guilt' as he greeted crowds who gathered to pay their respects to his mother outside Kensington Palace. He made the claim as part of an interview with Mr Bradby during the publicity blitz for his bombshell memoir, Spare, which was leaked before the weekend. Prince Harry pictured with his brother Prince William and father Prince Charles at the funeral of Princess Diana Harry, pictured here with his mother in Spain in 1987, told ITV's Tom Bradby he had cried only once over Diana's death In a clip for the interview, which will air on ITV1 at 9pm tonight, the Prince said: 'I cried once, at the burial, and you know I go into detail [in Spare] about how strange it was and how actually there was some guilt that I felt, and I think William felt as well, by walking around the outside of Kensington Palace. 'There were 50,000 bouquets of flowers to our mother and there we were shaking people's hands, smiling... 'And the wet hands that we were shaking, we couldn't understand why their hands were wet, but it was all the tears that they were wiping away.' He added that everyone knew 'where they were or what they were doing the night my mother died'. '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,' he said. Harry speaks often about the loss of his mother in his new memoir, which was released early in Spain last week. In the book he wrote about how his father, who was then the Prince of Wales, sat him down on a bed before breaking the news. He said Prince Charles called him 'my dear son' before telling him his mother was unlikely to survive head injuries sustained in the crash in Paris in the early hours of August 31, 1997. He paints the picture of an emotionally-distant father, saying that Charles was 'not good at expressing his emotions'. He wrote: 'What I do remember with stunning clarity is that I did not cry. Not a tear. My father did not hug me.' Prince Harry (centre) stands between his brother and father as the hearse carrying his mother's coffin prepares to leave Westminster Abbey following her funeral service In the book, which MailOnline has obtained a copy of and is translating from Spanish ahead of its UK publication on Tuesday, the Duke recalls asking to go and visit his mother while she was in the hospital. However, he says his father explained she 'hasn't recovered any more', before saying he stayed in his room on his own until the following morning. He recalled that he and his brother William were forbidden from watching the TV so they didn't see news of the car crash. In the memoir he said for a time he believed Diana had faked her own death and she was 'running away' to escape her 'miserable' life. The Duke said his 13-year-old self had wondered if it was a 'trick', writing in the book: 'Her life's been miserable, she's been hounded, harassed, lied about, lied to. So she's staged an accident as a diversion and run away.' He later admitted this was not the case, but said he returned to the theory as a source of comfort. In the memoir, which was ghostwritten by Pulitzer-winning author JR Moehringer, Harry admitted to trying to get closure by returning to the scene of his mother's death. The Princess of Wales had been killed along with her partner Dodi Fayed when their driver Henri Paul crashed their car in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris. Harry pictured with his mother and brother at the VE Remembrance Service in Hyde Park in 1995 The Duke of Sussex speaks often about his mother in his new memoir Spare, which is released in the UK on January 10 An inquest would later return a verdict of unlawful killing, blaming Paul, who was drunk at the time and also died in the crash, as well as the paparazzi following the vehicle. Harry says he got his chauffeur to drive him at 65mph - the speed at which the crash happened - through the tunnel repeatedly to experience how her final journey would have felt. Harry recounted the driver was shocked when he asked him if he knew the tunnel were his mother had died, and asked him to drive him through it. The royal revealed he barely felt anything when he entered the tunnel, writing it was: 'The bump that supposedly sent Mummy's Mercedes veering off course.' He recounted how he counted the lights and the pillar inside the tunnel as his car whizzed through, but was shocked at how short the tunnel actually was when he emerged. Harry recalled imagining the tunnel was a dangerous route, but was surprised to learn it was a 'no-frills tunnel'. He recounted speaking to William about the tunnel where their mother had died after he had made the journey through it himself. The pair then agreed to travel through it once more, together, after which Harry says they talked about their mother's accident for the first time. Following an investigation into Diana's death, Harry described the final report as 'an insult' and 'a shambles' which he believed was inaccurate. Harry claimed his brother invoked their mother's memory during an argument over his interview with Oprah (pictured) In the memoir Harry claims his brother invoked their mother's memory during an argument over his interview with Oprah. The Duke wrote that William got heated as they spoke after the funeral of their grandfather Prince Philip in 2021. Harry claims was trying to address bullying allegations made against Meghan, but his father and brother 'weren't listening.' The California-based royal went on to allege that William was 'really steaming' and grasped at him as he tried to walk away. 'I waved a hand, disgusted, but he lunged, grabbed my shirt. "Listen to me, Harold,"' Harry wrote in his book, according to The Sun. 'I pulled away, refused to meet his gaze. He forced me to look into his eyes. "Listen to me, Harold, listen! I love you, Harold! I want you to be happy."' Harry claims he replied: 'I love you toobut your stubbornness is extraordinary!' The Duke reportedly tried to pull away, but William allegedly 'grabbed him again' and 'twisted him' so the pair could maintain eye contact. William then evoked the brother's so-called 'secret code' and swore on Princess Diana's life that his intentions were genuine, Harry penned. He writes that William said: 'Harold, you must listen to me! I just want you to be happy, Harold. I swear I swear on Mummy's life.' Harry continued: 'He stopped. I stopped. Pa stopped. He'd gone there. 'He'd 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.' The Duke claimed his brother 'wasn't quite ready to accept defeat' and claimed to be 'properly sick and ill' over the tensions between the pair. William allegedly reiterated: 'I swear to you now on Mummy's life that I just want you to be happy'. Harry claims his 'voice broke' and he 'softly' told William: 'I really don't think you do.' The elder brother then allegedly hugged Harry and said: 'I love you'. MailOnline has approached representatives for William and Harry for comment. There are fears union barons could be plotting the first general strike since 1926 when they meet at a 'war cabinet' later this week. Some of the country's top union bosses, including Mick Lynch, will meet at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to plan their next move after weeks of crippling walkouts. It will come just a day after they conduct talks with ministers amid ongoing pay disputes that have seen large parts of the country grind to a halt over the last year. Representatives from the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, Aslef and the GMB will gather to 'compare notes' on their discussions with the Government, it is being reported. Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, poses at a picket at Euston Station on Friday, January 6. He is one of a number of union barons expected to meet at later this week Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef (pictured left), and Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Conress (pictured right), could be there Gary Smith, general secretary of the GMB (pictured left), and Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS (pictured right) could be at the meeting The union barons meeting at this week's 'war cabinet' Mick Lynch - RMT The general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union has become the leading figure in the strikes to hit the UK over the last year. He has risen to prominence with his staunch defence of the strikes on national television. The 60-year-old, who has been involved in the trade union movement for most of his working life, having being blacklisted after joining a union while working in construction. Mr Lynch has repeatedly accused the Government of preventing train operators and Network Rail from reaching an agreement with the union. Mick Whelan - Aslef As general secretary of Aslef, the train drivers union, Mr Whelan has also become a much more public figure over the last year. His union, along with the RMT, has caused chaos on the railways this year after hosting multiple strikes across numerous train operators. The 63-year-old joined the rail industry in 1984, when it was still state-owned British Rail. He recently lambasted the 'corrupt deal' between rail companies and the Government, blaming Conservatives for the strikes. Paul Nowak - TUC The new general secretary of the TUC has taken over the role from Frances O'Grady at the end of December. He is no stranger to the union movement, having joined joined when he was 17 years old, and became vice president of his local union at just 19. He has taken credit for influencing the Government's safe working guidance during the Covid pandemic, ensuring stricter rules were put in place than originally put forward. The 50-year-old has called for the Government to be 'serious' and enter 'meaningful talks with unions about pay'. Gary Smith - GMB The Edinburgh-born trade unionist has been involved with the GMB for all his working life, having joined at the age of 16. He is well rewarded for his role - his pay packet when he became general secretary in 2021 was 135,000. An outspoken leader, he has backed fracking and the 15 living wage, while railing against the 'bourgeoisie environmental lobby'. Earlier this week he railed against proposed anti-strike legislation and has accused the Government of 'seeking to scapegoat' NHS staff and ambulance workers. Mark Serwotka - PCS The Welsh head of the civil servant's union has been general secretary of the PCS since 2000. He has publicly backed his workers, which include Border Force staff who walked out of their jobs before and after Christmas, forcing the Army to fill in. He has shown no signs of tiring in the dispute with the Government, recently suggesting strike action in the Border Force could continue until May. It has been reported that Mr Serwotka called for a general strike at a previous meeting between barons. Advertisement Among those invited to attend is the PCS union, which represents civil servants and Border Force staff, as well as the Prison Officers Association, even though the latter is not legally allowed to strike. The gathering of the top brass could see Mr Lynch joined by Paul Nowak, the new general secretary of the TUC, head of Aslef Mick Whelan and the GMB's general secretary Gary Smith. Mark Serwotka, the general secretary of the PCS who is reported to have called for a general strike in the past, could also be there. A source told the Sun that even though there are no plans for a general strike at the moment, Government proposals to crack down on unions could lead to workers walking out en mass. They said: 'If anything this will make workers think 'lets strike now' while they get everything in order'. The TUC told the paper the gathering on Tuesday is 'one in a series of regular meetings to think about how we best support unions engaged in industrial campaigns'. While major strike action on Britain's railways has finally winded down, there will be further walkouts in a number of industries in the coming week, with driving examiners and school workers all set to hold industrial action. Bus drivers working for Abellio will walkout on Tuesday and Thursday, while there will also be a strike by Tube staff on the Elizabeth Line on January 12. On Wednesday ambulance workers will go on strike, in addition to another walkout planned on January 23. Nurses are set to walkout for two days on January 18 and 19 as part of their dispute with the Government. It comes as many will have hoped to an end to the chaos caused by the RMT and Alsef unions, which caused thousands of trains to be cancelled in recent weeks by holding industrial action. The RMT is in dispute with train operators and Network Rail over proposed changes to working conditions and clamours for a pay rise for workers. Its general secretary, Mick Lynch, has vowed not to back down amid the dispute, claiming there is 'massive' support on the picket line. That's despite polls showing nearly half of the public are now opposed to the strikes. Mr Lynch said: 'While the Secretary of State and the Rail Delivery Group spin about the need for reform to fund pay rises, the truth is that the money was always there but it's being salted away by a gang of profiteers and their mates in the Government. 'It's outrageous that the interests of workers, passengers and the taxpaying public are all sacrificed to the greed of a handful of private transport companies who are being guaranteed profits when they can't run a railway even when we're not on strike. 'While executives and the rich make millions, our members are being asked to accept substandard pay offers and a ripping up of their hard fought for terms and conditions, during an escalating cost-of-living crisis. 'It's time the interests of workers and passengers were put first. 'We need a negotiated settlement with both the rail operators and Network Rail and the Government needs to stop blocking these deals.' The Government denies it is blocking a deal, insisting it is facilitating talks between employers and the unions. A Department for Transport spokesman said: 'Passengers have rightly had enough of rail strikes and want the disruption to end. 'Unions should step back from this strike action so we can start 2023 by ending this damaging dispute.' On Wednesday Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans to introduce anti-strike laws that would be designed to ensure a minimum level of services are kept running during walkouts. Officials are already drawing up draft legislation which would ensure minimum staffing levels in public services, such as the NHS and schools, to limit the impact of strikes on the general public. In his first major speech since taking the job, Mr Sunak said 'people should have the right to strike'. But he added: 'That has to be balanced with the right of the British public to go about their lives without suffering completely undue disruption in the way we've seen recently. 'And that's why I have said we will introduce new legislation that restores that balance and crucially protects people's lives as well as their livelihoods.' The announcement sparked fury from the unions, who vowed to 'fight' the Government should it introduce the laws. Speaking from the picket line at Euston station on Friday, Mr Lynch told BBC Breakfast that the Government is trying to 'close down' the unions with the new legislation. 'What this is a symbol of is that the Government are losing the argument,' he said. 'They've lost the argument on austerity and pay, and the state of our national public services. 'And instead they want to close that argument down by closing down the unions and stopping us from campaigning against poverty.' He said the Bill is a threat to sack union members if they refuse to go to work. 'What they are saying is that they will sack our members if they don't go to work,' he said. 'They are going to conscript our members. 'We have to name who will go to work, and if those members in a lawful manner don't want to cross our picket line they can be dismissed individually and the union can be fined. 'So we will have to see what the law says.' Mr Sunak raised a glimmer of hope that future nursing strikes could be averted by saying he was willing to discuss pay, but indicated he would not negotiate over the current deal. Royal College of Nursing (RCN) general secretary Pat Cullen said she had a 'chink of optimism' after noticing a 'little shift' in the Prime Minister's stance on Sunday. Mr Sunak declined to describe the NHS as being in crisis, despite Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer warning the health service is not just on its knees but 'on its face'. The Prime Minister also refused to say whether he uses private healthcare as Britons struggle with long waiting lists to see GPs and receive treatment. Ms Cullen will be among the union leaders meeting Steve Barclay for talks on Monday, but the Health Secretary wants to focus negotiations on a new pay deal for 2023/24. The RCN head has urged ministers to meet nurses halfway on their pay rise demands for the current financial year and will strike in England on January 18 and 19 without a breakthrough. The Prime Minister told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme that Monday's talks are 'really important', but he indicated only the next financial year's pay is up for discussion. 'When it comes to pay we've always said we want to talk about things that are reasonable, that are affordable and responsible for the country,' Mr Sunak said. 'We are about to start a new pay settlement round for this year, we're about to start that independent process, and before that process starts the Government is keen to sit down with the unions and talk about pay and make sure they understand where we're coming from.' Ms Cullen told Mr Sunak to 'grasp the nettle, come to the table' as she indicated cautious hopes for resolving the long-running dispute. She told the BBC: 'When I listened to that there was a chink of optimism and there was a little shift in what the Prime Minister was saying.' However, she added: 'This is not about negotiations tomorrow, it's not about nurses' pay and it's not addressing the issues that are our dispute and that is addressing pay in 2022/23.' A Department of Health and Social Care source insisted the position on not negotiating on the current financial year's pay settlement remains 'unchanged'. A primary school has responded to parents after it's principal was accused of sending a photo of his penis an undercover cop posing as a 14-year-old girl, while using the alias 'Die Hard' online. Shayne Harris, who held the top job at head Aveley North Primary School - 29km northeast of Perth - appeared in court on Thursday charged with using electronic communication to expose a child to indecent matter. An email was sent to parents of children at the school informing them Mr Harris had appeared in court the previous day 'facing serious charges'. 'Mr Harris was immediately stood down from his role as principal due to the nature of the charges,' the email read. Shayne Harris (pictured) appeared in court this week charged with using electronic communication to expose a child to indecent matter Aveley North Primary School has responded to upset parents after the veteran principal was accused of sending a photo of his penis to an undercover cop posing as a 14-year-old girl The school acknowledged the recent event 'may be upsetting and of concern to many parents, staff and students,' The West reported. 'We would like to reinforce that the safety of all students is our number one priority, and we expect the highest standards of behaviour from school leaders and staff. Thank you for your understanding and support.' The departure of Mr Harris just three weeks before the new school year starts has put pressure on the department to find a replacement principal. The email said Helen Taylor - a previous deputy and acting principal with a 'strong connection' to the school - would step up into the top role for the start of the 2023 school year. However Ms Taylor is currently principal at another school and so the pressure will be on the department to find a replacement for her as well amid a chronic teacher shortage. Perth Magistrates Court was on Thursday told Mr Harris had allegedly chatted to someone he believed to be a teenage girl via Google Chats on New Years Day in his home. Prosecutors allege Mr Harris first sent two pictures of his face during that live video chat, before the conversation became sexualised. He then a allegedly posted a photo of his penis. Prosecutors allege Mr Harris first sent two pictures of his face during a live video chat, before the conversation became sexualised and he then allegedly posted a photo of his penis The court heard Mr Harris had been using the online alias 'Die Hard' before transferring to Google Chats, while using an email address containing his real name. Mr Harris - who has led some of Perths most prestigious primary schools - was also charged with possessing cannabis and drug paraphernalia. He was granted bail on condition that he does not leave the state, surrenders his passport and that any internet-enabled devices be inspected by police when requested. Mr Harris is due to return to court in February. Previous Aveley North school newsletters sent out last year had warned parents and students to be wary of sexual predators online. On Thursday, the WA Department of Education called for the long-time teacher to be stood down following the 'incredibly serious' allegations. Drivers have been filmed driving on the pavement outside residents' homes to avoid road closures 'a week' after it was reported to council. A string of cars were seen ignoring the closed road signs in Ealing, West London, in footage posted online the week after a similar video, tagging the council, was uploaded. Motorists drove on the open pathway, sparking fury from residents who voiced safety concerns over the issue. The video posted on Twitter showed that drivers are still driving on the pavement in front of people's homes to avoid road closures a week later The video was uploaded to Twitter on Wednesday, January, 4, 2023 which caused a stir on social media as people feared for people and their children walking by. One Twitter user wrote: 'It's unbelievable.' Another social media user wrote: 'Woooowwww all of these drivers should receive a lifetime ban. What horrendously reckless behaviour.' The short video showed at least six cars by-passing the roadworks and using the pavement while only one red four-by-four followed the diversion. At the end of the video a motorist on a bike can be seen overtaking another driver while more cars queue behind. Motorists drive on the open pathway in West London in footage posted on social media The video was uploaded to Twitter on Wednesday, January, 4, 2023 which caused a stir on social media as people feared for people and their children walking by The short video showed six cars by-passing the roadworks and using the pavement while only one red four by four followed the diversion After the council were made aware of the illegal driving they closed off the pathway but this was later removed without permission. An Ealing Council spokesperson said: 'Affinity Water put in place appropriate ''no entry'' signs which covered the carriageway section and the council closed the footpath once we were made aware of this driver behaviour. 'However, these were removed and careless and inconsiderate drivers continued to put pedestrian lives at risk by driving on the pavement. 'The police were alerted to this dangerous behaviour. The works were completed earlier this week.' The criminal offence carries a fine and penalty points, but if classified as careless or dangerous driving it can result in disqualification, an unlimited fine and even imprisonment. Highway Code Rule 145 states: 'You MUST NOT drive on or over a pavement, footpath or bridleway except to gain lawful access to property, or in the case of an emergency'. This video came just a week after another when residents filmed a similar sight of chaos on Thursday, December, 29, 2022. Cars in Southall, West London, chose to ignore road closure signs as they drove on the pavement last week The vehicles are captured in a steady line, one behind the other, as they drive along the path last week Other clips shot a couple of days prior also captured a man telling off the drivers for refusing to obey the signs. The angry pedestrian attempted to have the motorist reverse back down the path as he blocked the way forward. He held his ground and waved at the driver until they gave in and turned the other way. Another showed people moving cones out of the way to make room for cars, vans, and motorbikes to drive through. Sir Keir Starmer squirmed today as he was confronted with his past pledge to 'end outsourcing in the NHS' - as the same time as he promoted his new plan to use private hospitals to tackle waiting lists. The Labour leader claimed the NHS was 'not just on its knees, it's on its face' as it suffers the 'worst crisis' in its history amid this winter's pressures and the backlogs in care. He said his party's research showed around 230,000 patients could be moved off waiting lists each year if private care was used more effectively. But Sir Keir insisted he was 'not talking about privatising the NHS' as he was confronted by a promise he made when standing for the Labour leadership in 2020. Among 10 pledges Sir Keir made during his campaign to replace Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader vowed to 'end outsourcing in our NHS, local government and justice system'. Sir Keir has already angered Labour's left-wing in recent months by moving away from his other pledges on public ownership, free movement, tuition fees and support for trade unions. Amid widespread reports of shocking waiting times at A&E and for ambulances, Rishi Sunak has declined to say the NHS is in 'crisis' - although the PM has acknowledged there is 'enormous pressure' on hospitals this winter. The NHS is set to be buffeted further this week with some ambulance staff planning to strike again on Wednesday, while nurses are also plotting another walkout on 18 and 19 January as part of their dispute over pay. Sir Keir Starmer said Labour's research showed around 230,000 patients could be moved off waiting lists each year if private care was used more effectively But the Labour leader was confronted over his leadership campaign pledge to 'end outsourcing in the NHS' Among 10 pledges Sir Keir made during his successul bid to replace Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader vowed to 'end outsourcing in our NHS, local government and justice system' Setting out Labour's demand for the Government to take up their proposals for tackling NHS waiting lists, Sir Keir told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday show: 'One of the issues we've looked at is whether or not we are using the private sector effectively. 'A number of people do go as NHS patients to the private sector. Our research shows that's been underused and we could do more of it. 'That would clear 230,000 people off the waiting lists every year.' Sir Keir said Labour was asking 'bold' questions of the health service as part of a 10-year 'change and reform' agenda for the NHS, which the party will consult on in the coming months. But he insisted he was not in support of NHS privatisation and stressed that 'the NHS has always used elements from the private sector, GPs are an example of that'. 'We're not talking about privatising the NHS, we're talking about using the private sector effectively,' he added. 'Free at the point of use is absolutely a governing principle... but we do need change and reform. 'I want to look, for example, at primary care. Would it be possible to use local pharmacies more to do work on prescriptions etc.? Is there a route for self-referral? 'What do we do about the partnerships with GPs? Which I don';t think are necessarily as efficient as they should be. 'We're asking all the questions that a bold, incoming government should ask about change and reform.' A spokesperson for Momentum, the left-wing Labour pressure group, accused Sir Keir of a 'morally wrong and politically self-defeating' reversal on his leadership pledge. They also noted how Sir Keir's own promotion of utilising private care came on the same day the PM repeatedly refused to reveal whether he was registered with a private GP practice. 'On a day when Rishi Sunak is under fire for his relationship to private health care, it beggars belief that the Labour leadership is choosing to embrace the role of the private sector in the NHS,' the spokesperson said. 'Not only does this undermine the NHS's universal public sector principle, but it doubles down on a key driving force for the crisis we are currently suffering - the damaging role of profit-making companies into public health. 'For Keir Starmer to go back on his leadership pledge to end NHS outsourcing is morally wrong and politically self-defeating.' A military expert says it is 'perfectly possible for Ukraine to win the war this year' if its military science continues to outmatch that of Russia. Ever since Putin's invasion of Ukraine on February 24 last year, President Volodymyr Zelensky has successfully lobbied Western allies for modern armoured vehicles to repel the occupiers. Through the course of the conflict, Ukraine has gradually surpassed its invaders with technology allowing for a devastating fightback. On New Year's Eve, a volley of American-manufactured HIMARS rocket launchers struck a building filled with Russian conscripts in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. Ever since Putin's invasion of Ukraine on February 24 last year, President Volodymyr Zelensky has successfully lobbied Western allies for technology to outmatch the invaders Zelensky has persuaded western powers to provide technology and equipment in the fight against Russian invasion Putin' army will need to reorganise and weed out corruption as it 'bedevils the quality an supply of military equipment' an expert said The strike, upon the poorly fortified Professional Technical School in Makiivka, killed 89 Russian recruits according to the Kremlin and destroyed their ammunition, The Guardian reports. The Kremlin confirmed the loss of life and blamed its soldiers' use of mobile phones for giving away the location. Ukraine considers the probable death toll to be higher - possibly in the hundreds. The incident has provoked widespread anger in Russia, where support for the war is waning, while it may signal to Putin the need for improved military organisation and development. Last week, Ukraine was handed a further lifeline when France, Germany and the US all agreed to send versions of their tanks, the AMX-10, the Marder and the Bradley. Although not classified as 'true tanks' because of their lack of armour or firepower, the weapons are capable of providing firing support to Ukrainians advancing across enemy lines. Among those machines, the US Bradley - which served with distinction in the 1991 Gulf War - is widely regarded the most advanced, boasting a 25mm cannon fired from a chain gun and a pod on the side - effective at wiping out Russian battle tanks. The US has pledged to send around 50 Bradley tanks to Ukraine. The vehicles were highly effective during the Gulf War in 1991 The German Marder was described as 'respectable but old' with around 40 understood to be promised to Ukraine The AMX-10 tank supplied by France is capable of great speed and has been described as ideal for a 'reconnaissance echelon or rapid reaction force' Germany is still holding back on Ukrainian demands to supply the lethal Leopard-II The Leopard-II is a 63-ton battle tank that some think could shift the course of the war Germany is still holding back on Ukrainian demands to supply the lethal Leopard-II, a 63-ton battle tank that some think could shift the course of the war. Ben Barry, senior fellow of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the Leopard can be acquired in a package with its own recovery vehicles, with low loafers and rail capability, The Telegraph reports. 'In terms of military science, it is perfectly possible for Ukraine to win the war this year,' said Mr Watling. 'There are other plausible scenarios - what if Russian military industry gets its act together and increases munitions production? What if the Russians sort out their training?' Mr Barry, who himself served in Bosnia and had a number of the vehicles under his command, described the German Marder as 'respectable but old' and added that the AMX-10 has an armour too thin to be a true tank but it possesses great speed. He added: 'If someone said to me, "Ben, I want you to build an armoured brigade, would you like these things?" I'd say, "absolutely". They are just what you want for a reconnaissance echelon or rapid reaction force.' The head of the Ukrainian military, Valery Zaluzhny, says he needs 300 tanks, 600 to 700 infantry fighting vehicles and 500 howitzers to push Russia back to its lines before the invasion. France has not confirmed the number of AMX-10s it will send, while German newspaper Der Spiegel reported about 40 Marders - the equivalent of a batallion - are likely to be sent. Ukrainian soldiers of the Territorial Defense of Kherson reinforce their positions Plumes of smoke rise from a Russian strike during a 36-hour ceasefire over Orthodox Christmas declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin US officials are reported to have said they will supply 50 Bradleys in the next support package to Ukraine. Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki yesterday stated he was in talks with coalation countries to discuss the prospect of sending Leopard-II tanks to Ukraine. Thanks to a 'combined arms' approach - utilising intelligence with airpower, missiles and small, flexible armed units - Ukraine was able to stave off the the first wave of the invasion. They were able to access Elon Musk's satellite system, providing general with an immeasurable tool for strategy - with instant connection from headquarters to the trenches. Writing for the Guardian, Michael Clarke a professor of defence studies at Kings College London, said: 'Kyiv still has some way to go before it has enough equipment and troops to conduct the sort of offensive that will throw Russian forces out of most, or all, its territory. 'It needs a lot more of what it already has - and then more overtly offensive weapon systems, including heavier armoured forces, more attack aircraft and more drones and missiles.' The ineptitude of the Russian army, vast in number and run centrally, was exposed early in the war. Prof Clarke added: 'The re-mobilised Russian army will gave to be less corrupt, a characteristic that bedevils the quality and supply of military equipment... Its logistics need to be modernised quickly. Food and ammunition supply is particularly acute.' The UK Government fears Nicola Sturgeon's trans law reform could undermine women's rights in key industries, reports say. Government lawyers in Westminster are concerned that the legislation - which makes it easier for trans people as young as 16 to change their gender - could make it more difficult to guarantee same-sex healthcare, and could impose new rules on single sex schools, The Telegraph reports. There are also concerns that people who have transitioned into women would automatically be placed in a female estate, and only moved into a special unit for transgender prisoners if they were considered high risk. The legislation, which came into affect towards the end of last year, has also sparked fears of 'gender tourism' to Scotland from other parts of the UK where the law has not been changed. The controversial new law was passed by the Scottish Parliament last month (Pictured: First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon) It has been suggested a male-born transgender woman could travel to Scotland to have their gender legally changed, then use their new official status to access female-only spaces in other nations The controversial new law passed by the Scottish Parliament states that people will no longer need a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria in order to legally change their gender and be given a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). It will also lower the minimum age for applicants from 18 to 16 and drop the time required for an applicant to live in their acquired gender from two years to three months, although with a subsequent, three-month reflection period. While it was debated by MSPs in the Scottish Parliament, changes were made to the legislation to mean 16 and 17-year-olds will have to live in their acquired gender for six months rather than three before applying for a GRC. There will also be a new statutory aggravation to the offence of making a fraudulent application for a GRC. And anyone subject to a sexual harm prevention order or sexual offences prevention order will not be allowed to seek a GRC. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has also warned that there could now be an impact on sex discrimination laws across the UK, including equal pay. Gender recognition is a devolved matter, but the Government is concerned about the impact of the Bill on equalities laws, which are the preserve of Westminster. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has not ruled out the UK Government trying to prevent the bill passing into law Ministers will debate this month and decide whether to overturn the legislation. Government lawyers are now considering how the law might impact the NHS, education and the criminal justice system across the country. It is believed that the legislation could make intimate same-sex care more difficult to guarantee, as there could be an increase in the number of health workers who have changed their gender. In single sex schools, where polices on gender are decided independently, there are fears that they will be pressured to amend their admission rules. The age clause of the legislation, allowing people to change gender from 16 to 18, means that more sixth formers could legally change their gender and request a place at a single sex school. Government sources have previously told The Times they feared the new law could be used to allow biologically male Scottish prisoners in English jails to demand to be placed in women's prisons. Scottish transgender women could also demand their new rights are mirrored in England, such as access to female-only spaces. The Government may now be gearing up to block the legislation from being enshrined into law. Under the Scotland Act, the UK Government can challenge devolved legislation if it feels it impacts on national security or reserved matters. Protesters gathered outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh as MSPs debated the gender recognition reforms It means Scottish Secretary Alistair Jack is now able to legally challenge the legislation if he believes it impacts on the wider UK. Non-government opponents will also be able to take legal action if they wish to do so. In a statement after the final vote last month, Mr Jack said the UK Government will consider action in the Supreme Court. 'We share the concerns that many people have regarding certain aspects of this bill, and in particular the safety issues for women and children,' he said. 'We will look closely at that, and also the ramifications for the 2010 Equality Act and other UK-wide legislation, in the coming weeks up to and including a Section 35 order stopping the Bill going for Royal Assent if necessary.' Ms Sturgeon has dismissed concerns about the impact of the bill and her Scottish Government has insisted any attempts by Westminster to block the legislation will be 'vigorously contested'. Police are yet to identify a 'Jason Bourne' mystery man discovered in Dorset in September with no recollection of who he is or where he came from. The man was found by police in Weymouth on Wednesday 28 September 2022 wearing a black motorcycle helmet with no visor, and with two pairs of black suit trousers. Nearly four months later, police are still looking to identify the man described as five feet nine inches tall (175cm) and of a slim build. DO YOU KNOW THE MAN'S IDENTITY? Email matt.powell@mailonline.co.uk The case somewhat resembles an aspect of the Jason Bourne film series, originally written by British novelist Robert Ludlum, about a highly trained Foreign Service Officer who finds himself washed up on the French coast with amnesia. The mystery man was found by police near the seafront in Weymouth in late September 2022 The man is described as being five foot nine with a slim build and an eastern European accent The man was found wearing a black motorcycle helmet with no visor and a black leather jacket Police Constable Becky Barnes of Dorset Police, said: 'We have been continuing to conduct enquiries to try and establish the identity of this man, which have included contact with Interpol and other partner agencies. 'However, we have still been unable to confirm an identity for this man and he has not been able to tell us who he is or provide any information about where he is from or his family.' Police Constable Richard Symonds, of Dorset Police, said: 'Since he was found, the man has been in the safe care of the health service. Unfortunately, he has not been able to tell us who he is or provide any details about where he lives or his family. 'Despite officers having carried out a number of enquiries, including checking missing person reports with other police forces, we are not any closer to establishing this information. The Bourne Identity follows Foreign Service Officer Jason Bourne, who is washed up on a beach without recollection of his memory - drawing parallels with Dorset's mystery man Police have worked with Interpol and other agencies to establish the identity of the man The man, who does not remember his identity, is now in the care of the local health service 'I am hoping that by releasing a photo of the man, somebody might recognise him and can help us establish who he might be.' The man was found with long, curly matted brown hair and a brown beard. He speaks with an Eastern European accent and it is believed his first language is Latvian. Anyone with information about the man's identity is asked to contact Dorset Police or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55220158012. MailOnline approached Dorset Police for further comment. A man has been charged with murder after human remains were found in a pond near an NHS Hospital in Harlow on New Year's Eve. Lee Clark, 52, has been charged with the murder of Phillip Lewis, 59, after his remains were found in Oakwood Pond near Princess Alexandra Hospital. Mr Clark, of Wedhey, Harlow, will appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court tomorrow. A 23-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder has been released on bail until March while Essex Police continue their enquiries. Phillip Lewis, 59, had lived in Harlow for many years and was known locally as 'Scottish Phil' The victim, Mr Lewis, had lived in Harlow for many years and was affectionately known as 'Scottish Phil'. Detective Superintendent Roby Kirby, Head of Essex Major Crime, said: 'Over the last eight days, we have had a team of dedicated detectives and forensic experts who have pieced together what we believe to be the circumstances around Phillip's death. 'Of course, that work does not stop at the point of charge and in many ways, this is still the beginning of complex investigation into the death of a 59-year-old man who was a son and a friend. 'One element of that work continues today as, alongside our partners, we continue to drain Oakwood Pond to allow for further investigation of the area to take place. 'This is being done in the most environmentally friendly way possible and I'd like to pass on my thanks to partners for helping to facilitate this. 'I would continue to appeal to anyone who came into contact with Phillip in any way since 1 November 2022 to come forward. To date, a number of people have come forward and the information they have provided to us has been invaluable. Mr Lewis's remains were found in Oakwood Pond near Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow on New Year's Eve Essex Police are appealing for witnesses in the local area or information from anyone who has had contact with the victim since November 1, 2022 'Equally, I would like anyone who lives in the areas of Oakwood Pond or the estates coming off Harberts Road, south of Fourth Avenue, and who has CCTV or doorbell video systems to contact us so that we can check it. 'We also want to speak to anyone who regularly visits Oakwood Pond and the surrounding area, who has seen anything suspicious in the last two months.' Anyone with information should contact Essex Police via a dedicated phone line on 0800 051 4526 or through the authority's website. Rishi Sunak today declined to say whether the NHS is in 'crisis' although the Prime Minister acknowledged there was 'enormous pressure' on hospitals this winter. After a meeting with health experts on NHS recovery plans in Downing Street, Mr Sunak admitted there were 'unacceptable delays' at A&Es and for ambulances. He repeatedly blamed the strain on the health service on the Covid pandemic and conceded the problems would not be solved 'overnight'. But - as well as highlighting the Government's extra billions of pounds of funding for the NHS - Mr Sunak insisted he had fresh 'confidence and optimism' that the chaos would ease after his talks with health leaders in No10 this weekend. In an interview with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg after hosting the 'NHS Recovery Forum', Mr Sunak was pressed on whether the current state of the health service represented a 'crisis'. In an interview with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, the PM shied away from revealing his own healthcare arrangements following reports he is registered with a private GP practice The PM insisted that 'what matters more than words is actions' as he would only state that the NHS was 'under pressure'. Mr Sunak also shied away from revealing his own healthcare arrangements, following previous reports that he is registered with a private GP practice. He insisted whether or not he uses private healthcare was 'not really relevant' and a 'distraction' from the 'real issue' of providing high-quality services for the country. The NHS is currently battling a 'twindemic' of Covid cases as well as the worst influenza outbreak in a decade. There have been widespread reports of shocking delays for ambulances and at A&Es, while some hospitals are discharging patients into hotel rooms in a bid to ease demand for beds. The chaos in the health service comes at a time of bitter disputes between unions and the Government over pay for NHS staff during the cost-of-living crisis. Some ambulance workers are set to go on strike again on Wednesday, while nurses are also plotting another walkout on 18 and 19 January. After a meeting with health experts on NHS recovery plans in Downing Street, Rishi Sunak admitted there were 'unacceptable delays' at A&Es and for ambulances NHS data showed that ambulances had record delays when handing over patients to A&E departments in the week to January 1. More than a quarter (18,720) were forced to queue for more than 60 minutes before handing over their patients to A&E The NHS is battling a 'twindemic' of Covid cases and the worst influenza outbreak in a decade. The graph shows the weekly hospital admissions per 100,000 people for Covid (red) and flu (blue) in the week to January 1 Grandmother, 79, was strapped to a BIN LID and driven to A&E after breaking hip 'because there was no ambulance available' Pamela Rolfe, 79, broke her hip after falling in a park while walking her dog A great-grandmother was taken to hospital on a bin lid after being told there were no ambulances available, her family have claimed. Pamela Rolfe, 79, broke her hip after falling in a park while walking her dog in Johnstown, north Wales, last week. But when her family called 999, they were told she was not eligible for an ambulance. Neighbours tore the lid from a grit bin, which was placed under the great-grandmother-of-two so she could be moved into a van and taken to hospital. Ms Rolfe was given a bed eight hours after her fall and underwent surgery the following day. Ms Rolfe fell around 11am on December 29. Passers-by put a duvet over her while she waited in the wet and windy weather. NHS data has revealed that nearly half of ambulances faced delays of at least half an hour outside of hospitals, as pressure continues to soar on emergency care. Advertisement The PM and his wife, Akshata Murty, are estimated to have a joint net worth of 730million. This is due, in large part, to Ms Murty's wealth through her billionaire father's Indian IT company. Quizzed about his own healthcare arrangements, Mr Sunak said: 'As a general policy I wouldnt ever talk about me or my familys healthcare situation. 'But it's not really relevant, whats relevant is the difference I can make to the country.' Yesterday, the PM hosted clinical leaders, health experts and ministers in Downing Street to discuss the pressures on A&Es, social care and the NHS treatment backlogs. 'The NHS is undeniably under enormous pressure and Ive spent today talking to NHS leaders, all day in fact,' he said in the TV interview aired this morning. 'Recovering from Covid is going to be tough and were seeing that play out on our TV screens every day and in communities up and down the country 'But actually I came away from all my meetings today with a renewed sense of confidence and optimism that we can get to grips with this problem.' Pressed further on whether he thought the NHS was 'in crisis', Mr Sunak added: 'I think what matters more than words is action. 'And here are the actions: three weeks after I became PM in the Autumn Statement, at a time of difficulty elsewhere, billions of extra pounds for the NHS and social care. 'And then the next thing is: what difference is that going to make? And thats the question people should be asking, thats what I want to be held account for. 'So yes, there are unacceptable delays right now happening in ambulances and A&Es, but if you look at it, weve got actually a relatively small number of trusts around 10 per cent of trusts that account for over half of all the ambulance handover delays.' Mr Sunak suggested some of the measures that could make a difference 'right now' to the NHS were the greater use of virtual wards, the faster discharge of patients from hospitals to care homes, and a reconfiguration of 'best practice' for ambulance triage to stop people coming to A&E if they can be treated at home. The PM stressed it was 'not right' to ignore the impact of the Covid crisis on hospitals. He added: 'Has the NHS had pressures before? Of course it has. But Covid has undeniably had an enormous difference and it's wrong to ignore that. 'But what we are doing is actually putting more money in, making sure the initiatives work and starting to improve some of these wait times.' Responding to the PM's interview, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Mr Sunak had 'shown himself to be completely out of touch with the NHS'. 'He couldn't even say whether he uses the NHS, let alone tell the country what he is going to do to stop the crisis that is currently costing so many lives,' he added. 'As PM he owes the country an apology for ignoring the warning signs that we were heading towards a crisis. 'Years of Conservative Party chaos has taken its toll. Bills are spiralling, taxes are being hiked and our treasured public services are crumbling before our eyes.' Civil servants have sparked outrage after it emerged 7,000 was spent on hiring celebrity lookalikes of David Bowie and Baby Spice to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The lavish party, held at the British Embassy in Stockholm, saw performers from Entourage Productions, saunter around the building to mark the late Queen's birthday. Around 60 people are believed to have attended Ambassador Judith Gough's Stockholm residence in June, the Mirror reports. Civil servants splashed out 7,000 hiring celebrity lookalikes, from David Bowie to Baby Spice, to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee at the British Embassy in Sweden While no one dressed up as Paddington Bear, there were toys scattered around the home to pay tribute to the Queen Entourage Productions advertise on their website other people their actors dress up as at other events including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is pictured on their website caged and chained in a straightjacket like Hannibal Lector. At the Jubilee Party, however, no one came dressed as the former Prime Minister, the Foreign Office insisted. The cost of the hiring the performers has led to a backlash from Labour, as hard-pressed families back home struggle with the cost-of-living crisis, resulting in high energy bills and food prices. A Labour source told the Mirror: 'The Tories must not realise we're in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis or they must not care. 'Either way, they need to take their 7,000 dance troupes and exit stage right. 'Fetish gear, pig heads, and Boris in a cage: this would all be a good laugh if it wasnt such a grotesque waste of taxpayers money.' British Ambassador Judith Gough attended the party wearing a Union Jack dress and holding a Paddington Bear toy. While no one dressed up as Paddington Bear, there were toys scattered around the home to pay tribute to the Queen British pop hits and bagpipe music was blasted at the party, as guests snacked on Jubilee cakes and British sausages from a barbecue. While no one dressed up as Paddington Bear, there were toys scattered around the home to pay tribute to the Queen. A Foreign Office source told the Mirror such events are an important opportunity to promote UK influence on the world stage and UK influence on the world stage and bilateral links between countries. At the end of December Labour MP Emily Thornberry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 'with reference to his Departments publication of government procurement card spending over 500 for June 2022, what was the (a) nature and (b) purpose of the services for which Entourage was paid 6,941.43 on 17 June 2022'. A photo from the Jubilee Party held at the British Embassy in Stockholm. British pop hits and bagpipe music was blasted at the party, as guests snacked on Jubilee cakes and British sausages from a barbecue Foreign Office minister David Rutley said some of the funds from the party came from private sponsors. He added: 'Staff considered a number of bids; Entourage Productions was felt to represent the best value for money in terms of lowest cost and the range of services provided. 'The Queen's Birthday Party was funded by a combination of GREAT UK funding and private sponsorship.' READ ALSO: Is Mick Lynch plotting the first general strike in nearly 100 years? Fears over mass coordinated action to cripple UK as RMT chief assembles 'war cabinet' of union barons... as Britain braces for another week of walkouts Thousands of NHS patients stuck in hospitals will be moved to care home beds as part of government's emergency winter pressure package Hopes raised over averting this month's nurses' strike as union boss sees 'chink of optimism' with 'shift' in Rishi Sunak's position - after PM suggests he's willing to talk about pay Tight new restrictions on him limit social media use and religious participation He has blamed his violent threats and actions on a 'demon god' named Gary Court documents have revealed Pender is likely schizophrenic but refuses meds He also threatened to behead police and a magistrate and rape officers' wives Blake Pender jailed for terrorism, claimed to be preparing for martyrdom A would-be Aussie terrorist with severe mental health issues who threatened to behead police and rape their wives has been placed under some of the most extreme restrictions ever seen. Blake Pender, who spent four years in jail after telling a woman he was preparing for 'martyrdom', was placed on a three-year extended supervision order with 22 conditions - despite being in jail for breaching another supervision order. In 2018 the troubled Sydneysider was recorded in a phone call saying 'cops are gonna die, people are gonna die, it's going to be beautiful, I'm ready'. A would-be Aussie terrorist with severe mental health issues who threatened to behead police and rape their wives has been placed under some of the most extreme restrictions ever seen In June 2017, he was arrested for approaching Surry Hills police with a large knife and threatening them, at times yelling in a foreign language. Pender threatened to 'f***ing stab every one of you dogs in the throat' and claimed 'the proudest thing a man can do is behead a cop'. He also threatened to rape the wives of police. He was charged in January, 2018, for possessing material connected with terrorist acts and imprisoned to Silverwater jail. Pender later threatened to behead Magistrate Joanne Keogh when she refused to grant him bail. While in prison he mutilated himself with a knife in an attempt to look like fictional villain The Joker, whom he considered 'a powerful figure'. In late 2020 Pender was due for release but parole was denied because he was deemed 'too dangerous'. In 2018 Sydney man Pender was recorded in a call saying 'cops are gonna die, people are gonna die, it's going to be beautiful, I'm ready' Ten days before another hearing in April 2022, he bashed a prison officer who refused to lend him a radio clock. In October 2022 Pender was released, subject to interim supervision orders. But he was arrested just three weeks later for breaching the orders by creating a Facebook and LinkedIn account. He also downloaded an app used to learn languages. New restrictions were placed on him by the NSW Supreme Court in late December, including wearing an electronic tracking tag, reporting to police daily and restrictions on religious participation, the Sydney Morning Herald reported, He is also required to attend regular psychiatric appointments and have limited access to the internet and social media. The extended supervision orders imposed by the court will last a further three years. Now 31, Pender has flip-flopped between religions since his teens, including an extreme form of Christianity, Judaism and Islam in 2015, when he was reported to a terrorism hotline for his support of the Islamic State. The NSW Supreme Court heard Pender has schizophrenia but refuses medication and also had a substance use problem. He becomes drawn to extremism, making him a threat of committing crimes In a series of Facebook posts he threatened 'death to the police, the army and the people who support the Australian government'. He has a large crucifix tattooed under his right eye but court documents say his new plan is to become a rabbi. He has a long criminal record which includes intimidation, stalking, armed robbery, assault and beating a dog to death. Last January the NSW Supreme Court heard Pender blamed his violent behaviour on a 'demon-god' named Gary, that lives in his head. He consented to the supervision order and admitted he committed 'scumbag' acts. The court heard he is likely schizophrenic but refuses to take medication, leaving him at risk of committing ideologically-driven crimes because he becomes drawn to extremism. Court documents show Pender's mental health issues are also exacerbated by a 'substance abuse disorder'. He remains in custody after being refused bail and returns to court next week. The magistrate said in court that Dunne had an 'appalling history' drink driving Danika Rae Dunne, 27, struck the rider while intoxicated in Pinjarra, WA A young mother has avoided jail time after hitting a motorcyclist with her car A young mother with an 'appalling' drink-driving history has been spared prison time after getting behind the wheel drunk and slamming into a motorcycle rider. Danika Rae Dunne, 27, was driving a blue Holden Commodore along Murray Street in Pinjarra, Western Australia, when she failed to stop at a give way sign before hitting the rider on May 25, 2022. The rider was knocked off his bike and suffered a serious spinal injury as well as fractures to his knee, hands and feet, The West Australian reported. Dunne was charged with two offences including careless driving causing bodily harm. She faced Mandurah Magistrates Court on Friday and received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to the charges. Young mother Danika Rae Dunne (pictured), 27, was driving her Holden Commodore along Murray Street in Pinjarra, Western Australia, when she struck a motorcyclist after failing to stop at a give way sign Dunne was breath-tested by police at the crash site and had a blood alcohol reading of 0.082. The legal limit in Australia is 0.05. She also had a disqualified licence at the time of the crash. Her victim was transported to Royal Perth Hospital after he was struck. Dunne's lawyer Claire Hay said the collision was the 'wake-up call' the young woman required to 'get her life in order and prioritise her health and young daughter'. 'She has participated in alcohol and drug diversion programs and is currently seeing a psychologist, which she would like to continue,' she added. Ms Hay told the court Dunne had been diagnosed with frontal lobe syndrome - which affects an individual's decision-making, personality, emotions and judgement - following a car accident when she was young. Dunne, who was a disqualified driver at the time, was breath-tested by police at the crash site and had a blood alcohol reading of 0.082. Her victim suffered a serious spinal injury and fractures to his knee, hands and feet Magistrate Leanne Atkins said the young woman had an 'appalling history' of drink driving. Dunne received a suspended sentence and was disqualified from driving for another 15 months Magistrate Leanne Atkins acknowledged Dunne had an 'appalling history' of drink driving but ruled Dunne would only receive a suspended sentence. She was also disqualified from driving for another 15 months. 'This poor man has spinal injuries and multiple fractures because you didn't drive with the due care and attention you should have,' Ms Atkins said. 'The nature of the injuries means imprisonment is open and appropriate but hearing more on your background and steps taken in the right direction, I won't be going near that today.' Harry claimed he was not William's 'real' best man and that it was Prince Harry has claimed his role as best man for Prince William at the 2011 Royal Wedding was 'all for show' - sparking accusations he had his own secret best man. Friends of the warring brothers now suggest the Duke of Sussex may have employed the same strategy as his sibling for his own wedding in 2018. A source told The Mail on Sunday: There have long been rumours in Harrys circle that there was another best man, in secret. William was the public-facing best man but not the sole best man, nor the true best man in Harrys eyes. Harry had several ushers on his big day, including his fellow polo-player Jack Mann and his closest friend Charlie van Straubenzee, brother of Prince Williams best friend Thomas. Prince William and Prince Harry at the Duke of Sussex's wedding to Meghan Markle. Friends of Harry have now suggested there was 'another best man' other than William at the wedding Friends of the warring brothers have now said that Prince Harry similarly had 'another best man' hinting that his fellow polo-player Jack Mann took on the role of top Usher Prince William and his wife Kate on their wedding day on April 29, 2011, followed by Prince Harry and Kate's Maid of Honour and sister, Pippa Middleton. In his sensational tell-all Spare, Harry claimed he was forced to go along with his brother's 'bare-faced lie' that he was the best man Who is Jack Mann, Prince Harry's 'favoured usher'? Prince Harry befriended Jack Mann at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He is the son of Simon Mann, a SAS officer turned mercenary, who was jailed for five years for allegedly tried to overthrow the government in Equatorial Guinea in 2004. Harry's friend served with the British Arm for tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. After leaving the army he worked in Libya as a country manager for a UK security company called Aegis Defence Services. He went to create his own private security company in 2015 called Alma Risk. Advertisement Some friends believe it was an usher who acted as best man. According to one friend, Mr Mann has long been described by those close to him as Harrys favoured usher or best man. He had previously been referred to as Harry's so-called 'deputy best man' by a source who attended a lunch with the Duke, Mr van Straubenzee and his 'surrogate godfather' Mark Dyer in 2021 following Prince Phillip's funeral. Mr Mann recently appeared in the fourth episode of the Sussexes' Netflix documentary series Harry & Meghan, which revealed previously unseen pictures of their wedding receptions. The Duke and Mr Mann, who became friends while at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, were pictured among a group of men at Harry's wedding, as they partied at Frogmore House in Windsor Castle. Last month, Mr Mann was detained by security officials before travelling to war-torn Libya, being questioned by Maltese police who challenged his claim that he was on a mission to deliver medical training. Maltese police later confirmed to the Mail that they spoke to the passengers for clarification of the proposed activities in Libya and that no further action was taken. The former army member, said he and his colleagues, which included other former British soldiers, had been stopped at an airport in Malta, a Mediterranean Island around 223 miles north of Libya. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leaving Windsor Castle in the Ascot Landau carriage after their wedding at St George's Chapel on May 19 2019 Last week, Mr Mann was detained by security officials in war-torn Libya, being questioned by Maltese police who challenged his claim that he was on a mission to deliver medical training. Pictured: Prince Harry and Jack Mann at the Mann Audi Polo Challenge in Ascot, 2015 Mr Mann confirmed: We did not continue the journey from Malta [to Libya] on the advice of Maltese immigration to rectify our paperwork before travelling onwards. Jack Mann is the son of SAS officer turned mercenary Simon Mann (pictured) whose alleged bid to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea in 2004 led to a five-year stint behind bars 'The issue was resolved within five days and the United Nations has confirmed there was no breach of sanctions. 'They [Alma Risk] are free to deliver the training. I have visited Libya previously in my role as a private security consultant. ' Prince Harrys friend is also the son of SAS officer turned mercenary Simon Mann, whose alleged bid to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea in 2004 led to a five-year stint behind bars. Sir Mark Thatcher, the son of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, admitted unwittingly being a financier behind the attempted coup. He said he was misled by its organisers. Mr Mann, who is newly engaged, hosted the Duchess of Sussex for dinner parties at his West London home during the early days of her courtship with Harry. However, he is thought to have grown apart from Harry since the wedding. In Spare, the Prince explains that appearances can be deceptive at Royal weddings, revealing that it was a barefaced lie that he was Williams best man. Mr who is newly engaged, hosted the Duchess of Sussex for dinner parties at his West London home during the early days of her courtship with Harry Prince Harry sensationally claimed in book Spare that he was forced to go along with his brother's 'bare-faced lie' that he was the best man at his wedding in 2011 (pictured at Westminster Abbey above) Harry has also alleged that there was a fight between him and the Prince of Wales after he called Meghan Markle 'difficult', 'rude' and 'abrasive'. Pictured together after the Queen's death in September 2022 Prince William's close friends, Thomas Van Straubenzee (left) and James Meade (right), gave the traditional best man's speech at the couple's reception - rather than Prince Harry He said his brothers close friends James Meade and Thomas Van Straubenzee actually gave the traditional speech at the reception. He said: Willy didnt want me giving a best mans speech. At Harrys wedding, Meghan broke tradition by giving a fairy-tale-themed speech of her own, but it has never been reported that Prince William spoke at length and if he did, Harry does not describe him doing so in Spare. Instead, he says his brother ruined the seating plan at the evening dinner by swapping place cards on his table so that couples were seated apart, in the English tradition. It was Meghans preference that couples should be seated together. Harry also explains that William did not want to spend time with him the night before the ceremony and only attended a pre-wedding ushers dinner after the Queen intervened. Last night, Mr Mann said: Im not going to comment on anything to do with this. Mr Mann served with the British Army in Iraq and Afghanistan before setting up a private security company in 2015 called Alma Risk. Prior to this he worked in Libya as a country manager for a different UK security company, Aegis Defence Services. Alma Risks website says the company offers a diverse range of security and risk management services to corporate and private clients. In other claims amid the 557 pages of the memoir, the Prince told of how William was 'tipsy on last night's rum' just hours before he married Kate, while greeting members of the public who had gathered on the Mall by Buckingham Palace. Harry recalls that he said to his brother 'you smell of alcohol' before handing him mints as he lowered the window of the car. The remarks come amid his deeply personal war of words with William - who he accused of pushing him over onto a dog bowl during a blazing row at Nottingham Cottage in 2019. The fight allegedly broke out after William called Meghan 'difficult', 'rude' and 'abrasive'. In another alleged fight Harry claimed his brother 'lunged' at him and 'grabbed his shirt twice' in front of King Charles during a row over Harry and Meghan's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey. Harry said William used a secret code phrase about their mother Princess Diana during the fight following Prince Phillip's funeral. The California-based royal said Prince William was 'really steaming' and grasped at him as he tried to walk away from the fight. Harry claimed at the time he had been trying to address bullying allegations made by Meghan but said his father and brother 'weren't listening'. Prince Harry's highly anticipated memoir will be released in the UK on January 10, but copies have already leaked and the book was accidentally published early in Spain William allegedly 'grabbed him again' as he tried to walk away and 'twisted him' so they could maintain eye contact. It was then that William said their 'secret code' swearing on Princess Diana's life that his intentions were genuine. He writes that William said: 'Harold, you must listen to me! I just want you to be happy, Harold. I swear I swear on Mummy's life.' Harry continued: 'He stopped. I stopped. Pa stopped. He'd gone there. 'He'd 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.' The Duke claimed his brother 'wasn't quite ready to accept defeat' and claimed to be 'properly sick and ill' over the tensions between the pair. William allegedly reiterated: 'I swear to you now on Mummy's life that I just want you to be happy'. Harry has talked openly of wanting to reconcile with his father and his sibling, despite his extraordinary claims plunging the Royal Family into its worst crisis since the death of his mother in 1997. READ MORE EXCLUSIVE: Prince Harry's polo chum detained at airport in war-torn Libya after Maltese police challenged claim he was on mission to deliver medical training Prince William 'lunged at Harry, grabbed his shirt and used shocking secret code phrase about Diana' during row over Oprah Winfrey interview as the pair tried to hold peace talks in front of Charles moments after Prince Philip's funeral Prince Harry could be barred from the US and has put visa 'at risk' after his admission he has taken drugs A member of one of Australia's most controversial rap groups has been deported from the country after finishing his sentence for a violent brawl in pub. Salec 'Lekks' Sua, a founding member of the notorious Drill group OneFour, was jailed four-and-a-half years in 2019 after he and fellow members Pio 'YP' Misa and Dahcell 'Celly' Ramos, brutally bashed two men as they played the pokies at Rooty Hill's Carousel Inn in Sydney's west. The July 2018 incident was so grim one of the two victims said he 'wanted to die' during the attack. During his sentencing hearing, the court heard Sua had pulled a chair leg from underneath his clothes and struck another man three times, including twice to head. Salec 'Lekks' Sua (pictured), a founding member of the notorious Drill group OneFour, has been deported to New Zealand after completing a four-and-a-half-year jail sentence Sua was in 2019 jailed after he his fellow group members Pio 'YP' Misa and Dahcell 'Celly' Ramos brutally bashed two men as they played the pokies at Rooty Hill's Carousel Inn in Sydney's west (footage of the brawl pictured) Sua a former youth worker and one of the original rappers of the popular Mt Druitt-based group - claimed he was 'remorseful' and didn't want others to follow his path. Judge James Bennett said Sua 'was the instigator and was strenuously involved but was held back fortunately - for his sake - by the security guards'. Judge Bennet slammed the group's violence as 'extreme' and said the victim had suffered 'profound injuries'. Sua was joined behind bars by fellow rappers Misa - who was jailed for four years - and Ramos, who wielded the hammer used in the vicious attack and was jailed for 10 years. Sua had pulled a chair leg from underneath his clothes and struck another man three times, including two blows to head, during the 2018 violent pub brawl in Rooty Hill Drill is a subgenre of hip hop that focuses on street-life inspired lyrics which it's detractors say glorifies violence (OneFour pictured) WHAT IS DRILL MUSIC? 'Drill' music, a hip-hop subgenre, is driving feuding gang wars in Britain, community leaders have warned. Hundreds of videos on YouTube feature UK rappers threatening and provoking people from rival areas in London. To 'drill' means to fight or scrap and the violent lyrics focus on gang life, drugs, guns and killing. In one video viewed nearly three million times, rapper Digga D boasts about having to bleach his knife after using it to attack someone. In another, entitled 'Mummy's Kitchen', rappers Loski and Mayski, who are thought to be Londoners, boast about taking a blade from the family home. In the videos, which are filmed across the city, performers take care to ensure their faces are covered. In Australia the genre has been adopted by rap group OneFour, from Sydney's west. Advertisement Sua's visa was cancelled in June 2020 and he was eventually deported to New Zealand last year after his non-parole period was completed. He was moved to a detention centre in 2021 after being granted parole, where he remained up until he was returned to New Zealand by Australian Border Force. Sua's Instagram page shows footage posted last week of the group returning to the stage to play two concerts as part of New Zealand's Bay Dreams festival. Sua, as 'Lekks', posted a comment reading 'back in action'. Video posted to the OneFour Instagram page shows Sua embracing fellow OneFour member Spencer 'Spenny' Magologo with an emotional hug as they are reunited after four-and-a-half years. 'Welcome back my brother,' a comment by Magologo read. Drill has become the most controversial subgenre of hip hop, coming under fire from authorities across the globe for glorifying and inciting violence with street-life inspired lyrics. Fellow OneFour member Misa (YP), who was initially sentenced to four years, was released on parole last December, with Instagram photos showing him celebrating with a champagne tower. Ramos - whose lengthy sentence included a separate incident - will be eligible for parole in June 2023, after his sentence was reduced to a minimum of four years and nine months upon appeal. Remaining OneFour members J Emz and Spenny had continued to run the band while their mates were locked up, releasing debut EP 'Against All Odds' in 2020 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a 25-page report to refute claims she had bullied members of staff in the royal household. The Sussexes forcefully hit back at accusations that Meghan had driven two assistants out of their jobs with her behaviour, with staff accusing the Duchess of screaming at them and contacting them on their evenings off. The allegations, which were initially reported to human resources by Prince Harry and Prince Williams' joint press secretary, sparked a review by Buckingham Palace. Now Harry has used his new memoir, Spare, to rail against the claims, calling them a 'lie' and saying that he and Meghan provided a report 'full of evidence' to prove this. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at the long walk in Windsor Castle after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Harry has hit back at claims his wife bullied members of the royal household The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive with Prince William at a service to mark the centenary of the RAF at Westminster Abbey. Prince Harry says he and his wife produced a 25-page report refuting the bullying claims The final report by the Palace was kept private to protect those taking part, but Harry makes reference to it being part of a media agenda against him and his wife. The Telegraph reports he writes in a section of the book: 'It was so outrageous that even though Meg and I demonstrated their lie with a 25-page report to human resources full of evidence, it was going to be very hard for me to ignore it.' The claims were made in 2018 when press secretary Jason Knauf sent an email to his boss Simon Case claiming that the treatment of one member of staff by Meghan was 'totally unacceptable'. The Times reported told Case, who was Prince Williams' private secretary and is now cabinet secretary: 'I am very concerned that the Duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The treatment of X* was totally unacceptable.' He added: 'The Duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights. She is bullying Y and seeking to undermine her confidence. We have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behaviour towards Y.' Mr Knauf spent seven years working for the royal family, including spending time as the Princes' press officer, special adviser to William and Kate, and chief executive of the Royal Foundation. He was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in the New Years' Honours, something unlikely to have gone down well with the Sussexes. In his book, which was released in Spain nearly a week before its official publication date, Harry claims his wife was unfairly depicted as a 'tyrant'. Claims that Meghan Markle had bullied members of staff were made by Jason Knauf, former press officer to both Prince Harry and Prince William (pictured) The Duke of Sussex's memoir, titled Spare, is being released in the UK on January 10 The Duke claimed the personal offices of the princes made it easy for the press to attack them, and that when he tried to explain his point of view to William the conversation morphed into an argument about his interview with Oprah. In their Netflix documentary released in December, the Sussexes said claims Meghan had sometimes reduced royal staff to tears were part of a 'calculated smear campaign' in response to the interview. James Holt, executive director of Harry and Meghan's Archewell Foundation, told Netflix: 'The timing of the bullying story has even been admitted by the journalist that wrote it that it was done explicitly because of the Oprah interview.' Valentine Low, who broke the story for the Times, said the victims of the alleged bullying 'wanted to get their story out before the Oprah interview' otherwise 'their complaints would be lost in the noise'. In an interview to publicise his memoir, Harry told CBS's Anderson Cooper he believed people with the Palace had been 'betraying' him and his wife by 'planting stories' about them in the press. In a teaser for the interview, which will air tonight in the United States, the Duke of Sussex defended himself from public criticism of their decision to publicly blast the royal family. He insisted he has 'tried to do this privately' but that 'every single time I've tried to do it privately, there have been briefings and leakings and planting of stories against me and my wife'. In the memoir Harry claims while discussing the Oprah interview his brother 'lunged' at him and grabbed his shirt, before invoking the memory of their mother, Diana. The Duke said William got heated during a walk after the funeral of their grandfather, Prince Philip, in April 2021. Harry claims was trying to address bullying allegations made against Meghan, but his father and brother 'weren't listening.' The dispute broke out as Harry, William and Charles were reportedly discussing the interview he and Meghan Markle gave to Oprah the month before. The Sussexes are picture during the interview In an extraordinary excerpt from his upcoming autobiography Spare, Harry recalls what he describes as a physical attack by his sibling, now the Prince of Wales, which he claims left him with visible injuries The California-based royal went on to allege that William was 'really steaming' and grasped at him as he tried to walk away. 'I waved a hand, disgusted, but he lunged, grabbed my shirt. 'Listen to me, Harold,'' Harry wrote in his book, according to The Sun. 'I pulled away, refused to meet his gaze. He forced me to look into his eyes. 'Listen to me, Harold, listen! I love you, Harold! I want you to be happy.'' Harry claims he replied: 'I love you toobut your stubbornness is extraordinary!' The Duke reportedly tried to pull away, but William allegedly 'grabbed him again' and 'twisted him' so the pair could maintain eye contact. William then evoked the brother's so-called 'secret code' and swore on Princess Diana's life that his intentions were genuine, Harry penned. He writes that William said: 'Harold, you must listen to me! I just want you to be happy, Harold. I swear I swear on Mummy's life.' Harry continued: 'He stopped. I stopped. Pa stopped. He'd gone there. 'He'd 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.' The Duke claimed his brother 'wasn't quite ready to accept defeat' and claimed to be 'properly sick and ill' over the tensions between the pair. William allegedly reiterated: 'I swear to you now on Mummy's life that I just want you to be happy'. Harry claims his 'voice broke' and he 'softly' told William: 'I really don't think you do.' The elder brother then allegedly hugged Harry and said: 'I love you'. MailOnline has approached representatives for William and Harry for comment. Five people have been found dead - including three children - at a residential home in North Carolina in what police believe was a murder-suicide. Police found the bodies at the home in High Point at 7am on Saturday morning - after responding to reports of two people screaming for help while running down the street. High Point Police Capt. Matt Truitt told local news that there were two adults, who haven't been identified, 'running down the street ... screaming that they needed help,' minutes before the five bodies were uncovered. Authorities then searched 2734 Mossy Meadow Drive and found two adults and three children deceased. It's unclear how old the children were. Police found five people dead at the home in North Carolina just after 7am on Saturday Investigators believe that the tragedy was a murder suicide The 'screaming' pair - who are believed to have also been in the property but escaped the tragedy - have been questioned and released by investigators. Police confirmed that there is no other threat to the community. Truitt said: 'Officers did force entry into the home and went through the home in what we call a protective sweep, to check for victims and anyone in the home. 'They ended up locating three juveniles that were deceased and two adults that were deceased.' According to Truitt, that there were in fact four adults at the house when the ordeal occurred - however two escaped and then attempted to get help. One neighbor, who called the police after the two adults woke her up by ringing on her doorbell, told WFMY: 'I was just like that's never happened here in like for it to just happened in my house especially it's like oh my God, what do I do? 'I just decided to call 911 because I was like I'll just leave it up to them because I don't want to put my life on my family's life at risk.' Shellie Macmillian, who lives around the corner from the scene, said that her son saw police swarming the area just after 8am: 'He's asking, he was like what is going on? 'I feel like maybe later on today, at the right time, I will let him know. 'Because I do want him aware of what's going on in our neighborhood so we are going to sit down and just let him know what happened here.' Authorities searched 2734 Mossy Meadow Drive (pictured) and found two adults and three children deceased. It's unclear how old the children were Do you know this man? Get in touch and email claudia.aoraha@mailonline.com A customer fatally shot a robber in the head after he held up a Texas restaurant with a fake gun - and police are now searching for the vigilante who helped get the stolen money back to the patrons. The robber, believed to be in his 20s, entered Ranchito #4 Taqueria in southwest Houston on Thursday night wearing a black ski mask and gloves before ambushing 10 customers and demanding their money at gunpoint. Footage shows the shouting man wave what is believed to be a pistol around the restaurant, while customers drop to the ground and hand over their belongings. But as the man headed towards the door, one of the patrons - described by police as either white or Hispanic - produced his own gun and shot the robber. He fired nine times - one of which was in the head - causing him to collapse to the ground. The customer, wearing a grey t-shirt and jeans, then collected the stolen money and cellphones and started handing it back to the people they were taken from. Police have not filed any charges and just want to speak to the customer in the clip. The customer shot the robber, seen in the red ring, after he entered Ranchito #4 Taqueria and demanded people's money and cellphones at gunpoint. Police believe that the masked robber was actually using a fake gun Police now want to speak to this customer, described by cops as either white or Hispanic, who stood up and shot the robber as he was leaving the restaurant in Houston The customer - seen sitting down with his gun raised - shot the man at least nine times after his robbery The 'gunman' who entered the shop waving his pistol and shouting, was taking money and cellphones from patrons before one customer stood up and shot him Pedro Lopez, owner of the taqueria, said he and his employees are still in shock but he is glad that his staff and customers were unharmed in the shooting Self defense or excessive force: Will the shooter face charges? In Texas, people are allowed to use fatal force when they believe their life or another party's life is in immediate danger. Experts say that Texas law also outlines specific instances for aggravated robbery where deadly force is completely justified. In this case, where the person he shot was in the process of committing an 'armed' robbery, the customer's use of deadly force in self defense is allowed. He would have also reasonably been in fear of serious bodily injury or death, believing the robber had a gun. The defense can be used as a defense to homicide charges. It is legal to kill someone in self defense in Texas if: 1. You reasonably believe that there is an imminent danger of you or someone else being seriously injured or killed. 2. Your use of deadly force was necessary and appropriate at the time you used it. Advertisement He then fled the scene in a dusty pickup truck at around 11:30pm on January 5, along with the other customers in the taqueria on South Gessner Road. Investigators say that they want to track down to the pictured man for his role in the shooting - and that no charges have been filed yet. The identity of the robber has not yet been released - but police believe the gun he was waving around the restaurant may have been a plastic BB gun. HPD Homicide Division Sergeants M. Arrington, C. Duncan and Detectives S. Overstreet and L. Lovelace said in a report: 'Officers were dispatched to a shooting call at the restaurant at the above address and observed an unknown black male in all black clothing, a black ski mask, and black gloves had been shot multiple times inside the business. 'Paramedics pronounced him deceased. Witnesses told officers the suspect entered the restaurant and pointed a pistol at patrons as he demanded their money. 'As the suspect collected money from patrons, one of the patrons, described as a white or Hispanic male, produced a gun of his own and shot the suspect multiple times. 'The shooter collected the stolen money from the suspect and returned the money to other patrons. He and other patrons (victims) then fled the scene.' Pedro Lopez, owner of the taqueria, said he and his employees are still in shock. He told ABC13: 'Everyone was scared, nervous. I was too. Some customers were seated here, others were over there, he go the money and was going to leave 'You never really know what is going to happen.' Cops have also released an image of the vehicle that the man who killed the robber fled the scene in. The man's vehicle is a 1970s or '80s model pickup truck with no bed in a rusty-red color. Cops are hoping that this may lead them to the man they are wishing to speak to. The 'gunman' heads towards the door - before he himself is shot by a customer It is a 1970s or '80s model pickup truck with no bed in a rusty-red color. Cops are hoping that this may lead them to the man they are wishing to speak to. Experts believe that the customer will most likely not face charges - as his use of excessive, deadly force was justified considering the circumstances. Former Houston police officer, now lawyer, Thomas Nixon said: 'The person he shot was in the process of committing robbery and consequently his use of force in defense of himself and innocent third parties is completely justified in Texas. 'He was reasonably in fear of serious bodily injury or death.' Nathan Beedle with the Harris County District Attorney's Office believes that the shooting was justified, adding: 'I can point you exactly where it is in the law, 9.31 and 9.32 of the penal code. 'Whether someone uses deadly force in the situation, that is presumed to be correct under Texas law.' Texas has some of the most permissive gun laws in the US. Residents and non-residents over the age of 21 are allowed to carry a handgun - either openly or concealed - in most places in the state. This does not include people who have any prior felony convictions. Since September 2021, Texans do not need a permit to opening carry a handgun in the state. The fatal shooting occurred at Ranchito #4 Taqueria in southwest Houston, Texas Police have not revealed the identity of the deceased robber Police arrived at the scene on January 5 after the fatal shooting Neighbours to 'Britain's biggest man cave' have raised questions over the future of the 10,000sq ft extension as removal vans were spotted outside the Gloucestershire home on Friday. Accountant Graham Wildin, 70, was sent to prison in August 2022 for six weeks after failing to comply with a court order to demolish an illegal annexe. Mr Wildin installed a bowling alley, cinema, casino and bar in a large extension behind his home without planning permission from 2014. Given 18 weeks from release to comply with another court order to make the leisure complex unusable by 6 January 2023, removal vans arrived on Friday. Removal vans were sighted near the 10,000sq ft annexe in Gloucestershire on Friday Mr Wildin was jailed after building 'Britain's largest man cave' without planning permission Accountant Mr Wildin built a 10,000sq ft complex behind his home (pictured) in 2014 The Forest of Dean District Council obtained an injunction against Mr Wildin in November 2018 and gave him until 25 April 2020 to remove the illegal leisure building. Mr Wildin said that demolishing the man cave would ruin him, costing an estimated 720,000, and was later jailed. The accountant and grandfather served around half the six week sentence imposed in August 2022, and was given a further 18 weeks to 'soft strip' the interior of the man cave, rendering it unusable. The window ended on Friday 6 January 2023, when neighbours saw removal vans on his driveway. 'In what should have been a completely avoidable situation, Mr Wildin has continually ignored planning law and policies that are there to protect local communities,' said Cllr Paul Hiett, Deputy Leader of Forest of Dean Council Mr Wildin appealed the ruling of contempt of court for non compliance with his injunction Locals say removal vans had been around the house for a few weeks, loaded with property -- but remain cynical as to whether the cave will be fully demolished. An anonymous neighbour said: 'He's got a couple of white vans there, and we think he's been putting stuff in them. 'He loads some items into them, they've not moved at all in that long, but we are under the impression that as soon as the council comes to check if the interiors of the building have been stripped - he's gunna put everything back in again.' They added: 'He thinks he's being clever - but he's not that clever. We can see everything he does. 'He's had people there working, so I think they're probably clearing it out for him into the vans. 'A lot has been going on there this week but he's had 18 weeks to do this so I'm assuming something is being done.' 'I don't expect the council will turn up today. They usually leave it a few days, but I expect when they do sometime next week he'll just replace it all.' Another local resident said that they had 'no idea' what he was doing in there but they had seen people entering and exiting Wildin's gated 'mansion'. Mr Wildin said it would cost him 720,000 to demolish the leisure complex entirely One neighbour who lives on the same road in Gloucestershire said: 'He's upset everybody on this road by flouting planning rules and then parking his collection of classic cars everywhere' Council officials have vowed to continue the planning battle to get rid of the complex which once contained a cinema, squash court, bowling alley and casino. But they might need to wait for the outcome of another court hearing in Spring before deciding the next move. Mr Wildin has appealed against the judge's decision to jail him for not complying with the court's instructions. At the court hearing Mr Wildin claimed he had done as much as he could but the council produced photographs to prove he hadn't fully complied. His appeal against the jail sentence will be heard by the Court of Appeal on March 1, 2023. His appeal against the judge's decision to proceed with the hearing on 12 August and award the council 10,000 costs has already been refused by the Court of Appeal. The Forest of Dean District Council has made it clear it is not intending to drop the planning row over the leisure centre at Meendhurst Road. A council spokesperson said: 'This is an ongoing legal matter and the council will continue to pursue it.' A New Jersey woman who pleaded guilty to helping her boyfriend spread a feel-good story about a homeless veteran that garnered more than $400,000 in online donations has been sentenced to three years in prison on state theft charges. Burlington County prosecutors confirmed Katelyn McClure, 32, wasn't present in the Mount Holly courtroom on Friday because she is already serving a one-year federal term in the case. Her state prison term will run concurrently and the former transportation department worker will be barred from ever working again as a New Jersey public employee, as she formerly worked for the state's Department of Transportation. Prosecutors said McClure and her then-boyfriend, Mark D'Amico, came up with the good Samaritan story in November 2017, claiming that homeless veteran Johnny Bobbitt Jr. had given his last $20 to McClure when her car ran out of gas on an interstate exit ramp in Philadelphia. The three conducted newspaper and television interviews and solicited donations, ostensibly to help Bobbitt, through a GoFundMe campaign they named 'Paying It Forward,' prosecutors said. Katelyn McClure, 32, was sentenced to three years for her role in a homeless veteran Go-Fund-Me scam that collected more than $400,000 in online donations A GoFundMe campaign called 'Paying it Forward' was created in November 2017 to help financially support Johnny Bobbitt Jr. (right), who was said to have given McClure his last $20 for gas at a station in Philadelphia The campaign was found to be a scheme after a lawsuit was filed by Bobbitt, left, against the couple. The homeless man claimed he had only received a small amount of the $400,000 hefty fund. Pictured: Bobbitt, McClure and her then-boyfriend Mark D'Amico, 42, at a Citgo Station in Philadelphia Prosecutors added that the campaign raised more than $400,000 from about 14,000 donors in about a month and at the time was the largest fraud perpetrated through the crowdfunding platform. Authorities began investigating after Bobbitt sued the couple, accusing them of not giving him the money. He was not made aware of the scheme until the couple told him after the campaign had raised $1,700. An account was opened for Bobbitt by the couple in December 2017 with $25,000 being deposited. Bobbitt's lawyer said his client had only received $75,000 of the funds as well as a camper and a 19-year-old pickup truck. Both McClure and D'Amico initially denied these claims, however, and said that they did not want to give Bobbitt a larger sum as they feared he would spend the money on drugs. D'Amico pleaded guilty in December 2019 - a little more than two years after co-creating the scheme - and was sentenced to five years in state prison, a term also running concurrently with an earlier federal term Prosecutors said Bobbitt also conspired with McClure and D'Amico though he only received $75,000 of the funds, meaning roughly 19 percent of $400,000 McClure spent most of the $400,000 raised on a lavish BMW, expensive clothing and handbags, as well as trips to casinos in Las Vegas and New Jersey. She is now obliged to reimburse GoFundMe D'Amico had said that Bobbitt previously spent $25,000 in less than two weeks on drugs, in addition to paying overdue legal bills and sending money to his family. The couple, however, was forced to hand over the remaining funds after the lawsuit was filed by Bobbitt in August 2018, Their home was also raided by investigators after they obtained a search warrant and hauled away the couple's expensive purchases. Authorities eventually determined that all of the money was spent by March 2018, with large chunks spent by McClure and DAmico on a BMW, costly clothing and handbags, and trips to casinos in Las Vegas and New Jersey. DAmico, 43, pleaded guilty in December 2019 and was sentenced to five years in state prison, a term also running concurrently with an earlier federal term. He and McClure have both been ordered to fully reimburse GoFundMe. Bobbitt was sentenced to probationary federal and state terms. Britain faces another week of weather misery after rivers burst their banks across the country today. Met Office forecasters issued a yellow weather rain warning for 6am to 8pm on Tuesday, saying homes and businesses would likely be flooded and power supplies face 'some interruption. The warning covers swathes of north and south Wales, along with parts of north west England, including Manchester. And the Government has now issued 30 flood warnings, meaning flooding was 'expected', and 66 alerts, meaning it was 'possible', across England. York: The River Ouse has broken its banks again this morning in York city centre Shrewsbury: A partially submerged Frankwell car park in Shrewsbury, which has been closed due to it's proximity to the river Severn Buckinghamshire: Vehicles drive underneath a railway bridge through floodwater during rainy weather in Taplow Met Office forecasters issued a yellow weather rain warning for 6am to 8pm on Tuesday, saying homes and businesses would likely be flooded and power supplies face 'some interruption The Met Office said: 'Outbreaks of rain will spread across England and Wales during Tuesday. 'This will be heaviest and most persistent across parts of northwest England, particularly over higher ground. 'Rainfall totals of 60-80 mm could accumulate over parts of Cumbria.' The Met Office also warned that parts of Snowdonia could see 100mm of rain on Tuesday. Forecasters say that today's miserable conditions are down to 'heavy blustery showers' moving in from the west 'with the odd rumble of thunder at times'. 'There is more to come this afternoon,' forecasters wrote on Twitter. It comes as the River Ouse broke its banks again this morning in York city centre, flooding riverside roads and pathways. And a partially submerged Frankwell car park was pictured in Shrewsbury, which has been closed due to its proximity to the river Severn. Tomorrow, Britons can expect slightly more positive weather with drier conditions and less brutal winds and rain expected - ahead of Tuesday's washout. Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were murdered at a University of Idaho home on November 13 According to two of his high school friends, Bryan Kohberger wanted to get sober and used his criminology studies to help him understand humans The Idaho murder suspect used to get tormented in school and and was a self-destructive overweight heroin addict in the years before the horrific slayings, according to his old classmates. Bryan Kohberger, 28, was bullied and dropped 100 pounds in his senior year of high school before taking up hard drugs, two of his former friends have revealed. PhD student Kohberger is currently charged with the quadruple murders of Idaho students Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves - who were found dead in a college home on November 13. Details about the suspect's past are now coming to light - including that he was a 'secluded' person who used his criminology studies to 'try to understand humans and understand himself.' Kohberger 'stalked' the house of his four victims on twelve occasions before killing them, evidence seems to suggest Casey Arntz, who was friends with Kohberger, has revealed what he was like at school Kohberger lost 100 pounds in high school, and was previously bullied, according to his former friends Two of his high school friends, Casey Arntz and Bree, who asked to have her last name kept private, said Kohberger was overweight and was bullied in school. The suspected Idaho killer shed nearly 100 pounds in his senior year after being the brunt of his classmates' jokes - which was when people noticed a switch in him. Arntz told CBS' 48 Hours: 'He was rail thin. It was after that weight loss that a lot of people noticed a huge switch.' After losing the weight, it was Kohberger who started bullying Arntz' brother - putting him in chokeholds and getting physically aggressive with him. Bree said that 'self-destructive' Kohberger started also using heroin. She added: 'You just saw him becoming more self-destructive. He really stayed secluded.' In the years after high school, the suspect seemed to be getting his life back on track, and would tell Bree that he was 'going to be better.' Kohberger, 28, is accused of murdering Maddie Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin on November 13 in the quiet, college town of Moscow, Idaho Bree (pictured) said that 'self-destructive' Kohberger started also using heroin. She added: 'You just saw him becoming more self-destructive. He really stayed secluded' She revealed: 'He was telling me that he wanted to get sober, that he was getting sober. And he wanted to let me know, 'I'm gonna do better. I'm gonna be better.'' Both of the women last saw Kohberger at a friend's wedding in 2017 - where they said he looked 'good' and seemed to have a new lease of life. Arntz said: 'I gave him a hug and I said, 'You look so good. I'm so proud of you.'' And Bree said that his new focus on his criminology studies: 'His goal was just to change the world for the good around him. He wanted to do something that impacted people in a good way. 'People were not his strong suit. she added, 'And I think through his criminology studies, he was really trying to understand humans and trying and understand himself.' The suspect is believed to have driven some 2,300 miles from Moscow to Pennsylvania. He was attending college in nearby Washington State Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November, smiles in court on January 5, 2022 after being denied bail Speaking about Kohberger allegedly being the Idaho killer, Arntz said: 'I honestly think he did it because he wants to see if he can get away with it. Where did it go wrong? What happenedwhy didnt I see it?' Damning evidence from a newly-unsealed affidavit this week showed how police were able to link Kohberger to the crime scene - after he allegedly 'stalked' the college home twelve times before the murders, and also returned to the crime scene five hours later. Kohberger lived eight miles from the murder scene in Moscow, Idaho, and drove the white Hyundai Elantra cops were looking to trace. And with the help of genetic genealogy, cell phone data, CCTV footage, and evidence left at the crime scene, they were able to hunt down their suspect and charge him with the quadruple murder. The affidavit recounts the moments Moscow Police Officer Brett Payne entered the home on Kings Street and found the four college students brutally stabbed to death. If convicted, Kohberger is facing the death penalty for the murders of Idaho students Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20, and best friends Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21. Kohberger was arrested by the Pennsylvania State Police at a home in Albrightsville, a small town in the heart of the Poconos Mountains on December 30 -more than 2,000 miles from where the gruesome killings took place. After the November 13 murders, Kohberger and his father, Michael, drove 2,500 miles in a white Hyundai Elantra from Idaho to Pennsylvania. On November 29, police obtained surveillance footage from the parking lot of Kohberger's apartment building, some 10 miles from the murder scene, in Pullman, Washington State. Kohberger now faces the death penalty, if he is found guilty or admits killing the four students Moscow Police officers visited the parking lot to obtain a license plate for the vehicle - as it matched the description of the car they saw on footage the night the students were killed. They ran a search, and found multiple incidents in which the car and its owner - Bryan Kohberger - had been pulled over multiple times in the past. With Kohberger's name, police honed in on him and reviewed historic surveillance camera footage, along with phone records, going back several months. Then following their initial suspicions, Kohberger was pulled over over twice as he passed through Indiana on December 15 - once for speeding and the other for following a car ahead too closely. Cellphone tower data also seemed to link him to the crime scene - as well as a single male DNA left on a knife sheath next to two of the dead victims at the home in Moscow, Idaho. Not even Democrats are sure about Joe Biden's plan to tackle migration as the president prepares for his first-ever trip to the southern border just days after unveiling a scheme that includes flying in 30,000 migrants every month. Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Nanette Diaz Barragan praised the administration's new legal pathways for citizenship in her first major statement in her new role. Meanwhile, former CHC Chair Joaquin Castro released his own statement condemning Biden's plan specifically the part where Title 42 expulsion policies will remain in use. Biden, for the first time, delivered a speech Thursday dedicated solely to how his administration will tackle the migration crisis at the southern border. The remarks, and his impending visit on Sunday afternoon, comes after two years of Republicans demanding that the president do something to help struggling border communities. Texas GOP Congressman Dan Crenshaw said Sunday morning that Biden's Title 42 reform is 'virtue signaling' but told CNN's State of the Union host Jake Tapper that he is 'open' to working with Democrats when it comes to border policies. The president's plan includes allowing 30,000 Haitian, Cuban, Venezuelan and Nicaraguan asylum-seekers into the U.S. every month, but also expands Trump-era Title 42, which allows for the immediate deportation of asylum-seekers due to public health concerns. Democrats are split over President Joe Biden's plan to tackle the migrant crisis, which includes expanding Title 42 while allowing 30,000 migrants every month to legally enter the U.S. through the air and at ports of entry if they pre-register their asylum claims using a cell phone app Migrants camping on the streets in El Paso, Texas were cleared out ahead of Biden's first-ever trip to the border on Sunday. Pictured: A Venezuelan flag hangs outside the Sacred Heart Church in downtown El Paso on Saturday, January 7 where migrants camp out after illegally crossing the border 'I am deeply disappointed to see the Biden administration extending failed Trump-era immigration policies that exacerbate chaos and irregular migration at the Southern border,' Castro said in a statement Friday. The Texas lawmaker says he 'appreciates' Biden expanding the legal pathway for migrants, but took aim at the transit ban and parole requirements, claiming it is 'willfully dismissive of the realities facing asylum seekers.' On the other hand, Barragan sent a carefully-balanced statement saying: 'As a nation of immigrants, we must have a humane, efficient, and professional immigration system that reflects our American values.' 'The Congressional Hispanic Caucus welcomes the Administration's efforts to expand legal pathways for refugees and asylum seekers but is disappointed with the expansion of the failed Trump-era Title 42 policy that has denied asylum seekers their rights to due process for far too long,' the California lawmaker added. Biden is following-up his plans with a trip to the border in El Paso, Texas on Sunday. Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott thinks it's is too little, too late and speculated that the move could just be a 'photo-op stunt.' Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan, the new Congressional Hispanic Caucus chairwoman, said in her first major statement in the new role that the U.S. 'must have a humane, efficient, and professional immigration system' 'Two years later after swearing an oath to uphold the laws of our nation, it's about time that President Biden visits the southern border and addresses the crisis he created,' Abbott said in a statement provided to DailyMail.com 'However, if he's planning on simply doing a photo-op stunt like Border Czar Harris and turning a blind eye to the suffering of Texans, he should stay in D.C.,' he continued. 'If President Biden is truly interested in helping border communities and stopping the historic flow of illegal immigration that he caused, he must see firsthand the unabated illegal border crossings resulting from his open border policies that are plaguing border communities.' Biden's migration plan hopes to crack-down illegal migration at the border in exchange for expanding legal pathways of entry. Some Democrats, however, feel the plan aligns too closely to former President Donald Trump's policies while many Republicans say the new plans don't go far enough to remedy the years-long crisis. The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) even called on Biden to 'reconsider this proposal.' CPC Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal and CPC Immigration Task Force Chairman Jesus Garcia, also a member of the CHC, put out a statement taking a more forceful tone than Barragan. 'However, the new Department of Homeland Security proposal also includes expanding the use of Title 42, a public health law weaponized by Donald Trump to deny legal rights to asylum seekers, as well as potential regulations that would restrict the legal right to seek asylum. That is unacceptable,' the two representatives wrote. A crowd is gathering at Trafalgar Square in central London this afternoon in solidarity with anti-government protests in Iran. Hundreds of protesters marched through central London from Marble Arch and have set up a stage beside Nelson's Column, draped in pre-revolutionary Iranian flags. Protests have been mounting in and outside of Iran since a 22-year-old Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, died in police custody in Tehran in September 2022 after being arrested for allegedly violating strict hijab rules. 8 January 2023 also marks the third anniversary of the shooting down of civilian passenger jet Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran amid tensions between Iran and the United States. Protesters shelter from the rain under pre-revolutionary Iranian flags, changed in 1980 Mahsa Amini died in hospital in Tehran after her arrest by Iranian police for violating hijab rules Protestors are seen in London waving flags of Iran used before the Islamic Revolution of 1979 Protester calling for Reza Shah II for Iran, referring to the secular Pahlavi dynasty (1925-79) On Friday, two more men were executed by the Iranian regime, officially convicted of allegedly killing a paramilitary volunteer during a demonstration. Activists in Iran claim at least 517 have been killed and over 19,200 arrested since the unrest began. In recent weeks, Iran has increased resistance to a global protest movement, triggered by the death of Ms Amini in September 2022. Despite reports that the 'morality police' - or Guidance Patrols - had stopped patrols and hijab enforcement in December 2022, police officials in Iran last week confirmed that morality police would enforce a new scheme for hijab wearing. In the year to March 2014 - the last with data available - patrols stopped nearly three million women for not wearing their hijab in line with regulations. Protesters gather at Marble Arch in central London before they march to Trafalgar Square Protesters rally against the crackdown on women's rights in Iran, in Perth, on 8 January 2023 Protests in Bonn yesterday to mark the third anniversary of the downing of Flight PS752 Global protests were sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, from Kurdistan, who was arrested by the morality police in Tehran saying she was not wearing her hijab correctly Protesters gather at Marble Arch in central London before they march to Trafalgar Square Mahsa Amini went into a coma after being arrested in Tehran and died in hospital on 16 September 2022. The Islamic Republics officials told media that Amini suffered a heart attack while detained by 'morality police', denying reports she had been beaten. Iranian rights activists have urged women to publicly remove their veils, risking arrest for defying the Islamic dress code. Protesters in London were today seen waving the pre-revolutionary Iranian flag and calling for the Mashroote Constitution and Reza Shah II for Iran. The Mashroote Constitution refers to the Persian Constitutional Revolution in English, a revolution in Iran between 1905 and 1911 that created a parliament in then Persia. Reza Shah II refers to the son of Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the head of state between 1925 and 1979 who was responsible for number of liberalising reforms. In 1979, the Shah was deposed by Ayatollah Khomeini and Iran was declared an Islamic Republic. The first modern 'morality police' units were developed in Saudi Arabia in 1926, and similar squads tasked with enforcing dress codes and prayer attendance have emerged worldwide since. Iran adopted its own 'morality police' after the arrival 1979 revolution to clamp down on deemed inappropriate behaviour after a period of secularisation through the mid-20th century. Protesters pose in mock gallows as they gather in central London on Sunday 8 January 2023 Protesters wave flags on the third anniversary of the downing of Ukrainian passenger jet, flight PS752, by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shortly after it's takeoff from Tehran Protesters seen gathering at Muenster square in Bonn, Germany, yesterday afternoon President Joe Biden arrived in El Paso, Texas, on Sunday afternoon to make make his first visit to the border as president to see for himself the biggest crisis facing his administration. But the White House schedule says he will spend just three hours on the ground much to the frustration of border agents who say they have waited two years for a chance to show him the problems they face. And officials admitted that he is arriving too late to see the worst of the problems, after numbers of people crossing the border dropped by a third from last month. Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, which represents 18,000 agents, said it was too little, too late. 'You're barely from wheels down to wheels up there three hours,' he told DailyMail.com. 'You're barely going to get the scope of what is happening.' President Joe Biden arrived in El Paso, Texas, on Sunday, making his first visit to the border as president to see for himself the scale of the crisis He flew with first lady Jill from his Delaware home to Joint Base Andrews, where she said goodbye. She is traveling separately to Mexico City, when her husband is attending a summit He said his members had waited two years for a chance to explain to the president that the surge in illegal crossings meant they spent all their time on paperwork rather than protecting the border from drug smugglers and criminals. Locals say Biden will not even see the worst of the problems they face, after border agents cleared out migrant camps. En route to El Paso, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the number of people crossing the border had also dropped from its December peak. 'The number of people attempting to cross the border unlawfully in El Paso is now down by over 70 percent And that has been since mid December,' she said. In the run-up to the visit, Biden said it was vital to expand legal immigration while limiting illegal immigration. 'Our border communities represent the best of our nations generosity and were going to get them more support while expanding legal pathways for orderly immigration and limiting illegal immigration,' he tweeted on Sunday. The end of the year brought a surge in migrant arrivals to coincide with what was expected to be the end of Title 42, and its tough restrictions. El Paso declared an emergency But on Saturday, the same streets had no sign of the migrants who had camped there Border agents' union were dismissive of the visit to a cleaned-up El Paso in a Friday tweet The Texas National Guard deployed along the border in El Paso at the end of last year. They are still there and have set up two miles of extra fencing with razor wire Officials say their presence has forced migrants away from El Paso as they look to cross into the U.S. from Mexico, although numbers have dwindled anyway as they always do in January BIDEN'S PLAN TO ADDRESS HISTORIC MIGRANT CRISIS Accept 30,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela every month Can come to the U.S. for two years if they are sponsored, have background checks and receive work authorization Expel migrants from those countries who try to cross the border illegally and impose a five-year ban on reentry Individuals from Mexico and Panama will not be eligible for parole in the U.S. Mexico has agreed to accept 30,000 expelled migrants a month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela Welcome 20,000 refugees from Latin America and Caribbean nations in 2023 and 2024 Migrants will have to set up an appointment using a cell phone app for appointments at border entry points U.S. giving $23 million in humanitarian assistance to Mexico and Central America Increasing funding available to border cities and those receiving an influx of migrants Advertisement Border officials detained a record 2.2 million migrants in the last full fiscal year. And the issue has been used by Republicans to attack Biden throughout his presidency, accusing him of opening the country's borders. Biden on Thursday launched plans to block Cuban, Haitian and Nicaraguan migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, expanding the nationalities of migrants who can be sent back to Mexico. Combined with the visit to El Paso, one of the crossing hotspots, supporters say it demonstrates that he is serious about tackling the problem. Some opponents have grudgingly conceded the benefits of the trip. John Cornyn, one of the state's two Republican senators, said: 'He must take the time to learn from some of the experts I rely on the most, including local officials and law enforcement, landowners, nonprofits, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's officers and agents, and folks who make their livelihoods in border communities on the front lines of his crisis.' But Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, said it was nothing more than a publicity stunt. 'Since day one of his presidency, Joe Biden has put drug smugglers and human traffickers before American families, allowing deadly fentanyl to pour across the border, and abandoned our brave Border Patrol agents,' she said. 'Simply put: Biden's visit is nothing more than a photo op.' The visit attracted controversy even before it began when it emerged last week that city authorities had begun clearing migrant camps Areas that had once teemed with illegal arrivals around the Greyhound Bus station were eerily quiet on Saturday, a day before Biden's visit. 'I think they're trying to send a message that they're going to more consistently check people's documented status, and if you have not been processed they are going to pick you up,' Ruben Garcia of the Annunciation House aid group told the Associated Press. This is what Biden would have seen in mid-December when crowds crossed the Rio Grande river that separates the two countries and handed themselves in to border patrols Migrant crossings at the southwest border have increased significantly in 2022 Biden is due to visit the El Paso County Migrant Services Center and meet with nonprofits and religious groups that support migrants arriving to the U.S. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said: 'The president's very much looking forward to seeing for himself firsthand what the border security situation looks like. 'This is something that he wanted to see for himself.' On Thursday Biden announced he was expanding Trump-era restrictions to rapidly expel Cuban, Haitian, and Nicaraguan migrants caught illegally crossing the southern border. Instead, the U.S. will accept 30,000 people per month from those three countries, as well as Venezuela, so long as they arrive legally. It represents an attempt both to head off Republican criticism that it has allowed record numbers to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, and to address concerns from within the Democratic Party that Biden has been too slow to shake off Trump-era restrictions that prevent those in need from seeking asylum. The administration is preparing for the end of Title 42, a public health regulation that allows the expulsion of migrants before they can claim asylum in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Yet the proposals immediately triggered anger on both sides, with Republicans saying it was too little, too late and some Democrats saying it expanded restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump. Even in announcing the plan, Biden acknowledged that it was far from perfect. 'The actions we're announcing today will make things better ... will make things better but will not fix the border problem completely,' he said. After El Paso, Biden flies on to Mexico City, where will meet with the leaders of Canada and Mexico for a North American leaders summit. Immigration will be on the agenda. A top conservative negotiator who helped persuade House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's critics to give him the gavel refused to rule out calling for the GOP leader's ouster himself, if McCarthy fails to live up to a key concession in the deal they struck. Texas Rep. Chip Roy helped lead four grueling days of talks that eventually led to him and 19 other conservatives dropping their opposition to McCarthy's bid for Speaker. In exchange McCarthy agreed to a host of concessions, including a vow not to bring a bill to the floor that would increase the debt ceiling without offsetting it with spending cuts elsewhere. Another controversial measure McCarthy agreed to was lowering the threshold for a 'motion to vacate the chair,' which under the proposed rules would allow just one Republican lawmaker to call for a vote to take away the Speaker's gavel. Roy was asked by CNN's State of the Union on Sunday whether he'd trigger the potential kill-switch on McCarthy's political power if the Speaker were to call a vote on a clean debt ceiling increase. 'I'm not going to play the what-if games on how we'll use the tools of the House to make sure we enforce the terms of the agreement,' Roy responded. 'But we will use the tools of the House to enforce the terms of the agreement.' Texas Rep. Chip Roy was a top negotiators for conservatives who were against Speaker Kevin McCarthy's bid for the gavel McCarthy narrowly won after 15 rounds of voting, the longest it's taken to elect a Speaker in modern political history McCarthy narrowly won the Speakership after 15 rounds of voting last week. Tense scenes played out across the House floor across four days while McCarthy allies were pleading with holdouts to vote with the other 200-plus members of their conference. Tensions reached a boiling point overnight on Saturday, when the top Armed Services Committee Republican had to be held back from confronting McCarthy critic Matt Gaetz on the House floor. Gaetz had voted 'present' in the 14th round instead of voting for McCarthy, delivering yet another embarrassing blow to the California Republican. Rep. Mike Rogers reportedly told Gaetz he was 'finished' before moving toward him. Republican Rep. Richard Hudson held Rogers back by the mouth before the senior GOP lawmaker broke free and stormed off into the party cloak room. Roy told CNN on Sunday that lawmakers 'need' confrontations such as those. 'We saw some of the interactions there between Mike Rogers and Matt Gaetz, some of that is - we need a little of that,' the Texas Republican said. 'We need a little of this sort of, breaking the glass, in order to get to the table and fight for the American people and change the way this place is dysfunctional.' Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama was restrained after yelling at Matt Gaetz of Florida as tensions spilled over during the fourteenth round vote The end result of fours days of talks is a House rules package that lays the groundwork for drastic spending cuts and weakens the top-down leadership style the chamber has operated under for years - while empowering the GOP's conservative wing. Among the new changes to the rules, any member will be allowed to offer amendments to appropriations bills on the House floor. Asked by CNN whether it would allow lawmakers a 'free-for-all' in measures to be voted on before spending bills are passed, Roy said 'absolutely.' Taking action on the debt ceiling is critical to allowing the federal government to pay its bills and keep agencies open. But McCarthy's agreement to offset it with spending cuts has fueled concerns that reaching an agreement before the deadline - not to mention one that could pass the Democrat-controlled Senate - could be all but impossible. McCarthy reportedly offered the 20 rogue Republicans a list of concessions he would make in exchange for their votes in the speakership race It risks a government shutdown that would leave military members without pay and Social Security checks unsent, among other repercussions. If the government runs out of money and defaults on its debts for the first time ever, it would send the global economy into a tailspin. Roy did not go into specifics when asked whether there was a plan in place to avoid the turmoil of the last week spilling into fights on legislation like the debt ceiling, but called on his colleagues to start having debates over the limit now. 'The fastest way to guarantee we have debt rating problems is to keep spending money we don't have and keep piling up debt- that's what we're doing,' Roy said. 'Ae we going to have this kind of conflict going forward? I hope so. But we started this now. It's January. So the debt ceiling - the debate is going to be in a few months. Let's do it now guys. Get this out there, both sides of the aisle, everybody within each party. Let's figure out how we're going to actually fix this because the American people are sick of us not doing our job.' Police forces have reportedly spent more than 66,000 of taxpayers' money on 'inclusive' rainbow flags, badges and lip balms in a bid to halt hate crime. Selfie frames, pens, key rings and shoe laces have also been purchased across 27 forces in England and Wales over the last three years. In total, 66,689 was spent on LGBT merchandise between 2019 and 2022, according to data obtained by The Telegraph via the Taxpayers' Alliance. South Wales Police alone spent 24,000 on items including badges, whistles, trolley keyrings, wristbands and water bottles. Police forces have reportedly spent more than 66,000 of taxpayers' money on 'inclusive' rainbow items. Pictured: A rainbow British Transport Police flag at Brighton Pride A police car in rainbow colours for the Pride parade in London. Police chiefs say they act as 'hate crime cars' for members of the public to report incidents Kent Police also purchased rainbow key rings, grip pens, erasers, coasters and lanyards totalling 8,000 over the same period. Police in Lancashire also spent 1,500 on rainbow flags, stickers and lip balm, while handheld fans were included within the 4,900 Avon and Somerset Police paid for inclusive items. It comes after Home Secretary Suella Braverman told police chiefs in September to spend less time on diversity and concentrate on fighting crime. In a letter to chief constables, she reprimanded forces for failing to tackle offences such as burglary, car theft, graffiti and drugs. Her intervention amounted to a call for a back to basics approach to policing. It comes after incidents which have seen police criticised for taking up woke causes. Mrs Braverman wrote: Unfortunately, there is a perception that the police have had to spend too much time on symbolic gestures [rather] than actually fighting criminals. 'This must change. Initiatives on diversity and inclusion should not take precedence over common sense policing. She said the letter was intended to set out my key priorities for the police and our crime-cutting agenda. Police forces are said to have also spent hundreds of pounds decorating police cars in rainbow colours. Meanwhile, it was revealed last month that more than a million cases of theft and burglary were dropped over a year more than 3,000 a day because police couldnt find a suspect. Police staff wave rainbow flags and sport face paint during Pride Cymru in Cardiff in August 2019 Analysis of crime data found 1.1million thefts, including domestic burglaries, went unsolved in the year to June. The National Police Chiefs' Council says police forces' rainbow vehicles encourage members of the public to report incidents such as remarks made on social media by acting as 'hate crime cars'. Chief Superintendent Amanda Tillotson, from Kent Police's diversity and inclusion academy, said the force's 'LGBT+ crime-prevention merchandise' helps to 'regularly remind the wider public of the importance of communities working together to support and protect each other'. She added police in Kent 'take our responsibilities to all communities as laid out by the Equality Act 2010 extremely seriously' and its aim is to 'deliver a first-class service to victims and witnesses of all crime'. Alejandro Mayorkas says he has no intention of resigning even though he will likely face investigations and potentially impeachment with the new Republican-led House. The head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will join President Joe Biden on his trip to El Paso, Texas on Sunday and in Mexico City, Mexico this week for the North Mexican Leader's Summit. Republicans repeatedly said last year that they would launch investigations into DHS Secretary Mayorkas if they regained control of Congress. Those probes could come to fruition now that the GOP has control of the House. 'I am joining the president today on his visit to El Paso, Texas I've been to the border quite a number of times,' Mayorkas boasted to ABC This Week host George Stephanopoulos. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says he isn't worried about investigations from the new GOP-led House and says he won't give into pressures to resign Republicans took the House in the 2022 midterms and have vowed to investigate Mayorkas and even impeach him. Pictured: Newly elected House Speaker Kevin McCarthy finally takes the gavel following a week of uncertainty and failed bids 'I've got a lot of work to do,' he continued. 'I'm proud to do it, alongside 250,000 incredibly dedicated and talented individuals in the Department of Homeland Security and I'm going to continue to do my work.' 'So, you have no intention of resigning?' the Sunday morning host posed, to which Mayorkas replied, 'I do not. He added that he will be 'prepared' for investigations and insisted: 'I'll continue to do my work throughout them.' Mayorkas has traveled to the border several times, but many border officials and agents have detailed to DailyMail.com over the last two years that the DHS secretary has been largely shielded from seeing the full extent of the crisis. An official in El Paso said that there are always major clean-up efforts before a Mayorkas visit and many times he doesn't survey the physical border barrier or see the extent of which migrants are crossing on a typical day. Biden's first-ever trip to the border on Sunday comes three days after he announced his new plan for migration, which includes expanding Title 42, but also allowing 30,000 asylum-seekers to enter the U.S. every month under a different program. Democrats have slammed Biden for keeping Title 42, which is a Trump-era public health policy that allows for instant deportation for asylum-seekers in the midst of the pandemic. President Biden flew from Delaware to El Paso, Texas on Sunday to see the border crisis for the first time since taking office two years ago Mayorkas insists that the administration tried to end the use of Title 42. The policy, which originally was meant to end in May last year, was extended through December and again was kept in place due to a Supreme Court stay. GOP challenges to the Biden administration trying to end the policy have held the efforts up in court. The Supreme Court will issue a ruling on the future of Title 42 in June. 'We've tried to end the use of Title 42,' Mayorkas told Stephanopoulos. 'We sought to end it, and we were prevented from doing so by a district court in Louisiana. So, we cannot use our ordinary immigration authorities to the fullest extent we've tried to.' 'And so under the court's order, we are continuing to apply Title 42 until the Supreme Court's ruling,' he added. Mayorkas says that the migration crisis is 'gripping the hemisphere' and claims the 'regional challenge requires a regional solution,' which he hopes to address at the North American Leader's Summer in Mexico this week. He also accused Texas Governor Greg Abbott of not 'collaborating' with the federal government to help come up with solutions. More than 14million worth of stolen luxury cars due to be shipped overseas and stripped for highly valuable parts were uncovered by police in Essex last year. Images from one investigation show more than 600 high-end vehicles chopped and crushed into a shipping container, many of which were 'stolen to order' and were destined to be sold abroad at inflated prices. The three-person Stolen Vehicle Intelligence Unit (SVIU) in Essex Police were behind the discovery of the container, which was crammed with bumpers, steering wheels and headlights. When the vehicles and their parts arrive at destinations including the Middle East and Africa, they are stripped for parts which can be highly valuable. The haul included the 100,000 Range Rover of an Essex couple, who woke to find their car had been stolen off of their drive overnight, and a Rolls-Royce Dawn that had been stolen in London and was heading to Dubai in a shipping container. Car parts including bumpers, headlights and steering wheels have all been uncovered by the Stolen Vehicle Intelligence Unit (SVIU) in Essex Police Images from one investigation show more than 600 high end motors chopped and crushed into a shipping container Cars are chopped up and the parts are sold for highly inflated prices to other countries According to police, the cars are stolen to order before they are broken down to be sold The SVIU team broke a record last year, recovering 626 vehicles and parts, an increase of 30 per cent on 2021, with a total estimated haul of 14m. The most valuable vehicle the team discovered was a Rolls-Royce Dawn that had been stolen in London and was heading to Dubai in a shipping container from the London Gateway Port in Thurrock. The missing car had recently cost its owner 350,000 and had been stashed alongside parts of eight stolen Range Rovers. Though the team regularly seize cars just hours after it is taken, that wasn't the case for one couple in Essex. Anthony and Danielle Wilson found their 100,000 Land Rover Sport had been rolled off their drive while they slept in July 2021. It took the thieves just 63 seconds to steal the vehicle. Their car was found a month later wedged inside a container at the Port of Tilbury in Essex. PC Paul Gerrish from SVIU claims the record-breaking year is the result of a more 'lucrative market'. 'It's getting hotter. It's a lucrative market,' he said. The SVIU team broke a record last year, recovering 626 vehicles and parts, an increase of 30 per cent on 2021, with a total estimated haul of 14m According to members of the SVIU team, the market for cars and car parts abroad is 'lucrative' Parts have been found in various shipping containers in ports throughout Essex A mattress has been placed carefully on top of this vehicle to protect it from damage Cars and car parts have been chopped up and crammed into shipping containers 'We've done a few container interceptions where the front ends of the vehicles are being exported out to Dubai. In one container we found between eight to 10 stolen vehicles, some of them valued up to 100,000 a car. 'The total haul of one of our jobs was well over a million pounds worth of stolen cars in one hit.' PC Phil Pentelow from SVIU added: 'Even with an amount of panel damage [from the container] that car is still worth a hell of a lot of money. 'It gives you an idea of the monetary value behind it and the efforts the criminals go to to export our victim's cars to other parts of the world.' Third SVIU team member, analyst Hannah Gerrish, said: 'Car thefts build into a bigger network of criminality. That's we try to build a picture of what we're seeing and hearing. It's all about joining the dots.' If you have concerns about your vehicle's security, there are steps car owners can take. Police have uncovered stolen motors and parts hidden in shipping containers along the coast When the vehicles and their parts arrive at destinations including the Middle East and Africa, they are stripped for parts which can be highly valuable The maximum amount of vehicles and parts are squashed into shipping containers bound for overseas Some cars have been chopped up as much as possible, with the vital parts preserved 'Learn about your car's vulnerabilities,' PC Pentelow added. 'There are videos online where you can find this information out. 'Look on the website Secured by Design to find recommended safety devices for your car and consider investing in a Disklok for your steering wheel at the very least. 'However, the biggest vulnerability is leaving your car unlocked. Double lock your car and check it. We see CCTV of thefts where thieves try the car door and it's unlocked.' The rescued dogs are now up for adoption at Bay Area shelters Some of the animals were found locked in crates with no food or water 50 chihuahuas were rescued from a home in Northern California in December More than four dozen abused chihuahuas recently rescued from a hoarder's home in Northern California are now up for adoption. The 50 dogs were rescued from 'filthy conditions' in December at a man's home in North Livermore, a city located about 40 miles east of San Francisco. According to the Livermore Police Department, many of the dogs were found locked in crates without any food or water at the time of their rescue. Officials say the 50 dogs have now been given clean bills of health and are in the process of being rehomed to loving families as police continue to investigate. One of the Chihuahuas rescued from the Northern California home was given emergency medical assistance and has since been placed in a new home This is the tweet the Livermore Police Department sent out after the rescue of the pups The Livermore Police Department said in a post officials first became aware of the situation in December and were called to investigate. Upon arrival at the home, the group 'determined the owner was hoarding the dogs and unable to care for them.' As of January 8, the name of the homeowner has not been released. 'Livermore Polices Animal Services Officer submitted a complaint to the District Attorneys Office and it is currently under investigation,' the department said in a post. DailyMail.com reached out to the district attorney's office to see if any charges have been filed against the homeowner but did not hear back by the time of publication. The Chihuahuas were taken to the East County Animal Shelter in Dublin and were treated. Chihuahuas Available for Adoption Last month, the Livermore Police Department became aware that more than 50... Posted by Livermore Police Department on Friday, January 6, 2023 This is North Livermore, California, where the Chihuahuas were rescued from 15 of the Chihuahuas rescues were sent to the Oakland Animal Shelter All of the animals were vaccinated, had their nails trimmed, and were placed in clean cages by animal service officials. The Livermore Police Department said one dog needed emergency medical treatment. The Chihuahua that needed additional care has already been placed in a new home. None of the dogs have died, authorities said. This is one of the pups saved from the Livermore home Another pup is seen in a pic on the Valley Humane Society's website Another Chihuahua at the Valley Humane Society is currently up for adoption The dogs were split up after the incident and remain at shelters across the Bay Area. A total of 15 dogs are at the Oakland Animal Shelter, 12 are at the the Dublin SPCA and approximately 10 are at the Valley Humane Society. An additional 12 dogs remain at the East County Animal Shelter. Officials are now looking for interested parties to adopt the pups. Anyone interested in giving one of the dogs a home or making a financial donation toward their care can do so here. Community members thanked the Livermore Police Department for saving the dogs The post received dozens of comments One woman said 'thank God' to the rescue of the dogs Another person said she hopes the 'hoarder' is 'able to get help' Community members thanked Livermore Police Department for saving the animals Friday on their Facebook post announcing the rescue of the pups. 'Thank you so much LPD for saving these precious babies,' wrote one person. 'Thanks for getting these dogs out of that horrible situation. I hope the person who was hoarding them is able to get help as well,' wrote another.' 'Nobody will be more excited to see you when you get home than a chihuahua ! They are the best dogs!! Loyal , sweet and so much personality,' said another. This rescue comes just days after dozens of Chihuahuas were rescued from the scene of a car crash in New Mexico. A van crossed over the center line on a roadway in Santa Rosa and crashed head-on into a semi-truck headed in the opposite direction. Several animals were killed in the crash but a large number were also rescued. Many of the initial 65 dogs rescued were pregnant at the time and the number of animals has now grown to over 100, according to local officials. That number is expected to grow. Police said 40-year-old Missael Rodelo from El Paso was behind the wheel and has been cited for failing to stay in a traffic lane. A Labour government could introduce a New Zealand-style ban on the sale of cigarettes. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said the party would consult on phasing out the sale of cigarettes as part of 'fresh radical thinking' to ease pressures on the NHS. New Zealand is set to implement new laws this year that will make it illegal for anyone born after 2008 to be sold tobacco. In what is believed to be the first such legislation in the world, the annually rising legal smoking age is aimed at preventing the country's next generation from ever taking up smoking. Mr Streeting said he was 'genuinely curious' about how the New Zealand law, which is being accompanied by a range of other measures to make smoking less affordable and accessible, will work. It comes after a Government-commissioned independent review, published this summer, recommended increasing the legal smoking age from 18 by one year every year. Ministers have previously set an objective for England to be smokefree by 2030. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said Labour would consult on phasing out the sale of cigarettes as part of 'fresh radical thinking' to ease pressures on the NHS New Zealand is set to implement new laws this year that will make it illegal for anyone born after 2008 to be sold tobacco Smoking has steadily decreased since 1974, with around 15 per cent of the UK population smoking in 2019 Poll Should the sale of cigarettes be phased out in Britain? Yes No Should the sale of cigarettes be phased out in Britain? Yes 243 votes No 472 votes Now share your opinion 'One of the things that was recommended to the Government in one of their reviews was phasing out the sale of cigarettes altogether over time,' Mr Streeting told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme. 'We'll be consulting on that and a whole range of other measures. 'The New Zealand government are doing it. We want to see how that works. But I'm genuinely curious. 'If we're going to get the NHS back on track we also need to focus on public health. And I'm curious to know where the voters are on this, where the country is and what appetite exists for change. 'So we're going to be have to think radically. What the Government have done to the NHS is a disgrace. 'It's going to take time to fix it and fresh radical thinking and that's what Labour's about.' An independent review by Dr Javed Khan, ordered by former health secretary Sajid Javid, was published in August and recommended a series of actions to help eradicate smoking in England. Dr Khan warned, without further action, England will miss the smokefree 2030 target by at least seven years, and the poorest areas in society will not meet it until 2044. Smoking rates in the UK have fallen from about half of the population in the 1970s to around just 15 per cent now. But use was found to have increased by 25 per cent among the under-30s in England during the Covid pandemic, the equivalent of more than 600,000 new smokers. According to estimates by the Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) charity, the annual costs to the NHS of treating illnesses associated with smoking is 2.4 billion. They have also estimated further billions of pounds' worth of costs to social care and wider society. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that tobacco duties will raise 10.7billion in 2022-23. Deborah Arnott, the chief executive of Ash, said: 'Tackling smoking is key as it is still a leading cause of premature death and disease, responsible for half the difference in life expectancy between rich and poor.' 'Ash supports a consultation on raising the age of sale, but also on how it should be achieved. 'The New Zealand option is one model, but another, easier to implement and widely supported by the majority of the public and tobacco retailers too is to raise the age of sale to 21. Both options should be consulted on.' Texas GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw apologized Sunday for branding the 20 conservatives who almost derailed Kevin McCarthy's Speakership bid as 'terrorists.' Crenshaw, a military veteran and a top Republican on the Homeland Security committee, was among the most vocal members of his party to vent their frustrations as the battle for who will lead their thin House majority stretched across four grueling days. In addition to calling them 'terrorists' Crenshaw had also labeled the 20 holdouts - who all eventually either voted for McCarthy or voted 'present' - 'charlatans' and 'enemies.' But he walked those comments back during an appearance on CNN's State of The Union program - though the lawmaker admitted to being 'taken aback' by the 'sensitivity' of his colleagues who got offended at his criticism. 'To the extent that I have colleagues that were offended by it, I sincerely apologize to them. I don't want them to think I actually believe they're terrorists. It's clearly a turn of phrase that you use in what is an intransigent negotiation,' Crenshaw said. Texas GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw walked back his criticism of the conservatives who prolonged the House Speakership battle during an interview with CNN on Sunday "That's where the heartburn is" Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) responds to the tension surrounding Kevin McCarthy during a chaotic week of House speaker votes and whether Republicans learned something from it. @CNNSotu #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/EsRugfV7tf CNN (@CNN) January 8, 2023 The 15 rounds of voting put inter-party divides within the GOP on full display, raising concerns about how McCarthy could keep enough control over his thin majority to keep Congress functioning. Tense scenes played out across the House floor across four days while McCarthy allies were pleading with holdouts to vote with the other 200-plus members of their conference. Crenshaw had told CNN's Manu Raju on Wednesday that the Republican holdouts 'made it clear that they prefer a Democrat agenda than a Republican one.' Meanwhile another pro-McCarthy lawmaker branded them the 'Taliban 20.' 'Look, things get heated and things get said,' Crenshaw said on Sunday, addressing the 'terrorist' comments specifically. 'It's in the context of intransigent negotiations. Look, I have got pretty thick skin. I'm called awful, vile things by the- kind of the very same wing of the party that I'm fighting, I was fighting at that moment. So I was a little taken aback by the...sensitivity of it.' New House Speaker Kevin McCarthy narrowly won the gavel after four days and 15 rounds of voting One of the 20 holdouts was Rep. Matt Gaetz, whose 'present' vote in the fourteenth round rather than a vote for McCarthy sent tempers flaring in the House chamber on Friday night Texas Rep. Chip Roy is another one of the holdouts who was eventually instrumental in negotiating more wins for conservatives in the House rules package and convincing other rebels to join him He also clarified that his issue was not with the terms the holdouts were demanding, but rather the messy way the debacle played out in public. 'There was no reason for us to keep voting, keep voting, allowing these speeches that just degraded and diminished and insulted Kevin McCarthy. We didn't have to keep doing that,' Crenshaw said. 'We could have just adjourned for the whole week and just kept negotiatingSo that's where the heartburn is. And that's what I want people to know.' The end result of the negotiations is a House rules package that lays the groundwork for drastic spending cuts and weakens the top-down leadership style the chamber has operated under for years - while empowering the GOP's conservative wing. It gives members of the hardline-right House Freedom Caucus several seats on the powerful Rules Committee, which gate-keeps all bills headed for the House floor, and empowers them with a kill switch on McCarthy's Speakership known as a 'motion to vacate the chair.' McCarthy reportedly offered the 20 rogue Republicans a list of concessions he would make in exchange for their votes in the speakership race The rules have left some members of the GOP conference concerned. Rep. Tony Gonzales said he would oppose the rules package while Rep. Nancy Mace told CBS News' Face The Nation on Sunday that she was 'on the fence' until she could see more specifics. With just a slim 222-seat majority, McCarthy can only afford to lose four votes on any piece of legislation that's guaranteed to get uniform Democratic opposition. While he was wary of potential cuts to defense spending, Crenshaw signaled overall support for the package and suggested disagreements - but not disarray - were a good thing. 'It is important to get some of this out, to get some of these grievances out at a time like this, because it does shock people a little bit,' Crenshaw said. 'And it does get you into this phase where, you know what? We do need to bring everybody in on some of these issues much earlier.' A signed copy of the Nazi surrender document which ended the Second World War in Europe has gone on sale for $3.25 million (2.69million). The agreement, signed on May 7, 1945, in Reims, France was one of five copies of the historical document which brought an end to six years of fighting in Europe. It was originally owned by US President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower gifted it to a trusted member of staff who later sold it to a private collector who owned it for 36 years until his death last year. The document is signed by German General Alfred Jodl, Lt. General Walter Bedell Smith on behalf of the British and Americans, Gen. Ivan Susloparov on behalf of the Soviet Union and Maj.General Francois Sevez for the French The signing of total surrender by the Germans at Allied Supreme Headquarters, Rheims. General Gustaf Jodl, Nazi Chief of Staff, signs the document in May 1945 Last night rare manuscript dealer Gary Zimet told the MoS: This is one of the most important documents in 20th century history. 'There are only four other copies and they are in the National Archives of Great Britain, the United States, Russia and France. 'This is a unique piece of history and demonstrates that good triumphed over evil in a war which cost 60 million people their lives. The document was signed in a classroom of a small schoolhouse in Reims, 90 miles north of Paris, which served as the headquarters of General Eisenhower, then the Supreme Allied Commander. He would become US President in 1953. Under the heading Act of Military Surrender, the two-page typed document begins: 'We the undersigned, acting by authority of the German High Command, hereby surrender unconditionally to the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force and simultaneously to the Soviet High Command all forces on land, sea, and in the air who are at this date under German control. It was signed by German General Alfred Jodl, one of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitlers top military advisors at 2.41am on May 7th, 1945. Peace in Europe was officially declared the following day, May 8th. Hitler had committed suicide in a Berlin bunker on April 30th, 1945. Eisenhower refused to meet with the Nazi delegation until the document was signed. He then walked into the room and said: 'You understand the terms of this surrender? Eisenhower refused to speak to the German delegation until the surrender document had been signed. It was signed in Reims, in France, in May 1945 President Eisenhower, who commanded the American forces in Europe during WWII, gave the document to a loyal aide, Joseph A. Lamb Eisenhower (centre) pictured with the British royal family, including Prince Philip (left) and Queen Elizabeth II (right). King Charles is picture with the Princess Royal as children When General Jodl replied: 'Yes we do, Eisenhower turned and left. The document was co-signed by Lt. General Walter Bedell Smith on behalf of the British and Americans, Gen. Ivan Susloparov on behalf of the Soviet Union and Maj. General Francois Sevez for the French. British observers who witnessed the signing included Admiral Sir Harold Burrough, Lt. Gen. Sir Fred Morgan and Air Marshal James M. Robb. Five copies of the document were signed - with four going to the official archives of Britain, the US, Russia and France. The fifth copy, a draft, was given to Eisenhower who later gifted it to his right hand man and trusted aide Joseph A. Lamb. In turn, Lamb left it in his Will to a friend, Rolland McNeely, who sold the document in 1986 to a private collector in America for an undisclosed sum. Mr Zimet, who is selling the document via his website momentsintime.com said: This document has been in a private collection for 36 years until the owner passed away last year (2022). Its an extraordinary document. Scott Perry would not exempt himself from being tapped for a panel probing the January 6 select committee even though he was accused in the probe and is currently under investigation by the Justice Department. The House Freedom Caucus chairman said he shouldn't be 'limited' from serving on any future investigations into the investigation into Donald Trump and the January 6 Capitol attack. New House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has indicated that he would appoint a so-called 'Church-style' committee to probe the January 6 select committee. Perry confirmed that 'we are going to investigate' the origins of the panel's formation and said lawmakers shouldn't be limited from service solely due to accusations. House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry said he would not recuse himself from being able to serve on a panel probing the January 6 Select Committee, questioning 'why should I be limited' just because of allegations Asked by @GStephanopoulos if he will pledge to not serve on new House committee investigating Jan. 6 probes while he is part of DOJ investigation, GOP Rep. Scott Perry says, Why should I be limitedjust because someone has made an accusation? https://t.co/CbiJQ8Uauy pic.twitter.com/QAlmRIbJd5 This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 8, 2023 'Since you're part of the investigation by the Justice Department, will you pledge not to serve on that committee?' ABC This Week host George Stephanopoulos asked Perry on Sunday morning. 'Well, why should I be limited why should anybody be limited just because someone has made an accusation?' the Republican Pennsylvania congressman questioned. 'Everybody in America is innocent until proven otherwise,' he continued. 'And I would say this, the American people are really, really tired of the persecution and the instruments of federal power being used against them.' 'That sounds like some tin horn third world dictatorship,' Perry said. 'Sure, we're going [to] investigate and we need to. We need to make sure that these agencies aren't running amuck and aren't out of control which clearly they are.' A Church Committee references the Democratic-led 1975 Senate panel that investigated abuses by the CIA, NSA, FBI and IRS. The committee was part of a series of proves into intelligence abuses, which eventually led to the creation of the permanent Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. The members of the January 6 panel included just two Republicans former Representatives Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois. Cheney was voted out by her former constituents in Wyoming and Kinzinger opted not to run for reelection after also falling out of grace with the GOP. The January 6 committee wrapped its investigation into the Capitol riot last month with a series of referrals to the DOJ and House Ethics Committee Cheney and Kizninger could come under investigation by the new Majority Republican House and so could the seven Democrats who also served on the now defunct panel. Stephanopoulos suggested that Perry should recuse himself from an investigation into the January 6 committee because he was a key player in the probe. 'So, should everybody in Congress that disagrees with somebody be barred from doing the oversight and investigative powers that Congress has?' Perry shot back. ' 'I get accused of all kinds of things every single day, as does every member that serves in the public eye,' he said. 'But that doesn't stop you from doing your job. It is our duty and it is my duty. As the nine-member January 6 panel wrapped up their probe last month, they made several criminal referrals to the DOJ, including for former President Donald Trump and Perry. Republican former Representatives Liz Cheney (center) and Adam Kinzinger (right) could be included in the probes They also urged the DOJ to prosecute GOP Representatives Jim Jordan of Ohio and Andy Biggs of Arizona, as well as new House Speaker Kevin McCarthy all allies of the former president. Perry, who chairs the most conservative caucus in the House, said his goal has always been to make it 'really, really hard to cheat' in an election through 'fraud' or other means. 'There are things have been done that makes this vote more important than that vote,' Perry said. 'And that's not acceptable. Each vote should count the same.' Perry was one of the more than 100 House Republicans who voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election result for Joe Biden, claiming that there was enough foul play in certain states to bring into question the entire results. It follows Kyiv's claim they killed up to 400 Russian in missile strikes on Makiivka Moscow claims to have killed 'More than 600 Ukrainian servicemen' in the attack Russia claims to have killed 600 Ukrainian troops in a deadly 'retaliatory strike' in the eastern city of Kramatorsk today. Moscow conducted the missile strikes to avenge the deaths of 89 Russian troops killed in Makiivka on January 1. Following the New Year's Day attack, Russia's defence ministry made a rare admission and confirmed dozens soldiers died in the fiery blast. Today the ministry claimed that a 'retaliatory strike' killed 'more than 600 Ukrainian servicemen' stationed in two buildings in Kramatorsk used as barracks. Ukraine's armed forces rejected the claim. Russia claims to have killed more than 600 Ukrainian servicemen in retaliatory missile strikes in Kramatorsk (pictured) Kyiv killed 89 Russian troops in Makiivka in missile strikes on New Year's Day (pictured: a damaged building near the site of a missile strike in Kramatorsk) Ukraine's armed forces have rejected the claim that more than 600 of their troops were killed 'This information is as true as the data that they have destroyed all of our HIMARS,' Sergiy Cherevaty, spokesman for the Eastern group of the Ukrainian armed forces, told the Suspilne media outlet, referring to US-supplied rocket systems. He said Russia could not deliver high-precision strikes. AFP could not independently verify the report. On Saturday, AFP journalists in Kramatorsk, which is located in the eastern region of Donetsk, heard at least four explosions before midnight. Both countries marked Orthodox Christmas on Saturday. The Russian defence ministry did not say when exactly the strike had taken place but said that Russian intelligence had 'over the past 24 hours' confirmed the points of temporary deployment of Ukraine's armed forces in Kramatorsk. More than 1,300 Ukrainian troops were housed in two buildings, Moscow claimed. Workers remove debris of a destroyed building in Makiivka purported to be a vocational college used as temporary accommodation for Russian soldiers, dozens of whom were killed in a Ukrainian missile strike Russia conceded 89 troops had died, in what was the worst single reported loss from a Ukrainian strike Earlier Sunday, Pavlo Kyrylenko, the head of the Donetsk regional administration, said Russians launched seven rocket attacks on Kramatorsk. He said that 'an educational institution, an industrial facility and a garage cooperative' had been damaged and that there were no casualties. In a New Year's attack, Ukraine struck a building in the occupied eastern Ukrainian town of Makiivka being used as a barracks. Russia conceded 89 troops had died, in what was the worst single reported loss from a Ukrainian strike. Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered a 36-hour ceasefire to allow Orthodox Christians to mark Christmas which is celebrated on January 7 in Russia and Ukraine. The unilateral ceasefire ended at 11:00 pm in Kyiv on Saturday. Porn star Ron Jeremy, who was accused of rape and sexual assault by 21 women, is set to be declared incompetent to stand trial because of his 'severe dementia.' The former adult entertainer, 69, was indicted on 30 counts of sexual abuse - after being accused by victims who were as young 15 years old. But it's now unlikely that he will face his rape trial, according to a Los Angeles County prosecutor. Prosecutors allege Jeremy - born Ronald Jeremy Hyatt - restrained some of the women and raped or sodomized them - and had sex with others who were sleeping or unconscious. Jeremy pleaded not guilty to charges including 12 counts of forcible rape, seven counts of forcible oral copulation and six counts of sexual battery by restraint, DA George Gascon previously said. But now the LA Times reports that Deputy Dist. Atty. Paul Thompson said mental health experts called on by prosecutors and Jeremys defense team have determined he suffers from severe dementia. Ronald Jeremy Hyatt allegedly restrained some of the women and raped or sodomized them - and had sex with others who were sleeping or unconscious, at parties, adult film conventions, and movie sets. He faces allegations from 21 different women - including a girl who was 15. But now he will most likely not stand trial because of his 'severe dementia' Ron Jeremy pictured in 1988. He is being held on a $6.6 million bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles County since his arrest in June 2020 There is no evidence he is faking his symptoms, the Times reports. He was expected to appear in a Hollywood courtroom on January 17 where he will be formally declared incompetent. An internal email read: 'As a result of the agreement of the experts, the defendant will be declared incompetent to stand trial ... his prognosis for improvement is not good. 'If he does not improve, we will not be able to try him for his crimes. 'Because criminal proceedings are suspended as long as he is incompetent, we also cannot get a guilty plea from him or discuss other measures to get justice for the victims in this case.' His severe dementia has been determined by a review of medical documents and interviews with Jeremy. It's understood that Jeremy will probably be placed in a state-run hospital after being declared incompetent. He is being held on a $6.6 million bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles County since his arrest in June 2020. His alleged abuse started in the 1990s. Jeremy, 68, pleaded not guilty to charges including 12 counts of forcible rape, seven counts of forcible oral copulation and six counts of sexual battery by restraint Jeremy was also charged with four counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object and two counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious or asleep person. Further charges included one count each of lewd act upon a child under the age of 14 or 15, sodomy by use of force and assault with intent to commit rape. Gascon said Jeremy's alleged sexual assaults happened over the course of more than 23 years and involved 21 victims ranging in age from 15 to 51. Jeremy is alleged to have sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl referred to as 'Jane Doe 5' on June 12, 2004, penetrating her with a foreign object, according to the August 19 indictment obtained by DailyMail.com. Another girl, 17, was allegedly raped in 2008 at a home in the Woodland Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. She was referred to as 'Jane Doe 22' in the court documents. Porn star Ron Jeremy has been indicted on 30 charges for the alleged sexual assault and forcible rape of 21 women and girls, some as young as 15 years old Prosecutors allege Jeremy - born Ronald Jeremy Hyatt - restrained some of the women and raped or sodomized them - and had sex with others who were sleeping or unconscious Among the first allegations against Jeremy, prosecutors claim he raped a 19-year-old woman during a photo shoot in the San Fernando Valley in October 1996. Later, Jeremy allegedly raped a 26-year-old woman at a party in a nightclub in Los Angeles County in October 2000, officials said. The indictment alleges that Jeremy 'unlawfully' had sexual intercourse with 'Jane Doe 19' in 2000 by means 'force, violence, duress, menace or fear of immediate and unlawfully bodily injury.' Jeremy was also accused of sexually assaulting another woman at a strip club in City of Industry at some point between 2002 and 2003, officials said. Another woman, 21, went to Jeremy's home where she was allegedly sexually assaulted in 2010. She was referred to as 'Jane Doe 23' in the court documents. In January 2013, Jeremy allegedly sexually assaulted a 38-year-old woman at a West Hollywood bar he frequented, officials said. The most recent allegations stem from January 2020 when Jeremy raped and sodomized a woman identified in the court documents as 'Jane Doe 17,' the indictment claims. 'Far too often, survivors of sexual assault suffer in isolation,' Gascon said. 'We must ensure that survivors have all options available to help with recovery, including trauma-informed services for healing and support to report such crimes.' The Tate brothers were arrested last week in rape and human trafficking probe Andrew Tate has tweeted a link to a Romanian article that states one of the influencer brothers has been taken to hospital - adding that the 'Matrix has attacked me'. Tate, a British citizen and former professional kickboxer who has amassed 4.4 million followers on Twitter, is currently in custody with brother Tristan in Romania. They were arrested last week as part of ongoing investigation into rape and human trafficking claims. Tate today shared a link to Romanian news website Spy News, which is reporting that one of the brothers was taken to hospital following a routine medical check in custody. Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate (not pictured) are escorted by police officers outside the headquarters of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism in Bucharest In an ambiguous tweet, the 36-year-old said: 'The Matrix has attacked me. But they misunderstand, you cannot kill an idea. Hard to Kill.' One of the brothers is said to have informed a medic of a pre-existing health issue, resulting in a consultation at a hospital in Bucharest. They are now back in a detention centre, the website reports. It comes after four more luxury vehicles were seized as part of the investigation into social media personality earlier this week. Prosecutors investigating the case seized the additional vehicles on top of 11 others seized in raids last week, Ramona Bolla, a spokesperson for Romanian anti-organised crime agency DIICOTs said. At least seven of the seized vehicles - some of which local media report are limited editions worth up to $300,000 - are registered to Tate and his brother Tristan who was detained last week in the same case, she said. Some of the other vehicles either aren't registered or don't have documentation. Bolla also said that more than 10 properties or land owned by companies registered to the Tate brothers have been seized in the investigation so far. Among the collection of cars seized by the authorities is a Rolls-Royce Wraith from the carmaker's Black Badge range and an Aston Martin Vanquish S Ultimate, that have both featured in videos posted online by Tate. Andrew Tate is a British citizen and former professional kickboxer who has amassed 4.4 million followers on Twitter Two other female suspects - Georgiana Naghel and Luana Radu - were also taken into custody in Bucharest on December 29 on suspicion of human trafficking, rape and forming an organised crime group. They have denied all the allegations, with Tate's representative Avocat Vidineac Eugen Constatin saying they would appeal the judge's decision. DIICOTs said in a statement last week that it has identified six victims who were subjected to 'acts of physical violence and mental coercion' and were sexually exploited by group members. The agency said two British citizens in the case lured victims under the pretence of love, and later intimidation, constant surveillance, and other control tactics into performing pornographic acts intended to reap 'important financial benefits.' All four suspects are expected to appear in a Bucharest court next week to have their appeals heard contesting a judge's decision last week to extend their arrest warrants from 24 hours to 30 days, Bolla said. The Tate brothers will also appear in court next week to appeal the seizure of some of their belongings. MPs have raked in more than 17million from second jobs since 2019 on top of their parliamentary salaries, analysis shows today. Nearly two thirds of the extra earnings went to just 20 MPs, with Theresa May the biggest earner. Tory politicians took home an extra 15.2million on top of their base 84,144 MP salaries. Frontbencher and part-time radio presenter David Lammy was the highest Labour earner. From March this year MPs will be banned from taking on work as political or parliamentary consultants but speeches, TV appearances and legal work will still be fair game. Nearly two thirds of the extra earnings went to just 20 MPs, with Theresa May the biggest earner The changes decided after the Standards Committee launched a review into the rules around second jobs in 2021 could affect 30 MPs. Mrs May has earned more than 2.55million from external work since 2019, including 408,200 for six events at the Cambridge Speaker Series in California, according to the data from Sky News and Tortoise. It was one of 13 establishments, including the distinguished Brown University and the World Travel and Tourism Council, to pay her over six figures for her work. In the register of interests, the former PM has said she does not pocket most of the money, adding: These sums are used to pay employees, maintain my ongoing involvement in public life and support my charitable work. From 1 September 2020 until further notice the office of Theresa May Ltd pays me 85,000 a year for speaking engagements, with an expected commitment of 24 hours a month. Frontbencher and part-time radio presenter David Lammy was the highest Labour earner Boris Johnson has declared more than 1million in earnings since stepping down as PM last September, with most of the money coming from just four speeches in the US, Portugal and India. Former attorney general Geoffrey Cox earned 2,191,387 from nine different law firms and a local Conservative association, the data reveals. This includes 1.8million from Withers LLP. The barrister faced calls to resign last year after being caught representing the British Virgin Islands tax haven. Sir Geoffrey said: Private practice as a barrister is certainly no more time consuming and demanding than the role of attorney general. If it is possible to carry out the role of an MP while also the senior law officer, it is certainly possible to do so while continuing selective practice at the Bar. Other high earners include former Cabinet ministers Sajid Javid, Sir John Redwood, Chris Grayling and David Davis. Former attorney general Geoffrey Cox earned 2,191,387 from nine different law firms and a local Conservative association, the data reveals Labours highest earner, Shadow Foreign Secretary Mr Lammy, earned a significant proportion of his extra income through a contract with radio station LBC, where he presents weekly. The revelations reignited the debate around clamping down on whether it is justifiable for MPs to have second jobs following the Owen Paterson lobbying scandal. The former Northern Ireland Secretary sparked outrage by making multiple approaches to government on behalf of companies paying him for consultancy work. The Standards Committees report last May recommended MPs be banned from working as parliamentary strategists, advisers or consultants and that any work should not include lobbying ministers. They also suggested MPs should not take part in parliamentary proceedings where outside work may present a conflict of interest. Chris Byrant, chair of the Standards Commitee, welcomed the increased accountability on extra earnings, adding: My colleagues are keen to improve transparency and tackle all instances of MP corruption such as the paid lobbying by Owen Patterson. GOP Rep. Nancy Mace compared her party's four-day public battle over the House Speakership to a 'food fight' on Sunday and said her South Carolina constituents are dissatisfied with the prolonged delay. 'I represent a very purple district,' Mace said on CBS News' Face The Nation. 'I have all sides to serve, and there was a lot of frustration with the prolonged and unnecessary food fight we had this week.' 'But you saw democracy on full display. And I think that's healthy to have that kind of debate. I'm glad that it's over and we can move forward.' Mace, who has supported new House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, blasted the 'backroom deals' made between the leader's allies and conservative holdouts to get him over the finish line on the fifteenth vote. The South Carolina Republican lawmaker also did not hold back against individuals making those deals, nor did she spare other controversial members of her conference. South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace denounced 'backroom deals' that were made to get Kevin McCarthy the Speaker's gavel, though she was among the 200-plus members who supported him the entire time GOP Rep. Nancy Mace tells @margbrennan that within her district there was a lot of frustration with the prolonged and unnecessary food fight over the House speakership vote this week. pic.twitter.com/LbfkhEzLnG Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 8, 2023 'Matt Gaetz is a fraud. Every time he voted against Kevin McCarthy last week he sent out a fundraising email,' Mace fumed. 'What you saw last week was a constitutional process diminished by those kinds of political actions. I don't support that kind of behavior.' Mace was also asked about freshman GOP Rep. George Santos of New York, who has been facing calls from opponents and constituents to resign after he admitted to lying about his employment, education and Jewish heritage. She would not say whether she'd join calls for Santos' removal, but Mace did bluntly state that his mistruths were a 'problem.' 'It's very difficult to work with anyone who cannot be trusted, and it's very clear his entire resume in life was- was manufactured until a couple days ago when he finally changed his website,' Mace said. 'It is a problem. If we say we can't trust the Left when they are telling the truth, how can we trust our own?' She singled out Rep. Matt Gaetz, one of McCarthy's biggest critics (pictured speaking with McCarthy on the House floor on January 6), as a 'fraud' Unrelated to the McCarthy holdouts, Mace also said it would be hard to trust someone like New York Rep. George Santos, who misrepresented parts of his backstory Santos had been a supporter of McCarthy's for all 15 rounds of voting. He announced Saturday that he would also vote 'yes' on the House rules package, which McCarthy made last-minute concessions on last week to secure the final votes needed to win Speaker. Mace, however, said she was 'on the fence' - not because of the package's contents, but rather because of how the agreements were struck. Indeed, the congresswoman pointed out that there was not much different in the new package - touted as a victory for the hardline right - and its earlier version, save for the threshold to trigger a vote to remove McCarthy as Speaker being lowered to just one lawmaker. 'I like the rules package. It is the most open, fair, and fiscally conservative package we've had in 30 years,' Mace said. In the end, McCarthy narrowly won the Speakership with 216 votes in the early hours of Saturday morning 'I support it, but what I don't support is a small number of people trying to get a deal done or deals done for themselves in private, in secret to get a vote or vote present. I don't support that. That is just what Nancy Pelosi does.' She pressed the Pelosi comparison multiple times, claiming that the final holdouts like Reps. Gaetz, Eli Crane and Matt Rosendale who held up the votes had acted 'just like' the former Democratic House Speaker. 'What I saw last week was a small faction of the 20, who were acting just like the old Nancy, trying to cut back room deals in private, in secret without anyone knowing what else was going on,' Mace said. 'And when they did the rules package, at the end of the day, there was only one point that was changed. That was on the motion to vacate. 'That was the only difference in the package that we're going to be voting on tomorrow that was different from the original package that was proposed. So my question really is today is what back room deals were cut- did they try to cut?' Thousands of people broke into the building, smashing glass and setting off smoke flares They believe that President Lula's victory was stolen from right-wing Bolsonaro after he lost the election An estimated 3,000 people stormed Brazil's Congress on Sunday in protest of left-wing President Lula's win United States President Joe Biden condemned the protests and voiced support for President Inacio da Silva Other images from the day showed scores of demonstrators being led away in handcuffs by police Protestors could be seen screaming and fleeing from the path of the rampaging car in the harrowing clip Footage from the chaotic Brazil protests showed a police car speeding through crowds of demonstrators Advertisement Newly emerged footage from the violent protests at the Brazilian capital showed a police car driving through crowds of demonstrators at dangerous speeds. In the frightening footage, a Military Police car could be seen swerving off of a path and tearing across a lawn outside the National Congress building in Brasilia. The car sped and swerved through throngs of demonstrators, who could be heard screaming and seen fleeing in terror from the rampaging car. It is unclear whether anybody was hurt in the incident. Other scenes from the day's chaos included a clip of a demonstrator apparently defecating on a desk inside a government chamber, and scores of protestors being led out of the National Congress building in handcuffs after being arrested by police. As of now, more than 400 people have been arrested. The supporters of far-right ex-President Bolsonaro invaded Brazil's National Congress building, the Supreme Court, presidential palace on Sunday, and called for the military to overthrow newly elected President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after Bolsonaro questioned the integrity of the election. Newly emerged footage from the violent protests at the Brazilian capital showed a police car driving through crowds of demonstrators at dangerous speeds Scores of protestors being led out of the National Congress building in handcuffs after being arrested by police A demonstrator apparently defecating on a desk inside a government chamber during the chaotic protests Sunday United States President Joe Biden condemned demonstrators who stormed Brazil's capital in protest of the nation's presidential election results, calling the incident an 'assault on democracy.' In a Tweet on Sunday, Biden said supporters of Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro were attacking the peaceful transfer of power in the nation, and cast his support behind President da Silva. 'I condemn the assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil,' Biden wrote. 'Brazils democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined. I look forward to continuing to work with @lulaoficial.' President da Silva has branded protestors who stormed Congress as 'vandals and fascists' - while the startling images from the day looked eerily similar to Trump supporters' insurrection at the US capital, which happened nearly to the day two years ago. A police car is driving into protesters in Brazil pic.twitter.com/CIvZf72b5t Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) January 8, 2023 President da Silva - said there was 'no precedent in the history of our country' and called the violence the 'acts of vandals and fascists'. He is currently on an official state trip in Sao Paulo Protesters smashed their way into the buildings, smashing windows as they forced their way into the Congress building, the Supreme Court and presidential palace President da Silva - said there was 'no precedent in the history of our country' and called the violence the 'acts of vandals and fascists'. He is currently on an official state trip in Sao Paulo. He blamed Bolsonaro for the invasion, and added that there was a lack of security in the capital which had not helped with the protests. Left-wing da Silva has only been in power for a week, after being inaugurated a week ago as supporters of the former president claim the election was stolen. According to President da Silva, all of the rioters will be identified and punished for their actions - as well as pledging to find those who have paid for the movement. Over 400 protesters had been arrested after police finally cleared the government buildings, Brazilian authorities said. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called the protests 'attacks on Brazil's Presidency, Congress, and Supreme Court' in a Tweet Sunday afternoon. 'Using violence to attack democratic institutions is always unacceptable. We join @lulaoficial in urging an immediate end to these actions,' he added. Speaking during a visit to the US southern border Sunday, Biden said 'it's outrageous' when questioned about the riots earlier Sunday. Policia Militar do DF prende criminosos que invadiram o Palacio do Planalto. pic.twitter.com/xZGWh4LhVD Metropoles (@Metropoles) January 8, 2023 Riot police confront supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro during Sunday's violent protests A supporter of Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro hurls debris at a group of riot police officers Supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro sit on the roof of the National Congress building on Sunday Riot police stationed outside the Planalto Palace in Brazil on Sunday after protestors stormed the building Demonstrators inside the Planalto Palace in Brazil on Sunday Demonstrators storm the Planalto Palace in Brazil on Sunday Officers take away a protestor during the violent demonstrations in Brazil on Sunday US Democrat Rep. for Texas Joaquin Castro compared the Brazilian demonstrators to the Trump supporting insurrectionists during last year's January 6 assault on the US capital. 'I stand with @lulaoficial and Brazils democratically elected government,' Castro tweeted. 'Domestic terrorists and fascists cannot be allowed to use Trumps playbook to undermine democracy.' 'Bolsonaro must not be given refuge in Florida, where hes been hiding from accountability for his crimes,' he added. Angry demonstrators storm into the Planalto Palace in Brazil during the protest on Sunday Police group together with riot shields as they engage with demonstrators at the Brazilian capital on Sunday Riot police respond to the violent demonstrations against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the Brazilian capital Sunday Brazilian former President Jair Bolsonaro's supporters at the nation's capital on Sunday Supporters of Bolsonaro could be seen breaking through the barriers and entering the building. It comes after da Silva, known as Lula, defeated far-right Bolsonaro in an October election. Others demonstrators were gathered outside the presidential palace and Supreme Court, although it was not immediately clear whether they had managed to break into the buildings. Bolsonaro supporters have been protesting against Lula's electoral win since October 30. Shocking footage showed how gangs of protestors beat a police officer arriving on horseback to the ground. Protestors smash up the interior of Brazil's National Congress building during protests on Sunday Angry demonstrators streaming into Brazil's National Congress building through broken windows on Sunday A rush of demonstrators pours into Brazil's National Congress building during Sunday's protests Protestors swarming Brazil's National Congress building during the violent protest on Sunday An explosion of sparks flies during the protests against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brazil on Sunday A supporter of former President Jair Bolsonaro is dragged away by police during the violent protests in Brazil Sunday Broken glass at Brazil's National Congress building from the chaos of Sunday's protests. Police fired rubber bullets at demonstrators Supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro storm up the National Congress building in Brazil on Sunday Supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro vandalize a room in Planalto Palace during a demonstration against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva A supporter of former Brazilian president Jail Bolsonaro vandalizing the Planalto Palalce during the unruly protest on Sunday Police and protestors are clashing in the streets outside of the government buildings after weeks of anger towards newly inaugurated President da Silva Pictures inside of the Planalto Palace show the damaged caused by the angry fans of right-wing Bolsonaro when they broke into the buildings Dramatic footage shows the damage caused by protestors, who smashed through windows and doors before trailing around the inside of the buildings Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco added that he was in permanent contact with Brasilia's governor, Ibaneis Rocha, and that the entire police apparatus had been mobilized to control the situation Protesters have climbed a ramp which gives access to the roof of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate buildings, with riot police on the scene Policiais militares do DF tiram foto e batem papo com manifestantes enquanto vandalos invadem Congresso Nacional. Reparem a conversa sobre invadir o #STF #brasilia pic.twitter.com/33HNDKN8yo Ana Flor (@Ana_Flor) January 8, 2023 Bolsonaro has not yet condemned or commented on the ongoing situation. He travelled to Florida in the US before the end of his term in office Local media have estimated that 3,000 people are involved in the protests - donning yellow and green T-shirts and holding Brazilian flags Bolsonaro left Brazil for Florida 48 hours before the end of his mandate - repeatedly questioned, without evidence, the credibility of the country's electronic voting system URGENTE: Os terroristas invadiram o Planalto em um claro atentado contra o Estado Democratico de Direito. Nao neles receio de ferir, matar ou destruir. pic.twitter.com/Yh5HAFdSQO Andre Janones (@AndreJanonesAdv) January 8, 2023 Protestors can be sen covering their mouths as smoke appears to come in , as President Lula is on a state visit in Sao Paulo They have been blocking roads, setting vehicles on fires and gathering outside military buildings, asking armed forces to intervene in the election - with police using tear gas to deter the protestors. Local media have estimated that 3,000 people are involved in the protests - donning yellow and green T-shirts and holding Brazilian flags. Those who broke into the building are also accused of attacking police vehicles which secured the building, as well as protection barriers. Bolsonaro left Brazil for Florida 48 hours before the end of his mandate - repeatedly questioned, without evidence, the credibility of the country's electronic voting system. Protesters have climbed a ramp which gives access to the roof of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate buildings. Lula's Workers Party asked the office of the top public prosecutor to order public security forces to act in containing the demonstrators. Many of the protestors are now roaming free in the presidential palace, and it appears that there was a limited number of personnel inside the building. A man waves a Brazil flag out the window of the government building. The colours have become synonymous with the Bolsonaro regime Lula's Workers Party asked the office of the top public prosecutor to order public security forces to act in containing the demonstrators Bolsonaro left Brazil for Florida 48 hours before the end of his mandate - repeatedly questioned, without evidence, the credibility of the country's electronic voting system Supporters of Bolsonaro can be seen breaking through the barriers and entering the building on Sunday Justice Minister Flavio Dino said: 'This absurd attempt to impose their will by force will not prevail. 'The government of the Federal District has ensured there will be reinforcements. And the forces at our disposal are at work.' Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco added that he was in permanent contact with Brasilia's governor, Ibaneis Rocha, and that the entire police apparatus had been mobilized to control the situation. Bolsonaro has not yet condemned or commented on the ongoing situation. Chilean President Gabriel Boric said Brazil has its 'full support in the face of this cowardly and vile attack on democracy'. Colombian President Gustavo Petro said 'fascism has decided to stage a coup', while Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Mexico expresses 'full support for President Lula's administration, elected by popular will'. They celebrated as they pushed over the barriers which had been in place to protect the buildings Protesters are calling for military intervention after storming the National Congress building in Brasilia It comes after da Silva, known as Lula, defeated far-right Bolsonaro in an October election Prince Harry has said there was 'absolutely no way' he have let his brother walk behind his mother Princess Diana's coffin alone. The brothers famously had to walk together behind Diana's coffin as it made its way to Westminster Abbey on the day of her funeral in 1997. Speaking in tonight's interview with ITV journalist Tom Bradby, the Duke of Sussex said that after the 'decision was made' for the pair to walk along the route: 'There's absolutely no way that I would let him do that by himself.' He added: 'And there's absolutely no way that he would let me do that by myself. It was, if it was role reversal.' The ITV interview with Bradby is part of a publicity blitz for his bombshell memoir Spare, which is being released on Tuesday but was leaked at the end of last week. Harry also spoke movingly of his memories of the sound of the horses' 'bridles chinking' as the procession made its way down The Mall, along with the sounds of 'gravel underneath the foot and the wails from the crowd.' But he said the 'otherwise complete silence' will 'stick with me forever.' Prince Harry has said there was 'absolutely no way' he have let his brother walk behind his mother Princess Diana's coffin alone. The brothers famously had to walk together behind Diana's coffin as it made its way to Westminster Abbey on the day of her funeral in 1997. Above: Harry and William behind Diana's coffin in 1997 with their father King Charles (right), grandfather Prince Philip (left) and uncle Earl Spencer, Princess Diana's brother Speaking in tonight's interview with ITV journalist Tom Bradby, the Duke of Sussex said that after the 'decision was made' for the pair to walk along the route: 'There's absolutely no way that I would let him do that by himself' Speaking of the decision to get him and Prince William to walk behind their mother's coffin, Harry said: '...there was a lot of conversations that happened around times like that, of which I wasn't part of, and William wasn't part of, he was probably more part of it than I was.' Harry also said that when he and his brother again walked the same route to Westminster Abbey together for the funeral of the Queen in September last year, they joked about knowing the way. But he added that whilst the Queen had 'finished life' and there was 'respect and recognition for what she had accomplished', Diana was 'taken away far too young.' 'Just recently I was, we, my brother and I were walking the same route, and we sort of joked to each other and said, at least we know the way,' he said. 'Um, but otherwise it was very similar. The only difference was the levels of emotion. Because our grandmother had finished life. 'There was more, I think, of a celebration and respect and recognition to what she had accomplished. Whereas our mother was taken away far too young.' Earlier in the interview, in a clip shared by ITV before the programme aired, Harry revealed he only cried once over the death of his mother. The Duke of Sussex said he felt like he was 'unable to show any emotion' in public after her death in 1997, and that he had only shed tears when she was buried. The 38-year-old told Bradby he felt 'some guilt' as he greeted crowds who gathered to pay their respects to his mother outside Kensington Palace. Prince Harry is seen walking between his father King Charles and uncle Earl Spencer as hit brother stands next to his grandfather Prince Philip. Just feet ahead is Princess Diana's coffin Prince Harry is seen with his brother Prince William and father King Charles at the funeral of Princess Diana Harry, seen above with his mother Princess Diana in Spain in 1987, told Bradby he had cried only once over her death Speaking of only crying once, Harry said: 'I cried once, at the burial, and you know I go into detail [in Spare] about how strange it was and how actually there was some guilt that I felt, and I think William felt as well, by walking around the outside of Kensington Palace. 'There were 50,000 bouquets of flowers to our mother and there we were shaking people's hands, smiling... 'And the wet hands that we were shaking, we couldn't understand why their hands were wet, but it was all the tears that they were wiping away.' He added that everyone knew 'where they were or what they were doing the night my mother died'. '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,' he said. The interview with Bradby is the first of four broadcast appearances over the coming days, with the duke also speaking to Anderson Cooper for 60 Minutes on CBS News on Sunday night, Michael Strahan of Good Morning America on Monday and Stephen Colbert on the Late Show on CBS on Wednesday morning UK time. Harry speaks often about the loss of his mother in his new memoir, which was released early by mistake in Spain last week. It is set to officially hit the shelves on Tuesday. In the book, which was ghost-written by Pulitzer-winning author J.R. Moehringer, he writes about how his father, who was then the Prince of Wales, sat him down on a bed before breaking the news. He says Prince Charles called him 'my dear son' before telling him his mother was unlikely to survive head injuries sustained in the crash in Paris in the early hours of August 31, 1997. He paints the picture of an emotionally distant father, saying that Charles was 'not good at expressing his emotions'. He wrote: 'What I do remember with stunning clarity is that I did not cry. Not a tear. My father did not hug me.' A grieving Prince Harry (centre) stands between his brother and father as the hearse carrying his mother's coffin prepares to leave Westminster Abbey following her funeral service in 1997 The Duke also recalls asking to go and visit his mother while she was in the hospital. However, he says his father explained she 'hasn't recovered any more', before saying he stayed in his room on his own until the following morning. He recalls that he and his brother William were forbidden from watching the TV so they didn't see news of the car crash. Harry adds that for a time he believed Diana had faked her own death and she was 'running away' to escape her 'miserable' life. The Duke says his 13-year-old self had wondered if it was a 'trick', writing in the book: 'Her life's been miserable, she's been hounded, harassed, lied about, lied to. So she's staged an accident as a diversion and run away.' He later admitted this was not the case, but said he returned to the theory as a source of comfort. Harry also admitted to trying to get closure by returning to the scene of his mother's death. The Princess of Wales was killed along with her partner Dodi Fayed when their driver Henri Paul crashed their car in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris in 1997. An inquest would later return a verdict of unlawful killing, blaming Paul, who was drunk at the time and also died in the crash, as well as the paparazzi following the vehicle. Harry says he got his chauffeur to drive him at 65mph - the speed at which the crash happened - through the tunnel repeatedly to experience how her final journey would have felt. He recounts the driver was shocked when he asked him if he knew the tunnel were his mother had died, and asked him to drive him through it. Harry pictured with his mother and brother at the VE Remembrance Service in Hyde Park in 1995 The Duke of Sussex speaks often about his mother in his new memoir Spare, which is released in the UK on January 10 The royal reveals he barely felt anything when he entered the tunnel, writing it was: 'The bump that supposedly sent Mummy's Mercedes veering off course.' He also recounts how he counted the lights and the pillar inside the tunnel as his car whizzed through, but was shocked at how short the tunnel actually was when he emerged. Harry recalled imagining the tunnel was a dangerous route, but was surprised to learn it was a 'no-frills tunnel'. He recounts speaking to William about the tunnel where their mother had died after he had made the journey through it himself. The pair then agreed to travel through it once more, together, after which Harry says they talked about their mother's accident for the first time. Following an investigation into Diana's death, Harry described the final report as 'an insult' and 'a shambles' which he believed was inaccurate. Harry claims in his memoir that his brother invoked their mother's memory during an argument over his interview with Oprah (pictured) In his memoir Harry also claims his brother invoked their mother's memory during an argument over his interview with Oprah. The Duke writes that William got heated as they spoke after the funeral of their grandfather Prince Philip in 2021. Harry claims he was trying to address bullying allegations made against Meghan, but his father and brother 'weren't listening.' The California-based royal went on to allege that William was 'really steaming' and grasped at him as he tried to walk away. 'I waved a hand, disgusted, but he lunged, grabbed my shirt. "Listen to me, Harold,"' Harry wrote in his book, according to The Sun. 'I pulled away, refused to meet his gaze. He forced me to look into his eyes. "Listen to me, Harold, listen! I love you, Harold! I want you to be happy."' Harry claims he replied: 'I love you toobut your stubbornness is extraordinary!' The Duke reportedly tried to pull away, but William allegedly 'grabbed him again' and 'twisted him' so the pair could maintain eye contact. William then evoked the brother's so-called 'secret code' and swore on Princess Diana's life that his intentions were genuine, Harry penned. He writes that William said: 'Harold, you must listen to me! I just want you to be happy, Harold. I swear I swear on Mummy's life.' Harry continued: 'He stopped. I stopped. Pa stopped. He'd gone there. 'He'd 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.' The Duke claimed his brother 'wasn't quite ready to accept defeat' and claimed to be 'properly sick and ill' over the tensions between the pair. William allegedly reiterated: 'I swear to you now on Mummy's life that I just want you to be happy'. Harry claims his 'voice broke' and he 'softly' told William: 'I really don't think you do.' The elder brother then allegedly hugged Harry and said: 'I love you'. MailOnline has approached representatives for William and Harry for comment. Tesla is currently based in Austin, Texas after moving from Northern California Lawyers for the Twitter CEO say San Francisco jurors are biased against him Elon Musk wants his fraud trial with Tesla shareholders moved to Texas Elon Musk's lawyers want to move his upcoming fraud trial with Tesla investors from San Francisco to Austin, Texas to avoid potential bias from jurors. Lawyers for the Chief Twit say because he recently laid off 50 percent of Twitter workers in the Northern California city, there is a sense of 'local negativity' amongst residents in the area. The billionaire's lawyers want the trial moved to Texas - where Tesla is currently headquartered - after moving from Palo Alto in late 2021. The trial stems from tweets Musk sent in August 2018 claiming he had 'funding secured' regarding Tesla going private and that the messages were 'indisputably false' and cost them billions. Elon Musk's lawyers want to move his upcoming fraud trial with Tesla investors from San Francisco to Austin, Texas to avoid potential bias from jurors Lawyers for the Chief Twit say because he recently laid off 50 percent of Twitter workers in the Northern California city, there is a sense of 'local negativity' amongst residents in the area The CEO maintains he did not mislead investors and that he had funds from Saudi Arabia that supported his statements. Musk, 51, is the CEO of both Tesla and SpaceX, purchased Twitter in October 2022 for $44 billion and installed himself as CEO immediately. In court filings, Musk's lawyers say the man is a consistent target of Bay Area news sources and that this means he will be unable to obtain a fair trial in California. 'Mr. Musk is far likelier to receive a fair trial in the Western District of Texas,' the billionaire's lawyer, Alex Spiro of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan partner, wrote. 'Mr. Musk has not been the subject of overwhelming, pervasive, and inflammatory press coverage by the local media in the Western District of Texas, like he has in this district. Texas news outlets publish far fewer stories about Mr. Musk.' The filing come less than two weeks before the legal proceedings are slated to begin in Northern California on January 17. Musk, 51, purchased Twitter in October 2022 for $44 billion and installed himself as CEO immediately Twitter is headquartered in San Francisco, California Tesla is headquartered in Austin, Texas The trial stems from tweets Musk sent in August 2018 regarding taking the company private Musk tweeted that he was taking his electric-vehicle company private at $420 per share and could do so with 'funding secured' In August 2018, Musk tweeted that he was taking his electric-vehicle company private at $420 per share and could do so with 'funding secured.' In the weeks following, Tesla's stock trading halted and then shares were considered volatile due to his tweets. Northern California Senior District Judge Edward M. Chen ruled in 2022 that Musks statements in 2018 were false and that the CEO tweeted them knowingly. Jurors in the upcoming trial will help decide if the tweets impacted Tesla's share prices and if the company should be held liable to pay damages. In the weeks following, Tesla's stock trading halted and then shares were considered volatile due to his tweets Northern California Senior District Judge Edward M. Chen ruled in 2022 that Musks statements in 2018 were false and that the CEO tweeted them knowingly There are more than 1,700 miles between San Francisco, where the trail is currently set, and Austin, where Musk's lawyers want it to be moved Musk's lawyers have argued his statements did not violate the law at all. He says it was a private handshake deal that prompted him to tweet out the message regarding the potential to privatize the company. Text messages revealed in a different trial involving the CEO in 2022 implied the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund had not fully agreed to the deal. Court filings from this month show Musks attorneys have subpoenaed four people to testify in this trial including Naif Al Mogren, Saad Al Jarboa, Turqi Alnowaise and Yasir Al-Rumayyan. Mogren, Al Jarboa, Alnowaise, and Al-Rumayyan all work with the Saudi Arabia PIF. This is Tesla's headquarters in Travis County, Texas The company moved from Palo Alto to Austin in late 2021 Despite Musk's lawyers saying the trial should be moved as Tesla now operates in Texas, the company still has nearly 50,000 employees in the Golden State. Musk's legal counsel claim the jury pool 'is likely to hold a personal and material bias against Mr. Musk as a result of recent layoffs at one of his companies as individual prospective jurors or their friends and relatives may have been personally impacted.' 'The existing baseline bias has been compounded, expanded, and reinforced by the negative and inflammatory local publicity surrounding the events,' lawyers claim. The lawyers state, however, the trail is not being brought just because of the negative news coverage he has received. Musk's lawyers say the jury members are 'likely to hold a personal and material bias against Mr. Musk as a result of recent layoffs at one of his companies as individual prospective jurors' Musk, since taking over as CEO, has cut thousands of employees from the company 'Mr. Musk has been a public figure for more than a decade and recognizes that being the subject of negative and even unfair media attention comes with the territory,' the filing states. 'The local media and political establishment have attempted to depict Mr. Musk as personally responsible for causing material economic harm to the significant number of potential jurors impacted by the layoffs and to the City of San Francisco as a whole.' Musk, since taking over as CEO, has cut thousands of employees from the company. In addition to cutting the jobs, Musk has faced heavy backlash in the Bay Area for slamming San Francisco Mayor London Breed over the homeless and drug problem. Musk may have also violated public building codes when he turned some rooms at Twitter's Market Street headquarters into bedrooms. The Republican governor of Texas delivered a frosty welcome to President Joe Biden in El Paso on Sunday, accusing him of opening the southern border to illegal immigrants and handing him a letter demanding that he take more action to tackle the crisis. Gov. Greg Abbott blasted Biden's visit his first to the border as president saying that the city had been cleaned up for his trip. And he characterized the trip as '$20 billion too little and two years too late' in a scathing description of Biden's failure to control illegal migration. 'Even the city you visit has been sanitized of the migrant camps which had overrun downtown El Paso because your administration wants to shield you from the chaos that Texans experience on a daily basis,' he wrote Gov. Greg Abbott welcomed President Joe Biden to El Paso, Texas, with a frosty letter demanding more action to tackle illegal immigration and accusing him of opening borders Biden then met with US Customs and Border Protection police on the Bridge of the Americas border crossing between Mexico and the US in El Paso The five border demands in Gov. Abbott's letter Gov. Greg Abbott made five demands in the letter he handed to President Joe Biden on Sunday: You must comply with the many statutes mandating that various categories of aliens 'shall' be detained, and end the practice of unlawfully paroling aliens en masse. You must stop sandbagging the implementation of the Remain-in-Mexico policy and Title 42 expulsions, and fully enforce those measures as the federal courts have ordered you to do. You must aggressively prosecute illegal entry between ports of entry, and allow ICE to remove illegal immigrants in accordance with existing federal laws. You must immediately resume construction of the border wall in the State of Texas, using the billions of dollars Congress has appropriated for that purpose. You must designate the Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Advertisement Biden touched down in the border city around midday in what officials hoped was a chance to underscore his commitment to tackling illegal immigration. Republicans have used record numbers of illegal arrivals to bludgeon the Biden administration during the past two years. But any slight hopes that they might welcome the president's attention to the issue quickly evaporated as Abbot could be seen on the asphalt handing a letter to the president. 'Under your watch ... America is suffering the worst illegal immigration in the history of our country,' it says. 'Your open-border policies have emboldened the cartels, who grow wealthy by trafficking deadly fentanyl and even human beings.' He urged Biden to resume building the border wall that was begun under President Donald Trump. And he said the Biden administration must designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. 'When you finish the photo-ops in a carefully stage-managed version of El Paso, you have a job to do,' added Abbott. From the airport, Biden visited the Bridge of the Americas actually a series of bridges connecting El Paso with the Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez for a close-up look at the border and a bustling port of entry. He watched border officers demonstrate how they search vehicles for drugs, money and other contraband. A yellow Labrador was shown detecting fruit and meat in a vehicle, before a chocolate Labrador retrieved what appeared to be a package of drugs from another car. As he toured the port of entry, a sign reading, 'Bienvenido a Mexico,' could be seen on the far side of the border Abbott handed this letter to Biden at El Paso International Airport, ensuring a frosty welcome to Texas on Sunday as the president makes his first visit to the border since taking office During his tour Biden was shown how border officers search vehicles for drugs, money and other contraband at the El Paso port of entry on the Bridge of the Americas Biden was shown a fake battery that was used in an attempt to smuggle drugs into the U.S. The number of migrants arriving in El Paso has dropped by some 70 percent since a peak in December, according to the White House However, a series of camps was cleaned out by border agents last week ahead of the visit Earlier Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, which represents 18,000 agents, also said the visit was little more than a stunt. 'You're barely from wheels down to wheels up there three hours,' he told DailyMail.com. 'You're barely going to get the scope of what is happening.' He said his members had waited two years for a chance to explain to the president that the surge in illegal crossings meant they spent all their time on paperwork rather than protecting the border from drug smugglers and criminals. Locals say Biden will not even see the worst of the problems they face, after border agents cleared out migrant camps. En route to El Paso, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the number of people crossing the border had also dropped from its December peak. 'The number of people attempting to cross the border unlawfully in El Paso is now down by over 70 percent And that has been since mid December,' she said. The presidential motorcade drives beside the border wall during Biden's Sunday visit The end of the year brought a surge in migrant arrivals to coincide with what was expected to be the end of Title 42, and its tough restrictions. El Paso declared an emergency But on Saturday, the same streets had no sign of the migrants who had camped there In the run-up to the visit, Biden said it was vital to expand legal immigration while limiting illegal immigration. 'Our border communities represent the best of our nations generosity and were going to get them more support while expanding legal pathways for orderly immigration and limiting illegal immigration,' he tweeted on Sunday. Border officials detained a record 2.2 million migrants in the last full fiscal year. And the issue has been used by Republicans to attack Biden throughout his presidency, accusing him of opening the country's borders. Biden on Thursday launched plans to block Cuban, Haitian and Nicaraguan migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, expanding the nationalities of migrants who can be sent back to Mexico. Combined with the visit to El Paso, one of the crossing hotspots, supporters say it demonstrates that he is serious about tackling the problem. Some opponents have grudgingly conceded the benefits of the trip. Border agents' union were dismissive of the visit to a cleaned-up El Paso in a Friday tweet The Texas National Guard deployed along the border in El Paso at the end of last year. They are still there and have set up two miles of extra fencing with razor wire Officials say their presence has forced migrants away from El Paso as they look to cross into the U.S. from Mexico, although numbers have dwindled anyway as they always do in January BIDEN'S PLAN TO ADDRESS HISTORIC MIGRANT CRISIS Accept 30,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela every month Can come to the U.S. for two years if they are sponsored, have background checks and receive work authorization Expel migrants from those countries who try to cross the border illegally and impose a five-year ban on reentry Individuals from Mexico and Panama will not be eligible for parole in the U.S. Mexico has agreed to accept 30,000 expelled migrants a month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela Welcome 20,000 refugees from Latin America and Caribbean nations in 2023 and 2024 Migrants will have to set up an appointment using a cell phone app for appointments at border entry points U.S. giving $23 million in humanitarian assistance to Mexico and Central America Increasing funding available to border cities and those receiving an influx of migrants Advertisement John Cornyn, one of the state's two Republican senators, said: 'He must take the time to learn from some of the experts I rely on the most, including local officials and law enforcement, landowners, nonprofits, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's officers and agents, and folks who make their livelihoods in border communities on the front lines of his crisis.' But Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, said it was nothing more than a publicity stunt. 'Since day one of his presidency, Joe Biden has put drug smugglers and human traffickers before American families, allowing deadly fentanyl to pour across the border, and abandoned our brave Border Patrol agents,' she said. 'Simply put: Biden's visit is nothing more than a photo op.' The visit attracted controversy even before it began when it emerged last week that city authorities had begun clearing migrant camps Areas that had once teemed with illegal arrivals around the Greyhound Bus station were eerily quiet on Saturday, a day before Biden's visit. 'I think they're trying to send a message that they're going to more consistently check people's documented status, and if you have not been processed they are going to pick you up,' Ruben Garcia of the Annunciation House aid group told the Associated Press. Biden was also due to visit the El Paso County Migrant Services Center and meet with nonprofits and religious groups that support migrants arriving to the U.S. Despite his almost 50 years of public service, Biden has been a rare visitor to the southern border. The White House could only point to a brief swing past it in 2008 when he was campaigning for president. He dispatched Vice President Kamala Harris to El Paso in 2021, but she was criticized for visiting at a time when other sectors of the border were seeing more problems. On Thursday Biden announced he was expanding Trump-era restrictions to rapidly expel Cuban, Haitian, and Nicaraguan migrants caught illegally crossing the southern border. Instead, the U.S. will accept 30,000 people per month from those three countries, as well as Venezuela, so long as they arrive legally. This is what Biden would have seen in mid-December when crowds crossed the Rio Grande river that separates the two countries and handed themselves in to border patrols Migrant crossings at the southwest border have increased significantly in 2022 It represents an attempt both to head off Republican criticism that it has allowed record numbers to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, and to address concerns from within the Democratic Party that Biden has been too slow to shake off Trump-era restrictions that prevent those in need from seeking asylum. The administration is preparing for the end of Title 42, a public health regulation that allows the expulsion of migrants before they can claim asylum in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Yet the proposals immediately triggered anger on both sides, with Republicans saying it was too little, too late and some Democrats saying it expanded restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump. Even in announcing the plan, Biden acknowledged that it was far from perfect. 'The actions we're announcing today will make things better ... will make things better but will not fix the border problem completely,' he said. After El Paso, Biden flies on to Mexico City, where will meet with the leaders of Canada and Mexico for a North American leaders summit. Immigration will be on the agenda. Prince Harry showed anger and resentment when talking about members of the Royal Family during his ITV sit down, a body language expert has said. The Duke of Sussex, 38, has sat down with ITV's Tom Bradby as part of a publicity blitz for his new bombshell memoir Spare. During the interview, Harry addresses a number of topic covered in the book, including his consumption of cocaine a 'few' times during his wilder party years and his relationship and his sensational accusation towards Camilla of plotting to marry Charles. In Spare, the Duke claims that he and his brother William 'begged' the then-Prince of Wales not to remarry after Princess Diana's death, fearing that she would be their 'wicked stepmother'. Prince Harry and Prince William pictured attending the former's wedding at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle Body language expert Judi James told MailOnline that Harry displayed examples of 'anger and resentment' when talking about the Queen Consort. She said: 'Harrys body language signals are contradictory when he talks of his father. His voice drops and his features soften but he also seems to prep physically for a challenge or confrontation, despite telling how he has already opened up to his dad and gained the apology he seems to have been craving. 'At times he looks tearful but his mantra: "I love my father. I love my brother. I love my family", sounds like an unemotional recitation. The phrase "certain members of my family" prompts signals of anger and resentment. 'He sucks his lips in, and describes how they "decided to get into bed with the devil" using precision gestures to signal righteousness and correctness. His "killer" accusation here comes through a mime. Using one hand for his family and the other for the tabloid media he presses one hand on top of the other. With Camilla Harry is a welter of conflicting signalling. He acts out anger when Tom suggests he has been scathing about her but his hand lands on his hip in a partial splay gesture of aggressive arousal or defensiveness. 'His positive comments skid up towards a but... as he sniffs and bristles before swerving politically again to get off this more specific target.' In his autobiography, Harry describes smoking cannabis and boozing - but he revealed for the first time how he was offered a line of cocaine during a hunting weekend. Admitting that he lied to the Royal Household staff during his interrogation, Harry says taking cocaine 'wasn't much fun' and did it partly to be different and because he was a 'seventeen-year-old willing to try almost anything that would upset the established order'. Ms James says Harry showed signs of appearing 'ashamed and apologeticr' when having to address his cocaine consumption. She added: 'Tom Bradbury brings up the subject of drugs with understandable signals of awkwardness and embarrassment, raising his brows, tilting his head and almost requesting non-verbal permission. However once he is on the subject he becomes a terrier with a bone between its teeth. Harrys response is that of a politician, both verbally and non-verbally. He adopts a confident pose and holds it apart from a suggesting in the straightening of his torso that he is bracing himself, instead of looking ashamed or apologetic, to appear to be bristling with righteousness and indignation. Tom asks whether a "class A drug" was not in the publics interest and Harry performs a political swerve, repeating the words "what is a matter of public interest" to lead the attention off the drugs and onto a diversion, which is "the relationship between the institution and the tabloid media". 'His lower jaw jut signals resentment and anger and his hands spin in mid-air in a bout of his leadership style emphatic rituals.' In the book, Harry claims his brother William invoked their mother's memory during an argument over his interview with Oprah. The duke wrote that William got heated as they spoke after the funeral of their grandfather Prince Philip in 2021. Harry claims he was trying to address bullying allegations made against Meghan, before alleging that William was 'really steaming' and grasped at him as he tried to walk away. Ms James says Harry showed 'evasiveness' and 'discomfort' when discussing the rift with his brother. The Duke of Sussex, 38, has sat down with ITV's Tom Bradby as part of a publicity blitz for his new bombshell memoir Spare Prince Harry pictured with his brother Prince William and father Prince Charles at the funeral of Princess Diana She added: 'Tom Bradbury uses a first person role-play technique when quizzing Harry about William. He adopts the role, body language and the words of William, acting out potential bewilderment and a sense that Harry has betrayed him. 'Its a powerful technique that can be aimed at prodding the interviewee to reply in kind or to produce a more realistic response. Role-play like this might look a bit overkill but in an emotional situation it can often trigger reactions that normal questioning cant. 'Harry becomes very guarded here though, making it sound like a political interview. He performs a cut-off ritual, bringing one hand up to his nose. This can often show a desire to want to cover or conceal the mouth or part of the face, which in turn can look evasive.' Ms James continues: 'When Tom says in role as William How could you do this to me? Harry squirms to avoid playing ball. His eyes move to the right and also upward. Avoidance of eye contact like this can also hint at discomfort or evasiveness. 'When Tom presses it further, asking about invading the privacy of your nearest and dearest Harry touches his nose and sniffs, hiding what looks like an angry or pained grimace. His answers become less direct and more political as he says William might say a lot of things rather than make more specific speculations. Speaking about his mother's death, Harry recalled how he was 'unable to show any emotion' in public after her fatal car crash in 1997, and that he had only shed tears when she was buried. He also spoke of feeling 'some guilt' as he greeted crowds who gathered to pay their respects to his mother outside Kensington Palace Ms James described how Harry tried to show a 'signal of bravado', but was likely masking grief. She said: ' Harrys body language when he talks about his mothers death and his reactions and feelings at the time suggest a disassociation, as though it is still too raw and painful to fully immerse himself in the narrative. 'He starts by using an incongruent signal. His eyes move to the side and he performs a very weak smile that is applied like a signal of bravado. This is often a sign that someone is masking, i.e. concealing their pain or their grief. 'His eyes then roll upward in a cut-off ritual and here we get to glimpse the pain as his mouth stretches in a horizontal grimace that reveals his lower teeth, like a wince of physical pain. 'But then he seems to adopt an outsiders view, almost as though he is a commentator on his own documentary. His left hand moves in a conductors gesture to suggest control as he switches away from the first person as though talking about someone else. The two people most loved by her were unable to show any emotion sounds as though he is looking in at these two tragic boys rather than immersing himself and identifying with his young self and, again, the suggestion is that it is still too raw for him to deal with. Prince Harry sat down tonight for her first primetime interview to promote his memoir, Spare The Duke of Sussex speaks often about his mother in his new memoir Spare, which is released in the UK on January 10 '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,' he tells presenter Tom Bradby. Harry also reveals how his father sat him down on a bed before breaking the news. He says Prince Charles called him 'my dear son' before telling him his mother was unlikely to survive head injuries sustained in the crash in Paris in the early hours of August 31, 1997. The prince paints the picture of an emotionally distant father, saying that Charles was 'not good at expressing his emotions'. In a passage read out on ITV, Harry says: 'What I do remember with stunning clarity is that I did not cry. Not a tear. My father did not hug me.' In the book, the Duke recalls asking to go and visit his mother while she was in the hospital. However, he says his father explained she 'hasn't recovered any more', before saying he stayed in his room on his own until the following morning. He recalled that he and his brother William were forbidden from watching the TV so they didn't see news of the car crash. An investigation into the alleged murder of a father and his young daughter after they died in a fire has taken a turn with police now focusing on a white van that was seen driving in the area on the same day as the blaze. Todd Mooney, 54, and his daughter Kirra Mooney, 10, were found dead inside a burned down shed at their property in Biggenden, in southeast Queensland, on December 20 at about 12.20pm. Kristen Olsen, 24, a travel blogger, OnlyFans creator and self-proclaimed gypsy, has since been charged with two counts of murder and one count of arson. Queensland Police on Sunday night released an image of a white Holden Barina wagon that has a distinctive solar panel on its roof as it ramps up its investigation. Todd Mooney, 54, and his daughter Kirra Mooney, 10, (pictured is Todd and Kirra as a baby) were found dead inside a burned down shed at their property in Biggenden, in south-east Queensland on December 20 at about 12.20pm The body of 10-year-old Kirra Mooney was found in the blackened remains of the shed Kristen Olsen, 24, (pictured) was charged with two counts of murder and one count of arson over the deaths of Todd Mooney, 54, and Kirra Mooney, 10, on Friday 'Investigators appeal to anyone who may have seen the vehicle between 10am and 2pm on December 20 between Biggenden and Bam Bam Springs to come forward,' a spokesperson said. Queensland Police Detective Chief Inspector Gary Pettiford confirmed on Friday that Olsen is the only person of interest 'at this stage' of the investigation. He said while she didn't have any known links to the Mooney family, she had attended school in Biggenden, located in Queensland's North Burnett Region. Mr Mooney, who owned a bakery in town, had been planning to wed his long-time partner Bec Hansen at the property the same week he died. Queensland Police will allege the travel blogger deliberately lit a fire that destroyed a large shed on the Mooney family's property in Biggenden on December 20 Queensland Police on Monday night released an image of a white Holden Barina wagon that was seen driving in the area on the same day as the fire Ms Hansen had been working at the bakery on the day the fire began. Olsen is understood to have made the 15-hour drive down the coast from Cairns to the town of Biggenden in December. On November 24, she told followers she was 'back, bigger and better than ever' and thanked them for their support over the years in a lengthy Facebook post. She shared a link to her OnlyFans page 'SlipperyGypsy.69' for people who wanted to see 'where my feet take me and what they are continuously teaching me'. 'These two foot falcons have led me to the heart of Far North Queensland a town surrounded by jungle where I am able to be myself,' she wrote in the post. 'For those who don't know, I stand for the land; our ultimate sustainable life force. 'Over the years my bare feet have led me to different places, exploring new ventures and commemorating the origins of Australia's vast lands and communities.' On the homepage of her adults-only subscription site, Olsen said she is a 'small town barefoot gypsy, exploring the many pleasures in life'. Olsen faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Saturday and is expected to appear in court again on Monday. The first launch of a space rocket into orbit from Britain is set to take place tonight. A re-purposed jumbo jet called Cosmic Girl will take off from the UKs first spaceport in Cornwall carrying the 70ft rocket under its wing to a height of 35,000ft, before releasing it south of Ireland. The rocket, LauncherOne, will then soar into space with a payload of nine satellites. Their purposes range from navigation to sea surveillance to prevent illegal fishing, smuggling and piracy. Technicians work on Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne rocket attached to the wing of Cosmic Girl, a Boeing 747-400 aircraft, ahead of Britain's first space launch on Monday The rocket will launch from Cornwall Airport. Approximately ten minutes after the take-off, the spacecraft will reach 35,000ft The rocket launch, called Start Me Up after the Rolling Stones song, has been arranged by Virgin Orbit from Cornwall Airport near Newquay. It is set to be attended by 2,500 people. Thousands more, including billionaire Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson are set to see a livestream on YouTube. The launch will be broadcast on YouTube. Sir Richard Branson is expected to watch the rocket online The company says it should be possible for most people in the UK and Ireland to see LauncherOne within 60 seconds of ignition, while those living on the coast of France, Portugal, and Spain will get a good view within two to three minutes Spaceport Cornwall (pictured in an artist's impression) will be the first such hub in the UK to enter service when the repurposed Newquay Airport hosts the space plane lift-off at night, after all the commercial flights have ended However, experts warned the weather could see a last-minute postponement until later this month. David Rothery, professor of planetary geosciences at the Open University, said: This rocket launch sprinkles a little bit of stardust on the UK. Prince Harry has claimed that his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Kate's 'stereotyping' of his wife Meghan meant she was not welcomed as a member of the Royal Family. The Duke of Sussex was speaking in tonight's interview with ITV's Tom Bradby. He said that there was a 'lot of stereotyping' of Meghan after she was introduced to the Royal Family, because she is an 'American actress, divorced, biracial', adding that even he was 'guilty' of it. The ITV interview with Bradby is part of a publicity blitz for his bombshell memoir Spare, which is being released on Tuesday but was leaked at the end of last week. Prince Harry has claimed that his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Kate's 'stereotyping' of his wife Meghan meant she was not welcomed as a member of the Royal Family The Duke of Sussex was speaking in tonight's interview with ITV's Tom Bradby Harry and Bradby joked about how, after he introduced Meghan to his family, he discovered his family were fans of Suits, the show that she starred in during her time as an actress. But he said it was 'fair' to say that, according to Bradby, 'almost from the get-go it's just that they don't get on.' Asked why that was, he said: 'Lots of lots of different reasons but I look, as I again detail a lot, I had put a lot of hope in the idea that, you know, it'd be William and Kate and me and whoever. 'I thought the you know, the four of us would, you know, bring me and William closer together, we could go out and do work together, um, which I did a lot as the third wheel to them, um, which was fun at times but also, I guess slightly awkward at times as well. 'But um yeah, I think I don't think they were ever expecting me to get or to become to get into a relationship with with someone like Meghan who had, you know, a very successful career. He added: 'There was a lot of stereotyping that was happening, that I was guilty of as well, at the beginning.' He said the 'stereotyping' of Meghan, in part by William and Kate, was causing a 'barrier' to his family, preventing them from 'welcoming her in.' Asked what he meant, he said: 'Well, American actress, divorced, biracial, there's there's all different parts to that and what that can mean but if you are, like a lot of my family do, if you are reading the press, the British tabloids, [Yeah] at the same time as living the life, then there is a tendency where you could actually end up living in the tabloid bubble rather than the actual reality.' Harry and ITV's Tom Bradby joked about how, after he introduced Meghan to his family, he discovered his family were fans of Suits, the show that she starred in during her time as an actress. Above: Meghan in Suits Prince Harry saw the Princess of Wales as the sister he 'never had' - but has accused his family of 'stereotyping' his wife Meghan Markle. Above: Harry stands next to Kate and his brother on the Buckingham Palace balcony in 2013 Harry said there was a 'lot of stereotyping' of Meghan after she was introduced to the Royal Family, because she is an 'American actress, divorced, biracial', adding that even he was 'guilty' of it. Above: Meghan introduces her and Harry's newborn son Archie to the Queen, Prince Philip and her mother Doria Ragland in 2019 Meghan was previously married to American TV producer Trevor Engelson for three years from 2011 until 2014. Before meeting Harry, Meghan had starred in US legal drama series Suits in which she played paralegal-turned-lawyer Rachel Zane. Bradby said that Harry saw his brother's wife as 'the sister you never had', with the pair having known each other since soon after William and Kate started dating in 2003. The pair are believed to have gotten on well, with Harry joining her and William on engagements before he met Meghan - although he told Bradby that whilst the events were 'fun', he sometimes felt 'slightly awkward' being the 'third wheel'. Harry also said the idea of himself, his wife and the Prince and Princess of Wales being the 'fab four' was 'something the British press created' and it 'creates competition'. He told Bradby: 'The idea of the four of us being together was always a hope for me. 'Before it was Meghan, whoever it was going to be, I always hoped that the four of us would get on. 'But very quickly it became Meghan versus Kate. 'And that, when it plays out so publicly, you can't hide from that, right? Especially when within my family you have the newspapers laid out pretty much in every single palace and house that is around.' Harry added that his brother William 'raised some concerns' about his marriage to Meghan before their wedding in May 2018. He said: 'He never tried to dissuade me from marrying Meghan, but he aired some concerns very early, and said 'this is going to be really hard for you' and I still to this day don't truly understand which part of what he was talking about. 'Maybe he predicted what the British press's reaction was going to be.' Harry: The Interview is available to view on ITVX. Harry also spoke in the interview of the day of his mother's funeral, telling how there was 'absolutely no way' he have let his brother walk behind his mother Princess Diana's coffin alone. The brothers famously walked together with their father and grandfather behind Diana's coffin as it made its way to Westminster Abbey on the day of her funeral in 1997. 'There's absolutely no way that I would let him do that by himself. 'And there's absolutely no way that he would let me do that by, by myself. It was, if it was role reversal.' Harry also spoke movingly of his memories of the sound of the horses' 'bridles chinking' as the procession made its way down The Mall, along with the sounds of 'gravel underneath the foot and the wails from the crowd.' But he said the 'otherwise complete silence' will 'stick with me forever.' Harry also said that when he and his brother again walked the same route to Westminster Abbey together for the funeral of the Queen in September last year, they joked about knowing the way. But he added that whilst the Queen had 'finished life' and there was 'respect and recognition for what she had accomplished', Diana was 'taken away far too young.' 'Just recently I was, we, my brother and I were walking the same route, and we sort of joked to each other and said, at least we know the way,' he said. 'Um, but otherwise it was very similar. The only difference was the levels of emotion. Because our grandmother had finished life. 'There was more, I think, of a celebration and respect and recognition to what she had accomplished. Whereas our mother was taken away far too young.' Earlier in the interview, in a clip shared by ITV before the programme aired, Harry revealed he only cried once over the death of his mother. Harry is seen joining Kate and his brother William at an engagement in 2016. He told Bradby that while engagements with them were 'fun', he sometimes felt 'slightly awkward' being the 'third wheel' Harry is seen with his brother and the Princess of Wales at the Rugby World Cup in 2015 The Duke of Sussex said he felt like he was 'unable to show any emotion' in public after her death in 1997, and that he had only shed tears when she was buried. The 38-year-old told ITV's Tom Bradby he felt 'some guilt' as he greeted crowds who gathered to pay their respects to his mother outside Kensington Palace. Earlier today, King Charles seemed in good spirits as he was seen for the first time since revelations from the Duke of Sussex's memoir emerged. Charles smiled and stopped to chat to well-wishers as he arrived for a service at Castle Rising Church in Norfolk on Sunday morning. Harry speaks extensively in Spare of rifts with his family. The book, which was accidentally released early in Spain, contains a wealth of insights from Harry's viewpoint, from accusing his brother the Prince of Wales of assault to asking Charles not to marry Camilla. Where Harry claims William physically attacked him, he 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. Harry is seen with Kate and William attending an engagement at Paddington station in 2017 Harry is seen with Kate and William wearing 'Heads Together' headbands 'I landed on the dog's 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 Guardian reported the alleged incident took place at Harry's then home Nottingham Cottage as William called his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, 'difficult', 'rude' and 'abrasive'. Harry told him he was parroting the press narrative about his wife, according to reports about the book. Other disclosures include Harry saying he was not the real best man at William's wedding, and that Charles was jealous of both the Duchess of Sussex and the Princess of Wales. Harry also says the reason his father supposedly said he did not 'have money to spare' to financially support him and Meghan was because the King feared the 'novel and resplendent' American actress would steal his limelight. He says that, prior to his engagement to Meghan, his father had raised the subject of the actress's livelihood and asked if she planned to continue working after their marriage. When the duke told Charles he did not believe so, Harry claims his father replied: 'Well, my dear son, you already know that we don't have money to spare.' Prince Harry suggested his family has avoided accountability 'on a lot of things' during his 90-minute sit-down interview with ITV's Tom Bradby on Sunday night. The broadcast, which began at 9pm, focuses on Harry's tumultuous relationship with his family who - in Bradby's words - the Duke of Sussex took 'a flame thrower to' in the writing of his memoirs. It is the first primetime interview since his explosive autobiography Spare, which is out next week, was accidentally released early in Spain before the weekend. Published extracts include an alleged physical altercation between William and Harry and details of the feud between Meghan and Kate. He also writes how he and William begged King Charles not to marry the now Queen consort Camilla, who he feared could become their 'wicked stepmother', before suggesting she had plotted to take the crown and leaked stories to the press. Prince Harry suggested his family has avoided accountability 'on a lot of things' during his 90-minute sit-down interview with ITV's Tom Bradby on Sunday night (Pictured: King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla in 2018) Speaking about what he wants from the book, Harry told Mr Bradby: 'I want reconciliation, but first there needs to be some accountability' (Pictured: Harry, Meghan, Charles and Camilla at the funeral of the late Queen) 'It never needed to be this way': Prince Harry says his family have shown 'no willingness to reconcile' as he unleashes round after round of criticism on the Royals in bombshell ITV interview Prince Harry sat down tonight for her first primetime interview to promote his memoir, Spare Advertisement But Harry believes nothing in his book is 'scathing' towards any member of his family. Speaking about what he wants from his family and book, Harry told Mr Bradby: 'I want reconciliation, but first there needs to be some accountability. You can't just continue to say to me that I'm delusional and paranoid when all the evidence is stacked up, because I was genuinely terrified about what's gonna happen to me.' Referencing his decision to step down as a senior royal in 2019, he continued: 'And then we have a 12-month transition period, and everyone doubles down. My wife shares her experience.' He said that instead of backing off, 'both the institution and the media doubled down.' Mr Bradby then addresses the claims Harry makes about his stepmother in Spare. Harry narrates the passage that reads: 'Shortly after our private meetings with her [Camilla], 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). '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 in the book that they could have only come from 'the one person' with intimate knowledge of the meetings, who could provide details with 'pin point' accuracy. Charles had tried to win over his sons before asking the public to accept Camilla, the book claims. Harry then astonishingly says that meeting the future Queen Consort for the first time was like an 'injection'. He later says that ultimately he and William approved of Camilla. He writes: 'I remember wondering... if she would be cruel to me; if she would be like all the wicked stepmothers in the stories'. But Harry told Mr Bradby tonight: 'There's no part of any of the things that I've said are scathing towards any member of my family, especially not my stepmother. There are things that have happened that have been incredibly hurtful, um, some in the past, some current.' He added: 'No institution is immune to accountability or taking responsibility. So you can't be immune to criticisms either. The broadcast, which began at 9pm, focused on Harry's tumultuous relationship with his family who - in Bradby's words - the prince took 'a flame thrower to' in the writing of his memoirs 'And you talk about, you know, scrutiny and, you know, my wife and I were scrutinised more than, probably, anybody else. I, I see a lack of scrutiny to my family towards a lot of the things that have happened in the last year.' He later said he had 'made peace' with everything that has happened but that he would still like his father and brother back, but that there had to be 'accountability'. Clips previously released by ITV of Harry: The Interview, also showed him describing feelings of guilt and revealing he had cried only once after the death of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales. In a previously released trailer for the interview, Harry says he is publishing his memoirs because he does not know 'how staying silent is ever going to make things better'. The interview is the first of four broadcast appearances over the coming days, with the duke also speaking to Anderson Cooper for 60 Minutes on CBS News on Sunday night, Michael Strahan of Good Morning America tomorrow and Stephen Colbert on the Late Show on CBS on Wednesday morning UK time. In the interview with Bradby, Harry speaks about being unable to show any emotion when meeting mourners following the death of his mother in 1997. He also admits to feeling 'some guilt' when walking among the crowds gathered outside Kensington Palace, saying the only time he cried was at his mother's burial. Harry also reveals how his father sat him down on a bed before breaking the news. He says Prince Charles called him 'my dear son' before telling him his mother was unlikely to survive head injuries sustained in the crash in Paris in the early hours of August 31, 1997. The prince paints the picture of an emotionally distant father, saying that Charles was 'not good at expressing his emotions'. In a passage read out on ITV, Harry says: 'What I do remember with stunning clarity is that I did not cry. Not a tear. My father did not hug me.' In the book, the Duke recalls asking to go and visit his mother while she was in the hospital. However, he says his father explained she 'hasn't recovered any more', before saying he stayed in his room on his own until the following morning. He recalled that he and his brother William were forbidden from watching the TV so they didn't see news of the car crash. In the memoir he said for a time he believed Diana had faked her own death and she was 'running away' to escape her 'miserable' life. The Duke said his 13-year-old self had wondered if it was a 'trick', writing in the book: 'Her life's been miserable, she's been hounded, harassed, lied about, lied to. So she's staged an accident as a diversion and run away.' He later admitted this was not the case, but said he returned to the theory as a source of comfort. In the memoir, which was ghostwritten by Pulitzer-winning author JR Moehringer, Harry admitted to trying to get closure by returning to the scene of his mother's death. Prince Harry pictured with his brother Prince William and father Prince Charles at the funeral of Princess Diana Harry, pictured here with his mother in Spain in 1987, told ITV's Tom Bradby he had cried only once over Diana's death The Princess of Wales had been killed along with her partner Dodi Fayed when their driver Henri Paul crashed their car in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris. An inquest would later return a verdict of unlawful killing, blaming Paul, who was drunk at the time and also died in the crash, as well as the paparazzi following the vehicle. The Duke of Sussex speaks often about his mother in his new memoir Spare, which is released in the UK on January 10 Harry says he got his chauffeur to drive him at 65mph - the speed at which the crash happened - through the tunnel repeatedly to experience how her final journey would have felt. Harry recounted the driver was shocked when he asked him if he knew the tunnel were his mother had died, and asked him to drive him through it. The royal revealed he barely felt anything when he entered the tunnel, writing it was: 'The bump that supposedly sent Mummy's Mercedes veering off course.' He recounted how he counted the lights and the pillar inside the tunnel as his car whizzed through, but was shocked at how short the tunnel actually was when he emerged. Harry recalled imagining the tunnel was a dangerous route, but was surprised to learn it was a 'no-frills tunnel'. He recounted speaking to William about the tunnel where their mother had died after he had made the journey through it himself. The pair then agreed to travel through it once more, together, after which Harry says they talked about their mother's accident for the first time. Following an investigation into Diana's death, Harry described the final report as 'an insult' and 'a shambles' which he believed was inaccurate. Harry claimed his brother invoked their mother's memory during an argument over his interview with Oprah (pictured) Prince Harry (centre) stands between his brother and father as the hearse carrying his mother's coffin prepares to leave Westminster Abbey following her funeral service In the memoir Harry claims his brother invoked their mother's memory during an argument over his interview with Oprah. The Duke wrote that William got heated as they spoke after the funeral of their grandfather Prince Philip in 2021. Harry claims was trying to address bullying allegations made against Meghan, but his father and brother 'weren't listening.' The California-based royal went on to allege that William was 'really steaming' and grasped at him as he tried to walk away. 'I waved a hand, disgusted, but he lunged, grabbed my shirt. 'Listen to me, Harold,'' Harry wrote in his book, according to The Sun. 'I pulled away, refused to meet his gaze. He forced me to look into his eyes. 'Listen to me, Harold, listen! I love you, Harold! I want you to be happy.'' Harry claims he replied: 'I love you toobut your stubbornness is extraordinary!' The Duke reportedly tried to pull away, but William allegedly 'grabbed him again' and 'twisted him' so the pair could maintain eye contact. William then evoked the brother's so-called 'secret code' and swore on Princess Diana's life that his intentions were genuine, Harry penned. He writes that William said: 'Harold, you must listen to me! I just want you to be happy, Harold. I swear I swear on Mummy's life.' Harry continued: 'He stopped. I stopped. Pa stopped. He'd gone there. 'He'd 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.' The Duke claimed his brother 'wasn't quite ready to accept defeat' and claimed to be 'properly sick and ill' over the tensions between the pair. William allegedly reiterated: 'I swear to you now on Mummy's life that I just want you to be happy'. Harry claims his 'voice broke' and he 'softly' told William: 'I really don't think you do.' The elder brother then allegedly hugged Harry and said: 'I love you'. President Joe Biden on Sunday condemned the 'assault on democracy' in Brazil, calling the situation 'outrageous' after supporters of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro attacked the country's Congress, presidential palace and Supreme Court. The violence represents an eerie echo of the way former President Donald Trump's supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, an anniversary Biden just marked. Biden made his comments during a visit to El Paso, Texas, just before he is due to fly to Mexico City for a summit of North American leaders. He later tweeted: 'I condemn the assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil. Brazils democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined. I look forward to continuing to work with @Lulaoficial' Lula's Twitter handle. His remarks came after National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan tweeted: 'The United States condemns any effort to undermine democracy in Brazil. President Biden is following the situation closely and our support for Brazil's democratic institutions is unwavering. Brazil's democracy will not be shaken by violence.' President Joe Biden condemned the 'outrageous' attack on Brazil's governmental buildings, after supporters of ousted President Bolsonaro ransacked the Congress and presidential palace Brazilian President Luiz Inacio da Silva, who was traveling in Sao Paolo as news of the violence emerged, has branded protestors who stormed Congress as 'vandals and fascists' - with the scenes being similar to that of Trump supporters January 6 take-over. He announced a federal security intervention for the Brazilian capital until the end of the month. 'These vandals, who we could call fanatical Nazis, fanatical Stalinists ... fanatical fascists, did what has never been done in the history of this country,' said Lula, defeated Bolsonaro in an election last year. 'All these people who did this will be found and they will be punished.' The supporters of far-right ex-President Jair Bolsonaro invaded the Congress building, the Supreme Court, presidential palace and are calling for the military to overthrow current President Luiz Inacio. Police and protestors are clashing in the streets outside of the government buildings after weeks of anger towards newly inaugurated President da Silva Protesters smashed their way into the buildings, smashing windows as they forced their way into the Congress building, the Supreme Court and presidential palace President da Silva - said there was 'no precedent in the history of our country' and called the violence the 'acts of vandals and fascists'. He is currently on an official state trip in Sao Paulo The left-wing veteran known as 'Lula' has only been in power for a week, after being inaugurated a week ago as supporters of the former president claim the election was stolen. Footage from the scenes strike an eerie similarity to those who stormed the Capitol building on January 6th after claims from former President Trump that the election was stolen. After Lula's win, Biden issued a statement that called his win free and fair, amid Bolsonaro's repeated attacks on its integrity, although Bolsonaro ultimately yielded. 'I send my congratulations to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on his election to be the next president of Brazil following free, fair, and credible elections. I look forward to working together to continue the cooperation between our two countries in the months and years ahead,' Biden said at the time. By Trend The United States is providing Ukraine with a new military assistance package worth more than $3 billion, which includes, among other things, the Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, self-propelled howitzers, missiles, and ammunition. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said this at a press briefing in Washington on Friday, Trend reports citing Ukrinform. "Today, the United States will demonstrate our continued enduring commitment to Ukraine's ability to defense itself with the announcement of over $3 billion in new military assistance to Ukraine," she said. She clarified that this amount includes a $2.8 billion Presidential Drawdown for Ukraine. The package is expected to include the Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled howitzers, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles, other armored personnel carriers, GMLRS, surface-to-air missiles, ammunition, and more. In addition, she said, the United States is providing $225 million in foreign military financing for Ukraine to build the long-term capacity and support modernization of Ukraine's military. Prince Harry has denied members of the royal family were accused of racism in he and his wife's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey. The Duke of Sussex said Meghan Markle's claims that a family member made 'troubling' comments about the skin colour of his son, Archie, related to 'unconscious bias', not racism. In an exchange with Tom Bradby on ITV on Sunday night, Harry said the incident involving Ngozi Fulani and Lady Susan Hussey 'is a very good example of the environment within the institution'. When the conversation moved to the Oprah interview, Bradby told Harry he had accused members of his family of 'racism'. Harry responded by saying 'no I didn't', adding 'the British press said that'. Prince Harry has denied members of the royal family were accused of racism in he and his wife's interview with Oprah Winfrey (pictured) The Duke of Sussex said Meghan Markle's claims that a family member made 'troubling' comments about the skin colour of his son, Archie, related to 'unconscious bias' not racism (Pictured: Meghan, Archie and Harry at a Polo match in Wokingham in 2019) 'It never needed to be this way': Prince Harry says his family have shown 'no willingness to reconcile' as he unleashes round after round of criticism on the Royals in bombshell ITV interview Prince Harry sat down tonight for her first primetime interview to promote his memoir, Spare Advertisement The duke continued: 'Did Meghan ever mention that they're racist?' After Bradby said the duchess claimed troubling comments were made about Archie's skin colour, Harry said: 'There was - there was concern about his skin colour.' Asked if he would describe that is racist, the duke said: 'I wouldn't, not having lived within that family.' He continued: 'The difference between racism and unconscious bias, the two things are different. 'But once it's been acknowledged, or pointed out to you as an individual, or as an institution, that you have unconscious bias, you therefore have an opportunity to learn and grow from that in order so that you are part of the solution rather than part of the problem. 'Otherwise unconscious bias then moves into the category of racism.' After saying he would never talk about which family members had made the comments, Harry continued: 'I mean what happened to Ngozi Fulani is a very good example of the environment within the institution, and why after our Oprah interview, they said that they were going to bring in a diversity tsar. 'That hasn't happened. Everything they said was going to happen hasn't happened. 'I've always been open to wanting to help them understand their part in it, and especially when you are the monarchy - you have a responsibility, and quite rightly people hold you to a higher standard than others. 'So, the way that I've learnt it through my own experience and for what I've seen and what I've heard, yes, you're right the key word is concern, which was troubling. 'But you speak to any other mixed-race couple around the world, and you will probably find that the white side of the family have either openly discussed it, or secretly discussed, you know, 'What are the kids gonna look like?' 'And that is part of a bigger conversation that needs to be had.' The duke added: 'But, to say that that doesn't happen around the rest of the world, but it just happened there - that's not true. After Bradby said the duchess claimed troubling comments were made about Archie's skin colour, Harry said: 'There was - there was concern about his skin colour.' Asked if he would describe that is racist, the duke said: 'I wouldn't, not having lived within that family.' 'But again for me the difference is unconscious bias and racism, but if you are called out for unconscious bias you need to make that right, and you have the opportunity and the choice to. 'But if you choose not to, then that rapidly becomes something much more serious.' Harry had earlier said that he and Meghan 'love' Lady Hussey and think that she is 'great' and that the reaction to her comments were 'horrific'. The broadcast, which began at 9pm, focuses on Harry's tumultuous relationship with his family who - in Bradby's words - the Duke of Sussex took 'a flame thrower to' in the writing of his memoirs. It is the first primetime interview since his explosive autobiography Spare, which is out next week, was accidentally released early in Spain before the weekend. Published extracts include an alleged physical altercation between William and Harry and details of the feud between Meghan and Kate. He also writes how he and William begged King Charles not to marry the now Queen consort Camilla, who he feared could become their 'wicked stepmother', before suggesting she had plotted to take the crown and leaked stories to the press. Prince Harry suggested his family has avoided accountability 'on a lot of things' during his 90-minute sit-down interview with ITV's Tom Bradby on Sunday night (Pictured: King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla in 2018) Speaking about what he wants from the book, Harry told Bradby: 'I want reconciliation, but first there needs to be some accountability' (Pictured: Harry, Meghan, Charles and Camilla at the funeral of the late Queen) But Harry believes nothing in his book is 'scathing' towards any member of his family. Speaking about what he wants from his family and book, Harry told Bradby: 'I want reconciliation, but first there needs to be some accountability. You can't just continue to say to me that I'm delusional and paranoid when all the evidence is stacked up, because I was genuinely terrified about what's gonna happen to me.' Referencing his decision to step down as a senior royal in 2019, he continued: 'And then we have a 12-month transition period, and everyone doubles down. My wife shares her experience.' He said that instead of backing off, 'both the institution and the media doubled down.' Bradby then addresses the claims Harry makes about his stepmother in Spare. Harry narrates the passage that reads: 'Shortly after our private meetings with her [Camilla], 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). '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.' The broadcast, which began at 9pm, focused on Harry's tumultuous relationship with his family who - in Bradby's words - the prince took 'a flame thrower to' in the writing of his memoirs Harry says in the book that they could have only come from 'the one person' with intimate knowledge of the meetings, who could provide details with 'pin point' accuracy. Charles had tried to win over his sons before asking the public to accept Camilla, the book claims. Harry then astonishingly says that meeting the future Queen Consort for the first time was like an 'injection'. He later says that ultimately he and William approved of Camilla. He writes: 'I remember wondering... if she would be cruel to me; if she would be like all the wicked stepmothers in the stories'. But Harry told Bradby tonight: 'There's no part of any of the things that I've said are scathing towards any member of my family, especially not my stepmother. There are things that have happened that have been incredibly hurtful, um, some in the past, some current.' He added: 'No institution is immune to accountability or taking responsibility. So you can't be immune to criticisms either. 'And you talk about, you know, scrutiny and, you know, my wife and I were scrutinised more than, probably, anybody else. I, I see a lack of scrutiny to my family towards a lot of the things that have happened in the last year.' He later said he had 'made peace' with everything that has happened but that he would still like his father and brother back, but that there had to be 'accountability'. Clips previously released by ITV of Harry: The Interview, also showed him describing feelings of guilt and revealing he had cried only once after the death of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales. In a previously released trailer for the interview, Harry says he is publishing his memoirs because he does not know 'how staying silent is ever going to make things better'. The interview is the first of four broadcast appearances over the coming days, with the duke also speaking to Anderson Cooper for 60 Minutes on CBS News on Sunday night, Michael Strahan of Good Morning America tomorrow and Stephen Colbert on the Late Show on CBS on Wednesday morning UK time. In the interview with Bradby, Harry speaks about being unable to show any emotion when meeting mourners following the death of his mother in 1997. He also admits to feeling 'some guilt' when walking among the crowds gathered outside Kensington Palace, saying the only time he cried was at his mother's burial. Harry also reveals how his father sat him down on a bed before breaking the news. He says Prince Charles called him 'my dear son' before telling him his mother was unlikely to survive head injuries sustained in the crash in Paris in the early hours of August 31, 1997. The prince paints the picture of an emotionally distant father, saying that Charles was 'not good at expressing his emotions'. In a passage read out on ITV, Harry says: 'What I do remember with stunning clarity is that I did not cry. Not a tear. My father did not hug me.' In the book, the Duke recalls asking to go and visit his mother while she was in the hospital. However, he says his father explained she 'hasn't recovered any more', before saying he stayed in his room on his own until the following morning. He recalled that he and his brother William were forbidden from watching the TV so they didn't see news of the car crash. In the memoir he said for a time he believed Diana had faked her own death and she was 'running away' to escape her 'miserable' life. The Duke said his 13-year-old self had wondered if it was a 'trick', writing in the book: 'Her life's been miserable, she's been hounded, harassed, lied about, lied to. So she's staged an accident as a diversion and run away.' He later admitted this was not the case, but said he returned to the theory as a source of comfort. In the memoir, which was ghostwritten by Pulitzer-winning author JR Moehringer, Harry admitted to trying to get closure by returning to the scene of his mother's death. Prince Harry pictured with his brother Prince William and father Prince Charles at the funeral of Princess Diana Harry, pictured here with his mother in Spain in 1987, told ITV's Tom Bradby he had cried only once over Diana's death The Princess of Wales had been killed along with her partner Dodi Fayed when their driver Henri Paul crashed their car in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris. An inquest would later return a verdict of unlawful killing, blaming Paul, who was drunk at the time and also died in the crash, as well as the paparazzi following the vehicle. The Duke of Sussex speaks often about his mother in his new memoir Spare, which is released in the UK on January 10 Harry says he got his chauffeur to drive him at 65mph - the speed at which the crash happened - through the tunnel repeatedly to experience how her final journey would have felt. Harry recounted the driver was shocked when he asked him if he knew the tunnel were his mother had died, and asked him to drive him through it. The royal revealed he barely felt anything when he entered the tunnel, writing it was: 'The bump that supposedly sent Mummy's Mercedes veering off course.' He recounted how he counted the lights and the pillar inside the tunnel as his car whizzed through, but was shocked at how short the tunnel actually was when he emerged. Harry recalled imagining the tunnel was a dangerous route, but was surprised to learn it was a 'no-frills tunnel'. He recounted speaking to William about the tunnel where their mother had died after he had made the journey through it himself. The pair then agreed to travel through it once more, together, after which Harry says they talked about their mother's accident for the first time. Following an investigation into Diana's death, Harry described the final report as 'an insult' and 'a shambles' which he believed was inaccurate. Prince Harry (centre) stands between his brother and father as the hearse carrying his mother's coffin prepares to leave Westminster Abbey following her funeral service In the memoir Harry claims his brother invoked their mother's memory during an argument over his interview with Oprah. The Duke wrote that William got heated as they spoke after the funeral of their grandfather Prince Philip in 2021. Harry claims was trying to address bullying allegations made against Meghan, but his father and brother 'weren't listening.' The California-based royal went on to allege that William was 'really steaming' and grasped at him as he tried to walk away. 'I waved a hand, disgusted, but he lunged, grabbed my shirt. 'Listen to me, Harold,'' Harry wrote in his book, according to The Sun. 'I pulled away, refused to meet his gaze. He forced me to look into his eyes. 'Listen to me, Harold, listen! I love you, Harold! I want you to be happy.'' Harry claims he replied: 'I love you toobut your stubbornness is extraordinary!' The Duke reportedly tried to pull away, but William allegedly 'grabbed him again' and 'twisted him' so the pair could maintain eye contact. William then evoked the brother's so-called 'secret code' and swore on Princess Diana's life that his intentions were genuine, Harry penned. He writes that William said: 'Harold, you must listen to me! I just want you to be happy, Harold. I swear I swear on Mummy's life.' Harry continued: 'He stopped. I stopped. Pa stopped. He'd gone there. 'He'd 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.' The Duke claimed his brother 'wasn't quite ready to accept defeat' and claimed to be 'properly sick and ill' over the tensions between the pair. William allegedly reiterated: 'I swear to you now on Mummy's life that I just want you to be happy'. Harry claims his 'voice broke' and he 'softly' told William: 'I really don't think you do.' The elder brother then allegedly hugged Harry and said: 'I love you'. The strikes damaged two schools and eight apartments, but no one was injured In reality, Russian strikes had missed their target last night, according to reports Ukrainian officials said claim was 'not true' as journalists also find no evidence Desperate Russian claims that its forces wiped out 600 Ukrainian troops in a revenge attack were in tatters last night following reports the strike had missed its target. Moscow announced that it had struck a temporary barracks in response to Ukraine taking out up to 400 Russians in a missile strike on New Years Eve. But in a major embarrassment for the Kremlin, Ukrainian officials dismissed the claim as not true as journalists on the ground picked apart the propaganda. Russias defence ministry announced yesterday that reconnaissance assets uncovered and reliably confirmed that 1,300 Ukrainians were in the two dormitories in Kramatorsk, Donetsk, with 600 reportedly killed. Desperate Russian claims that its forces wiped out 600 Ukrainian troops in a revenge attack were in tatters last night following reports the strike had missed its target But pictures suggest the claim was false and part of a desperate bid to win back public support after Kyivs devastating New Years Eve strike. Images showed the missiles did not score a direct hit merely landing close by and blowing the windows out. There was no blood or any indication that troops had even been there, and locals said no ambulances were seen. Kramatorsk mayor Oleksandr Honcharenko said the strikes had damaged two schools and eight apartments, but nobody had been injured. Images showed the missiles did not score a direct hit merely landing close by and blowing the windows out Moscow announced that it had struck a temporary barracks in response to Ukraine taking out up to 400 Russians in a missile strike on New Years Eve Finnish journalist Antti Kuronen, who visited the site, said it would be strange if the building had housed soldiers as it isnt even insulated. Ukrainian troops are trained not to gather in large numbers within range of artillery guns. The Russians made such a mistake on New Years Eve, which allowed the Ukrainian strike to kill up to 400 of their troops in Makiivka, Donetsk. The strikes had damaged two schools and eight apartments, but nobody had been injured Serhii Cherevatyi, Ukrainian Joint Forces spokesman, said: The Russian information is not true. The Russian army attacked Kramatorsk with seven missiles at 11.30pm. But it did not have any impact on the Ukrainian army. The attack came after three died in Russian strikes that broke the Kremlins own pledge of a 36-hour ceasefire until 11pm on Orthodox Christmas on Saturday. Former friends of Prince Harry say they are considering breaking their silence after years of 'clearing up' after the royal over his decision to 'betray' his family. One source described the prince as a 'broken man' but said he has 'driven away' anyone with his best interests at heart or the strength to stand up to him and Meghan. Another said: 'Most people are absolutely disgusted at what Harry has done. 'Regardless of the rights and wrongs of what may or may not have happened to him and as the late Queen memorably said, "recollections may vary" the confidences he has broken and the sheer viciousness of his attacks on his family is disgraceful. He's a very isolated figure now.' Harry with old Eton chum Tom Inskip during a ski trip to Verbier, Switzerland during 2011 The Sunday Times yesterday reported that Harry's disloyalty has staggered lifelong friends of the brothers. 'I don't know how you can do that to your brother, even if you don't like or get on with him any more,' it reports a friend saying. 'William was always there to pick up the pieces for Harry he was his mum [after Diana]. 'There's so much stuff over the years that Harry has rung friends up about and said, "Throw away that photo, promise you won't speak about this." You could have a f***ing field day with s*** on Harry. 'So could William, who (in comparison) is as clean as a whistle. I can't believe he'd stoop so low. It's outrageously disloyal.' Another close friend of the brothers said: 'It's strategically not clever. Harry is good at getting his narrative out there but we know so much, we've cleaned up so many messes over the years; there is so much we could say.' Prince Harry partially blamed both his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Kate for his infamous appearance at a costume party wearing a Nazi uniform Former friends of Harry say they are considering whether to go on the record to debunk some of his claims as 'b******s'. 'Loyalty works both ways,' warned one. One source called Harry's suggestion that William and Kate encouraged him to wear a Nazi outfit to a party in 2005 as 'b******t'. They also discredited his account that William didn't want him to be best man at his wedding, saying it was Harry who wasn't keen. A friend of the future king said William was a 'sitting duck' as Harry knew he wouldn't 'retaliate'. 'It's cruel, cowardly and so sad for William to keep taking the punches. He's keeping quiet for the good of his family and the country,' they added. 'He's anxious and he's sad. He's concentrating on his wife and his children. He has to focus on them, and look out for the rest of the Royal Family. He's handling it so well on the outside; inside he's burning.' A supporter of Harry's said: 'Maybe he already thinks he's won by getting all his cards on the table. 'This is someone who was living a life for 30 years he really did not want. Of course he damages other people in the process, but he felt wronged and damaged for years.' Prince Harry has been accused of turning the Royal Family 'into an episode of the Kardashians' - as social media reacts to his sit down with ITV. The Duke of Sussex, 38, sat down with Tom Bradby for a primetime television interview as part of a publicity blitz for his controversial memoir Spare. In a series of bombshells twisting the knife on his closest family members, Harry claimed royals has sought to protect their own reputation 'to the detriment' of him and Meghan and they were 'complicit' in their 'pain and suffering'. He described a fractious relationship between his wife and Kate Middleton, while also addressing the rift with his brother and his sensational accusation towards Camilla of plotting to marry Charles. Prince Harry twisted the knife on family members with a series of bombshells during the interview Prince Harry sat down tonight for her first primetime interview to promote his memoir, Spare But social media has exploded amid the bombshell interview, with claims of 'hypocrisy' over Harry's desire for his family to reach out privately when he is publicly discussing behind closed doors conversations. One user tweeted: 'Harry literally turning the British Monarchy into an episode of The Kardashian's. This is cringe.' Another said: 'If you want communication with your family to be private, why are you doing this interview?! So contradictory. A third added: 'He wants any future conversation to stay private but is sitting here telling us what other "private" conversations they have had.' A fourth tweeted: 'I've never heard such hypocritical, delusional, self-serving, narcissistic ramblings in my life!! 'He's actually said that he 'hopes' his family can respect HIS privacy whilst talking incessantly about THEM to the worlds press! KNOWING they cannot respond!' The Duke of Sussex speaks often about his mother in his new memoir Spare, which is released in the UK on January 10 During the 90-minute interview, Harry also suggested that senior royals helped to 'trash' his and Meghan's reputations, forcing them to move to California, and have 'shown no willingness to reconcile'. But he sensationally conceded that his family were not racist, although he believes them guilty of 'unconscious bias'. He also backed the Queen's former lady in waiting, Lady Susan Hussey, who was embroiled in a toxic race row last month, saying she 'never meant any harm'. Harry was not paid for tonight's interview, which saw him alternate between answering questions from Bradby and reading sections from his memoir. The duke also claimed that his William and sister-in-law Kate's 'stereotyping' of his wife Meghan meant she was not welcomed as a member of the Royal Family. He said that there was a 'lot of stereotyping' of Meghan after she was introduced to the Royal Family, because she is an 'American actress, divorced, biracial', adding that even he was 'guilty' of it. Harry and Bradby joked about how, after he introduced Meghan to his family, he discovered his family were fans of Suits, the show that she starred in during her time as an actress. But he said it was 'fair' to say that, according to Bradby, 'almost from the get-go it's just that they don't get on.' Harry also suggested his family has avoided accountability 'on a lot of things' during his 90-minute sit-down. Published extracts include an alleged physical altercation between William and Harry and details of the feud between Meghan and Kate. He also writes how he and William begged King Charles not to marry the now Queen consort Camilla, who he feared could become their 'wicked stepmother', before suggesting she had plotted to take the crown and leaked stories to the press. Prince Harry has revealed he and his brother used to shoot each other with BB guns and he would have fought back after his brother allegedly pushed him over inside Nottingham Cottage if he had not been 'doing therapy sessions' at the time. The Duke of Sussex was speaking in tonight's interview with ITV's Tom Bradby. He said that when he and his older brother were children, they would 'fight all the time' and would 'shoot each other with BB guns, we used to have firework fights'. Harry then spoke of the 'red mist' of anger that he had for 'many years', he saw in his brother, before William allegedly pushed him over and onto a dog bowl inside Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace. He added: 'I can pretty much guarantee today that if I wasn't doing therapy sessions like I was and being able to process that anger and frustration that I would've fought back, one hundred percent.' The ITV interview with Bradby is part of a publicity blitz for his bombshell memoir Spare, which is being released on Tuesday but was leaked at the end of last week. Prince Harry has revealed he and his brother used to shoot each other with BB guns and he would have fought back after his brother allegedly pushed him over inside Nottingham Cottage if he had not been 'doing therapy sessions' at the time. Above: The pair attending the Christmas day church service at Sandringham in 1994 In an excerpt read from his autobiography, Spare, the Duke alleged that William urged him to fight back, saying: 'Come on, hit me, you'll feel better if you hit me... Come on, we always used to fight, you'll feel better if you hit me'.' Harry said he replied: 'No, only you'll feel better if I hit you. Please, just leave.' Elsewhere in the interview on Sunday night, Harry criticised 'family members' for a 'really horrible reaction' on the day the Queen died, with leakings and briefings. He also told Bradby that he loved his father Charles and brother the Prince of Wales, but said: 'At the moment, I don't recognise them, as much as they probably don't recognise me.' 'Nothing of what I've done in this book or otherwise has ever been any intention to harm them or hurt them,' he added. Harry spoke of the 'red mist' of anger that he had for 'many years', he saw in his brother, before William allegedly pushed him over and onto a dog bowl inside Nottingham Cottage (above) at Kensington Palace The kitchen of Nottingham Cottage is seen in the recent Netflix documentary, with dog bowls visible on the floor Harry's book due out on Tuesday, has sparked a furore over his claims that William physically attacked him, and his admission he killed 25 Taliban members during the Afghanistan war. Harry said he wanted reconciliation with his father and brother, and forgiveness was 100 per cent a possibility, but grilled by Bradby on whether he had taken a 'flamethrower' to any bridges, the duke insisted: 'Silence only allows the abuser to abuse.' 'They've shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile up until this point. And I'm not sure how honesty is burning bridges,' Harry added. Harry lambasted the British press throughout the sit-down interview, and accused the royals of being 'complicit' in the conflict the media created. 'The saddest part of that is certain members of my family and the people that work for them are complicit in that conflict,' he said. Harry also denied that he accused the royal family of racism in his Oprah interview, when he and the Duchess of Sussex revealed an unnamed family member raised concerns about how dark their unborn son's skin would be. 'No I didn't...the British press said that...did Meghan every mention that they're racist?...There was concern about his skin colour,' the duke said. Bradby asked: 'Wouldn't you describe that as essentially racist?' Harry replied: 'I wouldn't, not having lived within that family.' The claims in March 2021 left Oprah open-mouthed with shock and plunged the monarchy into crisis as it faced accusations of racism, but Harry again refused to name the royal allegedly involved. He also backed the Queen's former lady in waiting Lady Susan Hussey who quit an honorary role after asking a black British domestic violence campaigner where she really came from. 'Meghan and I love Susan Hussey...She never meant any harm at all,' he said. The ITV interview with Bradby is part of a publicity blitz for his bombshell memoir Spare, which is being released on Tuesday but was leaked at the end of last week Harry's tell-all tales in his book include recounting how he took cocaine and magic mushrooms and lost his virginity to an older woman in a field behind a busy pub, and the stories have dominated the headlines for days. With Brady bringing up the duke writing about losing his virginity at the age of 17, Harry said: 'It's four lines or something...if that', and then quipped to the ITV News At Ten presenter: 'We can talk about you losing your virginity, if you want?' Harry also revealed how he felt 'slightly isolated' and different from his family in his younger years following the death of his mother, but shared joyful times with his great-grandmother the Queen Mother. Speaking about Charles and William, Harry said: 'I love my father. I love my brother. I love my family. I will always do. 'Nothing of what I've done in this book or otherwise has ever been any intention to harm them or hurt them. 'The truth is something that I need to rely on, and after many, many years of lies being told about me and my family, there comes a point where, you know, again, going back to the relationship between certain members of the family and the tabloid press, those certain members have decided to get in the bed with the devil, right, to rehabilitate their image.' Elsewhere in the interview on Sunday night, Harry criticised 'family members' for a 'really horrible reaction' on the day the Queen died, with leakings and briefings As Bradby outlined Harry's criticisms of his father including that the duke's interests are 'sacrificed to his interests, certainly when it comes to the press', the duke said he understood the need to have that relationship with the tabloid press but did not agree with it. He said there had been 'incredibly hurtful' decisions, adding: 'And they, and it continues. It hasn't stopped. It's continuing the whole, the whole way through.' Harry said he wrote his book because '38 years of having my story told by so many different people, with intentional spin and distortion felt like a good time to own my story and be able to tell it for myself'. He added: 'You know, I don't think that if I was still part of the institution that I would have been given this chance to.' The interview, filmed in California, is the first of four broadcast appearances over the coming days, with Harry also speaking to Anderson Cooper for 60 Minutes on CBS News on Sunday night, Michael Strahan of Good Morning America on Monday and Stephen Colbert on the Late Show on CBS on Wednesday morning UK time. While Britons do love to be beside the seaside the battle to secure a beach hut has seen sun-lovers fork out six-figures sums to have a coastal chalet with little or no mod cons. One such beach hut, adjacent to the millionaire playground of Sandbanks in Dorset is currently on the market for 450,000. Others are available for the price of a second hand family car in less exclusive areas. Some bargain hunters can find huts leased by the local authorities each year, with people queuing up overnight on New Year's Eve so they are first in line to chose their ideal location, paying up to 4,000 a year for the privilege. How to guess the price of the beach hut Click on the interactive map below and press on a location, bringing up an individual hut. View the photograph and consider your guess before scrolling down to see the price. Your browser does not support iframes. This tiny beachhut in Mudeford near Sandbanks is on the market for 450,000 - more than the average price of a family home Inside the Tardis-like hut, there are bunks for eight people and a fully-fitted kitchen For the 450,000 price tag, the new owner will be able to avail of these stunning sea views Some long-term beach hut residents have accused local councils of treating them like a 'cash cow' by increasing ground rents and the transfer fees when the shacks are sold on. Many local authorities place strict rules on the use of beach huts - especially when it comes to staying overnight - while others boast fitted kitchens from the likes of IKEA and have featured in the John Lewis in-store magazine. For example, Tendring Council's bylaws for beach huts restrict visitors to the hours between 7am and 10pm. The owners are also obliged to keep the hut in good repair and painted in a colour approved by the council. There are also restrictions preventing it being used as part of a trade or a business. This beachhut is located on Tankerton West Beach in Whitstable, Kent The shack offers stunning views over the beach and is available for 75,000 There are even rules preventing the hut being used for 'any illegal immoral abusive or offensive purpose'. In some locations, the local council charges a ground rent of up to 4,000 per annum. The huts are a peculiar British trait, first popularised in the prudish Victorian era when the sight of a bare ankle could cause a case of the vapours. To avoid such an indelicate situation, Victorians would use the huts to change into their bathing attire without exposing themselves to wider scrutiny. At the other end of the scale is this 24,000 beach hut for sale in Heacham, Norfolk Inside the hut, it is pretty basic, although it is only a few metres from the car park and all the services The Victorians began flocking to the seaside on the growing railway network as train companies were anxious to increase passenger numbers by trying to pack out services at weekends and during holidays. Today, there are approximately 20,000 shacks around the coast. They are used as a base where a family can store deckchairs and various beach items while providing them with a place to shelter in the event of the weather turning while at the seaside. Though, due to their wooden construction, they can represent a fire risk. Others can be targeted by vandals. The 450,000 shack in Mudeford, Sandbank, near Bournemouth in Dorset is approximately a 30-minute walk from the nearest car park. Though it does offer unrivalled views from the exclusive resort. For similar money, the owner could purchase a villa on the coast of Spain or Portugal - with its own pool and all modern amenities. The beach hut has a covered veranda out front which provides a place to enjoy the view and sun The building is one of many in a small community of huts just a short walk from the beach on the south Wales coast The hut has a stunning view of the beach in Rotherslade Bay on the popular Gower coastline in South Wales Yet, for visitors to the exclusive enclave this month they have found that winter storms have buried much of the promenade and benches under four feet of sand. That flying sand would also have blasted the expensive beachhuts. Or, others are available for a tenth of the price, but such is the demand, when they go on the market they are soon snapped up by eager families. Following lockdown and difficulties in travelling abroad, there has been growing demand for huts, with one in Shoreham, Sussex, selling for 15,000 more than its asking price within days of hitting the market. In August 2022, a small beach hut in Gower, South Wales was put on the market. The green and white hut overlooks Rotherslade Bay, and is in an area where they are rarely seen on the open market. But for hutters in Bournemouth last summer, they were left with an unsavoury smell after the local council demolished toilets ahead of building a new 2.4 million eco centre. Some visitors unwilling to wait for the limited facilities relieved themselves behind the huts, leaving behind a powerful stench. This Mudeford beach hut, again near Sandbanks sold for 450,000. The front door does not even face the sea Inside it features a luxury fitted kitchen which is better quality than you find in a rental flat Unlike many parts of the country, hutters in Mudeford are able to sleep overnight For 450,000 you do get a double bedroom in the loft with double glazed windows INSIDE THE MOST EXPENSIVE HUT Inside Britain's most expensive beach hut, which was sold to a cash buyer at 570,000 It measures 13ft by 10ft, is made from timber and has no mains electricity, toilet or washing facilities. But in 2022 Britain's most expensive beach hut, Hut 180 on Dorset's Mudeford sandbank sold at 570,000 - to a cash buyer. The, hut which can sleep six people between April and October, is an 'outstanding location' looking out on to the Isle of White from the front, yet can't be accessed by car and is a 20-minute walk from the nearest road. Inside, the 'high spec' layout includes a fitted kitchen with a water heater run using solar panels on the roof and an oven powered by a gas bottle. The seating area can be converted into two double beds, and there's a set of steps leading to a mezzanine level where two more people can sleep. Washing facilities are in a neighbouring communal shower block. Advertisement These beach huts in Whitstable, Kent in the interwar period were incredibly popular, often used by entire extended families These huts in Paignton, Devon, show they were popular in many beaches around the British coast The small utilitarian huts, pictured here in Cromer, Norfolk, have been upgraded in recent years With Christmas over and 'cuffing season' drawing to a close, happy couples who spent the end of 2022 snuggled around a fireplace may have finally had their day. Singletons, therefore, are rising up, and today dating apps will see their busiest day of the year as swathes open them up for a swiping session. This has historically been the first Sunday in January and, as New Year's Day fell on a Sunday this year, this makes today the official 'Dating Sunday' of 2023. Tinder has revealed that Dating Sunday sees 30 per cent more matches being made than usual on its app. Sundays in January are known to be particularly busy on dating apps like Tinder, Bumble and Hinge, as many singletons start to follow up on their New Year's Resolutions (stock image) Tinder is the world's most popular dating app, and has been downloaded more than 450 million times since launching back in 2012. It has revealed that Dating Sunday sees 30 per cent more matches being made than usual on its app The rise of online dating The first incarnation of a dating app can be traced back to 1995 when Match.com was first launched. The website allowed single people to upload a profile, a picture and chat to people online. eHarmony was then developed in 2000 and two years later Ashley Madison, a site dedicated to infidelity and cheating, was first launched. A plethora of other dating sites with a unique target demographic were set up in the next 10-15 years including OKCupid (2004), Plenty of Fish (2006), Grindr (2009) and Happn (2013). In 2012, Tinder was launched and was the first 'swipe' based dating platform. After its initial launch its usage snowballed and by March 2014 there were one billion matches a day. Bumble, a dating app designed to empower women, was launched in 2014 by Whitney Wolfe Herd, Tinder co-founder. The popularity of mobile dating apps is attributable to a growing amount of younger users with a busy schedule. In the 1990s, there was a stigma attached to online dating as it was considered a last-ditch and desperate attempt to find love. This belief has dissipated and now around one third of marriages are between couples who met online. Advertisement The dating giant also sees 10 per cent more singletons than usual, as well as 35 per cent more Swipe activity. Last year, Tinder was busiest between 7pm and 10pm, so this could be the best time to get swiping. Laura Wilkinson-Rea, Senior Director of Communications for Northern Europe at Tinder, told MailOnline: 'Dating Sunday tends to be the day the people have finished with the festivities and have some time for themselves. 'It's a time of year where people are investing in themselves and deciding what the next 12 month will hold for them. 'For those that are single, they use this time to spruce up their dating app profile and actively look to get back out there and see where a swipe could lead.' Sundays in January are known to be particularly busy on dating apps like Tinder, Bumble and Hinge, as many singletons start to follow up on their New Year's Resolutions. These could include promises to put themselves out there more, try out new things or make this year the year they get into a successful long term relationship. This busy period is known to last up until around Valentine's Day, as people prioritise dating in order to meet someone special. Annabelle Knight, relationships expert at Lovehoney, told MailOnline: 'The "New Year New Me" philosophy has people wanting to try new things, re-trying old things or resolving to do something for themselves, and dating is often near the top of these lists. 'Sundays tend to be the do nothing days of the week, and this is the first proper one of the New Year, which is why the dating apps come out.' Tinder also said that Sundays in January are the most popular days for members to edit their bios and add new photos. In fact, Dating Sunday in 2022 saw an average 12 Tinder bios being edited and 25 new photos added every second around the world. To help make finding love this year even easier, Tinder is now rolling out its 'Relationship Goals' profile feature. This lets members indicate exactly what they're looking for from a match, whether that be a 'long-term partner', 'short-term fun' or 'new friends'. According to Tinder's 'Year In Swipe' report for 2022, there was a 49 per cent rise in people adding the word 'situationship' to their bio for young users aged 18 to 25. This is defined as more than a quick hook-up, but less than a committed relationship. To help make finding love this year even easier, Tinder is now rolling out its 'Relationship Goals' profile feature. This lets members indicate exactly what they're looking for from a match, whether that be a 'long-term partner', 'short-term fun' or 'new friends' Kyle Miller, vice president of Core Product at Tinder, said: 'This feature was developed in response to a shift we've seen among our members. 'Young singles, who make up a majority of Tinder, are increasingly becoming more intentional with who they spend their time with. 'In fact, 72 per cent of Tinder members said they're looking for someone who knows what they want.' A similar feature was also rolled out on Hinge earlier this year, which is owned by the same company as Tinder, Match Group. In November, the 'Relationship Type' feature was added to Hinge that lets daters specify if they're looking for monogamous or polyamorous partners. Most singletons want monogamous relationships, in which they only have one partner. However, research has shown that about five per cent of relationships are openly non-monogamous, or polyamorous. In November, the 'Relationship Type' feature was added to Hinge that lets daters specify if they're looking for monogamous or polyamorous partners Polyamory means 'many loves', and refers to people who have multiple romantic relationships at the same time. Michelle Parsons, Chief Product Officer at Hinge, said: 'With the launch of Relationship Type, we are empowering users to openly share what kind of relationship they are looking for, and as a result, have a new way to know if someone's dating goals match theirs from the moment they look at their profile.' If you enjoyed this article, you might like... Not offering everyone drinks when getting your own is the most common cause of mealtime arguments, survey reveals. Which apps will survive 2023? Experts predict users will get sick of BeReal, and Twitter will crumble under Elon Musk's reign - but say TikTok will only continue to grow. And, children should get lessons in school on how to build strong relationships to counteract 'Disneyfied' portrayals of love, scientists claim. It sounds like something out of a dystopian sci-fi film: virtual-reality humans that mimic the voices and facial expressions of dead people, so loved ones can speak to them from beyond the grave. But now a Korean artificial intelligence firm has made that ghoulish vision a reality, insisting the controversial service will help friends and family cope with grief. The technology uses machine learning to process images, audio recordings and video footage of recently deceased people to create a virtual version that can interact with the living, as if on a video call. Called re;memory, the software can even answer questions from the grieving, and share memories from the past. Seoul-based DeepBrain AI showcased the service at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It is expected to cost between 10,000 and 20,000 to create a virtual person, then 1,000 each time a loved one wants a conversation with it. Business development manager Joseph Murphy acknowledged that the service was controversial. Weve already found it to be really polarising, he told The Mail on Sunday. Some people love the opportunity to live on forever in this way, but many people view it as inauthentic. But he added: People like that they can share their memories after theyre gone and they want their family to remember them in a healthy state. He suggested re;memory was best suited for people with terminal illnesses such as cancer who could spend several hours in front of a camera to allow the software to learn their mannerisms and collect voice data. Subjects are also encouraged to write journals about their lives, including childhood memories, to be saved into the system. Family members can then visit the companys studio to speak to the replica loved one after their death. When prompted, the avatar can recite extracts from their journal or interviews. Murphy says the results are realistic. He said: You might ask it Tell me about the time you met Dad, and the virtual person will be able to tell the story in full. The more they journal, the more realistic the experience will be. But Sue Gill, a volunteer with Cruse Bereavement Support, said: This sounds bizarre and ghoulish. Lots of people, when they know they are dying, write letters or journals or make recordings. Thats using modern technology at its best. This feels slightly like they are preying on the bereaved. The service has been launched in Asia and the US, with plans to open in the UK soon. Last year, another firm, LA-based StoryFile, created a digital version of Marina Smith, 87, which talked to mourners at her own funeral in Nottinghamshire. A high-tech chopping board featuring a TV screen could turn kitchen duffers into Delia Smiths and Mary Berrys by live-streaming cooking lessons. Called the Blok, the device allows wannabe cooks to connect with professional chefs who will guide them through gourmet recipes. Costing 580, the walnut chopping boards come with a removable digital display, which is waterproof and scratch-resistant so it can be cleaned after cooking. Users log into a mobile phone app which, at a further cost of 33 a month, allows them to sign up to cooking classes. Called the Blok, the device allows wannabe cooks to connect with professional chefs who will guide them through gourmet recipes The Blok then streams the classes on the boards display so that cooks can follow the instructions without taking their eyes off their knives as they prepare the food. Users can also invite family and friends to take the class at the same time. The Blok even plays music during the lessons. Showing off the product in Las Vegas, the manufacturers said the gadget was available to order in the UK. Tony Frick, co-founder of Blok, said he hoped his invention would be the cooking version of Peloton, the virtual spinning class company that became a billion-dollar hit during the pandemic. Were looking to create a digital cooking experience where you can cook great meals with your friends and top chefs, he said. This isnt MasterChef we dont want you spending two hours cooking something super-complicated. The aim is for people to have fun and enjoy cooking. Former Cameroon and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Modeste M'Bami died on Saturday aged 40 after a heart attack, the Ligue 1 club said as they offered their condolences to his family. M'Bami played for several French clubs, including PSG and Olympique de Marseille. He won the Coupe de France with PSG in 2004 and 2006. M'Bami scored three goals in 37 appearances for Cameroon and was part of the squad that won gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Former PSG midfielder Modeste M'Bami (left) has died after a heart attack at the age of 40 .@PSG_English learned with deep sadness of the passing of our former player Modeste M'Bami. The Club offers its sincere condolences to his family and loved ones pic.twitter.com/M4DKjAldhl Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) January 7, 2023 The midfielder picked up a runners-up medal at the Confederations Cup in 2003, where his nation ultimately lost to France after extra time. He also played in Spain, China and Saudi Arabia before retiring in 2016 following a short spell at Le Havre. M'Bami had trials with a number of Premier League clubs in 2009, but ultimately chose to move to Almeria in Spain instead. He won Olympic gold with Cameroon at the 2000 summer Olympics in Sydney 'Paris Saint-Germain is in mourning. Modeste M'Bami has passed away at the age of 40 after suffering a heart attack,' the club said in a statement. 'Paris Saint-Germain offers heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.' EastEnders ended the year on an explosive note that saw beloved Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter lost at sea and 12-year-old Lily Slater's surprise pregnancy. And the BBC One soap is set for another wild year as viewers can expect to see Linda Carter taking on a complete new chapter and Zack Hudson's shock discovery. It seems like the drama is just getting started with 'explosive secrets, heart-stopping drama and devastating heartbreak,' promised by BBC bosses. Exciting: EastEnders ended the year on an explosive note that saw beloved Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter lost at sea and 12-year-old Lily Slater's surprise pregnancy Just before Christmas, Shirley Carter experienced a heart-wrenching week in Walford after learning her son Mick got 'lost at sea' after a horror accident as he jumped into the English Channel to save his beloved ex-wife Linda. As she processed the tragic event, fans saw Shirley decide to leave the Square and stay with her daughter Carly, away from Walford. Left reeling from the heartbreak, back at the Queen Vic, Linda is left struggling to cope with the loss of Mick as she is set to take on a 'groundbreaking' new story line. Shocking: It seems like the drama is just getting started with 'explosive secrets, heart-stopping drama and devastating heartbreak,' promised from BBC bosses Incoming: Left reeling from the heartbreak, back at the Queen Vic, Linda is left struggling to cope with the loss of Mick as she is set to take on a 'groundbreaking' new story line EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw told Metro.co.uk: 'Shes not going to get over Mick very quickly. 'She was just reunited with him then he was snatched away from her so it wont be all smiles straight away, but there are big plans for Linda. 'Shes going to start shooting something in January that goes out in February and its something that we as a show havent done before. Lindas at the centre of that.' Surprise! Meanwhile, Zack is set for a rocky start to the New Year when he is met with the shock arrival of an old acquaintance Brett Meanwhile, Zack is set for a rocky start to the New Year when he is met with the shock arrival of an old acquaintance Brett. Having just informed his pregnant girlfriend Whitney Dean that he's been offered his dream job aboard a cruise ship, things are only set to get more complicated for the couple. The bartender's relationship with Whitney is sent into emotional turmoil as he is forced to confront his troubled past. Drama: The bartender's relationship with Whitney is sent into emotional turmoil as he is forced to confront his troubled past Rattled by his old pal's arrival things get heated as Zack tries to talk Brett into leaving Walford, only for him to deliver a bombshell that proves to be too much for Zack to handle. Slipping back into his old ways Zack attempts to conceal the truth, drinking away his sorrows in a club, and getting into a drunken row with Whitney. BBC spoilers tease: 'As the product of a deeply dysfunctional father, Zack is determined that history wont repeat itself. But a shocking discovery throws his life into a tailspin.' Help: Elsewhere, Lily's mother Stacey (Lacey Turner) was left stunned when a doctor revealed her little girl was pregnant , following her hospital dash amid the carbon dioxide leak Elsewhere, Lily's mother Stacey (Lacey Turner) was left stunned when a doctor revealed her little girl was pregnant, following her hospital dash amid the carbon dioxide leak on New Years Eve. While Lily was alarmed to discover she was expecting, she refused to reveal the identity of the father, causing worried Stacey to fear that she had been groomed by an adult. The youngster then goes on to confirm that the father is Ricky Junior - the 12-year-old son of Sam Mitchell and Jack Branning. While Stacey tries to deal with the aftermath, she is yet to tell her ex Martin Fowler the news, with the two to become entwined in a new storyline. The news: While Stacey tries to deal with the aftermath, she is yet to tell her ex Martin Fowler the news, with the two to become entwined in a new storyline Upsetting: Elsewhere in Walford, Lola Pearce's health is set to deteriorate following her terminal brain tumour diagnosis last year and her time with Jay Brown is running out Elsewhere in Walford, Lola Pearce's health is set to deteriorate following her terminal brain tumour diagnosis last year and her time with Jay Brown is running out. When faced with the heartbreaking realisation she has to make the most of time left, Lola sets out to unearth some details about her past, which could provide the link to the arrival of her long-lost mum, Emma Harding. Jack Branning and Denise Fox reach breaking point as they struggle to help their daughter Amy with her mental health issues. New arrival: Lola sets out to unearth some details about her past, which could provide the link to the arrival of her long-lost mum, Emma Harding (Patsy Kensit) The couple marriage is tested further when Ravi Gulati lends Denise a shoulder to cry on as they bond over their parenting trails and tribulations. 'Jack and Denise, their relationship is going to be tested. Someone else is kind of going... weak at Denise. The question is whether she will resist or will she be tempted?,' said producer Chris. Viewers were left shocked at the arrival of Keanu Taylor in Walford amidst the news of a kidnapping threat. Tough: Jack Branning and Denise Fox reach breaking point as they struggle to help their daughter Amy with her mental health issues Conflict: Phil warns Keanu Taylor (pictured) to leave Walford for good, leaving Keanu's relationship with Sharon Watts in the balance and his son Albie A major twist saw him team up with once rival Phil Mitchell, as they worked together to bring down DCI Keeble. Their friendship took a turn over Christmas when Phil found out that had slept with his sister, Sam, when they were both in Spain. Phil warns Keanu to leave Walford for good, leaving Keanu's relationship with Sharon Watts in the balance and his son Albie. Finally, as the Kat Slater, Alfie Moon and Phil love triangle rumbles on its likely that once hard man Phil, could be in the mood for revenge given the Keanu and Sharon situation and the drama with Kat. EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One. Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid is caught up in an extraordinary row with former Tory MP Harvey Proctor and it may take an expert in linguistics to resolve it. The pair are at loggerheads over a comment made by Susanna on the ITV breakfast show about new Labour peer Tom Watson. He, infamously, supported what turned out to be entirely false claims by a fantasist about an alleged paedophile ring at Westminster of which Mr Proctor was wrongly accused of being part. Susanna, 52, was interviewing Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer on the show about Watson's controversial recent appointment to the Lords when she said that Watson was 'wrapped up mistakenly with what's now known as the witch-hunt against VIPs'. Word puzzle: Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid is caught up in an extraordinary row with former Tory MP Harvey Proctor and it may take an expert in linguistics to resolve it MP: The pair are at loggerheads over a comment made by Susanna on the ITV breakfast show about new Labour peer Tom Watson But Mr Proctor, 75, tells me he has complained it is a 'lie' to say that Watson was 'mistakenly' dragged into the police investigation. Watson has said it was for police to determine the truth of the allegations and he merely encouraged alleged victims to report their stories, but an official report found his interventions 'created further pressure' on detectives. Mr Proctor has already called on Watson, 55, to apologise to him for promoting the allegations, and now says that every Monday he will tweet the email complaint he sent to ITV, alongside a rolling count of the number of days he says the programme has misled viewers, until the comment is corrected. Mr Proctor whose home on the Duke of Rutland's Belvoir Castle estate was searched in 2015 as part of the police investigation, called Operation Midland tells me that Good Morning Britain bosses have so far 'skirted around' the issue. Allegations: He, infamously, supported what turned out to be entirely false claims by a fantasist about an alleged paedophile ring at Westminster of which Mr Proctor was wrongly accused of being part He says: 'They have replied mainly talking about the interview, not so much about Susanna misleading her viewers about Tom Watson's involvement in Operation Midland.' A programme spokesman says: 'Good Morning Britain wrote to Mr Proctor and explained that Susanna's reference to 'mistakenly' was intended to highlight that there was no evidence for the accusations against Mr Proctor. She also clearly referred to the 'witch-hunt against VIPs'.' Mr Proctor says he would like to go on the show to set the record straight but thinks ITV would 'run a mile from that'. In the meantime, stand by for his weekly tweets Zoe Saldana and her husband, Marco Perego, were the epitome of couples goals on Friday. The lovebirds, who will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary later this year, packed on the PDA, sharing a kiss after touching down with their three kids at the Los Angeles International airport. The actress, who is teaming with Nicole Kidman and the new series Lioness, 44, looked cute but comfortable in a pair of jeans, and a brown fringed sweater. Love is in the air! Zoe Saldana and her husband, Marco Perego, seem to be in much in love with each other as ever. The couple packed on the PDA, sharing a kiss after touching down with their three kids at Los Angeles International airport The Avatar: The Way of Water star carried a large black bucket bag and wore dark sunglasses. Her hair was styled in a loose braid. Marco, 43, kept is casual in a pair of jeans, a T-shirt and an olive green military inspired jacket. The producer and director wore his long, blonde hair in a pony tail beneath a gray fedora. Comfortable: The Avatar: The Way of Water star, 44, looked cute but comfortable in a pair of jeans, and a brown fringed sweater. She carried a large black bucket bag and wore dark sunglasses. Her hair was styled in a loose braid Their twins Bowie and Cy, eight, and younger son, Zen, 6, all wore medical masks and carried stuffed animal toys with them. It appeared the family of five was returning from a holiday vacation in the Dominican Republic. Zoe didn't share any photos from their trip, but did tease her friends and followers with a video on social media pointing out the difference between the weather in snowy cities, versus the tropical warmth of the island nation. Holiday vacation: After crisscrossing the world promoting Avatar: The Way of Water, it appeared Zoe and her family may have been returning from a vacation in Dominican Republic, where the actress lived for seven years during her childhood The From Scratch star lived in the DR from the age of 10 until she turned 17, when she moved back to the US. The Amsterdam actress has scheduled a busy year in 2023. Not only is she working on the next three Avatar films, but she will also be promoting Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The actress recently clarified her statement that she felt 'stuck' doing franchise films, telling Deadline she felt lucky to be part of such successful projects, but, 'I think that once I started my family, it just became really hard for me to sustain both worlds and also then cater to this curiosity of playing other different characters or playing earthlings you know, but Im happy in space. Ive always been happy in space. I relate to people that love space as well.' Christine Quinn flaunted her impressive figure on Saturday as she walked the beach in St Barts. The Selling Sunset star, 34 who danced under a beach shower earlier this week was a sight to see in an itty bitty zebra print bikini. The real estate broker's bright blonde locks were gorgeously windswept, falling over one side of her head as they dusted her shoulder. Gorgeous: Christine Quinn flaunted her impressive figure on Saturday as she walked the beach in St Barts The How To Be A Boss B*tch author wore a pair of Y2K-era orange-tinted, frameless sunglasses during the beach day. She rocked a light face of flattering makeup that served to highlight her natural beauty. The Netflix personality skipped earrings but layered several necklaces and donned an understated ring in her belly-button. The mother-of-one, who's married to tech entrepreneur Christian Richard, 44, also donned bracelets and multiple statement rings. Stylish swimwear: The Selling Sunset star, 34, was a sight to see in an itty bitty zebra print bikini The fashionista added a nude-colored netted sarong with multicolor polka dot accoutrements, tying it below her hips. She went barefoot in the warm sand, carrying a pair of flip-flops in her hand and slinging a multicolored quilted bag over one shoulder. At one point the bombshell stepped into the ocean, letting her feet and calves get wet as waves washed upon them. And the real estate professional appeared on Instagram to share a decadent breakfast spread and gorgeous view with her 3.8 million followers. Picturesque: The real estate broker's bright blonde locks were gorgeously windswept, falling over one side of her head as they dusted her shoulder Quinn, who's been outspoken about her love of travel, attended the Le Raphia Jacquemus show in Le Bourget, France last month. She commanded attention in a stunning dress with a sheer black bodice that had spaghetti-thin straps. The plunging number showed off her perky cleavage and had a deep, mauve-toned skirt that sat beautifully at her hips. It had a high-cut slit that showed off one of the stunner's long legs as she finished with a strappy black open-toe heel. On the move: Quinn, who's been outspoken about her love of travel, attended the Le Raphia Jacquemus show in Le Bourget, France last month Quinn rose to prominence on Selling Sunset, where she quickly became known gained a reputation for being the show's 'villain' as she feuded with co-stars. She leaned into the narrative, stating at one point that she was 'thankful to be in this position.' 'You're only hated if you've done something great. That's how I like to look at it,' she told Daily Star in 2020. In addition to her professional pursuits, Christine and her husband share a son named Christian, who was born in May 2021. Bella Hadid went beguilingly topless in a new Louis Vuitton campaign done in collaboration with Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. The 26-year-old sister of Gigi Hadid had a massive Louis Vuitton bag positioned in front of her bust, preventing her from violating Instagram's Community Guidelines. In the evocative images, which looked ripped from Kusama's multimedia creations, Bella was sprawled across the floor painting splotches into the air. Hello, gorgeous: Bella Hadid went beguilingly topless in a new Louis Vuitton campaign done in collaboration with Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama A couple of splashy videos showed her surrounded by multicolored blobs of paint all suspended in midair around her like bubbles. Bella interspersed her modeling shots with a few quotes from Kusama, who has been frank about the way she leans on her art to cope with her mental health issues. 'If it were not for art, I would have killed myself a long time ago,' went one line by Kusama, who has lived in a Tokyo asylum by choice since 1977. Another quote Bella cited from the artist declared: 'Every time I have had a problem, I have confronted it with the ax of art.' Sizzler: The 26-year-old sister of Gigi Hadid had a massive Louis Vuitton bag positioned in front of her bust, preventing her from violating Instagram's Community Guidelines Smoldering: In the evocative images, which looked ripped from Kusama's multimedia creations, Bella was sprawled across the floor painting splotches into the air What an image: A couple of splashy videos showed her surrounded by multicolored blobs of paint all suspended in midair around her like bubbles 'I have been struggling with mental illness and emptiness throughout my life. Now I want people to understand my glorious quest for the truth,' went another. 'Working on paintings is a process toward my artistic creation. It is a new spiritual theme of my whole philosophy for pursuing the truth. Each painting represents a process in all of my art,' Kusama declared. While plugging the new ad campaign on Instagram, Bella effervesced in her captions: 'My first @louisvuitton campaign could not have been a better collaboration than @yayoikusama_ ...' The daughter of former Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills Yolanda Hadid gushed: 'not only am I the biggest fan , so intrigued with her story and life.but I connect with her deeply on healing mental struggles through artistic freedom and creation.' Connection: Bella interspersed her modeling shots with a few quotes from Kusama, who has been frank about the way she leans on her art to cope with her mental health issues Candor: 'If it were not for art, I would have killed myself a long time ago,' went one line by Kusama, who has lived in a Tokyo asylum by choice since 1977 She spilled: 'I am so proud to do this campaign , and hope that one day I will be able to embrace Miss Kusama , and tell her how she important she is to not only me, but so many people struggling. Proud is the only word I have. Proud.' Bella, whose mother Yolanda was also a model, said last year that she suffered from 'eating disorders' when she was growing up. 'Growing up, I thought it was normal that I had this chronic anxiety and this disassociation, crying every day and not knowing who I was,' she told i-D. 'Whether it was eating disorders or smoking a pack of Marlboros since the age of 14, Im like: "Oh, this is what all of the kids are doing." I realized that maybe that was me trying to figure out why I felt that way. And in reality, all I needed was therapy.' Aglow: Bella gushed of Kusama that 'I connect with her deeply on healing mental struggles through artistic freedom and creation' Bella shared that as a rising model she continued to suffer from body dysmorphia, which affected the way she reacted to her fame. 'During that part of my life, I was so out of body, disassociating so much... I was so confused by what people saw of me,' she said. 'I still, even now, see comments on Instagram when Im sitting on the couch and am like: "Are they talking about me?" I dont understand how Ive gotten to this point where people either appreciate my work or know who I am.' She told Vogue this year that as a teenager she suffered from anorexia, which she attributed partly to the Adderall she was prescribed for what was thought was ADHD. Her own struggles: Bella, whose mother Yolanda was also a model, said last year that she suffered from 'eating disorders' when she was growing up The interview drew a storm of controversy when Bella revealed that she had a nose job when she was just 14 years old. Social media erupted with anger at Yolanda for providing her daughter with cosmetic surgery at such a tender age. Bella herself expressed regret about the procedure, saying: 'I wish I had kept the nose of my ancestors. I think I would have grown into it.' Yolanda hails from the Netherlands, while Gigi and Bella's father Mohamed Hadid is a Palestinian who was born in Nazareth just months after the foundation of Israel. Georgia Fowler debuted a very dramatic new look on Instagram this week. Posting to Instagram, the New Zealand-born Victoria's Secret model, 30, shared a selfie-style video of herself looking unrecognised with newly-bleach blonde eyebrows. In the short clip, the blue-eye brunette was filmed lying in bed looking up at the camera as it slowly zoomed closer to her face. Victoria's Secret model Georgia Fowler, 30, (pictured) debuted bleach-blonde eyebrows on Sunday by sharing a sultry selfie-style video She wore a soft makeup look consisting of pink blush and brown eyeshadow, while leaving her hair to fall in loose waves. 'High brow. Low brow. No brow,' the mother-of-one wrote, making sure to tag her makeup artist and fashion stylist. Georgia first sported blonde eyebrows on the red carpet in November, but Sunday's post marks the first time she's showcased the edgy look on social media. Georgia previously sported naturally brown eyebrows (left). In the short clip, the blue-eye brunette was filmed lying in bed looking up at the camera as it slowly zoomed closer to her face (left) 'High brow. Low brow. No brow,' the mother-of-one wrote, making sure to tag her makeup artist and fashion stylist The bleached eyebrow trend has enjoyed a resurgence among celebrities in the last year, with the likes of Masie Williams, Madonna, Vanessa Hudgens, Julia Fox and Kylie Jenner all giving it a go. Georgia's new look comes as she prepares to wed her Fishbowl owner fiance Nathan Dalah. The couple, who share one-year-old daughter Dylan, announced their engagement on July 30 last year. Georgia first sported blonde eyebrows on the red carpet in November (pictured), but Sunday's post marks the first time she's showcased the edgy look on social media At the time, Georgia revealing on Instagram that her boyfriend-of-two-years had proposed during a photoshoot for Tiffany & Co. The model was shooting a campaign called 'Tiffany Love' when Nathan dropped down to one knee on set. In the video, Nathan is seen getting down on one knee in front of the former Victoria's Secret model. Georgia's new look comes as she prepares to wed her Fishbowl owner fiance Nathan Dalah (right) 'I would say that I had this really crazy idea,' he said in the clip. 'I know it wasn't part of the plan or part of the shoot, but I'm gonna do it anyways. No, I'm gonna do it. I wanted to see if you would marry me, be my wife?' Georgia replied, 'Yes, I will,' before the crew cheered for the happy couple. Alessandra Ambrosio looked effortlessly cool while stepping out in Santa Monica, California on Saturday. The former Victoria's Secret Angel, 41, seemed relaxed as she donned a multicolor ombre sweater with loose-fitting sweatpants. The mother-of-two shielded her eyes behind dark-tinted aviator sunglasses and was seen with a bandaid over the top of her left ear. Cool girl: Alessandra Ambrosio looked effortlessly cool while stepping out in Santa Monica, California on Saturday The runway regular rocked her oversized crew neck top which had lavender, blue, and cream colors with confidence. She tucked part of it into her wide-leg sweats, which she punctuated with a pair of tan Birkenstock slides with shearling straps. The beauty carried her belongings in an oatmeal-hued, textured YSL bag with a long strap. She wore stud diamond earrings and layered two necklaces ranging in length, with one that had a circular pendant that rested on her chest. Protective barrier: The mother-of-two shielded her eyes behind dark-tinted aviator sunglasses and was seen with a bandaid over the top of her left ear The Brazilian-born beauty let her honey blonde-highlighted hair flow freely, styled in a center part as it fell down her back. Her nude-toned almond-shaped manicure complemented her pedicure, which was also an understated natural color. Ambrosio, who's the founder of bikini line Gal Floripa, carried her black encased phone and a set of keys in her hand. The weekend errands come after she enjoyed a Mexican getaway with her children and friends earlier this week. Laidback: The former Victoria's Secret Angel, 41, seemed relaxed as she donned a multicolor ombre sweater with loose-fitting sweatpants Taking to Instagram to engage with her 11.5 million followers, Alessandra shared outtakes from the trip online. In one recent post she sat comfortably in a crescent moon-shaped outdoor wicker chair. She showed off a glowing tan as she posed in an embellished one-piece swimsuit with a plunging neckline. The entrepreneur wrote in the caption, 'And then the moon said to me breathe Im here to hold you.' She added, 'Happy first full moon of the year,' as comments poured in from her supporters. Vacation mode: The weekend errands come after she enjoyed a Mexican getaway with her children and friends earlier this week Content: Taking to Instagram to engage with her 11.5 million followers, Alessandra shared outtakes from the trip online In a separate post she struck a pose alongside her 14-year-old daughter Anja, whom she shares with ex Jamie Mazur. The mother-daughter duo both had on triangle bikinis, with Anja in red and Alessandra in white. She captioned the post, 'Infinite love,' and tagged her mini-me's Instagram account. Alessandra visited the My Blue Hotel on the island of Holbox with her extended family to celebrate the New Year. The star also shares a ten-year-old son named Noah with her ex. Alec Baldwin made it a mission of his to help get his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, to one million Instagram followers for her birthday on Friday, January 6. It took two days of pleas and requests from the actor on the social media platform, which sparked some criticism from people who called his campaign 'shallow' and 'bizarre', but his wife did in fact pass the milestone threshold of one million followers on Instagram. In a show of gratitude, the longtime Hollywood leading man wrote a simple note that read: 'Many thanks to everyone who helped get my wife to 1 million followers,' and then posted it on his Instagram page along with the simple caption: 'Truly.' Mission accomplished: Alec Baldwin sent a thank you note on Instagram after he reached his goal of helping his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, top one million Instagram followers for her birthday On a mission: Baldwin, 64, lobbied his 2.5 million Instagram fans to start following his wife for two days in several videos Hilaria, who turned 39 on Friday, has since re-posted her husband's message to thank everyone who took part in the virtual birthday gift. 'Grateful to all of you. It's like a fun party that we are all at,' she shared, along with a green heart emoji. 'Love you all. Let's make 2023 amazing.' She also shared a photo from her birthday party at home, along with another expressing gratitude for all well-wishes on her special day. 'Love you all for the birthday wishes and helping me celebrate 39.here is to much cake, wild Baldwinito dance parties, and getting dressed up to go out with my husband.' 'Grateful': Hilaria, who turned 39 on Friday, shared her gratitude when she reposted her husband's thank you note on her Instagram Stories The Academy Award nominated actor first took to Instagram to ask his followers for a birthday gift for his wife on Thursday. 'I would like to ask you, as a birthday gift or even just gesture to my wife, would you follow her on Instagram?' he asked, sporting a scruffy silver beard and a black t-shirt. After referencing his wife as his 'favorite person', he went on share that he 'would like to ask you for a small favor', adding, 'It seems she is just centimeters shy of a million followers on Instagram. And I would like to ask you, as a birthday gift would you follow her on Instagram.' The following day, Hilaria's actual birthday, Alec enlisted the help of the couple's nine-year-old daughter Carmen in an 11th hour push to reach the goal, that was just a few thousand follows short at the time. 'Follow my mom on Instagram please, and thank you,' she said, after getting encouragement from her dad while sitting in the backseat of the family's SUV. Alec then proceeded to turn the camera on to himself and announced, 'Today's the day,' in a reference to his wife's birthday. Birthday celebration: The Baldwins went out to celebrate Hilaria's birthday by meeting up with friends for dinner Baby waiting: The podcaster and Yoga instructor shared about her 'mom life' after coming home from her birthday dinner with friends The former 30 Rock star made one last pitch to people to follow Hilaria Friday night, just before heading out for her birthday dinner with friends, only this time he offered some insight into why it's important his wife top the one million mark. 'Hilaria is somebody who social media is a big part of her platform in terms of her promotion of her work, and her podcast and other things that she is doing,' she explained in another video. Over the years Hilaria has had three podcasts, with the most recent being Witches Anonymous, which she co-hosts with Michelle Campbell that launchd this past October. Being a Yoga instructor, as well as an overall health and lifestyle enthusiast, she often also uses her Instagram platform to promote things related to those inspirational endeavors. Alec went on to confess that he too finds Instagram as a great tool to reach people, calling it 'a very very handy formate, Instagram for promoting my podcast. I have a really good interactions on Instagram.' Giving thnaks: Hilaria also thanked all the well-wishers for the messages on her birthday Despite offering an explanation for his Instagram follower request, a slew of people took the time out to question why the couple cares about Instagram follower counts. Countless commenters asked questions like, 'I'm wondering why that's so important' and 'And this is important, why?' Some fans went as far as to use sarcasm while others got somewhat nasty with their comments, writing, 'No! What a pathetic, trendy thing to propose to strangers. Follow? Dear god man. Grow up.' 'One million followers is what's important on a birthday?? Give me a break,' wrote one person, who actually had a number of other people share similar comments. 'Hope she is living a better life now - we all pray for her to get to 2 mil,' was one example of where sarcasm was used. 'SAD THAT THIS IS CONSIDERED AN 'ACCOMPLISHMENT,' was another popular sentiment. Backlash: There was a slew of people who criticized Alec's effort to get his wife to one million Instagram followers, with some calling it 'sad' and 'pathetic' Playtime: The proud mother of seven had some playtime with the kids before going out to celebrate her birthday with her husband and friends The Baldwins did have plenty of supporters who saw the Instagram follower request as a way to reach people with shared life stories. 'People are so hateful. Happy Birthday Hilaria! You're an awesome husband to her. Going to follow her. I heard a snippet of one of her podcasts and I appreciate her curiosity and her personality. I know it will be worthwhile follow. Have a wonderful celebration!!' one person shared, which seemed to garner support from others. And then there were some people who just saw this all as fun way to communicate with each other. 'I kept checking her total followers yesterday like I was checking the score of a game - happy for her,' one supported wrote, which seemed to sum up what some others felt. The Baldwins both shared photos and videos from Hilaria's birthday celebration on their social media platforms. The couple, who have been married for more than 10 years, are the proud parents of seven children: sons Eduardo, two, Romeo, four, Leonardo, six, and Rafael, seven, plus daughters Ilaria, three months, Maria, two next month, and Carmen, nine. Margarita Smith sent pulses racing on Saturday as she stripped down for a very racy sponsored post on Instagram. The Love Island Australia star turned OnlyFans model sizzled as she posed in a barely-there white G-string bikini while wading around a hotel pool. Showcasing her surgically-enhanced bust in the skimpy two-piece, the brunette was seen kneeling and posing provocatively in the water with a bottle of fake tan in hand. Margarita Smith (pictured) sent pulses racing on Saturday as she stripped down for a very racy sponsored post on Instagram Spruiking the self tanner brand in her caption, Margarita wrote: 'My skin has never been softer or more bronzed!' It comes after Margarita announced she'd joined a fetish website where users can buy and sell images of feet. On Sunday, she tweeted a short clip of herself dressed in black bondage attire, complete with a whip, studded red-bottom heels and rabbit-inspired mask. The Love Island Australia star turned OnlyFans model sizzled as she posed in a barely-there white G-string bikini while wading around a hotel pool It comes after Margarita announced she'd joined a fetish website where users can buy and sell images of feet In the accompanying caption, Margarita said she was looking for 'obedient new subs' a term used in the BDSM community that refers to subservient sexual partners. She also encouraged fans to contact her for 'custom requests', before adding hashtags including #feetworship and #DominantWoman. Margarita is no wallflower when it comes to her cosmetically enhanced physique, and regularly gives her online followers updates on her procedures. On Sunday, she tweeted a short clip of herself dressed in black bondage attire, complete with a whip, studded red-bottom heels and rabbit-inspired mask. Margarita is no wallflower when it comes to her cosmetically enhanced physique, and regularly gives her online followers updates on her procedures The brunette, who has had a breast enlargement, nose job and fillers among various other procedures, previously said she has never had an issue with body confidence. In an interview with Daily Mail Australia, she spoke candidly about being happy with her appearance both pre-and post-surgery. 'I've always been a really confident person, my whole life. I've never actually sat there and thought, "Oh, I don't like this,"' she explained. In an interview with Daily Mail Australia, she spoke candidly about being happy with her appearance both pre-and post-surgery 'I liked my boobs before. I thought they were fantastic! But to be honest, I've always liked that dolled-up, fake look.' 'Initially I thought, "Do I want it? Do I not?" and then I thought, "S**t, yeah, I want it!" I love it. It's just how I want to portray myself, but I'm confident in who I am, 100 per cent.' Margarita shot to fame after appearing on Channel Nine's Love Island Australia in 2019. Kourtney Kardashian fired up her Insta Stories on Saturday and posted a video of her working out, enthusiastically doing boxer sit-ups. The 43-year-old reality star shared: 'mornings with @donamatrixtraining almost a year after last IVF attempt, energy finally back.' Last year she revealed that she and her new husband Travis Barker had given up on their struggle to conceive by in vitro fertilization. Making it happen: Kourtney Kardashian fired up her Insta Stories on Saturday and posted a video of her working out, enthusiastically doing boxer sit-ups Kourtney is working with trainer-to-the-stars Don Brooks, whose showbiz clientele has included Travis, Josh Duhamel and Fergie. Both she and Travis are already parents - Kourtney shares her children Mason, 13, Penelope, 10, and Reign, eight, with her smoldering ex-fiance Scott Disick. She has been indulging in a spot of quality time in the desert with her children this weekend, taking them across the sand on youth ATVs. Meanwhile Travis shares his son Landon, 19, and daughter Alabama, 17, with his blonde ex-wife Shanna Moakler, a former beauty queen and Playboy Playmate. By the way: Last year she revealed that she and her new husband Travis Barker had given up on their struggle to conceive by in vitro fertilization Details: The 43-year-old reality star shared: 'mornings with @donamatrixtraining almost a year after last IVF attempt, energy finally back' Helping hand: Kourtney is working with trainer-to-the-stars Don Brooks, whose showbiz clientele has included Travis, Josh Duhamel and Fergie Shanna also has a daughter called Atiana, 23, by former boxer Oscar De La Hoya, and Travis has continued to play a stepfather role in her life. Kourtney and Travis, who got engaged in October 2021, threw themselves into the process of trying to conceive a child during their romance. However before they eventually got married - first in a drunken Vegas wedding with an Elvis impersonator on April Fool's Day 2022, then in a glamorous ceremony at a castle in Italy that May - they decided to forswear IVF. Baby mine: She has been indulging in a spot of quality time in the desert with her children this weekend, taking them across the sand on youth ATVs Gorgeous: Kourtney recently posted a sizzling bikini snap under the desert sky as her family enjoyed a getaway to Palm Springs 'We started an IVF journey, but I stopped,' Kourtney told the Wall Street Journal. 'It was a lot. I took a break to just focus on our wedding and getting married.' Last month Kourtney shared a black-and-white selfie from her home gym, declaring that she was beginning to physically return to her pre-IVF levels of vigor. 'Finally stared getting my energy back 10 months after stopping IVF, for anyone going through it, it gets better!' she assured her public. Trevor Noah was seen out and about in Los Angeles with the model Juliana Herz over the weekend. The former Daily Show host, 38, wore a black outfit with white sneakers as he grabbed a coffee with his lady friend, who was previously linked to singer Joe Jonas in 2016. It comes three months after the South African-born comedian was spotted kissing pop star Dua Lipa after an intimate date. Mystery gal: Trevor Noah was seen out and about in Los Angeles with Juliana Herz who previously dated Joe Jonas in 2016 over the weekend Trevor and Juliana held white coffee cups and they each wore sunglasses while hanging out in tinseltown. The brunette beauty opted for a narrow, cherry-colored pair of frames and wore her lustrous brunette hair loose. She flashed a bit of her toned tummy in cropped long-sleeved black shirt, which she paired with loose-fitting, low-slung olive green pants. The model punctuated her outfit with a pair of bright green and white Nike sneakers with black laces. Casual outfit: The former Daily Show host , 38, wore a black outfit with white sneakers as he grabbed a coffee with Juliana, who is a model She toted a black leather bag over one shoulder and carried a black sweater over it as the twosome walked in the sunshine. Trevor looked typically handsome as he sported his signature coily mini afro and modest beard. The imprint of his phone was visible in his pocket as he strolled with the anonymous person. Coordinated: Trevor and Juliana held white coffee cups and they each wore sunglasses while hanging out in tinseltown At the end of September the former talk show host was seen enjoying an intimate and low-key dinner with Dua Lipa at Miss Lily's, a Jamaican restaurant in the East Village. It seemed they had good chemistry as the evening culminated with a romantic kiss and a sweet hug before they went separate ways. At the time, an onlooker dished, 'They were quietly sat away from everyone else at restaurant. Looking good: Trevor looked typically handsome as he sported his signature coily mini afro and modest beard 'It was clear they were into each other and sat close together throughout the meal. They left together and walked, stopping for long embraces.' Dua had previously dated Anwar Hadid for multiple years, and Trevor was with actress Minka Kelly long-term before they split in summer 2022. Noah recently left his stint at The Daily Show after a seven-year run as host, leaving the position open, with Chelsea Handler recently stating she'd be open to filling the spot. Lisa Hochstein flaunted her incredible body on Saturday when she posted new Instagram pictures of her posing in a sexy black dress. The Real Housewives of Miami star, 40, shared the jaw-dropping images after branding her estranged husband Lenny Hochstein, 56, 'embarrassing' earlier this week. Bronzed and glowing, Lisa posed up a storm in the sheer-panel cut-out dress by luxury French fashion house Mugler. Wow: Lisa Hochstein, 40, flaunted her incredible body on Saturday when she posted new Instagram pictures of her posing in a sexy black dress. 'Which one is your fav?' asked the Bravo star, captioning her four sultry images. 'I love you all' 'Which one is your fav?' asked Lisa, captioning her four sultry images. 'I love you all.' The Miami beauty appeared to be at a seaside resort as she posed in a variety of locations, from the beach to a tiki hut. Wearing gold platform sandals in the soft white sand, Hochstein took a few pictures beside a beach lantern, surrounded by trees. She flashed her backside at the camera, giving social media a glimpse at her sculpted assets. The bombshell's blonde hair fell down in lustrous waves and she accented her look with gold jewelry. Cheeky: Bronzed and glowing, The Real Housewives of Miami star posed up a storm in the sheer-panel cut-out dress by luxury French fashion house Mugler Stunning: The Miami beauty appeared to be at a seaside resort as she posed in a variety of locations, from the beach to a tiki hut Gorgeous: Posing in front of a white staircase in one image, Lisa sported a black designer handbag as she treated fans to her cleavage and flat abs Posing in front of a white staircase in one image, Lisa sported a black designer handbag as she treated fans to her cleavage and flat abs. This latest batch of show-stopping pictures comes on the heels of Hochstein pleading with her estranged husband Lenny to stop dragging her online, after he alleged she treated him like a 'servant.' Following the plastic surgeon's recent claims that she yelled at him 'weekly if not daily' during their 12-year marriage, the reality star took to her Instagram Story earlier this week to ask him to 'please stop embarrassing' himself. 'We have kids,' the mother-of-two who shares her son Logan, seven, and daughter Elle, three, with Lenny reminded him in her post. Not amused: Lisa recently pleaded with her estranged husband Lenny to stop dragging her online, after he alleged she treated him like a 'servant' Embarrassing: The reality star took to her Instagram Story earlier this week to ask Lenny to 'please stop embarrassing' himself Airing his dirty laundry: The animosity between Lisa and Lenny appears to have no end in sight as the plastic surgeon unloaded his grievances on Instagram this week Lisa's post was in response to Lenny's Instagram comment that she 'treated' him 'like her servant.' The self-proclaimed 'Boob God' wrote: 'She refused to help me with the smallest requests, yelled at me on a weekly if not daily basis, established a life completely away from me, stayed out partying when I was home, criticized everything I did (except working hard).' The playboy also slammed Lisa for shoving her friends who he 'disliked down [his] throat' and lamented how she 'embarrassed' him. He went on to claim that she 'laughed' at him when he 'told her how [he] felt.' Tragic: 'We have kids,' the mother-of-two who shares her son Logan, seven, and daughter Elle, three, with Lenny reminded the playboy plastic surgeon in her post Maximum drama: Lisa was recently seen out on the town for New Years Eve with rumored new boyfriend Jody Glidden. Meanwhile, Lenny's new girlfriend, 27-year-old bombshell Katharina Mazepa, has been liking Lisa's old Instagram pictures Lenny went on to write: 'One of the guys [Lisa's] dating has been to our home, has vacationed with us and has had a 'friendly' relationship with her for 7 years. But I'm the bad guy?' Lisa was recently seen out on the town for New Years Eve with rumored new boyfriend Jody Glidden. Meanwhile, Lenny's new girlfriend, 27-year-old bombshell Katharina Mazepa, has been liking Lisa's old Instagram pictures. The drama coincides with new episodes of her series, Real Housewives of Miami, which has given fans a front row seat to the collapse of the Hochstein's marriage. Sadie Sink admitted that the end of Stranger Things is going to be emotional for her. The hit Netflix series premiered in 2017 and it was revealed last year that it will conclude after its fifth season, which may hit the streaming platform in 2024. The 20-year-old actress - who has played the character Max Mayfield since season two - recently opened up about the show during a TODAY show appearance. Emotional: Sadie Sink admitted that the end of Stranger Things is going to be emotional for her (pictured September 2022) 'It's going to be awful. It's going to be horrible,' Sink said. 'These kids, this entire cast and crew, it's family. People say that all the time, but I genuinely mean it.' She continued, 'And to think that we have to say goodbye to that security and knowing that we'll be seeing each other for another season? It's scary and sad.' Sink did say it was 'exciting to kind of move on' despite her sadness at the show's conclusion. Coming to an end: The 20-year-old actress opened up about the hit Netflix show, which will come to an end after the upcoming fifth season (L to R: Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Sink) 'It's family': 'It's going to be awful. It's going to be horrible,' Sink said during the interview. 'These kids, this entire cast and crew, it's family. People say that all the time, but I genuinely mean it' Not sure what her character might go through: When asked what season five might have in store for fans, Sink was quick to say she didn't know anything for sure When asked what season five might have in store for fans, Sink was quick to say she didn't know anything for sure. 'With the way that my character ended in Season 4, I have no idea what is going to happen, but I'll be there,' she said. Sink joined the cast as Max Mayfield during the show's second season back in 2017. She had a major role in the show's fourth season and will presumably feature as a major character in season five. Main cast: Sink joined the cast as Max Mayfield during the show's second season back in 2017. She had a major role in the show's fourth season and will presumably feature as a major character in season five New movie: Sink recently took on a more grounded role in Darren Aronofsky's The Whale which centered on an English teacher (Brendan Fraser) who tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter (Sink) Sink recently took on a more grounded role in Darren Aronofsky's The Whale which centered on an English teacher (Brendan Fraser) who tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter (Sink). Sink is currently working on a new movie titled Berlin Nobody written and directed by Jordan Scott. The movie follows 'American social psychologist Ben Monroe investigates a local cult connected to a disturbing event, while his daughter becomes embroiled with a mysterious local boy,' according to its IMDb page. Troy actor Eric Bana stars as Monroe and Sylvia Hoeks of Blade Runner 2049 fame will star alongside Sink. Kayla Itsines has welcomed her second child - her first with her fiance Jae Woodroffe. The fitness queen documented the process in a series of Instagram Stories on Sunday. The 31-year-old and her fiance headed to the hospital, where Kayla underwent a planned C-section birth. Kayla Itsines has welcomed her second child - her first with her fiance Jae Woodroffe. The fitness queen documented the process on Instagram Stories on Sunday. Both pictured She was pictured dressed in a blue hospital gown, kissing Jae before undergoing the procedure. Jae also gave her a comforting smooch while she was on the operating table, as well as looking over the curtain to watch the child being born. Kayla didn't immediately reveal whether she had a boy or girl, instead asking her fans to guess on a poll. Kayla underwent a planned C-section birth. She was pictured dressed in a blue hospital gown, kissing Jae before undergoing the procedure Jae also gave her a comforting smooch while she was on the operating table He was looking over the curtain to watch the child being born 'Hi. We were just wondering if you'd like to meet...' she wrote across the Stories, before saying she would 'pause' before the big reveal of the baby. The fitness entrepreneur already shares daughter Arna Leia Pearce, three, with ex Toby Pearce. Kayla revealed earlier this year she was planning on having a C-section and was preparing for the recovery process in regards to her fitness. 'Hi. We were just wondering if you'd like to meet...' she wrote across the Stories, before saying she would 'pause' before the big reveal of the baby Kayla didn't immediately reveal whether she had a boy or girl, instead asking her fans to guess on a poll She said the surgery means she will be focused on lower intensity workouts while rebuilding her strength. Kayla announced her pregnancy in July this year by holding up an ultrasound picture with Jae as the pair kissed each other. 'We are SO excited to share the news that our family is growing,' Kaya wrote in the caption alongside the pictures. Kayla had been flaunting her blossoming baby bump on social media Kayla revealed earlier this year she was planning on having a C-section and was preparing for the recovery process in regards to her fitness 'Arna cannot wait to be a big sister and @jaewoodroffe and I could not be more happy right now!! 'SO much to celebrate & be grateful for! We can't wait to share this journey with you. #DueJanuary2023'. Jae also posted the good news to his own Instagram, alongside a photo of the couple cuddling on the couch. Kayla announced her pregnancy in July this year by holding an ultrasound with her fiance Jae as the pair kissed each other Jae also posted the good news to his own Instagram, alongside a photo of the couple cuddling on the couch 'Can't wait to meet you!' he wrote, adding #january2023 and declaring, '@kayla_itsines I love you!' Kayla, who is a multimillionaire thanks to her popular workout app Sweat (formerly Bikini Body Guides), confirmed that she and Jae were engaged in July. The Adelaide native proudly showed off her diamond ring in a series of photos taken shortly after Jae, 29, popped the question. 'YES #engaged @jaewoodroffe @itsjlahhere,' wrote Kayla, who wore a brown crop top and jeans as she displayed her sparkler. Elsa Pataky opted for a costume change midway through the day at Magic Million on the Gold Coast. The 46-year-old actress upped the style stakes in a ruffled electric blue frock, after arriving in a ribbed midi dress by Bec + Bridge. Elsa's floor-length, sleeveless gown showcased the star's muscled arms and slender figure as she watched alongside guests in the VIP area. Elsa Pataky opted for a costume change midway through the day at Magic Million on the Gold Coast on Sunday Elsa accessorised with a wide-brimmed hat and semi-transparent sunglasses along with a number of bangles. She finished her look with a designer bag slung over her shoulder and a pair of wedges, which matched the dress perfectly. Elsa looked to be in a great mood as she posed with friends and smiled for the media pack watching her every move. Earlier in the day, Elsa was seen wearing a tight, ribbed midi dress by Bec + Bridge worth $280 and matching sneakers. The 46-year-old actress upped the style stakes in a ruffled electric blue frock, after arriving in a ribbed midi dress by Bec + Bridge. Elsa's floor-length, sleeveless gown showcased the star's muscled arms and slender figure as she watched alongside guests in the VIP area The Spanish beauty was joined at the event with her daughter India Rose. The Byron Bay-based star's rarely seen arm tattoos were visible including the double X on her left shoulder, which symbolises fertility in Norse mythology. Elsa looked delighted to be back in Australia after recently taking a family holiday in Fiji with Chris and their three children. Elsa accessorised with a wide-brimmed hat and semi-transparent sunglasses along with a number of bangles She finished her look with a designer bag slung over her shoulder and a pair of wedges, which matched the dress perfectly The Hollywood power couple spent their days surfing and soaking up the sun at a luxury resort on Tavarua, Fiji as they celebrated Christmas with their loved ones. Surrounded by white-sand beaches, world class surf and pristine underwater seascapes, the Hemsworth clan had their fill of sundecks, pools and spas overlooking a crystal clear ocean. Pataky shared a number of photos commemorating their trip to Instagram with the caption: 'Bye Bye Tavarua! Best surf ever!' She dated Stormzy for four years from 2015 to 2019. And while it's been recently rumoured they had rekindled their romance, Maya Jama has insisted she's 'really, really single'. The television presenter, 28, opened up on her previous relationship with the rapper, saying they were very young at the time. Single and ready to mingle: While it's been recently rumoured she had rekindled her romance with ex Stormzy, Maya Jama has insisted she's 'really, really single' Speaking to The Times, she explained: ''We were so young when we met, just beginning our careers. I was starting at MTV. Hed not even released a single at that point. We were just little babies.' Maya, who is set to replace Laura Whitmore as the new host of Love Island, continued to add that the couple didn't put any pressure on themselves at the beginning. She recalled: 'I dont think either of us knew it was going to be such a big thing. We were just: were young and in love and were going to go for it and work really hard. Were just together. We never really did red carpets. We didnt do any of that stuff.' Maya and ex Stormzy after were reported to have rekindled their romance recently, with a source saying: 'Stormzy and Maya are together again. 'Little babies': The television presenter, 28, opened up on her previous relationship with the rapper, saying they were very young at the time 'They're taking it slow but are very much back in each other's lives after a long time when they didn't speak or see each other.' The celebrity duo both attended the GQ Men of the Year event in London last year and an insider claimed that they left minutes apart at 2am. The source told The Sun: 'They spent loads of time together at the afterparty and were chatting in a corner for ages. 'It seemed as though they went somewhere else together afterwards because she walked out and then he followed her out five minutes later.' No expectations: Maya, who is set to replace Laura Whitmore as the new host of Love Island, continued to add that the couple didn't put any pressure on themselves at the beginning But a representative for Maya told MailOnline that the star is very much single and she 'remains great friends' with her ex, who she has been spotted with a number of times in recent weeks. Maya doubled down in the interview, saying: 'Im really, really single right now. Newly single. Its only been a month.. but its nice.' It comes after Stormzy previously admitted that he blames himself for his split from Maya. Insistent: Maya doubled down in the interview, saying: 'Im really, really single right now. Newly single. Its only been a month.. but its nice' Despite this, the chart-topping rap star believes that the experience actually helped him to 'grow up'. In an episode of the BBC's Louis Theroux Interviews, the Vossi Bop hitmaker said: 'My break-up, that was probably the biggest catalyst for growth as a man. 'It was like, OK, you made a mistake and you lose someone you loved, someone you cared for, someone who is special to you. 'That's probably the biggest loss a man can have, isn't it? Away from someone passing away, that's the biggest loss you can have.' Russell T. Davies has assured fans that Doctor Who is still the same show and nothing is changing after it became a co-production with Disney Plus. Disney Plus now have international distribution rights for the show, which is returning for special episodes in November 2023 before the next series, while it remains exclusive to the BBC in the UK. Russell, 59, who recently welcomed Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor for the new 14th season, explained in the latest issue of Doctor Who magazine: 'I know people are, naturally, worried about American producers having notes on things.' Staying the same: Russell T. Davies has assured fans that Doctor Who is still the same show and nothing is changing after it became a co-production with Disney Plus 'Well, don't be. They're giving excellent notes.' Russell added: 'And I'm here to tell you, you haven't watched a drama on British television in 20 years that hasn't had American notes on it. Everything is a co-production... it's really, completely normal.' The producer also teased that the show could even see obscure villain Mavic Chen, the President of the Solar System who was played by the late Kevin Stoney, make a reappearance. He said: 'And if you want any more reassurance, let me just tell you that we're about to transmit the words 'Mavic Chen' on television for the first time since 1966. It is absolutely the same show.' Everything's ok: Russell who cast Ncuti Gatwa (pictured together) as the 15th Doctor, explained in Doctor Who magazine that American producers give 'excellent' notes on the show Russell recently dismissed reports that the show's budget had escalated to a staggering 10 million per episode after the partnership with Disney Plus. He said: 'That has been exaggerated. If that was the budget, I'd be speaking to you from my base on the Moon. 'That is not the budget, and I worry that misinformation like that creates false expectation. Nonetheless, we have a lovely, handsome budget, and we're very happy with how we're proceeding with it.' Executive producer Jane Tranter added: 'It's a really good budget for us. But we are not 'Game of Thrones'. Or 'The Rings of Power'. 'We saw all backgrounds, all genders': Doctor Who bosses considered casting a non-binary actor for the Time Lord, before casting Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa It comes after Davies previously revealed that Doctor Who bosses considered casting a non-binary actor for the Fifteeth Time Lord, before casting Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa. In a new interview, the producer spoke about the search to find Jodie Whittaker's replacement with actors from 'all backgrounds and genders' taking part in the audition process. The screenwriter, 59, reflected on the casting process and how both he and executive producer Phil Collinson had a rough vision that the new Doctor would be played by someone under 30. 'As ever, we turned to Andy Pryor [casting director] and said, ''Bring us the best in the land.'' We saw all backgrounds, all genders,' Russell told Radio Times' Doctor Who magazine. 'We saw men, we saw women, we saw one non-binary actor. 'I think, as a rule, we were looking for younger most of the people we saw were under 30 but not as a definite rule, and kind of new talent.' While Russell kept coy on which actors took part in the audition process, he admitted bosses nearly gave the role of Doctor Who to someone else, before Ncuti bagged the role. Doctor Who returns in November 2023 with three special episodes to coincide with the show's 60th anniversary, with David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor. The Fifteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti, 30, will then take control of the TARDIS, with his first episode airing over the festive period next year. In October, Jodie stepped down from her role as The Doctor, replaced by returning star David for the upcoming anniversary episodes. The Power of the Doctor was jam-packed with excitement as famous faces returned, Jodie bowed out after five years as the Time Lord, David made his return, and fans were given a first-look at Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor. Bowing out: In October, Jodie Whittaker stepped down from her role as The Doctor, replaced by returning star David for the upcoming anniversary episodes The feature length 60th celebration of the sci-fi series will also star Catherine Tate, reprising her role as companion Donna Noble. Jodie's finale episode ended with a short trailer for the anniversary episodes, which will hit screens in 2023. The trailer teased Ncuti's much-anticipated arrival as the star was seen asking: 'Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?' Maya Jama has revealed she did not have to audition to present Love Island and accepted the hosting gig straight away. The star, 28, has explained in a new interview that it was through her connections with producers from her varied TV jobs that she landed the plum role. It was in the early months of 2022 that she got a phone call while she was enjoying some rare time off in America and discovered that she was the number one pick to take over from Laura Whitmore for the ITV2 show's new series, which starts on January 16. You're in! Maya Jama has revealed she did not have to audition to present Love Island and accepted the role straight away (pictured in the trailer for the new series) She told The Times: 'Once you start doing TV, you meet a lot of producers, through different shows, and the heads will be aware of talent . . . Thats weird, to call yourself talent, isnt it? I talk for a living. Its not exactly tap dancing everywhere or performing a ballad.' 'So I think Ive always been in their eye line, but I was super young when the presenter shifts were happening in the past.' The presenter was having some time off when she got the call about the Love Island gig, explaining: 'I got the phone call saying, "we wanna meet you." Or, they offered it to me straight away? Or "Theyre in discussions? Im trying to think! Anyway, I didnt have to audition.' When asked if she said yes immediately, Maya exclaimed: 'Straight away! Of course! Golden ticket.' Golden ticket: The host, 28, said television heads are 'aware of talent', revealing that she was called about the show when she was in the US Maya is not the only one to be a new addition to the brand, with last year's contestant Indiyah Polack and Made in Chelsea's Sam Thompson set to host the new Love Island podcast and join Maya on the Aftersun panel each week. When the winter series kicks off on January 16, Indiyah and Sam will be giving their unfiltered thoughts on the latest couplings, dumpings and bombshell antics. Indiyah and Sam will interview past Islanders from all across the show's nine series on the popular podcast, Love Island: The Morning After, which is produced by Listen. Switch up: Maya is taking over the hosting role from previous presenter Laura Whitmore (pictured), who stepped down in 2022 Record-breaking viewing figures saw the last series of Love Island, which aired in summer 2022, become the most-watched series ever on ITV Hub, amassing over 269 million streams. The debut winter series aired in January 2020 - shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic - and was won by Paige Turley and Finn Tapp. Plans for a second winter series were shelved in 2021 amid concerns surrounding the pandemic. The villa is the biggest one yet of all the series, boasting a giant pool and surrounded by palm trees and typic]ally costs around 430 per night to stay in per room. It is is also environmentally friendly, with the estate having 100 percent off-the-grid status which allows it to generate its own electricity, water and numerous food sources. Nacho Figueras made a dapper appearance at an Australian showjumping event on Sunday. The Argentine polo superstar, 45, went along to the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast, in Australia's Queensland, with his wife, Delfina Blaquier, 42. The couple looked chic as they posed side by side, with Nacho wearing a blue blazer and dress shirt beneath. Nacho Figueras made a dapper appearance at an Australian showjumping event on Sunday. The Argentine polo superstar, 45, went along to the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast, in Australia's Queensland, with his wife, Delfina Blaquier, 42. Both pictured He also had on a pair of slim fit white trousers, a brown belt and added a casual touch with black and white sneakers. Delfina meanwhile turned heads in a bold, high fashion A-line dress with a retro print throughout. The photographer added a straw hat and sunglasses, as well as beaded flat sandals in bright colours that matched her frock. The couple looked chic as they posed side by side, with Nacho wearing a blue blazer and dress shirt beneath. Delfina meanwhile turned heads in a bold, high fashion A-line dress Nacho, who has been dubbed the 'David Beckham of Polo', is a good friend to Prince Harry. The father-of-four was among a handful of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's closest confidantes who have appeared in the first three episodes of the couple's Netflix documentary. The Argentine has been a vocal supporter of the Duke and Duchess, and was there in the early days of the couple's romance and later a guest at their wedding. Nacho, who has been dubbed the 'David Beckham of Polo', is a good friend to Prince Harry. Pictured together in May 2019 During his interview in the first episode of the docuseries, he described Meghan as 'incredible' and praised the former actress for 'giving up everything for the man she loves'. He described how him and his wife, Delfina, went for dinner with Prince Harry shortly after the Prince met the Meghan Markle in 2017. Nacho said: 'He looked at us and said ''guys, I met a girl, we've just met but I think this might be The One''. 'You could tell right away that those eyes were those of someone who'd fallen in love.' Kayla Itsines has welcomed her second child, a baby boy called Jax. The fitness queen, whose son is her first child with fiance Jae Woodroffe, announced the good news on Instagram alongside intimate images of the birth. 'Words absolutely cannot describe this feeling. We are SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW,' she wrote in her caption. Kayla Itsines has welcomed her second child, a baby boy called Jax. The fitness queen, whose son is her first child with fiance Jae Woodroffe, announced the good news on Instagram alongside intimate images of the birth. All pictured 'We went into hospital around 6:30am on the 5th of January. He was out in the world by 8:45am weighing 3.5kgs (7.72 pounds),' she added. 'The most amazing thing, as he was coming out, out of nowhere on a completely random playlist the hospital was playing, Jae's dads funeral song started playing over the speakers. 'I heard Jae say at the same time 'It's a boy!!!!!' I burst into tears, he burst into tears and we got to meet our baby BOY'. 'Words absolutely cannot describe this feeling. We are SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW,' she wrote in her caption 'We went into hospital around 6:30am on the 5th of January. He was out in the world by 8:45am weighing 3.5kgs (7.72 pounds),' she added She then revealed the baby's unusual name, writing: 'Jax Stokes Woodroffe. Healthy and quiet' She then revealed the baby's unusual name, writing: 'Jax Stokes Woodroffe. Healthy and quiet'. Kayla had earlier that day documented the process of welcoming her son in a series of Instagram Stories. The 31-year-old and her fiance headed to the hospital, where Kayla underwent a planned C-section birth. Kayla had earlier that day documented the process of welcoming her son in a series of Instagram Stories Kayla underwent a planned C-section birth. She was pictured dressed in a blue hospital gown, kissing Jae before undergoing the procedure She was pictured dressed in a blue hospital gown, kissing Jae before undergoing the procedure. Jae also gave her a comforting smooch while she was on the operating table, as well as looking over the curtain to watch the child being born. Kayla didn't immediately reveal whether she had a boy or girl, instead asking her fans to guess on a poll. Jae also gave her a comforting smooch while she was on the operating table He was looking over the curtain to watch the child being born 'Hi. We were just wondering if you'd like to meet...' she wrote across the Stories, before saying she would 'pause' before the big reveal of the baby. The fitness entrepreneur already shares daughter Arna Leia Pearce, three, with ex Toby Pearce. Kayla revealed earlier this year she was planning on having a C-section and was preparing for the recovery process in regards to her fitness. 'Hi. We were just wondering if you'd like to meet...' she wrote across the Stories, before saying she would 'pause' before the big reveal of the baby Kayla didn't immediately reveal whether she had a boy or girl, instead asking her fans to guess on a poll She said the surgery means she will be focused on lower intensity workouts while rebuilding her strength. Kayla announced her pregnancy in July this year by holding up an ultrasound picture with Jae as the pair kissed each other. 'We are SO excited to share the news that our family is growing,' Kaya wrote in the caption alongside the pictures. Kayla had been flaunting her blossoming baby bump on social media Kayla revealed earlier this year she was planning on having a C-section and was preparing for the recovery process in regards to her fitness 'Arna cannot wait to be a big sister and @jaewoodroffe and I could not be more happy right now!! 'SO much to celebrate & be grateful for! We can't wait to share this journey with you. #DueJanuary2023'. Jae also posted the good news to his own Instagram, alongside a photo of the couple cuddling on the couch. Kayla announced her pregnancy in July this year by holding an ultrasound with her fiance Jae as the pair kissed each other Jae also posted the good news to his own Instagram, alongside a photo of the couple cuddling on the couch 'Can't wait to meet you!' he wrote, adding #january2023 and declaring, '@kayla_itsines I love you!' Kayla, who is a multimillionaire thanks to her popular workout app Sweat (formerly Bikini Body Guides), confirmed that she and Jae were engaged in July. The Adelaide native proudly showed off her diamond ring in a series of photos taken shortly after Jae, 29, popped the question. 'YES #engaged @jaewoodroffe @itsjlahhere,' wrote Kayla, who wore a brown crop top and jeans as she displayed her sparkler. Eamonn Holmes has announced he will be returning to work as a TV presenter on GB News after four months off sick. The Northern Irish breakfast show anchor, 63, has been open with fans in explaining his health woes and most recent fall which broke his shoulder. It left him needing time off to recover - and despite the TV veteran admitting he is not better, he said he is 'better than he was' and is hoping work will 'heal' him. Return! Eamonn Holmes has announced he will be returning to work as a TV presenter on GB News after four months of time off sick Speaking to his 764,000 followers on Instagram on Sunday morning, the host said in a sit-down video: 'Hello there everybody, just to say that after nearly four months away off the telly, I'm back tomorrow. 'Sounds like a threat doesn't it! No, I mean you may or may not be aware of what happened to me, I had back surgery, I've had disc problems. 'I then got some back surgery which affected one of my legs which led to me falling down stairs, which led to me breaking my shoulder. 'So I had a leg that didn't work and a shoulder that didn't work and lots of other things in-between but here I am. Coming back: The Northern Irish breakfast show anchor, 63, has been open with fans in explaining his health woes and most recent fall which broke his shoulder 'I feel there are only so many box sets that I can watch and reccomend to you - I'm not better, but I'm better than I was. 'And I've decided to make an attempt to go back to work, on GB News from tomorrow on the basis that work will hopefully heal me. 'Any of you that are long-term sick or in any way convalescing particularly at home will know that there's a lot of frustration involved in it. 'For me I think I'm going to give it a go, be back to work and hopefully get better as a result of doing day-to-day things. 'So on a day-to-day basis all I need is you to be there, GB News, with Isabel, from tomorrow, from 6 through to 9.30am, hope you can join me.' It comes after Eamonn admitted that fracturing his shoulder in a fall was a 'massive setback' but revealed that he's improving 'day by day' and remaining positive thanks to messages from fans. Back to work: Speaking to his 764,000 followers on Instagram on Sunday morning, the host said in a sit-down video: just to say that after nearly four months away off the telly, I'm back' In November, his GB News co-host Isabel Webster revealed that he'll be absent from work until the New Year as he recovers. Speaking about his injury, the much-loved Breakfast show anchor, 62, discussed the 'amazing' NHS workers he have been taking care of him throughout his ordeal. Eamonn told GB News of fracturing his shoulder during the fall: 'It was a massive setback and means I'm going to need to take some extra time off to get myself better. 'It's been a hellish few weeks. But day by day I'm improving and I am remaining positive and trying to look on the bright side.' 'I can't say a big enough thank you to everyone who has sent me lovely messages, they've really cheered me up and kept me going.' Praising the NHS, Eamonn added: 'Also, I really must say a heartfelt thank you to the doctors and nursing staff who have been looking after me. They all are amazing. God bless.' Heartbreak: Eamonn's GB News co-presenter Isabel Webster, 39, last week said it's been 'heartbreaking' to see how pain he has endured (pictured together earlier this year) The popular TV star admitted that he is itching to get back to work at GB News alongside Isabel, bringing the news of the day to viewers. Eamonn also insisted that he is 'determined' to keep speaking up for all of the people suffering with chronic pain. The former This Morning presenter recently fractured his shoulder after a nasty fall at his Surrey home just weeks after undergoing spinal surgery to threat chronic pain in his back and legs. Isabel previously said it's been 'heartbreaking' to see how pain her colleague has endured over the last few months. Breakfast buddies: Eamonn and Isabel have presented the breakfast show on the cable news channel since January (pictured earlier this year) Speaking to The Daily Mail's Richard Eden she said: 'It's been heartbreaking to see him in so much pain, Eamonn has had such a run of back luck.' Eamonn and Isabel have presented the breakfast show on cable news channel GB News since January 2022 after being relieved of his hosting duties on This Morning. He and wife Ruth Lansford, who hosted Friday's edition of the show since 2006, were replaced by Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary. The Northern Irish presenter told his new channel GB News that he was operated on in late September, explaining two weeks after his back surgery that: 'It's early days, it'll probably be about three weeks before they know if it's been a success or not.' Eamonn - who suffers from shingles - was forced to take a step away from his show to prepare for the vital back surgery on 28 September. The television personality said that he was 'praying' ahead of the operation which aimed to relieve pressure on his static nerves. The broadcaster has suffered from long-term difficulties, previously telling of his battle with chronic back pain after a dislocated pelvis led to three slipped discs. He told The Express: 'It's an operation that carries a 20 per cent risk of going wrong, but such is the pain and restrictions that I have been suffering for the past 18 months, I've decided it is a risk I am willing to take. 'In fact, it's a risk I want to take because, at this moment in time, nothing could seem worse than the constant pain that runs through my lower back and legs.' He went on to reveal to the publication that the agony can be so intense that sleep is sometimes his own 'escape', adding that someone can be surrounded by family and friends but that severe pain can feel like your companion. Love Island kicks off its winter series in one week on January 16. And host Maya Jama jetted off to South Africa to begin filming her debut season on Saturday. The television presenter, 28, took to her Instagram Stories to film herself in the plane on the way to the sunny location. 'Off she goes': Host Maya Jama jetted off to South Africa to begin filming her debut season on Saturday She cut a casual figure in a lime green top and comfy grey jumper as she danced in her seat excitedly. Her long raven tresses were styled in neat waves and she sported a fresh-faced no make-up look for the long-haul flight. Captioning the video, Maya happily wrote: 'Off she goes'. Excited: The television presenter, 28, took to her Instagram Stories to film herself in the plane on the way to the sunny location On her way: She cut a casual figure in a lime green top and comfy grey jumper as she danced in her seat excitedly It comes after the star revealed she did not have to audition to present Love Island and accepted the hosting gig straight away. She explained in a new interview that it was through her connections with producers from her varied TV jobs that she landed the plum role. It was in the early months of 2022 that she got a phone call while she was enjoying some rare time off in America and discovered that she was the number one pick to take over from Laura Whitmore for the ITV2 show's new series. You're in! It comes after the star revealed she did not have to audition to present Love Island and accepted the hosting gig straight away (pictured in the trailer for the new series) She told The Times: 'Once you start doing TV, you meet a lot of producers, through different shows, and the heads will be aware of talent . . . Thats weird, to call yourself talent, isnt it? I talk for a living. Its not exactly tap dancing everywhere or performing a ballad.' 'So I think Ive always been in their eye line, but I was super young when the presenter shifts were happening in the past.' The presenter was having some time off when she got the call about the Love Island gig, explaining: 'I got the phone call saying, "we wanna meet you." Or, they offered it to me straight away? Or "Theyre in discussions? Im trying to think! Anyway, I didnt have to audition.' When asked if she said yes immediately, Maya exclaimed: 'Straight away! Of course! Golden ticket.' Golden ticket: The host said television heads are 'aware of talent', revealing that she was called about the show when she was in the US Maya is not the only one to be a new addition to the brand, with last year's contestant Indiyah Polack and Made in Chelsea's Sam Thompson set to host the new Love Island podcast and join Maya on the Aftersun panel each week. When the winter series kicks off on January 16, Indiyah and Sam will be giving their unfiltered thoughts on the latest couplings, dumpings and bombshell antics. Indiyah and Sam will interview past Islanders from all across the show's nine series on the popular podcast, Love Island: The Morning After, which is produced by Listen. Switch up: Maya is taking over the hosting role from previous presenter Laura Whitmore (pictured), who stepped down in 2022 Record-breaking viewing figures saw the last series of Love Island, which aired in summer 2022, become the most-watched series ever on ITV Hub, amassing over 269 million streams. The debut winter series aired in January 2020 - shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic - and was won by Paige Turley and Finn Tapp. Plans for a second winter series were shelved in 2021 amid concerns surrounding the pandemic. The villa is the biggest one yet of all the series, boasting a giant pool and surrounded by palm trees and typic]ally costs around 430 per night to stay in per room. It is is also environmentally friendly, with the estate having 100 percent off-the-grid status which allows it to generate its own electricity, water and numerous food sources. Dog the Bounty Hunter helped fulfill one of his mother-in-law's dying wishes. The reality star, 69, who is dealing with some legal issues of his own, made sure some of his late wife Beth Chapman's ashes were buried along with hers. TMZ is reporting that one of Bonnie Joan Johannsen's wishes was to be buried with her daughter and when she died in November at the age of 82, Dog, whose birth name is Duane Chapman, gave some of Beth's ashes to her sister, Melinda, who placed them with Bonnie's. Wish fulfilled: Dog the Bounty Hunter, 69, placed some of his wife Beth's ashes along with those of her late mother, Bonnie Jean Johannsen, who died in November at 82 whose dying wish was to be buried with her daughter (pictured in Waikiki, HI in September 2015) The mother and daughter had a sometimes rocky relationship, but patched things up between them before Beth died after a long battle with cancer in 2019. The outlet is also reporting that portions of Beth's ashes have been spread in places that were important to her during her life. 'I understand now what rest in peace truly means,' explained the Dog and Beth: On the Hunt star. 'I'm hopeful Beth can now rest in peace.' RIP: Beth Chapman died after a long battle with cancer in 2019. Portions of her ashes have been placed at locations important to her during her life. 'I'm hopeful Beth can now rest in peace' Dog told TMZ (Pictured in Waikiki, HI in November 2017) Mourning: Dog, is still mourning the sudden death of his Dog's Most Wanted partner, David Robinson, who died in November. The autopsy showed the cause was critical coronary artery disease in November, according to his widow, Brooke Dog, is still mourning the sudden death of his Dog's Most Wanted partner, David Robinson who collapsed during a Zoom call in November at age 50. The autopsy revealed the he died of critical coronary artery disease, according to his widow, Brooke. Dog and David searched for fugitives in the reality show for one season in 2019. New Book: According to Dog's website, the reality star will be releasing a new book later this year (Pictured in New York in April 2017) As for the future, Dog's official website indicated he will be releasing a new book, his third, later this year. The former felon's first book, You Can Run But You Can't Hide, debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list in 2007. The author released a second tome, Where Mercy Is Shown, Mercy Is Given, in 2010. Dog remarried in 2021 and now lives with his wife, Francie Frane, in Colorado, where they run the Light Up the Darkness ministry, offering services to victims of sex trafficking, including housing, counseling and job training. A leading royal expert has questioned why Prince Harry was so opposed to his father King Charles' marriage to Camilla Parker-Bowles. Award-winning journalist and author Robert Jobson says the Duke of Sussex's description of Camilla as a 'wicked stepmother' seems 'weird' considering he was a grown man at the time, not a child. Jobson told Australian breakfast show Sunrise that Harry's feelings in the lead-up to the April 2005 ceremony weren't befitting of a man of 'nearly 21'. A leading royal expert has questioned why Prince Harry was so opposed to his father King Charles' marriage to Camilla Parker-Bowles. (Charles, Camilla and Prince Harry are pictured in July 2005, three months after the now-King and Queen Consort married) Harry was 20 years old when Charles wed Camilla in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall in Berkshire, England. His first marriage, to the late Princess Diana, took place in July 1981 and ended in divorce in 1996. In his upcoming memoir Spare, Harry says he and brother William, Prince of Wales, both 'begged' their father not to marry his long-term paramour, fearing she would be their 'wicked stepmother'. Charles had tried to win over his sons before asking the public to accept Camilla, the book claims. Harry then astonishingly says meeting the future Queen Consort for the first time was like enduring an 'injection'. He later says that ultimately he and William approved of Camilla. Award-winning journalist Robert Jobson says the Duke of Sussex's description of Camilla as a 'wicked stepmother' seems 'weird' considering he was a grown man at the time, not a child. (Harry is pictured on holiday in Switzerland in April 2005, a week before Charles wed Camilla) In his memoir Spare, Harry says he and brother William, Prince of Wales, both 'begged' their father not to marry his long-term paramour, fearing she would be their 'wicked stepmother'. (The two princes are pictured at Charles and Camilla's wedding on April 9, 2005) Speaking to host Monique Wright, Jobson said last week: 'His attacks on Camilla where he's saying that he didn't want a wicked stepmother - he was nearly 21 at the time they got married. 'So I think that's all a bit weird to start going into these things.' Harry's retelling of his emotions before Charles and Camilla's wedding appears to conflict with quotes he gave to the press shortly after the nuptials. 'She's always been very close to me and William She's not the wicked stepmother,' he said at the time, according to People. 'She's a wonderful woman and she's made our father very, very happy, which is the most important thing.' Jobson (pictured) said, 'His attacks on Camilla where he's saying that he didn't want a wicked stepmother - he was nearly 21 at the time they got married, so I think that's all a bit weird' Prince Harry will discuss his memoirs in television interviews on Sunday after the book's explosive revelations about royal rifts, sex and drugs cast doubt on his future in the British Royal Family. The 38-year-old prince's ghost-written book Spare was widely leaked after it mistakenly went on sale in Spain ahead of the official publication date on Tuesday. Details include an allegation that his brother Prince William, the heir to the throne, attacked him during a row about his wife Meghan; an account of how he lost his virginity; an admission of drug use; and a claim he killed 25 people while serving in Afghanistan. According to various reports, the book has deeply hurt William and the boys' father, King Charles III, but the monarch wants to reconcile with his son. The palace has not reacted officially. Harry's retelling of his emotions before Charles and Camilla's wedding (pictured) appears to conflict with quotes he gave to the press after the nuptials. 'She's always been very close to me and William She's not the wicked stepmother,' he said at the time, according to People British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declined any comment on the scandal in a BBC interview while stressing his 'enormous regard for the Royal Family'. TV networks have already released interview clips in which Harry speaks about his fractious relationship with William and accuses his family of planting negative stories about him and wife Meghan Markle in the media. Harry: The Interview will air first in the UK at 9pm (GMT) on Sunday. In the latest clip released by ITV, Harry revealed he 'cried once' after his mother Diana was killed and said he felt guilty at being unable to express grief while greeting crowds of mourners whose hands were wet with tears. In previous clips, he focused on his combative relationship with William, saying his elder brother physically attacked him as they argued over Meghan, and 'I saw this red mist in him'. 'I want reconciliation, but first there has to be accountability,' Harry said. Prince Harry will discuss his memoirs in TV interviews on Sunday after the book's explosive revelations about royal rifts, sex and drugs cast doubt on his future in the British Royal Family Sources close to William and Charles commented to the British broadsheets Sunday. The Sunday Times quoted an unnamed friend of the brothers as saying William 'won't retaliate, he never would,' but 'he's anxious and he's sad'. 'He's handling it so well on the outside - inside he's burning,' the source said. Another unnamed friend told the newspaper that William 'is staunchly protective of his own family, and he's not just going to roll over.' The Sunday Telegraph quoted sources close to Charles as saying the king saw a reconciliation with Harry as the 'only way out of this mess', however. The author of a biography of Charles, Catherine Mayer, told The Guardian the royal squabbling was not trivial and could undermine the institution. Extracts from Harry's memoir Spare were published after it accidentally went on sale in Spain. A copy of the book is seen here at a store in Barcelona 'It is possibly something that will mark the beginning of the end of the monarchy,' Mayer said. Harry told ITV he still believes in the monarchy, although he does not know if he will play any part in its future. He will not have a formal role in Charles' coronation this year which he is expected to attend, according to reports. In 'a major break with tradition, Charles has scrapped the act of the royal dukes kneeling to 'pay homage', and 'William will be the only royal to perform the tradition'. U.S. channel CBS will broadcast its interview with Harry on 60 Minutes on Sunday. Another American network, ABC, is scheduled to air its interview on Monday. The interviews were recorded before Harry's book was widely leaked Thursday, prompting a backlash from media, royal commentators, military veterans and even the Taliban. British papers slammed Harry's claim to have killed 25 people while serving in the military in Afghanistan, after veterans criticised such statements as risky and inappropriate. A Taliban official condemned Harry for saying the killings felt like removing chess pieces from a board. Mia Fevola has sparked chatter on Instagram after debuting an ultra-tanned look, with one fan warning her of the dangers of melanoma. The 22-year-old stepdaughter of AFL great Brendan Fevola sported very bronzed skin in a gallery of holiday photos posted on Sunday. In one of the photos, the model and influencer looks unrecognisable while posing alongside two equally sun-kissed girlfriends. Mia Fevola (right, with two friends) has sparked chatter on Instagram after debuting an ultra-tanned look, with one fan warning her of the dangers of melanoma 'Summaa,' she captioned the post. Another photo in the gallery shows Mia flaunting her tan lines in a bikini while snapping a mirror selfie. A third sees her looking less bronzed while posing in a sauna. The stepdaughter of AFL great Brendan Fevola sported very bronzed skin in a gallery of holiday photos posted on Sunday. She flaunts her tan lines in a bikini while snapping a mirror selfie Another photo in the gallery sees her looking less bronzed while posing in a sauna Mia's followers wasted no time sounding off about her tanned complexion in the comments section. Some of the comments were positive, while others suggested she had gone slightly overboard with her tanning. 'Omg how are you so brown?' one asked. Mia's followers wasted no time sounding off about her tanned complexion in the comments section. 'Omg how are you so brown?' one asked 'You girls should watch Deb Hutton's story and stop baking yourselves into a melanoma,' another commented Another wrote: 'You girls should watch Deb Hutton's story and stop baking yourselves into a melanoma.' Television presenter Hutton, 61, underwent life-saving surgery to remove two skin cancers from her face in mid-2020, and has since used her public platform to promote sun safety. Hutton was initially worried the cancer would affect her career, but now sees it as a 'gift' because she is able to spread the word about melanoma. 'You girls should watch Deb Hutton's story and stop baking yourselves into a melanoma,' one fan said. TV presenter Hutton (pictured) underwent life-saving surgery to remove two skin cancers from her face in mid-2020, and has since used her platform to promote sun safety Mia recently hinted her mother Alex may soon be getting remarried to her stepfather Brendan Fevola, six years after getting re-engaged. Brendan, formerly of Carlton and the Brisbane Lions, wed makeup artist Alex in 2005 but they divorced in 2014, only to reconcile a few years later. He adopted Mia upon marrying her mother. The Fevolas are also parents to three other daughters, Leni, 12, Lulu, eight, and Tobi, two. Julie Bishop, 66, has been accused of changing her appearance with a filter in a video she posted of herself exercising over the weekend on Instagram. The former foreign minister looked unrecognisable while standing in a park in Perth as she prepared to go for a run. Many of her followers were left stunned by her unusually blurred, pore-free complexion and strikingly white teeth. Julie Bishop , 66, has been accused of changing her appearance with a filter in a video she posted of herself exercising over the weekend on Instagram 'Are you using a filter?' one curious fan commented. Julie seemingly denied she'd edited her complexion by commenting: 'If I were I'd get rid of the mascara dripping under my eyes!' 'Take the filter off though', another follower commented. Many of her followers were left stunned by her unusually blurred, pore-free complexion and strikingly white teeth. Julie is pictured left in the video, and right on the red carpet at the 2022 NGV Gala on December 10 Julie hit back at this user by pointing out that they were hiding behind a private account. 'May I see your posts?' she wrote, adding a shrugging emoji. It comes two months after Julie's ex-boyfriend David Panton, 61, confirmed his romance with much-younger new girlfriend Genevieve Anderson, 38. 'Are you using a filter?' one curious fan commented. Julie seemingly denied that she'd edited her complexion by commenting: 'If I were I'd get rid of the mascara dripping under my eyes!' 'Take the filter off though', another follower commented. Julie hit back at this user by pointing out that they were hiding behind a private account Genevieve is a specialist in perinatal psychology for new mums and runs her own clinic in Wahroonga on Sydney's North Shore. She is a triathlete and former Ironwoman competitor who took part in Manly's Bold and Beautiful open water swimming challenge last year. David also takes part in the B&B, logging 364km so far in 2022 - the 20th greatest distance swum by a group member this year - and is said to have met Genevieve during their regular open sea swimming sessions off Manly Beach. It comes two months after Julie's ex-boyfriend David Panton, 61, confirmed his romance with much-younger new girlfriend Genevieve Anderson, 38 (right) Julie (right) dated property developer David (left) for eight years before he ended the relationship in July over dinner in Sydney Julie's eight-year romance with property developer David ended over dinner in Sydney in July - just a week after the couple visited London together and dined with Prince Charles. The couple went to dinner in Sydney's CBD where Mr Panton told a shocked Bishop their relationship had run its course. Julie is rumoured to now be dating fitness enthusiast Luke Hepworth after the pair were spotted arm-in-arm at several red carpet events late last year. She jetted off to Mexico last week to meet up with her new boyfriend Jorge Darek. And Kiki Morris looked loved-up with her new bodybuildedr beau on Saturday as they enjoyed a romantic stroll in Tulum. The 35-year-old showed off her incredible body in a tiny skirt and brown crop top as she held Jorge's hand during the outing. Kiki Morris showed off her incredible body in a tiny skirt and crop top during romantic Mexican getaway with her boyfriend Jorge Darek The winner of Network 10's The Challenge completed her look with a pair of brown boots and a cowboy hat. Jorge meanwhile sported a pair if very tight ripped black jeans, a white buttoned shirt and black chunky boots. During their trip, Kiki and Jorge have embarked on several tourist activities, including attending the Afterlife music festival, beach visits and walks. The 35-year-old showed off her incredible body in a tiny skirt and brown crop top as she held Jorge's hand during the outing 'Tulum is good for the soul with my best friend and love... words cannot describe how amazing this event was,' Kiki wrote on Instagram. 'Love you my best friend,' Jorge replied in the comments section. The couple have been holidaying at the Xcacel-Xcacelito resort and they pulled out all the stops for their new year getaway. During their trip, Kiki and Jorge embarked on several tourist activities, including attending the Afterlife music festival, beach visits and walks Kiki's trip follows the generous pay packet from her win on The Challenge. She pocketed $100,000 in prize money before she reveled with other celebrities in a a very daring outfit. There she flashed her tanned flesh in a plunging bodysuit that resembled a monokini under a completely sheer skirt. Bachelor fans will remember Kiki from Richie Strahan's season of in 2016. She later starred in spin-off series Bachelor in Paradise. In 2016, the glamour model told OK! magazine she underwent a boob job after being bullied for her 'flat chest' in high school. 'I used to get teased for being so flat-chested,' she said, adding that having the procedure 'definitely made me feel less self-conscious'. In addition to plastic surgery, Kiki is also a fan of cosmetic injectables, including Botox and dermal filler. In 2017, she underwent Botox injections to reshape her jawline and relax the muscles around her jaw that had become tight over time. She said at the time that one reason for getting the procedure was to relieve the severe headaches caused by jaw pressure. 'I'm a notorious jaw clencher in my sleep so much so I wake up with migraines and from that it's contributed to my strong jawline,' she said. Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger enjoyed spending part of their Sunday morning at the Farmers' Market with their girls. The action hero, 43, sported his new mustache as he and the rest of his family packed their stroller full of apples and other fresh produce in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. The Guardians of the Galaxy star stepped out in knee length joggers, a gray hoodie, sneakers and a black billed cap. Casual Sunday: Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger looked casual as they spent part of their Sunday morning at the Farmers' Market with their girls. Chris, 43, stepped out in knee length joggers, a gray hoodie, sneakers and a black billed cap Katherine, 33, looked comfortable in black leggings, a lavender T-shirt and black jacket. The Maverick and Me author styled her shoulder length hair up in a rooster tail and appeared makeup free, wearing rose colored sunglasses. The couple took turns holding their youngest daughter, seven months, who looked precious in a pink jacket, brown pants, and light pink sneakers with bright pink socks. Rose colored glasses: Katherine, 33, looked comfortable in black leggings, a lavender T-shirt and black jacket. The Maverick and Me author styled her shoulder length hair up in a rooster tail and appeared makeup free, wearing rose colored sunglasses Big girl Lyla, two, wore multi-colored leggings and a navy blue and pink fluffy coat. Chris has teamed up with Millie Bobby Brown for action adventure The Electric State. Millie Bobby will star as an orphaned young woman who travels through the American west searching for her missing brother with an eccentric drifter, played by Chris, and a sweet, but mysterious robot. Taking turns: The couple took turns holding their youngest daughter, seven months, who looked precious in a pink jacket, brown pants, and light pink sneakers with bright pink socks Katherine has been juggling mom duties with her podcast, Before, During and After Baby in which she discusses all things baby, including fertility, sex, partner relationships, birth experience and more with experts. Her latest book, Good Night, Sister, will be released February 7. She has been encouraging her followers to pre-order the bedtime story. Publisher Penguin Random House will donate up to 5,000 copies to Save the Children to provide less fortunate families. An Australian woman was shocked to discover she had tan lines from walking her dog around her neighbourhood for just half an hour. Shelby Mills, 28, a former Love Island contestant from Queensland's Gold Coast, wore a low-cut crop top for her stroll - and couldn't believe it when she later changed into a bikini and saw the visible lines on her chest and stomach. Filming herself for Instagram while standing in front of a mirror in her living room, Ms Mills showed off her tanned skin, which she explained had looked very different earlier in the day. Queensland woman Shelby Mills was shocked to discover she had tan lines from walking her dog around her neighbourhood for just half an hour 'So, I took [my dog] Sunny for a walk this morning and look at my tan lines... from my activewear,' she told her 62,000 followers. 'I literally went for half an hour. What do you mean?' 'Now I'm wearing a bikini to go do yard work so I can get an even tan,' Ms Mills continued, adding in the caption: 'I tan so easy. It's a real issue.' Filming herself for Instagram while standing in front of a mirror in her living room, Ms Mills showed off her tanned skin, which she explained had looked very different earlier in the day 'So, I took [my dog] Sunny for a walk this morning and look at my tan lines... from my activewear. I literally went for half an hour,' she told her 62,000 followers The OnlyFans model last made headlines in October while on holiday in America, when a man asked her out on a date by leaving a note on her car windshield. She said this type of approach would never happen Down Under, but admitted she respected the man's 'hustle'. Ms Mills shared a photo on Instagram of the note, which was scrawled on a napkin after the man had spotted her in Los Angeles. The OnlyFans model last made headlines in October while on holiday in America, when a man asked her out on a date by leaving a note on her car windshield The note read: 'IDK [I don't know] if you like black guys but your [sic] fine shawty. Let me wine and dine you, no BS. I work two jobs and I drive.' 'Text me if your [sic] interested,' he added before sharing his number, which Ms Mills covered with her hand. She captioned her photo of the note: 'Hahaha finding notes on your car. I love America. Respect the hustle.' At the time, Ms Mills was on holiday in California after a sun-soaked summer in Europe followed by trips to New York and Alaska. The former Love Island star said this type of approach would never happen Down Under, but admitted she respected the man's 'hustle'. The note (pictured) read: 'IDK if you like black guys but your [sic] fine shawty. Let me wine and dine you, no BS. I work two jobs and I drive. Text me' Ms Mills is certainly no wallflower when it comes to social media, and is one of Australia's biggest earners on OnlyFans Ms Mills is certainly no wallflower when it comes to social media, and is one of Australia's biggest earners on OnlyFans. In September 2021, she came clean about her cosmetic work, admitting to having undergone rhinoplasty, lip filler and Botox. 'How much plastic surgery have you done besides rhinoplasty?' one follower asked her on Instagram. In September 2021, she came clean about her cosmetic work, admitting to having undergone rhinoplasty, lip filler and Botox 'Just my nose, haven't had any other plastic surgery apart from fillers,' she answered. 'I have filler in my lip and Botox, that's about it, but that's not plastic surgery, so...' Ms Mills shot to fame in 2018 on the first season of Love Island. Since making it big on OnlyFans, she has bought a $2million waterfront home on the Gold Coast. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (Photo AP) HYDERABAD: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has proposed to make mathematics compulsory for all students in England up to the age of 18 years. According to him, this would help young people in a world where data is everywhere and statistics underpin every job. Even as the decision has drawn mixed opinions, teachers in the city believe it would be an idea worth the attempt. Prof V. Uma Maheshwar, who teaches mechanical engineering at Osmania University, said that mathematics has many practical benefits in everyday life, which most people fail to see. "It helps develop specific areas of the brain and improve students' analytical and reasoning skills. The complexities and level of math taught in India are higher than most countries, which explain why Indians take policy making positions in top companies. Streamlining this would only mean better global careers, so why not!" he added. According to Neelakantha Bhanu, more popularly known as the worlds fastest human calculator, making math compulsory in India will be a step in the right direction. "However, it is important to also focus on revamping the way the subject is taught in the country, especially because math is often seen as a boring and abstract subject. From balancing a budget to navigating with GPS, math plays a vital role in helping us make a sense of the world around us. That is why it is important to not only make it compulsory in schools, but it is also extremely important to teach real-life applications," opined the founder-CEO of Bhanzu, a Hyderabad-based math edtech startup. Some other math teachers like Amala V.T. said that because mathematics is currently taught in India as a compulsory subject up to Class 10, while another couple of years more may not make much of a difference. "If anything, it could only add more pressure on students, who do not enjoy it. For those not keen on a career in math are well equipped with basics until high school that help them in their everyday life. What's taught beyond 10th grade are A-level math, which such students do not need to be forced into," she explained. Minister K.T. Rama Rao. (Twitter) HYDERABAD: Minister for municipal administration and urban development K.T. Rama Rao on Sunday sought a special package in the upcoming Union Budget for the development of Hyderabad and urban areas in the state. In a media statement, Rao sought Centres in-principle approval for the 31-km Rs 6,250-crore Hyderabad airport express metro project. He asked for expediting payment of Rs 254 crore, part of viability gap funding for Hyderabad metro rail project, which has been pending for five years. Rao said the preliminary estimate for the 20-km mass rapid transit system (MRTS) was Rs 3,050 crore, and asked the Centre to provide Rs 450 crore as 15 per cent of its equity. For the Rs 2,400-crore project to construct link roads in 104 corridors, he sought Rs 800 crore and for a project aimed at bringing relief from traffic congestion on national highway 65, he asked for Rs 500 crore. The minister said building the Musi riverfront development and east-west expressway would cost Rs 14,000 crore, SRDP Phase-II Rs 14,000 crore and elevated corridors Rs 9,000 crore for a total of Rs 34,500 crore. Of this, he sought budgetary support of Rs 3,450 crore or 10 per cent of the cost. He has also requested for an incentive to GHMC on raising of the third tranche of Municipal Bonds. The minister sought Rs 750 crore, 20 per cent of the Rs 3,777 crore project cost for solid waste management project, bio-mining, faecal sludge and waste water treatment plants. He sought one-third of Rs 8,684 crore cost of building 41 sewage treatment plants. He asked Rs 240 crore for the strategic nala development plan, and Rs 400 crore under swachh Bharat mission funds as well as Rs 100 crore for the Telangana sanitation hub, a first-of-its-kind in the country. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Narasimha Raos son P.V. Prabhakara Rao, senior journalist K.R. Murty, former CBI joint director V.V. Laxminarayana and journalist Maa Sarma were in present. (Photo: DC) Hyderabad: Reminiscing about Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Raos tenure, well-known political commentator and senior journalist Sanjaya Baru praised him for his significant contribution to the countrys economy and foreign policy, which were followed by his successors Atal Behari Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singh. Baru was delivering the PV Memorial Lecture, Between Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi: The Transformative Political Economy of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, organised by the P.V. Narasimha Global Foundation, in Jubilee Hills on Saturday. Baru, information adviser to then Prime Minister Singh, analysed the GDP growth rates from the Nehruvian tenure of the 1950s to the Modi government in 2023. The most important factor is how PV combined his post-Nehruvian new economic policy with Nehruvian consensus politics The decade during which the economic performance turned was the 1990s, when the economic growth went from 3.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent, under the leadership of Rao, he said. Baru said that Raos foreign policies were in response to the new global context after the Cold War and the emergence of the United States as the sole superpower. The initiatives he took the outreach to the US, his Look East policy, the diplomatic recognition of Israel, the establishment of closer economic relations with the European Union and Japan are policies that all subsequent governments have pursued, said Baru. He stressed the need to re-examine economic and social policies to value the attributes of India's pluralism, liberalism, secularism and democratic values that the world has come to value. A book, Mabbula Chatuna Suryadau, was released on the occasion. Narasimha Raos son P.V. Prabhakara Rao, senior journalist K.R. Murty, former CBI joint director V.V. Laxminarayana and journalist Maa Sarma were in present. The farmers resolve follows the suicide of a farmer, Payyavula Ramulu, who was worried that the government would acquire his more than one acre land for the proposed industrial zone. (File Photo: DC) Kamareddy: The farmers joint action committee (JAC), which has been agitating for the past month against the draft master plan which includes irrigation land in a proposed industrial zone, issued an ultimatum to the Chandrasekhar Rao-led BRS government, stating that their protests would intensify throughout the district unless the state government addressed all of their legitimate demands by January 11, including scrapping the master plan. The farmers resolve follows the suicide of a farmer, Payyavula Ramulu, who was worried that the government would acquire his more than one acre land for the proposed industrial zone. Following a series of dharnas and rasta rokos at the collector's office over the last four days, farmers from seven merged villages in Kamareddy municipality met on Sunday at Adloor Yellareddy village in Sadashivanagar mandal and announced an action plan. As part of the action plan, the farmers have formed groups of five members each to submit a memorandum to all 49 Kamareddy municipal councillors on Monday. Following a break on January 10, farmers will hold a dharna at the Kamareddy municipal office January 11. Farmers expressed their outrage over the statement of Kamareddy MLA Gampa Govardhan and district collector Jitesh V. Patil. With farmers up in arms over the proposed industrial zone, Goverdhan on Saturday blamed the consultant and town planners for redrawing the plan without his approval. "We will wait until January 11 for the government's order cancelling the proposed industrial zone," the JAC said. The farmers said they would intensify their agitation throughout Kamareddy district if the government failed to do so. "We have lost faith in local officials and leaders, and the government should come clear on its policy decision about the master plan by January 11, they added. Former zilla parishad chairman and BJP leader K.P. Venkataramana Reddy slammed Govardhan, collector Jitesh Patil, and municipal commissioner Devender for making contradictory statements about the proposed master plan. The JAC leaders also stated that they will file a complaint with the human rights commission against the police personnel for resorting to lathi-charge. Health Minister, Vidadala Rajini along with former Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, and Doctors from various parts of the world light a lamp at the inaugural session of the 16th Global Health Care Summit organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin at a hotel in Visakhapatnam on Friday. (Photos: Murali Krishna) VISHAKHAPATNAM: The three-day 16th Global Health Summit organised by American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) in Visakhapatnam called for a new global health architecture that gives priority to promoting health and preventing disease, rather than only treating the sick. The architecture must be based on common vision, be inclusive, and stimulate innovative solutions to health challenges. The summit also discussed many important issues related to Andhra Pradesh. Taking forward the call of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, AAPI decided to provide mental healthcare for school students to prevent suicides. For the purpose, a pilot project is being launched to train 10,000 teachers as counsellors. AAPI will also support the state government in tackling cervical cancer among women. Health minister Vidadala Rajani has gone on to announce free human papillomavirus vaccine for girls in the age group of 914 years. Participating in a panel discussion on newer treatment modalities in radiation oncology, surgical oncology, systemic therapies for cancer, strategies to control cancer and economies of cancer drugs, Dr. D. Raghunadha Rao, founder director of Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, reiterated that therapeutic landscape of cancer has undergone a sea change with the advent of genomic profiling of tumours. It is important for oncologists to periodically get retrained in interpretation of complex genomic reports to understand the current status of a tumour. This can help them choose the best drug for a given patient to target the cancer at molecular level. This leads to precision medicine and personalised cancer treatment, which is the most effective and least toxic, Dr. Raghunadha Rao pointed out. Former chief scientist of World Health Organisation (WHO) Soumya Swaminathan, who also participated in the summit, suggested regular screening of people for non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart and kidney diseases. More than 350 doctors, including 100 experts from the USA, were among the speakers. They shared their knowledge and expressed insightful views on treatment of children and cancer, new trends in medicine and modern treatment procedures. Brainstorming sessions were held on mental health, non-communicable diseases, cardiology, diabetes, kidney diseases, gastroenterology, blindness prevention and current trends in infant mortality. Former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and JanaSena Party chief Pawan Kalyan address a media at the former's residence in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad on Sunday. (R. Pavan/DC) Hyderabad: Sundays meeting between the chiefs of Telugu Desam and Jana Sena N. Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan has further strengthened the possibility of an electoral pact between the two parties. Kalyan drove to Naidus residence here earlier in the day. A joint declaration to fight against the restrictions imposed by the YSR Congress government on rallies and public meetings, both parties believe, would consolidate their bonding that eventually would lead to an alliance, unless the TD spoils it by playing big brother. While the YSRC, naturally, portrayed the meet as one more indication of Pawan Kalyans opportunistic politics, Jana Senas ally Bharatiya Janata Party too took the development with a pinch of salt. How will the dream of Kapus to see a person of their community as Chief Minister be realised if Pawan joins hands with Naidu? wondered senior BJP leader and party general secretary P. Vishnuvardhan Reddy. Stoking the same Kapu sentiment, irrigation minister Ambati Rambabu alleged that Naidu is a Kapu-hater and even dared him to declare Pawan Kalyan as the Chief Ministerial candidate for their alliance. Pawan is known for ditching parties, he said in an apparent reference to the former cosying up with Naidu against the BJPs wishes. Interestingly, a deliberate attempt was made on social media to spread the list of Assembly segments purported to have been allotted to the Jana Sena. It is absolutely nonsense. A poll pact or seat-sharing did not figure at all in the meeting, Jana Sena political affairs committee chairman Nadendla Manohar told Deccan Chronicle. Terming the meeting as a reciprocal gesture of his party chief, Manohar said Naidu had visited Pawan Kalyan in Vizag when the YSRC government had restricted the Jana Sena chiefs movements for two days, a few months ago. Today, he met Naidu to extend solidarity. Nothing beyond should be read, he added. A senior TD leader, however, maintained that the meeting was a step towards a prospective alliance. A positive mood is increasingly gaining ground among the cadres of the two parties but the alliance will depend on how genuine and sincere both are in, first, reaching an understanding on the number of seats each would be contesting and, then, the Assembly segments, he pointed out. On January 1, three persons were killed in a stampede at a free gift distribution programme, wherein the tragedy occurred some time after former chief minister Naidu (in picture) had left the venue. DC Image Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh government late on Saturday night constituted a one-man Commission of Inquiry to probe into the circumstances that led to two incidents of stampede in which 11 persons were killed in recent days. The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) will be headed by Justice B Seshasayana Reddy, a retired judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, an order issued by Chief Secretary K S Jawahar Reddy said. The CoI has been asked to submit its report in a month. Eight persons were killed in a stampede at Kandukuru town in SPS Nellore district on December 28, 2022 during a political meeting of Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu. On January 1, three persons were killed in a stampede at a free gift distribution programme, wherein the tragedy occurred some time after former chief minister Naidu had left the venue. The state government has now appointed the CoI to inquire into the "circumstances leading to the stampedes and the persons responsible therefore and whether there were any shortcomings in the arrangements made and also any violations in the permissions granted". The CoI has also been asked to recommend if any institutional mechanisms and safeguards need to be put in place, in addition to the existing measures, so as to prevent occurrence of such grave tragedies in future, according to the Chief Secretary's order. The BRS intends to campaign for the JD(S) in Karnataka, as well as explore the prospect of contesting a few seats in the Kalyana Karnataka region, which has a sizable Telugu-speaking population, with the support of the JD(S). (File Photo: PTI) Hyderabad: With Assembly elections in Karnataka and Nagaland scheduled for May and February respectively, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) plans to deploy ministers and MLAs to campaign for H.D.Kumaraswamy-led Janata Dal (Secular) and Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in the two poll-bound states. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao is expected to campaign in Karnataka as soon as the EC issues the poll notification. The BRS intends to campaign for the JD(S) in Karnataka, as well as explore the prospect of contesting a few seats in the Kalyana Karnataka region, which has a sizable Telugu-speaking population, with the support of the JD(S). According to party insiders, ministers and BRS MLAs in the districts bordering Karnataka Ranga Reddy, Medak, Mahabbnagar and Nizamabad were asked to prepare for campaigning there from February. In Nagaland, BRS leaders are engaging with NCP and farmer leaders to consider the possibilities of contesting a few seats. In the northeast state, the party is attempting to reach out to farmers by promising Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Badhu and free power, as about 4.5 lakh voters out of over 12 lakh are believed to be farmers. Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party is actively looking for "like-minded parties" to contest in the Nagaland Assembly elections. NCP leader in Nagaland and former MLA Y.Sulanthung H Lotha also met social welfare minister Koppula Eshwar on Saturday and offered to work with the BRS in Nagaland. Ministers from undivided Mahbubnagar district V. Srinivas Goud and S. Niranjan Reddy have made a few trips to bordering areas of Karnataka and met local leaders and representatives farmers, OBCs, Dalits, womens organisations and sought their support. On the other hand, minister from undivided Nizamabad district, V. Prashanth Reddy, BRS MLAs from Ranga Reddy and Vikarabad districts such as P. Rohit Reddy, BRS Zahirabad MP B.B.Patil have been frequently visiting Karnataka bordering areas. Tribal welfare minister Satyavathi Rathod addressed a joint meeting of local BRS and JDS leaders in Gulbarga in Karnataka on Saturday and asked them to work together to defeat the BJP and Congress in the Assembly polls, while asserting that the CM along with the partys ministers will undertake campaigning for the Karnataka Assembly polls shortly. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao will also launch several development programmes in these districts on the occasion besides addressing public meetings. (File Photo: Twitter) Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao will resume his tours of the districts from January 12. The Chief Minister will visit Mahbubabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem and Khammam districts to inaugurate their integrated district collectorates. The CM will also launch several development programmes in these districts on the occasion besides addressing public meetings. The CM will inaugurate the collectorate of Mahbubabad district on January 12 in the morning. He will travel to Bhadradri Kothagudem to inaugurate the complex there in the evening. After Sankranti, which falls on January 15, the CM will inaugurate the collectorate of Khammam district on January 18. The CM has visited inaugurated collectorate since August in Vikarabad, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Ranga Reddy, Peddapalli and Nizamabad districts. He also inaugurated BRS district offices simultaneously. In December, the CM visited Mahbubnagar and, on December 7, Jagtial. Work on the BRS consumed his time, and the CM also stayed in Delhi for a week. Prince Harry and Meghan (Image: Netflix) Happy 2023. Brrr. It is cold here and snow is threatened this coming week. Of course, while there may have been a Santa in your lives in December it was certainly not the government scattering gifts and going Ho, Ho, Ho! So the merry, happy days of Christmas did not really arrive for Londoners. But that is life and one hopes 2023 brings peace in Ukraine and a change in the fortunes of the UK. The year that we left behind saw the departure of UKs most loved monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. And thus when the year 2022 ended somewhat sadly, it felt like the end of an era. But Londoners bore up stoically as they usually do. They turned up in their thousands to say their final farewells to the lady who had ruled over them for seventy years. Perhaps the enduring image of 2023was the full scale, faultless memorial service. And this confirmed the succession of her seventy-plus-year-old son and heir, Charles. Still, the feeling of unease does not go away. Monarchy is an old but delicate plant. It has served England well for over three millennia. But as the waves of modernity lash onshore, the question is Will Monarchy survive? This question is on everyones mind as it is beginning to look like a tacky soap opera. Usually this would not be an appropriate moment to broach the subject, with a brand new King in place had it not been for a domestic fracas going on within the royal family. The trouble has come, not unexpectedly, from Prince Harry who has just published his eagerly awaited (with some trepidation) memoirs titled Spare. The title refers to the idea that the woman who marries the potential successor to the throne the Prince of Wales must provide two children. The older one would be the heir, and the next in line is the spare, just in case some untoward accident prevented the heir from succeeding. (The late Queens father was a spare but when his older sibling abdicated the throne to marry an American divorcee, her father got the Crown. He became George the Sixth, the last King Emperor of India. ) So spares can be lucky but only by accident, but Harry has done what his great-granduncle did: he married an American divorcee. Only this time, Meghan Markle, an actor with non-White roots, led the way to his resignation from royal duties. As the book, just published in Spain, shows Harry had felt like an outsider for a long time. He had been regretting the loss of his mother Princess Diana at a young age, and his own the marriage alienated Harry from his family. Finally, he has withdrawn from his Windsor household and has settled in California with Meghan and their two children, Archie and Lilibet. Everyone is eagerly going through each chapter of the book as discussed in the media and its UK publication will ensure a mega bestseller. Harry and Meghan may end up being richer than the royals, through the book royalties and other media deals. It began gently with an interview with Oprah Winfrey who heads a most watched TV live interview programme. That caused waves, not least in the London daily press. Then followed interviews with other sources in the US, appearances in public and even a Netflix saga. Meghan said she had suffered racist behaviour in the royal palaces and now Harry has gone public about a serious quarrel with his older brother William and his wife Catherine, the next Monarch and Queen. In this latest bombshell he recalls being hit badly by William. All of London has been talking about nothing else. Mind you the misery of the outdoor with strikes and snow and sundry obstacles to movement, helps Londoners to stay indoors. But Royalty which used to light up Christmas with the Queens broadcast seems to have depressing overtones. All this is enumerating the dangers to the present royals, and their reputations. The late Queen was a pillar of the realm, always correct, respectable and cheerful. A public quarrel, coming on the airwaves and now as a well packaged book, is likely to add to the critics who feel the Royals have outlived their usefulness to the UK. Will the fight of the Heir and the Spare damage the institution of monarchy itself? At present, all bets are off and Harry may be completing what his mother had begun through her own damaging media interactions. The one title he will relish is being the real son of Diana, Princess of Wales. The number of solar panel installations in Bengaluru has dropped by at least 40 per cent over the last three months, according to service providers and installers in the domain. Though more people are evincing interest in green energy, service providers have said that a shortage of bidirectional meters has slowed down the process and they are not able to complete installations at many sites. The bidirectional meters help synchronise the system and record the actual use of power. Without the meters, we cannot operationalise the solar panels. Over the last three months, though many clients are approaching us, we have not been able to complete many installations owing to the shortage of these meters, said K L H Raya, secretary, Karnataka Renewable Energy Systems Manufacturers Association (KRESMA). He added that the number of installations had come down by at least 40 per cent and many other projects that were in progress were stalled. The lack of clarity as to when the meters would be available is creating problems in providing clients with an estimate, the installers said. Of the six projects I am handling, I have been able to procure meters for only one of them. The other projects will remain stalled indefinitely. Owing to this shortage, we are not able to commit to a timeline and hence many clients are refusing to give us projects, said K S Deshpal who runs Prolight Systems, a company that installs solar lighting systems across Karnataka. While meters are available in other states, stringent norms set by the Bescom have restricted installers from using them, they said. Every meter has to be submitted to Bescom for testing and has to be procured from empanelled vendors listed by Bescom only. They were not open to our suggestion of procuring meters from other states and submitting them for testing, Raya said. Senior Bescom officials told DH that the chip shortage, owing to import problems during the pandemic had resulted in such a crisis. So far, we were able to meet the needs by utilising the meters that were stocked up. There was an acute shortage of chips and other materials used for manufacturing such meters and hence the supply was affected, he said. Yet another official said that they are expecting the supply of meters soon. We are in talks with the manufacturers. While a few one-phase meters are available, three-phase meters will soon be supplied. At least 500 meters are expected to arrive in the next few days, he said. China is willing to work with Nepal to stay true to their original aspirations, join forces to seek common development and build a closer community with a shared future in the new era, the new Chinese ambassador here said on Sunday. Ambassador Chen Song, one of the senior diplomats in China, also vowed to work to write a new chapter of the strategic partnership between the two countries. Chen was appointed as ambassador to Nepal in November. However, Chens arrival in Nepal was delayed after he and his wife got infected with Covid-19. He replaces Hou Yanqi, who returned to China after completing her four-year tenure in October. I stand ready to work closely with Nepali friends from all walks of life, gather wisdom and pool strength to bring more benefits to the two peoples, and jointly write a new chapter of the China-Nepal strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity, Chen was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu Post newspaper. Also Read | Workers clash with police at Covid test kit factory in China Speaking to journalists at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Chen said China will always firmly support Nepal in safeguarding state sovereignty and national dignity, exploring a development path suited to its national conditions, and pursuing independent domestic and foreign policies. China is willing to work with Nepal to stay true to our original aspirations, inherit friendship, join forces to seek common development, and build a closer China-Nepal community with a shared future in the new era, he added. As the new ambassador to Nepal, I am deeply aware of the glorious mission and great responsibility. I will follow the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and Nepali leaders, stay devoted and dedicated to outlining their freehand brushwork of bilateral relations into a meticulous painting," he said. Chen is a familiar face in Nepals diplomatic circles as he has in the past been a part of several meetings with Nepali officials. His arrival comes days after Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, seen as pro-China, was sworn in as Nepal's prime minister for the third time after he dramatically walked out of the pre-poll alliance led by the Nepali Congress and joined hands with opposition leader K P Sharma Oli, who is also pro-China. A prisoner was killed and more than 60 wounded after a riot broke out at a Myanmar prison west of Yangon, the junta said on Saturday. Myanmar has been in chaos since Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government was toppled in a military coup in February 2021, ending the southeast Asian nation's brief period of democracy. The riot at the prison in Pathein started after guards confiscated a mobile phone from an inmate on Thursday night and took disciplinary action, the junta said in a statement. About 70 prisoners escaped from their cells and damaged property on Friday morning. Prisoners used sticks, bricks and pieces of cement to attack security forces, the junta said. Authorities tried to bring the situation under control but negotiations failed and they resorted to force. "The authorities fired guns to break up the crowd and bring the riot under control," the statement said. The junta said one prisoner was killed "amid fighting" and 63 inmates were wounded along with two police and nine guards. Local media described the dead inmate as a political prisoner and BBC Burmese said he was on terrorism charges. The junta flagged the launch of an investigation into the incident. Last week, the junta announced it would free more than 7,000 prisoners to mark the 75th anniversary of Myanmar's independence from Britain. More than 2,700 people have been killed since the military seized power and more than 13,000 people are detained as part of a crackdown on dissent, according to a local monitoring group. In July last year the regime executed four prisoners including former lawmaker Phyo Zeya Thaw and democracy activist Kyaw Min Yu -- better known as "Jimmy". It was the first use of the death penalty by the Myanmar state in around 30 years and sparked worldwide condemnation. Human Rights Watch says Myanmar prisons are notorious for harsh conditions and their alleged use of torture. Continuing its crackdown on terrorism sponsored from across the border, the Centre banned two proxy organisations of the dreaded Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed and declared four individuals terrorists in last four days. The action against the terror groups and terrorists came amidst the repeated assertions by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the central government has adopted a zero tolerance policy towards terrorism. On January 4, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a notification stating that Aijaz Ahmad Ahanger alias Abu Usman Al-Kashmiri, a Kashmir-born terrorist who has contacts with al-Qaeda and other global terrorist groups and is engaged in restarting the Islamic State (IS) in India, was declared an individual terrorist. Aijaz Ahmad, presently based in Afghanistan, is one of the chief recruiters of Islamic State Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK). Aijaz Ahmad, who was born in Srinagar in 1974, is a wanted terrorist in Jammu and Kashmir for more than two decades and has started planning terror-related strategies in the Union Territory by building coordination channels between various terrorist groups. Also Read | Army kills two militants along LoC in Jammu & Kashmirs Poonch According to the MHA, Aijaz Ahmad is working towards providing traction to militancy in Kashmir and has started the process of identifying people for inclusion in his Kashmir-based network. He was appointed the head of Islamic State (IS) recruitment cell for India and had been instrumental in initiating an online India-centric ISIS propaganda magazine. A day later, on Jan 5, the MHA declared The Resistance Front (TRF) , a proxy of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, a banned organisation. The MHA said the TRF is recruiting youth through online medium for furtherance of terrorist activities, recruitment of terrorists, infiltration of terrorist and smuggling of weapons and narcotics from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir. The group came into existence in 2019 as a proxy of the banned LeT, which was involved in numerous terror acts, including 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The TRF is involved in psychological operations on social media platforms for inciting people of Jammu and Kashmir to join terrorist outfits against the Indian government. The MHA said Sheikh Sajjad Gul is a Commander of the TRF and has already been designated as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967. A large number of cases have also been registered against the members and associates of the TRF. On the same night, the MHA designated Mohammed Amin Khubaiab alias Abu Khubaiab, who belongs to Jammu and Kashmir but currently lives in Pakistan, an individual terrorist. He is acting as launching commander of the LeT and has developed a deep association with the cross-border agencies and is playing a vital role to revive and accelerate terrorist activities of LeT in Jammu. Mohammed Amin has been involved in coordinating terrorist attacks, supply of arms or weapons and explosives, terror financing in Jammu and Kashmir from across the border. On January 6, the MHA banned People's Anti-Fascist-Front (PAFF), a proxy outfit of another Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, for its involvement in terror acts in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere. The MHA said the PAFF has been regularly issuing threats to security forces, political leaders and civilians working in Jammu-and Kashmir from other states. The PAFF, alongwith other organisations, is involved in conspiring pro-actively physically and in social media to undertake violent terrorist acts in Jammu and Kashmir and other major cities in India. The PAFF alongwith other organisations is indulging in radicalisation of impressionable youth for the purpose of recruitment and training in handling guns, ammunitions and explosives. Through a separate notification on the same night, the MHA designated Arbaz Ahmad Mir, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir but is presently based in Pakistan and is working for banned terror group LeT, an individual terrorist. Also Read | Weapons handed over to Village Defence Guards in J&K's Rajouri Arbaz Ahmad has been involved in target killings and has emerged as main conspirator in murder of a female teacher, Rajni Bala, in Kulgam in Jammu and Kashmir a few months ago. He has been involved in coordinating terrorism in Kashmir valley and supporting terrorists by transporting illegal arms or ammunition or explosives from across the border, it said. On Jan 7, the MHA declared Asif Maqbool Dar, who lives in Saudi Arabia and a leading radical voice involved in influencing Kashmiri youth to take up arms, as an individual terrorist. The MHA announced he is involved in instigating or provoking the youth of Kashmir Valley for terrorist activities by using social media platforms. He is associated with banned terror group Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen and is one of the leading radical voices on social media and involved in nefariously influencing Kashmiri youth to take up arms against security forces. He is an accused in a case investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) relating to conspiracy hatched by the cadres of terrorist organisation to undertake violent terrorist act in Jammu and Kashmir and major cities in India including New Delhi on the direction of handlers based across the border. BJP activists blocked a road in West Bengal's Hooghly district on Sunday demanding removal of a BDO for alleged irregularities in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana even as two Central teams visited some places in the state to look into allegations of malpractices in allotment of houses under PMAY. Shouting slogans 'Chor chor TMC chor', 'BDO Dur Hato' (BDO go away), around 100 BJP activists gathered on national highway at Dadpur in Hooghly district blocking traffic. A district official said they left the spot after half an hour at the intervention of police and no untoward incident took place. A district BJP leader alleged the names of owners of two-storied, three-storied buildings in Dadpur, Polba areas have figured in the list prepared by the district administration for deserving ones under PMAY while the needy ones, living in thatched houses have been left out at the insistence of local TMC leaders. Also Read | Protest in Kolkata against Narayanpur church vandalism TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said while there will be zero tolerance policy towards those involved in irregularities in Awas Yojana scheme as emphasised by party National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, BJP is trying to incite people in the name of protests and foment trouble ahead of the panchayat polls. Reacting to the visits of central teams to Purba Medinipur and Malda districts for past couple of days, Ghosh said "we hope they will not function under directive of BJP, then we will be forced to describe them (central team members) as migratory birds. If they work to be on the side of the poor villagers, we have nothing to comment on." A three-member team was visiting different blocks of Kaliachak in Malda district and interacting with villagers at their homes to hear complaints by a section of locals that they hadnt been allotted houses under the PMAY scheme despite applications. Another team went around villages in Purba Medinipur district since January 5. Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday said another central team will tour 15 districts of the state next week. "They (central team) will visit every block, they will go from house to house. They will scrutinise the audits and expenses and identify the wrongdoers," Adhikari told a public rally at Chandipur in Purba Medinipur district. India has handed 75 passenger buses to Sri Lanka as part of its assistance towards strengthening public transport infrastructure in the cash-strapped country. As part of its 'Neighbourhood First policy, India has extended multi-pronged assistance to Sri Lanka to help the country tide over its worst economic and humanitarian crisis since its independence from Great Britain in 1948. Supporting mobility and accessibility in Sri Lanka, High Commissioner handed over 75 buses for use by Transport Board. 500 buses are being supplied to Sri Lanka through Indian assistance towards strengthening public transport infrastructure, the Indian High Commission here said in a statement. In a similar move, India handed 125 SUVs to the Sri Lanka Police under a line of credit in December to support the island nation and help it address the serious mobility restriction issues faced by the police, due to the non-availability of vehicles. The Sri Lankan government in May last year declared a debt default on over $51 billion in the foreign loan a first in the countrys history. Extending a much-needed lifeline to a neighbour in need, India gave financial assistance of nearly $4 billion to Colombo during the year. In January, India announced a $900 million loan to Sri Lanka to build up its depleted foreign reserves as the financial crisis began to unfold. Later, it offered a $500 million credit line to Sri Lanka to fund the countrys fuel purchases. The credit line was later expanded to $700 million due to the sheer gravity of the situation. The Indian credit lines since early 2022 have been in use to import essentials and fuel after street protests erupted due to severe shortages of essentials. Fifteen companies of CRPF comprising 1,500 personnel have been deployed in Jammu and Kashmir's twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch to secure minority areas in the region, officials said. The development comes in the aftermath of twin terror attacks in Rajouri's Dangri village on Sunday evening and Monday in which six people of a minority community including two children were killed and 11 others were injured. The incidents, occurring barely 14 hours apart, triggered protests across the district. Also Read: Four dead, several injured as suspected terrorists target villagers in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri One company of CRPF has been deployed in the Dhangri village, officials said. Over 20 companies comprising 2,000 troops will be deployed in militancy-prone and minority areas to strengthen security in the twin border districts, they said. They said 15 companies have reached the border districts while the remainder will be reach in the next few days. The CRPF personnel are being ferried from outside the union territory for their deployment in the region, they said. See Video: Kashmiri Pandits stage protest in Jammu over terror attack in Rajouri A senior CRPF officer told PTI the security deployment is underway. "It is being directly supervised by IG CRPF and senior officers", he said. There is a huge cry from the minority community people over the security of their areas in border districts after the twin attacks. Delhi Police officials were on Saturday attacked by a mob of 100 African nationals who helped in escaping of three African nationals who were caught by the police for living in India illegally. When police again went to Neb Sarai's Raju Park, the police team was again attacked by the African nationals, but police managed to apprehend four of them. A senior police official said that a team of Narcotics Cell went to Raju Park on Saturday for deportation proceedings of overstaying foreign nationals. The official said that at about 2:30 p.m., the team apprehended three African nationals whose visas had expired. "The team was trying to bring them to the police station but suddenly about 100 African nationals gathered there and obstructed the police team and in the meantime two of the detained African Nationals managed to escape. Later on, one Philip was successfully apprehended," the official said. The official said that again at about 6:30 p.m., a joint team of the narcotics squad and Police Station Neb Sarai reached Raju Park in search of the overstaying foreign nationals and detained four African nationals including one woman namely Kene Chukwu David Williams. A case under section 420/120B of IPC read with 14 Foreigners Act has been registered against the accused at Crime Branch, and passports have also been seized there. The accused Nigerians identified as Igwe Emmanuel Chimezie, Aziegbe John, Queen Godwin were held in the second round of visits. But again about 150-200 African nationals gathered there. They were also trying to help the detained African nationals to escape but after sincere efforts, the police team succeeded to bring them in Police Station Neb Sarai. The official said that further deportation proceedings for apprehended overstaying foreign Nationals are being taken up. Most of the religious heads who had hogged the limelight, desiring to enter the poll fray in the previous Assembly elections, have backtracked this time. The polluted politics has dampened the spirit of these seers who were overwhelmed and inspired by the election of Yogi Adityanath, the Mahant of the Gorakhnath Mutt, as Uttar Pradesh chief minister. Most of these pontiffs are reluctant to contest the elections and have opted to confine themselves to religious activities and strive for the upliftment of their respective communities. Hordes of religious heads had expressed their desire to contest elections and exerted pressure on the BJP, seeking tickets for the 2018 Assembly polls. Basavanand Swami of Guru Basava Mahamane in Managundi village of Dharwad district, Udupi Shiroor Mutt seer late Lakshmivara Theertha Swami, Pranavanand Swami of Sharanabasaveshwar Mutt in Aremallur of Haveri district and Siddalinga Swami of Andola Karuneshwar Mutt in Kalaburagi district had nurtured ambitions to contest the polls. The name of Madara Chennayya Swami of Chitradurga district was also doing the rounds in the previous polls after BJP leader Amit Shah met him. But their hopes were dashed due to the denial of the party ticket. A few months ago, Brahmananda Saraswati Swami of Ujire Shree Rama Kshethra in Dakshina Kannada district had announced that 50 seers including him will enter the electoral battle to cleanse the politics. But he renounced his desire, maintaining that pursuing a political path is not so easy for seers. I had expressed my desire to contest the polls as I was upset with the current political system. But I realized that we need an iron brush to clean the politics and even Lord Brahma cannot repair it. It requires much courage to plunge into politics and it is not appropriate for us, as it will harm our path of asceticism. It is very sad that the politicians and cine actors have become role models for the people, rather than Basava, Buddha and Vivekananda, laments Brahmananda Saraswati Swami, who has practised as a lawyer in the Dakshina Kannada district court for more than a decade after completing MA, LLB. An ardent supporter of Adityanath, the seer claimed that the latter attained success due to strict enforcement of the law. Expressing anger against the state BJP leaders for denying him a ticket from the Kalghatagi Assembly constituency, Basavanand Swami of Guru Basava Mahamane slammed the state government over corruption charges. Pointing out that he tried to contest the poll on a BJP ticket in 2018 against Congress Santosh Lad, he claimed that he opted to stay away from politics as he can serve society better by staying outside its purview. I had the desire to contest the polls as I was motivated by Adityanath. He managed to become CM as the Gorakhnath Mutt has a different tradition from other religious institutions. The mutt has been connected to Hindutva and political activities. His predecessor was also a member of parliament, he said. Madara Chennayya Swami clarified that his activities will be confined only to encouraging his community people in politics and fighting for internal reservation. However, Siddalinga Swami of Andola Karuneshwar Mutt in Kalaburagi district claimed that he was a strong contender for the BJP ticket from Jewargi. My name figures in the internal BJP survey report for Jewargi constituency. I am hopeful of the party ticket as I have a good rapport with RSS and Sangh Parivar, he added. He is also the honorary president of Sriram Sene. Seer Paramathma Maharaj is also vying for the BJP ticket from Haliyal in Uttar Kannada district, by bringing 45 Hindu organizations under one umbrella. State BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel asserted that no religious heads have approached him as yet, seeking party tickets. He said that the party will consider fielding the seers if such a situation arises. History has its unique ways to make its presence felt. We find this to be true as we travel across three UNESCO heritage cities in the region of Madrid. While visual treats of architectural marvels set the ambience of a bygone era, foods that have survived the taste of time (pun intended) offer a sensorial treat in traditional and contemporary avatars that leave a lasting, memorable aftertaste. Serving Cervantes For us, our two-hour drive into Alcala de Henares, brings alive pages from Don Quixote, a 1615 novel by author Miguel Cervantes whose birthplace we are headed to. We realise the medieval times when the book is set also becomes a premise for food narratives. At breakfast, along with the staple of tortillas, Spanish omelette with potatoes, we opt for migas, a humble preparation of leftover breadcrumbs cooked with bite-sized juicy pieces of ham, bacon and chorizo. This is served as a protein-packed option for farmers and labourers. The decadent dessert version comes drizzled with a dense chocolate dusted with cinnamon. A morning walk to the Cervantes Square, where a sculpture of the author stands on a raised pedestal, ends at the oldest bakery Pastelerias Salinas, a legit keeper of traditional desserts. Costrada, a traditional puff pastry of Alcala de Henares is a wholesome bite of alternate layers of meringue and cream topped with slivered, toasted almonds. Another dessert from the 16th century is the overtly sweet Rosquillas or cream-filled doughnuts glazed with egg and sugar. If you nurse a sweet tooth, give it a go. As the loitering in the town that enjoys a heritage status for being the first planned university in Europe continues, a snack stop involves the nuns who reside in Convento de las Clarisas de San Diego. They are known for selling garrapinadas, caramel-coated almonds. To make a purchase, we must participate in an 18th-century tradition of placing our order through a turntable window to avoid eye contact with the nuns. We munch on the snack sitting on the bench occupied by the sculptures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panzo outside Cervantes family-home-turned- museum. The evening opens into Calle Mayor, the largest porticoed street in Spain, lined by upbeat tapas bars. We skip touristy sangria for Tinto de verano which has red or white wine topped with lemon soda and ice. Its lighter and less fruity but heady enough for our night out. On a lighter note, one could call tapas Spanish chakhna. Buy your drinks and you get a small appetiser to nibble on. Choose from tortillas, bread with chorizo, anchovies, patata bravas or even bacon and cheese. Before you hit the bars, an interesting nugget: Originally, the word tapas referred to a small dish that was placed on the glass to serve the snack. A treat to the senses An hour-and-a-halfs drive to the northwest of Madrid, Segovia is a heady concoction of history that sways between the 12th and 19th centuries. A treat to the five senses, it lays a hearty emphasis on gastronomy. Be prepared for a long walk on a morning nature trail outside the city gates in the Eresma valley lined with poplars. The light hike will validate a protein-rich brunch of local white beans (fabada). Devour them in a salad or a warm pork stew. Another local delicacy to try is Castillianajo or garlic soup with a half-fried egg and a meaty indulgence of ham. The dishes are remnants of Cervantes cuisine of the medieval people. Past the plaza, a Roman affair awaits. A 2,000-year-old aqueduct believed to be built by the devil is the perfect location for churros and hot chocolate. A traditional pick would be Cochinillo de Segovia or suckling pig. The meat is so tender that it is cut with a blunt plate edge instead of a sharp knife. Definitely end the meal on a local sweet note of ponche, a layered custard cake with marzipan. Many chapters of history co-exist amicably in Segovia, and when it comes to food, local produce plays a pivotal role in global cuisine offerings too. Segovias menu has room for all. A date with the past The golden city of Salamanca, situated to the northeast of Madrid, is a feast for the eyes with its sandstone marvels from the 12th and 13th centuries. The charm begins at its heart, Plaza Mayor, which leans towards Baroque features flaunting a theatrical design considered to be the most beautiful square in Europe. When in Salamanca, jamon tops the must-eat list. Mainly of the Iberian pig fed on acorns. The finely sliced cured meat has distinct white ribbons of fat alternating the deep red meat. Keep an appetite for farinato, a rich meatless sausage made of lard and flour. Your visits to the Sky of Salamanca, a 15th-century fresco featuring stars and constellations in the university building, and the old and new cathedral buildings will be gratifying as long as your stomach is satiated. Keep an appetite for a Hornazo, and Salamanca special sandwich starring the local jamon (ham), loin chorizo and egg within a sweet pastry made of flour, milk, sugar, egg and lard in between site visits. As the New Year dawns, gay Singaporeans have much to look forward to and a lot more to fight for. On October 20, 2022, the Singaporean Government introduced two new bills that, if enacted, would have a dual effect. The first bill proposed the repealing of Section 377A of the Singapore Penal Code which criminalised same-sex conduct between males; and the second bill proposed the introduction of a new Institution of Marriage clause as an amendment to the existing constitution that would clarify that Parliament and not the courts had the sole right to make laws to define, regulate, protect, safeguard, support, foster, and promote the institution of marriage. Both these bills were debated together on November 28, 2022 and put to a vote separately. Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development, Sun Xueling said that both bills were drafted to find a middle path between the demands of gay rights activists and conservatives. While gay rights activists demanded legal equality, conservatives were worried about the effect that same-sex decriminalisation would have on Singapores traditional social norms, especially the institution of the family. Thus, the two bills offered a compromise that the government hoped would satisfy both groups repealing Section 377A would ostensibly appease gay rights activists, and limiting the courts power to redefine marriage would assuage conservatives. To quote Sun Xueling, Let us be united in wanting Singapore to be a home for all, a tolerant and inclusive society where all Singaporeans feel a sense of dignity and have collective confidence in our future. On November 29, 2022, both bills were passed by an overwhelming majority. Same-sex conduct between men is no longer a crime in Singapore but the path towards legalising same-sex marriage will remain hard because activists cannot rely on courts to mount legal challenges a path they had initially chosen to challenge Section 377A, and one that lawyers around the world in countries as diverse as Brazil, the United States, Taiwan, and Slovenia (to name just a few) have adopted to successfully legalise same-sex marriage. A background of Section 377A The origins of Section 377A in the Singapore Penal Code date back to the adoption of Section 377 in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) by the British government in 1860. Section 377 eventually made its way to Singapore in 1872 as part of the Straits Settlement Penal Code that was modelled after the IPC. As Singapore began liberalising in the late 1900s and early 2000s, many Singaporeans were shocked to discover that a law like Section 377 existed that criminalised masturbation and fellatio among heterosexual people. Hence, in 2007, Section 377 was removed by the Parliament. But Section 377A stayed in the books and proved harder to repeal. In 2010, the first judicial challenge to Section 377A was made in Tan Eng Hong vs Attorney General. Here, the Court of Appeal held that while plaintiffs were allowed to mount legal challenges to laws they deemed constitutional, Section 377A would not be struck down. The authority to make this change, said the Court of Appeal, lay with the legislature. Energy dampened after that judgement. However, after the Indian Supreme Court handed out its landmark ruling in Navtej Singh Johar vs Union of India (2018) which fully decriminalised adult, private, and consensual same-sex conduct, Singaporeans initiated an online campaign called #READY4REPEAL that urged the government to modernise its penal code during the Penal Code Review process an extensive endeavour in which the government scrutinises and recommends changes to the Singaporean Penal Code. This review was significant because the last one occurred more than a decade ago. However, despite citizens vocal demands for change, the government excluded Section 377A from the scope of the review entirely. Thereafter, three individuals Bryan Choong, Johnson Ong, and Roy Tan filed petitions challenging Section 377A. However, none of them succeeded and the courts held that a previous 2014 Court of Appeal decision would stand. This was the 2014 case of Lim Meng Suang and another vs Attorney-General in which a three-judge bench ruled that Section 377A did not violate the fundamental rights provided under Article 9 (right to life or personal liberty), and Article 12 (right to equality) of the Singaporean Constitution. The court went on to state that even though the Indian Supreme Court took an expansive view of the Right to Life (covered under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution after which Singapores Article 9 is moulded), the same could not be applied to Singapore because of differing social and economic conditions. Thus, it should come as no surprise to anyone that Indias Navtej verdict four years later did not help persuade Singaporean judges. Moreover, given that the Indian strategy of gay rights advocacy has relied heavily on litigation, this strategy would not work anyway for Singaporean activists following the passage of the constitutional amendment on marriage. Thus, while the Delhi High Court hears petition after petition on same-sex marriage (an issue that will eventually reach the Supreme Court), gay rights activists in Singapore will have to find a different path one which will undoubtedly be much harder and will require focused government lobbying and greater public engagement. It should be noted that along with current Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, his potential successor, Lawrence Wong also opposes same-sex marriage. When asked about whether there was scope for changing the family law in the near future, Wong unequivocally said, This will not happen under the watch of the current prime minister, and it will not happen under my watch if the PAP were to win the next general election (PAP stands for the Peoples Action Party one of the worlds longest-ruling dominant parties, having won every general election since the countrys independence in 1965. According to political scientists, Diane K Mauzy and R S Milne, the PAP is centre-right aligned). The difficult road ahead Between May and June of 2022, Ipsos, a global market research company, conducted a nationally representative survey of 500 Singaporean Citizens and Permanent Residents aged 18 and above and asked them about their attitudes towards Section 377A and other aspects of same sex-relationships. The survey found that social attitudes on these issues had evolved progressively. The number of respondents opposed to Section 377A increased from 12% in 2018 to 20% in 2022, while those who supported the Penal Code fell from 55% in 2018 to 44% in 2022 (while this is impressive, it still shows that a greater percentage of people support the colonial legislation than oppose it). As for same-sex relationships and parenting, responses were sharply divided, with 51% agreeing that same-sex couples are just as likely as other parents to successfully raise children, and 49% agreeing that same-sex couples should have the same rights to adopt children as heterosexual couples. A couple of years ago, these numbers would have been far less, however, it still shows that support for gay rights is restricted and greater public support for same-sex couples is needed if any legislative change is to occur. As anthropologist Chris Tan points out, movements like Pink Dot have succeeded in Singapore because of their strategic use of avoiding the language of individual rights (as commonly adopted in the West) and instead, deploying the familiarity of gays and lesbians as kin as someones sons and daughters to bolster public support. As the years went by, participation in Pink Dots events grew from 2,500 participants in 2009 to 26,000 in 2014. Pink Dot played a major role in galvanising the masses around repealing Section 377A; and with this law out the door now, their strategy will now need some recalibrating. The new constitutional amendment now hangs as the sword of Damocles over the heads of gay rights activists who will once again need to convince the public that complete equality needs to be the norm in Singapore. Given the deeply conservative hold of the PAP and the sharp public divide on same-sex marriage and parenting rights, the work ahead for activists is long and hard, and will unlikely bear results in the near future. (The author is a Programme & Communications Manager at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy and Nyaaya and can be reached at sahgalkanav@gmail.com) An older couple have been left shaken after masked men armed with a pitchfork and other weapons burgled their home in Co Armagh. Officers are investigating the aggravated burglary in the Monroe Avenue area of Lurgan that happened shortly before 6am on Sunday. A PSNI spokesman said: It was reported that a number of masked men armed with weapons including a pitchfork, had entered a house in the area demanding money. They rummaged through the house, taking a purse, before making off in a white car. The occupants, an older couple, have not reported any physical injuries, but this was a terrifying and frightening ordeal for them which will have left them shaken. Detectives appealed for anyone in the area with CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward. The incident was the second aggravated burglary reported in Lurgan at the weekend. At 8.30pm on Saturday, three masked men armed with hammers and screwdrivers entered the back door of a house in the Toberhewny Park area of the town. The PSNI spokesman said: The men assaulted the male occupant and dragged him to a room in the house. Two of the men then searched through the property before all three men left with a sum of cash. While there were no reports of any injuries, this must have been a frightening ordeal for the man and woman in the property at the time. It is understood that police are not linking the two burglaries at this stage in their investigations. Officers also appealed for anyone with information about the Toberhewny Park incident to come forward. Meanwhile, police investigating a report of a robbery at licensed premises on the Killycomain Road in Portadown on Saturday evening have charged a 19-year-old man with robbery. He is due to appear at Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday February 3. CES, or the Consumer Electronics Show, is one of the worlds most exciting technology events that has been held every year in Las Vegas, Nevada, in January since 1998. While the origins of the event go as far back as 1967 in New York City, it was in 1998 that CES eventually settled into the yearly format that so many of us have come to know and love. The pandemic ruined the whole CES experience in 2021 and 2022 and even continued into 2023 for a lot of us Indian technology journos who werent able to get visas in time for CES 2023 thanks to ridiculously long wait times for visas. Its the digital age though, so were attending virtually just as we did in 2021 and 2022, and filtering out the noise to bring you our picks of whats good from CES 2023. We decided to put out this article as a way to bring all of the many feature stories, news stories, videos and more we will create around CES 2023 into one place. Below you will find links to all of our CES coverage, so bookmark this page to keep coming back and reading it. Well keep updating it well past the close of CES 2023 on 9th January (India time), because we will keep discovering hidden gems from amongst the myriad exhibitors vying for our eyeballs. CES 2023 Coverage For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. TikTok, the popular short-form video app, is testing a new "sleep reminders" feature that aims to help users get a better night's rest. The feature, which is currently being tested in Canada, sends users a notification when it is time for them to go to bed based on their established sleep schedule.According to a recent study by the National Sleep Foundation, the average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep per night to function at their best. However, the same study found that 35% of adults in the United States get less than 7 hours of sleep on weeknights, leading to a widespread sleep deficit.TikTok's sleep reminders feature is aimed at helping users get a better night's rest by reminding them to put away their phones and wind down for the night. The feature is currently being tested in Canada, with plans to roll it out to other regions in the future.The notification includes a reminder to put away their phone and wind down for the night. Users can customize the reminder to receive it at a specific time or with a certain amount of time left before their designated bedtime.TikTok is not the first tech company to introduce a sleep-focused feature. Apple's iOS operating system includes a "Bedtime" feature that allows users to set a bedtime schedule and receive notifications when it is time to go to sleep. Google's Android operating system also has a "Digital Wellbeing" feature that includes a "Wind Down" mode that turns the screen to grayscale and enables "Do Not Disturb" mode to help users disconnect before bed.The introduction of sleep reminders is part of a broader trend of tech companies recognizing the negative impact of screens on sleep and taking steps to address it. Research has shown that the blue light emitted by screens can disrupt the body's natural sleep-wake cycle, leading to difficulty falling asleep and poorer sleep quality.In addition to the sleep reminders feature, TikTok is also testing a "screen time management" tool that allows users to track and manage their screen time on the app. The tool, which is also being tested in Canada, provides users with daily and weekly summaries of their screen time on the app and allows them to set limits for themselves.In conclusion, TikTok's new sleep reminder feature has been well-received by both users and experts for its convenience and effectiveness in helping users establish healthy sleep habits. The feature, which sends users a notification when it is time for them to go to bed based on their established sleep schedule, has already been used over a million times since it was introduced.TikTok's efforts to promote healthy sleep habits are part of a broader trend of tech companies recognizing the negative impact of screens on sleep and taking steps to address it. By providing users with the tools and information they need to make informed choices about their screen time, tech companies can help ensure that their products are used in a healthy and balanced way.H/T: WatchfulAI Read next: EU Firms Were Fined Over $3 Billion For Violating Data Protection And Privacy Laws And Meta Paid 80% Of It Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, 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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 At the end of 2022 Russia announced that its frigate Gorshkov had been equipped with the Zircon hypersonic missile. These missiles use scramjet technology, which has been around for decades but so far no one has been able to create reliable and accurate missiles using this tech. Russia has been testing Zircon for several years and demonstrated that it can move at hypersonic speed for up to 400 kilometers. There is no proof the Zircon can hit a ship sized target. Achieving hypersonic speed is old tech. It means using a solid fuel booster to boost a missile to high enough speed for its liquid-fueled scram jet engine to work. The final problem is a guidance system that will guide the missile, moving at a speed of two or three kilometers a second, to a ship sized target it will reach in less than a minute. At this point the missile is moving too fast for any current defensive system to detect and intercept. High powered lasers might work, but that approach is highly theoretical, as is the ability of the missile to hit a small target. The first Gorshkov class frigate did not enter service until 2018. Two more have since joined the fleet and two more are under construction. The navy will receive ten eventually if the money is still available. The Admiral Gorshkov class 5,400 ton stealth frigates are the largest surface ships built in Russia since the Cold War ended in 1991. These Project 22350 ships can operate in distant waters and are replacing Cold War era destroyers, few of which can still get to sea. Like most new Russian warships, the Gorshkovs arrived late and in far smaller numbers than originally planned. The original plan, from 2003, was for the first of 20 Gorshkovs to enter service in 2011. Construction began in 2006 and the first Gorshkov was launched in 2010. Once the first Gorshkov was in the water it was only about half complete and work slowed down. Already there were money problems and the plan was reduced to 15, then eight and finally four of these ships. A major reason for the delays and reduction of the number of ships was the 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine. That meant Russia could not get the gas turbine engines for these ships and that technology was developed and monopolized (during the Soviet period) by Ukrainian plants. It took a lot of money to develop a supplier in Russia and do it in a hurry. The second Gorshkov and its Russian gas turbines began sea trials later in 2018 and by 2020 the reliability of the Russian gas turbine engines was declared satisfactory. The Gorshkov's are armed with a 100mm gun, two Kashtan autocannon/missile systems for missile defense, 16 VLS cells for Oniks or Zircon anti-ship missiles, or Kaliber land-attack cruise missiles, 32 VLS cells for anti-aircraft missiles (30 kilometers range), eight 533mm (21 inch) torpedo tubes and a helicopter. Crew size is 210 and endurance 30 days on internal fuel and other supplies. Four Gorshkovs are too little too late and additional four improved models (Project 22350M) are planned but these will not enter service until the mid-2020s, if ever. That is an achievement because Russia was facing the loss of nearly all its surface warships to age and not many replacements entering service. The problem was that by 2010 most of the Cold War era warships that made up the surface fleet since the late 1980s had to be retired. These ships were falling apart, as there was not any money, since the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, for repairs and upgrades. Russia came up with more money by 2010 to build enough surface ships to maintain a respectable but much smaller fleet. But there was a problem. Most of Russia's warship building capability had disappeared since 1991. To that end, the government negotiated with France to import modern warship building techniques. This was to be accomplished by purchasing two Mistral amphibious assault ship/helicopter carriers built in France and the right to build two more in Russian shipyards. During that process, Russian shipbuilders would learn how it's done in the West. From 1991 until 2010 most of the Russian construction effort went into finishing a few subs and building some surface ships for export. This plan was another casualty of the Ukraine invasion. The first two Mistrals were complete by 2014 but because of sanctions on Russia (for the Ukraine aggression) France refused to deliver, refunded Russia the billion dollars paid for those two Mistrals and then sold them to Egypt. In 2010 the Russian surface fleet consisted of one aircraft carrier, five cruisers, 17 destroyers, eleven frigates and about fifty corvettes. There were about twenty smaller (than Mistral) amphibious ships. All these Cold War era ships suffered from years of neglect during the 1990s, and most were not in the best of shape and will be gone by 2020. The one Russian carrier underwent an expensive, and long overdue, refurbishment to keep it in service through the 2020s but most of the other Cold War era surface ships were not worth refurbishing. An exception was made for tw0 Kirov class battlecruisers and two smaller Slava class cruisers. These four ships entered service in the late 1980s and with refurbishment have another few years of useful life in them, though one was sunk in the current Ukraine war. Ten destroyers that entered service at the end of the Cold War, or were nearly finished, are in a similar situation. The Gorshkovs were meant to replace the 32 Krivak class frigates. These 3,500-ton ships were built in the 1970s and 80s and nearly all were retired by 2010. The Gorshkov's cost about $400 million each and will replace larger ships like the 8,400-ton Sovremenny class destroyers. These older, larger, ships, were designed for high seas operations far from Russian shores. The new Russian fleet will be a return to the traditional Russian coastal navy. Only a few of the original 21 Sovremenny are still in service and that is usually because of a recent refurbishment. These ships all were built in the 1980s and 90s. The last four built were for China. The Russian fleet could no longer afford large warships like this, but China could and is now building its own designs that are more similar to American designs. The Russian navy is in desperate shape. The latest example of this could be seen in the continuing delays getting the new Gorshkov class into service. Construction on these began in 2006 but by 2010 only one had been launched and it was still only half complete. Three have been completed and work on two proceeds. The navy wanted twenty Gorshkovs to replace the Cold War-era Sovremenny class destroyers and Burevestnik class frigates. The government has only promised money for twelve Gorshkovs and has since raised that to fifteen. It wasnt until 2018 that the first Gorshkov passed sea trials. These ships cost about $400 million each. Submarines were one ship type that got priority for new construction even in the 1990s but that has now slowed down. This is critical when it comes to building replacements for the last Cold War class of SSBNs (nuclear ballistic missile subs) which were all completed in the 1980s. These have been quietly retired or semi-retired (only going to sea for training). Priority was put on building eight new Borei class SSBNs. These were delayed and the first one did not enter service until 2013. There are now six in service but construction plans for more are on hold. Similar priority was given to building some nuclear cruise missile subs that carry anti-ship missiles as well as traditional SSNs (nuclear attack subs). There were also a few non-nuclear subs built as well. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. Workers install solar panels on the roofs of homes under construction in Corona, California on May 3, 2018. Will Lester / Inland Valley Daily Bulletin / Getty Images By Julia Conley A new analysis out this past Tuesday shows how a just transition towards a green economy in California one in which workers in the states fossil fuel industry would be able to find new employment and receive assistance if theyre displaced from their jobs will be both affordable and achievable, contrary to claims from oil and gas giants and anti-climate lawmakers. The study published by the Gender Equity Policy Institute (GEPI) notes that a majority of workers in the oil and gas sectors will have numerous new job opportunities as California pushes to become carbon neutral by 2045 with a vow to construct a 100% clean electricity grid and massively reduce oil consumption and production. The state will need to modernize its electrical grid and build storage capacity to meet increased demand for electricity, reads the report. Carbon management techniques, plugging orphan wells, and the development of new energy sources such as geothermal will all come into play, providing economic opportunities to workers and businesses alike. GEPI analyzed the most recent public labor data, showing that the oil and gas industries in California employed approximately 59,200 people as of 2021 across jobs in production, sales, transportation, legal, and executive departments, among others. The group examined potential job opportunities for fossil fuel workers in all growing occupations, not solely in clean energy or green jobs, and found that about two-thirds of employees are likely to find promising opportunities outside of fossil fuel-related work. Our findings show that a sizable majority (56%) of current oil and gas workers are highly likely to find jobs in California in another industry in their current occupation, given demand in the broader California economy for workers with their existing skills, the report says. Roughly a quarter of oil and gas workers are employed in jobs that are projected to decline over the next decade, while 18% work in production and extraction, sectors which will contract as the state begins to move away from fossil fuel extraction. For all declining occupations in oil and gas industries, there are available jobs in similar occupations in California that would allow workers to transition without the need for retraining, GEPI reported. About 16,100 people who will be at risk of displacement into lower-paying jobs over the next two decades will be able to benefit from income subsidies and relocation assistance, which GEPI estimated would cost the state $68.9 million or less annuallyfar less than a 2021 estimate by the Department of Economics and Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, which said aid for displaced oil and gas workers would cost up to $830 million per year. Importantly, PERIs estimate included pension guarantees and income-level guarantees while GEPIs factored in only financial aid for people who face pay cuts. GEPIs study showed that California can achieve a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels for oil and gas workers, said the Los Angeles-based advocacy group Climate Resolve. .@TheGepi has found that 2 out of 3 oil and gas workers "will likely be able to move into new jobs in other industries without any retraining." In addition, costs to support workers with less transferable skills may "be far lower than prior projections." https://t.co/eaErCEHZ2E Climate Resolve (@ClimateResolve) January 3, 2023 As the carbon neutral economy advances, supporting workers at risk of displacement from jobs in oil and gas industries is one important component of creating an equitable and sustainable future for all the people of California, reads GEPIs report. These men and women are expected to be able to transition with ease to other industries without retraining or a period of unemployment. Reposted with permission from Common Dreams. Apple has reportedly canceled the development of a new iPhone SE . According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company recently told suppliers it would not release a fourth-generation SE model sometime in 2024. In a Medium post spotted by MacRumors , Kuo said the device would have been the debut of Apples first in-house 5G modem, adding that the company had planned to test and fine-tune the chip on the SE before rolling it out more broadly to the iPhone 16 and beyond. Instead, Kuo suggests Apple is now more likely to continue using Qualcomm modems through 2024. Kuo doesnt say why Apple shelved the fourth-generation iPhone SE or if the performance of its own 5G chip had anything to do with the decision. For the better part of a decade, Apple has tried to reduce its dependence on Qualcomm. In 2019, the two ended their bitter patent feud and signed a multiyear wireless chip supply deal . Months later, however, Apple bought the majority of Intels mobile modem business. Then, at the end of 2020, the company disclosed it was working on its own cellular chipset . Theres been little news about the project since. South Korea is upgrading its 59 F-15K Slam Eagle'' fighter-bombers. This upgrade is expensive, costing $2.73 billion ($45 million per aircraft) and will not be completed until 2034. South Korea has noted the success other nations have had upgrading their local versions of the F-15E model which the U.S. created in the late 1980s as a two-seat fighter bomber. Most F-15Es are over 35 years old while export customers are still receiving new aircraft. The South Korean F-15K's are all 10-15 years old. This justifies the extensive and expensive upgrades. These consist of many upgraded electronic systems, including a late-model AESA radar. There is also an updated cockpit with new flight and fire control software as well improved electronic countermeasures and passive sensors. The F-15K can carry 13 tons of weapons, including highly accurate SLAM-ER cruise missiles and guided penetrating bombs to go after North Korea bunkers. South Korea is also buying more aerial tankers to keep the F-15Ks in the air longer while waiting for targets to be found. South Korea also has 167 F-16C fighters that are being upgraded to F-16V models. South Korea has 50 F-35 stealth fighters in service with more on the way. A growing number of South Korean warplanes are designed and built in South Korea. Currently this includes 60 FA-50 jet trainers equipped as light bombers. A new jet fighter, the KF-21 is on the way, also called Borame (Fighting Hawk ''), the fighter made its first flight on July 19th and expects to enter service by 2026. Developing the KF-21 cost at least $8 billion. The South Korean air force wants to buy 120 of them. The first 40 will be Block 1 while the other 80 will be Block 2. The block 1 KF-21 is a twin-engine 24.5-ton air superiority fighter. The F414 engines are American models built in South Korea. and are the same ones used by U.S. Navy F-18E and the South Korean TA/FA jet trainer. The block 2 KF-21 is designed as a fighter-bomber, with sensors and electronics similar to those used in the F-35 so that the pilot can handle flying the aircraft as hitting ground targets with guided bombs and missiles. F-15K fighter-bombers will be replaced by the block 2 KF-21s in the 2040s. South Korea also uses 19 prop-driven basic trainers equipped as light bombers. South Korea is rapidly retiring older F-4 and F-5 aircraft. South Korea has already developed world-class armored vehicles, warships and support aircraft, including helicopters and become a major arms exporter. Neighboring countries, like Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Australia are also developing manufacturing capabilities for combat vehicles, ships and aircraft. Japan was the first country in the region to develop the capability to build modern weapons but, until recently, the Japanese post-World War II constitution banned export of weapons. That was recently changed and now Japan can build for export. Japan has to catch-up with South Korea, which always produced these new weapons with the intention of competing in export markets. Elon Musk has asked a federal judge to move his upcoming Tesla shareholder trial out of San Francisco. Per the Associated Press , Alex Spiro , the billionaires personal lawyer, filed the request late Friday, less than two weeks before the trial is scheduled to kick off on January 17th. Musks legal team argues a substantial portion of the potential jury pool in San Francisco is likely to hold a bias against Musk due to recent media coverage criticizing his actions at Twitter and the seemingly never-ending layoffs at the company . Musk has asked to move the trial to Texas, which has been home to Tesla headquarters since late 2021. The class action lawsuit involves false and misleading statements Musk made in 2018 when he said he was considering taking Tesla private at $420 per share. Musks now-infamous funding secured tweet landed the billionaire in trouble with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, eventually leading to a $40 million settlement with the agency. The shareholders involved in the suit won an early victory last spring when federal judge Edward Chen concluded that Musk had recklessly made the statements with knowledge as to their falsity. The upcoming trial will determine whether Musks tweet affected the automakers stock price and if he should be held accountable for potential damages. Musks concerns are unfounded and his motion is meritless, Nicholas Porritt, one of the lawyers representing Tesla shareholders, told the Associated Press. The Northern District of California is the proper venue for this lawsuit and where it has been actively litigated for over four years. On Saturday, Judge Chen told the two sides he would hear Musks request on January 13th. SteelFab, the region's leading trade show for metal-working, metal-manufacturing and steel fabrication industry, opens its doors tomorrow (January 9) at the Expo Centre Sharjah, featuring more than 400 brands and 200 companies from 33 countries across the globe. The largest commercial event of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region, SteelFab 2023 in its 18th edition brings together the world's top manufacturers and suppliers. The exhibition, which runs till January 12, will see firms showcasing the latest global products, solutions and technologies in the steel industry as well as key presentations by the global commercial and industrial majors from countries including the UK, China, Italy, India, Germany and Turkey. The exhibition also hosts some of the most prominent local and regional companies, said the event organiser Expo Centre Sharjah. The event coincides with the Fasteners World Middle East exhibition, which is specialized in industrial fasteners, assembly systems, bolts, connection and fastening systems and technologies. Steelfab 2023 also focuses on cutting-edge technologies, including state-of-the-art machines, equipment, computerised cutting systems, energy sources used in cutting and welding machines, consumer products, accessories, electronic-beam welding devices, handling equipment, low-cost laser cutting systems, steel-making machines and AI-controlled robots, stated the organiser. According to industry experts, the SteelFab 2023 exhibition has a busy agenda that is destined to take the steel industry to promising horizons, as visitors will have the chance to take part in many discussion sessions and seminars and get introduced to the industry's eminent local and international players, experts and specialists who will share their opinions and experiences on the sector's most important topics. These include the future of steel industry, sustainability, changes in the steel forming and fabrication industry, and the latest developments at the global level, they stated. The exhibition will also witness the launch of the Best Welder @SteelFab competition, organised in cooperation with ESAB and the Middle East Industrial Training Institute (MEITI). It is mainly aimed at promoting excellence in welding among professionals from all the companies taking part in the expo, they added.-TradeArabia News Service One airline has applied to Sarajevos public call to establish a base in the city in return for incentives, the airport has confirmed. Without giving details on which carrier has expressed interest, talks between the two sides are now set to begin. The airport launched a similar tender in 2020, which was won by Wizz Air. It was the only one to have applied at the time. Wizz Air closed its Sarajevo base after just a year and a half in November of last year. The new call was not limited to low cost carriers and neither does it require for the airline to base two aircraft in the city, as was previously the case. One airline has applied to Sarajevos public call to establish a base in the city in return for incentives, the airport has confirmed. Without giving details on which carrier has expressed interest, talks between the two sides are now set to begin. The airport launched a similar tender in 2020, which was won by Wizz Air. It was the only one to have applied at the time. Wizz Air closed its Sarajevo base after just a year and a half in November of last year. The new call was not limited to low cost carriers and neither does it require for the airline to base two aircraft in the city, as was previously the case. Under the terms issued by Sarajevo Airport, the interested carrier must open its base in Bosnia and Herzegovinas capital this year in order to qualify for the incentives. The subsidies are limited only to the number of passengers carried, however, the airline will qualify for the incentives regardless of how many travellers it handles. The more departing passengers it welcomes on board its aircraft from Sarajevo, the greater the financial support, however, the exact amount of funds have not been made public. Sarajevo Airport had previously noted it was in discussions with Ryanair over launching flights from the city. Ryanair has expanded its operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina last year. It entered the market in 2018 with services to Banja Luka. Furthermore, the carrier launched operations to Tuzla in November of last year, with services from Vienna, Stockholm and Memmingen. Ryanairs Director of Route Development, Ray Kelliher, recently said, We look forward to growing in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the coming years and being able to announce more new and exciting routes for next summer. Sarajevo Airport handled a record 1.377.348 passengers in 2022, representing an increase of 79.5% on the previous year and up 20.4% on the pre-pandemic 2019. The growth was primarily fuelled by Wizz Air. TRIP REPORT This flight was taken earlier this week and was mostly uneventful, but I decided to write a report about it since it was operated by the newish ATR72-600 aircraft. Originally, flight JU600 to Vienna was planned to be on the old ATR, which could be easily determined from the seat map which was being displayed online. However, the night before departure, the seat map changed, with an additional row displaying meaning the ATR72-600 was planned. This flight was taken earlier this week and was mostly uneventful, but I decided to write a report about it since it was operated by the newish ATR72-600 aircraft. Originally, flight JU600 to Vienna was planned to be on the old ATR, which could be easily determined from the seat map which was being displayed online. However, the night before departure, the seat map changed, with an additional row displaying meaning the ATR72-600 was planned. I arrived at the airport around two hours before departure, at 05.40 and, as one would expect at this time of day, it was busy in the Air Serbia check-in section. On the other hand, security was a breeze despite there being a lot of people. Not having to take out liquids and laptop computers really speeds up the process. That being said, there was a bit of a line at passport control. I noticed Air Serbia has placed some inspirational travel quotes around the terminal. The designated gate for my flight was the bus gate C10D. At around 07.10 the bus appeared to take us to our aircraft. I pre-selected my seat to be in the last row but with the aircraft change I turned out to be sitting in the second last row. The minute I stepped on the plane the difference compared to Air Serbias old ATR72-200/500 aircraft was apparent. The cabin was in great shape, the seats comfortable, there was more legroom and significantly more storage space in the overhead lockers. As preparations were made for departure, I overheard the crew say there were 46 passengers on board following the head count. This flight was the second of the day to Vienna. Before that, there was a 7AM Austrian Airlines flight, while there would be another Austrian and Air Serbia flight to Vienna later in the day for a total of four. In what must have been a first for me with Air Serbia, we pushed back 10 minutes before scheduled departure time and took off 5 minutes ahead of schedule. Following departure, the usual complimentary service of cookies and water was served, followed by the Elevate buy on board service. As I mentioned, the rest of the flight was uneventful. It was, however, noticable how much quieter the ATR72-600 is compared to its predecessors. We landed in a very foggy and rainy Vienna some 15 minutes ahead of scheduled and were bussed from the plane to the terminal building. I really enjoyed the new ATR72-600 in Air Serbias fleet, and I hope they retire the remaining old ATRs as soon as possible. Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Cloudy with snow showers becoming a steady accumulating snow later on. Low 29F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches.. Tonight Cloudy with snow showers becoming a steady accumulating snow later on. Low 29F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches. South Koreas apparel imports from Vietnam in 2022 are likely to cross the pre-COVID level. The country has imported apparel worth $3.492 billion in first eleven months of last year, while its inbound shipment in pre-COVID year of 2019 was $3.572 billion. The country had imported apparel worth $3.502 billion in 2018 and $2.827 billion in 2017. In 2020, South Koreas apparel imports from Vietnam had decline by around 15 per cent to $3.065 billion as normal life and economic activities were badly hit due to COVID-19. But the value of imports bounced back to $3.294 billion in 2021, according to Fibre2Fashions market insight tool TexPro. On a monthly basis, South Koreas apparel imports from Vietnam remained volatile in recent months. They increased to $486.928 million in September from $194.563 million in June 2022. But the shipment slowed down to $237.695 million in November 2022. South Korea's apparel imports from Vietnam in 2022 are likely to cross the pre-COVID level. The country has imported apparel worth $3.492 billion in first eleven months of last year, while its inbound shipment in pre-COVID year of 2019 was $3.572 billion. The country had imported apparel worth $3.502 billion in 2018 and $2.827 billion in 2017. On a quarterly basis, the imports increased to $1,261.045 million in Q3, 2022 against $683.373 million in Q2, 2022, and $873.110 million in Q1, 2022. Vietnam is a very important supplier of apparels for South Korea. The import from Vietnam was 30.99 per cent out of South Koreas total apparel import of $11.266 billion during the first eleven months of last year, as per TexPro. China remained on the top in suppliers list with a share of 33.14 per cent. If Vietnam successfully keeps on increasing its supplies to South Korea, it may soon take over China as the largest supplier of clothing to the country. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) The Chinese government will implement its monetary policy in a focused manner and ramp up financial support to domestic supply and demand to accelerate economic recovery this year, according to the country's central bank. It will work to reduce financing costs for market entities and help expand consumption, the People's Bank of China recently said. On top of maintaining sufficient liquidity through a combination of multiple policy tools, the bank said it will work to reduce financing costs for market entities and help expand consumption, a statement released after a work meeting for this year said. The Chinese government will implement its monetary policy in a focused manner and ramp up financial support to domestic supply and demand to accelerate economic recovery this year, according to the country's central bank. It will work to reduce financing costs for market entities and help expand consumption, the People's Bank of China recently said. The meeting also stressed renewed efforts on promoting financial opening and global cooperation, with an emphasis on the institutional opening of rules, protocols, standards and more. The global use of the Chinese yuan will be advanced in an orderly manner, the central bank was quoted as saying by a state-controlled news agency. The bank will prioritise efforts to help foster an overall economic upturn, defuse major financial risks and deepen financial reforms and opening this year. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Quebec City, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - January 8, 2023) - DataSun Marketing Inc. to launch its new sale-boosting product, Increasify. Founder Bo-Soleil Morin says, "At the confluence of business and technology lies the brilliance. We have combined our business goal of increasing sales with modern, cutting-edge technology, and designed an algorithm that will give our clients results like they've never seen before. We aim to enthrall, not just fulfill." Bo-Soleil Morin To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8902/148455_bo-soleil%20morin.jpg Features of the algorithm include: prospecting based on pains, finding the right information, sales and marketing connectedness, pipeline acceleration, segmentation, cold outreach, omnichanel connectedness all throughout personalized buyer's journey per client profile. The algorithm is based on the success of their email marketing services. DataSun claims that Increasify can increase the percentage of leads generated through marketing that make it to the end of the marketing and sales funnels, from 0.75% to 10% and can speed up deal closures by up to 52%. "It not only helps with generating new deals but also with data. It's ability to find hidden contact data based on intent, social media, news, fundings and signals has been extremely helpful for our efforts," says a DataSun spokesperson. "DataSun exists to relieve the pain points of businesses. With Increasify, we reinvent age-old, proven prospecting and marketing methods with the addition of sophisticated technology to create unique ways of achieving more success within lesser time," says Bo-Soleil Morin. About DataSun: DataSun Marketing Inc. is a B2B Outbound Sales Agency headquartered in Quebec, Canada with offices in Vancouver, Canada. It drives the sales growth of its clients by leveraging automation along email marketing. Media Contact: Bo-Soleil Morin - 514-796-2285 - info@datasun.co To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/148455 LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital manufacturer Snapmaker recently attended CES 2023, which is the world's most influential technology event, taking place from Jan. 5 to 8 in Las Vegas, NV. More than that, Snapmaker has been named a CES 2023 Innovation Awards Honoree for Snapmaker Artisan. The CES Innovation Awards program, owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), is an annual competition honouring outstanding design and engineering in 28 consumer technology product categories. This year, among a high number of over 2100 submissions, Snapmaker Artisan stands out in differentiation with the idea of upgraded modular design, and its high quality and performance. Snapmaker Artisan is the latest generation of Snapmaker's 3-in-1 3D printer, which is equipped with 300C dual extrusion 3D printing module, 10W high power laser module, 200W CNC cutting module, 400 x 400 x 400 giant work area and innovative quick-swap design. The upgraded functions allow Artisan to push the limits of what a modular fabrication tool can do. Additionally, Snapmaker brought J1 to the show as well. The Snapmaker J1 High Speed IDEX 3D Printer boasts two extruders with an ultra-fast printing speed of up to 350 mm/s. Due to its elaborate hardware design and outstanding printing performance, it successfully attracted the attention of thousands of on-site visitors. New products aside, it's notable that well-loved 3D printing content creator Joel Telling (3D Printing Nerd) joined the show and came to Snapmaker booth to share and discuss his thoughts on Artisan and J1. "We're proud to be honoured once again with the CES Innovation Award", said Josh Littlehua, Key Account Manager. "Snapmaker is always committed to creating premium-quality and user-friendly desktop fabrication machines. Both Artisan and J1 are products integrating high-class hardware, user-friendly workflow and high standard print quality requirements to ensure user experience. It is a pleasure to communicate in person with our users, partners, and Snapmaker enthusiasts and receive positive feedback from them! Hope to see you all next year!" About Snapmaker Founded in 2016, Snapmaker is a tech company that develops, manufactures, and sells desktop 3-in-1 3D printers that integrate 3D printing, laser engraving & cutting, and CNC carving. Our flagship product, Snapmaker 2.0 3-in-1 3D printer, made a record in 2019 as the most crowdfunded 3D printer on Kickstarter and won the IF Design Award 2022. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1978759/Visitors_experiencing_Snapmaker_Artisan.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/snapmaker-artisan-and-j1-makes-an-impressive-pivot-at-ces-2023-301715610.html LIMASSOL, Cyprus, Jan. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The investing community of Latin America is one of the fastest growing in the world, as more and more opportunities open up in that region. With that in mind, globally reputed online trading firm FIBO Group has recently announced that it is planning to set foot in the area as well, and to start expanding its operations to the LATAM region in 2023. "We've been noticing a growing interest in our services all across Central and South America in recent months," states Alfredo Hernandez - Senior Analyst at FIBO Group. "That's why we've been working tirelessly to perfect our offer to the region and make it as optimal as we can. This means facilitating the user interface to Spanish speakers, enhancing our support staff and hours, finetuning our asset list to suit the needs of traders, and much more. We're certain that our valued Latin American customers will find everything they need for a successful trading venture on our platform." FIBO - A synonym for professionalism Being in the trading and investment sector for nearly 25 years, FIBO group manages to keep its fingers on the pulse, and to properly coordinate between market trends and the needs of its investors. With several offices around the world, this includes tailoring specific trading offers to geo-regions, as the company is doing right now in Latin America. "We invite any trader from the region - whether new to the market or veteran and experienced - to check out our offer and to give us a try," added Hernandez. "We're sure they will not be disappointed by what we've put on the table. Furthermore, we are always evolving and improving our services, so there is definitely more good news on the way in the near future." About FIBO Group Headquartered in Vienna and serving clients all around the world, FIBO Group has based itself as a leading factor in the online trading and exchange industry, thanks to its years of experience alongside its customer centric approach. Today, traders who work with the brand have a wide variety of options at their palms, including CFDs on forex, cryptocurrencies, commodities, and more. Additionally, the option of holding a percentage allocation management module ( PAMM ) account is open to all traders, as is access to some of the most popular and trusted trading technologies in the world today. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/fibo-group-expands-operation-to-latam-301716040.html On the afternoon of January 6, 2023, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council met with President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the Great Hall of the People during his state visit to China. Li Keqiang welcomed President Serdar Berdimuhamedov's visit to China on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Turkmenistan. He noted that China and Turkmenistan enjoy a time-honored friendship, and that the two sides have respected each other and treated each other as equals over the years, with cooperation in various fields yielding positive outcomes and benefiting the two countries and the two peoples. Recalling the fruitful talks between President Xi Jinping and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on the morning of the day, Li Keqiang noted that the two presidents have jointly announced the decision to elevate the China-Turkmenistan relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Li Keqiang said China is ready to work with Turkmenistan to maintain high-level exchanges, seek greater synergy between development strategies, and deepen all-round mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to continuously push forward bilateral relations. Li Keqiang pointed out that energy cooperation is an important pillar of practical cooperation between the two countries. He said that China is ready to step up efforts with Turkmenistan to advance the construction of the China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline for greater mutual benefit and win-win results. He expressed the hope that Turkmenistan will ensure stable gas supplies to China, especially in winter, in accordance with the contracts reached on the basis of common understandings between the two sides. It's important that the two sides continue to leverage the strength of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee, implement the already signed cooperation plan between the two governments on expanding economic relations, and step up negotiations on the list of priority economic cooperation projects to expand areas of cooperation. Li Keqiang said that China encourages more Chinese companies to invest and do business in Turkmenistan and hopes that Turkmenistan will foster a sound business environment. Noting that Turkmenistan is committed to permanent neutrality and that China always pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, Li Keqiang expressed the hope that the two sides will enhance communication and coordination in regional and international affairs to safeguard regional peace, stability and development. Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that Turkmenistan and China enjoy a profound friendship. Turkmenistan is ready to work with China to further strengthen cooperation in such areas as politics, economy and trade, energy, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, deepen communication and coordination in international affairs, promote better development of Turkmenistan-China comprehensive strategic partnership, and realize win-win cooperation. He said more Chinese enterprises are welcome to invest and do business in Turkmenistan. Wang Yi and He Lifeng and others, were present at the event. Jordan Peele Reveals He Owns A Bizarre Piece Of Film Memorabilia Jordan Peele owns the prosthetic ear worn by Corey Feldman in the 1986 drama Stand by Me. By Chad Langen | Corey Feldman in Stand by Me Jordan Peele, the mastermind behind horror hits like Get Out and Nope, is apparently a collector of strange film memorabilia. According to MovieWeb, the acclaimed filmmaker recently appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers, where he discussed his upcoming screening series Lost Rider: A Chronicle of Hollywood Sacrifice. While on the subject, he made the startling revelation that he owns the prosthetic ear worn by Corey Feldman in the 1986 drama Stand by Me. He and Feldman collaborated on the directors forthcoming series, which will run through Saturday, January 14 at New Yorks Lincoln Film Center and consist of movies that inspired him while he was making his most recent thriller, Nope. After telling Seth Meyers that the event would include Stand by Me and Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, which both star Corey Feldman, the host reminded Jordan Peele that he talked about the actor on his previous appearance on the show. At that point, the filmmaker announced that he has a new friendship with Corey Feldman and that hes extremely proud of it. Nope Im happy to consider [Corey] a friend, said Jordan Peele. He then went on to explain how he came into possession of the prosthetic ear the actor wore as Teddy in the 1986 film adaptation of Stephen Kings novella The Body. He stated, There was a whole thing where he was auctioning the ear he wore as Teddy on Stand by Me and I guess I very creepily bought it. Fortunately, when Jordan Peele told Corey Feldman that hed acquired the artificial limb, the 51-year-old actor got a kick out of it. The director said, I mentioned it to him and hes like, Wait, you got the ear? According to Peele, The Lost Boys star was thrilled that it was he who won the prosthetic ear and not somebody else. Jordan Peele went on to admit that he is over the moon to have a friendship with Corey Feldman, insisting that the actor is one of the greatest teen icons in cinematic history. The director shared that he once visited the stars home and was beyond impressed with his collection of memorabilia. He also told Seth Meyers that he and Feldman continue to stay in touch with one another. Following the release of his second feature US in 2019, Jordan Peele signed a five-year deal with Universal Pictures. So far, that agreement has resulted in the spiritual sequel Candyman, the alien invasion thriller NOPE, and the recent comedy Honk for Jesus: Save Your Soul. Peele is also reportedly attached to produce a remake of Wes Cravens classic horror flick The People Under the Stairs for the studio, which is currently in the early stages of development. Back in 2017, prior to the release of Get Out, Jordan Peele told Business Insider that he planned to release four additional social thrillers over the next decade. He insisted that humans are one of the most terrifying monsters on the planet when they interact with one another, and each of his forthcoming features will center on a different social demon. By our count, Nope marks the second of the four movies that the director intends to make. While you sit and anticipate the release of the next mind-bending film from Jordan Peele, you can check out the animated feature Wendell & Wild, which is now streaming on Netflix. In addition to co-writing and producing the movie, Peele stars, alongside Lyric Ross, Keegan-Michael Key, Angela Bassett, Ving Rhames, James Hong, Ramona Young, and Sam Zelaya. The story revolves around two scheming demon brothers who enlist the aid of a 13-year-old girl to summon them to the land of the living. English Estonian On 6 January 2023, Enefit Green signed agreements in the amount of EUR 325 million with SEB and Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) to finance its ongoing investment programme. The amount of the loan agreement signed with the Nordic Investment Bank is 100 million euros and the loan period is 12 years. The total volume of agreements concluded with SEB is up to 225 million euros and the agreed financing period is seven years. Enefit Green will use this debt financing round for the construction of Sopi-Tootsi, Kelme I and Tolpanvaara wind farms in Estonia, Lithuania and Finland, as well as for the construction of the Purtse solar farm in Estonia. Enefit Green has taken final investment decisions and proceeded to construction phase with six wind farms and four solar farms in Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and Finland with a total capacity of 596 MW. Upon completion of these facilities over next two years, the total electricity production capacity of Enefit Green will increase to 1,053 MW. The 43 MW Silale II and 75 MW Akmene wind farms in Lithuania are the first ones to reach commercial operation stage. Further information: Sven Kunsing Head of Finance Communications investor@enefitgreen.ee https://enefitgreen.ee/en/investorile/ Enefit Green is one of the leading diversified renewable energy producers in the Baltic Sea area. The Company owns wind farms in Estonia and Lithuania, cogeneration plants in Estonia and Latvia, solar farms in Estonia and Poland, a pellet plant in Latvia and a hydroelectric plant in Estonia. In addition, the Company is developing several wind and solar farms in the mentioned countries and Finland. As of the end of 2021, the Group had a total installed electricity production capacity of 457 MW and a total installed heat production capacity of 81 MW. During 2021, the Company produced 1,193 GWh of electricity and 618 GWh of heat. TORONTO, Jan. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today marks three years since Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 was shot down by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims (the Association) organized a ceremony and commemoration at the Meridian Arts Centre in North York, Ontario to honour and remember the lives of the victims, as well as show support for Irans revolution and symbolically stand with Iranians fighting for freedom. As we commemorate the third anniversary of this horrific event, our hearts break all over again. We have been advocating for truth and justice for nearly three years and the past four months of Irans revolution has renewed our sense of purpose, says Hamed Esmaeilion, President and Spokesperson of the Association. We pour our lives and resources into the work required to see the Iranian Regime held accountable not only for shooting down Flight PS752 and killing our loved ones, but for its utter disregard for human life, dignity, and freedom. We have hope that this revolution will bring change, and we are committed to standing with Iranians at home and across the globe during this pivotal time in history. The Association has, since its founding, repeatedly called on the Government of Canada to help bring about justice by referring PS752s case to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as well as the International Criminal Court (ICC). On December 28, 2022, Canada, alongside Sweden, Ukraine, and the U.K. requested that the Iranian regime submit to binding arbitration under the Montreal Convention. The case can be referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) if all involved countries, including Iran, are unable to agree to terms of arbitration within six months. This is an important step required for beginning the legal processes and proceedings that have the ultimate power to hold the Islamic Republic of Iran and the IRGC to account. When protests in Iran began in September, the Association also called on the Government of Canada to list the IRGC as a terrorist organization in Canada and to initiate sanctions against various officials of the Iranian Regime. The Association commends the Government of Canada for the actions it took in this regard following the announced round of sanctions on October 7, 2022, targeting 10,000 IRGC members. The Association is eager to continue working collaboratively with the government to honour the memory of the victims, continue the pursuit of justice, and advocate for the rights and freedoms of Iranians. The anniversary ceremony included speeches from family members of victims, as well as various elected officials including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Many Federal, Provincial, and Municipal politicians of all stripes attended the event, exemplifying broad support for those who lost loved ones. The Health Effects Institute (HEI) has launched two new studies funded under RFA 21-1, Quantifying Real-World Impacts of Non-Tailpipe Particulate Matter Emissions. Emissions from automobile exhaust systems have decreased in recent years due to the introduction of cleaner fuels and new control technologies on internal combustion engines, as well as increases in numbers of hybrid and electric vehicles. However, emissions from the use and wear of brakes, tires, and other non-tailpipe sources are gaining interest from researchers and regulators because non-tailpipe sources now contribute a higher fraction of the particulate emissions from motor vehicles. These two new studies will measure mass and composition of ambient particles from non-tailpipe motor vehicle sources and assess the effects of such emissions on air quality, human exposure, and human health. Research teams will also measure concentrations of exhaust pollutants in an attempt to disentangle non-tailpipe and tailpipe pollution, to better understand how each effects human health. The new studies are: Improved Characterization of the Real-World Contributions and Impacts of Non-tailpipe Particulate Matter Emissions, led by Greg Evans, University of Toronto. This study will measure concentrations of non-tailpipe (NTP) particulate matter across Toronto, Canada to determine how much non-tailpipe pollution people might breathe in everyday life and how to better measure these exposures in the future. The three-year study will focus on real-world field measurements to yield methods, data and knowledge needed to estimate and understand population exposure to non-tailpipe (NTP) vs. tailpipe (TP) particulate matter (PM), by addressing four overarching questions: What combination of methods can best characterize NTP emissions? What is the contribution of NTP emissions to ambient PM in large, high traffic cities? Do NTP and TP emissions vary spatially and temporally in ways that manifest distinguishable population exposure patterns? Are the differences in the mass concentrations of PM between NTP and other sources, within cities, or among hot spot microenvironments, sufficient to enable future studies to assess the health risk of real-world NTP exposures? The project will be executed as four integrated sub-studies. Investigation of the temporal patterns of NTP emissions will identify the chemical profiles of NTP PM from brakes, tires, and road dust. The spatial patterns of NTP and TP PM across the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area will be characterized using three separate approaches: saturation studies, mobile sampling, and a sensor network. Here, physical and chemical methods will be used to distinguish and constrain the relative contributions of different NTP sources. Samples generated through this field work will be characterized though lab analysis, which will also further refine the chemical and physical profiles of the NTP sources. Moreover, the oxidative potential (OP) of NTP PM will be determined and compared with the OP of ambient PM samples. Finally, the methods developed and evaluated through these sub-studies will be applied to identify and characterize NTP hot spots. The team will then synthesize this new knowledge to evaluate the feasibility of conducting future studies to assess the impacts of NTP exposure on health. Assessing the Impact of Non-exhaust Emissions from Traffic on the Asthmatic Airway (IONA), led by Chris Griffiths, Queen Mary University of London. In this study, participants with mild to moderate asthma will ride stationary bicycles on sidewalks in three London, UK environments (busy road characterized by stop-and-go traffic, high speed continuous traffic, and urban background) to measure how exposure to traffic with different mixtures of non-tailpipe and tailpipe emissions affects lung function of asthmatic adults. Previous in vitro studies on dendritic cells and airway macrophages indicated enhanced immune responses, consistent with a worsening of asthma symptoms, with the coarse particulate fraction (PM 2.5-10 ) of urban air, a fraction known to be enriched with non-tailpipe constituents. People with asthma represent a major vulnerable group. Asthma is globally the most prevalent long-term condition, strongly impacted by air pollution, affecting adults and children, with major morbidity disproportionately affecting disadvantaged and minoritized ethnic populations. The asthmatic airway provides an exquisitely sensitive model to assess health impacts of non-tailpipe emissions. To date, no research has explored whether real-world NTP emissions are causally related to worsening of asthma. The new study aims to: Deliver the first study to quantify the acute airway responses of asthmatics to NTP emissions under realworld urban conditions Establish a source apportioned time series of PM 2.5 and PM 10 , including of NTP and TP emissions, at key selected London trial sites. Examine the relationship between exposure to NTP and TP emission estimates of the airway dose following exposure. Define the relationship between NTP PM and the induction of Th2 and Th17 type inflammation in the asthmatic airway. Establish a bio-bank of samples to support future HEI-sponsored research in this area. HEI. The Health Effects Institute is a non-profit corporation chartered in 1980 to provide high-quality, impartial, and relevant science on the health effects of air pollution. HEI receives balanced funding from government and industry. Other public and private organizations periodically support special projects or certain research programs. HEIs research program has addressed many important questions about the health effects of a variety of ambient air pollutants over the past two decades. These include carbon monoxide, ozone, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides, which are regulated in the United States by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). In addition, many air toxics and fuel additives have been studied, including methanol, diesel exhaust and associated compounds, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, aldehydes, and oxygenates added to gasoline. BYD and Uzavtosanoat JSC (UzAuto) signed an agreement to establish a joint venture company producing new energy vehicles (NEVs). The new joint venture company, which will manufacture best-selling NEVs including the DM-i super hybrid models and related parts, is anticipated to be based in Uzbekistan. Founded in 1995, BYD is a leading NEV (plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles] manufacturer. It has more than 27 years of experience in battery research and development. Strong cooperations with other international enterprises on the development of vehicle electrification is part of the core business strategy. As of November 2022, BYD has sold more than 3 million NEVs to global customers. Established in 1994, UzAuto is the largest automotive holding company in Central Asia with more than 70 subsidiaries in its structure and more than 27,000 employees. UzAuto companies produce a range of vehicles from light passenger vehicles to heavy-duty trucks, buses, trailers and superstructures with an annual production volume of more than 350,000 vehicles per year. Central Asia map by Cacahuate - Own work based on the blank world map, CC BY-SA 4.0 UzAuto is expanding its production capacity by 500,004 by end of 2023 and 1 million vehicles by 2027. The company cooperates with global OEMs such as General Motors, Sinotruck, MAN, and Isuzu. In addition to the 95% share in the domestic market, in 2020, UzAuto achieved the number one sales volume for two consecutive years with overseas production in Kazakhstan. UzAuto continues expanding export opportunities to neighboring countries and has launched overseas production in Azerbaijan. We are delighted to be working with UzAuto on this important milestone to expand the production of new energy vehicles in the Uzbekistan region. Collaboration is a core part of the BYD strategy, and it is important to work with other corporations who share the same vision. We look forward to delivering our class-leading products and technologies to new consumers through this joint venture. Michael Shu, General Manager and Managing Director of BYD Europe and International Cooperation Division With the newly established joint venture, UzAuto and BYD aim to work together to further develop the new energy vehicle market in Central Asia and beyond by promoting their widespread adoption and environmental benefits. Week 1 in review: OnePlus 11 and Lenovo ThinkPhone are official, CES 2023 kicks off As the new 2023 began let's recap its first week. CES 2023 took place in Las Vegas unfold, which is traditionally the stage for Intel and AMD to make big announcement. AMD detailed its Ryzen 7000 desktop and mobile CPUs, as well as four new Radeon 7000 series GPUs. Intel unveiled its 13th gen laptop CPUs, building on the innovative and popular 12th gen. On the other side of the global OnePlus announced its new flagship - the OnePlus 11 - in China. It comes with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, up to 16GB of RAM, Hasselblad-tuned cameras, a 6.7-inch LTPO 3.0 AMOLED display, and a 5,000mAh battery. The OnePlus 11 already avilable for orders in China with global availability to follow in February. Also in a change of naming strategy there won't be a OnePlus 11 Pro this year, so this is the first half flagship. There hasn't been a week without at least one popular Galaxy S23 story for a while now and week 1 of 2023 was no exception. First, we got word that Samsung will drop the 128GB models and kick off the range at 256GB, whcih sadly was later proven incorrect. Second, we got official-looking high-quality renders of all three models. We're tired of rehashing the specs at this point but it's nice to have a good idea of the colors - Beige, Pink, Sage (green), and Black. The Redmi Note 12 series made its global debut, starting with India. In typical Redmi fashion, the Redmi Note 12 that will be sold in India differs slightly from its namesake available in China. The Redmi Note 12 Pro and Redmi Note 12 Pro+ are identical. Lenovo announced the ThinkPhone by Motorola (yes, that's the official name). Like a ThinkPad laptop, the ThinkPhone is made of high-quality materials, has a red accented feature - a button, instead of a joystick, and is tightly integrated with Lenovo's ThinkPad devices. The ThinkPhone has a 6.6-inch 1080p OLED with 144Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, 50MP main camera, and a 5,000mAh battery. Additional niceties include wireless charging, IP68 and enhanced MIL-STD 810H drop resistance. Lenovo hasn't shared the price of the ThinkPhone just yet. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ unboxing and first impressions It's the first Redmi Note smartphone of the year to launch outside China. 2022 Winners and losers: OnePlus We take a look at the past year of phones under the belt of OnePlus. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 series begin global journey in India The Redmi Note 12, Redmi Note 12 Pro, and Redmi Note 12 Pro+ are now out of China. Most Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chips to be manufactured by TSMC Qualcomm is expected to prioritize the Taiwanese partner due to its incredible yield rate. Xiaomi Redmi K50i hands-on review The Redmi K series makes a comeback to India after a hiatus of three years with the Redmi K50i, so let's see what it has to offer. 240W charger pictured in real-life photos, revealing details The power will be provided through 20V at 12A with a dual-pump solution. Samsung introduces Flex Hybrid OLED that folds and slides The panels will be demoed at CES 2023 in Las Vegas. OnePlus 11 camera details officially revealed The phone is getting official in China tomorrow. Did your presents include a new phone? If not you can be your own Santa here are some of the best deals that we found in the UK, Germany, the US and India. In the US in particular we took a detour through the smartwatch section as well. The links below will help you jump to your region: UK Apple is not known for offering discounts on its current models, so a 128GB iPhone 14 is 850 from the Apple store. However, if you go through Amazon you can get the same phone for 50 less. The Pixel 7 and 7 Pro were some of our favorite phones of 2022 and both are discounted from their launch prices. You can get similar deals from Google itself, but Amazons prices are a few quid lower. The Sony Xperia 1 IV is a very interesting phone, even if it appeals only to select individuals. Part of that is the painfully high price, though it is now slightly less painful. Unfortunately, you dont get Sonys over-ear ANC headphones bundled (you can, but without the discount). There is also the smaller Sony Xperia 5 IV, however, at only 150 cheaper than the 1 IV is it really worth it? It depends on whether you want a smaller device, because the 1 IV has a 4K-class display and a variable focal length tele camera, but it is a fairly tall phone. Sonys mid-range Xperia 10 IV has a microSD slot and a 3.5m headphone jack just like its flagship siblings and the battery life this generation is outstanding. The Mark 4 flagships may be out of your budget, but if youre on the hunt for a mid-ranger you should consider the 10 IV. Well round this section off with the Samsung Galaxy M53. Its a large phone with a 6.7 120Hz display, it packs a 108MP camera and a suitably large 5,000mAh battery, plus a zippy Dimensity 900. Germany The Motorola Edge 30 packs an impressive 144Hz 6.5 OLED display (FHD+ resolution), which makes it a standout in the 300-400 category. The Snapdragon 778G+ has a fairly capable GPU (a flagship-class Adreno 642L) to boot. And you get a dual 50MP camera setup. The 4,020mAh battery is a bit on the small side, however. The Pixel a series has a devoted following and the Pixel 6a is one of the best entries so far. It is a bit smaller than the Pixel 7 and uses the original Tensor chipset, also it has a pair of 12MP cameras. Still, its roughly half the price of a Pixel 7 while offering most of the same features. The Nokia X30 is not the most glamorous phone out there, but it will receive 3 years of OS updates note that this is counting from September 2022. This is a fine pick for people who are not all that into poring over smartphone specs all day. Finally, something cheap a Moto E22. Its best feature is the 120 price tag, which makes it suitable for a kids first phone. It even has a card slot and 3.5mm jack, so you can load it up with MP3s and skip the Spotify subscription. USA Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S23 series in February, so this is the worst time to buy an S22 or the best, considering that the price has dropped to $650. Also, the phone has long term support (4 OS updates, one of which already happened, plus an extra year of security patches), so it will be a while before the S22 is obsolete. That being said, you may want to get a Galaxy Z Flip4 instead. Foldables are the form factor of the future as far as Samsung is concerned, all thats holding them back is the price. The Z Flip4 has gotten cheaper over time and currently sits at $850. Note that the Z Flip5 isnt too far away either, but there is about half a year before it comes out. If youre not into foldables, check out the OnePlus 10T it has a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset for $550 (the S22 has the original 8 Gen 1). It doesnt have the best camera setup, but it does have very fast charging, 125W. The Apple iPad Pro 12.9 from 2021 uses the older Apple M1 chip, while the 2022 models switched to the M2. The M1 is still one of the fastest laptop chips around, however, so it will beat basically any other tablet out there (other than its successor we mean). Lets look at some wearables next. The latest Apple Watch Series 8 is $50 off. We have linked the 41mm model below, but the 45mm one is just $30 more. Note that this is the version without LTE connectivity. If the Series 8 is too pricey, how about the new Apple Watch SE (2022). It uses a smaller, older display and it lacks ECG and a skin temperature sensor, but most other features are on board while the price is over $100 lower. If you want an all out adventure watch, the Apple Watch Ultra is ready to go anywhere. This one in particular has the Ocean band, which is suitable for diving, but you can pick other bands as well. Note that all Ultra models come with LTE connectivity. Alternatively, there is the Samsung Galaxy Watch5, which costs as much as the SE but does have ECG on board, plus a blood pressure monitor. You can also get the Watch5 Pro if you want longer battery life. Finally, Amazon has knocked a few bucks off its new Kindle Scribe tablet. We call it a tablet even though the smart functionality is limited compared to Android tablets. Still, the 10.2 E-Ink display will go easy on your eyes while you read documents and jot down notes with the included stylus. India We kick things off with some old but still powerful flagships. The Xiaomi 12 Pro may not have the 1 sensor of its successor, but the triple 50MP camera is still quite capable. And there is a high quality 6.73 QHD+ display to view your photos on. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 has been eclipsed in speed but is no slouch and you get 120W wired and 50W wireless charging. The Samsung Galaxy S22 will be replaced soon, but the new model wont be this cheap. The S22 is only slightly more expensive than the Xiaomi and it will appeal to those looking for a smaller device. While were at it, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is a cheaper way to get a high end chipset with 5G connectivity a Snapdragon 865 in this case. You can have the Snapdragon 888 instead and for less money too with the iQOO 9 SE. You can use the chipset to game on the 6.62 120Hz AMOLED display and the 4,500mAh battery is quick to top up with the 66W charger it just needs 14 minutes to go back up to 50%. The Redmi Note 12 series just launched in India, but the base model starts at 15,500 for a 4/128GB unit. The older Redmi Note 11 is down to 12,500 for a version with 6GB of RAM. Comparing the two, the new model has an ultra wide camera and a microSD slot. It is missing 5G connectivity and its screen is smaller and slower 6.43 90Hz vs. 6.67 120Hz. The 5,000mAh battery is the same (33W charging). Finally, an offer in the sub-10,000 category, the Tecno Spark 9. This runs full-blooded Android 12 (with HIOS 8.6) instead of Go Edition and has a roomy 6.6 IPS LCD, even if it isnt too sharp with only HD+ resolution. It also packs a large 5,000mAh battery. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close The Perspective Atlanta, Georgia Posted: January 8, 2023 In the context of Liberian politics, the phrase Da Our Time is most commonly used by Liberian politicians and partisans to illustrate possessive political control of the state. It is a sense of ownership and entitlement to the country's wealth and power if I should say. The expression, in another sense, also suggests that one group of politicians or political parties have enjoyed political power, and its time for a new group that has struggled for political power to enjoy it too. Enjoyment in this context means personal enrichment using political power. What is problematic with such a mindset is that the political party (parties) taking over from the incumbent government focus more on wealth accumulation than running an accountable and transparent government. They speculate and compare how much others enriched themselves while in power. Now, allowing themselves to go through such imagination further creates anxiety and desperation for wealth and quick riches. Thats what such a mindset does. It leaves little room for proper governance and equitable distribution of state resources. Moreover, this mindset puts Liberia in a position of elephant meat. That is, whosoever manages to take control of the elephant feast as he or she wishes. A classic example is the CDC- the ruling party in Liberia. Many of them, in open and closed doors, argued that it is their time- and when translated in the political context of Liberia-it suggests that it is time to get rich too from the government. By the way, stealing from the government for personal use and benefit is not unique to the CDC. Its an old-age problem in our governance system. The UP and the Sirleaf dynasty are not also free from the practice of this politically corrupt mindset. The CDC is only advancing what is known to be an established way of exploiting the state. But for the CDC, its done on an industrial scale- mass looting. A case in point is the sanction on senior government officials in President Weahs government by the US Global Magnitsky report for corruption, bribery, and judicial compromise. The CDC doesnt pretend when it has to say that it (Da Our Time). What is funny is that the partys senior officials and diehard partisans used this phrase to show control of the country- not in a good way but in corrupt control of the country. The CDC has been running a closed and winner-take-all government centered around the terrible idea of Da Our Time. Not only has this mentality affected the governance system, but it has also contributed to corruption in government. Furthermore, this mentality has pushed out-qualify and competent bureaucrats and substituted them with laypeople in governmentoccupying strategic public entities that are bigger than the capacity of the individual sitting in them. In the end, the government has faltered, and no significant gains have been made over the last five years. Unlike Weahs predecessor, President Sirleaf, she encouraged a merit system in government from the first six years. Credit must be given to her. She appointed some qualified and competent individuals to strategic positions in government- which is not unique now with the incumbent government, given the level of misplaced and incompetent bureaucrats in government. The UP government was well on course during the first six years, but the velocity at which the government proceeded dropped significantly in the second quarter. Nepotism and favoritism slipped in. With no professional expertise, Rob was allowed to head NOCAL- a strategic oil company. The only justification for such a high level of preference at the time was that Rob was the beloved son of the commander-in-chief of The Republic of Liberia. I dont wish to talk about nepotism and partiality in the current regime because it is a colorful painting in all ministries and agencies of government. What also happened with the phrase Da Our Time mentality is that incompetent and lower-level bureaucrats with little experience are preferred by powerful politicians who use them as scapegoats when things backfire in government. For instance, the corruption scandal at Buchanan Port. The Passport scandal at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Additionally, there is a total disregard for qualifications and expertise in appointing government officials. The 2023 general and presidential elections are around the corner. It will not be news to see a newly elected government (alternative government) doing what others have done. It is like using the old mat to plait a new one. Liberia has gone through some of the worst crises any country can experience. For instance, the civil war led to the death of high-ranking officials of the government in the past and also innocent civilians because of political issues and bad governance. Unfortunately, the country is yet to learn its lessons. The quality of decisions made by politicians doesnt resemble what a failed country like Liberia needs to transition into a better society that promotes the rule of law, accountability, transparency in government, effectiveness, and responsiveness. The Freedom House 2022 considers Liberia a partially free society, citing that Liberia is faced with corruption and a culture of impunity. In another sense, Liberia is half safe, and stealing in government is expected. In addition, the impunity culture in government allows powerful people to go unpunished even if they commit crimes against the state and others. Transparency International also listed Liberia among the most corrupt nations in the world, as per the 2021 report. All these reports communicate one thing - a weak system and lack of political will to act due to conflict of interest, personal greed, desire for wealth accumulation, and using power to intimidate others. Until the corrupt political mentality (Da Our Time) is erased from the governance sphere of Liberia with merit and an accountable system, Liberia will continue to suffer at the hands of corrupt regimes that do little to change the suffering of ordinary Liberians. About the Author: Keifala Kanneh holds a master's in International Development and Social Change from Clark University, USA. Keifala has just completed his second master's in Public Governance from Tilburg University, The Netherlands. He graduated from the University of Liberia with a BSc in Economics. He is a former Chairman of the Intellectual Discourse Committee of the University of Liberia Student Union (ULSU) and erstwhile Student Representative (SR) to the University of Liberia Faculty Senate. He can be reached @ kannehkeifala2015@gmail.com and via telephone on +31616824319 A court battle is poised to begin over a near-total abortion ban that has been collecting dust in Guams legal code since 1990. Attorney General Doug Moylan told Pacific Daily News that his office will be ready to take action within the next 30 days on Guams Public Law 20-134, an abortion ban that was enacted before the national right to an abortion was overturned last June. The ban was passed unanimously by the 20th Guam Legislature and signed into law but was permanently enjoined in federal court for violating the constitution. With the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion case overturned by the Supreme Court in June 2022, the power to regulate abortions goes back to the Legislature. A motion for the court to lift the injunction will most likely be filed, according to Moylan. I quite frankly, do not want to be involved in it, the public policy discussions that are going on, he said. But I do recognize that the attorney generals office is responsible to ensure that every law passed by this Guam Legislature is enforced, unless the court finds otherwise. Guams situation isnt unique, Moylan said, explaining that based on the legal analysis there are states that are in Guams situation where a law passed during the time of Roe v. Wade had been enjoined, but (they) are now actively seeking their courts to lift the injunctions. The state of Wisconsin, for example, is embroiled in a court battle over an abortion ban from 1849 which sees the states governor, attorney general, and legislature on different sides of the argument, National Public Radio reports. Moylan said he wont promise whether the injunction on Guams abortion ban can be successfully reversed, I dont consider anything a slam dunk when you go to the courts. Battle expected We will, of course, oppose it. Were ready to go, said attorney Anita Arriola, who represented the plaintiffs in the case that struck the ban down close to three decades ago. She and her co-counsel, the American Civil Liberties Union Reproductive Freedom Project, are anticipated to jump back into the fight, she said. The attorney herself is a member of local abortion rights group Guam People for Choice. Arriola described the AGs odds of success as a long shot, given it was already found unconstitutional and void in both the District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. If you think about it logically, why would a court uphold a law that is decades old that hasnt seen the light of day? . it was never even in effect, because it was struck down so quickly, she said. Beyond that, the ban also encroaches on the right to freedom of speech, by criminalizing anyone who advocates for an abortion or advises a woman who has one. The free speech part of this law was a huge part of the injunction that was issued, Arriola said. Whos his client? But before an argument could even make it to court, Moylan will have procedural issues to overcome, Arriola said, not least of which is, whos his client? None of the parties in the original lawsuit from the 90s, the governor of Guam, the Guam Memorial Hospital, the Department of Public Health and Social Services and the Guam Election Commission, were likely to support the reversal of the injunction. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and her administration have vocally backed abortion access. I dont see them supporting this lawsuit. So, I think the question that I have for him is, who is his client? And who is he doing this for? She said there was no outpouring of support for the 1990 law, which went further than bans in other states by criminalizing not just abortion providers, but women who obtain abortions. Moylan contends he has standing to take the matter to court based on the office he holds. The attorney general was sued, personally. And in their official capacity I can go in under just the mere fact that I was a sued party, as the attorney general sitting in this role right now. I dont need the governor, any issues or questions about whether I represent the governor, because the AG is a separate party. Question for the Legislature Abortion opponent Sen. Chris Duenas said he looks forward to a fight, should any members of the Legislature try to repeal the ban before it is enacted. He said he plans to update the ban, should it take effect, to ensure that provision calling for a never-held referendum on whether to keep or ditch the ban is held. The community needs to debate this issue but whats not up for debate is that the law passed unanimously, and it deserves to be on board, Duenas said. Freshman Sen. Will Parkinson, an advocate for abortion rights, said Friday that hes still weighing the best way to address the 1990 ban. Hes said before that, he intends to block any anti-abortion legislation that comes through in the 37th Guam Legislature and codify the abortion rules of Roe v. Wade into law. MBABANE As the earth opens its bowels to swallow assassinated SFDF Deputy Secretary General (DSG) Muzi Mmema this morning, another leader in the party allegedly received death threats. The acronym SFDF stands for Swazis First Democratic Front, a political party recently formed by former Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) National Chairperson Busi Mayisela. Experienced political leader and newly-formed SFDF Secretary General (SG) Gift Dlamini is living in hiding, after allegedly receiving death threats from a political leader. Dlamini is also a former National Executive Committee (NEC) member at SWALIMO, where he served as Deputy Secretary General (DSG). In a wide ranging interview, Dlamini told the Times SUNDAY that he was forced to skip the country after receiving threatening messages through phone calls from a certain political leader. He said the threats escalated to an extent that he could not ignore them and started living from place to place. He disclosed that he now changed locations to avoid being tracked by his enemies. opinion Yes, it is true that I left the country because of what were threats uttered by a leader because of a difference of opinion. The leader tried to play down the threats when I confronted him, but they were too serious to be ignored. When I reached my place of safety I got threatening phone calls that were similar to the ones I got from that leader, he said. Dlamini further mentioned that similar threats that were issued to him by the leader were repeated to the late SFDF DSG Muzi Mmema, who was later abducted, shot twice in the chest and dumped in a forest at Sidvokodvo. Mmema will be laid to rest this morning at Ntondozi and his assailants are still unknown. It is unfortunate that my deputy got similar threats and he is no more. This is not to say the people who made the threats are responsible for anything, but people must be careful about what they say and when. The mass democratic movement (MDM) must exercise tolerance and democratic centralism, which is speaking in one voice and one voice only, said Dlamini. When asked to elaborate on the exact name or give identity of the political leader, Dlamini requested not to mention his name for now, until proper channels were followed. He stated that the SFDF was willing and committed to working with the broader spectrum of the progressives movement and therefore such issues were better dealt with at that level. He mentioned that though his organisation, SFDF, was yet to give guidance on the issue, the political wisdom of organisations such as the Multi-Stakeholders Forum (MSF) and the Political Parties Assembly (PPA) was important in solving such issues in the MDM. Dlamini was specifically asked if he was exonerating the state from issuing such threats and he said he confronted the leader and was sure of the origins of the threats. avoid We are advocating for unity as an organisation, hence you will understand the reason we cannot mention names to avoid divisions. One has to state further that all comrades have the state after their lives, either directly or indirectly. Even if it was somebody in the MDM I would still blame the state because we were not going to be facing the challenges we are facing if it was not for this regime. Yes, it seems we now have the enemy that looks like a friend. The regime could easily purchase a T-shirt, talk like us, walk like us but work as an agent of the state. Comrades are more in danger from the enemy that looks like a friend, he said. Dlamini said it was clear that some members of the MDM were agents of the state. He further alleged that it was clear that some of the members were planted to cause division and mayhem within those calling for change. He further warned those that were allegedly working for the state and said they were working towards exposing them. The inferred infighting in the MDM might be a strategy of the regime. My warning is that those involved are playing with fire, comrades are uniting by the day and soon pretenders will be exposed, he said. Dlamini opined that the cause of the competition within the MDM was lack of political knowledge from members. There are comrades who are not well grounded through political education, they believe democracy is around the corner and they have already crowned their own president or prime minister hence the competition, elaborated Dlamini. He further mentioned that the current situation affected him greatly as he could not spend Christmas with his family. It feels like I am in prison already and it is the most lonely experience one could have. As much as it is tough, I now understand a little of what Members of Parliament (MPs) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube are feeling in jail, he said. Dlamini further thanked the MDM for supporting his organisation as they mourned the death of Mmema. He said through the death of his deputy, they were able to realise the need for unity and that they were stronger together than divided. unity He said it was his organisations wish that the MDM be united through one command centre as represented in the MSF and PPA. He stated that the unity of the MDM was the late Mmemas dream and such unity would be a good send off gift for the killed freedom fighter. He declared that even though he was spending most of his time outside the country, he still believed that there was nothing wrong in dying for the liberation cause. Dlamini said he was not afraid of death, but believed that he was more useful to the struggle if he was alive. I do come into the country when I must, with an arranged security personnel of course. I am not scared of death, however, I am useful alive than dead, to the struggle. I take threats very seriously. So I am currently living outside the country because of the very same death threats I mentioned, he stated. The death of Mmema remained an unsolved mystery with more speculations than answers. The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) is currently investigating the shooting and the MDM has been making more speculations. Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up New Ad-free Subscriber Login Email Password Password Username Subscribe to our daily NewsLetter Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password or receive our NewsLetter. Stay logged in Lost password Contact NGABEZWENI His Majesty King Mswati III yesterday commissioned thousands of Ingatja to fetch the sacred shrub (lusekwane) under tight security, amid threats from unknown people. It should be noted that a voice clip of an unknown person claiming to be the commander was circulated on social media, wherein he threatened to deal with whosoever attended Incwala Ceremony. Security personnel were deployed strategically before the young boys, who were accompanied by the regiment, left Ngabezweni Royal Residence for Esikhaleni selusekwane, where they were assigned to fetch the sacred shrubs. For the first time in the history of the commissioning of the young boys, three helicopters were seen flying above the regiment during the course of the journey. Apart from the helicopters, the regiment was escorted by armoured vehicles. It should be noted that the King and the regiment also take part in the over 50 kilometre walk to Esikhaleni. invisible Speaking through Indvuna Qomentanyeni Magagula, the King urged the young boys to walk in groups to ensure that they did not fall into the hands of the invisible enemy. He also urged tindvuna to keep an eye on the young boys to ensure their safety. Nive kahle Majaha, inhlonipho, wehluka labutfweni ha! Nato tinfingo kuwe. Wahamba unjena batakugola uwedvwana. Libutfo njengoba litawuphuma linjena, litawubuya linjena. Tindvuna letiphuma kubobabe boshifu lelapho niya khona esikhaleni kutawukhala licilongo, niphume nisigadla, nibuye ninje. Ngengeni umsebenti wakhe ugadze lusekwane. Awufuneki umjeje, Magagula said in vernacular. Loosely translated to: Listen carefully, once you walk alone, you will be subjected to the invisible enemy. It will grab and harm you alone when you are most vulnerable. You are expected to come back whole, as a group of warriors just as you are about to leave as one. Tindvuna are expected to keep an eye on Ingatja. Senior warriors are urged to look after the young boys and the sacred shrubs. The young boys were commissioned in the presence of Lutsango and Imbali regiment, which also took part in the dancing of the Little Incwala, prior to the commissioning. Also in attendance was a regiment from the Republic of China (Taiwan) which was led by Ambassador Liu Jieyi. The Taiwanese regiment joined the warriors at the formation, where they were taught the Incwala songs. While the women joined Lutsango. comfort The young boys marched to Esikhaleni around Masundvwini in the comfort of new sandals, which they received together with belts, bags and T-shirts, as well as food parcels as gifts from Their Majesties. The energetic young boys left Ngabezweni in songs under calm weather. They experienced light drizzle at Ndlunganye. Worth noting was that emaSwati from Matsapha and surrounding areas came in numbers to cheer on the young boys, as they passed by. Some businesses especially those next to the road came to a standstill as people were desirous to see the young boys and the King. Some were heard saying Awu Nkhosi yami, Bayethe! Wena Waphakathi, as the King passed by. Some people reacted by waving their hands while other whistled in admiration. At Ndlunganye, spectators called each other to order after some spoke vile about the cultural activity. You can say whatever you want to say about anything but do not mess with the King. You told us about only 30 people who will be attending this event. Where are your 30 people? Where do these people come from? one man was heard asking another man who spoke vile about the cultural event. The man had said he could not spend his time attending Incwala. He was also accused by the crowd of having spread rumours to the effect that there would only be 30 Ingatja at the event. MBABANE Government is concerned about the sources and manner in which funds for financing regime change agenda are being transferred. In a statement, Alpheous Nxumalo, the Government Press Secretary, said there was absolutely no accountability and transparency in the transfer of the funds. Since there was no transparency, he said the movement of these funds, in and out of the country, could be legitimately be classified as money laundering and racketeering. The government press secretary said government was extremely disappointed at certain non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that have come to the open to admit that they were having political parties and so called democracy advocates on their payroll. He said NGOs were registered on certain terms and conditions that warranted them to remain apolitical. On Thursday, the Times of Eswatini quoted Bonginkhosi IB Dlamini, the Convener of the United Eswatini Diaspora to have said that certain people were getting paid by NGOs involved in the calls for political change. In fact, Dlamini was speaking through an online social media platform, Swaziland Democratic News. Conditions His Majestys Government is extremely disappointed at certain NGOs who have come to the open and admitted that they are having certain political parties and the so-called democracy advocates on their payroll. NGOs are registered on certain terms and conditions and they expected adhere to those and remain apolitical, said the government press secretary. He said NGOs that operated as fronts for revolutionary objectives remained the biggest threat to the stability, peace and security of the Kingdom of Eswatini. When NGOs become fronts for revolutions and regime change, they are threatening to push and render the country to be subverted, ungovernable and thus a failed State, he said. He warned that NGOs should not be a substitute for the State, nor can they claim to be so. He further warned that NGOs should not be a direct source of human insecurity by adopting policies that undermined the livelihood of the majority. Nxumalo said they should not use their advocacy to betray their humanitarian mandate, abdicate their social responsibilities or use their resources to pursue a subversive political agenda that sought to achieve regime change in the country. The government press secretary advised that NGOs should not be a conduit for foreign agendas and conspiracy theories designed to upset the mood of peace and tranquility in the Kingdom of Eswatini. He pointed out that the soul of the kingdom was neither up for sale nor competition or in an auction for the highest bidding price. The reverend said NGOs that had enlisted political antagonists of the country were using another form of coercion, manipulation, social injustice and violation of human rights, especially of the poor of the poorest as they used them as cannon fodders to achieve revolutionary objectives against the kingdom. agitators He said emaSwati should realise now that some of these NGOs were really agitators, anarchists and sponsors of instability and ungovernability in the country. He appealed to emaSwati to resist; revolt and reject them. Meanwhile, the Convener of the United Eswatini Diaspora, Bonginkhosi IB Dlamini, said some people argued that they would not vote for people to go to Parliament to earn money. He said the issue of people earning money was not different from the payment of some leaders by the NGOs involved in the call for democracy in Eswatini. He alleged that some leaders were earning salaries in the region of E30 000 to E40 000 per month. Dlamini made an example of one of his friends who was paid E10 000 as sitting allowances for seven meetings convened by a certain NGO. Last year, Senate President Pastor Lindiwe Dlamini alleged that some international NGOs were financing terrorists in the country. concerned Speaking to the Times of Eswatini, Thembinkosi Dlamini, the Executive Director of the Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO), said the civil society and NGOs were concerned about human rights. He noted that there was a right to self determination, which entailed that people should choose the government they wanted. We are not scared of supporting the calls for democratisation because that is part of our founding charter, which speaks about everything in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of December 10, 1948, he said. Dlamini said the charter on human rights was applicable to all countries. The executive director said there were other conventions on politics, to which Eswatini committed itself. He felt Eswatini had violated most of these conventions. The reason we support the calls for democracy is that it is the right thing to do and it is legal to do so, he said. He said CANGO came out to denounce violence, but did mention the significance of an all inclusive dialogue to address the political situation in the country. He said there was no evidence that civil society financed terrorism in the country. Half Moon Bay, CA (94019) Today Clear skies. Gusty winds during the evening. Low 43F. Winds NNW at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Gusty winds during the evening. Low 43F. Winds NNW at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. MBABANE Ex-Minister of Public Works and Transport Ntuthuko Michael Dlamini has spent 27 days in jail without sentencing. On the same day of his conviction on December 12, 2022, the former LaMgabhi Member of Parliament (MP) was taken to Sidwashini Correctional Facility, where he has been waiting for his sentencing. Judge Maxine Langwenya found him guilty of murdering three people. Dlamini was also found guilty of possessing a firearm without a valid permit. It was stated that the court would sentence him on a date that was yet to be determined. It must be said that it took the High Court nine days to sentence serial killer David Simelane to hang. Simelane, now aged 66, was found guilty on March 23, 2011 and sentenced on April 1, 2011. Jacobus Annadale handled the case. His case was high profile one, based on the large number of people he had murdered. Based on his status and the number of people he killed, the ex-politicians case is also a high profile one. It is not certain how long he will serve in prison. Section 15 (1) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini provides that a person shall not be deprived of life intentionally save in the execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence under the law of Swaziland (Eswatini), of which that person has been convicted. Subsection 2 states that the death penalty shall not be mandatory and subsection 3 provides that a sentence of life imprisonment shall not be less than 25 years. The offences were committed on September 7, 2020 at Mhlabubovu. The three men the former minister and LaMgabhi MP killed were members of the Luyengweni Inner Council. These were Sikhulu Shongwe, who was 70 years old, Simon Dlamini (61) and Themba Tsabedze (65). When the trio was shot on the fateful day, they were carrying out an exercise as the inner council, to tie the knot after allocating one Mbongiseni Dlamini a piece of land, which previously belonged to a Motsa family. According to a Times of Eswatini news report of December 12, 2022, while the inner council members and others who attended the exercise were having refreshments after tying the knot, Ntuthuko, who was in the company of three men, Derrick Maziya, Sipho Matsenjwa and Vusi Zulu, arrived and asked what they were doing on land that belonged to Chief Ndzimanye. intervene It was reported that Maziya and the others had called Ntuthuko and requested him to intervene, when they learnt that members of the Luyengweni Inner Council were allocating land at Mhlabubovu. The people they found at Mhlabubovu did not respond and Ntuthuko called the station commander of Bhunya Police Station, whom he requested to send police officers to Mhlabubovu because there were people who were illegally allocating land in the area. The Luyengweni people, according to the court, shouted and told Ntuthuko that if he had an issue with what they were doing, he should report the matter to the relevant structures. One of the Luyengweni people, Big Boi Maseko, told Ntuthuko that they had been asked by Chief Lembelele to allocate land to certain people at Mhlabubovu. The former minister informed the court that at this point, he was speaking to his uncle, Bhekwako Mkhabela. He said he was disturbed by the utterances of Maseko and told him to shut up as he did not speak to timfucuta. Ntuthuko told the court that imfucuta is a person who has no position, status, title in his/her community. Sihle Dlamini confronted the former minister for calling them timfucuta and this led to the shooting of the elderly men by Ntuthuko. In her judgment, Judge Langwenya said the Crown had to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Ntuthuko shot Simon and Shongwe multiple times and Tsabedze once in the chest with the intention to kill them and that the gunshot wounds caused their death. The headman of Luyengweni, Dumisa Ginindza, Sihle and Mkhabela, who were eyewitnesses, testified during the trial that they saw the former politician shooting the trio with a firearm. The Times of Eswatini reported that police pathologist Dr Reddy determined that Shongwe died as a result of multiple injuries over the left ear region, neck, chest, among other areas. complications The pathologist determined that Simon died from complications consequent to abdominal injuries caused by the gunshot. Tsabedze, according to Dr Reddy, died from the firearm injury involving the heart and lungs. Ntuthuko admitted to shooting the trio and told the court that he was acting in private defence. In his defence, he said he shot Simon accidentally (wadubuleka). Judge Langwenya stated that a person could not accidentally act in self-defence since that required an act of will. The judge said when Simon was shot; he had approached Ntuthuko to calm the tempers between Sihle and the former minister, who were arguing over the formers reference to them as timfucuta. Since he was a herdsman, Simon was said to always carry a knobstick. The ex-minister said Simon raised the knobkerrie at him. Mkhabela gave the same evidence to the court. However, Sihle and Ginindza told the court that Simon never raised his knobstick and he did not attempt to assault Ntuthuko. Judge Langwenya stated in her judgment that the legal position was that a person who was attacked and feared for his life or that he would suffer grave injury, may defend himself to the extent necessary to avoid the attack. In other words, the attacked person is at large to use force to repel the unlawful attack against him. The degree of force used in repelling the attack should be no more than reasonably necessary in the circumstances. Consequently, a revenge or attack in retaliation for an earlier grievance is not protected by the law of private defence, said Judge Langwenya. A person who pleads private defence, according to the court, must have been facing an emergency out of which he could not avoid serious injury or even death unless he took the action he did. mentioned Judge Langwenya mentioned that at the time he was shot, Simon was 65 years old, while Ntuthuko was aged 49 years. Clearly, the accused was the aggressor at this stage of the incident. Accused confirms that the people from Luyengweni were not aggressive when he confronted them about why they were at Mhlabubovu on that day. They did not fight the accused. Chaos ensued when the accused used offensive language against them, the judge said. Judge Langwenya said Ntuthukos explanation that he directed the offensive word to Big Boi and not the Luyengweni Inner Council, was mischievous, misconceived and misleading because he (Big Boi) was part of the people from Luyengweni. Ntuthuko was armed with a firearm, according to the court, and he was angered by Big Bois response that they were at Mhlabubovu on the instruction of Chief Lembelele. Judge Langwenya said Simon and Tsabedze were among the people who the accused shot when they tried to calm tempers between him and Sihle. Ntuthuko told the court that he was under attack and he was defending himself by warding off unlawful attacks. The judge said this version could not stand in the light of the totality of the evidence. The former minister and LaMgabhi MP was represented by Noncedo Ndlangamandla of Mabila Attorneys. Principal Crown Counsel Ncamsile Masuku and Crown Counsel Nolwazi Mabila appeared for the Crown. Click here for a Print Subscription with Online Digital included. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Below you will see test that reads Print Subscribe Access. Click this to then Get Started attaching your account number and zip code to you online user account. Click on the banner above if you would like to become a print subscriber with digital access. If you simply want online access without print click get started below. Saudi-based Retal Urban Development Company has announced that it has signed a shareholders agreement with the Saudi Arabian Railways Company for the construction of a commercial mall at a strategic location in the kingdom. Retal Urban Development Company said for this purpose it has set up a special purpose vehicle in joint venture partnership with Saudi Arabian Railways Company. The move is mainly aimed at supporting the business and growth of Retal's strategy, it added. This comes close on the heels of its strategic agreement with leading real estate group Roshn for the construction of 554 residential units at its landmark project, Sedra, located in northern Riyadh. TradeArabia had last year reported that the pact with Roshn, a unit of Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF (Public Investment Fund), will see residential villas and apartments being built within Sedra at a total investment of SR357 million ($95 million). In October, Retal signed an agreement with the National Housing Company for the development of 550 residentail units within the Al Fursan district 2 in the capital Riyadh. The SR605 million ($161 million) project, which will come up on a 166,446-sq-m area, is being primarily funded through off-plan sales and partially from self-financing. It had inked a similar agreement with NHC a month earlier to build another 759 residential units in the Al Fursan District I in Riyadh at a total investment of SR864 million ($230 million), it added.-TradeArabia News Service MBABANE Members of the army are said to have shot dead a gunman who had shot and injured an umbutfo during the march by Ingatja to cut the scared shrub lusekwane. Information gathered last night was that the gunman appeared from nowhere and randomly shot at the marching members of the regiments, who at that time were near Masundvwini High School, which is not far from the final destination where the shrub was to be cut. Impeccable sources informed the Times SUNDAY that after firing at the regiments; the gunman managed to hit one umbutfo and then fled into the nearby bushes. However, members of the army, who were providing security to the regiments, pursued the gunman into the forest where they managed to shoot him dead, relayed one of the sources. The source said the shot umbutfo was rushed to hospital where his condition had not yet been determined by the time of compiling this report. Lieutenant Tengetile Khumalo, the army spokesperson, referred enquiries to Percy Simelane, the Director of Communication at the Kings Office. Simelane, on the other hand, referred the matter to the police: It sounds like a police case to me. We dont handle crime. Kindly take it up with the police. Chief Police Informational and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati also referred the matter to the Ludzidzini governor, and said he was the one who could comment on issues that happened during Lusekwane. Meanwhile, other sources suggested that the gunman was linked to previous shootings of police officers, one of whom was killed. The sources said the killed gunman was wanted for the death of a police officer, who was shot dead at Mathangeni in Matsapha. There are two incidents that occurred at Mathangeni where officers were killed. In the first incident, which happened around June 26, 2022 when the officer, who was based under the Traffic Department at Matsapha Police Station, was shot while attending to a supposed traffic accident around Mathangeni. The other incident saw another police officer, who was based at the Matsapha Police Academy, shot dead by an unknown person at Mathangeni around 6am. Also, the sources said the killed gunman was linked to the shooting of a police officer at KaPhunga. The officer was shot at around 7:30am while in his house but he survived. State Announces Nearly $2M in Fire Education Grants STOW The Baker-Polito Administration today announced that 266 municipal fire departments will receive $1.9 million in grants to fund fire and life safety education for children and older adults, setting a new record for the Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) and Senior SAFE programs. The previous record of 253 communities was set in FY 2018. "For more than 25 years, the S.A.F.E. grant program has provided hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts students with fire and life safety lessons that last a lifetime," said Governor Charlie Baker. "We are glad that this year's awards will support consistent, statewide, professional safety education in a record number of communities." The average number of children who die in fires annually has dropped by nearly 80 percent since the S.A.F.E. program began in FY 1996, and Massachusetts recently went nearly three years without losing a child to fire. The Senior SAFE program was launched in FY 2014, funding fire safety education for another vulnerable population seniors, who face a disproportionate risk of dying in a fire at home. "The Senior SAFE grants support home visits, smoke and CO alarm installations, and fire safety presentations delivered by firefighters in partnership with service providers," said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. "This valuable program gives older adults the tools, knowledge, and strategies to stay safe and independent at home." This year's awards will provide $1,103,488 in S.A.F.E. funding for 262 fire departments; $562,194 in Senior SAFE funding for 265 fire departments; and $252,783 for regional trailer props used by multiple fire departments to teach and demonstrate fire safety skills. Every department that applied for a grant received funding. Berkshire Grown Gets $550K Grant GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. The $550,000 Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) Grant will strengthen Berkshire Grown's purchasing relationships with socially disadvantaged farmers through their Berkshire Farm to Food Access Partnership Program to distribute to new and existing food sites. The initiative will establish an online ordering system, update purchasing contracts, expand the selection of local food and farm products, recruit volunteers for food delivery, prepare food storage locations, and distribute the food and farm products to underserved communities. The grant funds a collaborative partnership that includes other organizations working to address food security in the Berkshires: Berkshire Bounty and Community Health Partners. "What makes this grant especially unique and meaningful to our local food system, is that it supports the purchase of products only from local farmers, with an additional focus on sourcing from BIPOC-owned farms when possible," Berkshire Grown Executive Director Margaret Moulton clarified in an email. "Everything we buy to supply local food pantries will be sourced from farms in the Berkshire region, with extended reach into some farms in NW Connecticut and the eastern Hudson Valley." The Baker-Polito Administration is awarding $7,260,000 in Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) grants to 16 organizations across the Commonwealth. The grants, which are funded through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), seek to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency through the purchase of domestic food from local and regional producers, by targeting purchases from socially disadvantaged farmers and producers, and the distribution to underserved communities. Additionally, the Baker-Polito Administration announced the availability of $28.5 million in funding for the FY24 Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) Program. This funding will allow the Commonwealth to ensure equitable access to healthy, locally-produced food for individuals and families throughout the state. "While the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program was created as part of our Administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, through this next $28.5 million, we will be able to continue to utilize this important initiative to ensure access to healthy, locally produced food for all residents throughout the state," said Governor Charlie Baker. "The $7.2 million that we are awarding through the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program will further our efforts to invest in the Commonwealth's food supply chain, creating a stronger and more resilient food system." The FSIG Program was created to provide grants for capital infrastructure investments that increase access to locally produced food for families and individuals throughout the state who may be facing food insecurity, live in gateway cities or food deserts, or who otherwise face unequal access to food. Additionally, FSIG works to mitigate future supply and distribution issues by partnering with local fishermen, farmers, and other producers to create a strong and resilient food system. The Administration initially announced the program in May 2020 and has since awarded $63 million to 507 organizations throughout Massachusetts. Furthermore, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program seeks to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency by working directly with socially disadvantaged farmers and producers to give food to underserved communities. Importantly, the food will meet the needs of the local and regional populations and serve feeding programs, including food banks, schools, and organizations that reach underserved communities. In addition to increasing local food consumption, funds will help build and expand economic opportunities for local and socially disadvantaged producers. Pittsfield Board of Health OKs Updated Tobacco Ordinance PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Board of Health has concluded its seven-month process of updating the city's tobacco ordinance. "We should be very happy about that," Chair Bobbie Orsi said. The document was unanimously approved on Wednesday after receiving some finishing touches in November. No public comment was generated in response to the public hearing. The ordinance had last been amended in 2019 before Gov. Charlie Baker signed an Act Modernizing Tobacco Control, which imposed new restrictions on the sale of nicotine vaping, flavored vaping, and tobacco products. Changes effective on April 1 include a clarified definition for blunt wraps, a raised minimum price requirement for cigars, and violations that incorporate state law. A blunt wrap is newly defined as "any product wholly or in part from a tobacco product, manufactured or packaged with loose and removable leaves or section of a leaf, or as a hollow tube, that may be used by the consumer to wrap or contain loose tobacco or other fillers." It also considers tobacco leaf kits or roll-your-own packages as blunt wraps. "The major changes that we did was we made an update to definitions such as the blunt wraps. We wanted to make sure it gives a very descriptive definition of that. We did also discuss the fine structure to align with the state," Director of Public Health Andy Cambi explained. "We did not reduce the permit cap, we kept that normal and I think the last change that we made in November was that we wanted to talk about the violations where if they were issued a violation for us to have that discretion for up to 30 days, no less than one business day." There was a previous discussion about explicitly banning smoking bars but BOH members felt that the ordinance already bans them, as smoking is not prohibited in any bars within city bounds. The hopes to have the water system completed this year in time for the projected opening of the outdoor center in October. Contractors Attend Conference for Greylock Glen Water System ADAMS, Mass. Several contractors visited Town Hall on Thursday morning to attend a pre-bid conference for the water system at the Greylock Glen. The prospective bidders received a brief overview of the project, what work it will entail and background on the entire glen development. The scope of the work consists of, among other things, a water storage tank, a water main, electrical work, piping and instrumentation work. Project manager Edward Whatley of Wright-Pierce Engineering said they hope to get work done on the water system as soon as possible. The town will accept bids on the project until 3 p.m. on Jan. 24. "There's a real impetus to get this project done as quick as possible," he said. "Ideally, we would have had it out a year ago, but it is what it is. Definitely, the sooner this can get done, I think everyone would really benefit because that building is really waiting for the water from this project." When asked about potential supply-chain issues for some items, such as ductile iron piping, Whatley said they would deal with it if any problems arise. Town Administrator Jay Green said the target opening for the outdoor center is some time in October, but supply and other problems could always impact that date. "That's the nice time that we think it would make sense to open the building. But I don't think there's anyone who doesn't understand supply-chain issues, constructability, weather, things like that," he said. "We just need to take it one step at a time, but we want everyone to know that, in a perfect lovely world, it would be nice to have this being wrapped up in early September so we can get water to the building. If that's just physically not possible, then we understand that, and we'll do what we need do to make sure the public understands this is just the way it is." Donna Cesan, the town's special projects coordinator, said work on the outdoor center is going smoothly. She said the town plans to work closely with the contractor to solve any issues during the project, as they did with the outdoor center. "I think most of the infrastructure in the ground has been completed," she said. "The site contractor will come back in the spring, when conditions allow, to do parking areas and that type of thing. But the building, they're working now on getting the walls up, and the trusses for the roof are all done so they're moving along." The estimated cost of the entire water system is about $3.8 million. In May last year, the project got $2.9 million in federal funding for water infrastructure at the glen. This funding is in addition to the $7.3 million the state has committed to the outdoor center's construction. MBABANE In its history, the Kingdom of Eswatini has never had a prime minister (PM) whose surname is not Dlamini. This being election year, which will also see the term of current Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini coming to an end, His Majesty the King is expected to either re-appoint him or appoint another person. If a new PM is appointed, will the trend of a Dlamini candidate continue? The issue of whether the countrys PM should bear a particular surname was long settled by the Eswatini Nation. Thirty years ago, a majority of emaSwati submitted to the Tinkhundla Review Commission that the position of PM should not be exclusive to one surname. This submission, which was one of many pertaining to the position of PM, was agreed to by the Commission, which recommended accordingly. According to the Commission, the recommendations it made from the diverse and often contradictory views represented by a fair assessment of what the majority of emaSwati, who made submissions wanted and what the Commission honestly believed to be in the best interest, peace, stability and progressive democratisation of Eswatini. His Majesty King Mswati III appointed the Commission in 1992 and it was chaired by Prince Mahlalengangeni. Members of the Commission included Chief Maweni Simelane (late), Arthur Khoza (late), Chief Nhloko Zwane (late), Dr. Samuel Hynd (late), Sam Mkhombe (late), Mavis Litchfield (late), Senanile Gwebu, Henry Vusumuzi Dlamini, James Majahenkhaba Dlamini (current Supreme Court Judge), Mathendele Moses Dlamini (current member of Ludzidzini Council) and Mandla Hlatshwako (PUDEMO member). It should be noted that Hlatshwako withdrew from the Commission soon after its terms of reference were made available. Hlatshwako, according to the Commissions belief, withdrew for personal reasons. The Commissions purposes were to, among other things, receive written submissions and/or hear oral submissions from individual members of Eswatini Nation and to report to the King regarding problems malfunctions and deficiencies in the existing process of election of members of the House of Parliament in terms of Parts II, III and VI of the Establishment of the Parliament of Swaziland Order 1978. Under this term of reference, the subject of the Office of the PM attracted interest from those who made submissions to the Commission. This was also noted by the Commission in its report, which wrote: The Office of the Prime Minister is one of the key offices in the Government and was the subject of strong comments by different persons who made submission to the Commission. What follows are some of the salient points raised in connection with this Office and the recommendations of the Commission. There were more than 10 salient submissions that were made in this regard and they had to do with the appointment of pm, appointment of cabinet ministers, and government responsibility. It was under the latter (government responsibility) that the submission on the surname of the PM was made. The submission reads: The position of Prime Minister should not be a monopoly of one surname. Underneath this recommendation, the Commission wrote: The Commission agrees and recommends accordingly. The trend before and after the Mahlalengangeni Commission has been to appoint to the PM position a person bearing the Dlamini surname. Prince Prince Makhosini Dlamini was the first PM from 1967 to 1976, followed by Prince Maphevu Dlamini (1976 to 1979); Prince Mabandla Dlamini (1979 to 1983); Prince Bhekimpi Dlamini (1983 to 1986); Sotsha Dlamini (1986 to 1989); Obed Dlamini (1989 to 1993); Prince Mbilini Dlamini (1993 to 1996); Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini (1996 to 2003 and 2008 to 2018); Absalom Themba Dlamini (2003 to 2008); Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini (2018 to 2020); and Cleopas Sipho Dlamini (2021 to present). Director of Communication in the Kings Officer, Percy Simelane, when asked about the factors that could have led to the recommendation not being implemented, first said they had no record of such a recommendation. It would be folly of us to pretend what it was all about and where it came from or why it did not come through, he said. A page of the Commissions report, which shows the recommendation, was then shared with Simelane for his own reference, after which he gave a different response. He said to them, the recommendation was too shallow to give them an idea where it was coming from in terms of reasons behind, which may have come up when the recommendation was made by the masses. We feel the best positioned respondent to this particular one would be the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. This ministry houses interpreters of the law and legal advisers. We then not to dare employ our minimal understanding of the constitutionalisation of national recommendations lest we contaminate their meanings and intentions, Simelane said. Most of the submissions made to the Mahlalenganeni Commission and the recommendations thereof, form an integral part of the countrys Constitution, which was passed in 2005. Simelane was asked if there was likelihood that this recommendation would also be included in future through amendment of the Constitution. The Constitution was put together by the masses and amendments are constitutionally to come from the masses. It would be difficult to know what the masses will be thinking of the Constitution in the future, he responded. Responding to a question about the significance of the Mahlalengangeni Commission in determining the countrys direction, Simelane said it was as significant as the rest that followed in facilitating for the national consultations that helped the Swati people freely define their socio-economic destiny through a Constitution they could proudly call theirs. Meanwhile, Government Press Secretary Alpheous Nxumalo said there is no need for constitutional amendments for the appointment of a non-Dlamini PM simply because it is not a constitutional obligation or mandate to appoint a Dlamini PM. He said political democracy and advancement is not an event but a process. European democracy, for instance, has been in place for over 200 years but they are still evolving to the ideal of what democracy should be in Europe. The United States of America is considered as one of the best and well advanced democracies in the world but guess what; they are currently failing to master the democracy to a point of at least electing a Speaker of the House, for three days running, Nxumalo said. Wisdom He said if one took a deep reflection of how His Majesty the King, guided by his wisdom and intelligence in the previous appointment of the PM, you could sense some movement from the past practice of how a PM of the Kingdom of Eswatini is appointed. Certain influential people were selected to make political and campaign tailored statements during Sibaya, with a view to canvass for the appointment to the office of the PM of the Kingdom of Eswatini, Nxumalo said. For the first time in the countrys history, during the 2018 Sibaya, candidates for the position of PM took turns to present before the nation how they could lead, were the PM to be appointed into the position. Those who made presentations included Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini (who got the nod for PM), Cleopas Sipho Dlamini (current PM), Lutfo Dlamini (current Ndzingeni MP), Phesheya Dlamini (Supreme Court Judge), Mbuso Dlamini (former Secretary to Cabinet), David Dlamini (MTN Board Chairman), Absalom Themba Dlamini (Tibiyo MD and ex-PM) and Paul Dlamini (Liqoqo Chairman and ex-DPM). Next time, it could be anybody, including non Dlaminis, who could be given that latitude to canvass for the position of the Kingdoms Prime Minister, the government spokesperson said. Nxumalo said in any case, the person who assumes the position of PM does not implement or drive a Dlaminism government programme but an entire government programme which has no surname attached to it. He said for him, the Prince Mahlalengangeni Commission was a cut above the rest in the sense that it gave emaSwati the right to elect members of Parliament directly from constituencies (eTinkhundleni); gave them direct parliamentary elections; and created the ground for the subsequent Commissions such as the economic vusela led by Prince Guduza and the Constitutional Drafting Committee led by Prince David. He added: Of course, recommendations remain just that recommendations. The Commission said it was fully aware that its recommendations may not go far enough in certain respects rightly or wrongly believed by some to be fundamental to the question of democracy and the transparency of government. Therefore, the Commission said it believed that, in line with the nations political maturity, if democracy was to be firmly rooted on Eswatini soil, it must be introduced gradually, otherwise chaos might break loose. No doubt the report of the Commission will not please everybody. It is hoped, however, that the report will meet the immediate political and developmental aspirations of a broad spectrum of the Swazi public of the 199s, and, hopefully, beyond, said the Commission. Besides the one surname submission, emaSwati also raised seven points on the appointment of the PM. The first one was that the PM should be appointed by the King using his own discretion. The Commission said it carefully considered this point and recommended that in accordance with Swazi practice, the PM should be appointed by the King acting in Council. The second point was that the PM should be appointed from elected members of Parliament. To this point, the Commission said: The Commission is unable to recommend as suggested and proposes that the prime minister be appointed from among the elected and appointed Members of the House. The third point was that the PM should be elected by the elected Members from amongst themselves. The Commission does not recommend as proposed herein, wrote the Commission. The fourth point was that the PM should be nominated by the House of Assembly and appointed by the King. To this, the Commission said it was unable to recommend as proposed. The fifth point was that three names should be nominated by both Houses out of which the appointment should be made by the King. Again, the Commission said it was unable to recommend as proposed. Point number six was that the PM should be elected by all registered voters but this proposal too was not agreed to by the Commission. The seventh point, which the Commission agreed to and recommended, accordingly, was that the PM should be appointed from among both the elected and appointed members of the House of Assembly. This is the obtaining situation as contained in Section 67(1) of the Constitution, which states: The King shall appoint the Prime Minister from among members of the House acting on recommendation of the Kings Advisory Council. The Commission then noted a view point that was expressed by a minority, which was that the prime minister should be appointed from among the elected members of the House on the basis of a short list recommended by the two Houses of Parliament acting as a College. The short list would be revealed only to the King is so deemed advisable. The King should appoint as Prime Minister the Member of the House, who appears to him best able to command the support of the majority of the Members of Parliament, further reads the viewpoint. It was noted by the Commission that the consideration of this viewpoint was to democratise the position of the PM as far as it may be possible within the framework of the no party tinkhundla system of parliamentary government. This recommendation makes it possible for the government to be truly tinkhundla based in that the prime minister, as an elected member, will have an Inkhundla to be answerable to as would be the majority of the Cabinet, the Commission wrote. Status Then Commission further noted that this recommendation was meant to accord the PM a status he had been denied since the departure of Prince Makhosini, the countrys first PM. The status is that of the respectability of the Prime Ministers position based on the knowledge that he represents some definite or identifiable constituency, which elected him to Parliament in the first place, and that he has the confidence of his fellow Members of Parliament of which he is Team Leader, and that this confidence has been endorsed by the King who has appointed him to the Office, wrote the Commission. Additionally, this minority view stated that it was otherwise difficult to imagine how an unelected PM could confidently exercise discipline and control over a Cabinet whose majority is elected. It said there was likely to be some resentment or conflict of interest in such an arrangement in which the PM even if he advised on the appointment of the Cabinet would be seen by some ministers and even Members of Parliament as an outsider, holding his position just because he was favoured by the King. Eswatinis current political crisis stemmed from one fundamental issue the criteria used to choose the PM. This was after calls by some MPs to have the PM appointed by the electorate as opposed to being appointed by the King. However, government has insisted that this can only be done through amendment of the Constitution, which has a number of processes that have to be followed. Mohammed Soliman is the Director, Strategic Technologies and Cyber Security Programme at the Middle East Institute in Washington. He cemented his status as a strategist and foreign policy thinker when he articulated the case for an Indo-Abrahamic geopolitical framework encompassing India, Israel, and the UAE (and later Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states) to create a balance of power in the larger West Asian region. Solimans construct was widely embraced by members of the foreign policy community, culminating in Secretary Blinkens October 2021 meeting with the foreign ministers of India, Israel, and the UAE (officially launching the I2U2 Group). In this interview with Aditi Bhaduri, Soliman discusses the upcoming visit of Egyptian President Mohammed El Sisi to India as the Chief Guest for the countrys 2023 Republic Day celebrations and the growing India-Egypt bilateral ties, the implications for the India and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. IN: What are the main drivers of India and Egypts collaboration? Why are we suddenly seeing an upswing in bilateral relations? Soliman: Egypt and India enjoy many strong connections: Both have similar conceptions of national identity and history (being self-proclaimed civilizational states), exercise a large degree of regional dominance, and have lofty geopolitical aspirations. However, these commonalities did not yield strong relations since the end of the Cold War, but with the Indo-Abrahamic Framework, we are already starting to see this change. Increased cooperation on key issues such as health, food security, and national and regional security signals both nations interest in pursuing further collaboration. Two outstanding years of the historic #AbrahamAccords The era of peace and cooperation between #Israel #Bahrain & #UAE has opened new doors to prosperity, and progress, including the #I2U2 agreement with #India. pic.twitter.com/jiANbAYrD0 Naor Gilon (@NaorGilon) September 15, 2022 IN: What are the major areas of collaboration? Soliman: With Egypt attending Republic Day at Indias invitation and further meetings at the Heads of State Summit in Delhi, we can expect many issues to be on the table, including the revival of the Cairo-Delhi axis, the consolidation of West Asia, and the construction of a third pole within international politics. Additionally, diplomatic, economic, and military ties are expected to continue to grow. IN: What does Cairo-Delhi axis imply and how can growing Egypt-India ties consolidate West Asia? Soliman: West Asia is the convergence of the Middle East and South Asia. However, West Asia does not have a broader political entity to bring states together. As a next step towards institutionalizing this West Asian system, the outer states should be brought together Egypt and India as the Western and Eastern ends respectively. They can cooperate on everything from trade to joint industrial initiatives and diplomatic and political coordination. This is the strategic case for stronger Egypt-India bilateral relations or the Cairo-Delhi Axis. IN: What exactly do Arab states like Egypt expect or want from India? In other words what can India offer the MENA region? Soliman: For Arab states, India has been a part of their geopolitical imagination for thousands of years by the virtue of geographic closeness, trade, and people-to-people ties. In addition to history, there is a realpolitik element. As Arab states are becoming more influential on the world stage because of their strong economies and geographic centrality, they are looking for bilateral relations with other powers chief among them India that are based on respect and national interests. For Arab capitals, India is a capable nuclear power, on the verge of overtaking China as the worlds most populous nation, and the fifth-largest economy in the world, surpassing that of its British colonizers. This makes India a natural ally during this time of global disorder. IN: How significant is collaboration in defence between two countries? Soliman: Egypt and India have had historic defense ties since the 1950s/1960s, when the two countries developed and co-produced fighter jets, in addition to conducting joint military exercises and sharing intelligence. Recently, the two nations have been negotiating the sale of Indian Tejas light combat aircraft to Egypt, which could include production line and technology transfer. While the sale might not come to fruition, I believe it could provide the two nations with the framework for future military co-production, specifically drones, air defense missiles, and armored vehicles. Ultimately, because of Egypts dual identity, as an Afro-Arab nation, it could act as an industrial hub for Indian defence products. #India offers TEJAS MK-1A(LCA), Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) & Light Combat Helicopters(LCH) to #Egypt #HAL offers to open production & manufacturing facilities in Egypt #Egyptian #AirForce needs ~70 light combat aircraft -Series of high-level engagements have taken place pic.twitter.com/UOoTQpB2R1 Insightful Geopolitics (@InsightGL) July 4, 2022 IN: What are the trade potentials between the two countries? Soliman: As Egypt attempts to assert its position as a regional gateway into Africa, India has a congruous strategic interest in expanding into African markets. As both nations maintain a strategic interest in Africa, there is a wide range of opportunities for Egypt and India to cooperate in market expansion in industries such as pharma, and defence. IN: India is a member of the I2U2 group. Can Egypt be part of it? Soliman: Absolutely. Egypt is the only state that has institutional and historical relations with each I2U2 state. Not only does Egypt have pre-existing ties to these countries individually, but it could also offer advantages to the group as a whole through its demography, geography, civilizational outlook, military power, and geopolitical aspirations. IN: We recently observed the first Arab-China summit. How big is Chinas footprint in the MENA region? Soliman: Beijing has a core need for fossil fuels and requires the resources found in the MENA region for its Belt and Road Initiative. Beyond these aspects, Beijings relationship with the region is evolving, with tech and infrastructure becoming major potential areas for collaboration. As the world becomes increasingly multipolar, many MENA states will not instinctively look to the US for guidance, but will rather take the side most in line with their national interests. Nevertheless, the US remains a major player in the region, and Chinas ties with opposing states, such as Israel and Iran, act as an unintentional countermeasure to overarching Chinese dominance. Beijing seems to be in the region for the long term, but so too is the US. Also Read: Meet Mohammed Soliman the grand strategist behind the West -Asia Quad concept 1. SRK's Son Aryan Khan's Photo With Pakistani Actress Goes Viral Post Rumours Dating Nora Fatehi While he got a clean chit in the high-profile cruise party drug case, the star kid often grabs headlines for partying with girls. And once again Aryan Khan has stolen the limelight with a photo of him snapped with a Pakistani actress. Aryan Khan is in the news for posing with Sadia Khan at a New Year eve's party in Dubai. Pakistani actress Sadia Khan shared a photo on her Instagram story in which the two can be seen posing closely. Since the actress uploaded the picture, it has been doing rounds on social media platforms. web screen grab 2. 'She Needs A Stylist', Trolls Mock Ekta Kapoor As She Steps Out In 'Uncomfortable' Satin Dress As soon as the video was shared on the social media platform, it went viral and trolls started mocking Ekta Kapoor for wearing an uncomfortable maxi dress. One user mocked Ekta Kapoor saying, "Meri satin ki bedsheet chura ke le gayi, de de behen waapis." "She does have a habit of liking to wear uncomfortable clothes and do the same moves " another commented about the filmmaker on Instagram. While a third user emphasized, "She is so so uncomfortable in that dress." web screen grab 3. Anupam Mittal Gives A Savage Reply To Troll Who Said 'Shark Tank 2 Me Itna Maza Nahi Aa Raha' The troll went on to emphasize how the show is not as interesting as it was when Ashneer Grover was featured as a shark in Season 1. "Sir shark tank season 2 ma itna maza nahi aa raha. Fake fake jaada lag raha ha. Season 1 was the best raw and natural. Season 2 to pheeka pheeka sa ha ab bass issa Indian idol mat bana na. Keep it natural. This is my one advice to all the sharks," the user wrote. To this, Anupam gave a befitting response to the troll in his own style. Taking to his official Instagram handle, Anupam Mittal shared a video and wrote, "Deal li ya na li, purre India ka jeet liya a isi liye haar kar jeetne wale ko baazigar kehte hain. Well done @ganesh.balakrishnan, everybody is rooting for you & thanks for teaching us the power of being open, honest & accepting. As you & I discussed today success builds ego but failure builds character Onwards & Upwards (sic)." web screen grab 4. 'Baba, My Bestest Friend', Irrfan Khan's Son Babil's Emotional Speech Leaves Everyone In Tears As everyone celebrated Irrfan Khan's birth anniversary yesterday on Jan 7, 2023 - the day he would have turned 56 today, a speech by his son Babil who made his debut with the Netflix movie Qala, has been going viral on social media. Performed at Spoken Fest 2022, in the video, Babil calls Irrfan Khan his best friend. He also shared a story from his childhood that left everyone in tears. web screen grab 5. Who Is Baba Neem Karoli? The Guru Who Inspired Virat Kohli-Anushka Sharma, Mark Zuckerberg & Steve Jobs Virat and Anushka went there for 'darshan' of Baba's samadhi. The couple reportedly stayed there for about an hour and also meditated in a kutia (hut). They obliged for photos and gave autographs to fans before leaving for Maa Anandamayi Ashram. It is said that the Sharma family is reportedly a follower of Neem Karoli Baba. Who is Baba Neem Karoli who inspired Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Julia Roberts? web screen grab (For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment, and let us know your thoughts on this story in the comments below.) A Bill that the government claimed would provide an effective legal tool to combat maritime piracy was approved by the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. It was the landmark Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill 2019 The Bill calls for severe penalties for those found guilty of such crimes. The Lok Sabha approved the Bill earlier this week. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar made this statement while moving The Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill: "Ensuring maritime security is key to safeguarding India's security and economic well-being." More than 90% of India's trade is conducted via maritime routes, and more than 80% of the nation's hydrocarbon needs are met by sea, according to him, making the security of sea lanes of communication essential. BCCL What is the Bill about? According to the Bill, a person who intentionally causes or attempts to cause death while engaging in acts of piracy will be executed. This suggests that such crimes must always result in death. The mandatory death penalty for any crime, according to the Supreme Court, is unconstitutional because it violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. However, laws enacted by Parliament mandate the death penalty for some crimes. TOI/Representational Image The Bill stipulates that anyone who engages in an act of piracy faces a maximum 14-year sentence in prison. Life in prison is the penalty for committing an act of piracy, which includes voluntarily operating a pirate ship or aircraft. It is unclear how the punishment would be determined in such cases because these circumstances may overlap. The Bill will be applicable to all sea areas that are adjacent to and outside of India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), or outside of 200 nautical miles from the coast. The question is whether the EEZ, or the space between 12 and 200 nautical miles, should also be covered by the Bill (from the coastline of India). Key features of the Bill The Bill calls for the prosecution of those who commit crimes related to maritime piracy and the prevention of such crimes. It will be applicable to all sea areas surrounding and extending beyond India's Exclusive Economic Zone, or beyond 200 nautical miles from the coast. BCCL Piracy- The Bill defines piracy as any unlawful act of violence, detention, or destruction committed by the crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft against a ship, aircraft, person, or piece of property, for private gain. Such activities are permissible anywhere outside of India's territorial jurisdiction, including on the high seas (beyond its Exclusive Economic Zone). Such actions would also be considered piracy if they are intentionally encouraged or facilitated. Pirate activity also includes voluntarily helping run a pirate ship or an aircraft used in piracy. Penalties and Offences- If piracy results in or attempts to result in death, it will result in either life in prison or death as a penalty. A person who attempts to commit, helps, encourages, or counsels a piracy offence faces a fine and a sentence of up to 14 years in prison. Additionally, up to 14 years in prison and a fine may be imposed for taking part in, organising, or encouraging others to take part in an act of piracy. Crimes will be regarded as extraditable. This indicates that the accused may be extradited to any nation with which India has signed an extradition agreement in order to face justice there. In the absence of such agreements, extradition will be permitted based on reciprocity between the nations. TOI/Representational Image Jurisdiction of the Courts- Sessions Courts may be designated as the Designated Courts under this Bill by notification from the central government, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the relevant High Court. Infractions committed by (i) a person in the custody of the Indian Navy or Coast Guard, regardless of his nationality, (ii) an Indian citizen, a foreign national who resides in India, or (iii) a stateless person will be tried by the Designated Court. A person may also be tried by the court even if they are not physically present. Unless an intervention is requested by (i) the country of origin of the ship, (ii) the ship-owner, or (iii) any other person on the ship, the Court will not have jurisdiction over offences committed on a foreign ship. Warships and government-owned vessels used for non-commercial activities will not fall under the Court's purview. Why is the law needed? India ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on June 29, 1995, and is a party to the treaty. It was adopted by the UN on December 10, 1982. It had no domestic maritime piracy laws up until this point. In order to prosecute pirates captured by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, the Indian Penal Code's armed robbery provisions are typically used. But in the past, this has shown to be insufficient. One common example of such inadequacy is the 1999 hijacking of the Japanese ship MV Alondra Rainbow, which was the first sea piracy case heard by an Indian court. The Indian Coast Guard apprehended a group of armed Indonesian pirates in the Arabian Sea, and they were tried there. In April 2005, the Bombay high court overturned the lower court's judgement and declared all the defendants innocent, despite the fact that a sessions court in Bombay had tried and found the pirates guilty under several sections of the Indian Penal Code. TOI/Representational Image The 2019 Bill's statement of purposes and justifications provides another explanation for the rise in piracy. It explains that since 2008, attacks by pirates operating out of Somalia have increased in the Gulf of Aden, which separates Somalia and Yemen, connects the Arabian Sea to the Red Sea, and, via the Suez Canal, to the Mediterranean Sea. 2,000 ships travel this route every month for trade between Asia and Europe as well as the East coast of Africa. But according to the statement, pirates changed their area of operations in response to increased naval presence in the Gulf of Aden, which resulted in a number of similar incidents of piracy along India's western coast. On December 9, 2019, the Lok Sabha approved the bill, which was then sent to the Standing Committee on External Affairs for a more thorough investigation. In February 2011, the committee turned in its report on the Bill. The Bill was then approved by the Rajya Sabha on December 21 and the Lok Sabha on December 19 respectively. Once the President gives her assent to the fifteen section bill, it will become law. The "first-ever robot lawyer" will represent a client in court the following month. According to reports, a defendant will use the legal assistant powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to contest a traffic ticket. Here's what all we know. 'World's first-ever robot lawyer' will fight a court case soon Here it is! The first ever Comcast bill negotiated 100% with A.I and LLMs. Our @DoNotPay ChatGPT bot talks to Comcast Chat to save one of our engineers $120 a year on their Internet bill. Will be publicly available soon and work on online forms, chat and email. pic.twitter.com/eehdQ5OXrl Joshua Browder (@jbrowder1) December 12, 2022 The "DoNotPay" firm developed the AI robot. It will function as a smartphone app and stream all court proceedings in real-time. The robot will instruct the defendant on what to say using headphones, much like a human attorney would do in real life. Joshua Browder established the chatbot for legal services known as DoNotPay in 2015. It was introduced as a chatbot to give users who were facing late fees or fines legal guidance. The AI helper needed a lot of time to be trained on the case, according to Browder. February is the scheduled month for the hearing. The actual date, the venue of the court, and the name of the defendant are still being kept a secret by the robot's creators. The AI robot will process and analyse the evidence presented in court in real time The AI just exaggerated the Internet outages, similar to how a customer would. Not perfect yet, such as saying [insert email address]. The AI is also a bit too polite, replying back to everything. But it was enough to get a discount. Will sterilize outputs before launch Joshua Browder (@jbrowder1) December 12, 2022 The defendant in the case, who will only respond to commands from the AI robot, is being sued for receiving a speeding ticket. According to the science and technology magazine New Scientist, the AI robot will process and analyse the evidence presented in court and then advise the defendant on how to respond. According to Joshua Browder, DoNoPay has agreed to pay any fines if they lose the case. The business's mission is to help people "battle corporations, beat bureaucracy, and sue anyone at the touch of a button." via GIPHY "DoNotPay utilizes artificial intelligence to help consumers fight against large corporations and solve their problems like beating parking tickets, appealing bank fees, and suing robocallers," reads the company's mission. What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. Cover Image Attribute: A soldier waves a Ukrainian flag while standing atop an armored personnel carrier in Hostomel, Ukraine. Source: Getty Images photo / Alexey Furman (October 2022) According to the latest announcements and reports, the United States, France, and Germany sending "tank killer" armored vehicles to Ukraine. As part of its new $2.85 billion weapons package for Ukraine, the US will send Kyiv around 50 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles. Also, France is sending Ukraine AMX-10 RC, and Germany will deliver 40 Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles, a high-mobility armored reconnaissance vehicle. Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles AMX-10 RC Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles The decision to provide these advanced armored vehicle systems to Ukraine is a significant evolution in how the U.S. and its allies think about the Ukraine conflict and the Ukrainian military's capability. It is anticipated that Ukraine's mobile firepower and ground combat capabilities will improve due to implementing these systems, which will also assist the nation in carrying out offensive operations. The President of Ukraine has praised the United States, France, and Germany for providing such systems. He has stated that these vehicles are "exactly what is needed" for Ukrainian troops engaged in combat with Russian forces. Meanwhile, officials stated that it was unclear whether Moscow was abiding by a unilateral ceasefire for the 36 hours leading up to Orthodox Christmas, which Ukraine has denounced as a ploy. DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this insight piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of IndraStra Global. COPYRIGHT: This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ REPUBLISH: Republish our articles online or in print for free if you follow these guidelines. https://www.indrastra.com/p/republish-us.html Prince Harry spoke to ITVs Tom Bradby on Sunday in the first of four primetime interviews about his controversial memoir Spare. In his first primetime television interview promoting his controversial memoir, Harry said he loved his father, King Charles, and brother, Prince William, but said: At the moment, I dont recognise them, as much as they probably dont recognise me. Here are five key points from the interview. Harry asked his father not to marry Camilla and implies she leaked stories to the press King Charles III and the Queen Consort. Picture: James Manning/PA Wire Harry said he and William asked their father not to marry the Queen Consort, Camilla Parker Bowles. However, he said they wanted their father to "be happy" and it was "his decision." "The two of them were, and remain, very happy together." During the interview, a clip from Harry's audiobook Spare was read out, where he recalls asking his father "Just please dont marry her, just be together, Pa." He also accuses her of "playing a long game" and leaking stories to the press that painted her in a favourable light. "Shortly after our private summits with her, she began to play the long game. A campaign aimed at marriage, and eventually the Crown, with Pa's blessing we presumed." Harry says "stories began to appear everywhere in all the papers" about private conversations with his brother William, "stories that contained pinpoint accurate details, none of which had come from Willie, of course." "They could only have been leaked by the other one other person present." After ITVs Tom Bradby states that some of Harry's comments about Camilla have been "scathing", the prince pushes back saying none of his comments have been "scathing". "There are things that have happened that have been incredibly hurtful, some in the past, some current." Harry denies he or Meghan called royal family racist Harry denied calling members of the royal family racist in his interview with Oprah Winfrey. He said Meghan's claims that a family member made troubling comments about the skin colour of his son, Archie, related to unconscious bias not racism. And the incident involving Ngozi Fulani and Lady Susan Hussey was "a very good example of the environment within the institution. Harry said he didn't accuse his family of racism, the British press said that, continuing "did Meghan ever mention that theyre racist? After Bradby said Meghan claimed troubling comments were made about Archies skin colour, Harry said: There was there was concern about his skin colour. Asked if he would describe that as racist, the duke said: I wouldnt, not having lived within that family. Harry and Meghan holding their son Archie. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire He said there was a "difference" between racism and unconscious bias. But once its been acknowledged, or pointed out to you as an individual, or as an institution, that you have unconscious bias, you therefore have an opportunity to learn and grow from that in order so that you are part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Otherwise unconscious bias then moves into the category of racism. After saying he would never talk about which family members had made the comments, Harry continued: I mean what happened to Ngozi Fulani is a very good example of the environment within the institution, and why after our Oprah interview, they said that they were going to bring in a diversity tsar. That hasnt happened. Everything they said was going to happen hasnt happened. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Queen Elizabeth II attend a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge. Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Ive always been open to wanting to help them understand their part in it, and especially when you are the monarchy you have a responsibility, and quite rightly people hold you to a higher standard than others. So, the way that Ive learnt it through my own experience and for what Ive seen and what Ive heard, yes, youre right the key word is concern, which was troubling. But you speak to any other mixed-race couple around the world, and you will probably find that the white side of the family have either openly discussed it, or secretly discussed, you know, What are the kids gonna look like? And that is part of a bigger conversation that needs to be had. "To say that that doesnt happen around the rest of the world, but it just happened there thats not true. But again for me the difference is unconscious bias and racism, but if you are called out for unconscious bias you need to make that right, and you have the opportunity and the choice to. But if you choose not to, then that rapidly becomes something much more serious. William and Kate didnt get on with Meghan from the get-go with 'stereotyping' causing a barrier The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry tour a TV studio during a visit to open the Global Academy in Hayes, London, in support of the Heads Together campaign. During the course of the interview, ITVs Tom Bradby said the impression was that his brother William and sister-in-law Kate did not get on almost from the get-go with Meghan, to which Harry replied: Yeah, fair. When asked what the reason was, he said: Lots of different reasons I had put a lot of hope in the idea that itd be William and Kate and me and whoever. I thought the four of us would bring me and William closer together, we could go out and do work together, which I did a lot as the third wheel to them, which was fun at times but also, I guess, slightly awkward at times as well. I dont think they were ever expecting me to get into a relationship with someone like Meghan who had a very successful career. Before meeting Harry, Meghan had starred in US legal drama series Suits in which she played paralegal-turned-lawyer Rachel Zane. Harry laughed when telling Bradby his brother and sister-in-law were Suits fans, adding: Who wouldve thought? I never knew that. Speaking about his wife, Harry suggested there was a lot of stereotyping that even he was guilty of at the beginning. He told Bradby: The fact that I had that in the back of my mind, and some of the things that my brother and sister-in-law, some of the way that they were acting or behaving definitely felt to me as though unfortunately that stereotyping was causing a bit of a barrier to them really sort of introducing or welcoming her in. When asked what exactly he meant by stereotyping, Harry elaborated: American actress, divorced, biracial. The Princess of Wales, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex walking to meet members of the public at Windsor Castle in Berkshire following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday. Picture: Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire He continued: There are all different parts to that and what that can mean but if you are, like a lot of my family do, if you are reading the press, the British tabloids at the same time as living the life, then there is a tendency where you could actually end up living in the tabloid bubble rather than the actual reality. Harry said the idea of himself, his wife and the Prince and Princess of Wales being the fab four was something the British press created and it creates competition. He told Bradby: The idea of the four of us being together was always a hope for me. Before it was Meghan, whoever it was going to be, I always hoped that the four of us would get on. But very quickly it became Meghan versus Kate. And that, when it plays out so publicly, you cant hide from that, right? Especially when within my family you have the newspapers laid out pretty much in every single palace and house that is around. Harry added that his brother William raised some concerns about his marriage to Meghan before their wedding in May 2018. He never tried to dissuade me from marrying Meghan, but he aired some concerns very early, and said this is going to be really hard for you and I still to this day dont truly understand which part of what he was talking about. Maybe he predicted what the British presss reaction was going to be. A troubled relationship with brother William Prince Harry (left) walking with his best man, the then Duke of Cambridge, as he arrives at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for his wedding to Megan Markle. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire Harry said it was heartbreaking but he simply didnt believe his brother William when he said he wanted him to be happy at his grandfather's funeral. Reading a passage from his book Spare, Harry said the phrase on mummys life at the Duke of Edinburghs funeral. In his book Spare, Harry described the phrase as a universal password or a secret code between the pair, which he said they had used for 25 years for when one of us needed to be heard. Harry also spoke about a falling out with his brother over his beard. The Prince said he asked the late Queen for permission to keep his beard for his own wedding, which she allowed, but his brother was unhappy. Asked what the disagreement was actually about, Harry said: I think a lot of it is to do with I mean I refer to it as heir/spare but also older brother/younger brother theres a level of competition there. And again, writing this, I remembered that William had a beard himself and that granny and other people, the ones to tell told him that he had to shave it off. The difference for me, if there was a difference, but the difference for me was, as I explained to my grandmother, that this beard that Im still wearing felt to me at the time like the new Harry, right. As almost like a shield to my anxiety. I think William found it hard that other people told him to shave it off, and yet here I was on my wedding day wearing military uniform [with a beard]." Possibility of reconciliation William and Kate arrive for the official opening of The Balfour, Orkney's new hospital in Kirkwall Harry said he would like to forgive and reconcile with his family. I think theres probably a lot of people who, after watching the documentary and reading the book, will go, how could you ever forgive your family for what theyve done? People have already said that to me, and I said, forgiveness is 100% a possibility because I would like to get my father back. I would like to have my brother back. At the moment, I dont recognise them, as much as they probably dont recognise me. But that is a symptom of one of the problems where were not just talking about family relationships, were talking about an antagonist, which is the British press, specifically the tabloids who want to create as much conflict as possible. The saddest part of that is certain members of my family and the people that work for them are complicit in that conflict. So, though I would like to have reconciliation, I would like accountability, Ive managed to make peace over this time with a lot of things that have happened but that doesnt mean that Im just gonna let it go. You know, Ive made peace with it, but I still would like reconciliation. And not only would that be wonderful for us, but it would be fantastic for them as well. Harry: The Interview is available to view on ITVX. As an exercise in public communication and reputation-building, the publication of Prince Harrys autobiography was always going to be worth studying. Even communications experts, however, have to be surprised by the overwhelmingly negative impact it, and the publicity surrounding it, has delivered for Harry and Meghan Markle. The publishers will laugh all the way to the bank, as will Netflix and every gossip magazine afforded the chance to put Meghan Markle or Kate Middleton on their covers. Prince Harry and his wife have made loadsamoney out of it and put themselves in place as the most talked about celebrities, worldwide. If those are the measures, this outing was a success. Apply any other measuring tape to the venture, however, and it becomes clear that Prince Harry has notched up at least 10 communication fails in the last week. 1. Reinforcing the royal stiff upper lip While ostensibly setting out to destroy the traditional royal stiff upper lip and refusal to explain or complain, he has, in fact, strongly reinforced it. In theory, mainstream media should be hopping all over the royals for not presenting humans in studios to contradict or clarify what he has said. But media hasnt needed them. Radio, TV, and print have had plenty of expert talkers whove been able to, unpaid, effectively represent the royal family viewpoint, leaving the Royals themselves to rise above the grotty details of the allegations. 2. Increased esteem for his brother and father He has managed to make people have a higher regard for his brother and his father. Its unimaginable, but hes also done favours for the Taliban. 3. Made Kate Middleton look good Kate Middleton, even in the stories designed to make her look bad, looks better than her sister-in-law. Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle in 2018; Middleton has emerged better than her sister-in-law. Picture: Joe Giddens/PA Markle telling Middleton that she had baby brain was the kind of overly intimate comment that sunders long-standing relationships. Middleton s response nailed it: Markle didnt know her well enough to comment on Middletons hormones. 4. Moved racism discussion in wrong direction He has moved the racism discussion on in a direction that doesnt help the couples thesis. The series his wife was in called Suits has been re-visited and re-analysed and as a result, its emerged that Suits had a theme in recent years which related to the discovery that Markles character had a black father. This discovery led to wondering comment in the script about none of the other characters ever realising she was, technically, black. For this very reason, to the Windsors, back in the day, Markles mixed-race status was a gift; here was a woman who could single-handedly improve diversity within the family. Its worth remembering that even in Prince Harrys own account, when questions were raised about her, they were raised about her divorced status (permission from the Queen would have to be sought before marriage) and her career she was described as an American actress and Harry was asked if she would continue to work after they wed. In a book replete with accusations of ill-intent, this lack of early royal racist reactions doesnt seem to have struck its author as significant. 5. Nasty invasion of privacy On privacy-invasion, its case closed. Harry is willing to recount private conversations with his father and brother, to gleefully note how his brothers hair loss made him look less like their mother, and describe his brother as reeking of rum in one encounter. Not sure even the most diligent researcher hired by the couple could find any coverage of them in mainstream media that comes close to this nastiness. 6. Disloyalty to colleagues in armed forces In one week, this man has cut himself loose from the band of brothers he fought with. Colonel Tim Collins, who made that wonderfully literate and respectful speech to British Army men about to fight, has wondered aloud at Harrys disloyalty to his former colleagues in the armed forces. 7. Too royal in his assumptions He has shown himself to be more royal in his assumptions than the rest of the royals. This is best exemplified by his complaints about his father cutting him off financially. Just to remind readers, Harry was 30 at the time. Most people in the western world cease to be dependent on their parents long before they hit 30. And at the Windsors expense Harry was a trained helicopter pilot. Lots of jobs available for those lads. 8. Attenuated sense of the ridiculous He demonstrates an attenuated sense of the ridiculous. The broken necklace doesnt really provoke international outrage over the sibling scuffle. 9. Prepared to do anything for cash He has shown he cant think outside the money box. He is prepared to sacrifice one relationship after another for cash. 10. Handlers avoiding the tough questions His handlers probably figured that putting him in front of a limited number of interviewers who were bought into his narrative by being granted this royal favour would ensure that they, the handlers, could control every aspect of the interviews and ensure he wasnt asked anything really tough. Even the Anderson Cooper questions which were ostensibly negative, were so lengthy and slow that an 11-year-old would have had time to access their pre-prepped answers. It will be worth seeing how long this honeymoon lasts before journalists and broadcasters favoured with Harry's presence begin to ask questions beginning You have to be kidding or Ah, here. You can refuse tough interviewers for a long time, if youre the in-demand celeb. But not forever. GUEST OPINION by Perimeter 81: Our world is becoming more and more reliant on technology. It shapes how we work, how we communicate and how we complete our day to day tasks. Just as we need to know how to keep ourselves safe in the physical world, we also need to know how to stay safe online. Online protection services such as Perimeter 81 , platform and solutions have been developed for ease of use so that you don't need to be a tech genius in order to keep ourselves and our data safe on the internet. These kinds of services can help you set up everything you need in order to be protected against cyber criminals. Well be looking into the types of cyber crimes you need to be aware of and you can give yourself the best chance of staying safe. Types of cyber crime Internet fraud One of the most common types of cyber crime is internet fraud. This is when someone you dont know will contact you asking for money to help them in some way. This type of fraud often comes from abroad and will be from someone you dont know and have never heard of. However, these scams can come in other forms too. There might be an offer that seems too good to pass up, but the scammer will tell you a payment of some kind is needed to get things going. Phishing scam Phishing scams are similar to internet fraud, but they are a lot more difficult to spot. This is because they will typically pose themselves as someone you know asking for financial help. This type of scam is called social engineering and it is called this as the scammer will find out who you know and are in contact with through your social media platforms. Youre more likely to send money over to someone you know rather than a stranger. So, if something doesnt feel right, its best to contact the person directly to confirm whether the request is true or not. Identity theft Identity theft goes one step further than phishing scams. This is when a cyber criminal will hack into your accounts and pretends to be you. They will either try and extract money from people you know through a phishing scam or, worse still, will use you credit card information to take your money. Intellectual property infringement If youre a small business owner, you could find yourself falling victim to intellectual property infringement. This is when a cyber criminal will blatantly copy a product that you make and pass it off as their own. They are able to copy these products by hacking into your business accounts to find out all the details on what it is youre selling. How to protect yourself from cyber crime These cyber crimes might seem scary but there are ways to protect yourself against them. Invest in a security service The easiest and most pain free way you can keep yourself safe from cyber crime is to invest in a solid online security system. Security services set up all the extra protection you need to defend you and your data against any potential breaches. While there are extra steps you can take to ensure youre keeping yourself safe online, this gives you an extra layer of security. This will bring you peace of mind that your money and your personal information is protected against any potential attacks. Ensure your passwords are strong and change them regularly We all know that having a secure password is essential to keeping our information safe, but we often use the same ones for all our accounts. Although it might be tempting to keep these passwords personal and easy to remember, its not the best from a safety standpoint. Try and use different passwords for your accounts especially for those such as banking and any other financial services. Changing up your passwords regularly is also a great habit to get into. The more you change your password, the less likely it is to be hacked. Make sure the software you use is up to date Keeping your protection software up to date can also give you extra security. Sure, it might be a pain to do updates and have to restart your devices but leaving these for too long can have terrible consequences. Technology is constantly changing so keeping up to date with any new features can help keep your information safe. Ensure your social media security is watertight Social media is the main source for cyber criminals who want to carry out a phishing scam. Therefore, ensuring your social media profiles are safe and secure can limit the chances of this happening. Posting as little personal information online is also a key way to stay safe online. Use a VPN everywhere, including at home Private VPNs are a great way to keep your data safe as they encrypt your information and make it more difficult to be hacked. These are used in businesses as a default but using one at home means that youre protected there as well. As agile working gains popularity, using a VPN is the best way to ensure your online safety. Staying safe online doesnt have to be a stressful and time consuming experience. Using the right security systems and keeping on top of any possible breaches will ensure that you dont fall victim to cyber crime. Saudi Arabias Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli inaugurated on Saturday (January 7) the expansion of Alwashim Poultry Company projects, a SPA report said. This is one of the projects specialized in the production of broiler chickens in Marat Governorate, targeting the production of 156 million birds annually by 2030. The minister, accompanied by the ministry's senior officials, toured several agricultural projects in the governorates of Shaqra, Marat, and Darma, where he inspected the work progress and the services provided to the beneficiaries. He also made a field tour that included some water projects and agricultural sites in Shaqra Governorate and inspected the date palm seedling improvement project of a company specialized in developing the palm sector. The company aims to increase production efficiency and reduce production losses through optimal methods of palm pollination. Al-Fadhli also visited Dhurma Governorate, where he toured the Al-Azizia farm, which is run by the Saudi Greenhouses Management and Agri Marketing Co. He was briefed on the company's expansion plan to produce approximately 100 million kilograms of vegetables annually. The visit aimed to inspect the projects supervised by the Ministry in the Kingdoms various regions, which aim to maximize the utilization of natural resources and achieve the Ministry's goals in the environment, water and agriculture sectors. During the tour, the minister met with the local citizens and responded to their inquiries about the services. He stressed the Ministry's keenness to support development projects to achieve food security and economic development in the interest of the country and the citizens per the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.--TradeArabia News Service Robert M. Lee, CEO of Dragos, a global leader in cybersecurity for industrial controls systems, is returning as a speaker at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. At a time cyberattacks on critical infrastructure target IT and Operational Technology (OT), impacting the range of functions those technologies support, Lee will share his perspective during the session Securing Critical Infrastructure, on January 17, directly linked to the ongoing work of the Centre for Cybersecurity of the World Economic Forum. Also at Davos, Lee will participate in the multilateral meeting on Operational Collaboration Against Cybercrime, and help guide the dialogue around cybersecurity, cyber resilience, and digital trust during the Meeting for the Centre of Cybersecurity. In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, British Airways Executive Club and Indias IndusInd Bank, have partnered to introduce the unique multi-branded credit card, with two leading international airlines powered by Visa. The multi-branded credit card is slated to be launched and made available to consumers in the first quarter of the financial year 2023 2024. Through this proposition, members will soon be able to collect Avios, the rewards currency for British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club, by signing up and choosing their preferred loyalty programme. This credit card will be available in the Infinite variant of Visa, and will offer best-in-class rewards and benefits to elevate the travel experience of customers. Stacked with multiple attractive benefits suiting the requirements of frequent travellers, at the time of application, this credit card will give customers the flexibility to choose their preferred airline loyalty programme and select their preferred travel destination to collect maximum Avios and enjoy a host of other benefits. Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Thierry Antinori, said: Today Qatar Airways Privilege Club takes another step forward in providing our members with the best offerings in the industry, introducing a first-of-its-kind Visa multi-branded credit card, in India with IndusInd Bank. When adopting Avios as our rewards currency, we promised members that new and exciting opportunities would come, this collaboration with oneworld partner British Airways is another manifestation of this. We look forward to seeing our members in India availing the extensive benefits of this new partnership, which is designed to enhance their future travels. Oliver Currell, Head of Financial Partnerships, IAG Loyalty, said: We are delighted to launch the new British Airways and Qatar Airways credit card with IndusInd Bank; a unique multibrand credit card. The Avios currency will give Indian consumers great value rewards and opportunities to do more when it comes to global travel and experiences. Speaking on the occasion, Soumitra Sen, Head Consumer Banking & Marketing, IndusInd Bank, said: IndusInd Bank has always been a pioneer in bringing forth some of the most innovative propositions through its array of banking solutions and suite of credit cards. We are now delighted to collaborate with Qatar Airways and British Airways, to launch this multi-branded credit card, that aims to transform the way India travels. A credit card thoughtfully designed to meet the expectations of discerning travellers with a value proposition curated around travel and bespoke offerings. With this credit card, our aim is to shift the power of choice completely into the hands of the customers. Sujai Raina, Head Business Development, India, Visa said, With air travel rebounding fast post-pandemic, consumers will seek new destinations to travel to and unwind. At Visa, a key priority for us, thus, is to ensure that together with our partners, we provide a suite of benefits that are aligned to the needs of todays traveller. We are delighted to partner with Induslnd Bank, British Airways and Qatar Airways to power this unique multi-branded credit card and deliver a seamless and secure travel and payment experience. TradeArabia News Service A solar panel lighting system for Kenoshas Innovation Neighborhood will receive a $3 million boost from federal funds as the city plans to pave the way for roads and infrastructure this summer at the site. The citys funding comes as a result of more than $255.7 million in congressional spending directed toward Wisconsin projects and is a part of the bipartisan Omnibus Appropriations Act for the 2023 fiscal year, according to U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, D- Wis. Baldwin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the funding had been approved late last month as the Senate voted 68-29 in favor of the bill. The citys solar panel project in the innovation neighborhood includes solar-powered streetlights and solar lighting in the projects first plaza. The solar panel system is part of the citys commitment to maximizing renewable and sustainable energy use on the site, which will also include solar energy use for pedestrian and bike path lighting. Mayor John Antaramian said he was grateful of Baldwins efforts. Im very excited and very appreciative of the senator and all the hard work she did that enabled us to get those funds, Antaramian said. The mayor said the city made its request for help on the project to Baldwin last year. She was very excited to be helpful in doing this project, he said. Groundbreaking this summer Antaramian said the solar panel project would be part of the infrastructure and road paving in the new innovation district. The intention is to be breaking ground for the roads and the infrastructure sometime this summer, he said. Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood is the citys ambitious plan to transform the former Chrysler factory site into an innovation district at property east of 30th Avenue between 52nd and 60th streets. The proposed $1 billion project aims to revitalize the 107-acre site anchored by the innovation center and the LakeView Technology Academy, which will relocate from Pleasant Prairie to the heart of Kenosha. The other part of this will be the school district, he said. LakeViews lease at its current village site is up at the end of June. Last summer, the Kenosha Unified School Board approved the relocation of LakeView at a cost of $18.4 million. The expense would be divided among the Kenosha Area Business Alliance, the KABA Foundation, the city and Gateway Technical College. Additional financial support would come from the districts pending sale of land it owns near the Bong State Recreation Area. According to a tentative project timeline, the new building could be occupied as early as the 2024-2025 school year. We have also started the design work for the innovation incubator facility on the site, he said. Now, the design plan has been started on that. The mayor said the city anticipates breaking ground on that new facility by the end of the year, but no later than the spring of 2024. The innovation project also aims to modernize six neighborhoods Lincoln, Columbus, McKinley, Wilson, Roosevelt and Uptown that surround the site. For her part, Baldwin said she was proud to have worked in a bipartisan way to deliver direct support from Washington to Wisconsin. These community-driven projects will reach every corner of Wisconsin, with critical investments for roads, bridges and water infrastructure, workforce development, access to health and child care, improvements for emergency services, and so much more. By working with folks from across Wisconsin, I am proud to deliver federal support that responds to the unique needs of so many different communities, she said. Other projects funded Locally, federal funding to other projects include more than $1.2 million to the City of Racine for a solar undertaking to offset electric vehicle bus charging with renewable energy generated on site, and $880,000 for a new fire truck for the City of Burlingtons Fire Department. Statewide the congressional appropriations will also fund: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development with $5 million to create innovative career pathways in educational sectors to attract and retain more diverse talent and increase affordable access to childcare by expanding and enhancing early childhood education apprenticeship programming. Wisconsin Department of Health Services with $3.14 million to support the states implementation of the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Baldwin introduced the legislation to create the nationwide 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which launched over the summer. Wisconsin Technology Council with $115,000 to expand its entrepreneurial reach across all regions and demographics in the state, including through regional networking and educational programming workshops for would-be entrepreneurs, with a special focus on rural communities, women and minorities. IN PHOTOS: Gov. Evers visits Kenosha to give grant money to Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood STATE GRANTS Evers announces millions of dollars for city, county STATE GRANTS STATE GRANTS STATE GRANTS STATE GRANTS STATE GRANTS STATE GRANTS Evers announces millions of dollars for city, county 15 Shares Share My first job as a real doctor was in 1991. During one of those early days in my career, one of my coworkers a woman who worked in reception approached me for help. Even then, I could recognize a look of desperation. It reminded me of the look I saw in my sister when all she could do to lessen the pain she had suffered for so long was to slide ineffective sole inserts into her shoes. Later, she would be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. It was the characteristic look of utter powerlessness. It turned out that my coworker had not approached me about herself. Her mother, who lived in California then, suffered from extreme and chronic pain. I sympathized since I had felt the same sense of helplessness as my sister. Apparently, her mother had not been able to find successful help for her condition. So, I asked her to have her mother come in for some tests to see if I could do anything. However, she could not fly her out to Florida, where my practice was located. My immediate inclination was to say that I couldnt do anything from three thousand miles away. But the thought of what my sister had gone through prior to her diagnosis prompted me to do otherwise. With some hesitation and misgivings, I agreed to treat her mother over the phone. I wanted to do something, even if it was just to listen to this womans frustration and concerns over the phone. The woman started to describe every aspect of her excruciating symptoms immediately from the moment we connected on the phone. In a strange way, I couldnt help feeling I was already treating her just by listening. She itemized the parade of physicians she had consulted in the past year. Emphatically, she lamented how not even one of them had made any difference when it came to mitigating the enormous pain she was suffering. I asked her if she had had a complete blood test panel and that, if not, she needed to have one done right away. I carefully explained what areas in which to focus, such as the sedimentation rate in her blood. I explained in the simplest terms that the sedimentation rate in the blood, when elevated significantly, could be consistent with a diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica. Surprisingly, she seemed to receive my advice with excitement rather than concern. I have never heard anyone so overjoyed to learn they might have a disease! The womans test returned positive, and the rest, as they say, is history. The final chapter in her nearly two-year battle against debilitating pain began with a phone call and the stroke of a pen. The proper analyses and a correct diagnosis made all the difference. There is no cure for polymyalgia rheumatica. Nevertheless, there are practical ways of detecting the disease in its early stages, managing its symptoms, and ultimately thriving, despite its onset, to enable a high quality of life with such a chronic disease. When I spoke with my colleagues mother, the concept of telemedicine was not a consideration in standard medical care. It would have seemed ludicrous among certain medical opinions. The idea that a doctor could treat a patient without seeing them in person could have even been considered irresponsible. As recently as the 2010s, most health care providers refused to offer telemedicine visits due to liability concerns. There was significant fear of being sued if a patient was unhappy with their results or if confidential health information somehow leaked because communications were being conducted via phone or video. It took the COVID-19 pandemic to change this attitude when the concern of patients in person for medical care could place them in danger. This is a change that many patients have welcomed enthusiastically. Since 2020, the use of telemedicine has skyrocketed by a whopping 1,500 percent among Medicaid patients alone. Adopting change is difficult, and this transition to acceptance of a major approach to health care is astounding. Many patients feel they have greater access to health care now that every doctors visit does not necessarily involve physically traveling to a health care facility covered by their insurance during business hours. Patients with mobility challenges and those struggling with getting time off work, procuring childcare, or being unable to cover transportation costs have benefitted particularly. I recently had a patient complain to me about the difficulty she was having in obtaining mental health treatment. The mental health providers covered by her insurance did not offer telemedicine, and the nearest office her insurance covered was a 40-minute commute from her home. I must take three hours out of my week for a one-hour therapist visit, she complained. I do not know how I am supposed to do that on top of work and family responsibilities. Her previous insurance, she explained, had covered a therapist who offered telemedicine. As a result, she was able to have therapy sessions for just an hour per week at her home. Since changing insurance policies, she has not seen a therapist in eight months. While every doctor knows there are cases where a patient needs to be seen in person to rule out life-threatening conditions, in practice, the vast majority of doctors visits do not fall into this category. Which would we rather have: patients being seen via a video call at the right time to be seen but where we cannot physically perform specific tests in real-time or not being seen by the appropriate care provider for a prolonged period because getting to the doctor is too challenging? I dont pretend to say that the answer is straightforward. It isnt. But I am glad for this change in expanding the coverage available, particularly in light of the challenges to medical access in this country. Likely, the answer will be found in further defining the proper use for telemedicine and the controls for its appropriate use to prevent over-reaches and abuse of this flexibility. Technological advances in communication, bio-analytics, digital biometrics, bio-scanning, and other innovations will make medicine at a distance feel less and less science fiction and more routine. Francisco M. Torres is an interventional physiatrist specializing in diagnosing and treating patients with spine-related pain syndromes. He is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Board of Pain Medicine and can be reached at Florida Spine Institute and Wellness. Saudi Arabias Ministry of Culture (MoC) has obligated the hotels in the Kingdom to acquire the artworks and paintings of Saudi artists, according to a media report. MoC's obligation came during adding new standards within the regulation of hospitality facilities represented by the inclusion of cultural experiences and local arts in them, reported Saudi Gazette. The MoC aims to enrich the various cultural programs, such as culinary arts, heritage, artistic and musical works, which comes as part of efforts of enhancing the culture and arts in different sectors. The MoC's initiative in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism will also strengthen the presence of culture in hospitality facilities by participating in creating an authentic cultural experience that is closely related with the culture and heritage of Saudi Arabia. It will also promote the presence of local artistic production and the artworks of the Saudi artists, in addition to providing a list of local heritage foods which reflect each Saudi region. Moreover, it will develop the cultural hotels to highlight the local culture as included in the regulations of hospitality facilities. Father Jim Greenes time as a priest of the Missionaries of Africa has involved many faraway postings. The Callan native spent six years working in Rome, and seven years as an administrator of two places of pilgrimage in Jerusalem. During his 13 year period in Malawi, he worked in rural parishes during the countrys transition to multi-party democracy. There, he began to focus more and more on issues of social justice, which included working to establish an agricultural producers union to assist small farmers. For the last four years, he has been at the helm of Solidarity with South Sudan, a unique organisation which brings together members of religious orders from across the world to work on projects aimed at expanding South Sudans capacity in areas like education and healthcare. Becoming Executive Director of the organisation four years ago was a new departure for Fr Jim, it being the first time in his long career where he had actively sought an appointment instead of merely receiving one. He could have hardly chosen a more challenging environment to work in. The United Nations compiles the Human Development Index as a measurement of the living conditions across countries, as determined by factors like average life expectancy, average years of schooling and per capita income. Of the 191 countries included in the most recent Index, South Sudan was in 191st place, with the average person living to just 55 and with the median years of schooling standing at just 5.7 years. The people of this conflict-plagued land have known little in the way of peace. Long before the arrival of British colonial forces, a sharp distinction existed by the north of Sudan (Arabic in culture and Islamic in religion) and the southern region, where the African natives had endured brutal slave raids by the Arabs throughout the 19th century. Britains decision in the 20th Century to govern the northern and southern regions using different systems limited internal conflict but shut off contact as well, thus hindering social and economic development in the isolated south. The southern region was included within the newly independent Sudan in 1956 against the will of the natives, many of whom had bitter historical memories of northern misrule. Over the next six decades, the first and second Sudanese civil wars between 1955-1972 and 1983-2005 would claim millions of lives, until at last a referendum in 2011 resulted in more than 98% of southerners opting for independence. While the people were euphoric at the possibilities freedom offered, they were starting from scratch and would have to create the political institutions, physical infrastructure and human capital which many new countries already possess. Civil War This situation was made immeasurably worse by the outbreak of civil war in 2013 between forces aligned with the President Salva Kiir (who belongs to the Dinka tribe, who make up perhaps 35% of the countrys population) and the ousted Vice President Riek Machar (who is part of the second largest tribe, the Nuer). Vicious fighting since then has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced millions. Unsurprisingly, South Sudan lacks the capability to deliver basic services to its people and is extremely reliant on NGOs and religious organisations. The regional food crisis caused by years of drought in eastern Africa is especially difficult for South Sudan due to the near-total state failure. A majority of the South Sudanese people are now experiencing crisis levels of food insecurity. In this environment, Solidarity with South Sudan has focused on identifying a number of key priorities like expanding the number of trained teachers and nurses, and teaching farmers basic skills to feed their families. When the Sudanese bishops sought greater assistance from religious orders in the run-up to South Sudans independence, they envisioned that they would merely be additional service providers, but what came into being as Solidarity with South Sudan was something different: designed to support the country reach a point where it is not so dependent on external parties. What we do have is the capacity and willingness to live in inter congregational and intercultural male and female communities, and that is unique, and we would be there in terms of building capacity in view of handing over (to the South Sudanese Church). So Solidarity is always a temporary affair, Fr Jim explained. The Solidarity Teacher Training College in Yambio is a case-in-point. South Sudans population is extremely young and growing, but though there is a great desire for children to be educated, it is often not possible. Schools do not exist in many communities, and where they do exist, facilities are spartan and educational materials inadequate. There are 52,000 teachers in the country, but less than half of these have received a formal education themselves. As a result, the ratio of pupils to qualified teachers stands at 117:1, according to Solidarity, which runs one of just two teacher training colleges in the country. Secondary school graduates from all across the country come to the city of Yambio to train here, and the college also offers a shorter diploma course for professional teachers looking to attain formal qualifications. Keeping the facility going without interruption since 2011 has been far from easy. In 2016, armed men attacked the college, stealing the vehicles and assaulting members of the Solidarity community. Fighting Violent attacks like this are far from unusual. Solidaritys other Teacher Training College in the northern city of Malakal came to an abrupt end in December 2013 when Malakal became the site of some of the fiercest fighting between the government forces under President Kiir and the rival Nuer White Army. Fighting intensified with the college grounds being a warzone, and on Christmas Eve 2013, four Solidarity members (one priest and three nuns, one an Irishwoman) were forced to remain inside a small bathroom, chosen due to the high window which limited the communitys exposure to bullet and rocket fire. Malakals Teacher Training College remains derelict, but in Yambio Solidaritys work continues, and in nearby Rimenze, the organisation runs an Agricultural Training Programme which is currently training more than 500 farmers in more efficient methods of raising livestock and growing crops. The trauma endured by the Solidarity team in Malakal in 2013 is representative of what many people of South Sudan have experienced during the decades of conflict, and a big part of Solidaritys work involves providing some level of trauma counselling to people. We have a Capacitar programme which is an entry level programme for people who have bad symptoms of trauma and how they can relieve those symptoms, Fr Jim stated. In a context where almost everyone has experienced trauma and where one-to-one counselling is not possible, these workshops offer some level of care in locations such as churches, schools and refugee camps. In February, Pope Francis plans to visit South Sudan in the company of several Protestant church leaders as part of an ecumenical peace pilgrimage. The visit is likely to shine a light on a country whose struggles in recent times have escaped the attention of many in the West. South Sudan is in a period of relative stability, with the 2018 peace agreement remaining in force, at least in theory. Looking to the future, Fr Jim is in no doubt about the scale of the challenge. This is still not a normal country, still not on a normal trajectory, he said. We are talking about revitalised peace agreements which are not fully implemented. We are talking about a government that has no democratic mandate. We are talking about a country that doesnt have an independent judiciary or constitution. We are talking about a lot of sub-national and ethnic violent conflicts, he continued. While it has the appearance of normalcy, you have to know that this country does remain on the edge. To learn more about Solidarity with South Sudan and contribute to their work, visit their website at solidarityssudan.org. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Twenty leading Chinese scientists died after lifting of Covid restrictions Beijing, Jan 8 (UNI) Twenty leading engineers and scientists of the Chinese Academy of Engineering have died less in a month after the lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions, which is more than the average annual mortality among academics, Chinese media reported The Chinese Academy of Engineering is one of the countrys leading academic institutions and the most prestigious engineering school. It has over 900 members, which have participated in almost all Chinas megaprojects, including the world's largest Three Gorges hydroelectric dam, the high-speed rail network, and the Tiangong space station. Twenty members of the Academy have died between December 15 and January 4, while in 2017-2020, an average of 16 scientists died per year, and 13 academics died in 2021, the South China Morning Post newspaper reported on Saturday. First lady Kim Keon Hee, right, and Japanese architect Tadao Ando pose in this photo taken in 2016. Courtesy of Presidential Office Presidential office discloses Kim Keon Hee's exchange of letters with Japanese architect By Lee Hae-rin President Yoon Suk Yeol's wife Kim Keon Hee exchanged new year messages with renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando and hoped that their friendship can pave the way for more exchanges between the two countries, the presidential office said, Sunday. In a letter sent to the Japanese architect, Kim wrote that she was able to deliver the "topic of our time" through their past collaborations. She then proposed that her ties with the Japanese architect can contribute to friendly exchanges between Korea and Japan. Their ties were known to have begun when they worked together for the Le Corbusier special exhibition at the Seoul Arts Center in 2016. The first lady also thanked Ando for the gift he sent her to commemorate President Yoon's inauguration last year. The Japanese architect sent Kim a miniature version of his "Green Apple" installation piece along with a brochure for his recent project, a sketch with a picture of the presidential couple and a photo of him and the first lady taken in 2016 while working together. In response, Ando sent Kim a letter about his impressions of her past exhibition and delivered a message of gratitude for her understanding and sympathizing with his architectural philosophy. He also sent a print of Samuel Ullmans' poem "Youth," which starts with the line, "Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind." The first lady sent the message on Jan. 1 and received his response four days later, the presidential office said. The internationally acclaimed Japanese architect worked as a truck driver and boxer before starting his career as an architect. He won the 1995 Pritzker Prize and many other globally prestigious awards. His major works include the Church of Light (1989) in Osaka and the Water Temple (1991) in Awaji, Japan. The self-educated architect has an architectural style that focuses on harmony with nature and the use of empty space and enclosed concrete. He has a growing fandom and six of his works are in Korea, including Museum SAN in Wonju, Gangwon Province, Bonte Museum on Jeju Island and the Jaenung Culture Center (JCC) in central Seoul. *Editor's note: The Korea Times will stylize the presidential couple as President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee starting Monday, upon the presidential office's request. Farrukhabad (UP), Jan 8 (UNI) Two drivers were killed and six others injured when a roadways bus collided with a truck due to dense fog in Nawabganj area of Farrukhabad district here in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, police sources said here. Police sources said that the bus of Sahibabad depot left Delhi in the morning. "Around 7.45 am the bus driver could not spot the truck coming from the opposite direction and both the vehicles collided head on near Jodha Nagla village on Manjhana road," they said. Police sources said that the bus driver Lakhan Kumar Sharma, a resident of Aligarh district, and the truck driver Govind alias Raju were killed on the spot. "Six persons, including bus conductor Ajay Kumar, passengers Akhilesh, Nishi, Rakesh, Neelam and Arpit sustained serious injuries. The injured have been admitted to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia hospital," they said. Police sources said that a total 11 passengers were travelling in the bus at the time of the accident. District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh and Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Meena visited the hospital and directed to ensure proper treatment of the injured. UNI XC AB PRT A hiker was found dead on New Years Eve in Texas Guadalupe Mountains National Park, according to the park service. New Delhi, January 8: Three people died and one was injured after an elevator came crashing down in a factory in west Delhi's Naraina area on Sunday evening, police said. The deceased were identified as Kulwant Singh (30) and Deepak Kumar (26), both residents of Inderpuri, and Sunny (33), a resident of Suleman Nagar, they said. Mumbai: Man Killed in Lift Crash in 25-Storey Building of Siddhivinayak Society in Vikhroli. Deputy Commissioner of Police (west) Ghanshyam Bansal said police received information from DDU and BLK Kapoor hospitals at around 5:40 pm that some people had been brought there after an elevator crashed at a factory in Naraina Industrial Area Phase-1. Gujarat Tragedy: 8 Workers Killed After Elevator of Under-Construction Building Crashes in Ahmedabad. Kulwant, Deepak and Sunny were declared brought dead at the DDU Hospital, the police said. The injured was identified as Suraj (24), a resident of Gol Market, they said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) [India], January 8 (ANI): Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Air Command, Indian Air Force, Air Marshal J Chalapati, on Sunday lauded the 33 Squadron for their glorious efforts in various operations and yeoman service rendered towards humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and aid to civil authority. Chalapati, who visited 33 Squadron at the Air Force Station Sulur in Coimbatore, in his address He urged the air warriors to continue doing their best and complimented all the personnel and families on the occasion the of Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of the Squadron. Also Read | PM SVANidhi Scheme: Street Vendors Loan Scheme Has PM Narendra Modi's Guarantee, Says FM Nirmala Sitharaman. "The Air Marshal addressed all the air warriors and applauded the Squadron for their glorious efforts in various operations and yeoman service rendered towards human assistance and disaster relief and aid to civil authority," the official statement from defence wing reads. The 33 Squadron" is of AN 32 Transport Aircrafts, called as "Soaring Storks". Also Read | Winter Vacation: Government and Private Schools in Jharkhand to Remain Closed Till January 14 Due to Cold Wave. The 33 Squadron at the Air Force Station Sulur in Coimbatore on Monday will complete 60 years of its glorious service to the nation. It would be celebrating its 60 years of raising day on Monday. "The Air Marshal visited the "33 Squadron" at Air Force Station Sulur which is celebrating its 60 years of raising on 09 January 2023. "33 Squadron" is of AN 32 Transport Aircrafts, called as 'Soaring Storks'," the official statement reads. The Air Marshal was received by Air Commodore Rahul Gupta, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Sulur. The Air Marshal was presented with an impressive Guard of Honour by air warriors on his arrival. The Coimbatore City Police Ceremonial Band also participated in the Guard of Honour. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) The UN commissioner has called for a swift and transparent investigation into the killing of 28 people in northern Burkina Faso. A rights group said the victims belonged to a traditional hunting community. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Saturday called for a swift, transparent and impartial investigation into the killings of 28 men found Monday in the town of Nouna in northwestern Burkina Faso. Earlier in the week, Nouna Public Prosecutor Armel Sama, said "most of the victims, all of them males, were shot dead" but did not provide details on possible perpetrators or motives behind the attack. Authorities said the bodies were discovered on December 30 and 31, and an investigation is underway. Turk said he was heartened by the fact that authorities were looking into the incident, adding: "I call on them to ensure it [the investigation] is prompt, thorough, impartial and transparent and to hold all those responsible to account regardless of position or rank. The victims and their loved ones are owed no less." Rights group alleges discrimination The non-governmental rights organization Collective Against Impunity and Stigmatization (CISC) said Monday that the victims belonged to a traditional hunting community called the Dozo, who were targeted "on the basis of appearance and stigmatization." CISC says the massacre occurred after a reported terrorist attack against the local headquarters of the Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland (VDP) -- a civilian auxiliary force that fights against Islamist militants alongside government soldiers. People claiming to be VDP members shot dead the 28 Dozo tribesman "in reprisal," the CISC said. "Armed terrorist groups exploit these kinds of transgression to attract recruits among the public," CISC Secretary Daouda Diallo added. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Burkina Faso Conflict International Organisations By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. According to the UN, Turk has voiced concern that such abuses could be "linked to recruitment, arming and deployment of auxilliaries in Burkino Faso." In a statement, the UN's Geneva-based human rights office said, "There is an urgent need to strengthen their vetting procedures, predeployment training on international human rights and humanitarian law, their effective supervision by the security and defense forces and to ensure inclusion and transparency during their recruitment." Fight against insurgents ongoing Burkinabe government spokesperson Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo said last weekend's "drama" had "unfolded at a time when Burkina Faso has launched an operation to mobilize the entire population in a united action in the fight against terrorism." Since 2015, Burkina Faso has been is battling a violent Islamist insurgency that has spread from neighboring Mali. The conflict has killed thousands of people in the region and displaced millions more. js,zc/kb (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters) Asansol (West Bengal) [India], January 8 (ANI): A closed mine belonging to Bharat Coking Coal Limited collapsed in the Kulti area of West Bengal's Asansol, police said on Sunday. According to the police, there was no loss of life reported in the incident. Also Read | Pravasi Bharatiya Divas or NRI Day 2023 Date and Theme: Know History and Significance of the Day That Marks the Contribution of NRIs in India's Development. Soon after the mine collapsed, a police team reached the spot and conducted the inquiry. They also visited nearby locations to ascertain the damage, if any. However, no damage was reported. Also Read | Delhi: Three Killed as Elevator Crashes at Factory in Naraina Industrial Area. Speaking to ANI, Abhishek Modi, the DCP, said, "We received information about the explosion in a closed mine of Bharat Coking Coal Limited(BCCL) in Damagoria Colliery, in Kulti area of Asansol. No operation is conducted at the mine. A police team reached the spot to assess if there was any damage to the nearby village. We are conducting an inquiry along with the BCCL staff and CISF. There is no report of any casualty thus far. We are also holding an inquiry in the nearby village. There are no reports of any damage there as well." Further investigation is underway. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], January 8 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to deploy a force of about 3,000-3500 Vistaraks (expansionists) across the country to strengthen the party, a move which comes as a part of a mega plan for the upcoming assembly elections in nine states and the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, sources said on Sunday. This year is seen as crucial for the political parties as they prepare for the assembly elections in nine states in the run-up to the 2024 LS polls. Also Read | ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash | EP-30 with AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi Premieres on Latest Tweet by ANI. Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh will go to assembly polls this year. The BJP has its government (or in alliance) in six out of the nine poll-bound states while it is in Opposition in two states where Congress is in power (Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan) whereas Telangana is ruled by Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Teen Injured in Amroha After Mobile Phone Explodes in Hand While Talking (See Pics). "These vistaraks will work closely with the organization at the local level in each assembly and Lok Sabha constituency and will report directly to the central leadership," sources said. "They will also work closely with the local organization of the BJP and are also expected to prepare a ground report for the party ahead of the polls," sources added. The BJP has fielded Vistaraks in all 119 assembly seats of Telangana. A few days ago, BJP had entrusted the responsibility to vistaraks in 160 weak Lok Sabha constituencies. As the countdown for the Lok Sabha elections due next year began with the start of 2023, the BJP has stepped up its preparations to reach out to all sections of society. The party's OBC Morcha has decided to launch the 'Gaon-Gaon Chalo, Ghar-Ghar Chalo' program in March-April. According to the sources, the OBC Morcha, an important part of the BJP, has started putting in efforts to reach out to the voters of the nine states that will go to Assembly elections this year. "With the support of the OBC community, the BJP wants to form the government in the states because there is 40 to 50 per cent participation of the OBC community in all the states and the Centre," a source said. "The OBC Morcha will start the 'Gaon-Gaon Chalo Ghar Ghar Chalo' programme in the middle of March-April keeping in view the elections. Through this programme, OBC people be informed about the work done by the government for them which include decisions like 27 per cent reservation being given in NEET, and reservation being given in central education schemes," the source added. All the decisions pertaining to further preparations will be taken at the meeting of the OBC National Working Committee. "All the office bearers will go to every village and distribute these achievements to the people through pamphlets," the source said. There will be a meeting of the national office bearers of the OBC Morcha in Haryana at the end of January in which decisions will be taken on the number of villages to be visited, the chunk of people to be contacted etc. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], January 8 (ANI): Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday addressed the 6th Meeting of the Central Institute Body (CIB), the highest decision-making body of all AIIMS, to review compliance of decisions taken in earlier CIB meetings in Odisha's Bhubaneswar. CIB is the highest decision-making body of all AIIMS for finance, infrastructure, vacancy, recruitment, enforcement of policies, challenges and procurement. Also Read | Delhi Metro, Buses to Have Common Mobility Card; Government Invites Tenders for It. Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya was joined by Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Anil Jain, Member of Parliament, Shri Ramesh Bhiduri, Member of Parliament and Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog. Shri Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary, Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research and Dr Atul Goel, Director General of Health Sciences were also present on the occasion. Welcoming all participants, including representatives of all AIIMS, eminent experts and special invitees to the 1st CIB meeting held outside Delhi, Dr Mandaviya said, "this CIB is not only for review of the compliance of earlier decisions but is also a Chintan Shivir for pooling in insights, fresh ideas, innovative thoughts and suggestions based on rich experience and expertise of all participants". Also Read | Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023: Ministers Failing to Perform and Found Missing From Partys Programme Will Be Denied Ticket, Says Congress In-Charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. Health Minister emphasized that all AIIMS are pivotal national institutes of tertiary care and the vision is to make them institutes of global excellence. He further stressed that this can only happen with superior quality, clinical care, the highest standards of medical education and cutting-edge research. Providing a platform for thought-provoking ideas and issues for larger collaborative 'Samvaad', he encouraged the dignitaries to take learnings from other Institutes of National Importance such as IITs and IIMs. Highlighting the need for creation of metadata for AI and a professional work culture that can provide superior outcomes, the Union Minister encouraged all the AIIMS directors to create innovative models of functioning and present them in the next CIB meeting. He also urged all the officials to steadfastly work towards making AIIMS able to compete with the best in the world. Union Health Minister Mandaviya appreciated the work done by all the AIIMS based on the recommendations of the previous CIB meetings. He urged the dignitaries to collaboratively work on the identified domains of improvement and make detailed reports on them. He also suggested them to further brainstorm on the important points discussed in today's meeting. "We have to collectively set a new benchmark in India's healthcare system", he stated. Prior to chairing the CIB meeting, the Union Health Minister also reviewed the functioning of AIIMS Bhubaneswar to assess patient services and interacted with the beneficiaries there. Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar highlighted that the aim of the Govt is to take the brand of AIIMS to greater heights. She asked the delegates to study the functioning model of globally successful medical institutions and implement the best practices locally. She also suggested generating greater awareness among people on ABHA IDs and other govt schemes. Various agendas were discussed at the meeting and detailed deliberations were held on the follow-up of earlier Chintan Shivir recommendations and the functioning of all new AIIMS. Agendas discussed included an Overview of New AIIMS under PMSSY, Sustainable Financial Model, Enhancing Patient Satisfaction & Use of ICT as an Enabler, Management and Governance Paradigms & Managing Human Resources, Reaping Economies of scale in Procurement, Vision 2030, Outcome-based Collaborative Research and use of Artificial Intelligence and follow up of remaining agendas of 5th CIB meeting. The participants expressed their gratitude to the Union Health Minister for inviting them to this brainstorming session which was conducted in a streamlined and thought-provoking manner, where they could freely express their views and share suggestions. They also expressed their appreciation for providing them with a great learning experience. Shri Manohar Agnani, AS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jaideep Kumar Mishra, AS and FA GOL, Ministry of Home Affairs, Dr N K Arora, President, AIIMS Deogarh, Dr Pramod Garg, President, AIIMS Awantipora, Dr Chitra Sarkar, President, AIIMS Kalyani, Prof. Vijay Kumar Shukla, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Banaras Hindu University, senior officers and representatives from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, NITI Aayog, AIIMS, NIMHANS and ICMR participated in the day-long conference. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Sangrur (Punjab) [India], January 8 (ANI): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday visited his native village, Satauj, in Sangrur district to celebrate Lohri (Punjabi harvest festival) with his family, friends, and villagers. The chief minister, who reached his native village on Sunday morning, lit a bonfire and celebrated the festival with one and all. Also Read | BJP Leader Devender Singh Rana Asks Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi to Make His Latest Tweet by PTI News. Interacting with locals, the CM said that since Lohri was a celebration of Punjab roots and soil, he decided to travel to his native village to celebrate the festival. He added that he wanted to ring in the festival in the company of his loved ones. He also recalled his childhood days, especially Lohri celebrations in his native village. Also Read | Fraud in Pune: Fraudster Promises to Sell Bitcoin to Man, Dupes Him of Rs 19.7 Lakh; Arrested. He said all the villagers were very close to his heart and he loved sharing the joy of every festival with them. The CM said he hoped Lohri will bring a lot of joy and happiness to each and every household in the state. "This festival has immense significance for all of us as it strengthens our ethos of communal harmony, peace and brotherhood. I pray for peace, harmony and progress of the state and prosperity of my people," Mann said. He added that the state is on course to record growth in every arena as the administration is working in that direction. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Indore, Jan 8 (PTI) Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday appealed to Non-Resident Indians to connect with aspirational India through technology and use its strong human resources in the interest of the world. Also Read | Joshimath Land Subsidence: Holy City Declared 'Unsafe To Live', Disaster-Affected Areas Evacuated. Also Read | Samajwadi Party Leader Manish Jagan Agarwal Arrested for 'Indecent Remarks Against Richa Rajput on Social Media. Speaking to reporters during the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) convention, he said the world's perception of India changed soon after the Pokhran nuclear test in 1998. It is our request to the NRI community to connect with us through technology and work together in the interest of not only India but also of the entire world. You have resources and we have human resources, Thakur said. He said the government doesn't see the overseas Indian community in terms of sending money from abroad to the country but wants to partner with them. Instead of brain-drain, we talk about getting talent. We talk about connecting overseas Indians with aspirational India in the period of 'Amrit-Kaal' of Independence, he said. Thakur said the world is looking towards India with hope and added the global outlook towards the country has already changed. I had gone to Chicago in 1997 during my first visit to the US in connection with a trade exhibition. I picked up a newspaper in which it was printed that India, the country of snake charmers and beggars, is ready to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its independence. But the world's perception of India changed soon after we conducted the successful nuclear test at Pokhran, he said. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one of the most popular leaders in the world. Thakur said India is estimated to have a GDP growth rate of seven per cent this year and that the country is growing at a faster pace than the major economies of the world. There are more than 81 crore internet connections in the country, he said, adding India leads the world in terms of digital financial transactions. Last month, more than seven billion transactions took place on the BHIM UPI platform and around Rs 12.82 lakh crore was transferred, the Union minister said. Thakur said India has a great opportunity to introduce its rich cultural heritage to the world through the current G20 presidency. In the coming days more than 200 meetings of G20 will take place at more than 55 places in the country, he added. The Union Minister also said technology is rapidly changing the way of working. When we talk about the future of work, we remember the 'ABC' formula wherein the 'A' stand for Artificial Intelligence, 'B' for Block Chain and 'C' for Cloud Computing, he said. Thakur said in the future India will have the world's most skilled manpower and its youth would contribute to global development through three "I"s- idea, Intent, and innovation. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday praised the National Cadet Corps for its vital contribution during the tough times of COVID-19 and urged everyone to believe in Nation First ideology to make India progress socially and economically. Speaking at the National Cadet Corps Republic Day Camp 2023 in Delhi Cantonment on Sunday, Kejriwal assured the NCC of continued support. Also Read | Gujarat Shocker: School Principal Thrashes Students With Sticks For Coming Late in Valsad, Detained. "At the outset, let me congratulate NCC upon completing 75 Golden years. Every step of this journey by NCC is steeped in rich heritage and tradition. NCC has literally evolved and transformed itself along with our nation which celebrated its 75th year of Independence last year," he said. Kejriwal urged everyone to always remember the ideals of NCC. Also Read | Maharashtra Police Recruitment Drive: Thane Cops Warn Candidates Not to Consume Drugs for Physical Tests. "I request everyone of you to always remember the ideals of NCC, no matter what path you take or destiny you select for yourself. I say this because as a citizen we must always believe in Nation First ideology and be responsible and committed to it. It is only then that we will progress as a nation, both socially as well as economically," he added Kejriwal was invited to the camp by NCC Director General Lt-Gen Gurbirpal Singh. Noting that the NCC training imbibes cadets with discipline, camaraderie, a secular outlook, the spirit of adventure and the ideals of selfless service to the society, he said the nation needs these values in the present times. "Your stellar contributions during the challenging times of COVID-19 have been acknowledged by all. Your most recent initiative-Puneet Sagar is a commendable step taken by you all to rid our water bodies, rivers and beaches of plastic waste. It gladdens me to know that our NCC cadets were to the forefront in honouring our martyrs as part of the nation's 75 year of independence celebrations," he said. The chief minister said that the NCC RDC Camp is a "microcosm of our country, with representation of cadets from every State and Union Territory". "Therefore, it can be stated that the NCC RDC Camp presents a shining example of the diversity but unity of our varied cultures and traditions," he said. The NCC Republic Day Camp is held every year. A total of 2,155 cadets from all States and Union Territories attend the Camp. In addition, 32 officers and 166 cadets from friendly foreign countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Fiji, Kazakhstan, etc. also attend Republic Day Camp from January 15 to 29 as guests of NCC. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jan 8: An assistant sub-inspector of the Delhi Police died on Sunday, days after being stabbed multiple times by a man he nabbed for allegedly snatching a mobile phone, officials said on Sunday. ASI Shambhu Dayal (57), a native of Sikar district in Rajasthan, is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters, they said. Fraud in Pune: Fraudster Promises to Sell Bitcoin to Man, Dupes Him of Rs 19.7 Lakh; Arrested. Last Wednesday, a woman resident of a shanty in Mayapuri phase one complained to police that a person snatched her husband's mobile phone and also threatened them. ASI Dayal reached the area where the complainant identified the accused, police said. The accused, Anish, was nabbed and on the way to the police station he took out a knife from underneath his shirt and stabbed Dayal on his neck, chest, stomach and back, a police official said. Thane: Police Sub-Inspector Dies After Falling From Moving Train at Kalwa Station A staffer from the Mayapuri police station rushed to the spot and overpowered the Anish. He was later placed under arrest while ASI Dayal was rushed to a hospital, the official said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (west) Ghanshyam Bansal said ASI Dayal did not let the accused flee. He fought for his life for four days but succumbed to his injuries on Sunday morning, the officer said. Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora paid homage to Dayal in the office complex of DCP west in Janakpuri and consoled the bereaved family. Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Sagar Preet Hooda and other senior officials also paid homage to Dayal. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) Lutyens' Delhi was immersed in hues across the spectrum as thousands of members of the LGBTQ community took to its streets to join the 13th year of the Delhi Queer Pride March after almost a three-year lull due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The annual march from the Barakhamba Road to Jantar Mantar was celebrated with dancing to drumbeats, sloganeering and carrying rainbow flags and placards. Also Read | Delhi: Three Killed as Elevator Crashes at Factory in Naraina Industrial Area. Noor Enayat, a volunteer, said thousands of participants joined the parade this year. "Due to the pandemic, the parade was not held for the last three years. This year, people gathered in large numbers braving the winter chill," she told PTI. Despite the winter chill, more than 2,000 people participated in the march. In a statement, the organisers said, "We march against the oppressive attacks and discrimination against... transpersons, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, pansexuals, asexuals, gender nonconforming, and intersex people." Also Read | Fraud in Pune: Fraudster Promises to Sell Bitcoin to Man, Dupes Him of Rs 19.7 Lakh; Arrested. "We assert that legal rights remain valueless unless we build a culture of acceptance for personal expression, love in all its consensual forms, across the barriers of gender, caste, class, ability, religion, region, and language which constrain us. We march for the right to determine our life choices and for the recognition of the same," they said. The organisers said the march is also against "the systemic persecution of minorities - especially, but not limited to, Muslims, Dalits, Bahujans, Adivasis and Christians." "We march against the instigators of hatred and terror, and denounce lynchings in the name of caste, region, or religion," they said. Referring to the climate emergency, they said they are marching to protest deforestation, climate injustice, and the forced relocation of indigenous communities from their homeland. "We march to protest corporate looting of our forests and reserves. We march for our #RightToBreathe," they added. According to the organisers, the parade was also a tribute to the people who lost their lives in the pandemic. "We march in memory of the people who have lost to the covid pandemic, which disproportionately affected queer and trans people. We march to demand healthcare and dignity for all, against discrimination by medical institutions," they added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Agartala, Jan 8 (PTI) Alleging that "genuine voters could not exercise their franchise freely" in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the recent by-elections in Tripura, former chief minister and CPI(M) leader Manik Sarkar on Sunday urged the Election Commission to ensure free and fair poll in the upcoming assembly elections. His comment comes just two days before the scheduled arrival of the full bench of the EC in the state to review preparedness for the assembly polls. Also Read | Delhi Weather Forecast: Cold Wave, Dense Fog to Abate From January 10, Says IMD. You have set a bad precedent in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and by-elections to four Assembly constituencies in Tripura. Genuine voters could not exercise their franchise freely on these two occasions," Sarkar said, addressing a programme organised by CPI(M)-backed trade union CITU at Vivekananda ground here. He also claimed that when the Left party tried to draw attention to EC functionaries about alleged misconduct by saffron party workers to voters, "the EC officials said they were not responsible for what happened outside polling stations and the police would look into such grievances". Also Read | Telangana Factory Fire: Three Workers Killed in Blaze Due to Explosive Chemical Leakage in Sangareddy. This time, we will not be convinced with such remarks, if genuine voters face any trouble in exercising their franchise. We want to remind your constitutional responsibility to ensure that electors can exercise their democratic rights without any fear or intimidation. You have to facilitate an environment so that the voting right of each elector is protected," the CPI(M) leader said in an apparent reference to the EC. Claiming that the BJP has "no chance" to win the upcoming assembly elections, Sarkar said the saffron party's strength has "weakened substantially as its ally IPFT has lost importance in Tripura politics. Those anti-Left leaders, who were with the BJP during the 2018 elections, returned to the Congress, he claimed. He also took a dig at the ruling BJP over the deployment of central forces in the state ahead of the elections. We came to know that 100 companies of central forces have already arrived in the state and 300 more will come. You can bring 1000 companies of central forces but adequate central security personnel were not deployed when the Left was in power. The heavy deployment of central forces may be a ploy. They have realised that people are angry over the misrule of the present dispensation," he said without naming the BJP. He termed the BJP-IPFT dispensation as a "non-performing government" and urged people to take a lead role to remove the saffron camp from power. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jammu, Jan 8 (PTI) The death toll in the terrorist attack on Dhangri village of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri has risen to seven with one more civilian succumbing to injuries at a hospital here on Sunday, officials said. Prince Sharma, who was in his early 20s, died at the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital Jammu, where he was shifted for specialised treatment along with several others after getting critically injured in the firing by terrorists in his village on January 1, the officials said. Also Read | Himachal Pradesh: Vikramaditya Singh, Dhani Ram Shandil Among Seven to Be Inducted in Cabinet Today, Say Congress Sources. The attack on Dhangri had left six people, including Sharma's elder brother Deepak Kumar dead. While four persons were killed and six others injured in the terrorist firing on January 1, two more people were killed and nine others injured in a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in the village the next morning. The IED was planted by terrorists in the village before fleeing. A massive search operation is on to neutralize the terrorists behind the attack. Also Read | Hyderabad: Two Killed, Several Injured As Under-Construction Building Collapses in Shanthi Nagar Area. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington The Somali government and the al-Shabab militant group have each denied having peace talks. The denial came Saturday after Abdulfatah Kasim Mohamud, a deputy defense minister and member of the parliament, said the militant group had requested talks with the government. A senior government official later officially denied receiving a request from the militant group. "We have not received any requests from the group," National Security Adviser Hussein Sheikh Ali told Voice of America Somali. "The minister said he was misquoted." Ali said the Somali government's position on al-Shabab has not changed. "Our policy towards talks with Alshabab remains the same," he wrote in a message via WhatsApp. "We aren't negotiating with them as a group. However, individuals who wish to leave the group will undergo a thorough process to defect and be eligible for government amnesty formally," he added. The militant group has also denied the existence of any talks with the Somali government. A website affiliated with al-Shabab said the deputy defense minister's claim that the group requested talks is "baseless." "I can confirm that there aren't and can be no talks between us," a militant official told the website. The official was said to be from the group's media department, but his name was not published. The al-Shabab official further ruled out the possibility of talks with Villa Somalia, the seat of Somalia's government. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Somalia Conflict Peacekeeping By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. In the past, the group has expressed distrust in opening dialogue with the Somali government. In January 2018, the group's official spokesperson, Ali Mohamud Rage, known as Ali Dhere, said dialogue is "more dangerous than the weapons of mass destruction." "We heard from the infidels and apostates repeatedly stating that they are open to talks with the mujahedeen," he told al-Shabab's radio Andalus. "This is how the infidels use dialogue, as an approach to misguide the Muslims and destroy Muslim causes." He said the aim was to divide (the Mujahedeen) into groups, "so that they can support the group they see as moderates." Saturday, the president of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, appointed Abdullahi Mohamed Nor as a senior presidential adviser for preventing and countering violent extremism. Nor had served as the country's Minister of Internal Security until August this year. Bhaderwah/Jammu, January 8: A couple and their six-year-old daughter from Jammu and Kashmir's Doda were found alive in Haryana, 20 days after they were presumed dead after their car was found plunged into river Chenab in the hilly district last month. Manjeet Singh allegedly staged the accident to evade his loan debts but his bollywood-style attempt was foiled by the police which traced him in Haryana's Panchkula and brought him back here to face the law, a police official said. The official said the 31-year-old Singh along with his wife and daughter were reported missing on December 20, last year after their car reportedly met with an accident near Gadsoo in Doda district while they were on their way to Jammu from their Bhaderwah residence. Immediately after getting information about the accident, senior police and civil officers rushed to the spot to supervise the rescue operation. Police teams found two identity cards, a driving license and an e-Shram card belonging to Singh including a purse from the spot where the car had rolled down into the river, the official said The vehicle was retrieved from the Chenab river, while the rescuers including SDRF teams could not find the bodies or luggage during the operation which continued for several days. The official said police started looking at other aspects like the financial condition of the missing family. During the investigation, it transpired that Singh had taken a loan of Rs 30 lakhs from different banks and private lenders to establish his business. Following this, the police got suspicious and Doda Senior Superintendent of Police Abdul Qayoom constituted a special team to search for the missing family, he said. With the help of Haryana police, the family was found in Panchkula's Abhaypura village and have been brought back to Doda, the official said. A case has been registered against Singh and further investigation is underway, he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], January 8 (ANI): Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan on Sunday expressed solidarity with the TDP national president and former chief minister, Chandrababu Naidu, a press release issued here said. Pawan Kalyan visited Chandrababu Naidu's residence here to extend support to the TDP's fight against, what they called, the most undemocratic order, GO 1. They said that Andhra Pradesh is now undergoing a worse situation than the Emergency, the statement added. Also Read | Assam: Eviction Drive to Clear 500 Hectares of Forest Land in Lakhimpur, Nearly 100 Families to be Affected, Say Officials. Chandrababu Naidu said that attempts are being made to stifle the voice of the Opposition parties in the State. He announced that all the political parties along with people's organisations would wage a combined war to save democracy, the press release said. "Pawan Kalyan found fault with the State Government for creating obstacles to Chandrababu's tour in Kuppam. The Jana Sena chief said that he called on Chandrababu only to express his solidarity with him. He said that both of them reflected on the prevailing situation in the State, particularly after the GO 1 was issued and felt that the State Government was only trying to suppress the Opposition parties," it added. Also Read | Delhi Weather Forecast: Cold Wave, Dense Fog to Abate From January 10, Says IMD. ''The YSRCP Government was acting in an atrocious manner and brought in the British era GO 1 only to stifle the voice of the Opposition parties. Pensions are being withdrawn at will and no Minimum Support Price (MSP) is not being paid to farmers," a Press release quoting Pawan Kalyan said. All the Opposition parties want to fight unitedly against such tendencies of the State Government. The attitude that no one should question the YSRCP Government is highly condemnable, the Jana Sena chief said. "It is really surprising that a leader who has been representing the Assembly segment seven times is not allowed to visit his home constituency. Is it not the duty of the police to provide security when meetings are being organised," Kalyan asked. ''When I questioned the police they failed to give a proper reply to me,'' the TDP supremo said, adding if political leaders have the freedom to move only then democracy will be saved". "This Government does not want Pawan Kalyan and TDP national general secretary, Nara Lokesh, to undertake padayatra, Chandrababu Naidu said and made it clear that the political parties and people's organisations will wage a combined fight to save the democracy. If necessary the Centre too should interfere, the press release added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ranchi, January 8: In view of the increasing cold wave in North India, the Jharkhand government on Sunday issued a notice to close both government and private schools for students of Classes KG to 5 in the state till January 14. Regular classes will resume on January 16. "In view of the cold wave conditions, schools in Jharkhand will remain closed for students from KG to standard 5 till January 14 and regular classes will resume from January 16," the Government said in the notice. Several states' education departments have issued orders to keep schools closed. Earlier, the District Magistrate of Patna, Chandrashekhar Singh on Saturday issued a notice to close both government and private schools up to Class 10 in the state till January 14. Delhi Weather Forecast: Cold Wave, Dense Fog to Abate From January 10, Says IMD. "In view of the cold wave conditions, schools in Patna will remain closed for students up to Class 10 till January 14," the DM said in the notice. For the last few days, a huge temperature drop has been recorded in the entire Bihar including Patna. In view of this, orders have been issued to close the school. Meanwhile, the IMD said that cold wave/severe cold wave conditions are very likely in some parts of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, north Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. "Cold Day to severe cold day conditions reported at most places over Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh; at many places over Bihar; at a few places over North Rajasthan and North Madhya Pradesh. Cold Day conditions were also reported at a few places over Delhi," IMD said. IMD on Saturday also issued a red alert for the next 24 to 48 hours, warning of severe cold in parts of North India, including Delhi. Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 2 degrees Celsius on Saturday. In an exclusive interview with ANI, RK Jenanmani, a weather scientist at IMD said, "The Delhi University's Ridge area recorded a minimum of 1.5 degrees Celsius today, which is the lowest recorded this season." The official weather station for the Capital, Safdarjung, recorded a minimum temperature of 2.2 degrees Celcius, while Lodhi road logged 2 degrees Celcius. Jenanmani said severe cold conditions are prevailing in Delhi-NCR and parts of the national capital are, in fact, colder than some popular tourist destinations in the sub-Himalayan region. Delhi Winter Vacation in Private Schools Extended Till January 15 in the Wake of Cold Wave. "The western disturbance, which was expected to break this cold spell, hasn't been too effective. A vast swathe of the North Indian belt, including Delhi, North Madhya Pradesh, North Rajasthan, Punjab and Western Uttar Pradesh, are colder than Shimla, Manali and the western Himalayan region where the minimum temperature has increased," he said. He added that dense fog prevails in a vast area of North Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi."Churu in Rajasthan reached freezing point while the temperature of Nowgong in Madhya Pradesh's Chhattarpur district reached sub-zero, at 0.5 degrees Celcius. Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh recorded 2.2 degrees Celcius and Hisar in Haryana recorded the lowest in the state, at 2 degrees Celsius," he said. He added, "The Indian Meteorological Department has issued red alerts for the next 24 to 48 hours, warning of severe cold in North India and dense fog for North Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana Chandigarh, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh. An 'orange alert will also be in place for January 8 to 9. After that, the severe cold is likely to abate. We expect the Western Disturbance to take effect from January 10 and there will, hence, be some respite from the cold from January 9." "For the next 48 hours, people are advised to take all the safety measures and avoid stepping out, unless it is very urgent," Janemani sai. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Joshimath (Uttarakhand) [India], January 8 (ANI): PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister on Sunday held a high-level review meeting on the Joshimath situation. Chief Secretary SS Sandhu and Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Kumar participated in the meeting of the PMO through video conferencing. Also Read | PMO Holds Meeting on Joshimath; Central Agencies, Experts Assisting Ukhand Govt to Latest Tweet by PTI News. After the meeting, the Chief Secretary said that discussions were held with all the experts who had visited Joshimath so far. "First of all, this is the effort that no one should be harmed, people should be shifted from where there is a risk, and the reasons should be found out quickly. The Government of India has spoken to the experts, and even tomorrow the team of experts are reaching Joshimath," Sandhu said. Also Read | Air India: Another Horror Comes to Light! Drunk Passenger Attempted To Touch Eight-Year-Old Girl Inappropriately on Mumbai-London Flight. As per the Prime Minister's office, the meeting was also attended by the Cabinet Secretary and senior officials of the Central government and members of the National Disaster Management Authority. Senior officers of Uttarakhand and District Officials of Joshimath also participated the meeting through video conference. Soon after the review meeting with the PMO Chief Secretary, DGP Police and Secretary to Chief Minister RK Meenakshi Sundaram conducted an on-site inspection of landslide areas. The Chief Secretary said that the cause of the landslide is being ascertained by the team of expert scientists of the country and whatever treatment is necessary will be done here. "The safety of the citizens is of utmost importance in the immediate situation and the local administration is continuously working for it," Sandhu. He appealed to the local citizens not to take any risk under any circumstances. In such a situation, the loss can be more at any time. "Shift as soon as possible where arrangements have been made by the district administration," he s. During this, the Chief Secretary took stock of the affected areas of Jaypee Company located in Manohar Bagh, Singhdhar, Marwadi. District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana apprised the Chief Secretary about the disaster situation. Chief Secretary Sandhu inspected the water leakage area near Jaypee Company located in Marwadi in disaster-affected areas. PM Modi also hela a telephonic conversation with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and inquired about the steps taken for the safety and rehabilitation of the affected residents of Joshimath in the wake of the land subsidence incident. According to Chief Minister's Office (CMO), PM Modi inquired about the progress of immediate and long-term action plans to mitigate and resolve the concerns of residents. "PM Modi spoke to CM Pushkar Singh Dhami over the telephone and inquired about the steps taken for the safety and rehabilitation of the affected residents and the progress of the immediate and long-term action plan to solve the problem," the Uttarakhand CMO said in a statement. The CMO added that the Prime Minister was personally monitoring the situation in Joshimath and the ongoing work to ensure the safety of civilians in the area. PM Modi also assured all possible assistance to save Joshimath in his telephonic conversation with CM Dhami. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami directed the formation of a coordination committee at the government level, led by the Additional Chief Secretary, and at the local level under the chairmanship of the commissioner of Garhwal, to mobilise urgent relief and rescue of the civilians affected by the Joshimath landslide and subsidence. Following the appearance of cracks in houses, a total of 66 families, so far, are reported to have migrated from Joshimath. The affected people, their families, and children are currently living in night shelters, officials said. Locals said that the people affected by the landslide have been assured by the government that they will get pre-fabricated houses. However, they said they are clueless how soon the houses will be allotted to them. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Nagpur, Jan 8 (PTI) A girl received 26 stitches on her throat in a kite string injury in Maharashtra's Nagpur city, a police official said on Sunday. Also Read | Fraud in Pune: Fraudster Promises to Sell Bitcoin to Man, Dupes Him of Rs 19.7 Lakh; Arrested. The injury was caused by banned "manjha", kite string made of nylon polymers that are strengthened by applying coats of powdered glass and adhesive, the Yashaodhara Nagar police station official said. Also Read | Joshimath Land Subsidence: Relief, Rescue Operations Intensified; PMO Reviews Situation. "Five-year-old Shabnaaz, a resident of Faruque Nagar, was playing with her friends on Saturday evening when she suffered a deep gash on the throat due to kite string. The injury was worsened after friends tried to help her by pulling the manjha once it got stuck in the wound," he said. "She received 26 stitches. We have registered a case under Indian Penal Code and Environment Act," he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thane, January 8: Two persons have been arrested for allegedly stabbing a 22-year-old woman to death in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Sunday. The police arrested the two accused from Bhiwandi town for allegedly killing the woman and dumping her body in a village, inspector Sandeep Gite of Kasara police station said. Chhattisgarh: Man Who Stabbed Woman to Death with Screwdriver. The woman was found dead with multiple stab wounds in a jungle near Kasara on Friday evening, he said. During the probe, the police found a mobile phone belonging to the victim near the body and established her identity, he said. Based on CCTV footages from the area, the police zeroed in on the accused, the official said. Man Murdered over Friendship with Woman in Thane; Cops Search for 4 Accused. One of the accused was in a live-in relationship with the victim and the couple often quarrelled over petty issues, he said. The accused had allegedly taken the victim for a ride to Warlipada in Kasara, where he stabbed her to death along with his accomplice, the official said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Panaji (Goa) [India], January 8 (ANI): Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) or Goa Police has not received any complaint from Go First airlines for the alleged misbehaviour of two passengers onboard the Goa-Mumbai flight on January 6, said officials on Sunday. Speaking to ANI, North Goa Superintendent of Police (SP), Nidhin Valsan said, "We have not received any such complaint in this regard. However, when the news spread we contacted airport security authorities but they also said that have not received any such complaint from anyone at Manohar International Airport at Mopa in Goa. We also spoke to senior officials of CISF they have also denied any incident. Neither we have got any complaint nor any information has been received in this regard." Also Read | We Are Waiting, the New WD Will Be Coming from the Night of 10th Latest Tweet by ANI. However, Go First spokesperson in a statement on Sunday said that two foreigners were offloaded from a Mumbai-bound Go First flight after they violated the flight safety rules. The incident took place on January 6 when both passengers passed "lewd comments" to the crew members. Also Read | Air India Urination Incident: Airline's Response Should Have Been 'Much Swifter', Says Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran. Both of them disrupted fellow passengers also, the spokesperson said. "Two foreigners were offloaded from G8-372 Goa- Mumbai flight on January 6, after they violated the flight safety rules. Both passengers passed lewd comments to the crew members and disrupted fellow passengers too," a Go First Spokesperson said. Following the incident, the Pilot-in-Command decided to offload them immediately. Both passengers were handed over to airport security. "Pilot-in-Command decided to offload them immediately and handed them over to airport security. The matter was reported to DGCA for further action," the spokesperson added. Earlier on January 6, in wake of Air India's mid-air urination incidents, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory to the head of operations of all scheduled airlines with regard to handling unruly passengers on board and respective responsibilities as per the regulations. The guidelines come in the wake of back-to-back two urination incidents on Air India flights last year. The DGCA said that it is observed that post holders, pilots and cabin crew members have failed to take appropriate actions regarding the incidents of unruly behaviour and inappropriate conduct by the passenger on board. In a statement, DGCA said, "In the recent past, DGCA has noticed a few incidents of unruly behaviour and inappropriate conduct by the passenger on board the aircraft during flight, wherein it is observed that post holders, pilots and cabin crew members have failed to take appropriate actions." The aviation regulatory body further said that non-action or inappropriate action or omission by the airlines towards such untoward incidents had tarnished the image of air travel in different segments of society. It said that the individual's responsibility for the handling of the unruly passenger has been specified under various provisions of Aircraft Rules, 1937, DGCA regulations, circulars and manuals of airlines approved or accepted by DGCA. The DGCA advisory also recommended keeping restraining devices inside Aircraft to control unruly passengers. A senior DGCA official said that they recommend devices kept in aircraft cabin used to restrain unruly passengers of level 3 type i.e abusive physically violent category. The device looks like a handcuff. Equipment for the help of cabin crew. Some airlines in India like Air Asia are keeping it in the aircraft cabin. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 8 (ANI): Jumping to the defence of Samajwadi Party (SP) worker Manish Jagan Agarwal, who was arrested for allegedly making derogatory posts about politicians on social media, party chief and former Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday claimed that every institution in the state, from administration to the police, was working as a 'BJP worker'. Speaking to reporters, Akhilesh said, "I don't expect justice from the BJP government. The police and administration are with those who commit injustice and peddle lies. Those who speak the truth are punished. This is not a one-off arrest. The BJP makes its people use derogatory language against others, forcing them to respond." Also Read | Delhi | Heart Attacks Increase in Winter, Elderly People Are More Prone to Heart Attacks Latest Tweet by ANI. The SP chief claimed that the police and administration in UP were working for the BJP. "From the administration to the police, everyone is working for the BJP. They don't believe in rule of low or justice. When I reached the police headquarters, I couldn't see anyone. It was deserted. If there is no one to listen to the people, who will they turn to for justice?" Akhilesh added. Also Read | Telangana Factory Fire: Three Workers Killed in Blaze Due to Explosive Chemical Leakage in Sangareddy. He demanded action against the BJP leaders, who, he claimed, used derogatory remarks. "We have also demanded action against BJP leaders, who had used objectionable language. We have been assured of action against them. We have also filed a complaint in this regard," the former CM said. Manish Jagan Agarwal was on Sunday arrested by Lucknow Police at Hazratganj police station for making improper comments about politicians, informed the police through a press release. Part of the Samajwadi Party's Twitter cell, he was arrested over alleged offensive comments targeting political leaders on social media. In an official press release, the Lucknow Police said Agarwal was arrested under several IPC sections, including Section 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth and residence). According to the press release, a chargesheet had earlier been filed against the SP worker at Hazratganj police station under multiple sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000, including Section 66 (computer-related offences) and the non-bailable Section 67. Meanwhile, SP workers staged a protest outside police headquarters in Lucknow, demanding Agarwal's release at the earliest. "The arrest of Samajwadi Party worker Manish Jagan Agarwal by Lucknow Police is condemnable and shameful. Police should release the SP worker immediately," Samajwadi Party tweeted on their official handle. Akhilesh reached the Lucknow Police headquarters to protest against the arrest and meet Agarwal, the party informed on their official Twitter handle. Three cases were registered at Hazratganj Kotwali police station against Manish Jagan Agarwal, said police. The social media in-charge of the BJP's Yuva Morcha, Richa Rajput, also filed a case against the SP's Twitter handle on January 4, as per sources. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kurukshetra (Haryana) [India], January 8 (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday offered prayers and performed aarti at Brahma Sarovar in Haryana's Kurukshetra during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The yatra reached Dharmanagari Kurukshetra via Karnal on Sunday. Also Read | Fraud in Pune: Fraudster Promises to Sell Bitcoin to Man, Dupes Him of Rs 19.7 Lakh; Arrested. Earlier in the day, several former Army officers, including former Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor, Lieutenant General RK Hooda, Lieutenant General VK Narula, Major General SS Chaudhary, Major General Dharmender Singh, Colonel Jitender Gill, Colonel Pushpender Singh, Lieutenant General DDS Sandhu, Major General B Dayal joined the yatra in Kurukshetra. The Yatra saw people gathering in large numbers and walking enthisiastically as the march resumed from the Dodwa-Taraori crossing on Sunday morning. Also Read | Air India Urinating Row: Two AI Crew Members Likely to Join Probe Tomorrow. The marchers were welcomed with traditional dance performances, while at another place, locals greeted the marchers by blowing conch shells. A large number of women also appeared outside their homes to welcome the marchers. On the 114th day of the yatra, Congress leaders Selja Kumari and Deepender Singh Hooda were seen matching steps with Rahul Gandhi. Braving the ongoing severe cold wave and dense fog in the entire North Indian belt, including Haryana, the Congress supporters seemed excited and enthusiastic. Supporters holding posters in support of the yatra were also spotted marching to drumbeats. Addressing a press conference, Rahul Gandhi acknowled the 'very energetic and enthusiastic welcome, that the party supporters received here. He said the strength of the party's organisation is visible in Haryana, thanking the people for their love and support. "There is no doubt that the Congress will return to power in Haryana. If the Congress government comes to power in Haryana, it be a government for farmers, a government which respects and listens to everyone," he said. The Congress leader called his Bharat Jodo Yatra as 'Mohabbat ka dukaan' (shop of love) amid the existing 'nafrat ka bazaar' (market of hatred), in response to BJP leaders who frowned on his ongoing Kanyakumari-Kashmir foot march. The 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' marched into Karnal on Saturday. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], January 8 (ANI): Real estate developers have urged for some relaxation in the provisions of stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) which was reimposed on Saturday in Delhi-NCR due to severe air pollution. Stage III of GRAP means a ban on all construction and demolition activities except those of national importance. Also Read | Fraud in Pune: Fraudster Promises to Sell Bitcoin to Man, Dupes Him of Rs 19.7 Lakh; Arrested. In connection with this, Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) Chairman Brijesh Goyal on Sunday, wrote a letter to the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) Chairman M Kutti, requesting some relaxation in the activities. "The businessmen from the real estate and construction sector told us that after a ban of several days, GRAP-3 has been re-implemented in the Delhi-NCR. This has led to a ban on construction activities, leading to delays in the projects and losses. It is also affecting the earnings of the labourers," the letter read. Also Read | Joshimath Land Subsidence: Relief, Rescue Operations Intensified; PMO Reviews Situation. The CTI Mayor expressed his concerns about the implementation of GRAP-3 in the letter. "It's not possible to start work one day and stop it two days later. The ban on construction activities was first put on October 28. Suddenly, the GRAP-3 was implemented and then rolled back. It was again implemented last Saturday," he said. He requested the CAQM to give some relaxation in the construction-related works. "Once the ban on construction is put, the labour, machine, operators, everyone goes away. After that, once the ban is revoked, it takes 3-4 days to restart the work. Also, the days get shortened during the winter. So, I urge the CAQM to give some relaxations in the construction work under GRAP-3," he added in the letter. The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), which comes under the Ministry of Environment implements orders considering the air quality of Delhi-NCR. Incidentally, in view of the significant deterioration in the air quality of Delhi-NCR in the last 24 hours, the stage III of GRAP was reimposed. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) The Dubai Chamber of Commerce has launched the Medical Labs & Diagnostic Centres Business Group to support the robust healthcare sector in Dubai and the wider UAE. The new business group seeks to foster collaborative relationships between its members and relevant stakeholders to cement importance of medical labs and diagnostic centres within the healthcare sector. The setting up of this business group comes at the right time as it brings together businesses within diagnostic labs sector and the further strengthens Dubais burgeoning healthcare industry. The business group will play an instrumental role in supporting the sector, helping it thrive in the coming years, said Maha AlGargawi, Executive Director of Business Advocacy at Dubai Chambers. Healthcare hub Dubais healthcare market is worth more than $4.63 billion annually. Dubai and the wider UAE is rapidly emerging as a healthcare hub with major opportunities. The UAE hosts the worlds largest medical free zone, Dubai Healthcare City which comprises 160 clinical partners across over 150 specialties and professionals from over 90 countries. Medical tourism sales are expected to record a CAGR of 17.1% between 2021 and 2025, according to report by the Ministry of Economy and the UAE International Investors Council. Founding member, Dr Ola Elgaddar, General Manager at Al Borg Diagnostics UAE, said: The healthcare industry in Dubai and the wider UAE is clearly flourishing. As a founding member of this business group, I am keen to start conversations with my fellow peers to see how we can further embed our sector and businesses in the healthcare industry. This business group will serve as an opportune platform to discuss topics that are critical to our sector and bounce off ideas and suggestions on ways to move forward. Crucial role The establishment of the Medical Labs & Diagnostic Centres business group plays a crucial role in recommending policy changes to improve the sectors competitiveness and attractiveness while promoting international best practices and supporting the emirates economic growth. It is part of the chambers plans to increase the number of business groups that represent economic sectors and activities in Dubai to 100 by March 2023.-- TradeArabia News Service Mogadishu Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has called on young al-Shabab fighters he says are "brainwashed" to surrender to the government amid ongoing military offensives against the group. Speaking at a mosque in the country's capital Friday, Mohamud, who last year after his election for second term declared an "all-out war" against the Islamist insurgents, also called on the al-Shabab fighters to denounce the terrorist ideology before it is too late. His remarks came after the militants carried out two attacks on government forces in Somalia's central region in two days, killing more than 43 people including senior officers. He said he wants to tell the boys to return from the wrong path they are taking. He urged them to return to their government, to their people and to their religion. He said every step they take from now on will only increase their guilt. The president's message comes as Somali forces, backed by locals, continue battling the group in the "total war" he declared on the militants. Government forces have liberated large swathes of territory from the group, mainly in the south-central state of Hirshabelle. Speaking to state-run television in Mogadishu, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said an investigation is underway into soldiers who were arrested on suspicion of facilitating the al-Shabab attack on the Villa Rays Hotel in Mogadishu in late November. Barre did not say how many soldiers were involved. He says all the soldiers who were working that day have been arrested and an investigation is currently underway. He says he wants the ongoing investigation to be successful and impartial. The hotel attack claimed by the militant group al-Shabab killed at least 13 people, including five al-Shabab attackers. The popular Villa Rays hotel was located near the presidential palace in Mogadishu and was frequented by senior government and security officials. The Somali government has been fighting al-Shabab for more than 15 years. The Islamist group carries out deadly attacks in the Horn of Africa nation targeting government officials and African Union peacekeepers. New Delhi [India], January 8 (ANI): Vanita Sharma, mother of Tunisha Sharma, refuted the allegations of the family of Sheezan, an accused in the late actor's murder case, and alleged that he used her to meet his expenses for drugs. Vanita also denied the claims of Sheezan's family that Tunisha was being "neglected" by her mother which led her to depression, and said that the late actor loved her very much and shared everything with her. Also Read | Telangana Factory Fire: Three Workers Killed in Blaze Due to Explosive Chemical Leakage in Sangareddy. Speaking to ANI, Tunisha's mother said, "I do not need to explain to anyone what relationship I shared with Tunisha. Tunisha was my daughter, she was the closest to me. She loved me very much. Even she used to sleep with me and used to share everything with me." Tunisha's mother also referred to the actor's audio to state that both of them loved each other. Also Read | Himachal Pradesh Cabinet Expansion: Seven Ministers Take Oath, Six Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Also Appointed as Congress Struggles to Strike Balance. She alleged murder "instead of suicide" while citing the instance of the day Tunisha died. The mother alleged that Sheezan had taken her to the hospital which was farther from the set instead of a nearby hospital. "It could be murder instead of suicide. Because Sheezan took Tunisha to a hospital far away from the studio, whereas the hospital was just 5 minutes away from the studio. But he did not take her there. There should be an inquiry as to what happened between Tunisha and Sheezan in those 15-20 minutes. Only then the truth will come out. Had Sheezan taken Tunisha to the nearest hospital, Tunisha would have been with us today because she was still breathing," she claimed. Retorting to the allegations by Sheezan's family that Tunisha's mother controlled her finances, so much so that she had to plead before her mother for her own money, Vanita said that she transferred Rs 3 lakh in 3 months to Tunisha. "Tunisha had no shortage of money. I used to transfer money to her from time to time. Even in the last 3 months, I had transferred up to Rs 3 lakh rupees to Tunisha. Tunisha used to buy expensive branded things. Whatever things Tunisha wanted, she used to bring them," she said. She claimed that she used to give whatever Tunisha asked for and fulfilled all her wishes. The mother said that Tunisha, in the last few days, had started "hiding things" and taking money from her friends. "Although for the last few days, she had started hiding things. She started asking for money from her friends and even used to tell them not to tell her mother. So it is possible that Sheezan was taking drugs and for that Tunisha was asking her friends for money. Sheezan was also getting her addicted to drugs. Tunisha used to meet Sheezan's expenses. Even when his car broke down, Tunisha used to help him. For 1 month, he was traveling in my car as well," she claimed. She also denied Sheezan's family's allegation that Vanita used to "strangulate" Tunisha and said that she never even raised her hand on her daughter. "Till date, I have never raised my hand on Tunisha, let alone strangle her. Sheezan and his family have used Tunisha in every way. Tunisha has visited America, Dubai, and Kashmir. We used to make plans to visit everywhere and we had also made plans to go to Goa. Whatever allegations Sheezan's family is making regarding Tunisha are totally wrong," she said. The mother further said that Tunisha had told her about breakup with Sheezan and his habit of consuming drugs. "When Tunisha had a breakup with Sheezan, she had told me that Sheezan used and cheated on her and even slapped her. Even Sheezan used to take drugs. Tunisha was in a relationship with Sheezan since June. When they went to Ladakh for an outdoor shoot. I had no problem with Tunisha's relationship. She told me that she is in love with Sheezan and wants to marry him. I had no objection but many changes had come in Tunisha. She started speaking Urdu, and started wearing hijab and it was not because she was doing a Muslim show. In fact, even before this he had done the show Ishq Subhan Allah, then there were no changes in this way, so it is obvious that Sheezan was asking him to do all these things," the mother claimed. "Sheezan already knew everything about Tunisha's age and religion. Whatever he is saying today is totally baseless. I want justice from the government, this whole matter should be investigated and Sheezan should be punished severely," she added. Sheezan Khan was reportedly dating Tunisha Sharma, who was allegedly found hanging at a TV serial set on December 24, a fortnight after the two allegedly broke up their few-months-long relationship. Within hours of the actress' demise, Sheezan Khan, who worked with the 20-year-old actor in 'Ali Baba Dastaan-E-Kabul', was arrested on charges of abetment to suicide. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Joshimath (Uttarakhand) [India], January 8 (ANI): Hours after the Chamoli District Magistrate (DM) in Uttarakhand on Sunday directed to shift people in unsafe areas of Joshimath town to safer places, many locals living in rented houses in the Singdhar ward have started moving to their native places because of increasing land subsidence. The local residents here have asserted that the size of cracks in walls and floors has increased. Also Read | #PriyankaChopraJonas Hosted a Special Screening of #ChhelloShow , Latest Tweet by IANS India. "All the people who are still remaining in unsafe places are being shifted to safe places. Sector officers have been nominated in each ward for immediate and safer shifting of the people's belongings," Chamoli DM Himanshu Khurana said. One of the locals in Joshimath's Singdhar said that all the people in rented houses have left their homes. Also Read | Bharat Jodo Yatra Getting More Response in Northern India, Says Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi. "I belong to this place. All the tenants have vacated their homes as the land subsidence is continuously increasing and water is seeping deep into the land," a local resident Manoj Jain said. Citing that the NTPC's tunnel here is responsible for this condition of Joshimath, Manoj Jain said that the experts who have visited here have directed to evacuate the land as early as possible. Meanwhile, another person living as a tenant here so far, said that the situation here has turned "very scary" because of which they are vacating the land. "I want to leave the place because I am scared because of the increasing land subsidence here," said another person Gurnam Singh Panwar. The district administration has made arrangements for the affected families in the subsidence.Following the appearance of cracks in the houses, a total of 66 families are reported to have migrated from Joshimath as of now. "The district administration has made arrangements for the families affected by the natural calamity to stay in safe relief camps," the administration said on Sunday. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami of all possible help to the state in the wake of land subsidence in Joshimath. "PM Modi had a telephone conversation with me asking about the situation in Joshimath and the steps taken for the rehabilitation and safety of people," said Uttarakhand CM Dhami addressing the media persons. "The situation in Joshimath is being analysed. We'll also see if other mountainous towns have achieved their toleration limit," he added. The town of Joshimath also called Jyotirmath, is the winter seat of Lord Badrinath, whose idol is brought down from the main Badrinath temple to the Vasudeva temple in Joshimath every winter. The holy town of Joshimath is revered by the Hindus as an important pilgrimage centre of the country. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Agartala (Tripura) [India], January 8 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha participated in the Bhoomi puja (groundbreaking ceremony) of the New Secretariat Complex (NCC) at Agartala on Sunday (January 8), which is also his birthday. The Chief Minister holds the portfolio of the state home ministry as well and the state government was looking for land to establish a new police headquarters complex for quite some time, as the CM said. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi to Flag Off Luxury Cruise MV Ganga Vilas From Varanasi on January 13. On this occasion, CM Manik Saha said, "I hope this new headquarter will accelerate the pace of police procedures. The day-to-day activities would be facilitated as well. We were searching for land for a long period of time for such headquarter to be established." Amitabh Ranjan, DGP, of Tripura Police, said on this occasion, "We were searching for the place but was not getting a suitable place. The old police headquarters did not have such infrastructure. We are very happy to uplift the infrastructure of Tripura Police. Within the next two-three months, the construction of the new headquarter will start. The state government has helped us a lot. We expect the same from the central government too. It's an important day for the Tripura Police." Also Read | 7th Pay Commission: Central Government Employees to Get 4% DA Hike Before Republic Day 2023? Check Latest News Updates Here. CM Manik Saha will also take part in the 'Jan Viswas Yatra' today. He will offer his prayer at the temple of Tripureswari Mandir in Udaipur. Notably, Tripura BJP has started the 'Jan Viswas Yatra' programme to strengthen the party support base in the state. Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off 'Jan Viswas Yatra' from Dhamanagar in North Tripura district and Sabroom in South Tripura district on Thursday. BJP national president JP Nadda will be present on the concluding day of the yatra on January 12 where he will address the masses. The Yatra will last for eight days and cover 60 constituencies of the state. The main purpose of the Yatra is to showcase the developmental works the BJP government has done since 2018. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jammu, Jan 8 (PTI) The army has shot dead two terrorists near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said on Sunday. The terrorists were killed in the Balakote sector of the district late Saturday, they said. Also Read | Odisha Government Collaborates With University of Chicago To Set Up Data, Policy, Innovation Centre. The officials said army personnel noticed suspicious movement at a forward village and opened fire. The two terrorists were neutralised, they said. The bodies of the slain terrorists were found when the army launched a search operation in the area this morning, the officials said. Also Read | Russian Passengers Offloaded From Go First Goa-Mumbai Flight for Abusing Crew Members. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) Total outstanding dues owed by electricity distribution companies (discoms) to power producers almost halved to Rs 62,681.68 crore in January, compared to Rs 1,21,030 crore in same month in 2022. Experts said this substantial reduction in the discoms' total outstanding is mainly due to various steps taken by the government, like implementation of late payment surcharge rules and providing facility of equated monthly installments (EMIs) to utilities. Also Read | 7th Pay Commission: Increase in Fitment Factor, DA Hike Likely in January For Central Government Employees? Check Latest Updates. According to the portal PRAAPTI (Payment Ratification And Analysis in Power procurement for bringing Transparency in Invoicing of generators), the total outstanding dues of discoms stood at Rs 62,681.68 crore in January, 2023, which included Rs 25,526.42 crore overdue amount, that was not cleared even after 45 days of grace period offered by generators. In January 2022, the total outstanding dues of discoms stood at Rs 1,21,030 crore, which included the total overdue amount of Rs 1,01,357 crore. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: Cold Wave Breaks All Records, Chhatarpur Records Minimum Temperature at 0.2 Degree Celsius. Power producers give 45 days to discoms to pay bills for electricity supply. After that, outstanding dues become overdue and generators charge penal interest on that in most cases. The PRAAPTI portal was launched in May 2018, to bring in transparency in power-purchase transactions between generators and discoms. The portal has been revamped recently. Earlier in November, 2022, the power ministry had stated that with the implementation of Electricity (LPS and Related Matters) Rules, 2022, remarkable improvement has been seen in recovery of outstanding dues of Suppliers including Generating Companies, Transmission Companies and Traders. The total outstanding dues of States which were at Rs 1,37,949 crore as on June 3, 2022, have been reduced by Rs 24,680 crore to Rs 1,13,269 crore with timely payment of just four EMIs, it had stated. For payment of EMI of Rs 24,680 crore, five states had taken a loan of Rs 16,812 crore from Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and REC Ltd and eight states had opted to make their own arrangement, it has stated. Distribution companies are also paying their current dues in time to avoid regulations under the rule. Distribution companies have paid almost Rs 1,68,000 crore of current dues in the last five months, it had said. Based on the results achieved so far, it is expected that strict implementation of the LPS Rules will bring back financial viability of the power sector in the country and would attract investment to ensure reliable 24x7 electricity to consumers, it had stated. "This Rule has not only ensured that the outstanding dues are liquidated but has also ensured that the current dues are paid in time. It may be seen that the Rule has played a vital role in ensuring the financial discipline in Discoms," the ministry had said. To give relief to power generation companies (gencos), the Centre enforced a payment security mechanism from August 1, 2019. Under this mechanism, discoms are required to open letters of credit for getting power supply. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Pune, Jan 8 (PTI) An offence has been registered against one person for alleged sale of banned nylon kite strings coated with glass in Maharashtra's Pune city, police said on Sunday. Also Read | Bharat Jodo Yatra Getting More Response in Northern India, Says Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi. Ahead of Makar Sankranti festival, the police have launched a crackdown on the sale of nylon kite strings, an official said. Also Read | 7th Pay Commission: Central Government Employees to Get 4% DA Hike Before Republic Day 2023? Check Latest News Updates Here. Acting on a tip-off, the crime branch's unit 4 on Saturday raided a shop in Khadki Bazar area and seized bundles of nylon kite strings, he said. The shop owner has been booked under section 188 (disobeying an order issued by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code, the official said. Several districts in the state have banned the use and sale of nylon kite strings that often result in the death of birds and people. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, Jan 8 (PTI) A consortium of alternative investment firm Varde Partners and institutional asset manager Arena has submitted a revised bid for the debt-laden Srei group entities after its previous plan was termed as "non-compliant", sources said on Sunday. Plans of the resolution applicants will be put up for voting after submission of a viability report by Dun & Bradstreet on the offers vying to acquire assets of debt-ridden Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd (SIFL) and Srei Equipment Finance Ltd (SEFL). Also Read | Bharat Jodo Yatra Getting More Response in Northern India, Says Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi. "The consortium has sent a plan and it will be verified only on Monday whether it is compliant or not," a company source told PTI. "Dun & Bradstreet is supposed to submit its viability report on the resolution plans by January 10. After that the voting process by the committee of creditors (CoC) will be undertaken," another source said. Also Read | 7th Pay Commission: Central Government Employees to Get 4% DA Hike Before Republic Day 2023? Check Latest News Updates Here. Varde Partners-Arena had sent a plan after the close of the 'challenge mechanism' window on Tuesday and claimed to be the highest bidder but the offer was rejected by the lenders' committee, terming it as "non-compliant" with norms. The consortium was allowed time till midnight of Saturday to make a bid compliant with norms for the debt-laden Srei group entities. The Varde Partners-Arena consortium had also raised concern over the debt resolution process, calling it "unreasonable, unfair, rushed and ad-hoc". The administrator for Srei Infrastructure Finance and Srei Equipment Finance has shot off a letter to the consortium, dismissing its allegations over the 'challenge mechanism' process adopted for the resolution of the companies. In the same letter, the consortium was allowed to submit a bid in accordance with challenge documents circulated among the applicants. As per the challenge bidding mechanism, National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL) remained the top bidder with NPV bid of Rs 5,555 crore. Authum Investment and Infrastructure is another bidder in the insolvency resolution process for the two stressed entities. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Palghar, January 8: Three persons, including an infant, died and four were injured after their car smashed into a truck from the rear on Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Sunday, a police official said. The accident took place near a temple under Kasa police station limits at 11:45am when the car with seven members of a family was on its way from Mumbai to Bhilad in Gujarat's Valsad district, the official said. Telangana Road Accident: Car Overturns After Hitting Divider in Nalgonda District; Three Killed and Six Injured. "The deceased have been identified as Narottam Rathod (65), his son Ketan Rathod (32), kin one-year-old Aarvi Rathod. The injured persons are Deepesh Rathod (35), who was driving the car, Tejal Rathod (32), Madhu Rathod (58) and two-and-half-year old Snehal Rathod," Palghar police spokesperson Sachin Navadkar told PTI. Uttar Pradesh Accident Video: Two Killed, Five Injured After Bus Collides With Truck Due to Dense Fog in Farrukhabad. No case has been registered as yet as police have not taken the statements of the injured owing to their medical condition, he added. Las Vegas, Jan 8 (AP) A small plane clipped an SUV as it made an emergency landing Saturday on a highway north of Las Vegas, sending three people to a hospital as a precaution. Nevada State Police said the two-seater plane was having mechanical issues and had to land on U.S. 95. The agency posted photographs on Twitter showing the SUV's windshield after it shattered from hitting the plane's wing as the aircraft was sitting on the left shoulder of the highway. Also Read | Indonesia: Volcano Erupts at Mount Marapi, Throws Ash Up to 300 Metres. Authorities said the injures were not life-threatening. One southbound lane remained open as authorities conducted their investigation. Authorities have not released any other details. (AP) Also Read | Russia: Brutal Tiger Fight Breaks Out at Kislovodsk State Circus After Two Tigresses Attack Each Other on Stage, Kids and Parents Left Horrified. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Beijing, January 8: China will lift its quarantine requirement for inbound travellers starting from January 8. It will also resume issuing visas for residents to travel overseas. China's immigration authorities have said that they will start receiving applications for issuing passports for tourism and visits abroad beginning January 8, NHK World reported. COVID-19 Surge in China: Hospitals in Many Cities Cancel New Year Holiday to Fight Against Epidemic. The easing came days after mainland China diluted its harsh COVID zero policy and slightly lifted its restrictions on international travellers. Earlier, the Chinese government announced plans to ease border restrictions and resume overseas visits in an orderly manner as per the international COVID-19 situation. As per the NHK World report, Chinese media had said that access to major online travel sites for bookings to popular destinations, including Japan and Thailand increased ten-fold after the government's announcement. Meanwhile, China has imposed a ban on such agencies from accepting bookings of group tours and giving sales of package tours, according to NHK World. China will lift the travel restrictions from January 8, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said on Wednesday. COVID-19 Outbreak in China: Sichuan Province Faces Surge in Coronavirus Cases. The CAAC said that it will resume international passenger traffic, according to Global Times. According to the new policies released on the official website of the CAAC, China will stop designating inbound high-risk flights and call an end to the 75 per cent restriction for passenger capacity on inbound flights. Chinese and foreign airlines will arrange scheduled passenger flights in line with bilateral agreements. The CAAC said that it will gradually resume applications for chartered international passenger flights, as per the Global Times report. It will also cancel measures impacting inbound flights, including closed-loop management of domestic and overseas crews, COVID testing and quarantine. According to Global Times, new measures have been introduced to optimize anti-COVID management, as the government downgraded management of COVID-19 to Class B, and cancelled quarantine requirements on inbound travellers from January 8, 2023. However, people coming to China will still need a negative virus test within 48 hours and passengers will be required to wear protective masks on board, an online post from the National Health Commission said. World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has once again asked China for reliable data on Covid hospitalizations and deaths in the country. "We continue to ask China for more rapid, regular, reliable data on hospitalizations and deaths, as well as more comprehensive, real-time viral sequencing," Tedros said at a media briefing in Geneva Wednesday, according to the script of the media briefing posted on the WHO website. This comes as WHO held a high-level meeting with counterparts in China last week to discuss the surge in cases and hospitalisations. Subsequently, WHO's Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution and the COVID-19 clinical management expert network groups both met with Chinese experts. The WHO chief said that the UN agency is concerned about the risk to life in China and has reiterated the importance of vaccination, including booster doses, to protect against hospitalization, and death. Last week, a number of countries imposed mandatory Covid testing for travellers from China amid a "rapidly developing situation" in the country. They made the Covid-19 test mandatory for flyers coming from mainland China due to a surge in coronavirus infections after the country rolled back its stringent "zero-Covid" policy. On Tuesday, Beijing accused these countries are imposing COVID-19 entry restrictions without the presence of a scientific basis to support such measures. "Some of these measures are disproportionate and simply unacceptable. We firmly reject using COVID measures for political purposes and will take corresponding measures in response to varying situations based on the principle of reciprocity," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said during a regular press conference on January 3. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Some of the train passengers also sustained gunshot injuries, the police said in a Sunday statement. PREMIUM TIMES reported the Saturday attack on the train station in Edo State. The attackers, who the police described as 'herdsmen,' shot sporadically before kidnapping a yet-to-be-confirmed number of passengers. Some of the passengers also sustained gunshot injuries, the police said in a Sunday statement. The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) announced the closure of the station in a short message on Sunday. "Public Announcement: This is to inform our general public and most especially our esteemed passengers, that Ekehen Station has been temporarily closed due to security issues, till further notice," it wrote. Also, the transportation ministry, which supervises the NRC, has condemned the attack. "The Federal government condemns the despicable and utterly barbaric kidnapping of passengers at Tom Ikimi Train Station Igueben Edo State," the Director of Press & Public Relations in the ministry, Henshaw Ogubike, wrote in a Sunday statement. "The Public is hereby reassured that the security Agencies are making efforts to rescue the kidnapped Train passengers. The Nigerian Police is on the trail of the criminals and have mobilised with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers. The Government is saddened by this unpleasant development and assures on its prompt response to the ugly situation." He said further details about the incident will be communicated later. The Edo attack comes several months after terrorists attacked a Kaduna-bound train in northern Nigeria, killing some passengers and kidnapping dozens of others. Most of the kidnapped passengers were released after the payment of ransom and the rest after the attackers reached a deal with government negotiators. Washington, January 8: Authorities in some Chinese cities have lifted the ban on fireworks amid protests, ahead of the Lunar New Year on January 22, US-based non-profit news service Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported. However, the authorities in some other Chinese cities have, in fact, doubled down on the ban, the report claimed, adding that they have been punishing residents for setting off firecrackers. Chinese New Year 2023 Start and End Dates: Know Significance, Celebrations, Zodiac Animal and All About the Spring Festival. Firecrackers in Beijing were first banned in 1993 after 544 people were injured in cracker-related incidents. The crackers were also deemed to contribute to the country's pollution. The complete ban was, however, lifted in 2005 and people were allowed to burst crackers around the Lunar New Year. But the ban was reinforced in 2012 following a decline in the country's air quality. Local governments in Dongying and Binzhou cities of China have, through their official websites, announced that fireworks and firecrackers will be allowed to welcome the Year of the Rabbit, say reports. Authorities in Beijing and the northeastern port city of Dalian will allow fireworks within limited hours until the first month of the lunar calendar, the government-backed news site The Paper reported, according to RFA. Officials in the northern province of Hebei said the ban on firecrackers would continue. Online news service Red Star said in the southwestern city of Ya'an alone, eight districts and counties have different regulations on fireworks around the Lunar New Year, reported RFA. Qin Peng, a New York-based political commentator, said public defiance to the firecracker ban came three years after the enforcement of the 'Zero Covid' policy. New Year 2023 in China: Thousands Gather in Wuhan to Celebrate New Year Amidst COVID-19 Wave. "Chinese people have so much pent-up pain and anger in them over the last three years, that they have erupted in protests in lot of places," the RFA quoted Qin as saying. "The authorities know very well that they have provoked public anger, and that it's not just among a minority group, but that it runs right through all of China's cities and villages," Qin added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], January 8 (ANI): External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar called on Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi on Sunday, ahead of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention. Minister Jaishankar and Suriname President discussed ways to enhance the ties in the domains of economy, culture, and capacity building. Also Read | Senegal Road Accident: 40 Killed As Two Buses Collide in Kaffrine Region; Three-Day National Mourning Declared. "A pleasure to call on President @CSantokhi of Suriname in Indore today. His presence at the 17th PBD Convention underlines the close bonds between our countries. Discussed enhancing our relationship in the economic, culture, capacity building and people to people domains," Jaishankar tweeted. Suriname President is in India to attend the PBD convention as the Special Guest of Honour. Also Read | India Provides 75 Buses to Sri Lanka to Support Public Transport System. President Santokhi, who arrived in India late Saturday evening, is the third Person of Indian Origin (PIO) to assume the Presidency of Suriname. Yesterday, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra welcomed Suriname President to the city of Indore. The city of Indore is decked up to hold the Indian government's flagship event that aims to enhance engagement with overseas Indians. The three-day convention is being organized in partnership with the Madhya Pradesh Government in Indore. The theme of this PBD Convention is "Diaspora: Reliable partners for India's progress in Amrit Kaal". Over 3,500 diaspora members from nearly 70 different countries have registered for the PBD Convention. On Sunday, the inauguration of the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. On Monday, the PBD Convention will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will feature addresses by the Chief Guest, Guyana President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and Chandrikapersad Santokhi. A Commemorative Postal Stamp 'Surakshit Jaayen, Prashikshit Jaayen' will be also released to underline the importance of safe, legal, orderly and skilled migration. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the first-ever digital PBD Exhibition on the theme "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav - Contribution of Diaspora in Indian Freedom Struggle" to highlight the contribution of our diaspora freedom fighters in India's Independence. Later on Tuesday, President Droupadi Murmu will confer Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2023 and preside over the Valedictory Session. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kathmandu, Jan 8 (PTI) Nepal on Sunday said it was making efforts to activate the eight-member regional grouping SAARC, which has not been very effective since 2016. Speaking at a meeting of the National Concern and Coordination Committee under the National Assembly, Secretary and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bharat Raj Paudel said the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) could not be made effective due to the lack of consensus among all member states. Also Read | Senegal Road Accident: 40 Killed As Two Buses Collide in Kaffrine Region; Three-Day National Mourning Declared. Nepal is trying to make it active, he was quoted as saying by My Republica newspaper. "We are chairing the SAARC. However, there are places where processes have not progressed. This multilateralism and regionalism have certain constants. One of them is that when we formed SAARC, we agreed on a fundamental principle while defining the charter of SAARC. Also Read | India Provides 75 Buses to Sri Lanka to Support Public Transport System. That means nothing moves forward until everyone agrees on a topic. Basically, it cannot be the same. The role of the chair of SAARC is nothing special. We are only one among the eight countries. That's why efforts are being made on this, Paudel said. The SAARC has not been very effective since 2016 as its biennial summits have not taken place since the last one in Kathmandu in 2014. The 2016 SAARC Summit was to be held in Islamabad. But after the terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances". The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet. The regional grouping comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Omaha, Jan 9 (AP) Nebraska's outgoing U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse knows he may be remembered more for his criticisms of former President Donald Trump than for the policies he supported during his eight years in office. Sasse talked about his political legacy with the Omaha World-Herald as he prepared to leave the Senate Sunday to become president of the University of Florida. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: More Than 600 Ukrainian Troops Killed in Kramatorsk in Russian Retaliatory Missile Strike. Sasse was a prominent Trump critic who joined with a handful of other Republicans to vote to convict the former president at his impeachment trial after the 2021 Capitol riot. Those criticisms led to Sasse being sharply criticized by his own political party in Nebraska even though Sasse voted with Trump 85% of the time and helped get his three U.S. Supreme Court nominees confirmed. Sasse acknowledged that his complicated relationship with Trump will shape his legacy. Also Read | Pravasi Bharatiya Divas or NRI Day 2023 Date and Theme: Know History and Significance of the Day That Marks the Contribution of NRIs in India's Development. I'm just sad for him as a human because obviously there's a lot of complicated stuff going on in that soul, Sasse said to the newspaper. Just at a human level, I'm sad for him to be that needy and desperate. But at a policy level, I always loved that he kept his word on the judges. ... And so we got to work closely on judges. Sasse said he is especially proud of his work with the Senate Intelligence committee that included setting up a commission on cybersecurity. He said 120 of that group's 190 recommendations have been passed into law. The University of Florida job will allow Sasse who studied American history at Harvard, Yale and Oxford to return to academia at a much bigger institution. Before he was elected to the Senate, Sasse led the small, private Midland University in his hometown of Fremont, Nebraska. Sasse said he couldn't resist the chance to lead one of the nation's largest public universities even after rejecting overtures from other universities in recent years. South Florida is like a giant blank canvas, Sasse said. And so I'm very excited about a lot of the new stuff that we're going to build. Newly elected Gov. Jim Pillen will name Sasse's replacement, and the leading candidate for the job is former Gov. Pete Ricketts who Pillen replaced this month after term limits kept the Republican from running again. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad [Pakistan], January 8 (ANI): Amid the depleting foreign reserves in the country, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on January 10 to seek an emergency cash deposit from its west Asian partner. Shehbaz Sharif would fly to the UAE on Tuesday along with his Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari where they are expected to be joined by Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir, who is already on a trip to the middle east, sources confirmed to The Express Tribune newspaper on Sunday. Also Read | Senegal Road Accident: 40 Killed As Two Buses Collide in Kaffrine Region; Three-Day National Mourning Declared. The Pakistan prime minister is reportedly undertaking the visit in connection with the worsening economic crises in the country. It comes as foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) are reduced to just USD 4.5 billion and left with an import cover of only under a month. The slump follows the repayment of loans worth USD 1.2 billion to Dubai-based commercial banks. The development left Pakistan with an import cover of only under a month, as the country grapples with a deteriorating economic crisis while trying to bring down imports amid a dollar shortage, Geo News reported citing sources. Also Read | India Provides 75 Buses to Sri Lanka to Support Public Transport System. The report said a breakup shows that USD 600 million was returned to Emirates Bank, while it repaid USD 420 million to Dubai Islamic Bank. According to the report, the Pakistani government would try to mobilize foreign funding worth USD 1.5 billion in the upcoming International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan next week. Before the trip to UAE, Sharif will travel to Geneva on Sunday. He will lead a high-level delegation comprising federal ministers to Switzerland where he will co-host the conference -- along with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres -- on January 9. The conference aims to assist Pakistan's people and government recover more effectively from the recent devastating floods. "Maybe our friendly countries are waiting for the donors' conference so they can help us (and provide loans)," Pakistan's Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal told Geo News' Shahzeb Khanzada last month. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad, Jan 8 (PTI) Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday left for Geneva to co-host a key conference in Geneva Monday along with the UN Secretary-General to raise more than USD 16 billion for a resilient recovery of his country from last year's climate-induced catastrophic floods. More than 33 million were displaced and over 1,700 were killed in the devastating floods that hit the country last summer due to unprecedented monsoon rains. Also Read | Senegal Road Accident: 40 Killed As Two Buses Collide in Kaffrine Region; Three-Day National Mourning Declared. According to an official statement, the Prime Minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation, comprising Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Climatic Change Minister Sherry Rehman and Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb. Before embarking on the visit, Sharif in a series of tweets said that he would present the case of flood victims before the world. Also Read | India Provides 75 Buses to Sri Lanka to Support Public Transport System. We will place comprehensive post-disaster framework plan for recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction with resilience before development partners and friendly countries, he said, adding that Pakistan would also highlight steps taken for relief and rehabilitation of the flood-affected people. Sharif said humanity is at an inflection point in world history and our actions today will shape the resilient future for our succeeding generations. Organisers say delegates from 40 nations will attend the International Conference on Climate-Resilient Pakistan. Sharif will co-host the event with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He said millions of Pakistanis affected by unprecedented devastation look for compassion and solidarity to build back better and bridging the funding gap would help to restore critical infrastructure, rebuild lives, and livelihoods and revive the economy. Earlier, Sharif in an article for The Guardian newspaper said that Pakistan needed USD 16.3 billion for the first three years in the first phase of the reconstruction of the flood-hit areas. He said another USD 13.5 billion would be needed for the next 10 years to completely rebuild the areas devastated by the floods. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], January 8 (ANI): Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi arrived at the airport in Indore to attend the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention. Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra, Water Resources Minister Tulsi Silawat and other officials received Santokhi at the airport. Chandrikapersad Santokhi is the special guest of honour at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention. The 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is scheduled to be held in Indore from January 8-10. The theme of this PBD Convention is "Diaspora: Reliable partners for India's progress in Amrit Kaal," the Ministry of External Affairs said in the press release. Also Read | Indonesia: Volcano Erupts at Mount Marapi, Throws Ash Up to 300 Metres. During his visit to Indore, Chandrikapersad Santokhi will hold a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on January 8. Jaishankar and Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan also arrived at the Indore Airport on January 7 to attend the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention. On January 9, the PBD Convention will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that will feature addresses by the Chief Guest Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Guyana's President and the Special Guest of Honour, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, Suriname President. Furthermore, Santokhi will hold a meeting with PM Narendra Modi. Also Read | Russia: Brutal Tiger Fight Breaks Out at Kislovodsk State Circus After Two Tigresses Attack Each Other on Stage, Kids and Parents Left Horrified. Chandrikapersad Santokhi will also hold a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu on January 10, as per the media advisory. He will attend the valedictory session and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards ceremony. He will attend the programme in Indore on January 11, according to the media advisory released by the Ministry of External Affairs. On January 12, Chandrikapersad Santokhi will travel to Ahmedabad to attend various programmes. He will return to New Delhi on January 13 and participate in various events. He is scheduled to depart from India on January 14. More than 3,500 diaspora members from nearly 70 countries have registered for the PBD Convention, the Ministry of External Affairs said in the press release. On January 8, the inauguration of the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Australian Member of Parliament Zaneta Mascarenhas will be the Guest of Honour at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas A Commemorative Postal Stamp 'Surakshit Jaayen, Prashikshit Jaayen' will be released to highlight the importance of safe, legal, orderly and skilled migration, according to the press release. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first-ever digital Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Exhibition on the theme "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav - Contribution of Diaspora in Indian Freedom Struggle" to showcase the contribution of diaspora freedom fighters in India's Independence Furthermore, a special town hall will be held in view of India's ongoing presidency of the G20 on January 9. On January 10, President Droupadi Murmu will confer Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2023 and preside over the valedictory session. Notably, the PBD convention is being organised in person after a gap of four years and the first after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bollywood actress Kajol recently visited the Siddhivinayak Temple along with her daughter Nysa Devgan to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha on Sunday. The actress donned a floral kurta and pyjama while her daughter was seen in a simple white kurta-pyjama set. Nysa Devgan Dons a Figure-Hugging Hot Pink Dress With Plunging Neckline for Christmas Celebration, Gets Clicked With Bestie Orhan Awatramani (Watch Video). Some netizens trolled Nysa as they questioned her choice of outfit, opting to go traditional, but others defended her right to choose what she should wear.One social media user commented: "I don't understand the point of trolling. People wear western dresses in pubs and parties. That doesn't mean they cannot be religious and cannot visit temples." Nysa Devgan Parties With BFF Orry and Others in Dubai (View Pics & Videos). Nysa Devgan recently returned from a Dubai vacation. She celebrated New Year with her friends Aryan Khan, Orhan Awatramani and actor Ahan Shetty. As for Kajol, who was recently seen in the theatrical film Salaam Venky, rang in 2023 in the company of her husband Ajay Devgn and her family, including sister Tanisha Mukerji. Bobby Deol was also seen at their New Year's party. New Delhi, Jan 8: Even as the storm over a passenger arrested for urinating on a female co-passenger on board an Air India flight is still brewing, another incident of an unruly passenger having been handed over to the London metropolitan police after an incident on an AI Mumbai-London flight has come to light. The unruly passenger on a Mumbai-London flight in September 2022 was handed over to the London Metropolitan Police after a restraining device was required in the incident, reports said quoting Air India. Air India Urination Incident: Airlines Response Should Have Been Much Swifter, Says Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran. The drunk passenger allegedly attempted to touch an eight-year-old girl inappropriately, according to a complaint by the girl's mother and 20-year-old brother travelling with her on the flight, AI-131, on September 5, 2022, reports said. According to report, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officials said that this particular incident was not reported to them, unlike the urinating incident. "We will have a look and shall take appropriate action," a DGCA official said when contacted for comments on the September incident. Reports quoting an Air India spokesperson said that on landing, the alleged offender was escorted out of the flight by the metropolitan police. The Air India cabin crew gave statements to the metropolitan police and the incident was subsequently reported to the DGCA on September 19, 2022, the reports said. Urination Row: Air India Crew Refused Victim First-Class Seat Saying Pilot Was Resting There, Reveals Co-Passenger Sugata Bhattacharjee. They further added that Air India crew took immediate action and isolated the alleged offender. The victim was comforted and given all assistance, including helping her and her family relocate to alternate seats, an airline spokesperson was quoted as saying. As the accused passenger continued to behave in an unruly manner, the pilot in charge issued a warning letter and when the passenger continued to misbehave, a restraining device was used, the reports said. The captain of the flight also informed Air India ground staff at Heathrow airport, the spokesperson added, as per reports. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 08, 2023 05:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, Jan 8: Delhi Police officials were on Saturday attacked by a violent mob of 100 African natioanls who helped in escaping of three African natioanls who were caught by the police for living in India illegally. When police again went to Neb Sarai's Raju Park, the police team was again attacked by the African nationals, but police managed to apprehend four of them. Thane: Police Sub-Inspector Dies After Falling From Moving Train at Kalwa Station. A senior police official said that a team of Narcotics Cell went to Raju Park on Saturday for deportation proceedings of overstaying foreign nationals. The official said that at about 2:30 p.m., the team apprehended three African nationals whose visas had expired. "The team was trying to bring them to the police station but suddenly about 100 African nationals gathered there and obstructed the police team and in the meantime two of the detained African Nationals managed to escape. Later on, one Philip was successfully apprehended," the official said. The official said that again at about 6:30 p.m, a joint team of narcotics squad and Police Station Neb Sarai reached Raju Park in search of the overstaying foreign nationals and detained four African nationals including one woman namely Kene Chukwu David Williams. Uttar Pradesh: BJP Leader Amarpal Maurya's Son Swallows Magnet While Playing; Discharged After Treatment. A case under section 420/120B of IPC read with 14 Foreigners Act has been registered against the accused at Crime Branch, and passports have also been seized there. The accused Nigerians identified as Igwe Emmanuel Chimezie, Aziegbe John, Queen Godwin were held in second round of visit. But again about 150-200 African nationals gathered there. They were also trying to help the detained African nationals to escape but after sincere efforts, the police team succeeded to bring them in Police Station Neb Sarai. The official said that further the deportation proceedings for apprehended overstaying foreign Nationals are being taken up. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 08, 2023 12:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). The spokesperson of the police in the state, Chidi Nwabuzor, said the gunmen were armed with AK-47 rifles. Armed persons have attacked a train station in Edo State, southern Nigeria, and kidnapped many passengers. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Chidi Nwabuzor, said the gunmen were armed with AK-47 rifles. He said the exact number of people kidnapped could not be ascertained. Mr Nwabuzor described the gunmen as 'herdsmen', loose bands of armed persons who used to rear cattle but have become full-fledged criminals, killing and kidnapping people at will across the country. "This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that today, 7th of January, 2023 at about 1600hrs, unspecified number of herdsmen armed with AK 47 riffles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State and kidnapped unspecified number of passengers who were waiting to board the train to Warri. "The kidnappers who shot sporadically into the air before kidnapping some passengers left some persons with bullet wounds. The Area Commander Irrua, DPO Igueben Division, and men have visited the scene of crime with members of the Edo State Security Network, local vigilantes, and hunters with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers. "Bush combing operations have commenced in order to rescue the victims and arrest the fleeing kidnappers. Further developments will be communicated," the spokesperson wrote in a statement. The incident in Edo State occurs several months after gunmen attacked a moving train in Kaduna State, north-west Nigeria. PREMIUM TIMES reported how many people were killed in the attack and dozens of others were kidnapped. Many of the kidnapped victims were later released after paying ransom to the kidnappers while others were released after negotiations between the government and the kidnappers. The Edo incident is the first such attack on a train facility in southern Nigeria. However, the state has witnessed other major criminal acts in the past including an attack on a prison during which dozens of inmates escaped. The latest attack also occurs less than two months before the general elections in the country. Panaji, Jan 8: Two minor children were found dead at home while their father was later found hanging from a tree behind the house in North Goa district, police said on Sunday. Prime facie, it seems the man strangulated the children to death and then committed suicide, Superintendent of Police (North) Nidhin Valsan told reporters. UP Shocker: Mob Brutally Thrashes Woman, Man Over Land Dispute in Etah, Police Launch Probe After Video Goes Viral. The bodies of the minor boy aged 14 and his eight-year-old sister were found in their house in Candolim village on Saturday night. Their mother was not at home when the children died, he said. When the children did not open the door of the house, their mother opened it forcibly with the help of neighbours and found the children dead, he said. The police received a call at around 10.30 pm on Saturday about the incident. The Calangute police then started searching for the children's father who was untraceable since the kids were found dead, the official said. Mumbai Shocker: Two Stab Woman to Death, Dump Her Body at Kasara Forest in Thane; Arrested. On Sunday morning, the man's body was found hanging from a tree behind their house, Valsan said. The man was in his late 40s, another official said. Prime facie, it looks like the father strangulated both the children to death and then committed suicide, Valsan said. An investigation is on into the incident, he added. Mumbai, January 8: The Hyderabad police on Saturday arrested four people for allegedly harassing students of an engineering college online by morphing their pictures. The four accused have been identified as C Laxmi Ganesh (19), M Pradeep, C Durga Prasad, and B Satish. While three accused are students, the other one is a cook. According to a report in the Times of India, the incident came to light after the warden of the college hostel lodged a complaint. During investigation, cops learned that the accused had formed different WhatsApp groups which were later identified as Hacking Scam, Enter The Dragon, King is Back, XXX Teja Rowdy. Hyderabad Shocker: Man Kills Friend After Brawl Over Who Would Be Cooking Dinner; Arrested in Nagpur. A police officer said that the accused has added girl students of the engineering college to these groups without their heir consent. The officer further said that accused Ganesh gathered information about the girl students by following their different social media handles online. Post this, they started using the gathered information and contacted girls. "By making them members of these different groups, the accused used to harass the girls by using abusive and foul language. They used to send particular locations and ask the concerned students to come there. They threatened to upload morphed pictures on social media if the students refused," DS Chauhan, Rachakonda commissioner of police said. Hyderabad Shocker: Youth Creates Ruckus With Gun at Petrol Pump After Argument Over Online Payment; Arrested (Watch Video). He further added, "When the students blocked the numbers, the accused used to contact from other numbers." The police traced the accused by tracking the different numbers they used and arrested them from different parts of Andhra Pradesh. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 08, 2023 04:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). China on Sunday welcomed international travellers and returning residents without the need to quarantine for the first time in three years, even as infections surge after it scrapped its stringent zero-Covid policy. A pleasure to call on President Chandrikapersad Santokhi of Suriname in Indore today. His presence at the 17th PBD Convention underlines close bonds b/W our countries. Discussed enhancing our relationship in the economic, culture, capacity building & people to people domains: EAM pic.twitter.com/ODKwzRbuCe ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2023 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Three persons, including an infant, died and four were injured after their car smashed into a truck from the rear on Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Sunday, a police official said. The accident took place near a temple under Kasa police station limits at 11:45 am when the car with seven members of a family was on its way from Mumbai to Bhilad in Gujarat's Valsad district, the official said. Uttar Pradesh Accident Video: Two Killed, Five Injured After Bus Collides With Truck Due to Dense Fog in Farrukhabad Check Tweet: Maharashtra | Three people died, and four critically injured in a collision between a car and a truck in Kasa Police Station area of Palghar district. Investigation underway. pic.twitter.com/gaSAFsl4m9 ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2023 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Punjab Civil Services (PCS) Officers Association to go on 5-day casual leave from January 9 onwards in protest against the arrest of Narinder Singh Dhaliwal, a PCS officer posted in Ludhiana regional transport authority. He was arrested by Vigilance Bureau. pic.twitter.com/gYVEC60ofJ ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2023 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) San Francisco, January 8: Twitter CEO Elon Musk on Sunday said that office rentals in San Francisco will further drop, as the city is reeling under the pressure after massive tech layoffs and company offices being shut. David Sacks, Co-founder and partner at Craft Ventures, tweeted that he got offered office space in San Francisco for the same price as 2009. Musk replied: "It will go lower". Twitter has been sued for failing to pay $136,250 in rent at one of its office spaces here. Elon Musk Says New Twitter Will Aim To Optimise Unregretted User Every Minutes. Check Tweet by Elon Musk: It will go lower Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 8, 2023 According to a complaint filed by landlord Columbia Reit, Twitter is late on rent at 650 California Street on the edge of Chinatown, USA Today reported last week, The lawsuit was filed on December 29 in state court in San Francisco. The company's headquarters are located at 1355 Market St, where Twitter has also reportedly fallen behind on rent. Musk also converted rooms at the Twitter headquarters into small bedrooms, featuring unmade mattresses, drab curtains and giant work monitors. Elon Musk Says 'No One Willing To Run Twitter' but Number of People Raising Their Hands. The beds were prepared for remaining "hardcore" staffers to be able to stay overnight at the office. Sources told Forbes that there were maybe "four to eight such rooms per floor" at the Twitter HQ. Amid global recession fears, San Francisco stands to lose the most as work-from-home in the last three years of the pandemic at tech companies and expensive real estate has stalled the city's growth. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 08, 2023 12:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Texas' first SNAP benefits payment in 2023 will soon be distributed to its eligible residents after Governor Greg Abbott announced that the state's Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is issuing more than $344.1 million in emergency SNAP food benefits this month. It will be the first SNAP benefits payment in January, which is projected to help around 1.6 million Texas households. Abbott said the state government will continue to support Texans by extending emergency SNAP benefits. He then thanked the HHSC because Texans will be able to access healthy food to put on the table. HHSC received approval from the U.S. Agriculture Department to extend the maximum allowable amount of SNAP benefits to recipients based on family size. SNAP households in Texas will receive a minimum of $95 in emergency allotments. SNAP benefits recipients should be able to see the emergency allotments on their accounts by January 31. This month's emergency allotments will be distributed on top of more than $9.3 billion in benefits previously given to Texas residents. READ NEXT: SNAP Benefits 2023: Are Walmart, Kroger, BJ's Wholesale Club Still Accepting SNAP EBT Payments? SNAP Benefits 2023 The Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that several changes might affect the benefits of some SNAP recipients over the coming months. The emergency allotments, which were first imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, will end nationwide after the February 2023 issuance. Some states have already ended their emergency allotments, including Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Montana, Idaho, and Nebraska, among others. South Carolina is also ending the distribution of emergency allotments after the January 2023 issuance to their state SNAP recipients. In Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the average SNAP benefits amount will return to normal in March 2023. Meanwhile, SNAP benefits recipients also receiving Social Security payments may also see a decrease in their SNAP payments due to higher Social Security benefits. SNAP Benefits Update The food stamp payment program currently supports around 42 million beneficiaries relying on SNAP benefits for food necessities. SNAP benefits recipients can also collect Social Security benefits if they fall into the special category for people aged 60 and older. The U.S. Department of Agriculture uses income limits based on household size to determine SNAP eligibility. Most of the applicants must meet the limits on both gross income and net income. The gross monthly income limit should fall at 130% of the poverty line, while the net monthly income limit should be 100% of the poverty line. The Social Security Administration also stated that if you are receiving Supplemental Security Income, you may be eligible for SNAP benefits payments to purchase food. A 2021 National Council on Aging (NCOA) report noted that three out of five older adults who qualify for SNAP are missing out on their rightful benefits. The number is equivalent to five million people. NCOA added that many people believe that older Americans can only receive as much as $16 per month in food stamps, but that is just the minimum, with the maximum can be worth more than $100. READ MORE: Disaster SNAP Benefits Update: Are You Eligible for New Florida Payments? This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: State of Texas: SNAP Benefits Backlog Continues; State Workers Say They Need Help Too - From KXAN "I will work with my colleagues to defend democracy, make meaningful progress on immigration reform, and improve the infrastructure in our cities to ensure that the families of Long Beach and Southeast Los Angeles can thrive for years to come (...)," he added. Thus, he was added to the rolls of the House upon executing the oath of office. Garcia arrived in the North American country from his native Peru at age 5. He is currently 45 years old and has already served as Mayor of Long Beach the second-largest city in Los Angeles County. "His story is that of thousands of immigrants searching for the American dream. When he was a 5-year-old boy, he came to Los Angeles from Peru on a temporary visa without being able to speak any English. If he reaches Congress, he will work with determination to promote comprehensive immigration reform," read a story published by Metro Latino USA two months ago. "I'm running for Congress because every kid and every family deserves a real shot at opportunity. Congress should be an institution that actually helps people and improves Americans' lives," Garcia expressed on his campaign website and social media channels. then-mayor stated that he will fight hard to expand pathways to citizenship for undocumented residents and fight to end legal discrimination against undocumented residents. In an interview with People's World in August 2022, thestated that he willtoand fight to "But thanks to a progressive change in immigration law passed by Congress in the 1980s, we were able to apply for permanent legal residency. I became a U.S. citizen at 21. It was the happiest day of my life," he highlighted. Carmen Stewart, Deputy Chairwoman of the Peruvian-American Coalition (PAC) of California, said as quoted by "At the United States Congress, Robert Garcia will work hard to make the much-needed immigration reform a reality,"said as quoted by Metro Latino USA "Robert Garcia, our leader for Congress, received the political endorsement from the Peruvian-American Political Organizations (PAPO-USA) and Peruvian businesspeople in California," she added. After urging constituents to vote for him on the past November elections, Stewart affirmed that this candidate who has a political history as mayor and Democratic leader, without forgetting his country of origin promised that, as soon as he takes up duties in Washington D.C., he will work on legislation that favors interaction with Peru. ex-mayor a college and university educator M.A. in Communication Management from the University of Southern California and an Ed.D. in Higher Education from California State University in Long Beach, where he also earned his B.A. in Communication Studies. Thea holds anand an, where he also earned his According to his campaign website , Robert Garcia also grew up in Southern California. Upon his election as local authority in Long Beach, he became the first immigrant and LGBTQ mayor in the city's history. We just got sworn-in, and for the first time in history, there's an LGBTQ+ immigrant in the U.S. Congress. Robert Garcia (@RobertGarcia) January 7, 2023 I'm proud to serve as President of the Freshman Class of Democrats in this upcoming Congress. The 34 of us are ready to take on our country's greatest challenges and stand up for working people across America. Let's meet these incredible new members. A thread ?? Robert Garcia (@RobertGarcia) January 1, 2023 how it started vs how it's going pic.twitter.com/GSzjBOXTRQ Robert Garcia (@RobertGarcia) January 2, 2023 A young woman named Gaby from Lima, Peru immigrated to the U.S. with her young son in search of the American dream. Tomorrow her son will become the first peruvian ever to serve in the U.S Congress. This is her moment. Que Viva el Peru! pic.twitter.com/GN5lXtTpbR Robert Garcia (@RobertGarcia) January 2, 2023 (END) INT/MVB Former Republic of Ireland international Anthony Stokes was arrested in Crumlin, Dublin on Friday morning following a dangerous driving incident and the discovery of drugs in the vehicle worth an estimated 4,500, according to the Irish Mirror. The 34-year-old, who had a passenger in the vehicle with him, was brought to Crumlin Garda Station and charged in connection with the dangerous driving incident. A garda spokesperson said: "Gardai arrested two men (aged in their 30s) in the early hours of Friday morning, 6th January 2023 in relation to incidents of dangerous driving in Dublin 12. "A quantity of drugs was also recovered from the offending vehicle. "Both men were detained in Crumlin Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 and have been charged in relation to this. They have since been bailed and are due to appear before court at a later date. The ex-Celtic, Sunderland and Arsenal forward won nine caps for the Irish national team during his career. Dozens of Iranians gathered on Sunday, January 8, outside the French embassy in Tehran in protest against cartoons of the Islamic republic's supreme leader published by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Charlie Hebdo published caricatures of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week in support of the months-long protests in Iran sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, following her arrest for allegedly violating the country's strict dress code. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes 'Charlie Hebdo' caricatures Iran's mullahs, eight years after Paris terrorist attacks Iran has warned France over the "insulting and indecent" cartoons, which appeared in a special edition to mark the anniversary of the deadly 2015 attack on the magazine's Paris offices which left 12 dead. Dozens of protesters, most of them religious seminary students, gathered in front of the embassy in the center of Tehran and set fire to French flags, according to Agence France Presse journalists. "France, be ashamed!", the crowd chanted. Waving Iranian flags, they held pictures of Mr. Khamenei and signs reading "I will sacrifice my life for the leader", and "Shame on Charlie Hebdo". Similar protests were held in Iran's holy city of Qom, 128 kilometers south of Tehran, state television reported. On Thursday, Iran said it was closing a Tehran-based French Institute for Research (IFRI) in Iran "as a first step" in response to the cartoons. Authorities also summoned the French ambassador to protest the publication. Located in the center of Tehran, IFRI had been closed for many years but was reopened under the 2013-2021 presidency of the moderate president Hassan Rouhani as a sign of warming bilateral relations. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes 'Charlie Hebdo' targeted by hacker with nebulous profile Le Monde with AFP AN BORD Pleanala has granted permission for a two-storey house and garage in Adare after it was discussed at four meetings and despite the opposition of one of its inspectors. The Countess of Dunraven was among original objectors to the planned structure in a back lane site just off the villages Main Street, beside a two-storey thatched house. After seeing Limerick City and County Council approve the project, the owner of the neighbouring house escalated the case to An Bord Pleanala. An appeal by the Countess of Dunraven was deemed invalid. It was argued the thatched house, a protected structure, is one of the foremost historic properties in Adare, having been built more than 200 years ago. They also submit the proximity of the new development will cause overshadowing issues, a loss of privacy while concerns were raised about use of a shared laneway to access the home. An Bord Pleanala reported the issue was considered at four of its board meetings held in March, June, July and December. In her report, inspector for the national planning body Brid Maxwell recommended the refusal of the new build. She said it is part of national planning policy to seek the preservation of all known sites and features of historical and archaeological interest. It is considered that the archaeological significance of the site is such that any development of the site in advance of a comprehensive archaeological assessment would be premature and [...] be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, Ms Maxwell stated. But the board disagreed, and stated the construction of the new home and garage could go-ahead subject to a number of conditions. It was considered, given the current layout of the adjacent property, the layout and configuration of the proposed development would not have a negative implication for parking, circulation space or open amenity space within the adjacent site, the boards direction added. LIMERICK is home to a second big National Lottery win in just a matter of days. Last Thursday, it was revealed that a quick pick player at Kellys Costcutter in Foynes scooped the 11.1m jackpot in Wednesday night's draw. This Sunday, it has emerged that Hayes' Mace in Ballylanders sold a Lotto ticket for Saturday's draw worth close to 200,000. There was one winner of the match 5 and bonus prize of 194,994. The winning numbers were 9, 10, 25, 32, 34, 38 and bonus was 23. Mairead Hayes, proprietor of the store, told Limerick Live this Sunday there is "a great buzz around the village, great fun and speculation". "It would be great if it was somebody local and a regular customer but either way whoever it is I'm happy for them. It is a nice sum of money. "We cover a wide area and have a lot of passing trade as well because we're on the Old Cork-Limerick road. It could be anyone and whoever it is more luck to them. I'm delighted for them," said Mairead, who is the fourth generation of her family to run the business. This is the biggest amount anyone has ever won from playing the Lotto in Hayes' shop in Ballylanders. "We've had a few 5,000 and smaller amounts but nothing like this. It is the top prize in Ireland which is amazing for a small country shop and it's great for Limerick too after Foynes had the really big one a few days ago," said Mairead. See this Wednesday's Limerick Leader for more I worked for a few years in the USA, where my employer provided the 401(k) account. Now, I am a resident Indian. However, I still maintain that account and want to know whether I have to declare this in my income tax returns (ITR)? Name withheld on request Based on the limited information provided by you, it is presumed that you are an Indian citizen and qualify as Resident and Ordinarily Resident and thus you are required to disclose the details (in ITR-2) of all your foreign assets. Foreign Assets (FA) schedule in the ITR form seeks to incorporate the details of assets which a taxpayer holds outside India. In the absence of any specific guidelines qua asset, whether an asset is to be included or not will need to be evaluated basis the nature and vesting of the asset, wordings and description in the schedule and the limited instructions/ guidelines in this regard. It is assumed that the 401(K) account is a personal pension account in the US in which both the employer and employee contribute during the period of service. It would be prudent to disclose the details of the 401(K) account in the FA schedule. With respect to the specific section of the FA schedule under which it should be disclosed, it would depend upon the exact nature of the 401K account, which will need to be evaluated. In case of the nature of account does not fall into any specific category, one may consider reporting it under the residual section D Any other Capital asset" (as per the ITR-2 form applicable for financial year 2021-22). I had invested in an unsecured fixed deposit (FD) scheme of a company. In 2018, the company stopped paying interest and did not return the principal amount to depositors. After litigation under the Negotiable Instrument Act, the company agreed to pay me the principal without any interest for the period of the original deposit or the subsequent default period all for a total of about 4 years. Can I claim any benefit as long term capital loss for the period in which I lost interest on my deposit amount while filing my income tax return? The settlement was made during the current financial year and the repayments are being made in monthly installments. Name withheld on request Based on the information provided by you, it is assumed that, as no interest was paid to you for the default period, no corresponding income was also offered to tax by you. In such a case, this may only be construed as non-realization of a potential income, which may however not be considered as a loss for tax purposes, even though it may be so in an economic sense. Also, such loss has not arisen from the transfer of the fixed deposit, since the principal amount itself is being fully repaid to you. Hence, subject to a review of the underlying deposit scheme and terms of the negotiated settlement, a capital loss may not be available in this case. Parizad Sirwalla is partner and head, global mobility services, tax, KPMG in India. The long-awaited border reopening in China is set to spark a homecoming rush for many diaspora, though a full rebound in travel is likely to take longer. The final step of dismantling China's Covid zero will begin on Sunday, according to the Bloomberg news. China no longer requires quarantine for arrivals after authorities ditched the policy, along with the exorbitant cost of air fares amid severe capacity constraints, was a deterrent for travelers. However, anyone entering the country will still need a 48-hours Covid negative test result. The immediate impact is a surge of overseas Chinese coming back home, many of whom have not seen family for years. Connor Zhao, a 25-year-old consultant who lives in San Francisco said, I havent been home in almost two years, so the announcement felt like a fever dream. Im very excited to see my parents. Getting to spend Chinese New Year with them means a lot to me." Many countries have implemented testing requirements on travelers from China after Covid infections surged in the country, and airlines have been reluctant to immediately make major changes to their flight schedules meaning capacity remains tight and prices high. "The willingness to travel has started to strongly rebound among Chinese. But it still takes time to be reflected in the outbound travel routes," said Chen Xin, head of China leisure and transport research at UBS Securities, Bloomberg reported. Much of the initial inbound flow is expected to come from Hong Kong, through which many of the diaspora will travel given limited direct flights from global destinations to mainland cities. Theres been a rush to secure spots in the daily quota of about 60,000 people allowed to travel northward from the financial hub, including 50,000 via the land borders that separate the two places, though officials have promised that capacity will be raised over time. It is pertinent to note here that the relaxation comes a day after China began chun yun - the 40-day period of Lunar New Year travel known prior to the pandemic as the world's largest annual migration of people. This Lunar New Year public holiday (which officially runs from January 21) will be the first since 2020 without domestic travel restrictions. (With Bloomberg inputs) Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez have already travelled to Saudi Arabia, where the Portuguese star was presented by his new club, Al-Nassr. The couple have reportedly already found an impressive mansion to stay in the capital of Riyadh, a city distinguished by palm trees, impressive skyscrapers and exclusive shopping malls. According the Daily Mail, Ronaldo demanded to be provided with a villa as part of his contract with the Saudi side. The house is worth 12.2 million euros and has eight bedrooms, an oversized swimming pool and a reception foyer with waterfall. It's located in a neighborhood where people with Western customs reside. This means that Georgina will not be required to comply with any dress codes, such as being covered from head to toe or wearing a veil. Now, the couple are in search an elite school, similar to The Ryleys School, one which their children currently attend. King Charles III reportedly forbade Meghan Markle from attending the Balmoral Castle the place where Queen Elizabeth spent her last days and ultimately passed away on September 8th. According to Prince Harry's memoirs in his upcoming book "Spare" and the Daily Mail, King Charles spoke to Harry to prevent Meghan Markle from attending the Balmoral Castle saying that the attendance was strictly for the closest family. Prince Harry's book "Spare" was released in Spain before anywhere else In the incendiary book that was set to be released until Monday the 9th but for some reason was released in Spain before schedule, Prince Harry also mentioned that he told the King 'Don't ever speak about my wife that way'. The Duke and Dutchess of Sussex were in fact in London while the Queen's health declined while she stayed in the Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Furthermore, Lady Di's youngest son claims that he and Meghan Markle found out about his grandmother's passing through the BBC, not his immediate family. While all the arrangements were being made, Kate Middleton also stayed home with the royal children George, Charlotte, and Louis as Prince William boarded the plane to attend Balmoral along with Prince Andrew, Edward, and his wife Sophie. Right after the news broke about the Queen's passing, a representative of the Sussex royals informed that both Meghan and Harry would be attending Balmoral. As they were making the arrangements, King Charles III specifically told his youngest son that he could not bring his wife via a telephone call. Later, it was announced that Prince Harry would be traveling alone A source claimed that 'Charles told Harry that it wasn't right or appropriate for Meghan to be in Balmoral at such a deeply sad time,' 'It was pointed out to him that Kate was not going and that the numbers really should be limited to the very closest family.' The source concluded. Tributes are pouring in for drag racer Sam Fenech after the Aussie dad-of-three was killed in an enormous high-speed crash on Saturday. The 55-year-old suffered fatal injuries after his vehicle left the track at Willowbank Raceway in Ipswich, Queensland, just before 7pm and crashed into a camera tower. "It is with great sadness that Top Fuel Racing Australia announces that Sam Fenech, driver of the Fabietti Racing Doorslammer, has succumbed to injuries suffered in a racing accident at Willowbank Raceway and passed away this evening," said a statement on Willowbank Raceway's Facebook page. Sam Fenech suffered fatal injuries after his vehicle left the track at Willowbank Raceway in Ipswich on Saturday. Source: Twitter "We send our love and support to the Fenech family and the whole team at Fabietti Racing." The accident occurred during Willowbank's New Year Nitro drag racing event. Graphic footage of the crash shows fans watch in horror as Mr Fenechs car suddenly flies into the air and crosses the track before flipping and slamming into the camera stand. The mangled vehicle is then seen rolling on the grass as smoke billows into the air and emergency services rush to the scene. Graphic footage of the crash shows fans watch in horror as Sam Fenechs car suddenly flies into the air. Source: Twitter At the time, Top Fuel host Wade Aunger described the crash as enormous and announced that Mr Fenech was receiving medical treatment, 7News reports. He is reportedly survived by his wife and three children. Queensland Police said the camera operator was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Queensland Ambulance Service said the patient was in a stable condition. Police's forensic crash unit is working with Workplace Health and Safety to investigate. Story continues Fans and fellow racers pay tribute to Sam Fenech Mr Fenechs death has left the Australian racing community devastated, fans said on Twitter. The Australian National Drag Racing Association said it is deeply saddened by this tragic news. Sam was a great man, racer and friend, may he Rest In Peace. Please join us in sending our deepest condolences to his team and loved ones at this terrible time. Absolutely lost for words. RIP Sam Fenech To witness this tragedy at Willowbank Raceway tonight is absolutely heartbreaking. My heart goes out to Sams family, pitcrew, friends and supporters. Also wishing the cameraman a fast recovery too. Todd Hazelwood (@Todd_Hazelwood) January 7, 2023 Fellow race car driver Todd Hazelwood, who attended the event, said he was absolutely lost for words after the accident. To witness this tragedy at Willowbank Raceway tonight is absolutely heartbreaking. My heart goes out to Sams family, pitcrew, friends and supporters. Also wishing the cameraman a fast recovery too, he tweeted. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) A former U.S. defense intelligence analyst who was convicted of spying for Cuba more than 20 years ago has been released from a federal prison in Fort Worth, Texas. Ana Belen Montes, 65, was released Friday, Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesman Scott Taylor said Saturday. Montes, an analyst for the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, was arrested in September 2001 and charged with spying for Cuba. Montes pleaded guilty in 2002 to conspiring to commit espionage as part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. She acknowledged revealing the identities of four undercover agents for the U.S. to Cuban authorities and had faced a possible death sentence if convicted. Federal prosecutors at the time said the four agents whose identities she revealed were not harmed. U.S. prosecutors also accused Montes of disclosing to Cuba secrets so sensitive they could not be described publicly. Court records said she provided documents that revealed details about U.S. surveillance of Cuban weapons. Officials at the time said Montes was believed to have been recruited by Cuban intelligence when she worked in the Freedom of Information office at the Justice Department between 1979 and 1985, and was asked to seek work at an agency that would provide more useful information to Cuba. She began working for the Defense Intelligence Agency starting in 1985, and was considered a top analyst on the Cuban military. The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing to beef up its presence in the Pacific with an 11th vessel for the Hawaii-based District... TOKYO (AP) Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida begins a weeklong trip Monday to strengthen military ties with Europe and Britain and bring into focus the Japan-U.S. alliance at a summit in Washington, as Japan breaks from its postwar restraint to take on more offensive roles with an eye toward China. Kishida's talks with U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday will highlight his five-nation tour that also takes him to France, Italy, Britain and Canada some of Group of Seven nations Japan has stepped up defense ties with in recent years. His first stop is Paris on Monday evening. Kishida said his summit with Biden will underscore the strength of the Japan-U.S. alliance and how the two countries can work more closely under Japans new security and defense strategies. Japan in December adopted key security and defense reforms, including a counterstrike capability that makes a break from the country's exclusively self-defense-only postwar principle. Japan says the current deployment of missile interceptors is insufficient to defend it from rapid weapons advancement in China and North Korea. Kishida said he will explain to Biden the new strategy, under which Japan is also reinforcing defenses on its southwestern islands close to Taiwan, including Yonaguni and Ishigaki, where new bases are being constructed. Will will discuss further strengthening of the Japan-U.S. alliance, and how we work together to achieve a fee and open Indo-Pacific," Kishida told a NHK national television talk show Sunday, referring to a vision of national and economic security cooperation the two countries promote to counter Chinas growing military and economic influence. Under the new strategies, Japan plans to start deploying in 2026 long-range cruise missiles that can reach potential targets in China, nearly double its defense budget within five years to a NATO standard of about 2% of GDP from the current 1%, and improve cyberspace and intelligence capabilities. The idea is to do as much as possible in a short time as some experts see growing risks that Chinese President Xi Jingpin may take action against self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory. Japan's new strategy has been well received by the Biden administration and some members of the Congress. Experts say it would also widen cooperation with their main regional partners Australia and possibly South Korea. This is an opportunity to rethink and update the structure and the mechanisms of the alliance to reflect a much more capable partner thats coming, said Christopher Johnstone, senior adviser and Japan chair for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He said, however, that Japan's focus on the strike capability and budget is a welcome but a daunting agenda" that will require a lot of cooperation with the United States. Paving the way for the summit, Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will fly to Washington to meet their American counterparts, Lloyd Austin and Antony Blinken, on Wednesday, followed by separate defense ministers' talks Thursday. The Biden administration, which also adopted its security strategy in October, expects Japan to assist in the supply and storage of fuel and munitions in case of a Taiwan emergency, experts say. Japan and the United States are also reportedly considering establishing a joint command. During the talks at the White House, the two leaders are also expected to discuss China, North Korea's nuclear and missile development as well as Russia's war on Ukraine, Japanese officials said. Cooperation in the area of supply chain and economic security will be also on the table. Last week, Japanese Economy and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo disussed in Washington the importance to work together to promote and protect critical and emerging technologies, including semiconductors, and export controls to address competitiveness and security concerns. During his trip, Kishida will seek to further strengthen bilateral military ties with four other countries, Japanese officials say. Japan's joint development and production of its F-X next generation fighter jet with Britain and Italy for a planned deployment in 2035 will be a top agenda item during his visits in Rome and London on Tuesday and Wednesday. Japan and Britain have also been discussing a Reciprocal Access Agreement that would remove obstacles to holding joint military exercises in either country. Besides the Japan-U.S. security treaty that allows U.S. troops to station in Japan, Tokyo has a similar agreement only with Australia, and Britain would be second. During his talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, Kishida is expected to share concern over China's growing activity in the South Pacific and confirm stepping up joint military exercise between the two sides. Libraries are more than just books, they are about communities and connection! At Seymour Library, we strive to connect our community with resources (including books) and programming, whether it be storytimes or chair yoga, lectures on local history or technology assistance. To provide these services and resources, we need to hear from you. Please take a moment to fill out a brief survey, available on the librarys website (seymourlibrary.org) or in print at the library. Let us know about your library experience and what you would like to see at Seymour Library in the future. Complete the survey by Jan. 20 and be entered into a random drawing for a $100 Visa gift card! Looking to discover a new interest or hobby in 2023? Seymour Library has you covered with a variety of free programs, including chair yoga, meditation, painting with acrylics, fiber arts, travelogues, digital literacy workshops and more! De-stress after the busy holiday season with a chair yoga or meditation class! Chair yoga: 3 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 11, 18 and 25. The library, in partnership with the Cayuga Museum of History & Art, will be offering chair yoga classes with instructor Wendy Vitale at the Carriage House Theater, behind 203 Genesee St., Auburn. No registration is required. Meditation: 2 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 12 and 26. Discover inner peace, relaxation and relief from stress through both guided and silent meditation with certified meditation leader Joe Sarnicola at Seymour Library. No registration is required. Get inspired by other artists at one of Seymour Librarys painting or fiber arts drop-in social clubs! CREATE! 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19. Join other artists at the library for painting with acrylics. Bring your current project or start a new creation! Supplies will be provided. No registration is required. The Seymour Stitchers: 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 10, 17, 24 and 31. The librarys newest fiber arts group, The Seymour Stitchers, is a drop-in social group where you can bring your current project (knitting, crochet, sewing, ect.) and chat with friends while you stitch. No registration is required. Planning to travel more in 2023? Escape from winter with Seymour Librarys new travelogue series! "The California Coast": 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26. Take a trip along the California coast with Tom Henry! "W.H. Seward's Travels Around the World": 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16. Journey through time during this presentation focused on William H. Sewards 1870-1871 travels with guest speaker Kate Grindstaff, education and outreach coordinator at the Seward House Museum. "Warm Places": 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 23. From Malta, Sicily, and Rome to Death Valley and Mesa Verde National Park, Tom Henry will take you around the world during this travelogue focused on warm-weather travel destinations. Stay-tuned for more travelogues that will be announced on the librarys website, seymourlibrary.org. These programs are part of the After Hours Lecture Series made possible by the Friends of Seymour Library. Received a computer or tablet device over the holiday season? Check out these upcoming free digital literacy workshops funded by the PLA Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive: Cybersecurity Basics: 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19. Learn the basics of cybersecurity and the best practices for navigating safely online. Registration is required. Please call the library at (315) 252-2571 to register. Resume Basics: 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9. Learn the basics of resume development. Registration is required. For more information about upcoming digital literacy workshops, visit the librarys website at seymourlibrary.org/digital-literacy-series. Read More! 2023 Reading Challenge Maybe your 2023 goal is to read more if so, Seymour Librarys Read More! 2023 Reading Challenge is for you. Read More! 2023 invites you to read 12 books throughout the year. Each of the 12 suggested categories will have a second bonus category, so you can pick if you want to read this or that. For example, choose to read a book that makes you laugh or a book about a family. To explore this year's categories, browse book suggestions and download the 2023 reading log (which is also available to pick up at the library), visit seymourlibrary.org/read-more. Make sure to fill out your reading log and return it to the library by January 2024 to be entered to win a grand prize. For a complete list of upcoming programs, visit the librarys events page at seymourlibrary.org/events-classes. Chief Yeoman Mary Raissa Stewart, a trailblazing World War II SPAR beloved by the U.S. Coast Guard, has died at the age of 101, roughly a century before she planned to go. Mary Stewart lived a life, said her longtime friend and neighbor on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Peggi Morris, 84. When she turned 95, she told me, Im on a five-year plan. I said, A five-year plan? She said, Well, Im five years from 100 and I need to start checking things off that I need to do. She wanted to be 200! On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy feted the SPAR veteran they called Aunt Mary with a gala 101st birthday party. On Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, a little more than six months later, she died, following a bout with the COVID-19 virus. Mary was an eccentric trailblazer whose inner fire was fueled by breaking boundaries, the U.S. Coast Guard proclaimed in a Tuesday announcement about Stewarts death. Enlisting into the USCG in 1943, Mary quickly rose to the rank of chief yeoman, and directly contributed to the Allies victory in the Second World War. Fly high, Chief! Stewart joined the war effort shortly after she received her bachelors degree from American International College. Her first duty station in the US Coast Guard Womens Reserve called the SPARs was in Florida, where she taught business courses to military secretaries. She later became the administrative assistant to an admiral in Washington, D.C., freeing others to battle abroad, according to her obituary. She was first stationed at The Breakers in Palm Beach. We used to joke, Poor baby! said Morris, whose husband, Walter Lee Morris, passed away in October at the age of 86. Stewart used her GI Bill benefits to earn her Master of Business Administration degree in 1948. A brief marriage to Robert Stewart brought her to St. Croix and she began teaching business courses again, but this time to students at the University of the Virgin Islands. Stewart never remarried, and she retired in 1986 as a professor emeritus whod toiled to expand the university system to St. Croix from St. Thomas. That gave her more time for her nieces and nephews, visiting them in Connecticut between her treks around the world, globetrotting that picked up pace after she hit 95. Greece. Russia. China. Africa, said Morris, ticking off destinations. And she often would travel alone. Shed tell you to meet her someplace. So a trip might start off in Chicago, but then youd be in Kigali, then Nairobi. Shed go everywhere. Mary Stewart, a U.S. Coast Guard SPAR during World War II, celebrates her birthday at the Coast Guard Academy, in New London, Connecticut, June 24, 2022. Stewart honorably departed the sea service in 1946 as a yeoman chief petty officer. (U.S. Coast Guard photo) A fierce feminist, Stewart loved books, faraway tropical locales, good friends, bridge games, dancing with a cocktail on her head, beating the slot machines, the Coast Guard, and waging political campaigns on behalf of her niece, Susan Bysiewicz, the 109th lieutenant governor of Connecticut. Stewart spent her final years in Deerfield, Florida, daring the doctors at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to find anything wrong with her health. Mary Raissi Stewart was born on June 25, 1921, in Enfield, Connecticut, to Greek immigrants Kyriakos Raissi and Anna (nee Gavalas) Raissi. The youngest of six children, she was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Pauline Scourles, Poppy Fowler, Evangeline Luddy, John Raissi, and Shirley Raissi Bysiewicz; and her nephew, John Fowler. She is survived by her nieces, Lillie Fowler Doyle, Christine Luddy Bell, Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz, Karen Bysiewicz, and Gail Bysiewicz; and her nephews, Theodore Scourles, Robert Fowler, John Luddy, and John Bysiewicz. Stewarts family will hold a private celebration in Connecticut to honor her long life and devotion to service. Carl came to Coffee or Die Magazine after stints at Navy Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. He served in the Marine Corps and the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. His awards include the Joseph Galloway Award for Distinguished Reporting on the military, a first prize from Investigative Reporters & Editors, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Read the original article on Coffee or Die Magazine. Follow Coffee or Die on Instagram. HRM Stella Okorie 07.01.2023 LISTEN Nigerias fast-rising beauty queen, career model, actress and social inclusion advocate, HRM Stella Okorie has advised youths to portray themselves accordingly and should stop being used as pawns. Over time, the Abia State-born trailblazer has been unconditionally dedicated to her vision of advocating for massive participation of youths in evolving a greater and better Nigeria devoid of violence and political crises. In a recent media chat with The World Satellite Magazine , the former Most Pretty Queen Nigeria Diaspora revealed that youths are one of the greatest assets that any nation can have, emphasizing their role in peaceful elections. Not only are they legitimately regarded as the future leaders, but they are also potential and the greatest investment for a countrys development. The extent of their vitality, responsible conduct, and roles in society is positively correlated with the development of their country, Queen Okorie explained. Speaking further, the multitalented Stella charged all youths to peacefully participate in the forthcoming general elections. The youths should at this time resolve to stand firmly for violence-free elections. The creative fashion and commercial model also noted her plans for campaigns and outreaches geared towards seeing Nigeria in the nearest future with empowered youths campaigning and maintaining peace in all parts of Nigeria through expanding of understanding of cultural diversity. She, therefore, urged people of like minds to partner with her. Among the beauty contests, she has won include; Most Exceptional Queen Nigeria and Miss Polyuwana, Most Pretty Queen Nigeria Diaspora, and more in addition to featuring in several Nollywood Movies. More so, she has done several fashion and facials shoots and creative projects such as body paints or dress-up and swimwear. Faheem Rashad Najm, popularly known as T Pain, mounted a stage for the first time in Ghana at the Black Star Line festival. It was an incredible moment as one by one, the thousands of teaming crowd gathered at the Independence Square in Accra, sang out his lyrics amidst cheers from the crowd. T-Pain performed back-to-back hits including, Good life, Bartender, Buy you a drink and so on, but the crowd went agog when he performed All I do is win. He also displayed his usual dancing skills and this got the crowd charged up some more. Seeing the love from the crowd the American rapper went on one of his knees on stage and said; I promise to be there for yall. Thank you, Accra, Thank you Ghana. T-pain was one of the big international acts that took turns performing at the Black Star Line concert held on January 6, 2022, at the Independence Square in Accra. However, Vic Mensa and Chance the Rapper hosted the Black Star Line Festival in Accra which featured a weeklong series of events and climaxed it with a music concert. The two artistes have been rallying the diaspora community to permanently contribute their skills and capital to the cocoa-rich West African country. Watch the video below: President Akufo-Addo has said his government has strengthened the capacity of institutions to fight corruption than any government since independence. Talking about the need to safeguard the countrys democracy, the President noted that if we seek to prolong our democratic journey, it is imperative that we enhance transparency and accountability in our governance structures, and build strong institutions that can fight corruption and the dissipation of public funds. It is on the back of this that he declared, I say, without any form of equivocation, that my government has undertaken, arguably, the boldest initiatives since independence to reform and strengthen the capacity of our institutions to tackle corruption in the public sector, including the financial empowerment of the anti-corruption bodies, the passage of the Right to Information Act, which previous administrations had been unable to effect, and the establishment of the Office of Special Prosecutor, an independent, non-partisan body, with the relevant professional capability and exclusive mandate to investigate and prosecute acts of corruption. He noted that on all accounts, Ghana has come a long way, and Ghanaians should not take it for granted that everybody in Ghana has accepted democracy as the preferred mode of governance. There are those who would rather have authoritarian rule, because they claim our country is underdeveloped and democracy is cumbersome, and we need to get things done in a hurry. We still have some work to do to convince such people that we are all safer under democracies, he noted. Nana Akufo-Addo said these on Friday, 6 January 2023, in his televised address to the nation to mark 30th Anniversary of the 4th Republic on Saturday, 7 January 2023. Below are details of the Presidents full address: Fellow Ghanaians, It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others. We, in Ghana, should know, for we have tried virtually all the others. We have held elections that were not free and fair; we have had constitutional regimes without limitations placed on executive power; we have had rule by law without rule of law; and we have lived under a number of military dictatorships. Just as we demonstrated in the drive towards independence in the 1940s and 1950s, we showed again in the 1990s, after the initial decades of turbulence in our national life, our determination to live in conditions of freedom and democracy. So it was that on 28th April 1992, some thirty-one (31) years ago, we approved, by an overwhelming margin in a Referendum of that day, with three million, four hundred and eight thousand, one hundred and nineteen (3,408,119) persons, representing 92.59%, in favour, with two hundred and seventy-two thousand, eight hundred and fifty-five (272,855) persons against, i.e. a mere 7.41%, the adoption of the provisions of the Constitution of the 4th Republic, which set up the institutions of a liberal democratic state, operating on the basis of the separation of powers, with express guarantees of fundamental human rights. It was, thus, promulgated with immense, popular backing. Tomorrow, Saturday, 7th January 2023, will be exactly thirty (30) years since the Constitution of the 4th Republic came into force, with the inauguration into office of the first President of the 4th Republic, His Excellency the late Jerry John Rawlings. It has inspired the longest period of stable constitutional governance in our history, with a consensus emerging strongly that the democratic form of governance is preferable, and the benefits are showing. Hence the decision to celebrate 7th January as Constitution Day. Our country is considered a beacon of democracy and stability in Africa, where respect for the principles of democratic accountability, human rights and the rule of law have enabled us to oversee eight (8) presidential elections in the 4th Republic, with five (5) presidential transitions, and three (3) peaceful transfers of power, through the ballot box, from one party to another. We have every right to be proud of this, and the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the 4th Republic should inspire us, even further, to hold on to this status. Fellow Ghanaians, I acknowledge that the strength of any democracy is very much determined by the credibility of its electoral process, and respect for the will of the people. We cannot overlook the fact that instability has followed disputed elections in many parts of the African continent. That is why we, in Ghana, must continue to urge the Electoral Commission to work to ensure that all stakeholders in the electoral process, that is the citizenry, civil society and political parties, do not have lingering questions about the legitimacy of an election. On the two (2) occasions in which disputes have arisen over the results of presidential elections, happily it was in the court, and not on the streets, that the issues were satisfactorily resolved. Preferred mode of governance By all accounts, we have come a long way, and we should not take it for granted that everybody in Ghana has accepted democracy as the preferred mode of governance. There are those who would rather have authoritarian rule, because they claim our country is underdeveloped and democracy is cumbersome, and we need to get things done in a hurry. We still have some work to do to convince such people that we are all safer under democracies. Nevertheless, if we seek to prolong our democratic journey, it is imperative that we enhance transparency and accountability in our governance structures, and build strong institutions that can fight corruption and the dissipation of public funds. I say, without any form of equivocation, that my government has undertaken, arguably, the boldest initiatives since independence to reform and strengthen the capacity of our institutions to tackle corruption in the public sector, including the financial empowerment of the anti-corruption bodies, the passage of the Right to Information Act, which previous administrations had been unable to effect, and the establishment of the Office of Special Prosecutor, an independent, non-partisan body, with the relevant professional capability and exclusive mandate to investigate and prosecute acts of corruption. As President of the Republic, I assure you that, out of duty to our children and grandchildren, and to generations yet unborn, my government will not give up when it comes to deepening our democracy and guaranteeing the integrity of the electoral process, and neither should you, the Ghanaian people. We do not have to look far back into history to see that stable period of constitutional government and intelligent management of the economy lead to prosperity. We must do everything within our means to safeguard our democracy. Tomorrows milestone is to the great credit of you, the Ghanaian people, the ordinary men and women who make up the fabric of our nation. Thirty (30) years ago, all of us resolved to build, under God, a united nation, grounded in democratic values and the rule of law. We have advanced a great deal in realising this vision, and I am confident that, with a spirit of fairness, hard work, integrity and reconciliation, the best days of Mother Ghana lie ahead of us. Even though we are presently confronted with difficulties in our economic performance, I do not doubt our collective resolve to work our way out of these challenges, and put our nation back onto the path of progress and prosperity. Let us, therefore, continue to work to create the platform for the evolution of a new Ghanaian civilisation, which will give true meaning to the foundational values of freedom and justice on which our nation was birthed. Long Live Constitution Day, Long Live Ghanaian democracy, Long Live the 4th Republic. I thank you for your attention, and have a good evening. Source: Classfmonline.com As the number of Covid-19 cases in China continues to surge, India has stepped up efforts to prepare for a similar explosion of the infection rate. Measures including ramping up the genome sequencing of Covid-positive samples to identify variants. India saw a decline in the daily number of Covid cases this week. Official figures show the total number of infections at 44.7 million and more than 530,000 deaths. However, with infection rates surging in several Asian countries, notably China, India has taken proactive measures to be ready for any contingency. Last week, authorities conducted mock drills across a number of health facilities in several states to ensure their readiness. "Covid cases are rising all over the world, and India might witness a spike in cases too, said Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. Hence it is important that the entire infrastructure in terms of equipment, processes, and human resources are at a state of operational readiness. The government earlier this week asked India's states to remain vigilant for variants of the coronavirus and urged people to wear masks in crowded areas, citing an increase in Covid-19 cases in China and other parts of the globe. China's zero covid policy that initially saved lives has triggered a surge of cases and deaths in a population with little natural immunity and low levels of vaccination. The Delhi government has made it mandatory for travellers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand to produce a negative test result and ordered random testing of 2 percent of passengers on international flights to India. With more than 90 percent of the adult population fully vaccinated by last July and more than a quarter of adults having received booster shots, there is little chance of India experiencing the wave of deaths witnessed in 2021, say experts. Vigilance remains vital We have high vaccination coverage including among the elderly. What we don't have is very high booster uptake. But we have built up a good level of protective immunity at the population level, said Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist of the World Health Organisation. The virus has mutated so much that health chiefs say the population must remain vigilant. We need to be proactive and sustain strengthening of surveillance mechanisms to detect new variants early enough and respond appropriately, Giridhara Babu, epidemiologist at Public Health Foundation of India told RFI. The Indian SarsCoV-2 Consortium on Genomics, a network of laboratories monitoring genomic variations of the Covid-19 virus, also held a meeting this week to review data from China on the viral wave that has gripped the country. The scientific community feels the focus in India should not be on daily new infections but only on any increase in hospitalisations, particularly ICU admissions. According to the health ministry's website, more than 2.2 billion doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. Forty-six Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali since July departed the capital Bamako on Saturday, a day after being pardoned by Mali's junta leader, an airport official, a Malian army officer and a diplomatic source told AFP. The Ivorian soldiers, whose detention triggered a bitter diplomatic row between Mali and Ivory Coast, were arrested on July 10, 2022, after arriving in Bamako. Mali accused them of being mercenaries, while Ivory Coast and the United Nations say they were flown in to provide routine backup security for the German contingent of the UN peacekeeping mission. On December 30, a Malian court sentenced the 46 soldiers to 20 years in prison, while three women among the original 49 arrested, who had already been freed in September, received death sentences in absentia. They were convicted of an "attack and conspiracy against the government" and of seeking to undermine state security, public prosecutor Ladji Sara said at the time. On Friday, Mali's junta leader Assimi Goita pardoned all 49 soldiers. From Bamako, they will travel to Togo's capital Lome before carrying on to Abidjan, a Togolese diplomatic official told AFP. Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe mediated in the row and had paid a "friendly working visit" to Bamako on Wednesday. Diplomatic efforts The trial opened in Bamako on December 29 and concluded the following day. It came in the run-up to a January 1 deadline set by leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for Mali to release the soldiers or face sanctions. An Ivorian delegation had travelled to Mali for talks before the trial opened, and the Ivorian defence ministry had said the dispute was "on the way to being resolved". An agreement reached between Mali and Ivory Coast at the time had left the possibility open of a presidential pardon by Goita. The Malian government on Friday cited a memorandum of understanding the two countries had signed "on the promotion of peace and the strengthening of relations of friendship, brotherhood and good neighbourliness between the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Ivory Coast". It also thanked Togo's president but denounced the "aggressive position" of ECOWAS leader Umaro Sissoco Embalo. Longstanding tensions Relations between Mali and its West African neighbours had already been strained before the arrests, since elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was toppled in August 2020 by officers angered at failures to roll back a jihadist insurgency. Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara is considered one of the most intransigent West African leaders towards Mali's putschists. After the troops were detained, the UN acknowledged some procedural "dysfunctions" in a note addressed to the Malian government, saying that "certain measures have not been followed". The Ivorian presidency also admitted "shortcomings and misunderstandings". But the row escalated in September, when diplomatic sources in the region said Mali wanted Ivory Coast to acknowledge its responsibility and express regret for deploying the soldiers. Bamako also wanted Ivory Coast to hand over people who had been on its territory since 2013 but who are wanted in Mali, they said. Ivory Coast rejected both demands and was prepared for extended negotiations to free the troops, the sources said. "This hostage-taking will not be without consequences," Ouattara said at the time. The tensions led Mali's interim prime minister at the time, Abdoulaye Maiga, to denounce a "synchronisation of actions" against Mali at the UN General Assembly in September. He attacked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for having declared that the Ivorian soldiers were not mercenaries. He also criticised ECOWAS chief Embalo as well as the heads of state of Ivory Coast and Niger. As I lie in my bed watching and listening to the sounds of the night sky, bombarded with the frequent launching of fireworks on the 31st night, I couldnt help but kept thinking over and over whether the NPP has been fair to Ghanaians, after being voted into power twice, first in 2016 and then in 2020. In November, 2019, I wrote an article about why The NDC is a scandalous political party ( https://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/The-NDC-is-a-scandalous-political-party-796335 ) I still stand by all the facts and information in that write up. I would however like to focus this write up on the past year, which clearly has seen many highs and lows for Ghanaians, and of course, my very own NPP Party, whose principles and ideas I hold dear. The past year has clearly seen unprecedented events ranging from the NPP internal elections both locally and abroad, the NDC internal elections both locally and abroad and of course the mightiest of all is the impact on our Ghanaian economy, as a result of both domestic and external forces which has had a direct impact on our most cherished currency, the cedi. I will address the latter in a different post. For the NPP, the electing of both their local officers and those from the external Branches went on smoothly. The NPP Party now has its elected and appointed officers, already planning and working towards 2024, and honouring their commitments to the good people of Ghana. This shows nothing less than a planned political machine, with effective operators and managers who can lead, and make decisions. There were no reported violence nor litigation issues, and those who lost, accepted the outcome of the elections, and pledged to support the elected officers to move the Party forward. On the NDC front, the story is quite the opposite, till now some of their external arms have not even had their own local elections yet. The main NDC Party elections in Ghana were also marred by lots of violence, some extreme, as evident on various social media platforms. Perhaps those involved in such violence were acting on the public pronouncement made by their their former flag bearer, John Dramani Mahama, to the effect that the NDC Party has revolutionary roots, and when it comes to violence, no other political party can match the NDC. Lets not forget , what goes around does indeed come around. But for the intervention of former President John Dramani Mahama, the result of the NDC youth elections was sent to court by the defeated contestant who secured an injunction on the elected officer, Mr Opare Addo, to hold himself as such. In addition, in his victory speech the newly elected Chairman of the NDC, Mr Asiedu Nketia, who has been tagged by many as very corrupt and a non-tactician , made his plans and wishes very clear to the people of Ghana. He was bold enough to proclaim while recognising that the path will not be smooth, provided an interesting solution by doing whatever it takes including sacrificing everything including lives. The sad part for me was the poor ignorant around who kept on clapping for such pronouncements! Lets not forget that se aboa bi bekawoa, efiriwontomamu which translates roughly into those close to you can bite you. Did those clapping not think where or who the sacrificed might be? This signals a broken NDC, desperate to win power at all cost to the detriment of their members and Ghanaians. As far back as I remember, the NDC has nothing new to offer to Ghanaians. They cannot organise a peaceful local party and international elections, let alone lead Ghana. Lets not be naive, the NDC has voted against the majority, if not all, of some of the key commitments to the people of Ghana in Parliament, including the mighty free education policy of the NPP government. My fellow Ghanaians, the violent NDC as a political party has nothing better to offer Ghanaians. Happy New Year to you all. Long live Ghana. Long live NPP. Long live NPP UK. Kwaku Bimpeh NPP UK Director of Communications Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi 07.01.2023 LISTEN The foremost sociopolitical pressure organisation, the Save Enugu Group (SEG) has said that whoever emerges as the next Governor of Enugu State cannot have any excuse not to perform better than Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, saying that the state Governor has left yet another legacy achievement by putting the sate on the map of oil producing states in Nigeria. In a statement signed by its founder and Coordinator, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the group said that in a few years time, the oil producing status of Enugu State should reflect in infrastructural development, improved Healthcare facilities, boost in educational support and in all other sectors of the state. For us, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has left a commendable legacy achievement by silently, but effectively, pursuing to a logical conclusion desired inclusion of Enugu State on the list of oil producing states in Nigeria. It will remain the most valuable achievement of the outgoing administration when the tenure of the incumbent Governor ends in May this year. We totally agree with Governor Ugwuanyi that the actualisation of his administrations struggle for Enugu State to join the league of states enjoying oil producing status in Nigeria will ensure the fulfillment of his prayer that his successor will perform better than he is doing if elected. Currently, the Governor's preferred governorship candidate is Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the candidate of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The SEG said that the states oil producing status is a mega success of the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration that is glaring to all, saying that when the new status of the state first become public, it was considered a political rhetoric. But with the unfolded reality, we congratulate the people of Enugu State and hail Governor Ugwuanyi, who has now distinguished himself as the people's Governor, who will be leaving a big shoe for the next administration. We hereby assure our dear state that the Save Enugu Group is alive to its mandate and prepared to continue on the path of holding the sate government accountable if any administration deviates from making pro-people projects the central focus of the government. With the new status, we enjoin the people of the state to vote wisely and elect a candidate who is prepared to not only sustain the achievements of the Governor Ugwuanyi administration but to surpass them, the group said. Forty-six Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali since July arrived home late Saturday, according to an AFP reporter at the airport, a day after they were pardoned by the neighbouring country's junta. The troops, whose detention triggered a bitter diplomatic row between the neighbouring countries, were arrested on July 10, 2022, after arriving in the Malian capital Bamako. Mali accused them of being mercenaries, while Ivory Coast and the United Nations say they were flown in to provide routine backup security for the German contingent of the UN peacekeeping mission. On December 30, a Malian court sentenced the 46 soldiers to 20 years in prison, while three women among the original 49 arrested, received death sentences in absentia. They were convicted of an "attack and conspiracy against the government" and of seeking to undermine state security, public prosecutor Ladji Sara said at the time. On Friday, Mali's junta leader Assimi Goita pardoned all 49 soldiers. And on Saturday, the remaining 46 arrived at an airport in the Ivorian economic capital Abidjan. After their plane landed at 11:40 pm (2340 GMT), the uniformed soldiers disembarked one by one, each brandishing a small Ivorian flag. They were greeted by President Alassane Ouattara before entering the presidential pavilion at the airport where their families were waiting for them. Diplomatic efforts The soldiers' trial opened in Bamako on December 29 and concluded the following day. It came in the run-up to a January 1 deadline set by leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for Mali to release the soldiers or face sanctions. An Ivorian delegation had travelled to Mali for talks before the trial opened, and the Ivorian defence ministry had said the dispute was "on the way to being resolved". An agreement reached between Mali and Ivory Coast at the time had left open the possibility of a presidential pardon by Goita. The Malian government on Friday cited a memorandum of understanding the two countries had signed "on the promotion of peace and the strengthening of relations of friendship, brotherhood and good neighbourliness between the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Ivory Coast". It also thanked Togo's President Faure Gnassingbe, who mediated in the row, but denounced the "aggressive position" of ECOWAS leader Umaro Sissoco Embalo. Longstanding tensions Relations between Mali and its West African neighbours had already been strained before the arrests, since elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was toppled in August 2020 by officers angered at failures to roll back a jihadist insurgency. Ivorian President Ouattara is considered one of the most intransigent West African leaders towards Mali's putschists. After the troops were detained, the UN acknowledged some procedural "dysfunctions" in a note addressed to the Malian government, saying that "certain measures have not been followed". The Ivorian presidency also admitted "shortcomings and misunderstandings". But the row escalated in September, when diplomatic sources in the region said Mali wanted Ivory Coast to acknowledge its responsibility and express regret for deploying the soldiers. Bamako also wanted Ivory Coast to hand over people who had been on its territory since 2013 but who are wanted in Mali, they said. Ivory Coast rejected both demands and was prepared for extended negotiations to free the troops, the sources said. "This hostage-taking will not be without consequences," Ouattara said at the time. The tensions led Mali's interim prime minister at the time, Abdoulaye Maiga, to denounce a "synchronisation of actions" against Mali at the UN General Assembly in September. He attacked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for having declared that the Ivorian soldiers were not mercenaries. He also criticised ECOWAS chief Embalo as well as the heads of state of Ivory Coast and Niger. While various African nations, such as Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and Zambia, among others, are battling against the promotion and legalization of homosexuality in their nations by the West and the United States of America, the situation in the Caribbean is the same. Jamaica is one of the tourist destinations that dont want to host gays, let alone legalize LGBTQ+ people in their society. It is dangerous to try to come out as gay in Jamaica, like in many other African nations. The world is ruled by money, power, and greed, and the only way for rich nations to reign over poor nations is by using horrible political tactics to keep the latter poor. The reggae legend Bob Marley sang in one of his songs called "Ambush in the Night," "Through political strategy, they keep us hungry, and if you going to get some food, your brother got to be your enemy." The developed world purposefully makes it difficult for developing nations to be subjugated. Demonstration against the killing of homosexuals in Jamaica, photo credit: petertatchellfoundation.org/ When you're in a developing nation, you shouldn't go to the developed world to beg for bread and money because they will tell you what to do. The legalization of homosexuality has been the US government's top priority. The US government is willing to give any African country the largest cash donation, just to legalize homosexuality on the Black Continent, since they care about the LGBTQ+ community, they see this as a means to assist Africa, but this is a false goal. Any government that respects cultural values and considers the health of the populace will not believe that legalizing homosexuality is necessary for the people since nations like Jamaica and that of Africa are battling diseases and need money to upgrade their healthcare and educational facilities. The idea behind homosexuality is total force; they want to rule the world's population, especially in wealthy African countries, to satisfy their power and greed. However, they continue to accuse nations who do not accept violating human rights. While it may be someone's choice to love the other sex and that homosexuality is a personal choice, the US government will not stop at anything to impose homosexuality on a nation that has no desire for it. Although the US Government is Zambia's largest assistance provider, the president of that nation has stated that no amount of money can compel the government to legalize homosexuality in that nation. Why isn't legalizing homosexuality a priority for African nations or other diaspora-based African nations like Jamaica? Do not be too proud to declare as gay in Jamaica, if you want to understand what it is like to live in continual terror. The Bible was used by the West and the US government to mislead black people, but through time, they have benefited from knowing what is right and wrong. This is something that the West and the US government have failed to comprehend. Africans will embrace the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality whether it was written by white men to oppress black people or by men of God. The government of Jamaica prohibits same-sex marriage and you risk up to ten years in prison, similar to many African nations. One of the leaders of the gay and lesbian movement in Jamaica, Brian Williamson was assassinated in 2004. In actuality, the West and the US government do not want to acknowledge that nations that are against homosexuality are also against the freedom to choose one's sexual orientation since it is against their culture and traditions, instead, they claim that Africans hate gays. In 2011, a survey was conducted among the population of Jamaica on the topic of legalizing homosexuality; 85% of the population aged between 18 and 84 were against it and 82% said it was immoral. Such surveys reveal that the majority arent interested in homosexuality, therefore; there is no need for the West and the US government to push the agenda for the legalization of homosexuality in such countries, but the rich nations find it difficult to accept "no" as an answer. They continue to utilize money as a lure to this day. It infuriates many when these former slaves' masters return and tell them to accept this or that because, like many Africans and those in the Diaspora, including Jamaica, all of them are fighting to free themselves from the psychological scars of slavery. It also infuriates many when none of these developed country leaders pay attention to the voice of the leaders in developing countries. Antoinette Haughton, a radio personality, claims "Homosexuals should reside somewhere if they wish to express themselves freely. They aim to indoctrinate our kids and convince them that living immorally is beneficial." Errol Hall, an evangelist, supported her remark and said: "They identify as homosexuals and wish to keep that identity. Why do they wish to continue becoming the people whom they loathe and hate others not willing to be them?" Hall exhorted gays to attend church in one of his lectures so that he might "cast out the demons from them." If Jamaica doesn't want something, likely, other African countries won't either since Jamaica is Africa and Africa is Jamaica. We revere, adore, and respect our cultural traditions, the West and the US should eventually concede that Jamaica or Africa is not ready to tolerate or legalize homosexuality. Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley, and all the other famous reggae musicians are from Jamaica, where they advocated for cultural values and condemned crime and poverty rather than legalizing homosexuality. John Katko set the bar for the next eight years with his pledge to voters in 2014. As he campaigned against Democratic U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei, he criticized the incumbent's legislative record. He told voters that if he had the same record, he would expect to be fired. That desire to be an effective, independent legislator won over central New Yorkers. He defeated Maffei by 20 points. He was reelected three more times, twice by double-digits. Katko's time in Congress is over. He decided not to seek reelection in 2022, opting to spend more time with his family. What he leaves behind is a legacy that rivals some of central New York's most prominent members of Congress, names like Boehlert and Walsh. Katko reflected on his career in interviews with The Citizen the keys to his success, his achievements and why he decided to step away. The promise When Katko first campaigned for Congress, he sought to be an independent representative willing to work in a bipartisan fashion. He also wanted to get things done. According to Congress.gov, Katko sponsored 134 bills. The House of Representatives passed 43 of those measures and seven were signed into law. But that only tells part of the story. The tally does not include bills that were attached to larger packages, the preferred method in the modern Congress to advance legislation. When those bills are factored in, Katko says he had nearly 100 bills passed by the House and 35 signed into law. Katko admits that he does not rack up those kinds of numbers without building relationships with members of both parties. "If you consistently vote in a bipartisan manner and you vote against your party when you think it's the right thing to do, you will get a reputation and people will come to you to work with you across the aisle knowing that they got a better chance of working with someone like you who will bend a little bit," he said. "I think that really helped a lot." There are numerous bipartisan wins over the years, from the passage of a $1 trillion infrastructure bill in 2021 Katko played a pivotal role in drafting the legislation to breaking with his party to support a bill that will boost domestic semiconductor chip manufacturing. As his time in Congress wound down, John Katko was invited to join President Joe Biden on Air Force One to Syracuse for a celebration of Micron's plan to build a memory chip manufacturing facility in central New York. That invitation was recognition of Katko's work on the bill, the CHIPS and Science Act, that made Micron's investment possible. But Biden, a Democrat, was not done showing his appreciation for Katko, a Republican, and his service in Congress. During his remarks at Onondaga Community College, Biden gave Katko a shoutout. He told the crowd that he liked Katko "a lot" and thanked him for working together on issues like the chips bill. Biden added, "I'm, quite frankly, a little sorry you're leaving." It was not the only time that Biden acknowledged Katko's commitment to bipartisanship. A private ceremony was held at the White House in September when Biden signed a bill to extend certain employment protections to Federal Emergency Management Agency reservists. Katko, who introduced the bill with U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, a Democrat, was invited to attend the ceremony in the Oval Office. "Nobody else was there," Katko said. "It was a quick signing ceremony and then (Biden) sat down and talked with us for a half hour." After the meeting with Biden, Katko recalls White House aides telling him that the president recognizes his willingness to work across the aisle. "I took pride in that," he said. The focus areas As a member of Congress, there are often numerous issues to address, from in-district challenges to topics of national importance. Katko, a former federal prosecutor, was interested in a familiar subject homeland security. He was a member of the House Homeland Security Committee through his four terms in Congress. The first bills he had signed into law were products of his work as chair of a transportation security subcommittee. Katko quickly became a leader on issues related to foreign fighter travel and the threats posed by ISIS, a Middle Eastern terrorist group. Over the years, the threats posed by cybersecurity emerged as a hot topic. "The paradigm has completely shifted," said Katko, who finished his congressional career as the ranking Republican member of the House Homeland Security Committee. "Now, cybersecurity is the number one threat to the country. That's why I gravitated toward that issue because it naturally presented itself as a problem." When Congress established the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency within the Department of Homeland Security, Katko was involved in the effort and continued to play a role in the agency's development. He introduced legislation to bolster federal cybersecurity, some of which became law. Beyond homeland security, his role on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee allowed him to advocate for the Interstate 81 project. He never took a stance on which I-81 alternative he supported, insisting that his role was to support what the community decided and ensure that federal funding is available for the project. The transportation and infrastructure committee also gave him a forum to discuss water quality issues, namely the harmful algal blooms affecting Owasco Lake. "I had no idea what an algal bloom was when I came to Congress," Katko said, adding that he worked to address water quality issues in infrastructure bills and to bolster revolving funds to support state and local water infrastructure projects. There were local priorities, too, from working on the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park to pushing for the same designation for Fort Ontario in Oswego. One issue Katko remains passionate about is mental health. He became one of the leaders on mental health issues in Congress. He successfully sought to increase access to pediatric mental health services in central New York by partnering with Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli. He co-chaired the Mental Health Caucus with U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano, a California Democrat. Napolitano told The Citizen that she hopes Katko will stay active in highlighting the importance of mental health care. "The partnership was great and I'm going to miss him," she said. "I found him to be very helpful and we worked together well." The Trump years Two of Katko's four terms in Congress were during Donald Trump's presidency. While his approach to legislating did not change, it was a different environment. Katko faced backlash from different ends of the political spectrum, from Trump-supporting Republicans who felt he wasn't a team player and Democrats who believed that the GOP congressman should take a stronger stance against his party's standard-bearer. It was a balancing act. Katko says he had a good relationship with the Trump administration Ivanka Trump, the former president's daughter, visited Syracuse and joined Katko for an education roundtable in 2018 but acknowledged that it was "sometimes hard to work across the aisle" during those years. Katko was not a Trump supporter when the real estate magnate was elected president in 2016, but endorsed him for reelection in 2020. Grant Reeher, a political science professor at Syracuse University and host of "Campbell Conversations" on WRVO, told The Citizen that Katko faced significant political pressure throughout his congressional career. "That had to have been multiplied by a large factor because of Trump and the deep passions that Trump generated," he said. "I think he dealt with that in a very good way. That would've been hard for anybody and I think he handled that with a certain dignity and grace which needs to be recognized." While Katko sided with Trump to vote for tax legislation in 2017, one of the major achievements of the Trump administration. But it's Katko's vote to impeach Trump that will be remembered. In the aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol in 2021, congressional Democrats pushed to hold Trump accountable. They introduced an article of impeachment that Katko reviewed. On the eve of the vote, he announced he would break with his party's leadership and vote to impeach Trump. "I approached the vote like I did any other vote," Katko said in October, nearly two years after Trump was impeached. "It was not about saving my political skin but doing what's right. If you're going to be independent, that's how you got to think. I put my money where my mouth is. I looked at the facts, applied them to the charge and I made my decision." He continued, "I don't regret it for a second. Did it come at a great personal cost? Yeah. But oftentimes that's what you do when you're a leader. Leadership can be lonely. Leadership can be very tough. But it's also rewarding when you know you stood up to things that were going to be very tough. In that respect, I'm proud of it like I am all my votes." The reception to the vote was mixed. Trump loyalists were disgusted and withdrew their support. Katko was praised by others, including leaders within the GOP and Democrats who were among his harshest critics. After Katko announced he would not run for reelection in 2022, Trump celebrated and took some credit for the decision. "It's irrelevant to me," Katko said. "I did what I thought was right. I think history will judge me appropriately and I can look in the mirror and like what I see. That's the most important thing." The decision Even as Katko lost some support within his party and the influential Conservative Party, he appeared to be in a strong position to win reelection in 2022. He raised $1.8 million in 2021, an impressive haul in a non-election year. He maintained his bipartisan record and while redistricting loomed, he was well positioned for the midterm elections. But personal losses took their toll. He and his wife, Robin, lost their parents within the last few years. Katko, who turned 60 in November, began to think about his future. "Not that this isn't important," he said of serving in Congress, "but it's not the most important thing. Family is." He discussed it with Robin and felt it was "the right time" to bow out. He announced one year ago, in January 2022, that he would not run for reelection. While there was speculation that the decision was due to politics, he is confident that he would have won a fifth term. "I knew I was going to win again," he said. "There's no question from the polling that we would've won. I just felt it was the right time for my family. I don't have any regrets about it. I know it was the right thing to do." In his farewell addresses, Katko discussed the impact on his family. While sacrifices were made, they were proud. Katko told The Citizen about his late mother, Mary Lou, and her request after he won the 2014 election. She kept asking for a campaign sign to put in her apartment, but she didn't want a typical yard sign. She wanted one of the larger signs. She got her wish, but Katko was not expecting what happened next. "Next time I go over," he said, pausing as he became emotional," she had it hanging above her bed. Everything in the room was red, white and blue... It gave her a lot of joy." Next steps Katko is unsure of what he will do next. First, he plans to spend time with his family, especially his wife, Robin. While he has retired from Congress, he is not done working. He will explore other opportunities outside of public service. As he reflects on his four terms in Congress, he is proud of what he achieved. He believes he followed through on his promises and accomplished a lot for central New York. "I worked hard and I was fair," he said. "I didn't let Washington get to me. I kept my word about being bipartisan. The American people aren't stupid. I think a lot of people in politics take their constituents for granted. I never did and they know that." The Tema Collection Sector of the Customs Division, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has held a pulling out ceremony for its' outgoing Sector Commander, Assistant Commissioner Julius Aweya Kantum (Rtd) after 37 years of service. A citation presented to the outgoing sector commander stated that his meticulous vetting of documents on Integrated Customs Management System (ICUM) platform to establish corrections of values, and the origin of goods among others was the guiding principle of his administration. These skills and knowledge manifested in high tax revenue performance where the collection significantly reduced the tax variance of negative 16.39 percent recorded in the year 2020 to negative 3.95 percent for the year 2021. To climax this success, the collection recorded a variance of positive 7.83 percent for the year 2022. Mr Seidu Iddisah Iddrisu, Commissioner, Customs Division of the GRA, commended Mr Kantum for his contribution toward the growth and expansion of the Division since 1985. Mr. Iddrisu added that his steadfast attitude and due diligence towards his job was truly inspirational for others who were encouraged to work harder and set new benchmarks of achievements. He added that the ongoing sector commander has shown leadership in his service to Customs and therefore retires as a father of many. He announced that the Tema Collection would now be under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner Christiana Odi Adjei, who was the Sector Commander Accra Collection and has served in various capacities over the years in Tema, Kotoka International Airport, and Customs Headquarters, among others. The Customs Commissioner entreated all officers, NABCO personnel and stakeholders to give the incoming commander their unflinching support to replicate her achievement and continue the success chalked by the outgoing commander. Mr Kantum, on his turn recounted when he joined Customs in 1985 as a Junior Collection Assistant III and rose through the ranks until his retirement as the Sector Commander for the Tema Collection. He said in the past 37 years, he served under 20 plus commissioners and has been in the thick of things from the days of the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) through Ghana Community Network Service (GCNet), Pre-Shipment inspection to Gateway Services Limited and Destination Inspection. As well as from Brussels' definition of value to Transaction value in 2000; and then to the resumption of the core functions of Customs in 2015. I have been privileged to play leading roles in these various stages in our organization's life, and I discharged my duties, I believe, creditably with integrity. I have tried to be and hope I remain relevant and significant in Ghana Customs, he said. He expressed joy at helping the Tema Collection to exceed its revenue targets by 7.83 percent in 2022 before retiring from the service. He said it was no secret that when Tema Collection performs very well and exceeds its target by a high percent, it took care of the shortfalls of other collections to ensure that the national target was achieved or exceeded. He advised the youth in the service to discharge their duties professionally and work as tax collectors instead of being facilitators of tax evasion. Madam Theresa Potakey, Second-in-command at the Tema Collection, Customs GRA said Tema Collection revenue mobilization strategies were enhanced with Mr Kantums' vast knowledge in Customs operations, coupled with his experiences he was able to achieve revenue targets continually for the past three years of his tenure. GNA Ghana has one of the longest coastlines in West Africa, 550 km (360 miles) of which most of the coast is sandy or soft rock like clay and limestone with only few sections being rocky. This geomorphological formation along the coast combined with human activities, global warming, climate change, strong and high tidal waves, strong and fast moving ocean currents, storm surges, sea level rise, coastal deforestation, sand winning and extraction, coastal infrastructural development, dam construction and the blocking and/or diverting of river channels, etc., have contributed to the damage, destruction and loss of of portions of Ghana's sea coastline. A Coastline Under Threat. Ghanas coastline is under serious threats from a set of environmental causes since the turn of the 20th century. This has necessitated the rolling out of a number of sea defence projects along the entire coastline from Aflao to Half-Assini by successive governments since pre-colonial time till date. Some were completed, others have some phases completed and and the rest still ongoing. Below are some of the key coastal defense works and protection undertaken in Ghana so far: 1. Keta Sea Defence Project. 2. Ada Sea Defence Project. 3. Sakumono Sea Defence Project. 4. Atorkor-Dzita- Anyanui Sea Defence Project. 5. Ngyiresia Coastal Protection Project. 6. Aboadze Coastal Works. 7. Nkontompo Coastal Works. 8. Blekusu Coastal Protection works. 9. Dansoman Coastal Protection Project. 10. Mensah Guinea Sea Defence Project. 11. La-Chorkor Sea Defence Project 12. Amanful-Kuma Sea Defence Project 13. New Takoradi Sea Defence Project 14. Axim Sea Defence Project 15. Anomabo Sea Defence Project 16. Ningo- Prampram Sea Defence Project 17. Dixcove Sea Defence Project 18. Komenda Sea Defence Project 19. Elmina Sea Defence Project 20. Cape-Coast Sea Defence Project. The Coastline East of Volta Estuary. The coastline east of the Volta Estuary is the fastest eroding. In early December 2022, Keta experienced one of the scariest coastal erosions ever witnessed in the area in living memory. An entire beach stretch (about 150 feet of beach) in front of Agblor Lodge and Aborigines Beach Resorts was eaten up by the sea. These beautiful tourist facilities are under great threat by the destructive waves generated by increasingly strong ocean currents. Emancipation Beach Resort lost a big hut to the sea in 2022 and the facility is threatened. These are worrisome development, indeed! A Living Witness. I grew up in Keta, precisely Dzelukope and Abutsiakope. I remember crossing an old very wide sand dune of a beach before reaching another one, especially around Ghanakpedzi and Lokpodzi beach towards Zomayi beach, Tettekope beach. I also remember vividly seeing a very wide beach around Tegbi-Kpota, Woe Lighthouse, Whuti, Srogbe, Adakordzi, Akplorwotokor in as recently as the 1990s. Today, greater portions of those beaches are gone into sea and the communities are precariously exposed. Erosion along Ghana's entire stretch of 550km coastland, especially along its 100km situated between Volta Estuary and Aflao is arguably the greatest environmental threat in Ghana besides galamsey. In 2012, I was in Fuveme for a tour and saw a thriving fishing community respledent with coconut trees, a school block with a wide beach in front of it, a sizeable number of houses. The scenery was same thing at Kporkporgbor and Gbakpeygbor. These three thriving fishing communities with thousands of coconut trees lining up their beachfront as well as the river fronts no longer exist on Ghana's geography map - courtesy a ravaging sea - wiped off and disolved in the deeps of the ocean. The last time I was at the seabank of the nearby Anyanui Channel at exactly where Fuveme used to be about 10 years ago, I tried using my Google Maps App. When I googled Fuveme RC Basic School, the location was shown off the coast, a distance into the sea, far away from the current coast. Fuveme, Gbakpeygbor and Kporkporgbor no longer exist on the terrestrial but in the waters! The sea has now created a new sandbar which has now blocked the original natural passage way from Anyanui to Ada, and gradually creating another entry into the sea for the river at the obliterated Fuveme area. Other Communities About to Follow Suit. On the eastern side of the Volta Estuary, communities such as Agorkedzi, Atiteti, Dzita, Kedzikope, Horvi, Blekusu, Adina, Agavedzi, Salakope, Amutsinu, Denu and Aflao, are now facing greater threat of being totally eroded in the next 20 to 50 years. Remember, it took just under 10 years for Fuveme and others to be totally erased at an average 3-8 metres rate of erosion per annum along Ghana's coast. This is even worse at other places with as high as 14 metres cited. Indeed, danger looms! Causes of Coastal Erosion. Many factors have been adduced to coastal erosion in Ghana. Some of these are natural and others are anthropogenic or manmade. The following are some of the most predominant ones. - Climate Change: This is brought about by the general effects of global warming on all atmospheric conditions. Global warming itself is caused by the increasing level of atmospheric temperature above the pre-industrial levels. This ultimately causes the melting of ice caps and glaciers at the poles leading to sea level rise around tropical countries. - Sea Level Rise: This is as a result of climate change and causes sea water to spill onto land and thereby eating up the coast. It is believed that a millimeter of sea level rise can cause about 3 meters erosion of the coastline. - Strong Tides and Waves: Most of Ghanas coastline experience strong waves and tides most parts of the year. This greatly contributes to erosion, especially where the coast is sandy. - Destruction of Protective Vegetation: The removal of vegetative cover along the coast is also a cause for coastal erosion. Vegetation such as mangroves, coconut trees, coastal grasses all protect the coast against waves, winds and storm surges. And it has been observed that most of these vegetations have been destroyed by human activities and thereby exposing the area to the threats of the environment. - Indiscriminate Sand Winning: Illegal and indiscriminate sand winning and extraction activities have also contributed to the phenomenon o coastal erosion along Ghanas coast. - Development of Infrastructure along the coast: The development of capital projects such as harbours, ports, Landing beaches, sea defence protection and walls, etc. have also contributed greatly to the coastal erosion. The construction of a port for example necessitates the diversion of prevailing ocean currents to a different directions and this almost always affects the down drift east of the facility. A good example is the Keta Sea Defence Project and its effects on the communities east of it such as Horvi, Blekusu, Agavedzi, Salakope and Amutsinu, etc. - Nature and Alignment of The Coast: The sandy nature of most parts of the coastline of Ghana makes it susceptible to erosion. The coastal geomorphology of the coastline east o the Volta Estuary is a sandy one. In addition, the alignment of the coastline too is another factor. The coastline seems oblique to the prevailing winds, ocean currents and waves. - Changes at the Estuary of River Volta: Since the construction of the hydro-electric dam at Akosombo in 1965, the Volta River has not been able to bring enough materials and sediments (silt deposits). The sea has since had this flow reduced in volume thereby slackening natural augmentation to sand dune pile up. The volume of materials have greatly reduced at the mouth of the river. This phenomenon has reduced the accretion process that used to the place on the eastern side of the estuary before the completion of the dam. The process has worsened the erosional activities on the eastern side of the estuary leading to the disappearing of some coastal communities like Kporkporgbor, Gbakpeygbor, Fuveme, etc. Effects of Coastal Erosion. A lot of negative effects result from coastal erosion, namely: loss of land, loss of lives and livelihoods, damage to properties and infrastructure, displacement, resettlement, migration, etc. Proposed Solutions to Coastal Erosion. There are both natural and technical/scientific solutions to coastal erosion. Some natural ones are: - planting coastal vegetation like mangroves, coconut trees; and - legislation against sand winning, etc. The scientific solutions include but not limited to: - coastal civil engineering works like the construction of sea defense walls such dykes, groynes and beach revetments, beach nourishment, and land reclamation, etc. It's An Annual Routine. Reoccurring coastal erosion has been an annual affair for many years now; and has unfortunately become part of the people in Anlo, Keta and Ketu-South Districts. Every year, the people of Agorkedzi, Attiteti, Whuti, Srogbe Tegbi, Tettekope, Kedzikope, Salakope, Amutsinu, Agavedzi, Denu and Aflao, etc. suffer from coastal erosion at least twice a year around April/May and November. These coastal communities have been at the mercy of this environmental threat for far too long. In November 2021, it was total devastation, distress and dislodgement for the residents of Kedzikope, Agavedzi Amutsinu and Salakope, some of the communities worse affected by the week-long erosion and flooding when the waves entered these settlements. Sea water flooded homes, shops, kiosks, schools, cemeteries, shrines etc. People were rendered homeless, hapless and helpless. Heartfelt Appeals. The authorities and the people of these areas have appealed to government to come and protect the rest of the coast from Kporkporgbor through Fuveme, Agorkedzi, Attiteti, Dzita, Agbledomi, Whuti, Srogbe, Anloga, Woe, Tegbi, Tettekope, Dzelukope, Abutsiakope, Kedzikope, Horvi, Blekusu, Agavedzi, Salakope, Amutsinu, Adina, Adafienu, Denu and Aflao areas. In short, the entire coast from Volta Estuary to the eastern part with the exception of Akplorwotorkor, Keta, Adzido, Vodza and Kedzi which have already seen some coastal protection civil engineering works, need a coastal protection works like sea defense walls, groynes, construction, beach revetment and nourishment for coastal protection. Government of Ghana should join the West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) Resilience Project, an eight country coastal protection project being financed by World Bank. It is very important for the government to save the countrys coastline, the Ghanaian coastal communities, coastal resources, infrastructure, and the beautiful beaches for tourism development and promotion. This is the only way to stop this perennial tidal wave erosion and the annual environmental threat. Coastal communities in Anloga, Keta and Ketu-South areas and other places along the coast need salvation now. Conclusion. Ghana is about to see its 550 km coastline retreated greatly just in a century through erosion if no comprehensive and scientific solution is found for this environmental threat. The earlier, the better. Joel Degue Environmental Activist. (+233 242501638) 08.01.2023 LISTEN The world was brought to its lowest ebbs when the Coronavirus disease struck to bring everything to undesirable standstill in many ways. Notwithstanding the avalanche of challenges brought on by this pandemic, the Change Agent Network (CAN)- a non-profit organization operating in Liberia as Opportunity Network Liberia, dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty through education, weathered the storm to achieve significant milestones in 2022. Mr. Eric W. Wowoh, the Founder and Executive Director of CAN said the organization achieved its goals as set forth for the year 2022. We achieved our goals, and the milestone achievements are highlighted herein, he said. Figure 1Eric Willise Wowoh, Founder and Executive Director of Change Agent Network According to organizations annual report, the Change Agent Network have achieved the following milestones in the last 20 years working in Liberia to transforming the entire nation of through education, mentorship, sustainable development, and the hope of the Gospel; over US$3.5 million have been raised to support projects undertaken by the organization; shipped 15 forty-foot containers of assorted supplies to Liberia; shipped 4 School buses to schools in rural Liberia with additional 3 buses to be shipped in 2023; Built 20 plus schools in 6 counties in the country of Liberia; educating over 4,000 underserved children; 300 employees on payroll nationwide; Graduated more than 2,000 students; Built and donated 9 houses to homeless families in the communities in which they serve; and took over 100 global partners on short term mission and volunteer impact trips to Liberia to make a difference, add value, and give hope to so many people. Commission On Higher Education Gives Change Agent Network To Run University During the year under review, the Change Agent Network (CAN) University was given approbation by the Commission on Higher Education to operate tertiary educational programs in Liberia. The Founder and Executive Director intoned that in the coming year, the organization will begin construction works on two educational and empowerment villages in Grand Gedeh County -Southeastern Liberia and launch another two in Margibi and Montserrado Counties respectively. He added that in 2023, CAN also will resume its feeding programs in few of the schools the organization is operating in the country. Mr. Wowoh stressed that these initiatives are inspired by the question: How do you keep a pistol out of a childs hand? We answer: With education, we keep a pistol out of a childs hand. He is entreating partners and people of all walks of life to see the need to consider investing and supporting the Change Agent Networks campaign to Feed the Hungry and break the cycle of poverty through education, mentorship, sustainable development, and the hope of the Gospel. Our goal is to raise $18,000 to feed the hungry in Liberia by shipping another 40ft container full of 50lbs of American Long Grain rice (840 bags total) from Supreme Rice Mill in Crowley, Louisiana to Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. At CAN, we do solidarity work but due to the current unprecedented food and economic crisis in Liberia, we are shifting gear to ship rice to starving school children and our brothers and sisters in Liberia who lived in the communities and schools we serve. The reason is we cannot talk about and do anything else if the students, parents and staff are all hungry, the Founder and Executive Director of CAN stated. Student Reubenlyn S. Diggs of the Heart of Grace High School had this appeal to make: My name is Reubenlyn S. Diggs. I am in the 9th grade class of the Heart of Grace High School. I have my mom and three siblings after watching my father leave my mom, my dream is to use my education to become a lawyer to help women in similar situations. My mother is a hard worker, but the current food shortage has made it very hard for her to care for our family. Thank you so much for helping me chase my dreams of becoming a lawyer. I kindly ask you to consider supporting the Feed the Hungry Campaign to help my family and many others like mine. This will carry us a long way. Thanks in advance and may God richly bless you!. According to Mr. Wowoh, it is because of children like Reubenlyn and investors like you that CAN does not give up, despite the challenges involved in the mission that started 20 years ago. You are the hero, and we are only the channel through which Liberia is being transformed, one child at a time through education, mentorship, sustainable development, and the hope of the Gospel. Therefore, as you wrap gifts for your loved ones and family members, we hope and pray that you will consider investing and partnering with CAN and the struggling children of Liberia. We sent out our Christmas cards earlier because we want the celebration in Liberia to be as joyous as it is in the United States and around the world. In Liberia, people do not give cards to their loved ones, hence we invite you and your lovely family members to write a kind note that will be given out to them. You will witness their reaction from Liberia. Give today where the need is greater, build to a big impact overtime, set an amount to automatedly contribute each month. Our monthly donors, investors, and partners never forget to offer a hand up, he pointed out. CAN Partners With Steve Ackley To Fulfil Mission As a poor refugee who was in Nigeria and later taken to the United States through the Refugee Resettlement program, Eric W. Wowoh established the Change Agent Network to transform the lives of his kinsmen in a big way. His vision, however could not be achieved without the help of others with like minds. So, CAN has been working in partnership with Mr. Steve Ackley from Technology 4 Transformation (T4T) for many years now. This great organization has donated hundreds of used computers and accessories, laptops, tablets, and Chromebook to Liberia. These donations enable us to fulfil our mission to break the cycle of poverty through education in Liberia. After over 40 years, Brother Steve returned to Liberia on a vision and discovery trip alongside some of his partners and friends. ELWA is the organization Steve travelled to Liberia with, and ELWA Academy is where he went to school. This was his first visit back in 45 years. During this trip, Steve travelled with six suitcases full of over30 pieces of laptops and other items for the Heart of Grace School and other institutions belonging to CAN in Liberia. Change Agent Network CEO Honored By Liberian Institute For Growing Patriotism His efforts have not gone unnoticed as he was awarded a prize for patriotism by the Liberian Institute for Growing Patriotism in Monrovia. Eric Wowoh, Founder and CEO of Change Agent Network, was among recipients who were awarded the Judge Emma Shannon Walser Medal for Rule of Law, Good Governance and Patriotism in a ceremony at AME University Graduate School in Monrovia, Liberia, on August 23, 2022. The award was granted by The Liberian Institute for Growing Patriotism which was launched in 2013 to pay tribute to Liberian heroes and heroines from all origins and walks of life. Mr. Wowoh and CAN were honored for the patriotic role he plays in building schools in order to break the cycle of poverty in Liberia. CAN Partners with GGAA to Build Educational Village in Grand Gedeh County, Liberia The vision and demonstrated commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty through education attracted invitation from the Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas. As a result, CAN Founder and CEO Eric Wowoh and CAN Board President Dr. Stefania Forte visited Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, August 27- September 3, 2022. Their purpose was to meet with local people regarding two massive programs undertaken this year in Zwedru City: The Women and Children Resource Center and the Grand Gedeh County Leadership Academy. GGAA has provided land for the construction of the education village. A vocational school, as an extension of this program, will be built in Zleh Town on land provided by the local people. GGAA and GDAA hold the deeds and all legal documents for these projects. Meeting with the traditional council and elders, youth, women, the political leadership of the county, and others, Wowoh stressed the importance of having the knowledge, support, engagement, and involvement of those who will benefit most from these projects. He stated that CAN will match every dollar given toward the construction of these two education programs and that the workforce will be recruited exclusively from the county. Dr. Forte emphasized during that visit to her hometown: This is not us bringing something to the county. It is us working with the county. Our organizations philosophy is not charity but solidarity. These consultations are important because we are solidifying the proposal. It involves a lot of work, but we have done it in other counties. She also described the centers as first-time milestone projects which will bring a robust academic experience to the children, which can serve as an example for other counties to imitate. Community leaders expressed their enthusiasm and support for the projects, their impression of what CAN has accomplished in other counties, and their recognition of the need for the services which the centers will provide. Traditional leaders said the fact that CAN leadership came from so far away and travelled difficult roads to come to them showed their commitment to service. They further stated, We stand ready to work with you to ensure that this project is implemented. We will work to ensure that every bottleneck is removed. In Zleh Town, the CAN team was welcomed by residents, and traditional and local government leaders. There the announcement was made of the hope for the school to be constructed and ready for use by the 2023 school year. Foundation for Women Partners with CAN to Introduce Safe Conversations to Liberia Launched the first ever relational competency and peace-building tool in Liberia Also in 2022, the Foundation for Women and Change Agent Network started liaising with authorities at the Ministry of Education for the introduction of Safe Conversations into the Liberian educational curriculum, with a goal of teaching SC dialogues and tenets in all schools of the country. Like CAN, Foundation for Women is a registered non-profit, non-government organization working to end poverty. Safe Conversations was introduced to Liberia in 2021 by FFW founder Deborah Lindholm. FFW then invited two of CANs schools to join in an SC pilot project. SC is the leader in relational education, which empowers youth, families, couples, and professionals to talk without criticism, listen without judgment and connect beyond differences. It was founded by relationship experts and authors Drs. Harville Hendrix and Helen Hunt as a new way of talking and listening is now being practiced on every continent in the world. For post- war Liberia, SC is not only a relational competency tool but an innovative and effective approach to peacebuilding. When SC tools are applied correctly, safety and connection occur. An SC trainer, impressed by the reception of SC in the country, said, Safe conversations are needed in the school curriculum to change the lives of children. Liberia is a post-war country, and SC will help our young ones see a bright future by equipping them with a tool to help them authentically connect with each other. We are developing future leaders who will be ready to serve this country the right way. A program of in-person training was held prior to a meeting with Deputy Minister Alexander Duopu of the Ministry of Education. The response was overwhelming in terms of number of participants, their interest, and overall commitment. Safe Conversations can play a critical role in helping Liberias transition to sustainable peace. It can become not only an intrinsic part of the schools curriculum but will also spread throughout CANs work culture and the surrounding communities it serves. Deputy Minister Duopu has stated that the Ministry will partner with SC through CAN to ensure the programs success and expansion throughout the country. Amazing Liberia-Texas Connections Help Build School Mr. Wowohs work connected him to Pastor Malcolm Harris, another Liberian who had the desire of building a school. With support from the Esther Class of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, the two have worked together to construct the Kingdom Care Academy in Monrovia which is expected to open in 2023. During the reporting year, Epsilon Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority partnered with Change Agent Network (CAN) through Dr. Sammer Jones, Director for Global Relations, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Chapter, to attach a Tailoring Program to the CAN/ONLIB School System in Liberia, West Africa. This is the oldest African American Sorority organization in the United States. 97 Years of Sisterhood, Scholarship, and Service ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY. Our first partnership program is the tailoring school presently being implemented at the Alexandra A. Andrews Academy in Gbarnga, Bong County, Central Liberia. The vocational school is one of our major pillars when it comes to breaking the cycle of poverty through education in Liberia. The reason is, over 80% of our students who graduate from high school may not have the opportunity to go to college due to poverty. It is expected that this vocational education program will provide struggling parents in rural Liberia, especially women, to gain a vital skill that will lead them to self-empowerment. The cost of school uniforms has been a plight that many families had to deal with and, most times, becomes a hindrance to the students education journey. We believe that this great program will give its beneficiaries the opportunity to sew uniforms, and that same skill will equip them to become economically viable and lessen the financial burdens of others around them. The Board President of CAN, Dr. Stefania Forte stated In my first year as the Board President of Change Agent Network (CAN), I notice that our work to eradicate poverty in Liberia through education has never been more relevant and important for those of us in the non-profit world across the nation and the world. Ive come to think of Change Agent Network as one very large and blessed family. My love for my country Liberia, education, and the Lord led me to the family of Change Agent Network. I have been connected to CAN for many years in the capacity as a donor, a volunteer, and a consultant. Throughout the years I was blessed with abundant opportunities to learn, teach, mentor, and share top quality education training and advice. With Gods grace and support, we have accomplished a lot this year! I feel blessed, grateful, and inspired by the rural women and youth of Grand Gedeh County, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA), the transformative powers of Safe Conversations (by Drs. Helen Hunt and Harville Hendrix) and witness the commitment and resilience of the CAN supporters and local staff members. What an amazing group of people! The changes around us - whether social, political, technological, scientific, economic, or otherwise - requires that we help our students, families, and CAN staff navigate through new and increasingly complex social landscapes, which profoundly impact the organization for which we work and our communities. Liberia is facing a rough time in food security with the current Rice Crisis where families do have access to food and cannot afford the outrageous prices due to the rice shortage. Our terrific CAN community of professionals, sponsors, well- wishers, and friends is a network on which I have become increasingly reliant when facing these new challenges and opportunities. Figure 2Dr. Stefania Forte, President of the Board of the Change Agent Network Im proud of CAN successes this year, particularly in providing more opportunities to serve the Liberian people and for meaningful engagement of our members and sponsors. In the year ahead, we will continue the following initiatives and programs: Grand Gedeh Leadership Academy and Women and Children Resource Center in Zwedru City, Grand Gedeh County, Southeastern Liberia, the Vocational Technical Education Institute in Zleh Town, Grand Gedeh County, Southeastern Liberia; the AKA Tailoring Program at AAA Academy in Gbarnga, Bong County, Central Liberia and Safe Conversations in CAN schools curriculum, she emphasized. January 08, 2023 Last week's post on Moon of Alabama: --- Other issues: Russia: Clip of a 1997 Biden speech on NATO expansion. In it he says the Russians told him they were threatened by it and it might force them to ally w/ China. Biden laughs and says, 'Good luck - and try Iran too!' This debacle is 30-years in the making. CSPAN - User Clip: Biden Blunder January 08, 2023 Ukraine Open Thread 2023-08 Only for news & views directly related to the Ukraine conflict. The current open thread for other issues is here. Please stick to the topic. Contribute facts. Do not attack other commentators. Posted by b on January 8, 2023 at 14:03 UTC | Permalink Comments next page India has handed over 75 passenger buses to cash-strapped Sri Lanka to help it strengthen its public transport system. India's assistance to the country is part of its 'Neighbourhood First policy. A total of 500 buses will be supplied to Sri Lanka through Indian assistance, the Indian High Commission here said in a statement. In December, India handed over 125 Mahindra Scorpio SUVs to the Sri Lanka Police under a line of credit to support the island nation and help it address the serious mobility restriction issues faced by the police, due to the non-availability of vehicles. This is out of a total of 500 total units promised to the country by India. India has extended multi-pronged assistance to the country to help it tide over its worst economic and humanitarian crisis since its independence from Great Britain in 1948. In May last year, the Sri Lankan government declared a debt default on over $51 billion in the foreign loan, a first in the countrys history. As a good neighbour extending much-needed support to another neighbour in need, India gave financial assistance of nearly $4 billion to Sri Lanka during the year. While in January, India announced a $900 million loan to Sri Lanka to build up its depleted foreign reserves as the financial crisis began to unfold. Later, it offered a $500 million credit line to Sri Lanka to fund the countrys fuel purchases. The credit line was later expanded to $700 million due to the sheer gravity of the situation. The Indian credit lines since early 2022 have been in use to import essentials and fuel after street protests erupted due to severe shortages of essentials. First Published Date: With the start of the 113th Tennessee General Assembly this week, I always want to make sure to address the issues that matter most to those I am honored to represent in Nashville. My office recently conducted a legislative survey that found residents in my district view crime, education and illegal immigration as the three most important issues currently facing Tennessee. In my opinion, illegal immigration is the No. 1 issue. Its the greatest threat to our countrys sovereignty and public safety. From terrorism, illegal drugs and fentanyl and the enormous financial burden to taxpayers, the failure of the Biden administration to address the growing crisis at our southern border is a problem that affects us all. Im reminded of what President Donald Trump once said, Without a border, we just dont have a country. As of August, there were nearly 5 million foreign nationals who had entered the United States illegally since the president took office. That number continues to climb and represents more than the individual populations of 25 states and more than 100 countries and territories. I will continue to push back against the harmful failures of the Biden administration and do what is necessary to keep our communities safe. We took an important step to increase public safety in Tennessee last year with the passage of Truth in Sentencing. The law requires offenders convicted in eight categories of violent crimes to serve 100 percent of their court-imposed sentences. Those categories include attempted first and second-degree murder, vehicular homicide resulting from driver intoxication, aggravated vehicular homicide, especially aggravated kidnapping, especially aggravated robbery, carjacking, especially aggravated burglary. In addition to strengthening our laws, we must also look for ways we can help Tennesseans with criminal records who want to turn their lives around. I recently partnered with several local groups to organize an expungement clinic and job fair to help individuals who have served their sentence become productive members of society once again. This will also help fill a critical need that we have for labor in our workforce and will benefit our entire state. One key way that we can help prevent crime is by continuing to invest in education. According to a recent study, students who attend better-funded schools are 15 percent less likely to be arrested through age 30. That is why I was proud to support the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement Act, which updates the way our state funds public education for the first time in more than 30 years. The legislation will help ensure students have all of the resources they need for success. Every school district in Tennessee will also receive more funding, with the exact increases depending on the needs of the student population being served. In all, our state will invest a historic $6.5 billion in K-12 education this fiscal year. In September, I also took part in an education forum at the Smyrna Event Center with Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn and other members of the Rutherford County legislative delegation. The event focused on answering questions about the Tennessee Learning Loss Remediation and Student Acceleration Act, and the potential for some third graders to be retained if they do not meet reading proficiency standards. While I believe there will likely be legislation introduced this session that will seek to further refine this law, we must remain committed to helping our students improve their reading skills. A 33% proficiency rate among third graders is simply unacceptable. We must continue to support our students as well as our educators in every way possible, and I am confident that we will do so again this year. Overall, Tennessee is thriving under Republican leadership, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the General Assembly to ensure that success continues in 2023. Mike Sparks lives in Smyrna and represents Tennessee House District 49, which includes part of Rutherford County. Plaque and decals for winners are now available to be claimed Drop by the Marianas Variety office at Alahaihai Ave., Garapan to pick up. For more information, call our Sales Representatives at (670) 234-9272. Dragos, a global leader in cybersecurity for industrial controls systems (ICS)/operational technology (OT) environments, today (January 8) announced CEO and Co-founder Robert M. Lee is returning as a speaker at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland on January 17, for the session Securing Critical Infrastructure. Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure target IT and Operational Technology (OT), impacting the range of functions those technologies support. As attacks become more sophisticated, it is imperative for the global community to treat cybersecurity risk as a systemic challenge that requires collective decision-making and coordinated action across the private sector, governments, and civil society. How can business and political leaders mobilise a collective response to safeguard critical assets and mitigate systemic damage? Lee will share his perspective during this session, directly linked to the ongoing work of the Centre for Cybersecurity of the World Economic Forum. Also at Davos, Lee will participate in the multilateral meeting on Operational Collaboration Against Cybercrime, and help guide the dialogue around cybersecurity, cyber resilience, and digital trust during the Meeting for the Centre of Cybersecurity. Lee is an active contributor to the World Economic Forum and returning Davos speaker. He previously spoke on Cyber Security of Critical Infrastructure at the Davos Annual Meeting 2022 during the Global Cybersecurity Outlook. Lee is a member of the WEF Cybersecurity Leadership Community and the WEF Subcommittee on Cyber Resilience for the Oil and Gas and Electricity Communities. He contributed to the WEF white paper for Cyber Resilience in the Oil and Gas Industry, Advancing Supply Chain Security in Oil and Gas: An Industry Analysis and published the WEF article, Cybersecurity has much to learn from industrial safety planning. The World Economic Forum had previously selected Dragos as a 2020 Technology Pioneer, an annual distinction that recognises the 100 most innovative early to growth-stage companies from across the globe that are poised to have a significant impact on business and society. Dragos was the first industrial cybersecurity company to receive this recognition. WEF subsequently named Dragos as a Global Innovator.--TradeArabia News Service Using -ish as an adverb, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), means Qualifying a previous statement or description, esp. as a conversational rejoinder: almost, in a way, partially, vaguely. A recent case is ubiquitous in the news cycle. To freshen the fodder, as it were, heres a personal example. According to my sainted Mudder, theres not a drop of Irish blood in my body, but still, I celebrate St. Patricks Day. I quaff a pint or two of Guinness and dream of someday sipping a dram of Midleton Very Rare Irish Whiskey. This doesnt make me Irish, but does it make me Ir-ish? Or is it Irish-ish? Because the OED is a historical dictionary, they have provided a quotation of what they have ascertained is the first published instance of -ish used in this colloquial fashion. 1986 Sunday Times 19 Oct. (Review section)51/8 One of those neatly crafted middle-brow plays which, because they have a pleasantly happy ending (well, ish) might make people think that theyve been handed a soft option. Whats interesting here is the attempt to convey in print what is a spoken nuance. The reverse, I suppose, of employing air quotes in conversation. Of course, the real issue of the moment is, well, what is the real issue of the -ish? Is it an embellishment? Is it an embroidery? Prevarication? Dissembling? Or is it just more of that which cattle leave behind when theyve left a pasture? I recently attended a symposium on the campus of the Biloxi School of Bartending organized by HACK (Humorists, Authors, Columnists, and Kibbitzers). Full disclosure: I am on the Potluck Committee. The keynote address was given by Darrel Berry, columnist for the Lake Charles, Bayou Shopper. Whats There to Laugh about Anymore? There was confusion regarding the amount of time allotted to Mr. Berry. He thought he had an hour, the planning committee had in mind a hard thirty minutes. Mr. Berry won the brief tussle at the podium and continued, even as most of the audience left the hall to attend breakout sessions. I stayed to the end. The upshot of his talk was thistheres nothing left to joke about except airline food and parenting. Every other topic in the HACK Library of Funny has become radioactive. The Superiority section of the library is taped off with a sign, Renovations in progress. The Yo Momma collection has been transferred to the Old Gym where the statue of Hiram Biloxi, founder of the college, has been placed in storage because of his careless use of pronouns during the Spanish-American War. I cant confirm these as facts, but thats what Mr. Berry claimed. During the Q&A, someone, maybe the only waiter, asked about politics. Surely, she said, its still open season on politicians. Mr. Berry said, OK. What do you get when you put a Republican and a Democrat in a lifeboat? His mic went dead. Eventually, he shrugged, waved goodbye, and pointed to his merch table in the back. Not in the back back. Back-ish. Close Fill Kanczula and his dog, Frank, walk down the urban trail near Thorpe Park Tuesday as they get some quality outside time despite the snow-covered ground. Kendall Hayes races down a snow-covered hill near Thorpe Park Tuesday afternoon, closely followed by Marston Hayes and Stephanie Johnson. The Hayes came to Flagstaff from the Phoenix area to visit Johnson and have some fun in the winter weather. Joey Delorenzo holds tight to his sled as he races down a hill near Thorpe Park Tuesday afternoon. Delorenzo and his family came to Flagstaff from the Phoenix area to have some fun in the winter weather. For more photos, see Page A7, and for an online photo gallery, visit azdailysun.com. Folks carrying sleds explore the forest near Thorpe Park Tuesday afternoon in search of decent sledding hills on which to have some fun. Folks carrying sleds walk the urban trail near Thorpe Park Tuesday afternoon in search of decent sledding hills. Gallery: Snow leads to a flock to Flagstaff Fans of snow flocked to Flagstaff recently following a storm that blanketed the city. Fill Kanczula and his dog, Frank, walk down the urban trail near Thorpe Park Tuesday as they get some quality outside time despite the snow-covered ground. Kendall Hayes races down a snow-covered hill near Thorpe Park Tuesday afternoon, closely followed by Marston Hayes and Stephanie Johnson. The Hayes came to Flagstaff from the Phoenix area to visit Johnson and have some fun in the winter weather. Joey Delorenzo holds tight to his sled as he races down a hill near Thorpe Park Tuesday afternoon. Delorenzo and his family came to Flagstaff from the Phoenix area to have some fun in the winter weather. For more photos, see Page A7, and for an online photo gallery, visit azdailysun.com. Folks carrying sleds explore the forest near Thorpe Park Tuesday afternoon in search of decent sledding hills on which to have some fun. Folks carrying sleds walk the urban trail near Thorpe Park Tuesday afternoon in search of decent sledding hills. (Natural News) I am showing my age here but seeing things happening today that the media and one political party insists is normal, when in the past the same things would be investigated by law enforcement, and/or parents would show up and beat the snot out of the offenders, makes one realize that so-called diversity being pushed in all aspects of life, is just another way to destroy this once-great nation. (Article by Susan Duclos republished from AllNewsPipeline.com) Before getting into the diversity training being conducted at government agencies, ordered by the Biden regime, and what is included in said training, let us look at a few examples of how half of America has succumbed to perversion and deviancy. Pedophilia, A sexual perversion in which an adult or adolescent experiences a primary sexual attraction to prepubescent children. I remember a time when pedophiles were treated as the deviants they are, yet now, we see liberal websites, including MSM outlets, arguing that pedophilia is just another type of sexual orientation. Back in 2016 the far left website Salon offered up on their website to a pedophile: The title of the now-deleted (but the internet is forever!) piece was Im not a monster: A pedophile on attraction, love and a life of loneliness. I am not going to quote anything from that piece, but for those who want to confirm the veracity of the my assertion that they did publish it, here is the Wayback Machine link. That is Salon and some would rightly point out it is just a leftist blog, but even large liberal outlets like the New York Times offered space for a piece titled Pedophilia: A Disorder, Not a Crime. Because I do want to get to the diversity training being forced upon government employees sometime today, well condense other examples and just as links to verify my claims. Liberals argue men should be allowed into girls bathrooms, locker rooms and changing rooms, and women allowed into boys rooms, all in the name of inclusivity, without thought to the safety of the children or men/women who biologically have a claim to said gendered areas. I remember a time when a teacher and or third-party speaking to a child about masturbation, anal sex and other sexual acts, would have parents in an uproar and the offender fired and/or arrested, yet now, in some states, those topics are part of the school curriculum, for children as young as kindergarten age. In California children from kindergarten through 12th grade are exposed to education on topics such as fisting, blood play, masturbation, oral sex, and more. (Source) Related: California Legislature Passes Bill Reducing Penalties for Oral, Anal Sex with Willing Children Army recruitment videos focused on diversity, using cartoons as if recruiting ten year olds. (Discussed previously here) Liberal parents rushing t take their children to Drag Queen story hour events and let their children sit in the laps of men dressed as women. People now identify as animals such as cats and dogs and wolves, while purring, meowing, barking and howling. (Seen in the first video at the bottom of this article) Transvestites/ cross dressers within the ranks of the Biden administration and the military, as seen above! As a side note before moving along, the one on the right, Samuel Brinton, was hired by the Biden regime as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition in the Office of Nuclear Energy, despite the fact that he/she/it once defended a gay prostitution website that allowed children to be listed for sexual services. (Source) He was ultimately fired for stealing luggage twice from airports. Evidently stealing luggage is a worse offense than defending a website that listed children for sexual services to the man that occupies the White House. The point here is that one political party is more concerned with accepting all perversions, than they are the life and safety of Americans and the innocence of children. Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com (Natural News) A noted Christian church leader posted photos to his social media pages ahead of a New Years Eve event at which he was to appear, showing hateful graffiti that left-wing anti-religious vandals posted. Let Us Worship and Hold The Line founder Sean Feucht posted images on Instagram and YouTube Saturday morning, according to the website Church Leaders. He said the vandalism was due to his upcoming performance there. The site noted that Feucht performed at City View Church in San Diego, Calif., at 9 P.M. on New Years Eve. He went on to say that police are investigating the incident as a potential hate crime. Last night, bigots spread hate and violence at a church where we are holding a New Years Eve event in San Diego, Feucht wrote in a Saturday Instagram post. The police are investigating it as a hate crime. The enemy making the age old (sic) mistake. Persecuting the Church wont stop the gospel, itll spark a wildfire. View this post on Instagram A post shared by S E A N F E U C H T (@seanfeucht) The website noted further: Vandals spray painted numerous epithets and warnings around the church property, including, F Sean Feucht, Queers Bash Back, Christofascists not Welcome, BLM, Sean Feucht Kindly F Off, Anti-fascist resistance will not falter, Separate Church & State, Trans Rights Are Human Rights, Bigots not welcome, No Safe Space for Bigots, Transphobes out of SD, God Loves LGTBQ, Sean Feucht hates queers, Queers Bash Back, F Christian Nationalists. Church??State, Awaken Breeds Hate, and Sean Breeds Hate all over the churchs outside walls and signs. Last night, bigots spread hate and violence at a church where we are holding a New Years Eve event in San Diego. The police are on scene investigating it as a hate crime Make no mistake The radical left is intolerant. WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN. pic.twitter.com/WvAZ4lBIXK Sean Feucht (@seanfeucht) December 31, 2022 The enemy making the age old mistake. Persecuting the Church wont stop the gospel, itll spark a wildfire. pic.twitter.com/J1by1yVXOm Sean Feucht (@seanfeucht) December 31, 2022 In addition to defacing church property with vulgar messages of hate, the vandals also reportedly broke a window after they defaced it with spray paint, the Church Leaders site reported. Feucht told the website that the vandalism is a fear tactic, its intimidation, and you know, we dont get discouraged when fear comes, we actually get emboldened and this is a chance for the church of California to take a stand to rise up in unity and to say, Were not going to let persecution, bigotry, hatred, vandalism, stop us from worshiping. The church isnt a building. Were the bride of Christ and in 2023, were rising up like never before. Its no surprise that there is so much anti-Christian hatred in the U.S. and throughout the left-led West. Its been rising for years thanks to a commensurate decline in Christian traditions and influences in our culture and various societies. As noted by Frontpage Magazine in January 2018: This is evident everywhere and in a myriad of forms. Most recently, the British government refused to say whether telling people about the Christian faith could be a hate crime. Lord Pearson of Rannoch, a UKIP peer, asked the House of Lords if they would confirm unequivocally that a Christian who says that Jesus is the only son of the one true God cannot be arrested for hate crime or any other offence, however much it may offend a Muslim or anyone of any other religion? Government spokesperson Baroness Vere of Norbiton responded equivocally, adding that the legal definition of hate crime has been the same for the past 10 years. But as Pearson explained in a later interview, the current definition of hate crime is subjective and revolves around whether the victim feels offendedthus leaving the door wide open to charging those who proclaim Christ and the Trinity of committing a hate crime, especially vis-a-vis Muslims, who adamantly object to the claim, as Pearson himself acknowledged. Certainly the stricter Muslims do feel offended by Christianity and our belief in Jesus being the only Son of the one true God, he said. That shouldnt matter. Western values are premised on the freedom to worship as one pleases (thanks to Americas founding fathers their concepts were eventually adopted by other democratic societies). But when intolerance is permitted to thriveit will. Sources include: NaturalNews.com ChurchLeaders.com (Natural News) The advent of social media has become the bane of modern society, as it has created a world that literally does not exist, for the most part. Gone are the days of MySpace and the early years of Facebook, when users simply posted status updates, photos from places they visited, recipes, and other things to keep in touch with family and friends. Todays version of social media exists to foist lies, propaganda, and false narratives on tens of millions of people by the minute, used by government and some in the private sector for non-stop psychological warfare, as Twitter boss Elon Musk has recently revealed with his dumps of Twitter Files. Now, we learn that Twitter was used to spread massive lies about the COVID-19 pandemic in order to scare the public into complying with one tyrannical mandate after another. As Revolver News reports, a pair of E.R. doctors who claimed that they witnessed dozens of COVID deaths per shift were not even real people: If you were on Twitter back when the COVID fear mongering was at its peak, youll likely remember the Twitter doctors who popped up, seemingly out of thin air, claiming they were losing hordes of patients to COVID every single day. These so-called doctors whipped everyone into a fear frenzy. Their tweets would get tens of thousands of retweets and engagement daily. The doctors posed as ER physicians and were part of the LGBTQ community in some way. They created this hellish/apocalyptic scenario that made it sound as if bodies were piling up in the streets. Well, this probably wont come as a huge surprise to you, but those popular ER doctors were fake. The site quoted a bombshell report in the San Francisco Standard, which revealed the false flag operation. Last month, Dr. Robert Honeyman lost their sister to Covid. They wrote about it on Twitter and received dozens of condolences, over 4,000 retweets and 43,000 likes, the outlet reported. Exactly one month later, on Dec. 12, Honeyman wrote that another tragedy had befallen their family. Sad to announce that my husband has entered a coma after being in hospital with Covid. The doctor is unsure if he will come out, they tweeted. This year has been the toughest of my life losing my sister to this virus. This is the first time in my life I dont see light at the end of the tunnel. Once more, the condolences and well-wishes poured in Americans are a compassionate lot, after all, regardless of what lying leftist Democrats often say. But again, none of this was true. It was all fake. Honeyman wasnt real, the San Francisco Standard reported. The transgender Doctor of Sociology and Feminist studies with a keen interest in poetry who used they/them pronouns was, in fact, a stock photo described on DepositPhotos, a royalty-free image site, as Smiling happy, handsome latino man outsideheadshot portrait. Their supposedly comatose husband, Dr. Patrick C. Honeyman, was also fake. His Twitter photo had been stolen from an insurance professional in Wayne, Indiana, the outlets report noted further. But it gets worse: The outlet noted that the two phony doctors, whose accounts continually urged caution about COVID-19 and pushed for lockdowns, masking, business closures, etc., were part of a larger network of at least four fake accounts that promoted alleged ties to the LGBTQ community. The accounts also posted heated criticisms of anyone who was viewed as not taking the pandemic seriously enough or who pushed back on the tyrannical measures. And interestingly enough, the scam was uncovered by a liberal writer. The fake doctors were uncovered by Joshua Gutterman Tranen, a self-described gay writer pursuing a masters of fine arts at Bennington College. He saw Robert Honeymans tweet about their husband being in a coma, noticed people he followed also followed them, and thought that they might be part of the LGBTQ+ academic community, the outlet reported. But after 10 minutes of googling, Gutterman Tranen concluded that Robert Honeymans photo was a stock image and their biography stretched boundaries of believability: an academic who left no traces on academic websites and had lost two family members to Covid in late 2022, despite masking and distancing, the report stated. Once again, social media was being used to push lies, false narratives, and propaganda, proving once again that the big tech companies are no doubt tied to the American deep state. Sources include: Revolver.news SFStandard.com FLAGSTAFF -- Some people might not expect the Grand Canyon State -- widely known for its vast desert -- to have brilliant fall foliage, but visitors far and wide travel to northern Arizona each year to see the brilliant yellow, red and orange leaves. The cool, crisp air in the forested meadows and aspen groves make leaf peeping a favorite seasonal activity in Flagstaff. However, climate change and megadrought in the Southwest could be changing fall foliage as we know it, and researchers in Flagstaff are tracking tree health with a network of cameras to determine how the forests are being affected. What were generally going to see is a trend towards trees just not being as healthy and vigorous as they are currently, and thats probably going to, in the long run, reduce the intensity of fall color displays, said Andrew Richardson, a Regents professor at Northern Arizona University. Fall foliage in Flagstaff normally peaks in early- to mid-October at Arizona Snowbowl, north of the city, and in November at lower elevations. Temperature is a driving factor in the well-being of deciduous trees, which shed their leaves and become dormant in the winter. But with warming summers and long-term drought, leaves arent achieving the brilliancy they once did, and the timing of the color change is delayed. Why do leaves change color? Leaves typically begin to change color in late September through November, following the transition to fall. When temperatures begin to drop and daylight gets shorter, deciduous trees -- including oak, aspen and maple -- cut off nutrients to their leaves. The chlorophyll in the leaves, which makes them green, begins to break down, and the yellows, reds and oranges start to appear. At the same time, leaf stems are experiencing their own changes. As the leaves weaken, the stems begin separating from the tree and eventually drop to the floor. Winds can expedite this process. Changing leaves bring a huge economic boost to cities across the nation. An article from Appalachian State University estimates that leaf peepers contribute more than $30 billion annually to the economies of 24 Eastern states. Some popular fall destinations guide tourists to the best time for fall-leaf viewing by providing gauges that track the vibrancy of leaves, such as Flagstaffs LEAFometer. Fall foliage in Phoenix is uncommon because leaves have adapted to hold on to their chlorophyll and essential sugars year-round, maintaining their green color to withstand intense heat. People dont think of trees as a living thing, but they really need to be cared for and paid attention to, especially in our dry climate, said LoriAnne Barnett Warren, an urban forestry specialist at the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Its kind of part of your family, and you have to make sure you put it in the right place, away from your home or from power lines, to extend the lifespan of the tree. Network measures tree health Tree stress can be measured by an instrument called a PhenoCam. At NAU, Richardson manages the PhenoCam Network, which includes more than 400 cameras used to monitor tree health across the nation, with more than 20 in Arizona. Using high-resolution cameras and remote-sensing technology, researchers can see how trees are affected by climate change over time. The cameras capture a photo every half hour to feed a database of environmental conditions dating back several years. Researchers then use these photos to compare current tree health to previous years. Richardson said the cameras, which cost about $950, are an affordable way to analyze fall foliage without the need for a human observer. In Flagstaff, changes already have been observed in just a few years. The cameras track the health of trees, but they also capture key information on the timing of other seasonal changes, such as a first snowfall. Arizona will soon be using satellites to monitor stress in trees We can't change the fact that we're in a drought." said Cori Dolan. "What we can change is how we attack or address or treat the areas that are suffering." Stressed out According to Climate Central, fall temperatures across the United States have increased 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970, but in Phoenix and Tucson, the increase has been more than 5 degrees. Data for Flagstaff wasnt included in the report. As warming weather delays the start of fall, trees are receiving the signal to cut off nutrients later in the year, delaying the show of fall colors and harming forest health. Phenologists -- scientists who study how biology is being impacted by climate change -- are finding that the leaves of stressed trees arent as vibrant during intense drought. Healthy trees will produce more sugar, which results in brighter colors. The more drought that there is during that year, the leaves are probably just going to turn brown instead of those vibrant colors that you see, Barnett Warren said. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor data shows persistent drought in the West and Midwest, which has resulted in parched soil. Soil moisture plays a role in fall colors as well, said Richardson at NAU. If its a really dry summer, then the leaves might be dropped earlier in the year to reduce water loss. As leaves change color later and drop earlier, this also means climate change will reduce the time to enjoy fall foliage. Drought can even cause trees to skip the colorful phase altogether. Richardson expects more unpredictability as warming trends continue. (Those colors) will slowly be replaced by less vibrant colors over the next 100 years or so, he said. Leaves will just kind of turn brown, which isnt as compelling and captivating. (Natural News) Following the addition of the infamous Dr. Blair Peters to its team, Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) has announced an expansion to its gender-affirming services, which will now include castration for the purpose of vaginoplasty and the rollout of neo-penises made from the skin and flesh of forearms. Bringing Peters in allowed for a considerable expansion of OHSUs gender affirming services, the hospital announced, adding that the notable expansion will allow for more advances in the robotic vaginoplasty program as well as the phalloplasty program. Despite the fact that both surgeries have extraordinarily high complication rates, OHSU is proud to offer them to children and not just proud but incredibly proud, to quote the facility, which wrote in a tweet just after Christmas: Wishing each of you a safe and happy New Year. We have every reason to be incredibly proud of the work weve accomplished in 2022! Our most recent On The Cutting Edge highlights some of the accomplishments of our team. OHSU added that [m]ultiple divisions continue to grow with new recruits and programs. (Related: Vanderbilt launched a Trans Buddies program to bully more doctors into supporting the transgender mutilation of children.) Peters called it very affirming to be asked to promote mutilation surgeries at a child and adolescent psychiatry event Children as young as 10 years old can be admitted to OHSU for gender-affirming hormone therapy. Once they are a little older than that, they can then opt to remove and add body parts like Mr. Potato Head but with actual permanent bodily damage. Various experimental pharmaceuticals are given to children at OHSU to help them become their true selves. And the facility is proud to hand them out like candy as part of its LGBT agenda. Almost every child that takes puberty blockers ends up also signing up for cross-sex hormones, which are then followed by body butchery and the rest of the horrors available in the normal-to-transgender pipeline of therapies. The OHSU Doernbecher pediatric clinic offers a special marketing handout for children that teaches them how to pronounce the word fertility. Children who are not yet able to read, in other words, are the target demographic for OHSUs body butchery scams. Many trans and gender diverse people are interested in keeping, or preserving, their fertility (fur-TILL-uh-tee), the handout reads. This is the ability to have biological children. For young girls, extracting and freezing their eggs is one option available at the clinic. For boys, they can either provide a sperm sample or have sperm extracted directly from their testicles. Should the child continue along the medical transition pathway, the next stage after cross-sex hormones is gender-affirming surgery, which can mean a hysterectomy, the removal of healthy breasts and the creation of a non-functional appendage from the skin and flesh of the forearm for female patients, and breast implants, castration and penis amputation for the male patients, reports The Post Millennial. Peters made a name for he / they-self with an over-the-top social media presence called QueerSurgeon that makes light of the severity of these mutilative procedures, especially when performed on children. So many phalloplasty cases on the schedule this fall, Peters bragged in a tweet back in September. I hereby refer to this season on my calendar as phall.' In another tweet from back on Dec. 2, 2021, Peters made a similar grotesque joke about the popularity of phalloplasty, calling a back-to-back surgery of such A Double Header. After being asked to speak at a psychiatric event involving child and adolescent body butchering last June, Peters tweeted that it was very affirming for he / they to be involved in the mutilation of children. I love what I do in Plastic Surgery, Peters wrote. But this work transcends that. More related news can be found at Gender.news. Sources for this article include: ThePostMillennial.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Note: Big Pharma company Pfizer Inc. has bribed physicians, engaged in corrupt practices and killed children in trials without parental consent. But politicians and mainstream media are trying to conceal these crimes in a web of revisionism, deception and lies. To untangle that web and refresh our memories, Natural News staff put together a series of articles documenting Pfizers crimes against humanity. A special thanks to @KanekoaTheGreat for compiling relevant stories that exposed Pfizers evil deeds and sharing them on Substack. *** In June 2007, Pfizer was sued by the federal government of Nigeria. The complaint demanded the New York-based pharmaceutical company to pay $7 billion in damages caused by its illegal drug trials on children. According to a June 2007 report by the Guardians Chris McGreal, the suit stemmed from unauthorized trials of the experimental antibiotic Trovan. Back in 1996, the northern Nigerian state of Kano experienced a meningitis outbreak which also served as a trial opportunity for Pfizer. However, 200 Nigerian children were signed up for the experiment without the approval of local regulators. At least 11 children died as a result of being administered with Trovan while several others developed serious conditions, including brain damage and paralysis. The plaintiff contends that the defendant never obtained approval of the relevant regulatory agencies, nor did the defendant seek or receive approval to conduct any clinical trial at any time before their illegal conduct, said the complaint filed by the Nigerian federal government. The Kano state government had also filed civil and criminal complaints prior to the one filed by Abuja, the capital city. This separate lawsuit sought $2 billion in damages from Pfizer, a far smaller amount compared to that filed by the federal government. Bryant Haskins, a spokesman for Pfizer during the time of the trials, said in a statement that Trovan was administered in accordance with Nigerian law. These allegations against Pfizer, which are not new, are highly inflammatory and not based on all the facts, he remarked. We continue to maintain, in the strongest terms, that the Nigerian government was fully informed in advance of the clinical trial; that the trial was conducted appropriately, ethically and with the best interest of patients in mind; and that it helped save lives. The pharmaceutical giant has previously said it obtained verbal consent from the parents of the affected children, and that Trovan was administered to the children in a way that was sound from medical, scientific, regulatory and ethical standpoints. Pfizer enters settlements with Nigerian federal, state government The June 2007 lawsuit filed by the Nigerian federal government did not last, however. Abuja told the court in January 2009 a year and a half after the complaint was filed that it has agreed to settle the lawsuit with Pfizer out of court. In April 2009, the Kano state government and Pfizer agreed to settle the $2 billion lawsuit for a lower amount of $75 million. Anthony Idigbe, Pfizers lead counsel in the case, told reporters: I want to report that [a] broad and principal fundamental agreement has been reached between [the] Kano state government and Pfizer. The $75 million was broken down into three parts, with $35 million set aside to establish a fund for people that participated in the drug trial. Health care initiatives in Kano would be underwritten using $30 million from the settlement, while the states legal costs were reimbursed with the remaining $10 million. Pfizer and Kano state reached a final settlement in August. (Related: Pfizer to Pay Tens of Millions for Deaths of Nigerian Children in Drug Trial Experiment.) It was only in August 2011, two years after Pfizer and Kano finalized the out-of-court settlement, that the first payouts were made. The BBC reported that the drug giant paid out an initial $175,000 each to four families whose children were affected by the Trovan trials. While the parents welcomed the payment, they commented that the money would not replace the loss of their loved ones. Later, 186 victims filed a new lawsuit in a Federal High Court in Kano. The November 2013 lawsuit accused Pfizer of breaching the terms of the 2009 settlement agreement by limiting the compensation criteria. The hearings started in May 2014, and the victims were paid damages in November 2014 a year after the lawsuits filing. BigPharmaNews.com has more stories about Pfizer. Watch this video that expounds on Pfizers illegal trial of Trovan in Nigeria, which involved 200 children. This video is from the What is happening channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: After a history of medical ethics violation, Pfizer is using the COVID-19 pandemic to carry out yet more crimes against humanity (op-ed). Pfizer, which ran vaccine experiments on Nigerian children, gets fast track approval for its coronavirus vaccines by the FDA. THREAD #PfizerFiles the true history of Pfizers repeated criminal behavior and destruction of human lives. Pfizer has a shockingly long history of engaging in illegal activities and human experimentation. Sources include: TheGuardian.com Business-HumanRights.org Reuters.com BBC.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) A clash between the U.S.-led NATO alliance and Russia appears even more inevitable this week based on new moves by both sides. First, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a warship carrying new Zircon hypersonic missiles on a mission that will take it into the Atlantic and Indian Oceans in what is a clear warning to the U.S. and the NATO military alliance not to escalate their support for Ukraine ahead of what is expected to be a winter offensive involving Russian and Belorussian forces. The deployment of the frigate appears intended to make maximum possible public impact, given the announcement was made by Putin himself in a televised conference call with his defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, Zero Hedge reported. In addition to Shoigu, Putin talked with Igor Krokhmal, the frigates captain which bears the name Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov, reminding that the ship is armed with the hypersonic missile payload again, in a coordinated message which unveiled the deployment to the public for the first time, the outlet reported. This time the ship is equipped with the latest hypersonic missile system Zircon which has no analogs, Putin said. I would like to wish the crew of the ship success in their service for the good of the Motherland. In addition, the warship is expected to traverse the Mediterranean Sea while engaged in the Atlantic portion of its mission. The timeline of the voyage, however, remains classified. This ship, armed with Zircons, is capable of delivering pinpoint and powerful strikes against the enemy at sea and on land, Shoigu said in response to the Putin announcement. He went on to say that there are no defenses against the Zircon, which can evade anti-air defense systems due to its ability, purportedly, to fly at nine times the speed of sound. I am sure that such powerful weapons will make it possible to reliably protect Russia from potential external threats and will help ensure the national interests of our country, Putin told both military officers. We will continue to develop the fighting potential of our armed forces, he added, according to The Telegraph. Meanwhile, likely in anticipation of war with either Russia or China, the U.S. Air Force is testing a new tactic that will make it extremely difficult for opposing forces to defend valuable targets. As reported by Task & Purpose: Chinese military officials are likely alarmed by the Air Forces efforts to launch cruise missiles out of cargo aircraft, according to an analysis by a U.S. Air Force civilian researcher who specializes in Chinese aerospace studies. Launching weapons out of cargo aircraft could complicate an enemys targeting priorities, make it more difficult for them to detect an incoming threat, and give the U.S. and its allies more options for striking the enemy at a low cost. Cruise missiles travel nowhere near as fast as hypersonic missiles, which the U.S. and China continue to develop. However, by putting them on cargo aircraft and other ships that are not warships, an enemy will be hard-pressed during the early phases of battle to determine where those missiles might be coming from at any given time. Worse case, opposing forces would not be able to defend against any and all potential launch points. [T]he PLA likely regards Rapid Dragon in particular as a credible threat, wrote Derek Solen, a senior researcher at the U.S. Air Forces China Aerospace Studies Institute, in a Dec. 22 article for The Jamestown Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based national security think tank. An MC-130J is the perfect aircraft for this capability because we can land and operate from 3,000-foot highways and austere landing zones whereas a bomber cannot, said Air Force Lt. Col. Valerie Knight, commander of the 352d Special Operations Wing, in a November press release after a successful missile test. Sources include: Task&Purpose.com ZeroHedge.com A worldwide team of scientists meticulously collected data from more than 50 years of seagoing scientific drilling operations to undertake a first-of-its-kind analysis of organic carbon that sinks to the ocean floor and is sucked deep into the globe. Climate Warming Reduces Organic Carbon Burial Beneath Oceans Because greater water temperatures enhance the metabolic rates of bacteria, their findings, published this week in Nature, shows that climate change might diminish organic carbon burial and increase the amount of carbon returned to the atmosphere. Researchers from Rice University, Texas A&M University, the University of Leeds, and the University of Bremen examined data from drilled cores of muddy seafloor sediments collected during 81 of the International Ocean Discovery Program's (IODP) and predecessors' more than 1,500 shipboard expeditions. Their research gives the most complete accounting of organic carbon burial during the last 30 million years, implying that scientists still have a lot to learn about the dynamics of the Earth's long-term carbon cycle. "What we're discovering is that organic carbon burial is quite active," said Rice research co-author Mark Torres, as per ScienceDaily. It varies dramatically, and it responds to the Earth's climatic system far more than scientists previously believed. According to Texas A&M oceanographer Yige Zhang, if the new records are correct, they will modify a lot of our knowledge of the organic carbon cycle. As the water warms, organic carbon will find it more difficult to find its way into the marine sediment system. For decades, scientists have utilized isotopic ratios to determine the proportional quantities of inorganic and organic carbon buried at various stages in Earth's history. According to Torres, experts assumed the quantity of carbon buried had changed relatively little over the previous 30 million years based on those research and computational calculations. "We had this concept of taking real data and calculating their organic carbon burial rates to come up with the global carbon burial," Zhang explained, "and we wanted to check if this 'bottom-up' way coincided with the standard method of isotopic computations, which is more 'top down." This was especially true during the mid-Miocene epoch, some 15 million years ago, according to Zhang. The organic-rich "Monterey Formation" in California, for example, was thought to have buried a considerable quantity of organic carbon around this time. According to the team's results, the least quantity of organic carbon was buried during this time throughout the previous 23 million years or so. He highlighted the team's research as the start of a potentially transformative new method of data analysis that may assist in understanding and tackling climate change. Read more: Antarctica's Role in Stopping Global Warming Weakens as Carbon Storage Could No Longer Be Contained: New Model Reveals Storing Carbon Dioxide under the Ocean One method of combating global climate change is to directly absorb and store carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas, as it is emitted, as per MIT. However, techniques of carbon dioxide sequestration, such as injecting the gas into subsurface geologic formations such as depleted oil reserves, are impractical in many regions and raise concerns that the stored carbon dioxide will leak. Researchers at Harvard University and Columbia University have developed a novel method for capturing practically endless amounts of carbon dioxide, which they claim would be safe and practicable in regions distant from subterranean reservoirs. The researchers realized that injections into the sea floor may make use of the ocean's pressure and warmth while avoiding the unfavorable side effects of previous ideas. The liquid carbon dioxide would be transported to the sequestration location by ship or pipeline and pumped into the sea bottom using technology similar to that used by the oil sector to drill deep-sea wells. Once beneath the sea bottom, the carbon dioxide would combine with the surrounding fluids, forming hydrate ice crystals that would cover the rock pores, acting as a secondary carbon dioxide cap. The carbon dioxide would dissolve in the surrounding water over hundreds of years, leaving only the possibility of seeping out by diffusion, a sluggish process that would take millions of years, according to the researchers. They intend to conduct a large-scale field test of this novel technique within the next five years. As concerns about the impact of carbon dioxide emissions on global climate change grow, scientists are looking for ways to clear the atmosphere of the greenhouse gas. However, industrial-scale efforts have been restricted thus far. BP and GE, for example, recently launched a project in Scotland and California to create power facilities that produce hydrogen from fossil fuels and absorb the carbon dioxide byproduct. Related article: Vines Are Strangling Trees and Reducing Carbon Storage, Researchers Say The latest weather forecast in South Florida showed that residents would expect cooler weather until the weekend due to a cold front. While some portions of the country suffered from rounds of rain on the West Coast and California, the weather in South Florida would be perfect for people enjoying outdoor activities or travel. Mild weather conditions could expect until the end of the week. Recently, AccuWeather and Nature World News reported that portions of Florida Gulf Coast to Central Virginia could expect severe thunderstorms. According to the weather report, local flash flooding and wind gusts would unfold. In other parts of the country, rain showers would unleash in New York, Boston, Portland, and Pittsburg this week. Meanwhile, NBC Miami's latest weather forecast said that the weather in South Florida would be cooler. Starting Friday until the weekend, residents could notice cooler air due to the latest cold front in the area. In Miami, the forecast said residents would expect a low 60s on Saturday. The forecast explained that the chances of rain this week is low, and would be best for beachgoers or outdoor activities. Falling Iguanas Recently, Nature World News reported that portions of Florida suffered from wintry weather conditions last year due to the powerful winter storm in the country. According to the weather report, falling iguanas were reported in Florida due to freezing conditions, and the iguanas were not accustomed to the colder weather. The frigid weather conditions became challenging for the wildlife, especially for the Iguanas making them immobile and falling from trees.Weather Forecasts Meanwhile, the National Weather Prediction's recent advisory said heavy rain and snow in California and West Coast could continue until next week. The weather on the weekend would cooperate with people planning outdoor activities or travel. Weather in portions of the US The forecast warned that flooding stages could potentially exceed next week due to the current weather conditions. Residents and motorists should check the weather before traveling. The atmospheric river and bomb cyclone helped to bring heavy rain. Staying updated with the weather forecasts would be helpful, especially for residents near the coasts or flood-prone areas. The challenging weather in the U.S. would bring dangerous travel for motorists due to wet road conditions and reduced visibility. Also Read: Heavy Rainfall and Damaging Tornadoes in South Resulted in Damaged Buildings, Power Outages and Water Rescue Furthermore, preparing an emergency plan for homeowners would be the best, especially at the start of the year. Knowing what to do during natural disasters would save you from disaster-related fatalities and accidents. Save the emergency numbers and orient your family members in case of emergencies. January marks the beginning of the year, and storm preparedness is crucial. Checking your home for potential improvement for storms would add more protection if a storm unloads damaging winds. Related Article: Rare Sight of Snowy Owl Spotted in Orange County Home, California For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News. According to experts, even though humanity may not be destroying the planet, they are destroying their way of life, which is what is causing the sixth mass extinction, which may already be taking place. The planet's three and a half-billion people were sustainable in 1970. On New Year's Day, however, there are 8 billion people on the planet. The World Wildlife Fund says that the 1970 human population has grown too large for the Earth to sustain. Scrambling to Survive The Salish Sea in Washington State contributed to global food security. Dana Wilson, a commercial fisherman, supported a family on the Salish Sea's legendary wealth of salmon. Wilson pointed out that it started with one salmon species going extinct in 1991. Fast-forward to 2023 when 14 salmon populations are currently in decline. Wilson used to go fishing all summer. A conservation authority today issues rare, temporary permission to cast a net. Wilson said in an interview with CBS NEWS that there used to be a season of fishing, but now there is just a limited window of 12 to 16 hours. Armando Brionez, a fisherman and member of the Lummi Tribe, better known as the "people of the salmon," didn't anticipate that his five fishing boats would be the last of the abundant harvest. He is scurrying to support his family now that salmon fishing is reaching a crisis point, turning to crab fishing as a backup, starting a new food truck, and consulting on cannabis farms, among other options. The world over, people are still trying to adapt as he did. According to a World Wildlife Fund study, the same factor is largely to blame for the 69% decline in global wildlife abundance over the past 50 years. Brionez said that although he is fortunate enough to be knowledgeable about other things, the tribe has been fishing for salmon in this area for hundreds of years, and for some tribe members, salmon fishing is the only thing they are familiar with. Five More Earths to Survive Paul Ehrlich, a 90-year-old biologist, says that humanity is not sustainable when Scott Pelley asked him in a CBS NEWS interview. Ehrlich added that five more Earths are required to sustain the current way of life for everyone on the planet. In 1968, Stanford biology professor Ehrlich, who predicted the end of nature in a best-seller, became a doomsday celebrity. He was alarmed, as are his colleagues, of the "Population Bomb." Ehrlich raised the alarm in 1968, predicting that population growth would lead to widespread famine. He was mistaken because the green revolution helped to feed the world. But he also predicted in 1968 that humankind would engulf the natural world and that greenhouse gases would cause the polar ice to melt. 70% of the planet's land and 70% of its freshwater are now occupied by humans. He claimed that the rate of extinction is extremely high right now and is only increasing. Sixth Mass Extinction Ehrlich's assertion is supported by a study of the fossil records conducted by his Stanford colleague and biologist Tony Barnosky. According to Barnosky's research, the rate of extinction today may be up to 100 times higher than it has typically been throughout the roughly 4 billion-year history of life. The few occasions when life on Earth collapsed are represented by these peaks. The dinosaurs, which lived 66 million years ago, were the last. There have been five major extinction events in Earth's history, according to Barnosky. This translates to at least 75%, or three-quarters, of all currently recognized species going extinct. Many people now refer to the state of the planet as the sixth mass extinction, where the same thing could occur right in front of people's eyes. Humans Destroying Their Way of Life His wife, biologist Liz Hadly, who serves as faculty director at Jasper Ridge Research Preserve in Stanford, California, is Barnosky's associate in the study of extinction. Hadly explained that anyone who has spent any time in California is familiar with the loss of water. There are dead salmon in the river as a result of the water loss. Nevertheless, it also portends the extinction of the birds that depend on the salmon fishery. It implies that fish-dependent animals like minks and otters are also struggling to survive. It implies that the 3,000-year-old forests and habitats that humans are accustomed to will vanish. Due to how quickly it's happening, it could also mean some very catastrophic events. In California, where there are no longer any grizzly bears, she also emphasized the loss of iconic state symbols. According to Barnosky, even though people are not destroying the planet, they are destroying their way of life. The World Wildlife Fund study claims that the abundance of wildlife has decreased by 94% since 1970 in Latin America, where the killing is at its worst. Saving the Remaining One-Third at $1.5 Million per Year Mexican ecologist Gerardo Ceballos, one of the world's leading scientists on extinction, said the only option is to preserve a third of the planet that is still uninhabited. He is paying family farmers in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, which is close to Guatemala, to stop clearing the forest. For instance, each family will receive about $1,000, according to Ceballos, which is more than adequate to compensate for the loss of farmland. The total payouts amount to $1.5 million annually. Alternatively, $2000 per square mile. Through the generosity of wealthy donors, the bill is covered. The jaguar was extremely close to extinction in Mexico thirty years ago. Ceballos now claims that they have recovered to a reserve of about 600. Ceballos said that Despite major successes in other locations where there are reserves where they have been able to boost the populations of particular species, they are like sand grains on a beach. And this needs to be multiplied 10,000 times to have a significant impact. Therefore, while every local effort is crucial, it will not be enough to combat climate change. Read also: Collapse of an Oasis: Century-Old Palm Trees in Morocco Now Barren of Climate Change-Induced Drought Political Will and Over-Consumption At the UN Biodiversity Conference two weeks ago, countries set conservation goals with the intention of finding solutions to the issues. But those nations agreed to stop the destruction of the planet by 2020 at the same meeting back in 2010. According to the UN Environment Programme, nations are not on track with the set goals. Ehrlich said He and the vast majority of his colleagues believe that the type of civilization to which modern-day people are accustomed will end within the next few decades because there is no political will to take any of the actions with which he is concerned. Ehrlich's population bomb was published 50 years ago, and since then, the world's population has tripled. People are already consuming 175% of what the earth can regenerate. Self-Inflicted Sixth Mass Extinction. Volcanoes, asteroids, and other natural disasters were to blame for the five mass extinctions that occurred in the distant past. If the science is correct, humanity may now have to endure the sixth mass extinction that it has created, CBS NEWS reports. Related article: 7 Plagues and Crises Caused by Humans Meddling with Nature The latest weather forecast in portions of Texas showed that a milder to colder pattern would unfold this weekend and until next week. In the Northeast and Midwest, the forecast said that wintry weather conditions, with snow and rain, are expected to unload next week. Despite the rapid warmup, the forecast said that the weather would still be colder. In North Texas, the latest weather forecast showed that residents would expect sunshine to colder weather until next week. According to the Dallas Morning News weather updates, the weather condition on Friday was windy in some parts of Texas. In addition, the forecast said that residents could notice cooler air this weekend due to the Pacific cold front. The colder weather would not be extremely cold but remain normal. Next week, the forecast said that residents would expect more sunny weather with little chance of rain showers. However, it is still best to bring an umbrella or raincoat jacket if the rain occurs. According to the weather outlook, the weekend (from Saturday to Sunday) could expect partly cloudy weather conditions. From Monday to Wednesday, the forecast added that the weather would be partly sunny. US Weather Condition The recent AccuWeather report said that residents on the West Coast and portions of the United States suffered from heavy rain and strong winds, causing significant flooding and atmospheric river in California. The persistent rain resulted in evacuations and widespread power outages. According to the National Weather Service, portions of California could expect potential heavy mountain snow and stronger winds. The weather advisory warned residents of the rapid river rise, flooding, and dangerous travel conditions. The forecast advised residents to stay updated with the weather update. In addition, the NWS advisory added that western parts of the country could experience heavy rain and snow this weekend until early next week. The advisory added heavy snowfall and damaging wind would be the main concern for residents. The first week of January in the United States became chaotic for many travelers and residents on the West Coast due to persistent storms and a bomb cyclone. Weather safety tips Preparedness is essential during a powerful storm or tornado outbreak. As the calendar flipped to January, it is expected that more damaging storms would unload this month and up to this year. Also Read: [Weather Update] Atmospheric River and Bomb Cyclone Unload Heavy Rain and Strong Winds on West Coast It is best to prepare and plan to prevent accidents and heavy damage. Storms could bring you and your family into a life-threatening situation. Here are some tips you should remember. Check your house Homeowners should ensure that their houses could withstand a storm or natural disaster. Checking for potential damages would be the best action before a storm could wreak havoc. Prepare an emergency bag Weather forecasts and experts recommend that homeowners should have an emergency bag that could keep inside their home or vehicle. It would be useful when there is an evacuation. The emergency bag should include medicines, flashlights, battery-powered radio, a power bank, and bottled water. Related Article: Light Snow and Rain Expected This Week in Chicago; Motorists Warned of Slippery Roads For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News. A honeybee vaccine, meant to protect honeybees against the deadly hive bacteria, has been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The fatal honeybee infection is known as the foulbrood disease, which is known for killing honeybees and decimating honeybee colonies. The USDA approval of the world's first honeybee vaccine will allow its full distribution and usage. Prior to the approval, the honeybee disease has reportedly weakened and destroyed bee nests, which significantly affected the insect's population in some areas. Being renowned agents of pollination, honeybees are crucial for the survival of most of the world's flowering plants through the dissemination of their pollen that could enable the production of seeds. World's First Honeybee Vaccine During a press release earlier this week, biotech firm Dalan Animal Health, a company that pioneers in insect health, stated that the USDA "granted a conditional license" for vaccinating honeybees against the American Foulbrood disease (AFB) caused by the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae, as cited by Business Wire, an American media company. With regard to the latest developments, it is an exciting step for beekeepers as they have relied on antibiotic treatment with limited effectiveness for too long, requiring large amount of time and energy to apply to bee hives, according to Trevor Tauzer, who owns Tauzer Apiaries and a board member of the California State Beekeepers Association. Furthermore, honeybees are important component of agriculture, accounting to a relatively large portion of the global food supply that relies on pollination. In addition, healthy commercial hives are necessary to secure high crop yields. However, honeybees are plagued by AFB with reported clinical cases in the US and Canada, as cited by the media company. Also Read: Honey Bees Help Investigators "Crack Cold Cases" and Locate Bodies of Missing People Vaccine Usage Created by Dalan Animal Health, the vaccine is considered to be a breakthrough when it comes to protecting honeybees, and a precedent to changing how we care for insects that impacts food production on a global scale, according to Annette Kleiser, the company's chief executive, as cited by The Guardian. As of latest updates, the vaccine will be used by the US government and will be initially available for commercial beekeepers in an attempt to curb cases of foulbrood disease. Despite the vaccine development, there is still no cure against AFB. A number of cases in the past have ended up in using the said conventional antibiotics or killing the infected honeybees. What is the Foulbrood Disease? As further explanation about AFB, the Pennsylvania State University in November 2022 states that the American foulbrood is a bacterial brood disease that only targets honey bee larvae, leading to the death of colony in only three weeks. The honeybee infection is most commonly transmitted via spores of the bacteria, which can be dormant inside colonies or used equipment for at least 70 years. The disease received its name since it emits a "foul" odor when the bacteria kills a honey bee larvae after receiving the spore-contaminated food from nurse bees when it is being fed, the Penn State explained. Related Article: Honey bee parasites feed on fatty organs, not blood A new Pacific storm will pose risks to life and property, as well as cause potential disruption to travel, for California by early next week, according to US meteorologists. The storm is part of a series of Pacific storm train that has wreaked havoc across West Coast, particularly California. The looming new storm will arrive after a combination of bomb cyclone and atmospheric river brought heavy rain, high winds, and flooding in different parts of California, causing power outages to thousands of residents across the Golden State. Coastal areas in California were also affected by large waves and tide surges, causing immediate flooding. In recent days, weather reports have attributed the weather hazards to a rainstorm powered by the said combination, which triggered evacuation orders earlier this week. For the meantime, more storms are expected during the remainder of the weekend, according to weather forecasters. Local authorities have warned motorists against the risk of floods and travelers who may face significant disruption in major hubs like the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco. New Pacific Storm The approaching, standalone Pacific storm by early next week could be the strongest amongst all the Pacific storm train that the US region has experienced since the end of 2022, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. In particular, California has experienced a "frenzy of storms" since the later part of 2022 yet the US weather forecasting company's experts said that the storm onslaught is far from over. This particular storm arriving in California cannot be understated, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Joe Bauer. The forecasters say the threat is based on estimations that the system could bring large amount of moisture and potentially lead to "catastrophic" flooding; in addition to widespread landslides and road closure. The AccuWeather experts add the amount of rain and snow expected from the lone storm would be enough to bring flooding concerns and affect travel in the mountains, highlighting it could reach extreme and historic levels relative to the other storms. Also Read: Pacific Storm Train Delivers Another Round of Rain and Snow to California Pacific Storm Train US weather reports dubbed the weather events as the "Pacific storm train" that was mentioned earlier. Due to the recurring weather hazards, California declared a state of emergency earlier this week as the collective storm produced 45-feet waves, caused torrential rain on already saturated ground, and prompted the issuance of warnings for floods and mudslides, according to USA Today. California Governor Gavin Newsom authorized members of the state National Guard to assist in disaster response as the massive storm ravaged most of the Golden State's coastline. What is a Bomb Cyclone? Forecasters frequently used the term "bomb cyclone," which refers to a storm or winter hurricane that is very rare and yet powerful enough to cause high winds and bring heavy precipitation in either the form of rain or snow to many areas. What defines it is how quickly the pressure drops in the low-pressure mass, by approximately 24 millibars in 24 hours, according to The New York Times. Since late December 2022, this weather phenomenon has affected not only the US but also Canada. Related Article: Pacific Storm Systems to Hit Western US with Heavy Rain, Mountain Snow, and Strong Winds This Weekend Theres a call for service from 2022 that stands out to Officer Zachary Knoepfel of the Flagstaff police. Its one hes unlikely to forget. That year, he helped save a life. I observed a male who was on their back and just actively not breathing at all, Knoepfel recounted. "I see a family member who has been performing CPR. I take over and perform one round of chest compressions until medics can make their way up the driveway and get the necessary medical equipment to continue life-saving measures." The man had been enjoying drinks on his patio on an October evening when he collapsed, eyes rolling back in his head. His companions called 911 and started CPR. Knoepfel took over when he arrived and ultimately helped continue chest compressions while a medic delivered shocks via an automated external defibrillator (AED). Knoepfel was there when fire and emergency medical personnel detected the mans pulse. He checked on him later at Flagstaff Medical Center, finding the patient in serious but stable condition. Knoepfels actions, in hopping in to take over CPR compressions, helped save the mans life. I think as colleagues of his and supervisors of him, we are proud that he was able to save someones life and make sure people are around for the holidays. It doesnt always end successfully, Lt. Charles Hernandez of the Flagstaff Police Department said. Its not uncommon for police to make it to the scene of a medical emergency before firefighters or EMTs arrive, and it's one of the reasons why Brandon Griffith, a cardiac arrest survivor and sworn law enforcement officer, founded Griffith Blue Heart. The nonprofit provides specialized training for law enforcement that dives deeper than a standard CPR course and prepares them to handle cardiac emergencies. Why dont we have the proper equipment and training? Griffith asked, remembering how he felt after going into cardiac arrest in his den when he was just 26 years old. Were not here to make these guys EMTs, we just want to keep [the patients] alive long enough for the experts to come on and do their job. In Knoepfels case, medics arrived around the same time he did. They needed time to unload equipment, and the officer knew seconds mattered for the patient who wasnt breathing. The training kind of kicked in, and it felt like, 'Hey, this is what it is. I need to do this. This is what I need to do until we can get more resources,' Knoepfel said. The officer felt prepared, but he said practicing emergency medical response and actually doing compressions when in the field are a little bit different. When we do training, theyre staged scenarios. You dont know what to expect, but you know its not real, so its hard to create an atmosphere or a training scenario where your blood pressure is elevated, and youre trying to think and work through processes, said Hernandez. Thanks in part to a nearly $100,000 grant from Health First Foundation Northern Arizona, Griffith Blue Heart was able to start training FPD officers, using their in-depth method in the summer. The Griffith group, with their instructors, created scenarios that were real-life based. They got your blood pressure up. They made you think. Their instructors were giving you changes in scenarios, to just implement your tactics and your knowledge, too, that you had just learned through the class from putting on tourniquets to CPR with AEDs, Hernandez said. We all know the saying "practice makes perfect," but the Griffith Blue Heart advanced cardiac response training is about more than just practice. Its about striving toward mastery. If you asked Griffith, he might be more likely to espouse that adages twin of "perfect practice makes perfect," as his course takes aim at removing what he calls "training scars." Youve got clicker mannequins, for example," Griffith said. "Youve got guys thatll wait to hit their depth. Theyll push as hard as they can till they get that click, but theyll be waiting for that. Youll see them in the field, and when they start doing CPR on a real person, all of a sudden they start pressing down and, well, people dont click. They might have cartilage pop, like when you crack your knuckles, or ribs break but theyre looking for that and they start missing their metronome; they start missing that 100 to 120 beats per minute on an adult. You can see that training scar is there because they got so used to doing it on a clicker mannequin, and people dont do that. . The training pulls ideas and strategies from other kinds of police-specific skills training. Law enforcement is very good at reality-based training when it comes to things like force on force. When it comes to hostage rescue, active shooters, barricade situations, we train and train and train on that, right? When it comes to cardiac emergencies, were not focusing on high performance. Were not focusing on keeping the brain profuse the entire time, Griffith said. The reality is there were 1,100 fatal police shootings last year and 690,000 Americans died of heart disease. What are we more likely to run across? Not to mention, law enforcement is at a 70-times higher risk for heart disease than the general public we serve. Were at the higher risk for going down. We obviously want to protect and serve the people in our communities, but we want to protect ourselves and our families as well. Inside the crowded auditorium at the Flagstaff Police Department Friday, a trainer posed as a bystander and said, Are you sure you know what youre doing? practically breathing down the neck of a newly hired police officer, doing CPR on a feedback manikin. The new guy is one of 11 recruits and four lateral transfers who joined the force this month. He was wearing his complete duty uniform -- a gun, a vest, a headset, a radio and a taser. His clothing was bulky, and his gun dug into his side. Still, he was being tested at every second while administering CPR on a state-of-the-art mannequin. If he pressed too hard, the mannequin recorded it. If the brain of a real patient would have started to be affected by lack of blood flow, if the officers compressions were too fast or too slow, the sensors in the dummy detected it and transferred that information onto an iPad monitored by an instructor nearby. Its not the same as being in the field, but it helps officers get closer. There was one scenario that we went through where a patient is passed out behind the wheel of a car. Dragging a 150- or 180-pound mannequin out of a vehicle yourself, having to undo the seat belt, and get them on the ground, said Hernandez, I mean, when I went to the class it was summer. The pavement was hot. So you need to consider burns on patients. My knees were burning from being down and doing CPR. So, you need to work through all the challenges that the environment may pose as well. Guardian captain paramedic Josh Wilson, as both a fellow first responder and community member, is happy to see police officers getting reality-based, measurable training for cardiac emergencies Seeing it from the police perspective is really cool and its really cool to see the officers really engaged in the training, because its really life-saving stuff. Its important for me, to be on the medical side of stuff and to see these guys be able to do it faster than I can do out there, Wilson said. I grew up here in Flagstaff; my whole family is here. Ive got dozens of cousins and aunts and uncles, and Ive been on a lot of cardiac arrests, Ive been on quite a few saves. Being able to see our survival rate go up is just so important for me for my community. Weve got a better chance of people being able to get back to their families, back to their homes, back to a normal life that they wouldnt be able to normally. Im really excited to start seeing it deployed in the community and used to save lives. The training for new recruits that took place Friday is one of three Advanced Police Resuscitation Academies that have taken place at FPD since the summer. More than CPR CPR alone is not the focus of the specialized academy. Defibrillation is what saves lives from cardiac arrest," Griffith said. "Its not like what you see in the movies where theyre compressing away on somebody and suddenly they wake up. You cant start a dead battery with compressions; you need AEDs. Only about 20% of law enforcement agencies have AEDs in the field in Arizona. Griffith added: "We have a lot of work to do in order to get cops properly equipped. FPD currently has four AEDs in rotation, but the grant has allowed them to purchase more. The new AEDs were delayed by supply chain backlogs, Griffith said. We have a fleet of 45 [patrol vehicles]. Working with Brandon and the Health First Foundation Northern Arizona, we were able to obtain an additional 50 for deployment in the field -- which means we will be able to outfit every patrol vehicle with an AED. ... But we wanted to make sure we had training prior to implementing the device in the field, Hernandez said. The training, even before the equipments arrival, had the opportunity to pay dividends. When you get the opportunity to save a life, its the highest honor that you can have in this profession. I think that thats the best feeling in the world, Hernandez said. This class definitely set a baseline foundation for them to not only re-enforce the skills they get at the academy but to also re-enforce their confidence to say, Hey, Im a police officer. Im going to be called to save a life, and I can do it without fear of being unprepared. Griffith said its not enough to just throw an AED in the back of a car and hope for the best, so there are plans in place to monitor the long-term impact of the course and the condition of AEDs, with the help of Guardian Medical. After we do this course, we come back six months to a year later and make sure that their skills are still up to par. Were doing a study right now to see how well officers perform resuscitation skills, Griffith said. Most of the time when we go into courses, our overall resuscitation scores are between 35 and 60%. By the time were leaving, these guys are in the high 90s. The lowest score weve ever gotten on a final evaluation was 98.35%. But were going back six months to a year later and theyre still in the low 90s and high 80s. Theyre retaining the information. Because its not, throughout the day, heres five minutes of CPR. Theyre doing it throughout the day under stress, and theyre doing about an hour of compressions throughout the entire day. Theyre building that muscle memory and that skill set and keeping it. When AEDs are delivered and used, Guardian will help maintain the devices. Theyll also report back on the AED usage, to help with Griffiths independent study and keep records for Arizona Shares. In the end, every person who is saved by CPR training or the deployment of an AED is more than a number. They are people having drinks on their patio, or standing in their den when their health takes a sudden turn for the worst. The hope is that in understanding how training can better prepare officers like Knoepfel, law enforcement officers everywhere will have the chance to tell more stories like his. COLUMBUS, Ohio As Republican infighting debilitates Washington, lawmakers at some U.S. statehouses have managed to launch sessions complicated by similar GOP partisan divides or razor-thin margins of party control with a host of creative if yet untested solutions. The approaches differ by state: a delicate working agreement here, a bipartisan truce there. "The commonality is the standing on the edge of the precipice," said David Niven, an associate professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati. America's fiercely divided politics are not limited to national government, where Republicans won a threadbare majority in the U.S. House in November and elected Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker early Saturday on the 15th ballot. In the states, a combination of factors including an influx of Republicans from the far right have contributed to an air of uncertainty in some places as state legislatures begin business. The nation's shifting political sands left parties in some state legislative chambers with such small majorities that each unexpected departure or death might threaten a scramble for control. In New Hampshire, for example, the 400-member House convened last week with Republicans holding a razor thin 201-197 majority, with two seats vacant. Slightly more Democrats than Republicans were absent last month when members chose their leader, though, which gave the GOP a bit of breathing room when it came to re-electing state Rep. Sherm Packard, of Londonderry, as House speaker. "The voters have sent us here with a never before seen balance of partisan makeup," Packard said. "The only way we can forge ahead and be successful in this environment is by working together." In his inaugural address Thursday, Republican Gov. Chris Sununu called the nearly even division a "awesome opportunity" for cooperation. "And we have a speaker," he said, referring to the chaos in Washington. "What a great civics lesson and challenge that we find ourselves in." The margin of control is even narrower in the Pennsylvania House, where the November election gave Democrats hopes of reclaiming the majority in the often bitterly partisan chamber after more than a decade. Their 102-101 margin included one Democratic incumbent who died a few weeks before being reelected, however, and two others who resigned after winning election to higher offices. The House's top Republican is claiming majority status as a result and has sued to delay filling two of the vacancies. When lawmakers convened on Tuesday to take oaths of office and pick a speaker, the deadlock was broken only when all seven members of GOP leadership and nine other Republicans joined all Democrats to elect Democratic state Rep. Mark Rozzi, of the Reading area, as House speaker. Rozzi promised to act as an independent, saying he would caucus with neither party. "The speakership is a nonpartisan and I want to repeat that, nonpartisan officer of the House, entrusted with maintaining the integrity of the House," he told reporters Tuesday night. "That will be my focus as speaker." Bipartisanship was also the byword in Ohio, which saw a surprising turn in its speaker's race on Tuesday despite Republicans holding a formidable supermajority in the Ohio House. Though Republican state Rep. Derek Merrin had appeared to seal the deal in a preliminary vote before the holidays, the conservative's hopes were dashed at the last minute by a deal between more moderate GOP backers of rival Rep. Jason Stephens and the House Democratic caucus. "I intend to listen, and I intend to be very open and receptive to all members of the Ohio House," Stephens said after winning the speakership with more Democratic votes than Republican ones. "We represent all of Ohio." Political scientist Niven called Stephens' election in Ohio "mountain-moving," making a pivot away from the hyper conservative politics that the state has seen in recent years. Meanwhile, McCarthy's efforts to appease his far-right detractors in Washington rather than to work with Democrats may leave GOP moderates in Washington wanting, he said. "I think there is a lesson here that there are some very happy Republicans in the Ohio Legislature because they were willing to see beyond their own caucus, and there are Republicans in the U.S. House who, in the end, aren't going to get what they want because they aren't willing to take a few steps across the aisle," he said. Deal-making across party lines has long been a part of governing, including within state legislatures. In Alaska, state lawmakers have a history of crossing party lines to form majorities. In North Carolina, a notorious yet effective power-sharing deal for speaker was struck in 2003, allowing a Democrat and Republican to preside over sessions on alternate days. House Republicans at the time included Rep. Patrick McHenry, who is now a congressman and one of Kevin McCarthy's top lieutenants. Criminal investigations later led GOP North Carolina Rep. Michael Decker, whose switch to the Democrats in 2003 caused a seat deadlock between the parties, to admit in federal court that he took $50,000 in exchange for supporting Democrat Jim Black for speaker. Decker received prison time, as did Black, who accepted punishment in state court for bribing Decker without pleading guilty to the charge. Photos: Scenes from historic speaker vote of 118th Congress Download Now The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. This story contains original reporting by News-Gazette staff. If you are not a subscriber, please consider becoming one, because local journalism is only possible with your support. A subscription to The News-Gazette plays a vital role in making this reporting possible. Thank you for your support and helping us continue to connect our community. Talking, smiling, eating together these are all social activities that are inherent to the human experience. But for some head and neck cancer survivors, they are dreaded tasks. These survivors can go through disfiguring surgeries and radiation treatments to their tongues, jaws, voice boxes, necks and faces that radically affect their appearances and their control over facial muscles. These changes, which can't be hidden, at least somewhat bother the majority of head and neck cancer survivors. A quarter of survivors develop clinically significant body image distress, which can lead to depression, anxiety, social isolation and decreased quality of life, said Evan Graboyes, M.D., a head and neck microvascular reconstructive surgeon and director of Survivorship and Cancer Outcomes Research at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. It's something I routinely see in my clinical practice. Unfortunately, we don't have any effective treatments to offer these patients, which is why I got interested in this line of research." Evan Graboyes, M.D., MUSC Hollings Cancer Center He and his team have just published in JAMA Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery the results of a pilot trial evaluating a brief tele-cognitive behavioral therapy that they developed for head and neck cancer survivors with body-image distress, and the results are promising. Levels of body-image distress fell for survivors who received the therapy called BRIGHT: "Building a Renewed ImaGe after Head and neck cancer Treatment" compared with survivors who received standard survivorship education. Now, with a $3.2 million grant from the National Cancer Institute, Graboyes and the team are preparing to enroll patients in a larger, multi-institution trial. "Although our results are promising, we need to make sure that they can be replicated in a larger, appropriately powered multicenter study with a diverse group of patients and providers, and that the improvement with BRIGHT can be sustained long term," he explained. BRIGHT focuses on helping head and neck cancer survivors to adapt their thoughts, behaviors and coping skills to their new circumstances. Graboyes said that it's long been known that many of these survivors struggle with body-image distress, but until this trial, no one has been able to offer an effective treatment. In fact, studies have shown that body image is the most commonly omitted aspect of head and neck cancer survivorship care, he noted. "Part of the reason that we have no evidence-based treatment for head and neck cancer survivors with body-image distress is that it is relatively understudied. Body image gets a lot more attention and is much better studied among breast cancer survivors. However, it's a very different set of body-image concerns for patients with breast cancer compared with head and neck cancer," he said. "As a result, what works for breast cancer survivors may not work for head and neck cancer survivors." For instance, one group tried adapting a self-compassion writing program that was effective for breast cancer survivors. But the program didn't help. "Not only did it not make things better than a control condition, it didn't even improve their body-image distress relative to baseline. So clearly, we need different strategies to help this group," Graboyes said. "And we are excited because we think that BRIGHT really targets the underlying thoughts, behaviors and maladaptive coping strategies that drive and sustain body-image distress among head and neck cancer survivors." Graboyes and Stacey Maurer, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist who works with cancer survivors at Hollings, developed the initial framework for BRIGHT in 2017, with a pilot grant from the American Cancer Society awarded through Hollings. "We realized that the available treatments for body-image distress weren't tailored to individuals who have gone through treatment for head and neck cancer," Maurer explained. "Many treatments for body-image distress are focused on weight-related concerns and eating disorders, and that just didn't make sense for this population because of the radical changes that they may experience as a result of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. We felt that it was important to give these patients support to improve their quality of life." Working closely with patient advisors, they created a program that would consist of five one-on-one sessions with a psychologist trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, tailored to the concerns of head and neck cancer survivors, with the sessions taking place virtually. They tested this approach with 10 head and neck cancer survivors, and, to prevent a digital divide, partnered with the MUSC Center for Telehealth to provide each participant with a cellular-enabled iPad. This was pre-COVID, Graboyes noted, before people had gotten used to the idea of telemedicine, so it was a bit of a challenge to set up, but patient advocates emphasized that offering the program via telemedicine, rather than in person in Charleston, would enable more survivors to benefit. After the initial trial with those 10 survivors showed that BRIGHT could work, the research team went on to conduct a pilot randomized clinical trial with 44 survivors, the results of which were just reported. The trial showed that survivors who received BRIGHT were seven times more likely to show improvement in body-image distress than the survivors who received standard survivorship education. As Graboyes prepares for the larger, multicenter trial, he is also thinking about how to more effectively spot patients in the clinic who are struggling with or at risk for body-image distress. One of the challenges in screening is that it's not obvious who might suffer from body-image distress. Graboyes noted that the surgeon's assessment of how good the head and neck cancer reconstruction looks doesn't necessarily correspond to how the survivor feels about it. Some survivors with visible disfigurement are fine continuing to lead their normal lives while some with no visible disfigurement don't want to go shopping or to church or to social events with friends. And this body-image distress doesn't go away or get better on its own, Graboyes said. "There's a lot of psychological adaptation that's happening behind the scenes, which is why a cognitive behavioral therapy-based approach seems logical," he said. "The BRIGHT intervention won't make them look better. It won't make them speak more clearly or help them chew or swallow food more easily," he said. "But it will give them psychological tools to help address these concerns. People are not born knowing how to go to the grocery store and have kids point and stare or how to handle a dinner party when you take all of your nutrition by a feeding tube. Nor do we really teach them as part of head and neck cancer care." Graboyes hopes that the upcoming multisite study will help to establish BRIGHT as a new standard of care for head and neck cancer survivors across the nation. Clinical leaders, health experts and ministers will convene in Downing Street for an NHS Recovery Forum today (Saturday 7 January). In addition to his regular meetings on the health service, the Prime Minister will host the Forum to bring together experts from across the health and care sector to identify opportunities to go further and faster on improving performance and outcomes. The Forum will major on four crucial issues: social care and delayed discharge; urgent and emergency care; elective care; and primary care. Some of the best health and care minds in the country will use the session to share best practice and to understand whether any innovations developed at a local level could be applied to other regional areas or on a national basis. As the Prime Minister set out in his speech earlier this week, innovation is at the heart of the government's approach and will be a vital aspect of the solution, and so Forum attendees will include representatives from both the public and independent sector to ensure we're harnessing a wide spread of expertise and talent. The Forum is the next step in the significant action that the government has taken to improve outcomes and relieve the immediate pressures on the NHS and in social care caused by the pandemic, with further pressures due to the recent rise in covid and flu cases. On improving capacity in the NHS, the government has provided an extra 500 million to speed up hospital discharge this winter and we're also increasing bed capacity by the equivalent of 7,000 more beds. The NHS is rolling out virtual wards across England, with an ambition to establish 40-50 virtual ward beds per 100k population, by December 2023. Virtual wards are where people, for example, who have acute respiratory infections can actually be treated at home with telemedicine or pulse oximeters and there is also a new fall service which can save about 55,000 ambulance call outs a year by treating people with falls at home. In total, the government will invest up to 14.1 billion additional funding over the next two years to improve urgent and emergency care and tackle the backlog - the highest spend on health and care in any government's history. 7.5 billion of this support is for adult social care and discharge over the next two years, which will also help deal with immediate pressures. 91 Community Diagnostic Centres have been opened so far and they have delivered over 2.7 million tests, checks and scans to help diagnose patients earlier. The government is also continuing to grow the NHS workforce, with around 42,000 more staff than a year ago, including over 10,500 more nurses and almost 4,700 more doctors. The government is investing at least 1.5 billion to create an extra 50 million general practice appointments by 2024, while the NHS is accelerating the rollout of new state-of-the-art telephone systems to make it easier for patients get through to their GP surgeries. Earlier in the week, the Prime Minister set out one of his key promises that NHS waiting lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly. He also pledged to make sure the NHS is built around patients. The Forum will run for the majority of Saturday and attendees will include chief executives and clinical leaders from NHS organizations, local areas and councils from across the country, clinical experts from Royal Colleges and independent sector organizations working with health and social care services to deliver services for patients. The Health and Social Care Secretary, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NHS England will attend the Forum. A Downing Street Spokesperson said: Update: 04-01-2023 | 20:06:44 A number of Vietnam's rubber growing projects in the southern Lao province of Attapeu have produced positive results since 2008, contributing to the host country's socio-economic development. In Attapeu province (Photo: VNA) A number of Vietnam's rubber growing projects in the southern Lao province of Attapeu have produced positive results since 2008, contributing to the host country's socio-economic development. Identifying rubber as a key pillar for socio-economic development in disadvantaged areas, the provincial authorities have granted licenses to five Vietnamese firms to grow rubber trees and build rubber processing plants in four districts since 2008. Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture Phonepaseuth Thongsithavong hailed the Vietnamese rubber companies for bringing high economic efficiency and generating jobs for thousands of workers. He stressed that they also pay attention to social welfare work, contributing to improving local lives and pushing forward the province's socio-economic development. Attapeu is now home to over 15,564ha of rubber cultivation which yield 46,531 tonnes of rubber latex on average and earn more than 23 million USD from export each year. In the near future, the province will continue offering extensive support for Vietnamese firms to do business there, contributing to Lao national development and fostering Laos-Vietnam relations, Thongsithavong said./. VNA There are no simple solutions to America's deadly overdose epidemic, which costs 100,000 lives each year and is erasing gains in life expectancy. But a team of USC researchers have found one low-cost intervention can make a difference: a letter notifying providers their patient has died from an overdose. A 2018 study by the team found that notifying clinicians through an informational letter from their county's medical examiner that a patient had suffered a fatal overdose reduced the number of opioid prescriptions they wrote over the next three months. The team's new study, published today in JAMA Network Open, shows those notifications have a lasting impact up to a year later. Clinicians don't necessarily know a patient they prescribed opioids to has suffered a fatal overdose. We knew closing this information loop immediately reduced opioid prescriptions. Our latest study shows that change in prescribing behavior seems to stick." Jason Doctor, Lead Author, Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and Co-Director of the Behavioral Sciences Program, USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics A simple public health intervention with a lasting impact Doctor and his team sent letters to 809 clinicians-;predominantly medical doctors-;who had prescribed opioids to 166 people who had suffered fatal overdoses in San Diego County. The letter was intended to be informative and respectful in tone while providing information about safer prescribing. The researchers compared prescribing patterns among these clinicians to those who had not received the letter. While there was a gradual reduction in opioid prescribing across the board, study authors found the rate of the reduction was faster and more robust among those who received the letter. After one year, those who received the letter wrote 7% fewer prescriptions than clinicians who hadn't received the notification. "The new study shows this change is not just a temporary blip and then clinicians went back to their previous prescribing," said Doctor. "This low-cost intervention has a long-lasting impact." Doctor acknowledged that attention to the number of deaths from drugs prescribed by clinicians has been eclipsed by the focus on rising deaths from illicit opioid use, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The sad truth is, we never addressed the first problem of deaths from prescribed opioids. In fact, it's all mixed together because nationally, approximately half of people who die of an illicit fentanyl drug overdose have also had an opioid prescription within the past year," he explained. Medical examiners are uniquely positioned to mitigate future opioid overdose deaths The big takeaway, said Doctor, is the letters from the medical examiner provide a unique opportunity to get into communication with physicians in the wake of overdose deaths to save lives from both legal and illegal opioids. "The letter is a nudge to providers that the opioid epidemic is in their community and affecting their patients. It is easy to read the headlines and assume you are not part of the problem," said Doctor. "Doctors have an opportunity to talk to their patients and consider alternatives to opioids. I believe we can reach about half of the people in the illicit fentanyl epidemic through a doctor who has seen them." Doctor and other study authors are currently partnering with Los Angeles County on lessons from the research and looking at potential public policy interventions, including mandating such notifications from county medical examiners to clinicians. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Maj. Gen. Michael Talley, U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE) commanding general, brings it in with Soldiers as they prepare to depart from the San Antonio International Airport for holiday block leave on December 17, 2022. During the largest travel day in the holiday season for MEDCoE, Talley, along with other senior leaders, took time to engage with hundreds of traveling Soldiers, airport personnel, and volunteers. (Jose Rodriguez) Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Periods of snow. High around 25F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.. Tonight Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low near 0F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. - Lombardy A region of northern Italy bordering on Switzerland. First inhabited by a Gallic people, it became the center of the kingdom of the Lombards in the sixth century A.D. and part of Charlemagne's empire in 774. The Lombard League of cities defeated Emperor Frederick I in 1176. - Lombardy poplar n. A deciduous tree having upward-pointing branches that form a slender, columnar outline. - lonely-hearts adj. Of or relating to people who are looking for companions or marriage partners: a lonely-hearts column in the newspaper. - longanimity n. Calmness in the face of suffering and adversity; forbearance. - long face n. A discontented or sullen facial expression. - longhair n. Informal 1. One dedicated to the arts and especially to classical music. 2. One whose taste in the arts is considered to be overrefined. 3. A person with long hair, especially a hippie. --longhaired adj. - longhand n. Cursive writing. - lookism n. Discrimination or prejudice against people based on their appearance. --lookist adj & n. - loose cannon n. Slang One that is uncontrolled and therefore poses danger: "[His] bloopers in the White House seem to make him...a political loose cannon" (Tom Morgenthau). - loosey-goosey adj. Visibly relaxed or loose; not tense. - lop1 tr.v 1. To cut off (a part), especially from a tree or shrub: lopped off the dead branches. 2. To cut off a part or parts from; trim: lopped the vines back; lopped her curls shorter. 3. To eliminate or excise as superfluous: lopped him from the payroll. - lop2 intr. & tr.v. To hang or let hang loosely; droop. - lope intr.v. To run or ride with a steady, easy gait. n. A steady, easy gait. - lop-eared adj. Having bent or drooping ears: a lop-eared hound. - loppy adj. Hanging limp; pendulous. - Lorentz-FitzGerald contraction n. The shortening of an object along its direction of motion as its speed approaches the speed of light, as measured by an observer at rest with respect to the body. Also called length contraction. - losingest adj. Slang. Less successful or losing more often than any others of its kind: "help turn around one of the network's losingest nights of the week" (Washington Post). - loss leader n. A commodity offered especially by a retail store at cost or below cost to attract customers. - be lost on Idiom 1. To have no effect or influence on: Her advice was lost on me. 2. To be beyond the comprehension of: The lecture was lost on us. - lotic adj. Of, relating to, or living in moving water. - lotus n. 4. Greek Mythology a. A small Mediterranean tree or shrub whose fruit was eaten by the lotus-eaters. - lotus-eater n. 1. Lotus-eater Greek Mythology One of a people described in the Odyssey who lived in a drugged, indolent state from feeding on the lotus. 2. A lazy person devoted to pleasure and luxury. - lotus land n. Informal A place or state of languid contentment. - Louis IX Known as "Saint Louis." 1214-1270. King of France who led the Seventh Crusade (1248-1254) and died in a subsequent crusade to Tunisia. - louse n. 1. pl. lice Any of numerous small, flat-bodied, wingless biting or sucking insects of the orders M. or A., many of which are external parasites on various animals, including humans. 2. pl. louses Slang A mean or despicable person. tr.v. Slang To bungle: loused the project; louse up a deal. - lovage n. A Mediterranean perennial plant having edible leaves and leafstalks and small, aromatic, seedlike fruit used as seasoning. - for love or money Idiom Under any circumstances. Usually used in negative sentences: I would not do that for love or money. - lovey-dovey adj. Informal Expressing affection in an extravagantly sentimental way; mushy. - low-ball tr.v. Slang To underestimate or understate(a cost) deliberately: "He often took illegal cash payments from developers in return for ... low-balling the cost of construction and renovation work" (Boston Globe). TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain has upgraded the quality of health services delivered to all community members, placing the Kingdom among advanced countries on the flexibility and sustainability of this vital sector. This was emphasised by Health Minister, Dr Jalila bint Al Sayed Jawad Hassan, as she commended the constant support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the health sector. The Minister pledged that as members of Team Bahrain, the affiliates of the Health Ministry will continue building on the Kingdoms health milestones by expanding the delivery of premium health services to everyone. Dr Jalila said that HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Ministers order to provide round-the-clock health services in nine health centres across the Kingdom has contributed to enhancing the efficiency and quality of the healthcare system, enabling the patients to have easy access to health services. Health centres operating 24 hours a day are distributed across various governorates, namely: Halat Bu Maher Health Centre and BBK Centre in the Muharraq Governorate, the Hamad Kanoo Health Centre, Youssef Engineer Health Centre and Khalifa Town Health Centre in the Southern Governorate, the Sitra Health Centre and the Jidhafs Health Centre in the Capital Governorate, and the Mohammed Jassim Kanoo Health Centre and the Shaikh Jaber Health Centre in the Northern Governorate. The Minister said the health centres had started delivering round the clock services shortly after HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Ministers order, which contributed to improving the quality of healthcare they provide. Regarding the classification mechanism in place at primary healthcare centres, the Minister asserted that since the launch of the 24-hour system, emergency cases have been dealt with according to an approved international triage system, taking into account symptoms and vital indicators, namely the modified Manchester Triage System and the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale. The launch of the round-the-clock service at the nine health centres has improved the performance and quality of services. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The Royal Crown with five triangles, hailing Bahrain as a constitutional and hereditary monarchy, will soon find its place on the National Emblem of Bahrain, for which the Shura members were to come together today to vote. The amendment is according to Decree-Law No. (39) of 2022 that will come up for discussion as members of the Shura Council sit together for their third meeting of the first session of the sixth Legislative Term. The Decree-law issued by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in October last year amends some provisions of Decree-Law (72) of 2006 regarding the Emblem of Bahrain, based on a Cabinet proposal. The amendment reads: The Emblem of the Kingdom of Bahrain shall consist of the Kingdoms flag within a three-sided shield-shaped frame, with a top straight base, containing Arab-style motifs engraved on its sides, and surmounted by the royal crown with five triangles. The current coat of arms of Bahrain was designed in 1932 by Charles Belgrave, the British adviser to the then-Shaikh of Bahrain. The design underwent slight modifications when the mantling and the indentations of the chief were modified. In the same session, the Shura Council members will also consider a Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee report recommending amendments to articles concerning the establishment of the Constitutional court from the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee. The committee recommends approving Decree-Law No. (35) of 2022 amending Article (3) of Decree-Law No. (27) of the year 2002. The amendments are for renewing memberships of the president and the members of the Constitutional Court for similar periods. The move extends the services of the judges to continue benefitting from their experience in the field. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) temple excepted to come up in Bahrain has been described by Indias external Affairs Minister as one of the two consecutive miracles in the Gulf. S Jaishankar was speaking at the Gulf Countries Day as part of the ongoing centenary celebrations of Pramukh Swami. It is something bigger than a miracle with two temples one under construction at Abu Dhabi and another expected at Bahrain when two miracles are happening consecutively in the Gulf. It was Pramukhswamis dream and prediction, and we are all resolute on it that this temple is made sooner and grander, said Jaishankar. He also termed BAPS an association that is both local and global and is an organisation that uses technology while also taking care of tradition. Stating that Pramukh Swamis ideals also inspire him on foreign policy, Jaishankar emphasised the concept of vasudhaiva kutumbakam exemplifying with G20. Delegates from the Gulf countries, who attended the event, also hailed Pramukh Swamis resolve to clean the blood from the Akshardham temple following the terrorist attack in September 2002 as well as the initiative of the upcoming temple in Abu Dhabi. Senator Godswill Akpabio has berated some Akwa Ibom All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders in the State for not truly working for its success but rushing to claim success in Abuja. Akpabio, who is the National Vice Chairman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, said those leaders whom he described as Abuja politicians shout Tinubu in the day and Atiku in the night. He noted that he was particularly aware of one of them who had publicly endorsed the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and a PDP Senatorial candidate but would rush to Uyo to claim chairman of the party. Akpabio further noted that someone in the APC, poised to destabilize the party for the benefit of PDP, instituted seven cases in court against his partys governorship candidate, Akanimo Udofia. This was contained in a press statement signed by Akpabios Chief Press Secretary, Mr Jackson Udom and sent to journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Hee said Akpabio made the revelation, weekend, while receiving the leadership of about 250 Presidential Support Groups in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of the State. The statement quoted Akpabio to have promised to personally support any other support group in the State with genuine interest to work for the APC. The statement reads in part, I have heard of several other groups being set up within the party by other party leaders. I am not against it, so long as they are being set up in support of the party and our Presidential candidate. I will personally support and attend their meetings anytime I am around in the State. I will not support a situation where some leaders of the party in the State would be shouting Asiwaju in the day and PDP (Atiku) in the night. I am very much aware of a particular person in our party, who has publicly endorsed the governorship candidate of the PDP and its Senatorial candidate, but would rush down to Uyo to say I am the chairman of the rally for Tinubu. Which Tinubu are you talking about? Describing the groups as the real supporters of the APC in the State, the former governor said anybody who would not embrace the groups is not a politician, stressing that no matter how he identifies with the centre, he would always identify with the grassroots. Some suspected hoodlums, on Sunday, set ablaze the Umuchu police station in Aguata LGA of Anambra state. Tochukwu Ikenga, spokesperson of the state police command, confirmed the incident. According to him, the station was under renovation at the time of the incident. The facility was reportedly destroyed during the #EndSARS protest in 2020 and is just being renovated by the community leaders. The police station was still under renovation before the hoodlums came in the early hours today and set it ablaze, Ikenga said. The situation is under control and calm has returned to the area. We want to use this opportunity to reach out to the people of the community to assist the police with information on the already ongoing investigation. The attack on Umuchu station comes less than two weeks after some gunmen attacked the Ihiala divisional headquarters with explosives. In April 2022, gunmen attacked a police checkpoint in Aguata, which resulted in three officers sustaining injuries. In June, the police divisional headquarters in Anaku, Anyamelum area of state, was attacked by gunmen. The former Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, Ahmed Mahmoud Gumel has described his time as a member of the All Progressive Congress, APC, as full of pain and agony. Gumel stated this on Saturday after he collected his new PDP membership card in Bamaina, the country home of ex-governor Sule Lamido. He claimed the APC administration has failed to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the common man. I used to shed tears whenever I see how things are happening in APC and remember how things were when we are in government under the Peoples Democratic Party, Gumel stated noting that it was high time for him to rejoin his party and meet his people to make things better. That is why I didnt tear my old PDP membership card because I know I will come back to my house one day because we build the house, he said. He, however, debunked the allegation that he left the party alone. I and all my supporters who worked for the success of APC in 2015 and 2019 have quit the party and will work for the victory of PDP in the coming 2023 general election, he asserted and also affirmed that more prominent politicians in the state will join PDP in the next two weeks. The former deputy governor resigned his membership from the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, and rejoin his former party, PDP. Mr Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, has reiterated call on Nigerians not to vote for political candidates based on ethnicity or religion. Obi made the call during his presidential campaign rally held in Osogbo, Osun State capital, on Saturday. The former Anambra State governor, equally urged the electorate to vote out the major political parties, who had been claiming they had political structures to take or retain power. He highlighted the challenges facing the country and Nigerians, telling the people to vote out the parties with structures and take back the country from them. Nigerians are hungry, youths have no job. It is not safe to travel anywhere in Nigeria today. All these challenges are caused by those who say they have party structures. But these structures have crippled Nigeria. I want me and you to destroy these structures by voting them out next month. We are going to secure and unite Nigeria. We want Nigeria to be proud of being a Nigerian. We will deliver a secured Nigeria. We dont want Nigerians to be in the IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camp. We dont want you to be a slave in your own country. We are going to govern this country with fear of God. We will give you jobs. We will change Nigeria from consuming country to producing country. These people kept on bragging that they have structures. Yet, they are not doing anything. They are not producing anything in this state, youths are unemployed, we will change these challenges. he said. He added that he and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, had been successful businessmen before going into public administration, and were therefore positioned to turn around the economy of the country. He also promised to fight corruption and tackle insecurity if voted president of Nigeria. (NAN) The entire situation is baffling, however, I guess Wells Fargo is no surprise? A passenger on an Air India flight from New York to Delhi suffered unimaginable offenses, and terrible support by the airlines as a Wells Fargo employee did what Wells Fargo does and pissed all over her. Fortune: As Fortune reported yesterday, India's aviation regulator scolded Air India this week for being "unprofessional" and "devoid of empathy" in its handling of a bizarre incident in late November, in which a male passenger allegedly urinated on a woman during a Nov. 26 flight from New York to Delhi. Now that male passenger, who had traveled in business class, has been identified as a vice president at Wells Fargo. Indian police arrested the executive, Shankar Mishra, on Saturday. The bank said in a statement on late Friday that it had terminated Mishra, who worked at its subsidiary in India, and was cooperating with local law enforcement, adding in a short statement it found the incident "deeply disturbing." Fortune reached out to Wells Fargo outside normal business hours but did not receive an immediate reply. In a statement sent to Fortune, Air India said it "acknowledges that it could have handled these matters better, both in the air and on the ground." The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu has described his counterpart in the Labour Party, Peter Obi as a stingy man who boasts of saving money while his people starving. Tinubu made the remarks while speaking during the Ondo state rally at Democracy Park, Akure, the state capital. Tinubu said his vision for the country can only be harvested by progressive and democratic governance, which according to him Obi cannot do. Tinubus words: He [Obi] cares little that his policies and actions have a chance to show how progressive he could be when he was the governor of Anambra State. All he could do was boast that he saved money I dont know how much. But I tell you, it is a wicked parent like Obi, given the opportunity to feed his children, invest in tomorrow on their behalf and hold money in his hands while the children starve and go to bed hungry. That is Obi wickedness, he said. According to him, only a heartless governor would hold onto money despite hungry schoolchildren and roads and clinics in a state of disrepair. In the view of the former Lagos governor, neither the city dweller nor the farmer prospers at such a time. In the end, he refused to save the people because he preferred to save the money and he claimed to be a party labour (sic). Is that labour? You will have to be labouring under a terrible delusion if you think he will do a better job for this nation than he did for Anambra State. What is there to be proud of? After Obi left, Obi has nothing to be proud of. Instead, Obi moved, left Anambra crying. He moved to Lagos. Obi! Obi! Import and export. Warehouse economist. Obi, why did you do that? You now ran away to Labour. What kind of Labour? It means you have no understanding of what it means. When they talk of dignity of labour, instead [of him] to save the people, instead he saved the money. I am indeed very sorry, he said. The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Rabiu Kwankwaso has described the endorsement of his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Edwin Clarke as inconsequential. Kwankwaso said those endorsing Obi would be shocked by the outcome of the presidential election. He spoke while addressing journalists in Asaba, Delta State, after his campaign rally. Kwankwaso said those endorsing Obi had lost touch with reality because Nigerians are looking for credible leaders that would solve their problems. Stressing that Nigerians are conversant with their candidates, Kwankwaso insisted that the endorsement is null and void. According to Kwankwaso: The endorsement is inconsequential, it means absolutely nothing. You see people who are really out of touch with the reality on the ground, the young men and women of today are looking for a way out, and they have more facts than anybody who is endorsing. I am happy to say that I am being endorsed by the masses of this country, and these are the people who are at the grassroots level. Many people, including the endorsers are out for shock in the 2023 election, many people will be surprised. Obasanjo had endorsed Obis candidacy in a letter to Nigerian youths. The Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said that a vote for either the Presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and the Labour Party, Peter Obi, in the next election would be a waste. Tinubu, said this in Akure, the Ondo state capital during his presidential campaign visit to the state. He saids that both presidential candidates of the opposition parties has nothing to offer. According to him I want to advise Nigerians to vote wisely, a vote for Atiku or Obi would be a waste. Our rally today is a signal of our renewed hope for Nigeria, that February 25, you will go and make a wise decision, you will vote massively for me, Im too sure and very sure that you will vote for APC and thats why Im very happy. Taking a swipe at Atiku, Asiwaju Tinubu said the PDP candidate could not do it. He doesnt want to do the brave and hard work required to build a better nation. Instead, he would rather sell your birthright to the highest bidder and run off with the proceeds. He cares little that his policies and actions will impoverish you and leave you with nothing. On the Labour Party candidate, Tinubu said Obi had a chance to show how progressive he could be when he was governor of Anambra State. All he could do was boast that he saved money. But I tell you it is a wicked parent that holds money in his hand yet allows his children to starve. Likewise, it is a heartless governor who holds back money when people went hungry, schools, road and clinics went into disrepair. Neither the city-dweller nor farmer prospered under him. In the end, he refused to save the people because he preferred to save the money. And he claims to be the party of labor. You will have to be laboring under a terrible delusion if you think he will do better for the nation than he did for Anambra State. Buyer beware of salesmen selling fake merchandise. The truth of the difference between my leadership and that of Mr. Obi lies in one observation. Although Lagos is crowded and Anambra has ample space, more people left Obis Anambra seeking a better life in Tinubus Lagos than left Lagos believing Obi had established a blueprint for growth in Anambra. My people, you cannot entrust your future or that of our nation to Mr. Sell Everything Atiku or Mr. Stingy Obi. But you can trust Mr. Progressive Good Governance Tinubu! Myself and my running mate, Shettima are ready to renewed hope through empowerment for all of you, if you give me your mandate, I will work so hard and put money in your pockets. Speaking on his agenda for Ondo State, Tinubu noted that the history of Ondo is one where industrious farmers had for years sowed prosperity through well -cultivated cocoa plantations and other agricultural exploits. He said his agricultural policies would return the farmer back to his esteemed and essential place in society. You have been the backbone of the economy and bedrock of the community. You will be honored as such. He re-stated that his government would reestablish commodity exchange boards to ensure farmers a guaranteed price for their yields. If given the mandate to lead this country, he said his administration would help the state to reap the full benefits of her bounteous resources. For example, my agricultural plan also calls for the creation of agricultural hubs in the nation. You will be the direct beneficiary of this policy. These hubs will increase cultivation of now idle fertile land yet also promote agro-processing businesses that will produce many new jobs and put more money in the pockets of the average person and small farmer, he said. Tinubu added: Our economic plan will make strategic investments in industry and infrastructure, giving our talented people the chance to make a good living while producing valuable goods that will improve the quality of life for those who buy them. Your natural resources will be more comprehensively utilized. Your oil and gas must bring prosperity, development and jobs. But that is not all. Bitumen, granite and marble must be mined and turned into finished products right here in the state under my administration. The National secretary of the party, Iyiola Omisore, said that the votes that would come from the south West state would be unprecedented. Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and the state party chairman Ade Adetimehin, promised that the people of the state would vote massively for Tinubu. Present at the rally include, governors of Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Ogun, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Ekiti State deputy governor, Mrs Christiana Afuye, Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye; former Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola; National Secretary of the APC, Senator Iyiola Omisore; other members of the National Working Committee, members of the Ondo State Executive council and leaders and members of the party amongst others. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. In this 2017 photo illustration, a package of NARCAN (Naloxone) nasal spray sits on the counter at a Walgreens pharmacy in New York City. Drew Angerer/Getty Images/TNS File photo: Mighty Moms Sabrina Hedgepeph, left, and Beth McCormick load bags, and a box, of food into Hedgepephs vehicle for delivery to schools in the Albany area. McCormick, a co-founder of Mighty Moms, is the groups director. Robert Simonson has covered the cocktail revival in books and as a spirits writer for the New York Times. Hes written books on the martini, the old fashioned, three-ingredient cocktails and more. His most recent book is Modern Classic Cocktails: 60+ Stories and Recipes from the New Golden Age in Drinks. He joins Neal Bodenheimer, founder of Cure and author of Cure: New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix Em, at a party at Saba celebrating the release of both of their books on Jan. 12. The event includes drinks from both books and food from Saba. Tickets are $40 and available via eatwithsaba.com and include a copy of Simonsons book. For more information about Simonson, see his online newsletter The Mix at robertsimonson.substack.com. Gambit: What is a modern classic cocktail? Robert Simonson: The modern classic is a topic I have studied for the past 15 years. I have been writing about cocktails since 2006. You spend a lot of time in bars, perusing menus and talking to bartenders. The drinks that stick with the public and the medias attention are the ones that catch your eye. I outlined some criteria in the book on what it takes to be a modern classic. The most important one is that the cocktail has to jump from the bar where it was created. If it just stays at the bar where it was invented, then its a house specialty, not a modern classic. It has to go to other bars and other cities. In order to do that, it has to meet the approval of other bartenders. If other bartenders dont think its a tasty drink worth emulating, its not going to go to other bars. It needs to be a simple cocktail three to five ingredients that you can get easily at a liquor store. It its too complicated or too ornate, its not going to travel. And it has to be popular with the public. If people dont order it, its not going anywhere. I tried to treat it as both a recipe book and a history book. One of my ambitions was to get these stories down before theyre forgotten. The cocktail revival has been going on long enough that some of the younger bartenders think that its always been this way. They have no idea how much effort it took, where these drinks came from, who created them. It captures a picture in time of all the circumstances that would foster the creation of all these drinks in a short period of time. Gambit: Was it fun researching the book? Simonson: Its both work and fun. When I am going out to explore a new bar, I am compelled to order the original drinks the new drinks theyve created to see where theyre at, what theyre doing. At this point, the level of excellence at your average cocktail bar is pretty high. Youre not tasting a lot of lemons. There arent a lot of drinks that are undrinkable. It is work, but its also fun. The big cities have an embarrassment of riches as far as cocktail bars are concerned. But the cocktail revival spread far and wide and reached secondary cities and small towns. Generally, anywhere you go you can find someplace that is trying to create craft cocktails. Recently, I went to Lorain, Ohio. They have about 60,000 people. Its a post-industrial town. There used to be a lot of shipping there. Its the last place youd expect to find a fancy cocktail bar, but they have one. Its called Speak of the Devil. They focus on modern classics. They make drinks as good as any in New Orleans or San Francisco or wherever you want to go. They had a simple sour called a 5th Street Finisher. Not much different than a whiskey sour, except that it had scotch. I dont think Speak of the Devil will produce a modern classic because its so isolated, but you never know. One of the cocktails in the book is a Tommys Margarita. Its a margarita but without curacao. It spotlights the tequila. It was invented in a Mexican restaurant in the Richmond in San Francisco an unlikely place for a modern classic to come from, but it can happen. Gambit: What are some of the unexpected surprises you put in the book? Simonson: The Gunshop Fizz comes from New Orleans Cure. In cocktail circles, its famous. Or maybe notorious. Its one of the more complicated ones in the book. Most of the cocktails in the book are easily achieved at home. I have an affection for the Gunshop Fizz. It felt wrong if I didnt put it in the book. I have made it at home. There is one called the Death Flip. Its from Australia. It doesnt make sense on paper. Its tequila, Jagermeister, yellow Chartreuse and a whole egg. Thats a crazy drink. It shouldnt be as delicious as it is. You may not have thought of some of these drinks in your mind, but sometimes you see the ingredients and you think, Of course that works. The Trident is kind of weird too. Its equal parts sherry, aquavit and Cynar. You have to have pretty good imagination to come up with that. Cynar was one of the heroes of the early cocktail revival. It was this forgotten artichoke liqueur from Italy. Bartenders in the early movement were experimental and they rediscovered all these heritage liqueurs that have been around forever but were neglected. When they stopped creating drinks with Campari and Chartreuse, they looked around and said lets try Cynar. Anything you can make with Campari you can make with Cynar. Cure was responsible with quite a few drinks with Cynar. UPDATE: The price of Robert Simonson and Neal Bodenheimer's Jan. 12 event at Saba has been reduced to $40. Rapper Afroman (Joseph Foreman), who had his Ohio home raided by the Adams County Sheriff's Office in 2022, has created a song, called "Will You Help Me Repair My Door," about the incident. He illustrates the song in the video by using clips from his own security camera footage along with shots of official documents like the search warrant. VICE further explains: After the Adams County Sheriff's Office conducted a raid on his Ohio property in 2022 with a warrant for drug trafficking and kidnapping, Afroman, real name Joseph Foreman, told VICE he lost out on gigs and felt angry and powerless. He channeled that energy into a pair of songs, "Lemon Pound Cake" and "Will You Help Me Repair My Door," with music videos that feature actual footage of deputies smashing their way onto his property, rifling through his belongings, and checking out the baked goods sitting on his counter before they cut power to his personal security cameras altogether. Clips from Afroman's music videos have since gone viral on TikTok. He was never charged with a crime, and maintains that the sheriff's department stole $400 of his money that they seized during the raid. The song and video are brilliant, enjoy! And read more about the incident in this interview with Afroman in VICE. Hey Blake, I read chef Susan Spicer will receive a big award this week. Her Rosedale restaurant is one of our favorites. Ive heard the building was once a police station or jail but what more can you tell us about its history? Dear reader, Congratulations are indeed in order for chef and restaurateur Susan Spicer, who will receive the Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Award from the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience on Thursday, Jan. 12. Spicer began her local cooking career in 1979 at Louis XVI Restaurant. She worked in kitchens in Paris and California before opening Bayona in the French Quarter in 1990. Her first Lakeview restaurant, Mondo, followed in 2010, the same year the James Beard Awards named her to a list of Whos Who of Food and Beverage in America. Rosedale, located in the Navarre neighborhood adjacent to Delgado Community College, opened in 2016. The building at 801 Rosedale Drive is the former New Orleans Police Department Third District police station. The land on which it sits was once part of the Girod Asylum, later called the Colored Waifs Home. It was a juvenile detention facility where a judge sentenced young Louis Armstrong for firing a pistol into the air on New Years Eve 1912. Armstrong first learned to play the cornet and bugle there. According to developer and contractor Kevin Centanni, the police station was originally constructed in 1936 with lumber and other materials salvaged from a facility dating to 1879. Centanni told The Times-Picayune that the police station was originally located on the banks of the nearby New Basin Canal before being moved to the present location in 1951. In the 1980s, NOPD used it as a headquarters for its crime prevention office. After it sat in disrepair for several years, Centanni purchased the building at a city auction in 2014. Some signs of its former use are still visible, including bars on some of the windows and jail cells that have been converted into restrooms. A state libraries official claims Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser fired her and had her marched out of her office after she reported him to the FBI and other investigators over what she calls questionable contracts. We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. This new year, we think you should celebrate yourself for being exactly who you are: a pretty decent cook! We also think you should gift yourself the proper tools to make it easier to hone your skills. Having a good knife can be the difference between an exceptional cooking experience and a nightmarish one. Get it together in the kitchen with a set of Japanese-style chef's knives, now at a tremendous markdown as part of the Same You, New Hobby promotion. That's rightthere's no need to drop hundreds of dollars on a single Japanese blade, like this one believed to be Carmy's knife of choice. Instead, pick up a whole set made of strong high-carbon stainless steel for $69.99. These Seido knives provide a great balance between sharp edge retention and durability. The forged construction incorporates a sloped bolster that travels gradually onto the blade's face to give you better comfort, control, and handle balance. The 15-degree angle of the knives' faces is sharper than the traditional 25 degrees offered by many Western-style knives. The 8" chef's knife, 7" cleaver, 7" Santoku knife, 5" Santoku, and 3.5" paring knife are all great options to make sure your kitchen needs are met. These knives are no joke, and there's plenty of satisfied shoppers to back this up. Verified customer reviews note things like, "The knives are super sharp, the handles have a nice feel and balance. Totally recommend these knives if you're looking for a new knife set," and, "Fits the hand very well and are easy-to-use." Indulge in your hobby without the splurge. The 5-piece Seido Japanese Master Chef's Knife Set for just $69.99 (reg. $249) through January 9, no coupon needed. Prices subject to change. In light of comments by James Cameron that have recently re-surfaced and the renewed calls for boycotts of Avatar 2 by Indigenous activists, CBR.com has created this great list of 10 films by Indigenous filmmakers you can watch if you want something other than Avatar. The Los Angeles Times describes the calls for a boycott: "Join Natives & other Indigenous groups around the world in boycotting this horrible & racist film," Yue Begay, a Navajo artist and co-chair of Indigenous Pride Los Angeles who is behind the campaign's resurgence, wrote in a tweet that has been liked by more than 40,000 users. "Our cultures were appropriated in a harmful manner to satisfy some [white flag emoji] man's savior complex." And CBR explains why they created the list: Alongside Cameron's recent comments, discussions on representation and "blue face" controversies have resurfaced. "Blue face" is the practice of taking creative liberties to hybridize various indigenous groups and make their own race then have non-Indigenous actors play them. Various groups across the globe have called for a boycott of the new film. At the very least, it makes sense to draw attention to the excellent films actually produced and created by Indigenous people. I've included the trailer for one of the films on the list, Waikiki, directed by Kanaka Maoli Filmmaker Chris Kahunahanait. It looks incredible! CBR describes the film: Considered the first feature film to be written and directed by a Native Hawaiian, Waikiki explores the parts of Hawaii that are usually covered up by the island state's touristy lei-laced facade. In his directorial debut, Chris Kahunahana creates a dark and gripping story unlike anything usually associated with Hawaii's beaches. Living in a van by the ocean, Waikiki's teacher/hula dancer Kea finds her life spiraling further out of control after she hits a homeless man named Wo with her van. Critically acclaimed, the film presents itself as a study of the often-overlooked native Hawaiian perspective. Showcasing Kea's tragedies via a Lynchian perspective, the film grants audiences a surreal experience that feels tragically all too real for many of Hawaii's native inhabitants. Thanks, CBR, for the list I'm going to watch some this weekend! The Hamriyah Free Zone will showcase its leading role in supporting the global and regional iron and steel trade, as well as its competitive advantages at the 18th edition of SteelFab 2023 exhibition. Being organised by Expo Centre Sharjah from January 9 to 12, the event is scheduled to bring together industry leaders and experts from major countries in the field, along with top local and regional companies. The Free Zone is home to more than 180 companies specialised in welding and mining that operate globally from HFZA. Perfect platform Saudi Salim Al Mzrouei, Director of HFZA, said that SteelFab 2023 will provide the free zone with an ideal platform to learn about the latest developments in the market, industry requirements, and the needs of manufacturers and investors in this sector. It will also offer a good opportunity for meetings with leading companies in the sector and introduce them to the advantages of investing and establishing businesses in HFZA, as well as to the facilities offered to investors and how feasible it is to build a strategic presence in the UAE, the Middle East and North Africa. During the event, HFZA will also highlight Sharjah's development journey, which has made it an international business centre. Al Mzrouei went on to say that through its presence in this year's show, the Free Zone looks to promote its position as a leading regional and global hub for the iron and steel industry, especially as this particular business is one of the major sectors within the Hamriyah Free Zone and accounts for a large share of foreign investments and multinational and international companies working in this field. HFZAs steel businesses not only provide their services to regional markets but also global ones, benefiting from HFZAs world-class infrastructure in addition to multiple and smooth access to international markets. Advanced infrastructure In addition to offering industrial and commercial plots of land, HFZA, one of the largest industrial-free zones in the UAE, provides advanced infrastructure and modern facilities that strengthen external expansion plans for investors, especially in importing and re-exporting, to the worlds markets. It also provides countless competitive advantages, most notably a single-window operation that boosts efficiency and eases procedures for doing business, along with multiple tax exemptions, repatriation of capital and profits, full foreign ownership of the business, and quick access to regional and global markets.-- TradeArabia News Service Almost twenty years ago, on February 15, 2003, tens of millions of people around the globe organized mass demonstrations protesting the imminent attack by the Coalition of the Willing on the people and infrastructure of Iraq as part of the post-911 vengeance politics led by the United States. These were the largest, most widespread (anti-war) protests in the planet's history that we know of yet. Despite these refusals to participate in an imperial war, the momentum of imperial designs, a constructed victimhood that ignored 50 years of US meddling in the elections and politics of countries in the Middle East, and the rapacious capitalist and military desire for oil led the day in 2003 a never-ending war still being fought and paid for from public funds. On January 17, 1961, Dwight D. Eisenhower warned the world about the risk and threat of a military, politicians, and capitalist nexus, the military-industrial complex, as he named what Dick Cheney would come to represent. Okay, Eisenhauer did not use the word capitalism. But the nexus had the power of nightmares. We Are Many, directed by Amir Amirani, eleven years in the making and shot in over seven countries, demonstrates the power of coming together the protest, the knowledge created and learned by people in the process of choosing to protest the war, the ongoing impact of these political protests, and the disregard, disavowal, and dismissal of these voices by political and media elites. "On February 15th 2003, 30 million people protested against the USA and UK's plans to invade Iraq. Demonstrations spread across 789 cities, in 72 countries, covering every continent. "This fearless, thought-provoking documentary details the remarkable story behind the first-ever global demonstration. Whilst the protests did not stop the Iraq War, the movement inspired a new generation of activists. The legacy of the demonstrations continued to influence campaigners across the world; including activists in Egypt during the Arab Spring as well as Black Lives Matter campaigners in the United States. 'We Are Many' features testimony from organizers, activists, celebrities, and politicians who provide a unique insight into the protest itself and the global context which led to the marches. The film also features accounts from members of the public many of whom were inspired to protest for the first time." Check out the trailer, while the website has information about streaming, video reactions to the film, and other resources. The budget-friendly wireless gaming mouse made by the reputable periphery manufacturer Logitech has returned to its lowest sale price yet on Amazon, where the G305 Lightspeed can now be purchased for US$29. 4 Reviews The Swiss company Logitech is a household brand name among PC gamers who know one or two things about the specialized periphery that is needed to fully enjoy their beloved hobby. Fortunately, well-performing products like the Logitech G305 Lightspeed are fairly affordable since the wireless gaming mouse has now gone on sale at Amazon. More specifically, Amazon offers the traditional black color variant of the Logitech G305 Lightspeed for just US$29.99 including free shipping for Prime members. This wireless gaming mouse is equipped with a very sensitive 12,000 dpi optical sensor, and its fast response time of 1 ms makes it suitable for fast-paced shooters like the ultra-popular Call of Duty Warzone. Most notably, this deal matches Amazon's lowest price ever for the wireless Logitech G305 gaming mouse according to Camelcamelcamel. For further information on this affordable piece of periphery, please refer to Rting's in-depth review. The experts for example praised the Logitech G305 Lightspeed for its decent build quality and the low click latency. This wireless gaming mouse also comes with six programmable buttons and up to 250 hours of battery life with a single AA battery. Overall, this deal is a solid choice for budget-minded gamers who would like to spend no more than US$30 on their new pointing device. Order the Logitech G305 Lightspeed on sale for US$29 at Amazon Depending upon where one is from, Decimal Point, Decimal Comma, or both notations are used as a Decimal Mark to separate integers from the fractional portion of a number. Decimal notation has shifted over the centuries as mathematics has evolved into it's modern usage through trial and error. Below are some of examples from Florian Cajori's A History Of Mathematical Notations, which provides an excellent description of the steps that have brought mathematics to the current state of Decimal Point and Decimal Comma usage supremacy. Image: Andrew Yi | Florian Cajori (excerpts) According to Florian Cajori the confusion started with John Napier's Rabdologia published in 1617: In section 5 he says: "Whatever is written after the period is a fraction," and he actually uses the period. But in the passage we quoted from Rabdologia he speaks of a "period or comma" and actually uses a comma in his illustration. Thus, Napier vacillated between the period and the comma; mathematicians have been vacillating in this matter ever since. A History Of Mathematical Notations | Florian Cajori Florian Cajori centers the Decimal Comma/Decimal Point divide on two titans of mathematics born 4 years apart, Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz, and their preferred notation for the multiplication mark. Sir Isaac Newton preferred using "x" as the multiplication mark commonly used in England at the time and thus had no concerns with using the Decimal Point, the extremely popular polymath Gotfried Liebniz hailing from Germany had preferred to use the "" multiplication mark, and thus championed the Decimal Comma. In the eighteenth century, trials of strength between the comma and the dot as the separatrix were complicated by the fact that Leibniz had proposed the dot as the symbol of multiplication, a proposal which was championed by the German textbook writer Christian Wolf and which met with favorable reception throughout the Continent. A History Of Mathematical Notations | Florian Cajori With the progression of colonialism The United States of America would go on to follow a mix of Decimal Comma and Decimal Point use due to influences from France and England: Nor did these two dots introduce confusion, because (if we may use a situation suggested by Shakespeare) the symbols were placed in Romeo and Juliet positions, the Juliet dot stood on high, above Romeo's reach, her joy reduced to a decimal over his departure, while Romeo below had his griefs multiplied and was "a thousand times the worse" for want of her light. Thus, 25 means 2 5/10, while 2.5 equals 10. A History Of Mathematical Notations | Florian Cajori However America would eventually settle on and reverse the Romeo & Juliet notation commonly used in England: Sherwin writes: "To distinguish the sign of Multiplication from the period used as a decimal point, the latter is elevated by inverting the type, while the former is larger and placed down even with the lower extremities of the figures or letters between which it stands." In 1881 George Bruce Halsted placed the decimal point halfway up and the multiplication point low. A History Of Mathematical Notations | Florian Cajori Florian Cajori sums up the timeline with the following paragraphes: That no general agreement in the notation for decimal fractions exists at the present time is evident from the publication of the International Mathematical Congress in Strasbourg (1920), where decimals are expressed by commas as in 2,5 and also by dots as in 2.5. In that volume a dot, placed at the lower border of a line, is used also to indicate multiplication. The opinion of an American committee of mathematicians is expressed in the following: "Owing to the frequent use of the letter x, it is preferable to use the dot (a raised period) for multiplication in the few cases in which any symbol is necessary. For example, in a case like 123 . . . . (x- l).x, the center dot is preferable to the symbol X ; but in cases like 2a(x-a) no symbol is necessary. The committee recognizes that the period (as in a.b) is more nearly international than the center dot (as in ab); but inasmuch as the period will continue to be used in this country as a decimal point, it is likely to cause confusion, to elementary pupils at least, to attempt to use it as a symbol for multiplication." Below is a googleVis visualization from DataCamp that shows which countries us Decimal Point/Decimal Comma notation or both: You are clearly a super-user of NUVO.net. Thats a good thing. It means you depend on independent and local news sources to keep you informed. You are a smart person. Coincidentally, independent and local news sources depend on you too. Youve read 25 articles this month and now, wed like you to be join our mission and become a NUVO Supporter. For as little as $4 a month, you can keep us alive and fighting -- and can have unlimited access to the independent news that cant be found anywhere else. The Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce will host Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr.'s State of the City address next month. The meeting will take place at noon Feb. 8 at Dynasty Banquets, 4125 Calumet Ave. in Hammond. Registration starts at 11 a.m. Networking and lunch begin at 11:30 a.m. McDermott will deliver his 19th annual State of the City address to the chamber, which represents businesses across Hammond and East Chicago. "2022 has been a good year for Hammond with several new developments across the city, and 2023 promises to see even more announcements and large-scale developments city-wide," the Lakeshore Chamber said in a news release. McDermott recently announced he would be pursuing a sixth term as mayor. The Lakeshore Chamber also hosts the East Chicago Mayor's State of the City Address as well as talks from BP's chief economist, the economist of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and other high-profile speakers. It has regular luncheons, also conferring awards on public servants, first responders, teachers and businesses. It represents both small businesses and major companies like BP, Cleveland-Cliffs and the casinos along the Lake Michigan lakeshore. Tickets to the event are $35. They can be paid for over the phone with Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express. The registration deadline is Feb. 3. Call 219-931-1000 or email paula@lakeshorechamber.com for more information and to make a reservation. Jerry Davich Jerrys career began in 1995 as a political cartoonist/columnist with The Times of NWI, writing thousands of columns and stories through narrative storytelling, or shining a light on societys darkest corners, or provoking unpopular conversations. Follow Jerry Davich Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Dennis Whittington choked back emotions as he stared at the church altar that his father resurrected before his death. Excuse me, he told me. A few more long seconds passed as an old radiator heater squeaked. He readjusted himself on a front pew, cleared his throat, and bowed his head as if in prayer. When my dad got sick, he only asked God for one thing, Whittington said, removing his glasses to wipe his eyes. He said, All I ask you for, God, is dont let me have any pain. Take me quietly. He asked God for this. His father, the Rev. Mathew Whittington, had bone cancer throughout his entire body. Doctors warned his family that his journey into heaven would be a physically painful one. Dennis braced himself for it. His father instead embraced God. From the time he was diagnosed until the time he took his last breath, my father didnt have one ounce of pain. No morphine or anything. Even the doctors were baffled, his son recalled. I witnessed all of it. Dennis was with his 89-year-old father when he met his Lord. A few minutes earlier, Dennis started getting emotional. His father turned to him and said, Dont cry for me. Get your life together and come meet me. Dennis knew what his father meant, to meet him someday in heaven. Then he took his last breath, he said. Whittington shared this poignant story with me inside Western Christian Community Church, in the Tolleston section of Gary, where his father served as pastor until his death in 2019. A photo of his father greets parishioners in the churchs lobby, next to a plaque with three words that described his efforts to resurrect his church pastor, founder, builder. My father was a carpenter who could build pretty much anything, Whittington said. Twenty-five years ago, he told his son he was going to rebuild the long-abandoned, apocalyptic structure that was a church decades ago. His son didnt think it was possible. I think you met your match, dad, he told his father. You think? his father replied sternly. Its not up to you and me. It was up to God. Mathew Whittington drained his entire life savings to build it, money earned by working for 37 years at U.S. Steel Gary Works. He lived in retirement longer than he worked, an unusual situation for most mill workers in our Region. In retirement, Mathew Whittington worked 14 hours a day, six days a week for four years to restore the church to its former glory. He did 95% of the reconstruction work himself. His faith never wavered. That taught me a lesson right there, his son said. To have the faith. And to be a servant. There are no preachers in heaven. Just servants, praising and worshiping God. So if thats all Im going to be up there, then Ill strive to be that here as well. I learned that from my dad. He also learned from his dad how to be a man, a husband, a father, and a worker. Just like his father, he too worked at U.S. Steel. He recently retired after 45 years there. I cant take credit for anything. My mom and dad were the cornerstones of who I am today, said Whittington, a former Gary resident who now lives in Winfield. Without them, Id be in jail or the cemetery. Im reaping the benefits of their lives. His family came to Northwest Indiana from Mississippi, where Whittingtons grandfather and great-grandfather also built churches and served as pastors. It was a family legacy that stops with me, I guess, Whittington said with a deep boisterous laugh. Hopefully, this church will still be standing 100 years from now. His father, a humble and modest man, rebuilt it to last much longer than him or his son or his grandsons. Mathew Whittington returned to school when he was in his 70s to earn a bachelors degree at American Bible College. He wanted to be ordained a pastor. It was his calling. I know he didnt walk on water. But he always set an example for my brother and myself, Whittington said. Dont get me wrong. He lost his temper with me. I gave him reason to. But he led by example. He gave his life to God. It felt as if I was talking with Mathew Whittington, not Dennis Whittington. (Watch a compelling video at nwi.com.) Hes right here with us, his son said while giving me a tour of the massive church property. This is my dads church, he said, before correcting himself. Well, this is Gods church. Whittington, who plays organ at church services, just turned 67. His genetics may allow him to live another 20 to 25 years. A lot can get done in that time, I suggested. Im just waiting for God to tell me my next move, he replied. A large Bible is placed in front of the church altar, opened at Psalms 23: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake I fear no evil. As a younger man, Whittington had to lean on his faith while responding to the evils of racism and discrimination, including his first day on the job at U.S. Steel in 1977. When he entered the superintendents office, a white man behind the desk didnt look up once while telling Whittington to go join those other skinny (N-words), he said. In my Jan. 16 column for Martin Luther King Jr. Day Ill share how Whittington responded that day. And how he later fought to overcome discrimination against others as a civil rights servant at the mill. ROLLING PRAIRIE A single-vehicle crash Sunday in rural LaPorte County killed a 30-year-old Illinois man and injured a second Illinois man, according to the LaPorte County Sheriff's Department. Deputies were dispatched around 3:15 a.m. to the crash scene on County Road 500 E south of County Road 650 N, which is just east of an Indiana Toll Road travel plaza and northeast of the town of Rolling Prairie. Capt. Derek Allen said deputies determined that a 2005 Saab was traveling north on CR 500 E when it left the northbound lane, drove off the east side of the road, reentered the roadway and rolled over. The vehicle eventually landed on its roof facing south. According to deputies, Dillon Cervi of Justice was pronounced dead at the scene. Justin Cervi, 22, of Riverside was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of his injuries. The sheriff's department did not publicly identify the driver of the vehicle. The sheriff's Fatal Alcohol Crash Team is investigating the circumstances of the crash. Gallery: Take a virtual tour of Indiana's state parks Brown County State Park Chain O' Lakes State Park Charlestown State Park Clifty Falls State Park Falls of the Ohio State Park Fort Harrison State Park Harmonie State Park Lincoln State Park McCormick's Creek State Park Mounds State Park O'Bannon Woods State Park Ouabache State Park Pokagon State Park Potato Creek State Park Prophetstown State Park Shades State Park Shakamak State Park Spring Mill State Park Summit Lake State Park Tippecanoe River State Park Turkey Run State Park Versailles State Park White River State Park Whitewater Memorial State Park HOBART Waking up in the comfort of his own apartment isnt something Russell Lipsey has always been accustomed to. Just one year ago, the 67-year-old military veteran was living and sleeping in his car during some of the coldest nights of the year. His life has dramatically changed since moving into A Safe Haven, a veterans housing complex in Hobart. I now have a roof over my head, said Lipsey of Michigan City. Its like Im living in a condo. I went from a car to a condo. How can you beat that? A Safe Haven Foundation provides 40 permanent and supportive housing locations for veterans in Northwest Indiana and around the Chicago area. The foundations mission is to assist veterans by providing such services as addiction recovery, education and job training. Around 19,500 veterans across the U.S. experienced sheltered homelessness in January 2022, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Additionally, 13,500 U.S. veterans experienced unsheltered homelessness in that same month. In 2020, the suicide rate for veterans was 57% higher compared with nonveteran U.S. adults, according to the 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. Lipsey served in the Marine Corps from October 1975 to April 1976. After the service, he says, he threw his life away by failing to find permanent housing and a steady job. He was living in Indianapolis for a while before returning to his hometown trying to make it on his own, although family members lived nearby. Through the years, Lipsey kept in contact with a representative from Lake County Veterans Affairs, hoping to someday overcome the difficulties he had faced. In May 2022, Lipseys luck changed. He received a call from the VA notifying him about a veterans housing facility that had an apartment available. Eight months of living in his car had finally come to an end. A Safe Haven lived up to its name. Everything here is all about getting your life together, Lipsey said. I thank everyone here for helping me get back on my feet. Its a great place. A Safe Haven was founded in 1994 as an addiction-recovery treatment, said Mark Mulroe, the facilitys president and CEO. As the foundation expanded, more services were made available to veterans to assist with mental health, homelessness, education and job training. Although many services are available to veterans, affordable housing has historically been a missing piece of a larger puzzle, Mulroe said. Veterans battling addiction often struggle with bad credit and the lack of connectivity and support, which hinders the acquisition of housing. A Safe Haven has changed that standard by partnering with KMA Property Management Services to provide housing for more than 400 veterans in this region and the Chicago area. In 2021, the foundation expanded to Lake County as the demand for veterans housing heightened. The Lake County VA encouraged A Safe Haven to see whether the city of Hobart would be open to having a veterans housing facility. The partnership with Hobart has since been phenomenal, Mulroe said. We had a waiting list before we had built a foundation, he said. We had such a need for veteran services in this area. Youre dealing with individuals whove protected us, sacrificed their time and suffered many things. Plus, its an obligation to help veterans whove served our nation, he said. The Hobart location houses veterans ranging in age from their 20s to 90s who have served in recent military conflicts to distant wars. The 550-square-foot apartment is fully furnished; each floor has laundry units and trash rooms. Residents with emotional support or service animals also have access to a pet-washing station inside the facility. Resident Diana Maceri frequently takes her dog, Mr. Winston, to the washing station for a bath. If someone had nothing, they could move right in, Mulroe said. One of the most rewarding things is hearing how happy they are and that theyre feeling safe and stable. The Lake County VA has offices with personnel on site who visit residents weekly to check on their health and wellness. This organization has helped many veterans who arent given that second or third chance, said Darlene Cruz-Herrera, the facilitys property manager. Were trying to get them on the right track so they can reconnect with their families and survive within their community. Since moving into the complex in August, Lipsey has began learning more about how to work a computer and a Fire Stick, an online streaming device. He said his goal for this year is to get back into drumming and embrace his passion for music. This feeling is hard to describe, he said. Its like going to heaven. GARY A 31-year-old woman was shot and killed in her residence Dec. 27 in the Glen Park neighborhood, police Cmdr. Jack Hamady said Thursday night. Police were called to the scene at 12:37 a.m. for a report of shots fired. The caller later told police an ambulance would be needed. Upon arrival, police saw five young children "running" around the residence, Hamady said, and the woman was unresponsive the floor. The Gary Fire Department arrived and told police the woman was deceased. Ieisha Jefferson, 31, of Gary, was identified by the Lake County coroner's office as the deceased woman in the residence. Her death has been ruled a homicide. The Lake County Crime Lab and Gary Metro Homicide Unit were contacted, Hamady said. The children were released to family members after police contacted the Indiana Department of Child Services. Police have developed a person of interest in the crime, Hamady said. Jefferson's death is the last of Gary's 63 recorded homicides in 2022. Anyone with information on the crime can contact Sergeant W. Poe at 219-755-3855 or call 866-CRIME GP (274-6347). A Burns Harbor man faces multiple felony charges for leading police on a high-speed chase Saturday, Indiana State Police said. Johnny J. Svejda, 68, was driving 90 mph in a 55-mph zone around 2:45 a.m. on Interstate 80 near Cline Avenue, state police said. When a trooper tried to conduct a traffic stop, Svejda began weaving in and out of multiple lanes and increased his speed to more than 100 mph. During the pursuit, Svejda would slow his vehicle and pull over to the emergency shoulder of the road as if he were stopping, state police said, but then increase his speed and continue to flee. Svejda stopped east of Grant Street and was taken into custody. He refused a field sobriety test and was later ordered by a Lake County judge to submit to a blood test. Police anticipate that prosecutors will charge Svejda with resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug and possession of a hypodermic needle or syringe, all felonies. He faces potential misdemeanor charges of operating while intoxicated endangerment, operating while intoxicated, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. Svejda is being housed at the Lake County Jail. SCHERERVILLE The singing of Silent Night triggered deep emotions for Rob Mackenzie at Christmas Eve services Friday at the Descent of Holy Spirit Orthodox Church. I started crying because I was thinking of my late dad, Mackenzie said. Mackenzie, whose immigrant grandparents helped start the 106-year-old church that originated in East Chicago, was back on Saturday morning to attend the Christmas Day liturgy service led by parish priest, the Rev. Lev Holowaty. Mackenzie, fellow parishioners and other faithful at area Orthodox Christian churches, including Serbian, Macedonian, Ukrainian and Russian, celebrated Christmas on Saturday in keeping with the older Julian calendar instead of the newer Gregorian calendar. Parishioners lit candles, said special prayers including for those in war-torn Ukraine and followed along a liturgy thats been unchanged in thousands of years, according to Mackenzie. The church was beautifully decorated with a large Christmas tree, lit garlands and deep red poinsettias. My wife and I also celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25, but it is the more 'Santa Claus Christmas.' This is more spiritual, Mackenzie said referring to the Jan. 7 celebration. Holowaty, whose parents were born in Ukraine, said even some of the other churches in the diocese celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25 while some opt for Jan. 7. For us, Jan. 7 is much more of a spiritual Christmas while Dec. 25 is more commercialized. For us spiritually we can celebrate the birth of Christ, Holowaty said. Holowaty, who grew up in Canada, said he remembers Christmas as a special time of coming together as a family. The Christmas Eve dinner, eaten prior to attending church, was basically a non-meat meal featuring fish, fruit and herring. It was a time of sharing the glory of the birth of Christ, Holowaty said. Holowaty also remembers that he, as the youngest in the family, was always asked to watch for the first star of the evening. That brought up the Star of Bethlehem, Holowaty said. Church board president Nick Madvek said that he and his wife, who is Catholic, plan to bring up their daughter, 5-month-old Hannah, with two Christmases. As she (Hannah) gets older, I look forward to both Christmases and both Easters. Its important, Madvek said. The Winfield resident said his ethnic background is a mixture of several European countries much the same as those who attend the church. Its a melting pot of Ukrainians, Polish, Slovaks and those from the Carpatho-Rusyn region, Madvek said. Board treasurer Sherrie Stupic, of Crown Point, said she and her husband of 45 years were married at the church in East Chicago. Now she and her children and grandchildren attend the Schererville church founded in 1997. Her grandparents, Frank and Anna Lochivski, were from the Carpatho-Rusyn region. We celebrate Christmas on both Dec. 25 and Jan. 7, Stupic said. Adam Coffman and his wife, Lindsay Coffman, came to the back of the church, following the liturgy, to dine on a potluck luncheon. They brought with them children Shane, 4, and Kinsley, 1. The Coffmans represent four generations of those who attend church. We celebrate both Christmases. Its something we wanted to pass on to our children, Adam Coffman said. Paul Kaderabek, formerly from Hobart, on Saturday morning drove from his home in New Lenox, Illinois, to attend the Christmas liturgy in Schererville. I feel at home here, Kaderabek said. PHOTOS: Descent of the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas Descent of the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church celebrates Orthodox Christmas Descent of the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church celebrates Orthodox Christmas Descent of the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church celebrates Orthodox Christmas Descent of the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church celebrates Orthodox Christmas Descent of the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church celebrates Orthodox Christmas Descent of the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church celebrates Orthodox Christmas Descent of the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church celebrates Orthodox Christmas Descent of the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church celebrates Orthodox Christmas Descent of the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church celebrates Orthodox Christmas HOBART A residential development is proposed for property near Grand Boulevard and U.S. 30. The Redwood organization is seeking a planned unit development (PUD) zoning change to build an 111-unit multifamily rental housing community on about 23 acres. The company proposes to construct four-, six- and eight-unit buildings. Each would be a single story. Everybody has two beds, two baths and a two-car attached garage (and) a two-car driveway in front of that, Redwood representative Kellie McIvor said. Redwood formed about 30 years ago, and the company has built more than 15,000 apartment homes since then. The Redwood apartments in Hobart could appeal to a variety of people, including retirees and empty-nesters. The company will handle snow removal, lawn care, landscaping and other services for residents. The PUD request went to the Plan Commission on Thursday, and the panel gave it a favorable recommendation; it heads to the City Council for a final decision. The council could review the matter this month. The commissions decision came with a condition that roads in the community be at least 22 feet wide and sidewalks have a width of at least 5 feet. Redwood initially proposed 4-foot-wide sidewalks, and city officials suggested making them wider. I think we should stick with a 5-foot sidewalk, commission member Stuart Allen said. Thats what we require for the city of Hobart all throughout everywhere. Besides the project in Hobart, Redwood received approval last year for similar rental homes to be constructed in the Liberty Estates neighborhood near U.S. 30 and Whitcomb Street in Merrillville. Six floor plans are proposed there, and those units are expected to range from 1,300 to 1,600 square feet. WHITING Mayor Steve Spebar said the city has secured a $215,000 federal grant. "That's going to provide an additional license plate reader," Spebar said. "We're planning on putting that at 119th (Street) and the (Indianapolis) Boulevard." Tthe grant will also be used to install security cameras up and down 119th Street and near Whiting High School. Spebar said Whiting Redevelopment Director Brian Lowry worked with the office of U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, to obtain the grant. Even though the money has been appropriated, Lowry said, there is still one more step involved: "We still have to go through the complete application with" the U.S. Department of Justice. License plate readers take pictures of license plates as vehicles pass and the information is relayed to police if there is an issue associated with that particular vehicle. Whiting has one reader, which is at 129th Street and Indianapolis Boulevard. Spebar said that unit helped catch a suspect in a Gary murder case when he drove by shortly after the reader was installed in 2021. Spebar said the grant will pay for equipment and will reduce the cost the city will have to pay, which has yet to be determined. "We'll have to install it and probably pay for some of the hardware," he said. In other city news: * A half-dozen people who attended the Jan. 3 council meeting expressed concern over hunters reportedly standing on rocks near the city's shoreline as they shoot at birds. One attendee said she doesn't feel safe in Whiting Lakefront Park and has been finding dead or injured geese. A city ordinance says there is to be no shooting in the city, but Spebar said a state law passed in 2011 "kind of takes the teeth out of that ordinance." Indiana Conservation Officer Alex Neel, who was at the meeting, said state law requires hunters to make an effort to retrieve animals they shoot. "The rocks are not under our control," Neel said. "The water is." Spebar said the city would work to address the situation. "We don't want people walking on the rocks," Spebar said. "We sure as heck don't want people hunting on the rocks." * The first council meeting of the new year saw the election of officers, and Councilman Chris Sarvanidis, D-at large, was again chosen as president a role he has filled since 2004. He was the lone nominee for the position and elected unanimously. He was also elected to remain as ordinance chairman. Councilman Nick Suarez, D-1st, was elected to continue as finance chairman. The council voted to reappoint Don Harbin and Paul Progar to the city's Redevelopment Commission for 2023. INDIANAPOLIS U.S. Sens. Todd Young and Mike Braun began the 117th Congress watching President Trump's coup d'etat roil the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with an overt attempt at insurrection. They ended this historic session on Dec. 23 when a $1.7 trillion Omnibus Spending bill included reforms of the Electoral Count Act of 1887 that had been used as a pretext by the Trump cabal to negate the peaceful transfer of power. As they had on Jan. 6, the two Hoosier senators split, with Young voting for the sprawling legislation that kept the federal government running, while Braun voted nay despite the implications for safeguarding democracy. Last summer, Young joined a bipartisan group of senators backing reforms to the Electoral County Act of 1887. In addition to Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Joe Manchin, D-W.V., the senators involved in the bipartisan negotiations include Republicans Rob Portman, Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski, Shelley Moore Capito, Ben Sasse, Thom Tillis and Lindsey Graham, along with Democrats Kyrsten Sinema, Jeanne Shaheen, Mark Warner, Chris Murphy, Ben Cardin and Chris Coons. From the beginning, our bipartisan group has shared a vision of drafting legislation to fix the flaws of the archaic and ambiguous Electoral Count Act of 1887, the senators said in a joint statement. We have developed legislation that establishes clear guidelines for our system of certifying and counting electoral votes for President and Vice President. The key reform included a clear statement that the vice president's role in affirming the Electoral College count is ceremonial. President Trump and attorney John Eastman unsuccessfully attempted to convince Vice President Mike Pence to delay the proceedings, throwing the count back to the states. The reforms also upped the threshold for contesting results. In the 1887 law, it took just one senator and one representative to challenge a state's elector. The new legislation raises that to 20% in each chamber. In addition to Braun, Hoosier lawmakers seeking to contest the 2020 election results included U.S. Reps. Jim Banks, Jim Baird and the late Jackie Walorski. At 3 a.m. on the night after the insurrection, Congress voted to confirm the Electoral College vote that Democrat Joe Biden had won 306-232 after Vice President Pence had ordered the National Guard to secure the U.S Capitol. Biden had defeated Trump by more than 7 million popular votes. That Young and Braun split on the matter was a continuation of the stances they took on Jan. 6. Braun had initially agreed to challenge the results from Arizona, saying, the results of the Electoral College should not diminish the need to continue a thorough investigation into the irregularities and credible allegations of fraud. But at 9:30 p.m. Jan. 6, after a lethal event that killed one protester and injured more than 150 police officers (at least two would later commit suicide), Braun reversed course, saying the insurrection had "changed things drastically" and that he would "vote to get this ugly day behind us." A 72-page report by conservative jurists released in July refuted claims of widespread election fraud. We conclude that Donald Trump and his supporters had their day in court and failed to produce substantive evidence to make their case, the group wrote. Young had been confronted by Hoosier constituents outside the Russell Senate Office Building on the morning of Jan. 6. An emotional and masked Young said, My opinion doesnt matter. And you know what? When it comes to the law, our opinions dont matter. The law matters. I share that conviction that President Trump should remain president. I share that conviction, but the law matters. I took an oath under God, under God! In a statement, Young said, As Congress meets to formally receive the votes of the Electoral College, I will uphold my Constitutional duty and certify the will of the states as presented. The people voted and the Electoral College voted. Congress must fulfill its role in turn. Like so many of my patriotic constituents and colleagues, I too wish the results of this election were different. I strongly supported President Trump and his agenda the last four years. I campaigned hard for him. But upon assuming this office, I took a solemn, inviolable oath." In the Jan. 14 edition of Howey Politics Indiana, Young called the Jan. 6 insurrection the result of a failure for many of our leaders to be truthful to the American people about what precisely has happened in our elections in recent months. Asked if President Trump played a role in encouraging the violence, Young responded, Of course. Hes president of the United States. On the same day the Omnibus legislation passed, the House Jan. 6 Select Committee released its 814-page document detailing the findings of the panels 18-month investigation, according to the Associated Press, drawing on more than 1,000 witness interviews and more than a million pages of source material. The committee found a multi-part conspiracy orchestrated by President Trump and his closest allies, all with the aim of overturning his 2020 election defeat. Our country has come too far to allow a defeated President to turn himself into a successful tyrant by upending our democratic institutions, fomenting violence, wrote the committees chairman, Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, in a foreword to the report. According to analysis by the IndyStar, almost 20 Hoosiers have faced federal charges stemming from the insurrection. Among them: How did a 6-year-old child obtain access to a gun? The authorities have not publicly identified the child or the teacher, detailed the nature of the altercation or offered information about whether the gun was taken from home, school or elsewhere. The boy was in police custody Friday evening, the authorities said, but the unusual nature of the situation leaves the path forward far from clear. While it is possible that the child could be criminally charged, legal scrutiny could also fall on the childs parents or another adult. Virginia law prohibits leaving a loaded gun where it is accessible to children under the age of 14. On Saturday, some families were left in a stunned grief. Its scary, said Ramon Gonzalez-Hernandez, who said his son was in the classroom where the teacher was shot. Im just here trying to keep my son occupied so hes not thinking about everything, Mr. Gonzalez-Hernandez added, speaking briefly from his porch. He said he was waiting to hear from detectives to set up counseling sessions and was considering whether to home-school his son. Tucked on a quiet street where parents and children can often be seen walking in the neighborhood, Richneck Elementary serves a diverse student body of more than 550 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Newport News, a city of about 185,000 in southeast Virginia, is home to a large military community and is known for its shipyard, which builds aircraft carriers and other vessels for the U.S. Navy. Daniel Smith, 51, who lives near the elementary school, said he was surprised by the shooting because the surrounding neighborhood is generally safe. Were a quiet neighborhood, he said. Nobody bothers anybody and they look out for each other. The shooting renewed calls from teachers unions and gun control groups for tougher laws to keep guns out of schools, including laws requiring safe storage. When will the shock of gunshots in school be enough to inspire the action necessary to prevent guns in schools and the shattering of lives it causes? Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, said in a statement. The Friendship Files: Your Comments on the Challenge Today, we are spotlighting some of our favorite responses to the challenge from people who reached out to someone this week, or who had done this sort of thing before. I reached out to my Brownie troop leader after 45 years. (It took a while to find her, even with Google.) She was pretty delighted that I had managed to find her and sent me a lovely letter back. Amy M. Vansen, Dearborn, Mich. I was moved unexpectedly to tears as I read todays Happiness Challenge to my husband over coffee this morning. I thought, I must be lonely, this has cracked open my heart. So I called my best friend, Jeff, who lives in New Jersey. Jeff and I worked together as professional musical theater actors for years, and our friendship has prevailed over careers and miles and my various husbands. The call took place as he was driving to the window store to buy windows for the remodel hes doing hes now an interior designer so we had our time boundary in place. I noticed that it doesnt matter to me so much what we say, but the sound and cadence of his familiar and precious baritone that makes me smile and fills me up. Alexana Ryer, Eaton, Colo. I have a very good friend who is always busy and has trouble finding free time to talk. But when I sent him a text asking when he would have eight minutes for a talk this week, he responded immediately. We had a very pleasant conversation, and after nine minutes I apologized for running over time. He said hed report me to The Times. Ben Sofer, Jerusalem I am 68, and my marriage of 46 years is ending. Until today, in my efforts to deal with this loss and continue to be a father with our seven adult children, I have taken the lone-warrior approach: I can handle this. I know what to do. The eight-minute call challenge opened my eyes to the self-inflicted loss I was enduring through my failure to reach out these last months to Bill, my friend of 30 years. Bill knows me in and out, and he has preceded me in this difficult transition in his own life. After reading the newsletter early this morning, I texted Bill and we scheduled a phone call for this afternoon, probably our first direct conversation since the death of Bills mother two years ago. The conversation was all I could have hoped for. Broke the eight-minute limit early on, and have exchanged texts several times since. I am sold. Scott Reed, Virginia Beach, VA. This was my sisters response to her living eulogy: Wow. Im speechless. OK, maybe not. Thank you for acknowledging the things Ive done; it hasnt been hard at all. You are easy to love. Debbie Rivard, Peachtree City, Ga. I returned just this week to a former job to be back with my friends. I left a year ago for a larger paycheck, knowing Id miss my co-workers, but a year without any work friends left me dissatisfied and lonely. I am incredibly grateful that Ive been able to return home. Hannah Esper, Lafayette, Colo. BERLIN Late Saturday night, specialized police descended on a calm commercial strip in the town of Castrop-Rauxel, in western Germany. They entered the apartment they had targeted wearing full chemical protective gear in an effort to stop a planned poison attack that, according to news media reports, had been flagged by the intelligence service of an allied country. We had a serious tip that led the police to intervene that very night, Herbert Reul, North Rhine-Westphalias interior minister in charge of state security, told DPA, the German wire service, on Sunday. In the raid that followed, the police arrested a 32-year-old Iranian citizen who the authorities believe was preparing the attack, and who the police said was suspected of having procured cyanide and ricin in an effort to commit an Islamist-motivated attack. Another man who was in the apartment at the time was also detained. Within days, Sweet, who is white, posted a statement calling the column clumsy and apologizing for causing damage to the profession and for alienating some of my Black colleagues and friends, but did not retract his arguments. The continuing fracas hung over the gathering, even if few rank-and-file historians were eager to talk about it on the record. I think he intended it as a prick, Earl Lewis, a former president of the Mellon Foundation, said on Thursday, after an opening-night panel of five prominent scholars organized to address the controversy. But some folks felt it as a stab. Sweet sat near the back of the room during the panel, which was advertised under the anodyne title The Past, the Present and the Work of Historians. Afterward, he said that he stood by both his column and his apology. But if he had to do it over, he said, I would probably tamp down my tone. Thursdays panel was short on pointed disagreement, and long on juxtapositions and questions, including a big one: Are the traditional methodologies extolled by Sweet an effective tool of justice and truth, or are they too enmeshed in their own racist past? Carol Symes, an associate professor of medieval studies at the University of Illinois, said that since its inception in the 19th-century, the historical profession (including her own field) had often done the work of injustice, bolstering empire, colonization and subjugation with apologetics for those movements. At first, its the forbidding ice sheets of Antarctica, a place that offers beauty with a fist, that dominate Henriette Lazaridiss ingenious new novel, TERRA NOVA (Pegasus, 265 pp., $25.95). Inspired by Scott and Amundsens race to the pole in 1911 and 1912, she opens with scenes of the excruciating privations endured by the British explorers Watts and Heywoud as they enter the final stages of a frigid rivalry with a Norwegian expedition. In contrast, the novels alternating narrative, set back in London in the comfortable household of Heywouds wife, Viola, initially seems less encumbered by intense physical sacrifice and ruthless ambition. But, as we all know, appearances can be deceiving. Heywoud, determined to be the hero of the South Pole, and Watts, an introspective photographer less inclined to bravado, will have their close friendship ruptured by an accidental revelation. (If we were anywhere but here, Heywoud declares, I would kill you.) And Viola, a photojournalist who has feelings for both men, will find that her work documenting the womens suffrage movement has upset the balance between her marital responsibilities and her professional aspirations. When she makes plans for an exhibition featuring nude portraits of hunger strikers whose bodies show the consequences of violent force-feeding, the contrast with her disapproving husbands grand project is inevitable: Look at the power of these women. Is it not almost as great as the strength of you few exploring men? Or greater, driven not by desire or curiosity but by the need for freedom. Lazaridis adds provocative shading to these two visions of heroism. As one of Violas friends points out, the hunger strikers may act on behalf of their cause, but for some it becomes a contest to see who is the most dedicated, the most determined to destroy herself. How does this compare with the behavior of men whove ruined their bodies and perhaps compromised their self-proclaimed honor in a quest to conquer the worlds last place? When the two strands of the narrative unite and then combust, the terra nova of the novels title turns out to be a new world not of the land but of the mind. A Buffalo man has been sentenced to 5 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara for his part in the holdup of a credit union office, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced. Anthony Wilson, 34, pleaded guilty in July to aggravated bank robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Prosecutors said Wilson accompanied Adrian D. Applewhite and Khalil Holland on the morning of Oct. 26, 2017, to go rob the Lakeshore Federal Credit Union office on Erie Road in Angola. According to prosecutors, Wilson gave Holland a semi-automatic pistol and waited in a car nearby while Holland entered the office and demanded money from a teller. Holland left empty-handed after an alarm was activated and was arrested a short time later. Holland has been convicted and sentenced. Applewhite also has been convicted and is awaiting sentencing. China reopens Families across the world are preparing for reunions after China fully opened its borders yesterday and began welcoming visitors without strict quarantine requirements. The reopening comes at an auspicious time for global tourism. China is also allowing its citizens to once again go overseas, just as the travel period for Lunar New Year begins. But unease has tempered the celebratory mood. Some countries fear that Chinas outbreak could lead to new mutations of the virus and added additional restrictions for incoming travelers. And within China, there are fears that rural villages, which have a disproportionate number of older adults and scant access to medical care, are particularly at risk as domestic travel increases. The elevator door opened, and I got on. The woman got on after me. I pushed the button for the 14th floor, and she asked me to push the button for 16. She then asked if I would ride with her to the 16th floor, and then go back down to 14. Thinking she was in a rush, I said sure but that since I had already pushed 14 the elevator was going to stop there anyway. She explained that she was extremely claustrophobic and would not ride on elevators alone. I said that of course I would ride up with her. The door closed, and there we were. So hows your day going? she asked. Pretty good, I replied. She started to laugh and proceeded to tell me the origin story of her elevator claustrophobia something to do with getting an M.R.I. until we got to 14. I didnt get off, the door closed and we rode up to 16, where she got off and thanked me for riding with her. The wave of migrants who began arriving in New York from the southern border last year was unusual in many respects. Unlike most immigrants who make their way to the city, people were arriving in buses en masse, many with few local ties and little more than the clothes on their backs. More than 36,000 have come to the city since the spring, Mayor Eric Adams said Friday, and roughly 24,000 have remained. As the Biden administration looks for ways to contain the southern border, those who arrived last year are beginning to build new lives. Some are struggling. Others are making strides. New York has been a first stop for centuries of immigrants and the city offers some unique protections. It is one of the few places to guarantee a right to shelter for those in need, and it has strong legal and social safety-net protections in place for immigrants. New arrivals have also benefited from the help provided by an extensive network of relatively well-funded nonprofit organizations. There are still obstacles, though. The busing began partly as a political gambit by the Republican governors of Texas and Arizona to draw attention to the border crisis, in contrast to usual migration patterns in which people link up with family or friends. Many of the recent migrants have been largely dependent on formal aid, and nonprofits, volunteer groups and the city all say they were overwhelmed by the sudden surge. While most migrants hope to make asylum petitions, immigration court backlogs mean the process could take years. For decades, nobody questioned whether this should be so. Looting has been the right of the victorious and powerful from time immemorial. Victory parades in ancient Rome, the ritual triumph accorded great commanders, proudly displayed captives and spoils. Closer to our times, Napoleons armies liberally helped themselves to the art of conquered lands, European included, justifying the looting as a liberation of art by the homeland of liberty and sacred equality, as one officer put it to the National Assembly. Among their trophies, many of which they were compelled to return when Napoleon was defeated, were the four bronze horses known as the Triumphal Quadriga, now back in the San Marco Basilica in Venice. They had been seized by the Venetians six centuries earlier when the Venetians sacked Constantinople. Examples abound in every era, on every continent. Colonial powers never felt they needed a reason to harvest sacred, traditional or magic artifacts from the people they subjugated, which they felt served, among other things, as evidence of their superiority over the people they were civilizing. The Times report in 1897 on the British raid on Benin City left no doubt who The Times felt was in the right, with a somewhat convoluted subhead reading, Story of the Massacre to Avenge Which the Expedition Was Sent. In the time between the sack of Benin City and the ceremony last month, the Benin Bronzes have become a symbol of sub-Saharan Africas longing to reclaim cultural treasures appropriated by colonial powers. They have become totemic items of resistance, much as the Elgin Marbles (now more often referred to as the Parthenon Marbles) became the banner of Greeces struggle to reclaim what it perceived as its patrimony. Nigeria has been actively seeking the return of the Benin Bronzes since the 1960s. For Europe and America, the Benin Bronzes became part of broader historical examinations. For Europe, it was the dark side of its colonial history; for America, it was the legacy of racism and slavery. For nations whose art was looted, the issue became one of national identity and culture. The Benin Bronzes offered evidence that sub-Saharan Africans, depicted by colonialists as primitive, in fact had a long history of powerful kingdoms and a rich tradition of art. As the debates on restitution and provenance gathered steam, President Emmanuel Macron of France provided a powerful catalyst. In a speech in 2017 he declared that Africas cultural treasures cannot solely exist in private collections and European museums. Mr. Macron said he wanted to see those treasures in Dakar, Lagos and Cotonou, and not just in Paris. That led to the formation of a commission led by Benedicte Savoy, a French expert on the provenance of art, and Felwine Sarr, a Senegalese academic, which included recommendations on how the African art could be returned. The fact that the Sussexes ditched a country they characterize as anti-immigrant, overrun with racists and burdened by the legacy of colonialism makes Americans feel better about their own country, which also (whoops) might be described as anti-immigrant, overrun with racists and burdened by the legacy of colonialism. But Harry and Meghan see America as a haven. They made it such an issue when I went to the U.K., Meghan says of her mixed-race heritage in the documentary. Before that, most people didnt treat me like a Black woman. Perhaps Americans appreciate the notion that nationalism and xenophobia are somehow over there and not here. Its nice to be let off the hook for a change. Its because theyre fighting for change. Call them martyrs, call them revolutionaries, call them anti-establishment or simply change makers. Now thoroughly enlightened re: the old orders ills, Harry and Meghan are taking a stand against colonialism, racism and oppression of all stripes, jetting around the world, occasionally in a friends private plane, in their campaign against injustice. As the website for their organization Archewell (Leading the way with compassion) proclaims: Each of us can change our communities. All of us can change the world. Many people in Britain, across the Commonwealth and in America did, in fact, see the interracial couples union as a sign of positive change but perhaps no one more so than the couple themselves. In a run-up interview to promote her podcast last year, Meghan recalled a South African man who compared the joy at her royal wedding to the celebrations when Nelson Mandela was freed from prison. But, according to the Sussexes narrative, they became too popular, threatening the monarchy. As Harry put it, they were stealing the limelight or doing the job better than someone who was born to do this. The series goes a step further in its anti-institutional fervor, tying the couples personal travails to a reckoning with British colonialism, the mistreatment of Princess Diana and the Black Lives Matter movement. One of the documentarys sympathetic talking heads refers to the pair as symbols of social justice and says the hate directed toward them was a way to signal to the rest of us to stand down. According to this version of events, the palace has pushed back against the couple because, as Harry explains, if you speak truth to power, thats how they respond. Not only is there no love lost between him and Mitch McConnell, the minority leader in the Senate (in September, Trump accused McConnell of hating him), Kevin McCarthy, his choice for speaker of the House, was blocked for days by some of Trumps most ardent and outrageous acolytes. Trumps calls to holdouts didnt immediately quell their opposition. Before one of the votes for speaker, Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado, a woman who once said that Trump was called by God to run for president and was anointed for that position, rebuked Trump and McCarthy. Giving Trump instructions rather than taking his, she told her fellow Republicans in the House: Lets work together. Lets stop with the campaign smears and tactics to get people to turn against us. Even having my favorite president call us and tell us we need to knock this off. I think it actually needs to be reversed: The president needs to tell Kevin McCarthy that Sir, you do not have the votes, and its time to withdraw. Talk about damning with faint praise. She suggested that Trump wasnt even operating on his own convictions but was being told what to do by the Republican House leadership. It sounded laudatory, even loving, but it was a cutting reprimand, the way we Southerners say, Bless your heart, with a smile but dripping in disdain. At one point during the voting, Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida almost mockingly nominated Trump for speaker. (The speaker doesnt have to be a member of the House.) Gaetz had been a ferocious Trump defender, but he recently tweeted after Trump urged him to fall in line behind McCarthy: Supporting McCarthy is the worst human resources decision President Trump has ever made. Sad! Trump has suffered a staggering string of losses, most recently watching voters reject many of the candidates he endorsed during the midterms, and the speakership battle, which ended in McCarthy ceding so much power that he is essentially a speaker-in-name-only, was another loss for Trump, because it exposed the fact that his devotees no longer mindlessly follow his directions. Heavy winds pummeled the Sacramento region over the weekend, toppling trees and knocking out power for more than 300,000 customers, as California braced for yet another series of storms this week that could bring additional flooding, more outages and tree damage, as well as dangerous mudslides and mountain snow. The Sacramento and Stockton school districts canceled classes on Monday because of lingering power outages and bad weather. The state is being hit by a family of atmospheric rivers huge plumes of water vapor in the sky in rapid succession. The most potent is expected to arrive Monday through Tuesday, renewing concerns from meteorologists of widespread damage. According to the National Weather Service, many parts of California could see precipitation amounts that occur only once every five or 10 years. The longevity and intensity of rain, combined with the cumulative effect of successive heavy rain events dating back to the end of December, will lead to widespread and potentially significant flood impacts, the National Weather Services Weather Prediction Center said in a forecast discussion. Follow our live coverage of Bidens visit to Mexico to meet North American leaders. EL PASO President Biden on Sunday made his first visit to the border since taking office, arriving at a city swamped by migrants amid a historic surge in illegal immigration and anger from both parties about how he is handling it. In a brief visit to El Pasos busiest crossing and a migrant services support center, Mr. Biden acceded to demands by Republicans that he make the trip he had not taken for two years. But as he arrived in El Paso, he found himself under siege from all sides. Democrats and human rights activists condemned his new enforcement plan as a humanitarian disgrace. Republicans blasted his delay in coming to a border they say is wide open to illegal immigration. And Mexican officials who are preparing to welcome him to a summit of North American leaders on Monday warned that his proposals would cross a red line for them. The number of migrants apprehended trying to illegally cross the 2,000-mile border with Mexico has hit record highs. In the 12 months leading up to last October, the Border Patrol encountered 1.7 million migrants trying to cross illegally, the highest number since 1960. Officials said overall crossings had dipped some during the holiday season in December, but they said they expected the numbers to rise again quickly in the coming months. WASHINGTON Newly empowered House Republicans are preparing a wide-ranging investigation into law enforcement and national security agencies, raising the prospect of politically charged fights with the Biden administration over access to sensitive information like highly classified intelligence and the details of continuing criminal inquiries by the Justice Department. The House plans to vote this week on a resolution to create a special Judiciary subcommittee on what it calls the weaponization of the federal government, a topic that Republicans have signaled could include reviewing investigations into former President Donald J. Trump. The panel would be overseen by Representative Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio, who is also poised to become the Judiciary Committees chairman. It remains to be seen who else Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who made numerous concessions to a far-right faction of his party to win the speakership, will put on it. In a Fox News interview on Friday evening, Representative Chip Roy of Texas, a lead negotiator for hard-right lawmakers who pushed Mr. McCarthys team for concessions, portrayed the panel as part of the agreement they struck for their support. He said Mr. McCarthy had committed to giving the subcommittee at least as much funding and staffing as the House special committee in the last Congress that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. WASHINGTON Smarting after a dozen years under iron-fisted Republican rule, House Democrats promised to do things differently and open up the institution when they regained majority control in 2007. One of their changes was to allow any lawmaker to offer amendments to the voluminous spending bills once they hit the floor. Republicans seized the opportunity and put forth scores of politically charged proposals to alter a routine agriculture spending bill, bringing the debate to a virtual standstill. Democrats quickly reversed course and put limits on amendments. Now the new House Republican majority is proposing to make institutional changes of its own as part of a rules package Speaker Kevin McCarthy negotiated with hard-right rebels in exchange for their support for his job. The handful of Republicans who are forcing the changes, which are scheduled to be considered on Monday, pointed to the rushed approval in December of a roughly $1.7 trillion spending bill to fund the entire government as an example of back-room legislating at its worst. What this rules package is designed to do is to stop what we saw happen literally 15 days ago, where the Democrats passed a $1.7 trillion monstrosity of a bill that spent the American taxpayers money in all kinds of crazy ways, Representative Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio, said Sunday on Fox News. He said Republicans would require 72 hours to allow lawmakers to pore over any bill. A Niagara Falls man faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison after pleading guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. to a charge stemming from his role in a drug dealing operation, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced. Lazarus R. Hayes, 33, entered a plea to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Maximum penalty is life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors said that the charge stemmed from the execution of a search warrant June 19, 2021, at Haye's home on Pierce Avenue by investigators from the Niagara Falls Police Narcotics Unit and the Niagara County Drug Task Force. Officers seized about 8 grams of cocaine, 20 tablets of clonazepam, a digital scale, two loaded firearms and $3,958 in proceeds from drug sales. They also recovered a bag belonging to co-defendant Gerald Harper containing about 93 grams of cocaine, 9 grams of fentanyl, 26 grams of amphetamine, 245 milligrams of hydrocodone and 720 milligrams of oxycodone. Harper was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing. But now, shes the one with doubts about whether she belongs. Confronting the countrys president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who regularly uses his bully pulpit to disparage the press, the media in Mexico has become deeply polarized, consumed much of the time by a knock-down-drag-out fight with the most powerful man in the country. Ms. Maerker is among the few remaining prominent voices who has largely avoided being pulled into the cage match. She is trying, she says, to adhere to a bedrock of independent journalism: impartiality. On Monday, Ms. Maerker, 58, will step down from her on-air role at a time when that principle is under threat. Her defenders say its a loss for objectivity in a country that is increasingly divided. Her critics say that her approach is really too soft and that it no longer fits in the warlike media landscape of todays Mexico. As the country gears up for a contentious presidential campaign, Ms. Maerker herself is starting to believe her brand of restrained coverage will soon be harder than ever to sustain. There is going to be less and less room, between now and the elections, for positions that are not black or white, she said. There is going to be less space for people like me. HONG KONG Over the past three years, Zhou Wanhui, a Hong Kong resident, has visited her parents in China just three times. Though they live only two hours away by train, Covid restrictions made it so difficult to cross the Hong Kong border into mainland China that one of Ms. Zhous trips included a three-hour flight to Shanghai and nearly a month of quarantine in two cities. Families like Ms. Zhous kept apart for weddings and funerals, birthdays and graduations are finally preparing for less arduous reunions. On Sunday, China fully opened its borders for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began, making it easier for foreigners to get visas for business, reunions and study, and processing Chinese passport applications and Hong Kong permits, just as the travel period for Lunar New Year, typically the busiest season, begins. In Hong Kongs airport, hundreds of people waited to check in for flights to cities in the south like Xiamen and Chongqing and in the north like Beijing and Tianjin, but the arrivals hall was more quiet. Many of the citys border checkpoints were reopened; empty transportation halls filled up with groups of people, and shuttered storefronts were open once again. Ms. Zhou, 22, a university student, texted her parents that she planned to be home for Lunar New Year on Jan. 22. Wow, this is such happy news! The border is finally open, her parents wrote back with a line of thumbs-up emoji. Some of the plates the family used were pulled from the ruins of their home, among the few things to survive. The family recipe book was lost in the fire, so this year Ms. Kovtun made many of the traditional dishes from memory. Next year, Mr. Kovtun said he hoped his family would have Christmas in their newly rebuilt home. They plan to begin work in the spring. It is that work that keeps the family occupied and distracts the Kovtuns from what they have had to endure. Ms. Kovtun eases her mind by telling herself maybe the home was simply the price her family had to pay in this war. Maybe it will prevent something worse. But when we rebuild the house, we will have a huge party there. Ill get drunk and then Ill start crying and Ill cry out all of the pain, every last drop of it, she said. Now, there is no time to weep. KYIV REGION, Ukraine The sharp crack of sniper fire rang out across the snowbound valley. Soldiers in white camouflage crouched low, shooting at the hill opposite to provide cover as four men evacuated a casualty. The action was part of a live-fire training exercise for new recruits on a recent morning outside the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. But there was an unusual element to the event. While a Ukrainian Army officer was giving the orders, the trainees were members of a volunteer Chechen battalion that also mixed in some Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians. Ukraines military commanders have long said they do not lack soldiers for the war, but they have nonetheless welcomed to their ranks thousands of volunteers, including foreign citizens. Many of them, like the Chechens, are refugees from Russia itself. Others have come from surrounding nations, like Georgia, that have a history of opposition to Moscow and the leadership of President Vladimir V. Putin. We saw what was happening, said Muslim Madiyev, a gray-bearded deputy commander of the Chechen battalion, wearing ear protectors to muffle the sound of gunfire as he watched the training exercises. Ukraine has no shortage of men, but we have to join and be a part of this war. A FARMER in Redwood, Lorrha, is facing into the New Year with a major financial loss after his flock of sheep were savagely attacked by dogs over the Christmas period leaving 70 dead, 20 more injured and five missing. Donal ODonoghue was met by a sight of unimaginable horror when he went to look at his flock of sheep on rented land in Ballymacegan, Lorrha on the Tuesday morning after Christmas. The viciousness of the attack unfolded with every step he took, as his sheep were left massacred all around him. An emotional Mr ODonoghue said These were killer dogs. They went for the hoggets' faces and throats and in a few instances, they ripped their stomach wide open, he said. They didnt pull clumps of wool out of the sheep, they attacked savagely with the sole purpose to kill. It was like something out of a horror film, he said. The Redwood farmer who has always rented land in the area and outside of the parish, said that as a sheep farmer all my life I have never witnessed such carnage, nor have any of my neighbours. The scene was horrific and distressing not just for Donal himself, but, also for his family as sheep were dead all over the fields and in the adjoining forest. 45 were killed outright an emotional Donal continued. Another 20 had to be put down because most had their eyes and faces ripped away and another five are missing, he said. Four more died on Sunday January 1st and there are 16 more that have less severe injuries and have been injected by the vet to protect against infection. They are traumatised, but we have to try and keep them alive if possible. He added that even if they do live, they wont thrive (as evidenced by the four that died on Sunday as they had been treated). Further commenting on the scene, Donal said All of the sheep were singled out bar five, and were brutally killed in a horrific attack because when sheep are attacked by dogs, they race together into a corner so tightly that they often smother each other, but that didnt happen in this instance. It is obvious that there was more than one dog. One or two held the sheep in place while a third and possibly a fourth dog did the killing I imagine. The financial burden is estimated to cost at least 12,000 and possibly wont stop there, between the income lost on the sheep, vet bills and carcass removable. The financial loss will be hard to take given the circumstances of the kill, and unlike cattle cover, sheep killed in this manner are not covered under his insurance policy. The remaining 43 hoggets that escaped the attack are terrified and probably wont thrive either. I dont know how they are going to turn out, explained the sheep farmer, so the full loss of this terrible incident is still unknown. Mr ODonoghue is urging dog owners of these vicious and dangerous breeds to take responsibility for their dogs and keep them away from livestock at all times. Those dogs that attacked my sheep are killer dogs. Id advise the owners to have them put down immediately because dogs like that are vicious and dangerous. The way they killed my sheep with pure savagery, tearing off their faces for sport, they could attack a human or a child and do the same to them, he said. They will most certainly kill sheep again now that they have tasted blood and executed such a rampage. It is simply not good enough and I dont want to see another sheep farmer suffering like we are, its unimaginable and something that I will never get over he stated. Mr ODonoghue had great praise for his neighbours who have come to his assistance and helped him to clean up the corpses and gather up the sheep that survived. I couldnt cope, I just hadnt the strength to cope with the sheer savagery the day I found them. It was so horrific for all of us, myself, my wife and my children, he said. Thanking his neighbours, Liam King, Michael Rushe (the landowner), Martin Young, Daniel Bugler, Darragh Guinan and Barry Moran, who along with his own children and wife Nuala, he said they helped him over the shock and despair of what he came across on the morning of December 27th. Some of my neighbours spent two days and even a third day combing fields, drains, ditches and the nearby plantation searching for the sheep that had scattered in all directions. Their support and kindness will never be forgotten. Mr ODonoghue then revealed the The Gardai in Nenagh are investigating the incident. However, the family are calling on politicians to change the law to enable the Gardai and Dog Wardens have more power to act in such cases. The Gardai and Dog Wardens are out there trying to do their best, but their hands are so tied in how far they can go to investigate, and this compounded the distress said Nuala ODonoghue, Donals wife. IFA sheep chairman Kevin Comiskey said stronger regulation was needed. Its simply not good enough for dogs to be allowed to roam free and cause this level of damage. We need stronger regulation around dog ownership, he said. Mr Comiskey led a delegation to meet Ministers Heather Humphreys and Charlie McConalogue in early 2022 and they put forward strong measures that are needed to curb dog attacks. Unfortunately, we havent seen progress on any of these proposals in the past number of months and the attacks have continued. The persistent failure of the authorities has frustrated farmers who have suffered significant losses as a result of dog attacks, and those attacks continue to take place across the country, he said Local Cllr Michael OMeara said that when he visited the farm and witnessed the scene his initial reaction was that this carnage must stop. The farmer and his neighbours are completely distraught at what these dogs have done. Some of the sheep had no ears or faces and had to be humanely put down such was the severity of the attack. It is not alone the financial hit but the emotional and phychological effects something like this has on the farmer and his family said the Cllr. I believe that the powers to control dogs, especially ones on the dangerous dogs list, must be strengthened and this must be done through the Dail. I will be speaking to Oireachtas members in the coming days and farming bodies and I also intend to raise this at Tipperary County Council level and request support from other local authorities, said Cllr O Meara. Lunar New Year is the beginning of a lunar calendar or lunisolar calendar year, whose months are moon cycles. The event is celebrated by numerous cultures in various ways at diverse dates. Rumble 02 Apr 2023 Bryan Kohberger is accused of the murders of four University of Idaho students which stunned the college community of Moscow, but.. Footage from the scene showed two white buses, their mangled fronts entwined. Debris was strewn across the narrow road. A Jamestown drug dealer faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison after pleading guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara to drug and gun charges, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced. Douglas Beardsley, 38, admitted to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of firearms. Sentencing is set for May 30. Prosecutors said that Beardsley bought and sold large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine between September 2018 and January 2019, using residences on Linden and Forest avenues in Jamestown and employing associates, runners, social media and electronic devices. When investigators executed a search warrant at the Forest Avenue residence in January 2019, they found two firearms, ammunition, quantities of crystal methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Ross noted that Beardsley had been convicted in Chautauqua County Court in 2005, 2009 and 2013 on various charges, including drug possession and attempted burglary, and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. NEW DELHI (AP) Indian police have arrested an unruly airline passenger following a complaint by a woman aboard an Air India flight from New York that he urinated on her in business class. Shankar Mishra was picked up by police in the southern city of Bengaluru and brought to the Indian capital on Saturday, New Delhi Police spokesperson Suman Nalva said on Sunday. Nalva declined to say what Mishra told investigators after his arrest. The Times of India newspaper cited Mishra as saying that he was drunk and could not believe what he had done. A New Delhi court sent him to prison for 14 days as police investigate the complaint accusing Mishra of outraging the modesty of a woman during the New York-New Delhi flight. If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison. Sugata Bhattacharjee, another passenger on the flight, told reporters he saw Mishra consuming excessive liquor and that Mishra was talking incoherently, asking him the same question about his family several times. Also Saturday, Air India issued written notices and grounded one pilot and four cabin crew as the incident triggered outrage on social media and among activists who said that banning Mishra from flying for 30 days was not enough. Air India filed a police complaint this week, though the incident occurred on Nov. 26. It said the crew did not summon police upon landing in New Delhi as they believed that the two had sorted out the issue on their own. Indian media reports said Air India acted after being pressed by the family of the woman passenger, a senior citizen, to punish Mishra. Air India acknowledges that it could have handled these matters better, both in the air and on the ground and is committed to taking action, said the airlines CEO and managing director Campbell Wilson in a statement. . .. Russian bombings overnight killed at least one in eastern Ukraine as Moscow ended a self-declared truce. The Kremlin says it will continue its attacks until it wins. DW has the latest. One train service from Berlin to Wroclaw is more than a means of transportation it also offers a culture program. 2008-2023 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Deutsche Welle 12 Jan 2023 After carrying out two executions on Saturday and two in December, Iran plans to execute two more young men for participating in.. The attack is the latest example of the growing insecurity that has spread to nearly every corner of Africa's most populous country. Sir Keir Starmer has defended shadow foreign secretary David Lammy earning 200,000 from second jobs this parliament - but said the rules need to be stricter. Daily Record 08 Jan 2023 The millionaire Prime Minister insisted it was "not relevant" whether he and his family paid for healthcare despite NHS patients.. Up to 140 people fleeing the war are to be housed in the GAA stadium in Dublin until 18 January. Geraldine Talley worked at a nonprofit and was known for her baking skills. She was killed while shopping at Tops. She was 62. ... From The Buffalo News to Channels 2, 4, 7, Fox29, Spectrum, NBC, CNN, I get asked two main questions. The first is to describe my mother. The second question is what do I think needs to be done in the community. The first question is easy. My mother Geraldine Talley was a loving, gifted cook, and extroverted individual who loved her friends and family. She may not have liked a few of them, but she still loved them very much. Unfortunately, due to systemic racism entwined with socioeconomics and the moral fabric of everything that is anything in this country, she is no longer here. My mother is no longer here because a white supremacist had his mind engulfed by far-right ideologies that made him want to kill Black people. The second question is more nebulous. On the macro scale, I would automatically say some form of reparations for African Americans. From the time the first slave ships came to what is now known as the United States to the time the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, African Americans in this country have been third-class citizens. For more than 400 years, we were/have been/still are cattle, property or free labor. The idea that the United States is built on the American Dream and the idea of meritocracy is a lie used to sell to the average white family in the suburbs. The idea of meritocracy to the African American is a myth because for us to all start on the same playing field, we should be compensated for the past 400 years. On the micro level, just on the East Side of Buffalo, I would say a lot has to do with socioeconomics. Broadly speaking, socioeconomics says that a combination of social and economic factors determine what status a person might achieve. The American Psychological Association says: "Examinations of socioeconomic status often reveal inequities in access to resources, as well as issues related to privilege, power, and control." For example, in 2019, Buffalos poverty rate stood at 28.8%, the third poorest large city in the nation, based on U.S. Census data. If youre an African American in Buffalo, theres a 35% chance you are living in poverty. African Americans in Buffalo have some of the worst rates in the nation of home ownership, median household income and education. Where do most of the African Americans in the city live? On the East Side. We have the worst health rates in terms of mental illness, chronic and preventable diseases, cancers and sexually transmitted diseases. So, when Payton Gendron was doing his pre-scouting prior to May 14 to find the most concentrated area of African Americans to kill, as Tupac said in a song of his, Aint Hard 2 Find. My organization, Agents For Advocacy, plans to combat this problem. We plan to have seminars and workshops talking about and discussing the impact that socioeconomics has on the African American community in such areas as home ownership, credit score and the generational poverty cycle. By next year, we will be offering free health, business, resume and finance classes, while also trying to get into schools to help those struggling with math and reading. We will be starting a food pantry along, with a storage container containing feminine supplies and essential items. Will this solve all the ills that plague the East Side? No. But will me sitting back idly watching by and doing nothing knowing this is one of the reasons my mother is dead help? Absolutely not! So, what do I think needs to be done in the community? In hindsight, the answer is simple, but the establishment of said answer is hard. We all know what needs to be done. Im just tired of talking about it and ready to start implementing it by any means necessary. So, if you want to run with me to implement this change, let's run. If not, then you can get run over. ... Mark Talley is Geraldine Talley's son. He is the executive director of Agents for Advocacy. An Irish humanitarian has said his trial in Greece over smuggling-related charges is deeply damaging to the European Union. The US teacher who authorities say was shot by a six-year-old pupil is known as a hard-working educator who is devoted to her students and enthusiastic about the profession that runs in her family, according to fellow teachers and city officials. A former American defence intelligence analyst, who became a Cold War-era double agent and spied for Cuba, has been freed from jail. Eurasia Review 17 Jan 2023 U.S. Army General Mark Milley and his Ukrainian counterpart met at a military base in southeastern Poland on Tuesday in their first.. (RFE/RL) Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy has praised the United States for including tank-killing armored vehicles and antiaircraft missiles in its January 6 package of military aid, saying that they will strengthen Ukraines army on the battlefield. A wonderful Christmas present for Ukraine, Zelenskiy said... The ability of residents Hong Kong to cross into mainland is one of the most visible signs of China's easing of border restrictions, with travelers arriving no longer required to undergo quarantines. Upworthy 08 Jan 2023 At least 40 people were killed and dozens injured in a bus crash in central Senegal, the countrys president said Sunday... Canada-based miner First Quantum FM-T would suspend a significant amount of jobs at its operations in Panama if the Central American government forces it to halt operations during a contract dispute, the company said in a letter. If we have to reduce operations to care and maintenance mode, the #cobrepanama #firstquantumfmt #billberkrot #panama #quantum #centralamerican #alandelaney Several hundred people marched through the streets of El Paso on Saturday afternoon, and when they arrived at a group of migrants huddling outside a church, they sang to them no estan solos you are not alone. Around 300 migrants have taken refuge on sidewalks outside Sacred Heart Church, #title42 #venezuelans #dylancorbett #mexicans #cubans #venezuelan #hopeborderinstitute #haitians #ussupremecourt #guatemalans Belfast Telegraph 09 Jan 2023 German investigators have searched two garages used by an Iranian man arrested on suspicion of planning an attack with deadly.. The New York State Independent Redistricting Commission sought public comment on its plan for new Assembly district boundaries ahead of public hearings that start Monday in Buffalo. About a dozen Western New Yorkers have weighed in already and much of it is not favorable. This is a nakedly partisan attempt to dilute the power of the fourth-largest upstate municipality in the Assembly, said Jeffrey E. Marion, one of six Amherst residents who submitted written comments as of Sunday afternoon. Dividing the Town of Amherst into two separate districts is a shameless partisan attempt to dilute the voting power of the Town of Amherst and to ensure that the town will not have adequate representation in Albany. The new district lines would divide South Buffalo and alienate a portion of it from the rest of the current district, which many of us see as one whole community, wrote South Buffalo resident Andrew Crombie. Dividing up this district means that the Commission does not understand the people who have lived in this area for generations. It would break apart connections and separate a community that takes pride in their area. A group of Niagara County supervisors from Wilson, Newfane, Somerset, Hartland and Royalton wrote a letter of concern about any redistricting proposal that would separate the towns into different Assembly Districts. They say their communities are truly an area of common interest and should be represented by one voice. The comments came in advance of 12 commission pubic hearings across the state, beginning with one in the Burchfield Penney Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Ave., at 5 p.m. Monday. Virtual and in-person testimony is available for all hearings. The 10-person panel unanimously passed the new district lines and released the plan to the public Dec. 1. In drawing the new draft lines under court order the commission sought to create districts with only small deviations in population, as well as districts that do not unnecessarily split cities, towns and counties. But the proposed lines would center Buffalo in three Assembly districts: One covering the citys East Side, the other the West Side and a third containing part of South Buffalo. Among other ripples, that would significantly reshape the district of Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, one of the most powerful Democrats in the state Legislature. The commission's proposed map is purely political and disgraceful, said Amherst resident Jerome D. Schad, adding that it divides the Town of Amherst between two districts. David R. Kinyon, a graduate of State University at Albany Graduate School of Public Affairs/Rockefeller Institute stressed the importance of keeping the Town and City of Lockport whole. That has meant significant cooperation and efforts in the redevelopment of Lockport, including Downtown Revitalization Initiative, Reimagine the Canals Initiative and expansive economic development projects like the Discover Niagara Shuttle which bring new tourism dollars to our community, said Kinyon, a volunteer chairman of the Lockport Locks Heritage District and a director of the Canal Society of New York State. Dividing Lockport among multiple state representatives would place our community at a great disadvantage, he added. Having decades of experience in working with state and local officials of both political parties on projects in Lockport, I cannot overemphasize how important it is for the town and city of Lockport to be represented by a single Senator and Assembly member who are committed to and focused on the goals of our whole community in a united front. Click here to leave a comment or sign up to testify during the public hearing. Rumble 04 Feb 2023 Spectre is a 2015 spy film and the twenty-fourth in the James Bond series produced by Eon Productions for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and.. Religiously speaking, the incoming 118th Congress looks like America that is, the America of decades past, rather than today. Congress is far more Christian, and religious overall, than today's general population. Even though nearly three in 10 Americans claim no religious affiliation a rate that has steadily risen in recent years only two of the 534 incoming members of Congress publicly identify as such. Those are among the conclusions of an analysis by Pew Research Center of the 118th Congress, which was expected to start after a House leadership vote. The Congress remains largely untouched by two trends that have long marked religious life in the United States: a decades-long decline in the share of Americans who identify as Christian, and a corresponding increase in the percentage who say they have no religious affiliation, said the Pew report, released Tuesday. It was based on a CQ Roll Call survey of members of Congress. Nearly 88% of members of Congress identify as Christian, compared with only 63% of U.S. adults overall. That includes 57% of congresspersons who identify as Protestant and 28% as Catholic, both higher than national rates. Also, 6% of members of Congress identify as Jewish, compared with 2% of the overall population. While 29% Americans claim no religious affiliation, they'd have to squint to see themselves reflected in Congress. The only overtly non-religious members are U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., who identifies as humanist, and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, independent of Arizona, who says shes religiously unaffiliated. Pew listed 20 other members of Congress as having unknown religious affiliations, either because they declined to answer CQ Roll Call's query or because the answers are otherwise muddled (such as in the case of New York Republican George Santos, along with much else in his background). Historically, lacking a religious identity was seen as a political liability. Only 60% of Americans told a Gallup survey in 2019 that they'd be willing to vote for an atheist fewer than would vote for gays or lesbians or various religious or ethnic groups. But Huffman said he experienced no political blowback. If anything, theres a political upside, he said. People appreciate the fact that Im just being honest. He said many colleagues in Congress find religion to be politically useful, particularly across the aisle, how so many of them exploit and weaponize religion but seem to be totally divorced from any authentic connection to the religion they're weaponizing." The ranks of Christians in Congress has dipped only slightly over the decades, though it's a different story with the general population. Since 2007, Christians have gone from 78% to 63% of the population, while the non-affiliated rose from 16% to 29%, according to Pew. The trend line is even more dramatic when looking back to 1990, when nearly nine in 10 Americans identified as Christian, while less than one in 10 identified as non-religious, according to researchers at Trinity College in Connecticut. In some ways, the two political parties conform to perception. The Republican congressional delegation is a staggering 99% Christian, with the rest Jewish or unknown. Republicans who have long embraced Christian expressions in their political functions and where an aggressive form of Christian nationalism has become more mainstream include 69% Protestants, 25% Catholics and 5% other Christians (such as Mormon and Orthodox). Democrats have more religious diversity, at about 76% Christian (including 44% Protestant, 31% Catholic and 1.5% Orthodox) and 12% Jewish. They have about 1% each of Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Unitarian Universalist representation. But Democrats' paucity of openly non-affiliated members contrasts starkly with a constituency to which it owes much. Religiously unaffiliated voters opted overwhelmingly for Democrats candidates in the 2022 midterms. They voted for Democrats over Republicans by more than a 2 to 1 margin in House races, according to AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of more than 94,000 voters nationwide. And in some bellwether races, the unaffiliated went as high as 4 to 1 for Democrats. The fact that the (Democratic) leadership doesnt reflect an open, secular identity is paradoxical, but I think its the nature of realpolitik, said Phil Zuckerman, professor of sociology and secular studies at Pitzer College in Claremont, California. He said Democrats know that non-religious voters align with them on the issues, but party leaders also don't want to alienate other, more religious parts of the party's base, particularly Black Protestants. Party leaders speak to the politics of secular people but dont want to take on the identity," he said. Zuckerman added that conservative Christians face the branding problem similar to what atheists once faced. Many voters, he said, have reacted against Christian nationalism, and young voters in particular are alienated by conservative Christian stances against LGBTQ people, while many voters of all ages have reacted against Christian nationalism. He cited a prominent incident in 2020 when authorities forcibly cleared Black Lives Matter protesters in Lafayette Park in Washington, after which President Donald Trump walked to a nearby church and held up a Bible. When Trump held up that Bible in front of that church in D.C., he did more damage to the Christian brand than Hitchens and Dawkins and Harris combined, Zuckerman said, referring to popular atheist authors. Photos: Scenes from historic speaker vote of 118th Congress Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - The electoral platform of civil society organisations in Benin late this morning deplored the low turnout of voters at polling stationsin Sunday's legislative elections Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Sudanese political forces, including the military, are meeting once again in Khartoum to finalise an initial agreement they signed last month, under the auspices of the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) I think that Ill post another set of draft notes inspired by (and, to a considerable extent, drawing upon) Michael Guillens Believing is Seeing: A Physicist Explains How Science Shattered His Atheism and Revealed the Necessity of Faith (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale Refresh, 2021). The question of the origin of life on Earth the question of abiogenesis, the emergence of life from non-life continues to puzzle researchers. Michael Guillen sees two broad categories of proposed solutions to the problem. Jocularly, he calls the first broad category It Came from Outer Space: In this scenario, the essential ingredients of life water, amino acids, and nucleotides are imagined to have rained down on Earth from some external agent such as a meteorite, comet, or space alien. Richard Dawkins, evolutionary biologist emeritus at the University of Oxford, explains it this way: Nobody knows how it [life on earth] got started. . . . It could be that at some earlier time, somewhere in the universe, a civilization evolved by probably some kind of Darwinian means to a very, very high level of technology, and designed a form of life that they seeded onto perhaps this planet. . . . And that designer could well be a higher intelligence from elsewhere in the universe. The It Came from Outer Space scenario is corroborated by our discovery that comets and meteorites contain organic molecules necessary for life even amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. For instance, Meteorite 2008 TC3, which pelted northern Sudan in 2008, contains nineteen different amino acids. And Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko contains many different organic molecules and glycine, the simplest of all amino acids used by life on Earth. Please note that life that had been seeded onto Earth would not, strictly speaking, represent a case of abiogenesis. It would actually be merely a case of pushing the question of abiogenesis back further, into a long distant time in an unknown but faraway place. (It might also be a process that Latter-day Saints, with our rather different conception of the divine, could entertain as an interesting hypothesis or, to use a more typically Latter-day Saint term, as an intriguing speculation.) Guillen calls the second of his two broad categories It Came from the Black Lagoon: In this scenario, the essential ingredients for life are terrestrial, and the process by which life emerges from them occurs entirely on this planet. It was Charles Darwins own preferred idea. In 1871, Darwin speculated wistfully that Earths very first protein macromolecules mightve been cooked up by accident in some warm little pond with all sort of ammonia & phosphoric salts [with] light, heat, electricity, [etc.] present. When I was in high school, the big deal (at least at my scientific level was still a 1953 experiment by the American chemists Harold Urey and Stanley Miller, who sought to put Darwins warm little pond idea to the test. Zapping a mixture of methane, ammonia, and hydrogen gases with electrical sparks, they were able to produce amino acids and other organic molecules. It wasnt actual life yet, but these were important precursors to life. The Miller-Urey experiment was hailed, at first, but has since been heavily questioned. One objection is that Earths primitive, prebiotic atmosphere is not now believed to have consisted mostly of methane, ammonia, and hydrogen, as Urey and Miller supposed, but, instead, is thought to have consisted primarily of carbon dioxide, ammonia, and water vapor. One of Millers students later repeated the experiment using a corrected gas mixture, but it seems that the results of that revised experiment are still debated. Another seeming problem is that amino acids with identical chemical sequences come in two geometrical varieties, right-handed and left-handed. But life on Earth uses only left-handed amino acids, while the Miller-Urey experiment (and, I presume, its variants) produces both left-handed and right-handed amino acids in equal proportions, meaning that it does not represent the extraordinary, life-generating process that selected out the left-handed molecules and then assembled them into the organisms we see today. Recently, Guillen writes his book was published in 2021 scientists at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, have created a more advanced version of the Miller-Urey device, which they call a planet simulator. By varying the temperature, humidity, pressure, atmosphere, and radiation levels inside a microwave oven-sized terrarium, the scientists can simulate the environment of early Earth or any other planet. It remains to be seen whether it will produce any reliable, replicable, and relevant information concerning the Black Lagoon scenario. Even if the Miller-Urey experiment had been entirely valid, and even if this newer Canadian version of it succeeds, there is still quite a distance between such results and the actual creation of life. Yes, amino acids are the building blocks of life. But it takes scores of them hooking up just right. And they must also fold themselves into just the right shape in order to create a single, healthy protein. This intricate, exquisite process is like origami. Just one wrong fold and the end product wont look right or function properly. For example, a single hemoglobin protein is made of 574 amino acids bound together in a three-dimensional, precisely interwoven, origami-like knot. A single mistake in the complex creation process produces a dysfunctional protein such as we see in people with sickle-cell anemia, some of whom dont survive childhood or even infancy. A living organism relies on hundreds of such carefully constructed proteins to function properly. Even Mycoplasma genitalium, a sexually transmitted pathogen with one of the tiniest, most primitive genomes on the planet, relies on upwards of six hundred different, perfectly constructed proteins. You and I require anywhere from ten thousand to several billion different, intricately built proteins. I think that Ill close with an interesting but quite unrelated bit of science news, on a very different but similarly ongoing, umm, matter of debate: The case for dark matter has strengthened: Though a single measurement is not enough to definitively decide the debate, this is a major win for dark matter proponents. 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. Source: Reuters Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament from the Majority caucus who have called for the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister are likely to lose their seats during their primaries. According to the NDC MP, plans are underway to make sure those individuals paid for their public dislike of the presidents cousin as the finance minister. Mr Ablakwa claimed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his armies are bent on sponsoring others to contest the #KenMustGo MPs in their upcoming parliamentary primaries. Meanwhile, I project that President Akufo-Addo and his cabal will proceed to victimize the #KenMustGo NPP MPs by actively sponsoring candidates against them in the upcoming NPP parliamentary primaries, he said. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa made this revelation in his twenty (20) events he envisions will occur within Ghanas geopolitical space in the year 2023. According to him, NPP MPs will early this year discover that they were tricked by President Akufo-Addo and that he is determined to keep his cousin at the Finance Ministry even if that will cost him his presidency. Read the full list of forecasts by Okudzeto Ablakwa below: Happy New Year, folks. Here are my forecasts for 2023: [NB: These are no charlatanic prophesies] 1) Former President John Mahama will emerge victorious from the 2023 NDC Flagbearer Primaries with more than 95% of valid votes cast; 2) Former President John Mahama expected to retain Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as his Running Mate for the 2024 presidential election; 3) Public agitations against the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/Ofori-Atta debt exchange programme predicted to reach a crescendo as an overwhelming majority of Ghanaians will outrightly reject the draconian terms; 4) The debt exchange resistance and considerable turmoil would lead to a substantial delay in an IMF Board Agreement, which development will further exacerbate Ghanas current economic calamity; 5) RIBADE Limited, the JV contractors (consisting Rizzani de Eccher SpA, M. Barbisotti & Sons Ltd and DeSimone Ltd) tasked to construct President Akufo-Addo's $400million Cathedral will formally announce their disinterest and final withdrawal from the beleaguered project which has consistently been a cause celebre; 6) Owners of the Waterstone Realty Luxury Apartment Complex demolished in May 2018 to pave way for the cathedral construction are expected to rebuff renewed appeals from government for an out of court settlement and will vigorously pursue their GHS120million judgment debt case; 7) NPP MPs will early this year discover that they were tricked by President Akufo-Addo and that he is absolutely determined to keep his cousin at the Finance Ministry even if that will cost him his presidency; 8)NPP MPs will bitterly regret their betrayal of the NDC caucus by not voting together with us to secure the two-third constitutional threshold that would have ousted disastrous Ken Ofori-Atta. Some of the disappointed NPP MPs will publicly concede to their tactical error and shall be seeking new belated #KenMustGo collaborations with the NDC caucus; 9) Meanwhile, I project that President Akufo-Addo and his cabal will proceed to victimize the #KenMustGo NPP MPs by actively sponsoring candidates against them in the upcoming NPP parliamentary primaries; 10) The two pending nominations for Justices of the Supreme Court which have currently been caught up in parliamentary gridlock will move from bad to worse. The embattled nominees (Justices George Kingsley Koomson and Ernest Yao Gaewu) may have to brace themselves for a fatal outcome; 11) I can very safely predict that Ghana's Supreme Court shall continue to treat our e-Levy case without any sense of urgency. Unlike in the controversial Deputy Speakers Can Vote Case which was decided within an impressive 4 month supersonic speed Abdulai filed in December 2021, judgement was ready by March 2022 and by April his review application had been unanimously dismissed. Comparatively, it's been 10 painful months since Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, Mahama Ayariga, and my humble self filed our e-Levy case, specifically on March 30, 2022; and guess what, we don't even have a date for the hearing of the substantive case; 12) Like many Ghanaians, I can equally forecast with ease that Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson's injunction will remain as an effective all-year restraint and thereby guarantee the NPP a numerical advantage in Ghana's historic hung parliament; 13) When Chief Justice Anin Yeboah retires in May this year, the frosty relations with the NDC caucus and palpable bias of the apex court which he championed is most likely going to haunt his successor and thereby affect what would have otherwise been a smooth parliamentary vetting and approval process of Ghanas next Chief Justice; 14) 2023 appears set to be the year of by-elections. I can see at least two by-elections on the horizon; 15) Expect financial analysts and victims of the so-called financial sector cleanup such as Dr. Ndoum, Dr. Dufuor and Kofi Amoabeng to openly criticize what would apparently amount to patent discrimination in the projected Databank bailout; 16) Considering the monumental economic crisis created by government's mismanagement and gross ineptitude; coupled with the outrage of Ghanaians, I anticipate that President Akufo-Addo will set a refreshing record in 2023 by his own abysmal standards, as he totally avoids his infamous 20,000 (GHS218,000) an hour chartered 'sky bath' trips. By the way, that is not to suggest that I shall be dismantling my unimpeachable surveillance systems all-year-round tracking shall continue unabated, for God and country; 17) I project that President Akufo-Addo will this year succumb to IMF and incessant public pressure by significantly reducing the size of his government and rationalizing his ministries; 18) Like many pundits, I am disturbed that Ghana-Russia relations will face further deterioration despite government's strenuous efforts behind the scenes to repair President Akufo-Addo's Washington faux pas and a litany of amateurish provocations; 19) Following last month's phenomenal formal apology offered by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on behalf of the Dutch state for the Netherlands historical role in the slave trade, I expect a few more western nations to emulate the worthy example of the Dutch by rendering sincere, unqualified apologies and reopening serious discussions for reparation, albeit, after 150 years since slavery was abolished; 20) Sadly, Ghanaians should expect more scandals in 2023. The first in the ever unending series of revelations would be put in the public domain from next week. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen who recently resigned from his position as the Minister for Trade says he will soon address the nation. Alan Cash as he is popularly called tendered in his resignation letter on Thursday, January 5, 2023, and it was subsequently accepted by President Akufo-Addo. Mr Kyerematen, in a Facebook post thanked "H.E the President for the opportunity to serve and for graciously accepting my resignation as Cabinet Minister responsible for Trade and Industry, effective 16th January, 2023". I sincerely appreciate the support from my family, colleagues, my party the NPP, the international community, and the general public during my tenure as a Minister... I will be addressing the Ghanaian people in the next few days he added. Alan Cash is one of the possible presidential candidates of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). 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 Substances found during the search are examined in Castrop-Rauxel, Sunday, Jan.8, 2023. In Castrop-Rauxel, there was a large-scale operation by the police and fire department on Saturday evening. A special task force (SEK) was also on the scene, a police spokeswoman told the German Press Agency on Saturday evening. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa via AP) The Times of Northwest Indiana obtained the body cam footage of the Dec. 15 traffic stop by an Indiana State Police officer of Bryan Kohberger, who has been charged with murdering four University of Idaho students Nov. 13. In the nearly 3 minute video, a trooper is seen stopping the white Hyundai Elantra shortly before 4 p.m. along Interstate 70. The trooper approaches the vehicle, and the faces of 28-year-old Kohberger, who was driving, and his father are visible for just a short time at the 1:03 mark. Traffic noise makes it difficult to hear much of the conversation, but the trooper appears to tell Kohberger he was stopped for driving too closely to the rear of a semi truck. The trooper opts not to give Kohberger a traffic ticket or written warning after learning he had been stopped earlier by what the trooper assumed was a county police officer. "Just make sure you give yourself plenty of room," the trooper says before letting the pair leave the scene. The Hancock County Sheriff's Department said one of its officers had stopped Kohberger and his father around 10:41 a.m. Dec. 15 along eastbound Interstate 70. The vehicle was stopped for following too closely, according to a statement. Kohberger was allegedly on his way to his parents house in Pennsylvania, where police arrested him Dec. 30, according to Associated Press. Kohberger is a doctoral student at Washington State University pursuing a degree in criminology. The FBI has denied claims the agency was behind the traffic stops. "Contrary to reports, the December 15th traffic stops conducted on the vehicle being driven by Bryan Kohberger in Indiana were not requested or directed by the FBI," the FBI said in a statement Thursday. Photos: Scenes following the killings of 4 University of Idaho students Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Found: The stolen election Republicans keep going on about. Result: 10,920 Pennsylvania Democrats cheated out of their votes. The November Pennsylvania court decision that canceled mail-in ballots that lacked accurate handwritten dates on their exterior envelope resulted in valid votes being canceled. Democrats made up 2/3 of the total canceled votes. That means that over ten thousand Pennsylvania voters had their votes tossed for no reason. They are eligible to vote and they did vote. They did so properly, except they might have put in the wrong date or left the date off or not signed it properly on the outer envelope or failed to include the second secrecy envelope. The Department of State said this week more than 16,000 mail-in ballots were disqualified by county officials because they lacked secrecy envelopes or proper signatures or dates. Democratic voters, who are much more likely to vote by mail, made up more than two-thirds of the total canceled ballots, The AP reported. Democrats had 10,920 votes thrown out, about half for lacking secrecy envelopes. Republicans saw 3,503 ballots forfeited. Independents and third parties amounted to 1,731 votes that did not count in the fall election. In Pennsylvania, Democrats just barely took the state House back for the first time in a decade. While many cities worked to cure votes, that is to allow the voter to fix the errors, others didnt. Republicans sued in October of 2022 to try to get undated mail-in ballots tossed: A coalition of GOP groups, including the Republican National Committee and the state party, filed a lawsuit late Sunday night asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to block undated mail ballots from being counted. The AP detailed some of the legal fights, including the failure of negotiations between Governor Tom Wolf, a Democrat, and the Republican legislative (then) leaders about ending the exterior envelope date requirement, Republican lawmakers defending the need for the requirements, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in May that the dates were immaterial, but the Republican-led U.S. Supreme Court then ruling that decision moot. A battle to determine if qualified voters can have their votes counted. Thats what this is. And when they arent counted, it has historically hurt Democrats and benefited Republicans. This Republican-led fight against counting votes with undated outer envelopes dates to the election Trump lost in 2020. A more direct way of putting this is Republicans sought every way they could find to invalidate votes that were going to be majority Democrats. When this eventually failed, they then sought to appoint alternative electors to just invalidate the millions of votes in states that didnt go their way. At the same time, their party leader and then president incited a domestic terrorist attack in an attempt to keep power. The Republican Party is not the freedom party, and that is an understatement at this point. It wont surprise readers to discover that the 2020 Trump campaign lodged a lawsuit alleging that the ballot curing happened along partisan lines, with then White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany accusing the then top election official in the state of using ballot curing as a way to tip the scales of an election to functionally favor the Democrat Party. So many lies, so much projection. In reality, all counties got the same guidance, but some didnt notify voters and others did. Counties that didnt even allow the ballot curing tried to claim the October 21, 2020 guidance they received was too late, but in Pennsylvania, election officials cant even begin their review of of mail-in ballots until 7AM on election day. Even in Republicans own lawsuits, the facts proved that the red counties not allowing ballot curing hurt Democratic voters more than Republicans. In the red counties cited in one Republican lawsuit, however, Biden outperformed Trump in the mail-in ballot vote, often by considerable margins. By not allowing voters to cure ballots, those counties were more likely to hurt Democratic voters than Republicans. Republicans were urging their voters not to use mail-in ballots. Trump fear-mongered about them consistently. So when they decided not to allow curing in some counties in 2020, they had a pretty good idea which party that was hurting. Here we are after the midterms finding out that once again, Republicans canceled Democrats votes. In 2020, some measure of this was laid at the feet of the state Democratic party, because they requested decisions on the secrecy ballot among other measures intended to protect mail-in ballots. (The nerve of the party wanting all qualified votes to be counted.) This 2020 action resulted in the court ruling that the GOP-led legislature had intended for the secrecy envelope to be mandatory. Is this secrecy envelope obsession normal? No. Its actually rare. Charles Stewart, an MIT political science professor who studies American elections, said Rejection because of the lack of a secrecy envelope is so rare that the U.S. Election Assistance Commission doesnt ask about it in their post-election Election Administration and Voting Survey. Another expert weighed in to say the secrecy envelope is not even necessary. Susan Dzieduszycka-Suinat, who heads the voting information nonprofit U.S. Vote Foundation, said in the same above Whyy article, I can tell you in no uncertain terms that we do believe in the confidentiality of each persons vote as the ultimate goal, but we do not agree that it should be used for grounds for ballot rejection. That is extreme. Pennsylvanias bicameral legislature has been Republican-ruled for a decade. The lower chamber is now narrowly Democratic-led after the 2022 midterms. Democrat Mark Moffa conceded the last state House race for Bucks Countys 142nd District to Republican Joseph Hogan while the Republican had a 53-vote lead, which the Democrat stood to narrow but didnt see a win. As a person who has been a registered voter in four different states, Pennsylvanias mail-in ballot rules are the most prohibitive and stressful. They are difficult to complete properly, due in part to their unnecessary stupidity and busy work. Add in people who arent detail oriented, cant read easily, are older its an unfair and pointless obstacle. The party that says its against cancel culture works hard to cancel elections and opposing votes. There isnt a more egregious cancel culture than canceling someones fundamental right to vote. Ten thousand, nine hundred and twenty Democratic voters had their votes canceled. Every single qualified voter whose vote was canceled by this unnecessary rule and the failure to push for curing has been wrongfully disenfranchised. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print If there is one House Republican in jeopardy of facing criminal charges for his role in the 1/6 plot, it is Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), and Perry wants to serve on the committee investigating the 1/6 investigations. Video: Asked by @GStephanopoulos if he will pledge to not serve on new House committee investigating Jan. 6 probes while he is part of DOJ investigation, GOP Rep. Scott Perry says, Why should I be limitedjust because someone has made an accusation? https://t.co/Djf55CibwT pic.twitter.com/EnbQ3k2JzF ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) January 8, 2023 Here is what Perry thought that he should be able to serve on the committee: Perrys phone was among those seized by investigators last year. He would not rule out serving on the subcommittee. Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 8, 2023 For More Stories Like This Subscribe To Our Newsletter: Other House Republicans, like Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), are at least witnesses in 1/6 criminal investigations. It has been two years, and there has been no evidence emerged that people like Jordan and McCarthy committed crimes, but they did witness crimes which should disqualify them from overseeing federal enforcement that is investigating those crimes. Perry is a different story. The feds seized his phone and his emails because he was directly involved in the plot to overthrow the election. Rep. Perry tried to get Jeffrey Clark named attorney general so that the DOJ could claim that there was fraud in the election. Rep. Perry communicated with both the Trump White House and Rep. John Eastman. The difference between Scott Perry and Jim Jordan is that Perry went way beyond his legislative duties and participated in the plot. Jordan has critical evidence that he refuses to discuss about the plot and the actions of Trump on 1/6. Scott Perry could easily find himself under federal criminal indictment in the future, and if he is on the House select committee investigating the investigations, it will prove that the committee is a cover-up operation, not legislative branch oversight. KPMG in Bahrain will host an awareness seminar to explore the decarbonisation journey in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the associated role of the business community towards achieving the Kingdoms energy goals sustainably. The event is scheduled to take place on January 11 at the Downtown Rotana Hotel. Held under the theme Demystifying the Decarbonisation Journey, the event aims to raise awareness on the implications of climate change, decarbonisation and the associated net-zero ambitions that leaders can leverage to stay competitive. Bahrain has committed to achieve Net-Zero by 2060, and a 30 per cent reduction through decarbonisation and energy efficiency initiatives by 2035. The seminar will feature Dr Charbel Moussa, Partner leading Decarbonisation at KPMG in Netherlands as the keynote speaker. With over 15 years of experience in the carbon markets, energy transition strategy and greenhouse gas (GHG) management, with a strong focus on energy-intensive industries, Moussa has a successful track record of impacting positive change in over 20 countries, working with global and regional business leaders across Europe and the Middle East, offering GHG-related services, reporting framework setup, portfolio scan and assessment, and providing a future outlook of technology scenarios to enhance capacity building. He has also worked collaboratively with several governments and public entities in setting up market infrastructure for carbon certificate trading. Jeyapriya Partiban, Partner and Head of Advisory at KPMG in Bahrain, said: While the decarbonisation journey may have challenges, it also holds a number of opportunities for organisations across the public and private sector, and civil society. However, this will require the relentless involvement and commitment from organisations and leaders across the marketplace to ensure we can collaboratively realise the national climate change strategy and make a real difference. "Our seminar session will be an opportunity for industry leaders to enhance their awareness in terms of how they can take a more holistic approach towards ESG related challenges, while leveraging critical opportunities that can provide a real competitive edge by delivering on clear and tangible outcomes that move towards effective, efficient, and sustainable policies and processes within the organisation, she added. TradeArabia News Service Its been a year since the Politics Columns Magic 8-Ball emerged from its lair in the top drawer of a back row desk at The Buffalo News the same secret enclave housing a 1982 directory of state media contacts and discarded campaign buttons for some guy named Griffin. But as the Onyx Orb makes its annual daylight appearance, it once again signals a new year and all of its politics. So at the dawn of 2023, we again turn to the Poolball Predictor for the best semi-accurate prognostications this side of Ellicott Creek. Tell us, O Octo-Oracle. Will the contest for Erie County executive dominate our politics this year? You may rely on it. All indications point to Democrat Mark Poloncarz gearing up for an unprecedented fourth term. He is raising money, telling associates he is running, and appears ready to go. Its a difficult undertaking. The late Democrat Dennis Gorski sought a fourth term back in 1999, buoyed by generally favorable polling. But shelf life often enters the equation, especially in executive positions that sometimes spark a desire for change. Republican Joel Giambra represented the fresh face syndrome back in 99, and dispatched one of the areas dominant Democratic figures into retirement. Will Erie County Republican leaders seek another fresh face to take on the well-entrenched Poloncarz? Ask again later. So far, nobody in GOP Land is making overt moves toward a campaign. But well known names are entering the discussion. They include former Rep. Chris Jacobs, former State Sen. Ed Rath, and County Clerk Mickey Kearns a Democrat who makes a habit out of winning on the Republican line. But if the party seeks a fresh face, it might turn to West Seneca Supervisor Gary Dickson. He is a former FBI agent who won as a Republican in Democratic West Seneca though he must raise mega-dollars just to make his name known. Jacobs has lots of money and is universally recognized. But tell us, O Spherical See-er, would the Dems dredge up his House vote against certifying Joe Bidens election as president? It is decidedly so. Just as Jerry Zremskis Jacobs exit interview story appeared in The News last week, Erie County Democratic Chairman Jeremy Zellner took to Twitter with hints at a Dem strategy against Jacobs. Jacobs voted against certifying the election of Joe Biden who defeated Trump. This alone disqualifies Chris Jacobs from ever again holding high or any other elected office, he said, and a cynical attempt at reinventing his image cant change that fact. Will the state GOP chairmanship return to Western New York when current party chief Nick Langworthy resigns later this month to concentrate on Congress? My sources say no. Langworthy championed Lee Zeldins 2022 gubernatorial candidacy, and Zeldin came close. Now, the party faces the question of whether Zeldins effort translates into new success in New York or a hopeless cause. One possible Langworthy successor is former Assemblyman Colin Schmitt, who lost a close congressional effort in November to Hudson Valley Democrat Pat Ryan and who showed up at Decembers Erie GOP fundraiser. Turn your ebony and ivory countenance toward Albany, O Billiard Bloviator. Do you predict new prominence for Assemblywoman Monica Wallace, D-Lancaster? Signs point to yes. Democrats like their law prof assemblywoman. But reapportionment looms and she could once again appear vulnerable. Speaker Carl Heastie and company just named her chairwoman of the Majority Steering Committee to raise her profile and bestow more exposure in the event Republicans ever get serious about taking her on. So far, they have not. Will 2023 be the year that Democrats and Republicans from around Western New York put aside partisan differences and unite for the good of all? Concentrate and ask again. Aiken will soon be getting a Lowes Foods. Information provided to the Aiken City Council ahead of Monday's meeting indicates that Lowes Foods will be the tenant of a 50,000-square-foot building to be constructed at a new shopping center on the Southside. Lowes Foods is a regional supermarket chain operating stores in South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. It was founded in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in 1954. The company has 81 stores. It is a subsidiary of the Hickory, North Carolina, based Alex Lee Inc. Alex Lee also owns a distribution company, Merchants Distributors LLC, that serves other grocery stores in the southeast including KJ's Markets. The shopping center will be located behind and to the north of the Circle K gas station located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Whiskey Road, Powderhouse Road and Stratford Drive. Access will be available via Whiskey Road and two points on Powderhouse Road. The Aiken City Council approved the annexation of the property, its zoning as planned commercial and the concept plan calling for the construction of the 50,000-square-foot store, 20,040 square feet of additional retail space and nine buildings with 48 total attached single-family homes June 13. City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh wrote to the city council Thursday that the plans for the shopping center include the construction of a deceleration lane where Powderhouse Road ends at Whiskey Road. He said the city has had several conversations with the shopping center's developer, Aiken Powderhouse LLC, and has determined that it is appropriate to share the costs of the construction of the deceleration lane. To share the costs, city council must agree to enter a cost-sharing agreement with Aiken Powderhouse LLC. The agreement to be considered by city council on Monday evening calls for Aiken Powderhouse LLC to pay for the design work for the deceleration lane Bedenbaugh says the cost is estimated at $85,000 and the city to pay for the construction at an estimated cost of $100,000. Bedenbaugh said the deceleration lane will be the city's second upgrade to the intersection. He said the city paid for the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection more than a year ago. The city council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday in the city council chamber on the third floor of the municipal building located at 111 Chesterfield St. SW. I would like to piggyback on the recent letters sent in concerning the location of the SRS lab location. My opinion is that the downtown location is not a good fit for this facility. The lab location should be built at the Carrol Warner business park. Read moreLetter: SRS lab should be near site Federal prosecutors charged a Catholic priest who served for several years in the Charleston Diocese with sexually abusing an 11-year-old child. Jaime Adolfo Gonzalez-Farias, 68, was arrested Nov. 28, 2022, in Florida, court records show. The Chilean national had worked in South Carolina as a visiting priest of the Diocese of San Bernardo, Chile, between 2015 and 2020, according to church records. Prosecutors charged him in an October 2022 indictment with three counts of sexual crimes: coercion or enticement of a minor; transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; and aggravated sexual abuse of children. Prosecutors allege his crimes began in fall 2020, when Gonzalez-Farias persuaded the 11-year-old to engage in sexual activity with him, according to the recently unsealed indictment. The defendant traveled with the child from South Carolina to another state, where Gonzalez-Farias is accused of intentional touching, not through the clothing, of (the victims) genitalia, the indictment states. Gonzalez-Farias "had access" to the 11-year-old via his duties as a Catholic priest, according to the indictment. Gonzalez-Farias was ordained in 1990 and has held numerous positions in the church including pastor, parochial vicar, administrator, chaplain and priest, the indictment states. Officials with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston received a clear background check on Gonzalez-Farias in 2015 when the man moved to South Carolina, the diocese said in a statement. He worked in several parishes and ministries until late 2020. That December, Diocesan officials had learned of a sexual misconduct allegation involving Gonzalez-Farias and a minor, according to the statement. By that time, the priest had left the U.S. and returned to Chile. The diocese notified his parishioners in January 2021 and retired Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone determined there was reason to believe the allegation. The Laurens County Sheriff's Department initially investigated Gonzalez-Farias but the matter was ultimately referred to federal authorities, according to the statement. The diocese did not disclose where he served in South Carolina. A July 2020 report shows Guglielmone gave the priest several new assignments, including administrator of Holy Spirit Mission in Laurens and St. Boniface Mission in Joanna, as well as chaplain to Presbyterian College in Clinton. Gonzalez-Farias was included in August 2021 on the Charleston Diocese's list of visiting priests with a "credible allegation" of child sexual misconduct. Gonzalez-Farias was remanded to South Carolina after his initial appearance in a Florida courthouse. His arraignment at the U.S. District Courthouse in Columbia is scheduled for Jan. 9. If convicted of all charges, Gonzalez-Farias faces a minimum of 30 years in federal prison along with associated fines. Elliott B. Daniels will prosecute the case. Current court records don't yet list a defense attorney for Gonzalez-Farias. A museum tells stories based on the objects in its collection. Curators interpret those objects and devise a narrative that links them to historical events or cultural practices. The institution, therefore, is constrained by its collection in what issues it can examine and convey. The Charleston Museum during its earliest years collected all sorts of items from around the world, and its leaders took a special interest in natural history. So lots of animal specimens, skeletons and fossils filled the cases. It gathered fine examples of silver and porcelain, and formal gowns that once belonged to members of elite society. In the 20th century, though, its staff began to express more interest in the Lowcountry including the era of enslavement, eventually shifting the museums mission in the 1980s away from global inquiry to focus on local and regional history. That history, including the African American experience, has become a primary part of the museums offerings. And curators now are beginning to plan for a new permanent exhibit devoted to the period immediately following the Civil War through the civil rights movement of the 1960s. The exhibit will include objects, many of which are yet to be procured, that will help curators shape a narrative of Reconstruction, Jim Crow oppression and the freedom struggle as experienced in Charleston and Lowcountry, according to Jennifer McCormick, chief of collections. The Charleston Museum has a head start. Already in its holdings are a number of fascinating items that will contribute essential details to the new exhibit. A red shirt worn by white supremacist and militiaman Josiah McKie harkens to 1876 and the Hamburg Massacre, a violent attack on the majority-Black town in Edgefield County orchestrated by Whites (including future South Carolina Gov. Ben Tillman) opposed to the Reconstruction government. More than 100 Red Shirts participated in the July 8 massacre, attacking 30 Black servicemen, killing two. Later, the White men tortured and killed four more. In the end, 94 White men were indicted for murder; none were prosecuted. Oppression and violence certainly will be a major theme of the new exhibit, but so will arts and crafts, cultural identity, religious practices and the courageous fight for enfranchisement and equal rights. Much can be learned from Dave Drakes pottery, for example. The Museum has 10 of his pieces, including two 40-gallon jugs, among the largest he made. Drake was enslaved much of his life, but became a master potter who inscribed many of his works with his name or with short phrases or couplets. Tobias Scotts feather fans with woven quill handles from around 1880 are examples of this Charleston craftsmans fine work. His talents enabled him to buy his freedom and earn his own keep. He supposedly sold one of his fans to President Theodore Roosevelt. The museum has an 1890 dress of pink silk and satin and black lace made by Madame Pauline Seba for Sara Simonds. Seba trained in New York City then returned to Charleston, where she became a charter member of the NAACP and ran a specialty shop on King Street. Also in the collection is a wooden pew from Edisto Island, made by enslaved people, that will help the museum tell the story of the Black church and its importance. It will eventually find a spot in the post-Civil War exhibit, McCormick said. Were constantly on the lookout for objects, she said. Right now were looking for any objects relating to the civil rights era in Charleston. Journals and correspondence, items of clothing worn during the 1960 Kress sit-in, placards from the 1969 hospital strike, artifacts associated with key protests and visits from civil rights leaders all would be welcome additions to the collection, she said. Theres a lot to be done. The staff wants to assemble a critical mass of objects first, then it can start planning the displays and raising money, McCormick said. In the meantime, theres plenty of references to Black life in the museum already, including slave shackles and badges, sweetgrass baskets, basket fragments from the late 18th century, a gorgeous red felt hat worn by Frances Mungin-Simmons to services at St. Lukes AME Church, various objects related to rice cultivation, even the piano George Gershwin used to compose the folk opera Porgy and Bess. Museum director Carl Borick said the effort to represent the African American experience really began in the 1920s, when then-Director Laura Bragg convinced the board of directors to allow Black schoolchildren to visit the galleries and, eventually, Black adults, too. It was Bragg who understood the value of Edgefield pottery. Archaeological projects have uncovered important parts of this history. And museum leaders have continuously introduced objects that add to the narrative of Black life in the Lowcountry. Even the remarkable collections of fine silver, porcelain and costumes items enjoyed by the White elite have something to say about Black people. Museumgoers in May will have the rare chance to view a 270-year-old pink silk gown a crown jewel of The Charleston Museums expansive textile collection and a relic intimately connected to the citys past and present. The robe a la francaise dress was worn around 1753 in England by Eliza Lucas Pinckney, a member of Charlestons wealthy planter class. It was chosen as part of the 250th anniversary exhibition both because of its impressive condition and long-standing history linking its original owner to Charleston and the museums early days, said Virginia Theerman, curator of historic textiles. Pinckney was born in 1722 to Ann and George Lucas. She was tasked as a teen with managing three of her familys plantations scattered around the Lowcountry, including Wappoo Plantation in what is now West Ashley. Pinckney is largely credited with turning indigo into a cash crop for South Carolina in the 1740s. Under the guidance and expertise of the men and women she enslaved, Pinckney experimented with the tropical plant until she found success: enough indigo to begin mass-producing the blue dye, which was highly sought after in Englands growing textile market. Records suggest Pinckney had the floral gown made during her familys stint in England, ahead of her presentation to the Dowager Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, mother of the future King George III. The dress remained in Pinckneys family until it was donated to the museum in 1940. It was exhibited a few times, particularly before 1979, and underwent extensive conservation in 2016, Theerman said. The gown collected dust, dirt and body oils, which decayed the fibers in the delicate silk fabric. An independent conservator repaired some of the splits and damages, with the goal of keeping her retouches to the garment invisible. She also gave the museum recommendations for future preservation. The museum has always kept a collection of objects, including dress and fashion, she said. Records show the museum acquired one pair of boots in the early 1800s. By the late 20th century, the museum amassed enough items to create a historic textiles collection, separate from the history collection, Theerman said. Today it spans more than 10,000 pieces. Theerman began curating her part of the anniversary exhibition over two years ago, in summer 2020. She knew early on Pinckneys damask-like silk dress would be a focal point. The garments roots are buried deep within Charlestons past and the museums 1773 beginnings. Pinckneys eldest son, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, helped establish the institution's first collection. "To be able to show that gown and say, 'This was around even before this museum came to be,' is a really wonderful way to connect back to that history," Theerman said. And it reveals another important truth, one inseparable from the city's own history: The Pinckneys had these "wonderful" items they could give to the museum because of their wealth, which was built on the backs of those they enslaved, Theerman said. This inward-gazing, reflective spirit is the premise of the 250th celebration, with a nod to the future. Viewing historical garments is a visceral experience, different from looking at art or an object, Theerman said. Textiles can bridge the gap between todays museum visitors and the past. We can all imagine what it might feel like to don a silk-laden gown. Pinckney wore the dress a long time ago an estimated 269 years, to be exact. Was she nervous to step in front of the English court? Or did she select the colors a vivid pink and cream because they made her feel confident? Pinckney, who stood around 5-foot-4, wouldve had the same self-conscious ideas about her body as we do today, Theerman said, the same kind of thoughts that run through our heads when we get dressed each morning. "That can be really grounding," she said. The gown, along with a few of Pinckneys personal items, will be on display May 13 through July 9. It will join some of the most interesting and storied pieces from the textile collection as part of the museum's broader anniversary exhibition. Gov. Kathy Hochul gives her second State of the State address on Tuesday, and the first ever given by a woman elected to the office. Its an auspicious moment, but that and $2 will get her a cup of coffee. Many issues require her attention. Here are some of them: Trust in government: When Hochul assumed office in August of 2021, she cited a goal of restoring New Yorkers faith in Albany. A recent Siena College poll makes clear that she still has work to do. It is hardly surprising that Hochul didnt turn that ship around in just 17 months, given the punishment that voters have absorbed in recent years. Consider: Three top state officials former Comptroller Alan Hevesi, former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos have gone to prison for crimes involving the abuse of their offices. Two governors Elliott Spitzer and Andrew Cuomo resigned under pressure regarding their conduct. Another Senate leader, Joseph Bruno, had his criminal conviction overturned on appeal, but his actions were nefarious, even if the courts concluded they werent criminal. That doesnt count the array of rank-and-file legislators who have been convicted of crimes or chased out of office for misconduct. Changing voters view of state government will take more than a few months. It will also take focus and transparency. It will be interesting to see how Hochul addresses this issue on Tuesday. She clearly needs to. Crime: At her inauguration last week, Hochul said crime would be on her list this year. She specifically cited gun violence and a rise in hate crimes, the worst of which occurred May 14 in Buffalo. It would be an important topic anyway. Hochuls election victory was comparatively narrow and came after Republican candidate Lee Zeldin pounded her over rising crime. Still, some context: As Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn recently observed to The News Editorial Board, crime is up around the country, in both red and blue states. And, despite rising crime rates, New York remains a safer state than most. Affordable housing: That isnt an issue solely for the poor, but increasingly for the middle class. The problem is especially acute in New York City, on Long Island and in Westchester County, but costs have risen in Western New York, for both buyers and renters. Here, the problem may be easier to attack, given areas such as East Buffalo, where vacant land is available. There may also be a ready way to help put people in new homes, based on the work of the Buffalo Erie Niagara Land Improvement Corp., which buys and rehabilitates foreclosed and abandoned homes and sells them to individual owners. But, as it stands, too many New Yorkers are having trouble finding an affordable home. Climate change: New York recently finalized the scoping plan regarding its efforts to temper and adapt to a changing climate. There should be little doubt at this point about the need for such a program, given the evidence of increasingly powerful hurricanes, droughts, destructive wildfires and, yes, a historic blizzard. Albany is pushing big changes in a compressed period, and as essential as they are, it will be necessary to better inform New Yorkers about those plans and to commit to some reasonable level of flexibility regarding when and how the state meets its goals. This is something new. It is unwise to assume we know today exactly how to wean the state from fossil fuels while ensuring access to the energy needed to heat homes, prepare meals and protect the economy. Open government: Think of this one as an adjunct to the issue of increasing trust in government. New Yorks laws on open government and freedom of information are insufficient. Too often, they are ignored, in part because the penalties for doing so are virtually nonexistent. Case in point: Although New York abolished the section of law that hid police disciplinary records from the public, many police agencies in Western New York resisted providing them to reporters who submitted requests under the Freedom of Information Law. Transparency encourages trust in government. Lack of it raised suspicions, and especially in a state with New Yorks record of official deceit. Many other areas would benefit from Hochuls attention Tuesday and later in the month, when she releases her proposed 2023-24 state budget. Among them are taxes and the related issue of population loss. Buffalos unfortunate record as an incubator of illegal debt-collection scams shows the need for a state law requiring licensing of such businesses. I didnt come here to make history, New Yorks first female governor said at her inauguration last week. I came here to make a difference. Attending to issues such as these will help her accomplish that laudable goal. Hochuls speech is scheduled for 1 p.m. in the State Assembly chamber. It will be livestreamed on the governors website. Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing. SUMMERVILLE Its almost 1:30 p.m., and to the white-handed gibbons, that means lunch time is nearing. In excitement, a pair of mated gibbons start making noise. The female gibbon produces a series of loud notes, starting in a low tone and gradually going higher. The male then chimes in with a higher pitch, as if he were chirping. Theyre singing. The creatures sing in a duet, and the only place in the Lowcountry you would be able to hear this is at the International Primate Protection Leagues gibbon sanctuary, established in 1977 by the late Shirley McGreal just four years after she founded the IPPL. When Pam Mendosa, chairwoman and acting CEO of the IPPL, is in Summerville, she stays in a house on IPPL property. She lives in Virginia but visits every other month, if not every month, for at least 10 days at a time. She relishes the times she is able to hear the gibbons sing. When I have people give me estimates or anything, I say, You want to come out and meet me, and not do this over the phone? I really urge people to come out, Mendosa said. Sure enough, whether we go with the company or not, theyre so enthralled with hearing (the gibbons) singing. The sanctuary is a private preserve that houses 29 gibbons, as well as five short-clawed Asian otters. In the past, the sanctuary has also taken in rescue dogs. The IPPL and gibbon sanctuary are working to continue honoring McGreals legacy after her passing in November 2021, just as the IPPL reaches its 50th anniversary. Combatting smuggling rings, exploitation McGreal was living in Thailand when she established the league in 1973. She was concerned about how primates were being captured from the wild, transported and exploited in captivity. She founded the IPPL in order to try and protect primates around the world. Since its founding, the IPPL has kept busy, from exposing animal smuggling rings to organizing worldwide protests to raise awareness of the mistreatment of primates in labs. The groups work over the years has influenced countries such as Belgium and Malaysia to establish laws banning wildlife trafficking and monkey exports. The league has been recognized by public figures like Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, and McGreal herself earned awards and achievements from the United Nations and Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of her work. Now, the IPPL has partnerships with 26 animal welfare groups and sanctuaries around the world. A wildlife sanctuary in Nepal opened in 2016 and was named in honor of McGreal. The sanctuary she established in Summerville has taken in gibbons from labs, captivity, zoos and households as some people have had gibbons as pets. The sanctuary is not open to visitors. It comprises several enclosures, all connected via a tube system. Each enclosure includes a ropes course and some monkey bars for the gibbons to swing around, and they all connect to their respective gibbon house where they sleep. Mated gibbons are in the same enclosure. After her death, McGreal left behind a tremendous legacy that the IPPL and employees at the gibbon sanctuary are working to uphold. Continuing McGreal's legacy Employees say in terms of the sanctuary itself, not a lot has changed since McGreals passing. Theyre working on upgrading the gibbons houses and the animal care kitchen to maintain the gibbons healthy lifestyle and ensure their safety. The buildings are almost 50 years old, said Meg McCue-Jones, safety and compliance manager. She added that the sanctuary mainly relies on donations to keep running. They apply for grants, but don't consistently receive grant money. McCue-Jones said the sanctuary used to receive calls from donors specifically so they could talk to McGreal. Since her passing, the donors still call, but will talk to office staff and board members. Trish McCoy, animal care manager, started working at the sanctuary in April 2020. She said McGreal was always a good resource whenever she had any questions and wished she knew McGreal longer. As Ive worked here longer, I get more and more questions. ... I miss having her around to answer some of the questions, and talking to her about some of the people that helped her get started and how she ended up doing this, McCoy said. I miss being able to go in and ask her for advice. Mendosa said she hopes for the IPPLs spring appeal and newsletter to focus on gibbons and the sanctuary. Sometimes we focus on the chimps that are in Africa through two or three of our sanctuaries, because international is what really put us on the map, Mendosa said. But the sanctuary was so dear to Shirleys heart. Mendosa said the league is still working to protect primates and honor McGreals legacy. I think its important that people know that while Shirley was such an integral part in so many ways some people think IPPL is Shirley McGreal were continuing, and were still strong, Mendosa said. Were still doing good work. Working with the gibbons McCoy has been working with animals for most of her life, but these past two years working at the sanctuary marked the first time for her working with gibbons. She describes working with them as obviously awesome, and said she enjoys how each gibbon has a different personality. Between the 29 gibbons, no two are the same, McCoy said. Some like to hang out on the floor of the enclosures, while others love to swing around on the ropes and bars never touching the ground. Some gibbons like to play catch with the caretakers and their food. Others dont. Michael is very gentle, very easygoing. Maui ... you put a toy in there, you better make sure that toy cannot be pulled apart, because he will figure out a way to do it, McCoy said. Paen loves having stuffed animals shes always dragging one around. Thai could care less. He wants to know whats in his food bucket. She added that some gibbons get along with each other, while others dont; while all the enclosures are connected via a tube system, there are gates that prevent gibbons from encroaching on each others territory. She gave an example: Nick and Elsa, two mated gibbons, are right next to Ziggy and Erin, another pair of mated gibbons. Nick and Ziggy get along, and they each get along with Elsa and Erin, but Elsa and Erin dont. The girls throw food at each other; they like to actually take the food all the way from their enclosure to inside (their gibbon house) so they can get a closer range when they throw food, McCoy said. Theyre not hurting anybody; theyre not hurting each other there. To a certain point, thats a little bit of what would happen in the wild. McCoy said the most rewarding part for her working in animal care is when the gibbons started recognizing her as one of their caregivers. As an animal keeper, youre here to take care of them. You want their lives to be better. When they start recognizing you and stop trying to scratch you, you know that youre finally accepted, McCoy said. For more information or to donate to the gibbon sanctuary, go to the International Primate Protection Leagues website at ippl.org. The main reason for the special two-part exhibit Americas First Museum: 250 Years of Collecting, Preserving and Educating is to celebrate The Charleston Museums anniversary and show off objects from all five of its collections: archaeology, archives, history, natural history and textiles. The other reason is to bring to light some objects that have been hidden from view. Only 6,000 pieces are exhibited at any given moment, said Executive Director Carl Borick. That leaves about 2,394,000 objects left in storage, making the museums collection noteworthy for its size, variety and historical importance. To be clear, many of those items are fragments of pottery or glassware or dinnerware recovered at archaeological digs. But that makes the museums collection even more remarkable: It is partly the result of nearly a centurys worth of investment in urban archaeology. Its also the result of 2 centuries of donations. Very little is purchased at auction or elsewhere, Borick said. Perhaps around 30 objects are added to the collection each year, he said. Dozens of items are deaccessioned, things outside the museums stated mission to tell the story of the Lowcountry. For example, there are six old sewing machines with no Lowcountry provenance and little exhibition value. Theyre pretty cool in their way, but theyre just taking up shelf space. So off they go. Possibly theyll be sold at auction, generating a modest bump in annual income. The sword used by Charleston Loyalist Hamilton Ballendine during the British siege on the city in the spring of 1780? Well, that will be added soon to the Revolutionary War displays, according to Jennifer McCormick, the museums chief of collections and archivist. Many objects, such as fragile textiles, dolls, eggs and animal parts, are too delicate to showcase except rarely. Some of the old dresses and shirts cannot be displayed on a mannequin; they must be laid flat. Ultraviolet light will further deteriorate the fibers. In some cases, objects are simply too numerous to display but a sample or two. For example, the museum has a fine assemblage of walking sticks, some folksy, some highfalutin. One has a tiny sword hidden inside. Another has a hand carved snake coiling around the stick. One has a handle made of horn, another of silver. They dont find their way into the galleries very often, McCormick said. A bunch of musical instruments enjoy the shade of storage, including an early banjo with an animal skin stretched over the drum. The banjo is African in origin, and this specimen likely comes from there. Weapons. Thats another collection brimming over the edge. Handguns, rifles, swords so many its impossible to show them all. And furniture, including some stunning pieces from the 18th century, made in Charleston, like the desk by Thomas Elf. Not much space for all that either. But that doesnt stop students writing dissertations, interns helping with inventory, scholars studying ancient Native American communities, paleontologists interested in 18-foot giant sloths, and historians of the antebellum and postbellum South from poring over these objects and adding to our collective knowledge of bygone epochs. While visitors admire the displays out front, others are busy behind the scenes scrutinizing the collected doohickeys and thingamabobs that, taken together, give us a vivid picture of the past. Like the list of names of Black men who served in the citys 19th century fire brigades. Like The Charleston Mercurys front page from 1861 proclaiming that the Union is dissolved! Like the Carolina parakeets and pileated woodpeckers, mummified and kept safe in a drawer of the storeroom. Like the gull eggs, painted porcelain, Edgefield pottery, 18th century undergarments and big rabbit costume, all of which tell us something of life in the Lowcountry of yore which, in turn, tells us something about life in the Lowcountry today. Thats what history is for: to answer that age-old question, How did we get here? The cow horns, musket balls, prehistoric shark teeth, curtain rings, old furniture, Colonial currency and pocket watches hold the answer. Now The Charleston Museum is planning for 2024, when it will introduce a new permanent collection of post-Civil War objects. The goal is to add a new narrative to the displays, telling the story of Reconstruction, Jim Crow and the civil rights movement. A 12-foot-long church pew made by enslaved people and used in an Edisto Island sanctuary in the decades after the war will be among the items included in the new gallery. A red shirt worn by white supremacist and militiaman Josiah McKie also will be included. McKie participated in the 1876 Hamburg Massacre, a violent attack on the majority-Black town in Edgefield County orchestrated by Whites (including future South Carolina Gov. Ben Tillman) who were opposed to the Reconstruction government. McCormick said she is actively soliciting donated items associated with the period starting in 1865 and ending in 1970. Were going to tell the full story no matter what, she said. The objects are what make things come alive for people. When you see an object that was part of something, thats what is incredible. The collection, which has about 2.4 million items today, is getting bigger. Theres always more history to tell. The great fire of Jan. 17, 1778, was devastating. It spread quickly from street to street turning to cinder 250 houses and many outbuildings in Charleston's densely populated city center. The Library Society, founded 30 years earlier and boasting a collection of more than 6,000 volumes, plus objects of astronomy and natural history, had been located in a leased warehouse in Kinloch Court, what is today called Philadelphia Alley. It went up in flames. The Charles Town Library Societys valuable collection of books, instruments and apparatus for astronomical and philosophical observations and experiments, etc., etc., is almost entirely lost, The Jan. 29 South Carolina and American General Gazette noted. The Library Society and its nascent museum of natural history the first of its kind in North America and likely modeled after the British Museum in London would need to start over. Flash forward to the end of the Civil War in 1865, and once again fire ravages valuable property belonging to the museum. By then, it had developed into a formidable standalone organization whose collection was kept inside the College of Charlestons Randolph Hall. Its director, Professor Francis Holmes, relocated the objects, specimens and artifacts to a family estate in Edgefield County for safekeeping. But the collection was not safe, not even in the countryside, so far from Charleston. Allegedly, a group of newly freed Black men set fire to a barn containing the museums records, according to William G. Mazyck, author of the 1907 City of Charleston Year Book. The burning of the records was, of course, most deplorable, and for many years I have endeavored to repair the loss by searching every available source of information, and have succeeded in gathering the facts detailed below. The facts below describe how Mazyck, the Library Societys librarian in 1865 and for some years after, was looking over a mass of rubbish in a closet after the wars smoke had cleared when he discovered a tattered booklet that dated to 1798. In it was listed about 75 objects. This was doubtless one of the oldest, if not indeed the most ancient, accession list in existence, so far, at least, as our American museums are concerned. The tiny book will go on loan to The Charleston Museum for a special exhibit marking the institutions 250th anniversary. Its ledgers feature the handwritten script of cataloguers keeping track of the museums early inventory. Included in the listings are: The tusk of boar killed near Ashley Ferry A fungus formed between two wet pine boards at Mr. Bowmans mill A two-headed chicken A six-legged chicken Two ostrich eggs The head of the Banana Beak Bird The foot of an African deer The jaws of a porpoise Specimens from volcanic eruptions at Etna and Vesuvius An apron worn by a native of Surinam An Indian pipe and tobacco A machine from coastal Africa to guard legs against snakes A quiver with poisonous arrows from Sierra Leone The goal of the Library Societys 18th-century collectors was to accumulate objects from around the world, to create a cabinet of curiosities that might enable Charlestons residents to contemplate faraway exotic places and foreign cultures, noted current Head Librarian Laura Mina. Its also worth noting that the inventory recorded in the accession book consisted of items collected after the fire. Not much is known about the objects that went up in smoke. Over the centuries, The Charleston Museum has relocated several times, established itself as an independent organization, shifted its focus from global to local, and expanded its collection exponentially. Today, it has more than 2.4 million pieces in its inventory. The little accession book, 6.5 by 3.5 inches, lists perhaps six items per page. Should it be expanded to include all the objects in the museums collection today, a total of 400,000 pages would be required. It would be a very big book indeed. Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. Some folks in Washington could learn a few things about electing leadership from Charleston County Council. But then, most of them could still learn a lot from Sesame Street. Control of Charleston County government passed from Democrats to Republicans this past week, and it was notably congenial. New members Larry Kobrovsky and Joe Boykin were sworn in while council members Herb Sass, Jenny Honeycutt and Teddie Pryor took the oath for new terms. And with that, Republicans gained the 5-4 edge that Democrats had held on County Council the past few years. But when it came time to elect officers, there was no dissent. By acclimation, Sass was named chairman and Honeycutt was appointed vice chair. So, County Council begins another year with a symbolic and fairly sincere show of unanimity and bipartisanship. It often does. Well see how long it lasts because council has some tough decisions this year, and a few of those wont be anywhere near the same solar system as unanimous. The incoming Republican leadership has a game plan: The county must shore up basic services and ensure it pays employees enough to keep them. Like every government, the county is hemorrhaging personnel. See: 911 operators, deputies, jail personnel, engineers, etc. Problem is, Chairman Sass notes, a shaky national economy and a county not rolling in excess cash. Which means council must be cautious, make smart financial decisions and not overextend itself. We need to be focused on the core functions that the county provides and do that without having to raise taxes, Sass says. Honeycutt says the county needs to do some soul-searching about what its primary duties are. To her, and state code, that is pretty much limited to public safety and public works safe roads, smart growth and sound leadership. We cant get outside our lane, Honeycutt says. And there's the rub. Because various council members sometimes have wildly different ideas about what their lane actually is. Now, council members will mostly stick together on raises and agencies they fund but don't control, like the Sheriffs Office. But on roads, theyll take their own lanes. So, if the Army Corps of Engineers rules on the county's plan for Highway 41 this year, that debate could get contentious. The same goes for plans to finish Interstate 526, which council will discuss later this month. Sass says the council needs to take the next step on 526 and be transparent about it. Whatever council members decide could strain relations, although like many things, 526 isnt a partisan issue on council. Its way more complicated. The most potentially contentious issue council faces is the fate of its property at 995 Morrison Drive. Because thats all about affordable housing, big bucks and a philosophical debate on core county services. The Morrison tract, near the Ravenel Bridge, may be the second-most desirable tract in downtown Charleston, and the countys already had an unsolicited offer of $30 million for it. Some council members desperately want to sell. As Sass says, that land is too valuable to not get paid for it. Thing is, several council members want to use much of that land to build affordable housing. The agreement council approved in December includes a provision that any proposals should include affordable housing on at least a quarter of the 6 acres. Sass says any deal would likely include an affordable housing component. But others say if the county gets an offer that includes a big check but no promises, that could change. Then the honeymoons over. Theyll get some pushback from the people, as well as council members, if they do that, says former Chairman Teddie Pryor. If they have the votes, itll be up to them to explain a 180-degree turn. Pryor is a leading advocate for affordable housing at Morrison Drive. People who work downtown need an affordable place to live, and he says thats the place to provide it. Even that's not exactly a partisan stance. Honeycutt says it'd be worth taking a little less money to get some affordable housing out of the deal. The conventional wisdom holds that a GOP-led council will concern itself less with housing and other things that conservatives consider mission creep. But thats a facile analysis. Honeycutt and Sass talk about taking a regional approach to affordable housing. Which makes sense, since there are three counties and what can seem like about 400 municipalities and public service districts in the metro area. All of which need affordable housing. See, council may be under new management, and that means change but only to a point. Because, like the county itself, council is fairly evenly divided, and its members usually not too terribly far apart. They may use different lanes, but often end up in about the same place. Except when they don't. South Carolina lawmakers made surprising progress last year toward improving the education we offer to all kids, protecting our natural resources and keeping us safe; they even did a better-than-expected job on making wise use of mountains of state and federal funds. But that doesnt mean its time to move on to a whole new list of priorities in the legislative session that begins Tuesday. It means its time to build on those accomplishments, pick up the parts that werent completed and focus on other priorities they largely ignored: cracking down on government corruption and empowering local governments. There are a lot of other issues on legislators minds most notably, after Thursday's S.C. Supreme Court stunner, abortion but nothing is as important to our future as these six challenges. Educate all kids Our state has no more important job than educating the next generation which for too long translated into educating the kids who were fortunate enough to be born into well-off families, or at least well-off school districts. Last year, lawmakers started shifting funding toward poorer kids, who need more time with better teachers to make up for the learning deficits they bring to school with them. Add this to the increased focus on early childhood education programs, and were moving in the right direction. But none of that will mean much if we cant keep enough capable teachers in our classrooms. Right now were struggling to find enough teachers, capable or not. Lawmakers need to expand their early childhood efforts, extend the funding shift and double down on efforts to attract and keep good teachers. The pandemic was a major accelerator for the teacher exodus, but while the immediate health crisis has passed, the nastiness and anger toward teachers that it intensified show no signs of abating. Lawmakers have to help lead us back to a place where we recognize teachers as our allies, not our enemies. And find additional ways to make the teaching profession more attractive starting but not ending with continued pay increases. Its important too that they keep their focus on the public schools that we own instead of finding ways to spread our tax dollars to the private schools we dont own. The only circumstances under which they should even consider paying for private school tuition is when private schools meet the same accountability requirements as public schools. Protect our natural resources The biggest thing South Carolina has going for it beyond our people are our abundant natural resources. But our white sandy beaches, our inviting rivers, forests and mountains, our clean water and air remain threatened in the short term by development pressures and in the longer term by rising seas. The Legislature will receive two important reports this session on how we generate and regulate energy, and lawmakers need to use them to help push our state toward more renewable energy and energy efficiency for our homes and businesses, even as the free market (aided by generous economic incentives) is bringing less polluting energy to our vehicles. Theres work to be done as well on protecting our drinking water, and making polluters clean up their pollution. Although its DHEC's job to regulate so-called forever chemicals perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS the Legislature will need to intervene if it doesnt act soon to limit the release of the most dangerous chemicals into our water. And we still need limits on how much groundwater and surface water mega-farmers can withdraw without regard to the needs of other farmers, businesses, utilities and consumers. Keep us safe It's fortunate that lawmakers finally approved major changes last year to protect the public (and good cops) from bad cops, because a whole new threat to public safety is demanding equal attention: our revolving-door criminal justice system. Legislators are all over the place on how to get out of a situation where the same criminals keep committing new crimes, even when theyre out on bail. Reducing or eliminating bail for people accused of violent crime makes sense. So does creating graduated penalties for violent crimes, especially when they involve guns. We do that for crimes that arent violent; its insane to carve out the most dangerous crimes for a lower level of punishment. But we cant leave people who havent been convicted of a crime to rot in jail. We have to also provide the judiciary, prosecutors and public defenders with the tools and resources to bring those cases to trial quickly. And if we devote extra resources to moving the most dangerous cases, we have to either let more low-level criminals out on bail or else provide enough resources to move those cases quickly as well. As impressive as last years police accountability law was, it doesnt go far enough. Lawmakers still need to make excessive use of force a specific crime, outlaw shooting a fleeing suspect in most cases, require outside investigations of police-involved shootings and stop letting officers get their stories straight before being questioned. They also need to fund the 2015 body camera mandate and update the meager law concerning those cameras for instance, in most cases imposing penalties on officers who turn them off, and requiring that the video be made public except in extraordinary cases. Stop enabling corruption One of our biggest disappointments with the Legislature, year in and year out, is its refusal to crack down on corruption. Even as long-simmering problems remain unaddressed, Post and Courier reporters continue to uncover new instances of public officials profiting from their positions: a clerk of court who gave herself a five-figure raise, a state senator who personally withheld public funds from charities for reasons we still dont understand, a judge who auctioned off foreclosed properties to his relatives, and the list goes on. The Legislature and Supreme Court took modest steps to address a few abuses last year, but there have been no actions on the most obvious reforms. We could fill this page with specific reforms to prevent or punish abuse; indeed, one reason lawmakers are able to escape taking action is that theres not a single law that could fix all the problems. But in general, we need a stronger Freedom of Information Act that leaves less room for government to act in secret. We need clearer and stronger reporting requirements for campaign spending and for sheriffs and others who control public funding. We need tougher punishments and more empowered ethics enforcers to make officials less willing to risk getting caught for serving themselves instead of us. Lawmakers lack of action has little to do with party or political philosophy; our biggest open government/anti-corruption advocates are found on both sides of the aisle, as are our biggest impediments. The inaction mostly stems from those open government/anti-corruption advocates not standing up to the corruption enablers and insisting on reforms. Its time for that to happen. Stick to basics on budgeting The Legislature faces the curse of a huge amount of money it can't spend in the ways we most need it: to hire more and better-paid teachers, and social workers to protect children and the elderly from abuse and neglect and troopers to help keep our roads safe and correctional officers to keep prisoners safe, and in prison. Not to mention whatever additional money is needed to help our judicial system speed up its disposal of criminal cases, to slow that revolving door of violent crime. While lawmakers have $3.5 billion in so-called new revenue to spend this year, only $750 million of that is new recurring revenue. And creating new positions or raising pay or other benefits with one-time money ultimately would result in lawmakers starting next year with a deficit which is particularly problematic when a potential recession looms. The Legislature used to routinely balance the budget using one-time funds, and it took years of discipline to dig our state out of the hole. The temptation to resume that dangerous practice will be high. As with last year, when there was a massive amount of one-time federal money to be spent, lawmakers need to spend one-time money on things we actually need infrastructure for our public schools and colleges, for instance rather than dribbling it around to every individual legislators favorite pork project. And it would be nice, at least in this first year after they approved by far the largest tax cut in state history, if they could refrain from even more new tax cuts. Empower cities, counties The 2022 session ended with the Legislature giving a rare bit of extra spending authority to cities and counties, but only because a S.C. Supreme Court order threatened massive property tax hikes. And the debate over allowing cities and counties to continue collecting fees that have become essential since the Legislature limited the size of those tax hikes suggested that many legislators are itching for a new assault on local governments. Add in continuing efforts to prohibit locals from regulating short-term rentals, and this could turn into another intense year of fighting just to preserve what little authority cities and counties already have. Thats a war local governments need to win, but winning it isnt enough. Legislators need to recognize that many city and county council members are elected by as many people as they are, and should be treated as such. Most obviously, that means removing restrictions on how and how much councils can raise their constituents taxes. It also means giving them more tools to improve livability in their communities, for instance in acting against blighted properties, regulating those short-term rentals and, in the case of municipalities, annexing property that has become a natural part of the municipality. A report of a burglary to a home in Chalan Pago led to a man being charged with criminal trespass and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. However, its what he told officers with the Guam Police Department that has now become part of a multiagency fight against methamphetamine making its way into the Department of Corrections. On Saturday, 40-year-old Walvic Dado was back in the custody of the Department of Corrections, after being released two days prior. In the short amount of time that he was free, he allegedly broke into a home he had been evicted from and, at some point, acquired a bag of methamphetamine. According to a magistrate's complaint filed by the Office of the Attorney General, Dado made a statement to police when they arrested him on suspicion of breaking into the home and possessing methamphetamine. The (police) report states that, in the process of arresting the defendant for breaking into the house, they located a bag of suspected methamphetamine in his pocket. The defendant denied that the baggie was his and that the last time he had smoked ice was while in prison, the magistrate's complaint said. Dado was arrested previously on Dec. 27, 2022, for violations of pretrial release conditions in a 2021 aggravated assault case, which also included charges of criminal mischief and drug possession. Following a brief stint for the violations, he was automatically released on Jan. 5, 2023. The very next day he was arrested on the current charges, court documents state. The Guam Daily Post reached out to DOC Maj. Antone Aguon and Attorney General Douglas Moylan after the magistrate hearing on the new charges. Both were unaware at the time of Dados case or the assertion he made to police. While Aguon said he would follow up Monday regarding Dados prior confinement, Moylan said, we are going to work with (DOC) to investigate Dados claim. Drug interdiction efforts Moylan has been working with DOC Director Robert Camacho to address the issue of contraband, such as methamphetamine, making its way into the correctional facilities, he told the Post. Yes, there is drugs in DOC. Yes, I have spoken to Camacho about this issue about two to three weeks ago. We are in the process of trying to implement procedures and different ways that DOC is going to attack how drugs are getting into that facility, Moylan said. In the past, part of DOCs effort to combat drugs was to conduct random drug searches of inmates' and prisoners' cells as well as DOC officers and visitors. That has led to a number of cases against inmates, DOC officers and others in the community. One of the high-profile cases involved the former head of DOC internal affairs and several other DOC officers. According to Post files, in 2017, the DOC officers were part of a drug smuggling ring masterminded by at least one DOC inmate, Shawn Johnson, who also was charged in the case. Dados claims will now be investigated as part of the renewed fight to stop drugs from entering the prison, officials said. Moylan, who recently assumed the elected AG position, said deterring contraband from entering the correctional facility was not a priority his predecessor pursued strongly. Moylan argued that approach resulted in negative impacts on the rehabilitation of drug offenders who were incarcerated, such as Dado. Impact of leniency Moylan referenced two recent cases involving drugs smuggled into the correctional facility during former AG Leevin Camachos term, which Moylan said he provided as examples of leniency used in the recent past. One of the cases involved Wilmelyn Cabrera, who was spared jail time in October 2022, when she took a deal with the government and pleaded guilty to smuggling methamphetamine, tobacco and marijuana in three small packages within a body cavity to an inmate during visitation, according to Post files. This is what happens when the AGs office doesnt strongly go after the defendants being found bringing contraband, meth, into that facility," said Moylan. "This is what we are fighting in the AG's office and I am working with the law enforcement officials including Chief (Stephen) Ignacio at GPD and Chief Camacho at DOC to address (it). ... I cant discuss the specifics of how we are addressing it, but its clearly on my radar as one of my priorities. Dado confined Dado was held at DOC, per OAG request, for pretrial confinement. At the magistrate hearing, Assistant Attorney General Basil OMallan requested cash bail of $5,000, saying Dado is a danger to the public, is a flight risk and is unlikely to comply with court orders. O'Mallan also stressed the defendant is contributing to the meth problem plaguing the community. The AG also requested that Dado receive treatment through the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners program while in pretrial confinement. As for the new charges, Dado faces possibly serving five years for third-degree felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and one year for misdemeanor criminal trespass. He could face a total of six years jail time if convicted. A man who has a history of allegedly assaulting a woman known to him and not complying with court orders is back behind bars, now facing a possible sentence of 19 years of imprisonment. Jamieson Carriaga, 37, was charged with burglary as a second-degree felony, interfering with the reporting of family violence as a third-degree felony and two counts of family violence and criminal trespass as misdemeanors. The charges stem from two incidents reported by a woman who was previously in a relationship with Carriaga. The first occurred Nov. 9, 2022, when the woman called the police and alleged she had been assaulted by Carriaga earlier that day. She wanted him removed from her residence. Earlier that day, the victim said, she awoke to a sound coming from another room in her residence. When she went to check what had happened, she found her ex-boyfriend climbing through the storage room window, the magistrate complaint filed against Carriaga alleged. The woman told Guam Police Department officers that Carriaga took her cellphone and prevented her from contacting them. "The report indicates that the Defendant asked her why she had called the police six times and she responded that she wanted him out of her residence. The Defendant proceeded to push her onto the couch, pin her down and punched the back of her head. During this time, the Victim kept telling him to stop. He then let her go, the complaint alleged. But that wasnt the end of the alleged attack, according to the complaint. An argument moments later began another. "The Defendant grabbed her. When he let her go, she fell to the ground. They began to struggle and the victim said to the Defendant, 'Leave me alone, stop hitting me, I hate you, you're not supposed to be here.' The victim continued to tell the Defendant to leave and when he became angered, he slapped and punched her head, the complaint alleged. The woman was able to walk to the GPD Central Precinct Command in Sinajana to report the incident. The officers noted bruising and abrasions to the womans face and body. The officers were not able to locate Carriaga at the time. In a second incident, which occurred Jan. 6, police officers met with the same woman at a gas station in Sinajana at 4:45 a.m. She reported being assaulted by the defendant, who allegedly gained unauthorized entry to her home. "At around midnight, the Defendant repeatedly tried to gain entry to the residence, but the victim refused to grant entry to her residence. The Defendant then went through a window. They begin to argue and the Defendant slaps and punches her. The Victim waited for the Defendant to fall asleep before she left her residence and contacted police, the complaint alleged. The womans visible abrasions from the alleged incident were noted by police. Now that the storm of the generation is thankfully behind us, Im reflecting on the stories of bravery, resiliency and community that I experienced and read about or heard on the news. I am heartbroken and filled with sorrow that our WNY community lost more than 40 citizens in a most horrible and tragic way. In our worship service recently, we said prayers of hope for their families and loved ones. Even though I was terrified on December 23 that we would lose power and heat, it was only 48 hours later that I was filled with hope and gratitude that my family and I live in WNY. We first ventured outside on Sunday, the calm after the storm, with blue skies, the sun shining and stillness in the air. Snowshoeing through the neighborhood, we saw neighbors helping neighbors, snowblowing each others driveways, shoveling sidewalks and front porches. Then, a great big collective cheer went up when two gigantic front end loaders came and cleared the street for us. After that, it seemed that, one by one, the stories of miracles, bravery, courage, humanity, ingenuity and kindness came into our awareness, balancing the stories of tragedy and loss. Do you remember the dentist and his wife who rescued the South Korean travelers from their bus and invited them in for Christmas Eve dinner? How about the owner of a large automotive company who sent a generator over to VIVE on Wyoming St. to provide warmth to the asylum seekers who had lost heat and power? We were blown away by the Bangladeshi community that provided hot meals to anyone in need and delivered them while going against the driving ban, incurring ticket costs in the thousands. Who can forget the 27-year-old mechanic who broke into a school in Cheektowaga and probably saved the lives of 14 stranded people? Target employees invited stragglers into the Walden Ave store, feeding and housing them. A Facebook group led a single working mother to safety, and then back to her two children waiting anxiously for her at home. The stories go on and on. Im a Buffalonian, born and bred. I love living here. I love the friendliness of the community, the good neighbors surrounding us, the ease of getting around, the lack of impossible traffic. Its all good. But I especially love the warmth of the community at large and our grit and determination to uphold our motto of the City of Good Neighbors. Im thinking about the May 14 tragedy where 10 of our people were mercilessly gunned down by a white supremacist at Tops on Jefferson Avenue. How fast did our community provide food, diapers, baby needs, fresh fruits and vegetables, money and services to the families and the neighborhood near Tops? It was amazing. Everywhere I turned, there was an appeal to help out the families living near Jefferson. It was neighbors helping neighbors, personified. Keep that motto alive! Just recently, I was a little frustrated about living in Buffalo because it is so far west from many places in NYS that I would like to visit, perhaps for a weekend. But thinking about the last year, in which our community suffered terrible losses, I looked at the big picture and saw what an amazing, awesome city Buffalo is. We pull each other out from the darkness into the light. Buffalo, you always amaze me, and I wouldnt want to live anywhere else. It is 48 days, on Sunday, to Nigerias seventh presidential election since 1999. The ballot on election day February 25 will have the symbols of 18 parties, down from the 79 that stood in the previous poll of 2019. However, largely to separate the men from the boys, the media have dubbed this election a four-horse race. That assessment identified the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu; that of the former ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; and two former state governors, Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), as the contenders for succession to the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari. From what we have observed from the first four months of open campaigns, the assessment appears to be appropriate. Only the Big Four candidates have been organising rallies and appearing at debates, town hall meetings, interviews and other media engagements. It is like the 14 minor candidates have been in a slumber as they have largely been invisible so far in their tracks on the field. Runoff The emergence of Messrs Obi and Kwankwaso as candidates was considered to be of such great significance that a joint delegation of the American National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute, on election observation to Nigeria in July, predicted that they would take the election into a runoff. A runoff will be conducted for the two leading candidates if the one with the most votes does not also get at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in each of 24 of Nigerias 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. That though is uncharted territory for Nigeria. None of the nine presidential elections in the country since 1979, when Nigeria swapped the Westminster parliamentary system it inherited from its British colonisers for the American presidential system, failed to produce a winner from the first ballot. The permutation was that Messrs Obi and Kwankwaso may draw enough votes to send Mr Tinubu or Atiku into a run-off on March 4. Opinion polls However, a series of opinion polls has since projected Mr Obi as in fact the leading candidate, although none has gone so far as to project him to win on the first ballot. But after four months of watching the candidates on the hustings, does this still look like a four-horse race? We can glean the answers from how the four candidates stand seven weeks before the poll. Tinubu The former Lagos governor secured the nomination with a landslide victory at the APC primary held in Abuja on 8 June. But his appointment of a former governor of Borno, Kashim Shettima, a fellow Muslim, quickly soured the euphoria and threw his bid under an early storm that saw some of his Northern Christian associates deserting him in rage. His campaign has since been dogged by other controversies principal among which were questions over his birth and early school records, state of health, alleged indictment for drug trafficking and his refusal to present himself for public debates with his major opponents and interviews with journalists. His refusal to honour invitations to town hall meetings organised by Arise Television, amid regular appearance of scathing articles against his person and candidature in Thisday Newspaper, a sister company of Arise Television, brought the APC presidential campaign council into a messy confrontation with Nduka Obaigbena, the owner of the two media organisations. While he has remained obdurate in shunning debates and direct engagements with journalists, the APC candidate granted an interview to BBC and delivered a speech at Chatham House in London. He has also held his own town hall meetings with professional, business and demographic groups. Mr Tinubu has been perhaps the busiest of all the candidates in the campaign circuit. His rallies across the country have attracted large crowds that underscore the strength of his party in many parts of the country. While his party has relatively managed its post-presidential primary issues well, Mr Tinubu has been seeking to profit from the crisis in that of rival PDP, where a dissident group of five governors have been distracting Atiku from his own campaign plans. Mr Tinubu has met directly or through proxies several times with the G5 PDP governors, although he and the governors denied recent reports that they had agreed to work together in the presidential election. As the candidate of the ruling party, however, Mr Tinubu is expected to suffer or profit from the voters perception and reactions to the performance of the APC federal government in the last seven years. While he has played no direct role in that government, many have said he bears vicarious responsibility as a co-founder and leader of the APC and for his role in the nomination and eventual election of President Buhari. Due to his status in the party and his need for Mr Buharis enthusiastic support, he cannot distance himself from the presidents perceived failure and successes, although he has been trying to subtly separate his own candidature and manifestoes from Mr Buhari and the record of his government. Mr Tinubu appears to have weathered the storm over his same-faith ticket and also appears to enjoy strong support in the North. The support of the region was pivotal to President Buharis electoral victory in 2015 and 2019 and how much of that Mr Tinubu and his party can retain will be crucial in determining their fate in this years elections. Atiku The former vice president was the PDP flag bearer in 2019 and retained the ticket at the partys primary on 28 May. In fact, this is his sixth presidential race in 30 years. But a dispute with his closest rival in the primary, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, has overshadowed news from his well-attended campaign stops. Mr Wike was not happy with the conduct of the primary but became implacable after Atiku overlooked his recommendation by a committee of the party to pick Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate. Mr Wike then demanded that Iyorchia Ayu, whom he had accused of manipulating the primary for Atiku, step down as national chairman. He said the two highest party positions should not be held by members from the same region of the country. Mr Wike has since managed to rally four other governors and their antics have been receiving as much space in the media as has the Atiku campaign efforts. The G5 governors have so far baulked at naming the alternative candidates that they will support in the presidential election. But they seemed to have crossed the Rubicon as far as their partys standard bearer is concerned. However, it remains to be seen how far the dissident governors can go to hurt Atiku as their own fates are also tied to the PDP fortune. One of the governors is seeking reelection on the PDP ticket while three others who are serving out their second terms are seeking Senate seats, also under the party. Even Mr Wike, who is not on the ballot in this election cycle, sponsored the candidates of the party for the governorship and legislative seats in Rivers and is obliged to work for their elections. The governors on Thursday had a foretaste of the difficult task of working both sides of the aisle that they have set for themselves. At the flag-off of the reelection campaign of one of them in Ibadan, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, party members chanted Atikus name to mock a suggestion by the G5 that they would be told to work for a different candidate. But the G5 is by no means Atikus only problem going to February 25. Since the election of 2019, lost by the party to the APC, the main opposition party has lost two other governors to the ruling party. Governors David Umahi of Ebonyi and Ben Ayade of Cross River deserted the party early and are both seeking senate seats under the APC. They had taken the entire machinery of the PDP in their states to the APC. If you add those two to the G5, it means the PDP has lost seven governors going to the elections. A similar occurrence was a significant factor in the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. Ironically, Atiku was an arrowhead in that rebellion. Another phenomenon that must be giving Atiku food for thought is named Peter Obi, his running mate in 2019 who still publicly reveres him as My Leader. Mr Obis support base is hewn from PDP traditional strongholds in the South-east, South-south and Northern Christian communities. Mr Okowa and some other perceptive party leaders have warned that Mr Obi could inadvertently be working to smoothen Mr Tinubus path to the presidency. On the bright side, Atiku expects more share of the votes in the North than his party got in the two previous polls that it lost. This is because Mr Buhari, who since his first entrance to the race in 2003 has garnered the bulk of northern votes, is not a candidate in this election. Daniel Bwala, a spokesperson of the PDP candidate, boasted that Atiku has inherited Mr Buharis traditional 12 million votes. The coast though is not as clear for him. Mr Kwankwaso wants to make a statement in Kano and a few surrounding states in the North West, while the APC has 14 of the 19 governors in the region. Obi The former Anambra governor started this election cycle as a presidential aspirant in the PDP but left the party a few days to the primary and immediately emerged as the Labour Party candidate. His candidature was an instant hit on social media, especially Twitter where a large segment of the Nigerian youth speaks in loud voices. They have embraced Mr Obi and have been largely responsible for the traction he gained on and offline. The vast reaches of the internet have enabled his campaign to travel far and wide, including in the diaspora where some Nigerian communities have been mobilising support for him in cash and kind. The result is that he has won virtually every online poll conducted on the election and attracted the attention of even the foreign media. Mr Obi has also been accorded rock star reception in churches and Christian gatherings, where he has sometimes been allowed to speak from the pulpit. That has earned him the image of a Christian candidate, although that appears to be a sword capable of cutting both ways. Adding to his diadems have been endorsements by prominent Nigerian figures, one of the loudest being by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The former president announced the endorsement in a lengthy homily to Nigerians on New Years day in which he disparaged the ambitions of Mr Obis rivals. However, Mr Obi has not managed to match his online popularity with physical acceptance on the ground. Attendance at his rallies has recently been particularly disappointing. After a few days of so-called million-man marches in a few cities when the campaigns opened in September, the excitement appeared to have quickly petered out and Mr Obi has been making better headlines from visiting IDP camps. Mr Obis Labour Party had no elected public office holder at the time he joined the party in June. It still has no candidates in many constituencies and a recent report also stated that it has not filed party agents for many polling units for the election across the country. That is a reflection of the partys poor structural base. Parties rely on their structures to mobilise supporters to rallies and to the polls on election day. But Mr Obi has said he relies on hungry and angry Nigerians as his party structure. Those Nigerians have not yet been turning up to hear him speak at rallies but maybe they will at the poll. Kwankwaso The former Kano governor was in the PDP until he took over the NNPP in May. Mr Kwankwaso ran for the APC ticket in 2014, shortly after defecting with other PDP governors to the then-new party. By 2018, he had returned to the PDP and again ran unsuccessfully for the ticket of the party. He got the ticket of the NNPP on the first try and his supporters expect him to sweep the poll, at least in the North. That may not happen. Even in Kano, some of those who joined the NNPP with or because of him have retraced their steps to their old parties. One of them is former governor Ibrahim Shekarau who left the APC for an unlikely romance with Mr Kwankwaso. The two men were bitter rivals in Kano politics, with Mr Shekarau defeating the then-sitting governor in 2003 and leaving the APC and then the PDP after the two parties welcomed Mr Kwankwaso into their folds in 2014 and 2018 respectively. But even if Mr Kwankwaso wins big in the North, his lack of a bridge to the South will certainly deny him the presidency, as it did to Mr Buhari three times between 2003 and 2011. He and Mr Obi had tried to use each other as a bridge but could not agree on who should cross it first. The stories of Nigerian founding fathers like Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Aminu Kano amply demonstrate that leaders with a cult following at home dont get much support elsewhere to take them to the presidency. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Armed persons have attacked a train station in Edo State, southern Nigeria, and kidnapped many passengers. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Chidi Nwabuzor, said the gunmen were armed with AK-47 rifles. He said the exact number of people kidnapped could not be ascertained. Mr Nwabuzor described the gunmen as herdsmen, loose bands of armed persons who used to rear cattle but have become full-fledged criminals, killing and kidnapping people at will across the country. This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that today, 7th of January, 2023 at about 1600hrs, unspecified number of herdsmen armed with AK 47 riffles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State and kidnapped unspecified number of passengers who were waiting to board the train to Warri. The kidnappers who shot sporadically into the air before kidnapping some passengers left some persons with bullet wounds. The Area Commander Irrua, DPO Igueben Division, and men have visited the scene of crime with members of the Edo State Security Network, local vigilantes, and hunters with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers. Bush combing operations have commenced in order to rescue the victims and arrest the fleeing kidnappers. Further developments will be communicated, the spokesperson wrote in a statement. The incident in Edo State occurs several months after gunmen attacked a moving train in Kaduna State, north-west Nigeria. PREMIUM TIMES reported how many people were killed in the attack and dozens of others were kidnapped. Many of the kidnapped victims were later released after paying ransom to the kidnappers while others were released after negotiations between the government and the kidnappers. The Edo incident is the first such attack on a train facility in southern Nigeria. However, the state has witnessed other major criminal acts in the past including an attack on a prison during which dozens of inmates escaped. The latest attack also occurs less than two months before the general elections in the country. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A former deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River, Hellen Boco, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mrs Boco, who deputised Usani Usani, a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs in the 2019 general elections, disclosed this at an interactive session with journalists in Calabar on Saturday. She hinged the reason for her defection to non-inclusiveness in the party affairs, even as a legacy member of the party in the state. Mrs Boco noted that with her defection, she, alongside her supporters, had liberated themselves from the cabal that had conducted affairs of the party as their private business. She said, I was a foundational and legacy member of the APC right from 2014. We joined others to build APC across the 18 local government areas of the state steadfastly and with dedication with our small resources. There is no joy in the APC, people at the grassroots are not smiling, the legacy members are not happy, those of us that built the APC are nowhere. We are not appreciated, recognised, they want to retire us. We have been deceived, mortgaged, there is so much deceit and there is no truth in anything that has to do with the APC. This is not the principles at which we built the APC, so many foundational members are not appreciated, the voice of the voiceless at the grassroots has been ignored. So, I am here to let the world and Nigeria know that I am not a member of APC anymore, I have resigned and I am now a member of PDP in Ward 9 and I am happy to be a member of a new political party. Mrs Boco said that her defection would enable her and her supporters to canvass support for the PDP presidential and governorship candidates in Cross River. She said that the state government has ignored people at the grassroots, and described appointments by the administration as rubbish,. Mrs Boco alleged that the state governor and his party had not done well and that power must change hands, saying, we dont have to pretend about it. How many of us are happy with the present situation we are faced with, how much do you buy fuel today, power must change hands, she said. She commended the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for appreciating the work she has been doing at the grassroots and appointing her to his Independent Campaign Council. So at this point in time I have been recognised by His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar to join his campaign team. He constituted an independent campaign council and I have accepted his appointment, I am ready, the grassroots are ready to work massively in his support for the 2023 elections. I think, for once, a grassrooter has been heard, this appointment is not just for them but for those that have been denied, ignored, oppressed after all their sacrifices. That appreciation alone from another party for the sacrifices that have been made in the grassroots is worth smiling. If somebody out there can recognise that the grassroots need to be heard, thats enough joy and happiness, she said. Meanwhile, the State chapter of the APC in its reaction to the development wished Mrs Boco well in her new party. The party, however, denied that she was forced out of the party due to Ill-treatment. Erasmus Ekpang, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC while reacting to Mrs Bocos defection, alleged that she had been fighting the party since she lost out in the contest to be the national woman leader of the party. There was no ill-treatment melted on her but rather, she has been the one fighting the party since she lost out to Ebetta Edu as the national woman leader of the APC, Mr Ekpang said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police in Plateau have foiled an attempt by gunmen to kidnap Yakubu Sanda, the Speaker of the Plateau House of Assembly, an official has said. The Police Public Relations Officer in Plateau, Alfred Alabo, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Jos. According to Mr Alabo, the incident occurred on Friday night at the Speakers residence at the Federal low-cost area, Jos South Local Government Area of the state. He said it took the bravery of the security men on guard at the speakers residence and the timely intervention of other police officers from the Rantya Division to foil the attempt. On Friday, at about 11:20 p.m. while the Speaker arrived at his residence at Federal Low-cost in Jos-south, three unidentified gunmen operating in an ash-coloured CRV Jeep, trailed him to his residence and attempted to enter his house to kidnap him. But their mission was made impossible by the intrepid police officers on guard duty, and the timely response of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Rantya Division, SP Ayuba Iliya and his men, who joined forces with the men on guard duty and repelled the evil act. However, the command is making concerted effort to track down the fleeing suspects and get them arrested, he said. Mr Alabo said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Bartholomew Onyeka, who vowed to stem the tide of criminal activities in the state, thanked members of the public for volunteering timely information on security breaches in their various communities to the Police for prompt action. He urged the residents to go about their lawful businesses as the police were already doing a lot to ensure the safety of all. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Ana Montes. FBI Ana Montes, seen as "one of the most damaging spies" in US history, has been released from prison. The former DIA agent was arrested in 2001 after years of sending US secrets to Castro's Cuba. She spied only on the grounds of ideology and accepted no money for her work. Ana Montes, who is regarded as "one of the most damaging spies," has been released from a prison in Texas. Montes, now 65, worked for the US Defense Intelligence Agency, or DIA, as the top analyst on Cuba during the Cold War. Washington knew her as the "Queen of Cuba" for her insights into Fidel Castro's communist regime. But law-enforcement officers arrested her in 2001 on conspiracy to commit espionage after authorities discovered that she was also a spy for Cuba. She was later charged with the offense and pleaded guilty, and was handed a 25-year prison sentence. She served 20 of those years and was released on January 6, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons database. Solely ideology not money motivated Montes' spying, according to the FBI. She disagreed with US foreign policy and was working to undermine it. When she was working a clerical job at the Department of Justice, Cuban authorities identified her as someone who would be sympathetic to their cause. They approached her and she agreed to work with them. Cuba's former President Fidel Castro. Thomson Reuters She then applied for her job at the DIA, and by the time she was in office in 1985, she was a recruited spy for Cuba, the FBI reported. She was able to pass highly sensitive information over to Cuban authorities through memory alone. To escape detection, she never removed any information from her work computer. Instead, she memorized classified details and wrote them into her personal computer when she got home. She then put that information on encrypted discs and sent them to the Cuban authorities. This lasted for 16 years until her arrest. Speaking in Congress in 2012, Michelle Van Cleave, the head of US Counterintelligence under the Bush administration, described Montes as "one of the most damaging spies the United States has ever found." Story continues "She compromised everything virtually everything that we knew about Cuba and how we operated in Cuba and against Cuba," Van Cleave said. Chris Simmons, a former investigator with the DIA, described Montes as "a very deadly woman, a very dangerous woman," NBC reported. "A lot of spies historically have given up information, but she repeatedly tried to get Americans killed in combat." Speaking to CBS, Peter Lapp, a former FBI agent and the lead investigator on Montes' case, believes she will now live out her life quietly as a senior. "That part of her life is over. She's done what she's done for them. I can't imagine her risking her liberty," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider The management of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi State, says the Facebook and other social media accounts of its Vice Chancellor, Muhammad AbdulAzeez, have been hacked. This is contained in a statement by the Head, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, ATBU, Bauchi, Kabiru Aminu, released on Sunday. According to the spokesperson, the vice chancellors Facebook account had been hacked for some time now and warned that anybody who engaged in business transactions with the handler of the account was on his own. The attention of the Universitys Management is once again drawn despite the earlier issued disclaimer notice that some people continued to fall into the trap of scammers in the name of transacting business with ATBU, through the hacked social media handles of the Vice-Chancellor. The General Public is hereby once again reminded that the Facebook account and other social media handles of the Vice-Chancellor have been hacked by some individuals for their selfish purposes. We, therefore, wish to reiterate to the general public to disregard any request(s) to offer contract, Job employment or seek any kind of assistance or to offer help to any individual(s) or company by the account of the Vice-Chancellor, ATBU, Bauchi, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A tank farm operated by Ebeco Global Link on Saturday went up in flames at Koko town in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta Command, Bright Edafe, confirmed the development to journalists in Warri. The situation has been brought under control, Mr Edafe said, adding that one person sustained injuries and there was no report of any death. A local source said that the incident, which occurred in the morning, caused panic among residents. READ ALSO: The source further said that the cause of the incident had not been established and added that fire fighters brought the situation under control. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Koko town is host to many tank farms. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A faction of the Action Alliance (AA) has said the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to upload the names of its candidates on its portal may truncate the forthcoming general elections. It also said Hamza Al-Mustapha is not the authentic presidential candidate of the party. The National Chairman of the group, Adekunle Omo-Aje, stated this at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday. He spoke against the background of the leadership tussle rocking his party, which gave rise to the emergence of two presidential candidates. It would be recalled that in a national congress held by the Omo-Aje leadership last year and monitored by INEC, Solomon-David Okanigbuan emerged the partys presidential candidate. But Mr Al-Mustapha, former security aide to late Nigerian dictator, Sani Abacha, won the presidential primary election conducted by the faction led by Kenneth Udeze, on 9 June, 2022, in Abuja. The INEC had recognised all the candidates presented to it by the Udeze-led faction of the party, despite court judgements declaring that he was no longer a member of the party. The court also ordered INEC to accept and publish the names of candidates sent to it by the Omo-Aje leadership of the AA. Mr Udeze is still listed on INEC website as the national chairman of AA. Yakubu plotting against 2023 elections Mr Omo-Aje accused INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, of failing in his duties by refusing to comply with the order of the court asking the commission to upload the names of all candidates. We fulfilled all INEC electoral guidelines and requirements according to the Nigerian Constitution with the commission, yet he (Mr Yakubu) is hell bent on excluding Action Alliance from the coming 2023 General Elections, he said. He further alleged that Yakubu is covertly orchestrating a clandestine plan against the 2023 elections, and Action Alliance will not fold our arms and watch our nascent democracy rubbished and wounded. He also said instead of Mr Udeze to challenge his suspension and expulsion from the party, he instituted several court cases urging the courts to declare him national chairman of the party but lost all. Mr Omo-Aje said the party would stage a peaceful protest to the National Assembly to press home their demands. Legal tussle PREMIUM TIMES reported that a faction of AA had presented Mr Al-Mustapha to INEC as the partys presidential candidate for the February election. Zainab Abubakar, a Federal High Court judge in Abuja had ordered INEC to remove Al-Mustaphas name as the AAs presidential flagbearer for the 25 February poll. In Ms Abubakars judgement at the Federal High Court, the judge nullified all the lists of nominees, including Mr Al-Mustaphas, submitted to the electoral umpire by a factional leader of the party, Mr Udeze. The judge upheld the plaintiff, Mr Omo-Aje, who instituted the suit, as the authentic national chairman of the AA, and his lists of nominees as the partys set of valid candidates for various offices for the forthcoming 2023 general elections. Similarly, the Court of Appeal in Abuja last Thursday struck out an appeal which sought to restore Mr Al-Mustpha as presidential candidate of the AA. READ ALSO: Leading a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, Monica Dongban-Mensem, who is the President of the appellate court in a ruling, said the appeal was incompetent. Mr Udeze, the sacked Chairman of the AA party, had sought to upturn the nullification of Mr Al-Mustapha and others candidacy. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, on Saturday took his campaign to Ondo State, where he urged the people to cast their votes for him for a better Nigeria. Mr Tinubu, at a rally held at the M.K.O. Abiola Democracy Park in Akure, was received by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and a crowd of party leaders and supporters. He was first received at the Akure airport by Mr Akeredolu-led APC governors and party leaders in the South-west. In his address at the rally, Mr Tinubu said he would abolish estimated electricity billing if he emerges the president in February. He also said Nigerians will suffer hunger if they vote for the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi. He said the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has nothing to offer than to sell the nations critical assets to the highest bidders and squander the funds. Ondo is known as a progressive state, followed by other states like Ogun, Oyo and I appreciate our progressive governors. This incoming election is our own, it is vote of inheritance. It is vote of three in one. Dont lose your PVCs, your PVCs is your right, he said. Our rally today is a signal of our renewed Hope for Nigeria, that February 25, you will go and make a wise decision, you will vote massively for me, I am too sure and very sure that you will vote for APC and thats why I am very happy. I will win this election. Atiku cannot do it, he doesnt want to build a better nation. Instead, he will rather sell your birthright to the highest bidders. Atikus policies and action are nothing. Obi has a chance to show up a progressive when he was a governor of Anambra State, all he could do was to boast that he saved money when he was the Governor of Anambra State My people, you cannot entrust your future and that of our nation to Atiku and Obi. What has Atiku brought to Nigeria? Myself and my running mate, Shettima, are ready to renew your hope through empowerment for all of you, If you give me your mandate as you promised, I will work so hard, put money in your pocket. I love what Governor Akeredolu has done in Ondo State. He has improved the infrastructure status of Ondo State. We will work together with Ondo State to be an economic centre. We will develop the Ondo Deep Sea Port. We will develop uninterrupted energy. We will do more to develop Ondo State and Nigeria as a whole. We are a people of peace and prosperity. Our educational sector will receive priority in our government. No children of the poor will be left behind. If you dont have the money, we will establish students credit loan so that you can go to school. You will be educated, you will be expert. Earlier, Mr Akeredolu said Ondo State and the entire South-west region would support the Tinubu/Shettima ticket massively. Also speaking, the APC Chairman in Ondo State, Ade Adetimehin, assured that the party leaders from across the state were united to deliver for Mr Tinubu come next month. The rally was also attended by Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje; governors as well as the National Secretary of the APC, Iyiola Omisore; and many other party leaders in the South-west. Mr Obi had earlier lashed out at Mr Tinubu over his claims that it was his turn to be president. While addressing a crowd in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the Labour Party candidate said it was the time of Nigerian youths to take back Nigeria. It is the turn of Nigerian youths and women to take back this country, he said. Your children are suffering. We have children who have gone to school and cannot find jobs for years and someone is saying it is his turn, which turn? It is your turn to retire. Let those people who want to be president come here as I came here and speak to you, not through their spokesperson. You dont campaign anywhere in the world through a spokesperson, you go personally. If you are looking for a job, you go for employment directly, that is why I am here. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Kola Abiola, has pledged to ensure 25 per cent inclusion of women and people living with disabilities (PLWD) in governance if elected president. He disclosed this at a rally to flag off the campaign for all elective positions in Kebbi State held in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PRP presidential candidate is the son of MKO Abiola, one of the renowned businessmen in Nigeria and winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. Mr Abiola said: As a party, we will make sure that what we promised in our manifesto is fulfilled, every state we control will have 25 per cent of women and people living with disabilities in the cabinet of every state. We intend to run a true federalism as contained in our manifesto. We will make sure we implement everything in our party manifesto to the letter. Our role is to mentor next generation into power. The flag-bearer promised to create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths to enable them to contribute their quota to the development of their respective areas and the nation at large. While encouraging youths to use their PVCs to bring the desired change, Mr Abiola also pledged to create a women-based economy by establishing a ministry that would be saddled with the responsibility of galvanising and stimulating issues related to womenfolk. He promised to evolve some measures to decisively deal with security challenges bedevilling the country, saying, to live better, we must collectively work towards a peaceful country we will call ours. In his speech, the PRP National Chairman, Falalu Bello, lauded Kebbi people for mobilising party loyalists to witness what he described as a willful crowd, as nobody was rented to attend. He lamented that Nigeria with a population of over 200 million people was left at the mercy of only 320,000 police officers. Mr Bello encouraged the youth to preserve their PVCs and use them to vote out leaders who represent their personal interests against the interest of the poor masses. Attahiru Jega, the leader of the party, observed that bad governance had negatively impacted Kebbi State. He said that the state constituted the larger percentage of jobless youth across Nigeria, hence the need for people to rise up to bring the desired change. Mr Jega, a former INEC Chairman, assured that PRP had featured credible candidates at both national and state levels, whom he said were desirous of bringing positive change in the entire nations polity. Earlier, the PRP gubernatorial flag-bearer in Kebbi State, Abubakar Udu-Idris, said the party was the best alternative to all other political parties in view of its long-standing reputation in the history of Nigerian politics. Mr Udu-Idris pledged to run an inclusive government that would carry everybody along, apart from according respect to everyones opinion and interest. He said in view of the fact that the bulk of votes in the nations elections was coming from youth and women, there was every need to give them special consideration in decision-making processes. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that flags were presented to party candidates vying for different elective positions at both state and national levels in the upcoming general elections. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print PREMIUM TIMES reported the Saturday attack on the train station in Edo State. The attackers, who the police described as herdsmen, shot sporadically before kidnapping a yet-to-be-confirmed number of passengers. Some of the passengers also sustained gunshot injuries, the police said in a Sunday statement. The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) announced the closure of the station in a short message on Sunday. Public Announcement: This is to inform our general public and most especially our esteemed passengers, that Ekehen Station has been temporarily closed due to security issues, till further notice, it wrote. Also, the transportation ministry, which supervises the NRC, has condemned the attack. The Federal government condemns the despicable and utterly barbaric kidnapping of passengers at Tom Ikimi Train Station Igueben Edo State, the Director of Press & Public Relations in the ministry, Henshaw Ogubike, wrote in a Sunday statement. The Public is hereby reassured that the security Agencies are making efforts to rescue the kidnapped Train passengers. The Nigerian Police is on the trail of the criminals and have mobilised with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers. The Government is saddened by this unpleasant development and assures on its prompt response to the ugly situation. He said further details about the incident will be communicated later. The Edo attack comes several months after terrorists attacked a Kaduna-bound train in northern Nigeria, killing some passengers and kidnapping dozens of others. Most of the kidnapped passengers were released after the payment of ransom and the rest after the attackers reached a deal with government negotiators. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has condemned the terror attack on a train station in Igueben, Edo State, south-south Nigeria, on Saturday. In a statement on Sunday by his spokesperson, Olisa Ifeajika, Mr Okowa, who is also the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described the attack as very sad and unfortunate. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the terrorists attacked the train and kidnapped many passengers. The governor said the activities of terrorists across the country had remained a disturbing phenomenon. He called on security agencies to track the attackers of the train station and rescue the victims. The PDP vice-presidential candidate also urged Nigerians to rise to the occasion and assist security agencies with relevant information to enable them to police the country effectively. He enjoined the Nigerian government to drop its lethargic attitude and cosmetic approach toward fighting insecurity in the country, saying that the government should stop toying with the lives of citizens. As a country we must be deeply concerned about the activities of armed groups and non-state actors trying to destabilise our nation. With the general elections a few weeks away, this dastardly act is not just worrisome but condemnable, and we urge security agencies to quickly track and apprehend the gunmen and rescue the victims, he said. Mr Okowa sympathised with the authorities of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and the families of the kidnapped passengers at the train station. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families at this difficult time and we pray for the early return of the victims to reunite with their families, he added. Not the first time in Nigeria The incident in Edo State occurs about 10 months after terrorists attacked a moving train in Kaduna State, North-west Nigeria. PREMIUM TIMES reported how many people were killed in the attack and dozens of others were kidnapped. READ ALSO: Nigerian govt shuts down train station after terror attack Many of the kidnapped victims were later released after paying ransom to the kidnappers while others were released after negotiations between the government and the kidnappers. The Edo incident is the first such attack on a train facility in southern Nigeria. However, the state has witnessed other major criminal acts in the past, including an attack on a prison during which dozens of inmates escaped. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print I was miffed, if not disenchanted, at the way a section of the media has been muddling the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate crisis between the Fulani herders operating from Benue State axis and farmers from communities in Eha Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State. Reports have it that the disputes which have left people from the both parties dead started over 15 years ago prior to the inception of the present regimes in Enugu and Benue states and have been lingering because of dangerous politics, disunity and lack of defined leadership among the people of the affected four communities in Eha Amufu Mgbuji, Agu-Amede, Umujiovu and Ebor which have boundaries with the Agala community in Benue State. This was recently confirmed by the Eha Amufu stakeholders during an emergency security meeting with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State. This insincerity of purpose has been frustrating the concerted efforts of the Enugu State Governor, Ugwuanyi, in decisively tackling the challenges in Eha Amufu. It was reported in the national dailies that majority of the Eha Amufu stakeholders who spoke at the meeting had blamed leadership gaps, division, dangerous politics being played among their people, and an attempt by some Fulani herders to acquire, annex and intimidate the people to occupy their land as responsible for the killings in the area. The Eha Amufu stakeholders, according to the reports in the national dailies, also alleged that the Fulani herders had always collaborated with some Benue people to attack their communities to acquire spaces to settle down. There was also accusation and counter-accusation among the stakeholders over the allegation that some persons from Mgbuji community, years back, sold a part of the village land to the Fulani herders who reside with them, which some factions among the villagers are resisting. It was revealed at the meeting that while the land was purportedly sold to the herders, another group organized themselves and were logging the economic trees in the village for personal monetary gains. Claims were made that about N50 million realised from the sale of the economic trees which belongs to the community was misappropriated. The factional group used part of the contentious money to buy over some youths to protect them and their business and political interests. As reported in Thisday Newspaper of December 22, 2022, page 42, In their separate responses (at the said meeting) Bishop Olinya (Bishop of Eha Amufu Diocese, Anglican Communion), among others, said one of the problems fueling the crisis was the absence of clear cut leadership in the town and politicisation of issues by politicians. Also during the meeting, some of the stakeholders were frank to the extent that they accepted that they have failed God and Governor Ugwuanyi by their peoples inability to comply with various resolution mechanisms fashioned out at various peace meetings in the state, requesting that the community should go and apologise to the governor for failing him and the state. One strange act that has left many in grave suspense is the fact that this is the first time it would be alleged that Benue people are aiding or joining forces with the Fulani herders to carry out attacks on people of a neighbouring state. Benue people and Fulani herders have been engaged in cat and dog fight over the years. Benue State is having boundary issues with Enugu State in that area under attack. Besides alleged reports that those attacks on Eha Amufu communities were reprisals, the truth must be told that both parties, Fulani herders and Eha Amufu people, have on different occasion attacked and killed each other. It is quite unfortunate that in an ugly circumstance where a governor is working round the clock to resolve a crisis and put an end to loss of life and property, the people he is trying to protect are taking laws into their hands. We easily fail to accept the fact that governors in Nigeria as Chief Executive Officers of their states unfortunately do not have full control over the security agencies. Constitutionally, the security agencies are establishments of the Federal Government and consequently take final instructions from their headquarters in Abuja. In most cases, the security agencies regrettably do not act without confirmation signals from their headquarters. We tend to forget that such bureaucratic arrangement poses a serious challenge to governors efforts towards realising their objective of dealing decisively with security challenges in their various states. Enugu State shares in this ugly experience. This notwithstanding, Governor Ugwuanyi, since the inception of his administration, has by all measures, placed premium on peace and security, resulting in the enviable status Enugu has enjoyed as one of the most peaceful and safest states in the country. It is on record that the governor through his administration has never abandoned his obligation of providing security for the people of Enugu State. He has rather made several interventions in assisting and boosting the morale of security agencies in the state to effectively discharge their duties a feat the Service Chiefs in Nigeria and other stakeholders have widely acknowledged and publicly applauded. Only recently, the Inspector General Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba was in Enugu to inaugurate the 76 Police Mobile Force Squadron newly constructed by Governor Ugwuanyis administration and granted the governor all the requests he made (with Eha Amufu and other areas in mind) regarding deployment of more police personnel and equipment such as drones and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to frontally confront and contain unrepentant criminal elements. Reports equally had it that Governor Ugwuanyi, in the wake of the previous attack on Eha Amufu, stormed the affected communities at night, visited different forests, markets, village squares and other locations where he interacted with the indigenes to obtain first-hand information of the remote cause of the crisis with a view to addressing the lingering issues in the area decisively. Besides being the first governor to visit Eha Amufu over the 15-year period the crisis has lingered in the area, the governor equally donated N10 million for the immediate needs of the victims, among other interventions. In view of the above, the allegation that Governors Ugwuanyi and Ortom of Enugu and Benue states respectively are gallivanting with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State locally and internationally while armed herdsmen have launched massive war against communities in Eha Amufu is not only misleading but also untrue and a biased pronouncement lacking substance in facts and figures, and should be disregarded. At this juncture, it is pertinent to advise leaders and stakeholders of Eha Amufu to embrace peace as being constantly preached by Governor Ugwuanyi, keep politics out of their communal issues with the herders, unite and cooperate with the state government and security agencies to end the lingering crisis in the overall interest of their people and the state. It is also crucial at this point for leaders of the Fulani community to rein in their members who adamantly take laws into their hands and escalate the crisis, undermining the frantic efforts of Governor Ugwuanyi in addressing the issue. The Federal Government-controlled security agencies should as a matter of urgency do everything possible, without any form of bias, to arrest the situation and deal with those taking laws into their hands by killing people and destroying property in the area. Levi Odoh, wrote from Enugu. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Professor What! This is where the Nigerian academy is headed. Will that what not eventually bring us all down, irrespective of our location? We should halt this dangerous process to restore optimism in our institutions and collective future. We should not only be angry at the leadership and political system but also seek the means to create sanity in institutions, elevate the worth of those who have invested resources in self-development and career elevation Early last year, in distress, I called Dr Samson Ijaola of Glorious University to ask him a question that was not allowing me to sleep: Why are big boys asking me for money? It is unusual for them to do so because they usually do well financially. I often visit big boys in their houses in different parts of the country, with two or three cars parked outside. When those in the US and Europe boast of their houses and offices, I mock them that they live in Boys Quarters and wood cabins with bricks plastered on them. Nigerian professors are among those whom I affectionately call the big boys. Whenever we hang out, they dont want me to buy drinks or pepper soup, as they want to entertain me. They are generous. They even bring food and beverages to my hotel room, lavishing one person with what could feed a dozen. The drivers are happy as they cart away rice, swallow, and protein. I love the names given to our rich organic foods. I love it more when I replace swallow with ororo, the elegantly creative name given to brandy and whisky. I had not seen enough. I asked my question too early, counting my harvest before the locust invasion. Then came the long strike of 2022, and many were begging, this time not for big amounts but small ones, such as N10,000. I would give as requested but cry afterwards. I was emotionally tormented. Should professors beg for money? No, not at all. Never! Would professors be wealthy? No, not based on salaries earned from their regular jobs. They can use their extra time to do other things, as professors do in my part of the world, where many end up as Associates and run small businesses. Should they be comfortable, relative to the economic productivity of the country? Yes. An occupation as high-scaled as this should not reduce its professionals to beggars. Nothing can be more depressing. Then came other appeals to leave the country. Japa! Any job will do, even driving a cab in Chicago. A country should not find itself in this kind of mess. The public may be angry at the incessant strikes, as they affect the lives of millions of young men and women who must be in school to lay the foundation for their future success. The conditions of service must improve, and the narrative must be rebranded. I am not saying that one occupation is better than another; and all citizens render equally important services. I am not treating professors under the rubric of exceptionalism but as dignified citizens whose occupations create multiplier effects. Rather than being the recipients of gratitude, professors are scorned and ridiculed at various levels. The negotiations are neither respectful nor cordial at the Federal Government level. I was part of a small group that went to prostrate ourselves before politicians who are unqualified to register for my classes, to appeal to Aso Rock to seek all means to end the last strike. Those who steal billions of naira in Abuja now regard themselves as fellow thieves, along with some professor-administrators who steal peanuts. I am not justifying theft. Professors should not steal, but a career label does not define a thief. A transgression by one professor is extended to all professors, as if the criminal has no name. Name the criminal but dont tarnish all the innocent ones who are honest and diligent. Parents who offer bribes to secure admissions for their children and wards do not see themselves contributing to the systems rot. They can bribe today to obtain admissions to rewarding occupational paths and cry tomorrow that their children are not in school. Unmotivated students who see no future for themselves heap the blame on innocent lecturers who are not tasked with planning the economy and politics of the nation. Universities do not create jobs but enable environments and human capacities. Those who elevated Vice Chancellors to CEOs because of political calculations and co-optation do not realise the danger of creating hierarchies in the system. You cannot create an Emperor and avoid ruthless clerks and tax collectors. You cannot collect bribes from your CEOs as they receive their allocations and ask them not to dispense some largesse. If people are underpaid, will they not seek the means to augment their salaries? Is it thinkable that a cab driver in New York, who fled Nigeria because he failed all exams in high school and could not gain admission into any Nigerian university, now boasts that he is better than a Zoology Professor at the University of Ibadan? Former students who graduated from Nigerian universities now tarnish the image of their former teachers, proclaiming their intellectual superiority over those older than their parents. As the ridicule continues, a lecturer at the University of Ibadan, with the motto The First and the Best, can be invited to come and learn how to publish in a Western university, as if the system in Nigeria is bankrupt. How did he obtain a PhD in the first instance if he did not know how to publish? Regarding himself as hungry, a senior lecturer can jump at the offer of a hotel room after being told that a publishable paper can be produced over the weekend. Anyone who cannot publish in their permanent place of work cannot produce one in a five-star hotel in New York. A silent worker in the University of Maiduguri, doing excellent teaching and research, is being undermined by loudmouths on social media, who tell us when they cough from their lonely spaces in London. Colonisers come in various forms and are no longer white in colour. There are now local proxies to serve as agents of imperialism, not fighting with us to stop the illicit flow of the $90 billion that leaves Africa each year but boasting about the $5,000 they receive from money stolen from Africa, in the first instance, to distribute to poor lecturers. They are no different from the chiefs and kings who sold Africans to the Atlantic slave trade between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. Professor What! This is where the Nigerian academy is headed. Will that what not eventually bring us all down, irrespective of our location? We should halt this dangerous process to restore optimism in our institutions and collective future. We should not only be angry at the leadership and political system but also seek the means to create sanity in institutions, elevate the worth of those who have invested resources in self-development and career elevation, and exercise caution in making public statements that ridicule our people. Our citizens at home will be our development agents. The Professor struggling to train students at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto is far more important than the one in any Western university, who is no more than a careerist with limited impact on our people. Far more important than I am is a Professor at the University of Port Harcourt, who does good teaching and grades 200 papers in one semester. He is producing citizens that will elevate the nation. What he needs from me is intellectual collaboration, not arrogance that demeans his intellect and capacity. A little digression is necessary to bring up my key points. The evolution of higher education and the academic profession is strongly related to the history of the professorship. A Professor in ancient Rome was a public lecturer or educator specially called upon and who received payments for lectures on various societally influencing topics. When universities started to develop as hubs of learning and research in the Middle Ages, the function of Professors expanded to encompass not just teaching and reforming perspectives but also doing research and advancing knowledge in their areas of specialisation. The position of Professors has evolved as universities have grown more established and diversified. Today, Professors across the globe are valued academics with advanced degrees in their fields of specialisation, charged with the obligations of instructing, researching, and advancing the body of knowledge in their fields and, more importantly, reforming the perspectives that advance development and growth in their society. There is a non-monetary social prestige attached to the occupation. The truth is, while Professors in Nigeria engage in identical responsibilities as their colleagues in other climes, what makes the difference is the country, Nigeria, in which ours have unfortunately found themselves. The country does not adequately recognise their inputs nor the ripple effects such inputs have on the countrys advancement, and it sparsely recognises their value, with a monthly salary that is nothing but an insult to their achieved statuses. In Nigeria, the history of the professorship can be traced to the establishment of the first university in 1948. In the early years of higher education in Nigeria, Professors were primarily foreign academics hired to teach at the new university. These individuals were primarily from Europe and North America, but as time passed, an increasing number of Nigerian scholars started to acquire advanced degrees and work in academia. Today, academics from Nigeria and outside, who teach and conduct research in various fields, make up the diversified community of Professors. As of 2019, data from Statista shows that Nigeria has more than 11,000 Professors in its institutions of learning. Current data adds another 1,000. In the Nigerian academic system and across the globe, Professors are the most senior academics, constituting a distinct and separate labour unit under their scholarship, hard work, and resilience towards advancing the body of knowledge and refining a teeming generation through teaching and character development. In most cases, the responsibilities they are saddled with often require much of their time and personal commitments, tying them to teaching, constant research, writing and publishing, and participating in committees and other institutional or professional groups. Undoubtedly, the demands can be labour-intensive and highly intellectually-demanding for anyone engaged in this activity. But this is the path our Professors have chosen to tread, and as a nation, we ought to recognise and appreciate every effort they put in to building a better and clearer future for us. Although the position of a Professor is prestigious and desirable, it is mocked in Nigerias academic and political system. Given that the position is the highest obtainable promotion/rank, and considering their academic and research obligations, one would expect societal recognition for their contributions to knowledge advancement and commensurate financial remuneration for the value they provide. However, this is far from being true in Nigeria. On average, the net salary of a Professor in Nigeria is about 400,000 per month. To the nearest US dollar, this is equivalent to $850 (at the official exchange rate or $550 at the street market rate). Compared to other countries, a Professor in the United States earns an average of $6,164 per month, a Professor in Canada earns an average of $92,000 per year, and a professor in the United Kingdom earns between 3,500 and 5,000 monthly. In a more similar economy to that of Nigeria, Professors in South Africa receive a net salary of R527,137, an equivalent of $30,974 when converted to US dollars. The truth is, while Professors in Nigeria engage in identical responsibilities as their colleagues in other climes, what makes the difference is the country, Nigeria, in which ours have unfortunately found themselves. The country does not adequately recognise their inputs nor the ripple effects such inputs have on the countrys advancement, and it sparsely recognises their value, with a monthly salary that is nothing but an insult to their achieved statuses. Interestingly, the real significance of the impact of the ASUU/Federal Government negotiations and the treatment meted out to ASUU has far-reaching consequences for the Nigerian workforce. The most evident is the depletion of other professionals through migration. The exodus of the most productive class, individuals, families, teams, and top civil servants, who continue to migrate is not dissociated from the posture towards higher education in Nigeria. The reality is that almost every member of the existing workforce is affected by matters relating to the Nigerian University System, either by having a relative who is an academic or offspring, siblings, or spouses who are undergraduates or postgraduate students. The ripple effect on the workforce and its hydra-headed consequences are far-reaching and go beyond what is visible in the immediate. To some academics who appear distant from the cause of ASUU, the Union is treated like an opposition party to the government that must be crushed. If not, why would other unions in other types of tertiary institutions get more funding and better pay? From some indications, most professors, who are breadwinners, did not receive their December salaries till after Christmas, having to depend on the cooperative societies that are also under tremendous financial pressure for soft loans. How can this be explained? In the same country, some establishments paid thirteenth-month salaries and sundry bonuses for the festive season. The signal is that Nigerias university education is a poorly paid industry. Result? Young Professors and budding academics with the same skills continue to migrate. Several Pofessors retired in the last year. The implication for those who fell within this category is that within the last eight months of their careers, they were without funds to prepare for their exit from the system. Professors and all those officially on approved leaves were also placed in the same category as striking lecturers, and their salaries were not paid. No doubt, motivation is an essential factor in the success of any profession, and professors are no exception. It is the driving force that encourages individuals to perform at their best and achieve their goals. In Nigeria, however, professors face numerous challenges that hinder their motivation and, subsequently, their performance a major one being the lack of sufficient financial compensation. In addition to inadequate pay, Professors in Nigeria face a lack of other forms of motivation, such as conducive working environments, health facilities, housing loans, vehicle loans, insurance, and study leave with pay. On matters relating to health and health services, some Professors died during the strike; many more are still dying of starvation and the inability to afford the right medications. There is a flurry of migration of medical personnel and the burden of paying subsistence bills, among other factors. The death toll was so unbearable during the ASUU strike. As reported in the news, over 21 professors and senior lecturers lost their lives during the ASUU strike at the University of Calabar. Although the Chairman of ASUU, UNICAL Chapter, gave the correct figure to be 15, it is worrisome that this is just the figure from one university! One can imagine what the figures will be if reports are also taken from other universities. In another worrisome development at the University of Benin, a member of staff also committed suicide due to financial difficulty. A conducive working environment, for instance, is essential for any worker to perform his/her job to the best of his/her abilities. However, this is often not the case for Professors in Nigeria, who may be working in outdated or poorly-equipped facilities. Multinational organisations, observing the disdain with which the negotiations were conducted and the public responses that have resulted, are somewhat hesitant to release resources normally given in support of research and infrastructure. To address these issues, it is necessary to provide Professors with better remuneration, funding for research and development, improved working conditions, and opportunities for professional growth. In addition, it is important to recognise and value the hard work and dedication of Professors and to provide them with the support and resources they need to succeed. By addressing these challenges, it will be possible to create a better working environment for Professors As a result, Professors may struggle to stay motivated and perform at their highest levels. These incentives, commonly offered to professionals in other parts of the world, serve as ways of recognising and rewarding the efforts of professors, while encouraging them to continue striving for excellence. Without these motivations, it is difficult for Professors in Nigeria to feel fulfilled in their roles and be motivated to achieve their best work. This disparity is unfair and demoralising for professors who have dedicated years of hard work and study to attain their prestigious positions. Also, Professors in Nigeria often face limited opportunities for professional development, which can negatively impact their motivation, recognition for their contributions, and the overall quality of education in the country. Without access to the same resources and training opportunities as their counterparts in other countries, Professors may struggle to keep up with the latest trends and best practices in their fields. This lack of support and investment in their professional growth can lead to a lack of motivation and commitment to their profession. Professors need to have access to ongoing training and development to stay current and relevant in their fields and contribute to their students growth and development. The lack of professional development opportunities for Professors can also negatively affect the education system, leading to a lack of innovation and progress. In all of these, a significant challenge is the lack of recognition and appreciation for their hard work and contributions to the academic fields, despite the obvious harsh conditions. In other countries, Professors are often recognised and celebrated for their achievements and contributions to their fields. They may receive awards, grants, or other forms of recognition for their research, teaching, and other contributions to the academic community. These recognitions not only serve as ways of acknowledging and appreciating their hard work but also provides senses of validation and accomplishment that can boost their morale and motivation. In contrast, Professors in Nigeria often struggle to receive the same level of recognition and appreciation for their work. This lack of recognition can be particularly frustrating for Professors who have dedicated their careers to teaching and research and have made significant contributions to their fields. It can lead to feelings of frustration, disappointment, and even resentment, which can ultimately negatively impact their overall job satisfaction and performance, or, as it has been the case for several years, lead to brain drain. In addition to the lack of recognition, Professors in Nigeria also face issues such as insecurity, inadequate or unavailable research programmes and funds, inadequate infrastructure, and large class sizes that they may not have the resources to manage effectively. These challenges have led to the brain drain of Professors and lecturers seeking better opportunities abroad, and some leave the teaching profession entirely to pursue other ventures. The impact of these issues is not limited to the Professors themselves, as students may also suffer from the aggression and frustration of their Professors. Strike actions are another issue militating against the smooth performance and activities of professors in the Nigerian academic setup. So incessant have strike actions become a normal schedule and an integral part of the academic calendar. To some extent, an academic year hardly passes without a strike across public universities in the country. This frequent occurrence of strike actions has crippled the higher education system. The most recent strike happened between 14 February and 14 October, 2022. Before that was the 2020 strike, which was synchronised with the COVID-19 pandemic and lasted almost nine months. This pathetic situation affects not only the students, as the public often paints it but also the lecturers significantly. During the last strike action, the government insisted on implementing the no-work-no-pay policy, which would leave the lecturers, including Professors, with no salary for relatively eight months. This situation becomes even sadder when one recalls that a significant part of why the industrial strike was embarked upon, in the first place, was because of incommensurate compensation. Even upon resumption in October 2022, after the eight-month strike, what they got as their monthly pay was half their normal salaries for that month. Undoubtedly, strike actions triggered by the governments disregard weakens the financial strength and capacity of academics. Since many of these strike actions often end in a deadlock, dissatisfaction and dubious means of acquiring financial gains have characterised the Nigerian university system. To address these issues, it is necessary to provide Professors with better remuneration, funding for research and development, improved working conditions, and opportunities for professional growth. In addition, it is important to recognise and value the hard work and dedication of Professors and to provide them with the support and resources they need to succeed. By addressing these challenges, it will be possible to create a better working environment for Professors and improve the overall quality of education in Nigeria. Ultimately, the Professors are the driving force of the Nigerian tertiary academic system. Corrupt politicians should be ashamed of themselves for bringing us to this terrible situation. Those privileged to escape to other lands should protect the integrity of the system. I am reminded of a Yoruba proverb: When tomorrow boasts that it is superior to today, it forgets that within 24 hours, it will be downgraded to yesterday! Those who abuse the privilege of youth by abusing their former teachers and calling those older than their mothers idiots and thieves, will later realise they will ultimately end up as carcasses dumped in the graveyard of history. Downfall is the outcome of hubris. The ground does not disappear because you have succeeded in climbing a mountain. Although the challenges confronting the smooth operation and existence of Professors in Nigeria are beyond what has been covered in this piece, it is crucial to state that breaking the spirit of Professors, who are the torchbearers of academia, is eroding the essence of the teaching profession in Nigeria. Should the government begin by implementing the suggested solutions, there will be some marked changes. These recommendations will afford a better life for Professors and help revamp the entire academic system. Toyin Falola, a professor of History, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at The University of Texas at Austin, is the Bobapitan of Ibadanland. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived; it is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead. Nelson Mandela When Cardinal Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger was elected the 265th Pope on 19 April 2005, he was the oldest person to be so elected since 1730, and had been a Cardinal for a longer period of time than any of his predecessors since 1724. The man who from 1981 had been prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) chose Benedict XVI as his papal name, which comes from the Latin word meaning the blessed. The libertarian press named him Gods Rottweiler. His countrymen in Germany, especially the gay lobby, who were familiar with his work as a professor of Theology, sardonically described his election as the elevation of a German Shepherd to the papacy (a sick world describing a man of the cloth in doggy terms)! A strict disciplinarian and highly regarded intellectual, his reputation preceded him, making commentators predict that his tenure would be marked by arcconservatism and blind dogmatism. His predecessor, John Paul II, was a tough act to follow, but Benedict XVI did make his mark. Granted that he did not have the charisma of John Paul II, he always exhibited a firm resolve to ensure that the highest moral standards attended governance issues in the church. As pope, one of his first actions was to demand the retirement of the Mexican priest, Rev. Marcial Maciel, on account of his history of sexual abuse of subordinates. Maciel had seemed untouchable. The usual practice was that convicted priests would be removed from public life to devote themselves to penitence. Benedict read the riot act to everyone: Engage in criminal acts and go to jail! Benedict also engaged in dialogue with groups outside of the Church, such as the schismatic Lefebvrians. He also developed a path for integrating married Anglican clergy into the Catholic Church. He reached out to leaders of other faiths, especially Muslims, to forge greater understanding and world peace. Many theologians, however, believe that his greatest contribution as Pope was his magisterium. According to scholars, his catecheses, encyclicals on central aspects of the faith, and biographies on Jesus of Nazareth could qualify him to one day be declared a doctor of the Church. A polyglot, Pope Benedict, was fluent in his native German, Italian, French, English and Spanish. He also knew Portuguese, and the requisite Latin, Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Greek. His resignation as Pope showed that the man was, first and foremost, a humble servant of God to whom position or the perks of office meant nothing. At his historic resignation, he declared: After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in todays world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the barque of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter. World leaders spoke glowingly of him on his demise at the age of 95. One of the more perceptive tributes came from the Irish Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar: Leading the Catholic Church for almost a decade, the son of a police officer and a cook, the first German elected as pope in one thousand years, he was ultimately a humble worker in vineyard of the Lord. What can Nigeria learn from the life and death of Pope Benedict XVI? At this time of political campaigns and a search for a more enduring federation, every Nigerian politician will do well to read the sermon delivered by the highly cerebral Monsignor John Aniagwu at the memorial Mass held in Lagos in honour of Pope Benedict. One lesson that I believe we can learn from Pope Benedict is knowing when to quit. Pope Benedict shocked everyone when he decided to resign from the Papacy. But he was just being honest; honest to God, to the Church, and to himself. He knew that his physical and emotional strength could no longer carry the burden of day-to-day running of the affairs of the Church. He did not want the Church to be adversely affected by his condition. He decided to quit the Papacy, something that no other Pope had done in 600 years. Many of us need to learn this all-important lesson from Pope Benedict. When your body and your mind tell you that you are no longer equal to the demands of a particular office, then, for goodness sake, let go. Dont insist on occupying that office, whether you are equal to it or not. If you do, you are selfish. You dont care about the people that you are supposed to be serving. You dont love them. You only love yourself. And you will die loving yourself, said Aniagwu. The cleric continued, I believe that our African political leaders, in particular, need to learn this lesson. They should stop imposing themselves on people when they themselves know and everyone else knows that they are physically, emotionally, intellectually and morally incapable of occupying an office Public office is not your birthright. Nobody owes it to you. Get that into your head, and get out! Learn from Pope Benedict. Do we ever learn? Benedict XVI, in compliance with the time honoured traditions of the papacy, was obliged to write his own spiritual testament at the dusk of his remarkable life. That tradition is meant to provide a compass for the living, like a voice from the grave. I commend Benedicts testament to all those who believe that man was sent hither for a purpose. He wrote: If in this late hour of my life I look back at the decades I have been through, first I see how many reasons I have to give thanks. First and foremost I thank God himself, the giver of every good gift, who gave me life and guided me through various confusing times; always picking me up whenever I began to slip and always giving me again the light of his face. .. I thank my parents, who gave me life in a difficult time and who, at the cost of great sacrifice, with their love prepared for me a magnificent abode that, like clear light, illuminates all my days to this day. My fathers lucid faith taught us children to believe, and as a signpost it has always been steadfast in the midst of all my scientific acquisitions; the profound devotion and great goodness of my mother represent a legacy for which I can never give thanks enough. My sister has assisted me for decades selflessly and with affectionate care; my brother, with the lucidity of his judgments, his vigorous resolve and serenity of heart, has always paved the way for me From my heart I thank God for the many friends, men and women, whom He has always placed at my side; for the collaborators in all the stages of my journey; for the teachers and students He has given me. I gratefully entrust them all to His goodness. And I want to thank the Lord for my beautiful homeland in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, in which I have always seen the splendour of the Creator Himself shining through. To all those whom I have wronged in any way, I heartily ask for forgiveness It is now sixty years that I have been accompanying the journey of Theology, particularly of the Biblical Sciences, and with the succession of different generations I have seen theses that seemed unshakable collapse, proving to be mere hypotheses: the liberal generation (Harnack, Julicher etc.), the existentialist generation (Bultmann etc.), the Marxist generation. Finally, I humbly ask: Pray for me, so that the Lord, despite all my sins and insufficiencies, welcomes me into the eternal dwellings. When the living mourn the dead, say our village elders, it is tomorrows corpse weeping for todays cadaver. Rather than mourn, we give thanks. Danke Papst Benedikt. Wole Olaoye is a public relations consultant and veteran journalist. He can be reached through wole.olaoye@gmail.com. Twitter: @wole_olaoye; Instagram: woleola2021. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print This photo from 1915, likely taken in Halifax, shows what is believed to be the members of the 25th Battalion. Pte. William Gerald Arthrell of Glace Bay, N.S., served in the battalion around this time. It's unclear whether he's in this photo. (CA BI 84-79-14179. Beaton Institute/Cape Breton University - image credit) Like roughly 60,000 of his comrades, Nova Scotian William Gerald Arthrell died fighting for Canada during the First World War. While the teenager's body was buried at the Bailleul Communal Cemetery in northern France, a few kilometres from the border with Belgium, Arthrell's brain made it back to Canada. That's because Arthrell was one of an unknown number of Canadian soldiers from which 799 body parts were extracted as part of a program that harvested the organs of soldiers for medical research purposes. "How could we be harvesting the body parts of slain soldiers?" said Tim Cook, the author of Lifesavers and Body Snatchers: Medical Care and the Struggle for Survival in the Great War. His recent book reveals this forgotten chapter of Canadian history. Box number: 83, 7433, 00012A/Library and Archives Canada When Arthrell enlisted, the Glace Bay, N.S., man stated he was a miner by trade. He had a fair complexion, brown eyes and was tall six feet two and a half inches according to his military file. The documents note he died on March 26, 1916, after being shot in the head the day before. Nowhere in his file does it note he was buried without his brain. Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cook, the chief historian and director of research at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, said it was about two decades ago he first came across a reference to autopsies being conducted on Canadian soldiers. "I had thought in this war of mass slaughter, of dirt and deprivation, of the high-explosive shells, of the machine-gun fire, chemical agents, that there wouldn't have been time for autopsies," he said. The document also mentioned body parts being removed. That sparked Cook to comb through archives and the letters of soldiers and medical personnel to learn more. Cook said the 799 body parts were initially sent to the Royal College of Surgeons in London, where they were stored and treated. Some were presented in exhibition galleries before being sent to Canada. Submitted by Tim Cook/Penguin Random House "There were several thousand additional body parts that remained in London and hundreds of body parts that went to Australia as well, so this was a widespread program," said Cook. Story continues He said it's unclear how many Canadians had their organs harvested. He said the records aren't complete. But he said some soldiers had more than one body part removed. Having studied the First World War for more than 25 years, Cook is no stranger to the horrors of war, but he said finding out about the program shocked him. Cook said the program can't be looked at through the modern concept of consent. Rather, he said it's important to think about the environment under which soldiers enlisted. "When a soldier enlisted during the [First World] War, they signed what was known as an attestation paper," he said. "That basically said, 'Your body is now the army's.' This is the war ... where we shot 25 Canadians to death by firing squad for various forms of punishment." In his research, Cook looked for documentation where doctors spoke out against the program, but couldn't find anything. Rather, the picture that emerged is that the doctors supported it as an important research tool. The Canadian Press Cook said some of the medical innovations of the war included new surgical techniques and blood transfusions. Remarkably, more than 90 per cent of wounded Canadian soldiers who were treated by a doctor survived. "Ironically, from these sites of death and destruction, [the doctors] brought back these lessons to better treat Canadians," said Cook. In a statement, the Department of National Defence said it did not have any information about the program. William Rider-Rider/Getty Images "However ... we would be remiss if we didn't take this opportunity to remember the courageous actions of Canadian soldiers during the Great War, many of which made the ultimate sacrifice to protect and preserve our freedom," it said. At the time of the war, Canada's population was roughly eight million. More than 620,000 people served in uniform. Arthrell gave his religion as Wesleyan on his enlistment papers. His headstone includes a reference to John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. MORE TOP STORIES The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Sunday said 98 per cent of votes in Yobe State in the forthcoming presidential election would be delivered to the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima. Mr Lawan described Yobe State as the pride of the APC and vowed that no stone would be left unturned to ensure its victory at the polls at all levels. The Senate President made the remarks in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, at the inauguration of the Yobe State APC 2023 Campaign Council, which was held at Yobe Government House. The council, chaired by a former Governor of the State, Ibrahim Gaidam, has Mr Lawan as the alternate chairman and another former Governor, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, as grand patron. Speaking at the occasion, the Senate President said, Just as the chairman of the council said, we will be totally committed to ensuring that this party, the APC in Yobe State, delivers all the seats by the Grace of God. We will work tirelessly, we will ensure that we leave no stone unturned, we will do whatever it takes because APC in Yobe State is the pride of APC in Nigeria, and we cannot afford to let APC family in Nigeria down. Actually, we believe that we are supposed to dominate in the Presidential poll when it comes to performance. We should be able to have the highest percentage, as we did before, nothing less than 98 per cent vote for our Presidential Candidate. And we can do that by mercilessly committing ourselves to our party rather than regional thinking or sentiments. In Yobe State, you know we have a single family, and our governor, by the Grace of God, should have the highest number of votes for any Governor in Nigeria. This we will do by making sure that our zones, the three zones in the state, compete. So I want to assure you that we will do everything possible within the law to ensure that our governor comes back to the office with flying colours. Our National Assembly and State Assembly members should be waiting for inauguration Insha Allah. Above all, we should be a shining example to everyone in this zone, I mean the North East zone. We have a vice Presidential Candidate in the neighbouring State, our sister State, Borno. Lets beat Borno State in the Presidential election. Borno and Yobe are the same people. They have given us every possible support before, and one good turn deserves another. It is for us to also do the same for them. Lastly, I want to thank those who decided to bring us on board as members of the campaign council for the confidence reposed in us. I want to specifically say that Im committed to ensuring that we deliver our party in Yobe by the Grace of God. As for the unity of the party, there is no one here who has any doubt we have a united partyWe are brothers here. We will continue to be one. In his acceptance speech, the chairman of the campaign council, Mr Gaidam, said Yobe State, from its creation, had always aligned with the progressives. READ ALSO: I can say without any fear of contradiction that the massive transformation the state recorded over the years has been on this (progressives)platform. In order to sustain all the gains so far made, we have a duty to ensure that APC wins all contestable seats so that we form government at the state and at the federal level. I assure you the council has maintained the tempo of winning, Insha Allah, he said. SOURCE: Office of Special Adviser(Media) to President of the Senate Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The anti-kidnapping team of the Kwara Police Command has arrested Issa Naigheti for kidnapping his father, Bature Naigboho, and collecting a ransom of N2.5 million. The commands spokesperson, Ajayi Okasanmi, made the disclosure in a statement on Saturday in Ilorin. Mr Okasanmi, a superintendent of police, said Police operatives arrested Mr Naigheti on 4 January around Kambi area of Ilorin, while on the trail of suspected kidnappers. He confessed under interrogation to having conspired with two others to kidnap his father in Igboho/Igbeti area of Oyo State, and collected N2.5 million as ransom. Efforts are ongoing to arrest his other accomplices, and the case would be transferred to Oyo State, the venue of the crime, Mr Okasanmi, the police spokesperson, said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print At least 31 intending passengers were kidnapped when terrorists attacked a train station in Edo State, South-south Nigeria, an official has said. The Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, on Sunday confirmed that 31 intending passengers were abducted during the attack at Igueben train station. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the passengers were said to be waiting for a 4 p.m. train from Igueben to Warri when the terrorists struck, shooting sporadically, abducting passengers and leaving many injured. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the police earlier said the attack was carried out by suspected herdsmen. The Edo commissioner, Mr Nehikhare, told reporters in Benin that one abducted passenger escaped from the kidnappers, while the police had arrested one of the suspects. He said the attack is the most difficult incident in Edo of late. Few armed men who came with vehicles at about 4 p.m., started shooting sporadically at the Igueben train station; kidnapping 32 while many others were injured. They came with cars but took their victims into the bush on foot, NAN quoted Mr Nehikhare as saying. The police in collaboration with the vigilante and hunters started combing the bush almost immediately. One suspect has been arrested and he is helping the police in their investigation. The Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, visited the scene of the crime this morning to have an on-the-spot assessment of what has happened. We are pleased to say that one suspect has been arrested. We congratulate the police and the Edo security network for the swiftness which they attended to the security breach, Mr Nehikhare said. The Edo State Government sympathises with the victims and hopes that this would be the last such incident occur in the state, he added. READ ALSO: The Edo train attack occured about 10 months after terrorists attacked a moving train in Kaduna, north-west Nigeria. Some people were killed and dozens of other passengers kidnapped in the Kaduna incident. Some of the passengers spent months with the kidnappers before they were released either after their relatives paid ransom or after the government negotiated their release. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The International Press Centre (IPC) in Nigeria has expressed concern over the threats on the life of a PREMIUM TIMES reporter, Saviour Imukudo, by a man who supervised a poorly executed federal project in Akwa Ibom State. IPC in a statement issued on Saturday by its Press Freedom Officer, Melody Lawal, called on the Nigerian government and security agencies to ensure the safety of the journalist. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the man, Andrew Okure, who supervised the rehabilitation of local market stalls, threatened Mr Imukudo for doing a story on the shoddy job done. Some stalls have cracks in their walls and holes in the roofs. The cement floors are broken in some of them. The rooftop of most of the stalls shakes along with the mild wind and looks as though they could be easily blown off. The concrete pillars in most of the stalls appeared inadequate. Also, the use of Bamboo sticks as improvised pillars in some stalls has raised safety concerns among the residents. The rehabilitation, awarded by the Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) to Tymme Energy Integrated Resources Limited, has pitched some residents in the community against a senator from Akwa Ibom, Christopher Ekpenyong who facilitated the project. The residents said the senator should have ensured that the contractor did a quality job. Tymme Energy Integrated Resources Limited, according to data obtained online, was incorporated on 16 February 2016 with 18, Aiyewa Street, Kabba, Kogi State, north-central Nigeria, as its registered address. Mr Okure, who claimed to be an engineer, initially declined comment when contacted by the reporter, Mr Imukudo. He later called Mr Imukudo on Wednesday, apparently after reading the published story. Mr Okure said the community residents who commented on the project were members of the opposition party. When Mr Imukudo asked him on Thursday around 10:57 a.m. for his official comment on the shoddy project, Mr Okure said to the reporter: Im going to follow you up. Be careful, be careful. While Mr Okure was dishing out the threat, a male voice in the background could also be heard issuing out additional threats against the reporter. Look at you, look at six feet. Dont worry. Thank God, I know your name now. Somebody is telling you to go and die and you are following the person, the voice in the background said. The PREMIUM TIMES bureau chief for the south-south and south-east regions, Cletus Ukpong, said the newspaper would report the matter to the police in Uyo on Monday. Time has come to stop attacks on journalists IPC said it is time to end attacks on journalists and other media professionals in Nigeria. It enjoined anyone who may be aggrieved over media reports to seek redress through legal channels instead of attempting to resort to extra-judicial self-help. IPC, therefore, appeals to other national, regional and international media freedom groups, freedom of expression organisations and human rights bodies to join in the clamour for the safety of Saviour Imukudo, the statement said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Dapo Abiodun said last year that over 400 primary and secondary schools have been renovated in Ogun State under his administration. However, when PREMIUM TIMES late in 2022 toured the three senatorial districts of the state, our reporter found facilities in many public schools still in deplorable conditions. The renovation project was executed with a N10.2 billion fund jointly contributed, equally, by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the state government. UBEC released its share of the fund to the state government in 2019 to address infrastructural decay and inadequate facilities in 236 public schools across the state. PREMIUM TIMES found that in many schools captured under the rehabilitation project, the exercise has either not been completed or started at all. All the schools mentioned in this report are those the Abiodun administration listed as schools it has renovated. The rehabilitated blocks of classrooms all had yellow roofs, the signature of the Dapo Abiodun administration. Cracked walls, leaky roofs At the St Joseph RCM Primary school in the Ayila area of Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, pupils were attending classes in uncompleted buildings with cracked walls and leaking roofs. Because chairs and desks were insufficient, some pupils sat on the bare floor. One of the two buildings in the school looked like it could collapse anytime. We cannot abandon it because we dont have an alternative, a teacher told PREMIUM TIMES. The teacher said classes are suspended whenever it rains, because of the leaky roofs and low walls. When it rains, there is no class because all the pupils need to be moved to the two classes that are still manageable, the teacher said. Toye, one of the pupils, said he wants the government to repair and upgrade the school. Gboko community in Ketu, Yewa North Local Government Area, has only one primary school. The mud-walled school has no teachers. A block of three classrooms built as part of the UBEC project reportedly collapsed following heavy rainfall. It was after the incident that members of the community pooled resources together to build the mud-walled classrooms in 2021. To accommodate all the pupils in the makeshift building, the junior classes were merged into a single class, while classes five and six shared another classroom. The Chairman of the schools Parents/ Teachers Association (PTA), Fakonbi Paul, said the school management wrote the government for another block of classrooms but there had been no response. The building was a UBEC project, it collapsed after heavy rain last year (2021). We wrote to the government but nothing was done. When we saw that nothing was forthcoming, the community decided to construct this mould blocks classroom with the assistance of our Kabiyesi (traditional ruler). Goats, hens and dogs enter our classrooms because there are no doors or windows, a Primary Four pupil told our reporter. Whenever we arrive every morning, we sweep the faeces of the animals in the classrooms. That is the instruction our teacher gave us, the pupil added. The situation is similar at Yewa North Local Government Primary School, Kakanfo. The few classrooms built have no windows or doors. Abiodun Michael, a parent whose children attend the school, said pupils are usually sent home whenever it is about to rain because the classroom roofs are broken. The roofs have been broken for a long time and left like that, Mr Micheal said. District High School, Agosasa, also had classrooms with leaky roofs and cracked walls. These features seem to be shared by all public basic schools in the area. Same situation in the capital Abeokuta The state government listed Owu Baptist school, Ita-Iyalode in Oke-Shokori/Totoro ward, as one of the schools where classrooms were built or renovated. But our reporter found during a visit to the school that the project was abandoned. The scaffold installed for the plastering of the wall still surrounded the building but some of the planks had decayed. A worker in the school, who simply identified himself as Baba Jamiu, said the project had been abandoned for many months before the visit of the reporter. However, he said the yet-to-be-completed classrooms, which were under lock and key during our reporters visit, were already being used. Leaving the scaffolding after plastering is dangerous. They dont have any usefulness, but the contractor has refused to come and remove them. Pupils are already using the classroom that way because we dont have enough classrooms. The contractor was to plaster and paint the building, but they abandoned their work halfway, which is really bad, he said. The situation is not different at AUD Primary School, Ikatedo in Ago-Ika ward of Abeokuta North local council. A large building marked for rehabilitation but abandoned has become an abode for smokers around the area. Residents said the renovation was started in 2019 but nothing new has been done to it in the last two years. Around the school compound, the reporter found the roofs of many classrooms damaged. The structure of the buildings looks weak, while the environment generally seems not conducive to teaching and learning. The government also claimed to have rehabilitated some classrooms at St. Peters College in the town. While the entire ceiling of one of the classrooms was replaced, work on those of other classrooms was not completed. A block of four classrooms has a yellow roof, but the walls were not plastered and it has no windows. The building does not look like one where work was ongoing. A worker who took this reporter around the school refused to give his name for fear of sanction by the authorities. He said the building has been completed despite not being plastered and not having windows. Budgetary allocation to education sector In December 2021, Governor Abiodun signed the N338.6 billion 2022 budget of the state and later adopted a 2022 Supplementary budget of N100.2 billion in August 2022. In the initial budget, N56.07 billion was allocated to the education sector. N529.1 million out of that was for the maintenance of public schools; secondary education got N22.9 billion while primary education got N3.2 billion under the category of total expenditure by functional classification. In 2022, the states total budget stood at N350.74 billion. Education had the second-highest estimate of N56,071 billion or 16 per cent of the total estimated budget. The lions share went to Infrastructure which gulped N77.8 billion, constituting 22 per cent of the total budget. For the 2023 fiscal year, the governor voted N66.79 billion for education, representing 14 per cent of the total budget of N472 billion. However, many residents still hope to see the impacts of these funds on the dilapidated schools in the state. The Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Abayomi Arigbabu, did not respond to repeated calls and text messages to his phone for his comments on issues raised in this report. But at a briefing in September 2022, Mr Arigbabu said infrastructural decay at schools predated the current administration when contacted, the spokesperson of UBEC, David Apeh, refused to respond to questions on the matter, especially on whether UBEC is monitoring the use of its funds by the Ogun government. READ ALSO: When first called over the phone on a Tuesday, Mr Apeh asked this reporter to call back on Wednesday. When called according to his dictate, the spokesperson asked this reporter to call again after two hours but since then, he has refused to pick up calls nor respond to text messages. An email sent to the official email address of UBEC was also not replied to. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The only suspect arrested over the gruesome murder of a couple, Kehinde and Bukola Fatinoye, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, has escaped from police custody. Mr and Mrs Fatinoye were murdered on 1 January after returning home from a midnight service usually organised by churches to welcome a new year. Their killers also abducted the son of the couple and their housemaid. The body of the son, Oreoluwa, was later recovered from a river in the Ogun State capital. The abducted housemaid is currently receiving treatment in a hospital. The suspect simply identified as Lekan, a driver of the late Mrs Fatinoye, had been identified by the surviving victim as one of the attackers. The police subsequently took him into custody on Tuesday. But he escaped from custody at Ibara Police Divisional Headquarters in Abeokuta. A police source who is not allowed to speak on the matter, spoke with PREMIUM TIMES on the condition of anonymity. The source said Mr Lekans escape embarrassed the police and was being treated in secrecy by the police hierarchy. The suspect was said to have been Mrs Fatinoyes driver for almost two years and was well known within the community of the Federal University of Agriculture, FUNAAB, where the deceased woman worked. The source further said, The suspect pretended to be sick while the police were trying to take a statement from him. He fell and pretended to have fainted. He was quickly rushed to a police clinic at Zone II not far from the secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Iwe-Iroyin, in order to rescue him so as to help the police in its investigation, the source said After he was revived by nurses, the source said, Mr Lekan requested to ease himself, but he escaped. The source said the victim escaped into the Ogun Deputy Governors Lodge from where he scaled the fence to the house of the late Head of Interim Government, Ernest Shonekan. The source further said efforts by officers at the scene to re-arrest the suspect were futile. The source added that the officers tried frantically, including shooting into the air but all to no avail. The police spokesperson in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, was yet to respond to text messages sent to him as of the time of filling this report. Meanwhile, the police have launched a manhunt for the escaped suspect. A wanted message carrying Mr Lekans picture is already in circulation. The message read, Wanted! Wanted!! Wanted!!! This is the guy suspected to have been part of the culprits that murdered a couple in Abeokuta on the New Years Eve. His name is Lekan. He is currently at large and has been declared wanted by the Police. Anyone who knows or sees him should contact the nearest police station. Kindly share. Another police source confirmed to our reporter that the officers under whose charge the suspect escaped were being questioned by the police authorities. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Monty Mobile won the 'Best Visionary CEO-Telecom, Middle East' and 'Most Innovative Network & SMS Monetization Solutions, MENA' for the year 2022. The felicitation ceremony was held on the 10th of December at the Palm Jumeirah Waldorf Astoria, Dubai. LONDON, Jan. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Brand Awards is an annual event held by Global Brands Magazine (GBM), an international publication headquartered in the UK. The award recognizes brands achieving excellence across the globe. Global Brands Magazine covers various sectors while keeping its readers updated on key trends surrounding the branding world. Mountasser Hachem, CEO of Monty Mobile , was recognised for his outstanding efforts at this year's award. Commenting on Mountasser Hachem winning the awards, Jay Reddy (Director) of Global Brands Magazine, said, "It is an honour to commemorate Mountasser with this award. Without a good leader, a company cannot move forward, and Mountasser is a testament to this fact. He has led Monty Mobile to great heights; seeing his passion and drive to excel is a sight to behold. We wish him the best of luck for his future endeavours." Commenting on winning the awards Mountasser Hachem (CEO of Monty Mobile) said, ""The key to success is to address customers' everchanging needs and that's exactly what we try to achieve by offering consumer-centric products and innovative solutions that go beyond their expectations." About Monty Mobile Monty Mobile is a global key player in the telecommunications business, offering a wide variety of high-end services beyond all customers' expectations. They provide cutting-edge digital products and services for mobile network operators, enterprises, and service providers across different industries. Their revolutionary omnichannel, messaging, and network monetization platforms, facilitate the international flow of communication globally, allowing service providers to offer an optimal customer experience while boosting their revenues through a broad variety of in-house developed state-of-the-art products. About Global Brands Magazine (England) Global Brands Magazine (GBM) has been at the forefront, bringing news, views, and opinions on brands shaping the future of their industry. The UK-based magazine provides its readers with the latest news and information on 'best-in-class brands' across the globe. Each year, GBM develops a series of awards for companies that stand out, having a unique vision, exceptional service, innovative solutions and consumer-centric products among their industry leaders. About Global Brand Awards Global Brand Awards honours brands for their excellence in performance and rewards companies across different sectors for the quality of their services. The Brand Awards highlight the accomplishments of organisations that have performed remarkably well in finance, education, hospitality, automotive, lifestyle, education, real estate, technology, and several more. Global Brand Awards recognise vital players who progress towards excellence by providing a platform to acknowledge their efforts. Check out our social media shout outs from the links below: Facebook: https://bit.ly/3GMJgrS Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3GHt0Iv Twitter: https://bit.ly/3IuCbgH Instagram: https://bit.ly/3ItKSYt Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1764747/GBM_2022_Logo.jpg SOURCE Global Brands Magazine OSLO, Norway, Jan. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hydrogen technology company Nel and Europe's largest supplier of renewable energy, Statkraft, newly signed a contract for delivery of 40 MW of electrolyser equipment, and will thus collaborate to create a strong value chain for production of green hydrogen in Norway. "We are determined that we will contribute towards making Norway a leading producer of renewable hydrogen, and to establish an eco-system of electrolyser and equipment suppliers," says Nel's CEO Hakon Volldal and CEO of Statkraft, Christian Rynning-Tnnesen. The announcement was made in connection with the German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck's visit to Nel's fully automated electrolyser manufacturing facility at Herya in Norway. The Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry, Jan Christian Vestre, is also joining the delegation together with his colleague, Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Terje Lien Aasland. The Ministers are enthusiastic about the two companies' plans for a green hydrogen value chain in Norway. "It is encouraging that leading Norwegian players such as Nel and Statkraft are planning value chains for green hydrogen in Norway. This is an important step in the right direction to achieve our ambitions to build a coherent value chain for hydrogen and facilitate the production of hydrogen with no or low emissions to cover the national demand for hydrogen", says Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Aasland. Statkraft recently placed a purchase order for 40 MW (link to press release) of alkaline electrolyser equipment from Nel. The electrolyser stacks will be produced at Nel's manufacturing plant at Herya and used for the production of renewable hydrogen in one of Statkraft's many hydrogen projects. As Europe's largest supplier of renewable energy, Statkraft has the ambition to accelerate its annual development rate to 4 GW of new power production per year and to add 2 GW of renewable hydrogen production by 2030. In Norway Statkraft will strengthen its efforts in developing new renewable power production as well as flexibility within hydropower and wind power both on- and offshore. "The contract with Nel is the first important step in materializing our ambitious target of 2 GW of green hydrogen and securing production capacity for our diverse pipeline of hydrogen projects," says Rynning-Tnnesen. Volldal is very excited to have Statkraft on the customer list. "Statkraft is Europe's largest producer of renewable energy and a well reputed and highly knowledgeable renewable energy company with an ambitious growth agenda. We are extremely proud that they have elected us as a supplier of green hydrogen technology," Volldal says. "With this and other orders Nel is strengthening its position as a leading supplier and exporter of hydrogen equipment, which is crucial for the green transition in Europe and beyond, and for the development of new green jobs in Norway," Volldal says. For additional information, please contact: Kjell Christian Bjrnsen, CFO - Nel ASA, +47 917 02 097 Wilhelm Flinder, Head of Investor Relations - Nel ASA, +47 936 11 350 Lars Nermoen, Head of Communications - Nel ASA, + 47 902 40 153 Bjrn Holsen, Senior Vice President Hydrogen - Statkraft, +47 415 53 715 Geir Fuglseth, Communications Manager - Statkraft, + 47 913 70 572 About Nel ASA | www.nelhydrogen.com Nel is a global, dedicated hydrogen company, delivering optimal solutions to produce, store and distribute hydrogen from renewable energy. We serve industries, energy and gas companies with leading hydrogen technology. Since its origins in 1927, Nel has a proud history of development and continual improvement of hydrogen plants. Our hydrogen solutions cover the entire value chain from hydrogen production technologies to manufacturing of hydrogen fueling stations, providing all fuel cell electric vehicles with the same fast fueling and long range as conventional vehicles today. About Statkraft | www.statkraft.no Statkraft is a leading company in hydropower internationally and Europe's largest generator of renewable energy. The Group produces hydropower, wind power, solar power, gas-fired power and supplies district heating. Statkraft is a global company in energy market operations. Statkraft has 5000 employees in 20 countries. The following files are available for download: SOURCE NEL ASA NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of F45 Training Holdings Inc. (NYSE: FXLV) pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus issued in connection with the Company's initial public offering conducted in July 2021 (the "IPO" or "Offering"), of the important February 6, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased F45 securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the F45 class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=9602 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 6, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, the registration statement and prospectus used to effectuate the Company's IPO contained untrue statements of material fact or omitted to state other facts necessary to make the statements made not misleading and was not prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations governing its preparation. Specifically, the offering documents made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) F45's rapid growth strategy was unsustainable, reliant on, among other things, franchisees opening multiple locations in a short period of time and/or dependent on franchisees who required near 100% financing of their operations in order to open for business; and (2) as a result, the offering documents misrepresented and failed to disclose material adverse facts pertaining to the Company's business, operations, and prospects. To join the F45 Training class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=9602 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackery, the global leader of innovative portable power and green outdoor energy solutions, has added two more innovative portable solar generators, the 3000 Pro and 1500 Pro, to its high-end Pro family, giving those who love the outdoors a wider choice of power supply options. The two new products debuting at CES 2023, the largest tech event in the world being held at the Las Vegas Convention Center between Jan 5 and 8, can be seen at Jackery's booth (number 8943). With the 1000 Pro and 2000 Pro also having launched in 2022, the Jackery high-end Solar Generator Pro family is now complete, all set to fully satisfy a wide range of different needs and uses for outdoor lovers. Go Green with Jackery's High-End Solar Generator Pro Family The Solar Generator concept is the result of Jackery's years of research and development into solar energy and portable power generation. A solar generator is a solar solution that combines a portable power station with solar panels. It converts sun energy captured by solar panels into electrical power and then stores it in a portable power station for later use. Jackery's high-end Pro family solar generators have zero emissions and provide sustainable energy. They can achieve ultra-solar charging at an optimal speed of 1.8 hours. They are also adaptable to cold environments as cold as -20C (-4F), making them reliable backup power resources when encountering extreme weather such as a winter storm. The solar panels boost an industry-leading solar conversion efficiency rate of up to 25%, allowing solar generators to produce more energy. Even in hot weather and cloudy days, they can outperform conventional solar panels. Promising all-round safety, the four products of the Pro family are all shock-resistant and fire-retardant to UL 94V-0 standards. They are all equipped with intelligent Battery Management Systems (BMS) providing 12 forms of protection to cover all kinds of unexpected scenarios including over-current, short current, over-discharge, overcharge, over voltage, thermal protection, and more. This adds extra safety for users when they are enjoying time together with family and friends and cannot spare time to pay close attention to the device's status. Thanks to its unrivaled cooling system supported by high-precision chips and a maximum of nine sensors, the products achieve dissipation efficiency by 30%. An ideal choice for power on the go, Jackery's high-end Pro family solar generators are lighter and smaller. They can be quickly set up in just one minute and can power up to 99% of devices needed for outdoor life. With magnetized foldable solar panels, the products are easily transportable and free up space thanks to the compact design. The sound they produce during operation is as quiet as a whisper, only 30-46 decibels. Jackery's Latest Answer to Outdoor Lovers' Different Needs For over a decade, Jackery has been a pioneer of renewable energy technology, specializing in versatile portable solar generators. The company has used its experience and expertise in solar energy to develop high-performance, safe, and affordable portable power generators that reduce people's reliance on fossil fuels. The Jackery Solar Generator Pro family, with enhanced safety features and a wide range of power capacity options, is the brand's latest answer to meet a wide range of requirements. With fast-charging capabilities, the Jackery 1000 pro and 1500 pro are ideal for camping trips. The Jackery 2000 Pro and 3000 Pro have more storage capacity, they make excellent RV companions or reliable emergency backups. The 3000 Pro, for example, can support a family to maintain basic needs of life such as emergency lighting, food preservation or cooking, and survive a power outage for at most two days on a single full charge. It is also a good choice for families and individuals who enjoy spending time outdoors. Whether exploring new and untouched lands, going camping, going on an RV trip, or simply staying in the backyard for a cozy weekend, Jackery's Pro family ensures easy access to clean power at all times, both on and off the grid. The Jackery Explorer 1500 Pro and Solar Generator 1500 Pro with 1 SolarSaga 200W are priced at USD 1699 and USD 2099, respectively. Pre-orders start from January 16th on Jackery's official website with a warm-up discount of 15% OFF while the official sale date is February 1st. For more information, please visit Jackery's official website at https://www.jackery.com/. About Jackery Jackery, the world's leading innovative portable power and green outdoor energy solution provider founded in California in 2012, is a global top-selling solar generator brand born with a vision to offer green energy to everyone, everywhere. Jackery launched the world's first outdoor portable power stations in 2016 and developed the world's first portable solar panels in 2018. Having introduced solar generators to the great outdoors, Jackery fulfills the power needs of every nature-lover, inspiring them to explore further and seek more extraordinary experiences than before. Expanding its footprint from the US to Europe, Japan, and China, Jackery has sold more than 2 million units globally since 2018, with its products consistently selected as Best Sellers on Amazon. The brand has so far received 40 prestigious international design awards, including the Red Dot Design Award, the iF Design Award, the A' Design Award and Competition, the Best of IFA Award and the CES Innovation Award. SOURCE Jackery Inc. MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX, Telix, the Company) today advises it is presenting at the 41st Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (9 12 January) in San Francisco. As part of the Company's presentation (available to view or download from the investor page of the Telix corporate website here), Telix has elected to disclose an unaudited revenue update for Q4 2022, reporting revenue of AU$76.8M (US$50.5M) generated from sales of Illuccix kit for prostate cancer imaging in the United States (U.S.). This is an increase of 39% on Q3 2022, and a total of AU$149.7M (US$100.4M) revenue since Illuccix launch. Group CEO and Managing Director, Dr. Christian Behrenbruch stated, "We are very pleased with the continued sales momentum since launching Illuccix in the United States in April 2022. The continued strong sales growth reflects our differentiated business model and execution in the U.S. market. We look forward to updating institutional investors on the progress of our commercial activities and our broader pipeline, including our recent excellent results in renal cancer." The presentation will take place on Wednesday 11 January 2023 at 11.00am PST (Thursday 12 January 6.00am AEDT). A live webcast and recording will be available at the following link: https://jpmorgan.metameetings.net/events/healthcare23/sessions/44024-telix-pharmaceuticals/webcast?gpu_only=true&kiosk=true About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited Telix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Telix is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia with international operations in the United States, Europe (Belgium and Switzerland), and Japan. Telix is developing a portfolio of clinical-stage products that aims to address significant unmet medical need in oncology and rare diseases. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: TLX). For more information visit www.telixpharma.com and follow Telix on Twitter (@TelixPharma) and LinkedIn. Telix's lead product, gallium-68 (68Ga) gozetotide (also known as 68Ga PSMA-11) injection, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),1 and by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA),2 and by Health Canada.3 Telix Investor Relations Ms. Kyahn Williamson Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited SVP Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Email: [email protected] This announcement has been authorised for release by Dr. Christian Behrenbruch, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer. Legal Notices This announcement is not intended as promotion or advertising directed to any healthcare professional or other audience in any country worldwide (including Australia, United States and the United Kingdom). This announcement may include forward-looking statements that relate to anticipated future events, financial performance, plans, strategies or business developments. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "outlook", "forecast" and "guidance", or other similar words. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's good-faith assumptions as to the financial, market, regulatory and other risks and considerations that exist and affect the Company's business and operations in the future and there can be no assurance that any of the assumptions will prove to be correct. In the context of Telix's business, forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about: the initiation, timing, progress and results of Telix's preclinical and clinical studies, and Telix's research and development programs; Telix's ability to advance product candidates into, enrol and successfully complete, clinical studies, including multi-national clinical trials; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, manufacturing activities and product marketing activities; the commercialisation of Telix's product candidates, if or when they have been approved; estimates of Telix's expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; Telix's financial performance; developments relating to Telix's competitors and industry; and the pricing and reimbursement of Telix's product candidates, if and after they have been approved. Telix's actual results, performance or achievements may be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by such statements, and the differences may be adverse. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. You should read this announcement together with our risk factors, as disclosed in our most recently filed reports with the ASX or on our website. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Telix disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or a change in expectations or assumptions. The Telix Pharmaceuticals and the Illuccix name and logo are trademarks of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited and its affiliates all rights reserved. 1ASX disclosure 20 December 2021. 2ASX disclosure 2 November 2021. 3ASX disclosure 14 October 2022. Media Contact: Stewart Holmstrom +61-0403835245 [email protected] SOURCE Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited NASSAU, Bahamas, Jan. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Globally reputed online brokerage INFINOX has once again based itself as an industry leader, managing to win two awards in the recent Professional Trader Awards ceremony held in London this month. The ceremony, which took place on December 8th for the fourth year in a row, brings together the top names in the online brokerage sector. INFINOX was presented with the 'Best Tailored Professional Trading Conditions' award, as well as the 'Best Trading Execution' award, making it one of a few brokers that managed to win more than one award in the ceremony. "We want to thank our investors, partners and supporters first and foremost," commented Sam Chaney, head of sales at INFINOX. "These awards strengthen our commitment to providing nothing less than the most optimal trading conditions for all traders." Success based on experience and know-how More than 1,700 active traders participated in the voting phase, over the past few months. "The winners of this year's awards are among the very best in the business and are out in front when it comes to trading analysis, execution, account technology and performance tools," remarked Mike Boydell, Director of Holiston Media, the organizer of the ceremony. "We'd like to congratulate all the winners of this year, who continue to raise the bar for the financial industry." Being a multi-regulated broker, INFINOX is no stranger to industry awards. The broker has won tens of those in the years since its establishment, including the 'Best Forex Broker for Long-Term Trading' award earlier this year. "We are humbled by the praises we are receiving," added Chaney, "and we plan to keep on doing all we can in order to earn the trust of our clients." About INFINOX Founded in 2009, INFINOX is the preferred online broker of millions of traders across the world, thanks to its competitive trading conditions, lightning fast execution speed and an unprecedented standard of customer service and support. Traders who sign up with this brand are granted access to the highly acclaimed social trading app designed by INFINOX - the IX Social. INFINOX relies on MetaQuotes' MetaTrader platforms (both MetaTrader 4 and 5), ensuring an easy and comfortable user experience for traders. For more details, users are invited to visit www.infinox.com and contact one of the broker's representatives via the live chat function on the website SOURCE INFINOX Expanding access to the Nu.Q Vet Cancer Test on a worldwide basis Achieving a CE mark for Nu.Q NETs Launching its U.S. clinical product development and regulatory programs Developing its Nu.Q pipeline Scaling up its operations Read Volition's Business Review here or watch the video below. Cameron Reynolds, President and Group Chief Executive Officer, said: "2022 was a phenomenal year for Volition. For over a decade we have sought to advance the science of epigenetics, develop and rene our technology to be - what we believe to be - the best-in-class in the diagnostics industry. "Powered by Nu.Q, our Nucleosomics technology has the potential to play an important role in the ght to save lives and improve outcomes worldwide and we are thrilled that our Nu.Q Vet Cancer Test is now commercially available, with plans to commercialize Nu.Q NETs also well underway. We expect that 2023 will be another exciting year." Volition is developing simple, easy-to-use, cost-effective blood tests to help diagnose and monitor a range of life-altering diseases including cancer in both humans and animals. For more information about Volition's Nu.Q technology go to: www.volition.com. About Volition Volition is a multi-national epigenetics company that applies its Nucleosomics platform through its subsidiaries to develop simple, easy to use, cost effective blood tests to help diagnose and monitor a range of life-altering diseases including some cancers and diseases associated with NETosis such as sepsis and COVID-19. Early diagnosis and monitoring have the potential not only to prolong the life of patients but also to improve their quality of life. The tests are based on the science of Nucleosomics, which is the practice of identifying and measuring nucleosomes in the bloodstream or other bodily fluid - an indication that disease is present. Volition's research and development activities are centered in Belgium, with an innovation laboratory and office in the U.S. and additional offices in London and Singapore. The contents found at Volition's website address are not incorporated by reference into this document and should not be considered part of this document. The website address is included in this document as an inactive textual reference only. Media Enquiries: Louise Batchelor / Debra Daglish, Volition, [email protected] +44 (0)7557 774620 Safe Harbor Statement Statements in this press release may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that concern matters that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "aims," "targets," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "optimizing," "potential," "goal," "suggests," "could," "would," "should," "may," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other topics, Volition's expectations related to the timing and launch of product sales,and the potential uses, benefits and effectiveness of its Nucleosomics technology platform, including the Nu.Q NETs test and the Nu.Q Vet Cancer Test. Volition's actual results may differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, results of studies testing the efficacy of its tests, a failure by the marketplace to accept Volition's Nu.Q NETs test, Nu.Q Vet Cancer Test or other products based on its Nucleosomics platform; Volition's failure to secure adequate intellectual property protection; Volition's failure to obtain necessary regulatory clearances or approvals to distribute and market future products; Volition will face fierce competition and its intended products may become obsolete due to the highly competitive nature of the diagnostics and disease monitoring markets and their rapid technological change; downturns in domestic and foreign economies; and other risks, including those identified in Volition's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other documents that Volition files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For instance, if Volition fails to develop and commercialize diagnostic, prognostic or disease monitoring products, it may be unable to execute its plan of operations. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Volition's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and, except as required by law, Volition does not undertake an obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances. Nucleosomics and Nu.Q and their respective logos are trademarks and/or service marks of VolitionRx Limited and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this press release are the property of their respective owners. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa4EWk0oXmI SOURCE VolitionRx Limited Mexico City, Jan 8 : At least one person died and 16 others were injured in a crash of Mexico City Metro trains, local authorities said. Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said on Twitter on Saturday that the wounded had been taken to local hospitals and three of the four people trapped in train cars had been rescued. The crash occurred on Saturday morning on Metro Line Three between La Raza and Potrero stations. Mexico City Attorney General's Office said on Twitter that it had launched an investigation into the cause of the crash and victim care teams had been sent to the spot, Xinhua news agency reported. The Mexico City Metro is the most used means of transportation in the country. New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt addresses at the 23rd Joint State Representatives and ADsG/DDsG conference at South Block in New Delhi on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022. (Photo: Qamar Sibtain/IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt addresses at the 23rd Joint State Representatives and ADsG/DDsG conference at South Block in New Delhi on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022. (Photo: Qamar Sibtain/IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Jan 8 : The government is making efforts to settle people along the areas close to the country's International Borders, Union Minister Ajay Bhatt has said, adding that attention is also being given to the promotion of tourism in the bordering areas. In an exclusive interview with IANS, Union Minister of State for Defence and Tourism Ajay Bhatt discussed a host of issues, including the recent Joshimath crisis. While stating that the government has halted the work on several projects and other activities in Uttarakhand's Joshimath, the Minister also discussed other issues related to modernisation of the armed forces and the Agniveer scheme. Here are some excerpts: IANS: Could you tell us about what is being done towards resettlement of people along the border areas, border tourism and adventure tourism? Bhatt: We have been putting a lot of emphasis on border tourism. Efforts are underway to make people resettle along the border areas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Mana -- India's last village near the International Border, ahead of Badrinath. Besides, there is a good scope of promoting border tourism in the northeastern region. To promote border tourism, some programmes are being made, and some have already been implemented. Climbing, scaling ice-clad peaks, river rafting are being organised. Also, in several areas, religious tourism is being promoted. The Indian Army is taking several steps to promote adventurous tourism. Tours to Leh Ladakh are organised. Similar events would be held in Uttarakhand as well. That would motivate the youths (to join the armed forces). IANS: What is the current situation in Joshimath after it emerged that cracks have appeared in hundreds of houses, hotels and other establishments there? Bhatt: All activities related to work on the rope-way, water and electricity project have been stopped. The situation usually remains a bit tense whenever such an issue arises. While the Central government is monitoring the matter, the state government has shifted people to safer places. Besides, necessary arrangements pertaining to food, water, medicine, doctor and all other essential facilities have also been made. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a meeting on the issue and several key decisions were taken. For us, the priority is to shift the affected people to safer places under any circumstance. IANS: What is the biggest challenge before the government right now over the Joshimath crisis? Bhatt: Geologists have visited Joshimath and conducted surveys for two days. The report is likely to be submitted soon. They have also interacted with the local residents. Such challenges do emerge in the face of any disaster... besides, all the people have to move to safer places. IANS: The Republic Day parade is about to be held on the Rajpath that has been named as 'Kartavya Path'. You went there to see the arrangements too. Bhatt: A parade would be held on the Kartavya Path for the first time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a historic move by naming 'Rajpath' as 'Kartavya Path'. I went there for an inspection because our department looks after all the arrangements. All the equipment of the Army will be displayed there. IANS: The country has completed 75 years of Independence and India is also having the Presidency of G20. Do you think that enthusiasm would be seen this time in the Republic Day celebrations? Bhatt: There is massive enthusiasm... and this year, there will be a historic attendance of people in the Republic Day celebrations. As soon as we launched the invitation portal for Republic Day celebrations, people started registering to come to the R-Day Celebrations in huge numbers from all over the country. IANS: What will be the impact of Agniveer recruitment on the armed forces? Besides, a large number of youth are usually recruited in the Army from hill states such as Uttarakhand. What kind of opportunities would be available to them beyond the Agniveer scheme? Bhatt: Our Army would become a technology oriented one... that would be the biggest impact. Even after the end of their services under the Agniveer scheme, they will have many good options. Under the Agniveer quota, these youth will get priority in getting jobs even after their military service. Besides, if an individual wishes, he/ she will be able to start his/ her own work. IANS: What are the special initiatives being undertaken to modernise the Indian Army? Bhatt: New weapons are being inducted into the Army, and a lot of emphasis has also been put on Information Technology. There has also been a lot of change in the training process of the Army. IANS: Has the government selected any such tourism areas which will be developed from the world tourism perspective? Bhatt: The most important thing we are doing currently is that we are highlighting our own things. The way these touristic areas should have been highlighted was not done earlier. In fact, the origin of the Saraswati river is also a place of interest! Besides, Swargarohini is also an important place from a tourism point of view. We have hot water sources on the routes of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath. Also, Satopanth is an important sightseeing place which is ahead of Badrinath. Ahmedabad, Jan 8 : In the commodities market, cash crops cumin and castor have a very good future and farmers will get good prices this year. Market experts forecast cumin is likely to be in short supply, which will push up prices. Though castor seeds production is likely to be high, yet it will keep the price stable because the castor stock is nil this year. Unjha Agriculture Produce Market Committee vice chairman Arvind Patel told IANS, "Gujarat and Rajasthan farmers have cultivated cumin on 8,60,000 hectares of land, late winter is likely to damage cumin crop on 1,50,000 hectares, hence the total production is estimated to be one lakh bags less (one bag means 55 kg), in virtual figure some 5,500 metric tonnes less. The total production is expected to be around 3 to 3.30 lakh metric tonnes." On Thursday, in Muhurat trading, a farmer in Gondal market fetched Rs 36,000 for 20 kilograms. When the same cumin reached Unjha on Friday, it fetched Rs 51,000 for 20 kilograms. Patel said if the production meets the estimate, cumin market price is likely to remain Rs 6000 to Rs 6300 for 20 kilograms. If the estimate of production proves wrong and there is good production, the cumin price will fall to Rs 5000 for 20 kg. According to him, the entire 2023 is going to be buoyant for cumin, but it will face small hiccups from February to April, when the market is likely to be flooded with cumin. Another cash crop is castor, where farmers will get good prices this year, hopes Jasubhai Patel of K Patel & Co of Visnagar Agriculture Produce Market Committee. He is expecting castor seeds price to remain Rs 1200 to Rs 1500 for 20 kg in this season. Last year the prices ranged between Rs 1100 to Rs 1200 for 20 kg. In this season the market is expecting 19 lakh metric tonnes while the domestic market demand is around 8 lakh metric tonnes. Some 2 lakh metric tonnes stock will carry forward. Though production is high it will not have a negative impact on prices because many farmers don't sell their crop, so it balances the demand and supply, keeping castor seeds' price high, says Vinod Rajput, director of Gokul Agri International Ltd. This is also the expectation of Mehul Desai, director of Aravalli Castor Products. He is also hoping that like 2022, in 2023 the demand and supply flow will be smooth and will keep the prices stable. Bareilly : Jan 8 (IANS) A man has been arrested on charges of love jihad after his Dalit wife lodged a complaint with the police for rape, sexual exploitation and forced religious conversion. Married for 11 years, the woman has also named four family members of her husband in her complaint, based on which, an FIR has been lodged against the accused at Cantt police station of Bareilly. Inspector Balveer Singh said that the woman's husband, Sadiq has been arrested under IPC sections of rape and harassment as well as sections of Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion. Also, the section of Atrocities Against Scheduled Caste Act has been included in the FIR. Further investigation is underway in the matter, he added. The 28-year-old complainant was married to one Sadiq in 2011 when she was a minor. Earlier too, the woman had given a complaint at another police station but the policemen 'pacified' things at the time. Jammu, Jan 8 : Two terrorists have been killed in an ongoing operation near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Balakot sector of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday. "Alert troops deployed on the border fence in Balakot detected and neutralised two terrorists so far. Area has been cordoned off and operations are in progress," the Army said. The Army also said operations will continue to nab terrorists involved in the Dhangri attack in Rajouri district. The killing of two terrorists comes days after the terror attack in the Dhanghri area in which six people, including two minors were killed. Panaji, Jan 8 : Several social activists, social organisations and opposition parties in Goa have come under one banner of 'Save Goa - Save Mhadei' to fight against the nod given by the Central government to Detailed Project Report of Karnataka for disputed Kalasa-Bhanduri dam project. 'Save Goa - Save Mhadei' movement has paced in the coastal state and people associated with it are holding a series of meetings to make the protest scheduled on January 16 successful, which is observed as the Opinion Day of Goa, at Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's constituency Sanquelim in North Goa. Political Parties like Goa Forward, Aam Aadmi Party, Congress and Trinamool Congress are supporting this movement. Also a number of NGOs and social activists are working to show their strength and condemn the decision of the Central government. With all opposition parties demanding the resignation of Sawant accusing him of compromising the interests of Goa to benefit his party in the Karnataka elections, the BJP has opposed the move of its own government at the Centre and has announced to start a signature campaign to pressurise its leaders. However, the opposition has mocked the move of BJP pointing out that the Signature Campaign should be started by people and not the BJP, who according to them should use its influence to withdraw the DPR approval. Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Goan Party, which has one MLA in the 40-member state legislative Assembly, has announced a public meeting on Sunday in the capital Panjim. RGP block units across Goa have appealed to the locals to join for the meeting on Sunday and show their love towards Mhadei. RGP MLA Viresh Borkar has also demanded the state government to constitute 'House Committee' over the Mhadei issue. In the past a mammoth crowd has been witnessed at the public meetings organised by the RGP on several issues. According to sources for the meeting organised on Sunday thousands of people may gather. All the opposition parties in Goa have lambasted the ruling BJP for the decision taken by the Centre. Reacting to the 'Mhadei Water Diversion' issue, Trinamool Congress' Goa in-charge Kirti Azad has said that the ruling BJP government has failed to give a solution and if the river's natural flow is stopped, then the coastal state will witness drought. He said that there are rules and regulations of the water tribunal that any river passing through a state, then a certain amount of water should be released. "Now if it is coming from Karnataka and going to the Arabian Sea (Goa) is a natural process of this river, hence the amount of cusec required for Goa should be duly given to Goa. Natural processes should not be disturbed. How can one stop this natural process?" Azad questioned. Criticising the state's BJP government, he said that in Goa nobody was doing anything. The Trinamool Congress Goa unit going aggressively has said that 'agitation' is the only option to save Mhadei from getting diverted as the state government has failed on all aspects. Recently, a Trinamool Congress delegation called on Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai and demanded to withdraw the approval given to Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Karnataka for the disputed Kalsa-Bhanduri dam project. The Trinamool delegation submitted a memorandum to the Governor in regards to protecting river Mhadei. Trinamool convener Samil Volvoikar has said that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should step down as he has failed to resolve the issue. "He is head of the state, if he can't save Mhadei then he should step down," Volvoikar said. While BJP's senior leader and Union Minister of State for Tourism and Ports Shripad Naik has said that he has no problem to think on tendering resignation if the Central government fails to withdraw the approval granted to Karnataka's 'Detailed Project Report' for Kalasa-Bhanduri Nala projects. Naik, whose home state is Goa, said that the dream of Karnataka to divert water to Malaprabha basin has been brought to reality by the Central Water Commission (CWC), which he termed as a 'sad' thing. Environmentalists have expressed fear that water diversion would lead to heightened salinity in the Mhadei. This would also cause ecological imbalance with the wildlife suffering. Goa and Karnataka have been battling over the Kalsa-Bhanduri dam project across the Mhadei river before a Central tribunal. The Mhadei river originates in Karnataka and meets the Arabian Sea in Panaji. While the river traverses 28.8 km in Karnataka, it has a length of 81.2 km in Goa. Karnataka plans to construct dams on the river, aimed at diverting the waters into its water-starved Malaprabha basin in north Karnataka. The Duke of Sussex has been accused of making the Invictus Games a target for extremists by revealing he killed 25 people in Afghanistan (Steve Parsons/PA) (PA Archive) 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. The Invictus Games is very much labelled to him and so I would have thought the threat level there will definitely be higher, he told the newspaper. There will be serious security issues because of what he said. Measures will have to be put in place to protect the veterans. And there will be people who, given half the chance, will want to do something. The international multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, of which the duke is the patron, will now be a prime target for those wanting revenge, Lord West said. The Taliban will be reading (Harrys claims about killing fighters and) thinking theres this prince calling us all chess pieces and is quite happy about killing us. And there will be a lot of people, I am sure, in Islamic State and other terrorist organisations, who will think this is something which should be avenged. Harry faced an onslaught of criticism in recent days since the excerpt from his memoir was leaked about the number insurgents he killed as a helicopter pilot. Colonel Tim Collins, known for a pre-battle speech he made in Iraq, was one of many the many distinguished personnel to criticise the Dukes conduct, 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. 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. One of the great foreign policy feats of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is that he stood upfront on the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine -- sparked by the launch of Russian military operation in February 2022 to support the Russian-speaking eastern provinces of Ukraine against the alleged suppression of their rights by Ukraine -- and took a line that both sides had concerns which should be resolved through peaceful negotiations. The US-led West joined the fray in support of Ukraine amid appeals from President Volodymyr Zelensky for grant of NATO membership to Ukraine and the conflict went on to assume the proportions of a 'war' with no end in sight. The US and its allies are merely supplying arms, ammunition and sophisticated war material to Ukraine, creating an impression that they were conducting a 'proxy war' against Russia. It is possible that the US saw in its strategy a parallel with the anti-Soviet armed campaign in Afghanistan that had ultimately led to the withdrawal of the Soviet army and the demise of the USSR. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that Vladimir Putin's Russia is not getting worn down and it is Ukraine that is taking the real hit in terms of loss of life and assets. President Putin has referred to the effectiveness of tactical nuclear weapons, but clearly not betrayed any desperation about using them in this conflict. He is still pursuing the original aim of protecting the eastern provinces of Ukraine closely identified with Russian interests and has again gone on record to claim that he wants to end the conflict. The total scene around this military confrontation of geopolitical significance suggests that it is still not an irreversible case for return to peace. What is needed is a credible global level mediation acceptable to both sides. It is noteworthy that beyond the UN that faced resolutions critical of Putin in the Ukraine- Russia conflict, India's position as a possible mediator acceptable to both sides, has been acknowledged more than once by the unbiased sections of the international community. Prime Minister Modi became the first world leader to call for cessation of hostilities and recourse to peaceful negotiation to resolve the Ukraine-Russia conflict. He told the Russian President that 'this is not an era of war', and subsequently voiced India's firm opposition to use of nuclear weapons when there were speculations about possible induction of tactical nuclear missiles by Putin to achieve his goal in the war with Ukraine. These responses made India the sane voice in the world and established Prime Minister Modi as a global counsel on issues of war and peace. Modi has spoken to the two Presidents more than once and has kept up hopes in the prospects of return to peace sooner than later. The success of India's foreign policy in the Modi regime can be measured by the fact that India's friendly bonds with Russia do not come in the way of the deep and natural strategic friendship of India with the US, which was the hallmark of convergence between the two largest democracies of the world and - what is even more significant - by the fact that US President Joe Biden and Putin both understood India's geopolitical position. Interestingly, Putin now taking decisions on the readings of his own intelligence set up would be doing so with much greater confidence since he has a first-hand experience of the flaws and strong points of the latter and perhaps could see things in the wider global perspective even better than before. Any attempt at mediation between Russia and Ukraine can hope to succeed only if the background of the conflict is clearly understood and steps recommended to establish lasting trust among the two neighbours accordingly. When the Cold War ended consequent on the dismemberment of USSR and the termination of the Warsaw Pact, the emergence of East European states as independent nations, besides the rise of Central Asian Republics (CARs), left the residual Soviet Russia as a much smaller empire. The US-led West might have done well to work for peaceful coexistence between Russia and its neighbours. Certainly, a high-pitch combative alliance like NATO did not hold the earlier ground as American hostility towards Russia did not have to exist at the level of the Cold War era. In fact, in the unipolar world order, the US was expected to work for world peace while militarily safeguarding American interests across the globe. Former US President Donald Trump treated Russia at par with European nations and seemed to have little problem with Putin - he was in the process able to deal with China on a stronger note of military and economic deterrence. The advent of Biden Presidency saw a reversal of US attitude towards Russia - this could be in part because of the controversy that the crucial Presidential poll had left behind on the issue of Russian 'interference' in the American elections. Biden declared Russia as the prime adversary for the US and underlined the trans-Atlantic alliance with Europe in a manner that underscored the continued use of NATO as a deterrent against Russia. Putin's action against Ukraine gave Biden a justifiable ground for confronting Russia. The Ukraine-Russia conflict precipitated in February 2022 as Putin ordered 'military operation' in eastern Ukraine, ostensibly to safeguard the rights of the Russian speaking population there in the face of a simmering agitation continuing in those parts. The situation rapidly worsened because of the declared policy of Zellensky to seek NATO membership to militarily respond to Russia and the decision of the US-led West to join the Ukrainian side by pumping in arms and ammunition into Ukraine. The backdrop of the continuing tension between Russia and Ukraine going back to the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 - with the West beginning the spell of sanctions on Russia to express its support to Ukraine then - is also linked to the aggravation of the Russia-Ukraine military conflict this time. The development regarding Crimea - a territory of vast strategic import for Russia on the Black Sea - had preceded an anti-Russia uprising there in which Islamic fundamentalists blessed by the West had played a major part. Significantly, Putin also supported Syrian President Assad in the 'civil war' precipitated by Islamic militants against him - with US backing. Russia might have been specially sensitive to the 'destabilisation' of Crimea because of what the USSR had experienced in Afghanistan - perhaps Putin considered it legitimate to get the territory 'back to Russia' since it was earlier 'gifted' by Nikita Khrushchev to Ukraine internally, according to some authentic accounts. The whole point is that there was no push back on the part of the West from the Cold War confrontation even after the USSR had collapsed in 1991 and international Communism on which it rested, had ended. An international team of negotiators, including Indian representatives, can start a dialogue with Ukraine and Russia with their consent. As mentioned earlier, mediators have to acknowledge the security concerns of the two warring nations and try to find their redressal in a mutual peace agreement that neighbours with different governance models could adhere to. An immediate ceasefire pending a negotiated settlement would be necessary and supply of armament and ammunition to Ukraine from outside would has to be halted. Restoration of democratic government in Ukraine based on 'one man one vote' and equal rights for all citizens regardless of language, community and region is extremely important. Ukraine must declare that it is not seeking NATO membership. Lifting of sanctions against Russia may be considered consequent on a withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine to their side of the border. An effective peace pact between Russia and Ukraine governing their future relationship should be the final outcome of the mediation. The US would do well not to create a geopolitical situation where Russia and China would jointly deal with the West and accelerate the reemergence of Cold War between two matching powers. This will, among other things, impede the processes of international economic cooperation already set in motion. The virtual summit between Putin and Xi Jinping on December 30 reaffirmed that Russia-China strategic friendship is deepening further and blamed those who were, according to them, instigating the Cold War mentality. The meeting acquires special significance in the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine military conflict. The polarisation between the US-led West and China-Russia combine will no more be totally 'ideological', considering the 'Sinicization of Marxism' initiated by Xi Jinping and the emphasis placed on Russian national pride by Putin, and this would minimise the possibility of internal differences cropping up among them over claims on Marxist-Leninist thought. The two countries shared a system of dictatorship that opposed the US - and this in fact would act as the more important binding element for them. As far as India is concerned, Indo-Russia friendship is one reason why China at least pretends that it wants to maintain good relations with India. India has to watch out against China continuing to practice its 'two steps forward one step backward' policy in spite of such pretences. In the final analysis, the US and Europe should work to return to democracy in all countries that were once a part of the USSR. This will be a useful long-term strategy for the US to maintain its geopolitical hold and global acceptability. Enlargement of the democratic order can be an effective counter to Chinese expansionism and Russia's possible strategic aim of bringing back the former USSR territories under its influence. This provides an additional non-military route for the US for maintaining its supremacy as the leader of the democratic world. Prime Minister Modi's mandate that 'this is not an era of war' in fact strengthens Biden's hands. India must continue to press for a peace negotiation between Russia and Ukraine without any preconditions being set by either side. (The writer is a former Director of Intelligence Bureau. The views expressed are personal) New Delhi, Jan 8 : The recent spate of targeted killings by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir continues to pose a major challenge for the security forces to maintain peace and safeguard the lives of common citizens living in the union territory. Terrorists are continuously targeting Hindu families, Kashmiri Pandit community and government employees in the Valley. Therefore, the Union Home Ministry has now swung into action to stop such incidents further from taking place in the Valley. According to government sources, the Union government has prepared a concrete plan to neutralise the terrorists who are involved in carrying out such targeted killings in the Valley. This plan has come into operation in the last few days with the banning of two terror organisations and designating three people involved in recent targeted killings as terrorists. According to sources, following the targeted killings of six civilians in Rajouri, Jammu, in two separate incidents at the beginning of 2023, the Home Ministry on the instructions of Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the heads of security agencies to crack down on targeted killings and ensure maximum security in the Jammu region. A Home Ministry official said that the terrorists have changed their strategy to spread terror in J&K by carrying out targeted killings in the relatively safer Jammu region to spread fear and panic among the people. The Ministry has taken several swift measures in the last three to four days to crackdown on these killings. The MHA on January 4 declared Ijaz Ahmed, the chief recruiter of the terror organisation Islamic State Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK), as a terrorist. On January 5, taking two more stern measures, the MHA declared terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Commander Mohammad Amin alias Abu Khubaib, currently active in Jammu and Kashmir as a terrorist, while the Union government also banned an organisation called The Resistance Front (TRF). On January 6, the MHA banned the People's Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) and on the same day Arbaz Ahmad Mir of the LeT, who is considered the mastermind of targeted killings, was also declared a terrorist. Banned terror organisations such as TRF and People's Anti-Fascist Front were acting as proxies of terror organisations like LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Sources say that in view of increasing international pressure on Pakistan since the last few years for nurturing terror, the ISI and the terrorists acting at their behest created new terror organisations in India. They want to keep alive the atmosphere of terror in the Valley and desperately want to tell that terror has not yet ended in Jammu and Kashmir. Sources associated with the security agencies said that ever since Article 370 was abrogated in Jammu and Kashmir, these new terror groups have started radicalising angry Kashmiri youth to become terrorists. At the same time, they have been assigned non-Islamic names to shield their identity among the civilian population in Kashmir Valley. Both the terror organisations ie LeT and JeM have played a major role in the targeted killings against Hindus living in Kashmir. In order to Identify these pseudonymous organisations, strict action is being taken so that Pakistan can be exposed before the world. Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI and terror organisations, have been plotting terror attacks again to terrorise Rajouri and Poonch districts, adjoining the Line of Control in Jammu region, for a long time. Sources said that till now Jammu was considered a safe security zone. Tourists, local citizens and the Kashmiri Pandit community were considered completely safe here. But, now the concern among the security forces has increased manifold due to the terrorists looking to expand their base in Jammu region. According to an official, the security forces have been conducting very few anti-terror operations in Jammu as compared to that in Kashmir Valley. However, in the last 15 months, the troops have launched an intensive search operation in Jammu. During such operations, the security forces in Jammu have continuously seized arms, explosives, grenades, IEDs, RDX including several other materials, etc. After the challenges being faced by the security forces in the Valley, the terrorists are so desperate that they have planned a new strategy to increase targeted killings in Jammu. All the security agencies together are making a strategy to deal with this sinister plan hatched by the terrorists. To stop targeted killings in Jammu, the Union government has deployed more than 18 additional companies of CRPF, comprising 1,800 security personnel, to strengthen the security situation in Rajouri and Poonch districts. As soon as the units of CRPF personnel reached Rajouri and Poonch, the work undertaken to make bunkers and posts also started at a rapid pace. According to sources, the MHA has given a free hand to the security forces to deal with targeted killings and eliminate terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. After the recent targeted killings in Jammu, Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha had said that the Centre and the UT government have taken a resolve to eliminate terrorism. He added that though the lives of innocent civilians cannot be compensated, all possible help would be given to the families of the deceased persons. The L-G said that the government whether it is Centre or the state have given complete freedom to the security forces to neutralise terrorists. Lucknow, Jan 8 : Convicts in cases of petty crime that have shown good conduct in jail and those who are elderly will soon be set free by the Uttar Pradesh government. The process of selection of such inmates will include those sentenced to serve less than seven years of jail for crimes which they had confessed to have committed and pleaded mercy. It will also include inmates who have not received any visitors in the last 12 months and are deemed to have been abandoned by their families. According to official sources, the prison department is preparing a list of undertrial prisoners lodged in 62 jails and Bandi Nari Niketan in the state. A senior official said that it will reduce the number of undertrial prisoners to a minimum. He said that officials of the prison department have been given instructions to provide a list of prisoners with less than seven years' sentence in each jail. They have been asked to offer suggestions. The files of such prisoners are sought at the headquarters. A list of trade-wise trained prisoners is also sought from the superintendents of all jails in the state. This will help the government in their rehabilitation. According to jail officials, all prisoners lodged in jails are not professional criminals. Therefore, it is important to treat them with humanity so they can walk out with a better mindset and skills and merge back with mainstream society. New Delhi, Jan 8 : The presidents of Guyana and Suriname arrived in India to attend the 17th Pravasi Divas convention beginning in Indore on Sunday. Guyana President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who is on a seven-day visit to the country, is the chief guest at India's biggest diaspora conclave and also a recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award. Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi was received by Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra, Water Resources Minister Tulsi Silawat and other officials upon his arrival in Indore. Santokhi is the special guest of honour at the Diaspora convention. Both the leaders are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi where they will be discussing migration, mobily, food processing and energy. The two leaders will also be meeting External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and depart from India on January 14. The three-day convention comes at a time when India enters the period of 'Amrit Kaal' -- charting the next 25 years of vision for the country. Over 3,500 diaspora members from nearly 70 different countries have registered for the PBD Convention. The 17th PBD will kick off with the inauguration of the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which will be held in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Zaneta Mascarenhas, Member of Parliament of Australia, will attend the event as the Guest of Honour. Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the convention on January 9. The 2023 event is significant as it is being held physically after a gap of four years. The last PBD meet was held virtually in 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Melbourne, Jan 8 : Former two-time champion Naomi Osaka of Japan has withdrawn from this year's Australian Open, the tournament announced on Sunday. With Osaka's withdrawal, Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska moves into the main draw. "Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. We will miss her at #AO2023. Dayana Yastremska moves into the main draw," the Australian Open tweeted on Sunday. A champion in Melbourne in 2019 and 2021, Osaka has not played a competitive match since the US Open 2022 where she lost her first-round match in women's singles to Danielle Collins of the United States in straight sets 6-7 (5-7), 3-6. Last year in Melbourne, the former No.1 advanced to the third round, where she bowed out after losing to Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5). Osaka's name is the latest addition in the Australian Open players withdrawal list. Earlier, seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has also pulled out of season's first Grand Slam after sustaining an injury at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. World No. 1 men's singles player Carlos Alcaraz of Spain has also pulled out of the 2023 season's first major. "When I was at my best in the preseason I picked up an injury through a chance, unnatural movement in training," he wrote on Twitter. "This time it's the semimembranosus muscle in my right leg." "I'd worked so hard to get to my best level for Australia but unfortunately I won't be able to play the Care A2+ Kooyong [exhibition event] or the Australian Open. It's tough, but I have to be optimistic, recover and look forward. See you in 2024 Australian Open," he added. Film critics too can have a history. Really? Of course they do and it is a long one. Not surprisingly, it is a chequered history with mostly grey shades. Once upon a time, this was entirely a print media domain. There were some popular critics who people followed and believed but not enough to spend on a film. The genuine critics left their mark on the reviews they wrote. The print media does not enjoy the privilege alone anymore. Now we have online critics and FM radio critics. Initially, these online critics wrote for an established portal, but, soon,some realised that they need not belong or be answerable to an editor. The Net gives one all kinds of freedom. Some decided to start their own blogs or video reviews. Thanks to social media, these online critics started gaining mileage, so much so that a few of them have a following of more than the circulation of some print media publications! There are a few online, independent film critics who enjoy hits in some lakhs. This one who goes by the name Deeksha Sharma has as many as 34.4 lakh followers; KRK, the Dubai-based film producer-turned-online film critic, has 11.7 lakh followers, while the other two, Palat Tera Dhayn and Suraj Kumar, both have over 7.2 lakh followers. Don't think any official media critic enjoys this kind of numbers, not even the so called trade experts. Now, that is what is called 'The times are a-changing'. Film reviews have always been about a quid pro quo. Critics used to be a small community. The broadsheets never cared about films except for obits of major stars, but, usually, they all carried a film review every Sunday following a film's release. By that time, the people had decided if the film was a hit or a flop and in some cases, a film fared so poorly that it was withdrawn from the cinemas even before the review appeared! The critics were a privileged lot. The filmmakers trusted them enough to hold special screenings for them a couple of days before the film's theatrical release; the practice still continues with most makers. Once the press screening was done, it was left to a film's PR man to do the rest, such as getting a preferred headline and picture to be used. Then an envelope, or lifafa, would reach each critic, who did the needful in exchange for the favour. A reader mostly checked the picture and the caption. Few bothered to read a review in detail. But, for all those critics, this money never reached home. It was spent on bar hopping. Easy come, easy go. This was all hush hush. The filmmakers have one perpetual weakness. They like to hear only good things about themselves and their films. If you do otherwise, you are an enemy for life. Very soon, the critics as well as the media understood this and started exploiting the weakness. Not only the critics, but also the media organisations started saying what the makers liked to read. Now, it was no more a matter of passing a petty cash lifafa. Deals were struck officially. Actually, film reviews in the media were never taken seriously. People who loved cinema always counted on word of mouth. Anybody could become a critic, but a rare few could be objective. A film review was the point of view of an individual. There were critics who judged a film by its maker's name. For instance, a Hrishikesh Mukherjee or a Gulzar film would get high ratings, while a Manmohan Desai film would be panned, merit and commercial success notwithstanding. Logically as well as practically, a critic should be able to judge a film from the audience's point of view. Except the trade papers, no other critic had that capacity! So what are the new film critics all about? Simply put: Money. There is also another breed, the ones who want to see themselves being acknowledged as critics! This kind gives all films reviews '5 Stars' and brings this to the notice of the PR concerned. The PR concerned, in turn, would use them to publicise the film! These are not really critics, nor do they belong to any publication. It is all a scam, this business of film reviewing. It always has been. One particular critic comes to mind. A former high-level government employee, he reviewed films for a major newspaper. When we came out of press screenings, a Hindi media critic would explain everything to him, from what the title meant to what the film was all about! No wonder, sometimes, I enjoyed his conversation with the Hindi critic more than the film I had watched. Then there was a Delhi-based critic. For a '5 Star' review the price was Rs 5 lakh for some actors; others got only four stars for the same amount. The final blow came when the management of publications decided to hop on to the review business. No more the critic, the marketing department called the shots. The stars a film review earned was now commensurate with the ad budgets! The corporate houses running the film industry were easily convinced. Besides, the critics were no longer reviewing a film for their readers, the people; they were doing it to please the filmmaker or the star. Earlier, a press screening for a film would be held in a limited capacity, say, 30 to 50 seats, preview theatre, now it needs a 200-to-400-seat multiplex screen, thanks to the digital media as well as to self proclaimed '5 Star' critics. Some of them literally seemed to be obsessed with the number of stars they would give a film, the rest invited to a press screening knew what was expected of them. Looks like nobody trusted the moviegoer to judge a film, but sadly no critic ever decided for people and, among numerous others, the 1975 film 'Sholay' is the biggest example of this. The film was panned by all critics, but it went on to create a history. Los Angeles, Jan 8 : 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery' star Kate Hudson is celebrating her son Ryder's birthday with a sweet tribute that she posted on her Instagram. The 43-yera-old actress wasn't afraid to get sappy on Instagram for his 19th birthday, writing about how much her eldest son has changed her life, alongside a set of photos and videos of him throughout the years, reports People magazine. "Born on a full moon in cancer, this young man has my whole heart," Hudson wrote. "Hilarious, loving, kind, loyal, sensitive. Ryder, my sweet son, I love celebrating the day you were born." The collection of photographs, according to People, includes a snap of Ryder hugging his mom over her shoulders as she smiles at a camera, a candid one of him sitting outside by a bonfire and a picture of Hudson laying down on the floor with both Ryder and her 4-year-old daughter Rani Rose. She further mentioned in her caption: "Your birth changed all of our lives forever and has brought so much joy and laughter daily," she continued. "I love you infinity x infinity x 3 trillion cubed. A Big Happy Birthday @mr.ryderrobinson." She also shared some hilarious clips of Ryder doing a plie while they both worked out and him imitating Harry Styles in a fur jacket. In the final video, she points to Ryder and sings: "I'm a hap-happy mommy, hap-happy mommy, got all my babies, I'm a hap-happy mommy." Ryder returned from college in December to spend the holidays with his mom and siblings for their annual trip to Aspen, Colorado. During an appearance on 'Late Night with Seth Meyers', Hudson said that she along with her 11-year-old son Bing and Rani Rose were excited to have him back. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Sixty-six-year old Delhi-based entrepreneur, Gagan Khosla embarked on a mission to cycle his way across the Golden Quadrilateral, covering 6000+ km, to raise funds for Bal Raksha Bharat's (also known as Save the Children, India) education programmes. His journey began on November 20, 2022, in Delhi, and ended on December 28, 2022, in Manesar, Gurgaon, after a 37-day bicycle journey that covered the states of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, while browsing through news channels, Khosla discerned the threat that the pandemic posed, especially to the learning opportunities for financially disadvantaged children. In response, he decided to test his limits, which he had done previously when he rode a bicycle 4,300 kilometers from Leh to Kanyakumari to celebrate his 60th birthday and raise funds for his former institution, Scindia School, Gwalior, in 2016. His journey was so inspirational that it was turned into a film titled 'Hai Junoon'. Produced by the EPIC Channel, the 45-minute film tracks Khosla's adventures from the vast mountains of Leh to the fast-track highways of mainland India? Bal Raksha Bharat, commonly known as Save the Children India, is a non-profit organisation working to improve the lives of marginalized children in India since 2008. "It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that I was sitting at home watching the news of people departing from cities for their towns and villages, and that was when I started feeling concerned about what is going to happen to these people, especially children. How many children are going to be pushed toward illiteracy? How is this migration going to affect their future? Who is going to look after the kids who lost their parents? My head was full of these questions, and that was when I decided to do my part for society and our children. I was well aware that I would not be enough to change the fate of all the affected children; however, I also knew that every drop in the ocean counts. Finally, I decided to connect with Save the Children and shared my idea with them," says Gagan Khosla. "When Mr. Khosla reached out to us with his idea, we were delighted to see the determination he had to do something for children, and for the nation. Pre-pandemic poverty, gender disparity, overpopulation, and distance from school were a few of the many reasons for dropout rates in India, and the pandemic further added to that. As many as 247 million children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools in India were impacted by extended school closures. "School closures threatened to rob children off a childhood of learning. However, the Central Government brought out various interventions, guidelines and innovative models to reduce the impact of pandemic on education. All relevant stakeholders, including NGOs, Corporates and individuals have come together to support the government in this endeavor, and we stand together to ensure learning continues for all children," says Sudarshan Suchi, CEO, Save the Children. India has made significant strides in literacy since independence (National Statistical Commission Survey calculates literacy to be 77.7 per cent in 2017-18). The United Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2019-20 for School Education in India records the total children enrolled in schools from primary to higher secondary at 25.57 crores as compared to 25.38 crore enrolment in 2020-21, registering an increase of 19.36 lakh children. However, 1.45 per cent of children at the primary level and 12.61 per cent at the secondary level drop out and financial burden is one of the major causes for that. On top of that, the pandemic worsened the scenario further. For Khosla, every journey brings new experiences allowing him to meet and interact with new people. En route to Chennai, while having breakfast, he met Dr. Thameem Ansari, a renowned pediatric surgeon. He congratulated Khosla for this incredible initiative of pedaling across the Golden Quadrilateral for this noble cause. He invited Khosla to his hospital in Chennai and was greeted by 700-800 staff members. Khosla proved that age is just a number if you have the will and motivation to do something and for him that motivation was to do something for children deprived of basic early education. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) New Delhi, Jan 8 : Delhi Police officials were on Saturday attacked by a violent mob of 100 African natioanls who helped in escaping of three African natioanls who were caught by the police for living in India illegally. When police again went to Neb Sarai's Raju Park, the police team was again attacked by the African nationals, but police managed to apprehend four of them. A senior police official said that a team of Narcotics Cell went to Raju Park on Saturday for deportation proceedings of overstaying foreign nationals. The official said that at about 2:30 p.m., the team apprehended three African nationals whose visas had expired. "The team was trying to bring them to the police station but suddenly about 100 African nationals gathered there and obstructed the police team and in the meantime two of the detained African Nationals managed to escape. Later on, one Philip was successfully apprehended," the official said. The official said that again at about 6:30 p.m, a joint team of narcotics squad and Police Station Neb Sarai reached Raju Park in search of the overstaying foreign nationals and detained four African nationals including one woman namely Kene Chukwu David Williams. A case under section 420/120B of IPC read with 14 Foreigners Act has been registered against the accused at Crime Branch, and passports have also been seized there. The accused Nigerians identified as Igwe Emmanuel Chimezie, Aziegbe John, Queen Godwin were held in second round of visit. But again about 150-200 African nationals gathered there. They were also trying to help the detained African nationals to escape but after sincere efforts, the police team succeeded to bring them in Police Station Neb Sarai. The official said that further the deportation proceedings for apprehended overstaying foreign Nationals are being taken up. Mumbai, Jan 8 : Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff asked UP's CM Yogi Adityanath to lower the prices of popcorn at cinemas. He said that if the charges of popcorn is very high, the audience's inrerest in coming to theatres and watch movies will be affected. He conveyed his thought that lowering the prices may help in bringing movie buffs to cinema halls. He said: "Theatre ke popcorn ka keemat kam karo Sir. 500 rupiya lete hai popcorn ka. Picture banayenge, studio banayenge, lekin andar aayega kaun? (Please reduce the price of popcorn, sir. They charge Rs 500 for popcorn. We will make films, studios, but who will come to watch them in a cinema?)" Yogi Adityanath recently visited Mumbai and held a meeting with Bollywood celebs including Suniel Shetty, Manoj Joshi, Kailash Kher, Sonu Nigam, Boney Kapoor and Jackie Shroff. The 'Hero' actor also welcomed the Chief Minister and invited him for home-cooked food. "Welcome to Mumbai. Kabhi bhi ghar ka khana chaiye toh hukum karna, mil jayega (If you want home-cook food, just order and you will get it)." Jackie also posted a picture on his social media handle expressing his gratitude to the CM. He wrote in the caption: "It was nice to meet Yogi Adityanath Ji today along with Subhash Ghai Ji and my friends Suniel Shetty and Rahul Mittra, and learn about the UP film policy and film city. My best wishes!" Later, Suniel Shetty also asked him to request PM Modi for putting a stop on boycott bollywood trend. Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@captimes.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. New Delhi, Jan 8 : The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Sunday said that a call between Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took place on the request of the PM -- a statement that indicates Islamabad has not refrained from doing politics despite nearing default, media report said. "The call took place in response to a request by the Prime Minister of Pakistan to discuss the International Conference on resilient Pakistan," Esther Perez, the resident representative of the IMF confirmed to The Express Tribune. It is pertinent to note that on Friday an official handout released by the Prime Minister's Office had read that "the IMF managing director called premier Shehbaz on the phone." During his speech, the Prime Minsiter had also claimed that the Fund's managing director had contacted him. It seems that the Pakistan government is not yet ready to mend its ways as it makes questionable claims of strength despite risking sovereign default with only $4.5 billion foreign exchange reserves in hand, The Express Tribune reported. The remaining reserves are enough to finance only three weeks of imports. Pakistan's three months (January-March) debt repayments stand at $8.5 billion. This includes $2 billion to the UAE which the government is trying to get a rollover for. Such factually incorrect statements may create more problems for Pakistan to convince the IMF, particularly when there is a long history of mistrust between both sides, Express Tribune reported. The country has long been in difficult relationships with the IMF due to its habit of making promises at the time of getting a loan tranche but then abandoning these commitments once the tranche has been disbursed. This has created a wide gulf. A spokesperson of the IMF in a statement to the media also said that "the Managing Director had a constructive call with Prime Minister Sharif in the context of the International Conference on Resilient Pakistan to be held in Geneva on Monday, January 9." New Delhi, Jan 8 : Supriya Saxena, who draws her inspiration from the Victorian era, penned this collection of poetry between 2019 and 2019 after extensively travelling through Rajasthtan and reading a lot about it, bringing forth nuances from the state that will give readers an immersive travel experience. 'Poems of Rajasthan' comprises 39 poems which capture images from different aspects of the state. It is an amalgam of the poet's thoughts and feelings related to the people, art and craft, rural life, the flora and fauna of the desert, architecture, food, ethnicity, misfortunes, and the current situation. The poetry transcends languages and is written in English and Hindi with some usage of Rajasthani words. It is a coloured book with illustrations for some poems. Most of the poems are in English and very few in Hindi, with a translation. The book can be categorised as a travel/leisure - poetry book. The style of writing is narrative and is easy to grasp with footnotes explaining some words. You will enjoy reading this book with a hot cup of coffee in your hands. "Supriya's strength is her keen sense of observation and a near total recall of scenes witnessed," says writer, historian and archaeologist Rima Hooja. Supriya Saxena grew up in North India. Her interest in poetry goes back to her school days where English Literature was given high prominence. Under the guidance of excellent English teachers, Saxena took to writing and drawing inspiration from literary works of the Victorian Era. She finds solace in poetry. It is a form of art that helps her to create a refuge for herself by penning experiences, imagination, and emotions. Saxena now lives in Navi Mumbai. She has developed her career as a communications practitioner, and when she is not at work or writing poetry, spends time as a welfare worker. Peshawar, Jan 8 : The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan's (TTP) leader, Mufti Noor Wali Mehsood, has indicated that his outfit is still amenable to a ceasefire agreement with the Pakistan government. "We held talks with Pakistan mediated by Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan. We are still open to the ceasefire agreement," Mehsood said in a message. The statement indicated that the TTP sought guidance from religious scholars, saying: "If you find anything mislaid, any negligence or if you believe we have changed our course - you, being our teachers and religious scholars, [should] guide us the same way as you guided us earlier. We are ready to listen to your opinion," Dawn reported. On January 4, TTP's supreme council issued a fresh directive on 'meeting' the TTP chief when it banned any meeting with the chief stating 'security' concerns until further orders where at the same time directions were issued for its affiliates to carry on with their activities under command of the local leadership. On November 28, 2022, the banned outfit, in a statement, called off the ceasefire agreed with the government in June 2022 and ordered its militants to stage attacks across the country, Dawn reported. Amid an upsurge in terrorist attacks, the country's civil and military leadership is undertaking a major policy review in order to stem the tide of banned TTP, The Express Tribune reported. The rise in the TTP-sponsored attacks has pushed the authorities concerned to revisit the strategy pursued by the previous government. Official sources say closed-door discussions are ongoing and major decisions are expected in the next couple of weeks. Seedless lemons did it: 21-year-old from Muzaffarpur gets Rashtriya Udyan Ratna. Image Source: IANS News Seedless lemons did it: 21-year-old from Muzaffarpur gets Rashtriya Udyan Ratna. Image Source: IANS News Seedless lemons did it: 21-year-old from Muzaffarpur gets Rashtriya Udyan Ratna. Image Source: IANS News Seedless lemons did it: 21-year-old from Muzaffarpur gets Rashtriya Udyan Ratna. Image Source: IANS News Muzaffarpur : , Jan 8 (IANS) It is said that any goal can be achieved if it is pursued with endurance and perseverance. In an era where every parent wants their child to work for white-collar jobs, a progressive farmer of Sakra block in Bihar's Muzaffarpur dared to dream off the beaten track. He wanted his son to become a successful farmer and his expectations have been fulfilled. Sonu Nigam Kumar, a 21-year-old youth of Machhia village, tried his hands at farming to fulfill his father's dreams, and was selected for the Rashtriya Udyan Ratna award within four years of his endeavour. Kumar will receive his award in Jalgaon, Maharashtra on May 28, and has already got the letter issued by the government, regarding the same through mail. Kumar told IANS that his father, Dinesh Kumar had received several awards, including the President's Award for his remarkable contribution in the field of agriculture, died in an accident in August, 2019. He wanted his son to make the villagers aware about farming after pursuing his education. The young man started working to achieve his father's dream after his death. He cultivates different types of vegetables, but rose to fame for his cultivation of seedless lemons and pointed gourd (parwal). Kumar said that he brought a Parwal plant from the Indian Vegetable Research Centre, Varanasi and a lemon plant from Jalgaon, Maharashtra about four years ago. At present, he cultivates parwal in five acres and has 60 lemon trees. He apprised that the parwal he grows, are bigger in size and have only a seed or two inside, and do not turn yellow even if kept in the refrigerator for about a week, unlike the commonly found pointed gourd. He insisted that he practiced organic farming and did not use any chemical fertilisers in any of his plants. Similarly, the size of seedless lemons is bigger than usual and is full of juice. He added that the lemons grow in bunches and each tree produces around 300 lemons per year. Kumar said that the lemon plant is prepared by crafting. He said that he was encouraged to do farming by his family and the officers of the Agriculture Department. He said that if his father could be honoured by the President despite being less educated, he could do it too. Kumar continues to get help from Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur and many other agriculture-based institutions. Agricultural Scientist and the Principal of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay College of Horticulture and Forestry, praised Kumar and said that he was an inspiration to the youth. Several happenings in the past fortnight have shocked the nation. Both the year-end and the beginning of the new year, much as one wants them to be joyous occasions, had the most gut-churning stories coming out in the media - stories that will remain embedded in the memories at least of this generation. Anjali, a very popular Indian name for girls, has become synonymous with pain and death, and Shankar Mishra, the manifestation of the rot that has set so deep in our society. Both cases are different yet connected in the sense that these demonstrate our failing morality and growing insensitivity. For a society which is extremely sensitive about religion and related practices, virtues, ethics and goodness are not something to fight for, but the two incidents re-emphasised the need for us to go back and examine our moral fibre. Anjali, a young woman, who wanted to earn for herself and yearned for fun like any other young person, had to pay with her life for the same. Her death was painful -- she was dragged for 12 km underneath a car and her cries for help reached no one. Her death was all the more agonising because her so-called friend ditched her at the crucial moment. Had Nidhi raised the alarm, had she called the police, then maybe Anjali would not have suffered an excruciating death. Nidhi, as shown on various CCTVs, walked confidently home and showed no pain or shock while talking to the media later. The mental state of the occupants of the killer car defies all logic. How could they not know what they were doing for 12 km? How could they keep on going without hearing the cries of a human being? The drivers know when there is something amiss. Even a small pebble under the tyre is felt, so how could they just ignore a body? These questions do baffle a sane mind. Equally shocking is the role of the police. The Delhi Police proved to be the bigger villain with its men failing to respond on time. Shankar Mishra, accused of urinating on an elderly woman on an Air India flight from New York to New Delhi, had everything that one aspires for -- a dream high-paying job in a big MNC, a good life. But what went so wrong with him that he did what the woman has alleged? Top job, good educational qualifications and sound family background - this man also has no criminal background. Why then did he do what he did? He is said to have taken too much alcohol. Most likely, the availability of free liquor affected his rational senses. He lost his mental balance for a moment, but equally shocking has been the attitude of the airline and its crew on the flight. One is overcome by feelings of disgust and angst. The country has still not gotten over the Shraddha Walker case, and these two new ones have jolted everyone's concscience. In the Shraddha murder case, the victim and her boyfriend Aaftab Poonawalla were in a live-in relationship and both were literate and aware. Aaftab proved to be a gruesome killer who cut his partner into 35 pieces and dumped them across the national capital and surrounding areas. This bone-chilling case made the country remember the one that had played out in Nithari in the National Capital Region many years ago. Similar cases have been reported from several parts of the country in the recent past. What is alarming is that the list of such cases is growing by the day. Cases get reported, highlighted and then forgotten before another one crops up. It is not that the culprits are psychopaths. They are seemingly normal and in some cases such as Shankar Mishra, very well educated. There have been many discussions about the lowering of the society's moral standards after every case. But no follow-up action happens. Moral values are inculcated in early years, then why is this not getting the due space in schools? Moral education, along with a knowledge about the law, rules and duties, is what is most needed to be imparted to children. The schools must be bound to dedicate a period a week to moral education for every class. The NCERT even has a syllabus for 'Value Education' for students of Class 1 to Class 12. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha last year, Union Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi said: "The NCERT textbooks, developed on the basis of NCF 2005, prescribe and integrate themes and examples related to moral conduct across the subject areas and across the various stages of school education in the syllabi and textbooks for Classes I-XII. "The University Grants Commission (UGC) has launched a policy framework -- 'Mulya Pravah: Guidelines for Inculcation of Human values and Professional Ethics in Higher Educational Institutions'. It emphasises that stakeholders of an institution, be they faculty, students, administrators or others, should be guided by the core values like integrity, dedication, trusteeship, sustainability, inclusiveness, commitment, respectfulness, harmony and belongingness. "Further, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 provides for ethical reasoning, traditional Indian values and basic human and Constitutional values such as seva, ahimsa, swachchhata, satya, nishkam karma, shanti, sacrifice, tolerance, diversity, pluralism, righteous conduct, gender sensitivity, respect for elders, respect for all people and their inherent capabilities regardless of background, etc." All these big words don't really seem to be translating into action on the ground. A much more practical approach needs to be adopted to make moral education the core and essential part of education, whether in schools or in higher education. It is important to make children aware of the values on which our civilisation rests and the laws that govern our country. Moral education books or classes must be treated on a par with any other subject and the paper must be marked and its score be added to the overall result. The country is growing, so are the aspirations and ambitions of the people, but it is said that if morals and principles are not valued and followed, then societies are doomed. It is high time for educators, religious and politics leaders, and thinkers to deliberate upon this. Scenes such as the recent chaos and clashes in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, or what we keep seeing played out in Parliament and in state Assemblies, do not send the right signals. Our aggressive and abusive politicians do not instill confidence in us. Probably, they could have benefited from moral education in their formative years. (Deepika Bhan can be contacted at Deepika.b@ians.in) Kabul, Jan 8 : The rescue team has recovered three miners from under the debris after 61 hours in Afghanistan's northern Badakhshan province. "The remaining two miners were recovered from under debris at 09:20 p.m. Saturday while another was rescued on Friday and thus the rescue operation is over after 61 hours," the provincial director of information and culture Qari Maazudin said on Sunday. Several miners were working in a tunnel of a gold mine in Yawan district on Thursday when the tunnel caved in, trapping the three people, Xinhua News Agency reported quoting the official. The trio had been recovered and shifted to a hospital for medical treatment, the official added. Kolkata, Jan 8 : Mohammad Saddam and Syed Ahmed, the two local Islamic State (IS) linkmen arrested from Howrah district in West Bengal by the Kolkata Police, used Telegram Web links to interact with their handlers in Syria. The two were arrested by the sleuths of the Special Task Force (STF) on Saturday. Some interactions were made with their handlers in Saudi Arabia also, said sources. City Police sources said that the examination of the laptop and mobile phones seized from them revealed around 20 such Telegram Web interactions, most of which were with their handlers in Syria and some in Saudi Arabia. The STF sleuths have also tracked information about Saddam moving frequently to different parts of the country, which had made them believe that his area of operations was not just concentrated in West Bengal. On the other hand, Syed Ahmed, a student of mechanical engineering at the Aliah University, was comparatively a new entrant in this cell. He has admitted to the investigating sleuths that he was brought in the cell by Saddam, who himself is a qualified engineer and was employed with a private company. Preliminary investigation has revealed that in West Bengal they were engaged mainly in brainwashing youths to join the IS and also arrange funds to spread their network in the state. "One thing is clear that Syed Ahmed is the recruit of Saddam in the cell. Now the question is who is the immediate higher-up of Saddam or rather who recruited him for the cell. Once our investigation officials are able to crack that more important clues in the chain of links will come in hand," a city police official said. They were arrested on Saturday while they were going on a motorcycle to attend a secret meeting at the Khidirpur area in Kolkata. "We are trying to know what the agenda of the meeting was all about. This time is extremely crucial because of the Gangasagar Mela in Sagar islands starting from Monday," the official said. Hyderabad, Jan 8 : Actor and Jana Sena Party (JSP) leader Pawan Kalyan met Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N. Chandrababu Naidu in Hyderabad on Sunday. The actor-politician called on the former chief minister at the latter's residence in Jubilee Hills. The two leaders were discussing latest political developments in Andhra Pradesh and the possibility of the two parties working together on various issues. They are likely to chalk out a joint action plan to fight against the recent order issued by the Jagan Mohan Reddy government prohibiting public meetings on roads. The TDP chief was barred from conducting road shows and addressing meetings last week during his visit to his Assembly constituency Kuppam in Chittoor district. The controversial Government Order (GO) was issued in the wake of December 28 stampede during Naidu's road show at Kudukur in Nellore district that claimed eight lives. The opposition parties have slammed the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government for the restrictions, calling it an attempt to muzzle the voice of opposition. All the opposition parties have demanded the government to immediately withdraw the GO. Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan are likely to discuss and evolve a joint strategy to counter the move by the Jagan government. The two leaders are understood to have discussed the possibility of forming an alliance for the next year's elections. Pawan Kalyan is an ally of BJP and he is keen to bring TDP on board for a grand alliance against YSRCP. This is the first meeting between the two leaders after Pawan Kalyan had called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November. The JSP leader had met Modi during the latter's visit to Visakhapatnam. This was Pawan Kalyan's first meeting with Modi after 2014. After the meeting, he had expressed hope that this will bring good days for Andhra Pradesh in future. Chandrababu Naidu had called on Pawan Kalyan in Vijayawada in October last year to express solidarity with him after the police had denied him permission to hold any meeting in Visakhapatnam. After the meeting, they had declared that they would strive to protect democracy in the state. Naidu had said that he was pained at the way Pawan Kalyan was treated by the police in Visakhapatnam. Pawan Kalyan had thanked Naidu for the visit and said there was a need for all political parties and people's organisations to come together and save democracy. Mumbai, Jan 8 : Rebekah Sood, who appeared along with her sister Ariella Blank, on the business reality show 'Shark Tank India 2' and pitched for their kombucha drinks startup, talks about her journey so far. She said being the daughter of a mechanical engineering professor, she always gave importance to education and considered it to be the "ultimate benchmark", but her view changed after she became an entrepreneur. In a recent post on her Instagram handle, she shared a reel from the show and wrote in the caption: "When I was young, as the daughter of a professor, I viewed education as the ultimate benchmark. However, these last few years as an entrepreneur have challenged that mindset. At Atmosphere we have a lot of women on our team who didn't have a chance to finish school or pursue education. Not because they were unintelligent but because zindagi didn't give them that option. "What these women lack in degrees, they make up for 100% in grit, experience and gumption and I have learned so much more from them and my time as entrepreneur than I did in school. While degrees are printed and handed out to those who can afford and earn them, the gyaan we get from #zindagikischool is something that no one gives us and no one can take away from us." On the show, initially, they started speaking in English, but later when Anupam Mittal insisted on it, they replied in Hindi and impressed the sharks. Rebekah and Ariella discussed their business pitch, which involves rectifying health issues with their pan-India brand. Anupam said: "You actually spoke in Hindi, I had just joked because after seeing you I didn't think that you would be able to speak." Sharing her story on the show, Rebekah said: "My family came to India in 1992 from America. My father is a mechanical engineering professor and was working at IIT Kanpur. We loved India and Indians and we settled here. Both our parents are American." The sharks said that the price of the drink -- Rs 220 -- was rather high. Later, Aman, Peyush and Namita decided not to invest in the product. Anupam said before they left the show: "I wish you all the best and let me tell you, you are more Indian than Indians." London, Jan 8 : China has taken down more than 1,000 social media accounts - some with millions of followers - that criticised the government's Covid policies. Social media platform Weibo said it had suspended or banned accounts for what it described as personal attacks against Chinese Covid specialists, The BBC reported. Weibo did not specify which posts had prompted the action. China scrapped its strict zero-Covid policy in December and has seen a rapid surge of infections and deaths. Online criticism has until recently largely focused on the strict enforcement of Covid regulations, including lockdowns that required people to stay at home in isolation for weeks. But recent posts have taken aim at experts who have defended the sudden decision to drop restrictions, despite supporting them just weeks ago, The BBC reported. Weibo said it had spotted almost 13,000 violations, including attacks on experts, scholars and medical workers. Temporary or permanent bans have been handed to 1,120 accounts. "It is not acceptable to hurl insults at people who hold a different point of view, or publish personal attacks and views that incite conflicts," Weibo said in a statement. Any kind of move that is destructive to the [Weibo] community would be handled in a serious manner", BBC reported. Since China abandoned key parts of zero-Covid following historic protests against the policy, there have been reports of hospitals and crematoriums being overwhelmed. But China has stopped publishing daily cases data and has announced only 22 Covid deaths since December using its own strict criteria. On Saturday, China marked the first day of the 40-day period of Lunar New Year, known as the world's largest annual migration of people. The Ministry of Transport said it expects more than two billion passengers to travel over the next 40 days, an increase of 99.5 per cent year-on-year and reaching 70 per cent of trip numbers in 2019, The BBC reported. This has led to widespread concerns that the festival may see another wave of infections, especially in rural areas that are less well-equipped with ICU beds and ventilators. From Sunday, China will drop a requirement for travellers coming from abroad to quarantine, meaning many Chinese will be able to travel abroad for the first time in almost three years, The BBC reported. When Chrissy Barnard faced a mental health crisis and most needed care, law enforcement handcuffed her, placed her in the back of a patrol car and drove her five hours to Wisconsins only state-run mental health facility for the general public. Barnard remembers the patrol cars cold seats. She would eventually have her shoes confiscated, presumably so she couldnt hang herself with the laces. The 330 miles between Barnards hometown of Superior and Winnebago Mental Health Institute near Oshkosh made it difficult for her loved ones to comfort her in person. Barnard who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder stayed there for months and saw her family just three times, she said. Fifteen years later, after getting the help she needed, Barnard is now a peer support specialist with the National Alliance on Mental Illness Wisconsin. Shes among many calling on lawmakers to overhaul an emergency mental health system that she says poorly served her and many others. Mental health crisis services in Wisconsin operate on a county-by-county basis, yielding wide disparities in care. With few exceptions such as Madison, which employs two-person teams of health care professionals to respond to certain mental health emergencies instead of police counties lean heavily on law enforcement to detain people who are considered a threat to themselves or others, and transport them to receive care. The nearest treatment facility might be hundreds of miles away for some rural residents. Aside from the Winnebago County institute, the state runs only one other mental health facility: Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison, which primarily serves people involved in the criminal justice system. The whole system needs to change, because its so traumatizing. Youre treated like a criminal from the get-go, said Barnard, who earlier in her life was hospitalized for mental health challenges in Wisconsin and Minnesota more than 30 times. She has company in pushing for change, including other advocates, mental health practitioners and law enforcement officials. Citing examples in neighboring states, the coalition calls for Wisconsin to build new regional mental health facilities, add care options outside of lengthy hospital stays and fund teams of mental health experts to respond during emergencies lifting such burdens from law enforcement. The system we currently have right now for emergency detention in Wisconsin is broken, said Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat who in 2019 convened a summit focused on solutions. And we need to find alternatives. In his 2021-23 biennial budget, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers proposed more than $17 million for such an overhaul, but the Republican-led Legislature rejected the proposal among hundreds of others from Evers. Republican lawmakers have expressed support for regionalizing mental health crisis services, but $10 million allocated for doing so remains tied up in bureaucracy. Rural challenges Wisconsin is among the few Midwest states that still rely on individual counties to deliver emergency mental health services. Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri have regionalized mental health crisis services to various extents, while Ohio and Illinois have adopted hybrid approaches, said Dr. Tony Thrasher, medical director of crisis services for the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division and president of the American Association for Emergency Psychiatry. In that way, you can spread out the care, said Thrasher, who advocates for a regional approach in Wisconsin that would include making sure that each region has a psychiatric hospital and other services. Instead of doing this with 72 different counties, turn us into four or five regions where the counties can work together. Wisconsin sends some mental health funding to counties. But sparsely populated rural counties lack money to build crisis centers or hire specialized staff, Thrasher said. That is the case in Barnards home county of Douglas, requiring her journey to Winnebago County. Its even more complicated these days for some Douglas County patients, since they live near the Minnesota border, Barnard said; they might end up in hospitals in Rochester, Minnesota, or Fargo, North Dakota, and later struggle to find transportation home. In Minnesota, higher-population counties typically operate their own emergency mental health services, while rural counties often pool their resources to offer regional care, according to the Minnesota Department of Health Services. Illinois is divided into five regions for the purpose of emergency mental health services, offering nine state-operated hospitals, more than 30 community hospitals with psychiatric units and more than 162 community mental health centers and agencies. Public safety Thrasher said residents need better options in a crisis than simply call police. Relying on law enforcement to respond to mental health emergencies distracts them from other public safety duties, Kaul told Wisconsin Watch. Officers seem to agree. Most respondents to a 2019 Wisconsin Department of Justice survey of police chiefs and sheriffs said that mental health interventions requiring detention ate up too much time. Of 354 respondents, 96% said that additional mental health facilities and transportation options outside of law enforcement would likely improve the process. Across most of the state, law enforcement officers respond first to mental health crises. But trained medical professionals can defuse a mental health crisis in most cases, while law enforcement may escalate threats due to a lack of training, according to the American Psychological Association. Some of Wisconsins more populous communities, including Madison and Milwaukee, are shifting such duties to trained civilians. Madisons Community Alternative Response Emergency Services program responded to 935 calls in its first year of operation and resolved most situations on scene, according to a report released in November. CARES provided in-person help and transportation in 31% of instances, and just 3% of calls required police transfers. Short-term options What about patients who require care following a crisis? They need options outside of Winnebago County, overhaul advocates say. Across much of Wisconsin, law enforcement and others who respond to mental health crises face a binary choice between emergency detention or no intervention at all, said Kaul. But investing in short-term inpatient facilities, psychiatric emergency rooms and receiving centers could give responders useful middle ground. In Madison, that includes University Hospitals 20-bed psychiatric inpatient wing, where patients who may not require a longer hold can receive care for just a few days. A lot of people in crisis can turn around and feel markedly better in 24 to 48 hours, Thrasher said. It does not require a lengthy inpatient stay. Fight for funds In his last budget, Evers proposed funding a variety of services that mental health advocates and law enforcement representatives support. He sought $12.3 million over two years to build up to two regional crisis centers each with crisis urgent care capabilities, a temporary observation center, a 15-bed stabilization facility and at least two inpatient psychiatric beds. Evers also proposed $5 million to create five regional crisis stabilization facilities for adults voluntarily seeking care. The centers would offer 16 crisis stabilization beds for less traumatic and more community-based care in the least restrictive setting, according to his proposal. Republicans leading the Legislatures budget committee stripped each proposal from the budget that Evers ultimately signed. The committee did include $10 million for regional crisis services or facilities in its supplemental budget, but those funds have yet to be released. State law requires agencies designated to receive such funds to request their release and justify the need. In this case, thats the Department of Health Services. The department has twice requested meetings with the committee for this purpose, once in January and more recently in December. The committee has yet to hold a meeting, an Evers spokesperson told Wisconsin Watch. Sen. Howard Marklein, a Spring Green Republican who co-leads the Joint Finance Committee, declined to comment for this story. But his office later provided Wisconsin Watch a Dec. 21 letter to DHS in which the committee accused the agency of failing to detail how it would use the $10 million. We have, instead, resorted to requesting information on uses of the funds from stakeholder groups because your agency is unwilling to provide basic information, said the letter, signed by Marklein and his co-chair, Sen. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam. Our goal is to ensure the $10 million is used in the most effective way possible so as to have the largest overall impact, the letter adds. Leaders on the budget committee support a regional mental health crisis model that would include crisis urgent care and observation centers, the letter said, adding that committee staff would reach out to DHS to set up a meeting. Outside of the budgeting dispute, the Evers administration sought to help counties by requesting federal reimbursement for counties that transport Medicaid recipients during emergency detention. But the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services denied the request, saying it would violate the Social Security Act, Evers spokesperson said. Evers plans to unveil his next budget on Feb. 15, following a set of public listening sessions. Gov. Evers remains committed to improving our crisis response system, but we dont have to wait until the next biennial budget passes to do so, Evers office told Wisconsin Watch. There are $10 million of taxpayer money sitting idly in an appropriation controlled by Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee, and its time for them to release those funds. Advocate for others As she looks back upon the dark chapter of her mental health struggles, Barnard said she feels grateful for her progress and stability. I ended up losing my house and my job and my fiance and all kinds of things, Barnard recalls. I lost basically everything, my pets, everything. Barnard now owns her own home in Superior, where she lives with two cats and a dog. She has spent 12 years working for Essentia Health, an integrated health organization serving patients in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota. Her recovery made that tenure possible. Barnard now sits on the board of directors for NAMI Wisconsin, which in 2019 named her Peer of the Year, and she serves on a variety of councils, task forces and peer support groups related to mental health and recovery. I like to advocate for mental illness recovery wherever I go, she said. Because I know from personal experience that recovery is possible. Guwahati, Jan 8 : Six-time MLA, former Minister, and once-Congress heavyweight Gautam Roy fought the 2021 Assembly election on the BJP's ticket from Katigorah constituency in Assam's Cachar district. In the golden era of Congress in the state, Roy was a very powerful leader. He had a close relationship with the former Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi. It is widely believed that he has very good equations with Himanta Biswa Sarma too. Though many in the BJP objected to Roy's inclusion in the party in 2019, people foresee that he could join due to Sarma's backing. Whatever the facts, the Congress turncoat was a very strong contender in the election from Katigorah for the BJP. This seat was once a stronghold for the BJP, with the party's candidate winning a number of times. But, later, as the demographics changed, the seat went to the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). In 2016, the saffron camp won back the seat, taking advantage of a triangular fight with the presence of two strong candidates from Congress and the AIUDF. The incumbent MLA was denied a ticket by the BJP in the 2021 polls to accommodate Roy in that seat. Interestingly, the former minister was keen to fight election from that seat and he even declared his candidature before a formal announcement by the party which is rare in the BJP. It was Roy's tall image that made this possible. However, he lost the election by a few votes to a less familiar candidate from the Congress-AIUDF combine. The pollsters anticipated Roy's loss due to the increased Muslim population in Katigorah's assembly seat. This time, when Election Commission (EC) announced to carry out delimitation exercise in Assam, barely few hours before the EC's restriction was scheduled to come into effect, the state government through an urgent cabinet meeting made the elision of four districts and merged them with others. Also, the boundaries of at least 14 districts in the state were altered. This has created a ruckus in Assam, and protests have already erupted in different parts of the state. Many have questioned Himanta Biswa Sarma's motive behind such a big decision. Firstly, the whole process has not happened overnight. The state BJP under Sarma's leadership was planning it for quite a long time. The Muslim population in the state has been on the rise for two decades, which is much higher than the country's average increase. In the 2001 census, Assam recorded a 30.9 per cent Muslim population. The figure increased to 34.2 per cent in the 2011 census. Meanwhile, the Muslim population has witnessed a surge of only 0.8 per cent in the country during that period. In last 10 years, the population of Muslim community must have increased further as per the political pundits and statisticians. Although the BJP has been in power in Assam since 2016, the party sees the rise in the Muslim population as a big threat to their success. Batadrava, the birthplace of 16th-century Vaishnav saint Srimanta Sankardev, has also witnessed a major surge in its Muslim population. BJP lost this seat in 2021 Assembly polls. After assuming office as Chief Minister, Sarma mentioned a number of times that this assembly seat must be 'saved' from Bangladeshi 'invaders'. He was hinting about the delimitation exercise for this purpose. The state administration was silently preparing a blueprint for an alteration of the district jurisdiction to 'adjust' Muslim population in such a way that, while leaving some seats, the rest could be made 'safe' to win for a Hindu candidate in the polls. The data showed that most of the rise in the Muslim population occurred in the Lower and Southern Assam (Barak Valley) areas of the state. In Barak Valley, there are 15 assembly seats. In 2021, the BJP could manage to win only six out of these 15 seats due to the grand alliance between Congress and the AIUDF, as Muslim votes are deciding factors in many of these seats. This time, Sarma's government machinery has drastically changed the boundaries of three districts in Barak Valley to tinker with the demography in many assembly constituencies. As for example, in Katigorah assembly seat, a town area of Badarpur from the adjacent Karimganj district has been added to it for increasing the Hindu votes. Along with that, as many as 17 villages from the Katigorah revenue circle have been shifted under a faraway circle to lower the Muslim population here. This has been done in a bid to secure the seat for a BJP candidate in the upcoming polls. The Katigorah assembly seat is just a template the state administration followed before carrying out the decision of merging four districts and changing the boundary of other 14 districts. Sarma's government machinery has not touched the districts where either there is no need for any alteration to increase the tally of Hindu votes, or nothing can be done to make a seat 'safer' for a Hindu candidate to win on a BJP's ticket. Assam has a total of 126 assembly seats. The sources in the BJP say that the recent exercise has 'secured' at least 98 seats for the party to win. Many believe that the 'tinkering' in the demography of the individual districts will also help the BJP achieve its 'Mission 12 Plus' target in the next year's Lok Sabha polls in the state. Hyderabad, Jan 8 : As many as 20 teams constituted by Telangana Police were on the lookout for two offenders suspected to be from Uttar Pradesh after a series of chain snatchings under the limits of Hyderabad and Rachakonda police commissionerates. On the basis of CCTV footage, the police have identified the suspects as Pinku and Ashok of Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh. They committed as many as seven snatching in a span of three hours on Saturday in Hyderabad. The same duo is suspected to be behind the series of chain snatching incidents in Bengaluru on Friday. After arriving in Hyderabad, they allegedly committed theft of a bike and struck at seven places targeting women. After the chain snatchings, they left the stolen vehicle near Paradise. Police suspect that the duo escaped to Warangal by train and from there may have boarded a train bound for Delhi or some other destination in the north. The police were scanning the CCTV footage at railway stations and working on other leads to make some progress in tracking down the culprits. The duo had committed 10 chain snatchings in Bengaluru within a couple of hours on Friday morning. Police suspect that they arrived in Hyderabad by train. They committed the theft of a motorbike in the Nampally area early Saturday. Wearing masks, the offenders reached Uppal where they resorted to first chain snatching in the Rajunagar area around 6.20 a.m. They went on a chain snatching spree targeting women at seven places in a radius of 10 kilometers. According to police, they snatched gold chains weighing 21 tolas. The offenders left the stolen bike at Paradise in Secunderabad around 9 a.m. and then reached Secunderabad Railway Station by an autorickshaw to board a train. The series of incidents sent panic. Police in both Hyderabad and Rachakonda commissionerates sounded an alert. A total of 20 teams comprising personnel from Task Force, CCS, SOT and other wings were constituted to nab the culprits. Pinku and Ashok are said to be habitual offenders. They were arrested in Bengaluru in 2017, but continued committing snatchings after being released from jail. They stay in a city for 4-5 hours and escape immediately after committing a series of snatching by using a stolen vehicle. They target women walking alone. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will embark on an official visit to New York and Washington DC from January 9 to 22 to participate in India-US Trade Policy Forum. In the first leg of visit, Goyal will interact with CEOs of reputed multinational enterprises, participate in community event, join roundtable meetings with business leaders and think tank, and visit industries in New York. He will attend the 13th Trade Policy Forum (TPF) meeting in Washington DC on January 11, 2023. Before delegation level talks, he will also hold one-to-one meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai, official sources said. The 12th TPF Ministerial meeting was held on 23 November 2021, after a gap of four years in New Delhi. Working groups were re-activated after the last ministerial. TPF is a platform for continuous engagement between two countries in the area of trade and to further the trade and investment relations between the two countries. Both countries are looking forward to the meeting and confident of making progress on the trade issues. The TPF is chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister from Indian side and U.S. Trade Representative from the U.S. side. In Washington DC, Goyal will also have bilateral meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. There will also be interaction with some captains of Industry. Both India and the U.S. are natural partners and have trade complementarities, long standing strategic and economic relationship, people to people contact, and both are vibrant democracies too. The two countries are also collaborating under the QUAD, I2U2 (India-Israel/ UAE-USA) and Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). Regular exchanges at the leadership-level have been an integral element of the expanding bilateral engagement. The outcomes emerging from these visits have been instrumental in further strengthening the multifaceted ties between the two countries. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the world's longest river cruise with MV Ganga Vilas on January 13. Minister for shipping, ports and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday said that it will herald a new age of river cruise tourism for India. The luxury cruise will cover a distance of more than 3,200 km across 27 river systems in five states in India and Bangladesh. "The huge untapped potential of river cruise is set to get unlocked with the launch of this service," added Sonowal. "This avenue of sustainable development via inland waterways has received a tremendous boost as efforts to augment cargo traffic as well as passenger tourism has borne fruit with encouraging results. The MV Ganga Vilas cruise is a step towards unlocking the huge potential river tourism in the country has to offer. "Our rich heritage will get further transcended in the global stage as tourists will be able to experience the spiritual, the educational, the well being, the cultural as well as the richness of the biodiversity of India," the minister said further. The 51-day cruise is planned with visits to 50 tourist spots, including World Heritage Sights, National Parks, river Ghats, and major cities like Patna in Bihar, Sahibganj in Jharkhand, Kolkata in West Bengal, Dhaka in Bangladesh and Guwahati in Assam. The MV Ganga Vilas vessel is 62 meters in length, 12 meters in width and comfortably sails with a draft of 1.4 meters. It has three decks, 18 suites on board with a capacity of 36 tourists, with all the amenities to provide a memorable and luxurious experience for the tourists. The ship follows sustainable principles at its core as it is equipped with pollution-free mechanisms and noise control technologies. The maiden voyage of MV Ganga Vilas will witness 32 tourists from Switzerland, official sources said. The expected date of arrival of MV Ganga Vilas in Dibrugarh is on March 1, 2023. Hyderabad, Jan 8 : Farmers in seven villages of Telangana's Kamareddy district on Sunday announced an action plan to oppose the proposal to acquire their lands for setting up an industrial zone. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of farmers decided to continue its fight against the master plan for Kamareddy town. After holding a series of dharnas at the district collector's office and other forms of agitation during the last 3-4 days, the farmers have now decided to intensify their protest. They will submit representations to 49 municipal councillors irrespective of their party affiliations on January 9. After a break on January 10, the farmers will stage dharna at the municipality on January 11. Farmers have been staging dharnas, rasta rokos and observing a bandh against the proposed master plan. They also filed a petition in Telangana High Court, challenging the master plan. They found fault with officials for earmarking fertile agricultural fields in Adloor, Yellareddy, Elchipur, Tekrial and other villages for an industrial zone. The farmers said that 1,210 acres of agricultural land has been brought under the green zone and industrial zone under the draft master plan and expressed the fear that the government would take over their land. Municipal authorities set a January 11 deadline for receiving objections to the draft master plan. The farmers claimed that they have already sent over 500 legal notices to object to the industrial zone. Alleging that officials disregarded their objections, they approached the High Court. Farmers have been agitating for the last one month against the master plan, demanding the exclusion of their agricultural lands from the proposed green zone and industrial zone They intensified the protest last week after a farmer, Payyavula Ramulu (40), committed suicide fearing that he would lose his land. Police foiled an attempt by some farmers and Ramulu's relatives to stage a protest along with the body in Kamareddy. Opposition BJP and Congress are backing the farmers. BJP president Bandi Sanjay had also joined the protest by the farmers at the district collector's office on Friday. Sanjay was arrested and later released. The district authorities have clarified that the master plan is in the draft stage and nothing has been finalised. District collector Jitesh Patil clarified that the master plan covering 61.55 square kilometers is in the draft stage. He said the final master plan would be released after necessary amendments based on suggestions and objections received in 60 days. He assured the farmers that the officials would take note of their objections. Washington, Jan 8 : Health condition of a teacher is US state of Virginia, who was seriously wounded after being shot by a six-year-old boy, has shown signs of improvement, the media reported. The teacher, Abby Zwerner suffered life-threatening wounds after she was shot with a handgun by a student of Richneck Elementary School in the city of Newport News, 112km to the south of the state capital Richmond on Friday, The BBC reported quoting authorities. Online, social media users wished her a speedy recovery. Although it remains unclear how the child got the gun, the city's police chief Steve Drew told the media that the "incident was not an accidental shooting" which took place in a first grade classroom after an altercation between the boy and his teacher who has been hospitalised with life-threatening injuries. City's Mayor Phillip Jones, who took office just five days ago, said the shooting marked "a dark day for Newport News". Kurukshetra, Jan 8 : Rahul Gandhi has said that the Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) was getting more response in North India, thus failing all the predictions made by some. While addressing a press conference in Haryana's Kurukshetra on Sunday, he said, "The Yatra in northern India has got more response than South and the massive crowds in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana are just an example that people have connected to this Yatra." He said that the swelling crowd was a witness to the fact that the Congress will form a government in all the northern states, and added that his focus was on what the government agenda would be rather than mere forming a government. "That is not the agenda, but implementation of the manifesto is the real agenda," he said. Rahul Gandhi said that the Yatra was drawing more people day by day because they want to live in harmony and believe in compassion. He, however, refused to answer political questions put by the reporters. On Friday, he lashed out at the Central government over the Agniveer Scheme and said Haryana has become a "champion in unemployment with no jobs for youth". Addressing a rally in Haryana's Panipat during his Bharat Jodo Yatra, he said that earlier a soldier used to serve the country for 15 years and proper training was imparted and retirement benefits were given but now after 5 years he will be unemployed. He said Panipat was once a hub of medium manufacturers, but now the situation has changed. "Due to demonetisation, GST, which were not policies, but weapons to destroy small and medium enterprises," said Gandhi. Chennai, Jan 8 : Two people were killed when a Karnataka State Transport Corporation bus rammed into a two-wheeler on which they were travelling. The incident occurred at Krishnagiri on the Karnataka border on Sunday. The Karnataka transport bus that rammed into the two-wheeler caught fire and was completely burnt. However, the passengers on the bus escaped unhurt. Sources told IANS that the bus rammed into the bike when the bike was negotiating a curve and the driver of the bus lost control. After the accident, the bus caught fire and the passengers jumped out to their safety. Police have so far not confirmed the details of the persons who died in the accident. The bodies of the two deceased were kept at the Krishnagiri government hospital for autopsy. New Delhi, Jan 8 : The Rajya Sabha committee has accepted the Centre's request for six more months to frame rules under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) for the seventh time in a row. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that more time was needed to frame the rules of the Act, without which it could not be implemented. The decision of the Lok Sabha committee is still awaited. According to sources, the time was extended by the Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation in the Rajya Sabha till December 31, 2022 and in the Lok Sabha till January 9, 2023. Sources said that the MHA sought an extension of six months, on which the Rajya Sabha committee extended it till June 30. While attending a programme in November, last year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that there had been a delay in implementing the Act due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He added that the CAA would definitely be implemented and those who thought otherwise would be proved wrong. The Act was passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019 and got the President's assent the very next day, following which it was notified by the MHA. About 83 persons died and several were injured in the protests against this law in the country. Significantly, through the CAA, the Central government will grant Indian citizenship to the illegal migrants who entered India before or on December 31, 2014. It was passed for the migrants of non-Muslim communities, including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Nay Pyi Taw, Jan 8 : Five women were killed and 23 others injured after a six-wheeled vehicle overturned in Myanmar's capital Nay Pyi Taw. The accident occurred when the vehicle's right front tire blew, causing the car to veer off the road and overturn on the old Yangon-Mandalay highway near Yezin Agricultural University in Nay Pyi Taw, Xinua News Agency reported. "Five women died on the spot," a policeman said, adding that there were over 30 people aboard the car when the accident occurred. The car, which came from the direction of Tatkon Town, was heading to Pyinmana Town when the accident occurred. The injured included 10 men and 13 women, who were sent to a hospital for medical treatment, he added. "The wounded persons sustained injuries in chin, head and chest. But they are not critical," a rescuer told Xinhua. The police have filed a case against the driver for careless driving. RICHMOND The teacher who was shot and critically wounded by a 6-year-old student on Friday is a native of Ruckersville named Abby Zwerner and a graduate of James Madison University. Zwerner is 25. On the JMU homepage, President Jonathan Alger asked for prayers for Zwerners health and recovery and said that all of us at James Madison University are deeply saddened by the reported tragic shooting of JMU alumna Abby Zwerner. Zwerner, who was shot Friday at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, is showing signs of improvement as authorities struggle to understand how a child so young could be involved in a school shooting, the citys mayor said Saturday. Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones said the condition of the teacher, whose name he did not use, is trending in a positive direction as she remained hospitalized Saturday. Police Chief Steve Drew met with the teacher and her family Saturday morning. She has improved and is currently listed in stable condition, police said in a news release. The boy shot and wounded Zwerner with a handgun in a first-grade classroom on Friday at Richneck Elementary School, according to authorities. Drew said the shooting was not accidental and was part of an altercation. No students were injured. Police on Saturday declined to describe what led to the altercation or any other details about what happened in the classroom, citing the ongoing investigation. Jones also declined to reveal details of the shooting, or say how the boy got access to the gun or who owns the weapon. This is a red flag for the country, Jones said. I do think that after this event, there is going to be a nationwide discussion on how these sorts of things can be prevented. Virginia law does not allow 6-year-olds to be tried as adults. In addition, a 6-year-old is too young to be committed to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice if found guilty. A juvenile judge would have authority, though, to revoke a parents custody and place a child under the purview of the Department of Social Services. Jones would not say where the boy is being held. We are ensuring he has all the services that he currently needs right now, Jones said. Experts who study gun violence said the shooting represents an extremely rare occurrence of a young child bringing a gun into school and wounding a teacher. Its very rare and its not something the legal system is really designed or positioned to deal with, said researcher David Riedman, founder of a database that tracks U.S. school shootings dating back to 1970. He said Saturday that hes only aware of three other shootings caused by 6-year-old students in the time period hes studied. Those include the fatal shooting of a fellow student in 2000 in Michigan and shootings that injured other students in 2011 in Texas and 2021 in Mississippi. Riedman said he only knows of one other instance of a student younger than that causing gunfire at a school, in which a 5-year-old student brought a gun to a Tennessee school in 2013 and accidentally discharged it. No one was injured. Daniel W. Webster, a professor at Johns Hopkins University who studies gun violence, agreed that a 6-year-old shooting a teacher at school is extremely unusual. But he said his research shows that instances of young children accessing loaded guns and shooting themselves or others unintentionally in homes or other settings are rising. A 6 year old gaining access to a loaded gun and shooting him/herself or someone else, sadly, is not so rare, he said in an email. In the Newport News case, Drew said Friday that the shooting didnt appear to be an accident and that it was isolated to the single victim. He said the student and teacher had known each other in a classroom setting. Investigators were trying to figure out where the boy obtained the handgun. The police chief declined to discuss what contact investigators have had with the boys parents. Daily Progress Editor Lynne Anderson contributed to this report. Lucknow, Jan 8 : Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav has been busy in taking his father's legacy forward after winning the Saifai Lok Sabha elections. In a first, he has been completely focusing on Etawah, Mainpuri, Etah, Firozabad, Auraiya, Farrukhabad and Kannauj to strengthen 'Yadavland', which is seen as a strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. SP strategists believe that Shivpal Shivpal Singh Yadav has held a good hold in these areas after Mulayam Singh, which is why Akhilesh is strengthening his strategy by connecting to the youth in the villages, after taking Shivpal in his fold. If political experts are to be believed, Shivpal, who has accepted Akhilesh as his leader, has a ground connection in this area. The new generation of the family has also entered politics. In such a situation, Akhilesh does not want to leave any vacancy in his 'Yadavland' and has been trying to leave his impression on the new generation. At present, there is no such leader in his family who can move ahead without him. According to a party leader, Akhilesh has been more active in his constituency after winning the Mainpuri elections as he is being seen in every programme, small or big. Mainpuri has been a major bastion of the SP, the party has won eight times from here and Mulayam Singh had won five times. In the recent by-elections, sympathy for Mulayam was seen such that all previous records were broken, giving the party a major win. According to recent media reports, Akhilesh addressed party workers in Mainpuri in December and stayed with the party workers in Kishni. He visited his constituency Karhal on December 14 and addressed the workers in Jaswantnagar on December 23. He then attended programmes in Mainpuri around Christmas. According to political experts, SP's founder Mulayam Singh had worked hard to strengthen his constituency and had a great personal connect with the people, which is why the party was strong in Etawah, Kannauj, Firozabad and Yadav dominated areas. Party National Spokesperson Ashutosh Verma said that the party's President had been campaigning in these areas to make up for the loss that the party suffered in 2014 and 2019. Akhilesh has also been visiting Jhansi and Jalaun to campaign. Verma added that the party was prepared to fight the BJP in the polls. Senior political analyst P.N. Dwivedi said that the saffron party has been constantly working to woo the people in the 'Yadavland' since 2014, which is why it gained a stronghold in areas like Firozabad along with Yadav-dominated Kannauj. The BJP also won in Etawah, a stronghold district of the SP. The BJP collaborated with other leaders who had been opposing the SP after the last elections and has benefitted from the same. After the death of Mulayam Singh, the BJP fielded his disciple Raghuraj Singh Shakya in Mainpuri. At the same time, the SP changed its strategy with this by-election. Letting go of the controversies, Akhilesh not only roped in his uncle Shivpal, but ended the tradition of staying away from the by-elections and did door-to-door campaigning and succeeded. Akhilesh has been working to maintain his party's dominance, to win in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran on Sunday expressed anguish over the incident of a passenger urinating on a female co-passenger onboard an Air India New York-Delhi flight on November 26, 2022, saying that the airline fell short of addressing the situation and should have acted swiftly. He said that the Tata Group and Air India will review processes to prevent any such incident in future. "The incident on Air India flight AI102 on November 26, 2022, has been a matter of personal anguish to me and my colleagues at Air India," Chandrasekaran said in a statement on Sunday. In his first reaction since the incident came to light, the Chairman of Tata Sons, which owns Air India, said: "Air India's response should have been much swifter. We fell short of addressing the situation, the way it should have been. "Tata Group and Air India stand by the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew with full conviction. We will review and repair every process to prevent or address any incidents of such unruly nature." Chandrasekaran's statement comes a day after Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson had said that the airline could have handled the incident better, both in air and on the ground. Campbell had said that Air India is deeply concerned about instances where customers have suffered due to the condemnable acts of their co-passengers on its aircraft. Air India on Saturday had issued show cause notices and de-rostered four cabin crew and one pilot pending investigation. The airline also initiated internal investigations into whether there were lapses by other staff on aspects including the service of alcohol on flight, incident handling, complaint registration on board, and grievance handling. The airline on Saturday said that upon receipt of the complaint on November 27, Air India acknowledged receipt and commenced engaging in correspondence with the affected passenger's family on November 30, commenced a refund of the ticket on December 2, with receipt of funds acknowledged by the victim's family on December 16. "Initiated the DGCA-prescribed 'Internal Committee', tasked with assessing incidents and which comprises a retired judge, a representative from a passengers' association, and a representative from another Indian commercial airline, on December 10. The file was passed to the Committee on December 20 and a 30-day interim travel ban was imposed on the same date," it added. "Convened four meetings between senior Airline staff, the victim and her family on December 20, 21, 26, and 30 to discuss actions being taken and the progress thereof. When the victim's family requested that Air India lodge a police report during the meeting on December 26, it did so on December 28," said the airline. Taking note of instances of unruly behaviour of air passengers where pilots and cabin crew members have failed to take appropriate actions, aviation regulator DGCA on Friday issued advisory, asking head of operations of the airlines to sensitise pilots, cabin crew, and director in-flight services of their respective airlines on the topic of handling of unruly passenger through appropriate means. Last Thursday, the DGCA had said that the conduct of Air India was unprofessional and has led to a systemic failure in the case. Observing that provisions related to handling of an unruly passenger on-board have not been complied with, it asked why enforcement action should not be taken against the executives concerned of Air India for dereliction of their regulatory obligations in the matter. The regulator had issued show cause notices to senior Air India executives and pilots and cabin crew of the flight following receiving a report from the airline on the incident. San Francisco, Jan 8 : Tech giant Google has rolled out end-to-end encryption in group chats for Messages app users enrolled in the beta programme. The company said it has "completed the rollout of group chat end-to-end encryption for users in Open Beta" in just over a month, reports 9to5Google. With this feature, one-on-one texts sent using Messages by Google will be encrypted so they are private and secure and can only be seen by the sender and recipient. The Google Messages app already includes end-to-end encryption when messaging someone who also has the RCS (Rich Communication Services) chat features enabled, however, this has so far been limited to messages between two parties and not group chats. The tech giant said it "will be available to some users in the open beta programme over the coming weeks", according to the report. The group conversations will feature a "This chat is now end-to-end encrypted" banner, and the send button will have a lock icon. This will prevent Google or third parties from reading the contents of users' RCS chats during transit between the sender and receivers, said the report. Meanwhile, Google also started testing full emoji reactions in its Messages platform, which allows users to react with any emoji. However, full emoji reactions have already been rolled out for some users. Bhopal, Jan 8 : The political tussle has intensified in Madhya Pradesh before the upcoming Assembly elections. The Congress has begun the poll year with a three-pronged attack on the BJP on issues pertaining to porn CDs, Vyapam and corruption, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been questioning the Congress aggressively. With the beginning of the new year, there is a rapid change in the attitude of the Congress, with the party putting up its banners and hoardings in the state capital. State President Kamal Nath was shown as the future Chief Minister in the advertisements. Since then, the Congress has intensified its attack on the Shivraj-led government. Congress has been using the issues of pornographic CDs of the leaders, Vyapam scam and corruption by more than a dozen ministers of the state government to expose the ruling party. The attack on the saffron party and the government began with the statement of the opposition leader, Govind Singh, wherein he claimed that he possessed a CD with obscene content that would expose the harsh realities of the BJP leaders. Singh on the Vyapam issue demanded for the original copy of the FIR lodged by former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh in the matter. On the other hand, Congress MLA Jeetu Patwari openly stated that the party had the corruption details of 15 ministers of the government. The honeytrap scandal created a stir in the state politics and many leaders were affected by it. Kamal Nath claimed that he saw the CD when he was the chief minister and gave it to the police officers for investigation. Apart from this, in the complaint made by Digvijay Singh regarding Vyapam, it has been alleged that BJP leaders, ministers, workers were involved in the scam. A case was finally registered after eight years, on the complaint of Singh. Many BJP leaders have termed the allegations as baseless and accused the Congress leaders of tampering with the evidence. BJP State President Vishnu Dutt Sharma openly challenged the Congress leaders to present the CD if they actually held it. Sharma alleged that both Govind Singh and Kamal Nath held constitutional posts and tampered with the evidence in such cases which are under process in the court. He asked the investigation agencies to take action against both Singh and Nath in the same matter. Political analysts believe that as the elections approach, a campaign to corner each other by the national parties has intensified. The analysts suggest that the way the allegations are being levelled against the BJP by the Congress, it may indicate that some BJP leaders have been provoking the opposition leaders, which is why a case was registered in the Vyapam scam and the CD issue is beeing raised again. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Even as the storm over a passenger arrested for urinating on a female co-passenger on board an Air India flight is still brewing, another incident of an unruly passenger having been handed over to the London metropolitan police after an incident on an AI Mumbai-London flight has come to light. The unruly passenger on a Mumbai-London flight in September 2022 was handed over to the London Metropolitan Police after a restraining device was required in the incident, reports said quoting Air India. The drunk passenger allegedly attempted to touch an eight-year-old girl inappropriately, according to a complaint by the girl's mother and 20-year-old brother travelling with her on the flight, AI-131, on September 5, 2022, reports said. According to report, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officials said that this particular incident was not reported to them, unlike the urinating incident. "We will have a look and shall take appropriate action," a DGCA official said when contacted for comments on the September incident. Reports quoting an Air India spokesperson said that on landing, the alleged offender was escorted out of the flight by the metropolitan police. The Air India cabin crew gave statements to the metropolitan police and the incident was subsequently reported to the DGCA on September 19, 2022, the reports said. They further added that Air India crew took immediate action and isolated the alleged offender. The victim was comforted and given all assistance, including helping her and her family relocate to alternate seats, an airline spokesperson was quoted as saying. As the accused passenger continued to behave in an unruly manner, the pilot in charge issued a warning letter and when the passenger continued to misbehave, a restraining device was used, the reports said. The captain of the flight also informed Air India ground staff at Heathrow airport, the spokesperson added, as per reports. Chandigarh, Jan 8 : Punjab Vigilance Bureau in 2022 arrested 172 accused in 129 bribery cases. They included four former Congress ministers, an IAS officer, a chief forest conservator, two forest conservators and an Assistant Inspector General of Police, bureau's Chief Director-cum-ADGP Varinder Kumar said on Sunday He said the arrested 172 accused included 83 in 65 trap cases and 89 in 64 online complaints in one year. The bureau has set a record in registration of bribery cases, arrests of accused in corruption, registration of criminal cases and arrests made thereof, besides filing of vigilance enquiries against suspects involved in these probes as compared to the last two years. Giving details of high-profile cases, he said four former ministers, Sadhu Singh Dharmsot, Sangat Singh Gilzian, Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Sundar Sham Arora; former chairman of the Improvement Trust Amritsar, Dinesh Bassi; Sanjay Popli, an IAS officer; Chief Forest Conservator Parveen Kumar; Forest Conservators Vishal Chohan and Amit Chohan; Divisional Forest Officer Guramanpreet Singh; contractor Harminder Singh Hummy, Assistant Inspector General of Police Ashish Kapoor; PUNSUP general manager Naveen Kumar Garg; district commander Punjab Home Guards, Nirmala and platoon commander Anmol Moti; Excise and Taxation Officer Sandeep Singh; and contractors Telu Ram, Yashpal and Ajaypal were booked and arrested in various cases. Kumar said the Bureau has adopted a multi-facet approach to corner the bribe seekers and to generate awareness among the public. During the year, 30 personnel of Punjab Police, 13 of the Revenue Department, five of the Power Department and four of the local bodies were caught red-handed while taking bribes from January 1 to December 31, 2022. To encourage people to come forward and report corruption in state public offices, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had launched Chief Minister's Anti-Corruption Action Line on March 23, 2022, which has shown notable results. Giving more details about the performance of the Bureau, Kumar said the Bureau has registered 135 criminal cases against 371 accused which includes 35 gazetted officers, 163 non-gazetted officials, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and 173 private persons. Apart from this, 103 vigilance enquiries have also been registered against 139 suspects to probe corruption complaints which include 35 gazetted officers, 58 NGOs and 46 private persons in the last year. Besides, two cases of disproportionate assets were registered against one gazetted officer and an NGO. Two NGOs have been dismissed from their services by their respective administrative departments due to conviction in various courts, he added. He said special courts have sentenced two gazetted officers, 18 NGOs and 10 private persons accused in 19 vigilance cases registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act and awarded imprisonments up to five years. The special courts have also imposed fines varying from Rs 5,000 to Rs 33,00,000 in these cases which amount to a total sum of Rs 37,90,000, he said. The Chief Minister's Anti-Corruption Action Line received 3,72,175 complaints last year, out of which 6,407 complaints were received with audio or video recordings and 294 complaints pertaining to the vigilance bureau. Colombo, Jan 8 : While pushing to fast-track FTAs with India and China, a high-ranking Thai delegation has arrived here to start the third round of Sri Lanka-Thailand Free Trade Agreement negotiations from Monday. A team comprising 26 official delegates headed by Auramon Supthaweethum, Director General of the Department of Trade Negotiations, Thailand is to start negotiations on Monday and Tuesday with Sri Lanka aiming to strike a balance on trade which is not in favour of the crisis-hit South Asian island nation right now. The negotiation takes place against the backdrop of a significant trade imbalance in favour of South East Asia's tourist hotspot. In 2021, Sri Lanka imported goods from Thailand worth $355 million, but only sent $59 million to Thailand. "The negotiations will be aimed at enhancing access to our exports not only in the Thai market but also in markets in other ASIAN countries through Thailand's gateway and lowering current non-tariff trade obstacles to trade," President's Media Division (PMD) stated. The talks will focus on seven theme areas including trade in goods, trade in services, investments, rules of origin, custom cooperation, trade facilitation, and economic cooperation while Sri Lanka hopes to export precious stones and black tea among other goods. The government's objective of entering the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which represents 30 per cent of the global population and economy, will be advanced by this agreement, PMD said. Sri Lanka plans to start the operation with Thailand in the first quarter of 2024 while pushing to conclude talks on proposed FTAs with India and China by June and signing the deals by September. According to media reports, on the instruction of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka has requested India for dates to begin talks by the end of this month. In the FTA with India, Sri Lanka's main focus is on having the quota on apparel exports to India removed, the media report indicated. Sri Lanka has sent a list of nearly 460 export goods including apparel, tea, ceramic items, tiles, coconut oil, and furniture for duty concessions from India and India is to send its own list of goods requesting to remove duties in return. While exporting goods around $900 million, Sri Lanka imports goods worth nearly $4.3 billion annually from India. Media reported that the Sri Lankan government has also provided a list of 400 goods to China hoping to get duty concessions under the proposed FTA. In return, China has asked for duty concessions on some of its exports like fruits, and apparel. To China, Sri Lanka annually exports goods worth around $500 million while getting imports worth around $4.7 billion. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Four absconding criminals, evading their trial and recently declared proclaimed offenders, were arrested by in Delhi's Dwarka area, an official said on Sunday. The accused were identified as Raghuveer, Subhash, Anil, and Rishi. DCP, Dwarka, M. Harsha Vardhan said that a special drive against proclaimed offenders is being continuously carried out by the police, and informers have also been roped in. He said that on January 6, the police got a tip-off about the accused, the information was developed, and a team was formed to nab the accused. A raid was conducted at the hideout of the accused and all of them were held. During interrogation, the accused disclosed about their involvement in cases lodged at Bindapur police station, adding that during the trial, they fled from their houses. Dakar, Jan 8 : Forty people were killed and several others injured in a collision between two buses in the Kaffrine region, Senegal, on Sunday. Senegalese President Macky Sall declared a three-day national mourning following the traffic accident, Xinhua News Agency reported quoting local authorities of Senegal. "Following today's serious accident in Gniby (in Kaffrine region) which caused 40 deaths, I have decided on a national mourning of 3 days from Jan. 9th," he said on his Twitter account. He added that an inter-ministerial council will hold a meeting on the same date to take firm measures on road safety and public passenger transport. No more detail is available about the deadly accident at the moment. Abuja, Jan 8 : Nigerian police on Sunday said they have launched a manhunt for unknown gunmen who attacked a train station in Nigeria's southern state of Edo, kidnapping dozens of passengers. Chidi Nwabuzor, a spokesman for the police in Edo, told Xinhua via telephone that the police were yet to ascertain the exact number of kidnapped passengers at the Igueben train station Saturday evening. The gunmen gained entry into the terminal and began to shoot sporadically in the air as the passengers were waiting to be conveyed to Warri, a city in the neighboring Delta state. "Some passengers were also injured but not taken away by the criminals," Xinhua News Agency reported quoting Nwabuzor. He said that the gunmen quickly fled the scene. A manhunt has been launched by the police, with a view to rescue the kidnapped passengers and apprehending the gunmen, said the police spokesman. Sustainability Forum Middle East announced that its inaugural edition taking place in the Kingdom of Bahrain on January 12, 2023 will be focusing on Business Transition to Net-Zero the Path Towards a Successful Low-Carbon Future. The Forum is set to bring together more than 300 senior decision makers and sustainability experts to address regional decarbonisation goals and drive private sector mobilisation in support of the realisation of national and regional net-zero goals. The event will be under the patronage of the Minister of Oil and Environment, Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, Dr Mohamed bin Mubarak bin Daina. The Forum will feature a world-class line up of speakers to share knowledge and insights and stimulate an interactive day of exchange. Comprised of a series of keynote addresses and panel sessions, it has been designed to help companies across sectors better understand the implications of net-zero and the opportunities and challenges on the path towards a low-carbon future. Kicking off with a keynote address from Mark Thomas, Group Chief Executive, Oil and Gas Holding Company (nogaholding), the Forum will go on to cover a range of topics including takeaways from the recently held COP27 in Egypt and the road ahead to COP28 set for November 2023 in the UAE, net-zero ambitions of the MENA governments and where we are today, financing for the transition, the integration of renewables, and the evolution of climate regulation, among others. Importantly, a series of hands-on workshops are being delivered by senior representatives from KPMG, Bahrain Institute for Banking and Finance (BIBF), Deloitte Middle East and EY-Parthenon, will also provide attendees with the opportunity to develop practical strategies and solutions to help businesses, including SMEs, mobilize, plan for and embark on their net-zero journeys. The Minister of Oil and Environment and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, stated: "The Kingdom of Bahrain is keen to enrich the understanding of all sectors related to energy, environment, and climate change, building on sustainable development achievements and doubling efforts in the coming years. This includes harmonising decarbonisation efforts with the global endeavors to elevate living standards, and launching environmental initiatives and supporting catalytic programmes for comprehensive development partners to meet the national and humanitarian responsibility to reach climate security." Organizing such a forum reflects the private sectors belief in the pivotal role of environment in achieving sustainable development. The importance of this Forum lies on enhancing the Kingdoms efforts to limit climate change by seeking sustainable solutions and innovative investment opportunities. In this regard, we applaud the efforts exerted by the organisers and sponsors and all participants to launch Sustainability Forum Middle East as an international touchpoint among all partners of environment protection in all fields of economy, industry and science, serving sustainable development goals, he added. The Forum is being supported by Strategic Partners - Bahrain Economic Development Board and Tamkeen, Lead Partner - Sustainable Infrastructure - Infracorp, Lead Partner Standard Chartered, Energy Partner nogaholding, Knowledge Partner - National Bank of Bahrain, ESG Partner Gulf International Bank and Forum Partner- Alba, Official Carrier Gulf Air and Networking Partners Dadabhai Travel and NGN International. TradeArabia News Service Thank you for reading! To read this article and more, subscribe now for as little as $1.99. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on Monday (January 9). "Looking forward to being in the vibrant city of Indore tomorrow, 9th January to mark Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD). This is a great opportunity to deepen the connect with our diaspora, which has distinguished itself globally," Modi tweeted. The event will continue till January 10. The theme of Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas is "Diaspora: Reliable partners for India's progress in Amrit Kaal". Over 3,500 diaspora members from nearly 70 different countries have registered for it, according to official sources. On Monday, after the Prime Minister inaugurates the event, it will be addressed by Guyana President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the special guest of honour, Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi. Chennai, Jan 8 : With the reservoirs in Chennai almost full, the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department (WRD) has requested the Andhra Pradesh government to stop supply of Krishna water to the city. Sources in the department told IANS that the Krishna water supply will be suspended to Chennai from this week onwards as reservoirs in Chennai have 10 TMC of water as against the 11 TMC full capacity. While Tamil Nadu can receive 12-15 TMC of water from Krishna river, the state has already requested the Andhra Pradesh government to stop the flow of water even though only 3 TMC of water was received in Chennai as the reservoirs are almost full. WRD officials told IANS that the water flow from Krishna river to Chennai is around 500 cusecs per day and this will be reduced to 100- 300 cusecs in the coming days and a total stoppage will happen in the next few days. The WRD officials also said that the water from the reservoirs in Chennai would be distributed for drinking water purposes in the city through the Chennai Metro Water Board. The water authority officials would intimate the Andhra Pradesh government to commence supply in summer if there is a shortage in the reservoirs. Officials told IANS that after the flow of Krishna water is suspended, then the department would commence maintenance work in reservoirs and canals including desilting, lining and other repair works. The Southwest monsoon had lashed Tamil Nadu bringing in copious water in all the reservoirs of the state especially the reservoirs and tanks in Chennai hence to prevent unnecessary discharge from these reservoirs, the Water Resources Department has requested the Andhra Pradesh government to stop the flow of Krishna water to Chennai. Baghdad, Jan 8 : The Iraqi authorities decided on Sunday to reopen the entrances and streets to traffic in the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad. The decision was made under the directives of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, Mohammed Mahmoud from Baghdad traffic police told Xinhua. The gates of Green Zone now open from 5 a.m. (0200 GMT) to 7 p.m. (1600 GMT) local time, Mahmoud said, adding the decision came as a result of the improvement of the security situation in the Iraqi capital and for the purpose of reducing the traffic congestion, Xinhua News Agency reported. "The opening of blocked streets inside the Green Zone and continuing removal of security checkpoints from many areas in Baghdad will contribute to reducing traffic congestion by about 40 per cent," he noted. Nestling on the west bank of the Tigris River, the 10-square km strip is home to the presidential palace, the Iraqi parliament, some main government buildings, and some foreign embassies. Previously, Iraqi governments repeatedly tried to reopen the Green Zone, but the precarious security situation and massive demonstrations over the past years forced the security authorities to keep the zone closed to the public. Jammu, Jan 8 : In an unprecedented case, a man in J&K's Doda district faked his death and that of his family to evade repayment of loans taken from different banks and money lenders, police said on Sunday. In a statement, the J&K Police said it has unearthed a conspiracy behind a fake road accident, which was planned by the accused. Police said that it has brought back the couple, along with their daughter, from Haryana after they faked drowning as their vehicle plunged into the river Chenab near Gadsoo area of Doda. "On December 20, 2022, a vehicle had plugged into Chenab near Gadsoo and on receipt of this information, case FIR 182/2022, U/S 279, 304-A IPC was registered in police station Bhaderwah. "Immediately after the receipt of information of accident, SSP Doda, DC Doda, ASP Bhaderwah and other senior officers and rescue teams rushed to the site and rescue operation was launched. During the inspection of the spot police team found, one broken number plate of the vehicle, two ID cards, a driving license, and eShraman card of Manjeet Singh son of Pritam Singh of Bhaderwah and one purse from the spot," the statement said. It said that the vehicle was retrieved from the Chenab River but despite hectic efforts, no dead body was found inside it. "Alongside the investigation, search continued in the Chenab and as per evidences it was presumed that on December 20, 2022, Manjeet, his wife, Sonia Devi and daughter were travelling in the car from Bhaderwah to Jammu. However, none of them was traced out dead or alive. "Other aspects of missing Manjeet Singh and his family were also enquired into like financial condition etc. and during investigation, it came to fore that he had taken a large amount of loan (approx Rs 30 lakh) from different banks and private lenders to establish his business. "Moreover, the financial condition of Manjeet Singh was also not good and thus with the help of CCTV footages, technical team of cyber cell Doda was also put to the task and after getting technical lead, SSP Doda constituted a team to search the missing person in Punjab and Haryana. "After hectic efforts with the help of Haryana Police the trio was located and found alive in Abhaypura village Phase-1, Panchukala Haryana and were brought back within 24 hours," the statement said, adding that further investigation is going on, and proceedings will be initiated under relevant sections of the law. Hyderabad, Jan 8 : NTR Jr and S.S. Rajamouli were welcomed with rounds of applause and shouts of "Bravo! Best picture of the year", by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the organisation responsible for the Oscars, at a special screening in Los Angeles of their much talked-about film 'RRR'. The actor-director duo took centrestage after the screening to discuss various aspects of the movie which gave insights into the splendid bond they share. Speaking about NTR, who plays Bheem in the movie, during the discussion, Rajamouli said: "Komuram Bheemudu (the 'RRR' hit song) is the best thing that I have ever directed. It's my all-time favourite in all my films. Because NTR is such a great performer. If you place the camera only on one eyebrow of his, he can perform with that eyebrow. He's that good." NTR Jr. also spoke about shooting the interval sequence where he jumped out of the cage along with the animals. He said: "The best thing for me is the shot where Bheem jumps out with the animals. I never knew how the shot was supposed to be, he never told me how I was going to jump out with all these animals, he never told me how he's going to shoot. I only got to watch that when the movie released and I was like 'Woah'!" The Directors Guild of America theatre had more than 100 people in attendance for the 'RRR' screening and conversation with NTR Jr and Rajamouli. Those present included international journalists and Academy members. NTR Jr and Rajamouli are in LA to attend the Golden Globes, where 'RRR' is in the race in two categories -- Best Film and Best Song (for 'Naatu Naatu'). Apart from shaping up into a pan-India blockbuster, the movie has won hearts in many countries including Japan. It is also winning critical acclaim and waiting for the results of the Golden Globe nominations next week. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 8 : Youth Congress' Kerala unit President, Shafi Parambil on Sunday was at the receiving end of heavy criticism with leaders, cutting across group affiliations, charging that the organisation was dormant and inactive under him. The criticism came during the state executive meeting of the youth body at Ernakulam. Responding to the criticism, Shafi, on his part, accused party state chief K. Sudharakan of interfering in the affairs of the organisation thus leading to increased group activities. Youth Congress state General Secretary and Sudhakaran loyalist, Rijil Makutti said that the state chief was forced to intervene as the organisation was dormant for the past several months. Even after several issues cropped up in Kerala against the LDF government, the Youth Congress was inactive. Parambil, owed allegiance to the 'A' group of Youth Congress but during the appointment of the Leader of Opposition, he had supported V.D. Satheeshan instead of Ramesh Chennithala who had the support of 'A' group leader and former Chief Minister, Oomen Chandy. This led to the 'A' and 'I' group leaders drifting away from Parambil, who is now not identified with any group in the party. Sources in the Youth Congress told IANS that the leaders are sore in that Parambil was not lifting the suspension of state leaders, M.S. Nusur and S.R. Baalu who were suspended due to some issues within the organisation. Los Angeles, Jan 8 : Pakistani-American comedian and actor Kumail Nanjiani thinks racist language has become "much more acceptable in mainstream circles" in recent years, reports 'Female First UK'. The 44-year-old actor, who was born in Karachi, noted that racist attitudes remain in America, two decades on from his stand-up comedy debut in the country. Reflecting on his early days as a stand-up comedian, Kumail explained, quoted by 'Female First UK': "By and large, it was still unacceptable to be racist in the public sphere back then. George Bush even quoted the Quran in a speech - could you imagine (Donald) Trump doing that?" He added: "Now, I feel like racist language has become much more acceptable in mainstream circles. I told myself back then that most people still saw me as American. I'm not so sure any more." As per 'Female First UK', Kumail hasn't performed any stand-up comedy in three years, and he's now unsure about what his fans want to see. The comedian-turned-actor is also aware of the expectations that now follow him. He told 'The Guardian' newspaper: "I really want to do more comedy, but I don't know what people want me to talk about any more. Do they want jokes about my life? And will my jokes before this break still work? I can't exactly go to a tiny open mic to test it out, since people know me, there's an expectation now." New Delhi, Jan 8 : The appearance of cracks on roads and houses across Joshimath in Uttarakhand is mainly due to the rampant infrastructure development that is happening in a very fragile ecosystem like Himalayas, experts said on Sunday, adding climate change is a force multiplier. However, a local environmental activist blamed the irreparable damage to several tunnels and hydropower projects in and around Joshimath. Their voices have been blatantly ignored, he added. Saying Joshimath is a grave reminder that the local authorities are messing up with the environment to an extent that is irreversible, Anjal Prakash, Research Director and Adjunct Associate Professor, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business and Lead Author for IPCC reports, told IANS climate change is becoming a reality. "There are two aspects to Joshimath problem -- first is rampant infrastructure development which is happening in a very fragile ecosystem like Himalayas and this is happening without much of a planning process in a way where we are able to protect the environment and at the same time bringing in basic infrastructure for the millions of people who are inhabitation in those areas. "Secondly, climate change is a force multiplier. The way climate change is manifesting in some of the hill states is unprecedented. For example, 2021 and 2022 have been years of disaster for Uttarakhand. There have been numerous climate risk events recorded like high rainfall events triggering landslides. "We have to first understand that these areas are very fragile and small changes or disturbances in the ecosystem will lead to grave disasters, which is what we are witnessing in Joshimath. In fact, this is a particular point in history which should be remembered as what should be done in the Himalayan region." According to the book 'Central Himalaya' by Heim, Arnold and August Gansser, Joshimath town of Chamoli district is situated on the debris of a landslide. A few houses had already reported cracks back in 1971, post which a report had suggested few measures that included conservation of the existing trees and plantation of more trees, boulders on which the town is located should be touched and reinforced cement concrete (RCC) should not be done. Y.P. Sundriyal, Head of Department of Geology, HNB Garhwal University, told IANS these measures were never followed. Several experts have cited that traditional housing construction technologies are able to withstand earthquakes and landslides much more strongly than the newly constructed infrastructures. Talking about the present situation, he said, the ongoing crisis in Joshimath is primarily because of anthropogenic activities. The population has increased manifold and so has the tourist landfall. Infrastructure has also amplified and has been unchecked. However, the town does not have a proper drainage system. Besides gradual weathering of fine material between the rocks of debris, water percolation has decreased the cohesive strength of the rocks over the time. According to Sundriyal, this has resulted in landslides, triggering cracks in the houses. Secondly, the construction of these tunnels for hydropower projects is being done through blasting, creating local earthquake tremors, shaking debris above the rocks, again leading to the cracks. The Himalayas is a very fragile ecosystem. Most parts of Uttarakhand are either located in seismic zone V or IV which are prone to earthquakes. Local environmental activist Atul Satti said they have been repeatedly warning authorities about the irreparable damage caused due to several tunnel and hydropower projects in and around Joshimath and other parts of Uttarakhand. "However, our voices were blatantly ignored and our worst nightmare has come true today. The entire responsibility of Joshimath caving in is on NTPC's Tapovan Vishnugad Hydro Power Project. "Continuous blasting in the tunnels have shaken the foundation of our town. We demand instant action from the government that must include immediate stalling of NTPC project, closure of Chardham all-weather road (Haleng-Marwari Bypass), implementation of NTPC's pact that insures houses, setting a committee for rehabilitation of Joshimath within a set timeframe." Giving scientific viewpoint, Research Director Prakash said he is convinced that the Joshimath caving incident is caused by the hydropower project which has been operational in building the tunnel and is the major cause of concern for residents. It has shown that water which has gushed out is from a fractured zone which has been punctured by the tunnel that has been leading to the devastating situation. "This is also in the pretext of several reports in the past. I would quote two reports of IPCC, published in 2019 and 2022, that have critically observed that this region is very prone to disasters. This means a very strong planning process must follow." "In fact, the entire planning should be done at the bio-regional scale that should include what is allowed and what is not and has to be very stringent. I am not against bringing infrastructural development for people as these are the places of tourist interest. I understand the fact that people in these places here have no other means of survival considering the religious place they are in." "However, it has to be done in a planned manner. We must leave out some things and look out for other ways for energy generation. The return investment cost in hydropower projects is very less when compared to the cost associated with environmental and ecological damage. Joshimath is a clear example of what one should not do in the Himalayas," Prakash added. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in) New Delhi, Jan 8 : Top officials from the Union Home Ministry and members of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will visit Joshimath town in Uttarakhand on Monday to assess the situation, amid rising concerns of land sinking there. This was decided after a review meeting was held on Sunday by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) over the land subsidence being faced by the people in Joshimath, raising fears of the town sinking under its own weight. It was decided in the meeting, which was conducted by Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, P.K. Mishra and Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, that Secretary, Border Management in the Home Ministry and NDMA members would visit Uttarakhand to assess the situation there. The PMO further directed that teams of experts from the NDMA, the National Institute of Disaster Management, the Geological Survey of India, the IIT Roorkee, the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, the National Institute of Hydrology, and the Central Building Research Institute should study the situation and give their recommendations on the matter immediately. The Uttarakhand Chief Secretary briefed the PMO from Joshimath through video conferencing, sources said. It was informed in the meeting that one team of NDRF and four teams of SDRF have already reached Joshimath, and affected families are being shifted to safe locations, sources said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is learnt to have spoken to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and offered all assistance in relief and rehabilitation work. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Homegrown Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) on Sunday appointed veteran banker Surinder Chawla as its new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The appointment has been approved by the Reserve Bank of India for a period of three years, the company said in a statement. "His rich experience in banking and deep understanding of the Indian financial landscape will bring the necessary expertise to further empower Paytm Payments Bank's mission," said Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Chairman of Paytm Payments Bank Board. Chawla has worked across marquee institutions such as HDFC Bank, RBL Bank, ABN Amro Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank. He joins PPBL from RBL Bank, where he served as Head - Branch Banking and focused on expanding the CASA base, fee revenue, and cross-selling across channels. "As we continue on our journey to provide accessible, convenient banking options to all of our customers with the highest standards of compliance and operational excellence, I am excited to contribute to our shared mission of driving large-scale financial inclusion," said Chawla, MD and CEO, Paytm Payments Bank. Prior to joining RBL Bank in 2013, Chawla spent about 12 years in key senior management positions at HDFC Bank, culminating in his role as Head of the Retail Liabilities Product Group. The latest appointment comes as part of PPBL's ongoing efforts to strengthen its leadership team, enhance its technology capabilities and drive financial inclusion in the country. Chawla's expertise will be a great addition to PPBL as it continues to serve customers with its innovative products and services. The appointment will become effective upon the completion of the requisite regulatory formalities, said the company. Change often can be unpleasant. Change often can be hard. And change often is necessary. So wed like to commend the state of Oregon for taking a massive step forward for a cleaner environment, to combat climate change and to preserve livability for coming generations. In mid-December, the Environmental Quality Commission adopted rules that will require all new passenger cars, trucks and SUVs sold in Oregon to be electric or plug-in hybrid by 2035. The timeline is important, as is the inclusion of plug-in hybrids. More on that in a bit. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. But first, in case you didnt know, climate change is real, and that simple statement has been a constant for our editorial board for years. Oregonians are feeling the devastating impacts of climate change, including hotter and drier summers, more extreme weather events, and huge wildfires. The consequences of climate change span the globe and appear to be accelerating. Reducing emissions from gasoline-powered cars is key to combating climate change those account for the greatest share of Oregons greenhouse gases at more than 30%, according to a recent article from the Oregon Capital Bureau. The switch to electric vehicles will be true progress, but Oregon currently doesnt exactly have a sterling infrastructure set up for electric vehicles, especially in more remote areas of the state. The lack of charging stations is especially notable for residents of Central Oregon or Eastern Oregon, as well as outdoors enthusiasts, who might travel long distances in sub-freezing temperatures and over mountain passes during the winter according to AAA, the average EVs driving range decreases by 41% when the temperature dips to 20 degrees. Plug-in hybrids, where an internal combustion motor kicks in when electric batteries run down, are a nice compromise in the Advanced Clean Car Rule II for those who feel like they need a backup fuel source, just in case. An additional 12 years from now, however, gives time for more charging stations to be set up throughout our system of highways, providing for a safety net in extreme conditions or for those in far flung corners of the state. According to the Oregon Capital Bureau, the Oregon Transportation Commission has approved $100 million from federal funds to upgrade charging stations and other infrastructure along highways in the next five years. Car and battery technology also will certainly improve in the next decade or so as major manufacturers focus more on electric vehicles. And residents should expect to see the price of EVs drop relative to gas-powered cars as electric becomes more prevalent in the marketplace. And speaking of cost, we wont get into how much cheaper it is for maintenance with an electric vehicle. EVs certainly are becoming more commonplace in Oregon, which is second in the nation in share of new vehicles sold that are electric, with about 1,000 a month, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation. Currently, there are 57,700 EVs registered in the state. Oregon and Washington are among about 20 states that are following Californias lead for electric vehicles as allowed under federal law. Not all states will move in this direction, but the entire West Coast is driving into a new tomorrow. The new electric vehicle rules arent some sort of magic bullet that will solve Oregons problems regarding climate change. And more steps undoubtedly are needed regarding vehicles, including better public transportation and alternatives such as safe bicycle routes so people dont have to rely on personal automobiles. But this is a nice start. It feels as if were near a tipping point with electric vehicles, similar to the internet and cellular phones in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The journey from newfangled to omnipresent and ubiquitous was rapid. One year, the technology seemed quirky and unreliable. The next, it was everywhere and part of the fabric of our lives. Electric vehicles are the future, and it feels like Oregon is pushing things forward with its new automobile rules. This change is whats best for Oregon and the planet. Mumbai, Jan 8 : Bollywood actress Kajol recently visited the Siddhivinayak Temple along with her daughter Nysa Devgan to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha on Sunday. The actress donned a floral kurta and pyjama while her daughter was seen in a simple white kurta-pyjama set. Some netizens trolled Nysa as they questioned her choice of outfit, opting to go traditional, but others defended her right to choose what she should wear. One social media user commented: "I don't understand the point of trolling. People wear western dresses in pubs and parties. That doesn't mean they cannot be religious and cannot visit temples." Nysa Devgan recently returned from a Dubai vacation. She celebrated New Year with her friends Aryan Khan, Orhan Awatramani and actor Ahan Shetty. As for Kajol, who was recently seen in the theatrical film 'Salaam Venky', rang in 2023 in the company of her husband Ajay Devgn and her family, including sister Tanisha Mukerji. Bobby Deol was also seen at their New Year's party. Agartala, Jan 8 : Influential tribal party Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA) on Sunday urged the ruling BJP's ally, the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) to contest the forthcoming Assembly election together for the all-round development of the tribals. In a video message, TIPRA supremo and former royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman said that the TIPRA, the IPFT, and all other like-minded parties can fight the upcoming Assembly polls together in a common symbol for the greater cause of the tribals, who constitute one third of Tripura's little over four million populations. However, IPFT's working President and state minister Prem Kumar Reang said that they have yet to get any such formal proposal from TIPRA. "We would soon hold our Executive Committee meeting and discuss all political issues," Reang told IANS. The IPFT since 2009 has been demanding to make the areas under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) as a full-fledged state while the TIPRA, since 2021, has been demanding the separate tribal state "Greater Tipraland". "Most political parties and their leaders are fighting the elections for the posts and power, we are fighting to develop and protect the indigenous tribals and their future," Deb Barman said. Talking to IANS over phone from Shillong, the TIPRA chief said that for the greater cause of Tripura in general, and tribals in particular, all like-minded communities must come together to achieve the goal. "After elections, the leaders would go back to Delhi, but the backward and poverty stricken people of Tripura have to suffer. Assam, Mizoram, and other northeastern states have been developed but Tripura remains backward," Deb Barman said. Indicating at fielding candidates in 40 of the state's total 60 seats, he is very optimistic to secure win in maximum seats in the elections, expected to be held in February. Deb Barman's appeal to the IPFT to fight the elections together, comes after a week IPFT President and senior cabinet minister Narendra Chandra Debbarma died after a prolonged illness. Meanwhile, three of IPFT's 8 MLAs Mevar Kumar Jamatia, Brishaketu Debbarma and Dhananjoy Tripura - and BJP legislator Burba Mohan Tripura joined the TIPRA during the past several months, putting the IPFT into a serious organisational crisis. Jamatia was the General Secretary of the IPFT and cabinet minister in the BJP-IPFT government. Senior TIPRA leader and the TTADC's Deputy Chief Executive Member Animesh Debbarma said: "We have only one agenda, that is 'Greater Tipraland' and a constitutional solution for the Tiprasa (tribal) people living in the TTAADC area. Until this issue is resolved, we are not going to form any type of alliance with anyone. We are also protesting against the violence unleashed by the BJP." All the major parties, including the BJP, CPI-M, Congress, and the Trinamool Congress, have been opposing the division of Tripura or creation of the TTAADC as a full-fledged state. The TIPRA is now ruling the politically-important 30-member TTAADC, which has jurisdiction over two-third of Tripura's 10,491 square km area and is home to over 12,16,000 people, of which around 84 per cent are tribals, making the autonomous council a mini-Assembly. The BJP, in alliance with the tribal-based party IPFT, came to power in the 2018 assembly polls thrashing the CPI-M led Left, which governed the northeastern state for 35 year in two phases (1978-1988 and 1993-2018).The BJP and IPFT secured 36 and 8 seats respectively in the 60 member house while the CPI-M bagged 16 seats. Panaji, Jan 8 : Around 500 people from the coastal belt of Calangute and Baga in North Goa on Sunday took out a rally protesting against the 'Dance Bar' culture, drugs and prostitution in the locality and demanded action. Senior citizens and women who participated in the rally along with youths demanded that the 'dance bar' culture be stopped immediately as it is spoiling the name of Goa. Youths speaking on the occasion submitted that not just girls, even boys are not safe in the area due to the 'dance bar' menace. "We are afraid to move out of the house during the evening. Earlier such a situation was not there. Hence we need to eradicate dance bars, touts and drugs from here," a woman who participated in the rally said, adding the government should take action on illegalities. On Sunday, locals rallied around 3 km against 'dance bar culture', which was banned in Mumbai-Maharashtra in the year 2005, as it has now spread its wings in Goa. Facing nuisance, the BJP leaders in the coastal belt from North Goa are up in arms against it, claiming that it is tarnishing the image of the coastal state. Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira from Calangute constituency, speaking to IANS, said that around 500 locals participated in the rally. "Today, we all protested against dance bars by carrying out a rally," he said. According to him, there are around 16 illegal dance bars operating in his panchayat jurisdiction. "We have not permitted anyone to operate dance bars, licences are issued only for restaurants. There is no provision to issue a licence for a dance bar, hence the restaurant licence is being used for illegal purposes," Sequeira said. "No sooner had the dance bars been banned in Mumbai, they looked at Goa as an opportunity to spread this concept here. My village's name is getting spoilt for this illegal trade. This should be stopped. Our elected representatives (MLAs) should discuss this issue in the Assembly session and put a ban on it," Sequeira added. Earlier in December, last year, Goa's BJP MLA Michael Lobo had met Director of General of Police (DGP) Jaspal Singh and sought action against illegal dance bars operating in his constituency Calangute, and touts who cheat tourists. Lobo, who participated in the rally, said that he doesn't want dance bar culture in the locality. "We need to remain united on this issue," Lobo urged youths. "Agents and touts roam on roads and bring the customers to dance bars. They swipe their cards debiting Rs 25 to 30 thousand. But whatever they promise to the tourists, they don't provide it. Then, tourists are assaulted if they demand to return their money. There are various such cases," Lobo had said in December. Kurukshetra : , Jan 8 (IANS) Terming them "distractions", Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is on the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Haryana, on Sunday sought to deflect questions about politics from the media, suggesting they pose these to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge. "I am not the party President, ask Khargeji," he said when asked about the party's Chief Ministerial face in Haryana and lack of organisational structure in the state. Though Gandhi said that the organisation is not weak, but all political question be put to Kharge ji who is the party President. He said that there are three distractions in each press conference - who will be the PM, what about opposition unity, and now Chief Ministerial face, "but these are traps". He also did not respond to a question about recent loss in the Rajya Sabha polls. Gandhi also said that he was doing his work much like what has been mentioned in holy book Bhagavad Gita, and the Congress was doing 'tapasya (penance) unlike the BJP which was forcing people to do their 'puja (worship)'. Responding to a question, Gandhi said that he has changed himself and did not get affected by what others say about him. "Whatever is said about me, whether positive or negative, doesn't affect me and I am doing my work." "When Arjun took aim at fish eye he did not say what he will do next, in Gita also it is said do your work... However, there are programmes of the party which will continue after the Bharat Jodo Yatra ends." He said the Yatra was against the divisive agenda of the BJP and it was not a political Yatra but to connect the people. Mumbai, Jan 8 : Moving swiftly, Mumbai police on Sunday tracked and arrested a 22-year-old youth from Navi Mumbai for allegedly vandalising the cemetery in the 489-year-old St. Michael's Church in the metropolis' Mahim area, a senior police official said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (VI) Manoj Patil said that taking the incident very seriously, police set up multiple teams to track down the culprit involved in the Saturday dawn vandalism. "One of the teams notched success and traced him to Kalamboli town in Mavi Mumbai. His name is Dawood Ibrahim Ahmed Shaikh, and after proper verification he has been arrested," said DCP Patil. He added that Shaikh, 22, had entered the Portuguese-built Mahim Church graveyard and indulged in a damage spree of several crosses and other property there. Later, he remained on the church premises for sometime before leaving from there. "The motives behind his actions or who is behind it is still not clear and we are investigating further, " said DCP Patil. The 500,000-strong Catholic community in Mumbai was aghast at the violence perpetrated in the cemetery premises and poured strong reactions on the social media. Mahim Church Parish Priest Fr. Bernard Lancy Pinto and the Archdiocese of Mumbai expressed serious concern and urged the Mumbai Police to nab the perpetrator immediately. The St. Michael's Church is the oldest Portuguese church built in 1534 in its former colony of seven isles and the then sea-trading centre known as 'Bom Bahia' (later Bombay). 127 years later in May 1661, when Britain's King Charles II married Princess Catherine of Braganza, the daughter of Portugal's King John IV, 'Bom Bahia' was transferred to her husband as part of her wedding dowry. The Mahim Church is famed for its Wednesday 'novenas' where people from all religions flock to attend and pray for miracles that are believed to take place. The Catholic community in Mumbai and elsewhere has reacted sharply to the vandalism in Mahim Church and urged the police and government to take prompt action in the matter, besides ensuring security for the 125-odd churches in the city. New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during the NCC Republic Day Parade Camp at Delhi Cantt in New Delhi on Sunday, Jan. 08, 2023. (Photo: Twitter) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during the NCC Republic Day Parade Camp at Delhi Cantt in New Delhi on Sunday, Jan. 08, 2023. (Photo: Twitter) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Jan 8 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday addressed the NCC Republic Day Camp 2023 and appreciated the youth wing of the armed forces for its contribution to the society. "We will progress as a nation, socially and economically only when we believe in 'Nation First' ideology. NCC Cadets' qualities, spirit and motivation must leave a cascading effect on future generations to emulate. NCC Camp is indeed a microcosm of our country, with representation of cadets from every state and union territory," Kejriwal said on the occasion. "Delhi has always encouraged the growth of NCC and has extended a helping hand wherever required," he added. The Delhi CM was invited to the camp by Lt. Gen. Gurbirpal Singh, Director General, National Cadet Corps (NCC). The NCC DG also received the Chief Minister on his arrival to the camp under due protocols. The Chief Minister then proceeded to the dais to receive the 'General Salute' from the Guard of Honour. Post inspection of the Guard, the Delhi Chief Minister visited the Flag Area which represents different themes presented by 17 state NCC directorates. On the occasion, the CM was given a memento to mark his presence. The Chief Minister said: "It gives me great pleasure to have shared time with you all today. Your training imbibes you with discipline, camaraderie, a secular outlook, the spirit of adventure and infuses, in you, the ideals of selfless service to the society. Our great nation needs these values in the present times and it gives me great reassurance that our youth are being groomed by NCC to be responsible, socially aware and disciplined citizens of our country." "I wish all of you the very best in life and urge you again to be the torchbearers of our society and continue with your good work. Your qualities, your josh and your motivation must leave a cascading effect on future generations to emulate," he added. Lucknow, Jan 8 : Jamtara, the city in Jharkhand that is known as the phishing capital of India, has extended its boundaries. The maximum cyber crime cases are now being reported from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, apart from Bharatpur in Rajasthan and Mewat in Haryana. In the past few months, this triangle of cities seem to have specialized in blackmail based on deepfakes. The Cyber Cell of the UP Police is investigating at least 400 such cases. Superintendent of Police, Cyber Cell Triveni Singh says the fraudsters superimpose frames of their male targets on porn clips using this technology. "After creating fake porn videos, they call up the targets and blackmail them for money, anywhere in the range of Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000. Some of them speak fluent English to trap people from well-off families in cities like Mumbai and Kolkata," he said. A Lucknow-based businessman was recently targeted in a "sextortion" attempt. Soon after accepting a woman's friend request on social media, he received a WhatsApp video call from her. During the 15-second call, she snared him with seductive gestures and words. Minutes later, the businessman received another call to cough up Rs 30 lakh or see his conversation with the woman leaked on social media. The accused were traced and arrested in Mewat. In the past one year, nearly 300 people, including a senior PCS officer, have approached the Cyber Cell with similar sextortion complaints. There have also been cases of people being duped while making online transactions on e-commerce sites and online marketplaces, which is the most common form of cyber fraud. Singh said: "Fraudsters keep an eye on online marketplaces like OLX, where people sell their products. They make fake accounts as armymen and pose as buyers. While buying a product they trick the seller into making an online transaction through a QR code." Another cyber cell officer says sextortion and fraud through e-commerce sites don't involve special skills, unlike the "Jamtara" scams that require engaging with and convincing the target over a longer duration. "In such cases, criminals use a mobile application to trap their target by either luring them, or through links, or video calling. If a target blocks their number, they use another SIM to contact the person. The third and final stage is to impersonate a policeman and threaten the target," he said. The scammers do their homework by scanning online advertisements. They win the confidence of people by introducing themselves as personnel from the army or the paramilitary forces. They even give a fake badge number, battalion name, place of posting, their photograph in army uniform and identity card. New Delhi, Jan 8 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against five accused, including a Pakistan national, before a special court in the 2021 Ludhiana court complex blast case. Punjab Police's former Head Constable Gagandeep Singh aka Gagi, who planted a bomb at the court complex on December 23, 2021, was killed and six others injured when it suddenly went off. Accused Gagi, Surmukh Singh aka Sammu, Dilbag Singh aka Baggo, Rajanpreet Singh, and Pakistani national Zulfikar aka Pahalwan have been charge sheeted under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Explosive Substance Act, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act on Saturday. The case was initially registered at Police Station Division-5 in Ludhiana and was later taken over by the NIA. "During investigation, it has been revealed that Lakhbir Singh Rode, Pakistan-based ISYF/KLF terrorist handler, had planned to execute IED blasts at various locations in Punjab. "In order to execute the plans, he, in association with Pakistan-based smugglers, recruited India-based operatives to smuggle IEDs and to carry out blasts to cause maximum casualties and to strike terror among the general public," the NIA said. The NIA said that in furtherance of the conspiracy to carry out IED blasts in Punjab, Rode, with cross-border arms-explosives-narcotics smuggler, Zulfikar, Harpreet Singh aka Happy Malaysia, Sammu, Dilbagh Singh, and Rajanpreet Singh, formed a terror gang to carry out blasts and smuggled weapons into India. Rode used the smuggling channels of Pehalwan and his associates to deliver the IED to Gagi. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 8 : Aiming for a better show, the Kerala unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has started preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. BJP-in-charge of Kerala and former Union Minister, Prakash Javadekar has announced in Alappuzha that K. Surendran would continue as the president of Kerala unit till the 2024 general elections. Sources said that the party would now put to rest all the controversial issues and concentrate on the elections. The BJP is aiming for two seats from Kerala, with Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad in the top slot for the party to win. While party state general secretary, C. Krishnakumar has already started preparing for the Palakkad Lok Sabha seat, the party is yet to reach an understanding for its Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha candidate. Actor-politician and former nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, Suresh Gopi is the front runner for the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat for the BJP. The party is also considering the candidature of Union Minister for Skill Development, Rajeev Chandrashekhar for the Thiruvananthapuram seat. With the sitting Congress candidate Shashi Tharoor more likely to continue to contest from the seat, the BJP is trying to wrest the seat from him. The recent statements of the influential Nair Service Society general secretary, G. Sukumaran Nair indicate that he has thrown his weight behind Tharoor. While both Suresh Gopi and Rajeev Chandrashekar are from the Nair community in a predominantly Nair constituency, the party will have to take out all arms and ammunition to humble Tharoor who will be contesting for the fourth consecutive term from the same constituency. As part of the BJP's South India programme, the party has brought in a high-profile leader like Prakash Javadedkar in charge of the party affairs in Kerala and the BJP has already commenced the electioneering work. The BJP's state leadership has already announced that the party would not be singling out constituencies and it would contest all the 20 constituencies in the state even as its concentration will be primarily on the two constituencies -- Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad. Thrissur, Attingal, and Kasargod are the other three Lok Sabha seats that the party is eyeing but sources in the BJP told IANS that it would be "seriously campaigning" in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said that under the PM SVANidhi scheme, there is no need to submit any documents as guarantee because under it, the guarantee has been given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "More than 2,300 street vendors will get loan under PM SVANidhi scheme. Under it, there is no need to submit any document as guarantee because here the guarantee has been given by PM Modi himself," she told a gathering in Rajasthan's Kota, where she handed over more than 33,000 loan sanction letters to beneficiaries of various central government schemes in a credit outreach programme. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was also present on the occasion. PM SVANidhi scheme is a Central government scheme, which was initiated in 2020, for facilitating street vendors to access affordable working capital loan for resuming their livelihoods activities, after easing of lockdown. It facilitate working capital loan up to Rs 10,000 at subsidised rate of interest. Meanwhile, the Finance Minister, while interacting with students in Kota, during another event, said: "Ease of doing business is not just a central government responsibility because business after all starts in the states. Central government can bring in rules, meaningful regulations, remove many of the burdens and give it as a policy." Underlining a point on accessibility, she told students that they can meet the government "and will get an audience with concerned officer or minister. The point is before you come, you should go through FAQs which the government puts out. If you still don't get answers to your queries, you're welcome to meet us". Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla while speaking at the outreach programme, congratulated the Finance Minister for encouraging the nation's youth, women, farmers to move forward on the path of self-reliance. He further said India is the world's fastest growing economy and has become the fifth largest economy in the world after overtaking UK. Moscow, Jan 8 : More than 600 of Kiev's troops have been eliminated in a Russian missile strike in the Ukrainian-held city of Kramatorsk in the Donbass, Russia's Defence Ministry has claimed, the media reported. The bombardment on Sunday was a "retaliation operation" carried out in response to "a criminal attack" by Ukraine on a temporary housing area accommodating Russian servicemen in the city of Makeyevka in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) on New Year's night, the ministry said in a statement, RT reported. Over the past 24 hours, the Russian military has managed to uncover and confirm the location of Ukrainian troops in Kramatorsk in the DPR, the statement read. This data revealed that dormitory No. 28 in the city was hosting more than 700 Kiev soldiers, with 600 more staying in dormitory No. 47. "As a result of a massive missile attack on these temporary housing areas of the Ukrainian military's units, more than 600 Ukrainian servicemen were killed," the ministry said, RT reported. On January 1, at precisely 0:01 a.m., Ukrainian forces targeted a temporary housing area containing Russian troops in the city of Makeyevka. Six missiles from a US-supplied HIMARS multiple rocket launcher were fired at the building. Two of them were intercepted by Russian air defences, but four made it through, causing massive damage to the facility. The death toll from the strike has reached 89, according to the Russian Defence Ministry, RT reported. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War New Delhi, Jan 8 : A 57-year-old Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) who was stabbed by a robber four days ago, has succumbed to the injuries during the course of treatment on Sunday, an official said. On January 4, a woman came to Mayapuri police station and reported that her cell phone was robbed by a man. When she resisted the robbery attempt, she and her husband were threatened with dire consequences. ASI Shambhu Dayal later went to the crime scene and caught the man who robbed the cell phone. The robber was identified as Anish. When Dayal was taking Anish to the police station, he was attacked by the accused with a knife. "The accused robber pulled out a knife hiding under his shirt and attacked Dayal on multiple parts of his body, neck, chest, stomach and backside. Anish was overpowered by police staff. Dayal was taken to hospital where he succumbed during the course of treatment," a police officer said. Delhi Police Commissioner, Sanjay Arora paid homage to Dayal in the office complex of DCP West. ASI Shambhu Dayal joined the Delhi Police in 1993. Dayal served almost 30 years in Delhi Police. He is survived by his wife Sanjana, son Deepak and two daughters, Gayatri and Priyanka. He was from Ganwali village in Rajasthan's Sikar district. Johannesberg, Jan 9 : South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to address energy challenges and enhance efforts to fight against crime and corruption. Ramaphosa, also President of the African National Congress (ANC), the country's ruling party, made the remarks in his address to mark the 111th anniversary of the ANC at Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium in Mangaung, Free State Province on Sunday. The National Executive Council, the ANC's highest governing body, has decided to give top priority in 2023 to the energy crisis, ANC renewal initiatives, better service delivery, collaboration with social partners to boost job and investment creation, and the fight against crime and corruption, according to the President. The unstable electricity supply remains one of the biggest barriers to economic growth and disturbs the lives of all South Africans, Xinhua news agency reported. "The ANC calls for Eskom and the government to immediately focus on restoring additional units to operation as quickly as possible," he said. Ramaphosa said the government should prioritise infrastructure investment over other expenditure items, alongside the structural reform of network industries, including electricity, telecommunications, water, rail, aviation and road infrastructure. In order to address South Africa's persistently high unemployment rate, which is particularly acute among young people, grants must be linked to opportunities for jobs, self-employment, training, and other types of economic development, he added. Ramaphosa pledged that the ANC will take action to strengthen law enforcement agencies and public participation in the urgent task of restoring peace and stability across the country. "Additionally, immediate action must be made to restore the capabilities of law enforcement organisations and other criminal justice system institutions that have been compromised by state capture and corruption," he said. Johannesburg, Jan 9 : Eight illegal miners have been killed after they were trapped underground following a collapse three days ago at Burgersfort in the northernmost Limpopo province, the South African police said. The illegal miners were digging for chrome at ga-Maroga village when heavy rains pushed the soil that blocked the only point they were using for entry and exit, thereby suffocating them, according to the police. The deceased include one South African, three Mozambicans and four Zimbabweans, the police added on Sunday as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. "We have established a team to deal with illegal mining activities around the province, especially in the areas along the R37 road in Sekhukhune district and many illegal miners have been arrested and mining equipment confiscated," said Provincial Commissioner of Police Thembi Hadebe in Limpopo. Hadebe said charges in terms of the Immigration Act will also be preferred against the seven deceased as they were in the country illegally and illegal mining will also be registered against all of them. Sanaa, Jan 9 : Heavy clashes between the Yemeni government forces and the Houthi militia in the oil-rich central province of Marib have killed 13 government soldiers, a government military source said. The fighting that erupted on the frontline of the southern district of Al-Jubah also wounded several soldiers, the source in Marib said on condition of anonymity on Sunday. "The clashes erupted after the Houthi fighters moved in groups through three directions toward the sites of the government forces," the source said, adding the fighting lasted eight hours throughout the night till morning. "It was a very deadly, fierce attack, in which heavy machine guns, rockets and artillery were used in the battle," the military source added. The government forces are still estimating the causalities from the Houthi side, while the Houthi group, which rarely reported its casualties, has not commented on the clashes yet, Xinhua news agency reported. While the Yemeni government controls most of Marib and its oil and gas fields, the Houthis have launched intense offensives over the past years trying to take over the strategic province, which is considered a stronghold between the Houthis and the southern provinces. The escalation came nearly three months after a six-month nationwide truce expired in October 2022. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia stormed several northern cities and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa. The war has killed tens of thousands, displaced 4 million and pushed the country to the brink of starvation. Tehran, Jan 9 : Top Iranian and Pakistani military commanders have called for establishing a joint military working group, the official IRNA news agency reported. The remarks were made in a phone conversation on Sunday between the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri and the newly-appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Pakistan Army Sahir Shamshad Mirza. Noting the good relations between the armed forces of the two countries and the development of defence and security cooperation especially on the common borders, Bagheri announced full readiness of the Iranian armed forces to speed up the establishment of a joint military task force with Pakistan. The Iranian Commander considered the establishment of border markets as an effective step in enhancing the security of common borders, urging an increase in the border guards forces of the Pakistani Army, Xinhua news agency reported. Shamshad Mirza also considered accelerating the establishment of a joint military task force as one of the priorities of the Pakistani Army, saying the common border of the two countries is the border of peace and friendship. Jerusalem, Jan 9 : The number of foreign tourists visiting Israel in 2022 reached 2.7 million, according to an annual report issued by the country's Central Bureau of Statistics. The figure represents a 6.8-fold increase, compared to 396,500 foreign tourists who visited Israel in 2021, when the country imposed entry restrictions because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Vaccinated and recovered tourists were allowed to enter Israel in January 2022. Two months later, Israel opened its borders to all tourists. Despite the surge in the number of foreign tourists last year, the figure is still 41.3 per cent lower than the pre-pandemic level of 2019, when 4.6 million tourists travelled to Israel, Xinhua news agency reported. Israel's revenues from incoming tourism, excluding flight costs, stood at about 13.5 billion shekels ($3.85 billion) in 2022, compared to nearly 23 billion shekels in 2019, according to the country's Tourism Ministry. Out of 2.7 million foreign tourists visiting Israel last year, 810,500 were from the US, 235,500 from France, and 177,900 from Britain, according to the report. "We are excited to present this comprehensive exam and training course! This is a terrific opportunity for coffee professionals to further their knowledge and advance their careers in the specialty coffee industry." - Brandon Bir, Crimson Cups Sustainability Director and Assistant Q Instructor Want to take your career in specialty coffee to the next level? Then sign up for the Q Arabica Grader Exam and Training Course to be held January 20 through 25, 2023, at the Crimson Cup Innovation Lab in Columbus, Ohio. Presented by Brandon Bir, Crimson Cups Sustainability Director and Assistant Q Instructor, and Todd Arnette, Q Instructor and Owner of The Academy of Coffee Excellence, the program will help prepare coffee professionals to be licensed Coffee Q Graders. "We are excited to present this comprehensive exam and training course," said Bir, a Specialty Coffee Association content creator and the East Rep for the SCA USA Chapter who holds numerous specialty coffee and tea certifications. "This is a terrific opportunity for coffee professionals to further their knowledge and advance their careers in the specialty coffee industry. He noted that many workplaces require their quality control personnel, roasters, green buyers and exporters to be Q Graders. "Certified Q Graders share a common language of quality used by both producers and buyers, he said. This language smooths communication throughout the industry and increases access to markets. Participants in the exam and training course will learn from industry experts, hone their coffee tasting skills and take the test to become an Arabica Q Grader a highly trained coffee taster who evaluates coffee using SCA cupping standards and protocols. The Q Arabica Grader Exam is rigorous, and some students find it difficult to pass all exam portions the first time through, Bir said. The final day will allow participants to retake certain tests as needed in hopes of completing the certification. The course will be held at the Crimson Cup Innovation Lab, a certified SCA Premier Training Campus, located at 700 Alum Creek Drive in Columbus, Ohio. The Crimson Cup Innovation Lab is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to advancing the specialty coffee industry through education and innovation. As a certified SCA Premier Training Campus, the Innovation Lab offers courses and workshops for coffee consumers and coffee professionals. The Q Arabica Grader Exam and Training Course is open to coffee professionals with cupping experience. Space is limited, so interested parties are encouraged to register as soon as possible. To sign up, email Brandon Bir, bbir@crimsoncup.com. About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea Founded in 1991, Crimson Cup is at the forefront of the coffee industry. Its attentive roasting, startup support and global partnerships are consciously designed for the greater good of communities around the world. Among other national recognitions, the company has earned 2020 and 2017 Good Food Awards, the 2019 Golden Bean Champion for Small Franchise/Chain Roaster and Roast magazines 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year. Crimson Cup travels the world searching for the perfect cup driven by meaningful relationships, honesty and a shared vision for the future. Its Friend2Farmer initiatives foster respect and decency through mutually beneficial collaboration across local and global communities. Through its 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program, the company teaches entrepreneurs how to open and run independent coffee houses in their local communities. By developing a coffee shop business plan, entrepreneurs gain insight into coffee shop startup costs. Crimson Cup coffee is available through over 350 independent coffee houses, grocers, college and universities, restaurants and food service operations across 30 states, Guam and Bangladesh. The company also owns several Crimson Cup Coffee Shops and a new CRIMSON retail flagship store. To learn more, visit crimsoncup.com, or follow the company on Facebook and Instagram. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. By subscribing to rdrnews.com you agree to recurring payments and your credit card will be billed at the subscription intervals selected, cancel anytime. You are the owner of this article. Nate Thayer, an American journalist who was the last Western correspondent to interview the Khmer Rouges genocidal leader Pol Pot, died early this month in Massachusetts, aged 62. In September 2006, Sok Ry Sum and Kem Sos of RFA Khmer interviewed Thayer, who had spent years in the jungles of Cambodia chronicling the Khmer Rouges 1975-1979 rule, during which an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians perished. The conversation with Thayer--who discusses his interviews with Pol Pot and other senior Khmer rouge figures including No. 2 leader and chief ideologist Nuon Chea, Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, commandant of the notorious Tuol Sleng (S-21) torture prison, and senior military leader Ta Mok--has been edited for length. RFA: If I am correct, you were the only outside journalist able to get access to the Khmer Rouge camps and interview Pol Pot, Ta Mok and Duch. How did that happen? Thayer: I was the first outsider to gain access to Pol Pot after he was arrested and tried in 1997. It was a long process of years of accessing sources within the Khmer Rouge, within the Thai military a variety of other sources that slowly I built relationships with the Khmer Rouge from the bottom up. RFA: What was your impression of when you met him firsthand? Thayer: He was strikingly charming with a gentle, soft voice, very charismatic; very likable -- until we began to talk. And what he said was that essentially he had no remorse for anything that he had done in Cambodia, that he had done more good than bad. His constant theme was that they had made mistakes, but they'd saved the country from becoming taken over by Vietnam. And that was what he repeatedly went back to. He clearly died without accepting that he had done more bad than good for his country. RFA: And what kind of questions did you ask him? Thayer: Many questions. It was a two hour interview, but when I began it, we didn't know how long it would take. And we said it might only be a few minutes. So I wanted to get to the questions that that most Cambodians wanted to hear, which was, are you a mass murderer and are you sorry, or do you have any regrets for what you did to your country? So I started out with the questions of his culpability and crimes against humanity and genocide, failed central policies while he was in power. An undated photo of Cambodian dictator Pol Pot [left] with former Khmer Rouge foreign minister Ieng Sary [center] was found in the guerilla leaders former stronghold of Anlong Veng by an Agence France-Presse reporter on March 28, 1998. The picture was believed to be taken in China in the late 1970's, according to Pich Chheang, former Khmer Rouge ambassador to China. Credit: AFP RFA: Did you ask him why did they evacuate the cities? Why he forced people to leave the cities in April 1975? Thayer: Yes, I asked him and I asked him after noontime consumption, uh, also the same questions. And they were convinced that there was a plot to destroy them. And that was the primary reason. RFA: And did you ask him about that part, about Tuol Sleng prison? Thayer: I did. And he claimed that he'd never heard of it, and it was probably the most difficult part of the interview in terms of confrontation, because it was clear from the documentary evidence that he was, in fact, in charge of the Khmer Rouge killing machine. And he denied that that he had ever heard of Tuol Sleng and that he had any involvement at all. But at the same time, he admitted to killing people but justified it as them being part of the Vietnamese plot to overthrow (them). RFA: How was the interview atmosphere? Did he appear friendly to you or fearful to you? Secondly, how about the accuracy? How did you feel in that time? Did what he said sound reliable and accurate to you? Thayer: He came across as very genuine. Like any top political leader, he had great charisma and I had great sympathy for him. He was an old man. He was sick. He was, in fact, dying. And that was quite clear. He was clearly trying to draw sympathy towards himself and his political movement to put into place in history the way he'd like it to be viewed. RFA: Back to the evacuation of cities. Did they think about the consequences? Thayer: No, they didn't think of the consequences. And then that was one of the perennial problems with Khmer Rouge is that they only thought of the benefits and not the consequences to some of their actions. And they were absolutely concerned that there were enemies everywhere. There were enemies within the population, within their own ranks. If there were spies in the employ of foreign intelligence agencies that were trying to overthrow them. And they were absolutely convinced that the most important thing for them to do was to protect the leadership of their movement and to keep them in power and keep them safe and keep them from being killed. And they took every measure possible to ensure that without thinking of the consequences. And when they evacuated the cities, Pol Pot told me that that there were two coup plots in process at that time to overthrow them: one by Lon Nol after a meeting in Bali in May of 1977 and another from within the Khmer Rouge ranks themselves, and claimed six different coup attempts against him during his years in power. And he was absolutely concerned that there were enemies within the ranks, within the army, in the employ of the Vietnamese, and in fact, in the employ of all three, the KGB, the CIA and Vietnamese at the same time working together against them. In fact, it was his entire focus on the Vietnamese taking over Cambodia that created his policies, that created so much suffering within the country, that weakened the country so much that in fact allowed his worst nightmare to come true, that the country was so weak that it became vulnerable to a Vietnamese invasion. And it was his policies of terror and incredible suffering that, in fact, made the country weak enough to allow what he feared the most to come true. You could argue that it was Pol Pot who made Cambodia in a position to become a satellite of its historical enemy. And it was something that was, I think, almost too painful for him to accept himself, that it was his own policies that created the conditions that allowed Cambodia to disappear. When he, in fact, took credit for saving the country from disappearing from the face of the earth. American journalist Nate Thayer sits bandaged in a hotel room on Oct. 15, 1989 in Aranyaprathet, Thailand, after he was injured in a land mine explosion while returning from Cambodia. Credit: Associated Press RFA: Why didn't the many reported coup attempts against Pol Pot succeed? What happened? Thayer: Anyone who voiced any opposition to it, however small, even within the top leadership of the Khmer Rouge, was immediately deemed an enemy and arrested and killed. When the Khmer Rouge took power in 1975, there were 22 members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. By the three years, eight months and 20 days before they were overthrown, 18 of those 22 were in fact killed and targeted to be killed by Pol Pot himself. The vast majority of the victims of execution of the Khmer Rouge were, in fact, Khmer Rouge cadre themselves, and it was the purifying of the forces within the Khmer Rouge that were the main targets of Pol Pot. For every one person executed, probably seven died of starvation or overwork, and the executions were targeted mainly among Khmer Rouge cadre. And it created an atmosphere of immense fear throughout the country that anything, any small thing that was done that might be perceived as being against the regime was tantamount to death. RFA: What did you ask Ta Mok? Thayer: Well, about, for instance, his involvement and knowledge of Tuol Sleng and taking responsibility for the great suffering that occurred during the years that he was in power. Ta Mok was an uneducated military commander, and he was a peasant and a military commander who spoke very straightforwardly. He was the first Khmer Rouge leader ever to acknowledge in an interview with me the fact the Khmer Rouge had, in fact killed hundreds of thousands and that he regretted it. And then it was it was a mistake and it was wrong. Although he denied any personal culpability. Duch was the first Khmer Rouge leader that I'd ever interviewed who in fact took responsibility for what he had done. He acknowledged thoroughly that he had been responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent people and felt great remorse. And he was the only leader. And I interviewed all the Khmer Rouge top leaders who ever acknowledged that he, in fact, was responsible for the deaths of innocent people and was willing to admit it and willing to take the consequences of it. A MONATIO soldier waves his pistol and orders store owners to abandon their shops in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on April 17, 1975, as the capital falls to the communist forces. Credit: Associated Press RFA: Could you tell us a little bit about Tuol Sleng from what you learned about it? Thayer: Well, Duch was very clear and many, many hours of interviews, very detailed and precise about the organization of S21. He reported directly Son Sen and to Nuon Che. Son Sen as the military representative within the Khmer Rouge and Nuon Chea as representing the Communist Party. And every interrogation that they made, documents were photocopied and sent to both Nun Chea and Son Sen. And Nuon Chea, took over the entire administration of S-21 in 1978 while the war was beginning to grow against Vietnam and such and went on to take control of leadership of the war against Vietnam. And it was very clear from Duch that Nuon Chea was directly responsible for the killings of thousands and thousands of innocent Cambodians and had no regard for interrogation processes or for any kind of even remote respect for human rights against his own people. RFA How about the killings in Tuol Sleng? Thayer: Yes he did. He went into great detail. And first the prisoners were interrogated, sometimes for many, many weeks, sometimes for months. And once they were finished of value of interrogation, they were taken to be killed at Chouerng Ek, seven miles from from S-21. And he made it very clear that it was the rules of the Communist Party, that anyone who was arrested would die, that there was no question about that anyone who was ever arrested would be killed. And he looked at the arrest of people from, I think, his scientific background as a mathematician, where he never questioned the correctness of the party, that anyone who was arrested was guilty. But those people arrested included the wives and children and family members. Duch was very remorseful. He broke down into tears about all of the women and children who he had ordered killed. RFA: What would make him confess all these things to you? Thayer: You know, Duch was a fanatic and he was a fanatic in his training as a mathematician, as a member of the Communist Party, and later, after the fall of the Khmer Rouge, as a born again Christian. And the tenets of fundamentalist Christianity are that in order to be saved, that you must confess your sins and you must seek salvation through redemption and confessing your sins. And he was a born again Christian, then a fanatic Christian. And he believed that in order for him to go to heaven that he would have to take responsibility for his actions. And that was, in my view, why he was willing to confess, because he thought that it was according to the Bible, that he would have to take responsibility for his actions. A visitor stands before a map of Cambodia made from the skulls and bones of victims of the Khmer Rouge's brutal 1975-79 "killing fields" regime at Tuol Sleng in Cambodia, June 23, 1997. Credit: Reuters RFA: Very few people made it out of Tuol Sleng. Thayer: There were seven people out of 16,000 who survived, and those seven were ones that were left over when the Vietnamese took control. There were there were only two people that Duch ever freed. One was a Frenchman by the name of Francois Bizot, and another was a Khmer Rouge cadre who was misidentified. But Duch said repeatedly that it was the policy of the party. Whoever was arrested must be killed, and there was no question about that. RFA: Is there anything else you want to add about these three important figures that Cambodian people should know? Thayer: If we were able to contribute anything, it was that we were able to get some of the facts about what happened during the Khmer Rouge time. As a matter of public record and that the efforts of the press were far more successful than the efforts of any government to at least have Cambodians be able to have some knowledge from those who were in charge of those terrible years of suffering under the Khmer Rouge of what happened, and whether their leaders felt, in fact, any remorse or took responsibility for their terrible failed policies while in power. Some places double down on bans, while others allow firecrackers heralding the Year of the Rabbit People celebrate the new year with fireworks on a beach in Sanya in China's southern Hainan province on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. Authorities in some Chinese cities have lifted fireworks bans in the wake of nationwide protests and ahead of Lunar New Year on Jan. 22, while some authorities have doubled down on the ban, punishing local residents for setting off fireworks as an example, according to Chinese media reports. Local governments in Dongying and Binzhou cities in the eastern province of Shandong have announced via their official websites that fireworks and firecrackers will be allowed to usher in the Year of the Rabbit. And authorities in Beijing and the northeastern port city of Dalian will allow fireworks within limited hours until the first month of the lunar calendar, the government-backed news site The Paper reported. But it added that many other places had made it clear that the original fireworks ban will remain in place. "In the past few days, a lot of places have announced cases of [people punished for] illegally setting of fireworks as a warning," it said, citing administrative penalties handed out by police in Wenzhou city in eastern Zhejiang province, Sihong city in the eastern province of Jiangsu and in Jinzhou city in the northwestern province of Liaoning. It quoted county officials in the northern province of Hebei as saying that the ban would continue, and as scotching "fake news that setting off fireworks and firecrackers can disinfect the air and kill the COVID-19 virus." The online news service Red Star said that in the southwestern city of Ya'an alone, eight districts and counties all have different regulations on fireworks at Lunar New Year. Erupted under the pressure New York-based political commentator Qin Peng said the mass defiance of the fireworks ban seen at New Year came after three years of zero-COVID, a grueling program of rolling lockdowns, mass surveillance and testing and forcible incarceration in quarantine camps. "The Chinese people have so much pain and anger stored up from the past three years, that a lot of places have erupted under the pressure," Qin said. "The authorities know very well that they have provoked public anger, and that it's not just among a minority group, but that it runs right through all of China's cities and villages," he said. Protesters in the Chinese province of Henan damage a police car after police tried to enforce a ban on fireworks in Hongdaoyuan Square in Henan's Luyi County, on Monday, Jan 2, 2023. Credit: Netizen-provided screenshot from video Qin suggested that the ruling Chinese Communist Party could even have a superstitious aversion to explosives designed to scare away evil spirits. "They say of course that it's for reasons of safety or cleanliness, but ... but [firecrackers] have another meaning, which is exorcizing evil spirits, and the party knows itself to be evil," he said. That awareness appeared to be behind a directive from police chiefs in the northern city of Xi'an, who issued an urgent reminder to police forces following the Henan protests on Jan. 2. "The desire to set off fireworks and firecrackers during the festive season is particularly strong among the general public ... and they continue to appeal to the government via online platforms to allow the setting off of fireworks and firecrackers during the Lunar New Year," the statement said. It called on police officers to "enforce the law in a civilized and flexible manner, and not to get into direct conflict with the public, and not to trigger negative public opinions about the police." Cannot control mass incidents Veteran democracy activist Wang Juntao, now settled in the United States, said there is an uneasy stalemate between popular anger, Communist Party leadership and local governments. This is a forced compromise between Xi Jinping and local governments, because Xi Jinping can control the elite, but he cannot control mass incidents at the edges of the political system," Wang said. "If he won't delegate more power to local governments, then they can't stamp out [protests], and have to make concessions instead," he said. "If he delegates any more power to local governments, they could use it to turn on Xi Jinping rather than the general public." "So all he can do is compromise, given the situation," Wang said. Qin said both the fireworks protests and the "white paper" movement of late November that was followed by an abrupt end to Xi's zero-COVID policy in early December had shaken the Communist Party's system of governance. "The Communist Party wants to make [temporary] concessions, because they imagine it's a way of releasing the pressure of public anger and resentment," he said. But he said the approach could backfire. "Firstly, any concessions made by the Communist Party will encourage ordinary people, and help them realize that resistance is valuable and can force the government to compromise if it is successful," he said. "[They then believe that] they should keep up their resistance if there is a problem." Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. A man rides on a cart being pulled by a cow on the road between Pyongyang and Sinuiju in North Korea, Nov. 30, 2018. As another bitter winter grips North Korea, authorities are ensuring that its bullocks working cows that pull plows and do other chores are getting fed, even though its not doing the same for its citizens, sources in the country say. Sources told RFA that caretakers are receiving plenty of feed for the bullocks on collective farms, while annual rations for farmers have been halved, owing to a poor harvest. The move seems to be aimed at boosting harvest production. A source from South Pyongan province who declined to be named told Radio Free Asia that grain distribution for the winter at collective farms in Maengsan county ended in December. This year's distribution received by the farmers is only about half a year's worth of food, the source said. However, 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of corn kernel and corn stalks were supplied to the working cows of the cooperative farm, he said. As a result, farmers complained that cows were treated more favorably than people, and that cows are more important than people. Sources in North Korea say temperatures have dropped far below freezing in the country and, as food becomes more scarce, large numbers of people have gone missing, believed starved or frozen to death. RFA received reports of homeless beggar children, known as kotebji, dying on the street, while even the employed have been deserting their homes to subsist on hunting and fishing in remote areas because they cannot afford to buy food. Speaking on condition of anonymity citing fear of reprisal, a farmer in the province confirmed to RFA that local cadres delivered year-end feed rations last week for working cows at the 22 cooperative farms in Kimjongsuk county. I work in Team No. 4 of Agricultural Group No. 1 in Wondong village, and our team has 5 cows, said the farmer. Each working cow is raised in a barn adjacent to the house of the cows manager. The cow manager receives the food for the working cow. Each cooperative farm in Kimjongsuk employs 300-400 farmers in four to six work groups. Each work group is divided into five to six teams, each of which raises three to six working cows, the farmer said. While the size of collective farms varies in the county, each raises around 100 cows. The farmer told RFA that at the end of this year, cow managers were provided 100 kilograms, or 100 days worth, of grain in addition to the year-end grain all farmers receive for their daily labor. A poor harvest this year saw regular farmers receive only half their grain, frustrating those who say the government prioritizes the nations cows over its people. Due to the lack of harvest this year, farmers who went to work 365 days only received 200 days worth of grain, the farmer said. North Korea stopped providing rations for cows at collective farms during the countrys economic crisis in the 1990s. The first source told RFA that, until this year, cow managers had been required to foot the bill for feed, in addition to medicine and shoes for hooves, forcing them to earn additional money as porters at train stations and in the marketplace. The fact that corn kernels and corn stalks were supplied as feed to working cows for the first time [since the 1990s] seems to be an attempt to increase food production by mobilizing all working cows for farming, the source said. But it remains to be seen whether working cows will increase grain production as a result. According to the 2022 North Korean Crop Production Estimate recently announced by the Rural Development Administration, North Korea harvested 4.51 million tons of food this year, a decrease of 180,000 tons from 2021. Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh. Edited by Josh Lipes and Malcolm Foster. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on April 12 made another major push for modern and sophisticated U.S. weapons in a meeting at the Pentagon with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Shmyhal said Ukraine "still needs intensive military support -- more air-defense systems that minimize the impact of Russian air strikes, more heavy artillery, mortars, and ammunition for them" and asked that the Pentagon "reconsider the possibility of providing Ukraine with...longer-range missiles." Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensives, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Speaking to reporters alongside Austin, Shmyhal said Kyiv applauds the decision of the United States to join a coalition to provide Ukraine with tanks and Bradley and Stryker infantry fighting vehicles, but added, "For our counterattack to be successful, we require an increase in such supplies." He noted that Ukraine has formed a fighter jet coalition and said, "We are inviting the United States to become its most important participant." Ukraine for months has pressed the United States and its allies to provide fighter jets to match Russia in the air. The Pentagon has resisted over concerns about escalating the war. But Shmyhal said on April 12 that in modern warfare, air superiority is crucial, and America can "once again demonstrate its leadership by providing Ukraine with F-15 or F-16 aircrafts." Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said earlier in a statement that Austin and Shmyhal discussed security assistance priorities, such as air defense and artillery, and training for the Ukrainian armed forces. The meeting came as Ukrainian forces continue are defending the eastern city of Bakhmut and preparing for an expected counteroffensive to retake Russian-occupied territory, and as Austin deals with the repercussions of the recent purported leak of classified documents. Austin and Shmyhal discussed security assistance priorities, such as air defense and artillery and training for the Ukrainian armed forces, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said in a statement. Austin shared with Shmyhal the key objectives of the next meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group scheduled for April 21 and "commended the bravery of the Ukrainian people and reaffirmed that the United States will continue its support for as long as it takes," Ryder said. The contact group includes more than 50 countries that have supplied equipment to support Ukraine. Austin said the United States will "continue to swiftly deliver security assistance through procurements and from our own stocks," adding that he is confident that Ukraine's allies will meet its defense needs "through this spring and beyond." Ukraine has indicated it will soon launch a counteroffensive. On the battlefield, Russia said its forces struck Ukrainian Army reserves trying to break through to Bakhmut, while the Ukrainian military rejected a Russian claim that its forces have captured more than 80 percent of the besieged city. Ukraine says its forces repelled 72 attacks over the past day by Russian forces in the east as intense fighting continued around Bakhmut. "Despite numerous losses in equipment and manpower, the enemy does not give up waging a war of aggression. It continues to focus its main efforts on conducting offensive operations in the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Maryinka area," the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said in a statement on April 12. Serhiy Cherevatiy, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, said the situation in Bakhmut was under control, adding Kyiv would not allow its troops to be encircled. The monthslong battle for Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region has turned into one of the bloodiest since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-installed head of Crimea, announced that ceremonies and parades that normally take place on May 1 and May 9 have been canceled. In addition, he boasted about the defenses of the Russian Army on the illegally annexed peninsula and said that the expected counteroffensive of the Ukrainian armed forces was not frightening. British intelligence has said that in preparation for the counteroffensive the Russian military has built three lines of defense 120 kilometers long to protect the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol, a strategic southern city that has been targeted by Ukrainian shelling in the past. The document leak, which could be the most serious of U.S. military secrets in years, appear to include secret U.S. assessments of the war dating from late February into March. One assessment dated February 23 and quoted by Reuters says Russia is unlikely to be able to take the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. "Russia's grinding campaign of attrition in the Donbas region is likely heading toward a stalemate, thwarting Moscow's goal to capture the entire region in 2023," reads the assessment. Russia and Ukraine have questioned the veracity of the documents, while U.S. officials say some of the files appear to have been altered. With reporting by Reuters Welcome back to The Farda Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that tracks the key issues in Iran and explains why they matter. To subscribe, click here. www.rferl.org/a/31793259.html I'm RFE/RL correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari. Here's what I've been following during the past week and what I'm watching for in the days ahead. The Big Issue Iran appears to be making headway toward renewing official ties with Saudi Arabia and Persian Gulf states that in some cases have been publicly avoiding Tehran for decades. The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia held talks in Beijing on April 6 in a significant step toward restoring diplomatic relations, which were cut in 2016 after protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran following Riyadhs execution of prominent Saudi Shi'ite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Iran also accepted an invitation from Saudi King Salman for President Ebrahim Raisi to visit Riyadh, while Tehran said it will send a similar invitation to the Saudi king. Meanwhile, a Saudi delegation traveled to Iran on April 9 to discuss the reopening of the embassy in Tehran and a consulate in Mashhad. The trip came as Iranian media reported on April 8 that a street sign near the Saudi consulate in Mashhad provocatively named after Sheikh al-Nimr had been quietly removed. An Iranian delegation also arrived in Saudi Arabia on April 12 to pave the way for the reopening of Iranian diplomatic missions there. Iran is meanwhile taking steps to improve ties with other countries in the region, naming an ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and working to decrease tensions with Egypt and Bahrain. Why It Matters: Iran and Saudi Arabia appear to be pursuing implementation of last months Chinese-brokered agreement, possibly clearing the way for Tehran to de-escalate tensions with other countries that followed Riyadhs lead on a rupture seven years ago. What's Next: Tehran and Riyadh could move surprisingly swiftly toward normalization, but its no sure thing. Abdolrasool Divsallar, a visiting professor at the Catholic University of Milan (UCSC), told me that the political environment between the two regional rivals could encourage the start of military and security talks within months. But Divsallar also warned that opponents at home and abroad could still undermine the agreement. Hard-liners in Iran may act as a spoiler rather than as a supporter of the deal, he said, adding that Israel could do the same. The regional tensions between Israel and Iran, on one side, andbetween Iran, Saudi [Arabia] and the United States, on the other side, are two dynamics that make this process very fragile, he said. Divsallar also suggested that any normalization between Iran and countries with less appetite for a quick restoration of ties, for instance Bahrain, could take longer. They feel more secure under the current status quo rather than immediately normalizing their ties with the Islamic republic and losing their leverage, he said, adding, They may wait to see a major change of policies. Stories You Might Have Missed Irans civil aviation sector has for years been under Western sanctions that prevent it from purchasing new aircraft or spare parts for repairs. Now, Russia's oldest airline, Aeroflot, has sent one of its passenger planes to Iran for repairs for the first time ever. Aeroflot reportedly ran into obstacles at home stemming from Western sanctions over Russias ongoing, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The RBK media group cited an Aeroflot representative and sources close to the company on April 11 as saying that an Airbus A330-300 had been sent to Tehran on April 5 to be repaired by specialists from Iran's Mahan Air. Iranian pensioners staged protests in more than a dozen cities across Iran, demanding higher pensions amid soaring prices. Protests were reported on April 9 in Tehran, Ahvaz, Mashhad, Isfahan, Arak, Qom, Shush, Tabriz, and several other cities where retirees complained of poor living conditions and chanted anti-government slogans. Labor protests in Iran have swelled as the economy deteriorates following years of mismanagement compounded by crippling U.S. sanctions. What We're Watching Prominent Iranian female religious scholar Sedigheh Vasmaghi has challenged Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over the Islamic republics mandatory hijab law. In a letter published online, Vasmaghi asked about the reasoning behind Irans strict model for womens dress and said the Koran does not specify the need for women to cover their hair in public. There is no evidence to show that during the time of the Prophet Muhammad women were harassed and punished for not covering their hair or even their bodies, Vasmaghi, who has published several books on Islamic jurisprudence, wrote. Why It Matters: Vasmaghis letter is significant for its timing -- just days after Khamenei asserted that the removal of the hijab in public was religiously banned. But it is also important because it comes from a religious woman who wears the veil while opposing the mandatory hijab, which is seemingly being defied by a growing number of women. That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. Until next time, Golnaz Esfandiari If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Wednesday. Clayton resident Jacqueline S. Davis will be honored during an upcoming awards ceremony set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan.14, 2023, via Zoom and Facebook live. Davis will receive the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit of Service Award for her outstanding service to the citizens of Barbour County. The announcement was made by the Clayton High School Class of 1982 Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee. Each year, the committee honors Barbour countians who have gone above and beyond to provide volunteer services within their community. Davis has been active in the community for many years and have given herself in service to the people she calls friends and neighbors, committee chairman the Rev. Kenneth Davis said recently. Im always encouraged and fascinated by people like, Ms. Davis who offered herself as a successful candidate for the Barbour County School Board. Davis served two consecutive terms where she used her position to advocate for the educational needs of the students in rural Barbour County. As an employee of Metalux Lighting, Davis led a group of employees to establish a union. Davis later worked for Tyson Foods, Bakerhill, Ala. She organized a group of fellow workers to form a union. She served as a steward and helped negotiate contracts and advocated for employees until she retired. Davis is a lifelong member of the historic Jones Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Clayton. She has held numerous leadership positions including Sunday school superintendent for more than 30 years. She has served on the board of trustees, Pastors Aid Ministry and the local and district Womens Missionary Society. Davis graduate from Clayton High School in 1971. She later enrolled at Lear Seagler Institute in Silver Springs, Maryland, where she studied Computer Information Systems. She is the mother of Tia Boykins of Clayton and the late Kimberly Michelle Smith. She has three grandchildren, Nasasha, Micah and Tiana. This marks the 10th year that the class has presented the award. The Rev. Dr. James Arthur Rumph, a Barbour County native and 1977 graduate of Clayton High School, will serve as the keynote speaker. Rumph currently serves as the pastor of Second AME Church, Los Angeles, Calif. As the finishing touches are put on Iran's latest major dam project, environmentalists and archaeologists are warning that it could spell the end for an area in the country's southwest fed by the diminishing waters of the Zohreh River. The Chamshir Dam, the country's latest massive hydropower venture, is set to go on stream in March. But as the clock winds down, critics are making a desperate bid to stop the project, warning that it will turn agricultural lands into a salty wasteland and flood newly discovered archaeological sites. The Zohreh River, which will fill the dam's reservoir, is not what it was in the 1960s, when authorities first had designs to harness its power to produce electricity and boost irrigation in impoverished Khuzestan Province and other areas of southwestern Iran. In recent years, seasonal droughts have at times reduced the brackish waters of the river to a trickle as it winds its way to the Persian Gulf, endangering flood-dependent flora and wildlife and contributing to water shortages that have sparked angry protests in Khuzestan. The massive dam and adjacent hydroelectric plant, financed through a high-interest, $244 million loan from China, has been erected on the western edge of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, and will cut off downriver Khuzestan from the natural flow of the already stressed Zohreh River to fill its reservoir. The dam's operator has said that the reservoir will hold 2.3 billion cubic meters of water and generate 482 megawatts of hydroelectric power a year, while the authorities have sold it as a way to quench farmers' thirst for dependable water supplies to boost agricultural output. But residents of the region, which sits on an extensive bed of gypsum and salt known as the Gachsaran Formation, do not have to look far to see the destruction wrought by the government's previous failures to manage scarce water supplies despite grand promises. The Gotvand Dam, constructed in the 1990s and located just 250 kilometers northwest of the Chamshir project, was situated next to a large salt dome. Despite warnings, the project went ahead and ultimately left the authorities dealing with a brine-filled reservoir. And in 2021, angry protesters who took to the streets of Khuzestan and neighboring Isfahan Province pointed to the Chadegan Dam, located 250 kilometers north of the Chamshir Dam, and other large-scale projects from the 1970s as the source of their water woes. WATCH: Water shortages in the Iranian province of Isfahan led to mass protests in November 2021 and a brutal government response. Farmers in the province say the situation still has not improved and accuse officials of gross mismanagement. Flood Of Criticism Nomads have roamed the area surrounding the Chamshir project since the Sassanid Empire, the last Persian imperial dynasty before the Muslim conquest of the mid-seventh century. More than 140 ancient sites from the Sassanid and Islamic eras lie in the basin destined to become a reservoir, 124 of them newly discovered. But with precious little time to excavate the sites, archaeologists fear that vital pieces of the country's history will soon be drowned and that modern-day nomads will be forced out. For their part, environmentalists have strongly objected to the project, saying that aside from salt deposits the reservoir is also set on capped oil wells. They have called for it to be halted immediately until further impact studies can be conducted. The dam's operators have downplayed the criticism and stressed the importance of pooling precious water supplies. They have also argued that concerns about high salinity are unfounded because salt deposits are buried hundreds of meters below the surface. Mahmud Muharniya, the dam's manager, said in a December press conference that "there is no evidence of the presence of salt on the surface" and that comparisons to other controversial projects are misguided. Muharniya also said that the reservoir will be filled with waters from the winter flood season, which he said lessens the salinity of the Zohreh River and will provide higher-quality water. Study In Open Opposition But those arguments have done little to assuage critics' concerns, as evidenced by videos, petitions, and open letters penned by researchers and environmental authorities. Hossein Akhani, a prominent botanist who has studied Iran's salt-imbued landscapes for decades, took to Instagram as early as 2021 to show that high salinity had already taken its toll on plant life near the new dam project. "Your dam was so salty that it was revealed after only two days of visits," Akhani wrote in comments to a video he posted showing dead and damaged trees. "You can continue to trick ignorant officials with false claims, but the truth doesn't hide." More recently, university professors and environmental experts have pushed back with a petition signed by more than 23,000 people declaring the Chamshir Dam a "danger," due to faults in the reservoir bed and the existence of 11 oil wells in and around the reservoir. The authors of the petition, including Akhani, also said that halting the flow of winter flood waters will disrupt the natural process of desalination and soil fertilization, and will create a dust bowl. Other academics have listed other negatives, including the disruption of nomadic lifestyles, the dependence on Chinese investment, the loss of trust in the government, and the continuation of a flawed "American" idea of progress that began with large-scale development projects decades before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. In an interview in late December with the Tehran-based Payam-e Ma newspaper, Mehdi Hajikazem, the civil affairs manager of Chamshir Dam, dismissed the concerns. Hajikazem said that research regarding the project was "open to everyone" and that academics who took his office up on its offer to study it came away convinced that the dam poses no threat. "It is not my responsibility to decide whether to stop [the project]," Hajikazem said, accusing critics of simply being against the construction of dams under any conditions. "But as a patriotic Iranian, I say that this dam is really necessary." This week, Kazakhstan marked the first anniversary of what some call, in Kazakh, Qandy Qantar, or Bloody January. At least 238 people were killed in a crackdown on nationwide protests. One year later, there are still many questions about what happened and who was responsible. There are also questions about whether Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaevs government has made the necessary adjustments to prevent a repeat of the January 2022 violence. Joining host Bruce Pannier to discuss these topics are William Courtney, former U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan; Vyacheslav Arbamov, founder of the Vlast.kz news outlet in Kazakhstan; and Aigerim Toleukhanova, a freelance journalist from Kazakhstan and co-host of Eurasianets EurasiaChat podcast. Twenty-seven-year-old Stanislav Bashilov's life as a Russian deserter has been filled with twists and turns, ups and downs. Last month, the disillusioned ex-cop and army reservist whose lawless flight from wartime Russia has tested asylum policies in neighboring Latvia learned that he was seemingly back from a precipice. As tens of thousands of his countrymen continued the brutal and unprovoked 10-month-old war on Ukraine that has killed tens of thousands of Ukrainians while sending millions more fleeing abroad, a Riga district court ruled that Bashilov's own bid to escape the fighting seemingly paid off. It was a far cry from the day four months earlier when the Pskov native learned that Latvia's Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) had rejected his asylum request, citing a lack of any evidence of intimidation or any history of political or human rights activism that put Bashilov at risk. "'The world had collapsed.' I thought, 'That's it, the end,'" Bashilov told RFE/RL's North.Realities in a recent interview from Latvia, describing his disappointment at the prospect of being repatriated. "'Now it's back to the border guards [and] a 'kindly uncle' from the FSB will come, and I'll go to war or to jail,'" he added, in a reference to the post-Soviet successor to the KGB, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). His plight and court victory at a time when hundreds of thousands of Russians have already fled abroad -- many of them to neighboring post-Soviet countries -- highlight the unpopularity in Russia of the war. But they also underscore the dilemma of EU and other states allied with Ukraine who think Russians themselves must do more to thwart the Kremlin's aggressive actions abroad and that offering sanctuary to Russian draft dodgers is a slippery slope for political and security reasons. Anti-War Or Anti-Going-To-War? Latvia and its Baltic cohorts have been leading voices for sanctions and other punishments to discourage Moscow's aggression since the all-out invasion began in late February, and Riga has dramatically increased security and military preparedness along its 214-kilometer border with Russia. A once-captive Soviet republic with an ethnic Russian minority of about one-fourth of the population, Latvia has also led the push to keep ordinary Russians from traveling to the EU. It has also publicly discouraged Russian nationals from seeking asylum in Latvia to avoid the draft. As tens or hundreds of thousands of young Russian men fled for the borders after Putin ordered a "partial mobilization" in September, one month after Bashilov's asylum request was originally rejected, Latvia increased its border patrols. Interior Minister Kristaps Eklons warned that "mobilization in Russia...is not a basis for granting asylum in Latvia." But he acknowledged that "each case is considered individually" and said that just two of 16 Russian asylum seekers in Latvia to that point were specifically trying to avoid conscription. Bashilov was one of the two Russians to whom Eklons was referring. Weeks later, in an interview with Current Time, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgar Rinkevics further warned Russians that if they disagreed with what their country was doing in Ukraine, they should oppose the Russian authorities. "These people are not against the war that Russia is waging in Ukraine but against mobilization -- and this is a big difference," he said. 'Everyone Was Talking About Mobilization' Bashilov described himself as "an ordinary guy" who joined the army for one year of service but quickly realized "what a mess it was," then studied at a police academy in his native western region of Pskov. But he says he resigned from the police force after seeing firsthand the level of corruption and bribery that was taking place. But he remained an army reservist as he moved on to a job at a fertilizer factory. Bashilov described to RFE/RL's North.Realities his shock at the news of the invasion on February 24, something he said he "didn't believe until the very end that it was possible [even] in principle." Western estimates were that as many as 200,000 Russian troops were part of the initial invasion force, which had been building for months and prompted a blunt U.S. warning, entering Ukraine from Russia and via neighboring Belarus. He said that with resistance in Pskov limited to solo pickets by the war's early opponents, he traveled the 300 kilometers or so to St. Petersburg for "something more massive" on February 27 to express opposition to the invasion before that event was dispersed by riot police. As an army reservist, Bashilov said, he grew nervous as "everyone was talking about mobilization" and the possibility of Putin declaring martial law. "I was definitely not going to support all this, but it was morally difficult to stay, and you fear for your life when this happens," he said. Improvised Escape Then, when he was at work on March 4, he said, he was "pushed" to act when his parents informed him that a summons had come for him to report for military service. "Here the war begins and you're called to the military registration and enlistment office," Bashilov said. "And from my experience with the service, I understood: They can sign a contract for you, they can persuade you, [or] blackmail you" into military service. Despite having no visa, he says he simply drove toward the Latvian border, about 40 kilometers from Pskov. Acknowledging that in retrospect he might have simply traveled through Belarus and entered legally into Latvia, Bashilov says he probed the border near the junction of the Estonian and Latvian borders before driving south to a spot about a kilometer past where he spotted "border guards in Russian uniforms." Then, he said, he simply climbed over the fence, then walked through the forest avoiding the town of Vilaka, before deciding it was safer roadside so he "wiped his clothes [clean] a little and left the forest." He eventually boarded a bus for Riga, where he turned himself in to a slightly confused police officer and said he'd crossed the border illegally and wanted political asylum. "It was evident that he didn't immediately realize what I'd just told him," Bashilov said, but he was told to get into a squad car. He said he'd been thinking nervously about what to do if someone tried to take him back to the border but sat helplessly in the squad car unsure of where the police were taking him. "It was very scary," he told RFE/RL. "But they drove me to the border-service building, and I realized that I was more or less safe." A 'Single Knot' Bashilov was transferred to the Mucenieki Detention Center, a newly opened facility for housing immigrants near Riga. Feeling safe for the time being, he attended courses on integrating into Latvian society and successfully learned Latvian well enough to get an A1 certificate. Three months later, he received a work permit and got a job working for an online casino. He also learned some English. Then came the news of his rejection by the PMLP in August, when he thought his "world had collapsed." Latvian authorities had deemed that while Bashilov appeared to have participated in a protest and made some comments online, there was no evidence of any threat to his life. And as Bashilov described it, "as for mobilization, they wrote that there are no signs that it will be announced, since the military invasion of Ukraine is defined [by Russian authorities] as a 'special military operation,' not a war." Kyiv and Western military analysts had long been warning that the monthslong war was not going to plan for the Kremlin, and a brutal clampdown on media and dissent wasn't completely stifling public displays of frustration. But it was still more than a month before Putin effectively acknowledged unexpected challenges that had emerged in the Ukrainian invasion by announcing a "partial mobilization" to eventually rope in at least 300,000 more reservists like Bashilov along with other recruits for the war effort. Bashilov got his day in court, however. Latvia's migration service "drew a strong distinction between my political position and my unwillingness to participate in the war," he said. He and his lawyer "tried to tie it into a single knot," inextricably connecting Bashilov's broader views with his resistance to fighting in the war, as well as noting his previous service and resignation from the police force. "Of course, I'm not a prominent political figure, I didn't burn military enlistment offices," Bashilov told RFE/RL. "I'm an ordinary guy who doesn't want to kill and die." Officials from Latvia's State Security Service (VDD), wary of threats from an inflow of Russians with questionable motives and loyalties, testified that they opposed allowing Russians with military experience into the country. On December 15, Bashilov learned that Riga's Administrative District Court ruled that he should be granted asylum. If his Latvian request had ultimately been rejected, he says, he'd been preparing for a possible attempt to get to Georgia, another former Soviet republic where thousands of Russians have resettled since the invasion in February. But he knew he didn't want to return to Russia. "If you go back there, it's either to prison or to war," Bashilov said. "If we go to war, then on the other side." Written by Andy Heil based on reporting and an interview by Maria Kugel of RFE/RL's North.Realities Ukraine has claimed that 111,170 Russian military personnel have been killed since Russia invaded the country on February 24 last year. In its latest update on January 8, the Ukrainian General Staff reported that 430 more Russian soldiers had been killed the previous day. The claims could not be independently verified. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensives, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. The regular update -- which is typically higher than Western estimates -- also says that Russia lost three more tanks and three more artillery systems. Russian forces continued to hit civilian targets in Ukraine "over the past day," despite Russian President Vladimir Putin announcing a cease-fire on Orthodox Christmas, Kyiv said on January 8. Russia "launched nine missile and three air strikes, and fired 40 attacks from multiple rocket launchers," the Defense Ministry said in a statement. "In particular, civilian infrastructure was hit." Ukrainian authorities said at least two people were killed, and nine others were wounded by Russian strikes over the past 24 hours. The casualties were reported from the eastern region of Donetsk, the northeastern region of Kharkiv, and the southern region of Kherson, they said. In Zaporizhzhya, in southeastern Ukraine, Russian forces targeted the city's outskirts overnight, firing "cluster munitions," local authorities claimed on January 8. "The rockets damaged warehouses and other auxiliary facilities," Oleksandr Starukh, the head of the regional military administration, wrote on Telegram. Municipal council secretary Anatoliy Kurtev said the latest strikes inflicted "damage to infrastructure," but he didnt provide further details. On January 5, Putin announced that his troops would observe a cease-fire across the front line so Orthodox Christians could celebrate Christmas. The 36-hour cease-fire would run from the midday on January 6 until the midnight on January 7. Ukraine rejected the call, saying it was only a ploy by Putin to reposition and reinforce his troops. On January 7 in Kyiv, hundreds of worshipers attended a service at the 11th-century Pechersk Lavra as Metropolitan Epifaniy, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, led a Christmas liturgy. He said Christmas incites people to fight against evil, sin, and darkness. "These considerations especially echo in our hearts at the time of the most difficult trials of the war, which our Ukrainian people are going through," he said. Ukraine did not want the war, which he said resulted from "devilish malice and envy" on the part of "those who held us captive" for centuries. After Ukraine became independent and started building its own sovereign state, they "could not tolerate our achievements and success" and started a war. "But they will definitely be defeated in it, because the truth is on our side," he said. Epifaniy said Ukraine had already achieved a moral victory because all people of goodwill "condemn the acts of genocide, terror and numerous war crimes committed by the evil Russian empire on our land." The monastery used to be the seat of a branch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) that was previously under Moscow's jurisdiction. The UOC severed ties after Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Ukrainians in a message on Orthodox Christmas that he was glad to see the hundreds of worshipers who turned out on January 7 for the holiday service in the Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv, including Ukrainian soldiers. "It is very important that a sincere prayer for Ukraine was and will continue to be heard in the Lavra today," Zelenskiy said in a video message late on January 7. "Once again, I congratulate everyone who celebrates today, on this day, which has already become historic for Ukraine, for the spiritual independence of our people, with a Merry Christmas," he said. He also encouraged Ukrainians to "keep the mood that was felt today -- a mood of joy at the strengthening of Ukraine and at the achievement of historical justice." According to the UN refugee body, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has unleashed the largest wave of refugees since World War II. "More that 7.9 million people have fled the country, and another 5.9 million are internally displaced," the UNHCR representative in Germany, Katharina Lumpp, said on January 8. The total figure of almost 14 million represents more than one-third of the country's total population of around 41 million. Lumpp said Germany's contribution of more than $500 million to refugee support was second only to that of the United States. With reporting by AFP, UNIAN, and dpa The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam has proposed that five domestic airlines increase the number of aircraft in operation to 234, the same number they flew prior to the onset of Covid. The increase is to meet demand that will rise during Tet (the Lunar New Year Holiday), which falls in late January this year. The administration said that the increase in aircraft will also help Vietnam prepare for the world aviation recovery. After the pandemic broke out in early 2019, domestic airlines reduced their fleets to 225 aircraft. Of these, 190 planes remained in operation and 12 were under maintenance. Another 23 were not flying during the pandemic. The administration also proposed that the Transport Ministry allow domestic airlines to increase their fleets to surpass the 234-plane mark this year to meet the increasingly bigger market demand, airport infrastructure, operating capacity of the carriers, and safety supervision of relevant agencies. With the domestic market forecasted to reach 45.5 million passengers in 2023, the number of aircraft needed for the domestic market alone is 182. Vietnamese airlines expect to transport 13.6 million international passengers in 2023, which will require the use of 57 aircraft. Domestic airlines are expected to use 230 aircraft in the first months of this year, with the number rising to 250 at the end of 2023. On Jan. 8, Vietnamese airlines will resume scheduled flights to China. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has set the ceiling price for solar power at VND1,185-1,508 (VND24,000=$1) per kWh and wind power at VND1,587-1,816 per kWh, depending on the type. According to the ministry's decision issued Saturday, the ceiling price excluding value-added tax will be applied to solar power and wind power projects which have become operational after incentivized feed-in-tariff (FIT) price policies expired in late 2020 and late 2021. National utility firm Vietnam Electricity (EVN) will use the ceiling price as a base when it negotiates with investors in renewable energy projects to buy electricity from their power plants. In November 2022, EVN proposed solar power prices ranging from nearly VND1,188 to VND1,570 per kWh, and wind power prices of some VND1,591-1,945 per kWh. The price bracket set by the ministry is lower than that proposed by EVN. By the end of last year, operational wind and solar power projects had accounted for nearly 27% of the total installed capacity of the whole system, including 16,545 MW of ground- and roof-mounted solar power and 4,126 MW of wind power. The 20-year FIT price for solar power projects was 9.35 cents per kWh and 7.09-8.38 cents per kWh; and for wind power projects 8.35-9.8 cents per kWh. These preferential prices for solar power expired on December 31, 2020, and for wind power on November 1, 2021. After the FIT price expired, five solar power projects or parts of projects with combined capacity of over 452 MW who waited for new prices, and 62 wind power projects with total capacity of nearly 3,480 MW, signed electricity sales contracts with EVN. Some other renewable energy projects are under implementation. According to Ha Dang Son, director of the Center for Energy and Green Growth Research, a nonprofit research organization, the ceiling price set by the ministry may not be as high as expected by renewable energy investors that failed to become operational earlier to enjoy the FIT policy. But he said it helps them sell electricity and earn income after over two years of being dormant. The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question: Briefing on Recent Tensions Tomorrow afternoon (5 January), the Security Council will convene for an open briefing on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The meeting was requested yesterday (3 January) by China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), joined today (4 January) by France and Malta, to discuss the recent developments at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount site in Jerusalems Old City. The sitereferred to by Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and by Jews as Temple Mountis the holiest place in Judaism and the site of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, and has frequently seen tensions and clashes between Israelis and Palestinians. Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Mohamed Khaled Khiari is the anticipated briefer. Representatives of Israel and the Observer State of Palestine are expected to participate at tomorrows briefing. Jordan and several other countries may participate under rule 37 of the Councils provisional rules of procedure. Tomorrows briefing is separate from the regular monthly meeting on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, which is scheduled as an open debate on 18 January. On the morning of 3 January, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the recently appointed Israeli National Security Minister and leader of the far-right Otzmah Yehudit party, visited the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount site escorted by a large security presence. Ben-Gvir assumed his post following the 29 December 2022 swearing-in of the new coalition government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose Likud party won the majority of votes during Israels 1 November 2022 elections. (For background, see our January Forecast brief.) Palestinians view the increasing number of visits to the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount site by Jews and visits by high-profile Israeli Jewish politicians as steps towards disrupting the status quo at the holy sites. Under an agreement reached after the 1967 Six-Day War, only Muslims are allowed to pray at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount site. However, as stated in a 3 January Washington Post article, in recent years, the number of Jewish visitors has grown to hundreds, sometimes thousands during holiday periods, and at times the visitors pray in open violation of the rules. The Palestinian Authority and several Arab countries denounced Ben-Gvirs visit as highly provocative. In a 3 January joint letter to the Councils January President (Japan), Jordan and the Observer State of Palestine requested a Security Council meeting to discuss the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al-Sharif by an Israeli Minister accompanied by Israeli occupation forces. (Jordan is the custodian of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.) In a 3 January letter to the Security Council, the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN, Riyad Mansour, urged the Council to unequivocally condemn Ben-Gvirs illegal and dangerous actions and to demand the cessation of Israels violations and assaults on this holy site, a message he may reiterate tomorrow. In a statement on the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine condemned Ben-Gvirs visit as threatening to trigger a religious war and Israels continued aggressions at Al-Haram Al-Sharif as aiming at a spatial and temporal division of the site to enable Jewish worship there and impose Israeli control over the holy site. In a 3 January tweet, Israels Permanent Representative to the UN Gilad Erdan said that the visit does not deviate from the status quo, which Israel has maintained for many years, even though it discriminates against Jews [and] Christians who can only visit, not pray, points he may stress again tomorrow. Several international interlocutors issued statements following Ben-Gvirs visit to the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount site. On 3 January, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq said that the Secretary-General called on all to refrain from steps that could escalate tensions in and around the Holy Sites. The UAE strongly condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyard by an Israeli minister under the protection of Israeli forces and stressed the need to provide full protection for Al-Aqsa Mosque and halt serious and provocative violations taking place there. According to media reports, Netanyahu postponed a trip to the UAE, which was scheduled for next week, shortly after the UAEs condemnation of Ben-Gvirs visit. During a 3 January press briefing, US Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price expressed concern at the visit and said that it has the potential to exacerbate tensions and to provoke violence. Price also took note of the fact that Netanyahus governing platform calls for the preservation of the historic status quo at the holy sites and said that the US expects him to follow through on that commitment. In a 3 January tweet, EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process Sven Koopmans said that the status quo at the holy sites and their custodianship by the King of Jordan are essential to regional peace. At tomorrows meeting, Council members may reiterate similar messages and may also underscore the importance of avoiding all acts of violence, provocation, incitement, and inflammatory rhetoric. Some might also condemn the 4 January rocket launch from Gaza towards Israel, which fell inside the Gaza Strip. While responsibility for the launch has not been claimed, ahead of Ben-Gvirs visit to the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount site Hamas had reportedly stated that any such visit would constitute a red line. Tomorrow, participants are likely to stress the importance of re-establishing a political horizon for the peaceful resolution of the conflict and express support for the two-state solution. Some may call on the new Israeli government to avoid any steps that would undermine the two-state solutions viability. Thorough preparations for Vietnams Level-2 field hospitals at the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have helped Vietnamese personnel fulfill duties and earn high evaluation from the UN and international partners. Since June 2014, the Vietnam Peoples Army has sent a total of 516 officers and professional soldiers to UN peacekeeping operations in South Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Abyei Area, and the UN headquarters.In particular, four Level-2 field hospitals have been deployed to South Sudan since October 2018. Upholding the achievements by the three previous hospitals, Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 4, officially put into operation in early May 2022, has impressed international clinicians through medical examination and treatment for many patients in South Sudan. The facility helps to popularise Vietnam as a peace-loving nation in the eyes of international colleagues.To prepare for the tasks in South Sudan, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the 63 members of Field Hospital Rotation 4 underwent extensive training in military medicine, foreign language, and pre-deployment preparation. They were equipped with not only specialised knowledge but also skills in responding to possible risks and challenges in reality. Maj. Gen. Nguyen Xuan Kien, Director of the Hanoi-based Vietnam Military Medical University, which is in charge of Level-2 Field Hospitals Rotation 2 and 4, said the university coordinated closely with the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations for reporting and gaining experience in the field. The facility has been readied to handle unforseen difficulties, and carry out communications to perform well as a field hospital. Before leaving for UNMISS, the hospital staff had been vaccinated against some diseases such as Covid-19, hepatitis B, pneumonia, and meningitis and taken malaria prevention medications at the request of the UN.The university coordinated with the Australian Embassy in Vietnam to open foreign language training courses for hospital personnel. All key members obtained IELTS scores of at least 5.5, and even as high as 7.5, he said.The official went on to say that the quality of field hospital personnel was high. The university still identified specialised training in medicine as a key task. Medical training focuses on the duties to be performed at the UN mission such as internal medicine, surgery, treatment of communicable diseases, disease prevention, and emergency medicine.Staff members of the field hospitals were also trained in air emergency aid, international trauma life support, advanced trauma life support, and skills in dealing with a large number of casualties and common communicable diseases. They also received training in politics, military, logistics, and peacekeeping, Kien said. The training time, including theory and practice, for staff of a Level-2 field hospital is about 500 hours, he added.UN and UNMISS assessments approved Level-2 field hospitals of Vietnam as having excellently fulfilled duties. Experience gained over nearly five years of Level-2 field hospital deployment to South Sudan have helped affirm the Party and States consistent and judicious policies, thus promoting trust, understanding, and cooperation between Vietnam and international friends. San Mateo, CA (94402) Today Clear. Gusty winds diminishing after midnight. Low around 45F. NW winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Clear. Gusty winds diminishing after midnight. Low around 45F. NW winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Chinese people queue to return China at Mong Cai International Border Gate in Quang Ninh Province. Photo by VnExpress/Le Tan After a three-year Covid hiatus, immigration at the Mong Cai International Border Gate connecting Vietnam and China resumed at 8 a.m. Sunday. Thousands of Chinese citizens in Vietnam gathered at the border gate in Quang Ninh Province to cross into their home country. Over 1,000 crossed in the first two hours. Chinese authorities required all who passed to produce negative RT-PCR Covid tests completed within 48 hours of immigrating. In this first phase of re-opening, China is only allowing its own citizens to cross its border. Vietnamese and other nationals will have to wait. Dongxing authorities have asked their Mong Cai counterparts to verify the Covid-19 test results of all entrants. At other border gates such as Bac Luan 2, Floating Bridge, and Dongxing trade station, China has softened its Covid-19 measures and no longer identifies any areas as "red-zones" at high risk of Covid-19 outbreaks. The country also no longer requires vehicles entering the country be disinfected on both sides of the borders. Drivers also no longer need RT-PCR test results. Mong Cai Customs Authorities have ordered immigration staff to prepare for between 5,000 and 15,000 people to start crossing the border each day. FIRB will also have to assess the business case of Zero Carbon Investek, as the announcement by Palmer has sparked debate among analysts about the value of the minerals that lie in the refinerys tailings dam. David Rigoll Credit: WhatsApp Zero Carbon Investek has circulated a document to potential investors, as it aims to raise capital to invest in the refinery. Its also revealed plans to invest a further $US800 million ($1.2 billion) in a renewable energy project to power the refinery. In Zero Carbon Investeks document, Indian Ocean Capital and Green Bond Corporation are cited as advisers on the project. Indian Ocean Capital is run by Domenic Martino, a former Deloitte Australia chief executive, who has been a long-time adviser to Clive Palmers companies. Zero Carbon Investek was founded in 2021, as was Green Bond Corporation. Green Bond Corporation, which also counts Australians among its executives, is a Luxembourg-based, advisory group that says it advises clients in the structuring and financing of large-scale, capital-intensive infrastructure projects. Zero Carbon Investek has two directors: David Rigoll, an Australian who resides in Switzerland and who has been involved with small to medium size mining deals for the past four decades, who is president of the group; and Swiss lawyer Hans Josef Frey. Another Australian involved with raising the financing for Zero Carbon Investek proposal is Richard Petty, an accountant and former CPA Australia president and director, who resides in Hong Kong. He is not a director of the company. Petty, who has been a director of a number of small companies, has an online bio that claims he has advised on projects with an aggregate economic impact in the hundreds of billions of dollars. David Rigoll told this masthead that the nickel, cobalt, and iron in the refinerys tailings dam could be retrieved and worth as much $10 billion. Its a big, nice round figure. In its document, Zero Carbon Investek estimates the value of the nickel and cobalt in the tailings dam is even higher: $US9.4 billion ($13.7 billion). The demand for nickel and cobalt (the latter is a by-product of nickel) has grown in the past decade. Those minerals are important in the manufacturing of batteries needed for the booming electric vehicle industry and are considered critical for the high-tech and green energy transition, which is why they have nearly tripled in value in the past decade. If Zero Carbon Investeks estimates are correct, then FIRB may well ask why a tier-one investor hasnt been beating down Palmers door, given the enormous demand now for nickel and cobalt? Macquarie Asset Management have been busy funding green energy projects globally, wanting to ride the coming energy-transition juggernaut. And South Koreas biggest steelmaker POSCO, has been busy investing in Australian nickel assets. In 2021, POSCO acquired a one-third stake in Western Australias nickel producer Ravensthorpe. Ravensthorpe, like Queensland Nickel, was once owned by BHP before they were both sold off under then chief executive Marius Kloppers. Domenic Martino, one of Clive Palmers closest advisers, was involved in the deal to sell the Queensland Nickel refinery. Palmer bought Queensland Nickel in 2009 from BHP, for the nominal price of $1 although Martino, says the price was higher because of the legal and environmental conditions on the sale. Martino was appointed by Palmer as controller of some of Queensland Nickel assets in 2017, but the Queensland Supreme court ruled in favour of the liquidators, FTI Consulting, and extended an injunction preventing Martino interfering in its proceedings. Perhaps tier-one investors have been shy of engaging with Palmer, having observed the difficult and litigious relationship he has had with partner, CITIC-owned Sino Iron, in Western Australia, and the long-drawn-out legal battle with the creditors of Queensland Nickel. Since 2016, the Yabulu refinery has been mothballed, and during this period its said to have received regular care and maintenance. In Zero Carbon Investeks document, it claims that because of the high level of care and maintenance that included plant and equipment preservation, structural refurbishment, as well as environmental and safety compliance that the refinery is positioned to rapidly become the 9th largest global nickel asset by production. The liquidators report of 2016, noted that millions needed to be spent on the tailings dam to ensure that no more spills occurred from it, as had happened two years earlier after a discharge from it into waterways that potentially posed a risk to the Great Barrier Reef. Zero Carbon Investeks estimation of the value of the minerals in the tailings dam is not corroborated in the liquidators report. The report, which relied on many experts, raised concerns about the tailings dam, but did not find any such value in the minerals that reside in it. Market conditions have improved substantially for the minerals since the report was written. However, analysts also expect the capital expenditure to get the refinery back into operation by Zero Carbon Investek would be substantial, requiring improvements to make it compliant with health, safety and environmental standards, and an upgrade to the refinerys technology. Loading When the Queensland refinery, which is located 25km north-west of Townsville, went into administration in 2016, Palmers fortune was $570 million on The Australian Financial Review rich list. His wealth has since grown at a staggering rate to almost $20 billion in the past decade. His wealth has largely been derived from iron ore royalties, after his legal battles with CITIC-owned Sino Iron in Western Australia were mostly resolved. In 2006, CITIC acquired the Palmer companies that had mining leases in Western Australias Pilbara region. After a drawn out legal battle, Palmer began receiving royalties from Sino Iron, which had bought the right to the leases that Palmers companies had first acquired in 1985. In considering Zero Carbon Investeks proposal, FIRB will also have to take into consideration that the federal government now views any investment in critical minerals, such as nickel and cobalt, as a national security sensitive sector. The Indigenous warrior woman who lent her name to the reclaimed maritime coves of Sydney Harbour will be honoured as part of a new outdoor exhibition presented as part of the Sydney Festival. Artist and curator Brenda L Croft will flip the mirror on Cammeraygal woman Barangaroo in a series of 60 large-scale portraits placed across nine sites around the Barangaroo waterfront. Artist Brenda Croft with a detail from an installation along the Barangaroo waterfront in Sydney. Credit: Janie Barrett But the images are not of Barangaroo herself, of whom there are no known definitive representations. Rather, the exhibition features portraits of leading contemporary Indigenous women Croft believes embody Barangaroos steadfast qualities and spirit. Its been years since Michael Cusack lived in Dapto, the Wollongong suburb where he was born and raised. But even now as the 32-year-old writer and animator divides his time between Melbourne and Los Angeles, the voices, attitudes and humour the area instilled in him remain. Most of his previous animated series take place in what Cusack describes as a bizarro Dapto, and his latest, Koala Man, is no different. I was thinking about superheroes: Batman has Gotham, Spider-Man has New York. If one was in a small Australian suburb that would be funny, says Cusack, calling in from a brief holiday break on South Australias Kangaroo Island before Disneys global launch of Koala Man kicks off. I think its fun to put Dapto on the screen because growing up youre always seeing American stuff so many films with Los Angeles. Why not Wollongong? Koala Man creator Michael Cusack also provides the voice for his superhero, a suburban dad obsessed with littering and lawns. Credit: Disney+ Peppered with frisky language, serious strine, and absurdist eventualities, Koala Man is a superhero show where the hero is quite average. Voiced by Cusack with just the right note of bowls club self-delusion, Kevin is a suburban everyman obsessed with making a difference in his neighbourhood. Donning a mask and cape to become Koala Man, the husband and father of two cracks down on littering, regulates unkempt front lawns, and generally lets locals know what youre doing here is not on. Theres a specific type of dad that almost wishes they were a police officer, but they never did that so they want to take the law into their own hands, Cusack says. Theyre always like, Someones got to do something about this behaviour, and thats usually how a traditional superhero story starts. The key to keeping this one Australian is that Kevin actually has no super-powers. Supplies sent to WAs Kimberley after floods Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in Western Australia to visit the remote Kimberley region and view the devastation caused by record flooding. Recovery efforts have begun in the desert town of Fitzroy Crossing which has borne the brunt of floodwaters now heading west. Hundreds of residents who fled the region are still waiting to return home. Food and supplies are being flown into the cut-off town by the plane load as damage assessment teams look to give people the green light to come home. Damage assessment crews are swooping in to the remote Western Australian desert town of Fitzroy River as catastrophic floodwaters subside. Authorities have evacuated or relocated 233 people from the area and responded to 54 calls for help. In some places the flooded Fitzroy River that runs across the Kimberley north is 50 kilometres wide. Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said he hadnt seen anything like it. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size For many Australians, superannuation is their largest asset, and thinking about who should get that money in the unhappy case of death is an important consideration. But many do not realise they cannot easily bequeath that money to anybody, or a favourite charity. Despite being one of their largest assets, many people overlook their superannuation when estate planning. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Why does superannuation matter? Every Australian employed by a company has superannuation paid on their behalf into a superfund at a rate of at least 10.5 per cent of the workers income, to help save for retirement. The money starts to add up quickly. According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, the average Australian has $147,425 in superannuation. In total Australians have a combined $3.3 trillion held in superfunds, according to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. Advertisement Loading For the year ending in September 2022, just over $88 billion was paid out, including $40.5 in pension payments and $47.7 billion worth of lump sum payments. Some of those lump sum payments would have been paid out as death benefits, going to the beneficiaries of those superannuation holders after their deaths. Conor Sheridan, a senior associate in Colin Biggers & Paisleys wills, estates and succession planning team, said the large amount of money held in superannuation meant it was often the second-largest asset many clients held, behind their real estate. For many, superannuation is their largest or only significant asset, particularly where life insurance is attached, he said. Despite that, Sheridan said many people failed to properly plan for what happened to their superannuation in case of their death. [It is] often an afterthought or overlooked entirely, with many clients assuming their super is automatically part of their estate to be distributed in accordance with their will, he said. While this common misconception is easily dispelled, its only the starting point. Advertisement What happens to your superannuation when you die? Because superannuation is not necessarily considered part of your estate, Industry Super Australias director of advocacy Georgia Brumby said it was important to tell your fund who your beneficiaries were. Without clear instructions, the fund trustee will use their own legal discretion, which may not exactly reflect your will and can be at risk of claims by other beneficiaries, she said. Sheridan said even if a persons will states their intention for their estate to be split between friends, without the proper steps being taken, the superannuation fund trustee cannot legally provide the money to anyone but a dependent. According to the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act, there are only three types of people who can be nominated as beneficiaries. They are dependents, including spouses and children; people with whom you had an interdependency relationship where there was a close personal relationship, you lived together and they provided financial support to each other; and a legal representative. A legal personal representative is the executor of the will or estate administrator or someone who has enduring power of attorney. This third option is important for people who want their superannuation to be paid to someone other than a partner or child. What if you want to leave your superannuation to someone else? Advertisement For a super fund to recognise a legal personal representative, people need a valid binding death benefit nomination, Sheridan said. The superannuation death benefit will be paid to the representative, who can then distribute the superannuation money in the way the person intended, as stipulated by a will, he said. It means the superannuation money can go to friends, siblings, or even a cat shelter or art gallery, depending on their final wishes. Loading Even if people legally nominate someone to receive their death benefit, it is important to note this is not a set-and-forget situation. To be valid, the death benefit nomination needs to be updated every three years. Brumby pointed out that peoples life circumstances can also change, so keeping their death benefit nomination up to date was important. Nominated beneficiaries should be kept up to date, especially after big life events like marriage, divorce or separation, having children or the death of a relative to avoid additional stress for your friends and family in the event of your passing, she said. Oh, sure, I said, but the horse, it turned out, disagreed. I arrived at a remote forest clearing where dozens of riders and their mounts had gathered, all decked out in jodhpurs, flannel shirts, boots, oilskin coats and broad-rimmed hats. Mustering cattle. Credit: Simon ODwyer My horse was unloaded from a float. He was a big beast. But I thought the number one rule of riding was not to be afraid. (Wrong. I should have been very, very afraid.) I was boosted in to the saddle and gathered the reins. The horse whinnied and stumbled back and forward. Then he bolted like he was shot out of a gun, past random trees, haphazardly parked cars, horses and riders. Loading Then he bucked me off. I remember flying through the air. At least my feet werent tangled in the stirrups so I was thrown clear. There was no time to think of my impending death. Somehow I landed face-down under a truck, metres from trees and cars that would have squashed me, and from fence posts that would have impaled me. At least the truck wasnt moving. I was conscious and was helped to slowly get myself out from under the truck and standing. But my head felt like it was full of cotton wool, my body like it had been put through a blender and my vision was blurry. An off-duty policewoman took charge. She poured me into her little cars passenger seat. Loading Afraid Id pass out, from head or internal wounds, the policewoman chatted to me as she drove down a bewildering array of country roads. I had no idea where we were. We arrived at a small towns bush hospital that was evidently more of a nursing home. As the policewoman predicted, I was seen by a doctor immediately, instead of waiting hours in an emergency department at a big hospital. The young doctor concluded Id have some nasty bruises but had no broken bones (I thank all that milk Id drunk) nor did I have any injuries to my organs. An ambulance trip (my first) to a regional hospital and back for a brain scan (another first) confirmed I had a mild concussion. I had to stay overnight in the small hospital for observation. I had not stayed overnight in a hospital since I was born, 35 years earlier. I was escorted past wards of ailing elderly people lying in beds, and into the hospitals only single room. It was the palliative care room. It had lovely prints on the walls, comfy couches and an en suite. It also had a large green and white EXIT sign above a door, that was probably for fire safety purposes but struck me as maybe a little literal for palliative patients who no doubt had died in this room. Wait, was I dying? I tried to quell my worries. I didnt get much sleep but I survived the night. The photographer drove me back to Melbourne. I walked into The Age office somewhat battered, with a black eye and copious bruises and scratches but otherwise OK. One workmate disagreed with me over my skills as a horsewoman but I can see now he probably had a point. I had to explain to my editor and fill in a very unusual work injury claim being thrown from a horse. As if Id anticipated it, Id done a lot of the work on the story before my disaster, focusing on the mustering tradition that united locals. I made a few more calls, tapped out the story and submitted it. The lovely photo of the muster made the front page, and my story made page 11, with no mention of my little medical emergency. Loading Much later, I realised how incredibly lucky I was to have not been killed immediately, have died of internal injuries later or broken my back. I bounced back physically within a week. But my battered pride took considerably longer to heal. And I learned a lesson: the next time Im asked to go on a cattle muster on horseback for a story, the correct answer is: No thanks, Ill stay here at the campfire and make the tea. PHILIPSBURG:--- As the first week of the New Year comes to a close, I would like to express my Best Wishes and Deepest Appreciation to every member of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor. Their tenacious dedication and commitment are recognized. Together, as a Ministry, we share the same objectives, and without hesitation, we poured our souls into constructing a healthier island with huge potential for the nation as a socially evolved community. May you continue to prosper and achieve success in your respective domains. Throughout 2023, we intend to improve and sustain a prosperous and healthy nation. The Ministry resolutely vows to work for a harmonious community in which we may foster positive employer-employee relationships and financial growth for both, so contributing to the improvement of society. I would also like to thank the people of Sint Maarten, especially our senior citizens, who have spent much of their lives contributing to and building this paradise. The Ministry will continue to work on resolving laws and legislations that will reward their perseverance and dedication such as the recent AOV/AWW. As we begin a New Year, I urge the people of Sint Maarten to maintain vigilance over their health and to continue cultivating ties that strengthen their community. Let us not be defeated by hardship or difficulty, but instead, use them as stepping stones. By joining and accepting responsibility, we can be proud of our individual contributions and our island. Hong Kong: Village polls see 56% turnout rate The 2023 Village Representative Election concluded at 7pm today with a voter turnout rate of 56.4%. A total of 556 candidates from 182 villages contested 286 seats, covering 185 indigenous inhabitant representative seats and 101 resident representative seats. There were 58,609 registered voters for the contested villages and 33,055 of them voted. This story has been published on: 2023-01-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Gulf International Bank (GIB) announced the participation of its senior executives at the upcoming Sustainability Forum Middle East taking place on January 12 in the Kingdom of Bahrain focusing on Business Transition to Net-Zero the Path Towards a Successful Low-Carbon Future . GIB supports the forum as its ESG Partner and will be sharing the banks insights on strategies for supporting the decarbonisation of the regional economies with more than 300 regional and international business leaders and sustainability experts expected to take part. Representing the bank at the Forum will be Jamal Al Kishi, CEO of GIB, and Venetia Bell, GIB Group Chief Sustainability Officer. Al Kishi will take part on a panel of senior representatives from global and regional financing institutions and issuers to discuss The Financial Sector and Funding the Transition. The session will examine the significant investment and financing required for the regions decarbonisation and will see GIB share its experience to date and support for the issuance of green financing instruments by the bank itself and for a range of clients across the GCC. Bell will join another panel of senior sustainability experts and CEOs to discuss Net-Zero Ambitions in the MENA Region. The panel will look at where the regional economies are today, challenges and opportunities, and the essential collaborations needed to achieve the net-zero targets set by the regional governments. Jamal Al Kishi, CEO of GIB, said: As a leader in sustainability and an ESG Partner for the forum and our clients, we look forward to a day of engagement and to sharing the banks experience and know-how to help raise awareness and support regional decarbonisation efforts. It is essential that businesses across the region act decisively to put in place effective net-zero strategies that can help to further national and regional decarbonation initiatives and targets. GIB launched our own comprehensive Sustainability Strategy in 2021, putting ESG at the heart of our business and how we operate. -TradeArabia News Service A queue as long as over 300 meters was seen at a building in Lang Son Province where immigration registrations from Vietnam to China are submitted. Some of them came to the province on Saturday evening to be submit their forms early Sunday when China completely lifts all Covid-19 relation immigration restrictions. ELKO Elko County carried over a healthy amount of money into the current fiscal year, far more than in some years, and that cushion should help as the county faces increased retirement contributions, according to Teri Gage of the accounting firm Eide Bailly LLC. She said that starting in July 2023, the Public Employees Retirement System of Nevada rates go up quite significantly. The rate will be 33.5%, compared with the current 29.75%, for the countys contribution for regular employees. Police and firefighter contributions go from 44% to 50% for PERS, which is the pension fund for government employees in Nevada. The balance carrying over for the general fund into the current fiscal year was at 50% of expenditures, which Gage said really improved from past years. The state recommendation is an 8.3% ending fund balance. The general fund balance for 2021-2022 was $16.7 million, and general fund expenditures totaled $33.4 million, revenues, $37.5 million. There was a beginning fund balance of $12.6 million for the fiscal year. Commissioner Delmo Andreozzi said he remembered that not that long ago the balance was way below the 2021-2022 fiscal year balance, and the county had a tough row to hoe. The 2017 ending fund balance was $2.7 million, for example, and the 2018 ending balance was $4.6 million. Theyve worked very hard to build that back up, Gage said of the ending balance. She also said the federal CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act) and ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds helped with salaries because of the pandemic, and that gave the county a boost. Gage went over the audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, with Elko County Commissioners on Jan. 4, roughly four months earlier than the audit presentation for the prior fiscal year. She said by phone on Jan. 5 that the county staff worked very, very hard to have the audit out in a timely fashion. In the meeting, she praised the county staff and Andreozzi said he echoed your sentiments to our staff. New Commissioner Travis Gerber also praised the county staff. Gage told commissioners the audit found there was only one over-expenditure. Thats the best one Ive seen for the county regarding over-expenditures in a long time. Thats amazing, Gage told commissioners, and she said on Jan. 5 that with a budget of that size, its pretty commendable of the staff to have one small over-expenditure violation. Including all funds, the countys net position was $113.3 million, up from $93.35 million at the end of the prior fiscal year, according to the audit. Revenues, including $27.3 million in ad valorem taxes and $25.5 million in consolidated taxes, totaled nearly $83.83 million, compared with nearly $79.14 million in the 2020-2021 fiscal year. The audit states that the ad valorem and consolidated taxes comprise 65% of county revenue. Expenses for all funds totaled $63.87 million, down slightly from $65.26 million the prior year, according to the audit, which reported that salaries and wages make up roughly 60% of total expenses. Commissioners voted to accept the audit, with Commissioner Jon Karr absent. 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Hungary, last year, stopped more than 260 fraudulent border crossing attempts and if the pressure came from Romania as well, then we would not be able to cope. Romania does an extraordinary job in terms of border protection and for this reason the position of the Hungarian government is that Romania would have deserved Schengen accession. A new year begins, new opportunities, and Hungary is open to a pragmatic dialogue, said minister Varga, according to the translation provided by the organizers. She also spoke about the war in the neighbourhood, in which "fathers, mothers and children suffer" and pleaded for a strong strategic partnership between Romania and Hungary, which would solve, in addition to the migration problem, the challenges generated by the economic crisis and the energy crisis. Varga Judit also referred to the agreement signed at the end of last year between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary in the field of green energy development and transport and thanked the partners for their collaboration. The Hungarian Justice minister attended the commemorative event in Siculeni together with Potapi Arpad Janos, secretary of state, in charge with the policy of national solidarity in the Budapest government, the consul general of Hungary in Miercurea-Ciuc, Toth Laszlo, as well as the minister of the Environment from the government of Romania, Barna Tanczos.AGERPRES ELKO More rain and snow showers are forecast across northeastern Nevada. Precipitation from an Atmospheric River will continue in Humboldt county and spread into Elko county late this afternoon, National Weather Service forecasters said early Sunday morning. Southwest winds will keep warmer air in place over northern Nevada allowing for the precipitation in valleys to remain as rain showers. The forecast for Elko calls for snow or rain showers on and off Sunday followed by an 80% chance Sunday night and Monday. Less than an inch of snow accumulation is expected, with more rain than snow as the storm advances. Rain showers continue Tuesday and Tuesday night. High temperatures Monday and Tuesday will be in the lower 40s. Mostly cloudy weather is forecast for Wednesday through Friday with highs in the 30s. Another shot of rain and snow arrives Saturday. Nearly 350 people participated on Saturday, in the town of Siculeni in central County of Harghita, in the commemoration of the Szeklers killed in 1764 because they refused to enlist in the Austrian imperial troops. The event, which takes place every year, was also attended by the Hungarian Justice minister, Varga Judit, and it started at the local church, where a memorial service took place. The participants gathered afterwards at the Siculicidium monument, erected in memory of those killed, where speeches were held and wreaths were laid. In addition to Varga Judit, the commemoration was attended by local and county authorities from Harghita and Covasna, UDMR (Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania) parliamentarians, representatives of other Hungarian organizations, as well as Potapi Arpad Janos, secretary of state, responsible for national solidarity policy in the government of Hungary, but also the minister of the Environment in the government of Romania, Barna Tanczos. The Hungarian Justice minister Varga Judit, in her speech, evoked the events of 1764, "which still arouse very strong feelings" and said that the martyrs of Siculeni kept to their traditions, demanded that their freedoms be respected, believed in God and in justice and thus they faced an empire, and lessons must be learned from their martyrdom. She emphasised that the most important for the Hungarian government is that the Szeklers preserve their identity. She also mentioned the support offered by the Hungarian Government for the Hungarians in Romania, namely the support of the education system in Transylvania, the support given to churches, the development of sports, but also the help of entrepreneurs in the area and the existing cooperation between the local administrations in the area and those in Hungary. According to historical data, the inhabitants of Siculeni were killed because they refused to enlist in the Austrian imperial troops. At dawn on January 7, 1764, 1,350 Austrian soldiers surrounded the village of Siculeni, and two cannons opened fire on the village. Later, the soldiers entered the bombed village and slaughtered everyone who came in their way, including women and children. The official figures of the time estimate the number of dead at 200, but the military prosecutor sent to investigate the events put forward a higher figure, claiming that there were probably at least 400 victims. A monument was erected on the site of the slaughter in memory of the massacred.AGERPRES Updated Jan. 9 with more details from court documents. MARYLAND HEIGHTS Authorities have identified the men involved in a deadly shooting Friday at a Maryland Heights business the second workplace killing over a two-day span in the community. Police said Saturday that Troy Millick, 33, was the employee killed in the incident at PrideStaff, a staffing agency at 11984 Dorsett Road. Officers found Millick shot in an alley outside of the business shortly before 12:30 p.m. Justin Davis, 28, was charged in the killing Saturday with one count of second-degree murder, four counts of armed criminal action, and three counts of robbery. Davis, a former employee at PrideStaff, attempted to rob Millick and two other employees at gunpoint during the deadly encounter, police said. Charging documents allege that after the robbery the victim, Millick, got into a vehicle and attempted to stop Davis from fleeing. Davis is accused of then firing two shots, striking Millick, before fleeing the scene. Millick's personal belongings were found in Davis' car upon his arrest Friday. Charging documents say Davis then admitted to police to taking the items and shooting at Millick. Davis lives near Spanish Lake in north St. Louis County. Millick was a resident of Maryland Heights. Millick's murder marked Maryland Heights' second workplace shooting on the same road in just two days. The day before, an employee of a Dorsett Road auto shop was charged with murder for the Wednesday shooting death of a co-worker, after authorities said they got in an argument. Davis' bail was set at $5 million, cash only. Reporter Erin Heffernan contributed to this report. Seattles public school district filed a lawsuit against Big Tech claiming that the companies were responsible for a worsening mental health crisis among students and directly affected the schools ability to carry out their educational mission. The complaint, filed on Friday against Alphabet Inc., Meta Platforms Inc., Snap Inc. and TikTok-owner ByteDance with the U.S. District Court, claimed they purposefully designed their products to hook young people to their platforms and were creating a mental health crisis. In emailed statements to Reuters, Google said it has invested heavily in creating safe experiences for children across its platforms and has introduced strong protections and dedicated features to prioritize their well being, while Snap said it works closely with many mental health organizations to provide in-app tools and resources for users and that the well-being of its community is its top priority. Meta Platforms and TikTok did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment. In the past, the companies have said they aim to create an enjoyable experience for users and exclude harmful content and invest in moderation and content controls. The lawsuit says the companies actions have been a substantial factor in causing a youth mental health crisis. Defendants have successfully exploited the vulnerable brains of youth, hooking tens of millions of students across the country into positive feedback loops of excessive use and abuse of Defendants social media platforms, the lawsuit said. Students with mental health issues perform worse, causing schools to take steps including training teachers to identify and address such symptoms, hire trained personnel, and create additional resources to warn students about the dangers of social media, the complaint said. The lawsuit seeks compensation for monetary damages and other penalties. In 2021, U.S. lawmakers accused Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg of pushing for higher profits at the expense of childrens mental health following testimony by whistleblower Frances Haugen. Facebook has consistently said it disagrees with Haugens characterization that the company failed to protect teen girls on Instagram. The argument that we deliberately push content that makes people angry for profit is deeply illogical, he posted on his Facebook page in response. We make money from ads, and advertisers consistently tell us they dont want their ads next to harmful or angry content. And I dont know any tech company that sets out to build products that make people angry or depressed. Updated at noon. WASHINGTON Ketanji Brown Jacksons new book deal adds to what has become a phenomenon at the U.S. Supreme Court: Justices looking to craft their own images and perhaps score a hefty payday along the way. Jacksons memoir, Lovely One, will tell her lifes story, from her childhood in Miami to her confirmation last year as the first Black female justice, according to her publisher, Random House. It could also make Jackson the fourth current justice to get a book advance of at least $1 million, joining Clarence Thomas, Sonia Sotomayor and Amy Coney Barrett. Although Random House didnt disclose the terms of Jacksons deal, Barrett reportedly secured a $2 million advance from a different imprint at Penguin Random House LLC in 2021. The arrangements dont violate any laws or ethical rules, which let judges and justices earn unlimited book income. But some legal experts say they are uneasy with the appearances created by the large sums well above the $274,200 salaries associate justices earned in 2022. From the perspective of the average American who is grinding out a living at 40K a year, the optics of a judge who is paid $250,000 in tax dollars to do the peoples business as a justice earning several times her salary on a side deal may be problematic, said Charles Geyh, who specializes in judicial ethics as a professor at Indiana Universitys Maurer School of Law. Jackson didnt respond to a request for comment. In a news release issued Thursday by Random House, Jackson described the book as a transparent accounting of what it takes to rise through the ranks of the legal profession, especially as a woman of color with an unusual name and as a mother and a wife striving to reconcile the demands of a high-profile career with the private needs of my loved ones. Book-writing isnt a new occurrence at the Supreme Court. Justice William O. Douglas wrote more than 30 books before his death in 1980. Justice Sandra Day OConnor and her brother wrote about their childhood on an Arizona ranch in 2002. Chief Justice William Rehnquists books included one on the impeachments of Justice Samuel Chase and President Andrew Johnson a tome that came in handy when Rehnquist was called upon to preside over President Bill Clintons 1999 impeachment trial. But it is new for justices to be writing potential best-sellers before theyve had any real effect in the court. Jackson has yet to produce her first majority opinion. Barrett had written only two before her book deal became public. Sotomayor was on the court less than a year before her publisher announced plans for her memoir. The eye-popping dollars are also a change. Politico reported that Barrett secured a $2 million advance, and her 2021 financial disclosure report indicated she collected $425,000 in royalties for the yet-to-published book. Sotomayor got a $1.175 million advance in 2010 and all told has collected more than $3 million for her memoir. She has also written a series of childrens books. Thomas collected $1.5 million for his 2007 memoir. Thomas and Sotomayor used their books to lay out compelling life stories. Thomas, the first Republican-appointed Black justice, wrote about his birth into poverty in coastal Georgia, the influence of the grandfather who raised him and the sexual harassment allegations that almost derailed his Supreme Court confirmation. Sotomayor, the first Latina justice, described a path that took her from a South Bronx housing project to the federal courts. Both justices offered glimpses of their emerging legal philosophies, helping to explain how they reached starkly different conclusions about the meaning of the Constitution. Sotomayor is now an anchor of the courts liberal wing, and Thomas is by some measures the most conservative justice. Barrett hasnt said what her book will cover. A fifth justice, Neil Gorsuch, published a book primarily focused on the role of judges, though with some elements of a memoir, including his Colorado roots and Supreme Court clerkship. Gorsuch has reported collecting more than $600,000 in royalties, and is now working on a second book. Justices arent required to disclose the details of their book deals, beyond listing the income on their annual disclosure reports. Richard Painter, a University of Minnesota Law professor and former White House ethics lawyer, said he worries that interest groups might buy books in bulk as a way of channeling money to a justice. He said justices should receive only a standard percentage of retail sales to individual buyers. If I have a conservative foundation thats anti-abortion or something, and I put it an order for 3,000 copies of Justice Barretts book to give away, I dont think thats appropriate, he said. Other legal ethics scholars say they arent troubled. I dont see a problem with justices writing books in return for payment under ethics and recusal laws, as long as they are transparent about that and report the income as required under federal law, said Amanda Frost, a University of Virginia School of Law professor who studies judicial ethics. Stephen Gillers, a judicial ethics scholar at New York University Law School, said that there is no bar to a justice writing her memoirs and getting handsomely compensated for it. The code of conduct for federal judges says that compensation for outside activities including books should not exceed a reasonable amount nor should it exceed what a person who is not a judge would receive for the same activity. It also calls on judges to act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity of the judiciary. The code doesnt formally apply to the Supreme Court, though the justices say they consult it. Jacksons book announcement comes with the court awash with other ethics controversies, including Thomass participation in cases stemming from the 2020 presidential election even though his wife, Virginia Thomas, was involved in efforts to overturn former President Donald Trumps defeat. And the court is still grappling with last years unprecedented leak of its draft opinion overturning the constitutional right to abortion. The court hasnt provided any updates since Chief Justice John Roberts opened an internal investigation in May. It is important to keep these concerns in context, Geyh said in an email. When viewed against the backdrop of other recent ethics problems confronting the court (to say nothing of declining public support in the court itself), the Barrett and Jackson book deals are small potatoes. Im uneasy about them, but wouldnt characterize the conduct as a clear violation of the code. Kimberly Robinson contributed to this report. RICHMOND, Va. A Virginia teacher who was critically injured when she was was shot by a 6-year-old student in Newport News is showing signs of improvement as authorities struggle to understand how a child so young could be involved in a school shooting, the city's mayor said Saturday. Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones said the condition of the teacher, a woman in her 30s, is "trending in a positive direction" as she remained hospitalized Saturday. Police Chief Steve Drew met with the teacher and her family Saturday morning. "She has improved and is currently listed in stable condition," police said in a news release. The boy shot and wounded the teacher with a handgun in a first-grade classroom on Friday at Richneck Elementary School, according to authorities. Drew said the shooting was not accidental and was part of an altercation. No students were injured. Police on Saturday declined to describe what led to the altercation or any other details about what happened in the classroom, citing the ongoing investigation. Jones also declined to reveal details of the shooting, or say how the boy got access to the gun or who owns the weapon. "This is a red flag for the country," Jones said. "I do think that after this event, there is going to be a nationwide discussion on how these sorts of things can be prevented." Virginia law does not allow 6-year-olds to be tried as adults. In addition, a 6-year-old is too young to be committed to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice if found guilty. A juvenile judge would have authority, though, to revoke a parent's custody and place a child under the purview of the Department of Social Services. Jones would not say where the boy is being held. "We are ensuring he has all the services that he currently needs right now," Jones said. Experts who study gun violence said the shooting represents an extremely rare occurrence of a young child bringing a gun into school and wounding a teacher. "It's very rare and it's not something the legal system is really designed or positioned to deal with," said researcher David Riedman, founder of a database that tracks U.S. school shootings dating back to 1970. He said Saturday that he's only aware of three other shootings caused by 6-year-old students in the time period he's studied. Those include the fatal shooting of a fellow student in 2000 in Michigan and shootings that injured other students in 2011 in Texas and 2021 in Mississippi. Riedman said he only knows of one other instance of a student younger than that causing gunfire at a school, in which a 5-year-old student brought a gun to a Tennessee school in 2013 and accidentally discharged it. No one was injured. Daniel W. Webster, a professor at Johns Hopkins University who studies gun violence, agreed that a 6-year-old shooting a teacher at school is extremely unusual. But he said his research shows that instances of young children accessing loaded guns and shooting themselves or others unintentionally in homes or other settings are rising. "A 6 year old gaining access to a loaded gun and shooting him/herself or someone else, sadly, is not so rare," he said in an email. In the Newport News case, Drew said Friday that the shooting didn't appear to be an accident and that it was isolated to the single victim. He said the student and teacher had known each other in a classroom setting. Investigators were trying to figure out where the boy obtained the handgun. The police chief declined to discuss what contact investigators have had with the boy's parents. WASHINGTON Republican Kevin McCarthy is the new House speaker, but as bruising as it was for him to seize the gavel in a history-making election, it may be even more difficult for the embattled leader to do much with the powerful position or to even keep it. Like the two most recent Republican speakers, John Boehner and Paul Ryan, McCarthy takes the helm of a rebellious majority split in much the same way as the party itself, between what's left of the Grand Old Party conservatives and a new generation of tea party-to-Donald Trump hard-liners who prefer almost no big government at all. The chaos that erupted in four days of House voting, halting start of the new Congress, is a prelude to the uncertain path ahead as McCarthy tries to lead an unruly Republican majority to achieve its priorities and confront Democratic President Joe Biden's agenda and maybe even keep the government from shutting down. "This is the great part: Because it took this long, now we learned how to govern," McCarthy, who was first elected in 2006, suggested as he rounded toward victory. McCarthy endured a weeklong fight to get here, a speaker's election like no other since the eve of the Civil War. A coalition of 20 holdouts refused to support his speakership unless he yielded to their demands to give away some power. He was forced to roll through 14 ballots before he finally won a majority vote on the 15th vote, but not before the final chaotic scene of shouting between allies and holdouts pushed balloting into early Saturday. In the end, McCarthy emerged as a weakened speaker, one with less authority on paper than those before him. That's particularly true because he agreed to give the hard-right holdouts a key concession: restoring a rule that allows any single lawmaker to make a "motion to vacate the chair," essentially a vote to oust the speaker from that leadership post. But in some ways, the son of gritty Bakersfield, an oil-and-agricultural heartland in central California, also becomes emboldened as a survivor who withstood one of history's most brutal brawls for power and who prides himself on being an underestimated political fighter. "Apparently, I like to make history," McCarthy quipped at one point during the raucous week. McCarthy staked his political career on early backing of Trump, and it was the former president who delivered when needed, making late phone calls to holdouts and "helping get those final votes." When it was finally over, and McCarthy walked into the speaker's office at the Capitol, the sign bearing his name already was hanging. Plenty of tests await. Congress faces an agenda of must-pass bills to fund the government, restock a military whose supplies have been depleted by decades of war and aid to Ukraine, authorize farming programs and raise the nation's borrowing limit to avert an unprecedented federal default. For the first time as president, Biden will face a divided government, with the House in Republican hands and the Senate still narrowly controlled by Democrats. Divided government can be a time of bipartisan deal-making as the parties come together to accomplish big priorities. But more often it results in brinkmanship that has led to stalemates, standoffs and shutdowns. House Republicans are eager to confront Biden with oversight of the White House's handling of the U.S.-Mexico border, the COVID-19 crisis and other issues, along with investigations of Biden, his family and his administration. "I came to Washington to challenge the status quo," Republican Bob Good of Virginia wrote in an op-ed before his many votes against McCarthy. "I intend to keep that promise." Good was one of six Republican who voted "present" in the final roll call. In 2011, tea party Republicans took control of the House, confronting the agenda of President Barack Obama and his vice president, Biden. The movement opposed the Washington political establishment and espoused a conservative and libertarian philosophy, advocating for less spending, lower taxes and reducing the national debt and budget deficit. McCarthy helped recruit the tea party class, and he went on to become the third-ranking Republican. Fueled by the tea party, House Republicans faced crisis after crisis with efforts to cut federal spending during the "fiscal cliff" of 2012 and federal shutdowns in 2013 as they tried to repeal Obama's health care program. In 2015, when then-Rep. Mark Meadows, the North Carolina Republican who led the Freedom Caucus and later served as Trump's last chief of staff, threatened a "motion to vacate the chair" a vote to oust the speaker Boehner chose early retirement. Ryan ended up with the job but retired in the Trump era. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., did away with the "vacate the chair" rule when Democrats regained the majority in 2019. A seasoned legislator who had made history as the first woman to be speaker, Pelosi ran the House with the strength of experience. McCarthy has been in office for 15 years, half as long as Pelosi when she first took the helm, and with far fewer legislative victories to speak of. He was forced to reinstate the "motion to vacate the chair" to win over the holdouts, who can now hold it over him every day. ST LOUIS Judge Newton McCoy asked each of the two defendants before him the same question. "Did you get your safe and install it in your truck?" It was early December, and he was asking about guns. McCoy is a municipal judge for the city of St. Louis. On Dec. 8, he gave two men an opportunity to have the charges against them dismissed. Each man was a victim of crime a car breaking and theft downtown, near Busch Stadium but they were also charged with an ordinance violation. Since 2017, the city has had a law on the books that makes it illegal to leave a fi rearm in an unattended vehicle unless the weapon is in a locked case of some sort. The law, sponsored by former Mayor Lyda Krewson when she was an alderman, is intended to cut down on the number of stolen guns that are used in crimes. The ordinance passed unanimously and then mostly sat on a shelf collecting dust for five years. That changed in 2022 when police began writing tickets for the ordinance violation, particularly downtown, and the city counselor's office started filing charges in such cases. Police in St. Louis have long lamented that guns stolen out of cars add to the crime in the city. Now, the administration of Mayor Tishaura O. Jones has decided to tackle that problem. "Mayor Jones has long stated that it takes all the tools in our toolbox to reduce and prevent crime," said spokesman Nick Dunne, in an emailed statement. "This effort works similarly to promoting and giving away gun locks secured guns guarantee a reduction in guns that make their way into our streets." It is not clear what led to the enforcement of the ordinance. The police department and city counselor's office both declined comment. The mayor's office first told me that the new enforcement was initiated by the police department, then rescinded that statement. But whatever its genesis, it's clear the law is being enforced, creating a bit of a conundrum for folks who drive downtown for whatever reason and end up a victim of a crime, then get charged with one themselves. Last year, according to city records, 192 people received a summons for a violation of the unattended fi rearm in a vehicle ordinance. Violation of the law carries a potential fi ne of up to $500 and up to 90 days in jail. But hardly anybody who has been charged with a violation of the law has paid a fi ne and nobody has spent time in jail. That's because the city counselor's office, with the apparent approval of McCoy and the other municipal judges, is offering everybody who is charged with a violation a chance to get the case dismissed, as long as they show the court they have bought and installed a locked gun safe for their car. In court in December, the defendants one from the city and one from Jefferson County seemed amenable to the plea bargain. "As soon as you get that done, we will dismiss your case," municipal prosecutor Richard Sykora told one defendant in court. "Sounds good to me," he responded. The other defendant emailed Sykora a picture of his installed gun safe. His case was dismissed. That's how 74 of the cases fi led last year have been resolved. Only two defendants have refused to install a gun safe and been charged a fi ne. More than 60% of the cases have been fi led against Missouri residents who live somewhere outside the city, mostly St. Louis County and surrounding counties in the region. The two ZIP codes that have the most cases fi led against gun owners are both in north St. Louis County. Krewson, a longtime gun-safety advocate, is glad the law she helped write is being enforced. "I think it's great," she said. "Enforcing that might keep a couple of guns off the streets. Anybody can carry a gun anytime anywhere in Missouri. I think it's unfortunate. It certainly does not make us safer." That has been the mantra coming from St. Louis leaders for years, but it always falls on deaf ears in the Republican controlled Missouri Legislature. Last year, for instance, former St. Louis County state Rep. Trish Gunby, a Democrat, fi led a bill that would give any Missourian a tax credit for buying a fi rearm safe, for their house or their vehicle. That bill never received a hearing. This year, state Rep. Gretchen Bangert, D-Florissant, has fi led a bill that mimics the one now being enforced in St. Louis. Krewson thinks that's a great idea. "I hate it that somebody has their car broken into; but on the other hand, it's not too onerous to ask someone to lock up their weapon in the car," she says. "I think most gun owners do consider themselves responsible and don't want their guns stolen." Tony Messenger 314-340-8518 @tonymess on Twitter tmessenger@post-dispatch.com SCOTIA, N.Y. (Tribune News Service) Denise Donnell, the first woman to command the New York Air National Guard, was recently promoted to the two-star rank of major general. In a press release provided by Gov. Kathy Hochuls office, Donnell of Clifton Park, N.Y., received the promotion during a ceremony at Stratton Air National Guard Base to become one of only five women to attain the rank of major general in the New York National Guard. Donnells rank was pinned on by her father, Dr. Robert Donnell, and brother, Air National Guard Technical Sgt. John Donnell. Hochul appointed Donnell as commander of the 5,800 Airmen of the nations largest Air Guard contingent in April 2022. It is an honor to be recognized by Governor Hochul, the first woman to lead our state, Donnell said in a press release. These stars are not about me: Theyre about making a difference for the nearly 6,000 men and women of the New York Air National Guard and a reflection of their collective accomplishments. Im thrilled to celebrate Major General Donnells historic achievements and her continued dedication to our state, Hochul said. New York is so fortunate to have individuals such as Major General Donnell who are willing to devote their careers to public service, answer the call and put themselves in harms way to help their fellow New Yorkers and serve their country. The New York Air National Guard members under Donnells command respond when disaster strikes in New York State and conduct critical missions overseas. Members of the Air National Guards 107th Attack Wing, based at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, were the first military members who responded to the deadly blizzard that hit Buffalo during the Christmas holiday. Men and women of the 107th rescued stranded motorists in whiteout conditions, transported critically ill patients, and one member even delivered a baby girl and then transported the mother and baby to the hospital. The 109th Airlift Wing, based at Stratton Air National Guard base, flies LC-130s and is the only unit in the world with heavy-lift aircraft equipped with skis. These aircraft are capable of landing on snow and ice, supporting the nations arctic strategy and important climate research being conducted in Antarctica by the National Science Foundation in Antarctic. Other New York Air Guard troops fly needed supplies around the world, protect American and allied troops by flying remotely controlled aircraft on combat air patrols, track aircraft in nations skies as part of NORAD, and stand ready to conduct rescues at sea. New York also has the distinction of being the first state to have a woman join its National Guard: World War II veteran and nurse Norma Parsons joined in 1956, attached to the 106th Tactical Hospital. Denise Donnell is an outstanding leader, and experienced pilot, who has distinguished herself at all levels of command, Adjutant General of New York State, Major General Raymond Shields said in a press release. I am confident that the men and women of the New York Air National Guard will continue to meet every challenge they are given under her leadership. She is well deserving of this important promotion. Donnell began her military career as a U.S. Navy aviator in 1993, flying P-3 Orion anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft. She served in the Navy until 2002, when she joined the New York Air National Guards 105th Airlift Wing, based at Stewart Air National Guard Based in Newburgh, where she learned to fly the giant C-5A Galaxy airlifter. She then commanded the 105ths aircraft maintenance and maintenance squadrons and mastered flying the C-17 Globemaster III before transferring to the 109th Airlift Wing in 2013. Donnell commanded the 109th Maintenance Group from 2013 to 2016. During that period, she qualified on the unique ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules aircraft flown by the 109th Airlift Wing and commanded Air Force support to the National Science Foundation at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, during the 2014-2015 support season. She was assigned as vice commander of the 105th Airlift Wing in 2016 and the following year, she assumed command of the 105th Airlift Wing. She remained in that role until March 2022, a month before she was named New York Air National Guard commander by Governor Hochul. Donnell graduated from Georgetown University with a bachelors degree in foreign service; the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base; and the National Defense University with a masters degree in government information leadership. She has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Aerial Achievement Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Combat Readiness Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. (c)2023 The Saratogian, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Visit at https://www.saratogian.com/ This story has been corrected KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany An officer was sentenced Sunday to dismissal from the Army but no time in prison after being found guilty of attempting to sexually assault a teenage family member while visiting Disneyland Paris three years ago. Lt. Col. Andrew J. Dial had faced three charges related to sexual assault, all of which he pleaded not guilty to during a nearly weeklong court-martial on Kleber Kaserne in Kaiserslautern. A jury of eight high-ranking officers found Dial not guilty of indecent conduct and three counts of abusive sexual contact, while convicting him Saturday on the attempted sexual assault charge. A dismissal, pending any reviews, is the mandatory minimum punishment for attempted sexual assault. The prosecution had called for up to a five-year prison sentence. It was denied by Army Judge Col. Charles Pritchard, whom Dial elected to determine his punishment instead of the jury. Pritchard described the verdicts as inconsistent after the jury announced them Saturday. He questioned how there could be evidence to support a guilty verdict of attempted sexual assault if the accused also had been found not guilty of touching the family members breasts and genital area without consent. Pritchard considered a motion of his own that would have rendered a not guilty verdict, but upon deliberation allowed sentencing to continue. The sentence comes a year after the trial was originally scheduled to begin. It was delayed when Pritchard ruled a unanimous jury verdict would be required to convict Dial. Pritchards ruling was later rejected by the Armys top appeals court. A split verdict has long been sufficient in military courts but was effectively ruled unconstitutional in civilian criminal courts in a 2020 Supreme Court case. It wasnt specified Saturday whether the jurys verdict was split or unanimous. The incident occurred in December 2019, when Dial and various family members were visiting the theme park and nearby lodging resort, prosecutors said. Dial testified that he bought the underage family member several alcoholic drinks at the resorts bar, which caused her to become intoxicated. He allowed his daughters, then aged 14 and 18, to get intoxicated at the same time, he said. When explaining why he gave the teenagers alcohol, Dial said he considered it an opportunity for a bonding experience, the same as we do in the military, referencing events like right-arm nights, when bosses and their subordinates drink together to promote camaraderie. After the girls went to sleep that night, Dial entered the bedroom shared by his youngest daughter and the family member seven times over several hours, to make sure they were OK, he said. But the family member testified that during the successive visits, Dial touched her breasts and genital area and penetrated her with his finger at least once. I was confused and terrified, the family member told the court, adding that she was awake every time Dial entered the room, despite pretending to be asleep out of fear. She eventually woke up Dials youngest daughter to explain what had happened, she said. Dials daughter testified to seeing her father enter the room and lift the blankets covering the family member after their discussion. There was a light coming from under the cover, Dials daughter said, adding that she believed it was caused by her fathers mobile phone but couldnt see what was happening underneath the blanket. I then asked: Dad, what are you doing? Dials daughter later told her mother who is an Army officer and now Dials ex-wife what she experienced. The mother reported the allegations to the Armys Criminal Investigation Division. Prosecutors accused Dial of getting the family member drunk on purpose to take advantage of her. The defense countered that the family member invented the story in an attempt to break up Dials marriage. This is a question about whether or not a crime was committed, an evil touching was committed, out of the blue, without any precedent for no known reason in a way that would be discovered in so many ways, defense lawyer Patrick McClain said in his closing arguments, in which he also extolled Dials sober, hardworking character and decades of military service. The family member and Dials youngest daughter each broke down in tears while reading statements during the sentencing portion of the trial, explaining how the incident continues to affect them. Also during the sentencing phase, Dial said dismissal from the military and any prison time would have a profound, negative impact on his familys life. Dial graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2001 and went on to become an OH-58D Kiowa reconnaissance helicopter pilot, completing combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the time of the incident, he was assigned to NATO Allied Joint Force Command in Brunssum, Netherlands. Pritchard ruled in January 2022 that a unanimous guilty verdict would be required to convict Dial, as a split verdict would violate his constitutional rights. That was after Dials defense team asserted that Congress has consistently narrowed the gap between the military and civilian legal systems, bringing the former more in line with the latter. However, in June, the Army Court of Criminal Appeals said it was not persuaded by Pritchards argument. Rather, we adhere to the well-established view that the military is a specialized society separate from civilian society which has, by necessity, developed laws and traditions of its own during its long history, the court said. WASHINGTON Straight in! mover Terry Goodwin called out as the century-old model of the USS South Carolina was eased across the museum floor at the Washington Navy Yard. Nice and easy, he said, as he and five other men guided the old battleship, which is nine feet long, stern first. The casters under its antique glass and mahogany case squeaked. And the movers laid down thin planks to smooth the way. As the model moved through the museum one day last month, it passed big guns shrouded in plastic tarps, art works under protective covers, and other ship models being readied for relocation. It was part of the Navys preparation for a $450 million flagship museum to replace the almost 60-year-old facility in its cavernous Naval Gun Factory and an adjacent building at the historic yard in Southeast Washington. The service announced two years ago that it wanted to build the new museum on a roughly six-acre plot on M street next-door to the Navy Yard. Now, the site has been secured via a land swap with a developer, pending environmental review, the Navy says. The Navy would exchange 15 acres of underutilized land in the southeastern part of the yard for the new museum site. Officials this month announced that five prominent architecture firms had been chosen to develop concepts for the new museum. They include Bjarke Ingles Group, DLR Group, Frank Gehry Partners, Perkins & Will, and Quinn Evans. Each will receive $50,000 to develop ideas and provide renderings and models that will be unveiled this spring. Were not really going to pick a winner, James C. Rentfrow, the acting director of the Navy Museums Division, said recently. Were going to have a jury ... [to] provide commentary and comments and pros and cons of each of the five. At some point, it will come down to one, but thats going to be later in the process, he said. The Navy hopes to break ground in the fall of 2025. The current museum opened in 1963. Because it is within the Navy Yard, it has been closed periodically for security reasons in recent years and could be difficult to visit. In November, the Navy closed the main part of the old museum on weekdays, admitting visitors only on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A secondary building has been closed permanently. The new museum will be outside the yard and will offer full public access, said retired Rear Adm. Samuel J. Cox, the director the Naval History and Heritage Command. But before the new facility is built, the old museum must be rearranged and repurposed into a staging area. The first thing that we have to do is clear out some of the older exhibits here in the main building so that we can create some open storage space, Rentfrow, the museums director, said recently. The model of the South Carolina had been on exhibit for 23 years, said Jennifer Marland, the assistant curator of Navy models. It was moved off exhibit to the edge of the museum space on Dec. 13. There it will stay with other large ship models until they are either placed in the new museum or relocated elsewhere, Rentfrow said. Artifacts including the huge World II-era Corsair fighter hanging from the ceiling probably will not be moved until the new museum is ready, he said. Others are awaiting other new destinations. The ornate, hand-carved gangway board from the battleship USS Kentucky will be wrapped, padded and sent to the history commands collection management facility in Richmond, according to Wesley Schwenk, a museum registrar. The board, which resembles a fine piece of furniture, features an eagle in relief perched on a globe. Gangway boards were placed at the top of a ships gangway as a greeting to sailors and visitors. The Kentucky sailed with the white-hulled Great White Fleet in the early 1900s and was decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1923. Another artifact, the statue of slain Boatswains Mate Charles W. Riggin, which was made out of silver from thousands of donated dimes, will be weighed and packaged and put into storage at another building at the Navy Yard, according to Schwenk. There, it will get a rest while a new location is found for it. Riggin, who served on the USS Baltimore, was killed in 1891 in Valparaiso, Chile, during an attack by locals apparently angry at the Navys presence. His murder, now long forgotten, was front-page news at the time. As for the ship models, the museum had about 120 on display. Marland said the models were often made when a ship was constructed, and were meticulously detailed. These are amazing, amazing works of art, she said in a recent interview at the yard. The craftsmanship. The attention to detail. Some of the models were displayed at the Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. They were made of wood, nonferrous metal and wire. On the South Carolina model, pen was used to draw lines indicating deck planks. When we build a new class of ships, we build a model to represent that class, Marland said. It helps educate people about the new class of ships coming into the Navy. And, after the ship is no longer with us, it provides a record of that classs service and the sailors who served on these ships. The South Carolina model probably was created by the Philadelphia firm that built the ship, she said. The ship was commissioned in 1910. As she spoke, conservator Brian Potter wheeled the model of the destroyer USS Manley on a computer printer stand away from its exhibit space. The Manley was to be displayed in the future at nearby Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, he said. But, first, he had to fix a miniature gun that had broken loose. He applied glue, and replaced the gun. Thats it, he said. Manley was commissioned in 1917. The next year, it suffered an accident in which depth charges on board exploded, gutting much of the ship and killing 34 crewmen. But the ship was repaired, put back in service and later served in the Pacific during World War II. As the South Carolina was eased across the musuems bumpy floor tiles, the team tried to keep it from toppling off its stand inside the case, where glass had been removed from one side. The glass was off so curators could adjust the model, which they did several times. Is it moving again? Marland said. Yeah, someone replied. They men stopped. More planks were laid on the floor. You see how tight this is in the case, Marland said. Theres very little room. The move resumed, and, eventually, the battleship reached its destination. The actual South Carolina, which served in World War I, brought thousands of American soldiers home from Europe when the war ended. It was sold for scrap in 1924, according to the Navy. Do we have this battleship today? Marland said. No. But we have this model, she said. Countries in Central Asia among those that embrace common community, development Thousands of years ago, China envisaged a world where people would live in perfect harmony and be as dear to one another as family. Today, President Xi Jinping has given the world such a vision in the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind. Since Xi proposed the concept in 2013, it has gone on to shape China's approach to global governance, giving rise to proposals and measures to support growth for all. Guo Changchao, CEO of the Chinese logistics company WinExpress, said that he can feel the increasing mutual understanding and respect between the people of China and Central Asia, along with wide acceptance of Xi's proposals around the world. Guo, whose company provides truck delivery services from China to Kazakhstan, said the better relations between China and Kazakhstan and the implementation of the concept of a community with a shared future benefit companies like his. "What I understand about a common community is closer people-to-people ties and better mutual understanding," Guo said. As there are more goods delivered between China and Kazakhstan, as well as from China to Europe through the Central Asian country, more Kazakh people know about China and want to visit China. Guo hailed the cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in multilateral organizations. "China joined the Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods ... in 2016, and since the first truck crossed the Sino-Kazakh border in 2018, the new logistics route has become a new bridge connecting China and Central Asia," he said. WinExpress has sent more than 100 trucks each month, a number that is expected to double or triple in the coming year, Guo added. "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and some regional issues, most of the traditional means of logistics from China to Europe, including shipping, railway and road transportation, have been seriously affected," he said. Compared with decades ago, when Guo visited Central Asia for the first time, more people have shown friendship to and interest in China, he said. According to Yang Lei, director of Eurasian National University's Confucius Institute in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, the study of Chinese language is more popular than ever in the region. "Even the COVID-19 pandemic did not dampen enthusiasm for the institute's programs," Yang said. From 2021 to 2022, the institute continued to offer 11 classes attended by about 240 local students. In addition, over 2,300 Kazakhs participated in about three dozen cultural activities that the institute organized in Nur-Sultan, Yang said. Tazhmurat Alinaai, 14, who gave herself the Chinese name Ai Li, has been learning Chinese for over a year. "My dream is to go to China and know more about the country," she said, adding that she has also started practicing Chinese calligraphy. During the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October, Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, reiterated China's commitment to work with people of all other countries to champion humanity's shared values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, in order to safeguard global peace and promote global development and to continue promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Noting that the world is grappling with unprecedented challenges, Xi said the CPC has consistently called on the people of the world to shape the future of humanity. "When all countries pursue the cause of common good, we can live in harmony, engage in cooperation for mutual benefit and join hands to create a brighter future for the world," he said. In September, while visiting Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on his first trip abroad since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Xi emphasized to the two countries' respective presidents the unbreakable friendship and the will to jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind. During talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Xi said that China is ready to work with Kazakhstan in firmly supporting each other's development and rejuvenation, and that the unbreakable friendship between the two countries will contribute to the growth of positive and progressive forces in the world as well as the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. When talking with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Xi said China and Uzbekistan have always respected each other, enjoyed good-neighborliness and worked together for mutual benefits. China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to implement the vision of a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future and deepen all-around cooperation for mutual benefit, he added. Pramod Jaiswal, research director at the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement, said that in a highly interconnected world where nontraditional threats are on the rise, countries can promote peace and preserve the gains of development only through common development and cooperation. Therefore, China's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind is particularly worth appreciating, Jaiswal said, adding that he believes China has played a crucial role in the pursuit of the vision and will encourage more participation in implementing it. People in Uzbekistan also said they believe the concept of a community with a shared future has changed people's lives. Dinadana, 29, from Uzbekistan's Namangan region, said the construction of the Kamchiq Tunnel, which was built along the Pap-Angren Railway by a Chinese company, ended the long tradition of Uzbeks having to make a detour through another country while traveling domestically. With a total length of 19.2 kilometers, the Kamchiq Tunnel was designed and constructed by China Railway Tunnel Group in a project that began in September 2013. Construction of the tunnel was highly challenging, as more than 3,000 rock bursts the violent expulsion of rock resulting from heavy pressure on brittle rock occurred, the most serious of which caused a partial collapse of the tunnel. CRTG organized a meeting of multinational experts for consultation on rock bursts and to draw up special plans, jointly conduct scientific research and formulate scientific methods for dealing with such bursts. After construction of the tunnel was completed in 2016, stations and maintenance work stations were set up along the line. Many people have become railway workers, and their income is very good, Dinadana said. As local transportation conditions have vastly improved thanks to the tunnel, the business potential of the Namangan region has increased, with a high volume of Chinese goods being sold or transferred to other regions from Namangan in the past six years. Following construction of the Kamchiq Tunnel, the Uzbek government has turned to the Chinese company for another important infrastructure construction project modernization of the Shargun coal mine. Dinadana said she married a Chinese technician working on the project. "We know each other from the Shargun coal mine and established a family in the common community with our shared future, and our love will last as long as the Sino-Uzbek friendship," Dinadana said. (Tribune News Service) Only weeks after U.S. Air Force Capt. Maj. Katie Lunning kissed her husband and daughter goodbye at their Iowa home, she landed in Afghanistan on Aug. 26, 2021. A suicide bomber had just attacked the Kabul Airport, killing dozens of people, including 13 U.S. service members. While most people were fleeing the scene of the blast, Lunning, a nurse and member of the 133rd Airlift Wing stationed at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Joint Air Reserve Station, was part of a three-person medical team that flew into Kabul to rescue and treat victims of the bombing at the Hamid Karzai International Airport. Lunning rushed into a chaotic, dangerous, hostile area while bullets were still flying to save the lives of 22 critically injured people. On Saturday, Lunning now Maj. Lunning became the first Air National Guard flight nurse to receive the nations Distinguished Flying Cross award at a ceremony at Fort Snelling that included high-ranking military personnel, Minnesota political leaders and hundreds of service members. In American history, only 12 women and just five nurses have received the award. The first woman to receive the award was famed aviator Amelia Earhart, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said at the ceremony, noting that Lunning was making history at that very moment. The 22 people onboard Lunnings flight were of different ages and nationalities, Klobuchar said, but all had one thing in common: critical injuries. Lunning provided excellent care under impossible circumstances, Klobuchar said. Your bravery is an inspiration for so many, Klobuchar told Lunning. We are honored to have you in our presence. U.S. Sen. Tina Smith called nurses the heroes of the nations health care system and told Lunning, You embody the very best our state and our nation has to offer. Lt. Gen. Michael Loh, the director of the Air National Guard, traveled to Minnesota for the ceremony Saturday. He called Lunning a true American hero. Volunteer replacement It was by chance that Lunning was deployed at all, Loh said. Lunning was working as a nurse at a Veterans Administration hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, when a nurse who had been scheduled for deployment to Qatar was unable to go. Lunning volunteered to go in her stead. In Qatar, Lunning joined her three-person team, consisting of a physician and a respiratory nurse. Called a Critical Care Air Transport Team, they were trained to bring injured Americans back to the U.S. from anywhere around the world within a three-day period. Normally during a deployment, Loh said, there are two CCATT teams. But because of injuries and other unforeseen events, the other team was not deployed to Qatar, leaving Lunnings team to work solo. Under a normal deployment this would be challenging enough, Loh said, but as it turned out this particular deployment ended up being anything but normal. The team worked nearly around the clock in Qatar treating injured Afghans who had fled as the Taliban swarmed their country. She and her team often worked 20-hour days, bringing patients from the hospital to the airfield for care. Short flights were taken to Kabul to evacuate patients who were being treated at a makeshift hospital that the Norwegians had set up at the airport. On Aug. 26, after one of these long days, Lunning was back in Qatar and drifting off to sleep when her team doctor called and said they were leaving in 20 minutes and to get dressed and ready to go. As she ran out the door, she texted a family member back home: I have no idea what is going on. I love you. I will text you when I can. At the time, nobody was aware that a suicide bomber attacked the Kabul airport causing massive casualties, Loh said. Lunning soon found herself on a C-17 to Kabul. She later learned the Taliban had taken control and terrorist activist was increasing. When we landed it was a different feeling, she said in a statement about the day. The engines on the plane were still going. Triage under fire Once the team arrived in Kabul, Loh said, Lunning performed patient triage under continuous small rounds fire and an ongoing threat of another significant attack. As she ran to load patients for transport, Lunning said she was thinking, I couldnt control the scary stuff, but I could nurse the patients that needed me. That is what I focused on. What I remember the most was how everyone came together and the teamwork. We all worked towards a goal and wanted to do the right thing, Lunning said. Despite gunfire in a hostile and dangerous environment, the team loaded 22 critically injured people onto their aircraft. Once in the air, the team treated the patients. Lunnings efforts included performing lifesaving in-flight massive blood resuscitation of a critically injured post-operative patient and treating a 2-year-old with a traumatic brain injury and obstructed airway. Her team was aboard one of the last C-17 convoys to leave Afghanistan in what officials call the largest U.S. humanitarian airlift in history. She and her team worked on the patients during the eight-hour flight to Landstuhl, Germany. All 22 survived. At one point, Lanning had a few seconds to reach her husband, Command Sgt. Major Josh Lunning. She told him, I just got out of Afghanistan. He had a one-word response: Wow. Gov. Tim Walsh spoke at the ceremony and told Lunning, Thank you for being the embodiment of what we would all hope to be. 2023 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at twincities.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Tribune News Service) The mental health system aboard the USS George Washington is overwhelmed and sailors have a poor understanding of alternative resources, according to the Navys investigation into three sailor suicides. In May, the Navy launched an investigation into the April deaths, interviewing senior medical officers and sailors aboard the carrier undergoing an overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding. While the probe into three suicides of sailors assigned to the USS George Washington found the deaths were not connected, the roughly 60-page report released Dec. 19 found the Washingtons psychologist and behavioral health technician Psych Boss and Psych Tech were overwhelmed and struggled to keep up with the demand for services. From January 2021 to January 2022, the ship reported about 2,600 mental health patient encounters with the psych boss, the behavioral health technician and two substance abuse rehabilitation program counselors. It was unclear how many sailors sought mental health services, as a patient encounter could mean one sailor was seen multiple times. Of the three Washington sailors who died by suicide in April, only 24-year-old Natasha Huffman was a patient of the Washington mental health team. The psych boss and psych tech reported a significant backlog for initial appointments despite each seeing as many as 20 patients a day. According to the investigation, this means it could take up to six weeks for a sailor to get a non-emergent initial mental health appointment. (Senior medical officer) and Psych Boss had considered switching from individual-based therapy to group therapy in order to handle the high volume, but chose not to because group therapy hadnt worked well in the past, the report reads. Leadership aboard the Washington added to the demand for mental health services. The Navy has sponsorship and mentorship programs available to connect sailors with leadership who will guide them through their assimilation into a new command. But according to the investigation, multiple sailors reported a lack of mentorship aboard the carrier and said leadership did not want to talk about or were uncomfortable discussing mental health issues with junior sailors. Psych Tech stated that leadership, and specifically leading petty officers (LPOs), dont have time to deal with mental health issues of their subordinates and want to refer them to Psych Boss and Psych Tech to deal with, the report reads. While the medical team aboard the Washington was overwhelmed, the deployed resiliency counselor was underutilized. The resiliency counselor, at an offsite location 3 miles from the carrier, only saw 46 patients from January 2021 to January 2022. Deployed resiliency counselors are civilian clinicians that offer confidential, non-medical counseling on a short-term basis while sailors are deployed or in port. Sailors interviewed were generally not aware that the deployed resiliency counselor is an available resource who does not readily share patient information, and any information shared with the DRC is not entered into the sailors military health record, the report said. Additionally, multiple sailors interviewed during the investigation did not know who the deployed resiliency counselor was or where they were. But those who knew the counselor was 3 miles from the carrier were hesitant to take that much time off to go there (or dont believe they can), the report said. Following the suicides, the Navy assigned an additional resiliency counselor to the Washington, this time placing them onboard the carrier. The ship also has three chaplains who can provide emotional and spiritual guidance. The investigation included a slew of suggestions, some of which already have been implemented. Recommendations, such as adding additional mental health counselors and refining the welcome aboard process for new sailors, are underway. We are also improving our team-building program to ensure every Sailor knows they are a critical component of our Navy Team, said Capt. Dave Hecht, spokesperson for U.S. Fleet Forces. According to the first investigation, the Navy also is considering reviewing the adequacy of mental health care and practitioner manning for ships entering a complex refueling and overhaul to better balance manning with demand, as well as requesting the Military Entrance Processing Command review the Navys initial accession screening process for psychological suitability. This process should not be intended to prevent individuals from entering the Naval service, but designed to identify those that may be at risk for psychological hardship. This review should be focused on proactive measures to identify unresolved and/or untreated disorders, and to develop a treatment plan to help sailors better assimilate to the arduous environment of Naval service, the report read. The psychological suitability screening recommendation was modified to suggest the Navy coordinate this effort with the Marine Corps High Risk Sailor Identification Initiative to develop a risk management tool for Commanding Officers to use in order to define, identify, manage, and oversee high risk Sailors more effectively and transparently within their command and during transfer processes. But those recommendations, as well as others meant to enhance mental health and support resources, recreational programs, and command mentorship initiatives, are being evaluated as part of a second, broader investigation that evaluates the command climate and quality of service challenges unique to the shipyard environment is ongoing. The findings from this quality of service investigation will be released in the coming months, which we anticipate having a positive impact on our Sailors and their families, Hecht said. 2023 The Virginian-Pilot Visit pilotonline.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The disgraced former garda (42) was sent to prison last summer for coercive control TheSunday Independent revealed that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has informed specialist gardai in Dublin that there is insufficient evidence to charge the 42-year-old with the alleged sexual offences. Gardai attached to a specialist Divisional Protective Services Bureau (DPSU) in Dublin arrested Moody last year over the allegations. It is understood that a statement of complaint was made against him relating to alleged incidents of serious and sustained sexual abuse over a number of years. A source said that despite the DPPs recent direction that Moody should not be criminally charged over these alleged offences, the case remains open. Moodys arrest over the allegations took place before the former garda was jailed last July for coercive control. On July 26, he was sent to prison for three years and three months for a four-year campaign of harassment using threats, assaults and coercive control against his cancer-stricken ex-partner. The abuse came to light when he voluntarily handed in his mobile phone to gardai after making a false allegation against one of her relatives. In her victim impact statement, the former gardas victim said Moody told her the only reason he had visited her while she was ill in hospital was to watch you bleed to death. The court heard Moody sent the woman more than 30,000 messages over the four years. In one 14-hour period in July 2018 he sent her 652 messages one message every 90 seconds. The messages were described in court as threatening, vile and abusive. In one message he described her as being riddled with cancer, in another, while she was on holiday without him, he said he hoped she would get raped and bleed. In another, after they had a row while on holiday together, he messaged her the following morning and said she was flaunting your body around the pool calling her a dirtbox and a scumbag. He threatened to stick a knife in her in one voice message. He also took photos of her naked, unbeknownst to her and threatened to post them online. Moody, of St Raphaels Manor, Celbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a charge of coercive control in relation to the woman on dates between January 1, 2019 and November 30, 2020. The law for the offence came into effect in January 2019. Sentencing him, Judge Martin Nolan noted that the maximum sentence available to the court for this offence was five years. He said Moody's behaviour was at the highest end of the offence but the court had to take Moody's guilty plea into consideration and he reduced a five-year headline sentence to three years and three months. He said Moody had carried out a catalogue of vile and humiliating criminal misbehaviour. He said he abused his position as a garda to obtain information which he used to harass and humiliate the victim and he also endangered her life by driving recklessly at one point. The guilty plea was accepted on the basis of full facts in relation to a further 19 counts including harassment, assault causing harm, criminal damage, threats to cause criminal damage, endangerment, theft and threats to kill. Moody joined the gardai in 2000 but was suspended from duty in March 2021, following a search of his home arising out of this investigation. Sean Gillane SC, defending, told the court that his client would resign from An Garda Siochana. We tracked 91-year-old James Israel, AKA James Treacy, down to an isolated rural cottage in south Wexford last week Israel shouted at our reporter Patrick OConnell when he was approached James Israel, also known as James Treacy, was nabbed by the Sunday World This is the convicted child stealer who landed himself back in court after being caught with pornographic imagery of naked boys on his computer. We tracked 91-year-old James Israel, AKA James Treacy, down to an isolated rural cottage in south Wexford last week after he was given a suspended sentence for possession of child pornography. Despite being described in court as a man of deep spiritual faith, Israels initial response when our reporter approached was somewhat less than Christian. Youre going to get into trouble, get out of here go, he roared, after our man identified himself. Journalist? Are you belonging to that cursed newspaper? he then asked referring to highly-respected local newspaper the Wexford People in which details of his case were first reported. Printing all those lies about this man! When our reporter clarified that he was with the Sunday World, Israel, somewhat mollified, continued: Well, if thats the case I apologise. My name is Trevor. Having already confirmed his identity from his publicly-available Facebook account, our reporter was then instructed to knock on the front door of Israels home and speak with a man who identified himself as Israels carer. When we did so, the man told this newspaper that there was a media ban in place barring the details of Israels case from being made public. TheSunday World later checked if this was the case and established no such court reporting restrictions were outlined at any stage during the hearing of Israels case. At his appearance at Wexford Circuit Court, the nonagenarian had pleaded guilty before Judge Martin Nolan to possession of child pornography. Israel shouted at our reporter Patrick OConnell when he was approached The offence came to light in April 2018 when he dropped his Apple Mac computer into Joyces Electrical in Wexford for servicing. The technician assigned to carry out the work was concerned by the pictures on the device including images of young boys with their genitals exposed and gardai were alerted. The Apple Mac was seized by investigators, as was a personal computer found when Israels cottage was searched under warrant. Israels response was to argue that as there was no adult in any of the pictures the material should not be classified as pornography. However, the law dictated otherwise and the elderly man pleaded guilty. Details of what was found on two computers were given to the court by Detective Garda Trevor Buckley. Hundreds of images of young boys not deemed pornographic showed up, the detective said. However, there was also more sinister material, including a haul of pornographic cartoons. And the courts attention was drawn to four images of explicit child sex and more than 100 images of child exposure. Asked by the Sunday Worldabout the images that had been found on his computer, Israel responded: The computer had been hacked, thats why we brought it in for repairs. It was left in to be repaired four or five years ago. Normally a person who had something to hide would not leave a device in a shop to be repaired. Asked if he had raised the hacking defence in court, Israel accepted that he had not. Asked if he was saying he hadnt downloaded the images, Israel responded: They werent done by us but they were on the computer. James Israel is driven away And you see there is a law in some countries in Europe where you can have stuff that the law here says no to. During Israels sentencing, Detective Garda Trevor Buckley outlined details of the pensioners background. He said Israel was a former UK resident who was previously called James Treacy but changed his surname by deed poll to become Israel. He had no record of convictions in Ireland but was convicted in the UK of child stealing back in 1960. The child in question was 11 years old at the time. Asked about this conviction by the Sunday World, Israel said: There was a religious thing. It meant that encouraging anyone to come out to be a priest was punishable, at one time, by death in England and, at another time, by seven years in prison. That boy was in the care of a religious order in Genoa and he was being well protected and looked after. And the Pope at the time, Pope John XXIII, knew he was OK. Asked if he was saying he had taken a child from England all the way to Italy, Israel said: The child came himself of his own free will because he wanted to be a priest to study in a place where he could do it. At Israels sentencing hearing, defending barrister Eamonn Whitmore stated that his client had worked all over Europe in the past. Proficient in the German language, he worked as a Berlitz School teacher, spending time in Barcelona and Rome. He was a man of deep spiritual faith, counsel suggested. Judge Martin Nolan noted Israels belief that the material which landed him before the court was legal. It would be an understatement to say he was misguided, and the court observed that his views [are] not consistent with the criminal law in this country. However, at the age of 91, it would be unjust to send him to prison. The judge suspended a two-year sentence handed down to Israel. An order for destruction of the two computers was granted. Israel was also warned in court that his age would not protect him from going to jail if he reoffends. Medical workers run intravenous drips for patients at the fever clinic of China-Japan Friendship hospital in Beijing. [Photo by Wang Jing/China Daily] China released the 10th edition of its diagnosis and treatment protocol for COVID-19 on Saturday, the first of its kind since the country announced that it will be managed as a Category B disease. Over the past three years, the virus has been strictly prevented and controlled according to the same strict Category A standards that apply to diseases such as the plague and cholera. But in light of how the epidemic situation has evolved, with the current variants of the virus more transmissible but less virulent than earlier ones, and with few cases presenting as pneumonia, the disease has been downgraded from novel coronavirus pneumonia to novel coronavirus infection, and it is to be managed accordingly, starting Sunday. The previous edition of the protocol was released in March last year. The latest edition calls for a treat-it-as-it-is shift of focus for the governments and public health systems, as well as neighborhoods and individual residents, as the emphasis is on treatment rather than preventing infection. The revised national protocol, which is based on the experience of some big cities in their head-on collision with the virus last month, will undoubtedly help standardize diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 infections nationwide, as in line with clinical practice it classifies cases as being light, medium, severe or critical. This will be especially welcomed by small towns and rural areas, as the protocol improves the diagnostic criteria and warning indicators for severe and critical cases, which will ease the pressure on their public health facilities as less severe cases can be treated with over-the-counter medications at home. The adjustment of the protocol can help ensure that limited medical care resources can be concentrated on caring for those who are most vulnerable, such as the elderly, children and people with underlying diseases, in a bid to prevent and reduce the occurrence of severe cases and minimize the number of deaths caused by COVID-19. But having said that, more medical care resources should now be diverted to villages in light of the requirements of the protocol so as to minimize the pressure on the public health system and the national economy that is expected to arise as a result of the projected resurgence of COVID-19 infections during the 40-day Spring Festival holiday peak travel period that will begin on Friday. The issuance of the protocol should prompt public health departments across the country to accelerate the adjustment of the distribution of medical resources between urban and rural areas through the pre-settled assistance model, whereby major hospitals in cities provide local rural clinics and village doctors with direct assistance in terms of personnel, medicines, funding, facilities and equipment, as well as diagnosis and treatment guidance. The protocol highlights the importance of quick diagnosis, high clinical treatment efficiency, early treatment and the use of a combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicines, the importance of which has been fully demonstrated in the nation's fight with the virus last month after it lifted its strict virus control policies. The latest COVID-19 infection diagnosis and treatment protocol, which adheres to the country's consistent principle of always putting life and health first, effectively responds to the appeals and demands of society, while still being firmly rooted in science and the actual epidemic situation in the country. Since the first version of the diagnosis and treatment protocol for COVID 19 was released in January 2020, there have been obvious changes in each version. But these have all been determined by the constancy of the guiding ideology, which demands a scientific response to the pandemic and flexibility in the diagnosis and treatment measures so that they can address the evolving situation. Each of the 10 editions represents an important stage in the development of China's epidemic prevention and control efforts, as each of them marks the optimal approach under the prevailing conditions at that time. Each has fulfilled its mission for the period they were made for. It is good to see that many provincial-level regions, including Beijing, Tianjin, Chongqing as well as Fujian and Guizhou provinces, have already issued their implementation plans in accordance with the latest protocol. For instance, they all give full play to a hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system and greater coordination and connection between grassroots clinics and the fever departments of major hospitals, so as to boost the capacity of the former to handle COVID-19 cases. The rapidity with which localities are executing the protocol should serve to consolidate people's confidence that their lives and health will continue to be effectively guarded against the virus and that the removal of the constraints on socioeconomic activities will bring the return of their life to normal at an early date. What's more, given its optimized COVID-19 strategy, the world's second-largest economy is in a better position to help boost the global economic recovery as an anchor to global supply chains and a main driving force for the global market. Until recently, it is understood that his only visitors were members of An Garda Siochana, preparing him ahead of giving evidence against Hutch Supergrass Jonathan Dowdall enjoyed his first prison visits from his family at Limerick Prison over the Christmas period. The father-of-four was sentenced to four years in prison last October after he pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016. He gave evidence for the State against his former friend Gerry The Monk Hutch, and gave explosive evidence over a fortnight at Hutchs murder trial in December. The former Sinn Fein councillor has been in Limerick prison since November 2. Until recently, it is understood that his only visitors were members of An Garda Siochana, preparing him ahead of giving evidence against Hutch. But in recent weeks it is understood the 44-year-old has received at least two visits from a female family member. This woman, who is not involved in criminality, was escorted by an armed garda for her own protection. The Irish Prison Service (IPS) was contacted but a spokesman said it could not comment on individual prisoners. As one of the most high-profile inmates within the prison system, Dowdall poses a significant security concern for prison authorities as well as gardai. As 25pc remission is applied to all prison sentences handed down in the State, he will serve just three years behind bars. His father, Patrick Dowdall (65), was jailed for two years for his role in facilitating the murder of Kinahan cartel associate Byrne. The father and son are under a 23-hour-lockdown regime in a special protection wing of the prison, where they are housed in cells beside each other. Both men, especially Jonathan, are under the severest threat level possible because of his decision to give evidence against Hutch. As part of the protective regime surrounding the north Dublin pair, they are not allowed to mix with other prisoners. All their meals are delivered to their individual prison cells and they can only take their hour of exercise time when other prisoners are on their meal breaks. For the hour they are out of their cells they are closely monitored by prison staff. Limerick Prison was chosen as the facility to house them because the jail does not have any known criminals involved in the Hutch-Kinahan feud that has claimed 18 lives. Dowdalls trial previously heard he was being considered for the witness protection programme and that following his sentence he would likely need to relocate to another country for his own safety. Both men have to register as sex offenders with gardai within ten days of their release Anthony Spellman is now out of prison Ger Hehir is now out of prison Two child sex offenders are now back on the streets after serving their time for vile crimes. While Galway man Anthony Spellman is expected to have returned to the UK where he had been living before his conviction, Co Clare rapist Ger Hehir is expected to return home. Both men have to register as sex offenders with gardai within ten days of their release, but Government plans to give courts the power to order electronic tagging have not yet come into force. Glowing testimonies had been handed in court on behalf of Hehir, who ran a horse stables, at his sentence hearing in January 2019 when he got a five and a half year sentence. His sentence was upheld by the Court of Criminal Appeal in 2020 but now Hehir is free after four years behind bars after being released from the Midlands Prison this week. Anthony Spellman is now out of prison Hehir (61), with an address at Ruan, Co Clare, had pleaded not guilty to raping and sexually assaulting a girl at his home and at horse events around the country between 2010 and 2013. The woman he attacked said in her victim impact statement at the Central Criminal Court, she had lived a happy and enjoyable life before Hehirs abuse and manipulation. From a girl who had such an amazing life, you ruined everything, she said. I have always looked for the best in people and Im not a resentful person, but I feel you still dont understand the devastating effect this has had on me. She said she lives with anger every day, has severe anxiety and trust issues and had to give up a career goal because of the abuse. Hehir first sexually assaulted the girl in 2010 when she was aged 16 as she was coming out of one of his stables. Later that same year, Hehir invited her to have a smoke out a bedroom window at his home, but then lifted her over the bed, took off one of her trouser legs and raped her. The girl later told gardai how she froze. When she told Hehir that she was only 17, he replied: You may be only 17, but youre years above your age. A jury found him guilty after a seven day trial. Just before Christmas, another paedophile, Anthony Spellman, was also freed from the Midlands Prison. He was sentenced to four years in January 2020 for sexually abusing an 11-year-old boy in the 1980s. Spellman was found guilty at Galway Circuit Court of 20 counts of indecent assault for sexually abusing the boy between June 1984 and January 1986. But during his trial for those offences the jury was not told Spellman was, at the time, serving time for abusing a seven-year-old boy. It emerged in court hearings Spellman had also received a Risk of Sexual Harm Order from South Cheshire Magistrates Court for sending explicit text messages to a 15-year-old boy which expired in 2014. Then aged 53 Spellman had been living in Cheshire for years and was aged 18 or 19 when he abused the 11-year-old in Mervue, Galway. The abuse continued over two years. Spellman pleaded guilty a week after a jury had been selected. Thug blames murderer uncle for his own string of offences This is the violent repeat offender recently jailed for a terrifying home invasion who blames his life of crime on being related to one of Irelands most notorious killers. Galway thug Gerard Barry (30), from Glenbaun, Ballybane, is well-known in the county for his involvement in a litany of crimes, including knife-point robberies, burglaries, assault, blackmail and extortion, theft, dangerous driving, stealing cars, damaging property, robbery, and hit-and-run offences. The Sunday World can reveal that Barry is a nephew of rapist and murderer Gerald Barry and he has even used that fact as an attempt to justify his own life of crime. Evil Gerald Barry (42) raped and murdered the Swiss teenager Manuela Riedo, in October 2007, in Galway, two days after she arrived in Ireland to learn English Manuela Riedo He was out on bail for a previous assault at the time of the attack and was sentenced to life in prison in 2009. Gerald Barry had already been involved in a series ofviolent incidents before murdering Manuela. He was just 16 when he was part of a gang who killed innocent Tipperary man Colm Phelan in an unprovoked attack in Eyre Square in Galway in July 1996. His nephew Gerard Barry has also committed a string of offences while on bail for other matters and is a regular in court when he is not serving lengthy sentences. He was sentenced to nine years with 18 months suspended, at Galway Circuit Court in December for a home invasion where he held a nine inch knife to the throat of a 69-year-old man at his rural home outside Athenry in August 2021. He had already racked up 52 convictions before his court appearance in December and has previously served another nine-year sentence with 18 months suspended for a crime spree in Galway which included knife-point robberies and attempted robberies during which he assaulted some of his victims as well as burglaries, thefts and other offences. Several of the incident occurred while he was out on bail. In one of those incidents, Barry robbed a car during a crime spree before calling a man over to the vehicle and demanding money. The man tried to get away but Barry caught up with him and kicked him before punching him three times in the jaw. Bizarrely, when he was handed down the sentence in 2016 for that crime spree, he blamed the fact that he was related to Gerald Barry on his involvement in crime. He has the same name. Its been following him around all the time, his barrister told the court at the time. Gerald Barry She said his criminal behaviour began in 2009 after his uncle committed a serious offence. She said he turned to drink and drugs, which exacerbated his criminal behaviour, before going on to claim hes a gorgeous young man, a lovely young man when hes not drinking, He returned to his criminal ways following his release from prison and was involved in a series of further crimes culminating in the horrific home invasion near Athenry in August 2021. Galway Daily reported that in his victim impact statement, the 69-year-old victim said he thought he was going to die and has lived in the fear since the incident. I cant describe the fear I felt as Gerard Barry chased me around my own home with a large knife, he wrote. That experience in my own home is forever carved into my brain. Time is running out for the feuding gang bosses Bounties have been plaed on the bosses of the Kinahan cartel Gerry Hutch is on trial for the attack at the Regency Hotel The trial of Gerry The Monk Hutch for the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel is set to resume this week as the Special Criminal Court move towards the closing arguments in the case. It is expected that it will take just weeks to complete the so-called trial of the century, centring on the fall-out between the Hutch and Kinahan groupings which resulted in a murderous feud that has claimed 18 lives. Hutch has pleaded not guilty to the murder and his co-accused, Jason Bonney and Paul Murphy, have denied charges of facilitating the killing by providing getaway vehicles on February 5, 2016. Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch It is almost seven years since the attack on the Regency Hotel and sources agree that 2023 will be the defining year in the murderous feud. While Hutch remains in custody fighting for his reputation and freedom, Kinahan is still a free man, albeit in a gilded cage in Dubai where he and his father, Christy Snr, and brother Christopher Jnr sought refuge in the aftermath of the Regency and the tsunami of law enforcement that came in its wake. Files are being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecution about Kinahans role in a number of feud killings, while international tech experts are still going through the encrypted phone messages that have been harvested from a number of high-profile hacks on systems like Encrochat and Sky ECG. Daniel Kinahan is the only member of the immediate family likely to face trial in Ireland, while Dapper Don Christy Snr and his namesake son are being investigated for money laundering, travelling on false passports and their roles in the mob in a number of different jurisdictions, including the USA where the Drug Enforcement Agency is investigating them for funding terrorism. Sean McGovern, Daniel Kinahans right-hand man, is wanted here on murder charges relating to the shooting of The Monks friend Noel Duck Egg Kirwan. Gerry Hutch is on trial for the attack at the Regency Hotel McGovern is currently holed up in Dubai, but police are monitoring his movements carefully as they bide their time to pick him up for transport home. It has been an annus horribilis for the Kinahan gang, ever since the US sanctions were levelled against them and $5 million bounties were put on the heads of Kinahan Snr and his two sons. In the past 12 months, the gang have been named by the US Treasury and placed on their most-wanted list, the Hawala money-laundering system used by the organisation has been dismantled and plans by Christy Snr to relocate to the safety of Zimbabwe have been scuppered. It seems like a lifetime ago since Daniel Kinahan confidently posed on the rooftop of a luxury Dubai hotel with his arm around his Golden Goose, world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, and since he recorded a three-hour podcast to tell the world his story of victimhood. Since then, Fury has denied any association with the mob boss but has still been denied travel to the United States, the podcast recorded with Scot James English has been canned and the noose has tightened as Kinahan remains the last of the super cartel still free. Already, his former business partners Ridouan Taghi, Raffaele Imperiale and Edin Gacinin have been caught in the net of law enforcement and are before the courts or in custody awaiting their fate. Johnny Morrissey, the Kinahan cartels chief money launderer, is also behind bars in Spain after he was arrested earlier this year. While Imperiale is the first of the heavy hitters to turn state witness and offer information against his one-time comrades, concerns are growing within the embattled Kinahan inner circle that Morrissey may dothe same. Bounties have been plaed on the bosses of the Kinahan cartel He is facing a huge prison sentence as he stands accused of laundering upwards of 200 million in drug money over the course of 18 months. His wife, Nicola, who was arrested but released without charge, remains under investigation. Sources close to the Kinahan organisation say the groups access to funds is limited due to sanctions and because few debtors are honouring what they owe. They are currently reliant on cash mules to bring wads of money into the United Arab Emirates as they bid to weather the storm while awaiting their inevitable arrests. Meanwhile, The Monk believes his legal team will secure his freedom. Despite the length of the Regency trial, just three key pieces of evidence have been put forward by the State to prove his guilt in the murder of David Byrne. Two of those pieces of evidence are uncorroborated claims by State Witness Jonathan Dowdall who was repeatedly called a liar by counsel for The Monk. The third is a recorded conversation between The Monk and Dowdall as they made their way north in the aftermath of the Regency Hotel and during which they discussed giving three yokes to dissidents in exchange for mediation talks with the Kinahan organisation. It is expected that the circumstances surrounding Hutchs extradition and other evidence will be heard before the closing speeches in the trial are made. Judges at the Special Criminal Court will then retire to consider their verdict. A number of other high-profile inmates are suspected of having been drunk that evening, including gangland thug Derek Bottler Devoy and Real IRA killer Sean Connolly The burnt out remains of a car the PSNI believe may have been used in the murder of Dectective Garda Adrian Donohue Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth A New Years bash involving some of Irelands most notorious criminals ended in a drunken brawl on the C4 landing of Portlaoise Prison. Among the criminals sanctioned over the contraband booze-fuelled violence in the maximum security prison on the evening of December 31 is convicted garda killer Aaron Brady. He has been formally subjected to P19 disciplinary proceedings for assaulting Sean Groome a thug serving 15 years for a sickening assault in which he stabbed his victim 16 times and set him on fire. A source confirmed that a number of other high-profile inmates are suspected of having been drunk that evening, including gangland thug Derek Bottler Devoy and Real IRA killer Sean Connolly. Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth A source told theSunday World: Brady was taken out of general population in Portlaoise after a drunken brawl with other prisoners on New Years Eve. He fought and boxed and was drunk. He injured another prisoner and is facing a punishment sanction. All the prisoners were drunk and it was just luck that no staff got hurt as the prisoners threw a party for New Years. Its understood the cells on the landing had been unlocked at 5pm instead of 5.30pm that evening in recognition of the fact it was New Years Eve. This meant the inmates on the landing were freed earlier than usual to mingle and visit each other in their cells. The source said the altercation between Brady and Groome occurred in a cell at approximately 6pm. Contacted this week, a spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service declined to comment. Aaron Brady Its understood that Brady has since been allowed return to his cell on C4, while a probe is underway in the prison to establish whether the inmates smuggled in the alcohol or whether they consumed homemade hooch. Brady has been accommodated on C-Block since September last year after being moved from A-Block, where he had been held since his transfer to Portlaoise in October 2020. On August 12 that year, Brady was found guilty of the capital murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe and was sentenced to the mandatory term of 40 years imprisonment. He was further sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for robbery at the Credit Union in Lordship, Co Louth on January 25, 2013. Speaking at his sentencing hearing, Garda Donohoes wife Caroline said: We had a loving, happy family, but in just 58 senseless seconds everything changed forever. Sean Groome, the prisoner Brady injured, has been housed in Portlaoise since December 2020 when he was sentenced over a murderous assault on Ciaran Murphy. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Groome targeted Murphy while acting on misinformation his victim was a garda informant. Murphy later told the Sunday World how during the assault Groome stabbed me 16 times including here in the heart. Then he poured the petrol on me and set me on fire. I was torched alive. But I managed to burn him too. Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead during a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth Sentencing Groome, Judge Martin Nolan said his victim had been basically incinerated in the attack, in which he incurred severe knife injuries and burns to 96 per cent of his body. Judge Nolan said it seemed to him that for whatever reason, Groome had murderous intent that night. He reduced the headline sentence to 15 years but said he did not see any reason to impose any suspended element. I think if 15 years in prison does not reform him nothing will, said Judge Nolan. Derek Bottler Devoy, who was also present, is serving a 15-year sentence handed down in 2020 for a series of chilling weapons offences. The notorious criminal had a meltdown at Cranogue Road, Ballymun, on March 11, 2019 while armed with a machine gun capable of firing 660 rounds a minute and a lethal grenade with a 60ft kill range in his pocket. Three unarmed gardai confronted Bottler in the bathroom of a family home where he had hidden with his weapons. The officers ended up wrestling in the bath with the paranoid thug as five shots from the powerful 9mm Makarov PM63 RAK submachine gun were discharged and an unpinned Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade rolled around the floor. Devoy was on the run from multiple gangland enemies at the time and was paranoid he would be killed. He had been warned by gardai of four separate death threats against him and had survived a botched hit 18 months earlier that left his sister Antoinette Corbally- Devoy, a 48-year-old mother of six, and his friend Clinton Shannon (30) dead in his place. A fourth high profile inmate present for the New Years party was convicted killer Sean Connolly. Connolly is serving a life sentence for the Real IRA murder of veteran criminal Eamon Kelly in Killester on December 4, 2012. Connolly was arrested a short time after he shot Kelly four times in the back as he returned home from Ladbrokes betting shop. Hooch A source said prison officers in Portlaoise believe it is likely the inmates had consumed home made hooch manufactured by a Polish contingent of inmates in the jail. Prisoners typically make alcohol in their cells by fermenting large amounts of sugary fruit obtained from the canteen or prison shop. Yeast is added using bread or already rotten fruit before the mixture is placed by a heat source typically a radiator or kettle for several days. However, it has not yet been ruled out that a higher quality of alcohol may also have been smuggled into the prison from the outside. The Sunday World revealed previously how the supply of contraband, including drugs and phones, into the prison is allegedly controlled by senior Kinahan cartel inmates, including Peadar Keating, and a dissident inmate. The main contraband route into the prison is believed to be through the prison kitchen. In June last year, Keating was sacked from his job in the prison kitchen as part of a bid to limit the supply. Described in court as a senior member of the cartel, Keating assumed the mantle of leader of the Kinahan inmates on C-Block after his arrival in the prison. He is serving an 11-year stretch after admitting in July 2020 to directing the activities of a criminal gang involved in the failed attempt on Hutch associate James Mago Gately in 2017. Notorious murderer is allegedly caught in possession of a Taser An Irishman who murdered a businessman and shot a woman through the head with a crossbow in Australia more than 25 years ago is due before a court in two weeks time on. Ex-middle class professional Offer is regarded as one of Australias most infamous killers after he embarked on a shocking crime spree. Dubliner Paul Offer (58) was only released from prison on parole last October after serving 25 years of a 34-year sentence for murder, attempted murder and soliciting to murder three witnesses. The Daily Telegraph in Australia have reported that he was charged with possessing or using a prohibited weapon and using a prohibited weapon contrary to a prohibited order. He appeared via video-link at Paramatta Local Court last Friday which heard his bail had been revoked. Dubliner Paul Offer (58) was only released from prison on parole last October after serving 25 years of a 34-year sentence for murder, attempted murder and soliciting to murder three witnesses. He has pleaded not guilty and will appear in court again on January 25. In a series of crimes that shocked Australia in 1997, the engineer who moved to the country from Ireland a few years earlier, set out to have several people who were due to testify against him in an insurance fraud case murdered. He had fraudulently claimed AUS$200,000 from an insurance company for a boat and trailer which he falsely claimed he had bought and had been stolen. Insurance investigators rumbled his scheme and he was charged with fraud. After he was served with the book of evidence Offer decided to track down a number of witnesses who were due to testify against him and kill them one by one. He first targeted his former friend Maher Gerges who was due to give evidence against him. He called to Mr Gergess Sydney home on February 15, 1997, with a crossbow and wearing a balaclava ready to murder his former pal. However, Mr Gerges wife, Nagwa, answered the door but Offer opened fire anyway, shooting her in the head before fleeing the scene Her husband pulled the bolt, which was not barbed, from her head in a move doctors said that saved her life. Nagwa spent 34 days in a coma and was left with brain damage and paralysis down her right side. Speaking afterwards about her ordeal she said: I remember going from upstairs to downstairs, there was knocking, [at the door] three small knocks. I thought it was my husbands brother coming back I saw his eyes, thats it, Her husband said: I came out of the bathroom and there is my wife with an arrow sticking out of her head and she is dying in front of me. I didnt know what I was doing, I just took the arrow out. Offer then tried to frame innocent Gerges for the attack by planting crossbow bolts at a business linked to his brother, making an anonymous call to cops but the investigating officers were rightly suspicious. Offer moved to a caravan park in Brisbane with his wife and child as he continued to plot to murder witnesses. His next target was Ronald Mills who had shown Offer the boat that he used to set up the insurance scam. He didnt know where Mills lived but rang his work phone a number of times unsuccessfully using his own mobile phone. He then got his targets home phone number and called the number several times. On September 27, 1997, he shot Mr Mills with a 9mm Luger fitted with a silencer when he answered the door to his home in Sydney. Offer also solicited a pal, Alan Seaton, to kill Mr Mills, Mr Gerges and Mark Chapman who was also due to give evidence in the trial. Seaton thought Offer was joking about the hits and subsequently co-operated with cops. Police raided Offers motorhome and found a treasure trove of evidence including the firearm and silencer used for the hit on Mr Mills, 200 rounds of ammo, balaclavas as well as addresses, pictures and photos of his targets and their families. He initially denied involvement but pleaded guilty as his trial got underway in 2000. He was jailed for 34 years but was eligible for to apply for parole after 21 and was eventually released last year after 25 years. Bizarrely, even after he was convicted, Offer asked another inmate if he could get someone to burn down Mr Gergess home and solicited another to try to kill Seaton. Offers wife and child returned to Ireland after his arrest and Offer tried unsuccessfully to be allowed serve his sentence in an Irish prison so he could be closer to family. Australian media reported that Offer is now back behind bars after he was charged with possessing a Taser in Surry Hills in Sydney on Thursday. The honest beauty column Theres nothing like the Christmas festivities to give your skin a beating. Too much alcohol and the occassional blizzard equals parched, dehydrated skin. To keep flaky, blemish-prone skin at bay, now is the time to lockdown your skins moisturiser barrier and your nighttime regime pronto. . Seabody Hydrogel Mask Cleanser, 40 ANOTHER utterly fabulous Irish brand, this luxurious ultra-nourishing cleansing gel is enriched with the most incredible list of skin-loving ingredients. Apply with dry hands and massage into the face and neck, add a little water to activate the transition to a silky milk, and allow to penetrate and nourish for 10-15 minutes for beautifully supple skin. . Skin Formulas Day Cream SPF50, 35 IVE lots of gra for this Irish skincare brand, not least because it has been created by an aesthetician with 19 years of experience in her field. Your skin may be screaming for a reset, so lean into this results-driven brand and watch the magic unfold. Non-comedogenic and infused with pure lavender essential oil, this daily moisturiser had me at hello. Instead of feeling heavy on the skin, it is instantly absorbed for a lightweight, satin-like finish. Its also supercharged with antioxidants, while the broad-spectrum SPF shields the skin from harmful UVA/UVB and blue light exposure, so you can scroll away to your hearts content. . Skin Theory Vitamin C Night Cream, 69.95 IF your skin is feeling like sandpaper, now is the time to look to your nighttime regime. Sleeping hours mean you can opt for an ultra-rich cream and this is my pick of the bunch. Containing two forms of vitamin C to repair dry and compromised skin, the advanced peptides stimulate collagen synthesis and encourage cell renewal, all while you snooze. Think of it as a superstar product that reduces all forms of pigmentation and targets wrinkles. Get it in the bag now. . Revive Active Beauty Complex, 59.95 JANUARY can dull your sparkle at the best of times. But if youre looking to glow from the inside out, heres how to up your supplement game. I love Irish brand Revive, and this Beauty Complex contains eight active ingredients to support your skin, hair and nails so youll look and feel your best in 2023. . Kiehls Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream, 40 THE ravages of sub-zero temperatures means seriously compromised skin. If you are suffering with irritated, red splotchy skin, this formula includes colloidal oatmeal and beta-glucan to provide instant relief and moisture barrier repair. It is the perfect targeted treatment for soothing distressed and sensitive skin. . Haumea Light Therapy Device, 149.99 AS non-invasive skin treatments go, this is the one. Treating acne, inflammation, uneven skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles, this treatment works by sending light waves deep into the skins layers. With no UV rays or downtime, it is the perfect way to treat skin concerns from the comfort of your own home. . Charlotte Tilbury Unisex Healthy Glow, 42 CHARLOTTE describes this tinted moisturiser as summer in a bottle all year round, so sign me up. Perfect for pasty skin, sharing is caring so this skin brightener can be enjoyed by the guy or gal in your life too. Promising a radiant glow year round, a blend of natural tan pigments means instant sun-kissed skin. Wear alone or under makeup, and stay flawless. With a cheery atmosphere and deliciously filling breakfasts, this Cork cafe is guaranteed to get any day off to a tasty start, writes Grub Spy Alan Kelly When I was a lad back in the day, breakfast was nothing more than a compulsory act you did every weekday morning like pulling on your trousers or pretending to be sick to dodge school. It was a private family affair, consumed in irritable silence and regularly involved bowls of lumpy porridge made with water, or worse still, a bowl of god-awful Ready Brek. 12 TABLES Tramway House, Douglas East, Cork Four stars Food: 24; Drinks: 6.40 Either way, it was scarfed down your gullet and then you were out the door before 8.30am come hail, rain or sunshine. Somehow, during the 80s, a new kind of breakfast crept into Ireland. All of a sudden, it started to get sexy. I reckon it was all that Dallasand Dynasty nonsense giving us strange notions about orange juice and fancy stuff like yoghurts, pop-tarts and cappuccinos, if you dont mind. Wed been hoodwinked in a good way. Now here we are in the 2020s, escaping from the kitchen to meet up in cafes for working brekkies with cinnamon buns, huevos rancheros, bespoke granola and delectable French patisseries. Suddenly fantastic coffee shops are everywhere too, pretty much on every street corner. And who doesnt love having a ball in a breakfast fantasy land? Another of the tasty specials at 12 Tables Although that can change on a whim, most of us have our favourite breakfast venue. My latest favourite is 12 Tables in Douglas. Its big, friendly and pleasantly filled with cheery, breakfasty chatter, aromas of freshly brewed coffee and calming music. Today, the Boss goes for her favourite: the Sir Henry (named after an expired Cork nightclub). I mean, its a classic: two flawlessly poached free-range eggs, crushed avocado on a toasted muffin, dressed leaves and baby tomatoes. Except for an isolated blip of ice-cold avocado, which almost ruins the warm eggs and warm muffin (watch that in future, guys), it is prettily presented and verging close to gorgeous. My choice, called the Lionheart, is a proper start-the-day filler: another two flawlessly poached eggs, crispy grilled streaky rashers, a delish pork sausage, grilled black pudding and a bunch of fried wafer-thin sliced spuds. With sourdough toast and cherry tomatoes, its an outstanding feast. OK, in some ways it resembles a good auld gut-buster fry-up. But where it matters taste and quality it is quite a distance away. On other visits, weve sampled pancakes and omelettes, and Im happy to report that they too are worth making a fuss about. Food fads may come and go, but Im guessing our top-quality all-day breakfast gaffs are here to stay. Brunch and dinners too often require planning and shopping and bloody hard work. Whereas heading out for a brekkie means no starters, desserts, expensive wines or taxis to worry about. 12 Tables secret weapon is making the brekkie experience utterly relaxing and enjoyable its like simplicity and calmness by the spoonful. The Yanks and the Aussies may well have invented going out for kick-ass breakfasts, but as were sitting here in Douglas, happy and full, scanning our emails, and preparing for the Christmas shopping assault course, all is well with our little corner of the world. Lets hope it stays that way. Had Benedict not resigned he and his clerical clique would have excommunicated me Much has been written this week about Pope Benedict. In the past, it was customary not to speak ill of the dead. I respect that custom, yet it is also necessary to tell the truth or at least not to tell lies. I need to be honest with you the reader here. It was during the reign of Benedict that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith attempted to silence me (and four other Irish priests, all of whom were members of the Religious Orders). I dont know if Benedict ordered the witch hunt or whether it was carried out by his clerical minions. It doesnt matter because it was Vatican Policy anyway. What I can say is that it was a horrible experience which I have thankfully left behind me now. I carry no grudge against Benedict. He has now met a more merciful God than the one he sometimes preached. There are opposing opinions about Benedict as there are about all leaders. One sees him as the one who restored orthodoxy to the Catholic Church; the other view is that he insisted on orthodoxy at the expense of Pastoral compassion. Both judgements are partly true. No human is perfect; we all make mistakes whether we admit it or not. As a young theologian, Ratzinger (who later became Pope Benedict) advised German bishops to promote reform at the Second Vatican Council. He wrote speeches for German Bishops severely criticizing the Holy Office, the Vatican department responsible for defending the faith. He said its methods of silencing prominent theologians prior to the Second Vatican Council was "a source of scandal to the world." Later as a Cardinal, he headed the Holy Office and sadly carried out a purge of theologians he disagreed with. It is clear that Benedict sacrificed his life as a professional theologian to answer the call of Pope John Paul II. He became the voice of repression on behalf of Pope John Paul II. He also sacrificed a life of scholarly retirement when he was elected Pope at the age of 78. During his life, he changed from being a brave progressive theologian in his youth to becoming, quite early on in his life, the voice of Conservatism. Ratzinger abandoned teaching at the Liberal Tubingen University for the more conservative University of Regensburg. He admitted he couldnt cope with students who continually challenged him. Nor could he accept the rough and tumble of academic debate. He was the expert who knew best. There was a Jesuit priest who brought a group of Americans to meet Benedict at a papal audience and introduced the pope as "my friend." The pope corrected him: "You were my student, not my friend." I have long held that the suppression and the secrecy which existed during the papacies of John Paul and Benedict were disastrous for the church. It is arguable that we will never fully recover from them. We needed the freedom to find new ways to explain faith to people in the 21st century. The window of opportunity was small and we missed it. Yet it must also be said that whatever his reasons for resigning from the papacy, it was both the most courageous and the most correct decision. He was open at that time to the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit and was brave enough to follow it through. It will be his greatest contribution, making it possible for popes to resign in the future. What was once unthinkable, is now acceptable. I dont doubt that Benedict was a humble man who wanted what was best for the church. He was humble enough to recognise that the Holy Spirit would guide the church without him. Benedict got to know that clerical politics at its worst conspired to elect him Pope and had become an unmanageable evil within the Church. His legacy is a mixed bag. Few priests or interested lay people will forget how he made liturgy virtually irrelevant when he ignored the advice of translation experts, preferring instead literal translations which simply cannot be meaningfully read out loud. On the other hand, Benedict did advance the church in its handling of clerical sex abuse. He gathered relevant details of abuse from Bishops all over the world and eventually advised them to hand over all investigations to the civil authorities. Hundreds of abusive priests were dismissed. He advised John Paul II to dismiss Fr Marcial Maciel Degollado, a serial child abuser and rapist who founded and led the rich Legionaries of Christ Order. John Paul refused. Less than a year after he became Pope Benedict dismissed Degollado and investigated the whole Order. The details of the mounting toll of abuse shocked and troubled him. He could and did spell out the damage this would do to the Churchs credibility. He pointed an accusing finger at various hierarchies, including Ireland. Yet he failed to accept that Rome was ultimately responsible for this systemic failure. I have no doubt that I was censured because I had the audacity to highlight The Vaticans failure to protect children. I was just one of many who clearly saw the Churchs willingness to sacrifice innocent children simply to preserve the Vaticans reputation. Priests, Bishops, Cardinals and Popes will never be forgiven for what they did to children and to Christs good name. Nor should we be forgiven. Mad as it seems, it was a photocopy of my article in the Sunday World which was used to condemn me. I now realise that had Benedict not resigned he and his clerical clique would have excommunicated me. Benedict, as a Bishop, Cardinal and Pope falsely exalted the position of Catholic priests, holding them to be above the lay faithful. If you are one of the many believers who suffer from young(ish), clerical dictators, in your area, you know the damage this false view of priesthood perpetuates. It has led to a general malaise in a Church which seems to have disengaged from the real world. Just before his resignation, Benedict gave us an insight into his own frame of mind. He said the papacy was a great weight on his shoulders. I felt like St Peter and the Apostles in the boat in the Sea of GalileeThe Lord has given us many days of sunshine and a light breeze, the days when fishing is plentiful. But there were also times when the water was roughand the Lord seemed to be sleeping. I like the verdict of Sister Sharon Holland an American Canon Lawyer who worked with Benedict in the Vatican. The generosity, intelligence and integrity of Pope Benedict were crowned by his last papal act of courage and humility, she said. His resignation. The fact her last word was Papa haunts me every second, every day Papa, four-year-old Ahana Singh whispered, barely able to speak. Her father Varun placed her head on his shoulder, the side of his face pressed against hers. Whats wrong? he asked, rubbing her back. Whats wrong, Ahana? But her body was limp and she was fading away. He held her in their flat in Killester, Dublin, on that Saturday last month a place they were getting used to calling home, having arrived from India just weeks before. Come on Ahana, tell Papa what is wrong, he said, as her mother Nalini looked on in despair. Then she started to fall unconscious. She was bleeding from the nose and mouth on my arm. There was a click, click, clicking noise and that was it she was gone. The fact her last word was Papa haunts me every second of every day, he now recalls. It was 4.10pm on December 3. Hours earlier, at around 5am, Ahana returned home from Temple Street Childrens Hospital after her parents were told she had a chest infection. Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) said it cannot comment on individual cases, but has confirmed it is reviewing the care she received. In reality, Ahana had bacterial infection Strep A and it was killing her. Mrs Singh performed CPR, but Ahana was not responsive. It was hard as a mother for me to do that. I sent Varun out of the room. I thought I could break down at this point or I can have one last shot to save my daughters life, she says. I dont know where the courage came from but I performed that CPR for 20 minutes. When the paramedics arrived they told us there was nothing they could do. I am a health and safety officer, but the fact is I could not save my own daughters life. Ahana Singh Ahana, who had dreamed of living in Dublin and watched YouTube videos of the city on her fathers phone, was dead exactly two months after arriving in Ireland. She died in front of her parents two weeks before her fifth birthday. It happened so quickly and within 10 to 15 minutes she became very ill, Nalini says. We were sure it was nothing serious, that it was just flu. It never crossed our minds that it was something that was going to take her life. I told her: We will decorate the Christmas tree, Ahanas father says. Before that day, I told her it will be fine, it was to be her birthday soon. She was saying: Yes Papa, yes Papa, it will be fine. Soon after her death, gardai arrived and protocol dictated that the familys home be sealed off. Mr and Mrs Singh were put up in a hotel for the night. Their daughters body was taken away for investigations, as officers kept an open mind as to the circumstances of her death. It would be two days before her parents got to see her again. She had so much faith in both of us that we were going to make things OK. When she was dead we couldnt do anything. We couldnt even hold her, Nalini says. The hotel they had to stay in that night was on the beach. Ahana always wanted to visit a beach. They show me a video on their phone of a bird that landed on the window ledge of their room the next morning. They felt it was a sign. In the video, their cries of grief can be heard. Please stay strong, Ahanas mother calls. Please flap your wings if you are happy. And the bird did. Thank you very much, thank you very much, Nalini cries. That gives us some strength, Mrs Singh says, desperate to cling to anything that can bring them comfort as they try to make sense of their loss. That previous Monday, Ahana had started coughing once every two hours. Her parents put it down to a consequence of the flu season. But as a precaution, they began the process of trying to get registered for a GP but without success. We were waiting for the PPS number and all those things to arrive. When we called some of the GP surgeries we were told they were not taking any new patients, they were full, Mr Singh says. The couple did not feel it was something to worry about at that point and Ahana went to school. She had started at St Brigids Girls NS just three weeks previously. But then, on Thursday, she developed a fever and a high temperature. The next day she started complaining about some pain around her neck. That was the first time she had complained about any pain around the neck. She never complained about anything. Unable to access a doctor, Mrs Singh found a virtual GP who told her that you might want to check for meningitis, so she immediately called a taxi to bring them to Temple Street. Ahana vomited in the cab. I was shocked. That was the first time she vomited since birth. In the hospital, she vomited in the hallway and had become very drowsy. While Ahana sat on her mothers lap, her father had to stay outside the emergency room: only one parent was allowed in. All the chairs were occupied, as were the benches. With nowhere to sit, Varun was on his feet for almost six hours, forced to rely on texts from his wife for news of their daughters condition. Inside triage, a nurse gave Mrs Singh two bottles of water to feed a dehydrated Ahana. In India, they put on you on a drip if you are dehydrated, she says. Sometimes you need that IV drip to bring you to normal. I was hoping that maybe to remove the excess dehydration they would give her a drip or something. But they were asking me to force the fluids down her throat. CHI declined to comment on this. It was six hours before Ahana was seen by a doctor. Please ask them to give her some antibiotics or something, Mr Singh texted his wife at around midnight, standing yards away. It must be some sort of infection this is not normal. They think its cold and flu she is dehydrated. They have not mentioned any need for antibiotics, she replied. She recalls a staff member saying to her: Welcome to Ireland. Varun expresses his misgivings about that period in the hospital. They had not performed any tests, any X-rays or any blood tests, he says. Nalini says her daughter was given medicine to stop the vomiting and was told it would get better. She says she felt assured that it was nothing that required an urgent treatment. What could go wrong? Why was she bleeding? We just know [now] it was Strep A but how did it happen and why? Maybe we should have protested more, maybe if she had got an antibiotic things would have been different. In response, a spokeswoman for Childrens Health Ireland said it offered its sincere condolences to the Singh family on the passing of their beloved Ahana. The death of a child is a heart-breaking event for family, friends and loved ones. When a child passes away in, or having been linked to one of our hospitals, the family receive bereavement support from specialist multi-disciplinary teams in Childrens Health Ireland. Families are also linked to bereavement support in the community. Childrens Health Ireland cannot comment on individual cases. When a patient or family makes personal information public, this does not relieve the hospital/CHI of its duty to preserve/uphold patient confidentiality at all times. However, the spokeswoman added: A review is under way and CHI is in direct contact with and supporting the family at this time. Nalini says they feel a sense of guilt that we cannot overcome. I should have protected my daughter, her husband says. If we hadnt come here it would not have happened. Nalini says she is no longer able to find the purpose for her life. We dont know how to start the day, we dont know how to end it. I have lost faith in everything, Ahanas father says. When she died I said to her I will keep us happy, but I dont know how to be happy. She made us happy. I am not able to laugh, I only cry. When Ahana lay in the morgue, her father spent half an hour singing nursery rhymes to her. We dreamed about her one day getting married and leaving us, but we never thought she would be leaving us in a coffin to go to a cemetery, he says. I saw her in the morgue, but I could only stay for 10 minutes, Nalini says. I thought she was very cold. I feel her more in my heart than in that body. When I touched her I couldnt get the warmth that I got when I used to hug her. That was not the feeling I wanted to keep for the rest of my life. The little girls father often thinks of the day she was born and he held her for the first time December 15, 2017 at Sahara Hospital, in Lucknow, India. I cannot explain that feeling, he smiles. Premature by a few weeks, Ahana came into this world early and left early, says her mother. I feel as if she knew she had less time with us and was making the most of it. She says she has not just lost a daughter, but her best friend. When I had Ahana I felt I had a friend for life. I used to think about mother and daughter going shopping, I thought about those days. Her education, how she would be as an individual, because she was so talented in music, dance, art. Instead, she had to plan her funeral thousands of miles away from home. Worse again, she had to do this on her own. Varun soon fell ill with Strep A and he missed both the service and burial. I told the doctors I have said my goodbyes, he said. I said: You can save my life for my wife I need to be here for her. Mr Singh, who works for an IT company, got an opportunity to move to Ireland for work. He did it for Ahana, so she would grow up and have lots of opportunities. She was the one who was most excited about the move, he says. Ahana Singh They show me another video, of Ahana dancing to busker Sina Dhal singing The Fields of Athenry in Grafton Street, Dublin. Thats Ahana in the blue jacket, smiles Nalini. The crowd were cheering her. Give it up for Ahana! Dhal says in the video. Now, her mother watches her air-kissing everyone as if she was some celebrity. In the days that followed Ahanas death, Dhal sent a video message and a version of that song, saying: Ahana, everyone you have touched you filled with love, happiness and with light. She made a mark on her classmates, too. After her death, a rainbow appeared in the sky outside her former classroom at St Brigids. Her teacher told her parents that the children gazed out and shouted in unison, Thats Ahana, thats Ahana. We once asked her if she had friends in school. She said: I have 100 friends. Sitting on the fireplace of their flat is a picture of a heart in red and pink painted using the thumbprints of all her friends. The caption reads Beautiful Ahana, from your 100 friends. Days before she died, Ahana was given homework to do in which she was asked to draw a picture of someone she would miss if they died. She drew me, dad and herself, Nalini says, but she wrote her name. At home, Amazons Alexa was her best friend and her favourite song was Legends Never Die. She was looking forward to her birthday. She had a party theme chosen: Princesses and Barbies. She had selected a cake and asked her mother that all her friends attend. She always wanted to see snow and on the day of her burial, it snowed. We had planned on taking her back home. Then Varun fell sick, so we had to bury her in Ireland. I think it is what she wanted, Nalini says. Ahana Singh rests at Dublins Glasnevin Cemetery wearing a Happy Birthday sash and a Birthday Girl badge. Some of her mothers eyeshadow, with her little fingerprint pressed in the powder, sits inside the coffin, along with the roller skates and Barbie she wanted for her birthday. She is dressed in the pink princess dress that she never got to see. Her parents visit Ahanas grave every few days. Now that their daughters final resting place is here they say they cannot return to India. Ahana decided that we must stay, her mother says. Photo for illustration. (Source: AFP/VNA) The eruption happened in the morning, and ash accompanied by sand has the potential to hit the surrounding area, according to Indonesias Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation. Mount Marapi, 2,891m above sea level, has been active since December 25, 2022. It is currently in the second level of danger status. Local authorities have urged tourists not to be within a radius of 3km from its crater. Indonesia straddles the Pacific Ring of Fire, where volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur frequently. With 142 volcanoes, it now has the biggest number of people residing near volcanoes in the world, with 8.6 million within a radius of 10km from these mountains./. Gardai said that the victim has passed away in Cork University Hospital A post mortem is to be carried out tomorrow on the body of a man who died in hospital more than a week after he was assaulted in Carrigaline, Co Cork. The man, in his 20s, was the victim of what gardai called a serious assault at Glenwood Estate on Wednesday evening, December 28. They said that the victim of this assault has passed away in Cork University Hospital and a State post mortem is scheduled to take place tomorrow, Monday, January 9. Two males (aged late teens) have been arrested in relation to this incident and charged, gardai added. Both have appeared separately before Mallow District Court on Friday, 30th December 2022 and Cork District Court on Sunday, 1st January 2023. Gardai are continuing to appeal to any persons who may have witnessed this incident to contact them. Any person who was in the vicinity of Glenwood Estate, Carrigaline, between 5pm and 5.45pm on Wednesday, 28th December 2022, particularly any road users who may have camera footage (including dash cam) of the incident, is asked to contact investigating gardai. Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to contact Togher Garda Station on 021 494 7120, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Over 200 people gathered at a vigil to pay tribute to a Brazilian woman found strangled in a Cork flat as mourners were told her heart was as beautiful as she was strikingly pretty. A special vigil to honour the memory of Bruna Fonseca (28) was staged at The Lough the lakeside area in Cork that Bruna had fallen in love with after moving to Ireland from her native Brazil just last September. Tanaiste Micheal Martin attended the Sunday morning vigil and, after sympathising with Bruna's family and friends on their tragic loss, warned that Ireland must have zero tolerance towards such violence. "We have to call out violence against women," Mr Martin said. "We must create a culture in society where there is zero tolerance towards misogyny, violence towards women - in fact (towards) violence in general." Mr Martin said the location for the vigil was fitting. Tanaiste Micheal Martin attending the vigil in Cork today. (Provision Photography) "This is one of the most iconic locations in our city and Bruna took The Lough to her heart." He said the Government was doing everything possible to assist the family with the repatriation of Bruna's remains back to her family in Brazil. Mourners fought back tears amid a sea of white flowers and candles aimed at honouring the memory of the Brazilian librarian. The special vigil was organised by Ms Fonseca's friends and family to highlight community horror at the discovery of her beaten and strangled remains in a city centre flat on New Year's Day. Amongst those at the vigil were Bruna's cousin, Marcela Fonseca, her niece, Maria Fonseca, and her close friend, Julina Souza. Marcela said that Bruna loved The Lough above almost anywhere else in Cork - and adored being able to walk around the lake, admire the wildlife and go for a coffee in the local cafes. "We just want to say thank you very much for everyone for coming here today to help us," Marcela said. "It was so good to see so many people here trying to keep us strong. We need to stay strong. We are far from home but we feel at home." Friends of Bruna's wore T-shirts emblazoned with her photo and messages of support. The vigil was organised by Pedro Barroso, Gabriella Lobianco and Alina Cologneso. Tributes were paid to Bruna in both English and Portuguese. Bruna's friend, Maria, said the young woman had a heart of pure gold. "Bruna was like a sunny day in the rainy season. She would welcome you with open arms - her laugh was contagious. There was nothing in the world that would make her give up. Her dreams were just too big." "The world was her home she loved to live. Her heart was as gorgeous as her physical beauty. She was unforgettable." Prayers were offered at the vigil not only for Bruna but for all victims of violence, especially women. A special vigil to honour the memory of Bruna Fonseca was held today in Cork (Photo: Provision Photography) Women's groups, politicians, anti-violence campaigners and members of Cork's tightknit Brazilian community were strongly represented at The Lough event. The body of Ms Fonseca was released from Cork morgue to her heartbroken family last week just 48 hours after a fundraising appeal for her funeral costs soared to almost 55,000, some 25,000 more than its target. The GoFundMe appeal was launched by friends and family of Ms Fonseca to ensure the body of the 28 year old university graduate can be flown back to her native Brazil home for Requiem Mass and burial. Maria Luiza Fonseca launched the appeal with the aim of raising 30,000 but was astounded when it soared to almost 55,000. Ms Fonseca, who was from Formiga in Brazil, travelled to Ireland last year for work. She was employed by BidVest-Noonan Contractor Cleaners. She had graduated from university in Brazil and had worked for a time as a librarian before deciding to relocate to Ireland last September. Her work in Cork included duties at the Mercy University Hospital (MUH) which is located less than 100 metres from where her body was found at 6.30am on New Year's Day. Gardai and paramedics attended the Liberty Street flat at 6.30am on New Year's Day but efforts to revive the young woman failed and she was pronounced dead at the scene. A post mortem examination was conducted at Cork University Hospital (CUH) by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster on Sunday afternoon. Gardai have withheld the post mortem findings for operational reasons. However, it confirmed that Ms Fonseca met a violent death. Her body was found in an upstairs flat at Liberty Street in Cork city centre just a couple of hours after she had gone out with friends to celebrate New Year's Eve. The flat involved is located just 100 metres from the Bridewell Garda Station and around the corner from Cork Courthouse on Washington Street. Ms Fonseca's body was found on a bed in an upstairs bedroom at the flat which is located above Picasso's hair salon. Gardai have appointed a family liaison officer to assist her family in Brazil. The garda investigation includes an analysis of hours of CCTV footage from premises around Cork city centre, door-to-door inquiries and exhaustive forensic tests at the Liberty Street flat where Ms Fonseca's body was discovered. Social media postings are also set to play a critical role in the garda investigation in terms of tracking Ms Fonseca's last known movements. In a tribute, both MUH and Bidvest Noonan hailed Ms Fonseca as a diligent worker - and said they were "saddened and shocked" at her death. "Even though she was only working for a short time for the company at the hospital she was considered a hard and diligent worker and an esteemed colleague. We extend our deepest condolences to her friends in Cork, and her family and friends in Brazil. May she rest in peace." Ms Fonseca's former partner, Miller Pacheco (29), was charged with her murder before a special sitting of Cork District Court on Monday. Pacheco - who had an address at Liberty Street in Cork - was remanded in custody to appear again before Cork District Court by video link on January 9. He did not speak during the brief court hearing. Wooden boards were erected across crenels in the centuries-old monument the citys main tourist attraction Councillors have said work on Derry Walls which has seen many wooden boards inserted should be completed expeditiously as it looks like an eyesore at a time when more tourists are due to arrive. However, the Department for Communities (DfC) which manages the walls said work is not expected to be finished until spring 2023. Wooden boards were erected across crenels in the centuries-old monument the citys main tourist attraction. The unsightly boards are visible from streets surrounding the 400-year-old structure and to the many tourists circling it daily. Members of the public appeared oblivious as to why the boards were put up. People said it looked shocking and like the city was preparing for an invasion. Retired SDLP politician Pat Ramsey shared images on social media and said visitors to the city had raised the issue with him, adding that many people were angered and appalled. The boards which have been placed across the crenels along a section of Derrys historic walls. Picture Martin McKeown. Derry is the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples of Walled Cities in Europe. The Walls were built during the period 1613-1618 by The Honourable the Irish Society, as defences for early seventeenth century settlers from England and Scotland. Sections of security fencing were removed from the walls in December, which was seen as a positive step forward. The Department of Justice (DoJ) initiated a partial interface removal scheme. During the height of the Troubles, large parts of the walls were inaccessible as a result of being closed off by screens, gates and fences erected at interface areas by the security forces. The recently removed fencing was in front of crenels which did not have appropriate health and safety bars in place. However, the wooden panels stretch beyond that specific area. UUP councillor Darren Guy said he was told the work would take no longer than four to six weeks. We would want this work to be done within a month because more tourists are coming to visit the city in February and March. They would all rather see the walls in their full glory. It is one of the biggest tourist attractions we have. The boards which have been placed across the crenels along a section of Derrys historic walls. Picture Martin McKeown. Meanwhile, People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin acknowledged that health and safety has to be taken seriously and removing security fencing is a positive move. He added: At the moment it looks like an eyesore. It is already clear people feel the department should be dealing with it as quickly as possible. The department should provide a more definite date. For the aesthetic value of the walls, it is important that we see the city represented in the best possible light, and the department should be cognisant of that. DfC said timber barriers have been temporarily inserted into openings at Derrys Walls as a health and safety measure, following recent removal of security fencing, to mitigate any potential fall risks. Historic Environment Division in the Department for Communities, who manage the walls as a State Care Monument, are currently manufacturing sympathetic permanent barriers which will replace these temporary fixings, a spokesperson added. It is anticipated the permanent barriers will be in place by spring 2023. Marie Cassidy will bring a whole new meaning to murder on the dance floor Forensic pathologist Marie Cassidy has revealed that families of victims of violent crimes she has investigated have told her they are rooting for her on Dancing With The Stars. The Scottish doctor will bring a whole new meaning to murder on the dance floor when she treads the boards tonight to compete for the glitterball on the first show of the new RTE series. Marie working at a crime scene Press 22 The day before yesterday I was going down to a fitting and this woman stopped me in the street and said oh lovely to meet you Marie Cassidy, you did the inquest on my brother, his wife., recalls the 67-year-old. She went into this whole story - she was with this other woman and she said, we get great closure from that...and then she said, well well be voting for you on Sunday. Marie, who is now retired as State pathologist, believes the public will see a whole new version of her to the one of her in a white hazmat outfit visiting crime scenes or turning up at court in business attire to give evidence. There is the flip side. I think a lot of people can be critical, but most people think what you do doesnt define who you are, and you can add another side to your personality, she points out. Having been away from Ireland for a little while, and I always forget, people just come up to you out of the blue. I was thinking somebody is going to ask me directions or something, and they say hello, heard youre doing Dancing With The Stars, were voting for you, Im like thats great, every little helps. Marie Cassidy Marie, who is a mother of two grown-up children and lives near London with her husband, admits she likes to switch off from serious stuff by watching nonsense TV. Im one of these people who lives in the moment, so I dont think too far ahead Ive learned that with my job, she stresses. Today is the most important day because you dont know if theres going to be a tomorrow. Im just going day to day, but now this is going to be on Sunday, and Im expected to be out there and performing. So yeah, the nerves are kicking in big style. I think for all of us now it is becoming real. Its such a complete contrast, because Ive spent most of my career with very serious, solemn stuff and you kind of live in that world and its quite difficult to escape from it. You cant be seen to be frivolous when youre dealing with very important matters, and theyre very important matters to families. So you cannot be seen to be taking things light heartedly, even though behind closed doors Im not a very serious person, she says. It was an opportunity, and you dont get opportunities like this very often, certainly not at my age anyway. And its an opportunity just to say, well look, that was then and this is now and now is an opportunity for me to go and enjoy a bit of life, and thats all Im doing. Marie adds that she is still kept busy with a backlog of cases. Even though Im retired Im still quite busy. Im back and forth with inquests and trials Im still doing stuff. Im still doing a bit of writing and all the rest of it. So I havent really stopped, she explains. Of course, then we had the pandemic which stopped everything; it stopped the whole world. I had intended to do a bit of travelling and now we are just getting back into it. Fit Id like to do more travelling. Otherwise Im just open to any opportunity that comes along and if its something Im fit enough to do, Ill have a go. Next week, Ive got a trial coming up in the criminal court and an inquest. These things go on forever, and particularly with the pandemic hitting the courts as well, a lot of the trials have been put back for a long time. Marie will be doing a jive tonight with her dance partner, Stephen Vincent. Its going better than I thought, she reveals. I just assumed theyd give me a waltz with a nice long dress and Stephen could just sort of wheel me about the place a bit. But as soon as everybody found out youre doing the jive!, I go yeah. What can I say, I give it my best and hope for the best, thats all I can do. Im just trying to stay alive for as long as possible. Opotiki District Council has recently sold a section on Bridge Street to government housing agency Kainga Ora. The 4042sq m property at 54 Bridge Street is to be developed into six two-bedroom homes this year. The council made the decision on May 31 to enter negotiations with Kainga Ora for the sale of the section. The decision was made during the in-committee section of the ordinary council meeting, which is not open to the public. Negotiations have recently been completed and no further details are available until the council resolves to release them to the public. This new sale follows the previous sale of a 5600sq m land parcel at the corner of Wellington and Union streets to Kainga Ora in August for $465,000. At that time the councils acting chief executive, Miles McConway, said the housing shortage was one of the biggest challenges facing the district and it was working with a range of agencies in a range of ways to provide short, medium and long-term solutions. This previously Opotiki District Council-owned empty section in Bridge St will soon have six new homes sited on it. Photo / Diane McCarthy. Kainga Ora is working in partnership with Opotiki College Trades Academy to build the six homes for the new site. The homes are being built at the college by academy students. Two of the homes currently under construction are expected to be relocated to the Bridge Street site early this year and a further four homes will be built and transported to the site by the end of this year. In a letter to residents in the neighbourhood, Kainga Ora Bay of Plenty senior stakeholder relationship manager Lisa MacKinnon said the houses would help meet the urgent need for more warm, dry and modern homes for whanau and tamariki in Opotiki. Kainga Ora will match these houses to individuals and whanau on the Ministry of Social Developments Housing Register with the highest priority for a home of that size and in that location, MacKinnon said. Kainga Ora work hard to ensure people are placed in homes that best meet their needs, to live well in their home and to thrive in their community. -Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air. The Egyptian cabinet said on Friday that EGP 3 billion had been allocated for the 100 Million Trees presidential initiative, which will establish more than 6,600 feddans of new forests and public parks across the country over the coming seven years. The cabinet said that the move will have many environmental, economic and social benefits, including the provision of a clean, healthy and safe environment for the Egyptian people. Investment in natural resources including fruit trees such as olives, or timber trees like mahogany and jatropha will have positive economic benefits. The initiative will double the per capita share of green space in Egypt as well as mitigate pollutants, fumes and dust, all of which will benefit public health. The ministries of local development and environment and the New Urban Communities Authority will be responsible for implementing the initiative in conjunction with non-governmental bodies. The Ministry of Local Development will plant 80 million trees, including 7.7 million in the first year. The Ministry of Environment will plant 13 million trees, including 1.3 million in the first year. The New Urban Communities Authority will plant seven million trees, including one million in the first year. The initiative is part of Egypts commitments, in the wake of hosting the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) currently underway in Sharm El-Sheikh, to increase green spaces and reduce greenhouse gases to combat climate change. This is in addition to the several regional international initiatives Egypt has launched during the summit to enhance adaptation and mitigation efforts. Locally, Egypt launched the 2050 National Strategy for Climate Change earlier this year, which outlines the country's plan to cut emissions while maintaining sustainable economic growth, promote renewable and alternative energy and upgrade its transportation services. Search Keywords: Short link: Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK A Lawton man is awaiting sentencing in federal court after pleading guilty to attempting sexual contact with a police officer he thought was a 14-year-old as well as tampering with a witness. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's justice minister on Wednesday unveiled the new government's overhaul of the judicial system that aims to weaken the country's Supreme Court as the top Israeli legal official opposes ex-con as minister Critics accused the government of declaring war against the legal system, saying the plan will upend Israel's system of checks and balances and undermine its democratic institutions by giving absolute power to the most right-wing coalition in the country's history. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a confidant of Netanyahu's and longtime critic of the Supreme Court, presented his plan a day before the justices are to debate a controversial new law passed by the government allowing a politician convicted of tax offenses to serve as a Cabinet minister. "The time has come to act," Levin said. The proposals call for a series of sweeping changes aimed at curbing the powers of the judiciary, including by allowing lawmakers to pass laws that the high court has struck down and effectively deemed unconstitutional. Levin laid out a law that would empower the countrys 120-seat parliament, or Knesset, to override Supreme Court decisions with a simple majority of 61 votes. Levin also proposed that politicians play a greater role in the appointment of Supreme Court judges and that ministers appoint their own legal advisers, instead of using independent professionals. The planned overhaul has already drawn fierce criticism from Israels attorney general and the Israeli opposition, though it is unclear whether they will be able to prevent the far-right government from racing forward. Yair Lapid, former Prime Minister and head of the opposition, said he will fight the changes "in every possible way and vowed to cancel them if he returns to power. "Those who carry out a unilateral coup in Israel need to know that we are not obligated to it in any way whatsoever," he said. If Levins proposed override law is passed, Netanyahus ultra-Orthodox and ultranationalist allies have said they hope to scrap Supreme Court rulings outlawing Israeli outposts on private Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. They would also seek to allow for the protracted detention of African asylum-seekers and make official the exclusion of the ultra-Orthodox from the countrys mandatory military service. In Israel, Supreme Court judges are appointed and dismissed by a committee made up of professionals, lawmakers and some justices. Levin wants to give lawmakers a majority in the committee, with most coming from the right-wing and religiously conservative ruling coalition. In a speech Wednesday ahead of Levin's announcement, Netanyahu appeared to back his justice minister by vowing to "implement reforms that will ensure the proper balance between the three branches of government." Since being indicted on corruption charges, Netanyahu has campaigned against the justice system. He denies all charges, saying he is the victim of a witch hunt orchestrated by a hostile media, police and prosecutors. Levin said his plan is "not connected in any way" to Netanyahu's trial. Just hours before Levin's speech, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, a prime target of the new government, declared her opposition to the ministerial appointment of one of Netanyahu's key coalition partners who has been convicted of tax offenses. On Thursday, the Supreme Court is expected to hear petitions against Aryeh Deri serving as minister. As part of negotiations to form the current government, Israel's parliament last month changed a law to allow someone convicted on probation to serve as a Cabinet minister. That paved the way for Aryeh Deri, the leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, to serve half a term as the minister of health and interior affairs, before becoming finance minister. He will also hold the post of deputy prime minister. Deri was convicted of tax fraud and given a suspended sentence last year. Good governance groups saw the legal maneuver as a green light for corruption by a government cavalierly changing laws for political expediency. Baharav-Miara made her standing clear in a note to the Supreme Court. She said the appointment "radically deviates from the sphere of reasonability." She has said she will not be defending the state in court against the appeals, because of her opposition. Search Keywords: Short link: The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government is little more than a week old but it's already giving the Biden administration headaches. Just days into its mandate, a controversial member of Netanyahu's right-wing Cabinet riled U.S. diplomats with a visit to a Jerusalem holy site that some belief may be harbinger of other contentious moves, including vast expansions of Jewish illegal settlement construction on land claimed by the Palestinians. And, Netanyahu's government adopted punitive measures against the Palestinians that run in direct opposition to several recent Biden moves to boost U.S.-Palestinian relations, including restoring assistance to the Palestinian Authority that had been cut during the Trump administration and allowing Palestinian officials to visit the United States. The new government is an unwelcome complication for a Biden national security team seeking to shift attention away from the Middle East and toward rivals like China and Russia. It also comes as Republicans take control of the House of Representatives and are eager to cast Biden as unfriendly to Israel ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Bracing for more turmoil, Biden is dispatching his national security adviser to Israel in mid-January in a bid to forestall potentially deepening rifts between his administration and its top Mideast partner. That visit by Jake Sullivan may be followed by other high-level trips to Israel, including one by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to administration officials. Their message goes beyond warnings about inflaming tensions with Palestinians: It's also about not cozying up with Russia, particularly now that Moscow is relying on Israel's main enemy, Iran, in its war on Ukraine; and not upsetting the delicate Middle East security balance. Since Netanyahu won hotly contested elections last year with huge support from the Israeli right, U.S. officials have sought to tamp down predictions of a collision course, saying they will judge his government on actions rather than personalities. Biden himself spoke of his years-long relationship with Netanyahu. ``I look forward to working with Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has been my friend for decades, to jointly address the many challenges and opportunities facing Israel and the Middle East region, including threats from Iran,'' Biden said when Netanyahu took office Dec. 29. Yet while Biden and Netanyahu have known each other for years, they are not close. Biden and former Obama administration officials who now work for Biden still harbor resentment toward the prime minister who, during his previous iteration as Israel's leader, sought to derail their signature foreign policy achievement: the Iran nuclear deal. Still, the administration is signaling it will engage with Netanyahu while avoiding more extreme members of his government. That approach wouldn't be unprecedented in the region: The U.S. deals with Lebanon's government while shunning members from the Hezbollah movement, a designated foreign terrorist organization that is nonetheless a domestic political power. But, it would be remarkable for the U.S. to take a similar approach with such a close ally. ``We will be dealing directly with Prime Minister Netanyahu,'' State Department spokesman Ned Price said this week when asked about possible contacts with Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's, whose visit to the site known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary prompted a major outcry. The inclusion of Ben-Gvir, a West Bank settler leader, and other extreme right-wing figures in Netanyahu's government who are hostile to the Palestinians and opposed to a two-state resolution has put Israel and the United States on opposite paths. On Thursday, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Robert Wood, at an emergency meeting of the Security Council called by Arab states to condemn Ben-Gvir's holy site visit, underscored Biden's firm support for ``the historic status quo,'' especially the ``Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount.'' Wood noted that Netanyahu had pledged to preserve the status quo - ``We expect the government of Israel to follow through on that commitment,'' he said - and stressed that the administration placed a priority on preserving the possibility of a two-state solution. But on Friday, Netanyahu's Security Cabinet approved a series of punitive steps against the Palestinian leadership in retaliation for the Palestinians pushing the U.N.'s highest judicial body to give an opinion on the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Those moves underscored the hardline approach to the Palestinians that Netanyahu's government has promised at a time of rising violence in the occupied territories. The Security Cabinet decided to withhold millions of dollars from the Palestinian Authority and transfer those funds to a compensation program for the families of Israeli victims of Palestinian militant attacks. And, it will deny benefits, including travel permits, to Palestinian officials who ``are leading the political and legal war against Israel.'' Meanwhile, Biden's administration is moving in a diametrically opposed direction. Since taking office, the administration has reversed the Trump ban on aid and provided more than $800 million in economic, development, security, and other assistance to the Palestinians and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. In the fall, the State Department obtained a Justice Department opinion that allows Palestinian officials to visit the United States and spend money in the U.S. despite laws barring such travel and transactions and a Supreme Court ruling that Congress has an enforceable role in the foreign policy process. The administration ``may reasonably assess that being prevented from hosting the PLO delegation in Washington would seriously impair the president's diplomatic efforts,'' the Justice Department said in a little-noticed Oct. 28th opinion. Then, exactly one week before Netanyahu took office in late December, the State Department imposed but immediately waived terrorism sanctions against the Palestinian leadership, saying engagement with the Palestinians is a critical U.S. national security interest. On Dec. 22, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman notified Congress that she had imposed travel bans on senior leaders of the Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization because they ``are not in compliance'' with requirements to tamp down and publicly condemn terrorist attacks against Israelis. But, in the same notification, the State Department said Sherman had waived the travel bans ``based on her determination that such a waiver is in the national security interests of the United States.'' ``An enduring and comprehensive peace between Israel and the Palestinians remains a longstanding goal of U.S. foreign policy,'' the department said. ``A blanket denial of visas to PLO members and PA officials, to include those whose travel to the United States to advance U.S. goals and objectives, is not consistent with the U.S. government's expressed willingness to partner with the PLO and PA leadership.'' he added. Despite a more-than-$3 billion annual assistance package to Israel and diplomatic backing in international forums, U.S. sway with Netanyahu appears limited. The Biden administration has not yet followed through on its pledge to re-open the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem, which had historically served as the main contact point with the Palestinians, and it has made no move to re-open the Palestinian embassy in Washington. Both facilities were shut down during the Trump administration. Alon Liel, a former director-general of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, said further U.S. rapprochement with Palestinians may be the only way to influence Netanyahu. ``If they really want to inflict pressure (on Israel), Biden tomorrow should say in the coming months, we will consider reopening the Palestinian embassy in Washington. Then they will see the earth-shaking here,'' Liel said. ``But there is no sign of that,'' he said. ``As long as they say, `We're worried about your democracy,' those words are meaningless because there were so many words. There's nothing behind the words.'' Search Keywords: Short link: A team of researchers from the University of Virginia, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison has made a breakthrough in the field of additive manufacturing that could have significant implications for industries such as aerospace, ScienceDaily reports. The team, led by Tao Sun of the University of Virginia, published a peer-reviewed paper in Science Magazine titled "Machine learning aided real-time detection of keyhole pore generation in laser powder bed fusion." The paper addresses the problem of detecting keyhole pores, a major defect in a common additive manufacturing technique called laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). What Is LPBF? Yes, 3D printing with metal is already here and it is not just a futuristic concept anymore. Laser powder bed fusion, or LPBF, is a widely used process for creating intricate metal objects through 3D printing. How does it work? A laser beam is used to melt metal powder in a bed, layer by layer, until the desired three-dimensional object is formed. It's a highly precise process that can yield complex geometries and designs. A Major Breakthrough AM tells us that LPBF helps manufacturers achieve near-net-shape metal parts more quickly than other techniques like forging or casting, but the process comes with a certain issue. Porosity defects remain a challenge for applications that require strong metal parts, such as aircraft wings. Keyhole pores, which are deep and narrow vapor depressions, can make the material more brittle and prone to cracking under environmental stress. Sun and his colleagues created a real-time detection system using operando synchrotron x-ray imaging, near-infrared imaging, and machine learning to capture the thermal signature associated with keyhole pore formation accurately. They also improved operando synchrotron x-ray imaging and identified two modes of keyhole oscillation in the process. Sun explains that the method utilizes operando synchrotron x-ray imaging, near-infrared imaging, and machine learning to capture the unique thermal signature associated with keyhole pore generation with sub-millisecond temporal resolution and a prediction rate of 100 percent. "Our findings not only advance additive manufacturing research, but they can also practically serve to expand the commercial use of LPBF for metal parts manufacturing," said Anthony Rollett, a materials science and engineering professor from Carnegie Mellon University. Read Also: European Union's Green Deal Sets Ambitious Goals for Climate Neutrality and Sustainable Investments Meanwhile, Sun emphasized that porosity in metal parts continues to be a major barrier to the wider use of LPBF technology in several industries. Because it arises stochastically beneath the surface, keyhole porosity is the most difficult defect type to detect in real-time with lab-scale sensors. Further Studies Keyhole porosity in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), a process used in additive manufacturing to make metal parts, has been better-understood thanks to a new study published in Nature Communications. Using synchrotron x-ray imaging, the researchers were able to observe keyhole and bubble behavior and quantify their formation dynamics. They found that keyhole porosity can initiate not only in unstable keyhole regimes but also in transition keyhole regimes created by high laser power-velocity conditions, leading to fast radial keyhole fluctuations. They also discovered that transition regime collapse tends to occur partway up the rear wall and that immediately after keyhole collapse, bubbles undergo rapid growth due to pressure equilibration before shrinking due to metal-vapor condensation. Meanwhile, a separate study has explored the use of acoustic measurements to detect keyhole pores in laser powder bed fusion. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Why This MIT Microwave-Sized Box Could be Space Construction's Future; Here's How It Works 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Elon Musk's Twitter has reportedly fired more Twitter employees from its already reduced trust and safety team, which is responsible for global content moderation and the regulation of hate speech and misinformation, as per Bloomberg's report. Employees in the company's Dublin and Singapore headquarters were affected by at least a dozen layoffs on Friday, Jan. 7, according to anonymous sources who spoke to Bloomberg. Fresh Layoffs The layoffs reportedly include Analuisa Dominguez, the app's senior director of revenue policy, and Nur Azhar Bin Ayob, the head of site integrity for Twitter's Asia-Pacific region. Members of teams for Twitter's global appeals, state media, and misinformation policy were also cut off from their posts. Ella Irwin, Twitter's head of trust and safety, told Bloomberg that certain team members had been let go but refuted some areas that were included by the anonymous sources. She claimed that Twitter does get rid of positions in departments that did not generate enough traffic to warrant continued funding. However, she mentioned that the social network has boosted employment in its appeals department and would keep a head of revenue policy and a head for the Asia-Pacific region for trust and safety. In October, Musk paid $44 billion to acquire Twitter, partially funding the transaction with debt totaling about $13 billion and with interest payments of about $1.5 billion annually. Since then, he has been remodeling the social networking site, which he claims is in danger of going out of business and was losing $4 million per day as of early November 2022. Read also: Twitter Users Find View Count Unappealing, Elon Musk Claims New UI Change for Two-Liner Impressions by 2023 Twitter's Efforts Against Misinformation Over the years, Twitter has made progress in preventing the propagation of false information and hate speech on the platform. This is evident in the suspension of multiple individuals deemed as propagators of harmful speech and fake news. For instance, during the 2020 elections, the platform fact-checked the majority of tweets from former US President Donald Trump. Twitter stepped up its regulation of any political content that contains false information, despite concerns that it may be curtailing free speech. Trump eventually received a permanent ban from the bird app when it claimed that his tweets during the January 2021 Capital riots had incited violence. But Elon Musk took charge and established his absolutist stance on free speech. He later lifted the ban on Trump and other controversial figures after granting them a general amnesty. Twitter's workforce has been significantly reduced after Musk laid off most of the company's board. Some of its workers left their posts when he imposed a "hardcore" working ultimatum. Related Article: Twitter Alternative Mastodon Explodes in Popularity Following Elon Musk Acquisition: From 300K to 2.5 Million Active Users? 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. As first reported by Nikkei Asia, India's Election Commission is rolling out a new initiative to provide remote voting for hundreds of millions of domestic migrants, a ground-breaking step to make the country's democracy more inclusive but one that some critics warn could be laden with complications. Dwindling Voter Turnout Many migrants face disenfranchisement because they cannot travel to polling places where they are registered to vote, as required by law. According to the 2011 census, 37% of Indian nationals, or over 450 million people, were migrants who would have difficulty returning home to vote due to health or financial reasons. With nine states voting in 2023 and a general election in 2024, the commission expects that making it easier for these people to vote will help boost dwindling turnout. Read Also: The Future of Healthcare in America: Leaders Discuss a New Hybrid Model in CES 2023 Based on the same Nikkei Asia report, the last two general elections in 2014 and 2019 recorded rates of 66.4% and 67.4%, respectively, prompting concerns about nearly 300 million "missing" voters. A 2020 electronic voting system for military service members and other "service" voters has so far failed to pique public interest, triggering a hunt for broader solutions. The Multi-Constituency Remote Electronic Voting Machine (RVM), a modified version of the present Electronic Voting Machine, is the Election Commission's solution. The novel approach will allow voters to vote in up to 72 constituencies from a single place. A remote voter will simply need to apply to their home constituency prior to an election. They will be able to utilize an RVM once they have been verified. Doubts Raised In Dec. 2022, the Election Commission announced the development of a prototype for a multi-constituency remote electronic voting machine (RVM). The Hindu reports that the ECI has asked all recognized national and state political parties in India to attend an RVM demonstration on January 16 and to give written feedback on the new system by January 31. However, there are concerns about how hard it would be to set up RVMs in remote locations, as well as the possibility of fraud and intimidation. Moreover, some see legal, administrative, and technological challenges ahead. For starters, the term "remote voting" lacks a clear legal definition, including what locations outside one's constituency, district, or state would qualify. Nikkei tells us that the Indian National Congress party has opposed the commission's proposal, saying the electoral body should first ease the opposition party's concerns about EVM misuse. The Representation of the People's Act of 1950 and 1951, The Conduct of Election Rules of 1961, and The Registration of Electors Rules of 1960 are among the laws and rules that need to be amended to allow distance voting. Citing allegations of irregularities in the recent Gujarat assembly elections, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a statement, "Now imagine if these suspicious patterns can be extended via a multi-constituency voting machine to other locations." This would seriously undermine trust in the system. Despite these challenges, the Election Commission remains optimistic about the potential for remote voting to increase participation and inclusivity in India's democracy. It remains to be seen whether the RVM pilot program will be successful. Related Article: Facebook, TikTok, Twitter Contributed to Misinformation, Propaganda in Kenya Elections: Study 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The present crisis in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) sector is significantly more severe than previous ones, according to the head of the British Association for Emergency Medicine. And this is, by no doubt, alarming. Addressing A&E Hurdles It is absurd to blame the present situation on the pandemic, said Dr. Adrian Boyle, since the problem has been worsening for over a decade. Now, ambulances are waiting outside hospitals, and beds are scarce. As per an ITV News report, Dr. Boyle attended UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's emergency discussions with health experts on Saturday, Jan. 7, trying to relieve the National Health Service (NHS) winter crisis. He remarked, "We are really pleased it is being acknowledged at the highest level and pleased it is being recognized as a crisis because there is a crisis in emergency medicine." As the number of people hospitalized with flu continues to rise, the average wait time for ambulance handoffs has reached a record high. "What we are seeing is that if you go into emergency departments, you will see people being looked after in inappropriate areas and long waits to be admitted," Prime Minister Sunak said during an appearance on Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Jan. 8. "If you go into the wards, they are full. Fundamentally, the big problem we have got is that we don't have enough beds. Our hospitals are too full for us to do the jobs we need them to do." Related Story: Oxygen Supplies Running Dangerously Low in UK's NHS Hospitals Amid Covid-19 and Winter Pressures Current Predicament Some of the NHS's top physicians have reportedly expressed concern that the system is on the brink of collapse because so many hospitals' emergency rooms are overburdened. The healthcare system is under extreme strain due to a combination of factors, including a wave of strikes and pandemic levels of flu and coronavirus. There was a record low in the number of patients discharged from hospitals in England last week. Dr. Boyle blames widespread staffing shortages in the NHS, a lack of beds and capacity, and inadequate social care for the reduction in emergency care quality. When asked whether he thought things might change, he said yes, adding that improvement is possible if there is political will. As Dr. Boyle put it, the underlying causes of the issue have been there far longer than the pandemic itself, which has added a load of disturbance to hospitals." To efficiently and appropriately utilize hospital beds, he said a number of challenges must be resolved first. On Saturday, Sunak addressed a panel of specialists in Downing Street, including NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard and England's top medical officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty. He was cautioned that the years of delay were to blame for the failure of the rare weekend conference to alleviate the strain on emergency services. According to a Downing Street spokeswoman, Sunak plans to ease the immediate strains while simultaneously concentrating on the long-term strengthening of the NHS. She stated, "We want to correct the unwarranted variation in NHS performance between local areas because no matter where you live, you should be able to access quality healthcare." Also Read: The Future of Healthcare in America: Leaders Discuss a New Hybrid Model in CES 2023 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The adoption of business intelligence tools is expected to continue to rise in 2023, with more businesses realising the importance of effective data management and its role in driving insight-based decision-making processes. The global business intelligence industry is expected to grow from $23.1 billion in 2020, with a 7.6% CAGR, reaching close to $33.3 billion by 2025. The data explosion and increasing data literacy have shaped data-driven cultures in organisations of all sizes, writes Naren Vijay, EVP Growth at Lumenore, a software company. With data being generated from multiple sources and its increasing importance in business operations, organisations must effectively utilise data and insights in day-to-day decision-making. Here are some key business intelligence trends that will be in focus in 2023: Automation Business intelligence helps businesses automate several otherwise tedious and time-consuming tasks. Using multiple tools and technologies like AI and machine learning along with low-code and no-code frameworks, it has become possible for businesses to rely on business intelligence for data automation. The evolving capabilities of business intelligence platforms will continue to play an integral role in automation in 2023, and companies will be able to achieve hyper-automation mode for several operational requirements. Augmented Analytics Integrating modern technologies like AI and machine learning makes it easier for businesses to allow non-technical team members to harness the power of business intelligence. Augmented analytics enables the entire team to create advanced data analytics models and derive valuable insights from them without wasting much time. The increasing accessibility of data analytics by asking the right questions and providing contextual suggestions for relevant insights, make it one of the most sought-after features in any business intelligence platform. As it helps a business to handle the complexity and scale of data by seamless data collection, cleaning and insight generation, it will continue to make an impact in 2023. Predictive Intelligence Predictive intelligence has been one of the most discussed topics among BI professionals. As it allows a business to understand the possible outcomes and can act as a guiding force, it has the potential to be the main focus of business intelligence in 2023. However, a business needs to gather adequate data and build reliable future estimates for the platform to come up with suggested alternative scenarios and effective risk management. Predictive intelligence is expected to be increasingly used to identify opportunities and challenges for a business. Businesses will likely recognise more compelling use cases for predictive intelligence, and it will play a more critical role in the business intelligence ecosystem. NLP-based features for data democratisation Using natural language processing (NLP) in business intelligence is helping companies to democratise data and make sense of unstructured and semi-structured data. Irrespective of the level of technical expertise, using NLP in business processes can provide real-time business intelligence to end users, thus making insight-generation and data-driven decision-making more straightforward for businesses. As computers get better at understanding human language and the context of the queries, NLP will continue to drive the acceptability of the increasing importance of business intelligence in 2023. AI-powered Intelligence Artificial intelligence is likely to play a more active role in the business intelligence ecosystem in the coming year. The demand for real-time online data analysis is increasing among businesses, and business intelligence platforms are expected to develop sophisticated adaptive AI models that will be flexible and adjust to real-world changes. According to an analysis by Gartner, businesses that can build adaptive AI capabilities by 2026 will be able to outperform the competition in operationalising AI models by at least 25%. AI will emerge as a more reliable and scalable technology that can achieve much more for organisations. Conversational Intelligence The use of conversational intelligence is likely to increase in various business functions in 2023. It allows AI-powered business intelligence systems to analyse speech or text and help derive insights to push business growth. It is anticipated that several other departments will use conversational analytics apart from marketing and sales to deliver better business performance. At the same time, the level of sophistication in conversational intelligence is expected to go through a learning curve. Industries like e-commerce, retail, manufacturing, automotive, healthcare, logistics, financial services and energy are expected to be the big believers in business intelligence. The year 2023 will continue to be an exciting period for business intelligence platforms and businesses that aim to increase their data management and processing capabilities. While it is difficult to ascertain the exact route the various capabilities of a business intelligence platform will take in the future, the trends highlighted here will inevitably figure in critical ways that will shape the conversation around business intelligence.-- TradeArabia News Service Of the total number, 635,000 of them have been planted by the New Urban Communities Authority since the beginning of the current fiscal year, said Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Assem El-Gazzar on Sunday. The NUCA share of the planted trees comes as 3.17 million trees have been planted across Egypts governorates during the first half of FY2022/2023 under the 100 Million Trees presidential initiative, according to Deputy Minister of Local Development Khaled Qassem in a phone interview to an Egyptian media outlet in late December. The trees have been planted on main roads and axes nationwide, said El-Gazzar during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. Additionally, 395,000 trees have been planted by the Ministry of Environment while the lions share have been planted by the Ministry of Local Development, according to previous statements. The initiative began last summer under the directives of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to combat climate change in-line with the objectives of the 2022 UN Climate Change Summit (COP27) that took place in the Red Sea city of Sharm El-Sheikh in November. The initiative aims to increase peoples access to green spaces across the country, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gases and increase overall public health, asserted Madbouly while reviewing El-Gazzars report. It aims to establish a total of 6,600 feddans of new forests and public parks in 9,900 locations across Egypt over the next seven years. As of November, EGP 3 billion have been allocated to the initiative. Economically valuable trees are also important he said, noting that the initiative aims to plant trees that produce fruit, like olives, and timber. Of the three main entities responsible for the initiative, the New Urban Communities Authority plans to plant seven million trees through FY2028/2029, with one million of them to be planted by the end of the current fiscal year. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Local Development will plant 80 million trees, including 7.7 million in the first year while the Ministry of Environment will plant 13 million trees, including 1.3 million in the first year, according to previous statements. The current fiscal year runs through the end of June 2023. Search Keywords: Short link: In a few years, NASA and its international partners hope to start building the Gateway station in the Moon's orbit. The I-Hab mission to the Moon is not expected until 2027, despite the possibility that the American HALO module will launch as early as 2024. The team is currently working on the Critical Design Review, a crucial step before hardware manufacturing can start, and has begun construction on a full-size mockup for testing human interaction with the habitat setting. However, recent reports reveal that the Gateway station will only be about one-sixth the size of the International Space Station (ISS), with two habitation modules that will make it nearly impossible for crew members to have any personal space. Inside NASA's Moon Orbiting Gateway Station Space reports that the Gateway space lab, which should be finished by the end of 2030. According to an architect involved in the station's design, the living quarters of NASA's moon-orbiting Gateway station will be so small that astronauts will not be able to stand upright inside. During the design process, the architects had to submit to practical requirements imposed by the project's parameters, according to Waclavicek. They had to give up their earlier plans for larger modules that would have provided a larger amount of habitable space comparable to that found at the International Space Station because it would be impossible to launch major components to the Moon. "The International Habitation module will have habitable space of about 8 cubic meters [280 cubic feet] and you will have to share it with three others," Rene Waclavicek, a space architect at LIQUIFER Space Systems. "In other words, that would be a room 2 by 2 by 2 meters [6.6 by 6.6 by 6.6 feet]. And you are locked in there. There are other rooms but they are not bigger and there are not many of them." Each crew member residing in the i-Hab will be given around 53 cubic feet (1.5 cubic m) of a personal private area that was secured by doors that closed. Additionally, staying on board the Gateway will be difficult for more reasons than just the confined living space. The life-support equipment inside the module will be loud and vibrating most of the time. Read Also: Comet 2022 E3 (ZTF) To Pass by Earth After 50,000 Years: Here's How to Spot It What Is Nasa's Gateway Mission? NASA states that the Gateway, a critical factor of the Artemis program, will function as a multi-purpose outpost circling the Moon that acts as a staging area for deep space exploration and offers crucial support for a long-term human return to the lunar surface. In order to construct the Gateway, NASA is collaborating with business and international partners. Additionally, Mashable reports that before deciding that this orbit would be the most suitable for a future space station, scientists looked at a wide range of possible orbits. For instance, a low-lunar orbit would circle the Moon very closely. The base would be placed closer to the surface in this case, but much more fuel would be needed to overcome the gravity of the Moon. On the other hand, a far-off retrograde orbit would be more stable and fuel-efficient but less practical for reaching the earth. Related Article: A Cow's Waste Powers This Groundbreaking Green Energy Tractor 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Seattle public school system has sued Big Tech, saying that the firms are to blame for a deteriorating mental health crisis among students. Reportedly, it also directly impacts the schools' capacity to fulfill their educational mission. In the World of Social Media According to Reuters, a case was filed in a US District Court on Friday, Jan. 6, against Google parent company Alphabet, Meta, Snap, and TikTok's owner ByteDance. The lawsuit alleges that the firms' products were deliberately created to attract young people to their platforms, resulting in a mental health crisis. In response, Snap said it works closely with several mental health organizations to offer in-app tools and support for users. It also emphasized that the well-being of its community is the company's top concern. Meanwhile, Google said it had spent extensively building safe experiences for youngsters across its platforms. Apparently, it added strong safeguards and dedicated functions to protect their well-being. Both companies sent these reactions to Reuters through email. The request for a response from both Meta and TikTok went unanswered. Previous reports indicate the firms' intention to provide users with a positive experience by filtering out inappropriate material, funding moderation efforts, and enforcing content policies. Lawsuit Specifics According to the complaint, the tech businesses' activities have played a significant role in triggering a mental health crisis among young people. The lawsuit claims that the defendants effectively exploited the susceptible minds of adolescents, luring millions of students throughout the nation into positive feedback loops of excessive usage and abuse of their social media platforms. Schools have taken measures, including providing mental health training to instructors and hiring qualified staff, in response to this case. The complaint also indicates that the schools are expanding resources to educate students about the risks of social media use because of the poor performance of students with mental health difficulties. In this matter, the plaintiff is demanding monetary damages and additional penalties. Related Story: Teens' Excessive Use of Social Media May Cause Brain Development Alterations: Study Backed by Scientific Research Earlier this month, Tech Times reported a new study suggesting that teenagers' excessive time on social media is associated with negative outcomes for cognitive maturation. One potential long-term impact of adolescents' increasing usage of social media is a heightened sensitivity to the expectation of social rewards and penalties. This is according to research that appeared in JAMA Pediatrics on Jan. 3. Co-author and UNC-Chapel Hill professor Eva Telzer said the findings show that youngsters who are exposed to social media at an early age are more likely to have a higher susceptibility to the opinions of their peers. Previous Facebook Issue After hearing evidence from whistleblower Frances Haugen in 2021, US senators accused Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg of prioritizing money over children's mental health. Facebook has often said it disputes Haugen's claim that the firm failed to safeguard teenage females on Instagram. Zuckerberg responded on Facebook, saying that the claim about them purposefully promoting stuff that makes people upset for the company is highly ridiculous. "We make money from ads, and advertisers consistently tell us they don't want their ads next to harmful or angry content. And I don't know any tech company that sets out to build products that make people angry or depressed." See Also: Australia's New Misinformation Code Excludes Some Messaging Apps, Including Whatsapp 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In 2022, the highest number of doctors in seven years resigned from Egypts public health sector, the Medical Syndicate recently reported in a statement, citing low wages as one important reason. Throughout the year, 4,361 government-employed doctors submitted their resignations, at a rate of 13.5 per working day, Dr. Ahmed Ali, member of the Medical Syndicate Council, said in the statement. The number of resignation in 2022 represents a 3.2 percent increase compared to 2021, in which 4,127 doctors resigned. However, the total number of resignation in 2022 does not reflect the full scale of the problem, said Ahmed Hussien, the syndicates media rapporteur, who indicated that the actual number of doctors leaving public health sector is much higher. Nearly 2,000 recently graduated doctors [intern doctors] have not received [the mandatory] work in the government sector and the Ministry of Health has not granted them termination decisions yet. Hence, they were unable to obtain a free doctor certificate from the Medical Syndicate, Hussien said. In October 2022, the syndicate said that 11,536 doctors resigned from the Egyptian public health sector from 2019 through March 2022. Hussien cited low wages, the absence of a just law for medical liability, poor work environment, obstacles to licensing private medical facilities and the negative portrayal of doctors in some media outlets as the main drivers of doctors reluctance to work in the government health sector. In recent decades, Egyptian doctors have faced increasing financial difficulties due to low pay as well as an increasing workload amid population growth, causing the number who seek work abroad to steadily increase. In a report recently issued by the British General Medical Council (GMC), Egyptian doctors ranked among the top five joiner doctors who joined the UK medical workforce in 2021, with 1,312 joining in that year alone. In the report, the GMC a UK public body responsible for maintaining the official register of medical practitioners said the number of Egyptian doctors who joined the UK medical workforce increased from 435 in 2017 to 765 in 2018, before increasing by almost 200 percent to 1,301 in 2019 and 1,220 in 2020. In April 2022, the syndicate called on Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait to tackle the problem of the intern doctors low salaries. The government has responded by increasing spending on the health sector to EGP 128 billion for FY2022/23, up from EGP 108 billion in FY2021/22 an 18.5 percent increase. Last August, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi instructed the government to offer financial incentives to medical staff to improve their work conditions and raise their incomes. Search Keywords: Short link: Close ties: Russian scientists have found a way to increase the yield of wheat with the help of fungi and bacteria Russian cosmonauts were trained to work in outer space on the US ISS segment "Inspired by the human brain": the specialist spoke about promising areas of application of neural networks "Inhuman cruelty": the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation publishes archival documents on the destruction of people in Nazi concentration camps The restaurant that nobody should miss in Madrid, according to the 'New York Times' 80 euros for eating naked a vegan menu with strangers, the latest in exclusive dinners that arrives in Spain "A person can withstand a lot": cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky - about the modern status of the profession and preparation for flights The FBI launches an alert about 'hacking by load' at mobile charging points at airports, hotels or shopping centers Las Margaritas is called 'food house', but it is much more Taiwan on a hot tin. Will the Ukraine scenario be repeated? And what would happen if China attacked it? What are the criteria for choosing a husband and wife? Is it permissible for a woman to support her home and family? Two years until the opening of the Osaka-Kansai Expo Facing issues such as the construction of pavilions Another 'Valdecanas case' in Extremadura': the demolition of the Valdecaballeros dam is ordered What is the lifting without surgery of antibotox action that sweeps among experts (and patients) "It was not a good idea to isolate the elderly in nursing homes. It was a terrible policy." Fernando Esteso: "Spain has always been a feminist country because all powers are defeated by the power of the bedroom" The method of having a child, including surrogacy, does not interfere with their psychological and family development Spring scientific health, eat more of the four types of food, and eat less of the three types of food! Judo: Clarisse Agbegnenou will wear the kimono of the France Team, an agreement has been reached with the Federation Football: recently acquired by Textor, OL Groupe announces that it wants to sell its women's team A dispute that developed into fighting and blood. Details of Mane and Sane's crisis after Bayern Munich loss He owns shares in a company worth 11 billion euros. Former Arsenal player plans to take over club How can a local area be "famous all over the world"? Many places represent the Zhejiang Changshan brand Montero threatens Ferrovial with the Tax Agency 24 hours before the shareholders' meeting: "The legislation is clear" The former richest man "lost contact", and several of his companies went bankrupt and liquidated As high as 9 yuan, why can't the delivery fee of McDonald's and KFC be reduced? Sweet excess: sugar in Russia becomes cheaper against the background of record growth in world prices The opening of cross-border passenger transport of China-Laos Railway is imminent, and cross-border tourism in Yunnan continues to heat up-Chinanews.com video (Focus on the Consumer Expo) "New Friends" Look at the Consumer Expo: The popularity of the exhibition exceeds expectations Optimistic about the Chinese consumer market An average Madrilenian will pay up to 400 euros less than a Catalan in the Income Tax campaign "It would be a mistake for the government to hinder Ferrovial. Respect the partners" To watch.. The moment of the arrest of a young man who tried to storm Macron's motorcade in the Netherlands The most common mistakes you make when doing the Rent and that make you lose money The walk of fury of Ortega Smith and his two tanganas: "He faced the construction manager and then with the squatters" Suso Diaz, father of Yolanda Diaz: "I want unity... but Podemos is not saying nice things about my daughter." The gay lover of Princess Margaret's husband: "Tony was a great seducer. He was mischievous but wonderful." The silences of the PSC in the face of the persecution of Spanish speakers: from the Andalusian nurse to the family of Canet The barons of the PSOE sacrifice the photo with Sanchez in defense of his "own voice" In the footprints of the general secretary's inspection, there are our party's "family heirlooms" Beijing, Changsha, Leshan... These high-ranking Hong Kong officials and legislators all come to the mainland to play during the holidays "Five Hundreds": Play the main melody of endeavor and condense the "spirit" of struggle The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal has recently reappeared the flow of water along the entire line, replenishing water from multiple water sources and promoting ecological restoration There will be strong winds, sand and dust weather in the north, and there will be a significant precipitation process in Jiangnan and South China On the second day of his visit to Guangdong, Xi Jinping focused on this village The first observation|From the general secretary's investigation of "fishery seeds" to see the concept of big food Several Ukrainian ports remain closed: "The world is not getting enough food" Who is Jose Maria Bisbal, the brother of David Bisbal, who was his manager after leaving OT Alessandro Lequio tried to dissuade the actress in her plans to be a grandmother Where and when to see the Holy Week processions in Madrid Alessandro Lequio breaks his silence: "It makes me sad that my son is once again the protagonist of today" Mass poisoning on MasterChef 11: "We're sorry. It is an absolutely exceptional case in these 11 years" Naoko, Emma Nogueiro and the other women in Sanchez Drago's life (always younger and with short hair) The sexist murder of an influencer shakes the Dominican Republic: her ex shoots her in the head three days after trying For the first time in its history. Shakespeare Theatre hosts communal iftar for Muslims State of emergency in Italy due to the migration crisis: the keys to a controversial and unprecedented measure Pelayo Diaz, the 'king of style', messes it up with a Stradivarius employee in the networks Political scientist Dudchak on Hersh's statement about Zelensky: there are probably a lot of such stories In the footprints of the general secretary's inspection, there are our party's "family heirlooms" Collapsed building in Marseille: the last two bodies found, bringing the death toll to eight It deals with the scenario of Putin's murder. America acknowledges the seriousness of the leaks, Ukraine considers them a mixture of right and wrong Communities 2019 - Privacy The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. The Kuwaiti foreign ministry has called on Egyptian authorities to investigate what it described as an assault on a group of Kuwaiti nationals by Egyptian police at a mall in Alexandria on Saturday. Kuwaiti Deputy FM Mansour Al-Otaibi has conveyed to the Egyptian ambassador in Kuwait his countrys dismay over the incident, according to a statement by Kuwaits foreign ministry. Al-Otaibi called on Egyptian authorities to investigate the incident and hold the perpetrators accountable, as well as to "take necessary measures to deter such unacceptable individual behaviour that does not reflect the fraternal relations between Kuwait and Egypt." Al-Otaibi added that the Kuwaiti foreign ministry and its embassy in Cairo will follow up on the actions taken by the Egyptian authorities. Ahram Online was unable to reach the Ministry of foreign affairs for comment. The Egyptian authorities have not made any public statements about the incident, which was captured on video and posted online. The video shows two individuals in a parking lot being restrained and struck by a group of men in plain clothes before being led away. According to the Kuwaiti embassy in Cairo, a number of Kuwaiti students were arrested and then released in Alexandria on Saturday for being involved in a fight. The embassy said that the fight, which resulted in minor injuries, was stopped by mall security before police arrived and arrested those involved. The embassy also called on its nationals living in Egypt to abide by the countrys laws and regulations. The embassy added that it is following up on the case with the cultural attache in Alexandria. The video of the incident has gone viral on social media in Kuwait, resulting in calls from many in the country for the Egyptian ambassador to Kuwait to be summoned in protest. There are currently 3,314 Kuwaiti students studying in universities in Egypt, according to the Egyptian higher education ministry. Search Keywords: Short link: Greece have a mountain to climb if theyre to reach the final of the inaugural United Cup after Martina Trevisan and Lorenzo Musetti gave Italy a 2-0 lead at the end of day one. Trevisan was the hero, beating Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-7 (4) 7-5 in the first match of the day before Musetti crushed Stefanos Sakellaridis 6-1, 6-1. The United States lead Poland 2-0 in the other semi-final. Trevisan outlasted Sakkari in a three-hour, 15-minute epic battle to put Italy ahead. Great battle today, Im so happy, Trevisan said. My team gave me a lot of energy. Sometimes I have to smile because it helps me to relax. Im here in the amazing stadium so Im happy, the life is beautiful ! I have energy now but maybe in one hour itll be different. At the beginning of the United Cup it was difficult for me but I improved my level day by day. I feel so good right now. By contrast, Musetti needed just 62 minutes to wrap up his win, saving the only break point he faced and breaking his opponent five times. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., shakes hands with Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., after nominating him for the third round of votes for speaker of the House on the opening day of the 118th Congress at the U.S. Capitol Tuesday. Late journalist Mohamed Aboulgheit has been awarded a special prize at the 18th edition of the Sawiris Cultural Awards for his investigative articles and recently published book titled I am Coming, Light. The winners of this year's awards were announced in a ceremony held on Sunday at Cairo's Tahrir Cultural Centre, which was attended by a slew of writers, actors, and public figures. "This year, the Sawiris Cultural Award agreed to make an exceptional prize for a book that did not enter any competition," Mohamed Abul Ghar, member of the award's board of trustees, explained to the audience. The step was taken after writer Mohamed Shoeir, deputy of Akhbar El-Adab magazine, suggested that a prize go to Aboulgheits latest book, Abul Ghar said. The prize, which is worth EPG 150,000, will be given to Aboulgheits wife and child. A physician-turned journalist, Aboulgheit, passed away in London at age 35 on 5 December 2022 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Launched 16 years ago with an endowment from business tycoons Samih and Naguib Sawiris, the Sawiris Cultural Awards has become one of Egypt's most prestigious cultural awards. Aboulgheit newbook, "I am coming, Light". Search Keywords: Short link: After spending five years in jail for threatening to behead police and to murder a magistrate, last month Blake Pender became the first convicted terrorist in NSW, and only the second in the country, to be placed on an extended supervision order even though he was already back in jail having been rearrested in November for breaching interim orders. In June 2017, Pender threatened Surry Hills police with a kitchen knife, later saying if he still had the knife he would f---ing stab every one of you dogs in the throat and that the proudest thing a man can do is behead a cop. He also threatened to rape the officers wives. Blake Pender is due to face court next week. Credit: Facebook When magistrate Joanne Keogh refused to grant him bail, he shouted, F--- you judge ... Ill cut your f---in head off, you dog. In a recorded call he told a friend he was gearing up for martyrdom and that cops are gonna die, people are gonna die, its going to be beautiful, Im ready, Im ready. Pender, 31, has a substantial criminal history including intimidation, stalking, armed robbery, assault, as well as torturing and beating a dog to death. After several stints behind bars, when he has been released from custody, he has either reoffended or breached parole soon after release. Spot on, Ian Penrose (Letters, 4/1). What the pro-population growth lobby never tells us is how many people we will have when growth eventually stops, as it must. Nature shows us that growth is a temporary phenomenon, whether it is for an individual or a population, and always comes at the expense of other living things. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says migration policy is economic policy. It is very much social and environmental policy too. His colleague, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, recently said the government had an aim of no further species extinctions. The myriad other species we share Australia with also need room to live and reproduce. If we perpetually fill Australia with ever more humans, surely it is obvious that many other species will become extinct. Plibersek needs to have a chat with Chalmers. Alex Judd, Blackburn North Bring in the truly needy and desperate first With the expected dramatic increase in migration to Melbourne, it would be nice to think that priority would be given to those who actually need to be here such as Afghani refugees, especially persecuted women, and climate refugees rather than those who come here as a lifestyle choice. Vicki Swinbank, Northcote Train our own workers rather than import them For decades, Australian universities have produced highly trained graduates such as scientists. And for decades these scientists have had to go to countries like the US to get a job because there were none in Australia. Now students are unwilling to pursue science due to lack of job security. Rather than the easy option of importing skilled workers such as scientists, we should heed Jim Chalmers advice to train Australians and provide them with secure jobs. Leigh Ackland, Deepdene Great cities have more than just tourist attractions The notion that Melbournes population will soon overtake Sydneys instantly goads NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet to remind us once more that Sydney is always three ours ahead; our harbour, our bridge, our opera house. More than 50 years ago I arrived in Melbourne because it offered a secure job and a nice place to live. I did not need a tourist attraction...and I have never once looked back David Elias, Sandringham LETTERS All power to the unions Angus Thompsons article regarding the future of unions (The Age, 7/1) struck a chord with me. Forty years in education saw me receive an average wage and a generous superannuation scheme (now not available). That average wage was fought for by the teachers unions. So, do not rely on governments, particularly conservative ones, or the goodwill of all employers to achieve better conditions. It just does not happen. Ian Todd, retired principal, Leongatha High cost of wood heaters Lesley Hughes says that air pollution in Australia is responsible every year for more deaths than the national road toll. This is a national emergency, even without climate change considerations (Comment, 6/5). It was disappointing there was no mention in her article of recent studies showing smoke from the 10 per cent of households burning wood as a main heat source produces more air pollution in our cities than all cars and other power sources combined. Wood-heater use in built-up residential environments, particularly, comes at a serious health and economic cost. It is also one of the most easily tackled causes of air pollution. Improving our air quality will benefit community health and save lives Karina Kanepe, Northcote Rows? What else is new? Welcome to the real world, Harry. Your story of family conflict is not unique. What makes it unusual is that through your sense of entitlement, you think it is unique. Ruth Davis, Carrum Talibans outrage rich It probably is not a great idea for Prince Harry to brag about his war record in Afghanistan. But moral outrage from the Taliban (Sunday Age, 8/1), one of the most brutal and immoral regimes ever to gain power in a modern country? That is rich indeed. Lindsay Zoch, Mildura Danger of speaking out Harry, Harry, Harry, what have you done? You have just endangered the lives of your children. All in the name of a quick buck and a cheap shot at your family. I hope it is all worth it. Lance Wilson, Brighton East Facing the brutality of war Whatever Harrys motives for revealing his Afghanistan kill count, I am glad he did. It brings home the awful truth that war involves real people killing and real people dying. Patrice McCarthy, Bendigo Just show them the money The legendary Randy Newman was more than 25 years ahead of himself in writing a theme song for Harry and Meghan. Its Money That Matters exemplifies the soap opera the world is enduring. One thing on this facile story is that monarchists remain strangely quiet. Maybe they want to be Spared from further indignities. I suppose it makes the circus proceedings in Washington appear normal. Rob Park, Surrey Hills Show us the figures, please I am sorely disappointed in The Age for the lack of coverage of new COVID-19 cases in Australia. All of the media seems happy to pretend that we are back to normal but more than 12,000 new cases and 108 deaths last week in Victoria alone would indicate that we are certainly far from normal. Why do I have to trawl through the news and then Google to find the latest figures? We get more coverage of Chinas situation than our own, while the biggest threat would appear to be the variant sweeping through the US, although that might be inconvenient to highlight during our current diplomatic tango. COVID-19 has not gone away, so please keep us better informed. Margaret Stead, Frankston Why shunning of maths? Adam Careys article Fear of a brain drain as students turn away from advanced maths (Sunday Age, 8/1) was very interesting. And troubling. And unfortunately the situation is worse than his article states. In 2005 there were 5711 enrolments in specialist maths. So there has been a 32per cent decline in enrolments over the last 17 years. Hard questions need to be asked of the Victorian education authorities. John Kermond, South Blackburn Sacrifices are required Re Andrews urges PM to fund more free GPs (The Age, 5/1). Yes, but from where does the funding come? Every day there are valid requests for more funding: the National Disability Insurance Scheme, aged care, schools, visits to psychologists etc. I am sure Anthony Albanese and his government want to supply all the funding that these services require, but the public needs to be reminded that paying more tax and legislating a more equitable tax system is the only way to fund these services. Are you prepared to pay more tax, get rid of negative gearing and franking credits, pay tax on earnings in your superannuation fund once you are over 70, pay for emergency department visits for non-urgent care and so on? Sandra Ashton, Beaumaris Park scooters correctly Recently I was travelling from Richmond along Yarra Boulevard/Swan Street. Along the footpath on the left-hand side were nine Lime e-scooters. Several were lying on the footpath, others were propped up at odd angles. To my horror, a middle-aged man and his guide dog were caught up in this, with nowhere to go, except onto the road into oncoming traffic or maybe to turn around and find another way. I stopped and put my hazard lights on and guided them around the tangle of e-scooters. Poor form from users who do not park the scooters properly on shared footpaths. Carol Coghlan, Camberwell A menace to pedestrians I visited Docklands last week. I was almost bowled over three times by e-scooter riders while I was walking by a child who had limited control showing off on one side, a parent allowing that, laughing, on my other side, and a 60 to 70-year-old hippie who did not care how close he came eyes glued firmly ahead. The e-scooters have no warning sound and they are too fast, unnecessary and a menace on pathways. Bruce Watson, Clifton Springs Please, ring your bells Your correspondent (Letters, 7/1) says e-scooters should have bells. Thats fine if anyone used them. I regularly walk on shared paths in the northern regions of Melbourne. I find most bike riders do not use bells, although some do call out. Bells are there for a reason. Riders, please use them. Lesley Taskis, Kingsbury Reassess Liberals values Victorian senator Jane Hume says the Liberal Party is a membership-led, grassroots organisation (Sunday Age, 8/1). A genuine grassroots organisation of disenchanted voters sent Monique Ryan to Canberra as our MP for Kooyong. The Liberal Partys consultation with community has been minimal and its values and actions not reflective of community standards as evidenced by the results of the federal and Victorian elections. Hume has called on the party to introduce a fundraising levy for all MPs, forcing them to contribute to a womens network to boost the number of women in the party. But she also says people join the Liberal Party because they largely dont like being told what to do. If the outcome of the review by Hume and Brian Loughnane involves accommodating the values of the party rather than examining the applicability of such values, then I suggest the future will hold more of what we have come to expect from the party. Jennifer Quigley, Balwyn Breaking point? Really? Between 1942 and 1945, the US, under a war footing, produced roughly 300,000 aeroplanes, 192,000 armoured vehicles and 77,000 ships. Now they tell us our eight nuclear submarines that are suspected to take two decades to manufacture risk stressing Americas industrial base to breaking point (The Age, 7/1). Oh spare me. Craig Belkin, Mornington Gains from cancelling deal US senators are protesting against the AUKUS deal on the basis that it will harm their industrial base. If we are lucky, they will cancel the deal and we will be able to put the money to better use. A few long-range missiles would cost less and leave plenty of change for fixing other holes in the national ship of state. David Lamb, Kew East Towards independence Thankfully the federal government is beginning to think about continental defence (ie, defending Australia) and ordering appropriate missiles. In addition we need submarines that provide a defence capability in our coastal and adjacent waters, not ones that can attack mainland China. There are several good reasons to abandon plans to acquire nuclear-powered boats, two being the huge cost and the delay in delivery. There are suitable modern, air independent propulsion boats which are available much sooner and they are quieter and much cheaper than nuclear-powered ones. Purchasing these would also allow Australia to retain a degree of independence. Robin Stewart, Romsey Human rights hypocrisy Australians may well deplore the government sales of deadly weapons to countries accused of grave breaches of human rights. We should remember, however, that successive Australian governments stand accused by the United Nations, among other bodies, of serious and continued abuse of the human rights of asylum seekers and refugees. Juliet Flesch, Kew Celebrating great writers Thank you, Jane Sullivan, for your wonderful and insightful article about the lost works of various, now famous, writers (Spectrum, 7/1). Also, your smaller article about writers who passed away in 2022. In particular, you mentioned Raymond Briggs. I remember reading his books to our children back in the 1980s. What a delight they were, and your words about him sum up perfectly why he is so well-remembered, and often quoted, in our family. Wendy Poulier, Ferntree Gully AND ANOTHER THING World McCarthy has missed out on Kevin 07, but hes now Kevin 15. Mary Mandanici, Preston MAGA has become MALSA: Make America Look Stupid Again. Denny Meadows, Hawthorn Russian ceasefire: Oh, how very Christian of you, Mr Putin. Matt Dunn, Leongatha I dispute one answer in Superquiz (6/1). From recent reports, the capital of Cuba is hardly any pesos. Sam Bando, St Kilda East Politics Nuclear subs. In defending Australia, be careful we dont defund it. Phil Blake, Gisborne South AUKUS or USUKA (pronounced you sucker)? Andrew Collins, Dromana Please dont worry on my behalf, Jane Hume (8/1). As a female voter in Kooyong, Im well represented by Monique Ryan. Belinda Burke, Hawthorn The lack of housing isnt the issue here. Its population growth. Jen Gladstones, Heidelberg Harry The only good thing about Harrys book is that hes replaced Andrew as the biggest royal idiot. David Kitchen, Violet Town Will no one rid me of this turbulent prince? Harvey Mitchell, Castlemaine Two brothers have a spat. Please Spare me the details. Lisa Bishop, Macleod Ash Barty, Vladimir Putin and Prince Harry. The delightful, the despicable and the delusional. Rob Willis, Wheelers Hill To reach the wooden cross first in the Blessing of the Waters swim is a coveted physical feat for members of the Greek Orthodox community. But while it showed that Steve Kikyris was the fastest of his peers at Princes Pier in Port Melbourne on Sunday, he was pleased by something less tangible the belief it blesses him with good fortune for the rest of year. Blessed: Steve Kikyris on Princes Pier after being first to the cross in the Blessing of the Waters swim. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Weve all had a few tough years in the last few years, but this is going to be a really good year. I can feel it already, said the 25-year-old from Yarraville. Kikyris, whose engagement party with 24-year-old fiancee Nicky Tzouvanellis will be held in March, trained for Sundays swim by running. And thats a wrap on Harrys first two interviews to promote his book, Spare, which goes on sale on Tuesday in Australia. We learned that he has not spoken to his brother or father in private for some time, and he appeared to be sending pleas to make up throughout his interviews. Prince Harry and Meghan in a rare photo with son Archie and daughter Lilibet. With a straight face, he insisted that any conversation with Charles and William would be private. He appeared to lecture them on the need to keep any communications under wraps. Also lacking credibility was his attempt to walk back the accusation that he and Meghan made during their interview with Oprah more than two years ago that an unnamed member of the royal family was racist, after they inquired as to what colour skin Meghan and Harrys first child would have. Harry now says that was not racist but unconscious bias. This is the first time that Harry and Meghan have made any effort to clarify their comment. He blamed the media for misreporting what they said. He saved some of his harshest comments for Camilla, Queen consort, who he labelled the evil stepmother, who was dangerous because she was out to rehabilitate her image with the public after being the third person in Charles and Dianas marriage. Read more from our Europe correspondent Rob Harris: Prince Harry calls Camilla a dangerous villain in new attacks on royal family. Prince Harry repeated his claims that the British press was racist toward his wife Meghan and accused his brother William and sister-in-law Kate of perpetuating stereotypes about his wife, including that she was an American, an actress, a divorcee and biracial. He condemned the palace for not doing enough to defend Meghan, including its silence when Jeremy Clarkson published a now-retracted piece wishing for Meghan to be pelted with excrement while she was made to walk naked through the streets. At the heart of it all was the obvious trauma and grief that clearly affects Harry to this day caused by the loss of his mother in 1997. Sadly, despite public perceptions that their shared grief made them close brothers, Harry revealed that there was a lot of sibling rivalry between them and that they did not spend a lot of time together growing up. This became more pronounced when Harry was older and married, and he accused the royal family of driving he and Meghan away. He insisted he was happy with his life in California but that his lifelong mission was to change the UK press. And thats all from me. The book is out on Tuesday and no doubt therell be plenty more revelations or overshares. Thanks for joining us. Israel on Sunday revoked the Palestinian foreign minister's travel permit in part of a series of punitive steps against Palestinian officials announced days ago, only adding to the string of Palestinian officials restricted from entry into the occupied West Bank. The move comes after the new hard-line government revoked the same permit for three senior Fatah party officials the previous day. Palestinian FM Riad Malki said in a statement that he was returning from the Brazilian president's inauguration when he was informed that Israel rescinded his travel permit, which allows top Palestinian officials to travel easily in and out of the occupied West Bank, unlike ordinary Palestinians. While Fatah officials Mahmud al-Alul, Azzam al-Ahmad, and Rawhi Fattouh had visited Karim Yunis an Israeli Arab in his home village of Ara in northern Israel following his release on Thursday after serving a 40-year sentence for killing an Israeli soldier. "The three men took advantage of their status and entered Israel this morning (Saturday) to travel to the home of the terrorist Karim Yunis," the office of Defence Minister Yoav Galant said in a statement. Galant ordered their Israeli entry permits be revoked in response, it added. The move follows a decision Friday by Israel's security cabinet to withhold millions of dollars in revenues from the Palestinian Authority and impose a moratorium on Palestinian construction projects in most of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that decision was in response to the UN General Assembly's recent vote to refer Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories to the International Court of Justice at the PA's request. The Security Cabinet also targeted Palestinian officials directly, saying it would deny benefits to "VIPs who are leading the political and legal war against Israel.'' The decision highlights the tough line the current government is already taking toward the Palestinians just days into its tenure. It comes at a time of spiking violence in the occupied West Bank and as peace talks are a distant memory. Netanyahu took office late last month at the head of a coalition with far-right and Jewish ultra-Orthodox parties that is regarded as the most right-wing in Israeli history. Search Keywords: Short link: Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. 8 US Senators Set to Visit El Paso Amid Ongoing Border Crisis Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) announced that theyre leading a group of eight senatorsthree Democrats, four Republicans, and one independentto the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, on Jan. 9 and 10, to observe what Sinema called Washingtons failure. Those joining Sinema and Cornyn include Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.). First on the agenda is a roundtable discussion with El Paso city officials, law enforcement officials, local nonprofit organizations providing migrant care, businesses, and others, CBS reported. The meeting will take place in a temporary emergency migrant operations facility set up in a shuttered middle school. After the meeting, the senators will be shown the accommodations and services for illegal immigrants on the premises, and there will be a joint press conference. The senators plan to discuss federal and state efforts of border management with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the National Border Patrol Council, the Texas National Guard, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Next, the senators will take a two-day tour of the southern border from Texas to Arizona. The senators will visit the El Paso Central Processing Center and the Del Norte port of entry, followed by a night tour of the border accompanied by law enforcement. On Jan. 10, the senators will continue their tour to the Arizona-Mexico border region in Yuma. Im glad to lead a bipartisan group of my colleagues, Sinema said. I believe by working together we can bridge divides, help find lasting solutions, and start solving the crisis at our border. Murphy, chair of the Appropriations subcommittee that writes the budget for the Department of Homeland Security, stated, Congress has to get serious about finding a bipartisan solution that will protect our border from legitimate threats like cartel smuggling operations, treat families and children humanely, and preserve the rights of asylum seekers. Tillis deplored the humanitarian crisis at the border and the historic illegal entries and massive amounts of dangerous drugs being smuggled into our country. Its time to get serious about enforcing the law and supporting our Border Patrol, Lankford said. President Biden stated yesterday that he plans to meet with Border Patrol to find out what they need while he is at the border. I hope that he listens. Coons said he hopes that the trip signifies the start of a serious, bipartisan process that will produce safe, orderly, humane, and fair solutions. Moran thanked Sinema and Cornyn for their initiative. As a ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, he said that he hopes to soon see concrete measures to resolve what he called a humanitarian, public health and national security crisis. From NTD News Dozens of Iranians gathered Sunday outside the French embassy in Tehran protesting against cartoons of the Islamic republic's supreme leader by French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. The magazine on Wednesday published caricatures of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in support of the months-long protests in Iran, sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, following her arrest for allegedly violating the country's strict dress code. Iran has warned France over the "insulting and indecent" cartoons, which appeared in a special edition to mark the anniversary of the deadly 2015 attack on the magazine's Paris offices. Dozens of protesters, most of them religious seminary students, gathered in front of the embassy in the centre of the capital Tehran and set fire to French flags, AFP journalists reported. "France, be ashamed!", the crowd chanted. Waving Iranian flags, they held pictures of Khamenei and signs reading "I will sacrifice my life for the leader", and "Shame on Charlie Hebdo". "I came to support my revolution, my leader", 17-year-old seminary student Karim Heydarpour said. Similar protests were held in Iran's holy city of Qom, 128 kilometres (80 miles) south of Tehran, the state broadcaster reported. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani on Sunday said that freedom of speech should not be used as a pretext for "insulting" religion. France "has no right to justify insulting the sanctities of other countries and nations and followers of divine religions under the pretext of freedom of speech", he said on Twitter. Paris should observe the "fundamental principles of international relations -- namely mutual respect (and) non-interference in the internal affairs of others", he said. On Thursday, Iran said it was closing the Tehran-based French Institute for Research in Iran "as a first step" in response to the cartoons, after summoning Paris ambassador to protest the publication. Located in the centre of Tehran, IFRI had been closed for many years, but was reopened under the 2013-2021 presidency of the moderate president Hassan Rouhani as a sign of warming bilateral relations. Search Keywords: Short link: Lauren Lukert (L) and Marcia Weilbach enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Atlanta Symphony Hall, in Atlanta, on Jan. 7, 2023. (Frank Liang/The Epoch Times) ATLANTAShen Yun translates into the beauty of divine being dancing, and on Jan. 7 at the Atlanta Symphony Hall, a former classical dancer explained just how accurate the companys name was. Lauren Lukert, a classical ballerina for two decades, was blown away by Shen Yuns dancers. She attended a performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts with her friend Marcia Weilbach, a business owner. Theyre clearly all very musical, their phrasing was exquisite, theyre tremendous athletes, she said. New York-based Shen Yun is the worlds top classical Chinese dance company, which since its inception became a world phenomenon, putting a once nearly-lost art form on the map. The company was formed in 2006 and has since grown from one to eight equally-sized companies that tour the world simultaneously. Technically challenging? Oh! Ms. Lukert said, explaining that the tumbling techniques seen in Shen Yun were not found elsewhere. Classical Chinese dance is technically challenging, including dynamic flips and tumbling techniques as the originator of gymnastics. It is also famously expressive, with some roots in opera, and demands that a dancers inner emotions drive the body into movement. Ms. Lukert noticed something perhaps only another dancer would: the technique Shen Yuns dancers used to spin was unique in dance. So in classical ballet, when you turn, youre focused on a point and you return to that point. Generally, you pick a point at eye level, and thats how you keep from getting dizzy. Here, their focal points were on the ceiling, and on the floorI would fall over. Ive danced for years and years, and I would fall over if I did that, she said. Classical Chinese dance uses three circular movement paths, according to information about the dance form on Shen Yuns website. There is a vertical plane, a horizontal plane, as well as a figure eight. Ms. Weilbach added, They werent just dancing, they were performing a story. Ms. Lukert said that the level of professional excellence the performers displayed clearly showed their dedication. On top of rehearsals, they must be taking classes and training throughout the year. This lifestyle that they have chosen is not just a profession. They all have to be so completely immersed in it, and so passionate about what they do, so I think its challenging on so many different levels, she said. They have incorporated so many performing arts with the vocals, the instrumentals on stage, the narrativewhich was fabulousI think that engaged us a lot Lauren Lukert We were just commenting that they use the words Performing Arts. You dont say that for a ballet company. But they have incorporated so many performing arts with the vocals, the instrumentals on stage, the narrativewhich was fabulousI think that engaged us a lot, she said. The stories were just mesmerizing. I didnt know anything about this faith belief system before I came, and I can see how theyre growing that faith, because they are so exquisite and so excellent at what they do, they have set such a high standard for themselves and each other, that I think thats going to endear people to their subject matter. A Shen Yun performance consists of more than a dozen vignettes, and Ms. Lukerts said this production was so strong any of the pieces could have stood alone, but together equaled more than the sum of their parts. It was amazing, she said. Reporting by Frank Liang. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. American Airlines to Drop Services in 3 Cities Due to Pilot Shortage and Soft Demand American Airlines passenger jets prepare for departure, near a terminal at Boston Logan International Airport in Boston on July 21, 2021. (Steven Senne/AP Photo) American Airlines will drop service in three cities starting this Spring because of pilot shortages and sluggish demand. In response to the regional pilot shortage affecting the airline industry and soft demand, American Airlines has made the difficult decision to end service in Columbus, Georgia (CSG), Del Rio, Texas (DRT), and Long Beach, California (LGB) this spring, the company told The Epoch Times in a statement. The airline will reach out to customers scheduled to travel to offer alternate arrangements. According to various reports, the last day for the airlines operations in LGB airport will be Feb. 28. The company plans to fly its last routes from CSG airport to Charlotte and Dallas on April 3. The service at DRT airport will be suspended on the same day as the CSG airport. We appreciate the great relationship weve enjoyed with American Airlines and understand their tough business decision during these challenging times. We look forward to welcoming them back to Long Beach in the future, Cynthia Guidry, the Long Beach Airport director, said in a statement obtained by City News Service. For some routes, the airline will resume services as circumstances change. American airlines resumed service in 2021 in CSG airport after it left the airport in 2013. American-JetBlue Alliance American Airlines and JetBlue Airways are pushing ahead with an expansion of their partnership in the Northeast. The airlines said in December 2022 that American Airlines will add six new routes from New York City while dropping one. JetBlue will start several new routes from New York and Boston including service to the Bahamas and Bermuda. Some routes will operate only during summer, and most will be limited to one or two flights a day. The new destinations would expand the alliance to about 700 flights per day. However, the alliance is being challenged by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and another customer class action lawsuit. The DOJ, six states, and the District of Columbia sued to kill the partnership, which lets American and JetBlue work together on setting schedules and sharing revenue on flights in New York and Boston. The government said the deal will reduce competition and lead to higher fares, costing consumers $700 million a year. American and JetBlue argued that their combination will help consumers by making them a stronger competitor in the Northeast against Delta and United Airlines. A judge in Boston is expected to issue a verdict this year. Separately, a class action lawsuit was filed in December 2022 and claimed that the two airlines overcharged passengers by $700 million a year since they formed the Northeast alliance in the middle of 2020. However, JetBlue defended the alliance and said that it is benefiting customers by adding new routes. So far, the NEA (Northeast Alliance) has resulted in approximately 50 new routes out of JFK, LaGuardia, Boston, and Newark; increased frequencies on more than 130 routes since February 2021; 90 nonstop routes with increased capacity; and 17 new international routes launched by 2022, the airline told Bloomberg Law. The Associated Press contributed to this report. American Airlines to Halt Service at Long Beach Airport LONG BEACH, Calif.American Airlines announced Jan. 6 it will end its service from Long Beach Airport at the end of February. The airline currently operates three daily flights between Long Beach and Phoenix, and airline officials said in a statement the route is not meeting performance expectations. The last day for operations in [the airport] will be Feb. 28, 2023, according to the airline. We are proactively reaching out to customers with travel plans beyond Feb. 28 to offer alternative travel arrangements. American Airlines operates more than 145 daily flights from Los Angeles International, Hollywood Burbank, Ontario International, and John Wayne airports. In a statement, Long Beach Airport Director Cynthia Guidry said, We appreciate the great relationship weve enjoyed with American Airlines and understand their tough business decision during these challenging times. We look forward to welcoming them back to Long Beach in the future. Amid COVID-19 Surge, China Reopens Borders After 3 Years Passengers queue to pass through customs after arriving at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in China's eastern Zhejiang province on January 8, 2023. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) China has lifted mandatory quarantine rules for inbound travelers and allowed its citizens to head abroad, triggering a homecoming wave. The move comes amid a COVID-19 explosion across the nation, which has stoked global concerns. As of Jan. 8, international visitors are free to enter Chinas mainland and no longer need to undergo centralized quarantine at hotels. The border reopening amounts to the final step in dismantling the zero-COVID policy that has hammered the countrys economy and led to severe suffering among the populace. While incoming visitors still need to present a negative PCR test result within 48 hours of departure, the relaxation of cross-border travel restrictions ahead of Chinas lunar new year was welcomed by many who havent seen their families for nearly three years under the draconian COVID-19 curbs. On Jan. 8, long lines formed at Hong Kongs international airport for flights to Beijing and other major mainland cities after the former British colony allowed people to cross the border with the mainland without being quarantined. A man hugs his daughter as he arrives from a flight to the international arrivals area of Beijing Capital Airport on Jan. 8, 2023. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) Mainland Chinese tourists are preparing to head abroad. On Jan. 8, Chinese authorities also resumed issuing passports and travel visas for mainland residents. Beijing also has quotas on the number of people who can travel between Hong Kong and China each day. But travel isnt expected to quickly return to pre-pandemic levels because of a scarcity of international flights and other factors. Japan, in December 2022, announced that it would limit airlines increasing flights to China as part of its border control measures for travelers from China in response to a surge of infections in the nation. Global Concerns China is battling a massive outbreak that has yet to peak. Chinas top health body has stopped publishing daily infection data and has acknowledged only a handful of deaths since early December 2022, when the regime abruptly retreated from its zero-COVID policy on the heels of nationwide protests. But as many as 248 million people, or 18 percent of the countrys population, were estimated to have caught the virus between Dec. 1 and Dec. 20 of last year, according to a memo from the health regulators internal meeting leaked online and confirmed by media outlets. Local officials and domestic health experts estimated that the infection rate likely exceeded 50 percent in multiple provinces and reached 80 percent in Beijing. A patient on oxygen is wheeled on a gurney into a busy emergency room at a hospital in Beijing on Jan. 2, 2023. (Getty Images) The World Health Organization stated on Jan. 4 that Chinas COVID-19 data underrepresents the number of hospitalizations and deaths from the disease. The rapid surge in infections and growing doubts about official tallies have sparked international concerns, particularly regarding the possibility of a new, stronger COVID-19 variant emerging out of China. The United States and more than a dozen other countries currently require a negative COVID-19 test result for visitors from China. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that the measure is meant to impede the spread of COVID-19 on U.S. soil, given the lack of adequate and transparent epidemiological and viral genomic sequence data. The agency is now considering measures such as sampling wastewater on flights from China to track potential new variants. The regime has vehemently objected to such testing rules on Chinese visitors, accusing the measures of being politically motivated while threatening unspecified countermeasures. We will take corresponding measures based on the principle of reciprocity according to different situations, Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Jan. 3. Despite Beijings protests, Japan tightened its border controls on Chinese visitors on Jan. 4. Additional measures require negative COVID-19 tests to be taken within 72 hours of passengers boarding direct flights from China, according to the Japanese government. The tightening came after a Japanese Health Ministry tally showed 53 of 56 international travelers who tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival at airports on Jan. 3 were from China. Taiwan also reported a relatively high infection rate from travelers from China. Up to 28 percent of arrivals from mainland China tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 1, the first day that authorities began screening passengers from its neighbor, according to the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control. Travel Rush Many in Hong Kong are now rushing for long-awaited reunions in China. Some Hong Kong media outlets estimated that thousands of people were traveling across the border. Im so happy, so happy, so excited. I havent seen my parents for many years, Hong Kong resident Teresa Chow said, as she and dozens of other travelers prepared to cross into mainland China from Hong Kongs Lok Ma Chau Control Point early on Jan. 8. My parents are not in good health, and I couldnt go back to see them even when they had colon cancer, so Im really happy to go back and see them now, she told Reuters, noting that she plans to head to her hometown in eastern Chinas Ningbo city. People line up at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point at the Shenzhen border crossing with mainland China in Hong Kong on Jan. 8, 2023. (Peter Parks /AFP via Getty Images) The border opening follows the Jan. 7 start of Chun Yun, the first 40-day period of Lunar New Year travel, which, before the pandemic, was the worlds largest annual migration of people returning to their hometowns to spend holidays with family. Roughly 2 billion trips are expected to be made this season, nearly double last years movement and recovering to 70 percent of 2019 levels, authorities said. As a huge number of people prepare for their trips, outside experts offered a bleak scenario of the impending public holiday. As many as 25,000 Chinese people may die from COVID-19 by about Jan. 23, the second day of the Lunar New Year, according to the latest estimates by Airfinity, a British-based health analytics firm. Infection is likely to peak on Jan. 13, when 3.7 million people may catch the virus per day, it stated. Reuters contributed to this report. Biden Arrives at Border for First Time as President President Joe Biden arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border on Sunday, touching down in El Paso, Texas, following policy announcements and calls from Republicans as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued new criticism. Biden is due to spend a few hours in the Texas city, currently the biggest corridor for illegal crossings, and is expected to meet with border officials to discuss migration as well as the increased trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, which are driving skyrocketing numbers of overdoses in the United States. Footage released on Sunday afternoon showed Biden exiting Air Force One after the plane arrived at the El Paso International Airport. Biden will visit the El Paso County Migrant Services Center and meet with nonprofits and religious groups that support migrants arriving to the United States. It is not clear whether Biden will talk to any migrants, according to officials. The President is very much looking forward to seeing for himself first-hand what the border security situation looks like, particularly in El Paso. Hes very much also interested in getting to talk to Customs and Border Patrol agents on the ground who are actually involved in this mission to get their first-hand perspectives of it, White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Jan. 6. Bidens announcement on border security and his visit to the border are aimed in part at quelling the political noise and blunting the impact of upcoming investigations into immigration promised by House Republicans. But any enduring solution will require action by the sharply divided Congress, where multiple efforts to enact sweeping changes have failed in recent years. Photo Op But ahead of this visit to El Paso, Abbott, Texass Republican governor, accused officials of creating a manufactured image by removing illegal immigrants from camps in downtown El Paso, which sits across the border from Ciudad Juarez, one of the most violent cities in the world. El Paso rushes to remove illegal immigrants and migrant camps that are crowding downtown before Biden arrives. Predictable, Abbott wrote on Twitter Saturday. Biden does not want America to see the chaos that he has caused on the border. This is just a photo op and a game of pretend. El Paso rushes to remove illegal immigrants and migrant camps that are crowding downtown before Biden arrives. Predictable. Biden does not want America to see the chaos that he has caused on the border. This is just a photo op and a game of pretend.https://t.co/4KJqorJjrP Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 7, 2023 After visiting El Paso, Biden will head to Mexico City, where he will meet with the heads of state of Canada and Mexico next week for a North American leaders summit. Reports say that immigration will be part of the agenda. Since Biden took office two years ago, the number of illegal immigrants crossing into the United States from Mexico has increased dramatically. Data from federal agencies show that there were more than 2.38 million stops or arrests during the fiscal year ending in September. Upon taking office, Biden issued a series of executive orders that rescinded many Trump-era policies, drawing condemnation from Republican lawmakers and Abbott. Broken Promise But in the past week, Biden announced new policies that would turn away immigrants who crossed the border illegally and who dont seek asylum first in a country that they traveled through while en route to the United States. The Biden administration will now accept as many as 30,000 people from Nicaragua, Cuba, Haiti, and Venezuela per month. People who do not come to the United States under that program can be expelled back to Mexico via Title 42, which was allowed to remain for the time being after a Supreme Court decision several weeks ago. These latest moves drew condemnation from left-wing, pro-immigration groups. The expansion of Title 42 to include Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans is a broken promise, said Dylan Corbett, executive director of Hope Border Institute in a statement. Border communities will continue to work hard to pick up the broken pieces of our nations immigration system and show that our future lies not with expulsion and deportation, but with humanity and hope, he added, without elaborating on what a solution might look like. From El Paso, Biden will continue south to Mexico City, where he and the leaders of Mexico and Canada will gather on Monday and Tuesday for a North American leaders summit. Immigration is among the items on the agenda. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Bipartisan Appalachian Governments Work to Become One of Many Hydrogen Hubs A Toyota Project Portal hydrogen fuel cell electric semi-truck is shown during an event in San Francisco, Calif., on Sept. 13, 2018. (Stephen Lam/Reuters) A bipartisan group of Appalachian governors is coming together to focus on hydrogen and its uses in the future as a fuel and energy source. The group is part of several around the country working to secure funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to fund regional hydrogen hubs. The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) came together as a part of a bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in Congress in 2021, which allocated $7 billion to the DOE to create regional clean hydrogen hubs (H2Hubs) around the U.S. as a part of Americas future clean energy economy. The H2Hubs are meant to bring jobs to local economies through clean energy investments, while adding to the nations energy security, according to the DOE, a part of President Joe Bidens goal of a net-zero carbon economy by 2050. The DOE announced plans for six to ten of the regional hubs in the coming years, with the first round of funding to be announced later this year after applications are submitted in April. These H2Hubs are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lay the foundation for the clean hydrogen future President Biden is buildingone that will lift our economy, protect the planet, and improve our health, said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. With input from Americas brightest scientists, engineers, community organizers, and entrepreneurs, this national hydrogen strategy will help us accelerate the development and deployment of technologies to realize the full potential of clean hydrogen energy for generations to come. Appalachias Shift to Alternative Fuel Sources While the governors in Appalachian states are not the only ones seeking to become an H2Hub, it is notable as Appalachia has historically been seen as the countrys main coal production hotspot. According to a report (pdf) from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), coal output in Appalachia declined by 65 percent from 2005 to 2020. Coal production has dipped so sharply due to a major uptick in natural gas, a competitor to coal electric power generation, that the price is cheaper and thus has become much more popular, according to the ARC. A Toyota Project Portal hydrogen fuel cell electric semi-truck is shown during an event in San Francisco, Calif., U.S., Sept. 13, 2018. (Stephen Lam/Reuters) The Appalachian Basin is the largest gas producing region in the US, spanning parts of Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, and ARCH2 is expected to be a major economic and environmental investment, according to Gas Pathways. The DOE reports hydrogen energy has the power to cut emissions while creating new economic opportunities. Getting hydrogen right would mean unlocking a new source of clean, dispatchable power, and a new method of energy storage, according to the DOE. It would mean another pathway for decarbonizing heavy industry and transportation. Appalachian Hydrogen Hub The region is the ideal location for a clean hydrogen hub, due to its unique access to ample low-cost natural gas feedstock, end-user demand, workforce and technology capability, and carbon sequestration potential, according to H2 Bulletin, a hydrogen industry market intelligence provider. H2 Bulletin reports the Appalachian team is composed of entities spanning the region, including the National Energy Technology Laboratory, consultants, academic institutions, community organizations, and NGOs that will provide commercial, technical, and programmatic leadership for the development and buildout of the hub. Another key point of the ARCH2 project is its already existing resources and critical infrastructure such as existing pipelines, transportation networks, and proximity to the Midwest and Northeast markets. West Virginia began working on the ARCH2 early last year after the federal infrastructure bill passed in November 2021, centering itself as the epicenter of the ARCH2 hub alongside Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. Under the leadership of Gov. Jim Justice, West Virginia is prepared to lead in this initiative, and others like it, that continue to diversify and grow the energy portfolio of our state and our region while spearheading the expansion of energy options for the nation, said W.V. Secretary of Economic Development Mitch Carmichael. He added the leadership of the state is following the states history of supplying the energy needs of the United States. Ohios Clean Hydrogen Hub Alliance (OH2Hub) announced support for the Appalachian hub last fall. Ohio continues to support efforts to lead in the innovation of new technology, including the clean hydrogen market, said Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Dec. 8. My administration will continue to support these efforts so that Ohioans may share in the benefits from the development of hydrogen as part of the countrys long-term energy strategy. In Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, threw his support behind the project and the states mission to work alongside fellow governors of both parties. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine answers a question while taking part in a panel discussion during a Republican Governors Association conference in Orlando, Fla., on Nov. 16, 2022. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Photo) Kentuckys leadership in the automotive and logistics sectors position us as a natural location for economic development in hydrogen, Beshear said. We are looking forward to working with our Appalachian region governors and industry partners to continue to shape a hydrogen economy in Kentucky and across this region. The governor noted hydrogen can be made through fossil, renewable, and nuclear resources. The energy density and energy-carrying capacity of hydrogen make it an attractive fuel option for transportation, aviation, and industrial uses, as well as electricity generation. Beshear notes Kentuckys strategic location as well, as the epicenter of a 34-state distribution area for shipping products by truck or rail across the eastern United States and is within a days drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population. Kentucky is also working alongside several midwestern states to create a Midwest Hydrogen Coalition (MH2 Coalition) and with utilities in the south to support a Southeast Hydrogen Hub, potentially setting the state up to be the center of several hubs. Last year the Federal Highway Administration announced three interstate highways in Kentucky as future hydrogen corridors, something the Gov.s office said signals the importance of transportation connectivity to a nationwide hydrogen economy. Bolsonaro Supporters Breach Brazils Congress Building, Presidential Palace Supporters of Brazilian former President Jair Bolsonaro hold a demonstration at the Esplanada dos Ministerios in Brasilia on Jan. 8, 2023. (Evaristo Sa/AFP via Getty Images) A crowd of protesters broke through security blockades and breached the buildings of Brazils Congress, Supreme Court, and the presidential palace in Brasilia on Jan. 8, according to videos from local broadcasters and groups related to Brazils former president, Jair Bolsonaro. Footage and photographs from the scene show protesters inside the presidential palace and smashing furniture in the National Congress building and the Supreme Court. The three buildings are linked by the spacious Three Powers Square in Brasilia, the nations capital. Recently inaugurated President Luiz Inacio Lula Silva was on a trip to Sao PauloBrazils most populous statewhen the breach occurred. Mass protests have persisted in Brazil since the outcome of the national election on Oct. 30, 2022. Bolsonaros supporters doubt the authenticity of the results. Theyve blockaded major roads across Brazil and demanded that the military step in to intervene. Lula, a socialist, was declared the winner with 50.9 percent of the vote. Bolsonaro hasnt publicly conceded but said in a speech in November 2022 that he would abide by the countrys constitution. In a series of tweets on Jan. 8, Lula blamed Bolsonaro for the riot. They took advantage of the silence on Sunday, when we are still setting up the government, to do what they did, the Brazilian president wrote. And you know that there are several speeches by the former president encouraging this. And this is also his responsibility and the parties that supported him. In a video statement, Lula said all those involved in the riot would be found and prosecuted. Bolsonaros social media channelsand those of his attorney and sonswere silent as of 5 p.m. EST on Jan. 8. Supporters of Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro break into a building during a demonstration against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia, Brazil, on Dec. 8, 2023. (Adriano Machado/Reuters) Supporters of Brazilian former President Jair Bolsonaro clash with the police during a demonstration outside the Planalto Palace in Brasilia on Jan. 8, 2023. (Evaristo Sa/AFP via Getty Images) Security forces appeared to take control of the Supreme Court and Congress buildings by 5:30 p.m. local time. However, thousands of protesters remained in and around the Congress building. Bolsonaro left Brazil for Florida two days prior to the end of his term. In Twitter messages hours prior to the reports of the breach in Brasilia, he wrote about the achievements of his administration. A video clip from the scene in Brazil shows people, many draped in the nations green and yellow flag, flooding across a green lawn toward the National Congress building. In one video, protesters are seen bashing the windows of the National Congress lobby with a metal barricade and a concrete paver. A video from inside the Congress building shows a stream of people walking across the broken glass with chants from the crowd outside echoing in the halls. One recording shows a fire and a sprinkler jetting water and documents scattered across the wet floor in the Congress building. Presence by police and security forces appeared very limited in early crowd footage. Another clip shows protesters beating a mounted police officer with sticks and dragging him off of his horse. Aside from a handful of protesters engaged in vandalism, the crowds in the footage appeared mostly peaceful. The scene was reminiscent of the Jan. 6, 2021, events in Washington, where a crowd of supporters of former President Donald Trump clashed with police and briefly breached the Capitol. Lulas Workers Party asked the office of the top public prosecutor to order police to contain the protesters. Some Bolsonaro supporters have camped outside military barracks since his defeat and have called for the military to step in. The governor of Brasilia told Reuters that all security forces have been activated to confront the demonstrators. Ibaneis Rocha, governor of the Federal District, wrote on Twitter that he had fired the district security chief and put all the security forces on the streets, with the determination to arrest and punish those responsible. The minister of justice and public security, Flavio Dino, activated Brazils national guard on Jan. 7, anticipating threats against democracy. This absurd attempt to impose the will by force will not prevail, Dino wrote on Twitter on Jan. 8, noting that additional security forces have been deployed by the government of the Federal District. The speaker of the lower chamber of Brazils Congress, Arthur Lira, likewise condemned the attack. The National Congress has never denied a voice to those who want to demonstrate peacefully, Lira wrote on Twitter. But it will never give room for turmoil, destruction and vandalism. Military Police forces fire tear gas at supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro as they storm Planalto Presidential Palace in Brasilia on Jan. 8, 2023. (Sergio Lima/AFP via Getty Images) Security forces confront supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro as they storm Planalto Presidential Palace in Brasilia on Jan. 8, 2023. (Sergio Lima/AFP via Getty Images) Latin leaders condemned the violence. Fascism decides to strike. The right has not been able to maintain the pact of non-violence, Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote on Twitter. Unpresentable attack on the three powers of the Brazilian State by Bolsonaristas, Chilean President Gabriel Boric wrote on Twitter. The Brazilian government has our full support in the face of this cowardly and vile attack on democracy. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Canadians Asked to Avoid Non-Essential Travel to Mexican Regions Due to Violence After Drug Cartel Arrest A truck burns after being set on fire amid an eruption of violence following the arrest of Ovidio Guzman Lopez, an alleged high-ranking member of a Mexican drug trafficking cartel, in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, on Jan. 5, 2023. (Martin Urista/AP Photo) The federal government is asking Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel to over a dozen areas of Mexico due to widespread violence and security operations underway in the state of Sinaloa, particularly in the cities of Culiacan, Mazatlan, Los Mochis, and Guasave, following the arrest of the son of a former cartel drug lord. Mexican law enforcement captured Ovidio Guzman Lopez, nicknamed The Mouse, on Jan. 5, one of the sons of former Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquin (El Chapo) Guzman and allegedly a notorious high-ranking drug dealer wanted in the United States on drug trafficking-related charges. He was taken by helicopter to Mexico City following his arrest in Culiacan, capital of the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa, which is just over 1,200 kilometres driving distance from Mexico City. After the arrest, a number of flights were cancelled and Canadians were told to shelter in place and remain in their hotels or resorts, barricaded. It was reported Jan. 6 that 30 people had been killed in gunfire between police and suspected members of the Sinaloa drug cartel. Reports indicate that one police officer, 10 Mexican military personnel, and 19 alleged cartel members have been killed. The Canadian travel advisory, last updated Jan. 7, says certain Mexican regions have high levels of violence and organized crime and asks travellers to exercise a high degree of caution and avoid non-essential travel to those areas. One Canadian who left for Mazatlan from Winnipeg with her children and other family members on Dec. 30 tweeted on Jan. 5 that theres a sense of panic and uncertainty at the moment at our resort. Sheila North described spending a beautiful day on a boat and seeing plumes of smoke and black helicopters. She said we didnt know until we got back to our hotel that there was a drug war happening. Her flight was delayed, but on Jan.7 she tweeted that her family was safe at the airport and will be returning home to Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden are scheduled to be in Mexico City on Jan. 10 for the North American Leaders Summit. Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and International Trade Minister Mary Ng announced on Jan. 6 that they will be accompanying Trudeau to the event, which is sometimes referred to as the Three Amigos Summit. The Canadian government has not made any updated statement to date about the summit. Travellers Stranded Gunfights erupted between cartel members and the Mexican military after the arrest. An Aeromexico passenger jet was struck by a bullet while preparing for takeoff. While no one was hurt, a video posted to Twitter shows passengers taking cover on the floor. A Mexican air force plane was also hit by gun fire, airport buildings were shot at, and alleged members of the cartel were setting vehicles on fire to form roadblocks and carjacking residents in Culiacan. Canadians described being told to stay in their hotel rooms, and some stranded travellers who had already checked out of their hotels slept in hotel lobbies, with the exterior gates barricaded. A reported 13,349 Canadians have registered their presence in Mexico with Global Affairs Canada, which maintains a database of citizens abroad. Registration is voluntary, and not all Canadians register. Witnesses report military and police vehicles patrolling beaches that just a day before were filled with tourists soaking in the sun and sand. Jan. 5 video footage posted of Mazatlan showed airport entrances blocked off by the cartel. Other unconfirmed video footage posted on Jan. 6 showed soldiers from the Mexican army arriving via water on a beach in Mazatlan after Guzman Lopezs arrest. On Jan. 6, Sunwing Vacations tweeted that after consulting with the government, the company was cancelling all southbound flights that day to Mazatlan from Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna, and Vancouver. Also on Jan. 6, airports in Culiacan and Mazatlan reopened at 10 a.m. local time, according to a Mexican airport authority, but some flights continued to be delayed or cancelled. Guzman Lopez and his brother Joaquin Guzman Lopez were both indicted in April 2018 by a Federal Grand Jury in Washington, D.C., on charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Mexican authorities allege that Ovidio is the leader of los menores, or the juniors, a faction of the drug cartel, and is wanted particularly for alleged involvement in fentanyl production. The Canadian Press contributed to this report. Canadians to Mark Third Anniversary of Flight PS752 Downing at Countrywide Ceremonies A mourner lights candles during a memorial for the anniversary of flight PS752 in Edmonton on Jan. 8, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Jason Franson) TORONTOGrieving relatives will mark three years since the Iranian military shot down Flight PS752 today at commemoration ceremonies in 12 major cities across Canada and 26 countries around the globe. Families will partake in rallies from Vancouver to Toronto and St. Johns to mark the anniversary of the downed flight, which killed 176 people including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents. The Ukraine International Airlines jetliner was bound for Canada via Ukraine and shot down shortly after its takeoff from Tehran in January 2020. A major commemoration event in north Toronto begins with an 11 a.m. reception and art gallery viewing, followed by an official ceremony hosted by the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims. Several senior federal cabinet ministers will attend the private 2 p.m. ceremony, which will include remarks from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and will be followed by a public candlelight vigil at nearby Mel Lastman Square. The association, families and other supporters are also taking part in rallies across Canada urging Ottawa to take a tougher stance against Iran. On Dec. 28, Canada joined peer countries in starting the process to send the Flight PS752 case to the International Court of Justice and attempt to force Iran to compensate victims families. Advocates argue the move should have come sooner and the RCMP should have launched a criminal investigation while Ottawa was negotiating with Tehran. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with grieving family members on Friday and said Ottawa would be relentless in fighting for truth, justice and accountability. China Needs to Know the Economic Consequences If It Invades Taiwan: Former NATO Chief The former head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) urged countries to show China the economic consequences it will face if it invades Taiwan. Western countries need to make it clear that China would face severe economic consequences if it moves against the independent republic of Taiwan, said former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen during a visit to the island on Jan. 5. He met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on his first visit to the island since he stepped down from his old post. Communist China has claimed Taiwan as a rogue province since 1949 at the end of the Chinese Civil War, despite the willingness of its inhabitants to remain independent. The CCP has been ramping up pressure on Taiwan to assert its sovereignty over the island, with continuous air missions conducted in its waters over the past three years. The former NATO chief and ex-Danish Prime Minister called for the European Union and NATO to train Taiwanese troops and plan for painful economic sanctions on Beijing in case of an attack. Rasmussen, who was the leader of the trans-Atlantic alliance from 2009 to 2014, said that EU and NATO members should be prepared to let mainland China think twice about an invasion. He is now the chairman and founder of the Denmark-based Alliance of Democracies Foundation, which was founded to promote unity between democratically elected states in the face of authoritarian aggression. Rasmussen Compares Taiwans Status to Ukraine The former Danish leader also compared Russias invasion of Ukraine to mainland Chinese military aggression toward Taiwan. The parallels with Russia and Ukraine are hard to ignore. We must not make the same mistakes with Xi Jinping that we did with Vladimir Putin, he said. He remarked that the most important way to deter a Chinese move on Taiwan is to ensure a Ukrainian victory in the current conflict. If Russia can gain territory and establish a new status quo by force, it will set a precedent. Dictators everywhere will learn that, ultimately, military aggression works. He said that the West must be unified to ensure a victory for Ukraine in order to deter a future Chinese invasion of the island. European and NATO powers were too naive prior to Moscows invasion of Ukraine and are risking repeating the same mistakes with Beijing, he added. Rasmussen believes that the Chinese communist leader Xi Jinping will watch closely the war in Ukraine before he decides on any attack on Taiwan. The world hasnt so far paid sufficient attention to the tensions in the Taiwan Strait, Rasmussen told reporters in Taipei. And we should realize that the conflict between China and Taiwan has, and will have, global repercussions. So we have a global interest in preventing those tensions from escalating into an armed conflict. Any attempt by China to change the status quo in Taiwan by force should spark an equally unified response and we must make this clear to China now, he continued. The West Should Exploit Chinas Economic Vulnerabilities Beijing is heavily reliant on imports and foreign investment to drive its economy, making it more vulnerable to economic sanctions compared with Moscow. China is far more reliant on global supply chains than Russia. Spelling out the severe economic consequences of any attack now would be a powerful deterrent, Rasmussen said. Rasmussen admitted that severe sanctions on Beijing would hit the EU hard since China was deeply embedded within the global economy. However, he said that said the war in Ukraine had begun a shift within Western nations when it comes to being dependent on less democratic countries. We have built a Europe based on the security provided by the U.S., cheap goods from China, and cheap gas from Russia. That model doesnt work any longer, the former NATO chief argued. Beijing Increasingly Assertive on Taiwan Xi has made what he calls the reunification of Taiwan to the mainland a top priority that cannot be passed on to future generations. He said that China reserves the right to use force to bring Taiwan under its control if necessary and his regime opposes any official exchanges with Taiwan. Beijing has reacted with fury over a series of visits by Western politicians to the island. China ramped up military tensions last year when it launched its largest war games since the 1990s in reaction to a visit by then-House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in August 2022. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said in response to Rasmussens visit, that any attempts to create two Chinas or one China, one Taiwan are doomed to fail, reported AFP. Calls for European Arms for Taiwan Rasmussen recommended that the West should also help arm Taiwans military forces, which are mainly armed with weapons made domestically and from the United States. In the eight years leading to the war in Ukraine last year, NATO advisers had been training Ukraines armed forces. We could do exactly the same with servicemen and women from Taiwan. We could conduct such training and exercises on European soil, Rasmussen said. Although the United States remains Taiwans main ally, he also called for European military and cyber defense equipment to be shared with Taipei, to make Taiwan capable to defend itself by itself. All those who believe in a democratic Taiwan and rule-based international order must work to ensure Ukraine prevails. It is for the people of Ukraine and people of Taiwan to decide their own future, so the free world must give them our support, he said. We should not repeat this mistake by being too weak, too accommodating when it comes to China, Rasmussen concluded. He said that NATO should not play a direct role in the Indo-Pacific region, preferring that the so-called Quad nations of the United States, Japan, India, and Australia take the lead in maintaining peace and stability there. Taipei has long stated that its citizens reserve the right to decide their right to self-determination and that the mainlands claims are void, as Beijing has never governed the island. Taiwans relations with Moscow have been facing a setback after Putins decision to tighten his relationship with Xi in the wake of the Ukraine conflict led his government to willingly back Beijings claim to the island. The islands economic affairs ministry said it would expand the scope of sanctions against Russia and Belarus by cutting them off from high-tech, dual-use tech, and has pledged millions in aid to the government in Ukraine. Reuters contributed to this report. An Iranian man has been arrested in western Germany suspected of preparing an "Islamist attack" using cyanide and ricin, police and prosecutors said Sunday. Muenster police and the Duesseldorf prosecutors' office said in a press release that officers searched a residence in the town of Castrop-Rauxel for "toxic substances" intended to carry out an attack. The 32-year-old Iranian was "suspected of having prepared a serious act of violence threatening the security of the state by obtaining cyanide and ricin with a view to committing an Islamist attack", said investigators. The arrest was carried out shortly before midnight on Saturday evening, a spokeswoman for the police said. Another person, said to be the main suspect's brother, was also taken into custody during the operation, she said. The 32-year-old suspect will be presented in the coming days to an investigating judge ahead of possible pre-trial detention, police said. Ricin is a highly toxic substance, which is classed as a "chemical weapon" in Germany. Similar to cyanide, ricin can be lethal. According to local media reports, the raids were carried out by agents wearing protective suits, due to the chemical hazard. German authorities were tipped off to the risk of an attack with a "chemical bomb" several days ago by a foreign intelligence service, the German daily Bild reported. In 2018, a Tunisian man and his wife were arrested on suspicion of planning a biological bomb attack in Germany. The couple, who sympathized with the Islamic State group, was found in possession of 84 milligrams of ricin in their Cologne apartment. The man was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2020, while his wife received an eight-year sentence. Germany has been targeted in recent years by several Islamist attacks, including a 2016 truck attack on a Christmas market, that killed 12 people and left dozens injured. A 13th victim died five years later having suffered serious injuries in the assault. Search Keywords: Short link: China to Reopen Border to Hong Kong Amid Beijing COVID Outbreak Travellers walk with their luggage at the departure hall of the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong on Dec. 30, 2022. (Anthony Kwan/Getty Images) Mainland China will reopen its border with Hong Kong, as Beijing drops its zero-COVID restrictions this weekend. The border between the Mainland and the special administrative region of Hong Kong will be opened on Jan. 8, after nearly three years of travel closures and restrictions related to the pandemic. The reopening of the internal border was announced by the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office on Jan. 5. Nearly three years of pandemic travel restrictions have stifled cross-border tourism and trade between the two, severely damaging the financial hubs economy. Hong Kongs Economy Struggled The GDP of the former British territory is expected to contract 3.2 percent in 2022, the Financial Times reported. Retail sales in Hong Kong dropped nearly 20 percent between January and November of 2022, compared with the same period in 2019. Tourism, which depended heavily on the mainland, contributed about 4.5 percent of the economy in 2018 but has since fallen to a trickle. Hong Kong partially obeyed the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) draconian zero-COVID policy through September 2022, when it began to ease restrictions. All COVID-19 safety mandates were dropped in December, but masks still remain mandatory in the city except while exercising. The Chinese regime will resume issuing tourist and business visas for mainland residents to travel to Hong Kong and Macau this weekend. Travel to mainland China is now open to overseas visitors as well, along with residence permits for foreigners, from Jan. 8 onward, according to CCP immigration officials. The regime will start reissuing passports for Chinese mainland residents, as well as regular visas for mainland residents to travel overseas. Last month, the CCP decided to restore average daily passenger flight volumes to 70 percent of 2019 levels by Jan. 6 for both domestic and international flights, but the latter remains well below pre-pandemic levels. Internal Border With Hong Kong to Reopen This will be the first time since early 2020, that people from the mainland could visit Hong Kong without being quarantined on arrival. Travelers entering mainland China will no longer have to quarantine or take a COVID-19 test upon arrival, according to the CCPs National Health Commission. However, all must take and show the results of a negative PCR test within 48 hours before departure and anyone who displays symptoms will be asked to take a rapid antigen test. No quarantines or COVID-19 tests will be required for those entering Hong Kong. Prior to the pandemic, there were more than 236 million annual passengers between Hong Kong and the mainland, an average of nearly 650,000 per day. Visitors from mainland China through land crossings will be capped at an estimated 60,000 a day, only a fraction of pre-pandemic figures, said Hong Kongs chief executive John Lee, at a Jan. 5 press conference. Hong Kong authorities will allow 50,000 Hong Kong residents to cross daily into the mainland. Transportation Networks Will Gradually Reopen Through January Seven out of 14 border checkpoints will be reactivated this weekend, such as Shenzhen Bay, Hong Kong International Airport, and Lok Ma Chau Station. High-speed rail line service between Hong Kongs West Kowloon station and the mainland will resume no later than Jan. 15, reported the Financial Times. Authorities will also begin to gradually reopen cross-border roadways, according to the Ministry of Transport, said state-run media. Another 10,000 people from Hong Kong are expected to enter the mainland per day via the Macau-Hong Kong-Zhuhai bridge, or via ferry or air routes. The ferry service between Macau and Hong Kong will gradually resume as well, beginning with about ten trips a day. Meanwhile, Hong Kong and the mainland city of Shenzhen, have launched an online booking system for travel between the two. More than 280,000 people have registered trips via the platform from Jan. 8 to March 4. No quotas have been set for those routes, but transportation services will gradually be boosted, said authorities. The CCP also announced that it will be increasing flights between the mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau. The National Health Commission said that waterborne passenger service will be gradually resuming. After a few trials, international cruise ship service to Hong Kong will be restored in phases, while all COVID-19 tests for imported food via sea will be terminated as well. CCP Protests International COVID Screening For Chinese Visitors The European Union this week, recommended that member states require pre-departure COVID-19 tests for visitors from China, following similar moves by the United States, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and South Korea. There are fears that a recent surge in China may spread through travelers from the mainland. Beijing objected to the testing requirements on arrivals from China. COVID tests should not be used for political manipulation, decried Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning on Jan. 5. There should not be discriminatory measures against certain countries. Reuters contributed to this report. Communist Influence in NYC Highlighted by Chinese Officials NYE Appearance Onlookers watch as confetti fills the air to mark the beginning of the new year, in Times Square, New York City, on Jan. 1, 2023. (Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images) The appearance of a Chinese government official at a New Years Eve event in Times Square has raised questions regarding how connected the local government is to agents of Chinas communist regime. The Hong Kong Rocks! event, organized by the Times Square Alliance and celebrated in Times Square this past New Years Eve, gave pride of place to Huang Ping, current consul general of the Chinese Embassy in New York. Huang has earned a reputation over the years as a strident defender of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and a denier of human rights abuses committed by the regime, which rules China as a single-party state. His appearance at the event, where he wished participants a happy new year and encouraged them to visit China, appears to have been orchestrated by several organizations with ties to both the CCP and the local government in New York. Socialism With New York Characteristics The event was attended by over 100 guests and dignitaries from the government, diplomatic, business and academic circles, and travel communities of New York, according to a statement distributed just after midnight by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York. The statement listed Cimagine International Group (CIMG) as a press contact for the event. CIMGs website states that the company has hosted the Chinese cultural opening ceremonies for New Years Eve since 2011, but the company was incorporated in March 2022, is headquartered in Manhattan, and maintains ties to prominent elements of the CCPs vast propaganda network. CIMG lists Chinese state-owned propaganda outlets China Daily, CCTV, and Xinhua, as well as American outlets ABC, CNN, and NBC, among its media partners. The company also lists the Sino-American Friendship Association (SAFA), Sino-American Culture and Arts Foundation (SACAF), and Chinese American Business Development Center (CABDC) as strategic partners. Notably, the SAFA was previously described by The Washington Posts deputy opinion editor as being a vital part of the CCPs United Front workthe regimes political strategy of leveraging networks of groups and individuals to advance the partys interests through propaganda and other influence operations. United Front organizations are typically managed by agents of the regimes United Front Work Department, but can also be separated from the regime by numerous layers of front organizations designed to obfuscate the CCPs influence. Strategic partners may be a misnomer, however, as many of the organizations listed as such on the CIMG and SAFA websites appear to be governed by the same people. Peter Zhang, whos listed on New York documents as the CEO of CIMG, is also the president of the SAFA and chairman of the CABDC. Likewise, Li Li is listed online variously as the president of CIMG, president of the SACAF, and executive vice president and secretary general of the SAFA. Whats more, Lis SAFA bio states that she spent four years working for the City of New York, the Office of the Mayor, and the Office of Management and Budget. The SAFAs board of advisers also includes a former head of China News Service and a member of the 11th Standing Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, a United Front organization that lobbies governments for pro-China policies under the supervision of the CCP, as first reported by Fox News. Championing Communism Although the many ties connecting these organizations raise questions as to how deeply elements of the CCPs influence apparatus are embedded in New Yorks political landscape, Huangs own long history of political commentary helps to clarify their purpose. Huang has repeatedly praised the CCP and communism more generally, going so far as to describe the CCPs journey to build a great modern socialist country in heroic terms during a Harvard College China Forum in April 2022. During that same speech, Huang said that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics was near-universally loved by all Chinese people and that China would follow this path unswervingly. Likewise, during a 2021 interview with the Sinica podcast, Huang said the CCP is a great Party that was based on the fundamental or basic doctrines of Marxism. Huang denied the existence of human rights abuses in Chinas Xinjiang region during the same interview, calling reports of genocide lies and describing concentration camps, which the CCP refers to as reeducation centers, as a campus, rather than camps. The Epoch Times requested comment from Huang, CIMG, the Mayor of New Yorks Office, the New York Office of Management and Budget, the SACAF, the SAFA, and the Times Square Alliance, but received no responses by press time. Bill and Marilyn Turbyfield enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Atlanta Symphony Hall, in Atlanta, on Jan. 7, 2023. (NTD) ATLANTABill Turbyfield, retired head of a construction company, and his wife Marilyn Turbyfield, retired manager of Turbyfield Construction, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Atlanta Symphony Hall on Jan. 7. We loved it, loved the costumes, the dance, everything, Mr. Turbyfield said. We loved the cultural part, and the music. Thats what touched my soul. The history, the cultureit was an experience, Mrs. Turbyfield said. Just to think of the hard work. And the talent! New York-based Shen Yun is the worlds top classical Chinese dance company, and presents through music and dance the beauty and goodness of China before communism, according to its mission. For 5,000 years, Chinese civilization was believed to be divinely inspired, and Mrs. Turbyfield said Shen Yun presented this aspect to great effect. That was a highlight. Theres power in the divine, and theres a God that created us, and he rules this whole universe. And to see him embodied in this, sort of centralized and put a focus there for a moment, and it brought meaningI think brought power to this show, Mrs. Turbyfield said. Everyone needs to come and watch this. Bill Turbyfield I couldnt say it any better, Mr. Turbyfield added.Everyone needs to come and watch this. It was just phenomenal, we loved it. Next year were going to come back and bring the grandchildren, Mrs. Turbyfield said. I can [sum it up] in one word: unforgettable. Reporting by Ze Lin. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Death of Chinese Official Amid COVID-19 Wave Casts Spotlight on Forced Organ Harvesting Falun Gong practitioners stage a reenactment of organ harvesting from imprisoned practitioners in China, during a protest in Vienna on Oct. 1, 2018. (Joe Klamar/AFP via Getty Images) The death of a former Chinese deputy cultural minister amid the countrys COVID explosion would have attracted little public attention if not for a short-lived obituary. With his sharp mind and a booming voice, the spry Gao Zhanxiang didnt at all resemble a patient before the COVID surge, wrote Zhu Yongxin, deputy secretary general of the 12th Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, the Partys top political advisory body. I never imagined that he would leave us so soon. But in his condolences, Zhu might have revealed a little more than he desired. The 87-year-old, as he noted, had replaced many organs in his body as he tenaciously fought with illness, to the point that the former official once joked that many components are not his own anymore. The article caused a stir on Chinese social media Weibo despite its swift deletion. Keen-eyed observers produced copies before censors got to work, circulating them in disbelief over Gaos alleged extensive organ transplant history and the casual way in which Zhu had mentioned it. Its widely known that senior Chinese Communist Party officials enjoy a raft of privileges from top-tier medical treatment to special schools for their children. But the apparent ease with which Gao was able to access multiple matching organs, each of which could cost a lifetimes earnings for a regular Chinese citizen, raises troubling questions in a country already scrutinized for the regimes organ transplant abuses. Minister Gao, when living, you changed so many organs, where did they all come from? And how many more high officials are there who can effortlessly change their failed organs? one person commented online. Those parts that he got so easily, who would have lost them and how? asked another. State-Led Abuse A latecomer to the field, China has seen a boom in the organ transplant industry over the past two decades despite a low number of voluntary donors. The regime has claimed that since 2015, it has relied exclusively on a voluntary organ donation system after it said that it stopped using organs from death-row prisoners. But the numbers dont add up. A 2019 study published in the scientific journal BMC Medical Ethics concluded that the figures from official Chinese donation datasets conform almost precisely to a mathematical formula, a pattern not observed in any of the 50 other countries analyzedsuggesting that the figures are fake. An investigation by the London-based tribunal that year also found the regime culpable of killing prisoners of conscienceprimarily adherents of the persecuted faith Falun Gongand selling their organs for prodigious profits on an industrial scale, with no evidence showing that the practice has stopped. The former deputy cultural minister wasnt the only official whod had organs replaced. Jin Renqing, Chinas finance minister from 2003 to 2007, underwent a heart transplant surgery due to heart disease at the age of 68. The heart came from a 28-year-old patient, a friend revealed in a 2021 obituary after Jins death at 77 due to an apartment fire. Jin, he said, had continued to receive ministerial benefits after leaving the ministry in 2007, including a complimentary car and driver. Given that Chinas transplant system is based on state-organized forced organ harvesting, it is not surprising if party officials have access to transplants on-demand or multiple transplants on-demand, Dr. Torsten Trey, founder and executive director of medical ethics group Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting, told The Epoch Times in an email. Trey said that hes equally unsurprised to hear that Party officials receive multiple transplants of essential, solid organs like heart, liver, kidneys, or under COVID even lungs. Amid mounting international concerns about the abuse, a growing number of nations, including Canada, the UK, Belgium, Israel, Italy, and Spain, have passed measures curbing organ transplant tourism. Falun Gong practitioners holding banners march to the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa to celebrate the victory of the passing of Bill S-223 to combat forced organ harvesting, on Dec. 14, 2022. (Jian Ren/The Epoch Times) Chinas organ transplant industry has continued to grow even amid the pandemic. In 2021, the country performed 50 percent more lung transplant surgeries than the previous year, even when the world at large was seeing at least a 10 percent drop, Chen Jingyu, who oversees quality control on Chinas lung transplantations, told state media in December 2022. During the pandemic, Chinese hospitals were able to maintain the extremely short waiting times for organ transplants, which the tribunal and investigators note is indicative of a vast organ supply made up of unconsenting prisoners of conscience. In the faster scenario, therell be a suitable one in a week or 10 days; if slower, he might have to wait for one or two months, a nurse from a hospital in Chinas Hangzhou city told undercover investigators from in April 2020, when asked how soon they could find an organ match. The phone call was reported by the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong, a New York-based group that has been tracking Chinas forced organ harvesting practices. 150-Year Lifespan The longevity of senior Party members has long been a subject of curiosity in China. The topic has made media headlines in the past, although the articles tended to place an emphasis on their lifestyle habits. However, a one-minute ad dating back to 2019 that went viral on Chinese social media WeChat suggests a more sinister story. Reportedly released by Chinas largest comprehensive military hospital, the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army General Hospital, the clip boasted a first-rate health system to dramatically extend the lifespans of top Chinese leaders. A 150-year lifespan project to combat death, declared the ad, which was taken down within a day by censors who claimed the video was fake. The project, the ad asserted, combines Chinese wellness concepts and Western medical technologies. Citing 2008 data, the ad said that the project has seen significant resultsChinese leaders on average lived to the age of 88, far surpassing their Western counterparts from the same period. The average Chinese life expectancy in 2009 was 72; by 2022, it had reached 78.2, according to official statistics. Restoring organ functions is one of the six key focuses of the program. The Epoch Times couldnt independently verify the ads authenticity, but the program has been repeatedly cited in Chinese state media reports. The hospital, known as the go-to medical facility for Party leaders, is home to a major liver transplant center and takes care of liver transplant surgeries of high-level officials. But greater longevity has its limitseven with multiple transplants, according to Trey. As the virus rages in China, it is probably fair to say that it does not give better protection against the pandemic, he said. What is ethically most concerning is that the one Party rule creates its own rule of exploitation (forced organ harvesting) and then tries to benefit from it. It is a barbaric practice to kill living prisoners of conscience to get their organs so as to increase ones own longevity, the advocate added. It renders medicine absurd and is a brazen contempt of Gods creation. This article has been updated with additional details about Chinese officials receiving transplant surgeries. Does Beijing Have Designs on Siberia? Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping before an extended-format meeting of heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit (SCO) member states in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Sept. 16, 2022. (Sputnik/Sergey Bobylev/Pool via Reuters) Commentary Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin met virtually on Dec. 30, 2022, touting the usual and expected bilateral economic and political engagement, cooperation, and development between China and Russia. But increasingly, one gets the sense that the marriage between Beijing and Moscow is one of convenience and necessity, not friendship. And Xi, the Chinese Communist Party leader, may slowly be gaining the upper hand. Each country faces its own issues. Russia is mired in a costly and increasingly unpopular war against Ukraine. It faces international sanctions, and a sizable portion of its foreign reserves are frozen. Putin, its longtime president, has become persona non grata on the global stage. China has more internal problems. We wont detail all of the issues here but theyre urgent and span across the economy, the real estate market, rampant COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, and escalating citizen unrest. Beijing is also believed to have ambitions of annexing Taiwan, and knowing the ramifications currently facing Russia, it must be prepared to face similar consequences including being cut off from global trade. Weve previously discussed China, Russia, and other nations potentially forming their own global reserve currency backed by commodities and/or gold. That would form another global trade hegemony and free China (and others) from having to transact in dollars. This would be helpful in a post-globalist, more regional economic and political paradigm, especially if China joins Russia as a global pariah. China has also sought to secure its flow of natural resources. In late December 2022, Putin touted that Russia has become Chinas leading supplier of oil and gas. Almost 14 billion cubic meters of gas were sent from Russia to China during the first 11 months of 2022 between pipeline and liquefied natural gas. And thanks to the embargo on Russian oil by most of the developed world, Russia has replaced Saudi Arabia as Chinas top oil supplier, and at a discounted price. For the most part, Russia lacks pipelines to carry gas from Siberia to China or Europe. Siberia is historically underdeveloped with clusters of towns and cities, poor infrastructure, and inadequate transportation. As of December 2022, the Power of Siberia pipeline is now fully operational and can carry gas from Russia all the way to Shanghai, at a maximum of 38 billion cubic meters per year capacity by 2027. The Russian portion of the pipeline was completed in 2019. Moscow has plans to build Power of Siberia II to supply more gas to China, but it isnt a strategic priority budget-wise given its war in Ukraine. With Moscow now fully distracted in its war in the west, China and Xi now have the upper hand in this uneasy marriage. While Xi has publicly supported Putin, privately, Xi has raised concerns. China also failed to appeal most Western sanctions against Russia and hasnt provided the country with any military aid. Its a bit of duplicitous diplomacy. At this point, China is simply using Russia. Their relationship, despite todays public harmony, has been an uneasy one for centuries. China and Russia often vie for hegemony over Eastern and Central Asia. Were projecting a bit here. But Russia has been among the top beneficiaries of Chinese development funding through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China has now secured Russian oil and gas supplies. It benefits both nations for China to take over the development of Siberia, and Russia has very little wherewithal to challenge. China has allowed its BRI capital to dry up since the Ukraine invasionfearing Western sanctionsbut if China eventually is sanctioned itself, then the BRI would become a full go. China craves more natural resources. Siberia has an abundance of oil, gas, coal, diamond, gold, iron ore, and rare earth minerals. Yet Russia has little capital and Moscow is too far to supply the necessary equipment. China is very close to Siberia. Moscow needs the cash to sustain its costly war in Ukraine. Its economy is woefully undiversified and reliant upon energy and mineral exports. Russia needs China. China can provide the capital for development and take over Siberia; if not legally, then certainty in practice. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. End These Travel Restrictions Now Commentary Once again, the U.S. government has extended the vaccination-only policy for foreign travelers, this time to April and probably later. Its a devastating announcement for millions of people without U.S. passports who want to come to the United States to visit friends and family or otherwise engage in professional and educational activities the way they used to. Potentially some 3 billion people are affected. The U.S. government says, once again, only the jabbed may visit. Unless you are on diplomatic or official foreign government travel. So of course government exempts itself. Only the elitesamong whom those who do not fly commercialget a pass, just like in totalitarian dystopia. The enforcement takes place when the tickets and boarding passes are issued, so if you can bypass that, you are good to go. And Ill say what you are already thinking: Of course this policy does not apply to the southern border. But it does apply to everywhere else in the world and travelers who buy plane or train tickets. They must get the shot or will be denied entry. This is very personal to me and the rest of us at Brownstone Institute because it means that our 2023 fellow, professor Julie Ponesse, cannot even cross the U.S.Canada border to engage in an academic colloquium we have scheduled. It also affects a friend of mine in the UK who is a highly specialized expert in Renaissance choral music and wants to come to conduct choirs in the United States. There are probably thousands of institutions and companies that could tell similar stories of exclusion. Meanwhile, its not even clear that most U.S. citizens know about this rule at all. The United States is one of the few countries in the world that maintains them. It should go without saying that the restrictions are pointless. Its not a news flash that COVID is already here and fast making its way toward endemicity. Even if people arrived sick as dogs, there is enough immunity in the population for COVID to be treated like the flu or a cold. It is also incredibly clear, and has been for 18 months at least, that the shots protect against neither infection nor spread, nor do they meet the safety standards of traditional vaccines. That some people in the world declined them is a credit to their decision-making fortitude; they are exactly the kind of visitors we need. This is a grave embarrassment to the United States, of course. But there is even more at stake. This one rule represents a repudiation of a policy of permission that built the modern world as we know it. It symbolizes a return to isolation, parochialism, detachment, and feudalistic fear, and ignorance and narrow-mindedness along with it. Before modernity dawned, this was the default: knowing only what is around uslanguage, religion, and custom. What made the world greatand what vastly improved our immune systemswas fearless exposure to the broader world. This is the 150th anniversary of Jules Vernes mighty classic Around the World in Eighty Days, written at the height of the Belle Epoch in 1872. Several amazing innovations dawned at once: the Suez Canal, the U.S. transcontinental railroad, and the linking of the Indian railway through the subcontinent. This made it possible to circumnavigate the world in two and a half months. Maybe. A high-born English aristocrat (Phileas Fogg) and a wiley French assistant (Jean Passepartout) set out on the great journey based on a wager made with a friend. In each telling of the story in movies, the rendering takes on a different cast. In the earliest, the English gentleman encounters every manner of deeply regrettable traditions and practices and variously rescues situations by way of his high English morals, manners, and principles. You get the impression of England going out to civilize the world, as was the attitude of the time. More modern filmmakers flip the script and have gentle and fascinating foreign people school the Englishman in other ways of the world. The book has come to be this type of template. Whichever view you hold, the point remains: Exposure to foreign cultures and peoples is good for everyone. This gets us out of our isolation and lets us see the world in a different way. It broadens our minds, makes us curious about languages and history, and generally increases familiarity and thus humane treatment of others. In other words, travel promotes human understanding and human rights. This is the idea, beautifully embodied in this literary classic. Its heartbreaking to read that book today and understand the broadness of the great dream of a world connected. There were no restraints other than technology and weather in their travels. The world had no passports. Those came during and after the Great War. There certainly were not vaccination mandates for travelers. Even for new U.S. immigrants in those days, there were some tests for disease before the granting of citizenship but travelers could come and go. And so it has been for a very long time. Without question. Jules Verne was right: The world was getting better, more connected, and with no end in sight. And then March 12, 2020, arrived, when Trump was talked into slamming shut the right to travel for people from Europe, the UK, and Australia. This was following his January 2020 closure of travel from China. Nothing like this had ever happened, especially not on the edict from one man without any vote from Congress. When it became obvious that this was a pointless exercise, people in the Trump administration tried to get it reversed but there was no one really in charge of making the decision. Everyone just passed the buck to everyone else, and thus did the Biden administration inherit and extend them, now for two more years. For almost three years now, many wonderful artists, intellectuals, students, business professionals, and musicians have been locked out of U.S. borders, even just to tour around and see this great land and meet up with friends. Its simply barbaric and yet there it is. Why does this persist? Maybe the U.S. government wants to leave in place the remnants of at least some kind of precedent on which to build a health-passport system on the way to constructing a China-style social credit system. Certainly, we are being surveilled and tracked as never before, and the shot is part of that. Or maybe it is to perpetuate the legalities of emergency rule under which the shots can continue to be authorized under emergency use. Or some combination. Also, there is a broader ideological orientation that should concern us, best embodied by the policy papers of the World Economic Forum and the writings of Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates, and others. Its a new ideology Ive called lockdownism but it might also be called techno-primitivism. Its a combination of digital technology plus a rollback into previous ages of existence to a time without fossil fuels and meat plus geographical isolation and limited choices for average people. In other words, its a step back to feudalism: The lords of the manor are digital titans and the rest of us are peasants toiling in the fields and eating bugs when the food runs out. You could say that such speculation is delirium but, these days, I dont think so. Three years ago, no one could have imagined that an academic from Canada or a conductor from Britain would not be allowed to enter the United States because they refused an experimental shot to ward off a disease that is no threat to them and which doesnt accomplish the goal anyway. No one would have imagined closed churches, schools, and businesses. We have seen and experienced horrible things and are told to be grateful for the freedoms we have. We are turning back the clock: away from high civilization to a much lower form without a solid guarantee of even the freedom to travel, while giving up the dream of universal human rights. The confidence that Phileas Fogg had in a better world with more human connection is being replaced by isolation, fear, and compliance as guiding principles. The price will be very high. In the end, what we are losing is human connection and hence the core of civility itself. The price paid will not be apparent this year or next but over the long term as the idealism that birthed the old modern ideal recedes into the past. Verne says this at the end of his book: Phileas Fogg had won his wager, and had made his journey around the world in eighty days. To do this he had employed every means of conveyancesteamers, railways, carriages, yachts, trading-vessels, sledges, elephants. The eccentric gentleman had throughout displayed all his marvelous qualities of coolness and exactitude. But what then? What had he really gained by all this trouble? What had he brought back from this long and weary journey? Nothing, say you? Perhaps so; nothing but a charming woman, who, strange as it may appear, made him the happiest of men! Truly, would you not for less than that make the tour around the world? [Coda: Several people have written me that at no time coming and going from the United States has the TSA or Customs or Passports asked for the vaccine status. Indeed. Most agents are unaware that this is even an issue. The reason is that last year, the responsibility for enforcement was passed on to the airlines themselves who will not issue a boarding pass on a U.S.-bound flight without proof of vaccination status. This develops a digital footprint and works as an enforcement tool, seemingly without involving border agents at all. So fair warning if you have heard that you can get in without it: There will be checks, and enforcement, and you will be barred entry, just not in the usual way.] From the Brownstone Institute Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Family of Slain California Deputy Calls for Judge to Resign RIVERSIDE, Calif.The family of a slain Southern California sheriffs deputy on Jan. 6 demanded the resignation of a judge who had previously released the lawmans shooter despite a violent criminal record. Riverside County Deputy Isaiah Cordero, 32, was fatally shot on Dec. 29 during a traffic stop in the city of Jurupa Valley, east of Los Angeles. Cordero had pulled over a pickup truck and the driver, 44-year-old William Shae McKay, pulled a gun and shot the deputy as he approached the vehicle, authorities said. Law enforcement pursued McKay in a massive manhunt that included a chase along freeways in two counties. Riverside County Sheriffs stand at the corner of Golden West Avenue and Condor Drive in Jurupa Valley, Calif., on Dec. 29, 2022. (Will Lester/The Orange County Register via AP) McKay was killed during a shootout with deputies after the truck crashed. Sobbing throughout her eulogy Friday during a memorial service, Rebecca Cordero said she last saw her son on Christmas Eve. We do not know how we are supposed to carry on without you, she said. Your selflessness and determination will not be forgotten. Although Cordero was officially killed by gunfire, Rebecca Cordero blamed the current political climate and anti-law enforcement sentiments, as well as San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Cara D. Hutson. Requests for comment were sent Friday to Hutson and the courts spokesperson. This undated photo provided by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shows William Shae McKay, the suspect who murdered a Riverside County motorcycle deputy Isaiah Cordero in Jurupa Valley, Calif., on Dec. 29, 2022. (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation via AP) The actual cause of death: disdain, disrespect, disregard, a dysfunctional system that has unfairly been politicized, Rebecca Cordero said. McKay had a long and violent criminal history stretching back to before 2000 that included kidnapping, robbery, and multiple arrests for assault with a deadly weapon, including the stabbing of a California Highway Patrol dog, according to Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. The sheriff said McKay was convicted of a third strike offense in 2021 that should have put him in state prison for 25 years to life, but the judge lowered his bail, allowing his release, and later released him following an arrest for failing to appear at his sentencing. Residents line up in Riverside, Calif., to honor slain Riverside County Sheriffs deputy, Isaiah Cordero as the procession makes its way from the mortuary to the church for his funeral on Jan. 6, 2023. (Watchara Phomicinda/The Orange County Register via AP) He should have been immediately sentenced to 25 years to life, Bianco previously said. We would not be here today if the judge had done her job. Cordero joined the 4,000-member strong department as a corrections deputy, worked in local jails, became a sworn deputy in 2018, and completed motor school to become a motorcycle deputy in September. He qualified posthumously, for what would have been the second year in a row, to be decorated by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his work taking impaired motorists into custody. Keith Carpenter and Amy Graves enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts at The Long Center for the Performing Arts, in Austin, on Jan. 7, 2023. (Sally Sun/The Epoch Times) AUSTIN, TexasShen Yun Performing Arts, a global sensation, performed 14 shows on Saturday, Jan. 7. Seven of its eight touring companies took to the stage on the same day, spanning three continents around the world. At The Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin, Keith Carpenter and Amy Graves were amazed by the scale of Shen Yun, especially when they learned that the New York-based classical Chinese dance and music company put on a whole new production every year. That was fascinating, said Mr. Carpenter, a business owner. It was very moving. Ms. Graves enjoyed the storytelling experience Shen Yun created through multiple performing art forms. They pulled it all together so well. The way they brought it in on the stage and then brought it all together was very thought-provoking, Ms. Graves said. All the stories were really fascinating, very thought-provoking. Keith Carpenter Mr. Carpenter added, All the stories were really fascinating, very thought-provoking. A Shen Yun performance includes nearly 20 vignettes, many of which are story-based classical Chinese dance pieces. The performances also include ethnic and folk dances and musical solos. Mr. Carpenter and Ms. Graves both said they felt the experience was a moving one. From a solo of the two-stringed erhu, an ancient Chinese instrument, to stories from historical to present-day China, the couple felt the content provided food for thoughtand for the spirit. It moved us, it was deeply spiritual, Ms. Graves said. It made us think about a lot of things. Courage and Virtue Also in the audience was Jessica Pennington, an investigative researcher whose work currently involves exposing how much land in Texas is actually owned by Chinese state entities. She attended the performance with her husband, , and though they arrived late, Mrs. Pennington said that the moment she saw the performance, I was just crying like a baby, it was beautiful. Jacob and Jessica Pennington at Shen Yun Performing Arts at Austins Long Center for the Performing Arts, on Jan. 7, 2023. (Sally Sun/The Epoch Times) [It] was just stunning, it was breathtaking, she said. I used to live in China. And in China, it was beautiful to be invited into the villages and seeing what little bit of beautiful Chinese culture was left. because communism kills and destroyed everything it touches, but theres still a little bit of hope when I left. Shen Yun is known for its revival of 5,000 years of Chinese civilization. More specifically, as stated on its website in recent years, this is China before communism. Mrs. Pennington said, That was really beautiful, to experience in China and then to come back here and to see the full force of the beautiful traditions that China has. Its just stunning. Its breathtaking, and I was crying the entire time. She applauded Shen Yun for showing the truth about China and its people. Once known as the Celestial Empire, the Chinese believed for thousands of years that its culture was divinely inspired. The communist regime that took power in the last century held opposite beliefs, instilling atheism with its rule and stamping out traditional culture. Shen Yun is currently unable to go to China, where many of the artists still have family members. Mrs. Pennington said she would express her gratitude to the performers, given the chance. Because its beautiful, and to stand up for truth is something that is very brave and courageous, she said. Courage is a virtue that all other virtues rest upon. And without it we couldnt have any virtue and even for just performing, just the way they show the beautifulness of Chinese traditionsthank you for doing that. Reporting by Sally Sun. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Former Bank Manager Pleads Guilty to $1 Million Fraud in Yorba Linda SANTA ANA, Calif.A former Bank of America Yorba Linda branch manager pleaded guilty Jan. 6 to stealing $1.2 million from the accounts of elderly customers. Lana Pothos, 59, of Anaheim pleaded guilty to a count of bank fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced July 10. Pothos and co-defendant Theron Fox, 49, of Tustin, who is awaiting trial, stole about $1.2 million in the summer of 2020 from an elderly couples account, according to federal prosecutors. Pothos used personal information from one of the victims to create an online banking profile that she used through the banks internal computer system to change the couples mailing address to a hair salon in Yorba Linda where Pothos was a customer, prosecutors said. She also changed their phone number to one she used. In July 2020, the co-defendant opened a new bank account in one of the names of the victims and transferred the money out of their bank account through October of that year, prosecutors said. Gov. Kristi Noem, Family at High Risk of Identity Theft After Jan. 6 Committees SSN Leak: Attorney South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who has just begun her second term, says she and her immediate family are at a very high risk of identity theft after the Houses Jan. 6 committee made the familys Social Security numbers public. In what Noems attorney described as a critical breach of confidential data, the Social Security numbers belonging to Noem, her husband, her three children, and her son-in-law were published without redaction as part of the White Houses visitor logs that became exhibits during hearings by the panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. The logs contained nearly 2,000 Social Security numbers associated with visitors to the White House in December 2020, according to The Washington Post, which first reported on the leak. The numbers, as required by law, should have been redacted prior to the documents publication. This information was publicly available for days before being removed from the website, the attorney wrote in a letter to the White House, the Government Publishing Office, the National Archives, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), who chaired the now-disbanded committee. Perhaps most troubling and outrageous is the fact that each of you had an opportunity and obligation to prevent the wrongful disclosure. Governor Noem and her family are now at a very high risk of identity theft and being personally compromised. The letter also notes that failure to protect this information is a violation of federal privacy law. The attorney further demanded more information about how the breach occurred, who should be held responsible, and what actions are to be taken to remedy the breach. Also among those whose information was exposed are three members of President Donald Trumps Cabinet, as well as prominent Republicans such as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson. Whether it was a careless and sloppy handling of records or a deliberate disregard of decorum, either scenario is a perfunctory and callous display of government and a frightening reminder of the current state in Washington, Carson told the Post. President [Ronald] Reagan was a savant indeedthe nine most frightening words to hear are, I am from the government and here to help.' The exhibits that contained White House visitors Social Security numbers were originally published by the Government Publishing Office, according to the Post. They were taken down on Jan. 4, the day after the committees scheduled dissolution. It appeared that those affected werent notified about the incident. To my knowledge, we were not notified. The governor was not notified, Noem spokesman Ian Fury told the newspaper. In February 2022, President Joe Biden ordered the National Archives to release the White House visitor logs to the Jan. 6 panel, denying Trumps effort to use executive privilege to keep the information private. The records in question are entries in visitor logs showing appointment information for individuals who were processed to enter the White House complex, including on January 6, 2021, then-White House counsel Dana Remus wrote in the letter to the National Archives at that time. As a matter of policy, and subject to limited exceptions, the Biden Administration voluntarily discloses such visitor logs on a monthly basis. The President has determined that an assertion of executive privilege is not in the best interests of the United States, and therefore is not justified, as to these records and portions of records. More than 100 weak and hungry Rohingya Muslim refugees were among the latest group to reach ashore in Indonesia on Sunday after a long and dangerous journey aboard a wooden boat. The group of 184 people, including a pregnant woman and children, landed at the Kuala Gigieng beach in Indonesia's northernmost province of Aceh, which has already received more than 500 Rohingya last year. The refugees say they're seeking a better life than in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh, where they fled military persecution across the border in Myanmar. "In Bangladesh, there are no opportunities for Rohingya refugees. So we come here to Indonesia,'' said Faisal, one of the refugees who uses only one name. Fahmi Irwan Ramli, Banda Aceh city police chief, said the refugees appeared generally in good condition, but there was a pregnant woman and four were sick and being treated by doctors. The U.N. refugee agency said it will determine their status in coordination with Indonesia's government. Fishermen on Saturday reported seeing three boats suspected to be carrying refugees, but only one landed on Sunday. The United Nations reported that 26 refugees died last month of dehydration and exhaustion after weeks at sea. More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Buddhist-majority Myanmar to refugee camps in Bangladesh since August 2017. Myanmar security forces have been accused of mass rapes, killings and burning thousands of Rohingya homes. Most of the refugees leaving the camps by sea attempt to reach Muslim-dominated Malaysia, but end up in Indonesia along the way. Search Keywords: Short link: Ask practically anyone in modern America how theyre doing, and the answer is likely to be busy. Its a sentimentand a conditionthats so ubiquitous that the asker is likely to answer me too with a sympathetic nod. Whether its an overstuffed work schedule (complete with lunch at your desk) or an air-tight family calendar that bounces from activity to activity with hardly time for a bathroom break, we lose something when our days are packed with work and scheduled activity from dawn till dusk. Our productivity, our sanity, and even our health suffer when we fail to make time for regular rest and renewal. But theres a simple antidote to this common problemtake a break. Addicted to Busy Its no surprise that Americans are addicted to being busy. Work harder and longer may not show up as actual signage in any workplace, but its a message that seems to be tattooed on the American psyche. According to the U.S. Travel Association, more than half of the U.S. workforce left valuable vacation days on the table in 2018, to the tune of 768 million unused days. That number represents work days that were essentially donated to their employers, and its a number that has steadily increased over the past several decades. And many of those who did take vacation days didnt fully leave their work behind. A recent study by passport-photo.online shows that 68 percent used their phones to work while on vacation instead of fully immersing themselves in the vacation experience. Vacation time aside, even on-the-job break time is often underused. According to a survey conducted by Right Management, the majority of American workers dont take what we could call a real lunch breakone that includes disengaging from work to enjoy a midday meal. The survey found that 28 percent of workers seldom, if ever break for lunch, while 39 percent usually eat at their desks. This is in spite of the fact that most workers say that taking a lunch break actually improves their job performance and makes them feel more engaged and productive. These employees are missing the opportunity to recharge and bring their best selves to their work. Research by The Energy Project has found that human beings progress from a state of alertness to physiological fatigue roughly every 90 minutes. After that, we can, of course, continue to work, but our focus, motivation, and productivity wont be at their best. The Cost of Burnout We might assume that all those long hours put in by American workers result in super-productivity and larger incomes, and there may be some truth to that. But our saturated work schedules, when added to other life commitments, come at a high cost. American adults receive more mental health diagnoses, including anxiety and depression, than those in any other developed country. Could this have something to do with our failure to take time for regular, restorative breaks? Consider the fact that European countries average a minimum of between 20 and 30 paid vacation days per year for full-time workers. The average in the United States for most private industry workers is 10 days after one year of employment. Daniel H. Pink, author of five New York Times bestsellers focusing on business, work, creativity, and behavior, has broken down both the benefits and drawbacks of the average American workday. When it comes to the downside of break-less work, he told The Epoch Times: The big potential impacts are declining productivity and creativity. Our brains and bodies are not built to go, go, go endlessly. They need to be recharged. And that means we need to start thinking of breaks, not as a deviation from our performancebut as part of our performance. Weve been seduced by the belief that amateurs take breaks and professionals dont. But thats 180 degrees wrong. Professionals take breaks because they know that the occasional pause to recharge enhances their ability to connect and contribute. Breaks for a Mental and Emotional Boost This need for renewal after prolonged, focused mental or physical effort applies to everyone, not just working adults. A Danish study of schoolchildren found that students test scores were highest first thing in the morning and decreased by 0.9 percent for each successive hour throughout the school day because of increased mental fatigue as the day went on. Interestingly, however, after a 20- to 30-minute break, average test scores went up by 1.7 percentmore than making up for the earlier decline. Aside from the implications for the timing of scheduling tests, the study also highlighted the importance of break times for cognitive performance, an important consideration as some schools have canceled or reduced recess times in a misconstrued attempt to improve test scores. The effects of allowing some downtime to recharge can be far-reaching. In 2011, researchers studied more than 1,100 rulings given by judges on two Israeli parole boards that serve four major prisons in Israel. Data collected included the time of day the decision was handed down, as well as its place within the sequence of decisions for that day. In their study published in the PNAS, the researchers reported that, in general, the judges were more likely to issue a favorable ruling (such as granting parole or removing a tracking device) in the morning than in the afternoon. Theres more to productivity than just putting in more hours. The quality of those hours matters. When youre facing weariness and fatigue, whether its mental, emotional, or physical, a well-utilized breakeven a very short one of 10 minutes or lesscan make the difference between excellence in performance and working at a subpar level. Our energy, focus, creativity, and even emotional stability are finite resources that need to be replenished when depleted. We cant run on empty. A study published in the February 2008 issue of The Academy of Management Journal, Making the Break Count: An Episodic Examination of Recovery Activities, Emotional Experiences, and Positive Affective Displays, examined the effect of work breaks on emotional states via data collected from 64 cheerleading instructors who were chosen because cheerleading requires continual positive affective displays. In other words, cheerleaders need to continually look cheerful, regardless of how theyre actually feeling. The researchers concluded that employees who engaged in more respite activities during work breaks experienced higher levels of positive emotions and lower levels of negative emotions during these breaks and exhibited higher levels of positive affective displays after the breaks. Its not much of a stretch to think that customer-facing employees, managers, and parents, to name a fewall of whom face continual demands on their emotional resourcescan benefit greatly from regular breaks. The Type of Break Matters For breaks to be truly effective in helping us perform at our best, a week-long vacation, as wonderful and revitalizing as it might be, isnt a long-term solution to day-to-day burnout. In fact, most vacation-derived benefits fade quickly after returning homewithin just a few weeks. Breaks dont need to be long to be effective, but the quality of the break does matter. A break that does its job of leaving you refreshed, recharged, and ready to refocus can take many different forms, but according to research published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology in 2007, it must provide psychological detachment from the work at hand and positive emotions. Eating lunch at your desk while scrolling through work emails wont provide much, if any, real benefit. Using your break time to vent about a problem at work with a frustrated colleague also fails to pass the test. However, what can be beneficial is break time spent going for a walk (especially in a park or other green space), exercising, eating lunch with someone you enjoy talking with (so long as its not about work), or even taking a short nap of 10 to 20 minutes. These are the sorts of breaks that are likely to leave you more energized, motivated, and with greater cognitive and emotional resourcesall things that are vital not only to doing your best work but also to being your best self. For those who feel too overworked to make time for a break or two (or three) during the day or for whom guilt, perceived employer expectations, or an effort to look busy keeps them from taking a time out, Pink suggests: Start small. Taking a break doesnt mean going on a two-hour siesta every afternoon. It means taking any kind of break you can fashion. My advice: Tomorrow afternoon, take a 15-minute walk break outside, preferably with someone else, and leaving your phone behind. If its helpfuland it will bedo it the next day. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here. A study published in JAMA Network Open on Jan. 3 found that children and adolescents with a history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), a rare and potentially fatal immune reaction to COVID-19 infection, reported no serious complications after receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. We are very reassured by the results, said Dr. Matthew Elias, an attending cardiologist in the Cardiac Center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and co-author of the study. This safety data should be comforting to families and healthcare professionals when considering and recommending vaccination. CHOP led and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded the multicenter, cross-sectional study, which was the largest of its kind to examine COVID-19 vaccination in this group of young people, CHOP reported. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and prevent severe illness from the virus, little data existed about the safety of vaccination for those with a history of MIS-C. According to the study, some health care professionals and parents were concerned that vaccinating these children might trigger serious adverse reactions or even cause a reoccurrence of the condition. Thus, we aimed to describe the adverse reactions following COVID-19 vaccination in this population, the study said. Of the 385 patients in the study, all had a prior MIS-C diagnosis and were eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. They were surveyed between Dec. 13, 2021, and Feb. 18, 2022. The study involved 22 medical centers21 in the United States and one in Canadathat were participating in a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and NIH-sponsored study, called Long-Term Outcomes After the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MUSIC). Vaccine eligibility was defined as aged five years or older and at least 90 days after an MIS-C diagnosis. Patients who had received a COVID-19 vaccine prior to being diagnosed with MIS-C were excluded from the studys analysis. Of the study group, 185 (48.1 percent) received at least one vaccine dose, which the study said was generally comparable with the CDCs national data. The participants median age was 12.2 years, and 73.5 percent of them were male. Of the study participants who received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, almost all (98.9 percent) were administered the Pfizer BioNTech COVID vaccine. The study found that the patient-reported adverse reactions to the vaccine were mild with no diagnosis of myocarditis (heart inflammation) or a reoccurrence of MIS-C, and none of the participants required medical testing or hospitalization. The most common side effects were arm soreness, fatigue, and fever, which mirror the CDCs reported reactions of the general population for the same age group. The results of the study led to its conclusion: These findings support the CDC recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination at least 90 days following MIS-C diagnosis, with ongoing surveillance of adverse events, researchers said. The CDC, NIH, NHLBI, and Pediatric Heart Network supplied grants for the JAMA study, and at least four of the co-authors disclosed financial ties to pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, outside the study. MIS-C Background According to the CDC, most children infected with COVID-19 experience mild symptoms or none at all. However, a very small percentageabout one in 3,000 to 4,000 children and teens under the age of 21go on to develop MIS-C, a poorly understood and rare condition that occurs about two to six weeks after contracting the virus and can lead to organ failure. The CDC explains that MIS-C is a serious inflammatory condition that affects the heart (myocarditis) and other organ systems, including the lungs, kidneys, skin, eyes, and gastrointestinal tract. On very rare occasions, the syndrome can be deadly, but the CDC claims that most children who are diagnosed with the condition get better with medical treatment. MIS-C can develop whether or not the child had experienced symptoms of COVID-19, as the virus may have gone undetected. MIS-C is a new condition that was first reported in April 2020 shortly after COVID-19 became widespread throughout the United States. The CDC began tracking MIS-C cases in May 2020. As of Jan. 3, 2023, 9,333 cases have been reported, and 76 deaths occurred in the 55 U.S. jurisdictions reporting, that is, all 50 U.S. states, New York City, Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C. The CDC acknowledged that the condition is on the decline. Dr. Audrey Dionne, a pediatric cardiologist at Boston Childrens Hospital, assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, and co-author of the JAMA study, attributes its decline to an increased vaccination in the under-21 age group. A big part of that decline is that COVID vaccination has been protective against this rare condition in those who have received it, Dionne told NIH. From NTD News Arizonas Hobbs Signs LGBT Executive Order in 1st Official Act as Governor The new Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs takes the oath of office in a ceremony at the state Capitol in Phoenix, on Jan. 2, 2023. (Ross D. Franklin, Pool/AP Photo) In her first official act as Arizonas governor, Democrat Katie Hobbs signed an executive order that seeks to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation in employment. According to Executive Order 2023-01, more than 40 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals are reporting unfair treatment at work across the country, including not being hired, getting fired, or facing harassment based on their sexual orientation or sexual identity. Using the powers of her office, Hobbs affirmed the states commitment to eliminating all barriers to employment that artificially restrict hiring, promotion, recruitment, compensation, and tenure based on any status or characteristic that is not directly related to the performance of the job. The executive order instructs the Department of Administration to establish procedures to be used by all state agencies by April 1, to ensure that criteria such as sexual orientation and gender identity or expression dont become factors for employment. Other considerations such as race, color, sex, religion, creed, marital status, age, veteran status, etc. also arent to be used as employment criteria. Today marks a new era in Arizona where my administration will work to build an Arizona for everyone, Hobbs said in a Jan. 3 statement. I am proud to launch my First 100 Days Initiative which will center around tackling the biggest challenges facing Arizonans, like making our state more affordable and sustainable. Its time for bold action and I feel ready as ever to get the job done. Lets get to work. 2003 Order In 2003, an executive order issued by Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, provided protections for sexual orientation in employment. The protections remained in effect as the two subsequent Republican governors didnt use their powers to rescind them. Hobbss spokesperson Murphy Hebert believes there are potential loopholes in the 2003 order that are resolved in the one issued by the new governor. The order from 2003 arguably allowed the state to consider sexual orientation in hiring so long as it wasnt the only reason for a hiring decision, she said, according to KAWC. The new executive order clarifies that discrimination based on sexual orientation is prohibited in all state hiring decisions. In addition, the order asks that nondiscrimination language and provisions be inserted into new contracts by the state. Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, doesnt think that provision would be enforceable. Protecting Faith Groups SB 1399, which was approved in 2022, specifically prohibits the state from discriminating when it deals with faith-based foster care and adoption agencies with which it has contracts. Hobbss order might potentially violate the constitutional rights of faith-based agencies, Herrod said, according to KAWC. In case of a conflict between the two laws, she believes that SB 1399 would take precedence over Hobbss executive order. If the state refuses to enter into contracts with faith groups by insisting that these groups violate the religious discrimination provisions in Hobbss order, they might be held responsible for violating statutory and constitutional rights. During a rally on Nov. 3, 2022, Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake had accused the Democrat of promoting gender transition surgery as Hobbss husband was a child therapist at Phoenix Childrens Hospital. It makes sense now. Why would she push this stuff on our beautiful, perfect babies? she said at the time. And her husband is making money, brainwashing our children into thinking they can be a different gender than when they were born. It is sick. It is twistedand we cannot let this monster anywhere near the government. In 1934, New York attorney Samuel Moanfeldt set out on a three-month journey. He made his way across the United States, traveling from Colorado to Pennsylvania, and eventually ending in Kansas. He was hired by the Music Publishers Protective Association, an organization desperate to find out who originally wrote the song Home on the Range. They needed an answer fast. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had recently declared the folk song to be his favorite, causing an explosion in popularity and with it a wealth of controversy as musicians and publishing houses attempted to claim the work as their own, even though the song had been believed to be in the public domain up until then. Along the way, Moanfeldt received help from folklorist John Lomax, who published his book Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads in 1910 and featured Home on the Range. During Lomaxs travels throughout the American West, he stumbled upon a saloon in Texas, its owner inside humming an inviting melody. When he inquired about the songs beginnings, the owner said he learned it along the Chisholm Trail in Kansas while herding cattle. The Chisholm Trail of the Great Plains Chisholm Trail mural in Fort Worth, Texas. Library of Congress. (Public Domain) After learning about the folklorists conversation with the Texas bar owner, Monafeldt made his way to Kansas. While there, he investigated the former bustling Chisholm Trail, a route that started in Texas and ended in the small town of Abilene, Kansas as cowboys drove cattle through the plains to be sold for beef. From 1867 to 1871, Abilene was Kansass top shipping hub for the in-demand livestock. This popular route continued throughout the 1880s and saw its fair share of cowboys, who kept their spirits up during long hours spent protecting cattle herds from thieves, flooding waters, and windstorms by singing cowboy work songs. Moanfeldt learned that the song quickly gained widespread popularity among traveling cowboys. They deeply connected with the tunes two main elements which would go on to become classic country music staples: lyrics romanticizing the unbridled Wild West and a gentle, melancholy melody. One of the first Western railheads allowing cattle to be shipped to eastern markets was located at Abilene, Kansas. The cattle trade provided the route for the song Home on the Range to be spread among western states by cowboys who learned it in Kansas. Library of Congress. (Public Domain) Towards the end of Moanfeldts investigation, the Texas saloon owners story began lining up with countless stories provided by cowboys who all learned the song in Kansas along the Chisholm Trail in the late 1800s. Official statements made by both a former patient of an ear, nose, and throat doctor, and a member of a professional orchestra supplied the New York attorney with enough evidence to follow their leads to a secluded area of Beaver Creek in Smith County, Kansas. The mysterious case of Home on the Range, which Monafeldt solved in 1934, ended at a small cabin once inhabited by Dr. Brewster M. Higley VI. A Homesteaders Joyous Ode Cowboy Singing, circa 1892, by Thomas Eakins. Denver Art Museum, Colorado. (Public Domain) Originally from Rutland, Ohio, Dr. Higley started his first medical practice in Indiana at only 26 years old after graduating from La Porte Medical College. When word got out that the Homestead Act of 1862 was set to pass (giving Americans the opportunity to own significant portions of land in western states), he headed to Kansas and staked his claim along the calm flowing waters of Beaver Creek, overlooking a vast peaceful expanse of untouched terrain. He quickly fell in love with his quiet homestead, building a modest cabin on his newly acquired property, and writing a poem in its honor titled My Western Home in the early 1870s. Shortly after he wrote the tribute, a local magazine, Smith County Pioneer, published Higleys work. His neighbor, Daniel Kelley, a former Civil War veteran and musician in the Harlan Brothers Orchestra, set Higleys words to music. Their collaboration transformed Higleys poem into the western plains anthem, Home on the Range. The Homestead Act spurred an influx of farmers and cowboys to the Kansas area. The nomadic nature of this agrarian way of life involved a love of music and a tendency for songs to catch on throughout farmlands, trading routes, and cattle drives via word of mouth. Home, home on the range. Where the deer and the antelope play. The opening lyrics to one of Americas most beloved folk songs is still often sung today. What began as a homesteaders joyous ode to his freshly cultivated land eventually became one of Americas most beloved folk songs, becoming so popular that artists from Frank Sinatra to Pete Seeger recorded covers of the cowboy classic. Its enduring, nationwide popularity signifies that the adventurous spirit of Americas Wild West lives on. A 1956 album by Bing Crosby. (Public Domain) Icelandic horses are photographer Lina Kronholms favorite breed, and the images she produces perfectly capture their beauty and strength. With a lineage dating back more than a thousand years, according to Viking history, the Icelandic horse is one of the oldest horse breeds in the world. It is also one of the purest, Kronholm, 23, from Malmo, Sweden, told The Epoch Times, because the breed has been isolated on the island for over 1000 years. The first horses were brought to the island by the Vikings and since then, no new horses have been brought to the island. When the Vikings first arrived in Iceland, they could only bring a limited number of horses. Therefore, only the best horses were brought to the island. To this day, Icelandic law has made it illegal to import new horses, and a horse that leaves can never return. Native horses are largely free from disease, and this rule guards them against potential disease threats. Photographer Lina Kronholm. (Courtesy of Lina Kronholm) Kronholm fell head over heels in love with Icelandic horses when she traveled to Iceland to work with them. I got to ride them for long treks across beaches, rivers, mountains, cities, and all of this with a big herd of horses following us, she said. Seeing them in their home environment, how they handle all the different elements and terrains, was amazing. They might seem quite small and cutewhich they definitely are, like a ponybut they possess great strength, incredible determination, and a very loving nature. Gifted a camera by her parents to take on vacation when she was 14, Kronholm quickly developed a passion for the art of photography. Since she started riding when she was very young, a lot of time was spent in the stable and it became natural for the then-teenager to bring her camera along to practice with. I started taking pictures of friends and their horses, and realized I really enjoyed it, she said. Working with animals requires a lot of skill and patience, and Kronholm has also spent a lot of time honing her expertise in her native Sweden, taking pictures of Icelandic horses there. The horse doesnt understand what you are trying to achieve and therefore it is very important to always be ready to capture the photo when everything finally clicks, she said. As well as taking part in exhibitions and selling prints, Kronholm publishes a popular Icelandic horse calendar every year. One of Kronholms most memorable shoots took place on one of the black-sand beaches of Iceland, providing an incredibly striking backdrop to the galloping horses, and those resting in long grass by the beach. In another unforgettable session, Kronholm photographed a band of 70 horses being herded. Seeing so many horses running together as a herd really makes you think of how the wild horses must have looked running across the plains, she said. Its a dream come true for the talented young artist to visit the country doing what she does. Iceland is known for being a beautiful country and that is so true, she said. Ive been to Iceland multiple times and cant wait to go back again. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at: https://www.theepochtimes.com/newsletter Illinois House Sends Gun Bill to Senate Gun rights groups vow to continue fight A customer shops for a pistol at Freddie Bear Sports sporting goods store in Tinley Park, Ill., on Dec. 17, 2012. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) The Illinois House of Representatives passed the Protecting Illinois Communities Act on a vote of 6443 on Jan. 6, moving the Illinois General Assembly closer to a so-called assault weapon ban. HB 5855 is now headed to the state Senate as SB 2226, where its expected to pass before going to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who has supported the legislation and is expected to sign it into law. Gun rights advocates vowed to continue their fight against the proposed law that the president of the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) calls blatantly illegal. Call your State Senator immediately, at their Springfield office, and tell them you oppose SB2226, the alert reads. Illinois Gov. J.B. Prtizker is expected to sign the Protecting Illinois Communities Act into law if it passes the Illinois State Senate. Gun rights advocates say that could happen within days. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) ISRA President Doug Mayhall said his organization would sue if the bill is signed into law. We are definitely doing that, Mayhall told The Epoch Times. In the House, the bill was sponsored by state Rep. Bob Morgan (D-58th District). The version that passed would ban so-called assault weapons along with magazines that hold more than 12 rounds of ammunition. The law was changed slightly before the vote. A provision to raise the age for receiving a Firearms Owner Identification Card from 18 to 21 was removed. It would tighten regulations to prohibit rapid-fire devices turning weapons into fully automatic guns. These devices, sometimes called switches, are already illegal under federal law. The bill calls for an anti-gun trafficking strike force in the Illinois State Police. Currently, legal weapons would have to be surrendered or registered with the state and pay a fee. Mayhall said law-abiding citizens shouldnt have to register legally owned firearms because the Second Amendment protects firearms ownership. Mayhall said registration only serves one purpose. Registration always turns into confiscation, Mayhall said. Law Has Red Flag Provision The new law would also expand Illinoiss Firearms Restraining Order (FRO) law. It would extend the life of a FRO from six months to one year and expands the pool of persons who could ask the court for a FRO. It would change from a family member [being able to request a FRO] and opens it up to anyone, Mayhall said. If you dont like my political views, you could unfairly give me a lot of grief. Information about the bill can be found on Morgans webpage. On the webpage, Morgan wrote that the legislation aligns with his promise to reduce gun violence in the state. After the July 4th mass shooting, I made our community, and our state, a promise that I would do everything in my power to prevent this tragedy from happening again, Morgans website reads. In that shooting, a 22-year-old man opened fire during a July 4 parade in Highland Park, Ill. He reportedly killed seven people and wounded dozens more. Hes currently facing more than 117 charges, including 21 counts of murder. Morgan didnt explain how his law would have prevented that shooting. GOA Calls for Action Virginia-based Gun Owners of America (GOA) previously posted an alert on its website calling on Illinois gun owners to take action. The GOA statement warns that the restrictions could harm lawful gun owners and their families. Banning [guns] will only prevent law-abiding citizens from purchasing the best firearm to defend themselves. Not to mention, the requirement to register currently owned firearms is vehemently unconstitutional, the GOA statement reads. Mayhall agreed. He said the description of weapons to be banned is vague and could cover commonly used hunting rifles and shotguns. In addition, he took issue with the claim that so-called assault weapons are uncommon. The District of Columbia and six statesCalifornia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, and Marylandcurrently have assault weapons bans. They want to ban the AR-15; its the most common sporting rifle in the U.S., Mayhall said. Dave Kennedy and Aida Ramirez enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts at The Long Center for the Performing Arts, on Jan. 7, 2023. (Sally Sun/The Epoch Times) AUSTIN, TexasSome of the earliest arts were used to revere the gods, but nowadays, you dont normally see art and faith together, said Aida Ramirez, who enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts at The Long Center for the Performing Arts on Jan. 7. The name Shen Yun means the beauty of divine beings dancing, and the companys mission is to revive the authentic goodness and beauty of China before communism. Prior to communist rule in the last century, China was for 5,000 years known as the Land of the Divine, holding its culture to be divinely inspired. Dave Kennedy, an IBM technology manager, and Ms. Ramirez attended one of Shen Yuns performances on Jan. 7 and strongly recommended the performance. The New York-based classical Chinese dance company kicked off its 2023 season only two weeks ago, and on Saturday, seven of its eight globally touring companies were performing. I thought it was impressive, enlightening, imaginative, and also reflective of the Chinese history and Chinese culture and the situation today. Dave Kennedy I thought it was artistic. I thought it was impressive, enlightening, imaginative, and also reflective of the Chinese history and Chinese culture and the situation today, he said. Five thousand years and the fact that they cant perform this in China is interesting and unfortunate. Its sad. Mr. Kennedy said he wished he had brought his daughter; the two of them had recently argued about the role of faith, and he found the traditional Chinese cultures perspective on faith enlightening himself. I thought it was enlightening, that there was a spiritual sense to it, he said. A spiritual battle. Ms. Ramirez said she enjoyed that the performance did not shy away from faith, as much else in the world today. Normally art is a separate thing. And in this [performance], its combined, its not separate, right? And I really enjoyed that part that peoples faith, and no matter what [difficulties] youre in, your faith can bring you out of it, she said. Reporting by Sally Sun. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Rep. Jordan Says Republicans Will Be Able to Pass GOP House Rules Package Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), flanked by House Republicans, speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Nov. 17, 2022. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said on Jan. 8 that he believes Republicans can pass a House rules package that was subject to negotiations with holdouts during the election of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as House speaker last week. I think well get the 218 votes we need to pass the rules package, Jordan told Fox News Sunday. What this rules package is designed to do is to stop what we saw happen literally 15 days ago, when the Democrats passed a $1.7 trillion monstrosity of a bill. During his bid for speaker, McCarthy had to make concessions to a group of about 20 Republicans until he was elected during the early hours of Jan. 7after 15 rounds of voting. Some of the rule changes include lowering the threshold for a lawmaker to issue a motion to vacate, allowing members to oust the House speaker, as well as allowing a vote to allow term limits on members of the chamber. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) did away with the vacate the chair rule when Democrats regained the majority in 2019. If a CEO is not doing the job, you can fire himthe same thing in politics, said Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), one of the holdouts who was won over by McCarthy by the rules changes. McCarthy also committed to spending cuts, including slashing spending on defense. Congress faces an agenda of must-pass bills to fund the government, restock a military that has seen its supplies depleted by military aid to Ukraine and decades of war, authorize farming programs, and raise the nations borrowing limit to avert a federal default. We got a $32 trillion debt, everything has to be on the table, Jordan said during the Jan. 8 interview. When youve got numbers like that frankly, we better look at the money we send to Ukraine as well. McCarthy won 216-212 in the 15th round of voting, with all Democrats voting for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and six GOP holdouts to McCarthy voting present. Lets remember that a little temporary conflict is necessary in this town in order to stop this town from rolling over the American people, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), who was one of the holdouts, told CNN on Jan. 8. Roy dismissed tensions that erupted during the 15 rounds of voting, which culminated in Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) being restrained after he appeared to lunge at Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), one of the holdouts. I dont think anybody on either side of the aisle could say with a straight face that they think that Washington is doing good work for the American people on a regular basis and isnt broken. We have to work to fix this place, Roy said. During the voting, he ultimately backed McCarthy after earlier nominating Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.). Some of the tensions you saw on display we need a little of that, Roy said. We need a little of this sort of breaking the glass in order to get us to the table, in order to get us to fight for the American people and to change the way this place is dysfunctional. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) (R) talks to Rep.-elect Chip Roy (R-Texas) (C) and Rep.-elect Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) during the second day of elections for speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 4, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) This isnt just a shirts-and-skins, red-and-blue, you know, two-team thing. This is history two-party entrenchment has made it so we dont have a good back-and-forth to sit at the table and try to accomplish things. What McCarthy Said As McCarthy took the gavel on Jan. 7, he promised to carry out a conservative agenda and tackle the crisis along the U.S.Mexico border, cut funding for the IRS, and fix left-wing indoctrination in schools. Long-term challenges such as U.S. debt and the rise of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) must also be addressed, he said. No more ignoring this crisis of safety and sovereignty, he said. We must secure our border. President Joe Biden issued a statement congratulating McCarthy on his election as speaker at roughly 1 a.m. local time on Jan. 7. Jill and I congratulate Kevin McCarthy on his election as Speaker of the House, Biden said. I am prepared to work with Republicans when I can and voters made clear that they expect Republicans to be prepared to work with me as well. On January 21, 1776, Lutheran Pastor John Peter Muhlenberg of Woodstock, Virginia preached from the third chapter of Ecclesiastes, To everything there is a season a time of war, and a time of peace. Opening his clerical robe to reveal the uniform of a Continental Army Colonel, Pastor Muhlenberg then added, and this is the time of war. From his congregation, 162 men kissed their wives and walked down the aisle, enlisting on the spot. The next day Muhlenberg led 300 men from his county, forming the beginning of the 8th Virginia Regiment. His great-nephew recorded these moments in Muhlenbergs biography written in the middle of the 19th century. Muhlenberg was born on Oct. 1, 1746 in the borough of Trappe in Pennsylvania. The Muhlenberg family descended from Heinrich Melchior Muhlenberg, a German immigrant who founded the first Lutheran church body in America. His three sons, John Peter, Frederick, and Gotthilf, all made great contributions to Americathe familys adopted homelandand entered the ministry. Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg became the first Speaker of the United States House of Representatives after his election to office in 1780. The youngest brother, Gotthilf, became one of Americas first botanists and president of Franklin College, publishing a number of books detailing American plant species. The American War of Independence was a time of decision for each of the brothers. While Gotthilf and Frederick left the large cities to pastor in Pennsylvanias, John Peter chose for himself a different path. Already he was igniting the case for liberty in his sermons, and he had been a soldier once before. He served briefly with the British 60th Foot, but had seen no combat. Inheriting a love of liberty from his father, Muhlenberg corresponded extensively with men like George Washington and Patrick Henry, even as he was becoming a leader in the Virginia Lutheran Church. A Revolutionary Kinship Gen. Peter Muhlenberg and his correspondence with George Washington during the Revolutionary War. (L) Maj. Gen. Peter Muhlenberg, between circa 17501880. (R) General Correspondence between Peter Muhlenberg and George Washington on Feb. 23, 1777. Library of Congress. (Public Domain) Muhlenberg was a very good hunter, and this fact was not lost on George Washington, who went on several hunting trips with the young man. The two men became great friends. They would also become companions in the revolutionary cause. The Boston Port Bill of 1774 stirred patriotic sentiments all through the 13 colonies. As local governments drafted resolutions in response to Englands aggression, Muhlenberg chaired the meeting in Dunmore County (now Shenandoah County). He was appointed to lead the Committee of Safety and selected to represent the county in the House of Burgesses and the First State Convention on Aug. 1, 1774. When the State Convention met again in Richmond on March 20, 1775, Henry put forth resolutions that the State of Virginia should assume a defensive position. Muhlenberg gave his full support. The Royal Governor of Virginia, John Murray (fourth Earl of Dunmore), declared everyone who attended the convention guilty of treason. The sword was unsheathed. There would be no peaceful resolution of the situation. Muhlenberg returned to his congregation, knowing a time of war was at hand. After the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill, Dunmore concentrated his forces at Norfolk, Virginia. Virginia recruited two state regiments, commanded respectively by Henry and William Woodford. On Dec. 9, 1775, the Virginia militia won the Battle of Great Bridge, driving Dunmore to take to his fleet. Realizing they would need more men, the Virginia House of Delegates passed a resolution to raise six more regiments. Washington looked for commanders who had served in the French and Indian War or had experience leading militias before. But for his 8th Virginia Regiment he chose Muhlenberg, his friend and hunting companion. He was just 29 years old. Brave to the Last Degree General Washington standing with Johann De Kalb, Baron von Steuben, Kazimierz Pulaski, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Lafayette, John Muhlenberg, and other officers during the Revolutionary War. The Heroes of the Revolution, between 1850 and 1890, by Frederick Girsch. Library of Congress. (Public Domain) Muhlenbergs task was a daunting one: He would need to recruit men from Virginias wild western frontier in addition to the German settlers of the piedmont. Augusta County and the West Augusta District stretched all the way to the Ohio River and her tributaries. Fincastle County extended all the way to Kentucky. Out of these frontier lands, Muhlenberg mustered 792 men. On March 1, 1776, he received his official commission as colonel of the regiment. In May and June, they marched 500 miles to bolster the defenses of Charleston, South Carolina. Gen. Charles Lee, American commander of Charleston said they were brave to the last degree. They next marched to Savannah, Georgia, preparing to fight British forces in Florida. While they waited for orders, the regiment experienced a great deal of sickness: Muhlenberg himself was stricken. The weary troops were marched slowly back to Virginia. While they recuperated, Washington won miraculous victories at Trenton and Princeton. The 8th Virginia Regiment recruited new men to replace those lost to sickness, resupplied, and marched to Washingtons camp in Morristown, New Jersey. Muhlenberg arrived at Morristown on Feb. 21, 1777 and found himself promoted to brigadier general. He then commanded four Virginia regiments. On Oct. 4, 1777, he would first command these troops in combat at the Battle of Germantown. The battle ended in defeat, but the Virginians proved themselves a force to be reckoned with. Muhlenberg continued to serve right up to the victory at Yorktown and was promoted to major-general. Serving a New Purpose John Peter Muhlenberg statue in Woodstock, Va. (Bob Kirchman) In 1783, Muhlenberg returned to Woodstock, Virginia. He was offered the opportunity to return to his congregation there, but declined. After eight years of war, he returned to the family home in Trappe, Pennsylvania with his wife Anna and their six children. Tragedy struck in 1784 when his beloved 2-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, died of fever. His father also passed away later that same year. Muhlenberg, however, would again find purpose in public service. After serving in the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, he was elected in 1789 to the U.S. House of Representatives. This was the first Congress, where his brother was Speaker of the House. In 1801, he was elected by the Pennsylvania legislature to serve in the U.S. Senate. Upon leaving the Senate, Muhlenberg served as the customs collector for the port of Philadelphia. He held that position until his death. Henry Muhlenberg described his great-uncle as, tall in person, very active in body, and of undaunted bravery. His coolness and determination, combined with his correct judgment, made him one of the men on which Gen. Washington relied for success, and upon whom, from previous personal knowledge, he could depend. John Peter Gabriel Muhlenbergs life stands as an example of what one man can do in service to his community and his country. Major US City Prepares for Nurses to Go on Strike, Impacting Hospitals The New York City Office of Emergency Management is preparing in case thousands of New York hospital nurses go on strike on Jan. 9, officials said. A situation room will bring together officials with the New York Police Department, New York Fire Department, New York City Health Department, health care facilities, and other groups to keep eyes and ears on the health care system amid the strike, a spokesperson for the Greater New York Hospital Association told Politico. A spokesperson for New York Mayor Eric Adamss administration said the fire department has plans to reroute ambulances, while NYC Health + Hospitals will implement an emergency plan to deal with patients amid the staffing shortfall. We recognize the effect that a nurse strike would have on health care in our city and we are actively planning for different scenarios to minimize any impact to New Yorkers and ensure that the people of our city continue to receive care, a City Hall spokesperson said in a statement. We encourage all of the parties to remain at the bargaining table for however long it takes and work toward reaching a voluntary agreement. Our system will be prepared, in the event of a strike, to meet the challenges. As of the morning of Jan. 8, the New York State Nurses Association, a union representing 42,000 members across the state, said no new agreement was reached with area hospitals. It said about 8,700 union nurses at three hospitalsMontefiore Bronx, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Mount Sinai Morningside and Westwill go on strike if the unions demands arent met. Stretchers outside the Montefiore Medical Center Moses Campus in the Bronx borough of New York City on April 7, 2020. (John Moore/Getty Images) After a day of bargaining at Montefiore and Mount Sinai Morningside and West yesterday, no new tentative agreements were reached, it said. Mount Sinai Hospital management walked out on the last bargaining session and avoided the table and their responsibility to bargain in good faith on Friday and Saturday. Union officials say the nurses are demanding higher wages, better health care benefits, and a smaller patient-to-nurse ratio. Response Mount Sinai disputed the unions claims and demands, claiming it is jeopardizing patients care, and its forcing valued Mount Sinai nurses to sacrifice their dedication to patient care and their own livelihoods, according to a statement released to local media outlets. We have offered a 19.1 percent compounded pay raise over three years, which is the same offer other hospital systems in the city have made, the hospital system said. Still, [the New York State Nurses Association] refuses to back off its plan to strike on Monday, even though it has called off planned strikes at other New York City hospitals. Its not reasonable for NYSNA to ask for a significant wage increase above and beyond these other sites. Its time for NYSNA to meet us back at the bargaining table and continue negotiating in good faith, so that Mount Sinai nurses can continue providing the exceptional patient care for which theyre known and respected. According to an internal memo, Mount Sinai is planning to cut services amid the strike, including transferring newborn babies outside the Mount Sinai Health System to ensure they get the care they so desperately need, ABC7 reported. Two of three Mount Sinai hospitals will only perform emergency surgeries, the memo stated, and those facilities will start to transfer and discharge as many patients as appropriate. Matt Allen, the unions regional director, responded to the reports that neonatal babies are being transferred. As a labor and delivery nurse who helps mothers to bring babies into this world, I find it outrageous that Mount Sinai would compromise care for our NICU babies in any way. We already have NICU nurses caring for twice as many sick babies as they should be, he said. Weve been sounding the alarm about how thats not safe for our NICU patients, but Mount Sinai has failed to address this crisis. Its unconscionable that Mount Sinai refuses to address unsafe staffing in our NICU and other units of the hospital but is now stirring fears about our NICU babies in contract negotiations. Last week, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul stated that she believes the impasse will be resolved soon. My full expectation is that this will be resolved because there is no alternative, she told reporters. We need to make sure that people in New York are taken care of. The Epoch Times has contacted New York City mayors office for comment. Some 1,000 people rallied in the French city of Lyon on Sunday in support of unprecedented anti-regime protests in Iran, AFP journalists saw. The protesters walked through the streets of the eastern city carrying a banner that read "Woman, life, freedom" and chanting the words, which have become the slogan of the protests. Demonstrations in Iran began after the September 16 death in custody of Kurdish-Iranian Mahsa Amini, 22. She had been arrested by morality police who enforce a strict dress code which requires women to wear a scarf-like covering over their hair and neck. The protests have escalated into calls for an end to the Islamic regime, posing the biggest challenge for the clerics since the 1979 revolution deposed the shah. Authorities have responded with deadly violence that has left hundreds dead. Thousands have been arrested and 14 detainees sentenced to death, many for killing or attacking security force members, according to the judiciary. Four have been executed, the latest two on Saturday. Many of Sunday's protesters in France had a personal connection to the country. "I am here to demand freedom in Iran," Sholeh Golrokhi, 49, said. "When I was little, they arrested all of my family." "We are here to ask Western countries to be the voice of our people" and "expel Iranian ambassadors", said Samane Ramezanpanah, 35. In late December a 38-year-old Iranian man drowned in the Rhone river that flows through Lyon, saying on social media that he was going to kill himself to draw attention to the crackdown of the protests in Iran. Search Keywords: Short link: Man Arrested After Alleged Terror Incident at Vegas Power Plant: Police A man is facing terrorism-related charges after he allegedly rammed his car through a gate at a solar power plant near Las Vegas, set the car on fire, and disabled the facility, according to police. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department stated that its Counter Terrorism division identified the suspect as 34-year-old Mohammed Mesmarian, local media outlets reported. Mesmarian was taken to the Clark County Detention Center and was charged with committing an act of terrorism, first-degree arson, third-degree arson, destroying or injuring real or personal property, and escape by a felony prisoner, police told local media outlets. Mesmarian clarified he burned the Toyota Camry a couple of days ago, Las Vegas Police said, 8NewsNow reported. Mesmarian [said] he burned the vehicle at a Tesla solar plant and did it for the future. An employee at the facility told the media outlet that the fire caused major damage, estimating that it would take two years to receive replacement parts. The damaged unit was shut down and isnt producing electricity at this time, officials told the outlet. Investigators told the channel that they believe Mesmarian siphoned gasoline from his vehicle and placed gas on wires at the transformer before setting them on fire. Security camera footage was also released, allegedly showing the suspect lighting his car on fire near the transformer. Damage was done to the Mega Solar Array facility, which provides power to MGM properties, including its hotels. Following an incident at the Mega Solar Array facility, on-site personnel immediately notified authorities and shut down the plants operations as a precaution in accordance with industry-standard safety protocols, a spokesperson for Invenergy, which manages the plant, told the media outlet. No one was injured, and we are currently restoring the facilitys full operations. Representatives for Invenergy didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. Other Attacks While there have been several attacks on power plants and substations in recent weeks, the Vegas attack hadnt garnered any major mainstream media coverage as of Jan. 8. Officials in Washington state confirmed that they arrested two men for several attacks on power substations near Tacoma, although the two werent charged with terrorism-related counts. A Tacoma Power crew works at an electrical substation damaged by vandals in Graham, Wash., on Dec. 25, 2022. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP) Matthew Greenwood and Jeremy Crahan were scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on charges of conspiracy to damage energy facilities and possession of unregistered firearms, according to the U.S. attorneys office. Authorities said the two men wanted to knock out power to the area to commit a burglary targeting a local business, according to charging documents. While the power was out, after the Graham and South Hill attacks, the two went to a local business, Crahan drilled out a lock, and Greenwood entered to steal from the cash register, agents wrote in charging documents filed in the Western Washington U.S. District Court. Emily Langlie, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorneys Office, told USA Today that their motive appeared to be for monetary gain but didnt rule out terror-related charges. We just dont know that yet, Langlie said. The two men were known to authorities and had been under FBI surveillance for more than a month in late 2021 and early 2022, FBI special agent Mark Tucher said in an affidavit filed in federal court. The agent didnt give reasons for that surveillance, but Tucher described himself in the affidavit as an expert in domestic terrorism assigned to the FBI Seattle divisions joint terrorism task force. According to Tuchers affidavit, investigators believe that the men cut fencing leading to four power stations in Pierce County, Washington, operated by Puget Sound Energy and Tacoma Power. They then tampered with the equipment, knocking out power to thousands of homes and businesses, the affidavit alleged. Greenwood and Crahan were arrested on Jan. 7. In December 2022, a utility in North Carolina reported outages from what local authorities said were orchestrated shootings that are now being investigated by federal law enforcement. The FBI has also been investigating shots fired near a power facility in South Carolina days later. No arrests have been made in connection to the incidents reported in North and South Carolina. And last year, an explosion was reported at the Hoover Dam, located about 30 minutes southeast of Las Vegas. The blast and explosion were caused by a transformer fire, authorities said. Reuters contributed to this report. Man Charged in Takeoffs Death Released on $1 Million Bond HOUSTONThe man charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Migos rapper Takeoff in Houston has been released on $1 million bond. Patrick Xavier Clark, 33, was released from the Harris County jail Tuesday, according to court records. Clark was arrested Dec. 1 on a murder charge. His attorney, Letitia Quinones, has said Clark has a valid and meritorious claim for self-defense. Clarks family had unsuccessfully tried to get his bond lowered to $300,000, saying in court last month they couldnt afford to pay anything higher. In a statement issued Thursday afternoon, Quinones said that a concerned citizen and family friend who believes in Patricks innocence posted the bond on his behalf. We believe Patrick is innocent and at the appropriate time, the evidence will reveal that to be the case, Quinones said. Takeoff, 28, was shot in the head and back on Nov. 1 as more than 30 people were leaving a private party at a bowling center. Houston police have said the gunfire followed a disagreement over a lucrative game of dice, but that Takeoff was not involved and was an innocent bystander. Born Kirsnick Khari Ball, Takeoff was the youngest member of Migos, the Grammy-nominated rap trio from suburban Atlanta that also featured his uncle Quavo and cousin Offset. Clark, under conditions of his release, is under house arrest, must wear a GPS tracking device, and avoid contact with anyone involved in the shooting investigation. Quinones said Clark will comply fully with the conditions of his release. Clark is scheduled to appear in court again on March 9. Flood in Australias North Concerns Ease, Ex-cyclone Weakens Concerns over flooding have eased in the Top End with the intensity of former tropical cyclone Ellie at last subsiding over the southwestern Northern Territory. A series of earlier severe weather warnings for remote communities in the Simpson, Lasseter and Tanami districts were cancelled by authorities on Sunday morning. The region had been bracing for impact as Ellie moved back into the Northern Territory (NT) after wreaking havoc in Western Australia. Ex-tropical cyclone Ellie has finally weakened over southwestern parts of the NT, the Bureau of Meteorology said. Severe weather is no longer occurring in Northern Territory. Thunderstorm activity in the Simpson district later today may bring isolated heavy rainfall and a severe thunderstorm warning will be issued if this occurs. While the immediate threat has passed, the situation will continue to be monitored. West Australian authorities and the Australian Defence Force are meanwhile supporting towns in the Kimberley region after rain generated by Ellie caused Fitzroy River to break its banks. Record-breaking flooding continues in the catchment. The remote town of Fitzroy Crossing and tiny Indigenous community of Noonkanbah were devastated after the river last week reached a record peak of 15.81 metres. The rain cleared on Saturday, making it once again safe to open the Fitzroy Crossing airport. That allowed authorities to deliver 3000 kilograms of food, medicine and other supplies to the cut-off region. More than 100 residents have already been evacuated from the Kimberley but more may be relocated in the coming days as flooding continues in the towns of Looma and Willare. WA Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson spoke to locals at Fitzroy Crossing on Saturday afternoon and thanked the community for their resilience. Nothing like this has ever been experienced in Western Australia before, he told reporters. To their great credit, theyve been patient and theyve persevered. Authorities in Queensland say severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are possible on Sunday for the states north and west. The communities of Palmerville, Georgetown, Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Urandangi and Boulia are all in the firing line. Residents in NSWs far west are also being warned that the Darling River is yet to peak. The town of Menindee has already been inundated but the river could rise to more than 10.7 metres in the coming days, which is higher than the 1976 record. Exiting Arkansas Governor Sued Over Enforcing Race-Based Quota in State Appointments An Arkansas man has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the state because state law prevents him from serving on a state board because of the color of his skin. The legal complaint (pdf) in the case, Haile v. Hutchinson, which was filed on Jan. 4 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, claims that a state law establishing race-based quotas on the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board violates the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican who leaves office on Jan. 10, is being sued in his official capacity as governor. Hes being succeeded by Gov.-elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders, also a Republican. The plaintiff, Stephen Haile, along with his wife, have fostered more than 300 children in Conway, Arkansas. In the process, he says he has gained insights into the importance of transparency between social workers and foster parents in providing the best possible environment for the children in their care. Hailes experiences made him interested in being appointed to the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board, which regulates the practice of social work in the state. The nine-member board is appointed by the governor with the consent of the state Senate. State law requires the board to be comprised of three licensed certified social workers, two licensed master social workers, one licensed social worker, one psychiatrist, one member of the public at large, and one representative of the elderly. The representative of the elderly must be at least 60 years old and cant be engaged in or retired from professional social work. Haile meets those criteria and previously served on a foster parent board. In June 2022, that board seat became available and Haile applied for it. But because 17-103-201(c) of the Arkansas Code mandates that there be no fewer than two African-American members on the board and, at present, there arent two black members, Haile, whos white, was excluded from consideration for the appointment, the legal complaint states. This racial quota perpetuates patronizing stereotypes, establishes a permanent government mandate for the Governor and state senate to engage in outright racial discrimination, and limits opportunities for many Arkansas citizens to get involved in the important work of protecting children and other vulnerable populations, the document states. Hailes ability to serve on the Board should be based on his qualifications, not his race. Basically, the governor hasnt to our knowledge appointed anyone yet to fill the open position, but he is expected to reappoint the African-American members of the board, Laura DAgostino, an attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation, a national public interest law firm thats representing Haile, told The Epoch Times in an interview. We believe that the governors decision is motivated in part to comply with the race quota. And it seems that if you look at his appointments since he took office in 2015, he has consistently enforced the race quota thats required by the law. Were bringing an equal-protection challenge [because] we believe that this is wrong [and] that anyone should be able to represent their community. And the interesting thing about Arkansas is that they also have other laws that require the governor to take diversity into account and to consult with different minority groups in the state and to garner feedback from them on which appointees they would recommend. The state law in this case is unnecessary and unconstitutional, the lawyer noted. Hutchinson didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. Pakistan Frees 524 Afghan Illegal Immigrants From Karachi Jail A locator map for Pakistan with its capital, Islamabad, and the Kashmir region. (AP Photo) KARACHI, PakistanAfghan authorities said on Saturday that 524 Afghan illegal immigrants have been released from a jail in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi. Pakistani police in multiple raids last month detained at least 1,200 Afghan nationals who entered Karachi without valid travel documents. A video shared by the embassy on Twitter showed women and children behind the main gate of the prison, waiting to be released under supervision of Pakistani and Afghan authorities. Another video showed men seated in a bus ready to depart for Afghanistan. Millions of Afghans fled to Pakistan during the 19791989 Soviet occupation of their country, creating one of the worlds largest refugee populations. Since then, Pakistan has been hosting Afghans, urging them to register themselves with the United Nations and local authorities to avoid any risk of deportation. According to a recently conducted U.N.-backed survey, 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees are residing in Pakistan. A report from Pakistans National Commission on Human Rights said there has been a drastic rise in Afghans seeking to enter the country for reasons ranging from fleeing persecution to seeking medical aid and looking for job opportunities, since the Taliban terrorist group seized power in August 2021. Preppers: Survival Classes Help People Prepare for the Worst An aerial photo showing flooded farms along the Trans-Canada Highway in Abbotsford, B.C., on Nov. 22, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck) As a former U.S. Army Sergeant, Jeffrey McCaskill once taught survival skills to soldiers. Now, the 58-year-old North Vancouver resident leads the Ready to Thrive Survival School to help prepare civilians for urban and wilderness survival. Ive been in places abroad where the economys collapsed before my eyes. I know how people act. I know that they can act horrifically for a time when theyre afraid and unprepared. Its always going to be a big dog pouncing on a smaller dog scenario carried out all over the place, McCaskill said in an interview. McCaskills eight-hour urban survival class is offered to groups of about a dozen people, with three hours on a Friday evening and five hours on Saturday, starting in the morning. He said his students range from new parents to the elderly. Ive been humbled by the array of students. I had a woman two classes ago from Singapore, 70 years old, and she came against the wishes of every family member. They thought she was off her rocker to even be considering this kind of stuff. Its amazing. And she actually teared up sharing her story, he said. McCaskill said an earthquake, a flood, or an electromagnetic pulse attack are scenarios that could disrupt normal life for weeks. He recommends people stock a months worth of food, water, and supplies. Having that food onsite keeps you from having to find it elsewhere and putting you in the crosshairs of nefarious actors out there on the street who will definitely show up. Theyre going to be looking for food, ammunition, water, drugsillicit, and legal ones tooand medical supplies, maybe clothing, and fuel for their vehicles, he said. McCaskill has some advice for people who find themselves confronted with that kind of scenario. Make your place looks uninhabited. Use blackout curtains or garbage bags that are taped up so that errant light doesnt leave the windows. I even teach my students how to camouflage their homes, their front yards, to make their places look like theyve already been looted, he said. If you can hear the birds chirping incessantly for two days running, it might be safe enough to stick your head out and start to assess things. Importance of Water McCaskill said floods in the southern part of B.C. a year ago washed out bridges and cut him off from his bug-out property, a five-acre, off-grid organic farm near Princeton that includes a 32-foot greenhouse. He said the situation was a real lesson that led him to anticipate a wider range of scenarios. Hydration is a big problem, so I encourage people to get those water flavouring drops because theyll get weary of drinking just plain water. I set them up with a three-bucket system whereby they can ensure that the water that they have is actually safe to drink, he said. If you still have water in your tap, you fill every pot, every vessel you can. In fact, some people fill their bathtubs. They draw water out of their water heaters. Thats 50 to 65 gallons. The tap will likely run dry in about three days, he says, after which it will be necessary to venture outside to find a source of water. And thats where the danger comes in. Youve got to move as a party and move tactically to minimize your exposure. Dusk is a good time to be moving without being detected. McCaskill advises acquiring a waterproof and fireproof safe to preserve essential documents. He also recommends preparing a bug-out bagan emergency survival kitweighing 30 pounds for men, 20 pounds for women, and 15 to 18 pounds for children. Although protecting your provisions from strangers is part of survival strategy, McCaskill also encourages people to form relationships with those they can trust. I emphasize community-based networks where you outreach through a barbecue or something to your immediate neighbours or [even nearby blocks], he said. Find out whos awake, whos interested in prepping themselves, and then you join forces, you combine your resources. If somebody is a welder, now everybody has access to a welder in your mutual aid network. McCaskill said his own network includes a group called Union of the People. Some of his students have taken canning classes from the union, and he hopes to add a class on knife-making. Hes also working on a book on prepping because he believes too many misguided sources fill the internet. If you go on a website and somebody sounds eager for chaos and the apocalypse to occur, and theyre lusting after all these weapon systems and talking about the massive amounts of ammo they have and how they cant wait to get it onyoure dealing with an idiot. McCaskills website, ReadyToThrive.pro, also lists wilderness survival classes, each presented over two days to a class of five students. Level one covers basic shelter construction, fire making, map reading and land navigation, animal tracking, basic bush crafting, wild plant foraging, making simple traps and snares, and water catchment techniques. Level two teaches advanced shelter construction, tracking, long-distance dead reckoning, night movement and surveillance, advanced traps and snares, and improvised weapon construction. Dead reckoning is a navigation skill that allows you to use basic direction, time, speed, and distance calculations to estimate your current location or predict how long it will take to go from point A to point B. A Rural Option In southeastern Saskatchewan, the Living Streams Institute offers courses for homesteaders, preppers, and freedom fighters, to help anyone wishing to become less dependent on government and mainstream supply chains. Its founder, John Graff, a pastor, consultant, and sheep farmer from Whitewood, Sask., says the institute exists to give people hope who might otherwise see no way out in dark times. The purpose is to equip employees, employers, and everyone for supply chain issues and energy shortages, and how to deal with societal structures, Graff told The Epoch Times. Off-grid energy classes teach how to make a home space heater, produce biodiesel, replace oxyacetylene with fuel made from water, implement solar power, and even have an off-grid fuel source for a home power generator. Each aspect takes one to four days. Graduates take home a working unit and have the skills to use it and to repair it if necessary. Many classes are hands-on, where the participants learn not just technical aspects and theory but they actually build or do the tasks. Some classes are done over the internet in live webinars, but many need to be in person to undertake the hands-on aspect, Graff said. Public Health Agency Claims Mandatory ArriveCan Saved Travellers Time A Canada Border Services Agency officer hands documents back to a motorist entering Canada at the Douglas-Peace Arch border crossing in Surrey, B.C., on Aug. 9, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck) A Public Health Agency report submitted to a House of Commons committee says that the mandatory ArriveCan app travellers were required to use when entering and leaving Canada, under threat of fines if they didnt, saved travellers about five minutes at border crossings. ArriveCan was a necessary component of Canadas measures to prevent the introduction and spread of Covid-19 in Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) told the MPs of the committee in a submission on Nov. 14, 2022, as first reported by Blacklocks Reporter on Jan. 6. The information collected in ArriveCan was critical. It saved about 5 minutes at the border for each traveller, which significantly reduced overall processing time and points of contact at ports of entry, stated PHACs report to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates. A person holds a smartphone set to the opening screen of the ArriveCan app in a file photo. (The Canadian Press/Giordano Ciampini) ArriveCan cost $54 million, according to Blacklocks Reporter. It was created in response to a request made by PHAC to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) then-president John Ossowski in April 2020 to develop an application to collect traveller and health information. In his Dec. 8, 2022, testimony before the committee, Ossowski, who left his CBSA position in June that year, said he recalled that the average passage time per traveller was up to seven minutes long at that time, in April 2020. Comparing the figure Ossowski provided with the about five minutes time saving stated by the PHAC would mean it took travellers only two minutes to cross the border after ArriveCan was in place. In April 2020, despite restrictions on entry at the time, around 70,000 travellers were exempt and allowed to fly into Canada, compared to nearly 3.2 million who arrived in April 2019, Ossowski said. Union Disagreed The seven-minute time saving figure noted in PHACs report contradicts testimony by the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU) in September 2022 that lineups were so long, travellers at land crossings soiled their clothing while waiting to clear the border, according to Blacklocks Reporter. I am hearing from one of our officers at Niagara Falls that hes had travellers who come through who had actually urinated and defecated themselves having been stuck in the car for so long, to give you an idea of how terrible and drastic the situation at our borders was and how terribly short-staffed we are, testified CIU national president Mark Weber. I think that says it all. The greatest difficulty we had was people simply didnt know they had to complete the app or we had cases where some people just refused to fill it out, said Weber. We had to deal with a good 30 to 40 percent of travellers arriving without it completed which caused the four or five-hour lineups that we saw. It wasnt so much a matter of not being able to, said Weber. It was simply not wanting to or not even knowing it was a requirement which more often than not was the issue. Audit On Nov. 2, 2022, the House of Commons voted 173 to 149 to carry out an audit of the ArriveCan program as result of a motion introduced by Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre. The app was unnecessary, Poilievre said at the time. Canadians have been able to cross the border without it for decades and even centuries. Why did this app suddenly become necessary? The audit will cover payments, contracts, and subcontracts for all aspects of ArriveCan, but no deadline has been announced for a final report. Ossowski told the committee in his Dec. 8, 2022, testimony that ArriveCan was necessary. Travellers at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., on March 13, 2020. The Canada Border Services Agency says it is adding new screening questions for travellers arriving in Canada, asking whether they have symptoms of COVID-19. (The Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward) In the early days of the pandemic, travellers had to provide verbal responses to the CBSA officers making sure they were compliant with the myriad rules being established through various orders in council. The result, when combined with the need for social distancing, made airports chaotic scenes, Ossowski said. Paper was being distributed to travellers to capture contact tracing and quarantine plan information, and the CBSA was collecting huge volumes of paper. It was critical for federal and provincial health officials to have timely access to this data in order to slow the spread of the virus, testified Ossowski. According to the PHAC report presented to the committee, the agency required a technological solution to digitize the collection of traveller information upon entry to Canada. Heavy reliance on the travel contact information paper forms at the outset of the pandemic led to a number of inefficiencies. The federal government made the use of ArriveCan mandatory in November 2020 for air travellers seeking to enter Canada. Its use was subsequently suspended on Oct. 1, 2022. While in use, ArriveCan collected data to share with the provinces, which were desperate for this information, testified Ossowski. He said ArriveCan was linked with passports, provincial vaccination credentials, and CBSA systems in real time, and that an estimated 60 million travellers were allowed to cross the border by the CBSA officer simply seeing a green check mark on the screen advising them that all border health requirements had been met. The CBSA built in new aspects that helped validate the proof of vaccine certificates of foreign nationals using AI tools, as well as the ability to validate, in real time, critical provincial QR codes to make it easier for Canadian citizens, Ossowski said. Putin Praises Russian Orthodox Church for Backing Troops in Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Orthodox Christmas service at the Kremlin in Moscow on Jan. 7, 2023. (Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via Reuters) President Vladimir Putin on Saturday praised the Russian Orthodox Church for supporting Moscows forces fighting in Ukraine in an Orthodox Christmas message designed to rally people behind his vision of modern Russia. The Kremlin issued Putins message after the Russian leader 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, accompanied on the Kremlin website by an image of him standing before religious icons, Putin made it clear he saw the Russian Orthodox Church as an important stabilizing force for society at a time he has cast as a historical clash between Russia and the West over Ukraine and other issues. 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 Putin. Church organizations prioritize supporting our warriors taking part in the special military operation [in Ukraine.] Such massive, complex, and truly selfless work deserves sincere respect. On Friday, Putin ordered a 36-hour ceasefire for the celebrations, but Kyiv rejected it as Moscows ploy to buy time and regroup and Russian and Ukrainian forces exchanged artillery fire after the announcement. Many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on Jan. 7. The Russian Orthodox Churchs backing for Moscows war in Ukraine has angered many Ukrainian Orthodox believers and splintered the worldwide Orthodox Church. Of 260 million Orthodox Christians in the world, about 100 million are in Russia itself and some of those abroad are in unity with Moscow. Others are strongly opposed, however, and reject Moscows assertion that its Feb. 24 invasion last year was an essential preemptive strike to defend its own security and that of Russian speakers in Ukraine. Ukraine has about 30 million Orthodox believers, divided between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and two other Orthodox Churches, one of which is the autocephalous, or independent, Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In a service on Friday, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow criticized Ukraine for cracking down on the branch of the Orthodox church with longstanding ties to Moscow. By Andrew Osborn Anna Gemma and Tony Tsao at the Shen Yun Performing Arts at the War Memorial Opera House, on Jan. 7, 2023. (Lily Yu/The Epoch Times) SAN FRANCISCOAnna Gemma, a ballet teacher and former professional ballerina, had high praise for Shen Yun Performing Arts classical Chinese dance presentation. [Shen Yun is] excellent. Great training, you can tell. Great flexibility. Very strong acrobatic skills. Choreographyvery engaging, you never get tired. Beautiful costumes. Very well thought out, Ms. Gemma, who started her career in Russia, said after watching the performance at the War Memorial Opera House on Jan. 7. For me as a teacher, Ill take away this from my career: That I have to teach my students to be consistent with training to succeed and look beautiful and very effortless on the stage. Based in New York, Shen Yun is the worlds premier classical Chinese dance company, and is described as a revival of the beauty and goodness of China before communism. Ms. Gemma said through Shen Yun, she learned much more about the history of China, and how things were in the country before communism. She also appreciated seeing the spirituality in Chinese culture through the performance. Im a very spiritual person myself, so that is important to me. And I definitely appreciate that as well through the body art, she said. Tony Tsao, whose family is from Taiwan, said he really appreciated Shen Yun showing Chinas culture before the communist regime took power. I think the world probably only knows China right now as a communist state that is very opposed to Western values. And what [Shen Yun] sheds a light on is Chinas deep history, which goes way before communism, said Mr. Tsao, who works in finance and investment. I dont know of any show that actually shines a bright light on this part of Chinas history, which is very important. Tony Tsao I dont know of any show that actually shines a bright light on this part of Chinas history, which is very important. They were, I think, quite advanced in the world at that time. And then, we see the communist effect changed the whole country. Mr. Tsao added that he appreciates all the hard work that goes into creating Shen Yun. Keep going and keep doing this because its very important for the world to see this. Tony Tsao It takes a lot of dedication and practice to be able to do what they do. And, like Anna said, theyre effortless, he said. I applaud them, and say keep going and keep doing this because its very important for the world to see this.' Reporting by Lily Yu. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Camirose and Kevin Clauss at the Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Atlanta Symphony Hall, on Jan. 7, 2023. (NTD) ATLANTABallet dancer Camirose Clauss thought Shen Yun Performing Arts put on an incredible performance at the Atlanta Symphony Hall on Jan. 7. It was a wonderful perspective, and refreshing, said Ms. Clauss, who dances with the Ballet Conservatory of Atlanta. The colors, the choreography, it was just incredible. The music, just the whole thing, the whole time. Based in New York, Shen Yun features classical Chinese dance and music and aims to revive the beauty of China before communism. Watching the performance, Ms. Clauss said she learned that its important to remain steadfast in ones faith. Thats what helped me the most, she said. Ms. Clausss father, Kevin Clauss, said he agrees with that sentiment. You should be able to stand up for your beliefs, said Mr. Clauss, who works as a project manager. Mr. Clauss added that he thought the performance was amazing, and said he particularly enjoyed Shen Yuns patented projected backdrops interacting with the dances on the stage. It was wonderful, he said. Quite Blown Away Scott W. Hodgman at the Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Atlanta Symphony Hall, on Jan. 7, 2023. (NTD) Scott W. Hodgman, who works in strategy and design, and is also a published author and poet, said he was quite blown away by Shen Yun. It is fantastic, Mr. Hodgman said. He said that he and his family are avid art followers and go to many performances, but he has never seen another performance be able to appeal to such a wide range of members of the public. Weve come to many performances. Weve never seen this kind of pull and energy, Mr. Hodgman said. I dont think its so much the time of the year, I think its the performance. I think its Shen Yun that brought this out. Mr. Hodgman said he enjoyed hearing the emcees introduce the different dance pieces, and appreciated the storylines in the dances. I feel the inspiration. You could feel the rootedness of it. You could tell a story, the story can be wonderful. The language can be beautiful, the words can be lovely, when the storys told also with a passion and meaning, connected to history, heritage, and lived experience, identity, he said. It comes across with something and you feel it. It makes you want to live that way where you are connected to your history and story. Mr. Hodgman added that the audience could feel the love and passion that the performers have for the history that they are telling and the identity theyre recovering, and said he found the connection that the performers have to be inspiring. Shen Yun will be staging two more performances in Atlanta on Jan. 8. Reporting by NTD and Ze Lin. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Three contemporary Egyptian designers are reviving the legacy of ancient Egypt through a set of new fashion designs, writes Sarah Elhosary For thousands of years, ancient Egypt has inspired innovators around the world. Taking upon their shoulders the responsibility of presenting the ancient Egyptian legacy to the world, a number of young Egyptian fashion designers have now gone the extra mile in transforming history into innovation. In addition to natural surroundings, buildings, and people, each with their own spirit and personality, I also draw inspiration from ancient Egypt in my work, said young Egyptian fashion designer Amira Quzamil. As I am fascinated by ancient Egypt and its rich designs, I have designed a collection that celebrates Egypt and its history. It was a challenge to take responsibility for presenting the authenticity of ancient Egypt, including its images and colours, while at the same time creating clothes that would be fashionable today. Despite studying pharmacy at university, Quzamils first passion has always been fashion design, which she has pursued from a very young age. She has sharpened her design skills over time, learning to choose what looks best on each person, a skill that is only earned with practice and working with different people. Quzamils family encouraged her to continue developing her fashion sense after she graduated from university. In 2016, she kicked off her career in fashion and eventually opened her own design studio. In creating her designs, she combines colours and motifs from outside with those from her own imagination. My mission is to create each design from genuine drawings from ancient Egypt. I studied the names and shapes of the ancient Egyptian gods before using them in my designs so that the symbols remain intact, she said. Sahar Zaghloul is another designer, this time of jewellery, who has always been interested in fashion. She started her career in fashion design, but quickly moved to jewellery. Wearing her own unique pieces fills her with satisfaction. Every item she sees can be a source of inspiration, even if it is just a table or a lamp. Ever since she was a child, she would imagine everything around her changed into jewellery. When travelling, Zaghloul is sensitive to the pride of each of the cities she visits in its heritage. Why not resurrect our ancient Egyptian heritage and weave it into the minutiae of daily life? We have something that no one else has. We have incredible structures, for one thing, like the Pyramids, sphinxes, and temples, that are unlike anything else in the world, Zaghloul said. When she designs, she follows her intuition. She lets ideas flow through her mind and straight onto paper. When I feel joy or happiness, I draw lotuses. When I draw scarabs, it gives me a feeling of positivity and good luck. Initially, in making my designs I created hollow moulds as a foundation for creating ancient Egyptian symbols such as lotuses, scarabs, and others, she said. When designing, I re-compose and shape the symbols. Then, I try the designs out by hand and imagine next steps before sending them to the workshop for final production. Thats why I prefer the design stage, because I get to interact directly with the ornamentation. Then comes the final stage, when I hold the finished design in my hands. I am always pleased with the results of collaborative efforts. She used to work with silver at first and then with gold and enamel. Later, she began manufacturing her designs in gold and inlaying diamonds into them to give the ancient Egyptian-inspired look a modern touch. She had difficulty at first in drawing designs, but she overcame that by training and experimenting, eventually managing to create the shapes she desired. Besides my psychology studies at university, I faced challenges in the field of design. Then I had trouble juggling my work and children. However, I believe we all have dreams that we must pursue. For me, where theres a will, theres a way, Zaghloul said. Bag by Abdel-Shahid ACCESSORIES: In order to celebrate her Egyptian identity, Marina Abdel-Shahid remembers searching for accessories that would speak of her Egyptian heritage. After a long search, she did not find what she was looking for, so she decided to create her own brand that would reflect the ancient Egyptian identity with a modern twist. Abdel-Shahid faced various difficulties at first and admits that she did not know much about ancient Egyptian civilisation, except for general knowledge of temples, museums, and some famous stories. But she chose each of her design ideas based on an ancient Egyptian tale and sent out the designs accompanied by a papyrus telling the story behind them. When designing a bag, for example, I chose the shape of a hand fan invented by the ancient Egyptians. I explained in the papyrus that comes with the product that the hand fan was one of the treasures discovered in the tomb of Tutankhamun, she said. Driven by the need never to give up, Abdel-Shahid kept going through all the stages of her work. She began by researching the background of each design and then progressing through the design process far from her own field of study and even executing some of her ideas. Drawing inspiration from ancient Egyptian civilisation also has its own set of rules. There is a creativity in every ancient Egyptian symbol that I am keen to transmit to the current generations. Therefore, I reproduce the symbols in every detail and in their exact shapes. I then finish off the designs on modern lines, she said. For example, I use the figure of the Egyptian key of life ankh symbol in my ankh bag design. It represents the union of male and female and the continuity of life. By embellishing the ancient details, I made the bag design illustrate the love story of the ancient Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris, and it has the symbol of Horus depicted as a bird at the top. I edged the bag with leather pieces inspired by the ears of the ancient Egyptian god of death Anubis. Earrings by Zaghloul After choosing the main theme for her designs, Abdel-Shahid consults Egyptologists and does background research on each symbol she uses. This stage is the longest and hardest of the whole design process. It took me seven months to find the information and symbols I wanted about the ankh symbol before I started designing a piece using them. There are multiple sources, and there are no standardised references, she said. When finishing a design, she produces two or three different models to combine and experiment with materials. Her work also does not stop at ancient Egypt, as Abdel-Shahid is also fascinated by other parts of Egypts heritage with its Coptic and Islamic roots. Abdel-Shahid has launched three collections including handbags, backpacks, and wallets inspired by ancient Egyptian civilisation. She chooses natural materials such as leather and copper to create her designs, and she also uses ancient Egyptian colours like red and green, giving them a metallic finish. Abdel-Shahid received a Top Business Award in 2020, the same year she started her journey as a designer. She was also invited to participate in the World Youth Forum, which she considers to be a form of recognition of her revival of ancient Egyptian symbols. Connecting to Egyptian history has always been an essential aspiration for Abdel-Shahid, and she displays her designs in shops attached to Egyptian museums. She is also currently working on a new Tutankhamun-inspired bag collection drawing on the ancient treasures discovered in Tutankhamuns tomb. She will launch the Tutankhamun collection soon to mark the centennial of the discovery of Tutankhamuns tomb and to celebrate the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum on the Pyramids Plateau that will display the treasures from it. * A version of this article appears in print in the 5 January, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Zachary and Lavender Nix and their daughters at the Shen Yun Performing Arts at the AT&T Performing Arts CenterWinspear Opera House, on Jan. 7, 2023. (Nancy Ma/The Epoch Times) DALLASThe Jan. 7 Shen Yun matinee performance in Dallas was the second time the Nix family had seen the New York-based classical Chinese dance company. Very impressive, said Zachary Nix, vice president of an oil and gas company. We like the dancers, we like the musicians, appreciate learning more about Chinese culture. The performance in Dallas was staged by one of Shen Yun Performing Arts eight companies currently touring the globe, showcasing the beauty of the Middle Kingdoms rich history and culture through classical Chinese dance and live orchestral music. Seven of the companies performed on Jan. 7. Shen Yuns website explains that the company is reviving the beauty and goodness of China before communism. With stories and legends, vibrant costumes and backdrops, original music, and a few fun surprisesits an experience that will delight your senses, inspire your heart, and just leave you feeling great, the website says. Lavender Nix, who accompanied her husband and two daughters to the performance, said she enjoyed the talent of the performers, as well as learning about Chinese culture through Shen Yun. We thought it was amazing. Very talented, Mrs. Nix said. Its nice to see another culture, and theyre amazing. Shen Yun Gives Everyone Hope Glen and Debra Leach at the Shen Yun Performing Arts at the AT&T Performing Arts CenterWinspear Opera House, on Jan. 7, 2023. (Nancy Ma/The Epoch Times) Glen Leach, who owns a construction company, said Shen Yun is full of hope and energy. I loved the show, the show is awesome. I loved the music, very inspiring, the story values are inspiring too, Mr. Leach said. The show is very spiritual, and has a very high level of energy. It gives everyone hopethe whole world as well as the people of China. Debra Leach said she was almost moved to tears by Shen Yuns performance. It gets to your heart. Very moving, Mrs. Leach said. I almost cried watching it. The story behind it, and the hardships the Chinese people went throughI had seen it a little, but probably didnt know all the stories. Shen Yun will perform at the AT&T Performing Arts CenterWinspear Opera House until Jan. 15. Reporting by Nancy Man. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. NORFOLK, Va.Many audience members say that Shen Yun Performing Arts spreads a powerful message. Optometrist Fadee Bittar and financial analyst Jasmine Bittar watched Shen Yun at the Chrysler Hall on Jan. 7 and were among those who saw a message of great importance in what Shen Yun presented. I thought it was incredible, Dr. Bittar said. The message was incredible [and] really amazing. Dr. Bittar saw an advocation for the freedom of belief in Shen Yun. Theyre trying to be free and believe in whatever they want to believe, Dr. Bittar said, referring to Shen Yuns depiction of followers of the spiritual practice Falun Dafa not giving up their faith despite being persecuted by Chinas atheist communist regime. Based in New York, Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by leading Chinese artists who fled Chinas oppressive communist government and made it their mission to show the world the beauty of China before communism. Traditional Chinese culture was intricately tied to spiritual teachings from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, yet these beliefs were abolished by the communist regime. Dr. Bittar expressed his own belief in a higher power. Im a firm believer that no matter what you believe init doesnt matter where its frombut if you believe in a higher power, I think its glorifying someone else. It makes us humble, and it makes us know that there is a kingdom after this world. I think its very important that we all try to try to achieve that, try to reach that. No matter what we do, we want to be good and humble in this world and try to get there. I think its a wonderful message. Mrs. Bittar was also touched by the message. I think it was very inspiring, she said. I think its important for us to know that theres something we all have to do on this earth. We have to be kind, we have to be loving, and we need a love for something thats larger than us. If we dont, then life really doesnt make any sense. That was clearly the message that I saw there. Mrs. Bittar resonated with Falun Dafas principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. People putting their lives at risk for something I believe in thats something extremely brave. I think this world is lacking that, and we need to teach that to our children, and the generations to come. Reporting by Terri Wu and Wandi Zhu The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. The Inextricable Link Between Military Life and Mental Health Issues Commentary The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), were told, is building a military to invade Taiwan by the end of the decade. In recent times, however, this building process has hit a rather sizable stumbling block that could derail its plans of unification with its iron-willed neighbor. The South China Morning Posts Amber Wang recently discussed how a mental health crisis is weakening Chinas military. Take Chinas submarine force, for example. One in five male sailors, noted Wang, have experienced mental health problems (a vague description that can refer to just about anything, from eating disorders to suicidal ideation). In a desperate attempt to address the crisis, the Peoples Liberation Army has introduced various counseling services and courses designed to equip troops with the tools necessary to cope with the stresses of physical combat. A brigade from the 73rd Group Army just launched online psychological services to assist officers and soldiers experiencing fearful emotions after participating in demanding field training exercises. As people are the decisive factor in combat, writes Wang, mental stability is key to effectiveness. Indeed. Shes 100 percent right. Unfortunately, these members of the Chinese military happen to reside in a country where a stigma surrounding mental health issues reigns supreme. After all, this is communist China we are talking about, a country ruled by a party that has inflicted unimaginable amounts of physical and psychic suffering on its citizens. Beijings draconian COVID-19 policies, only abandoned a few weeks ago after tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets, were so severe that some people chose to take their own lives. The only reason Beijing is so concerned about its military members struggling with various mental health issues is that the CCP needs them to be ready for war, to function as cold-blooded killers unburdened by unnecessary distractions. They are receiving treatment because they are preparing for battle. If these individuals do play a role in the invasion of Taiwan, then the United States is likely to intervene. Which begs the question: What about the mental state of U.S. military members? U.S. Military Academy cadets attend the 2020 graduation ceremony at West Point, New York, on June 13, 2020. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images) In March 2022, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the creation of a special committee designed to assess and improve the militarys mental health and suicide prevention programs. The announcement was well-received on both sides of the political aisle (although some could ask, what took so long?). Between 2015 and 2020, suicides among active-duty service members jumped by a staggering 40 percent. According to a 2021 report by the Costs of War Project, a team consisting of dozens of scholars, legal experts, medical doctors, and human rights practitioners, since 9/11, four times as many active duty members have taken their lives than have died in combat. Specifically, at the time of the report, 30,177 had died by suicide, and 7,057 individuals had been killed in post-9/11 active duties. The report stressed that rates of suicide for both veterans and active duty personnel are fast, overtaking those of the general population. This, the authors added, marks an alarming shift, as suicide rates among the general population have historically been far higher than suicide rates among service members. The report found that multiple factors have played a role in higher suicide rates, including trauma, stress, military culture (more on this point in a minute), easy access to guns, and extreme difficulty readjusting to civilian life. Previously, when researchers asked soldiers at Fort Carson, a U.S. Army post located south of Colorado Springs, why they attempted to commit suicide, the majority of respondents cited a burning desire to put an end to the intense emotional distress that they were experiencing. This is concerning on many levels. Although the United States is not China, there is significant work to be done when it comes to views on mental health issues. Unfortunately, across the country, the stigma surrounding certain mental illnesses like schizophrenia and alcoholism is on the rise. The U.S. military is known for its heavy-drinking culture; in fact, it is Americas heaviest-drinking profession. The association between alcohol abuse and mental health struggles is well known. When we discuss war, we often discuss the countries involved, forgetting that these wars are fought by human beings who struggle with the anxieties and concerns that plague everyday civilians. China isnt the only country struggling to help its members cope with the realities of war. The United States has significant work to do. Now, more than ever, the brave men and women sacrificing their lives for the United States need all the help they can get. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Trudeau Commits to Seeking Justice for Flight PS752 Victims on Three-Year Anniversary People grieve during a ceremony marking the three-year anniversary of the downing of flight PS752, in Toronto on Jan. 8, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Christopher Katsarov) TORONTOPrime Minister Justin Trudeau reaffirmed his governments commitment to seeking justice for the victims of Flight PS752 on Sunday as he joined Canadians across the country in marking three years since the Iranian military shot the plane down. Trudeaus remarks came at an oftenemotional ceremony in North Toronto, one of several such events taking place in 12 Canadian cities. Family members who lost loved ones in the crash sobbed, called for justice and fiercely criticized the Iranian regime throughout the Sunday afternoon event. The prime minister, one of several senior dignitaries on hand, followed suit. This tragedy happened because of the Iranian regimes heinous disregard for human life, Trudeau said in remarks directed at grieving relatives. Your grief has been compounded by their refusal to be held accountable. Families took part in rallies from Vancouver to Toronto and St. Johns, N.L., to mark the anniversary of the crash, which killed 176 people including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents. The Ukraine International Airlines jetliner was bound for Canada via Ukraine and shot down shortly after its takeoff from Tehran in January 2020. The marquee ceremony, hosted by the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims, was preceded by a morning reception and art gallery viewing and will be followed by a candlelight vigil. Trudeau spoke briefly with some of the victims family members ahead of the official ceremony, which also featured performances and presentations. The photos and names of the victims were shared during the ceremony and a moment of silence was held to remember them. In addition to remembering the lives lost, speakers stressed the importance of seeking justice. We expect the governments of the affected countries to continue to stand with us and show to the world that justice will only be achieved with the truth, said Hamed Esmaelion, head of the association that hosted the event. Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also spoke at the ceremony and called for more severe consequences for the Iranian regime. That includes listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization, a demand echoed by victims family members. It is appalling that today, three years after this organization murdered 85 of our own people, it is perfectly legal in Canada for this organization to operate, Poilievre said. In October, Trudeaus government barred more than 10,000 former IRGC members from entering Canada, but it has remained hesitant to list the entire corps as a terrorist organization because it could punish those conscripted into the force for noncombat roles. Community members and dignitaries also expressed solidarity with those in Iran protesting since the killing of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in custody of Irans morality police in September. Similar calls for justice also came from those who attended commemorative events outside of Toronto, who urged Ottawa to take a tougher stance against Iran. In Montreal, hundreds gathered in front of McGill University to mark the somber anniversary and honour the victims. Protesters marched in the frigid cold to the building that houses the International Civil Aviation Organization, also located in the citys downtown core. Nastaran Razmjoo, a protester who lost a friend aboard PS752, said not nearly enough has been done for the victims families to support their quest for justice and accountability. The families are angry. They say its not enough what the government of Canada has done, Razmjoo said. We are asking the aviation organization to take action because silence is violence. On Dec. 28, Canada joined peer countries in starting the process to send the Flight PS752 case to the International Court of Justice and attempt to force Iran to compensate victims families. Advocates argue the move should have come sooner and the RCMP should have launched a criminal investigation while Ottawa was negotiating with Tehran. Trudeau met with grieving family members on Friday and said Ottawa would be relentless in fighting for truth, justice and accountability. Two National Wildlife Refuges Just a Day Trip From San Francisco Just a day trip beyond the San Francisco Bay Area are two national wildlife refuges (NWRs): the San Luis NWR in Los Banos and the Merced NWR. They are easy to tour and provide a wonderful break from the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area. Located in the northeastern part of the San Joaquin Valley, the two wildlife refuges, along with the San Joaquin River NWR, form the largest remaining area of native grassland and wetland habitats in Californias Central Valley. An observation deck allows viewing access to flocks of geese and swans. (Courtesy of Karen Gough) Wintering Habitat for Migratory Birds Over the winter, more than a million ducks, geese, and sandhill cranes inhabit fields and wetlands within the San Joaquin Valley. Visitors can see thousands of these birds themselves by touring either the San Luis NWR or the Merced NWR. Both refuges have five-mile auto tours, short nature trails, and observation decks for viewing birds. Youll want to bring a good pair of binoculars, however, because flocks can be a long distance away. And to see the best action, stay until sunset. Snow geese, greater white-fronted geese, and northern shoveler ducks shelter in the fields and waters of the San Luis NWR. (Courtesy of Karen Gough) An Incredible Sight Occurs After Sunset Just after sunset, they fly in from the fields: thousands upon thousands of sandhill cranes, snow geese, and Rosss geese. They fly in V-formation, flock after flock, honking all the while. For spectators, its like being in your very own nature movie. Flocks of sandhill cranes fly in from distant fields and pastures at sunset to shelter in wetlands at the Merced NWR. (Courtesy of Karen Gough) From experience, it seems the best viewing locations are near the second observation deck along the southeast portion of the Merced NWR auto trail. In the surrounding trees, owls can also be heard hooting as they awaken for the night. A telephoto lens captures the beauty of sandhill cranes flying within the Merced NWR. (Courtesy of Karen Gough) A Public/Private Success Story National wildlife refuges comprise a network of publicly and privately owned lands. At the San Luis and Merced NWRs, much of the acreage is supported by conservation easements between private landowners and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These public/private contracts give farmers, ranchers, and other private landowners the ability to sell development rights to their land to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As a result, the private landowners cannot sell to real estate developers who might want to build houses, a shopping mall, or an industrial complex on that land. The conservation easements exist in perpetuity, meaning persons who inherit or buy the land must abide by the same contract. Though the landowners maintain ownership and pay property taxes, they are restricted regarding the use of that land. For example, the farmers can only grow crops that are beneficial to wildlife. Beneficial crops include grains like wheat, rye, corn, rice, and alfalfa. Crops like trees, nuts, and cotton are not allowed, as these do not benefit wildlife. Farmers can, of course, profit from the crops they grow. Tundra swans are one of the many species that benefit from conservation easements at the San Luis NWR. (Courtesy of Karen Gough) Ranchers can set aside permanent pasture for grazing livestock. Ranchers can breed and sell their livestock while knowing that their pasture also benefits migratory birds. Private landowners who run waterfowl hunting clubs also gain by contracting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The conservation easement gives them upfront money and allows them to run a private business. At the same time, they are helping conserve wildlife who inhabit their land. Black-necked stilts are easily seen from the waterfowl auto-tour route in the San Luis NWR. (Courtesy of Karen Gough) Other Wildlife Besides birds, the San Luis and Merced NWRs support many types of mammals. While driving or walking, visitors might encounter coyotes, black-tailed deer, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, or even river otters. Other species, such as opossums and bats, are present but not often seen. A coyote seen from an auto-tour route in the San Luis NWR. (Courtesy of Karen Gough) Tule Elk A significant animal group at the San Luis NWR is the tule elk. Because of a major highway (Highway 55) and the surrounding agriculture, the elk must live in a 780-acre enclosure. However, this thriving elk herd is a back-from-the-brink success story. In 1974, the tule elknative to Californiawere on the brink of extinction. An elk enclosure was built at the San Luis NWR and seeded by 18 elk from the Detroit and San Diego Zoos. As the San Luis herd grew, wildlife managers were able to move some of the elk out to other preserves in California. Now there are over 4,000 tule elk living wild in California. Most of them roam free. There are only two enclosed herds: one in San Luis and one at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley. A male tule elk in the San Luis enclosure. (Courtesy of Karen Gough) Tule elk are named after the tule plants that grow in the wetlands of their natural habitat. Tule elk feed on aquatic plants, grasses, and shrubs. They are the smallest of three species of North American elk, including the Rocky Mountain elk and the Roosevelt elk. Though they are the smallest, tule elk can go the longest without drinking water. This is important, as some areas in California (like the Central Valley) can go six months or more without rainfall and reach temperatures well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Visitors can drive a five-mile auto-tour route in the San Luis NWR around the elk enclosure and have a good chance of spotting tule elk. Breeding season, from late July through November, is an exciting time to see the elk. Bulls with fully grown antlers bugle to proclaim their dominance and readiness to mate. If viewers are lucky, they might see two bull elk locking antlers and pushing against each other. It is not a violent fight, just a test of strength. If You Go Both the San Luis NWR and the Merced NWR can be visited on the same day. There is no entrance fee. The San Luis NWR includes 26,609 acres of wetlands, native grassland, vernal pools, and riparian habitat within a 15-mile-long area. Be sure to bring sunscreen, walking shoes, a hat, water, binoculars, and a camera. Dress in layers for the heat or cold, and make sure you have plenty of gas in the car. The refuge is located within farm country; gas stations are not close by. A walking trail beckons in the San Luis NWR. (Courtesy of Karen Gough) The large and informative visitor center makes a good first stop on your tour. No food is sold, but you can bring a picnic. There is a waterfowl auto-tour route of 8.5 miles, a tule elk auto-tour route of 5 miles, and short nature trails (1/2 mile to 1 mile in length). There are also some observation decks, picnic tables, and restrooms. The visitor center of the San Luis Refuge Complex has interactive exhibits and knowledgeable rangers. (Courtesy of Karen Gough) The entrance and visitor center are located at 7376 S. Wolfsen Rd., Los Banos, CA 93635. The phone number is (209) 826-3508. The 10,200-acre Merced NWR includes a 5-mile auto tour, three nature trails, two observation decks, and restrooms. There is no visitor center. The address given for the entrance is 7430 West Sandy Mush Road, Merced, CA 95341. Be aware that Google Maps might say youve arrived before you actually get to the main entrance. Keep driving on Sandy Mush Road until you see the large entrance sign. For more information on both parks, visit their websites: www.fws.gov/refuge/san-luis www.fws.gov/refuge/merced UKs Sunak Demands Bold and Radical Action to Ease Winter Crisis in Hospitals UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has demanded bold and radical action to ease the winter crisis in the National Health Service (NHS). At the NHS Recovery Forum held in Downing Street on Jan. 7, Sunak told health and social care leaders he recognised the tough time theyve experienced since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic we had to bring boldness and radicalism to how we did things in order to get through, he said, according to Downing Street. I think we need that same bold and radical approach now because a business-as-usual mindset wont fix the challenges we face. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a major speech at Plexal, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London, on Jan. 4, 2023. (Stefan Rousseau/PA Media) This comes as the NHS is dealing with record-high backlogs accumulated during the pandemic, winter pressure with increased flu and COVID-19 cases, and strikes over pay disputes. A government spokeswoman said that the prime minister expressed his deep gratitude to the NHS workforce for all their hard work and dedication especially during the pandemic. She said Sunak and health ministers found the discussions highly valuable for sharing ideas and best practices that could be spread nationwide to improve care for patients throughout the country. The prime minister has made it one of his top five priorities to reduce NHS waiting lists so that people get care more quickly, and the government is investing a record amount in the health service, including in recruiting a record number of doctors and nurses, she said. Pay Negotiations Health Secretary Steve Barclay will meet with union leaders on Jan. 9 to discuss NHS pay for the next financial year. He said hed adopt a constructive approach to the negotiations, with increases on the table if the unions will agree to efficiency savings to make higher salaries more affordable. Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Barclay said workers could get a significant pay boost from April if staff will accept radical reforms to improve productivity. I remain ready to engage with unions on what the government can do to support the workforce, and I look forward to talking with the trade unions to see how we make any settlement done through the independent pay body more affordable, where there are productivity and efficiency opportunities, he said. Talking to the BBC on Jan. 8, the prime minister indicated that talks with health unions will focus on the pay settlement for the upcoming financial year rather than demands for negotiations on the current deal. When it comes to pay weve always said we want to talk about things that are reasonable, affordable, and responsible for the country, Sunak said. We are about to start a new pay settlement round for this year, were about to start that independent process, and before that process starts the government is keen to sit down with the unions and talk about pay and make sure they understand where were coming from. Optimism The main opposition Labour Party has criticised the governments refusal to discuss this years pay deal. Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: Rishi Sunak is taking our nurses and ambulance workers for fools. These talks are about next years pay settlements and will do nothing to resolve todays issues. But the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) expressed optimism over the governments willingness to come to the negotiating table. RCN general secretary Pat Cullen told the BBC, The prime minister talked about coming to the table, now thats a move for me because I have said, lets meet halfway. So if that table is now available, I will be there on behalf of the over 300,000 members that participated in this ballot. But it must be about addressing pay for 2022/23. NHS On Its Face Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has warned the NHS is not just on its knees, its on its face, with 7.2 million people on the waiting list. He told Sky News on Jan. 8, Speak to anyone who works in the NHS and theyll tell you just how stressed it is. My wife works in the NHS so I know this first hand. Just at the moment weve got a crisis and its the worst crisis weve ever had and thats because weve had 13 years of neglect. Of course, COVID put extra pressure on the NHS but the waiting lists were 4.6 million before we went in to COVID. Asked if the NHS was in crisis, the prime minister told the BBC on Jan. 7, The NHS is undeniably under enormous pressure and Ive spent today talking to NHS leaders. Recovering from COVID is going to be tough and were seeing that play out on our TV screens every day and in communities up and down the country, he said, but actually I came away from all my meetings today with a renewed sense of confidence and optimism that we can get to grips with this problem. PA Media contributed to this report. Western Australias Major Gas Plant Experiences Sudden Failure An undated handout photo shows Australian resources giant Woodside's Cossack Pioneer oil production facility in the North West Shelf gas project in Western Australia. (-/AFP via Getty Images) Western Australias gas supply system is under strain following an unexpected outage at Chevrons Wheatstone domestic gas plant, one of the states largest gas plants. The plant suffered a technical failure on the evening of Jan. 5, which resulted in gas production ceasing. Chevron is continuing restart activities at the Wheatstone Domestic Gas Plant, which is expected to resume production in the coming days, a Wheatstone spokesperson told The Epoch Times. An unplanned outage occurred at the plant during the evening of 5 January, caused by equipment failure. We are continuing to work with our customers, the regulator, and the broader market, to meet demand, including Gorgons 300 terajoule domestic gas plant running at full capacity. The Wheatstone offshore platform is the largest offshore gas-processing platform ever installed in Australia in Western Australia. (Courtesy of Chevron Australia Pty Ltd) The spokesperson noted that the LNG production is unaffected as it is a separate part of the gas plant. Kate Ryan, the WA executive general manager at Australian Energy Market Operator, said the outage at the Wheatstone facility is expected to be short-term in nature. At this stage, there is no impact to electricity supplies in the South West Interconnected System, with sufficient supply available to meet demand. AEMO will continue supporting the government and gas industry by sharing information through the WA Gas Bulletin Boards Emergency Management Facility, as required. Earlier Leak The incident comes after Santos, the states biggest domestic producer of gas, reported a gas leak in a subsea flange on the main gas trunkline from the John Brookes platform at Varanus Island and Devil Creek facility. Energy minister Bill Johnstone said Western Australias energy network is complex and challenges like these will occur. Increased production and the use of stored gas, as well as reduced consumption by industry, means gas supplies have continued to meet demand. The state government is working with industry to ensure that Western Australia continues to be well supplied with gas. As of Sunday, Wheatstone Ashburton West Pipeline is not producing any gas. The pipeline capacity is 337 terajoules per dayabout 30 percent of the states demand, according to the Australian Energy Market Operators (AEMO) WA gas bulletin board. Meanwhile, Santos Devil Creek plant, which accounts for about 16 percent of the states demand production capacity, dropped from 180 terajoules of gas per day a week ago to 40 terajoules per day. It comes as the WA domestic gas market faces a tight supply-demand balance between 2023 and 2029, with demand up to 5 percent higher than potential supply, according to the industrys 10-year outlook. The AEMO has warned that renewables are projected to only partly replace shuttered coal plants, while gas generation is forecast to be required for baseload power and security and integrity of the power grid. Demand is expected to exceed potential supply from 2023 to 2026, but supply gets back into the black from 2027 to 2029 if Woodside Energys Scarborough project comes online as scheduled. The domestic gas market then moves into a larger deficit from 2030 onwards as coal generation is shut down, and from a decline in production from existing gas fields. The strong linkages between WAs gas and electricity sectors mean that changes occurring in one sector will have an impact on the other, AEMO executive Kate Ryan said. AAP contributed to this article. White House Responds After Pro-Bolsonaro Protesters Breach Brazilian Congress Security forces confront supporters of Brazilian former President Jair Bolsonaro as they breach the Planalto Presidential Palace in Brasilia on Jan. 8, 2023.(Sergio Lima/AFP via Getty Images) The Biden administration on Sunday condemned Brazilian protesters who broke through security blockades and breached the countrys national Congress, presidential palace, and Supreme Court. Using violence to attack democratic institutions is always unacceptable. We join [President Luiz Inacio Lula Silva] in urging an immediate end to these actions, Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote Sunday on Twitter. White House adviser Jake Sullivan said President Joe Biden, who visited the U.S.Mexico border on Sunday, is following the situation closely and our support for Brazils democratic institutions is unwavering Brazils democracy will not be shaken by violence. Videos and photos from the scene in Brasilia, the countrys capital city, showed protesters inside the presidential palace and destroying furniture in Congress and the Supreme Court. Some footage showed protesters on top of the national Congress. Reports indicated that Lula, who was inaugurated on Jan. 1, was not there, while it was likely few officials were working in the Brazilian Congress and Supreme Court on a Sunday. At about 5:30 p.m. local time, less than three hours after the storming, security forces seemed to be regaining control of the presidential palace and Supreme Courts surroundings, while thousands of protesters remained around Congress and on its roof. Former President Jair Bolsonaro, who flew to the United States ahead of Lulas inauguration, has not commented on Sundays events. The social media channels of his three lawmaker sons also were silent. Supporters of Brazilian former President Jair Bolsonaro hold a demonstration at the Esplanada dos Ministerios in Brasilia on Jan. 8, 2023. (Evaristo Sa/AFP via Getty Images) Federal District Gov. Ibaneis Rocha confirmed on Twitter that he had fired the capital citys head of public security, Anderson Torres. Bolsonaro supporters have been protesting Lulas electoral win since Oct. 30, blocking roads and gathering outside military buildings, seeking the armed forces to intervene. Many of them alleged that election results were fraudulent or unreliable. Videos on social media showed a limited presence of the capitals military police; one showed officers standing by as people flooded into Congress, with one using his phone to record images. The capitals security secretariat didnt immediately issue a public comment about the relative absence of the police. Other than the White House, other world leaders similarly condemned the protests and breach of the three government buildings. Military Police forces fire tear gas at supporters of Brazilian former President Jair Bolsonaro as they storm the Planalto Presidential Palace in Brasilia on Jan. 8, 2023. (Sergio Lima/AFP via Getty Images) Supporters of Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro demonstrate against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, outside Brazils National Congress in Brasilia, Brazil, on Jan. 8, 2023. (Adriano Machado/Reuters) The coup attempt by the Brazilian conservatives urged on by the leadership of oligarchic power, their spokespersons and fanatics, is reprehensible and undemocratic. Lula is not alone, he has the support of the progressive forces of his country, Mexico, the American continent and the world, said Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The government of Peru energetically condemns the assault on the headquarters of congress, the presidency and the supreme court of Brazil and any attempt to disregard the legitimacy of the October 2022 elections. Our solidarity with President Lula and Brazilian democracy, said the Peruvian Foreign Ministry on Sunday. We reject the violent actions in recent hours against the democratic institutions of the Federal Republic of Brazil and reiterate our support to our brothers in Brazil and their President Lula da Silva, democratically elected at the polls, Bolivias Foreign Ministry said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Xi Jinpings Achilles Heel Chinese leader Xi Jinping (L) waves next to Li Qiang, a member of the Chinese Communist Party's new Politburo Standing Committee, the nation's top decision-making body, as they meet the media in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 23, 2022. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary When Xi Jinping secured an unprecedented third term as the leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) at the 20th National Congress in October 2022, people were surprised to find that the Politburos Standing Committee comprises Xis yes-men. It seems that Xi has a firm grip on power and that no one can challenge it, and that he can remove or promote whoever he wants with total disregard for the CCPs conventions. Xi has turned into a dictator as powerful as Mao Zedong. However, Xi has already made major compromises on three issues. He abruptly ended the zero-COVID policy, abandoned nearly all of his signature economic measures, and reversed his science and technology policy. In the CCPs history, compromise has always meant weakened power. Even someone as tough as Mao, who compromised by acknowledging his failed economic policies after the Great Famine of 1959 to 1961, had to hand over the management of the regime to Liu Shaoqi. In 1980, Maos successor, Hua Guofeng, lost his post as the CCP chairman after admitting hed made a political mistake. In 1986, Hu Yaobang lost his post as the Party chairman after acknowledging that hed been ineffective in opposing bourgeois liberalization. Why did Xi make such compromises, and what are the consequences? On Jan. 4, The Wall Street Journal published a report by Lingling Wei and Jonathan Cheng, citing insiders who shared why Xi ended the so-called dynamic zero-COVID policy. They gave two reasons: one is that the economy is on the verge of collapse, and the other is the white paper movement. According to the South China Morning Post, Xi told European Council President Charles Michel that most protesters were students who grew frustrated over COVID-19 measures implemented three years ago. The rare mass protests were sparked by a high-rise fire that killed at least 10 residents in Urumqi, in Chinas Xinjiang region, in November 2022. First responders couldnt reach the apartment fire, which was left to burn for hours due to COVID blockades throughout the residential compound. During the protests, the people called for Xi and the CCP to step down. Xis decision to lift the COVID-19 restrictions indicates that he isnt as powerful as he seems. In contrast, Deng Xiaoping used force to suppress the student protesters in Tiananmen Square in 1989. Protesters hold up white pieces of paper to protest against censorship and Chinas strict zero-COVID measures, in Beijing on Nov. 27, 2022. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) The consequence is that when the CCP compromises, the people will realize that public pressure is effective and will be more willing to fight for their rights on more issues. One person in Xis circle knows that. Shortly after Xi came to power, his close ally Wang Qishan recommended a book, titled The Old Regime and the Revolution, to CCP cadres. Authored by Alexis de Tocqueville, the book contains a thought-provoking sentence: The Revolution was designed to abolish the remains of the institutions of the Middle Ages: yet it did not break out in countries where those institutions were in full vitality and practically oppressive, but, on the contrary, in a country where they were hardly felt at all; whence it would follow that their yoke was the most intolerable where it was in fact lightest. In other words, the CCP has been responding to the peoples demands with brutality, even when it could solve the problem by punishing some low-level officials or giving the people a little compensation. The CCP would use hundreds of armed police and spend lots of money to suppress the population, which many people cant understand. The logic behind this is simple. The CCP believes that if its population is constantly suppressed, the people will never think justice can prevail. Despair will numb them, and they will eventually give up the struggle. This is the real goal of the CCP. However, even the slightest compromise is tantamount to encouraging the people to resist the CCPs rule. Because of the white paper movement, I believe protests will become more frequent. When such protests reach a point where theyre everywhere, Xi cant suppress them. Because the CCP is a totalitarian system and its power is centralized, its best at dealing with a single incident at a time. For example, the regime quickly crushed the 1989 student-led pro-democracy protests because they mostly took place in one location, in Tiananmen Square. The most important outcome of future protests is that the people will no longer fear the CCPthis is what the Party fears most! This is Xis Achilles heel. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Lapita, Dubai Parks and Resorts, Autograph Collection, the UAEs only Pacific island-themed family resort, has appointed Faiek El Saadani as the new General Manager, bringing over 24 years hospitality experience to the role. El Saadanis career has taken his across the globe, having amassed a wealth of experience in the likes of UAE, India, Thailand, Azerbaijan, Germany, and Poland. Prior to joining Lapita, El Saadani held the role of General Manager at W Abu Dhabi- Yas Island, where he oversaw the overall rebranding and repositioning of the first W in the Capital of the Emirates. The early days of his hotelier career seen him hone his skills predominantly in the food & beverage division. Continuous exposure to this thriving and ever evolving facet of hospitality solidified his roots in Food & Beverages and operations. His finger remains firmly on the pulse of this vitally important aspect of the overall guest experience. Faiek joined Marriott in 2003 and held Director of Food & Beverages positions, across Marriott Hotels in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangkok. In 2015, he returned to UAE as Hotel Manager of St Regis Hotel Dubai then, located within the heart of the Al Habtoor City Complex. After a year, he was promoted to the General Manager position of the same hotel and being a part of the opening team of The St. Regis Dubai, he has played a key role in setting up all operational and strategic elements, which has helped maintain the hotels position as one of the leading luxury properties in the region. Commenting on his new role at Lapita, El Saadani said: I am very excited by my new role as GM at Lapita. It is an incredible, unique, and highly regarded property, and I cant wait to make my mark. I am particularly passionate about two aspects, the first being the cultivation of a strong team who works together and an unparalleled customer experience that boasts both high-end and personal service. TradeArabia News Service Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed on Saturday a new police chief, nearly four months into protests triggered by Mahsa Amini's death. Khamenei, who has the final say in major state policies and is the commander-in-chief of Iran's armed forces, appointed General Ahmad-Reza Radan to replace Hossein Ashtari, said a statement posted on the leader's official website. Khamenei ordered the police department to "improve its capabilities" as well as "train specialized forces for various security sectors". Radan, born in 1963, was deputy police chief from 2008 to 2014 and went on to lead the police's Centre for Strategic Studies. He was replaced as deputy by Ashtari, who was made the force's commander in 2015. Both Radan and Ashtari began their military career in the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The new police chief was sanctioned by the United States in 2010, and later on by the European Union, over "human rights abuses" in connection with protests that followed Iran's contested presidential elections of 2009. In the statement announcing Radan's appointment, Khamenei expressed "gratitude and satisfaction" with Ashtari's eight-year service. The Islamic Republic has been gripped by unrest since the September 16 death in custody of Iranian Kurdish Amini, 22, following her arrest for allegedly violating the country's strict dress code for women. Iranian authorities describe the current nationwide protests as "riots" and say hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed and thousands arrested. Search Keywords: Short link: The National Co-ordinator of the Niger Delta Youth Coalition, Prince Emmanuel Samuel Ogba has lauded the Federal Government for the appointment of Hon. Lauretta Onochie as the Chairman of the newly inaugurated Niger Delta Development Company (NDDC) .. Ogba who addressed Journalist i n Asaba noted that the choice of Mrs Lauretta Onochie as the Chairman was a credible one and also believed that they were looking forward to quality representation seeing as it is, members of the board are highly qualified and proficient and would no doubt take NDDC to greater heights in performance and deliver on projects that would be of relevance and benefit to the people of the region. Ogba admonished them to shun interference from politicians in the award of contracts to avoid the incidence of contractors abandoning contracts or doing substandard jobs He assured them of their support noting that the region is relatively safe As reported by the Catholic News Agency, Catholic bishops from African nations paid tribute to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who died on Dec. 31, eulogizing him as a leader of the Catholic Church who served with great self-sacrifice. In a tribute shared with ACI Africa, a sister publication to CNA, on Jan. 2, the first vice president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) said that the Church in Africa and Madagascar received with great sadness and deep emotion the news of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. This great servant of God who returns to the Fathers house in all serenity during the octave of the Nativity knew how to be, throughout his pontifical ministry, a great witness of the new evangelization, servant of love in truth (Caritas in Veritate), Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu said in the one-page tribute. Writing on behalf of Catholic bishops in Africa, Ambongo said the late pope served the whole Church with great self-sacrifice and has worked tirelessly for justice, peace, reconciliation, and dialogue between cultures. The people of Africa know that Benedict XVI treated them in a very special way during his pontificate, the local ordinary of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo added. He recalled the role the late pontiff played in the realization of the Second Special Assembly for Africa, saying that Benedict convened the Second Synodal Assembly for Africa in order to give the Church of God on the African continent a new impetus charged with evangelical hope and charity. Ambongo added that Benedict XVI invited Africa to trust in itself in order to stand up with dignity. He saw in her the spiritual lung for a humanity that seems to be in crisis of faith and hope. The Congolese member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, who serves as the president of the Justice, Peace, and Development Commission of SECAM, said that members of the Church in Africa and Madagascar are making a fervent prayer to the Lord that he may welcome this faithful servant of the Gospel into his kingdom of peace and light. In the name of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and in my own name, I pay homage to the Church in Africa and Madagascar to the one who carried Africa with fervor, conviction, and generosity, the first vice president of the continental symposium said in the tribute shared with ACI Africa. On Dec. 31, the Holy See announced that the funeral Mass of the pope emeritus will take place on Jan. 5 in St. Peters Square beginning at 9:30 a.m. Pope Francis is set to preside over the Mass, which, in keeping with Benedict XVIs wishes, will be carried out under the sign of simplicity, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said. The late former pontiff will be buried in the crypt under St. Peters Basilica. Pope Benedict XVI, formerly Cardinal Ratzinger was a great intellectual and first-rate thinker who stood firm in the Churchs opposition to leftist causes like abortion, gay rights, etc as the radical left wanted the Holy Church to bend its stance on these issues in the name of progressivism. We recall that some churches like the Church of England have endorsed same-sex marriage which led the Anglican Church of Nigeria and many African nations to completely sever ties with the mother church in England. He wasnt power drunk and stepped down when his failing health couldnt enable him to cope effectively with the demands of the office. May his soul rest in perfect peace and may he end up as a canonizable saint so that until the end of time he would continue to intercede for the church militant who is battling a plethora of challenges most especially that from the left who are hellbent on entrenching a bizarre culture of death and a Big Brother State built on hate and fear. Self acclaimed mililary president and former Head-of-State, Major General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), has reportedly jetted out of the country to Germany barely weeks to the 2023 general elections. It was learnt that the former military ruler left the country on Saturday with his second son, Aminu and a security aide. According to reports, the former Nigerian leader is expected to return after the conclusion of the upcoming presidential election. A family source disclosed to newsmen that Babangida engaged on his trip to Germany to carry out his usual medical check up and also evade any controversy that may result from the general elections. His Excellency is no doubt averse to being mentioned in and associated with any of the controversies the election may generate and decided to go away. Already, some of the presidential candidates have requested to visit him publicly but he refused and decided to go out of the country instead, the source said. It was further learnt that the former military ruler would be in Germany for three months and would return a few days to the Islamic revered month of Ramadan. It would be recalled that IBB in 2015 and 2019 traveled out a few months to the general elections and came back a few weeks after the elections. teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 I dont have enough time to live my own life! I reached this conclusion after trying to follow all the advice given on a morning news show one week in January. It seemed like a smart way to start my day. I figured Id tune in, get the forecast, learn the headlines, and maybe hear a celebrity interview. I wasnt expecting all the show segments telling me how to live my life better because it is the beginning of the new year and all those rituals that we often engage in the dance of new beginnings. Most of these segments offered the promise of deliverance: Financial Freedom Is Closer than You Think or Four Secrets to Better Communication. Others, I decided, were designed to scare the socks off of me: Food that you should not eat this year Six Health Risks Every Person Faces or Thieves You Cannot See Avoiding Identity Theft. Motivated by this combination of hope and fear, I compiled a to-do list of ways to improve my life and its management according to the experts. The more I listened, learned, and listed, the more behind schedule I felt. The topics on my list ranged from health maintenance to home maintenance to car maintenance. I was informed I need to eat certain foods every day: four veggies, three fruits, two proteins (preferably chicken or fish), and I think a partridge in a pear tree. I also need to get enough fiber, calcium, Vitamin D, B, C, and Beta-something-or-other. This is Nigeria, if you have the time, you wont see the fruit, fiber, veggie, and if you find anything at all, you wont have the money. I need thirty minutes of cardio a day (but apparently with the right exercise product this can be done in ten), fifteen minutes of strength training, and ten minutes of stretching. Plus, some extended time for meditation so that my body and mind could align. Im told a germ-resistant mat is needed for that. I need to bust my stress, nurture my creativity, and improve my posture. And I am getting old! I need to pay attention to my finances. Save and invest. Spend frugally yet somehow also buy the cool gadgets they review on the show. I need to check my credit report regularly. Shred important documents. Back up my computer. Meet with my financial planner. And read the information that comes with our kids (underfunded) college fund as we pursue scholarships. That, by the way, depending on the school, comes in pages of legal and financial mumbo jumbo in eight-point font, single-spaced. I suppose I need to meet with my attorney to understand it. And that creates two prerequisite tasks to add to the list: find an attorney and find a financial planner. In Nigeria all I mentioned is a luxury, only the rich, high and powerful and in some cases sensible dudes may have this, not every Sule, Emeka or Abiodun has a CFP, a CPA, and a JD on speed dial. I am myself running a few debts neck deep and Nigeria is! The list continues Change my oil every 3,000 miles and my transmission fluid every 30,000. Test my smoke detector batteries biannually. Change my air filters every other month. Replace my toothbrush every three months. Flip my mattress every six. Buy new pillows every three years I think this is for my posture, but it could be to get rid of dust mites. Check my skin for irregular moles. Check my yard for moles too. Weed and feed the lawn each spring. Grow houseplants to cleanse the air. Save last nights roasted chicken bones to make my own chicken stock for the pups at home from the last yuletide. I may buy undervalued international stocks. Sell some before it drops. And prepare for the next possible Nigeria made, facilitated disaster. Fertilize, amortize, floodrize, maximize, scrutinize, ethnicize, religionize, politicize. Suddenly I realized: I dont have time to live my life! Looking at the list of things I was supposed to do to live my life right, or well, or whatever all this was going to do for me, I felt defeated. The list that was going to improve my life left me overwhelmed. In my moment of defeat all I wanted to do was go surf. Course the list said I should put on a high-SPF sunscreen and take along a BPA-free water bottle to keep me well hydrated. Filled with filtered spring water, of course. This is the story of Nigeria, sadly we are not likely to do any, from the simplest such as changing toothbrush every other three months would be a herculean task, because we have made a meal of even conducting the next general elections over a few weeks, Automated Cash Cards would get to the remotest part and is made available in a day, and polling stations would be at every nook and corner but franchise legitimacy taken away from Nigerians by all sort of bulabalo. In search of a new beginning, Nigeria has no time, the country is not even committed to one small change at a time, especially if we are to pay N77trillion and with an election year, in which seemingly every advertisement, social media post, or well-meaning loved one is quick to remind you how your PVC is the only way to refresh, a restart, a rebrand for Nigeria. We are simply suffering a fresh start effect. When the slate is wiped clean in any capacity, people feel more compelled to conquer a challenge. The Obi effect, the Tinubu blues or the Atiku union, whichever one, our Nigeria has a bad rap for being notoriously unattainable to get it right, you recall the no-shoes effect, or the body language syndrome. What challenge do we desire to conquer, do we have time? Who will help Nigeria navigate a people that arent great at sticking to changing anything, not because we dont want to but because we failed to understand that the process we take in reaching the goal holds more weight than simply making a choice to change. We have very little time to make meaningful, value-driven resolve that we want to change direction, Nigeria has no time and in a twist of irony we have time, it is a case of whenOnly time will tell Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Minister of Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba and the Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Electricity RegulatoryCommission (NERC), Professor James Momoh to immediately reverse the unlawful, unjust and unreasonable increase in electricity tariff, which reportedly occurred in December 2022. SERAP also urged him to ensure the investigation of the spending of public funds as investments and bailouts by successive governments to electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and generating companies (GenCos) since 2005, and prosecution of cases of corruption and mismanagement. Following reported approval by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), electricity tariffs were increased across DisCos in the country in December 2022. Several prepaid customers have reportedly confirmed the increase. Both the Minister of Power and NERC have refused to confirm or deny the increase. In the letter dated 7 January, 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: The increase in electricity tariff would exacerbate the extreme poverty across the country, and undermine the ability of millions of Nigerians to satisfy basic human needs. SERAP said, the increase in electricity tariff failed to follow due process. It is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended], the Electric Power Sector Reform Act and the countrys international human rights obligations. According to SERAP, millions of Nigerians continue to live in darkness despite the spending by successive governments of trillions of naira as investments and bailouts to electricity companies. The letter, read in part: the increase is unjustified, especially given the unreliable, inefficient and poor quality of electricity in the country. Rather than providing electricity discounts to poor Nigerians, successive governments continue to give bailouts to electricity companies. We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest. Your government should have used the report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which shows damning revelations that some 133 million Nigerians are poor as a basis to improve access to regular electricity supply, and extend electricity to remote rural households. The latest increase in electricity tariff is coming on the heels of the NBC report which shows that over half of the population of Nigeria are multidimensionally poor and cook with dung, wood or charcoal, rather than cleaner energy. High deprivations are also apparent nationally in sanitation, time to healthcare, food insecurity, and housing. Access to regular electricity supply would improve the quality of life of the population. Electricity is an essential public service but millions of Nigerians continue to pay the price for corruption in the electricity sectorstaying in darkness, but still made to pay crazy electricity bills. Electricity supply remains inadequate and irregular. Regular and uninterrupted access to electricity is a fundamental human right. Your government has legal obligations to ensure that the operations of NERC and electricity companies do not impair the effective enjoyment of the right. Access to affordable electricity services is a prerequisite for improving the condition of people living in poverty. It is a means to generate other important services that mitigate poverty, bearing in mind that access to electricity facilitates the eradication of poverty. The hike in tariff would increase financial burdens for socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians and further marginalize and disproportionately affect them, and exacerbate their vulnerability to discrimination. The failure of successive governments and high-ranking government officials to prevent widespread and systematic corruption in the electricity sector and to bring suspected perpetrators to justice is the primary cause of the exploitation of electricity consumers. Investigating the spending of investments and bailouts by successive governments in DISCOS and prosecuting anyone suspected of corruption and mismanagement of public funds, and recovering any proceeds of crime would end a culture of impunity in the power sector, and improve access to and affordability of electricity in Nigeria. Successive governments have failed to increase power generation and provide Nigerians with regular and uninterrupted electricity supply, with many electricity contracts shrouded in secrecy, and trillions of Naira going down the drain. Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended] provides that, the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. Under Section 16(1)(a)(b), your government has the obligations to harness the resources of the nation and promote national prosperity and an efficient, a dynamic and self-reliant economy, and to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen. Nigeria has also ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which recognize legally enforceable economic and social rights, such as the rights to education, health, safe food and clean water, security, and shelter. Your government also has legal obligations to ensure that socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians including the 133 million the NBC documents as poor enjoy non-discriminatory access to basic household services including electricity. Under Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria dealing with Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, high-level public officials have a clear obligation to eradicate all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Furthermore, the constitution prohibits the exploitation of Nigerias human and natural resources for any reasons other than for the good of the community. Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption also impose legal obligations on your government to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds, and to promote sound and transparent administration of public affairs. The African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights has adjudged the failure of the States to provide basic services such as electricity as violating the right to health. Kolawole Oluwadare SERAP Deputy Director 8/1/2023 Lagos, Nigeria Emails: [email protected]; [email protected] Twitter: @SERAPNigeria Website: www.serap-nigeria.org For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202 The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has shut down operations at Ekehen Station in Edo State till further notice. The Railway Corporation said the decision became necessary following rising security challenges at the train station. In a public announcement posted on the passengers WhatsApp Group, NRC said the closure was till further notice. The announcement read, Public Announcement: This is to inform our general public and most especially our esteemed passengers, that Ekehen Station has been temporarily closed due to security issues, till further notice. Another notice reads, Due to the incident at Ekehen station on Saturday, WITS 01/ 02 will no longer stop at Ekehen Station. Please advise our customers. The Nigerian Voice had reported that suspected herdsmen on Saturday evening abducted many passengers waiting to board a train from the Igueben station in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State to Warri in Delta State, while many others sustained injuries. The Spokesperson for Edo State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday. The chairman of the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) also known as Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Professor Banji Akintoye, has stated that it would amount to betrayal if he left the struggle for the Yoruba Nation independent. The Yoruba Nation agitator made this remark while reacting to the rejection of his earlier resignation as leader of Ilana Omo Oodua. He noted that he only did quit the group but did not abandon the struggle to birth a Yoruba Nation out of the current structure of Nigeria. Speaking to some journalists on Saturday, Akintoye said after pleas from various quarters, he has accepted to continue to lead the separatists' body. This is coming following resignation of National Chairman of the group, Wale Adeniran, who announced his resignation as a member of the group following allegations of fraud and embezzlement. Adeniran who announced his resignation in a two-minute 33 seconds video on YouTube (Omoboriowo media) on Saturday, said Because in all developed parts of the world, what they normally do is that, if there is an allegation against a public office holder, he or she will step aside to allow thorough investigation, thats what Im doing right now. I thank you all, and whatever comes out after the investigation should be made public. There shouldnt be a secret there. They should publicise the outcome of the investigation because all Yoruba must know the truth about the fraud allegation involving the struggle. Thank you. Meanwhile, while speaking about the leadership of the group, Prof Akintoye said: I did not exit the struggle for Yoruba self-determination. I only exited the platform, Ilana Omo Oodua. It will be a betrayal of the Yoruba Nation for me if I abandon the struggle. They have been sending various delegations to me. In fact, some came to me yesterday [Friday], saying they reject my resignation from the group. I told them I need the next day to think about their appeal. But now that you have called me, my answer really is that it should be obvious. My response is ok, I accept to lead the group again. But please, they must help me so we can restore order and unity to our organisation because the organisation has been very useful in the struggle for Yoruba self-determination. So, I am glad to accept their invitation back. But I urge them to help me so we can restore unity, harmony and strength to our organisation. Stops Nigerians from going into the embassy with cell phones POS installed at the embassy as a conduit pipe of corruption An open letter to President Buhari, National Assembly/House of Reps. Members, Foreign Affairs Minister, and the Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration According to one of the famous quotes of Martin Luther King Jr., There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right. My mind and brain clashed severally on the exposure of the exploitation and criminality going on inside the Nigerian Embassy in Vienna, Austria. But like Prof. Wole Soyinka said, The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny. My impetus and courage are driven from the fact that my convictions are bigger than my fear because Nigeria will be great if we all do our part. Consequently as a true patriot, I am compelled to add my voice in solidarity to the cries of Nigerians in Austria who dearly crave for the urgent attention of the Nigerian government to end the disgrace, manipulation, intimidation, fraud, and the neglect they have been subjected to for a long time unchallenged at the Nigerian Embassy in Vienna, Austria. According to the complaints, the conduit pipe of the evil this time is mainly orchestrated via visa and passport applications code named Administration fee. When one applies for a Nigerian visa online, one goes through all the processes, pays the money as the website of the Nigeria Immigration Service stipulates, and the person is instructed to take specific required documents and proceed to the Nigerian Embassy for the visa. But when one gets to the embassy and submits the documents, surprisingly one is not given the visa as directed, rather a fraudulent transfer slip of 50 claimed by the embassy to be an administrative fee is given to that applicant to go to any nearby bank and pay into an account allegedly and boldly written to belong to the Nigerian Embassy in Vienna. If one does not pay this money the person will not be given the visa. It is equally the same thing with the international passport. After the payment online, one must pay extra 30 at the embassy if the person is living in Austria, otherwise it is 100, or else the person will not be attended to. One of the bank accounts these monies were paid into was opened on 09.08.2021 at Bank Austria, with the account number AT64 1200 0515 7402 311. Wherever the monies were paid before then would be worth investigating. The account was later closed sometime in March 2022, and was simultaneously replaced with installed POS inside the embassy. Currently, the POS is what people are using to pay the imposed extra 50 and 30/100 administration fees by the embassy for visa and passport applications. Closing and reopening accounts several times in the same bank in a developed country like Austria that has a working society is an indication that something is wrong. Following are other fees that equally go into the same account (attached is a screenshot info of the Administrative Charges from the embassys website before it was removed): (1) Temporal Work Permit cable Visa endorsement fee 100, (2) STR Visa endorsement fee (per document) 200, (3) Urgent collection subject to approval by Minister (C&I) 50, (4) Lost Passports 200, (5) Change of names due to marriage 50, (6) Applicants from other passport issuing countries (in addition to other regular charges) 100, (7) Processing of applications for renunciation of citizenship 300, (8) Endorsement of Business Documents 200, and (9), Attestation of documents 40. Reliable information from an impeccable source is that these proceeds between 30,000 to 44,000 are not honestly remitted to the Federal Government. Besides the POS payment there is also the possibility to pay other so-acclaimed administrative fees by the embassy at the bank. Attached is a bank transfer slip given to a person by the embassy for two persons visas to be paid into the purported embassys account with the number AT12 1200 0100 2182 8982 at Bank Austria. The ambiguity and the questions here are: Is the Nigerian Immigration officially aware of this very 50 (equivalent to N38,000) and 30 (around N23,400) extra visa and passport charges? If yes: do the monies paid go into the account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or to some pockets of a few privileged individuals? If indeed it is truly true that the money actually goes into the Nigerian Governments account: why is it not possible that one can also pay this extra monies online at the same time one is equally paying for the visa or passport fee? Why are the charges not stated like other fees at the website of the Nigeria Immigration Service as one applies? Why was it difficult and considered not important to inform people that they would be required to pay extra 50 and 30/100 for administrative fees at the embassy like they were informed on what they need to bring to the embassy if the monies were appropriate and not corruptly inserted in the process? Is the Federal Government of Nigeria aware of the monies that are currently going through the installed POS at the embassy? For how long shall many of our leaders continue to treat us like animals torment, oppress, disgrace and humiliate us everywhere, every time and at every little loophole they see, both home and abroad? Evil does not know ones religion or tribe. We all suffer it. So, when can we as Nigerians forget our differences and come together against oppression, corruption, repression and injustice etc. and say in unison that enough is enough without sentiments? Furthermore fellow Nigerians, it is essential to also let you know that so many Nigerians who went home for the 2022 Christmas holiday were heartbroken, because they were exploited, frustrated and subjected to abuse by the embassy officials due to their inefficiencies. How? Many who had applied and had paid for visas to travel to Nigeria either lost the money they had paid for air tickets or had to pay extra for rebooking because the embassy failed to give them visas on time, with flimsy excuses of lack of visa sticker. Must we always be maltreated and exploited like this? The sad one currently again is that, no Nigerian is allowed to go into the Nigerian Embassy in Vienna, Austria with mobile phones. Why? At first, they started compelling visiting Nigerians to off their cellphones before being allowed into the embassy, and they have now graduated to the point of not allowing anyone to go in with a cellphone. Everyone must deposit his/her cellphone with the receptionist, or else the person is denied entry. What is all this? What is there inside the embassy to hide? Are we the only embassy in the world? Why are they afraid of their own shadows? The cellphones could at least help many who wait at the embassy for a long time to interact and keep them busy. But who cares how the people feel? That one cannot be reached or make calls while inside the embassy is heart breaking and very sad. But the reasons for this awkward and inconsiderate decision are obvious. Aptly, they want to avoid Nigerians taking photos or making videos of their embarrassing conduct and the waiting room of the embassy they have shamelessly turned to a restaurant of Jollof rice and a pepper soup joint, and a below standard of a dirty restroom that is an eyesore. Otherwise what else? Nigeria is a country where ugly and despicable things could be made to look normal especially if highly placed people are involved. My heart bleeds. Consequently, I protest on behalf of concerned Nigerians in Diaspora and appeal to the Commander in-Chief of the armed forces, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari to please come to the aid of Nigerians in Austria via the Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama whose bulk of these complaints directly fall on his desk and in conjunction with the Acting Controller General of the Nigeria Immigration, Isah Jere Idris - to please urgently and sincerely react efficiently to the moan of the aggrieved Nigerians for the benefits of all. We plead for official investigation into the unscrupulous and indecent activities and corruption going on at the Nigeria Embassy in Vienna, Austria, and demand immediate stop to them. It is incredible. Perhaps, the case is equally not different in other Nigerian Embassies around the globe and the investigation should be comprehensively extended. We are watching. Unbelievable things are happening under this Nigeria Embassy in Vienna, Austria that are yet to be revealed, and when they are, they will shock the entire world. God bless Nigeria. Uzoma Ahamefule, a concerned patriotic citizen and a refined African traditionalist, writes from Vienna, Austria, [email protected] +436607369050 (Please, WhatsApp messages only) Foreign diver missing off Phuket PHUKET: Disaster Prevention and Mitigation officers from Rawai Municipality (DDPM-Rawai) are leading a search for a missing foreign diver in the waters near Kaew Noi Island, south of Rawai, this afternoon after the diver failed to rendezvous with a fellow diver earlier today (Jan 8). marineSafetytourism By Eakkapop Thongtub Sunday 8 January 2023, 05:05PM UPDATE: Officials have confirmed that the missing foreign diver is a 46-year-old Romanian citizen. Rawai Municipality reported its officers were informed of the missing diver earlier today by his diving companion. The pair were diving off Koh Kaew Noi, a small island covered by protected national forest located just over two kilometres almost direclyt south of Promthep Cape, officers reported. The pair were to rendezvous after their dives, but the missing diver failed to arrive at the arranged meeting point. The missing divers name was not reported. A search for the missing foreign diver is underway. Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos has ordered the lifeguards and defence volunteers to assist the search with jet-skis and a dinghy. The Marine Police and personnel from the Royal Thai Navy third Area Command have joined the search operation, officials confirmed. Mayor Aroon noted that Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew has been notified of the incident. KYODO NEWS - Jan 8, 2023 - 21:56 | All, Japan Six months after the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, prosecutors are moving closer to indicting the man accused of the shooting that brought to light links between politicians and the controversial Unification Church. Abe, 67, was shot at close range by Tetsuya Yamagami during a campaign speech on July 8, two days ahead of a national election. Following an examination to determine his mental fitness to stand trial, the prosecutors have apparently judged that Yamagami, 42, is competent to be tried and are likely to indict him on charges of murder and violating the firearms control law by Jan. 13, when his detention period ends, according to investigative sources. Following his arrest, Yamagami told investigators that he held a grudge against the Unification Church over donations made by his mother totaling around 100 million yen ($750,000). Born into a prominent political family, Abe served as a secretary for his father, former Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe, before being elected to the House of Representatives in 1993. He became the longest-serving leader of the country, acting as prime minister from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020, before stepping down due to health problems. Some people in Japan have expressed sympathy for Yamagami and welcomed the exposure of the links between politicians and the religious organization. The Unification Church, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, was founded in South Korea by a staunch anti-communist in 1954 and is regarded by critics as a cult. It is known for "spiritual sales," in which people are pressured into buying items for exorbitant prices. The organization was established in Japan in 1968 with the support of former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, Abe's grandfather. The assassination spotlighted links between lawmakers and the church, dragging down the approval ratings of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's Cabinet and leading to resignations. Daishiro Yamagiwa, who served as economic minister, was forced out of the Cabinet in October after a series of revelations regarding his ties to the group emerged. A Kyodo News survey in November found that at least 334 out of 2,570 prefectural assembly members in Japan have had dealings with the Unification Church or its affiliates, with over 80 percent of them belonging to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Amid public anger over decades of close ties between the church and politicians, Japan's parliament enacted a law to ban organizations from maliciously soliciting donations. A petition on Change.org calling for a reduced sentence for Yamagami has garnered over 10,000 signatures, highlighting the sympathy for his family's financial hardship stemming from donations to the church. One supporter of the petition commented, "He is a victim," and "I feel sorry (for him) when I hear about his upbringing." Another said that had it not been for this incident, people would not know how deeply connected the Unification Church is to Japan's political scene. Yamagami's mother joined the Unification Church in 1991 and swiftly donated 20 million yen, including part of a life insurance payout following his father's suicide in 1984. Their house and a company office owned by the family were also sold. With the family facing bankruptcy, Yamagami -- who had until then been studying at a prestigious high school in Nara -- gave up on going to university and later joined the Maritime Self-Defense Force. He attempted suicide in 2005 in an effort to leave his siblings, including an older brother who was blind in one eye from cancer, money from life insurance. "The situation may have been different if he had been helped and supported by others," said Noriaki Imai, 37, director of DxP, a nonprofit group that offers a safety net for struggling teenagers. "People find it difficult to seek advice as many in Japan believe you should take responsibility for yourself," he added. According to Yamagami's uncle, sympathizers have sent donations that totaled more than 1 million yen, food and other items to an Osaka detention center where the 42-year-old man has been held. On Sunday, some people were seen offering prayers for Abe near the assassination site in front of Kintetsu Railway's Yamato-Saidaiji Station. "Mr. Abe worked hard for Japan. His death is regretful," said Shigeo Mori, 74, who visited the site from Osaka Prefecture and prayed for the former prime minister. Related coverage: Prosecutors to indict Abe shooter after psychiatric evaluation Ex-PM Abe's assassination Japan's top news story of 2022 Japan to discuss rules for state funerals for dignitaries Phuket Music Scene: Original music in Phuket When I go home to the UK, I am amazed to see so much musical creativity, with ordinary pub bands sometimes playing more of their own songs than covers. Such creativity has served us well, producing the best pop group in the world (The Beatles), the finest rock group (Led Zeppelin) and the worlds most creative solo artist (David Bowie). It is an astonishing achievement for a country of just 60 million. Phuket-Music-SceneEntertainment By Andy Tong Dee Sunday 8 January 2023, 11:00AM Sadly, when I come back to Phuket, all I seem to ever hear played live in music venues in English are cover songs from before 1990. However, while Phuket may be trapped in something of a rut creatively, I believe there are grounds for hope we can get out of it. Gary Crause of the Phuket Academy of Performing Arts is aware of the importance of musical creativity no one achieves stardom playing songs by other people. Gary drills this into his students, and not just his students. I saw his son Blaze play only his own songs at the Lean On Me Festival two years back. Garys own band, Dark Fiber, also contributed a fine, all-original set that day with fellow local songwriter Rob Cook on guitar. Rock veteran guitarist, Colin Hill, has written songs since he was 15, and he often slips a few into his sets. He told me that some of his songs still turn up on Australian Indie radio stations long after he left to come here, also that some of his songs online have had over 50,000 listeners. His fellow Australian musician Mike Mitchell runs a music school at his VK Studios in Cherng Talay, where he, like Gary, encourages his students to get creative. Mike won a major songwriting competition some years ago and, listening to his song Broken Wings, I can well understand why. A brilliantly-crafted ballad about an often self-destructive need to please others, such an offering can easily stand its ground on any radio station alongside Colins. Colin has played for a couple of years now at the Mexican Bar in Boat Avenue, Laguna, and its here that he became friends with its co-owner, Anteo Quintavalle. Anteo asked Colin to help him record his own songs and, after much hard work, Anteo released an album of his songs on Dec 23, One Step at a Time, with Mike Mitchell contributing drums, keyboard and bass. Asked why he wanted to write his own songs, Anteo told me, I believe creativity is a human purpose, and those whose lives are deficient in this will feel somehow unfulfilled. I find songwriting can wake up buried memories and experiences and give them new life and meaning. Listening to the album, it soon became clear his songs are deeply introspective and emotional. I was particularly drawn to the song Our Time Will Come. Anteo described it: Its a spiritual song written during the latter stages of the COVID pandemic, a time when I was moved by the stories of friends who had been separated from their families and loved ones in their final moments. However, sad and reflective though his songs may sometimes be, there is a message of hope running like a golden thread through them, a thread best seen in the albums title track One Step at a Time. Anteo remarks, Its a song about unearthing self-belief and finding new purpose in our lives, understanding that all things are possible with determination and faith. Anteo has been performing some of these songs with Colin at the Mexican Bar with some success. They have been well received when performed live, getting more applause and compliments than the staple classic rock cover songs also played, he said. This proves that any worries Phukets musicians may have about performing newer and original songs are entirely misplaced, that Phukets tourists and expats are waiting to hear them, and not just the same old, tired, done-to-death cover songs from over 30 years ago. So, all you budding Bob Dylans out there, dont be afraid to pick up that guitar and write and perform your own songs. For now in Phuket, as that great Nobel-winning songwriter once sang, The times they are a-changing! Anteos album One Step at a Time can be heard on Spotify. Check out SoundCloud for original songs by Mike Mitchell, Dark Fiber and the Colin Illy Hill Band. Rob Cooks can be found on Bandcamp (Rob C). Andy Tong Dee is a local expat and musician living in Phuket. Find out more about Phukets music venues and artists at his website www.phuketmusicscene.com. Phuket Opinion: Try not to panic PHUKET: Thai officials have yet again used a sledgehammer to crack a walnut in the declaration that all international arrivals from 1am Monday must present evidence of full vaccination against COVID-19 in order to enter the country. opiniontourismCOVID-19Chinesehealth By The Phuket News Sunday 8 January 2023, 09:00AM Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who also serves as the Public Health Minister. Photo: NNT / file Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who also serves as the Public Health Minister, has chosen to toe the Chinese Government line and this week declared that Thailand cannot discriminate against one country in its policy to protect the Thai people. The principle is there will not be any discrimination against a particular country because COVID-19 is spreading in all countries and the strains are similar. So, COVID-19 should not be an issue of discriminating against any country, he said. Mr Anutin, really? Back in 2020, when Thailand declared that travellers from South Korea, China, Italy, Iran, Macau and Hong Kong who failed to show their health certificates to authorities before boarding their flights to Thailand will not be allowed to continue their journey, no one disagreed or cried foul over discrimination not even China. In 2021, when Thailand banned people arriving specifically from eight African countries due to Omicron outbreak there, it was not called discrimination. Even for the mightily praised Test & Go entry scheme last year, discrimination was on show for all to see, with only 46 countries initially allowed to enter Thailand under the scheme, still no one cried foul. Yet today, China bleats unfair and Thailand bows. At best, the blatant hypocrisy is insulting; at worst it is panic appeasement in order to kowtow to the Chinese Government. Mr Anutin, what the government and the world understood during those dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic was that discrimination was required in order to determine and mitigate risk of exposure. What is relevant is that general reports, not just those by Thai officials, are noting that the COVID strains currently spreading throughout major populated areas in China are much less severe than their predecessors. That is good news, and good reason not to panic, but it is also where the blanket vaccinated-only entry policy falls apart. No one is to be tested on arrival, they are only to present evidence of vaccination. Add to that being vaccinated is no protection against carrying the virus or being infected with COVID-19, as even Phuket Provincial Public Health Office Chief Dr Kusak Kukiattikoon confirmed during the Omicron outbreak across Phuket last year, and it becomes plain that requiring people to be vaccinated achieves nothing in preventing an influx of the latest strains of the virus. What people are worried about is the viral load being introduced into Thailand, greatly enhancing the risk of falling ill. It is the number of carriers that is concerning, introducing a large number of people with a much higher probability of carrying COVID to not just the resident population, but also in more concentrated areas that tourists are exposed to, including the airport, shopping malls, popular pubs, bars, restaurants and other eateries and major tourist attractions. This is the part that no Thai officials are talking about. No one wants to get sick on their holidays, nevermind risk contracting even mild forms of COVID. Its just not fun, and can easily be deemed not worth the risk. What is the projected impact on tourists who are not from China choosing to not come to Thailand now knowing they will be sharing common areas with a much higher probability of contracting a strain of COVID, a less severe strain or otherwise, is anyones guess, but there will be an effect. As Phuket Opinion pointed out last week, the Chinese people are not to be blamed for wanting to come to Phuket on holiday, especially after what they have just gone through under the attempts to enforce a successful Zero COVID policy. The Chinese Government shouldnt even be blamed for its claims of discrimination, ridiculous as it was, as they tried their luck and got what they wanted. The responsibility for this mess rests squarely on the heads of Thailands illustrious leaders, it was their decision to make. Now all they have to figure is what to do with people who arrive unvaccinated while they wait to fly back home or onto another nearby destination that does not have the same requirements, and to count the cancellations over the next two weeks of those who did not get their last booster jab more than 14 days before their departure date. Meanwhile, they can also reflect on all those promises made to reduce Thailands tourism dependence on the Russian and Chinese mass markets, as that is clearly where Thailand is heading back to. Suspect surrenders in fatal shooting of Briton BANGKOK: A 32-year-old man turned himself in to police for shooting dead a retired British engineer in Chon Buris Bang Lamung district, saying he acted in a fit of anger over the victims allegedly honking the motorcycles horn at him and hit his car. violencecrimemurderpolice By Bangkok Post Sunday 8 January 2023, 09:45AM Apicha Boonsawat is escorted to Huai Yai police station in Chon Buri on Saturday following the fatal shooting of a 70-year-old British man on Thursday night. Photo: AEC News Pattaya Facebook via Bangkok Post Apicha Boonsawat contacted police around 9am on Saturday (Jan 7) before a team of officers took him to Huai Yai police station for detention and questioning. He handed down a 9mm Glock handgun to the officers, reports the Bangkok Post. The 32-year-old suspect was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the Pattaya Provincial Court for murder and violation of the Firearms Act, said police. Neil Lewis Roger, 70, was found dead beside his scooter with four bullet wounds in his back at Soi Khao Makok in Bang Lamung at 9.45pm on Thursday. Thitipan Kammalas, 38, who was close to the victim and took care of him at his house in Bang Lamung, said the victim had just returned from England on Wednesday. Ms Thitipan said he went out to party with a British friend in Pattaya Klang on Thursday evening. At night, she received a phone call that he had been fatally shot. She insisted he had no conflict with anyone. She told the media that his elder sister in England was shocked and saddened after learning about his death. His sister had told her to hold a cremation ceremony for him in Thailand. During questioning, Mr Apicha admitted to having shot the British man and claimed he got angry after the victim allegedly honked his horn at him and hit his car. This drew his anger and he fired shots at the man. He apologised to society and the mans family and wanted to take responsibility for his action. Police opposed his bail and will take him to the court on Monday to seek his detention. According to media reports, the gunman was a shooting athlete and had won several prizes. Warning of fake banknotes in Phuket PHUKET: Officers from the Bank of Thailand are warning people in Phuket to beware fake banknotes in circulation on the island. crime By The Phuket News Sunday 8 January 2023, 02:54PM Officials from the Bank of Thailand Banknote Handling Center branch in Surat Thani arrived in Phuket yesterday (Jan 7) to investigate a counterfeit banknote received at a shop in Baan Khian, Thalang. The fake banknote was handed over by two young men driving a blue PCX motorbike who arrived at the shop and legally bought kratom leaves from the store. The shop owner realised only later that the banknote handed over was fake, the officers reported. The shop owner, reported only as Nong Por, then posted a warning online, urging all shop owners to beware fake banknotes in circulation. In this case, the victim has done the right steps, only that he did not notice it in time, one of the officers said in a report posted online. But Nong Por knows what the villains look like. He kept the counterfeit note and posted a warning online. When we heard the news, we followed up and we also went to the police station, the officers noted. The incident served as a warning to all shops as an example, the officers also noted in their report. The owner of the shop next door to Nong Por asked the officers to issue a warning over fake banknotes, the officers said, as elderly people living next door to that shop had also recently received fake banknotes. It would help if everyone accepting banknotes paid a little attention [to the banknotes they are receiving], It takes only about five seconds and we can help stop counterfeit banknotes [from being passed on], the officers noted. While in Phuket, the team of officers from the Bank of Thailand visited shops in the area and handed out posters explaining the details to look for in order to identify a genuine Thai banknote. If there is a picture of the King, its a real banknote, one Bank of Thailand staffer said. But if the banknote is fake, it will be the paper that feels wrong, the staffer added. The Bank of Thailand lists the range of Thai banknotes currently in circulation on its website here. A list of the counterfeit deterrence features to look for can be found here. Pol Maj Gen Archayon Kraithong, a spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, last October warned of counterfeit banknotes in circulation in Northeastern Thailand, specifically in Udon Thani province. People were advised to look for the golden security strip embedded in all B1,000 notes to ensure their legitimacy, reported the Bangkok Post. The strips are seen as segmented when viewed normally. The words 1,000 BAHT can be seen when the strips are held up to the light, and the colour will change to green when rotated. Counterfeiting money is a violation of Section 240 of the Criminal Code and comes with the penalty of 10 to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of 20,000 to 40,000 baht, Maj Gen Archayon said. This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. KYODO NEWS - Jan 8, 2023 - 20:40 | All, Japan, Coronavirus Japan further tightened border controls for travelers from mainland China on Sunday, requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test amid a surge of cases in the neighboring country. Since September 2022, travelers from abroad who have been vaccinated at least three times did not need to take coronavirus tests within 72 hours of departure to prove they are not infected. However, people arriving from mainland China are now required to present proof of a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of departure. The new requirement does not apply to those flying in from Hong Kong or Macau. In addition, all travelers from mainland China and those who have visited the country within seven days are now required to take a PCR or high-sensitivity antigen test upon arrival in Japan, rather than a simple antigen test as previously. Those who test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival must quarantine for seven days if they exhibit symptoms or five days if they are asymptomatic. The government will continue to restrict departures and arrivals of direct flights connecting Japan with mainland China to four airports -- Narita, Haneda, Kansai and Chubu. While all airports in the country will become open to direct flights from Hong Kong and Macau due to a reduction in coronavirus cases in the two cities, airline operators have been requested not to increase the number of flights. Arrivals from Hong Kong and Macau were previously restricted to the four Japanese airports, as well as New Chitose near Sapporo, Fukuoka and Naha airports, provided that none of the passengers had visited mainland China in the past seven days. On Sunday, the new measures for travelers from mainland China were put into practice at Narita airport near Tokyo, as 150 passengers of a flight from Shanghai arrived at the airport in the afternoon and submitted saliva samples for the high-sensitivity antigen test. The passengers also showed proof of a negative COVID-19 test in their smartphones or papers to airport officials. Hideaki Kono, one of the passengers and a company employee who had worked in Shanghai, said he had difficulties in obtaining the proof at a hospital in the Chinese city as it was crowded with people. Starting in December, China began significantly easing its strict antivirus measures, including no longer restricting outings, and also stopped counting the exact number of daily cases. China on Sunday reopened borders and abandoned quarantine measures, fully departing from its strict "zero-COVID" policy that involved lockdowns and isolation measures at designated facilities. Japan greatly relaxed its border restrictions in October, allowing travelers to skip COVID-19 testing upon arrival provided they show proof of having undergone at least three vaccinations or a negative COVID test within 72 hours of departure. Other countries worldwide have also stepped up border controls for travelers from China. Related coverage: COVID cases in Japan top 30 mil. since start of pandemic China expects 2.1 billion trips during New Year holiday season China warns of countermeasures for COVID entry restrictions KYODO NEWS - Jan 8, 2023 - 11:01 | Arts, All, Japan Echizen knives forged according to centuries-old methods are proving to be a hit abroad, with many chefs visiting workshops in the town in Fukui Prefecture, central Japan. Handmade and appreciated for their sharpness and durability, their popularity has grown through overseas sales demonstrations including in the United States, their promoters say. "Echizen Uchihamono" blades are forged by hand using techniques carefully passed down from around 700 years ago. The knives, despite being light and thin, are durable and sharp. The knives are designated by the government as a "traditional craft product," requirements for which include being an everyday object that employs traditional raw materials and techniques. Echizen knives worth around 2 billion yen ($15 million) were produced in fiscal 2021, more than triple the level in fiscal 2011, with roughly a quarter bound for other countries, mainly in Europe and the United States. Sakae Miyoshi, the executive director of a local organization that promotes and sells the knives, said sales demonstrations abroad including in the United States and South Korea, prior to border controls triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, had "perhaps been effective." The traditional knives became more widely known outside of Japan through a cooking event held in New York in 2012, according to Terukazu Takamura, the president of Takamurahamono, a factory founded in 1945 that makes the knives. French chef Regis Marcon, a 1995 Bocuse d'Or winner and chief organizer of the international chef competition, praised them on a visit to the factory in 2017, Takamura added. "I hear that the quality of a knife's sharpness is directly tied to a cook's motivation. I want to continue to make tools that support the art of cooking," he said. The Department of Public Health HSE Area C, which covers the south east and east, is endorsing the HSE appeal asking people to consider all options before going to an acute hospital Emergency Department due to the pressures caused by high numbers of people with influenza and COVID-19 at the moment. The appeal comes as Covid-19 and influenza cases continue to increase rapidly. Notifications of RSV, which had been declining for several weeks, are also now increasing. It is expected these numbers may continue to increase for a number of weeks with many people becoming ill, and will continue to seriously impact our hospitals and Emergency Departments. Dr Carmel Mullaney, Consultant in Public Health Medicine and recently appointed Interim Area Director of Public Health HSE Area C, said: The nature of infectious respiratory diseases is that social activity throughout the festive season leads to spread of infection in households, and through social and family gatherings during Christmas. "We are likely to have higher numbers of people with flu and COVID-19 throughout January, which will have an impact on our health services. However, we can all help to reduce the impact on those around us by staying at home if we are unwell, availing of COVID-19 and flu vaccines, and avoid visiting vulnerable or elderly relatives if unwell. Pictured above: Dr Carmel Mullaney, Consultant in Public Health Medicine Those who believe they may be seriously ill and require emergency care should of course go to hospital. Less acutely unwell patients are asked to consider HSE Injury Units, GPs, out-of-hours GP services and seeking advice from pharmacists before attending ED. Community Pharmacies: You can visit or phone your local pharmacy if you feel unwell. Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals. They can give you medicines you can buy without a prescription, medicines you have a prescription for, advice on minor illnesses, and can tell you if you need to see a GP. GPs and GP Out-of-Hours Services: GPs are running additional clinics during this time of high pressure. If you urgently need to see a GP outside their clinic hours, you can contact your local GP out-of-hours service. Advice on how to manage symptoms such as coughs, colds, sore throats, is also available on the HSE website www.hse.ie While this surge of winter virus infections was predicted and planned for, the trends being seen are following the more pessimistic of predicted models, and also appear to be increasing earlier than had been hoped. Dr. Mullaney went on to say, Its not too late for people to get their flu vaccine, or their COVID-19 booster, if they are due. Vaccination is an effective, safe way to protect you and people around you from flu or COVID-19. COVID-19 and flu are widely circulating in the community, which means outbreaks are more likely to occur in congregate or busy healthcare settings, including hospitals and long-term care facilities. To be protected, we ask that everyone keeps up-to-date with their free COVID-19 booster vaccines. Of note, those aged 18-49 can now get a second booster dose you can book an appointment for this online. You can get a flu vaccine from your GP or pharmacy which is free if you are over 65 or in a group that is particularly vulnerable to flu. The flu vaccine is available in the form of a nasal spray, free of charge, for children aged 2-17 years. An ongoing Kansas City tragedy continues into the new year and doesn't a break for Sunday. Sadly, this is a sign that nothing much has changed. The Mayor's promise to reduce the homicide count to under 100 seems like empty campaign talk. Both debates over police funding and gun control yield very little progress. And voters seem to understand that so-called "local control" is a sordid hot mess that we'll have to wait until after the election to unpack. In the meantime, here's report in the aftermath of continued deadly local gunfire . . . Homicide 2000 block E. 73rd st This morning just before 1am officers were called to a house in the 2000 block of E. 73rd St. on a shooting. On arrival they were directed to the front yard of the residence where they located 2 shooting victims, one adult male and one adult female, unresponsive. Officers summoned EMS to the scene for treatment of the victims. EMS declared the adult male victim deceased here at the scene, and transported the adult female victim to the hospital with life threatening injuries. Detectives and crime scene personnel are canvassing for witnesses and processing the scene for evidence to hopefully get a better idea of what led up to the shooting. If anyone saw anything or has any information they are asked to contact the Homicide Unit directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS, there is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline. ############### Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Man dead, woman in life-threatening condition after shooting in Kansas City, Missouri KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One person is dead and one person is in life-threatening condition after a shooting near a residence in Kansas City, Missouri. Shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday, the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department responded to reports of a shooting in the 2000 block of East 73rd Street. 1 dead, 1 injured after overnight shooting in KCMO KANSAS CITY, Mo. - According to the Kansas City Department, one person is dead and another is suffering from life-threatening injuries after an overnight Sunday morning shooting. Officers responded to a residence around 1 a.m. in the 2000 block of East 73rd Street on a shooting and located two victims in the front yard. One dead, another seriously hurt after early morning shooting double shooting on 73rd st. SOURCE: KMBC A man is dead and a woman is fighting for her life after a shooting in Kansas City, MO early Sunday morning.Police say they got a call about the shooting in the area of 73rd St. and Brooklyn Ave. just before 1 a.m. Developing . . . KYODO NEWS - Jan 8, 2023 - 12:37 | All, Japan Research has started in a northeastern Japanese city to generate electricity from unwanted snow with the aim of securing a renewable energy source to cover potential power shortages. The city of Aomori, which sees heavy snow every year, started a trial in a swimming pool at an abandoned elementary school in December to explore the feasibility of producing energy by utilizing the temperature difference between stored snow and the surrounding air. In the joint project, local IT startup Forte Co. and the University of Electro-Communications in Tokyo are looking to power a turbine with energy produced when liquid cooled by stored snow is then vaporized by the heat of the surrounding air. Electricity generation using stored snow has recently drawn attention as an environmentally friendly, low-cost and safe power source. In Aomori, large volumes of snow are dumped into the sea and other places after being collected by snowplows and trucks. In the previous fiscal year that ended last March, snow removal costs ballooned to a record 5.9 billion yen ($44.6 million) after heavy snowfalls. "Snow has been treated as a nuisance but we can put it to good use," a city official said. On Dec. 16, around 10 Forte workers placed insulating materials inside the pool to keep the piled-up snow cold. Further research into preserving snow as well as into the amount of electricity that could be generated will then be conducted before power production begins in spring. According to Forte, challenges include finding a large-scale facility to store snow as well as securing heated air during cold seasons. To obtain a large temperature difference, the company will consider using heat from hot springs. "It is a renewable energy source unique to a region with heavy snow. It will also lead to creating a new industry," said Jun Kasai, the head of Forte. Related coverage: Japan to extend 60-yr nuclear reactor life, build advanced reactors 67% of young people in Japan routinely engage in power saving: survey Japan starts power saving period amid fear of supply crunch Since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the National Police have opened 57,357 inquiries into the crimes committed by the Russians and their accomplices. "Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, investigators of the National Police of Ukraine have initiated 57,357 inquiries into the crimes committed by servicemen of the armed forces of the Russian Federation and their accomplices in the territory of Ukraine," the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine posted on Telegram. The largest number of inquiries 45,681 were opened under Art. 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the laws and customs of war). On January 6, the National Police said they had opened 59 investigations into sexual violence committed by the Russian military. Photo: Shutterstock ol The units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled Russian attacks near 16 settlements in Luhansk region and Donetsk region over the past 24 hours. This is stated in the report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 06:00, January 8, published on Facebook. "To staff units after suffering losses and keep the offensive pace, the enemy redeploys personnel, weapons, military equipment and ammunition to the areas of military operations. Despite the so-called ceasefire regime announced by the Russian occupiers, the enemy launched nine missile strikes, three airstrikes, and 40 MLRS attacks over the past day. In particular, civilian infrastructure was hit, civilians were killed and injured," the report reads. Over the past day, the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled Russian attacks near 16 settlements, including Stelmakhivka, Makiivka, Bilohorivka in Luhansk region and Rozdolivka, Soledar, Bakhmut, Zalizne, Pervomaiske, Vodiane, Pobeda in Donetsk region. Suffering heavy losses, the enemy goes on the offensive in Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Lyman directions and tries to improve its tactical position in Kupyansk direction. The Russians hold the defense in Novopavlivka, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson directions. In Volyn and Polissia directions, the situation did not change significantly, the enemy keeps military presence in border areas, no signs of the formation of offensive groups were detected. In Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna directions, Starytsia and Dvorichna settlements in Kharkiv region were hit. The enemy also used a combat drone near Oleksandrivka. In Kupyansk and Lyman directions, the areas of Ivanivka, Stelmakhivka, Myasozharivka, Ploshchanka, Makiivka, Nevske, Chervonopopivka, and Dibrova in Luhansk region came under artillery fire. In Bakhmut direction, Berestove, Bilohorivka, Vesele, Krasna Hora, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka, Bila Hora, Dyliivka, Zalizne, and New York in Donetsk region were hit. In Avdiivka direction, Nevelske, Marinka, and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk region were struck. In Novopavlivka direction, Velyka Novosilka, Zolota Nyva, and Vuhledar in Donetsk region came under enemy fire. In Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the enemy fired tanks, mortars, tube and rocket artillery on the areas of Antonivka, Charivne, Dorozhnianka, Inzhenerne, Bilohirya, Oleksiivka, Mali Shcherbaky, Stepove, and Kamyanske settlements. The enemy continues to suffer losses. According to the General Staff data, on January 5, a train with refrigerators carrying fallen Russians arrived from Rostov-on-Don to Kemerovo region. The corpses are to be distributed among local morgues. In the temporarily occupied territories, in the settlements of Hornostayivka, Kayiry, Zavodivka, and Marynske in Kherson region, the Russian military switched off all Ukrainian TV channels, only Russian TV is broadcast. "Over the past day, the Air Force hit 21 enemy clusters and launched three strikes on the positions of enemy anti-aircraft missile systems. At the same time, three Russian Orlan-10 drones were shot down. Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit an enemy command post, five manpower and military equipment clusters, and two ammunition depots," the General Staff informs. ol From 24 February 2022 to 8 January 2023, the Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated about 111,170 Russian invaders, including 430 soldiers over the past day. This is stated in the report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine published on Facebook. Moreover, the Ukrainian troops destroyed 3,069 (+3 over the past day) enemy tanks, 6,130 (+5) armored personnel vehicles, 2,065 (+3) artillery systems, 431 MLRS, 217 anti-aircraft systems, 285 aircraft, 272 helicopters, 1,849 (+5) operational-tactical UAVs, 723 cruise missiles, 16 ships/boats, 4,801 (+3) vehicles and fuel tanks, 183 (+1) special equipment units. The data are being updated. ol A UN mission delivering humanitarian aid to Orikhiv has come under fire from the Russian army in the Zaporizhzhia region. According to Ukrinform, the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Starukh, said this in a post on Telegram. "Despite the enemy's promise to cease fire for the holiday, a UN mission delivering humanitarian aid to Orikhiv came under fire. The occupier continues to disregard the rules of warfare and fires at communities," Starukh said on Ukraine's television. According to him, on the instructions of the Office of the President, work is underway to record destruction and calculate housing needs for people whose homes have been destroyed or damaged by the enemy. The international community has decided to seize Russian assets that can be used as a basis for compensation for losses. "An echeloned defense and hundreds of kilometers of trenches, concentration of manpower: there is always a threat from the enemy, but there is no doubt about the victory of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," Starukh said. According to Starukh, the situation in the captured territories is really difficult, because the enemy forces Ukrainian citizens to collaborate, exerting constant pressure and now allowing people to free lands. "Russia is an 'Orthodox Taliban' that has no understanding of anything sacred and disregards all the rules of human coexistence," he said. Russia continues to weaponize religion to perpetuate long-standing anti-Ukrainian disinformation operations and discredit Ukraine. The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said this in its latest Russian offensive campaign assessment, Ukrinform reports. American analysts pay attention to the reaction of Russian milbloggers to footage posted on January 7 of uniformed Ukrainian servicemen attending Orthodox Christmas services at the Kyiv-Perchesk Lavra, which the Russians decried as a reprisal and open war on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP). Several milbloggers referred to the footage as evidence that the Lavra has been "captured" by "heretics and schismatics." "The Russian response to the Ukrainian governments decision to transfer control of the Lavra to the OCU exemplifies Moscows continued weaponization of religion in order to frame Ukraine as evil and position Russia as the protector of Orthodox Christian values," ISW said. At the same time, American experts added that the Ukrainian authorities did not prevent all believers from celebrating Orthodox Christmas in Ukraine, as Russian propagandists tried to present, and Orthodox services continued throughout Ukraine, including at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, on January 7. "Russian milbloggers falsely presented the legal transfer of the Kyiv-Perchesk Lavra from the UOC MP, which the Ukrainian government maintains has explicit links to the Kremlin and has provided material and spiritual support to the Russian war in Ukraine, to the OCU as an attack on the ability of observers of Orthodox tradition to celebrate Christmas," the ISW report read. ISW sees as fair the Ukrainian government's decision to remove the UOC-MP from control over the Lavra as evidence was found of its actual support for the policies of Russian President Putin, who, among other things, in his Orthodox Christmas speech thanked the Russian Orthodox Church for its continued support for Russian troops in Ukraine. "Ukraine is not suppressing the religious liberties of Orthodox Christians, contrary to the Russian information operation, and is instead taking the steps it deems necessary to distance Ukrainian cultural heritage from religious elements it asserts are linked to the Kremlin and its conduct of the war," ISW said. BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- At around 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, flight NZ289 from New Zealand landed at the Pudong International Airport. It was the first international inbound flight to arrive in Shanghai after China downgraded its management of COVID-19, meaning those on board would not be subject to quarantine. Shaly Rauss, a German passenger on the flight who lives in Shanghai, went to New Zealand for a holiday three weeks ago. "I felt so lucky. We booked tickets one year ago. I did not know then that this would happen. We were expecting quarantine but now we don't have to quarantine. I feel very happy," she said. China now manages COVID-19 with measures against Class B infectious diseases, instead of Class A infectious diseases, in a major shift of its epidemic response policy. This downgrade in management policy will facilitate the smooth and orderly cross-border travel of Chinese and foreign nationals, enhance international exchanges and cooperation, and also help boost the global economy. On Jan. 9, Shandong Airlines will fly its first inbound flight under the new measures, from Seoul to Jinan, Shandong Province. "This shift brings convenience for cross-border travel. We are now fully promoting the resumption and opening of international and regional routes," said Wu Wanyuan, director of the media center of Shandong Airlines. According to a recent survey conducted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, 91 percent of foreign enterprises and business associations surveyed strongly supported China's optimization of epidemic policies, while 99.4 percent of the foreign companies surveyed were bullish about the prospects of China's economic development in 2023. "China's adjustment and optimization of epidemic prevention measures and orderly resumption of international flights provide favorable conditions for the recovery of the international air transport market," said a spokesperson for the China Air Transport Association. China's relevant air transport enterprises are making careful preparations to increase international capacity in an orderly manner, actively and steadily promote the resumption of operation of international passenger flights, and meet the needs of international personnel exchanges and economic and trade cooperation, the spokesperson added. The country is also witnessing a tourism recovery. According to the latest data from China's online travel service provider Tuniu, inter-provincial travel is expected to return to its dominant role in tourism consumption during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday this year, with inter-provincial travel orders accounting for nearly 70 percent of the total. Sun Qian, a tourist from Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province, is on vacation with her daughter in Sanya, a resort city in Hainan Province. "There are obviously a lot more visitors in Sanya than in the previous two years, and people are having a great time and are feeling safe here," she said. A report from Trip.com Group showed a 45 percent year-on-year increase in travel product bookings for the Spring Festival holiday period and a 53 percent increase in per capita travel spending as of Thursday. "With the new measure officially implemented, we are full of confidence in a tourism recovery," said Zhang Lei, deputy general manager of a tourism service company in the city of Qufu, Shandong Province. Russia's military and political leadership is faced with a dilemma regarding the choice of which part of the front to give priority to defense - northern Luhansk region or Zaporizhzhia. The UK Ministry of Defense said this in its latest intelligence update published on Twitter, Ukrinform reports. According to the update, the way Russia has worked on improving defenses suggests commanders are highly likely pre-occupied with the potential for major Ukrainian offensive action in two sectors: either in northern Luhansk region, or in Zaporizhzhia. At the same time, British intelligence notes, a major Ukrainian breakthrough in Zaporizhzhia would seriously challenge the viability of Russia's "land bridge" linking Russia's Rostov region and Crimea, whereas Ukrainian success in Luhansk would further undermine Russia's professed war aim of "liberating" the Donbas. Read also: Armed Forces of Ukraine repel enemy attacks near 16 settlements "Deciding which of these threats to prioritize countering is likely one of the central dilemmas for Russian operational planners," the update said. Recent Russian gains in Soledar do not portend an imminent encirclement of Bakhmut, contrary to claims made by Russian sources. The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said this in its latest Russian offensive campaign assessment, Ukrinform reports. American analysts noted that even at the most generous interpretation of Russian milblogger narratives, which claim that Russian forces are fighting on the outskirts of Razdolivka (about 6km northwest of Soledar), Russian forces are still far from being within striking distance of an operational encirclement of Bakhmut. "Considering that the recent rate of gains in this area has been on the order of a few hundred meters a day, at most, it is highly unlikely that Russian forces will be successful in cohering a mechanized push towards these GLOCs and move towards encircling Bakhmut. Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut would still have GLOCs available even if the Russians cut the E40, moreover, making the entire discussion of an encirclement at this point bizarre," the report said. On January 7, Serhii Cherevatyi, the spokesman for the Eastern Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that the cities of Soledar and Bakhmut in the Donetsk region remained under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On January 7, two civilians were killed and nine more were injured in Ukraine as a result of the Russian aggression. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said this in a post on Telegram, referring to data provided by the regional military administrations, Ukrinform reports. According to him, one person was killed and eight more were injured in Donetsk region. Also, one person was killed and another one was injured in Kherson region. As earlier reported, from February 24, 2022 to January 8, 2023, the Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated about 111,170 Russian invaders, including 430 soldiers over the past day. iy Fifty service members 33 officers and 17 privates and sergeants returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity. "Another successful prisoner swap. We returned 50 service members home. These are guys from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Territorial Defense Forces, National Guard, Border Guard Service, Navy, Special Operations Forces," Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak posted on Telegram. According to him, 33 officers and 17 privates and sergeants were released. "We are returning home people who were captured at the Chornobyl NPP, as well as the defenders of Mariupol, the guys from Donetsk direction, Bakhmut, from Kyiv region, Chernihiv region, Kherson region and other regions where the military operations were carried out," the Head of the President's Office noted. He emphasized that this is not the last exchange: "Our task is to return all our people, and we will fulfill it." Yermak thanked the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War "for the excellent job." As reported, 1,596 service members and civilians were freed from Russian captivity last year. Photo: Andriy Yermak/Telegram ol The full-scale war unleashed by Russia has led to the creation of a 250,000-square-kilometer mine field in Ukraine. "It's currently the largest mine field in the world. It's not only making it difficult for people to travel, but also causing major disruptions in farming, which is one of our main industries," Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal told South Korean Yonhap News Agency in an interview. As noted, 250,000 sq km is a territory larger than not only the entire Korean Peninsula (around 221,000 sq km) but also Romania (around 238,000 sq km) and Britain (around 244,000 sq km). As reported, the Russian military is setting up minefields in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine without any markings on the terrain, posing a mortal danger to people. Only in the last few days, a 65-year-old man died in Kharkiv region and a couple died in Kherson region driving over Russian mines. ol Russia plans to launch domestic production of Iranian drones in the city of Tolyatti. "We understand what is happening there. We know the locations where they are going to do this. One of them is Tolyatti, there are also other cities. Our intelligence works simply flawlessly on many issues, and we understand in advance what steps they may take," Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said during the nationwide telethon. Danilov noted that many companies refuse to supply parts for these drones, so it is not known how the Russians will replace the components. "What they will make their drones out of is a big question," the NSDC Secretary added. As reported, the Russians already received the second batch of Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones about 250 units. The first batch included about 400 drones. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are already successfully destroying the units from the second batch. ol The situation at the front remains difficult, the Ukrainian army is transferring additional units to strengthen the defense in Bakhmut and Soledar. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his daily video address to the nation, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "Heavy battles are ongoing in Luhansk region and Donetsk region - every hotspot in these directions is well known. Bakhmut is holding out despite everything. And although most of the city was destroyed by Russian strikes, our soldiers repel constant attempts of Russian offensives there. Soledar is holding out. Although there is even more destruction there, and it is very difficult," the President noted. He stressed that Bakhmut and Soledar remain among the bloodiest places on the front line. Zelensky also added that Commander of Ukraine's Ground Forces, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi today visited the troops defending the outskirts of Bakhmut and Soledar. He awarded the warriors for their resilience. On the spot, he ordered strengthening the defense, in particular, by transferring additional units there. We should understand that all our positions, all our actions in defense are interconnected, and the resilience and effectiveness of actions at the front in general depends on the resilience and effectiveness of actions at each section of the front, Zelensky said. As earlier reported, from February 24, 2022 to January 8, 2023, the Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated about 111,170 Russian invaders, including 430 soldiers over the past day. Photo: Presidents Office iy The UN Security Council will hold a meeting next Friday, January 13, to discuss situation in Ukraine. This is said the program of UN Security Council meetings, Ukrinform reports. The meeting will be held in the afternoon in the format of briefing. The topic is ""Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine". As reported by Ukrinform, Japan holds the presidency of the UN Security Council in January 2023. iy High-ranking British politicians representing various political forces have supported the idea of creating a special tribunal to investigate the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine. In a joint statement, they noted that the tribunal should be created to investigate Russian aggression on the same principles that the allies used when initiating the Nuremberg trials against Nazi leaders, Ukrinform reports. "The Special Tribunal should be constituted on the same principles that guided the allies in 1941 to investigate the acts of aggression by Russia, aided by Belarus, in Ukraine and whether they constitute a crime of aggression," the statement said. "As well as investigating and indicting President Putin, the tribunal could also hold to account the members of Russia, and possibly Belarus', national security council, as well as the political and military leaders of this manifestly illegal war," it added. Although the International Criminal Court already considers charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the invasion of Ukraine, a special tribunal is needed to consider the crime of aggression itself, since the ICC does not have the authority to do so, the authors of the statement said. They recalled that the ICC could consider such cases only in relation to the signatories of the court's statute or in case of a respective decision by the UN Security Council. Russia did not sign the founding documents of the court and will not allow the relevant decision by the UN Security Council to be adopted. "It has been 10 months since Russia, backed by Belarus, launched one of the largest ground invasions in Europe since the Second World War," the authors of the statement said. "Since then, thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed or injured, eight million people have been internally displaced and around eight million have become refugees. Civilian infrastructure and economic assets worth tens of billions have been destroyed or plundered, and irreplaceable cultural monuments reduced to rubble. Large swathes of Ukrainian territory remain under occupation or attack." Politicians said that the crime of aggression was the root cause of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. "If proven in court, these acts of aggression could constitute what the Nuremberg trials termed the 'supreme international crime'," the statement said. According to its authors, the idea of creating a tribunal was supported by numerous lawyers, international organizations and states. Given the UK's global influence and historic leadership on human rights issues, the UK could play a vital role in further galvanizing international backing for the proposal, British politicians said. "We are therefore calling for the UK government to support a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression being committed in Ukraine. By doing so, we can act in solidarity with Ukraine and its people, signal our resolve that the crime of aggression will not be tolerated, and ensure that those who have unleashed the atrocities we have witnessed over the past 10 months will be brought to justice under the law," the statement reads. Soldiers of the National Guard of Ukraine delivered 10 tonnes of humanitarian aid from Dutch benefactors to Kherson. "The humanitarian cargo from the Christian charity foundation of the Netherlands, consisting of approximately 10 tonnes of various products clothes, food products, gift sets for children and residents of the city was delivered," the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine reports. According to Halyna Luhova, Head of the Kherson City Military-Civilian Administration, humanitarian goods are brought to Kherson from different countries of the world, helping the residents of the city which comes under Russian fire daily. "The volunteer movement is incredible. There is also medical assistance, food, and hygiene kits. Many generators arrive, we are now equipping shelters. Candles, flashlights, warm clothes, blankets, drinking water we need all of this very much, we receive help," Luhova said. Representatives of the National Guard delivered a similar humanitarian cargo to the communities in Mykolaiv region. Photo: ngu.gov.ua ol BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The second plenary session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will open on Jan. 9. It will make plans for advancing full and rigorous self-governance and making progress in disciplinary inspection and supervision work for 2023. At the 20th CPC National Congress last year, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said in the report presented by him that the CPC found a second answer to the question of how to escape the historical cycle of rise and fall, and the answer is self-reform. He called on the whole Party to unswervingly exercise full and rigorous self-governance in the new era. "As the largest Marxist governing party in the world, we must always stay alert and determined to tackle the special challenges that a large party like ours faces, so as to maintain the people's support and consolidate our position as the long-term governing party," said Xi. SELF-REFORM WITH NO END On Oct. 25, three days after the conclusion of the 20th CPC National Congress, the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee convened its first meeting in Beijing, which Xi presided over. One of the items on the agenda of the meeting was to deliberate a set of detailed rules for implementing the "eight-point decision on improving conduct." First made public on Dec. 4, 2012, the eight-point decision targets pointless formalities, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance and seeks to rein in privilege-seeking attitudes and behavior. During the past decade, the Party leadership has made consistent efforts to improve Party conduct and implement the eight-point decision thoroughly and effectively. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress set out a series of arrangements for full and rigorous self-governance and advancing the new great project of Party-building in the new era. It urged improving the systems for rigorous self-governance as a vital step to intensify Party-building. The report also made arrangements for improving Party conduct, tightening Party discipline, and combating corruption, among other requirements for Party-building. Concerning the anti-corruption campaign, the report stated that as long as the breeding grounds and conditions for corruption still exist, the Party must never rest to fight corruption. HIGHER-CALIBER ENFORCEMENT Within just over a month after the closing of the 20th CPC National Congress, more than 10 officials who were suspected of severe violations of discipline and laws turned themselves in, according to the CCDI and the National Commission of Supervision. Statistics show some 81,000 people have voluntarily surrendered to disciplinary inspection and supervision agencies over the past five years. Centering on major tasks of the country such as ecological protection, a raft of concrete, targeted and regular political oversight moves have been taken. From January to September last year, 53 cases of corruption and misconduct in the eco-environmental field were investigated in Guilin, a city in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. A total of 80 people received various penalties as a result of effective political supervision. The list of such examples can go on and on, from COVID-19 response to poverty alleviation, rural revitalization, and the implementation of a series of major strategies and key tasks. Political oversight has remained powerful and effective. TOWARD A NEW JOURNEY As China has embarked on a new journey toward building a modern socialist country in all respects, full and rigorous Party self-governance will be further sustained. "We will stay vigilant against pointless formalities and bureaucratism that affect the implementation of CPC Central Committee's decisions and plans, undermine the country's security and development, or raise the burden at the primary level," read a circular issued by the CCDI. Local disciplinary inspection and supervision agencies across the country have made efforts to keep leading officials under effective oversight, improve Party conduct on a consistent and sustained basis, and uproot corruption in sectors with a high concentration of power, funds and resources. Through joint efforts at various levels, the atmosphere of the Party's full and rigorous self-governance has gained further momentum. As a result, the people-centered philosophy is further implemented on the new journey and translated into concrete benefits for the people. Localities have seen improvements in areas such as elderly and child care, subsidy granting and government services thanks to proper supervision. On the third anniversary of the crash of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752, employees of the Embassy of Ukraine in Iran have honored the memory of the victims at the crash site and at the Alley of Memory created by the Ukrainian diplomatic mission last year. Ukraine's charge d'affaires ad interim in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Yevhen Kravchenko, said this in a comment to Ukrinform. "Today, on the third anniversary of the crash of UIA Flight PS752, embassy staff traditionally visited the site of the plane crash in the morning and honored the memory of our citizens and other passengers who were on board the plane. We laid flowers, lit 11 candles and remembered each of our citizens by name - nine crew members and two passengers," the diplomat said. He noted that this year in Tehran there were almost no visual reminders of this tragedy, while in previous years many billboards and posters could be seen in the city. On January 8, 2020, the Ukraine International Airlines plane (Flight PS752) heading from Tehran to Kyiv was downed shortly after taking off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport. There were 176 people on board nine crew members (all Ukrainians) and 167 passengers (citizens of Ukraine, Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK). All of them died. After several days of denials, the Iranian authorities admitted that the Ukrainian plane had been unintentionally shot down with an anti-aircraft missile. On December 29, 2020, President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded the flight PS752 crewmembers the titles of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star. German representative for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Katharina Lumpp has said that the number of Ukrainians who have had to flee the country makes it Europe's biggest refugee crisis since World War II. This was reported by DW, according to Ukrinform. In particular, more than 7.9 million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the war and another 5.9 million people are internally displaced, Lumpp said. Lump added the US and Germany were top humanitarian donors, with Germany having provided more than EUR 1 billion in humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began. As reported, according to data provided by the UNHCR, the number of Ukrainians who left for European countries after the start of Russias full-scale invasion has reached 7.9 million. iy HAVANA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A retrospective exhibition of a Cuban visual artist of Chinese descent opened here on Saturday ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in the Caribbean nation. Under the title "The son of a migrant: the road," the exhibit of Alfredo Chong, 74, features 20 paper mache sculptures and nearly a dozen paintings that pay tribute to the contribution of Chinese migrants to Cuba. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chong displayed most of his artworks on his home's terrace, surrounded by orchids, ornamental plants and fruit trees in the Havana district of Arroyo Naranjo. "We inherited strength and determination from Chinese migrants," the self-taught artist told Xinhua. "The friendship between the Chinese and Cuban people is unbreakable." Among Chong's artworks exhibited at the House of Chinese Arts and Traditions are "Terracota warrior holding an arrow," "Footprint," "Poetry of a migrant" and "Faraway nostalgy." "These artworks captivate the public through different and interesting techniques," said exhibition curator Teresa Toranzo. "It will help enhance the cultural and historical links between China and Cuba." Teresa Li, director of the House of Chinese Arts and Traditions, said the exhibition, which runs through March 20, is embedded with the spirit of the Spring Festival. "We are very happy with the opening of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations on the island," she added. "This is just the beginning." MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th January, 2023) Eritrea will continue multifaceted cooperation with Russia, including in defense industry, political, trade, economic, humanitarian and cultural fields, Eritrea's Ambassador to Russia Petros Tseggai told Sputnik. "We will continue the defense industry cooperation with Russia without regard to the West because they have been against us for 80 years, and we do not think that they would cooperate with us. As long as we tell them that we want to go our own way, they will not do it," Tseggai said. The ambassador also said that Eritrea and Russia have supported each other on the international stage and that the bilateral relations will "boost and develop in political, economic, humanitarian, trade and culture fields." ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Jan, 2023 ) :Governor Punjab, Engineer Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman Sunday felicitated Coordinator to Federal Tax Ombudsman Meher Kashif Younis on his appointment as Chairman of the first-ever Kyrgyzstan Trade House in Pakistan. Talking to Mehar Kashif Younis who called on him at the Governor's House in Lahore, Baligh ur Reman said the Kyrgyzstan Trade House recently opened by the Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan Ulanbek Totuiaev will help Pakistan for direct interaction with the business community of either country to promote bilateral trade and tap huge potentials through regional connectivity which he added is need of the hour in the prevailing global scenario. He called upon the chambers of commerce and industry to come forward and encash the existing unexplored market of Kyrgyzstan and adjacent states of the region, said a press release issued here. He stressed that frequent exchange of visits of the businesses community will pave way for the strengthening of bilateral trade in diversified sectors. He said one of the major obstacles to the development of trade-economic coordination between both countries and regions is difficult logistics routes which he added will be overcome after the successful establishment of a railway link through Afghanistan. Governor Baligh Ur Rehman said Meher Kashif Younis is a dynamic industrialist and will exercise his sphere of influence for promoting bilateral trade between two Muslim brotherly countries in the day to come. Speaking on the occasion Meher Kashif Younis said the in prevailing scenario, the philosophy of globalisation is getting phased out and sharply shrinking to regional connectivity. Hence we should now focus on trade and economic cooperation with the regional blocs especially rich central Asian states. He said both countries from the same region are deeply interconnected historically, culturally, and religiously. He said all-out efforts will be made to increase the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries and importers and exporters of either side will be fully facilitated to avail all possible opportunities and explore untapped potential with frequent exchange of visits. He said various products of Kyrgyzstan will be displayed at the KTH to attract the business community and brief them on the scope of expanding the volume of trade. He said Ambassador Kyrgyzstan H.E.Mr. Ulanbek Totuiaev is all the time one call away for Pak traders to visit Kyrgyzstan and provide all possible assistance for result-oriented one-on-one and b2b interaction meetings. Dehradun, India, Jan 8 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Jan, 2023 ) :Authorities in one of the holiest towns in the Indian Himalayas were evacuating panicked residents Sunday after hundreds of houses began developing yawning cracks and sinking, officials said. The cause of the apparent subsidence in Joshimath in the northern state of Uttarakhand was unclear, but residents blamed the building of roads and tunnels for a nearby hydroelectric project. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a high-level meeting for later Sunday to discuss the problem after the government formed an expert panel to carry out a "rapid study" into the cause. Local official Himanshu Khurana told AFP that at least 60 families had been relocated into shelters and many more were likely to be shifted out from their sinking dwellings. Residents said a much larger number had already fled their homes and that around 600 houses and hotels were sinking in the town of around 20,000 people. Another official said on condition of anonymity that several areas in the town had been "demarcated unsafe" and entry restricted. "People are deeply worried. The fear is that the town is sinking," he said as helicopters surveyed the area. Many locals have been forced to sleep out in the freezing cold and said they had been warning authorities for weeks and in some cases months about cracks in buildings and roads, some of which were oozing brown muddy water. One woman, Vineeta Devi, said that in October cracks began to appear in her walls which have now become so wide that her house is on the brink of collapse, like 25 other houses in her neighbourhood. "What will happen to my children? How would they study now?" she said to AFP. "We made this house with our life's earnings, but now it's gone," said Sunaina, another resident. - Pilgrims - Around 1,800 metres (6,000 feet) above sea level, Joshimath is a major gateway to a number of important religious sites in the Himalayas, attracting thousands of pilgrims every year. The town also hosts a major Indian army base and a strategic road to the disputed border with China that has also reportedly developed wide cracks. Pillars supporting a four-kilometre (2.5-mile) cable car ropeway, one of Asia's largest, leading to the Auli ski resort were also reportedly showing damage. The region is prone to earthquakes and has seen a number of disasters in recent years blamed by experts on melting glaciers and untrammelled construction. Building projects include hydroelectric plants as well as a major road improving military access to the Chinese border area and Hindu pilgrimage sites -- a pet project of Modi's. In February 2021, at least 200 people were killed in flash floods in Joshimath and surrounding areas in a disaster that experts partly blamed on excessive development. SANAA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported on Sunday that the Saudi-led coalition launched 12 drone strikes on the Houthi positions in Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah in the past 24 hours. The attacks were among "164 breaches of the truce in the city committed by the coalition forces, including an attempted advance by the ground forces on Hays district in the southern part of the city," it said. The Saudi-led coalition and the Yemeni government have not commented yet on the allegation. Hodeidah has witnessed a shaky cease-fire between the coalition-backed Yemeni government forces and the Houthi militia since they reached a UN-sponsored truce in Stockholm in December 2018. The strategic city is controlled by the Houthis, while the government forces have advanced to the southern districts. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia stormed several northern cities and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in 2015 to support the Yemeni government. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Mexico City, Jan 8 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Jan, 2023 ) :US President Joe Biden will seek Mexico's help tackling illegal flows of migrants and drugs, particularly deadly opioids, during a visit beginning Sunday for a North American leaders' summit. Aiming to tame criticism over what he has called a "broken" immigration system, Biden will stop off in the southern US state of Texas for his first trip to a border overwhelmed by record numbers of migrants and asylum-seekers. Previewing his trip on Twitter, the president spoke late Saturday of the "need to expand legal pathways for orderly immigration," adding: "We can do this all while limiting illegal immigration." The issue seems certain to top the agenda when Biden meets Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday, a day before Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joins them for the so-called "Three Amigos" summit. Another priority for Biden -- who boarded Air Force One mid-morning Sunday bound for his first stop, the Texas border city of El Paso -- is stepping up joint efforts to fight trafficking of fentanyl and other drugs behind a deadly addiction crisis in the United States. "Mexico is extremely relevant and important in dealing with both acute issues, which have become political vulnerabilities for Biden," Michael Shifter, a senior fellow at the Inter-American Dialogue think tank, told AFP. On Thursday, Washington announced that up to 30,000 qualifying migrants a month would be allowed into the United States from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela if they arrive by plane. The quota will be restricted to those who already have a US sponsor, while those attempting to cross the border illegally will be expelled in coordination with Mexico. The International Rescue Committee humanitarian group warned that the new measures "will only push more asylum-seekers into dangerous situations, the likes of which have already been seen in the form of mass kidnappings across northern Mexico." - 'Gripping the hemisphere' - Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who is accompanying Biden on the southern trip, emphasized Sunday that the immigration problem reaches far beyond the US and Mexico, with millions of Venezuelans, Nicaraguans and others on the move. "This is something that's not unique to the United States," he said on ABC talk show "This Week. " "It's gripping the hemisphere, and a regional challenge requires a regional solution." Flows of migrants fleeing violence and poverty in their countries are a particular challenge for Mexico, whose border has become a revolving door for people trying to cross to the United States. Thousands of people are stranded in Mexico because of the controversial Title 42 rule implemented under ex-president Donald Trump's administration, ostensibly as a health measure to reduce the entry of people during the Covid-19 pandemic. On drug trafficking, Biden will seek Mexico's assistance stemming inflows of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. Mexican cartels are major players in production and trafficking of fentanyl, which the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) describes as the "deadliest drug threat" facing the United States. - Strategy overhaul - Washington is "making strides" with its partners to seize illicit opioids and other drugs, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said ahead of Biden's trip, his first to Mexico as president. "It's an ongoing effort. It's not something you can ever take your foot off the gas on," he added. In 2021, the United States and Mexico announced a revamp of their fight against drug trafficking to address the root causes and step up efforts to curb cross-border arms smuggling. Lopez Obrador wants Washington to invest in regional economic development instead of sending helicopter gunships and other weapons to take on drug traffickers. Mexico is plagued by cartel-related bloodshed that has seen more than 340,000 people murdered since the government deployed the military in the war on drugs in 2006. Days before Biden's visit, Mexican security forces captured a son of notorious drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who is serving a life sentence in the US. The United States had offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Ovidio Guzman's arrest, accusing him of being a key player in the Sinaloa cartel founded by his father. The timing was more than a coincidence, according to some analysts. "When there are these types of meetings (between presidents), the Mexican authorities always have something to offer," said security expert Ricardo Marquez. (@FahadShabbir) BUDAPEST (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th January, 2023) Hungary expects to complete the construction of power-generating units of Paks-2 nuclear power plant (NPP) by 2032 and considers it an important stage of reinforcing its energy independence, Hungarian Energy Minister Csaba Lantos said on Sunday. The building of the Paks-2 NPP is scheduled to start in fall 2023. The project is expected to be completed in 2030. "When the Paks-2 NPP is completed - it is very important that this happens as soon as possible, but such power plants take much time to be built, now we are counting on 2032 - and if it and the Paks-1 NPP are able to jointly operate for at least 20 years, it will mean a lot for our energy sovereignty. The nuclear option is absolutely necessary," Lantos said on air of Hungarian broadcaster Kossuth Radio. Hungary's only nuclear power plant, Paks, generates about a third of all electricity in Hungary, with the share expected to increase after the planned commissioning of two new NPP's reactor units. The Hungarian leadership has repeatedly emphasized that nuclear energy is a way to ensure the country's energy security. The four units of the 500-megawatt Paks NPP were built between 1982 and 1987, and the 30-year operating lifespan was extended by 20 years between 2012 and 2017, so they would have to be shut down between 2032 and 2037. In late 2014, Russia and Hungary signed an agreement on the construction of two additional advanced reactors. The sides agreed that Russia would allocate 10 billion Euros ($10.6 billion) in a loan to finance the construction of the units. BELGRADE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th January, 2023) NATO-led peacekeeping mission Kosovo Force (KFOR) has rejected Belgrade's request to deploy the police and troops to Kosovo and Metohija, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday. "They said in the carefully drafted letter to the Serbian government, which I received, that there was no need to return the Serbian troops to Kosovo and Metohija, and cited the UN Security Council resolution 1244," Vucic told Serbian broadcaster Pink. The president added that it was "a predictable answer." (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th January, 2023) South Korea is considering the purchase of the Israeli early warning electro optical Sky Spotter system, which helps detect and track aerial objects, such as drones, the South Korean Yonhap news agency reports citing a defense source in Seoul. In the coming weeks, the South Korean military plans to decide whether to formally request the purchase of the system following a review on its effectiveness in countering Pyongyang's drone threats, Yonhap said on Sunday. In December, a group of drones believed to be North Korean crossed the inter-Korean border. South Korea tried to shoot the drones down and scrambled fighter jets and helicopters to intercept them. One of the aircraft, a KA-1 light attack plane, reportedly crashed during takeoff. Four small North Korean drones flew near Ganghwado Island in South Korea, and another flew up to the northern region of the metropolitan agglomeration, including Seoul. Yonhap later said that one drone managed to return back to the North, while the remaining four disappeared from radars. The South Korean Defense Ministry called the violation of the country's airspace by North Korean drones a provocation and pledged to respond. At the same time, the ministry said that the North Korean drones could not have obtained any meaningful information. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th January, 2023) Sounds of explosions were heard in the Ukraine-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia late on Saturday night, Vladimir Rogov, a member of the main council of the Zaporizhzhia regional administration, said. "Loud night in Zaporizhzhia! Starting from 23:00 (20:00 GMT on Saturday) explosions have been heard in the regional center, temporarily occupied by the regime of (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy," Rogov said on Telegram. He added that local residents have reported at least four blasts and that air raid sirens went off after the initial explosions. In a later update, Rogov said that there had been a "second wave" of strikes targeting military and infrastructure sites in Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian media reported that explosions were also heard in the city of Merefa in Ukraine's Kharkiv Region, as well as the city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk Region. Air raid sirens sounded in the Ukrainian regions of Poltava, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk, as well as the Ukraine-controlled parts of Zaporizhzhia Region, late on Saturday night, according to air raid data from Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation. Precision strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure have been carried out by Russia since October 10 (two days after the terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge). Zelenskyy said in December that, at this time, it is impossible to restore the country's energy infrastructure to 100%, which is why scheduled power shutdowns remain in effect in most cities and districts of Ukraine. Church services have begun in Ukraine to mark the first Orthodox Christmas since Russia invaded the country last year. Worshipers gathered despite violations of an Orthodox Christmas Truce announced by Moscow. By Stefan J. Bos Under the shadow of war, hundreds of worshipers gather for an Orthodox Christmas service in Kyiv led by Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Prayers reverberated throughout the Holy Dormition Cathedral at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery in the Ukrainian capital. Others also observed Ukraine's first Orthodox Christmas since the Russian invasion in February. And at least some worshipers gathered in a home as their church was damaged by shelling. Orthodox Christmas is celebrated 13 days later than the December 25 Christmas date celebrated by other Christians. It was moved after Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar in 1582, and many Orthodox Christians still observe the original date based on the Julian calendar. With many people worshipping, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a 36-hour Orthodox Christmas truce. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the offer saying the ceasefire was a cynical ploy. On Orthodox Christmas Eve, Zelensky effectively urged Russians to rise against Russian President Putin and reject his ordered invasion of Ukraine. Conflicting reports Ukrainian authorities also said Russian attacks continued during Moscow's announced Orthodox Christmas truce, including on the southern city of Kherson. Russian forces reportedly struck a fire station in Kherson in an attack that left several people dead or wounded. Moscow said it respected its unilateral ceasefire with the Russian Defense Ministry accusing Ukraine's forces of continued shelling. Russian President Putin's temporary truce order came after ceasefire calls from Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and from Russia's spiritual leader, Patriarch Kirill. Yet Putin stood alone at a midnight service at a Kremlin church as he marked Orthodox Christmas darkened by Moscow's assault on Ukraine. Putin attended the service at the Cathedral of the Annunciation, originally designed as a church for the Russian tsars. Orthodox priests conducted the ceremony holding long candles No peace in sight But peace seemed far away this Orthodox Christmas as Russia is unwilling to withdraw, and more Western weapons are arriving in Ukraine. The United States said it would provide a new weapons aid package for Ukraine and its neighbours worth more than $3.75 billion. Those deliveries include several dozen Bradley fighting vehicles for the first time, the White House announced. And there is human suffering, with Ukraine claiming nearly 111,000 Russian troops have been killed in the war, significantly higher estimates than those provided by Russian and Western authorities. An image grab from Iranian State TV of Mohammad Mahdi Karami and Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini attending a court hearing before being executed Two men have been executed in Iran. Both were accused of killing a member of the military during the ongoing pro-democracy protests. By Nathan Morley Two men have been executed in Iran. Both were accused of killing a member of the military during the ongoing pro-democracy protests. According to state media, the men were found guilty of corruption on earth over their supposed involvement in the death of an army officer. Just last week a human rights group claimed that at least 100 people had been sentenced to death or charged with capital offences in connection with the protests in Iran. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) identified 100 individuals whose sentences or indictments had either been announced by officials or reported by their families or news media. The group said all defendants had been deprived of the right to access their own lawyer, due process and fair trials. The latest executions bring the number of people executed in Iran since last month to four. On 12 December, Iran said it had conducted a second execution linked to the protests. A week earlier, a prisoner arrested during a demonstration became the first man to be put to death. Four months into a nationwide uprising, demonstrations are thought to have resulted in the loss of life of more than 450 people. Despite a lack of official data, it is reported that since late September, an estimated 60 children have lost their lives in public unrest. The protests erupted in mid-September after the death of Mahsa Amini a young woman being held in police detention for supposedly violating the countrys hijab law. Her death came amid a government clampdown on womens rights which saw Irans hardline president sign a ruling, expanding penalties for women posting anti-hijab content on the internet. Since the upsurge in violence, Iran's government has accused Western nations, especially the United States of fueling protester anger. This photo taken on Jan. 6, 2023 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The U.S. democratic model is in decline now as it has not adapted to the current global reality and the changes that are taking place in the political, social, and economic spheres, said former Bolivian foreign minister Fernando Huanacuni. LA PAZ, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol two years ago and the bitter battle over the speakership of the U.S. House of Representatives have shown the world that the American political model is "outdated," former Bolivian foreign minister Fernando Huanacuni has said. The democratic model of the United States "is outdated and worn out because it now generates violence and intolerance, with assaults on institutions," Huanacuni told Xinhua on Friday. The U.S. democratic model is in decline now as it has not adapted to the current global reality and the changes that are taking place in the political, social, and economic spheres, said the Bolivian politician. On Jan. 6, 2021, supporters of outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump violently stormed the Capitol in Washington, D.C., disrupting a joint session of Congress to affirm the results of the 2020 presidential election in which Joe Biden won. According to the Department of Justice, more than 900 people were arrested for crimes related to the destruction of the Capitol. And in recent days, there was also an unprecedented lack of consensus over the election of the speaker of the House of Representatives, who failed to be chosen with 14 ballots. These two events show the fragility of U.S. institutions, which need to adjust to the current times, said Huanacuni. On the future of democracy in the country, the former foreign minister said that there needs to be a new social pact, and the relaunching of a process of democratic change based on the new reality. "The global political scenario is changing. The axis of the new political order must be a democracy that characterizes and stimulates the needs of the people," he said. If changes are not made, he said, the United States is destined for failure, fragmentation, and the deepening of democratic decadence. He stressed that a new political model is necessary to provide answers to the needs of the people through consensus and dialogue. Thousands of Israelis have protested plans by the new government that they say threaten democracy and freedoms. By Nathan Morley Thousands of Israelis have protested plans by the new government that they say threaten democracy and freedoms. On Saturday, more than 10,000 protesters gathered in Tel Aviv, days after the most right-wing government in the country's history took office. Those taking to the streets argue that anticipated plans by the new Cabinet will hinder the judicial system and widen gaps in society. Whilst some demonstrators called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dangerous, corrupt and racist, others called for peace and co-existence between Jews and Arab residents. Some accused the new coalition administration of targeting Arabs and discriminating on the basis of both gender and sexuality. A week of unpleasant headlines It has been a week of unpleasant headlines for the new Israeli government. Just last week, Palestinian officials condemned as a provocation the visit by Israels new far-right security minister, Ben-Gvir, to the Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem. For Muslims, it is considered the third holiest site located inside the old city. Thats why Gvirs 15-minute walk around was so upsetting for many Muslims. Known as an ultra-nationalist, Gvir was sworn in as Israel's new national security minister, as Netanyahu's coalition government took office. After the visit, Palestinian officials said they hold the Israeli Prime Minister responsible for the trip. Nate Thayer, a journalist who risked his life to confront Pol Pot and provided perhaps the most authoritative contemporaneous account of Cambodian politics in the 1990s, died at his familys home in Massachusetts this week. He was 62. Thayer arrived in Southeast Asia in the late 1980s as a stringer for the Associated Press on the Thai border amid a brutal civil war in Cambodia, and over the next decade established himself as a dominant deadline reporter covering one of the worlds most important stories the end of the Khmer Rouge and emergence of modern Cambodia. He was fearless in terms of his work style, and he was uncompromising when it comes to pursuing the truth, and then on a regular basis, he scooped the world with his stories on Cambodian political conflicts, said Ker Munthit, a former Cambodian journalist who worked with Thayer at the Phnom Penh Post in the 1990s. No series of scoops was bigger than Thayers reporting on the trial of Pol Pot in 1997 and interview with him a few months later. But he also unearthed stories on renegade Montagnard combatants abandoned in Cambodias jungle, heroin trafficking networks linked to Cambodias elite, and factional fighting that saw tanks return to the streets of Phnom Penh after a few years of relative peace. Thayer was a sharp writer filing lengthy dispatches for publications including the Post and Far Eastern Economic Review but his sources were what truly set him apart in the post-war media milieu in Phnom Penh, thanks in part to relationships forged through months spent with anti-communist resistance forces along the Thai border earlier in the 1990s. He went further than all of us, said Kevin Barrington, an Irish journalist who also worked with Thayer at the Post throughout the mid-90s. Hed go off on serious treks deep into Cambodia with guerillas, you know, he had an appetite for risk. Thayer nearly died during one of those trips. In October 1989, he was riding with a group of Cambodian guerillas when the vehicle went over two anti-tank mines. The driver of the truck was killed, and Thayer suffered a concussion and severe shrapnel wounds. But he survived and kept covering the conflict raging in Cambodias jungles, driven by an obsession with tracking down the man who led the Khmer Rouge as it murdered and starved to death some 3 million Cambodians during its four-year reign in the 1970s. Although he did many things in Cambodia, he never deviated from that mission that he had to find Pol Pot. And that was a complete obsession, said Nayan Chanda, the former editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review. And he was very dogged and took a lot of risk and did some crazy things to achieve that. The breakthrough came when Pol Pot became desperate. In 1997, the longtime KR leader, in a fit of violent paranoia, believed his longtime defense minister Son Sen was negotiating a peace deal with the Phnom Penh government behind his back, and ordered his murder. Son Sen was shot dead along with his wife, children and other family members. Brother No. 1 was arrested by rival KR commander Ta Mok amid the chaos that followed, and Thayer, along with cameraman David McKaige, were invited through a series of furtive rendezvous, using coded messages over mobile phones to document the show trial that followed, as he wrote in the Far Eastern Economic Review. Crush! Crush! Crush! Pol Pot and his clique! shouted the crowd on cue as we approached, their fists striking down towards the ground. There, slumped in a simple wooden chair, grasping a long bamboo cane and a rattan fan, an anguished old man, frail and struggling to maintain his dignity, was watching his life vision crumble in utter, final defeat. This was how the peoples tribunal began for Pol Pot, reviled around the world for personally orchestrating a reign of terror that left more than a million human beings dead and shattered the lives of many millions more. Pol Pot was sentenced to die in a hut in the dense jungle hideout of Anlong Veng. The trial was the first time the notorious war criminal had been seen by the western world in decades, and Thayers footage was broadcast on ABC Newss Nightline beginning a nasty yearslong legal dispute over rights. A few months later, it was Pol Pot who reached out through intermediaries to arrange an interview. Chanda said he received a call at his Hong Kong office from France, saying that uncle was ready to see Thayer. After a few days of trying to get Thayer the message, Chanda said they discussed how he would get to the border hideout. Thayer suggested an armed personnel carrier from Phnom Penh. Chanda demurred, and they settled on a flight to Bangkok and a drive across the border. Pol Pot was old and could barely walk without help. Thayer wrote for the Review that Pol Pot was chillingly unrepentant, willing to admit to mistakes made by the regime but blaming mass killings on others and arguing that were it not for his revolution, Cambodia would have become part of Vietnam. "I came to carry out the struggle, not to kill people," he rasps, his voice almost a whisper. He pauses, fixing his interviewer with an almost pleading expression. "Even now, and you can look at me, am I a savage person? My conscience is clear." That was Pol Pots last interview before his death the next year which Thayer also scooped. McKaige often teamed up with Thayer on reporting trips into western Cambodia and along the Thai border, where democratic resistance forces aligned with the KR remnants against Hun Sens Hanoi-backed government based their operations. Now living in Singapore, McKaige said Thayer was a rare foreigner who didnt bring a political agenda to his work in Cambodia during a time when the country was a flashpoint for geopolitical tensions with western countries backing an alliance that included the Khmer Rouge rather than legitimize the government installed by invading communist forces. Many western academics felt that backing a coalition involving the KR was morally intolerable, and were supportive of Hun Sens government which remains in power today and has shown its own willingness to crush dissent over the decades. The duo's reporting also undermined the Hun Sen's government's claims that it was in full control of the country, and showed that the KR-royalist coalition had grassroots support, McKaige said. I think he provided some balance to an otherwise extremely left liberal view of what happened in Cambodia, McKaige said. Both choices were bad. And some of the hardest fighters in Cambodias decades of war opened up to Thayer. Hes an incredibly open and authentic person, and that openness is reciprocated when he talks to people, McKaige said. In the wake of what many including Thayer viewed as a coup by Hun Sen in 1997 against the royalist Funcinpec party, which won the 1993 UN-sponsored election but ultimately agreed to a coalition government, Thayer interviewed Gen. Serei Kosal for the Far Eastern Economic Review. The royalist commander had fled Phnom Penh via military aircraft and found refuge in a jungle hideout on the Thai border. He was lucky to have escaped: The coup left scores dead, including two of his fellow generals, and hundreds arrested. Thousands of others are fleeing or in hiding. We need a safe haven to protect our people from killing and arrest, said Serei, dressed in borrowed shorts and shoeless. Hun Sen is hunting down our people, killing them, arresting them. Why hasnt the world condemned the coup makers and acted in support of democracy and against the dictators? By that time, the Khmer Rouge were largely relegated to their border stronghold. What was left of the regime continued to make menacing threats on the radio, while many defectors were folded into the new government. Barrington, who later worked for Agence France-Presse in Phnom Penh, said that Thayers relationships with his Khmer Rouge sources made some of his colleagues uncomfortable, and at times other reporters felt he was going too soft on senior leaders like former head of state Khieu Samphan when he scored rare interviews with them. But I think this was all part of his uber plan to try and get to Pol Pot, Barrington said. And to be fair Nate, when he did get to Pol Pot, he didn't back away from asking him tough questions. During one of Thayers multiple bouts with malaria, Barrington said a Khmer Rouge official arrived at a group house, where a number of journalists lived together, to deliver a Chinese antimalarial to the ailing reporter. But Thayer kept other journalists largely in the dark about his sources. His favorite phrase was if I told you that I'd have to kill you, and he used to chew tobacco and he had marvelous contacts, like there would always be these people kind of coming in to see him who disappeared upstairs and it would all be very hush hush, Barrington said. Thayers persona ran counter to his upbringing as the son of a decorated diplomat and elite Boston family, noted Chanda. The thing that I found interesting was that despite his very austere Boston Brahmin upbringing, he almost deliberately wanted to project a different image as a swashbuckling sort of dare-devil reporter, Chanda said. Thayer worked hard and played hard. Mark Dodd, his friend and colleague and the former Reuters Cambodia Bureau Chief, recalled a late night drinking session with Thayer a physically imposing former college swimmer. We were off our tits yet early next morning Nate managed an epic swim across the Bassac River beating the Cambodian Olympic swim team entrants, he wrote in an obituary In an ironic twist, co prime minister Norodom Ranariddh had to present his sometimes critic an award which was even more hilarious. Nate really liked that touch. Thayer often shared an anecdote about charging the AP nearly $500 for gin and tonics at one point, arguing it was a medical expense given the antimalarial quinine in the tonic. But drinking would also become a lifelong demon. Anybody who did the stuff we did, and continue to do it, in the spirit of trying to bring horrible things to the world's attention, are always gonna be a little rough around the edges, said McKaige. Coming in to land after years of adrenaline fuelled frontline reporting is a daunting challenge for all of us whove been there, wrote Dodd. Not just a few stumble and fall. Thayer would go on to report from around the world, often war-torn or authoritarian countries including Iraq, the former Yugoslavia, Cuba and North Korea. For the past two decades he has mostly lived in the U.S., for years in a Maryland farmhouse and most recently on Cap Cod. Munthit recalled visiting him at his farmhouse in the early 2000s. He would sleep until the early evening, wake up to feed the ducks in a nearby pond, and then spend the night working on his memoir, titled Sympathy for the Devil. The book remains unfinished. Un Sokhom, a former publisher of an opposition newspaper in Cambodia, said the country had lost a rare living witness to the man who oversaw the massacre of so many. "We are very sad that the ideas and further publication that he wrote and prepared for release have not been released. It will be buried," he said. But that may not be so. Barrington said Thayer left behind a manuscript, and his friends are talking about how they can finish the book that he never did. VOA Khmer reporter Sok Khemara contributed reporting. Frightened villagers fled to higher ground fearing a tsunami when a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck late Sunday just off the coast of the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. The violent quake's epicenter was in the sea just off the northern bay of the largest island Espiritu Santo, some 400 kilometers (250 miles) north of the archipelago's capital Port Vila. Kayson Pore, a 22-year-old student from the village of Hog Harbour in Espiritu Santo, said he was looking for crab on the beach with half a dozen friends when the earth shook. "It was very huge," Pore told AFP by telephone. "We were right on the sea, we were looking for crab on the coast," he said. "We ran for our lives and then we ran to our homes." At his home in the village of about 1,000 people, the quake had knocked objects to the ground, breaking cups in the kitchen, Pore said. "People were moving to higher ground," he added, for fear of a tsunami tidal wave. But Pore said he had seen no structural damage to homes in his village. The shallow quake hit around 11:30 pm local time (1230 GMT) around 27 kilometers (17 miles) deep, according to the US Geological Survey, which placed it about 25 kilometers from the Espiritu Santo village of Port-Olry. People could feel the quake as far away as Port Vila, on the island of Etafe, said Natasha Joel, a receptionist at the Grand Hotel and Casino in the capital. However, the tremor was "a bit small" there and no guests were evacuated from the hotel, she said. A tsunami warning was initially issued for Vanuatu, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands but cancelled about an hour and a half after the quake. 'A Big One!' "Tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to one meter above the tide level are possible for some coasts of Vanuatu," the NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii said. Waves smaller than 0.3 meters were possible for New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands, it added. The French embassy in Vanuatu advised people to stay away from the coasts in a post on its official Facebook page. Residents reported on social media that there had been damage. "A Big One!!" one person posted on Facebook. "Lots of things broken all around." New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency said there was no tsunami threat to its country. Vanuatu is part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide, and experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity. The Solomon Islands, an island nation just north of Vanuatu, was hit in November with a 7.0-magnitude quake, though there were no reports of serious injuries or major structural damage. In 2018, a 7.5-magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami on Indonesia's Sulawesi island left more than 4,300 people dead or missing. Vanuatu is ranked as one of the countries most susceptible to natural disasters like earthquakes, storm damage, flooding and tsunamis, according to the annual World Risk Report. Khaled Shurrab had been waiting more than half his life to get out of Gaza. The 27-year-old had never left the coastal enclave, which has been blockaded by Israel and Egypt since 2007. He couldn't find a job the territory's youth unemployment rate is over 60%. Like a growing number of Gazans, he packed his life into a suitcase and eventually made it to Turkey, where he set out on a treacherous sea voyage to Greece last October. When his rickety boat went down, his body disappeared into the sea. A rising number of Gazans, seeking better lives abroad, are drowning at sea. The devastating procession has prompted a rare outpouring of anger against the territory's militant Hamas rulers, a number of whom are making their own very different exodus. In recent months, high-profile Hamas officials have quietly decamped to upscale hotels in Beirut, Doha and Istanbul, stirring resentment among residents who see them as leading luxurious lives abroad while the economy collapses at home and 2.3 million Gazans remain effectively trapped in the tiny, conflict-scarred territory. Four wars against Israel and dozens of smaller skirmishes over the years have taken their toll in casualties, damage and isolation. Israel and Egypt say the tight movement restrictions are needed to keep Hamas from stockpiling more weapons. Critics say the blockade amounts to collective punishment, as residents grapple with daily blackouts and routine shortages of basic goods. "I blame the rulers here, the government of Gaza," said Shurrab's mother, Um Mohammed, from her home in the southern town of Khan Younis. Her son's body was never recovered from the Aegean Sea. "They live in luxury while our children eat dirt, migrate and die abroad." Hamas says the leaders who have left plan on returning. Yet the string of exits keeps growing. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh relocated to Qatar, an energy-rich Gulf state, with his wife and several children in 2019. Political leader Fathi Hamad moved to Istanbul a year ago and frequently flies to Beirut, Lebanon's capital, where media reports have shown him in meetings at a five-star hotel. Deputy leader Khalil al-Hayya also relocated to Turkey last year, according to news reports, including Hamas outlets that highlighted some of his travels. Since then, he has paid only two short visits to Gaza. Former government spokesman Taher Nounou and leader Ibrahim Salah moved to Doha, the Qatari capital. Senior member Salah al-Bardawil, spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri and dozens of aides also have resettled in Doha, Istanbul, or Beirut, according to Hamas media reports and official statements. Turkey in particular has long been a favorite destination for Hamas leaders and supporters because of the country's lenient visa policies toward members of what the United States and Europe consider a terrorist organization. Several children of Hamas leaders are running lucrative real estate businesses for their parents in Istanbul, according to a Palestinian businessman familiar with their enterprises. He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. Azmi Keshawi, Gaza analyst at the International Crisis Group, said that the movement of officials abroad has in some cases helped the group coordinate its operations with key patrons outside the territory. But he said Hamas nonetheless has a growing image problem at home. "Ordinary Palestinians see that Hamas has gone from this humble Palestinian leadership who lived and struggled among the people to living in these comfortable zones where they are no longer suffering and seem far from the Palestinian cause and issues," he said. "Definitely people talk about this and draw comparisons in anger." Wary of public backlash, Hamas does not comment on reports about its leaders leaving Gaza. As social media fills with revelations, it casts leaders' stays abroad as temporary foreign tours aimed at drumming up support. Some of these tours last for years. Public outrage erupted last month at a mass funeral for young Gazans who drowned en route to Europe. Distraught families blamed Hamas for contributing to the collapse and chaos of Gazan life and accused the Islamic militant group of nepotism and corruption. Mourners shouted the names of leaders including Haniyeh and Yehiyeh Sinwar, Hamas' current leader in Gaza, and chanted, "People are the victims!" Such defiance is rare as Hamas moves to quash nearly all hints of dissent though it remains the most popular group in its Gaza stronghold. A recent poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found that 43% of residents of Gaza would support the group if parliamentary elections were held, compared to 30% for the rival Fatah movement. The figures were nearly identical to support levels three months earlier. The poll, conducted in December, questioned a total of 1,200 people in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank on a range of issues, and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points. Still, more Gazans appear to be risking everything to get out. A report issued in November by the Council on International Relations-Palestine, a Hamas-affiliated think tank, said 60,000 young people have left Gaza in recent years. It blamed Israel, saying "the policies of occupation and siege" have "turned the life of Gazans into unbearable hell." The report was the first semi-official data on emigration. It did not say how the data was compiled. Some who leave seek job opportunities in wealthy Gulf Arab states. Many, like Shurrab, fly to Turkey and attempt the perilous sea voyage to Europe in hopes of getting asylum. Two shipwrecks in October alone made 2022 the deadliest at sea for Gazan migrants in eight years, according to rights groups. Shurrab is among 360 Gazans who have drowned or disappeared at sea since 2014, according to the Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor. Despite the risks, Khaled Moharreb is still contemplating the dangerous sea route. After earning a nursing diploma two years ago, the 22-year-old said he has been unable to find a job. "I want to travel and build my life," he said. "Anything outside is better than this place where you can not do anything and where the government is indifferent." Without directly mentioning Hamas, he said he blames "those who control and run the country" for the lack of job opportunities. Hamas has offered no apologies. Atef Adwan, a Hamas lawmaker, recently denounced those who attempt to flee to Europe as making a perverse pilgrimage to a land of "deterioration and regression." Migration has long carried stigma among Palestinians, who have fought for decades to stay on their land. Haniyeh's roots in a crowded Gaza City refugee camp are a core part of his political identity. Amid growing scrutiny, Hamas issued an unusual statement last year announcing the return of three top officials al-Hayyah, al-Zahar and Salah to Gaza, reassuring the public that they "did not flee." Yet just two months later, news trickled out in Hamas media that al-Hayyah and Salah were on new "foreign tours" in Qatar and Iran. U.S. President Joe Biden flew to the Texas city of El Paso on Sunday for a firsthand look at the influx of thousands of undocumented migrants crossing the border with Mexico. During his roughly four-hour visit to the border city, Biden stopped at the Bridge of the Americas port of entry where he met with Customs and Border Protection officers and watched as they demonstrated how they search vehicles at the border for drugs, money and other contraband. Biden also walked a stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border wall that separates the Texas city from Ciudad Juarez. Two Border Patrol agents walked with the president. He also visited the El Paso County Migrant Support Center where he met with local officials and community leaders. He left for Mexico City shortly after. Upon his arrival in Texas, Biden was met by Governor Greg Abbott, who handed Biden a letter. Abbott said the letter provided five solutions that already exist under current United States law" that would help in securing the border. Bidens visit came days after announcing that 30,000 Cubans, Nicaraguans, Haitians and Venezuelans would be allowed into the U.S. per month and allowed to work legally for up to two years if they apply from their home countries, pass a background check and prove they have a financial supporter in the U.S. But Biden says they will be deported to Mexico if they enter the U.S. illegally, an expansion of a pandemic-era immigration policy that cited concerns over the spread of the coronavirus as the reason to keep out the waves of migrants trying to enter the United States. In advance of the trip, the White House said Biden, long attacked by Republican opponents as soft on border security, will assess enforcement operations on his first trip to the border during his two years in the White House. It said the president would meet with local officials who have been processing the arrival of the historic number of migrants fleeing political oppression and gang violence in the four countries. But thousands of undocumented migrants are also arriving from other places, largely but not exclusively from Central American countries, and have overwhelmed border agents. Many of the migrants are administratively processed at the border but allowed to enter the U.S. on a promise to appear at later court hearings to consider their asylum requests. Others are turned back at the border. In all, 2.38 million migrant encounters were recorded at various points along the U.S.-Mexico border in the fiscal year that ended in September. Its the first time the annual number topped 2 million. Some of those instances were repeat encounters with migrants who tried to enter more than once. El Paso is one of the largest U.S. cities on the border with Mexico, where thousands of migrants arrive daily. U.S. presidents both Democrats like Biden and former President Barack Obama and Republicans Donald Trump and George W. Bush have for years been unable to reach agreement with Congress on a coherent immigration policy to control the wave of migrants looking to escape violence, political persecution and poverty in their home countries for the possibility of a better life in the U.S. Bidens Republican opponents have blamed him and Homeland Security chief Alejandro Mayorkas for the current disarray at the border. Republicans who now narrowly control the U.S. House of Representatives say they will hold hearings on the issue. In a visit to the border in November, before he became the new House Speaker, Kevin McCarthy called for Mayorkass resignation, and vowed to try to impeach him and convict him of malfeasance in office to remove him if he does not quit. But Mayorkas told ABCs This Week show Sunday he has no plans to resign. I will continue to do my work, he said, and is accompanying Biden to the border. Mayorkas said that immigration issues are gripping the hemisphere and through the decades have been left unresolved by successive presidents and sessions of Congress. Bidens new order affecting migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela has been attacked by longtime Republican foes like Texas Governor Abbott. Four Democratic political allies of Biden, Senators Robert Menendez, Corey Booker, Alex Padilla and Ben Ray Lujan, and immigration advocates have assailed the administration for continuing to use the coronavirus reasoning of the Trump administration to expel migrants. In the ABC interview, Mayorkas said court rulings have prohibited the Biden administration from changing the rules governing entry into the U.S. and its use of the coronavirus provision to expel migrants arriving at the border. Abbott, who has dispatched busloads of migrants to northern cities with Democratic mayors to force them to cope with the influx of new arrivals, said Bidens trip to the border wont amount to much more than a photo op. He told Fox News the new plan trying to control migration from four countries has no details whatsoever about what the Biden administration is going to do to stop people from coming across the border illegally. On his Texas trip, Biden will visit the El Paso County Migrant Services Center and meet with nonprofits and religious groups that support migrants arriving to the U.S. It is not clear whether Biden will talk to any migrants. "The president's very much looking forward to seeing for himself firsthand what the border security situation looks like," said John Kirby, White House national security spokesman. "This is something that he wanted to see for himself." For all his international travel over his 50 years in public service, Biden has not spent much time at the U.S.-Mexico border. The White House noted only that he had driven by the border during his failed bid for the presidency in 2008. He sent Vice President Kamala Harris to El Paso in 2021, but she was criticized for largely bypassing the then-key migrant entry points, because El Paso wasn't the center of crossings that it is now. Trump, who has announced a bid to reclaim the White House in 2024, traveled to the border several times and often assailed the influx of migrants. He started construction of a border wall, but Biden abandoned the project after defeating Trump in the 2020 election. Trump repeatedly said Mexico would pay for the wall, but then-Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto tweeted in 2018, "NO. Mexico will NEVER pay for a wall. Not now, not ever. Sincerely, Mexico (all of us)." American taxpayers ended up footing the bill for the portion of the wall that was built. After the El Paso stop, Biden is headed to Mexico City where he is meeting Monday and Tuesday with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for a North American leaders summit, where immigration and other issues are on the agenda. White House correspondent Anita Powell in El Paso, Texas, contributed to this story. Some material came from The Associated Press. A boat with 185 Rohingya refugees landed on the shores of Indonesia's Aceh province on Sunday, a local disaster agency official said, following hundreds who arrived late last year fleeing desperate conditions in refugee camps in Bangladesh. Over half of those who arrived around 2:30 p.m. Sunday were women and children, Ridwan Jamil, head of Aceh Besar disaster agency, told Reuters. Photos Ridwan shared showed the refugees sitting in groups and lying down on the sand. Hundreds of Rohingya have reached Aceh in the past few months, including a boat that washed ashore carrying 174 in late December. The United Nations refugee agency said that 2022 could be one of the deadliest years at sea in almost a decade for the Rohingya, who have long been persecuted in Buddhist-majority Myanmar. For years many Rohingya have fled to neighboring states such as Thailand and Bangladesh, and to Muslim-majority Malaysia and Indonesia. Fishermen in Aceh had spotted three boats they strongly suspected were carrying Rohingya refugees in waters near Rondo Island, state news agency Antara reported late Saturday. It was unclear whether the boat that landed was one of them. Nearly 1 million Rohingya live in crowded conditions in Bangladesh, including many of the hundreds of thousands who fled a deadly crackdown in 2017 by Myanmar's military, which denies committing crimes against humanity. Rights groups have recorded a significant increase in the number leaving the camps. It is not clear what is driving the larger exodus, but some activists believe the lifting of COVID restrictions around Southeast Asia could be a factor. French politicians paid tribute Saturday to Charlie Hebdo magazine staff and other victims of the January 2015 Islamist attacks, days after the satirical weekly's latest edition sparked outrage in Iran. French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted the names of all 17 victims of a spate of attacks eight years ago in and around Paris, including the 12 people killed at the offices of Charlie Hebdo. "We will never forget you," he added, with a cartoon by the well-known French cartoonist Plantu attached. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne also marked the anniversary of the attacks, which also involved a deadly siege at a kosher supermarket. "In the face of Islamist terrorism, the Republic remains standing," she tweeted. "For their families, for our values, for our liberty: we do not forget." And Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak tweeted: "Satire, irreverence, the republican tradition of press cartoons are intrinsic to our democracy. We continue to defend them." The tributes came days after Tehran reacted furiously to cartoons mocking Iran's leadership in the latest issue of Charlie Hebdo, which appeared Wednesday. The magazine had invited cartoonists to depict Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the context of ongoing demonstrations against his theocratic regime, by women in particular. The graphic front cover sought to highlight the fight for women's rights, while others were sexually explicit and insulting toward Khamenei and fellow clerics. Many cartoons pointed to the authorities' use of capital punishment as a tactic to quell the protests. Tehran's anger In response, Iran summoned France's ambassador and called on the government to hold "the authors of such hatred" to account. On Thursday, it said it was closing the Tehran-based French Institute for Research. "France has no right to insult the sanctities of other Muslim countries and nations under the pretext of freedom of expression," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani said. In Paris Saturday, Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin and the city's Mayor Anne Hidalgo were among the politicians who attended a ceremony at the former offices of Charlie Hebdo, in the city's 11th arrondissement. It was there that two gunmen killed staff at the magazine, including some of its best-known cartoonists. A few meters farther down the same street, police lieutenant Ahmed Merabet was gunned down by the killers as he tried to stop their escape. The gunmen, who claimed to represent al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula said they were taking revenge for previous satirical cartoons in the magazine depicting the Prophet Mohammed. They were killed after two days on the run. The day after the Charlie Hebdo attack, another Islamist gunman killed a police officer in Montrouge, just outside Paris and a day later he killed four hostages at a Jewish supermarket in east Paris. He was shot dead as police stormed the premises and freed the remaining hostages. China lifted quarantine requirements for inbound travelers Sunday, ending almost three years of self-imposed isolation even as the country battles a surge in COVID cases. The first people to arrive expressed relief at not having to undergo the grueling quarantines that were a fixture of life in zero-COVID China. And in Hong Kong, where the border with mainland China was reopened after years of closure, more than 400,000 people were set to travel north in the coming eight weeks. Beijing last month began a dramatic dismantling of a hardline zero-COVID strategy that had enforced mandatory quarantines and punishing lockdowns. The policy had a huge impact on the world's second-biggest economy and generated resentment throughout society that led to nationwide protests just before it was eased. At Shanghai's Pudong International Airport, a woman surnamed Pang told AFP on Sunday she was thrilled with the ease of travel. "I think it's really good that the policy has changed now, it's really humane," she told AFP. "It's a necessary step, I think. COVID has become normalized now and after this hurdle everything will be smooth," she said. Chinese people rushed to plan trips abroad after officials last month announced that quarantine would be dropped, sending inquiries on popular travel websites soaring. But the expected surge in visitors has led more than a dozen countries to impose mandatory COVID tests on travelers from the world's most populous nation as it battles its worst-ever outbreak. China has called travel curbs imposed by other countries "unacceptable," despite it continuing to largely block foreign tourists and international students from travelling to the country. China's COVID outbreak is forecast to worsen as it enters the Lunar New Year holiday this month, during which millions are expected to travel from hard-hit megacities to the countryside to visit vulnerable older relatives. And Beijing has moved to curb criticism of its chaotic path out of zero-COVID, with its Twitter-like Weibo service saying it had recently banned 1,120 accounts for "offenses against experts and scholars." 'We just walked out' At Beijing airport Sunday, barriers that once kept international and domestic arrivals apart were gone, as were the "big whites" -- staff in hazmat suits long a fixture of life in zero-COVID China. One woman, there to greet a friend arriving from Hong Kong, said the first thing they'd do was grab a meal. "It's so great, we haven't seen each other in so long," Wu, 20, told AFP. "They are studying over there, and we can meet each other directly in Beijing ... It's been a year," she added. At Shanghai airport, one man surnamed Yang who was arriving from the United States said he had not been aware that the rules had changed. "I had no idea," he told AFP. "I'd consider myself extremely lucky if I only need to do quarantine for two days, turned out I don't have to do quarantine at all, and no paperwork, we just walked out like that, exactly like in the past," he added. "I'm quite happy not needing to be in quarantine," another woman being picked up by her boyfriend who declined to give her name told AFP. "Who wants to be in quarantine? Nobody." Hong Kong opens In China's southern semiautonomous city of Hong Kong, visitors streamed across the border as travel restrictions with the Chinese mainland were eased. Hong Kong's recession-hit economy is desperate to reconnect with its biggest source of growth, and families are looking forward to reunions over the Lunar New Year. Official data showed some 410,000 people in Hong Kong planned to travel north in the next two month, while some 7,000 people in the mainland planned to travel south Sunday. At the Lok Ma Chau checkpoint near Shenzhen, a postgraduate student from mainland China surnamed Zeng told AFP they were happy to cross with no more restrictions. "I am happy as long as I don't have to be quarantined -- it was so unbearable," Zeng told AFP. Two Iranian brothers were arrested in western Germany accused of planning an "Islamist attack" using lethal toxins, prosecutors said Sunday. The men were accused of "planning to carry out an Islamist attack in which they wanted to obtain toxins cyanide and ricin in order to kill an indefinite number of people," the prosecutor's office said in a statement. The brothers, aged 32 and 25, were referred to by the Duesseldorf prosecutor's office as "MJ" and "JJ" respectively. An initial search of the men's residence in Castrop-Rauxel did not uncover any traces of the toxic substances, Duesseldorf prosecutor Holger Heming told AFP. The two men would however be charged with "conspiracy" to commit murder, a crime which could carry a prison sentence of between "three to 15 years," prosecutors said. Agents wearing protective suits against the potential chemical hazard carried out the raids in Castrop-Rauxel overnight into Sunday. Images from the news channel NTV, showed the two men being led away in their underwear with jackets thrown over their shoulders. "Our security forces take every suggestion of Islamist terror threats very seriously and act accordingly," federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said in a statement. Authorities had been given a "serious tip" that prompted the overnight raid, said Herbert Reul, interior minister for the North Rhine-Westphalia region. The German security services were alerted to the chemical terror threat by colleagues from the FBI, according to local media reports. The American security services are said to have infiltrated a Telegram chat group where the two suspects "asked about bomb construction plans and later about toxins," according to a report from Spiegel weekly. Ricin is a highly toxic substance that is classified as a "chemical weapon" in Germany. Produced by processing castor beans, ricin is lethal in minute doses if swallowed, inhaled or injected and 6,000 times more potent than cyanide, with no known antidote. In 2018, a Tunisian man and his wife were arrested on suspicion of planning a chemical attack in Germany. The couple, who sympathized with the Islamic State group, were found in possession of 84 milligrams of ricin in their Cologne apartment. The pair had ordered castor seeds, explosives and metal ball bearings on the internet to build a toxic bomb. The man was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2020, while his wife received an eight-year sentence. Germany has been targeted in recent years by several Islamist attacks, including a 2016 truck attack on a Christmas market that killed 12 people and left dozens injured. A 13th victim died five years later having suffered serious injuries in the assault. In response to the hanging of two Iranian protesters, a German lawmaker of Iranian descent has demanded that Germany expel the ambassador of the Islamic Republic. Earlier Saturday, Iran executed Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini by hanging. They had been convicted of killing a member of the Basij, a volunteer paramilitary in Iran. "Let me express my condolences to the parents of the executed youth who are really grieving these days. The news this morning really stunned us, and we don't know what to say," said Sepehr Amiri, a member of the Christian Democratic Union party and a representative in the parliament of the German state of Lower Saxony. In Germany, more than 100 politicians sponsor political prisoners in Iran. The lawmakers sponsorship means they use their political heft in communicating with Iranian ambassadors, other politicians and human rights organizations in bringing attention to the plight of individual Iranian prisoners. The hope is that the attention given to the prisoners will prevent Iranian judges from handing down harsh sentences, including the death penalty, in trials that are often not open to the public. Politicians in other countries, such as Canada, Britain, France and Sweden, also sponsor Iranian political prisoners. After the two protesters were executed Saturday, Amiri underscored that more needs to be done. "As I said a few weeks ago, I am sure that political sponsorship is indeed a very good lever, because it disseminates information, and people outside Iran can know what is happening in Iran," he told Voice of America's Persian News Network. "But the lives of the detainees remain in danger. We must take more drastic measures, including deporting those who work for the Islamic Republic of Iran, and closing all Iranian consulates in Germany," he told VOA. Last month, Amnesty International said Iran is seeking the death penalty for at least 26 protesters after what it said were sham trials. The violent suppression of peaceful protests by Iranians, and the issuance and execution of death sentences by the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran have drawn a wave of global condemnations. Many Iranian protesters do not consider the imposition of sanctions against high-ranking political officials of the Iranian government to be enough, and they have demanded the closure of the representative offices and embassies of the Islamic Republic and the expulsion of all its ambassadors from Western countries. Cathay Pacific has welcomed the Hong Kong SAR Governments latest measures to facilitate quarantine-free travel between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, as well as the lifting of transit restrictions, effective January 8, 2023. The airline will more than double its flights into the Chinese Mainland, operating 61 return flights per week between Hong Kong and 13 Mainland cities from January 14. This compares to the 27 flights per week from Hong Kong to the Mainland, and 50 flights per week from the Mainland to Hong Kong that the airline is currently operating. Cathay Pacific is working actively to resume and add more flights progressively between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland in the coming weeks, with the aim of operating over 100 return flights per week by March 2023. Vishnu Rajendran, Area Manager, Middle East for Cathay Pacific said, The new year has welcomed us with positive developments. We have always had strong connections into the Chinese Mainland and are delighted to more than double our frequency. With the Chinese Mainland lifting its quarantine and transit requirements, we anticipate the demand to travel further grow particularly with the upcoming Chinese New Year. The increase in operations will provide travellers, particularly from the business and trade segment with more options and accessibility to travel. From January 8, 2023, Cathay Pacific will increase its flights between Hong Kong and Beijing to 10 pairs per week, and between Hong Kong and Shanghai (Pudong) to 21 pairs per week. The airline is also resuming flights to Guangzhou with five return flights per week. Meanwhile, from January 14, 2023 the airline will increase its flights between Hong Kong and Xiamen to four pairs per week, and between Hong Kong and Chengdu to six pairs per week. As of today, Cathay Pacific operates flights serving close to 60 destinations worldwide. The airline continues to add more destinations to its schedule. Please visit our website for the latest flight schedule and information. The Group remains fully committed to rebuilding the connectivity of the Hong Kong international aviation hub. As a Group, we anticipate that we will be operating around 70% of pre-pandemic passenger flight capacity by the end of 2023, with an aim to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024. TradeArabia News Service A man experiences a virtual reality (VR) product of Chinese company TCL during the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the United States, Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese clean energy companies took the spotlight at the ongoing 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas with their innovative products and green energy solutions. Clean energy and energy storage solutions have been a focus at the show, which runs from Thursday to Sunday. Chinese clean energy companies attracted lots of attention and interests from visitors, exhibitors and reporters with their innovative solar generators, appliances and clean energy solutions. Jackery, a pioneer in the portable power industry with its manufacturing factories in Shenzhen of Guangdong Province unveiled innovative portable solar generators at CES 2023. Its Solar Generator 3000 Pro, producing a maximum of 8500Wh per day, can provide backup power for five days of outdoor adventures or home emergencies. People visit the exhibition area of Chinese company Jackery during the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the United States, Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) Jackery also bagged four CES 2023 Innovation Awards for its innovative portable renewable energy solutions. "The pandemic has changed people's lifestyles. A lot of people prefer outdoor activities. Portable solar power generators could offer power for RVs, electric appliances such as microwaves, refrigerators, and BBQ ovens while they are outdoors," Jack Sun, founder and chairman of Jackery, told Xinhua. Jackery's solar power generators feature zero emissions, and are safe and shock-resistant, he said. "We are committed to enhancing innovation and power generation efficiency, and offering advanced green power solutions to global consumers." Global warming calls for urgent efforts to promote renewable energy, which offers significant opportunities for the clean energy industry. EcoFlow, another Chinese portable power and renewable energy company, debuted its whole-home backup power solution and new smart devices at the show, including solar-powered robotic lawn-sweeping mowers, portable air conditioners and fridges. "Rising power bills and extreme weather events have created an increasingly unstable energy situation for many people around the world. The pandemic also created a surge of interest in camping and other outdoor events," said Brian Essenmacher, EcoFlow's head of business development. People look at a drone in the exhibition area of Chinese company Autel Robotics during the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the United States, Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) Brian Beck, a show visitor from Anaheim, California, showed great interest in China-made solar power generators. He told Xinhua he is a beach lover, and always drives his RV to the beach over weekends. "These portable generators are small-sized, convenient and highly efficient, and are very competitive," he said. Ugreen, a Chinese consumer electronics brand, presented its portable power stations and charging products at the show. "It is the first time we participate in CES. We hope to take the opportunity to reach out to more consumers in overseas markets, and offer them our advanced energy management solutions," Beryl Liu, influencer marketing manager of Ugreen, told Xinhua. CES 2023 draws more than 3,700 exhibitors from over 170 countries and regions. Hundreds of Chinese companies are participating in the show, including well-known brands like TCL, Lenovo, and Hisense as well as startups. Forty-six Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali since July arrived home late Saturday, according to an AFP reporter at the airport, a day after they were pardoned by the neighboring country's junta. The troops, whose detention triggered a bitter diplomatic row between the neighboring countries, were arrested on July 10, 2022, after arriving in the Malian capital Bamako. Mali accused them of being mercenaries, while Ivory Coast and the United Nations say they were flown in to provide routine backup security for the German contingent of the U.N. peacekeeping mission. On Dec. 30, a Malian court sentenced the 46 soldiers to 20 years in prison, while three women among the original 49 arrested, received death sentences in absentia. They were convicted of an "attack and conspiracy against the government" and of seeking to undermine state security, public prosecutor Ladji Sara said at the time. On Friday, Mali's junta leader Assimi Goita pardoned all 49 soldiers. And on Saturday, the remaining 46 arrived at an airport in the Ivorian economic capital Abidjan. After their plane landed at 11:40 p.m. local time (2340 GMT), the uniformed soldiers disembarked one by one, each carrying a small Ivorian flag. They were greeted by President Alassane Ouattara before entering the presidential pavilion at the airport where their families were waiting for them. Thousands of Kurds from around France and Europe marched through Paris Saturday to show their anger over the unresolved murders of three Kurdish female activists in the French capital 10 years ago. The marchers are also mourning three people killed outside a Kurdish cultural center in Paris two weeks ago in what prosecutors called a racist attack. Kurdish activists from Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium arrived in buses escorted by police and joined fellow Kurds from France in a peaceful march through northeast Paris. The demonstration was timed to mark the 10th anniversary of the killings of Sakine Cansiz, Fidan Dogan and Leyla Saylemez on Jan. 9, 2013. Cansiz was a founder of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, also known as the PKK, which Turkey, the United States and the European Union consider a terrorist group. Kurdish activists suspect the Turkish intelligence service was involved in the killings. The suspected attacker, a Turkish citizen, died in French custody before the case reached trial. Turkish officials suggested at the time that the killings may have been part of an internal feud among Kurdish activists or an attempt to derail peace talks. Marchers carried banners bearing the victims' portraits, as well as flags for the PKK, which is banned in Turkey. Berfin Celebm, a 26-year-old who came from Amsterdam for the march, accused Turkey of involvement in both the 2013 and 2022 attacks. "I want to support my struggle and I want to support Kurdish women," she told The Associated Press. While most marchers were Kurdish, the crowd also included left-wing French activists and some ethnic Turks. "Today we are here to support our Kurdish friends because I am Turkish myself, and it is very important, because what is happening with the Kurdish people can happen to us as well tomorrow," said Ibrahim Halac, a Turkish man living in Paris. Organizers sought to keep the crowd contained. Paris police were on alert Saturday after skirmishes at Kurdish gatherings in the past, notably in response to last month's shooting. After the December 23 attack, the suspected assailant told investigators he had a "pathological" hatred of non-European foreigners, according to prosecutors. He was handed preliminary charges of racially motivated murder, though Kurdish activists suspect the attack was politically driven. Turkey summoned France's ambassador last week over what it called propaganda by Kurdish activists in France after the shooting. The PKK has waged a separatist insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984. Turkey's army has battled Kurdish militants affiliated with the PKK in southeast Turkey as well as in northern Iraq, and recently launched a series of strikes against Kurdish militant targets in northern Syria. Colombia's President Gustavo Petro made a surprise trip to meet his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro on Saturday -- their second face-to-face after the thawing of a years-long diplomatic freeze. The two leaders held talks for about three hours in Caracas at the Miraflores presidential palace, where Petro -- Colombia's first leftist president -- arrived around midday. The summit came just days after the final reopening of the South American neighbors' shared border, closed in a spat over Maduro's disputed 2018 reelection. Since taking office in August, Petro's government has worked to mend diplomatic ties with Caracas. Venezuela has also served as a key facilitator for Petro as he seeks to fulfill a campaign promise of establishing "total peace" with the armed groups still active in Colombia, some of which operate along the two countries' porous border. At the end of 2022, Petro seemed to have made major progress on that front, announcing a bilateral ceasefire with five armed groups that would last from Jan. 1 to June 30. But one of the groups, the ELN, said just three days later that it had not entered into any such deal, and the government conceded later that nothing had been signed. A joint statement released after the Maduro-Petro meeting Saturday said that Venezuela "will support the Colombian government in its goal to maintain the bilateral ceasefire." It also said that the two leaders celebrated "the progress achieved in the opening of the border bridges" and that they hoped to reach a future agreement on the "reciprocal promotion and protection of investments." 'Very fruitful meeting' Petro shook hands with Maduro and left the palace without speaking to the media. "We had a comprehensive and very fruitful meeting," Maduro tweeted after the meeting. "We have a clear path of shared work that will continue to give positive results for our countries, in different areas. Long live the union between Colombia and Venezuela!" Maduro wrote. It was the leaders' second meeting since Petro took power from Ivan Duque last August and the official resumption of diplomatic ties a month later. On Petro's earlier Nov. 1 visit to Maduro, he called for Venezuela to be brought back into a regional trade alliance and human rights system. Venezuela had severed diplomatic relations with its neighbor in 2019 after increasingly strained ties between Petro's predecessors Juan Manuel Santos and conservative Duque -- who Maduro accused of orchestrating plans to assassinate him. The final straw came when Duque backed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido -- recognized by dozens of countries as the victor in 2018 elections claimed by Maduro. Petro heads to Chile on Monday for a state visit and talks with another fellow leftist leader, Gabriel Boric. 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 became a dayslong effort to select a speaker. Round by round, she called for the start of each vote and announced at the end that, once again, no speaker had been elected. That is, until early Saturday morning, when she named Rep. Kevin McCarthy the victor after the 15th vote. 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 earned 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 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. What does the clerk do? Until a speaker is chosen and members-elect are officially sworn in, the clerk oversees 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 several 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 a new session. Each caucus nominates candidates for those positions. Those elections happen after the session's new speaker is selected. NATO's mission in Kosovo, KFOR, has declined a Serbian government request to send up to 1,000 police and army personnel to Kosovo after clashes between Serbs and the Kosovo authorities, President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday. Serbia's former province of Kosovo declared independence in 2008 following the 1998-1999 war during which NATO bombed rump-Yugoslavia, comprising Serbia and Montenegro, to protect Albanian-majority Kosovo. "They (KFOR) replied they consider that there is no need for the return of the Serbian army to Kosovo ... citing the United Nations resolution approving their mandate in Kosovo," Serbia's Vucic said in an interview with the private Pink television. Last month, for the first time since the end of the war, Serbia requested to deploy troops in Kosovo in response to clashes between Kosovo authorities and Serbs in the northern region where they constitute a majority. The U. N. Security Council resolution says Serbia may be allowed, if approved by KFOR, to station its personnel at border crossings, Orthodox Christian religious sites and areas with Serb majorities. Vucic criticized KFOR for informing Serbia of its decision on the eve of the Christian Orthodox Christmas, after Kosovo police arrested an off-duty soldier suspected of shooting and wounding two young Serbs near the southern town of Shterpce. Police said both victims, aged 11 and 21, were taken to hospital and their injuries were not life threatening. Kosovo authorities condemned the incident, which has inflamed tensions. On Sunday, a few thousands Serbs protested peacefully in Shterpce against what they called "violence against Serbs." Goran Rakic, the head of the Serb List, which is the main Serb party in Kosovo, accused Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti of trying to drive out Serbs. "His goal is to create such conditions so that Serbs leave their homes," Rakic told the crowd. "My message is that we must not surrender." Serbian media reported that another young man was allegedly attacked and beaten up by a group of Albanians early on Saturday, while media in Pristina reported that a Kosovo bus going to Germany through Serbia was attacked and its windscreen broken with rocks late that same day. International organizations condemned the attacks, expected to deepen mistrust between majority ethnic Albanians and around 100,000 ethnic Serbs that live in Kosovo. Half of them live in the north and most refuse to recognize Kosovo's independence. Military helicopters airlifted hundreds of people from communities cut off by "once in a century" floods in Australia's northwest, an official leading relief efforts said on Sunday, noting water covered some places "as far as the eye could see." The crisis in the Kimberley -- a sparsely populated area in Western Australia state about the size of California -- was sparked last week by severe weather system Ellie, a former tropical cyclone that brought heavy rain. "The water is everywhere," Western Australia Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson told reporters in Perth. "People in the Kimberley are experiencing a one-in-100-year flood event, the worst flooding Western Australia has had in its history." In some parts, he said floodwaters stretched for 50 kilometers. The emergency comes after frequent flooding in Australia's east over the last two years due to a multiyear La Nina weather event. Some eastern regions have endured four major flood crises since last year caused by the La Nina system, which is typically associated with increased rainfall. The town of Fitzroy Crossing, a community of around 1,300 people, has been among the worst hit, with supplies having to be airlifted in due to flooded roads. Across the Kimberley, where around 50% of residents are Aboriginal, 233 people had so far been evacuated due to flooding, authorities said. The Bureau of Meteorology said Sunday that rain had eased as the storm shifted eastwards to the Northern Territory, but warned that "record-breaking major flooding" continued in the Kimberley. "Many roads are impassable and many communities are now isolated," the forecaster said on its website. The Fitzroy River hit 15.81 meters at Fitzroy Crossing on Wednesday, breaking its 2002 record of 13.95 meters, a bureau spokesperson said. State emergency authorities have warned residents in other small communities of rising water in the region, which includes the resort town of Broome, about 2,000 kilometers north of Perth. While the extent of flood damage was difficult to assess, authorities expected the recovery effort to take months. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday described the flooding as "devastating" and pledged federal assistance. Australian Defense Force aircraft were being used to assist flood-hit communities, and Chinook helicopters were en route to help relocate residents, according to authorities Saturday. Five ADF helicopters will start operations in the Kimberley by Thursday, a defense spokesperson said. Pakistan and the United Nations are holding a conference in Geneva Monday to mobilize support for a resilient recovery of Pakistan from last years climate-induced catastrophic floods. Organizers say delegates from 40 nations, including several heads of state, representatives of international financial institutions and development organizations, will attend the International Conference on Climate-Resilient Pakistan. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will co-host the event with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as they seek an estimated $16.3 billion to rehabilitate and rebuild damaged infrastructure in a climate-resilient manner. Millions of Pakistanis affected by unprecedented devastation look for compassion and solidarity to build back better, Sharif said in a statement Sunday before leaving for Geneva. We will place [a] comprehensive post-disaster framework plan for recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction with resilience before development partners and friendly countries, he said. Bridging funding gap is key to restore critical infrastructure, rebuild lives and livelihoods and revive economy. The U.N. says that the 2022 flooding, caused by record-breaking monsoon rainfall, was Pakistans worst disaster in decades, leaving one-third of the country submerged, affecting 33 million people, killing at least 1,700 and displacing 8 million. The ensuing floods rendered more than 2 million people homeless, wiped out crops and destroyed or damaged vital infrastructure, including thousands of kilometers of roads and railway. Guterres visited Pakistans flood-hit regions in September and described the destruction as climate carnage. U.N. Development Program Resident Representative in Pakistan Knut Ostby said in advance of Mondays conference the disaster was caused by accelerating climate change across the world. Most of the waters have now receded but an internationally backed post-disaster study estimates that $16.3 billion is needed to help the countrys rehabilitation and reconstruction over the long term. Pakistani and U.N. officials say several million children are still living near contaminated and stagnant flood waters, putting their survival and well-being at risk. We estimate that up to around nine million people - additional people - could be pushed into poverty due to the flood impact, Ostby said. He stressed that Pakistans flood crisis is a global problem and must be addressed as such, warning the disaster can happen to other countries affected by climate change. Ostby noted that crops had been lost from the last harvest and from the missed planting season. Agricultural prices - food prices - are therefore increasing and could push, double the amount of people into food insecurity, increasing that number from seven to 14.6 million. Sharifs government says the catastrophic flooding has added to the economic challenges facing Pakistan. The country of about 220 million people has struggled to pay for imports such as energy and food amid rapidly dwindling foreign exchange reserves, making it difficult for Islamabad to meet foreign debt obligations. Police in Armenia Sunday detained 65 protesters near a Russian military base demanding Moscow intervene to dismantle what they say is a crippling blockade by Azerbaijan of an ethnic Armenian enclave, Russia's Interfax news agency reported. It said around 200 protesters, gathered outside the base in the northern town of Gyumri, were demanding that Russian peacekeepers unblock the sole road - the Lachin Corridor which links Armenia and the predominantly ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. Since Dec. 12, people identifying themselves as environmental activists from Azerbaijan have partially blocked the road, letting only limited traffic through. Azerbaijan says their action does not amount to a full blockade, but ethnic Armenian officials in Nagorno-Karabakh officials say food, medicine and fuel are running desperately short as a result. The corridor, which allows supplies from Armenia to reach the 120,000 ethnic Armenians who control the mountainous region, has been policed by Russian peacekeepers since 2020. Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but its inhabitants are predominantly ethnic Armenian, and it broke away from Baku's control in a war in the late 1980s and early 1990s, as the Soviet Union was disintegrating. In 2020, Azerbaijan retook territory in and around the enclave after a second war that ended in a Russian-brokered cease-fire, and peacekeepers deployed along the Lachin corridor, which became the only route into and out of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Somali government and the al-Shabab militant group have each denied having peace talks. The denial came Saturday after Abdulfatah Kasim Mohamud, a deputy defense minister and member of the parliament, said the militant group had requested talks with the government. A senior government official later officially denied receiving a request from the militant group. We have not received any requests from the group, National Security Adviser Hussein Sheikh Ali told Voice of America Somali. The minister said he was misquoted. Ali said the Somali governments position on al-Shabab has not changed. Our policy towards talks with Alshabab remains the same, he wrote in a message via WhatsApp. We arent negotiating with them as a group. However, individuals who wish to leave the group will undergo a thorough process to defect and be eligible for government amnesty formally, he added. The militant group has also denied the existence of any talks with the Somali government. A website affiliated with al-Shabab said the deputy defense minister's claim that the group requested talks is "baseless." "I can confirm that there arent and can be no talks between us, a militant official told the website. The official was said to be from the groups media department, but his name was not published. The al-Shabab official further ruled out the possibility of talks with Villa Somalia, the seat of Somalias government. In the past, the group has expressed distrust in opening dialogue with the Somali government. In January 2018, the groups official spokesperson, Ali Mohamud Rage, known as Ali Dhere, said dialogue is more dangerous than the weapons of mass destruction." "We heard from the infidels and apostates repeatedly stating that they are open to talks with the mujahedeen," he told al-Shabab's radio Andalus. "This is how the infidels use dialogue, as an approach to misguide the Muslims and destroy Muslim causes. He said the aim was to divide (the Mujahedeen) into groups, "so that they can support the group they see as moderates." Saturday, the president of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, appointed Abdullahi Mohamed Nor as a senior presidential adviser for preventing and countering violent extremism. Nor had served as the countrys Minister of Internal Security until August this year. 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. "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." Photo taken on Jan. 31, 2022 shows the lotus tower illuminated in red to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Xinhua/Tang Lu) Head of Lotus Tower management Prasad Samarasinghe told reporters 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. COLOMBO, Jan. 8 (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 reporters 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. Fireworks light up the sky on New Year's eve at the Lotus Tower, a landmark in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Dec. 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Ajith Perera) Over 268 million rupees (730,000 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. Tens of thousands of Catholic faithful walked through the streets of Manila early Sunday in reverence of a historic statue of Jesus Christ, which is believed to have miraculous powers. The "walk of faith," which church officials estimated attracted more than 80,000 people, began after a midnight Mass for the so-called Black Nazarene statue. Many Filipinos believe touching or getting close to the statue can lead to the healing of otherwise incurable ailments and other good fortune. Evangeline Rugas, 59, was among the worshippers attending the open-air Mass where a replica of the icon has been on display. She was "praying for a miracle" for her 5-year-old nephew who suffers from seizures and cannot walk. "Nothing is impossible for the Black Nazarene," Rugas told Agence France-Presse as she sat on a plastic sheet laid on the ground. The original wooden statue was brought to the Philippines in the early 1600s when the nation was a Spanish colony. Many Filipinos believe it got its dark color after it survived a fire aboard a ship en route from Mexico. This year's parade replaced the traditional frenzied procession, which used to involve hundreds of thousands of believers thronging a life-sized statue as it was pulled through the streets on a float. One of the biggest displays of Catholic devotion in the Philippines, it was canceled for two years because of the pandemic. This year's event was held a day before the feast of the Black Nazarene, which falls on January 9, and without the venerated statue in the hope of reducing crowd numbers and the risk of infection. The roughly six-kilometer route ended at Quiapo Church, where the Black Nazarene is enshrined. Mask-wearing devotees, some carrying candles or small replicas of the Black Nazarene, poured through narrow streets in the early hours of the morning. Mercy Dayrit, 70, said she had prayed "day and night" to the Black Nazarene after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. She was declared "cancer free" last year, which she attributes to the icon. "So many miracles happen," Dayrit said. In the weeks leading up to Sunday's walk, the statue was taken to churches around the city and nearby provinces to give worshippers the chance to see and touch it in the hope of avoiding a huge crowd on the feast day. The past year has been difficult for startups everywhere, but running a company in Ukraine during the Russian invasion comes with a whole different set of challenges. Clinical psychologist Ivan Osadchyy brought his medical device, called Knopka, to this year's consumer technology show known as CES in Las Vegas in hopes of getting it into U.S. hospitals. His is one of a dozen Ukrainian startups backed by a government fund that are at CES this year to show their technology to the world. "Two of our hospitals we operated before are ruined already and one is still occupied. So this is the biggest challenge," Osadchyy said. "The second challenge is for production and our team because they are shelling our electricity system and people are hard to work without lights, without heating in their flats," he said. Inspired by grandmother He came up with the device after spending a year with his own grandmother in the hospital and finding that he had to track down nurses when she needed something. The system works by notifying nurses when a patient has an abnormal heart rate, is due for treatment or otherwise needs help. The nurse can't turn off their button until they've dealt with the issue. "We are still working and operating because hospitals are open and we need to support them and provide efficiency and safety for patients as well," he said. Karina Kudriavtseva of the government-backed Ukrainian Startup Fund, says that, like Knopka, all the country's startups have kept going since Russia's invasion almost a year ago. "The times have changed, their conditions have changed, but it can only make them stronger because all of the startups are working on the thing that to save the company, save the team, save the business, and save their lives, of course," she said. Conflict led to relocation, innovation The invasion forced Valentyn Frechka to relocate to France, but he says his Releaf paper company has never stopped production. When he was 16, Frechka decided to study alternative sources of cellulose in order to decrease deforestation. He's now developed a technology that uses fallen leaves and recycled fiber to make paper. The company's main product is paper shopping bags, but they also make food packaging, egg trays and corrugated boxes. Frechka said the conflict has forced the company to become more flexible and more open to opportunities. "When this conflict happened and we located our company to France, we have found a lot of new partners and we have raised fundraising. We have raised the money for our needs," he said. "So, it really makes us more open for the world." A top U.N. envoy met with the Taliban-led Afghan government's higher education minister Saturday to discuss the ban on women attending universities. Taliban authorities on December 20 ordered public and private universities to close for women immediately until further notice. It triggered widespread international condemnation, including from Muslim-majority countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. Markus Potzel is the first international official to meet with Taliban Higher Education Minister Nida Mohammad Nadim since the ban was introduced last month. Nadim has defended the ban, saying it is necessary to prevent the mixing of genders in universities and because he believes some subjects violate Islamic principles. That ban was followed days later by a ban on Afghan women working for national and international non-governmental groups, another decision that caused global condemnation and the suspension of work by major aid agencies. The U.N. mission in Afghanistan said that Potzel called for the urgent lifting of these bans in his meeting with Nadim, saying the country is entering a new period of crisis. Nadim told Potzel the ministry was working for the development and improvement of Afghans, with the protection of Islamic and national values, according to information shared by ministry spokesman Ziaullah Hashmi. He said opponents were criticizing the implementation of Islamic affairs, using education as an argument to achieve their "evil goals." "We need to make sure there is no place for them to criticize and, at the same time, fulfill the wishes of Afghans who have made sacrifices for Islamic rule and the implementation of Sharia rules in the country," Nadim told Potzel at the meeting. He also said Afghanistan's rulers will not accept anyone's demands in the form of pressure against Islamic principles. Potzel thanked Nadim for his time, saying the higher education of any country has a direct impact on the economic situation of that country, according to the ministry spokesman. The envoy promised to cooperate in the development of Afghanistan's higher education and shared his plan for female education with Nadim. Potzel has also met with Economy Minister Qari Din Mohammed Hanif, who issued the NGO ban; Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi; Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and former President Hamid Karzai in recent days to discuss the crackdowns on women and girls. The discussions come ahead of a closed-door meeting of the U.N. Security Council on January 13 about Afghanistan. Nadim, a former provincial governor, police chief and military commander, was appointed minister in October by the supreme Taliban leader and previously pledged to stamp out secular schooling. He opposes female education, saying it is against Islamic and Afghan values. Zanu PF Mashonaland East Province has expressed great concern over videos circulating on social media purportedly showing a group of individuals physically abusing elderly people in Murewa, who are captured on camera saying they had gathered for a meeting of one of the opposition political parties in Zimbabwe. Zanu PF Mashonaland East chairperson, Daniel Garwe, said in a statement, apart from the disgusting physical abuse captured in the video, the Province is disturbed by allegations that the perpetrators are ZANU PF members acting on behalf of unidentified bosses. The Province hereby distances itself from the individuals in the viral video. They are neither members of ZANU PF Mashonaland East Province nor any known affiliate and were clearly hired to further nefarious agendas including soiling the image of His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Second Republic. These individuals are not identified anywhere in the video by word or clothing as members of our peace-loving Party. It is therefore presumptuous, hasty and even sinister, to rush to brand them as ZANU PF members given that we are in an election season often fraught with all sorts of chicanery. Garwe attacked the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) for claiming that the assailants are members of the ruling party/ The opposition Citizen Coalition for Changes propensity to stage-manage political violence incidents ahead of elections is well documented and some of their senior officials are currently before the courts for such lies. The possibility that the Murewa incident was also stage-managed to draw negative international attention should not be discounted at this point. As a Province, we urge all citizens to wait for accurate pronunciations from the Zimbabwe Republic Police which is currently conducting investigations. On our part, we remain guided by the consistent call for peace and tolerance by President Mnangagwa. The President is on record stating that all Zimbabweans should be vigilant and maintain the stable and peaceful environment that is being fostered under the Second Republic. Garwe further pointed out that we say no to violence, disunity and unrest and call on the Police to speedily bring the perpetrators captured in the video to face the full wrath of the law. In a tweet, Chamisa attacked the ruling party. If you have support why are so violent, so heartless against citizens even the elderly??? And why should bases and vigilante groups be allowed around the country?? Are we now worse than animals?? What leadership is this that invests in violence? Violence is very expensive! CCC deputy spokesperson, Ostallos Siziba, also said the ruling party is scared of his party. It shows that they are afraid of losing the general elections to CCC. How do you justify the beating up people for political reasons?, asked Ndlovu. Some of the injured victims are currently at a general hospital in Murewa. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share For the past few years, the US and the UK have followed strikingly similar political trajectories. Against all odds, populist uprisings captured both countries conservative parties, secured power and embarked on projects of national transformation. These efforts went badly (to put it generously), and in due course support for the rebellions subsided. Lately voters have been calling for a rethink. In both countries, this is proving harder than youd suppose. In 2016, Americans stunned the world and in many respects themselves by electing Donald Trump president. That was a few months after Brits somehow voted to leave the European Union. Then, just as Trump rose to power on his promise to Make America Great Again, Boris Johnson became prime minister largely by promising to Get Brexit Done. Neither plan has worked to voters satisfaction. Advertisement In 2020, after four years of making America great by setting people at each others throats, Trump lost to Joe Biden (not the most formidable opponent). In the recent midterm elections, Trumps interventions crippled the Republican Party. The UK, meanwhile, has gone from one calamity (Johnson) to the next (Liz Truss). Its economy is now setting records for poor performance, and support for the Tories historic project has collapsed. Yet conservatives in both countries are finding the revolutions of 2016 difficult to reverse. Trump is now such a liability that Democrats must be longing to see him nominated in 2024. Republicans, though acquainted with the same polling data, arent certain to ditch him. In the same way, Britains Tories know that Brexit has failed and they must mitigate the damage. But they cant bring themselves to say it. Everythings going to plan, they insist. New opportunities abound and Global Britain is on track to succeed. The problem isnt just that its hard to own your mistakes. When a political party sees it needs a new direction, a change of leadership is often enough. Theres usually no need for explicit apologies. And shifts of direction dont always have to be dramatic or substantive, for that matter. Advertisement Theres no need for Republicans to renounce their platform, for example, because at the moment they dont have one. The electorate mainly just wants to move on from Trumps exhausting provocations, ignorance, vanity and impropriety. The Tories are in a tougher spot. Unfortunately, they do have policies, and if the UKs prospects are to improve, these have to change. But the Brexit error cant be undone. Even in the unlikely event that Britain asked to rejoin the EU, for the foreseeable future the union wont want it back. For now the UKs only recourse is maximum economic integration as a non-member through arrangements such as those the EU has granted to Switzerland, Norway and other neighbors. This means acting as supplicant. The Tories wouldnt be able to disguise it, and the EU is unlikely to help them out. At least Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who took office in October, is adjusting the tone less strutting, more practical. Relations have warmed slightly and prospects for a deal over Johnsons troublesome Northern Ireland protocol seem to be improving. Advertisement But a much bolder change of course is needed, and theres no sign of it. The Tories still havent dumped the idea of letting all of Britains EU-derived laws sunset at the end of this year, unless theyve been reviewed and adjusted in the meantime. UK companies are furious over the additional uncertainty this threat which has no apparent purpose will impose on their operations. But the policy hasnt yet changed. In both the US and the UK, conservatives seem frozen in these losing and destructive postures. And the reasons are the same: Both parties are still at the mercy of extremists. Angry Trumpists and Brexit true believers have lost not only the argument but also much of the electoral support they used to command. Still, they arent going away. Both parties lack leaders with the guts and the wit to defeat the extremists, whose energy shows no signs of abating. Last weeks fiasco over electing a new Republican speaker of the House of Representatives illustrates the scale of the problem. Trump, if you can believe it, called for compromise; his rebellious followers werent impressed. Advertisement Republican Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska, soon to be president of the University of Florida, gave his farewell address last week. The most important divide in America, he said, is not about policy, or red versus blue: Its pluralist versus political zealot. This is true, and not just of the US. Zealots have energy, and energy drives politics. The results speak for themselves. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Clive Crook is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and member of the editorial board covering economics. Previously, he was deputy editor of the Economist and chief Washington commentator for the Financial Times. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Representative George Santos appears to be a fraud whos lied about everything from his Jewish identity to his employment history. But that doesnt mean the first-term Republican from New York deserves to be kicked out of Congress. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Democrats, naturally, see an opportunity to make hay about an embarrassing scandal by calling for him to resign. His predecessor, Tom Suozzi, goes further, arguing that Santos must be removed by Congress or by prosecutors since resignation isnt going to happen. Some current House Democrats have also demanded expulsion. One has even pledged to introduce the Stopping Another Non-Truthful Office Seeker Act (the SANTOS Act, get it?), which would require candidates to disclose under oath their employment, educational, & military history so we can punish candidates who lie to voters about their qualifications. The Santos story certainly has its amusing aspects, and represents a kind of joint failure of journalism, Democratic Party political operations and the Long Island voting public. But is it the kind of crisis that demands the extraordinary action of expelling a member of Congress, or altering the legal requirements for office? Advertisement Further complicating the debate is the politics of the situation. Santos is holding down a seat in a somewhat Democratic-leaning district. If he were to resign, there would be a special election that Democrats would stand a strong chance of winning. Republicans, meanwhile, dont want to risk losing a seat, especially since they are struggling mightily to keep their narrow majority organized. Its hardly surprising, and not necessarily bad, that the parties are playing politics. But it would be a mistake to confuse this predicament for an actual threat to the republic. Its possible, of course, that Santos also engaged in criminal behavior. And though Brazilian authorities say they plan to look again at a 2008 case against him involving a stolen checkbook, so far no charges have been filed over the fabrications related to his campaign. Advertisement For all Congresss problems, there is actually a very good system for filtering out this kind of pathological lying: elections. Not only do candidates need to defeat opponents from the other party in a general election, but in many cases they also need to compete against fellow partisans in contested primaries, where the party has a strong incentive to winnow out poorly vetted, scandal-plagued candidates. It is genuinely strange that Santoss Democratic opponent was not able to start unraveling his lies and its even odder that the GOP nominated him in the first place. There are plenty of experienced Republican office holders on Long Island. One of them should have been able to see through Santoss lies and challenged him. As it turns out, neither of those things happened and then his wrongdoing was publicized after the election but before the start of the new Congress. If the truth had come out earlier, Santos wouldnt have won. And if the truth had stayed under wraps for longer, it would have emerged as a dominant issue in his re-election campaign, which he would lose. Advertisement Santos is not, it almost goes without saying, the only politician whos ever said something untrue. What makes his case unique isnt that he fibbed its the breathtaking scale and scope of the lying. But its hard to make a rule that specifies how much dishonesty is unacceptable. While Santoss behavior is both egregious and clear-cut, its not unusual for observers to disagree about which of a politicians statements are lies and which are just normal rhetoric. Should Senator Elizabeth Warren face punishment, or even expulsion, for passing on some family lore about her Cherokee heritage? What about Senator Richard Blumenthal, for his occasionally exaggerated tales of military service? Or the 100-plus members of Congress who deny the results of the 2022 election? These are the kind of holistic judgments that voters make all the time. They dont always make them perfectly, but candidates who are seen as kooky or dishonest are regularly punished by voters. That gives political parties in particular the Republican Party plenty of motivation to do a better job of vetting candidates. Advertisement If the Santos story had broken at almost any other time, it would have been clearly and universally seen as a problem to be addressed through the ordinary to-and-fro of electoral politics. The quirk of its timing is genuinely frustrating. But its also genuinely weird, and trying to make new rules or laws to prevent it from happening again would be a cure thats worse than the disease. The George Santos story is so compelling in part because it is so rare. Thats a good indication that the best approach is just to leave well enough alone. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Republicans Are in Power Without a Plan: The Editors Kevin McCarthys Fiasco Is Making History: Stephen Mihm The Republican Civil War? Its On: Jonathan Bernstein Want more Bloomberg Opinion? Subscribe to our daily newsletter. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Matthew Yglesias is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. A co-founder of and former columnist for Vox, he writes the Slow Boring blog and newsletter. He is author, most recently, of One Billion Americans. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share There may be only one thing in Britain that animates and divides more than Prince Harrys airing of the royal family laundry. That would be Rishi Sunaks proposal to extend mandatory math education to all students up to the age of 18. Sunak, like Harry, hit a nerve. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Unlike most advanced countries, UK students can stop studying math at the age of 16; about half do. Sunak argues, not unreasonably, that this is a problem given the demands of the modern world of work. Only his solution doesnt quite provide the fix hes looking for. Views on teaching math, or maths as its called in Britain, tend to be visceral, as actor Simon Peggs expletive-filled viral tweet on the proposal attests (hint: Pegg isnt a fan). If you are a mathie you probably had decent teachers, mastered concepts quickly and enjoyed problem-solving then your feelings around the subject are likely to be positive, even a little smug. To the mathie, this equation is simple; more input equals greater output. Its about time Britain caught up. Its worrying that so many joke, or at least shrug, about being terrible at math. Advertisement If youre a mathphobe, you likely had a very different experience, ranging from discomfort to outright trauma. You found success in your mostly math-free world. The math you learned by 16 was sufficient. You either dont see why anyone like you should be forced to endure math class a minute longer than necessary. There are also those who were accidental math drop-outs, because the UK system penalizes risk-taking. It disproportionately rewards high exam results and so most students narrow their subjects to three from the age of 16. Some of my most mathphobic friends, or those better characterized as math-avoidant, fall into that category. They were quick to sign their kids up to Kumon courses and private tutoring. Others vowed not to force their kids to experience the math shame they endured and encouraged their other interests. There are important debates about innate ability and whether the way math is taught discourages many kids too early. Jennifer Ruef, an expert in math learning at the University of Oregon, has argued that our idea of what being good at math means is outdated. Rote knowledge and recitation can be useful in building a foundation, but speed is not necessarily an indicator of math ability. If being fast is a requirement, the result can be anxiety which can shut down working memory. Nor does it teach patient problem-solving or discovery. That kind of imposed agility means that many kids who could be math enthusiasts or at least at peace with the subject, never get there. Advertisement Sunak clearly falls into the mathie category. His family valued math learning; his diligence and early success helped him excel in school and later in his finance career. The math initiative is something he broached during the leadership campaign in the summer, not some gimmick he devised to distract attention from striking workers. In this, Sunak follows a long line of Tory initiatives. Michael Gove, David Cameron and Theresa May all had ambitious plans to square existing levels of attainment, set up special institutions or extend the age of compulsory math learning. A former education secretary by the name of Liz Truss took a trip to Shanghai in 2014 to try to discover what made China (and also Singapore) a world leader in math. (The Chinese, she marveled, have a can-do attitude to maths, which contrasts with the long-term anti-maths culture that exists here.) Achievement levels of UK pupils have been steadily improving, but a study by UCL concluded that PISA scores in math have been inflated by unrepresentative sampling. Britain still lags many advanced countries and there are huge disparities between the highest achieving students (who tend to come from independent schools or from certain minority ethnic backgrounds where there is a particular focus on math learning) and more disadvantaged pupils. Its not clear a new post-16 qualification will solve that. Along with a shortage of nurses and fruit-pickers, Britain has a shortage of math and science teachers in the country; 45% of secondary schools reported they use non-specialist teachers to deliver some math lessons in 2021. One deputy head of a state school I spoke to said the math and science teachers they hired in recent years came from the US and Canada. Advertisement Schools are also grappling with massive pandemic learning gaps at all age levels and overly stretched budgets despite a recent increase in education spending. The governments priority should be helping to close the gaps by giving schools access to more short-term tutoring, which has been shown to be effective in improving skills. But is forcing additional math learning on a 16-year-old with other inclinations the right use of limited resources? It could have knock-on effects. Britains university admission system unlike Americas is almost entirely based on exam grades in three subjects, known as A Levels, in the final two years of high school. Sunak made clear that hes not talking about imposing a rigorous A-level math accreditation on all. But its unclear what a new post-16 requirement would look like and how would it fit with existing resource and scheduling demands. Changing a pretty rigid system will take more time than the government has before the next election. So, in some sense, the debate is academic. Sunak, like others, has stated the problem; hes not yet found the formula to solve it. Advertisement More From Bloomberg Opinion: Rishi Sunak Has the Biggest New Years Hangover: Therese Raphael Who Are the Nepo Babies Among Us?: Adrian Wooldridge Harry and Meghan Arent Doing Themselves Any Favors: Martin Ivens This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Therese Raphael is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion covering health care and British politics. Previously, she was editorial page editor of the Wall Street Journal Europe. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Silicon Valley is Americas innovation capital, but lenient remote work policies and a spate of layoffs have fueled an exodus of workers and cleared the way for rising investment in other tech hubs, especially Austin and Miami. SHENZHEN/HONG KONG, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- In the early hours on Sunday, a shuttle bus carrying 27 Hong Kong passengers pulled out from the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port. After around 40 minutes, the bus arrived at the Zhuhai Port of the bridge. The first batch of inbound Hong Kong visitors crossed the control point and entered the mainland smoothly and safely. "This day has finally come! I'm so happy that I can go home now!" Cheung Hoi Wah, an inbound Hong Kong visitor, said that everything went well when crossing the border. Normal personnel exchanges between the mainland and Hong Kong started to resume progressively and orderly in phases as various control points linking the mainland and Hong Kong reopened on Sunday. This marked the first step of the resumption of normal travel between the two places after nearly three years. China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government earlier announced that the first-phase resumption started on Jan. 8, covering the Hong Kong International Airport, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point that are in operation, as well as the reopened Hong Kong-Macao Ferry Terminal, China Ferry Terminal, Man Kam To Control Point and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line/Futian Control Point. At around 6 a.m., long queues were seen at Hong Kong's Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point. Public announcements ran in a continuous loop in Mandarin, Cantonese and English to remind passengers to prepare their identity cards, booking confirmations for crossing the border and other documents in advance. Including the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point, a daily quota of 50,000 at the three land control points was set in the first phase of resumption for Hong Kong residents heading to the mainland. "I haven't celebrated the Chinese New Year at home for a long time. I took a long leave this time and my parents are very happy," Mr. Guo from Shanxi province, who was away from home for nearly two years, made bookings to return to the mainland with his girlfriend when he heard about the border reopening. At Futian Port in Shenzhen, red lanterns, welcome banners, and goody bags creating a warm and festive atmosphere were ready to receive inbound visitors. At 6:36 a.m., on the second floor of the arrival hall of Futian Port, Hong Kong resident Mr. Chong successfully crossed the border control and became the first visitor entering the mainland through Futian Port on Sunday. "I feel happy and lucky to be the first visitor. I'm going back to my hometown to celebrate the Chinese New Year," he said. At around 7 a.m., more and more visitors entered the mainland. Most of them were carrying luggage and backpacks, and some were traveling with the elderly and kids. "After three years of waiting, the border finally opened and we can travel freely," Hong Kong resident Mr. Yu, who returned to the mainland to visit relatives, said it took him only a few minutes to make an online booking two days ago, and the process of crossing the border went smoothly for only about 10 minutes. Edward Leung, a member of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR, and his team set off for Dongguan and other places in the mainland through Futian Port. They were on an exchange trip to study the entrepreneurship policies in the mainland for Hong Kong's young people, among other things. "Quarantine-free travel between the mainland and Hong Kong can greatly increase the opportunities for exchanges among the young people between the two places," Leung said, which allowed Hong Kong's young people to have a better understanding of the latest development in the mainland. After inspecting the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point Sunday morning, John Lee, chief executive of the HKSAR, said the overall operation of the first day of the border reopening was smooth, safe and orderly. Lee said that after the reopening of the border, the HKSAR government and people in Hong Kong will become more active. He said he hopes to go to Guangdong, and to other cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to promote cooperation between Hong Kong and the area. Shenzhen and Hong Kong will review the first phase of border reopening in a week. On the basis of the consensus reached by both sides, the arrangement of the second phase will be announced. In recent days, a series of new plans for urban development, new blueprints for industrial development, new infrastructure progress and new measures to improve people's livelihood in different places, including Shenzhen's Qianhai, Hetao and Zhuhai's Hengqin, have been announced. People are looking forward to the tremendous development momentum to be unleashed after the resumption of normal exchanges between the mainland and Hong Kong. "As the flow of people, logistics, capital and information between the mainland and Hong Kong speeds up again, a wider, deeper and higher level of cooperation between the two places is foreseeable," said Liu Guohong, deputy director of the Department of Regional Development Planning of China Development Institute. The interview sessions between subject and writer must have been long Spare is not spare in length: it is reportedly 416 pages. It will be translated into 16 different languages and the audiobook version is read by the prince himself. It promises to be a global bestseller, and the next sally in the highly strategic public relations campaign Harry and Meghan have forged since quitting the royal family, almost three years ago to the day of the books publication. The public relations strategy from Harry and Meghans point of view is to set up their shop for the future, says Juliet Rieden, the royal correspondent and editor-at-large for the Australian Womens Weekly. They want to be humanitarian activists. They need to get out there and tell the public what went wrong with their last job, and they want people to understand who they are and what they stand for. The backlash is that many people dont like what they see, especially in the UK, but their work is in America. That is the focus. Having cut themselves off from royal money, the Sussexes are self-funding their one-percenter lifestyle. Meghan and Harry want to be activists. Credit: Getty The book, for which Harry received a reported $US20 million ($29 million) advance, brings necessary income. Of the advance, Harry has donated $US1.5 million to Sentebale, a childrens charity he co-founded in Lesotho and Botswana; and 300,000 ($528,000) to British charity WellChild, of which he is royal patron. Spare is more than a commercial venture. Credit: But Spare is more than just a commercial venture the book will help establish the Sussexes in the celebrity-progressive-activist star-scape of the United States, the worlds biggest media market and the best launchpad for the social activism the Sussexes want to pursue. Penguin Random House says the book will cover, with raw, unflinching honesty, Harrys whole life in the public eye from childhood to the present day, including his dedication to service, the military duty that twice took him to the front lines of Afghanistan, and the joy he has found in being a husband and father. Early leaks from the book include the shocking revelation that William physically attacked his brother in 2019, after the elder brother called Harrys new wife rude, difficult and abrasive, and the claim that it was William and his wife, Catherine, who encouraged Harry to wear the infamous Nazi costume to a party in 2005 because they thought it was funny. The market for the memoir is huge, according to Rieden. Everybody is interested. People want to know what went on, even if they pretend they dont, she says. The Sussexes have definitely pushed more important things off the front page, with gossiping and family drama. The story, or stories, of Harry and Meghan are undoubtedly popular their TV series was the most-watched Netflix non-fiction debut ever. Loading As well as a four-book publishing deal, of which Harrys memoir is book No.2 (in 2021, Meghan published a New York Times bestselling childrens picture book, The Bench), the couple also have a multi-year Netflix deal estimated to be worth between $US100 million and $US150 million, and a three-year Spotify podcast deal estimated to be worth between $US15 million and $US25 million. They are also signed to a superstar speakers agency. These deals provide necessary private income, but they also help fund the activism/humanitarian branch of Team Sussex, the Archewell Foundation. The foundation is run through Archewell, the umbrella organisation for all the team Sussex projects, commercial and non-commercial. Tim Powell, the chief public relations officer for Dentsu Creative ANZ, says Harrys book is about filling that content machine. That means exploiting the institution of which the couple is so fiercely critical. Loading The commerciality of what theyre trying to do is driving them to chafe against the royal family, Powell says. The reveals about my brother shouted at me, and the racism allegations, are probably heartfelt but it also feels cynical because if you want to launch a book or a podcast, you need some tension and conflict. The books title is a reference to Harrys inferior position in the line of royal succession, and advance publicity has focused on Harrys conflict with his brother, Prince William, the next king. In clips from the upcoming interviews, Harry also delivers more broadsides at the they he consistently referred to in the Sussexes Netflix film. He is apparently referring to palace officials, although it is unclear. Harry has clearly learnt a thing or two from the royal family communications teams, and his own dealings with the media. Powell says Team Sussex is a very sophisticated operation, which employs highly experienced content-producers, digital strategists and social media consultants, most of them Americans with intimate familiarity with the US market. They are cleverly building their own media empire with publishing and audio arms so they dont have to rely on traditional media to moderate their content. Loading They are not making any PR mistakes, Powell says. The question is, how long can they keep going on this path? They probably have another year of this, and they will have to pivot. They will need a new narrative to keep getting book deals and so on. Harry has done several interviews to promote his book, small excerpts from which were released online this week. One is with the famous US journalist, Anderson Cooper, CNN networks star reporter. Cooper is American royalty his mother, Gloria, was an heiress of the storied Vanderbilt family, and, according to historical gossip, his great-aunt, Thelma Furness, had an affair with Harrys great-great-uncle, Edward VIII, when he was Prince of Wales. In a clip from the interview, Harry tells Cooper that there becomes a point when silence is betrayal. Another of Harrys pre-publication interviews is in the tougher British market, where sympathy for the Sussexes competes with bone-deep loyalty to the royal family. It is with ITVs Tom Bradby, a friend of both Harry and William. It never needed to be this way, Harry tells Bradby in the trailer for the 90-minute special. I want a family, not an institution theyve shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile. Somewhat contrarily, given he is criticising them to a global audience, Harry also expressed a wish to make up with his family. I would like to get my father back. I would like to have my brother back, he says. Powell says that while it is obvious that Harry feels genuinely aggrieved, from a strategic point of view, it is optimal for the Sussexes to talk about the royals while the rift is still fresh, and interest in the monarchy is still strong. This may not always be the case, and there is much less general interest in the royals in the all-important US market. Says Powell: The Sussexes are pretty small fry in the States. Meghans Insta following is much less than say, Beyonce or the Kardashians. As the death of Queen Elizabeth II fades into the past, interest in the royal family will taper off, Powell believes, especially as the new king is not very charismatic. Prince George and his siblings are going to grow up and take the limelight off Harry and Meghan. Credit: AP Harry is interesting now but in the future, he will be a balding dad with kids, and younger royals like George and his siblings will get older and have girlfriends and boyfriends, and be of more interest to the media, he says. Tittle-tattle about the brutality of the palace media machine will run out of steam and Harry and Meghan risk being seen as indulgent pampered celebrities. Harrys memoir will greatly help the Sussexes build their global media brand, which they could leverage to work for their chosen causes anti-racism, mental health and Harrys beloved Invictus Games, which will take place in Germany in September, and which are the subject of the Sussexes next Netflix series, Heart of Invictus. But charity work doesnt pay the bills. Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the WellChild Awards in 2018: charity doesnt pay the bills. Credit: AP Meghan has been consistent on her anti-racism campaigning, but its not very commercially rewarding, says Powell. Activism is genuine hard work and dedication. They can lend their names to things, but thats not going to put $5 million to $7 million per year on the table to fund their lifestyle. Powell also questions Harrys cultural authority in the US. As a middle-aged, privileged white man who represents an institution inextricably linked to colonialism, he is not best-placed to speak on issues of diversity, anti-racism or disadvantage. Meghan, of course, has far greater cultural authority, which she will stand her in good stead if she releases her own memoir, as is speculated the Sussexes still have to deliver two more books under their publishing contract. But, says Rieden, the window for more Sussex stories is limited. A lot of people want them to stop with the personal stuff and get on with Archewell, their activist humanitarian work, she says. Loading They have a lot of potential to make a difference there, and that work has been put aside for all of this. Theyve got the name and the platform for it in America, definitely. They can do some great things. And if that fails, Meghan, a former star of the television legal drama, Suits, can always return to acting. That changed in May 2021, when Catriona was not allowed into the lounge at Melbourne Airport while travelling to South Australia to visit her sick father because her membership had lapsed. While trying to explain the situation, Catriona said she became upset and distressed. Staff allowed her into the club with a guest pass, but she didnt know why her lifetime membership card wasnt working. It was very embarrassing, said Catriona. James and Catriona Wilson, from Mansfield, took on Qantas after they were sent a lifetime membership card to the Qantas Club. When they tried to contact Qantas to have the system updated to reflect their status, the Wilsons said they heard nothing. It wasnt until they lodged a complaint with the Airline Customer Advocate ombudsman that Qantas informed them the lifetime membership was not something that they have in place. A customer service representative said there were no records of any promotions for lifetime membership when the card was issued. They just kept saying: We dont do this, said James. Qantas said that lifetime membership to the Qantas Club had not been available for purchase since 2007. Credit: Chris Hopkins Rather than restoring the lifetime membership, the Wilsons were offered the chance to rejoin the Qantas Club at a 20 per cent discount with the joining fee waived. Believing the offer wasnt very fair, James asked for a two-year membership for his wife at no cost. When that wasnt accepted, they took their case to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. They sought for the lifetime membership to be honoured, or alternatively, the equivalent value in frequent flyer points. The market value was estimated to be $9975. James and Catriona Wilson. At the VCAT hearing, a representative for Qantas said that lifetime membership to the Qantas Club had not been available for purchase since 2007. They were unable to say how the Wilsons were sent a lifetime card or whether it was a one-off event. On the day of the hearing, James said Qantas offered his wife a four-year membership and some frequent flyer points. They wanted a confidentiality agreement to say we wouldnt say anything about it, he said. By that stage, we were in so deep that it was double or nothing. We decided we were in boots and all. It was all about the principle and abominable customer service. Loading The Wilsons thought the hearing went well, however VCAT member Susan Burdon-Smith sided with Qantas. She said Catriona had paid for a Qantas partner membership and had not expected to receive a lifetime card. This is not a situation where the respondent offered a benefit or service and failed to supply it. It was a windfall, she wrote. As such, the applicable law is that which applies to a benefit obtained in error or through a mistake. The mistake vitiates any intention on the part of Qantas to give the benefit to the applicant. The Wilsons believe the matter was handled poorly by Qantas, which was compounded by a request to cut up the card and send a photo to the customer service team after the case was dismissed. Loading They ignored the request and sent the card back to Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, telling him that their family intended to fly with another carrier. They didnt hear anything back. They are an arrogant airline to deal with, said James. Catriona said the case wouldnt go any further. Were not the sort of people who normally take people to court, she said. The party had won thanks to a string of Labor missteps, negative perceptions of Shorten and a flawlessly executed campaign strategy aided by a strong budget. Loading But Sinodinos also noted troubling issues, especially the partys dependence on Queensland to offset weakness in other parts of the country. Unless the party rebuilds and recovers lost ground in Melbourne and surrounding areas, its path to victory in each election will remain worryingly narrow, he found. Sinodinos insight proved prophetic. While the LNP lost two seats in Queensland (to the Greens) in 2022, it suffered huge blows in Victoria (four seats), NSW (six seats) and Western Australia (five seats). He also suggested the party had to improve its candidate selection process, urging better (and earlier) vetting of people representing the Liberal Party. Sinodinos could not envisage the situation the party in NSW would get itself into with the delay in candidate selection (that was largely the fault of Morrison and Alex Hawke). Three years later, Labors 2022 election review identified a variation of the 2019 problem: people in outer-suburban areas were generally angrier and more frustrated with the major parties due in part to COVID restrictions which disproportionately affected these regions. The Liberal Party review of the 2022 election failed to mention the issues around the candidature of Katherine Deves in the Sydney seat of Warringah which was easily won by independent Zali Steggall. Credit: James Brickwood Former cabinet minister Greg Combet and ex-campaign official Lenda Oshalem, the reports authors, argued the party must shift campaign tactics to win more outer suburban voters. The Liberal Partys 2022 review, meanwhile, found Morrison and the party were seen as out of touch, that the party fell behind Labor in digital campaigning and the use of social media, pre-selected candidates in some states too late and that its policy offering was thin. The report authors, former federal director Brian Loughnane and senator Jane Hume, also noted the party had alienated female voters and some migrants from non-English-speaking backgrounds. One Liberal MP, who asked not to be named so they could discuss the review freely, said the review was a bit like the official family trying to cover up their crimes. Loading The review doesnt deal with the issues dealt with in [this mastheads series] Wipeout or Niki Savvas book [Bulldozed]. People are just laughing about it. It was not a credible review, they said. We have a women problem and a professionals problem and Im not sure what theyre trying to do to fix it. The MP pointed out that, for example, that the pre-selection of Warringah candidate Katherine Deves whose views on trans people caused huge controversy and offence during the campaign was not mentioned once. Similar to the 2019 Liberal review, Labors 2022 review noted sizeable potential problems, the largest of which is outer-suburban Melbourne. While the citys eastern suburb residents effectively wiped out the Liberal Party, those in Melbournes north and west were not overly enamoured by Labor. In the northern suburb seat of Scullin, held by Immigration Minister Andrew Giles, there were some huge falls in Labors primary vote. In the Thomastown Meadows booth, Giles primary vote dropped by 23.2 per cent. That was after a 4.4 per cent fall in the 2019 election. Further to the west in the safe seat of Gorton, held by Skills and Training Minister Brendan OConnor, a similar scenario played out. Loading In the Deer Park west booth, OConnor suffered a 19.7 per cent fall in his primary vote (after a 3.8 per cent drop in 2019). Labor comfortably held the two seats. And the Liberal primary vote in the electorates is still well short of 30 per cent. But its clearly starting to play on the minds of Labor, with the 2022 review making a pointed recommendation that also goes to the issues the Liberal Party found in teal-targeted electorates. Labor cannot assume that these seats will not be vulnerable to well resourced, locally focused campaigns by independents should Labor fail to heed the message of the significant swings experienced, it found. Independents were not just a threat to either the Liberal or Labor party at the 2022 poll. The Greens had their most successful election on record, boosting its lower house representation to four. The 2019 Labor review focused on the Greens largely through the prism of the contentious Adani coal mine proposal in Queensland. By the 2022 review, the Greens were perceived as much more as a direct threat to individual Labor MPs. This materialised in the defeat of Terri Butler in the inner-Brisbane seat of Griffith by the Greens Max Chandler-Mather. In some of its most critical commentary, the 2022 review accused the Labors Queensland branch of ignoring the Greens threat. The reality is that Queensland Labor underestimated the threat from the Greens in these seats, it noted. While Labors review was upfront about climate change as a driving issue for many voters, the Liberal review referenced climate change just once. Teal independent Monique Ryan, here at her campaign launch, wrested the seat of Kooyong from then-treasurer Josh Frydenberg. Credit: Aaron Francis The Liberal review focuses heavily on the threat posed by teal independents, but not in terms of policies. It is more worried about coordination between independents and the technology they used in the 2022 campaign. Information which has become public since the election confirms the high level co-ordination between the teal campaigns, and the extensive resourcing and the use of cutting-edge campaigning tools, particularly data and analytics, it noted. The teals are not a collection of independent entities. They are, by any meaningful interpretation of the term, a political party and should be considered by the electoral authorities as such. The Liberal review recommends the collection of all available information on the background, history and functioning of the teal campaigns. Labors review urged the party to maximise its primary vote across all seats, noting the increasing volatility of the Australian electorate meant not one electorate could be taken for granted. The 2019 and 2022 reviews of both parties delivered insights into what went wrong at the respective elections and ways forward. But there are always issues beyond the control of a party. One of those will play out over the coming 12 months as the shape of the nations electorates are changed. The Australian Electoral Commission was already due to consider redistributions in NSW (home to 47 of the countrys 151 lower house seats) and the Northern Territory during the current parliamentary term. But the COVID pandemic has caused such large changes to the nations population that redistributions are now likely to be held in both Western Australia and Victoria. Federal parliamentary library analysis suggests a seat in Victoria and NSW will be abolished while WA will gain one by the 2025 poll. Theres also a small chance Queensland could gain another electorate. Scott Morrison, in the shadow of WA Premier Mark McGowan. The Liberal Partys result in WA was a huge factor in its May 21 election loss. Credit: Getty Its clear both Sydney and Melbourne where Labor and teals hold a majority of electorates will lose a seat. In NSW, the seat with the fewest number of voters is Wentworth, won at the last election by teal independent Allegra Spender. Nearby electorates in Sydneys eastern and inner west seats, including Anthony Albaneses own electorate of Grayndler, face being merged or altered. The redistribution in Victoria could result in a seat coming out of the inner-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. This covers an area that includes two seats won by Labor at the 2022 poll, Higgins and Chisholm, and two won by independents Monique Ryan (Kooyong) and Zoe Daniel (Goldstein). Over in WA, which lost the Liberal-held seat of Stirling due to a redistribution last year, a new electorate will be sandwiched back into the Perth metropolitan area. It could be in the citys southern suburbs which overwhelming backed in Labor at this years election. Loading Both major parties will make submissions to the electoral commission around the redistributions (which will seek to protect their interests and make life as difficult as possible for their opposition) that could prove pivotal at the 2025 election. Its just another issue, on top of the findings of the reviews of this years election, that will confront the major parties in 2023. A UK research firm has urged more global cooperation against COVID-19 as more than 7.5 million people have been killed by the virus. Produced by Xinhua Global Service More than 6600 homes across the country will cease to be part of a rental affordability scheme as cost-of-living pressures rise and rental vacancy rates in all states and territories remain near record lows. Housing organisations are worried that without further action from the government, more Australians will be thrown into homelessness as the private rental market remains drum-tight and waitlists for social housing balloon. The rental vacancy rate is less than 1 per cent across the country. Credit: Peter Rae It is the least affordable weve ever seen it: the rental market is at fever pitch and the social housing shortfall is growing all the time, said Maiy Azize, the spokeswoman for Everybodys Home, a campaign launched by a coalition of housing, homelessness and welfare organisations. Azize said Australia was already short about 500,000 social homes, and rental conditions meant it had never been more difficult for people to find shelter. Hong Kong/Shanghai: Travellers began streaming across land and sea crossings from Hong Kong to mainland China on Sunday, many eager for long-awaited reunions, as Beijing opened borders that have been all but shut since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. After three years, the mainland is opening its border with Hong Kong and ending a requirement for incoming travellers to quarantine, dismantling a final pillar of a zero-COVID policy that had shielded Chinas people from the virus but also cut them off from the rest of the world. Travellers wait at a Hong Kong border checkpoint as tens of thousands surge into mainland China border as COVID zero ends after three years. Credit: Getty Images Chinas easing over the past month of one of the worlds tightest COVID regimes followed historic protests against a policy that included frequent testing, curbs on movement and mass lockdowns that heavily damaged the second-biggest economy. Im so happy, so happy, so excited. I havent seen my parents for many years, said Hong Kong resident Teresa Chow as she and dozens of other travellers prepared to cross into mainland China from Hong Kongs Lok Ma Chau checkpoint early on Sunday. Washington: Kevin McCarthy woke up on Sunday morning with a long-held dream fulfilled: After a four-day standoff, he was elected speaker of the US House of Representatives, becoming the most powerful member of the Republican Party. But that role could turn into a nightmare because it requires leading a caucus that strongly rejects leadership. Conservatives have regularly excoriated top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell for agreeing to compromises of any kind with Democrats and earlier this week rejected former president Donald Trumps call to quickly fall in line behind McCarthy. Kevin McCarthy stands by the newly installed nameplate at his office after he was sworn in as speaker of the 118th Congress. Credit: AP The 57-year-old Californian showed tenacity in pushing through 15 rounds of voting and dismantling what had been a cadre of 20 right-wing hardline opponents, finding compromises that would pull most of them into his camp. He told reporters the previous night that he would be a more effective leader because of the drawn-out process. Because it took this long, now weve learned how to govern. So now well be able to get the job done, McCarthy said. At the end of the day, were going to be more effective, more efficient and definitely government is going to be more accountable. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the riots, saying Australia stood with the democratically elected government. When democracies have elections, its important that they be respected and tragically weve seen here actions that look a bit similar to what happened at the US Capitol building on January 6 after the election of President Biden. Its important that we respect democratic processes, Albanese said. The police officers who filmed the mob approaching were caught on camera and reported by local media outlet G1. Video footage aired on Brazilian television shows thousands of supporters clad in the colours of the Brazilian flag filming themselves causing damage or simply walking around the complex that houses the Congress (both the House of the Representatives and the Senate), and other government buildings. A group of capital police officers films the crowd approaching on their phones in Brasilia on Sunday, January 8 (Monday AEDT) Credit: G1/Screenshot It was not yet clear how the mob was able to advance so rapidly onto the buildings, but Lula blamed Bolsonaro and a lack of security in the capital, saying authorities had allowed the mob to wreak havoc. Within hours, Ibaneis Rocha, governor of Brasilias Federal District, fired the head of his Security Ministry, Anderson Torres, announcing on Twitter that he had put the entire staff of his security forces on the streets with orders to arrest and punish those responsible. He said he also requested help from the federal government and made his forces available to them. Torres, who was justice minister in Bolsonaros government, left for the US on Saturday, according to the Folha de SP newspaper. He told the publication the security planning for any eventual violence arising from Bolsonaro supporters had been done. And he denied rumours he had gone to the US to meet Bolsonaro, who left Brazil two days before the end of his mandate. There was no conspiracy for this act, Torres said adding it was his first holiday in a long time. A short time later the Solicitor-Generals office said it had requested Torres arrest, Reuters reported. Moraes later removed Rocha for 90 days, alleging security flaws. He ruled that months-old camps outside military barracks and roadblocks set up by Bolsonaro supporters should be dismantled within 24 hours. He also ordered Facebook, Twitter and TikTok to block accounts spreading anti-democratic propaganda. Bolsonaro supporters have been protesting against Lulas victory since the election results were announced on October 30. Lula won on a second round with a small margin of 2 million votes, gaining 50.1 per cent to Bolsonaros 49.1. So-called Bolsonaristas have been staging protests since then asking for military intervention to overturn a stolen election and to restore Bolsonaro to power. The armed forces declared they would respect the results of the democratic election and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal declared the results valid in a final report. The Vem Pra Rua (Come to the street) group, which organised many of the rights protests, put out a statement condemning the violence. It said that vandalism and crime against public property were inconsistent with its protests. Protesters, supporters of Brazils former president Jair Bolsonaro, look out from a shattered window after they storm the Planalto Palace in Brasilia. Credit: AP A failed lawsuit by Bolsonaros party and allies to force the annulment of half of the votes was dismissed as bad faith litigation and the parties were fined about 22.9 million reais ($6.3 million). The far-right president never conceded defeat, saying only that he understood his backers frustrations and he, too, was sad. He left for Florida on December 30. Like Trump, who refused to attend Bidens inauguration, Bolsonaro refused to attend Lulas and pass the presidential sash. (The sash, in the end, was presented to Lula by a group of 12 representatives of the people including a black garbage collector, a 10-year-old boy and the famous 90-year-old indigenous chief Raoni.) Bolsonaro, who during the riot published multiple posts to his social media accounts extolling his governments achievements, later issued a statement on Twitter speaking out against the protesters. Peaceful demonstrations, within the law, are part of democracy. But depredations and invasions of public buildings like we saw today, like the acts done by the left in 2013 and 2017, are not within the rules, he wrote. In the US, Democratic representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Joaquin Castro called for him to be expelled. As president, Bolsonaro had, before the election, repeatedly questioned without evidence the credibility of the countrys electronic voting system, and many of his hardcore supporters believed him. Lula was in Sao Paulo on a trip to investigate flood damage to rural communities. He said rioters and their financial backers would be punished. You must have seen the barbarism in Brasilia today. Those people we call fascists, the most abominable in politics today, invaded Congress. We believe there was a lack of security. Those who did this will be found and punished. Our democracy guarantees the right to free expression but also demands that people respect the institutions. There is no precedent in our history for what they did today, he wrote on Twitter before holding a press conference. On return to Brasilia, Lula signed a decree authorising a federal intervention in the local security forces, but stopped short of ordering the army to move in or declaring a state of emergency. All the people who did this will be found and punished, Lula said. Pedro Henrique de Christo, a former candidate for senator, and national coordinator of a popular left-wing movement working on Lulas Green New Deal, told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, the president had acted correctly in not ordering the army to take control of the entire country. It was very important to solve the local problem locally and to send a message to military police in other states not to support such acts by Bolsonaro supporters, Christo said. Brazilian media reported the rioters were transported to the capital over the weekend on about 100 buses and had received payment and/or meals for their participation. By evening Brasilia time, (mid-morning AEDT) authorities had cleared protesters from government buildings and regained control of the main square in the capital. The assault raised questions among Lulas allies about how police were so unprepared and easily overwhelmed by rioters who had announced their plans days ahead on social media. Justice Minister Flavio Dino called the events a coup attempt and highlighted the slow reaction by local police. He said Bolsonaro was politically but not legally responsible for the events. He said 200 people had been arrested. with AP, Bloomberg, agencies LA PAZ, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol two years ago and the bitter battle over the speakership of the U.S. House of Representatives have shown the world that the American political model is "outdated," former Bolivian foreign minister Fernando Huanacuni has said. The democratic model of the United States "is outdated and worn out because it now generates violence and intolerance, with assaults on institutions," Huanacuni told Xinhua on Friday. The U.S. democratic model is in decline now as it has not adapted to the current global reality and the changes that are taking place in the political, social, and economic spheres, said the Bolivian politician. On Jan. 6, 2021, supporters of outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump violently stormed the Capitol in Washington, D.C., disrupting a joint session of Congress to affirm the results of the 2020 presidential election in which Joe Biden won. According to the Department of Justice, more than 900 people were arrested for crimes related to the destruction of the Capitol. And in recent days, there was also an unprecedented lack of consensus over the election of the speaker of the House of Representatives, who failed to be chosen with 14 ballots. These two events show the fragility of U.S. institutions, which need to adjust to the current times, said Huanacuni. On the future of democracy in the country, the former foreign minister said that there needs to be a new social pact, and the relaunching of a process of democratic change based on the new reality. "The global political scenario is changing. The axis of the new political order must be a democracy that characterizes and stimulates the needs of the people," he said. If changes are not made, he said, the United States is destined for failure, fragmentation, and the deepening of democratic decadence. He stressed that a new political model is necessary to provide answers to the needs of the people through consensus and dialogue. The Lehigh Valley man who made international headlines in 2018 for running away to Mexico with a teenage girl appears to be in more legal trouble, less than nine months after he was paroled from state prison. Kevin Esterly, 50, of Bethlehem, was issued a summons by Pennsylvania State Police for harassment and physical contact, according to court documents. The alleged domestic incident happened Christmas day in Weisenberg Township, Lehigh County. According to state police, Esterly pushed a man during a child custody exchange. State Police said Esterly fled before troopers arrived, and no one was hurt. Attorney John Waldron, who represents Esterly's ex-wife, said the incident should not violate Esterly's state parole. Waldron said Esterly has been helpful financially to the family. As he faces the new charge in Lehigh County, an official at Columbia County Prison in Bloomsburg told 69 News a 50-year-old named Kevin Esterly was taken into custody there on Friday, Jan. 6 and released from that facility the following day. Officials weren't able to share anything else, but Waldron told 69 News that Esterly was transferred to a state facility and remained in state custody as of Sunday afternoon. In April 2022, Esterly was released on parole from state prison after serving about 3 years of his 2.5-5-year sentence. Esterly pleaded guilty to corruption of a minor in 2018, after he ran off to Mexico with his daughter's 16-year-old friend from Allentown. Police said Esterly and the teen developed a secret relationship before they disappeared together. Both denied they had any sexual contact. Police said the 16-year-old walked away from her Allentown bus stop the morning the pair flew out of Philadelphia to Mexico. They were found nearly two weeks later at a Mexican resort. "He was just a person looking for an opportunity and just happened to be in that house and it's hard to take," said Steven Goncalves. The father of Kaylee Goncalves, is speaking out. She was one of the four University of Idaho students stabbed to death in November. Nearly two months later, police have 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger of Monroe County in custody on murder charges. In court documents recently released, phone records and surveillance video showed that Kohberger may have visited the area of the crime scene twelve times before the night of the murder. The documents explain how Kohberger allegedly carried out the killingseven mentioning that one of the surviving roommates saw the suspect in the hallway that night. The affidavit states: "She (one of the surviving roommates) opened her door for the third time, after she heard the crying and saw a figure clad in black clothing and a mask that covered the person's mouth and nose, walking towards her." She was frozen. Many people are asking why didn't she or the other living roommate call 911 immediately? Steven Goncalves says he understands. And that those horrific situations aren't always played out the way the public understands. "I do know that she was petrified and I think people respond a little bit different. I think she was just scared, very scared. And you know, it's not like Hollywood where everyone behaves like people think they would," said Goncalves. What's left of the King Road home in Moscow, Idaho is eerie. Caution tape still hangs. Investigators have been seen carrying out items from inside. What was once furniture and decoration inside a college home is now evidence. The mattresses, bed frames, and bags containing the girl's belongings. All being loaded into a U-HAUL truck on the property. Investigators have not yet said how or if Kohberger knew all four victims. A status hearing in the case is scheduled for January 12th. LIMERICK TWP., Pa. - Holding candles and praying, the Limerick Township community was pleading for Jennifer Brown's safe return at a vigil Saturday night. Tiffany Barron said her friend, who is like a sister would never just get up and disappear. "We just, it's still very surreal however each passing minute, hour, day it's getting more and more real and scary," said Barron. The Montgomery County district attorney said the 43-year-old mother was last seen at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. They tell us Brown was scheduled to pick her son up from the bus stop the following day, but never showed up. The district attorney said he is concerned about her welfare. Philadelphia Police could be seen at Brown's complex on Friday night and a dumpster was being towed away. "We're begging for her, for her family," said Dianne Brehm, who is Brown's aunt. Brown is described as a white female with brown hair and green eyes. She's 5'1 and 150 pounds. Authorities said her car was parked outside her home, her keys, wallet, purse and work cellphone were found inside. They tell us her personal phone is missing and has not been communicating since Wednesday morning. "Somebody needs to just absolutely let us know. Any little tip is the best thing you can do if you remember something," said Brehm. "If we could just get more people on this and mouths open, something's bound to come out," said Brown. Brown's family is offering a $10,000 reward for information on her whereabouts. Anyone with information is asked to call police or the Montgomery County District Attorney's office. LIMERICK TWP., Pa. - In Montgomery County, officials are asking for the public's help to locate a missing mother. Jennifer Brown, age 43, was last seen this past Tuesday. It seems she may have disappeared under suspicious circumstances. Neighbors say they're shaken by the news. "Law enforcement is very concerned about the welfare of this mother," Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said. He, along with Limerick Township Police Chief Robert J. Matalavage, are asking for information that can help authorities locate Brown. She was last seen this past Tuesday afternoon by a friend and business associate. Brown, who lives on Stratford Court in Limerick Township, is described as a white female with brown hair and green eyes. She is 5-foot-1 and weighs approximately 150 pounds. Neighbors say she's a single mother, but her son was sleeping over at a friend's house Tuesday night. Officials say she was supposed to pick up her son from the bus the following afternoon. Neighbors who didn't know her well tell 69 News that she was often seen outside waiting for her son to come home from school. Those who knew her better say she was very vigilant about her son all the time, so to not show up was extremely unlike her. But, perhaps most unsettling, her car was parked outside her home. Her car keys, wallet, purse and work cellphone were found inside the home. Officials say Brown's personal cellphone has not been found, and it has not been communicating since Wednesday morning. Friday night around 8 p.m. Philadelphia police were seen combing the area. Brown's family is offering a $10,000 reward for any information that may help law enforcement to locate her. Friends of Brown in the neighborhood held a vigil Saturday evening. Officials are asking anyone with any information that might help locate Brown to please contact the Limerick Township Police at 610-495-7909 or Montgomery County Detectives at 610-226-5553. PHNOM PENH, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Households in Sihanoukville city in southwest Cambodia's Preah Sihanouk province are facing a shortage of water after a dam burst, officials said on Sunday. A dam at the Kbal Chhay waterfall area in Sihanoukville collapsed Saturday night, causing damage to a pumping station and a pipe flowing water from the reservoir to one of the city's two water treatment plants, Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Kuoch Chamroeun said. "The dam burst has halted the operation of one water treatment plant, so it reduced our total water supply capacity by 50 percent," he said in a footage posted on the province's Facebook page. The governor calls on local residents in the coastal city to use water thriftily these days until the problem is fixed. Preah Sihanouk provincial spokesman Kheang Phearom said the dam burst caused no harm to people, saying that authorities would try to solve the problem within three days. He said the cause of the collapse is being investigated. NORRISTOWN, Pa. - The Norristown Police and Montgomery County District Attorney have announced the arrest of Ana Gonzalez-Munguia, 20, and Erick Galo-Ponce, 20, both of Norristown, for second-degree murder, theft, and related charges stemming from the murder of Nilson Velazquez-Cardona of Woodhaven, N.Y. on December 17, 2022. The defendants were taken into custody on Friday, January 6, 2023, in Harris County, Texas by U.S. Marshals. The investigation began on December 17, 2022, when the Norristown Police responded to a report of a deceased male under the Stony Creek Bridge. The deceased male had no identification on him at the time of his discovery. An autopsy on the body found that the male died of blunt force trauma to the head and the manner of death was homicide. Using a fingerprint reader, detectives were able to identify the deceased male as 23-year-old Nilson Velazquez-Cardona of Woodhaven, N.Y. and determined that Velazquez-Cardona had been reported missing by his brother after he didnt return home on December 16, 2022. Video footage was later found showing Galo-Ponce filling up the victims Nissan Altima. Phone records from Gonzalez-Mungais cellphone show that the phone was in the vicinity at the time of the murder, then moved to the King of Prussia gas station before traveling through Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and into Texas. Galo-Ponce and Gonzalez-Munguia will be extradited to Montgomery County to face charges. HARRISBURG As people arrived for the 107th Pennsylvania Farm Show at 8 a.m. Saturday, they were greeted by a 6-year-old Schuylkill Haven girl singing The Star-Spangled Banner to officially open the event. Are drug gangs threatening the rule of law in the Netherlands? Many Dutch have been asking that question after a string of drug mafia murders, including that of an acclaimed investigative journalist. DW's Jack Parrock reports from the Hague. @DW Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon spent New years Eve (12.31.22) together in Mexico. The 59-year-old actor and the brunette beauty arrived in Cabo San Lucas ahead of the weekend, and they celebrated the new year in the popular tourist destination. A source told PEOPLE: They are dating and having fun. They have a good thing going on. There is no stress. Brad is enjoying it. Brad who was previously married to actresses Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie is not seeing anyone else right now. And hes said to be very happy with the 32-year-old jewellery designer. The insider shared: He is spending more time with Ines. He is very happy. Meanwhile, Brad made a concerted effort to get sober after his split from Angelina in 2016. The movie star revealed that he felt safe at Alcoholics Anonymous and that he found a really private and selective group of people who wouldnt betray his trust. He previously explained: I had a really cool mens group here that was really private and selective, so it was safe, because Id seen things of other people, like Philip Seymour Hoffman, who had been recorded while they were spilling their guts, and thats just atrocious to me. Brad remains on a mission to improve his health, after he managed to kick his smoking habit amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Moneyball star initially tried to limit the amount he smoked but he eventually decided to commit to his ambition wholeheartedly. Brad shared: I dont have that ability to do just one or two a day. Its not in my make-up. Im all in. And Im going to drive into the ground. Ive lost my privileges. A staff member examines greenhouse vegetables at the Vidor Center experimental farm in Israel's southern desert region of Arava on Nov. 30, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Zhuolun) by Xinhua writer Wang Zhuolun JERUSALEM, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Driving through the Negev Desert in southern Israel is a more enjoyable experience than you might imagine because the sand-dominated uphills and downhills lack no colorful surprise: camel grass, trees of lush palm dates and apricots, and cactus with vibrant fruit, dotting the dry lands and showing unique life resilience. The desert surrounds parts of the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest land-based elevation on Earth. The waters of the hyper-saline lake are about 10 times saltier than those of the normal ocean, making it a harsh environment for all life and agricultural activities near the lake. However, not far away from the southernmost tip of the Dead Sea, a wide variety of daily consuming vegetables thrive in apparent defiance of such unfavorable conditions. Photo shows green house vegetables at the the Vidor Center experimental farm in Israel's southern desert region of Arava on Nov. 30, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Zhuolun) In the greenhouses of an experimental farm called Vidor Center where scientists regularly conduct innovative agricultural research, the bright-colored peppers, watermelons, berries, onions, aubergines, and tomatoes are all full of vitality, showcasing how vegetables can be planted in arid lands and soil of high salinization. The soil nourishing the vegetables, which is about 50 to 60 cm deep, was transplanted from elsewhere, and with drip irrigation and fertigation - the application of fertilizers or nutrients into a farming system through the irrigation network, the yield is maximized, said Naftali Lazarovich, a professor at Israel's Ben-Gurion University of the Negev specializing in dryland agriculture. According to Israeli media reports, drip irrigation waters 75 percent of crops in the country, while only 5 percent of farms worldwide utilize the technology because of technological and financial barriers. To save water and achieve digital management of precision farming, a large number of sensors are applied on the ground, with all data unremittingly being uploaded to the cloud, Lazarovich told a group of international agricultural experts inside a greenhouse with inviting ripe green peppers. "When the climate is demanding, we need to irrigate differently, and this is one of the challenges here. We use sensors in the soil to estimate the water content in different locations, and in this way, it would help us schedule irrigation smartly," he said. Photo shows the Dead Sea at Ein Bokek, Israel, on Nov. 30, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Zhuolun) Through remote control on mobile phone applications and computers, farmers can always monitor the growth of crops and make timely adjustments, Lazarovich added. The experts came all the way from different parts of the world for a conference themed "Dry Lands, Deserts and Desertification" held by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The unique environment and ecological system around the Dead Sea provide rich samples for agricultural research and attract specialists from around the globe to exchange experiences and delve into solutions to optimizing agricultural production. Compared with the rarely-seen colorful and succulent vegetables, the date palm trees, the typical heat-resistant variety on dry lands, are more visible near the Dead Sea. Surprisingly, researchers have found that dates grown in the area can be even sweeter, juicier, and more aromatic than those in normal dry lands, said Oded Friedman, an Israeli date palm tree-planting expert. Photo shows green house vegetables at the the Vidor Center experimental farm in Israel's southern desert region of Arava on Nov. 30, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Zhuolun) Of course, high-tech methods still make a difference. A closer look at the date palm trees will find that many of them are embedded with tubes parallel to the ground as if they are receiving "acupuncture treatment." According to Friedman, they are micro-sensors used for accurate monitoring, each containing two probes, one for heating and the other for measuring temperature difference. "The salty soil makes irrigation applied to the date palm trees about twice the normal amount, and the nitrogen application in fertilizers is about 50 percent less efficient. However, we are always on the way to make the results better," said Friedman. Students and police gather outside of Richneck Elementary School after a shooting on January 6 in Newport News, Virginia. Biden arrives at the border for the first time as president Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro clash with police during a demonstration outside the Planalto Palace in Brasilia on Sunday. This photo taken on Jan. 8, 2023 shows one of the entrances to the Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq. The Iraqi authorities decided on Sunday to reopen the entrances and streets to traffic in the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) BAGHDAD, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi authorities decided on Sunday to reopen the entrances and streets to traffic in the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad. The decision was made under the directives of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, Mohammed Mahmoud from Baghdad traffic police told Xinhua. The gates of Green Zone now open from 5 a.m. (0200 GMT) to 7 p.m. (1600 GMT) local time, Mahmoud said, adding the decision came as a result of the improvement of the security situation in the Iraqi capital and for the purpose of reducing the traffic congestion. "The opening of blocked streets inside the Green Zone and continuing removal of security checkpoints from many areas in Baghdad will contribute to reducing traffic congestion by about 40 percent," he noted. Nestling on the west bank of the Tigris River, the 10-square km strip is home to the presidential palace, the Iraqi parliament, some main government buildings, and some foreign embassies. Previously, Iraqi governments repeatedly tried to reopen the Green Zone, but the precarious security situation and massive demonstrations over the past years forced the security authorities to keep the zone closed to the public. Security personnel guard one of the entrances to the Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 8, 2023. The Iraqi authorities decided on Sunday to reopen the entrances and streets to traffic in the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf last month announced the disbursement of $170 million in special funding for Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies. The funding was set aside in the 2022-2023 budget, which was easily ratified by both houses of the legislature and signed into law by Wolf last July. It is Wolfs final budget. He will be replaced as governor on January 17 by fellow Democrat Josh Shapiro, formerly the attorney general. Shapiro defeated Trump-backed candidate, State Senator Doug Mastriano, in the November elections. Outgoing Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (left) and Democratic Governor-elect Josh Shapiro (right). [Photo by Governor Tom Wolf (Crop by WSWS) / CC BY 2.0 The additional funding is earmarked for two programs, the Local Law Enforcement Support (LLES) and the Gun Violence Investigation and Prosecution (GVIP). These are both under the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). The $170 million will be distributed to 220 police departments across the entire commonwealth. Funding varies widely, from grants to tiny Duncansville Borough, which received $6,400, all the way up to Philadelphia, which received $25 million. The grant to Philadelphia comes after the city approved in July a $30 million increase to the police departments budget, bringing it to $788 million. Remarking on the funding, Wolf said that the the grant programs are one more tool in our toolbox to create safer communities across Pennsylvania, adding that with adequate resources, our local law enforcement and investigative offices can better protect and serve. By safer communities Wolf really means arming the police for the defense of the capitalist order against an increasingly angry working class, under conditions of massive and growing social inequality. Pennsylvanias extra police funding is part of a ruling class drive to prepare for social repression, a campaign heightened by the wave of protests that shook cities and towns across the US in response to the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020. The preparations have taken on the characteristics of war mobilization. Under the US Department of Defenses 1033 program, police departments across the country, including in Pennsylvania, have received over $1.6 billion in military equipment over the past two decades. Much of the merchandise handed off to police departments from the DOD has no purpose other than warfare. They include items like mine-resistant vehicles and various weapons like military-grade rifles and grenade launchers. The most recent budget allocates $585 million for the Pennsylvania State Police, a special police force established in 1905 in response to the anthracite coal strike of 1902, with the express purpose of controlling the states working class. The budget also includes nearly $2 billion in state money for correctional facility operation. The national media regularly presents Pennsylvania politics as deeply divided between its major cities, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, on the one hand, and its many small towns, on the other; and between liberal Democrats such as Wolf and Trump-oriented Republicans. However, as is the case with funding for the imperialist war against Russia in Ukraine, there is no dispute between Republicans and Democrats on police funding. Both the liberal Shapiro and the fascist-minded Mastriano issued dueling press releases in July claiming credit for securing the additional police funding. Mastriano called it a law enforcement grant recovery program, and Shapiro referred to the funding as making possible hero retention bonuses for police. The true class convictions of Wolf and Shapiro, and the entire policy set-up, are revealed as much by what is not funded. The budget allocates only $1 million for providing food on college campuses, and $2 million to assist incarcerated women in finding jobs after serving out their sentence. Only $6 million is allocated for the prevention and response to the opioid epidemic. Opioids are responsible for nearly 80 percent of drug overdose deaths according to CDC data and killed 5,168 people in Pennsylvania in 2021. The state budget also cut corporate net income taxes from 9.99 percent to 8.99 percent. TEHRAN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iran's exports to Saudi Arabia have increased dramatically in 2022 amid the two countries' efforts to ease tensions, Iran's IRIB news agency reported on Saturday. Iran's customs administration said during the period from the Iranian New Year that fell on March 21, 2022, to Nov. 1, 2022, the value of Iranian exports to Saudi Arabia reached 14.71 million dollars, which is a record high since Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2016. During the same period in 2021, the trade volume only stood at 42,000 dollars. According to the IRIB report, the main exports include steel ingots, grapes, and sodium hydroxide, among others. Rounds of talk between the two sides took place in 2022 to improve bilateral relations and ease regional tension. MEXICO CITY, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least one person died and 16 others were injured in a crash of Mexico City Metro trains, local authorities said on Saturday. Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said on Twitter that the wounded had been taken to local hospitals and three of the four people trapped in train cars had been rescued. The crash occurred Saturday morning on Metro Line Three between La Raza and Potrero stations. Mexico City Attorney General's Office said on Twitter that it had launched an investigation into the cause of the crash and victim care teams had been sent to the scene. The Mexico City Metro is the most used means of transportation in the country. BRAZIL-POLITICS-BOLSONARO-SUPPORTERS-DEMONSTRATION - Credit: AFP via Getty Images Images eerily evocative of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol came out of Brazil as thousands of supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed government buildings in the capital of Brasilia on Sunday. According to The New York Times, protesters breached Brazils Congress, presidential offices, and Supreme Court believing Bolsonaros baseless claims that the recent presidential election was stolen from him. Hours later, authorities reported that the military police had regained control of Brasilias Three Powers Square, where the Presidential Palace, Congress, and the Supreme Court are located. Police used tear gas to disperse rioters who had assembled at the Justice Ministry, per The Times. At least 200 people were arrested. At least eight journalists were attacked or robbed while covering the incident, according to Union of Professional Journalists of the Federal District. More from Rolling Stone President Joe Biden condemned the attacks as an assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil in a statement issued Sunday evening. Brazils democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined, he said. I look forward to continuing to work with current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Biden has previously said that Lulas election was free, fair, and credible. I condemn the assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil. Brazils democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined. I look forward to continuing to work with @LulaOficial. President Biden (@POTUS) January 8, 2023 Much like former U.S. President Donald Trump, the right-wing populist Bolsonaro has claimed for years that his countrys elections are riddled with fraud, claims many elections officials, election security experts and fact-checkers have adamantly refuted. Bolsonaro has even alleged that detractors attempted and failed to steal the election from him in 2018. For months since Bolsonaros defeat by Lula on Nov. 1, his supporters have been calling for a coup. Trump allies Steve Bannon and Jason Miller have reportedly been advising Bolsonaro since his defeat, and his son, Brazilian congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, has reportedly met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Story continues Similar to the U.S. insurrection, videos show protestors overwhelming police barricades and breaking glass to enter Congress. Unlike the U.S. insurrection, however, Congress was not heavily occupied by lawmakers or their staff ahead of the attack, as it was not in session. Lula was in Sao Paulo when the event began, although officials were working in the presidential palace, CNN Brasil reported. Lula signed an emergency decree that would let the federal government use any means necessary to restore order, and also ordered the closure of the center of the capital for 24 hours, as BBC reports. They took advantage of the silence on Sunday, when we are still setting up the government, to do what they did, Lula tweeted, translated from Portuguese. And you know that there are several speeches by the former president encouraging this. And this is also his responsibility and the parties that supported him. Lula surveyed the damage around 10 p.m. on Sunday local time, alongside some of his top ministers. Bolsonaro denied responsibility for the incident, writing on Twitter that the accusation was without evidence and also wrote, translated from Portuguese, Peaceful demonstrations, in the form of the law, are part of democracy. However, depredations and invasions of public buildings as occurred today, as well as those practiced by the left in 2013 and 2017, escape the rule. Earlier in the day, one livestreaming protester said, This is a historic moment, per The Times, calling the event the invasion the invasion, no, the occupation of the national Congress. Give a like and subscribe to my channel, guys, the streamer added. Bolsonaristas enfrentam a policia e vao em direcao ao Congresso Nacional pic.twitter.com/QLREzYz5LQ Metropoles (@Metropoles) January 8, 2023 Bolsonaristas radicais invadem plenario do Senado Manifestantes invadiram e depredaram diversos predios publicos neste domingo (8/1) Leia: https://t.co/EVzpKXFNww pic.twitter.com/EjEhEOjOSg Metropoles (@Metropoles) January 8, 2023 BREAKING: Bolsonaro supporters break into the National Congress in Brazil pic.twitter.com/EHyEbqf2FE BNO News (@BNONews) January 8, 2023 Bolsonaro has refused to concede the election. Two days before his term ended and Lula became president, Bolsonaro delivered a video message to supporters and then left the country for Florida, skipping the traditional presidential inauguration and handover of power last Sunday. According to Reuters, Bolsonaro may have fled Brazil in part because once Lula became president, Bolsonaros presidential immunity would come to an end. As protesters stormed government buildings, the president of Brazils Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, issued a statement saying he was in contact with Brasilias governor who told him the entire states police force was being deployed to control the situation, the Times reported. Im vehemently against these antidemocratic actions which should be punished according to law urgently, Pacheco said. Another Brazilian senator, Jean Paul Prates, called the protesters terrorists. This breaking news story has been updated. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. coco gauff AUCKLAND, New Zealand Top-seeded Coco Gauff advanced to the final of the ASB Classic by beating Danka Kovinic of Montenegro 6-0, 6-2. The American hasnt yet dropped a set at the Auckland hardcourt tournament and needed a little more than an hour to defeat seventh-seeded Kovinic to reach the fourth final of her career. The 18-year-old Gauff conceded in a courtside interview shes in the groove at the start of the year and just over a week ahead of the Australian Open after another impressive win. I guess (Im in the groove), Gauff said. Im in the final so its hard to say no to that question. It was really good on my behalf. Gauff was also pleased to compete in front of a crowd after a week in which persistent rain forced the majority of matches indoors without spectators. Im glad I was able to play in front of you guys, finally, she said. Its pretty much a sold-out house so thanks for supporting me. Gauffs opponent in Sundays final will be either Ysaline Bonaventure or Rebeka Masarova, whose semifinal has been delayed by rain. Coco Gauff breezes into final of ASB Classic at Auckland originally appeared on NBCSports.com florida's save haven baby box Safe Haven Baby Boxes/Facebook Safe Haven Baby Box A newborn has been surrendered to Florida's only Safe Haven Baby Box for the first time since it was installed two years ago. Ocala Fire Rescue announced "the arrival of the department's first surrendered newborn" at a press conference on Thursday. The climate-controlled box was used "over the holiday," Safe Haven Baby Boxes founder Monica Kelsey said in a statement, according to NBC affiliate WESH. Kelsey applauded the parent for surrendering their infant, and praised the community for being prepared, per the outlet. "We know this baby will be so loved by an adoptive family," Kelsey said, "and we are so thrilled to be a part of protecting infants from abandonment." RELATED: Boy Born 15 Weeks Early Spends Holidays at Home for the First Time: 'It Was Wonderful to All Be Together' florida's save haven baby box Ocala Fire Rescue/Facebook Ocala Fire Rescue's Baby Box was installed at the department's headquarters in 2020, according to CBS affiliate WKMG-TV and NBC affiliate WFLA. Florida's sole baby box is one of 134 that can be found across the United States, allowing people to anonymously surrender a baby to the authorities, per the outlets. Each box initially costs $10,000 before it is leased out for $200 a month, according to WKMG-TV. The boxes come with temperature controls and a silent alarm that alerts firefighters to a baby's presence in the box 60 seconds after a child is placed inside. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn was pleased to see the box help the child, whom he called a "miracle baby," according to WKMG-TV and WESH. "I knew when we did this in 2020, this day would come we all did we just didn't know when," Guinn said, per the outlets. "We're glad it was there as a resource." There have been 23 infants placed in baby boxes since the program began in Nov. 2017, according to Safe Haven's website. The organization says it has assisted with seven adoption referrals in addition to over 100 legal Safe Haven surrenders. Story continues RELATED: Texas Twins Born in Two Different Years: It's 'Hilarious' and 'Super Fun,' Says Baby Girls' Mom But the program has its critics. Some suggest baby boxes offer an avenue for people to surrender children without parental consent, while others note just how few babies are surrendered each year. (The National Safe Haven Alliance says 33 infants were illegally abandoned and 115 were saved in the U.S. in 2021.) Safe Haven has also referred over 500 women to crisis pregnancy centers, which are heavily criticized for providing misleading and inaccurate information regarding sexual and reproductive health, according to the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine and the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. These facilities "attempt to dissuade pregnant people from considering abortion" and frequently use "misinformation and unethical practices" to do so, according to an Oct. 2019 statement from the groups. RELATED: Doula Uses Video Chat to Help Couple Deliver Baby at Home During Blizzard, Says Parents Did 'Amazing' But there apparently is growing interest in baby boxes in Florida. Kelsey said the organization is currently discussing the installation of more baby boxes in various locations across the state, according to NPR. "The process is working," Kelsey said at Thursday's press conference, per the Ocala StarBanner. PALM SPRINGS, Calif. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Sunday that he will ask the Biden administration to declare a federal emergency to support Californias ongoing storm response amid an unrelenting wave of brutal storms that left hundreds of thousands of Californians without power. Amid high winds and heavy rains, the worst of the storms is forecast to hit on Monday. During a winter storm update Sunday, Newsom said to expect the worst of the storm and "very intense weather" in the next 48 hours. "Don't test fate," Newsom said during the Sunday update. "Just a foot of water and your car's floating, you know, half a foot of water and you're off your feet." More than half of Sacramento's 530,000 residents were in the dark at the height of the storm Sunday, victimized by wind gusts of up to 60 mph that toppled trees and tangled power lines, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District said. "Atmospheric river events" will continue to batter California through early this week with likely the most potent system arriving Monday, the National Weather Service said. Additional rain on saturated soils will lead to considerable flooding, mudslides, and burn scar debris flows, the weather service said. Widespread mountain snow and high winds will add to weather issues across the state, the statement warned. "This could be a deadly situation and the storm will likely be a billion-dollar disaster," tweeted AccuWeather meteorologist Ariella Scalese. "Several more inches of rain, mudslides/landslides. In addition, feet of snow above 6,500 feet and wind gusts exceeding 100 mph." TODDLER DIES: California storm victims include 2-year-old boy Latest developments: More than 117,000 homes and businesses across California were without power Sunday night. Evacuation warnings were in place for about 13,000 residents of Sonoma County north of San Francisco, where the Russian River was expected to crash over its banks in the coming days. The state Department of Transportation warned motorists to stay off mountain roads after closing a stretch of U.S. 395 in Mono County due to heavy snow, ice and whiteout conditions along the Eastern Sierra. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for a swath of Northern and Central California. The storms wont be enough to officially end Californias ongoing drought but they have helped, Anderson said. Story continues POWER OUTAGES DRAG ON: California struggles to keep lights on after storms leave thousands in dark A tree collapsed and ripped up the sidewalk damaging a home in Sacramento, California. The weather service's Sacramento office said the region should brace for an even more powerful storm system to move in late Sunday and early Monday. Evacuation warnings in place amid renewed flood concerns About 13,000 residents in an area of Sonoma County about 80 miles north of San Francisco are under evacuation warnings as the Russian River is expected to overflow in the coming days. The weather service's California-Nevada River Forecast Center warned that numerous river forecast locations are expected to reach flood stage over the next five days. With the strongest storm expected Monday and Tuesday, the weather service issued flood advisories for a large swath of Northern and Central California. The already saturated interior Northern California faces renewed flood concerns due to over 5 inches of rain forecast, according to the weather service in Sacramento. The Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services ordered residents of Wilton about 20 miles southeast of downtown Sacramento to evacuate the area on Sunday night. Wilton is home to about 6,000 people. "Flooding is imminent. Out of an abundance of caution, residents must leave now before roads become impassable," the office of emergency services said in its evacuation order. Weather services warns of damaging winds, additional power outages The weather service warned that damaging winds will return Sunday night across Northern California. High wind warnings were issued by the weather service starting Sunday night and is expected to last until Monday. "This will cause additional downed trees and widespread power outages, especially with soils so saturated," the weather service in Sacramento tweeted. More than 60,000 customers in Sacramento were still without electricity Sunday night down from more than 350,000 after wind gusts of 60 mph knocked trees into power lines, according to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. How much rain and snow will fall? State climatologist Michael Anderson said officials were closely monitoring Mondays incoming storm and another behind it and were keeping an eye on three other systems farther out in the Pacific. Parts of Northern and Central California could see 6 to 12 inches of rain through Wednesday, the weather service said. AccuWeather says an additional 4-8 inches of rain could fall on many of the coastal ranges, as well as the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Isolated areas could get up to 14 inches, AccuWeather said. Monday's storm is expected to bring heavy Sierra snow, strong winds and a mixture of heavy, wet snow and low-elevation flooding concerns into Tuesday, the weather service said. San Francisco was forecast to see 2-4 more inches of rain. In the past two weeks, the downtown area has seen more than 11 inches of rainfall six times more than normal for that time period. During this stretch, the city recorded its wettest 10-day period in more than 150 years. Heavy rainfall will return to portions of Southern California on Monday night and Tuesday, with 1-2 inches of rain in the Los Angeles area and locally higher amounts, AccuWeather said. 'THE GROUND IS SATURATED': Flooding risk festers in California as weekend rain hits Why could this storm be so damaging? AccuWeather experts say the preceding conditions are what could catapult the coming storm damages to "extreme and historic levels." Those conditions includes torrential rains Sunday one thunderstorm moving into the Sacramento region was producing up to a half-inch of rain per hour. Localized flooding, gusty winds and lightning were in the forecast. WHAT IS AN ATMOSPHERIC RIVER?These rivers of water vapor can extend thousands of miles The "relentless parade of atmospheric rivers" that have hit the state over the last weeks have bloated rivers and saturated the ground. Mammoth Mountain, an Eastern Sierra ski resort, received nearly 10 feet of snow, the National Weather Service reported. The fronts have been blamed for at least six deaths, authorities say. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California weather: Newsom seeks federal help ahead of brutal storms Kevin McCarthy, who became House speaker after a bruising four-day battle last week, is likely to face further GOP infighting when lawmakers return to the Capitol on Monday. To secure the votes of GOP hard-liners, McCarthy agreed to a set of rules that might not be an easy sell for some Republican lawmakers, especially moderates from districts that President Joe Biden won. Some of the compromises could weaken McCarthy's own power, including one that would allow a single lawmaker to initiate a vote to remove McCarthy as speaker. South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace, one of McCarthy's strongest supporters, said on CBS' "Face the Nation" that she was "on the fence right now" about the rules. "I like the rules package," Mace said Sunday. "But what I don't support is a small number of people trying to get a deal done or deals done for themselves in private in secret." During the final hours of the speaker fight, Rep. Tony Gonzales, a moderate Republican from Uvalde, Texas, said he would be a "no" on the rules package. He maintained that position Sunday morning on "Face the Nation." McCarthy ally Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio said on "Fox News Sunday" he expects Republicans will have the 218 votes needed to pass the rules package Monday evening. Newly elected House Speaker Kevin McCarthy holds the gavel on Jan. 7, 2023 after he was elected on the 15th ballot after a four-day fight. Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter Another McCarthy supporter, Kentucky Rep. James Comer, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he was not convinced the House could go two years without a motion to vacate. "I'm not going to say there won't be one person who tries to abuse that motion," Comer said. Some Republicans sought to downplay the tensions. A little temporary conflict is necessary in this town, Texas Rep. Roy said on CNNs "State of the Union." Late Friday night, Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers had to be physically restrained after confronting Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for continuing to block McCarthy's speakership. We need a little of that. We need a little of this sort of breaking the glass in order to get us to the table, Roy said. Story continues Related: McCarthy House speaker drama signals more interparty fights for GOP, lawmakers say 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. Jordan echoed Roys sentiments on "Fox News Sunday." Sometimes democracy is messy but I would argue thats how the founders intended it, Jordan said. They wanted real debate, real input from all people and you get a decision. Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw, another McCarthy supporter who criticized the rebels, also expressed support for the rules package ahead of Monday's vote. The new rules and the new ways of doing business are good, Crenshaw said on "State of the Union." But he acknowledged that the speaker fight that dragged on was where the heartburn is. This deal was easy, that wasnt the hard part. Theres not as much disagreement as everyone thinks, Crenshaw said. It could have been done earlier, thats what justifies the animosity that occurred all week. Recap of the night: Republican Kevin McCarthy clinches House speaker vote; members sworn in This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: McCarthy's next fight: Rallying GOP moderates behind rules package Beneath a gray and cloudy sky, a crowd gathered at Chihuahuita Park holding signs emblazoned with the words "End Title 42" and "Refugees are welcome here," and the famous words etched on the Statue of Liberty, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free." Immigration activists, elected officials and faith leaders gathered near the U.S.-Mexico border Saturday morning for a march organized by the Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR) to call for robust immigration reform and an end to Title 42. The march came one day ahead of a planned visit from U.S. President Joe Biden, who is set to visit El Paso to assess the impact of the recent flood of migrants entering the city from Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua and Cuba. Activists organized a march from Chihuahuita Park to Sacred Heart Church to protest the expansion of Title 42 ahead of President Joe Bidens visit to El Paso, Saturday, Jan. 7. Migrants outside Sacred Heart joined the demonstration as protestors shouted, You are not alone! while law enforcement officials looked on. Before departing from Chihuahuita and snaking through Downtown, past Sacred Heart Church and on to Armijo Park, a bevy of local leaders took to the microphone to detail the reason for the peaceful march. BNHR Executive Director Fernando Garcia called for an end to Title 42 and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star, which he called an "illegal" border policy resulting in numerous "human rights violations." While he chided Republicans for the stalemate in Washington over immigration reform, he likewise criticized Democrats for not doing enough. "We are very disappointed," Garcia said. "This was not the promise." Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR) Executive Director Fernando Garcia speaks during a march from Chihuahuita Park to Sacred Heart church to protest the expansion of Title 42 ahead of President Joe Bidens visit to El Paso, Saturday, Jan. 7. Garcia called for an immediate end to Title 42, a COVID-19-related policy instituted by former President Donald Trump to quickly expel asylum seekers from the country, saying it was a "Trumpist, anti-immigration policy" that "has no place in (border) communities." Garcia likewise called for the opening of federal welcome centers to take the weight off of religious and nonprofit institutions, which have largely carried the brunt of the work associated with welcoming thousands of arriving asylum seekers. Communities along the U.S.-Mexico border represent the "new Ellis Island," he said. Story continues "We didn't break the system," Garcia said. "Somebody else needs to fix it and that's the federal government." Activists organized a march from Chihuahuita Park to Sacred Heart Church to protest the expansion of Title 42 ahead of President Joe Bidens visit to El Paso, Saturday, Jan. 7. Ruben Garcia, director of Annunciation House, called for immediate assistance for those sleeping on the streets in Downtown El Paso and likewise criticized Title 42 as a failed policy. "It was never about the pandemic," Ruben Garcia said. "It was about border enforcement; it was about border control (and) it continues to be about border enforcement." "The immigration system of the United States is broken," he continued. "We've known that for years." Also present for Saturday's protest were El Paso County Commissioner David Stout and former El Paso city Rep. Peter Svarzbein, with Stout railing against Title 42 and Svarzbein focusing on the real-life impact on those seeking asylum. Activists organized a march from Chihuahuita Park to Sacred Heart Church to protest the expansion of Title 42 ahead of President Joe Bidens visit to El Paso, Saturday, Jan. 7. "It shouldn't be used to manage immigration," Stout said of the embattled policy. "It shouldn't be used to manage the border. We need comprehensive immigration reform now." More:President Biden plans to visit El Paso Sunday; here's what you need to know about the trip Leaning on his experience as the child of immigrants, Svarzbein said that he can empathize with the plight of those coming to the United States. "I understand personally what people are going through coming to this country for a better place," Svarzbein said. "I've seen firsthand what we've been dealing with. While our voice is going out today, this issue didn't start today. We must stay strong... to make sure we keep the ideal of our country, together and united." Former city Rep. Peter Svarzbein speaks at Chihuahuita Park Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, ahead of a march organized by the Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR). This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: BNHR holds march calling for immigration reform, end to Title 42 Madonna The Queen of Pop, Madonna, affectionately known to many of her fans as Madge, is apparently planning an anniversary tour, with dates already booked in Londons O2 Arena for multiple events, reports The Sun. Reports say the tour would start at the end of the year and feature her biggest hits, and that shes been in talks with Jamie King, the creative director who first worked with her in 1995 to choreograph the her video Human Nature, then went on to work on several of her tours, including the most recent, her 2019 Madame X Tour. With older tracks such as Frozen and Material Girl proving popular on TikTok, Madonna wants to present her body of work to a fresh new audience, sources told The Sun. She has also released a demo of the original version of Back That Up to the Beat; a reworked version appeared on the deluxe edition of Madame X. The demo version has gone viral on TikTok, with another version posted to Instagram. The latter includes footage from Malawi, the focus of the nonprofit organization Raising Malawi, founded by Madonna and Michael Berg to help fight poverty and hardship. Madonna celebrated New Years Eve in Malawi with her children, four of whom come from there, News24 reports. She used a sped-up version of the song on TikTok to wrap the year up. Madonna had already hinted about a tour in an interview with Variety last summer. I want to go on tour again, Im a creature of the stage. That is my happy place, she said. As World Music Awards @WORLDMUSICAWARD has tweeted: #Madonna is reportedly planning her first ever Greatest Hits tour with multiple shows already booked at Londons The O2 arena to celebrate her 40th anniversary since the release of her debut album in 1983. It will be her 1st compilation show in history! (microphone emohi, stadium emoji, stylized 40, cake emoji, goat emoji, crown emoji, burning heart) Kids can experience seasonal depression, experts say. (Photo: Getty) Many people aren't exactly thrilled about the cold temperatures and icy conditions winter can bring, but some actually experience a condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Seasonal affective disorder impacts about 5% of adult Americans and up to 20% of adults may get a milder form of the condition called the "winter blues." But what about kids? Children also struggle with depression data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that about 4.4% of children experience depression in general. But can kids get seasonal depression? Experts say yes. "Kids can experience seasonal depression symptoms, for sure," Thea Gallagher, a clinical assistant professor of psychology at NYU Langone Health and co-host of the Mind in View podcast, tells Yahoo Life. "There is less socializing, less being outside in the unlight ... those factors can have the same impact on kids as they do on adults." Melissa Santos, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and division chief of pediatric psychology at Connecticut Childrens, agrees. "Its believed that seasonal affective disorder is caused by how the brain responds to decreased sunlight," she tells Yahoo Life. "That decreased sunlight is thought to cause the brain to create some imbalances in hormones, which causes the depression to occur." But what are the signs of seasonal depression in kids and how can you address this with your child? Here's what parents need to know. What is seasonal affective disorder, again? Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that has a seasonal pattern, and symptoms usually last about four to five months a year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). While people can develop SAD in the summer months, it's most common in the winter months. Overall symptoms of SAD, according to NIMH, can include: Story continues Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed Experiencing changes in appetite or weight Having problems with sleep Feeling sluggish or agitated Having low energy Feeling hopeless or worthless Having difficulty concentrating Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide Oversleeping Overeating and craving carbohydrates Weight gain Social withdrawal Symptoms of SAD can be different in kids Kids can experience any of the above symptoms of SAD, but Gallagher says they tend to look a little different. This can include: Irritability Anger Acting out Having confusing emotions Experiencing ups and downs that don't seem to be connected to something Again, though, the pattern is seasonal. "What makes SAD unique is that it appears at the same time each year and generally resolves when spring time, and increased sunlight, returns," Santos says. Like many adults, kids can struggle with the short days and cold weather. (Photo: Getty) How to cope with seasonal depression in kids There are definite challenges to addressing seasonal depression in kids, including the fact that it's often dark by the time they get home from school or you're done with work, making it tough to help them burn off energy in your local park or playground. If you suspect that your child has SAD, Gallagher recommends asking your child about how they're feeling. "It's always good to talk about it," she says. But, Gallagher cautions, you may need to have these conversations after a meltdown. "In moments when kids are activated, it can be hard for them to process how they're feeling and what's going on," she says. Santos suggests using yourself as an example to try to normalize SAD and the winter blues. She recommends saying something like, "You know Mom notices when the days get shorter, its really hard to want to go outside and be active because it is so cold and dark out. What have you noticed differently about you?" Like all conditions, there is a range with SAD. It's a good idea to connect them with a healthcare provider or mental health expert who can properly diagnose and treat them, Gallagher says. Treatment may include having your child do their homework or read next to a special light box to help them get higher levels of vitamin D, or even anti-depressants if you and a healthcare provider determine they're needed. Once you get your child talking about their emotions and connect them with a healthcare provider, Gallagher suggests doing your best to manage and monitor the things in their life that you can control. "Get some level of stability and routine, like a regular sleep schedule and being outside often," she advises. "It's important to get them the care and attention that they need." Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here. SANAA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Heavy clashes between the Yemeni government forces and the Houthi militia in the oil-rich central province of Marib have killed 13 government soldiers, a government military source said Sunday. The fighting that erupted on the frontline of the southern district of Al-Jubah also wounded several soldiers, the source in Marib said on condition of anonymity. "The clashes erupted after the Houthi fighters moved in groups through three directions toward the sites of the government forces," the source said, adding the fighting lasted eight hours throughout the night till morning. "It was a very deadly, fierce attack, in which heavy machine guns, rockets and artillery were used in the battle," the military source added. The government forces are still estimating the causalities from the Houthi side, while the Houthi group, which rarely reported its casualties, has not commented on the clashes yet. While the Yemeni government controls most of Marib and its oil and gas fields, the Houthis have launched intense offensives over the past years trying to take over the strategic province, which is considered a stronghold between the Houthis and the southern provinces. The escalation came nearly three months after a six-month nationwide truce expired in October last year. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia stormed several northern cities and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa. The war has killed tens of thousands, displaced 4 million and pushed the country to the brink of starvation. Police lights Police arrested three adults from Tennessee on six felony charges after they were found at a motel with a girl reported missing from Arizona, authorities announced on Wednesday. Kimberly M. Aldridge, 29, George R. Johnson, 34, and Leslie Johnson, 74, were booked into the Apache County Jail on sexual exploitation of a minor, aggravated lure of a minor for sexual exploitation, kidnapping, custodial interference, conspiracy, misconduct involving weapons and facilitation, according to police. Springerville police on Dec. 31 received a report about a runaway girl whose mother suspected she was conversing with unknown adults on social media, the Police Department said. An investigation led officers to a local hotel where, with the assistance of county sheriff's deputies and Eagar police, the girl and the three suspects were found, authorities said. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 3 charged in missing Arizona girl case KayAna Adams, an Alabama firefighter, was fired after the department determined that her tattoo violates its policy. According to WKRG, Adams worked at the Mobile Fire Department Maryvale station in Mobile, Alabama for nine months before she was fired. The firefighter got her tattoo in June, showing it off on the back of her head. Adams said she didnt think she violated the fire departments policy, which prohibits tattoos on the face or neck. Hiring people before, during and after me with neck tattoos more prominent than mine was also kind of impactful in that as well, Adams told WKRG. I figured mine could be done in decency and order. I could also, based off the rules, cover it up. Adams, however, found herself in trouble when when somebody put in a complaint about her ink. The next thing I knew I was being investigated for it, interrogated behind it, and then they made their decision that I was in violation of policy, she said. According to Adams, the city first gave her the option to grow her hair out and hide the tattoo. The firefighter said she did as she was told. A few weeks later, however, Adams said there was another complaint about her hair being grown out and violating the citys policy. We have different textures of hair, said Adams, who is a Black woman. So, you have no idea how long it takes for my hair to grow. According to Adams, the department changed the policy three months after she got her tattoo. The new policy prohibits head tattoos above the neckline. When a captain at her station took a photo of the back of Adams head on Nov. 10, the terminated firefighter said her tattoo was no longer visible. Still, Adams said she was fired on the day the photo was taken. Definitely blindsided, I never thought it would come to this, especially considering I was in compliance. Im not necessarily out here trying to be disobedient and Im not breaking any laws or anything like that, its just a tattoo, Adams said. Whats behind me shouldnt affect the work thats in front of me. Story continues Adams said she wasnt simply fired for her head tattoo and hair. The former firefighter, who filed one grievance about the tattoo complaint against her, believes she was terminated because she spoke up about her concerns at the workplace. The Alabama woman also filed complaints about harassment and antagonization, including sexist statements she allegedly heard from two male firefighters at her station. Adams once again raised concerns during a training session at the department. It was rope week and a decent amount of people and the other half of the classroom were discussing, trying to tie nooses, she said. And, you know, instinctively, I guess I just kind of stood up and said, you know, if you want to learn how to do that, I think that its best you do that on your free time. Adams said she relayed her concerns to Captain Jason Craig and Captain Rodrick Shoots, who are members of the Black Progressive Firefighters Association. The two captains were disciplined after defending Adams as she faced trouble for her tattoo. Craig was suspended and Shoots was fired. In a statement to WKRG, Public Safety Director Lawrence Battiste said Shoots was terminated for attempting to obstruct a valid order from a superior officer, ignoring orders and using disrespectful and defiant language to a superior officer. Craig, according to Battiste, was suspended for 30 days for insubordination, failure to follow orders from a superior officer and failure to investigate, document and report a violation of MFRD policy. ROJ CAMP, Syria (AP) A woman who ran away from home in Alabama at the age of 20, joined the Islamic State group and had a child with one of its fighters says she still hopes to return to the United States, serve prison time if necessary, and advocate against the extremists. In a rare interview from the Roj detention camp in Syria where she is being held by U.S.-allied Kurdish forces, Hoda Muthana said she was brainwashed by online traffickers into joining the group in 2014 and regrets everything except her young son, now of pre-school age. If I need to sit in prison, and do my time, I will do it. ... I wont fight against it, the 28-year-old told The News Movement. Im hoping my government looks at me as someone young at the time and naive. It's a line she's repeated in various media interviews since fleeing from one of the extremist group's last enclaves in Syria in early 2019. But four years earlier, at the height of the extremists' power, she had voiced enthusiastic support for them on social media and in an interview with BuzzFeed News. IS then ruled a self-declared Islamic caliphate stretching across roughly a third of both Syria and Iraq. In posts sent from her Twitter account in 2015 she called on Americans to join the group and carry out attacks in the U.S., suggesting drive-by shootings or vehicle rammings targeting gatherings for national holidays. In her interview with TNM, Muthana now says her phone was taken from her and that the tweets were sent by IS supporters. Muthana was born in New Jersey to Yemeni immigrants and once had a U.S. passport. She was raised in a conservative Muslim household in Hoover, Alabama, just outside Birmingham. In 2014, she told her family she was going on a school trip but flew to Turkey and crossed into Syria instead, funding the travel with tuition checks that she had secretly cashed. The Obama administration cancelled her citizenship in 2016, saying her father was an accredited Yemeni diplomat at the time she was born a rare revocation of birthright citizenship. Her lawyers have disputed that move, arguing that the father's diplomatic accreditation ended before she was born. Story continues The Trump administration maintained that she was not a citizen and barred her from returning, even as it pressed European allies to repatriate their own detained nationals to reduce pressure on the detention camps. U.S. courts have sided with the government on the question of Muthana's citizenship, and last January the Supreme Court declined to consider her lawsuit seeking re-entry. That has left her and her son languishing in a detention camp in northern Syria housing thousands of widows of Islamic State fighters and their children. Some 65,600 suspected Islamic State members and their families both Syrians and foreign citizens are held in camps and prisons in northeastern Syria run by U.S.-allied Kurdish groups, according to a Human Rights Watch report released last month. Women accused of affiliation with IS and their minor children are largely housed in the al-Hol and Roj camps, under what the rights group described as life threatening conditions. The camp inmates include more than 37,400 foreigners, among them Europeans and North Americans. Human Rights Watch and other monitors have cited dire living conditions in the camps, including inadequate food, water and medical care, as well as the physical and sexual abuse of inmates by guards and fellow detainees. Kurdish-led authorities and activists have blamed IS sleeper cells for surging violence within the facilities, including the beheading of two Egyptian girls, aged 11 and 13, in al-Hol camp in November. Turkish airstrikes targeting the Kurdish groups launched that month also hit close to al-Hol. Camp officials alleged that the Turkish strikes were targeting security forces guarding the camp. None of the foreigners have been brought before a judicial authority to determine the necessity and legality of their detention, making their captivity arbitrary and unlawful, Human Rights Watch wrote. Detention based solely on family ties amounts to collective punishment, a war crime. Calls to repatriate the detainees were largely ignored in the immediate aftermath of IS' bloody reign, which was marked by massacres, beheadings and other atrocities, many of which were broadcast to the world in graphic films circulated on social media. But with the passage of time, the pace of repatriations has started to pick up. Human Rights Watch said some 3,100 foreigners mostly women and children have been sent home over the past year. Most were Iraqis, who comprise the majority of detainees, but citizens were also repatriated to Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia and the United Kingdom. The U.S. has repatriated a total of 39 American nationals. It's unclear how many other Americans remain in the camps. These days, Muthana portrays herself as a victim of the Islamic State. Speaking with TNM, she describes how, after arriving in Syria in 2014, she was detained in a guest house reserved for unmarried women and children. Ive never seen that kind of filthiness in my life, like there was 100 women and twice as much kids, running around, too much noise, filthy beds," she said. The only way to escape was to marry a fighter. She eventually married and remarried three times. Her first two husbands, including the father of her son, were killed in battle. She reportedly divorced her third husband. The extremist group, which is also known as ISIS, no longer controls any territory in Syria or Iraq but continues to carry out sporadic attacks and has supporters in the camps themselves. Muthana says she still has to be careful about what she says because of fear of reprisal. Even here, right now, I cant fully say everything I want to say. But once I do leave, I will. I will be an advocate against this, she said. I wish I can help the victims of ISIS in the West understand that someone like me is not part of it, that I as well am a victim of ISIS. Hassan Shibly, an attorney who has assisted Muthanas family, said it is absolutely clear that she was brainwashed and taken advantage of. He said her family wishes she could come back, pay her debt to society and then help others from "falling into the dark path that she was led down." She was absolutely misguided, and no one is denying that. But again, she was a teenager who was the victim of a very sophisticated recruitment operation that focuses on taking advantage of the young, the vulnerable, the disenfranchised, he said. protesters hold up pieces of paper against censorship and China's strict zero COVID measures on November 27, 2022 in Beijing, China. Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images Chinese social network Sina Weibo said it suspended or permanently banned 1,120 accounts. COVID-19 cases have surged in China after the country ended most pandemic restrictions. Many posts on Weibo were critical of experts who promoted China's pandemic policies, according to BBC. China suspended more than 1,000 social media accounts critical of the government's policies on the country's current COVID-19 outbreak. Chinese social media site Sina Weibo said that it temporarily suspended or permanently banned 1,120 accounts, according to The Associated Press. The site said it addressed 12,854 "violations" including attacks on medical experts and workers, according to the AP. Sina Weibo said it would "continue to increase the investigation and cleanup of all kinds of illegal content, and create a harmonious and friendly community environment for the majority of users," in a statement on Thursday, according to the AP. China has used mass quarantines and testing, among other restrictions, since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, but most of its pandemic restrictions ended last month, leading to a rise in cases in the country that has strained its medical resources. Many Posts on Weibo had previously been critical of the government's harsh lockdown tactics, but now they have shifted their focus to experts who promoted the sudden end of the country's COVID-19 restriction methods, according to BBC. "It is not acceptable to hurl insults at people who hold a different point of view, or publish personal attacks and views that incite conflicts," Weibo said in a statement according to BBC. On Sunday, China will drop a rule that required travelers coming from abroad to quarantine before entering the country for the first time since 2020. Read the original article on Insider By Deisy Buitrago CARACAS (Reuters) - Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro discussed binational investment and trade at a meeting in Caracas on Saturday, the Colombian government said. The countries have renewed political ties since Petro took office in August 2022, reopening trade and promising to work together on issues including agriculture and management of borders. Discussions at the meeting, the presidents' second, centered on similar topics as when they first met in October - management of a newly re-opened border, efforts to increase trade and the peace talks that Bogota is holding with rebel group the National Liberation Army (ELN), Petro's office said in a statement. "We had a complete and very fruitful meeting. We have a clear joint work plan that will keep giving positive results for our countries," Maduro said on Twitter. The two men have previously said they could strengthen cooperation over Monomeros, a Colombia-based fertilizer producer which is owned by Venezuelan state chemical company Pequiven. Colombia's finance minister has said his country may be open to buying Monomeros. Venezuela is a guarantor country at Colombia's talks with the ELN and hosted the first round of negotiations between the two sides, which ended in December. Caracas broke off relations with Bogota in 2019 after Venezuelan opposition activists tried to send aid trucks from Colombia. Maduro's government said it was a front for an attempted coup. Previous governments in Bogota have accused Maduro of harboring Colombian rebel groups and criminals, accusations he has denied. (Reporting by Deisy Buitrago and Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Daniel Wallis) (Reuters) - Ana Belen Montes, one of the highest-ranking U.S. officials ever proven to have spied for Cuba, has been released from prison early, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons confirmed Friday, after she spent more than two decades behind bars. Montes, 65, had in 2002 pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit espionage after she was accused of using her leading position as a Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) official to leak information, including identities of some U.S. spies, to Havana. Aged 45, she was sentenced to 25 years in prison. A U.S. citizen of Puerto Rican descent, Montes began working for the DIA in 1985 and rapidly climbed its ranks to become the agency's top Cuba analyst. Prosecutors said during this time Montes received coded messages from Havana over a short-wave radio as strings of numbers, which she would type onto a decryption-equipped laptop to translate to text. She was accused of supplying the identity of four U.S. spies to Cuba, as well as other classified information. Montes was arrested on Sept. 21, 2001, shortly before the United States invaded Afghanistan. Her lawyer, a leading espionage specialist, had argued she had cooperated without reservation. At her sentencing a year later, Montes argued that she had obeyed her conscience and that U.S. policy to Cuba was cruel and unfair. "I felt morally obligated to help the island defend itself from our efforts to impose our values and our political system on it," she said. Ricardo Urbina, the sentencing judge, ruled she put fellow U.S. citizens and the "nation as a whole" at risk. On her release from prison, Urbino had ordered Montes should be placed under supervision for five years, with her internet access monitored and a ban from working for governments and contacting foreign agents without permission. Under President Joe Biden, the United States has eased some sanctions on Cuba but maintained its Cold War-era embargo on the island and stepped up restrictions on illegal migrants, arriving in record levels amid raging inflation and medicine shortages. (Reporting by Sarah Morland and Eric Beech; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) Former NATO chief James Stavridis said in an interview that he believes Russian forces in Ukraine will be burned through and exhausted by the end of the winter season as the Kremlins war against the neighboring country continues. During an appearance on New York-based radio station WABC 770 morning show Cats Roundtable, Stavridis told host John Catsimatidis that he doesnt see either side having a breakthrough moment during the winter. But I dont see either side having a breakthrough moment at least this winter, Stavridis told Catsimatidis. Unfortunately, the first chance we can get to a negotiation is going to be after the winter. The Russians will be burned through and exhausted, losing so many men, so much equipment. Stavridis also said he believes both sides will push for negotiations in the latter part of this year. On the Ukrainian side, the pressures from the West, in order to avoid further costs, is going to become significant, Stavridis added. When I put it all together, more war to go. Ukrainians win it on the ground. Russians winning in the skies. Lets all push for a negotiation sometime mid-2023, he concluded. Stavridiss remarks come as Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova said on Sunday that the billions of dollars provided by the U.S. in an effort to support their counterattack toward Russia have been put to good use. Congress last month passed a $1.7 trillion government funding package that includes $45 billion for Ukraine and other allies of NATO. Some prominent GOP lawmakers have been public about their displeasure with the continuing aid to the sovereign country amid the conflict. Every U.S. dollar that is given to us, were putting it to a good use, Markarova said on CBSs Face The Nation. Were using it as an investment into our joint fight for democracy. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Riverside County Sheriffs Deputy Isaiah Cordero, 32, was shot and killed during a traffic stop on Dec. 29 in Jurupa Valley by William McKay, 44, a three-strikes convicted felon who was out on bail while awaiting sentencing. This tragedy clearly could have been prevented had Californias judicial system been working properly. Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered flags to be flown at half-staff at the state Capitol in honor of Cordero. With all due respect, governor, the gesture is not enough. Though this Editorial Board doesnt always see eye-to-eye with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, in this case, we do. Bianco did not mince words about the tragedy. He should have been immediately sentenced to 25 years to life, Bianco said of McKay. We would not be here today if the judge had done her job. The Association of Riverside County Chiefs of Police and Sheriff (ARCCOPS) penned a Dec. 30 letter urging Riverside County Superior Court judges to immediately stop the mass dismissal of criminal cases as the public safety crisis worsens. The letter was signed by 19 Riverside County law enforcement agency chiefs, Sheriff Bianco, and District Attorney Mike Hestrin. They make a plea with Riverside County judges to deal with the backlog with more urgency and creativity floating the idea of night court hearings via Zoom, or bringing in retired judges. Both of which seem immediate and necessary at this point. McKay has a long and troubling rap sheet. California's three-strikes law establishes that people with three convictions of certain felonies are to be sentenced to 25 years to life. So its shocking that McKay was roaming freely while awaiting sentencing for his third strike and committing more crimes. McKay, 44, had been convicted of multiple felonies amounting to a third strike in November 2021. But more than a year later, he was not behind bars. On Dec. 29, he was pulled over in Jurupa Valley, and fatally shot Cordero. He fled, starting a manhunt that endangered the public and ended in him firing at officers on one of Southern California's busiest interstates. They fired back and killed him. Story continues What makes this even more shocking is that McKay had been arrested yet again after his third strike conviction for false imprisonment, evading arrest and other felonies and he was released on bail, arrested again, then released again months before the fatal shooting. Judges and prosecutors have to answer for those decisions. There seems to be misstep upon misstep by the San Bernardino County criminal justice system. Who do we turn to for answers before another public servant ends up losing their life? Our elected representatives can start to address this by dealing with judge shortages. Judge shortages in both San Bernardino and Riverside counties are affecting the publics right to safety. As we noted in a recent editorial, the Nov. 22 Judicial Council report portrayed a damning situation in both Riverside and San Bernardino counties. According to that document, of the 98 judges needed statewide, 52 are needed in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. San Bernardino leads the needs list with 30 judges followed by Riverside with 22. Thats more than half of the states entire need right here in the Inland Empire. And yet between San Bernardino and Riverside counties, only 10 new judgeships were funded in 2022, with six in San Bernardino and four in Riverside County. (Statewide, 23 judgeships were issued.) As of Dec. 30, Riverside County has dismissed 1,310 cases, including 87 felonies and 1,223 misdemeanors. How can we expect police to continue to do their jobs if the courts just throw cases out and sentences are delayed for months, and criminals get back on the streets in no time? With California imposing a slew of new laws that went into effect Jan. 1, what good will the laws be if the officers make arrests, only to see perpetrators quickly freed? The chilling question after this tragedy remains: How many other high-level offenders with multiple strikes are driving around as we speak? How many court case dismissals have enabled them to do so? How many police officers are being put in unnecessary danger as they simply try to do their job? What about the safety of the general public? We call on a delegation of leaders from both Riverside and San Bernardino counties to lobby in Sacramento and address this emergency. This is a dual-county issue that must be championed by our local leaders starting with our state senators, seven members of the Assembly, and 10 county supervisors. We particularly call on Riverside County Supervisors Kevin Jeffries, Karen Spiegel, Chuck Washington, V. Manuel Perez and Yxstian Gutierrez; San Bernardino County Supervisors Paul Cook, Jesse Armendarez, Dawn Rowe, Curt Hagman and Joe Baca Jr. Plus state Senators Richard Roth, Steve Padilla, Kelly Seyarto and Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh. Assembly members Eduardo Garcia, Greg Wallis, Sabrina Cervantes, Corey Jackson, Bill Essayli, Kate Sanchez and Tom Lackey. Its an outrage that both civilian and police lives remain in danger because our local leaders have chosen to sit back and say nothing. The death of Riverside County Sheriffs Deputy Isaiah Cordero sadly wont be the last travesty if law and order cease to mean anything. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Riverside County court dismissals, broken judicial system is dangerous Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signaled Friday he plans to ask state officials to exert control over special local government powers once held by Disney World - a fresh sign that last year's fight over talking about LGBTQ issues in Florida's schools is far from over. A notice published on a Florida county government website said state lawmakers would be asked to vote during the upcoming legislative session on increasing the state's oversight of the taxing district that governs Florida's largest theme park. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. DeSantis signed a bill last year eliminating Disney World's Reedy Creek Improvement Disrict after he berated the company for opposing a law he had pushed that limits how educators discuss LGBTQ issues in the classroom. The district allows Disney to operate as a quasi-government agency, building roads and collecting taxes. Experts warned scratching the arrangement would have dire economic consequences. Taryn Fenske, a spokeswoman for DeSantis, announced the proposed legislation Friday with a tweet saying, "The corporate kingdom has come to an end." Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Disputes over "improvement districts" rarely attract notice. But the fight over this particular district has garnered national headlines as it is widely viewed as a proxy war between DeSantis and Disney following the company's outspoken objections to the controversial Parental Rights in Education Act - dubbed the "don't say gay" bill by opponents. Disney had opposed the measure banning the teaching of gender-related issues to children younger than third grade. DeSantis made it into a culture-war issue, calling the company "woke Disney" and saying it had "crossed the line." State Rep. Randy Fine, a Republican who sponsored the bill to dissolve Reedy Creek, said that the notice published Friday is far from being a bill and that many details still need to be negotiated. Story continues "What this shows is that work is being done and the bill will be coming down the pike," Fine said. "The goal is to make this special district just like every other special district in the state." Reedy Creek was created more than 50 years ago at the behest of Walt Disney, who envisioned building a "city of tomorrow" on citrus groves in Florida that would include housing and other businesses that would, in part, support his ambitious theme park plans. Residents would be able to vote on how Reedy Creek operated. Walt Disney World took off and became the most popular theme park in the world, but the two small incorporated cities within its boundaries became home to only a few dozen people to vote on Reedy Creek issues - and all of the voters were connected to Disney. Disney's near-total control of the 25,000 acres surrounding its Florida theme parks has rankled some local officials for years, but the company's powerful lobbying influence in Tallahassee insulated it from proposals that would force it to allow more local oversight. Fine said more details will come out when a bill is proposed in the coming weeks ahead of the state's legislative session in March. DeSantis has said local counties and the state will not raise taxes to cover the $100 million in annual operating expenses and more than $1 billion in debt currently handled by Reedy Creek. But details are unclear on how the finances will be managed. Jacob Schumer, an attorney in Central Florida who specializes in bond markets, said he doesn't expect major changes to the way Disney has always operated in Florida. "Reedy Creek is going to be special, no matter what as long as it continues to exist," Schumer said. "They aren't going to do anything major, because doing something major would give the bond holders and the federal government a case against the state." Related Content These dogs ride a bus like humans 'and now the internet is in love' Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor investigating Trump, often takes on seemingly untouchable targets Last year was a huge year in space. Here's what to look for in 2023. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images Russia's former president called for hypersonic missiles to be put close to Washington, DC. Dmitry Medvedev lashed out after US officials said the Ukraine war is not "worthy" of Russians. Medvedev has offered some of Russia's most vitriolic commentary throughout the war. Russia's former president lashed out at the US on Thursday in a statement calling for the country's warships, armed with hypersonic missiles, to be stationed close to Washington, DC. Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as the deputy chair of Russia's security council, made the remarks in a vitriolic Telegram post in reaction to an appeal to ordinary Russians from the US Embassy. On Wednesday, the embassy had tweeted a Russian-language video that said President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine is "not worthy" of Russians, per Reuters' translation. / U.S. Embassy Russia (@USEmbRu) January 4, 2023 In response, Medvedev said: "The main gift of the New Year was the arsenal of Zircon missiles that went yesterday to the shores of NATO countries," according to The Jerusalem Post's translation. He then called for the missiles to be stationed "somewhere 100 miles from the coast [of the US], closer to the Potomac River," the publication reported. Hypersonic missiles are exceptionally fast, and can travel on an unpredictable flight path, making them harder to intercept with traditional air defense systems. The Zircon has a range of between 310 and 620 miles, according to CNN, which cited the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. The 405-mile-long Potomac River passes through Washington, D.C., the seat of the US federal government. On Wednesday, Russia announced that it was sending its Admiral Gorshkov warship, armed with Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles, on a long-range voyage that would pass through the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean Sea. Medvedev has produced some of the most extreme and hawkish commentary since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, repeatedly touting his country's nuclear arsenal and often going beyond the rhetoric offered by Putin. Story continues Calling the US "sons of bitches" and "freaks" in his post on Thursday, he described the US Embassy's tweet as a cynical effort to use Nazi propaganda methods, per Reuters' translation. The US has been one of Ukraine's most important allies during the conflict, sending billions of dollars of aid and weaponry to the country. Medvedev said that the sight of the Admiral Gorshkov off the coast of the US would "bring to their senses anyone who poses a direct threat to Russia and our allies," according to Reuters. Read the original article on Business Insider People participate in the celebrations to welcome the New Year in Valletta, Malta, Dec. 31, 2022. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua) The Chinese Lunar New Year for 2023, or the Spring Festival, falls on Jan. 22. VALLETTA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The fourth "Happy Chinese New Year" film festival kicked off on Saturday evening with the Chinese film "The Bravest" at Malta's National Center for Creativity in Valletta. Maltese audiences will have the opportunity to watch four more Chinese films "The Climbers", "Looking Up", "The Wandering Earth" and "The Captain" during the film festival, which will last until Jan. 24. Chinese film-making had become more and more sophisticated in recent years, and its topics and themes were becoming more diversified, Aida Daoud Bushra told Xinhua after watching the film, adding that she loved Chinese culture very much and hoped to see more Chinese films in the future. Fiona Vella said she was delighted to watch the fine Chinese films on the occasion of the Chinese New Year. These films brought interesting Chinese cultural experience to Maltese audiences, whom would have the opportunity to enjoy the unique charm of Chinese culture and arts, she said. Audiences watch the Chinese film "The Bravest" in the National Center for Creativity in Valletta, Malta, on Jan. 7, 2023. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua) This was the first time Kevin Debono and his wife saw a Chinese film and they were amazed by the charm of the film. They said they hoped to see more Chinese films in Valletta in the future. "Happy Chinese New Year" film festival has become a vital brand event for Maltese people to experience Chinese culture, Yuan Yuan, director of the China Cultural Centre in Malta, told Xinhua, adding that she hoped more local people understand further the development of Chinese culture and society through visual arts. The Chinese Lunar New Year for 2023, or the Spring Festival, falls on Jan. 22. Without dramatic cuts to water consumption, Utah's Great Salt Lake is on track to disappear within five years, a dire new report warns, imperiling ecosystems and exposing millions of people to toxic dust from the drying lake bed. The report, led by researchers at Brigham Young University and published this week, found that unsustainable water use has shrunk the lake to just 37 percent of its former volume. The West's ongoing mega-drought - a crisis made worse by climate change - has accelerated its decline to rates far faster than scientists had predicted. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. But current conservation measures are critically insufficient to replace the roughly 40 billion gallons of water the lake has lost annually since 2020, the scientists said. The report calls on Utah and nearby states to curb water consumption by a third to a half, allowing 2.5 million acre feet of water to flow from streams and rivers directly into the lake for the next couple of years. Otherwise, it said, the Great Salt Lake is headed for irreversible collapse. "This is a crisis," said Brigham Young University ecologist Ben Abbott, a lead author of the report. "The ecosystem is on life support, [and] we need to have this emergency intervention to make sure it doesn't disappear." --- Scientists and officials have long recognized that water in the Great Salt Lake watershed is overallocated, - more water has been guaranteed to people and businesses than falls as rain and snow each year. Agriculture accounts for more than 70 percent of the state's water use - much of it going to grow hay and alfalfa to feed livestock. Another 9 percent is taken up by mineral extraction. Cities use another 9 percent to run power plants and irrigate lawns. There are so many claims on the state's rivers and streams that, by the time they reach the Great Salt Lake, there's very little water left. Story continues Over the last three years, the report says, the lake has received less than a third of its normal stream flow because so much water has been diverted for other purposes. In 2022, its surface sank to a record low, 10 feet below what is considered a minimum healthy level. With less freshwater flowing in, the lake has grown so salty that it's becoming toxic even to the native brine shrimp and flies that evolved to live there, Abbott said. This in turn endangers the 10 million birds that rely on the lake for a rest stop as they migrate across the continent each year. The vanishing lake may short-circuit the weather system that cycles rain and snow from the lake to the mountains and back again, depriving Utah's storied ski slopes. It threatens a billion-dollar industry extracting magnesium, lithium and other critical minerals from the brine. It has also exposed more than 800 square miles of sediments laced with arsenic, mercury and other dangerous substances, which can be picked up by wind and blown into the lungs of some 2.5 million people living near the lakeshore. "Nanoparticles of dust have potential to cause just as much harm if they come from dry lake bed as from a tailpipe or a smokestack," said Brian Moench, president of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment. He called the shrinking of the lake a "bona fide, documented, unquestionable health hazard." Dried-up saline lakes are hot spots for dangerous air pollution. Nearly a century after Owens Lake in southern California was drained to provide water to Los Angeles County in the 1920s, it was still the largest source of hazardous dust in the country, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The pollution has been linked to high rates of asthma, heart and lung disease and early deaths. Kevin Perry, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Utah who studies pollution from the receding lake, said about 90 percent of the lake bed is protected by a thin crust of salt that keeps dust from escaping. But the longer the lake remains dry, the more that crust will erode, exposing more dangerous sediments to the air. "You see this wall of dust coming off the lake, and it reduces horizontal visibility sometimes to less than a mile," Perry said. The impact might only last a couple hours at a time, he said, but the consequences can be profound. Perry and other researchers have mapped the location and elevation of the dust hot spots, he said, and the results show that the problem is unlikely to abate anytime soon. The lake would need to rise roughly 14 feet to cover 80 percent of current hot spots, Perry said, or about 10 feet to submerge half of them. --- Even researchers have been taken aback by the rapid pace of the Great Salt Lake's decline, Abbott said. Most scientific models projected that the shrinking would slow as the lake became smaller and saltier, since saltwater evaporates less readily than freshwater. But human-caused climate change, driven mostly by burning fossil fuels, has increased average temperatures in northern Utah by about 4 degrees Fahrenheit since the early 1900s and made the region more prone to drought, the report said. Studies suggest this warming accounts for about 9 percent of the decline in stream flows into the lake. Satellite surveys also show significant declines in groundwater beneath the lake, as ongoing drought depletes the region's aquifers. If humans weren't using so much water, the lake might be able to withstand these shifts in climate, Abbott said. But the combined pressure of drought and overconsumption is proving to be more than it can bear. Candice Hasenyager, the director of the Utah Division of Water Resources, said Utahns are becoming increasingly aware of the urgency of the lake's decline. Last year, the Utah legislature passed numerous bills aimed at conservation, including a $40 million trust intended to help the ailing lake. Gov. Spencer Cox (R) recently proposed another massive infusion of funding for water management and conservation. "We don't have the luxury to have one solution," but curbing water demand is essential, Hasenyager said. "We live in a desert, in one of the driest states in the nation, and we need to reduce the amount of water we use." Yet recent efforts haven't kept up with the accelerating crisis. Abbott and his colleagues found that Utah's new conservation laws increased stream flow to Great Salt Lake by less than 100,000 acre feet in 2022 - a tiny fraction of the 2.5 million acre feet increase that's needed to bring the lake back to a healthy minimum level. "Among legislators and decision-makers there is still a very prevalent narrative of 'let's put in place conservation measures so over the next couple of decades the Great Salt Lake can recover,'" Abbott said. "But we don't have that time." "This isn't business as usual," he added. "This is an emergency rescue plan." The new report, drafted by more than 30 scientists from 11 universities, advocacy groups and other research institutions, recommends that Cox authorize emergency releases from Utah's reservoirs to get the lake up to a safe level over the next two years. This would require as much as a 50 percent cut in the amount of water the state uses each year, requiring investment from federal agencies on down to local governments, church leaders and community groups. --- For decades, Abbott said, officials have prioritized human uses for all the water that trickles through the Great Salt Lake watershed. Until last year, the lake itself wasn't even considered a legitimate recipient of any water that fell in the region. If a farmer chose not to use some of their shares, allowing that water to flow to the lake and the surrounding ecosystem, they risked losing their water rights in the future. "We have to shift from thinking of nature as a commodity, as a natural resource, to what we've learned over the last 50 years in ecology, and what Indigenous cultures have always known," Abbott said. "Humans depend on the environment. . . . We have to think about, 'What does the lake need to be healthy?' and manage our water use with what remains." The weather this year has given Utah a prime opportunity to, in Abbott's words, "put the lake first." After a series of December storms, the state's snowpack is already at 170 percent of normal January levels. If that snow persists and precipitation continues through the rest of the winter, it would enable the state to set aside millions of acre feet of water for the lake without making such drastic cuts to consumption. "I'm generally optimistic," said Hasenyager, the water resources director. "I don't think we are past a point of no return - yet." Related Content Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor investigating Trump, often takes on seemingly untouchable targets Last year was a huge year in space. Here's what to look for in 2023. The world's torrid future is etched in the crippled kidneys of Nepali workers James W. Pfister The United States attempted to defend the entity of South Vietnam. South Vietnam fell to our adversary, North Vietnam, on April 30, 1975. Vietnam is now a unified state in international law. President Joe Biden has said at least four times that the United States will defend Taiwan from a Chinese attempt at forced reunification. Certainly, there are major differences between the two cases. Taiwan is a more cohesive and economically developed entity than South Vietnam was. And the threat of nuclear war is much greater with Taiwan. Both cases, however, share important similarities: Both were unified with the dominant entity in history, both were disunified by a more powerful external intruder, and both experienced United States intervention to frustrate the reunification process. Also, both were way out of the United States natural sphere of influence being peripheral to China. Both cases can be seen as a civil war, where the so-called domino theory should not apply. We made a mistake with Vietnam. Are we about to make the same mistake with Taiwan? In the 16th century, Vietnam was divided in three parts: the Mac, the Trinh and the Nguyen. The country was eventually unified under Nguyen Anh, who assumed the title of Gia Long, on June 1, 1802. The Vietnamese began to lose their unity to French colonialism in the 1860s and were firmly under French control by the 1880s. In Taiwan, the island was controlled by China by 1683, which had driven out the Dutch and the Spanish. It became a province of China. But China lost Taiwan to the Japanese as a result of the China-Japanese War and the Treaty of Shimonoseki of April 17, 1895. Thus, in both cases, the dominant entity had sovereignty and possession over the weaker entity, until it lost it to a stronger external power in the latter 19th century. The goal of both stronger entities was to regain that sovereignty and possession it once had. In Vietnam, France was defeated at Dien Bien Phu by the Vietnamese nationalists on May 7, 1954. The United States had been paying 80% of the French war costs. The Geneva Conference Settlement, of July 21, 1954, provided for an honorable French withdrawal and elections in July 1956 which were expected to be the basis for unification under the dominant Viet Minh entity. Story continues In Taiwan, the Japanese were driven out as the result of World War II. An officer of the Chinese government accepted the Japanese surrender in Taiwan on Oct. 25, 1945. The Chinese Nationalists lost the civil war in China; Mao Zedong declared the Peoples Republic of China (herein PRC) on Oct. 1, 1949, at Beijing. The Chinese Communist Party referred to the 1943 Cairo Declaration that declared Taiwan be returned to China, according to Frank S. T. Hsiao and Lawrence R. Sullivan, The Chinese Communist Party and the Status of Taiwan, 1979. Taiwan was considered to be a PRC province in the PRC constitution. The United States became an intervenor in both Vietnam and Taiwan. In Vietnam, the United States refused to accept the Geneva Conference Settlements and responded with the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (herein SEATO), a defensive alliance against communism, which, contrary to the Geneva Settlements, allowed a procedure whereby South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, could be protected by SEATO as protocol entities. In Taiwan, the United States prevented unification by putting the 7th Fleet into the Taiwan Strait during the Korean War and by entering into a defensive treaty in 1955 with Chiang Kai-shek regarding Taiwan. Immediately after the United States finally recognized the PRC as the government of all of China on Jan. 1, 1979, including Taiwan (the One-China policy), and terminated said defensive treaty, the United States passed the Taiwan Relations Act, which continued our defensive relationship with Taiwan and created the strategic ambiguity we presently have regarding the PRC. Again, as with South Vietnam, we are defending the weaker entity which in history was unified with the dominant entity. In both cases we have intervened to prevent the natural outcome of reunification. We should repeal the Taiwan Relations Act and mind our own business, instead of spending lives and money in another losing cause. James W. Pfister, J.D. University of Toledo, Ph.D. University of Michigan (political science), retired after 46 years in the Political Science Department at Eastern Michigan University. He lives at Devils Lake and can be reached at jpfister@emich.edu. This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: James W. Pfister: Same mistake: Vietnam and Taiwan Law officers opened fire on a man who reportedly had a gun early Sunday in Faulkner County, killing the man who had allegedly fled a traffic stop, the Arkansas State Police report. Scotty Helton, 53, of Faulkner County, was shot and killed after a pursuit that sped through Conway and on rural county roads. Faulkner County Sheriff's deputies tried to stop Helton as he allegedly drove recklessly and erratically about 1 a.m., according to state police. Helton did not stop the vehicle, and deputies were joined by Conway police officers as the pursuit went along State Highway 89. State troopers joined the pursuit and set out spike strips on SH 89. With deflated tires, Helton's vehicle struck a concrete curb at SH 89 and Interstate 40, where the vehicle stopped. Helton brandished a gun, and three state troopers and one Mayflower police officer opened fire with their weapons. Helton was pronounced dead at the scene. Special Agents from the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division are probing the use of deadly force by the officers involved. The investigative case file will be submitted to a prosecuting attorney who will decide whether the use of deadly force was consistent with state laws, state police report. Consistent with Arkansas State Police policy, three state troopers have been placed on paid administrative leave as the investigation continues. The Mayflower Police Department will determine whether to release the identity of their officer involved and the officer's administrative status, state police report. This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas troopers shoot and kill man Sunday Fox News Florida Republican congressman Matt Gaetz insisted Thursday that had he joined the vast majority of his colleagues in standing and applauding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before his speech to lawmakers Wednesday, it would have been a North Korea-style act. Appearing on Tucker Carlsons show, the right-wing representative was introduced as one of the very few lawmakers who didnt follow the rules and stand up and applaud like a seal as a foreign leader in a sweatshirt lectured our country. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) also remained seated beside Gaetz, while Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) skipped the event altogether. Carslon, who has made a habit of harping on the war-time leaders attire, further set the tone for the interview by saying what Gaetz did has been viewed as a thought-crimeas if there havent been enough references to the novel 1984 lately. How much do you love Putin that you didnt applaud last night, asked the Fox News host facetiously. (Carlson himself once said that he was rooting for Russia amid its tensions with Ukrainea comment that he later claimed was a joke.) I feel no compunction to go out and applaud some foreign leader from a historically corrupt country who is begging for more than the hundred billion dollars that the Congress has already set to send them, Gaetz said. Earlier on Thursday, the Senate approved an omnibus spending bill which included nearly $50 billion in aid to the country. Now, when President Trump said that America would never be a socialist country, you saw Democrats sit on their hands, Gaetz continued, referencing a line in the former presidents 2019 State of the Union address. But when we say you shouldnt send endless amounts of money to this place where were exacerbating death and conflict, its like were traitors to the movement because Lauren Boebert and I didnt stand up in some sort of North Korea-style performance. Carlson picked up where Gaetzs America-first spiel left off, criticizing Zelenkys requests for aid. Story continues This guy has nothing to do with our country. Get what he can. I get it. Im not even mad at him, Carlson said. Im mad at the people who instinctively bow before some uppity foreigner demanding money that we dont have. Gaetz closed the interview with what he must have thought was a zinger, in light of Zelensky having unfurled a Ukrainian flag signed by frontline soldiers. At least we found a flag the Democrats were willing to stand for on the floor of the United States Congress, Gaetz said, making Carlson crack up. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. A pile of $1000 bills. Getty Images A North Carolina woman won the lottery twice just months apart. The first time Kenya Sloan won $1 million was in August. In October, she purchased a $2 million winning scratch-off ticket. A lucky North Carolina woman says she feels "blessed" after she won $2 million from a lottery scratch-off shortly after winning $1 million months before, the state lottery said. Kenya Sloan, 41, purchased her $2,000,000 Diamond Dazzler ticket from a convenience store in Shelby, North Carolina, in October. "I was like, 'No way this happened again,'" Sloan told the North Carolina Education Lottery. "But it did." She arrived at lottery headquarters earlier this week, according to the press release, and decided to opt-out to the lump-sum option of $1.2 million, about $855,006 after taxes. NC Education Lottery (@nclottery) January 6, 2023 Sloan won a $1 million jackpot game in August and previously told lottery officials that she wanted to build her dream home. Now, with her new prize, she plans on using the prize to open a soul food restaurant, per the state lottery. Recently, in December, another North Carolina woman had a baby and won the lottery on the same day. Read the original article on Insider Phoenix police opened an administrative investigation into the detainment of a Wall Street Journal reporter on Nov. 23 in north Phoenix, officials said. The investigation will be conducted by the department's Professional Standards Bureau. Dion Rabouin, a finance reporter for the Journal, stood outside a Chase Bank at around 2:40 p.m. in north Phoenix, conducting brief interviews with people walking inside for a story about banking. A Phoenix police officer, Caleb Zimmerman, approached Rabouin about a trespassing call he said was placed by bank employees, according to reporting by ABC 15. In a police report filed by Zimmerman, bank employees claimed they told Rabouin to leave the property after getting complaints from customers who felt uncomfortable. In a video provided by a concerned citizen Katelyn Parady, Rabouin told Zimmerman that no one at the bank had asked him to leave but he would if he was given a chance. In the video, Zimmerman handcuffed Rabouin as Rabouin repeated that he would voluntarily leave. According to the report, Zimmerman wrote that Rabouin didnt provide identification and told him he was trespassing. Zimmerman claimed that he had spoken with an employee at the bank and was told that the bank was willing to aid in prosecution if Dion was unwilling to leave, and wanted Rabouin removed from the property. Throughout the video, Rabouin told Zimmerman that he would walk away from the property if he would uncuff him. But Zimmerman held that he had to trespass him from the property, which involves personally removing him from the property and writing up a trespass notification that identifies Rabouin to the property owner so they can make sure he does not return. Zimmerman pressed Rabouin into the back seat of his patrol SUV and pulled Rabouins ID from his pants, but Rabouin sat with his feet out of the vehicle, preventing Zimmerman from closing the door. According to an interview with ABC 15, Rabouin was afraid of what would happen if he got into the car and Zimmerman closed the door. Story continues I didnt trust what was going to happen," he told ABC15. While the woman was recording, I thought the odds of him not doing anything to me, whether physically or anything else, are a lot higher. Once he closes that door, he could take off. He could take me somewhere. I could be placed under arrest. The video showed Zimmerman and Rabouin at a standstill, facing each other and stating their positions. Zimmerman claimed Rabouin refused to leave when asked to by the property owner and was trespassing, while Rabouin kept repeating he had never been asked to leave but would do it now. Rabouin explained to Zimmerman in the video that someone at the bank had come outside and asked if he had been soliciting, and he said he wasnt. They said they were going to go inside and talk to someone, and then you showed up and I said I would leave, he told Zimmerman on the recording. Eventually, two other officers showed up and were seen on the video watching over Rabouin as Zimmerman used Rabouins ID to write a trespassing notice. Parady tried to stay close to Rabouin, but at one point, an unidentified police officer told Parady to step back, exclaiming, Eight feet is the law, citing a defunct Arizona law deemed unconstitutional in September. Minutes later, Zimmerman uncuffed and let Rabouin go. Rabouins Editor-in-Chief Matt Murray, wrote a letter to Phoenix police Chief Michael Sullivan, stressing his concern about how officers treated Rabouin. I am appalled and concerned that officers at your department would attempt to interfere with Mr. Rabouins constitutional right to engage in journalism and purport to limit anyone's presence in a public location. Such conduct is offensive to civil liberties, and also a pretty good news story, Murray wrote. Phoenix police spokesperson Sgt. Melissa Soliz told The Arizona Republic the department received a copy of the letter and opened an administrative investigation. Rabouin said he got a call from a Phoenix official weeks later and was told that after reviewing the case the department found the officer did nothing wrong, according to ABC 15. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix police detain Wall Street Journal reporter Dion Rabouin U.S. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) calls out in the House Chamber during the 14th vote for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 06, 2023 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Lawmakers this week endured 15 rounds of voting for speaker of House. Photos from day four of the seemingly everlasting vote showed commotion throughout the chamber. Tension, boredom, and disappointment were captured in photos leading up to Rep. Kevin McCarthy's win. Lawmakers in the US House of Representatives went through a historic 15 rounds of voting to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy to the House speaker position. Here are photos from the final two rounds of speaker voting sessions. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, sits in disappointment after his 14th loss during the House Speaker vote on Friday night. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., reacts after losing the 14th vote in the House chamber as the House meets for the fourth day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. AP Photo/Alex Brandon McCarthy needed a majority of votes to become Speaker of the House, but 20 far-right Republicans withheld their support before the 15th and final vote. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida stares off into the distance in the House chamber following McCarthy's 14th loss. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., looks into the gallery after Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., lost the 14th vote in the House chamber as the House meets for the fourth day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. AP Photo/Alex Brandon Gaetz said he would resign from his role as a representative if Dems in the House voted for McCarthy or a moderate Republican, Insider previously reported. Rep. Mike Rogers appears to lunge at Gaetz during the 14th vote, quickly gaining attention from those in the chamber. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., left, pulls Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., back as they talk with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and other during the 14th round of voting for speaker as the House meets for the fourth day to try and elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. Andrew Harnik/Associated Press Rep. Richard Hudson was captured holding him back. US Representative-elect Lance Gooden is spotted holding both of his children, Milla and Liam, inside the House during the 14th vote. U.S. Rep.-elect Lance Gooden (R-TX) carries his children Milla and Liam into the House Chamber during the fourth day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 06, 2023 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee/Getty Images Children often accompany their parents to the Speaker vote to watch the lawmakers be sworn into office. US Representative-elect Katie Porter turns to reading "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" by Mark Manson during the 14th speaker vote. U.S. Rep.-elect Katie Porter (D-CA) reads a book in the House Chamber during the fourth day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 06, 2023 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Other congress members have taken to similar means to occupy themselves during the seemingly endless voting sessions. Marjorie Taylor Greene holds a phone out to Representative-elect Matt Rosendale during the 14th voting session. Rep.-elect Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) offers a phone to Rep.-elect Matt Rosendale (R-MT) in the House Chamber during the fourth day of voting for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 06, 2023 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The initials on the phone appear as "DT," indicating a possible phone call to former President Donald Trump. McCarthy received a standing ovation from GOP lawmakers after the 15th round of voting solidified him as House speaker. Story continues Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., smiles after winning the 15th vote in the House chamber as the House enters the fifth day trying to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, early Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. AP Photo/Alex Brandon The 15th round of voting went into Saturday, January 7, after first starting on Tuesday. Greene, Gaetz, and Rep. Lauren Boebert stare stoically during the 15th vote. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. R-Ga., left, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., center, and Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., listen during the 15th round of votes in the House chamber as the House enters the fifth day trying to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, early Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. AP Photo/Alex Brandon Boebert who pushed Trump to encourage McCarthy to drop from the speaker race and Gaetz opposed McCarthy's bid. Greene has supported it and accused Boebert and Gaetz, once her allies, of not negotiating on her behalf as conservative lawmakers made demands while McCarthy tried to secure votes for the speakership, Insider previously reported. McCarthy grins and claps for his long-awaited victory early Saturday morning. U.S. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) celebrates after being elected Speaker of the House in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 07, 2023 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee/Getty Images Read the original article on Business Insider Rising UFC bantamweight contender Sean O'Malley has weighed in on Dana Whites domestic violence incident which took place New Years eve. UFC president White was caught on camera in a physical altercation with his wife Anna at a nightclub in Sabo San Lucas, Mexico. Soon after, White spoke with TMZ, explaining the situation, and stated there was no excuse for his actions. On his podcast published Friday, OMalley gave his thoughts on the situation. Oh God, speaking of knocking b*tches out, OMalley stated as he began to discuss the incident on his podcast BrOMalley with his brother Daniel OMalley. This happened New Years, and it came out Monday, which is rare. TMZ sh*t usually comes out instantly. They got a good PR behind (them). OMalley believed the UFC boss was sincere in his apology, but also said his wife put herself in a position to be retaliated against. I feel bad for Dana, OMalley said. His wife slapped him. That is rude. And it deserves a slapping back. I dont know. I dont know. Its a tricky one. I dont know, treat people how you want to be treated. Related 'He's gone overboard': 2011 interview with Dana White's mother raises questions about past domestic abuse TBS sticking with Dana White's Power Slap, delays premiere (for now) after UFC boss slapped wife If Dana White isn't severely punished for slapping his wife, what are we even doing? | Opinion If White and his wife were not drinking, OMalley believes the physical altercation would have never taken place. While he says he has never struck his girlfriend and mother of his child, Danya Gonzalez, or any woman for that matter, OMalley sees the moment as a mistake by White under the influence of alcohol. Sober, would he have ever done that? No, OMalley said. I would assume sober, no drinks, she slaps him, I dont think his initial reaction is slap back. When that alcohol is flowing, Ive never hit Dani. Ive never hit a girl. But Ive been blacked out, and Ive done things that I cant believe Ive done. I dont think it was right. I dont think obviously you shouldnt hit, especially a little girl like that, but alcohol is flowing, she hit him first, it was a nice counter, she should have kept her hands up, you know what I mean? A little head movement. If youre going to slap, you got to be ready to slap. You got to continue with that combo. She should have hit him with a 1-2, not just a 2, pulled, slipped but no, its not right. Theyre going to lose a lot of business. Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie NAN728/Shutterstock Two teachers from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, were among thousands to have Southwest flights canceled. Marcus and Andrea Grasenick said they missed their honeymoon cruise after a canceled flight. Eleven days later, Andrea Grasenick was still waiting on Southwest to return her two suitcases. Two teachers from Wisconsin who missed their honeymoon cruise after Southwest Airlines canceled their flight were still waiting on some of their luggage 11 days later. Marcus and Andrea Grasenick of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, told Insider that they were set to take a connecting flight out of Nashville on December 26 to make it to Florida for the Royal Caribbean cruise, which they spent approximately $4,000 on. The 11-day trip through the western Caribbean included stops in Costa Rica, Panama, and Aruba, as well as activities like a rainforest walk and a tour of the Panama Canal. After waiting for hours to find out whether the flight would take off, the airline told them it had been canceled and that staff could not immediately retrieve and return their luggage to them. "I could see our bags outside in the snow from inside the airport," Andrea Grasenick told Insider. A day later they flew back to Wisconsin, still without their luggage, on a different airline. As of Thursday morning, Andrea Grasenick was still waiting on her two bags to arrive. Her two missing suitcases contained everything she packed for the cruise, including medications and snorkeling gear. Because she has trackers in her bags, she said she's able to see that they have been sitting at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago since Sunday. She also said they've called Southwest every day this week, and have even offered to drive to O'Hare to pick up the bags, but have been told they have to wait because they initially selected the delivery option. Her husband's bag finally arrived on Wednesday via FedEx, which she said was also strange because she filled out the missing luggage form before he did. Story continues "The only communication I've received from Southwest has been to confirm that they received my reimbursement request," Andrea Grasenick said in an email to Insider on Thursday, adding she also received an offer from the airline for 25,000 points but has not yet redeemed them. "It continues to be so frustrating and I just can't seem to get any answers or help," she said. A spokesperson for Southwest told Insider in an email the airline was making significant progress on reuniting customers with their bags: "Teams are in the process of scanning bags and contacting those Customers to work out logistics to get their luggage back to them using a variety of methods whether it's picking it up at a nearby airport or shipping it to them." "Additionally, we are making great progress by processing tens of thousands of refunds and reimbursements a day and will not let up until we have responded to every impacted Customer," the spokesperson said, adding that affected customers could request refunds and report missing luggage at Southwest's travel-disruptions page. The couple, who got married in October, had purchased travel insurance and are still working on getting refunded from the cruise line as well. "Best-case scenario, we get back the money we spent. But worst-case scenario, we can't get anything back," Andrea Grasenick said. "You can't put a price on the memories we would've made." The Grasenicks were among thousands of Americans impacted after Southwest had an operational meltdown last week. Airlines canceled thousands of flights after severe winter storms struck around Christmas, but Southwest passengers experienced the bulk of the disruptions. The airline canceled over 2,900 flights on December 26, accounting for about half of all canceled flights across the world that day. Companies throughout the travel industry felt these disruptions, leading to rental-car shortages and higher flight prices. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has said that airlines are required to issue refunds to passengers whose flights were delayed if they do not decide to rebook. "This means Southwest must provide refunds within seven business days if a passenger paid by credit card, and within 20 days if a passenger paid by cash, check, or other means," Buttigieg said in a letter sent last week to Robert Jordan, the CEO of Southwest. He also called on the airline to cover ground transportation, hotels, and meals for stranded passengers. Have a news tip or a travel story to share? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@insider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday pledged to address energy challenges and enhance efforts to fight against crime and corruption. Ramaphosa, also president of the African National Congress (ANC), the country's ruling party, made the remarks in his address to mark the 111th anniversary of the ANC at Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium in Mangaung, Free State Province. The National Executive Council, the ANC's highest governing body, has decided to give top priority in 2023 to the energy crisis, ANC renewal initiatives, better service delivery, collaboration with social partners to boost job and investment creation, and the fight against crime and corruption, according to Ramaphosa. The unstable electricity supply remains one of the biggest barriers to economic growth and disturbs the lives of all South Africans. "The ANC calls for Eskom and the government to immediately focus on restoring additional units to operation as quickly as possible," he said. Ramaphosa said the government should prioritize infrastructure investment over other expenditure items, alongside the structural reform of network industries, including electricity, telecommunications, water, rail, aviation and road infrastructure. In order to address South Africa's persistently high unemployment rate, which is particularly acute among young people, grants must be linked to opportunities for jobs, self-employment, training, and other types of economic development, he said. Ramaphosa pledged that the ANC will take action to strengthen law enforcement agencies and public participation in the urgent task of restoring peace and stability across the country. "Additionally, immediate action must be made to restore the capabilities of law enforcement organizations and other criminal justice system institutions that have been compromised by state capture and corruption," he said. SEOUL - As more travelers from China begin visiting international destinations for the first time in three years, covid data from places with on-arrival testing is offering a glimpse into the pandemic situation within China, which the World Health Organization said has been obscured by insufficient data. In late December, two flights from China to Italy brought in almost 100 coronovirus-infected passengers; about half of one flight and one-third of another tested positive. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Countries around the world soon implemented increased testing requirements for arrivals from China, which have gone into effect during the run-up to heightened travel during the Lunar New Year holiday in late January. The new rules come into effect amid reports of overflowing hospitals and medicine shortages in China after it reversed its "zero covid" policy. Among the strictest are policies in Italy, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, which require on-arrival testing for passengers from China. The United States requires proof of a negative test before departure, while other countries are testing wastewater from aircraft on flights originating in China. Official data showed infection rates of more than 20 percent among travelers from China to neighboring South Korea and Taiwan in the first week of January. Data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency obtained by The Washington Post showed a 23.2 percent infection rate for short-term visitors from China to Korea (or 314 out of 1,352 tested at the airport) from Jan. 2 to Jan. 6. The KDCA expects to publish data on all travelers from China next week, an official told The Post. According to the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, from Jan. 1 to Jan. 5 about one in five travelers (21 percent) from mainland China tested positive for covid, or 1,111 out of 5,283 arrivals. On Friday, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reported that about 8 percent of visitors from China from Dec. 30 to Jan. 6 had tested positive for covid, or 408 out of 4,895 arrivals. Data from Italy was not immediately available. Story continues "These numbers are certainly [the] tip of the iceberg, highlighting the immense size of infections in China," Yanzhong Huang, Senior Fellow for Global Health at the Council on Foreign Relations, wrote in an email, responding to early reports suggesting an infection rate of 20 to 50 percent among Chinese travelers. The numbers are particularly high, "if we consider that people typically would not travel overseas unless they feel well and healthy, or do not show symptoms," he said. However, given the high levels of exposure to covid in many countries, "it is not reasonable to view [visitors from China] as diseased or dangerous," he said. Benjamin Cowling, an epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong, called the high early infection rates "completely consistent with forecasts that the majority of the population of major cities have already been infected." He said in an email that people can remain positive on PCR tests for weeks. "Since most infections have occurred in late December and early January, and more than half of the population in major cities have already been infected, it is quite plausible that high percentages of travelers have been testing positive," he wrote. "Those testing positive will mostly have recently recovered from infection rather than still being sick and/or contagious." Last month, China partly lifted domestic restrictions in a move seen as a response to a rare public backlash directed at the country's notoriously stringent zero-covid policy. On Sunday, China will end extensive quarantine requirements for inbound passengers, a decision that will mostly benefit Chinese who want to leave or Chinese nationals abroad who want to return. Mainland China is still closed to foreign tourists. The move comes just weeks before the Lunar New Year, which begins on Jan. 22. Before the pandemic, travel during China's "Golden Week" national holiday was believed to be the world's largest annual human migration. The Chinese holiday "will ensure that the virus reaches every last corner of the country by the end of January," Cowling said. Huang said the holiday season will encourage "retaliation tourism" - travel making up for time lost during the pandemic - and is likely to cause a peak in outbound infections. But he also said it is unlikely that travelers leaving China will make the virus worse elsewhere. "So far, there is no evidence of emerging new subvariants from China," he said. "Given that most of these countries have learned to coexist with covid-19, the influx of Chinese visitors are not going to lead to spike of cases in these countries." The changes also come amid wider scrutiny of Beijing, which has stopped counting asymptomatic covid cases. The World Health Organization has questioned China's data and requested more information from Beijing. The testing requirements targeting arrivals from China has drawn ire from Chinese authorities. "Some of these measures are disproportionate and simply unacceptable," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said at a Jan. 3 news conference. "We firmly reject using COVID measures for political purposes and will take corresponding measures in response to varying situations based on the principle of reciprocity." - - - The Washington Post's Julia Mio Inuma in Tokyo and Lily Kuo in Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to this report. Related Content These dogs ride a bus like humans 'and now the internet is in love' Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor investigating Trump, often takes on seemingly untouchable targets Last year was a huge year in space. Here's what to look for in 2023. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Sunday accused the Biden team of failing to communicate with local officials about President Bidens visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas. Listen, during this entire time, Joe Biden has not called me. He did not call me, nor [did] his staff call, and let us know, either about his visit or to invite us, until last night. We got a random e-mail to one of my staff members asking if I would be there to meet him on the tarmac, Abbott said on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures. They have failed to communicate, the Texas governor said of the administration. But Bidens Homeland Security secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, said Sunday that Abbott was the one dragging his feet in talks with the administration on the broader issue of immigration at the southern border. Governor Abbott is not collaborating with the federal government on an issue that requires collaboration, Mayorkas said on ABCs This Week. We cannot have the rights and the needs of individuals who are seeking humanitarian relief in the United States be exploited for political purposes. We cannot have unilateral governor action that is not coordinated with the federal government to address an issue that is of national importance, Mayorkas said. Bidens Sunday trip to the border is his first as president, and comes amid growing concerns among border-state Republican governors over the record numbers of migrants trying to cross into the U.S. Abbott and other Republicans at the state and federal levels have been pressuring Biden to make the visit but continued on Sunday to criticize Democrats border policies. Its clear that immigration is a political issue that extreme Republicans are always going to run on. But now they have a choice: They can keep using immigration to try to score political points or they can help solve the problem, Biden said in remarks at the White House last week. Abbott on Sunday said the presidents trip is two years too late. All hes going to do down there is rearrange the chairs on the deck of the Titanic. Hes not going to achieve any solutions that will make the border safer, more secure and stop illegal immigration, Abbott said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Photo by Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images BAKHMUT, UkraineIn the smoke-filled basement of a nondescript building in the city center of Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, the men of the SKALA intelligence battalion are getting ready for a risky reconnaissance mission. One of them is burning a last cigarette in the dimly lit hallway. Clad in a bulletproof vest and helmet, a bearded soldier wraps yellow tape around both his armsa sign used by Ukrainian soldiers to identify each other on the battlefield. Be careful out there, there are snipers in this area, a portly officer warns him, rising from his office chair facing a flatscreen TV that intermittently broadcasts the live feed of a drone flying over carnage in the city. I cant die, my mom wont let me, quips the soldier with a weary smile, checking his gear one last time before heading out. The previously muffled sound of outgoing artillery becomes sharper and louder as the door to the street swings open. They take off. The situation is pretty tense, but were controlling it, says 23-year-old Alexander, clutching his American-made M4 assault rifle. Were holding. With his buzzcut and boyish looks, the young man wouldnt look out of place in a trendy nightclub in downtown Kyiv. Yet, for weeks, Alexander and the grizzled soldiers of the SKALA battalion have been weathering the storm of daily Russian assaults and shelling on Bakhmut, hunkering down in the basement and doing daily sorties in the gray zonethe stretch of land between Ukrainian and Russian positions. Named after its founder and leader Iurii Skala, the SKALA battalion is tasked with conducting air and ground reconnaissance, as well as cleaning operationsa euphemism meaning assaulting enemy positions and taking out the Russian soldiers manning them. The drones are our eyes out there, says Alexander. Out there is Bakhmuta salt-mining town of 70,000 inhabitants known for its sparkling white winethat has been devastated by months of relentless Russian shelling, and gruesome trench warfare that has prompted comparisons with the Battle of the Somme or Passchendaele. The town is a major transport hub and sits on a strategic highway that runs through Ukraines Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Yet, someincluding one of Ukraines top generalshave argued that the towns strategic value is dubious at best. However, it is one of the few frontline areas where the Russians are still on the advance, and the success-starved Russian high command is desperate to claim a victory, at any cost. Some have theorized that the capture of Bakhmut would constitute a personal prize for Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the infamous Wagner paramilitary group, whose mercenaries make up most of the Russian forces in the area. The U.S. believes Prigozhin has a financial motive: Wagner has often seized lucrative gold and diamond mines in areas where it operates in Africa, and Prigozhin may have set his sights on the salt and gypsum mines around Bakhmut. Story continues This Is How the U.S. Totally Misjudged the War in Ukraine According to Rem, a former car dealer from Dnipro now correcting artillery fire with the help of his drone, most of the soldiers sent in suicidal assaults on Ukrainian positions in Bakhmut are zeks, or convicts, recruited by Wagner to bolster the number of Russian forces in Ukraine. Mobiks [conscripts] are usually scared, and they scatter when they get shelled. Those guys are not scared, he said. Of the Wagnerites, Rem says that theyre a much more effective fighting force than theyre usually given credit for: Theyre making progress, after all. Desensitized to violence and with nothing left to lose, the prisonersmany of whom are violent criminals including murderers and rapistsare considered by Ukrainian soldiers a tougher enemy than the average army conscript. A Ukrainian service member stands outside his outpost in Bakhmut during a drone reconnaissance operation on Dec. 1, 2022. Justin Yau The Russian tactic of sending prison recruits to attack Ukrainian positionsallowing them to identify defenses for the artillery to pummel afterwardshas proven effective, though slow and deadly. While no major breakthrough has occurred, they have been slowly eroding Ukrainian defenses, and creeping ever closer to the eastern outskirts of the city. This assessment was echoed in late December by Oleksandr Danylyuk, a former national security adviser for Ukraine currently working on military planning, who said of the prison conscripts: They areI cannot say fearlessbut they have nothing to lose pretty much. So, they are attacking constantly and theyve been killed in big quantities as well. Yet those incremental gains on the eastern approach to the city have come at a cost for Russian forces, as evidenced during Prigozhins well-publicized visit to the frontline over the New Year. In a series of videos released by Russian news agency RIA Novosti, the Wagner boss first visits a basement filled with the bodies of his fighters, many of them convicts, killed during the battle for Bakhmut, before complaining that every house [in Bakhmut] has become a fortressand that it sometimes takes a week of fighting to take a single house. According to a U.S. official quoted by The Guardian on Thursday, out of an initial force of nearly 50,000 Wagner mercenaries, more than 4,100 have been killed in action, and 10,000 have been wounded, including over 1,000 killed between late November and early December near Bakhmut. How 46 Toddlers Were Disappeared by Putin in One Fell Swoop Volodymyr Zelenskys visit to the city in late December underscored the symbolic value of fortress Bakhmutand the sacrifices made to defend it. A Ukrainian officer serving in the East, who asked to remain anonymous, ventured an estimate of a dozen casualties a day. Outside SKALAs command center, the streets are almost empty, save for a couple of civilians hurrying along, carrying grocery bags or pulling carts filled with empty water bottles. The thundering sound of shelling echoes through empty avenues and deserted public squares, bouncing off the facades of destroyed residential buildings and closed-down shops. Here and there, the rocket of a GRAD multiple rocket launcher can be spotted planted upright in the asphalt. A couple of blocks away from SKALAs headquarters, 60-something Hrihorii is busy cutting firewood on the car park of his residential building, seemingly oblivious to the outgoing artillery fire booming in the distance. Clothed in warm winter clothing and black plastic boots, the man says he has no intention to leave his apartmentdespite the windows having been shattered the day prior to our visit. I am waiting for the Ukrainian army to win, he says with a smile. I am not leaving. Next to him, food is simmering in a pot placed over an open fire. The crater from last mornings shelling is located just feet away from his improvised kitchen. Had he been cooking when it struck, Hrihorii would have died. Back at the command post, a group of a dozen soldiers are returning from a mission in the gray zone. The soldiers, drenched in sweat and amped up on adrenaline, hurry through the door, cursing loudly. Roman, a soldier from Dnipro, lights up a cigarette and introduces the other members of his crew, in broken English : Vansi, a heavyweight soldier who had served in Donbas in 2015, and Bakhmut, who now serves in the charred ruins of his hometown after sending the rest of his family to safety in Bulgaria. I havent run like this in 20 years, exclaims Roman, panting. According to him, 50 year-old Russian T-62 tanks were operating in the area. We couldnt see them, but we could hear them, he says. The use of such obsolete models points to the growing deficit of equipment and vehicles among Russian forces, a problem compounded by the sanctions that have targeted the countrys military industry. Yet Ukrainian soldiers say the Russians shouldnt be underestimated. Its still very loud out there, the fight is not over, says Roman, putting out his cigarette. Roman (left) and Bakhmut (right) are among the Ukrainian fighters frustrating Russias efforts to take Bakhmut. Justin Yau Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. If the border fence divides two neighbors, a crisis on one side spells trouble for the other. As President Joe Biden seeks answers to a historic, growing migration crisis that no administration has solved, his visit Sunday to El Paso may offer a warning of the risks of exporting tens of thousands of vulnerable migrants to Mexico, just steps away. "The situation at the border has gotten increasingly more challenging," said Theresa Cardinal Brown, an advisor with the Dallas-based George W. Bush Institute. "Its a humanitarian crisis, a political crisis, a procedural crisis, a local government crisis and an international crisis." If given the chance, the president will see the humanitarian crisis among the people sleeping under Red Cross blankets outside the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He will witness the political crisis in the concertina wire coiled at the edge of the Rio Grande by the Texas National Guard. And if brought to gaze over the border to Juarez, he will see the international crisis in the faces of migrants expelled by the U.S. as they look north, waiting. Migrants crossed the Rio Grande and approach concertina wire placed by the Texas National Guard to ask a Border Patrol agent when they will be allowed to be processed by Customs and Border Protection to seek asylum in El Paso, Texas on Dec. 20, 2022 The White House hasn't released the agenda of Biden's visit to El Paso a border city under a state of emergency that is looking to the president for leadership. "This city has become central to talking about the border," said Jeremy Slack, a professor of geography at the University of Texas at El Paso and author of "Deported to Death: How Drug Violence is Changing Migration on the U.S. Mexico Border. "Its the biggest city on the border. Its isolated but its also a big urban hub in this ocean of desert." Biden is banking that his new immigration policies will keep more migrants from traveling the dangerous route to the border and ease the humanitarian crisis in U.S. border cities. It's all but certain the consequences of the plan will reveal themselves in El Paso in tangible, inescapable ways. The geopolitical crises driving migration to the El Paso border will be a core topic at the North American summit this week in Mexico City, where Biden is headed next. He, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are expected to discuss regional solutions to hemispheric migration challenges. Story continues Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador leaves a military base after giving a news conference in Juarez on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. The Mexican president was visiting several cities on the northern border of Mexico to address security issues and economic development. "We needed a border strategy," said Brown, who also serves as senior advisor to the Washington, D.C.-based Bipartisan Policy Institute. "How does North America deal with regional migration? What can these three countries do to lead on hemispheric migration? There is a symbolism in him going to El Paso, where we have to see the effectiveness of these new measures." The Borderland is where the policies and proclamations hatched in far-flung national capitals become individual stories of survival, deception, desperation and hope. More:President Biden plans to visit El Paso Sunday; here's what you need to know about the trip Witnessing mass migration El Paso and Juarez are the largest binational community on the nearly 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border. The sister cities of the Paso del Norte have been the epicenter of a migration-driven humanitarian crisis for months now: More than 50,000 asylum seekers and other migrants arrived each in October, November and December, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Hundreds of Venezuelans, faced with expulsion to Mexico, crossed into El Paso without turning themselves in to border agents. Many were camped on city streets, hopeful they'll be allowed to remain in the country. Border Patrol made dozens of arrests last week. The numbers represent a political tsunami even in a region accustomed to a century of human migration across the U.S.-Mexico border. Biden, who took office in 2021, has served in Washington, D.C., for half that time. As a U.S. senator from Delaware, then as vice president during the administration of Barack Obama and now as U.S. president, Biden has witnessed, guided or created 50 years of border and immigration policy. He voted, alongside 62 of his Senate Democrat and Republican colleagues, for the Immigration Reform and Control Act in 1986 the last bipartisan, comprehensive overhaul of U.S. immigration policy. It was a time when millions of Mexican laborers were crossing unlawfully after the legal path open to them, the Bracero Program, ended. During the Obama administration, when Biden was vice president, unauthorized migration at the Southwest border fell to its lowest level in 40 years amid a global recession, an expansion in Border Patrol hiring and the administration's reliance on a "consequence delivery system" in which adult migrants were prosecuted and given jail time for crossing the border illegally. But the demographics began to shift. In 2014, children began to arrive at the border on their own: more than 68,000 that year alone. Then, families began to arrive, often with small children in tow. People began to seek asylum one of few legal paths into the country. And though the U.S. asylum system offers protection for narrowly defined reasons on a case-by-case basis, the claims have historically been heard by an immigration judge or asylum officer and can take years to resolve. The United States government has struggled to cope. Congress has failed to reform the nation's immigration laws to address the U.S. labor needs and new global realities. Presidents who have used their executive power to harden border enforcement or expand immigration opportunities find their policies tied up by court challenges from both sides of the political aisle. The constantly shifting, complex changes are often misunderstood by the migrants they are designed to help or control, and smugglers can easily exploit their vulnerability. Haitian migrants cross the Rio Grande as they hope to enter the U.S. via Del Rio, Texas from Ciudad Acuna, Mexico in September 2021. The Biden administration understands that the Western Hemisphere is experiencing the largest displacement of people since World War II. The new border policies create additional legal pathways for as many as 360,000 Venezuelan, Cuban, Nicaraguan and Haitian migrants this year. Mexico called the plan "the most significant expansion of labor mobility in contemporary U.S. history" and an "important alternative to irregular migration." Immigrant advocates said the plan offers no relief for the poorest migrants fleeing poverty, violence and oppressive regimes, including many who are stuck at the border. El Paso and other border communities await the consequences with tired, open arms. Dig DeeperWhat is Title 42, when does it end, how does it impact US-Mexico border? Here's what to know Leadership demanded during migrant crisis Genner Ruggeri leaned against the wrought-iron fence outside the Sacred Heart Catholic church in the city's historic Segundo Barro last week. After a four-month journey from Venezuela, the 26-year-old hit a dead end in El Paso. Facing the threat of expulsion to Mexico, he crossed the border without permission. Ruggeri wouldn't have qualified for the Biden administration's new pathway for Venezuelans, nor did he qualify for the 24,000 visas offered in October. He carried an expired passport, had no money for a plane ticket and no sponsor in the U.S. all requirements for Biden's legal pathway. He said he was robbed of his cellphone in Mexico and couldn't have downloaded the CBP One application to apply for the new visas made available last week. "I had no option but to keep going," he said. He knew Biden was paying a visit: "I'd like him to know that there is a group of Venezuelans who just want to work and make something of their lives. We can't live freely in Venezuela." All around him, men, women and children crowded the sidewalk. The city kept a "warming" bus parked nearby for people to step out of the cold. A gray-haired volunteer served up Styrofoam trays of rice, beans and salad on a chilly afternoon. Women sorted through bags of donated clothes and tried to create a semblance of order. El Paso Police, Customs and Border Protection, State Troopers and Department of Public Safety patrol El Paso streets where Venezuelan migrants are staying in front of Sacred Heart Church, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, after crossing into the U.S. "We continue to see ongoing arrivals and ongoing serial expulsions of vulnerable persons with credible asylum claims," said Dylan Corbett, executive director of the Hope Border Institute, a Catholic advocacy organization. "People huddling in a cold Downtown overnight were arrested by Border Patrol and their whereabouts are unknown. "I would like to see this administration marshal a moral argument," Corbett said. "This is the leadership that is demanded of the United States at this moment, to be a good neighbor in this region. The poor and the vulnerable who are at our nations doorstep deserve more." Hope for 'a more humane border' The city of El Paso spent nearly $10 million last year providing humanitarian support for migrants and has been reimbursed for $6 million by the federal government; FEMA has fronted $6.3 million to El Paso County. The money has paid for a massive mobilization of resources including transportation, overnight shelter, hot meals and warming centers for people who arrive with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. The city is using vacant school buildings and the convention center to temporarily shelter asylum seekers who crossed the border lawfully. For decades, El Paso had relied on the Annunciation House network of nonprofit and faith-based shelters to welcome and care for migrants. But the pandemic strained the network's ability to recruit volunteers and churches to the effort. Local government had little choice but to step in. "El Paso is an extraordinarily welcoming city," said Fernando Garcia, executive director of the Border Network for Human Rights. "We are very proud of that. But there is a fundamental disappointment with what this administration has done. There has been no immigration reform. There has been continuation of Trumps racist policies, and it doesnt seem that we have a more humane border. "We have been calling for massive investment in welcoming infrastructure," he said. "A broken system broken by multiple administrations cannot be resolved and sustained by NGOs or local governments." A migrant watches fellow migrants from the south bank of the Rio Grande in Juarez who had crossed to seek asylum in El Paso, Texas on Dec. 19, 2022. Borderland leaders said they hoped Biden's time in El Paso might inspire him to push harder for comprehensive reform in his third year in office, or champion the ideas of border-based advocates and lawmakers. El Paso Democrat U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar has proposed establishing humanitarian processing centers at the southern border, an idea supported by Borderland advocates who are aiding migrants. Biden emphasized in remarks Thursday that, on his first day in office, he submitted a legislative proposal to Congress to overhaul the immigration system and border enforcement. A year later, in his first State of the Union, he again called on Congress to "secure the border and fix the immigration system." "This crisis is not going away," said Isabel Salcido, an El Paso city councilor, said in a statement after the president's remarks. "We desperately need the help and leadership of Congress and the White House. The City of El Paso is doing all it can in its capacity with this federal issue." Based on her conversations with asylum seekers in El Paso and others waiting in Juarez, she said, "I can assure you, most of them are not returning to their home countries. They have traveled thousands of miles to flee socialism, oppression, famine and guaranteed death sentences. Most made the dangerous trek and fought off cartels and traffickers, dangerous weather and terrain, to seek a better life in the United States of America." The president's policies allow U.S. border authorities to return 30,000 people each month to Mexico those who won't clear the bar for a preapproved U.S. visa. What the expelled migrants will do in Mexico, whether they will be allowed to stay or work, is unclear. Inevitably, advocates say and recent history has shown, many could resort to crossing illegally. The migrants will say Mexico is too dangerous for them to stay, targeted as they are by corrupt police and criminals. They'll say they've made it this far. They'll say they'll keep aiming for their American dream. From where they stand, El Paso's star on the mountain will glow each night like a beacon, like the Statue of Liberty's "lamp beside the golden door." This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso visit: Biden tours migrant crisis on US-Mexico border New year, new COVID-19 variant, new rise in cases. Austin Public Health on Friday announced that a new omicron subvariant, XBB.1, has been reported in Travis County, according to a surveillance system that tracks the genomic sequence in COVID-19 tests. The omicron variant of the virus responsible for COVID-19 has five XBB types of subvariant. While Austin has XBB.1 and not yet officially XBB.1.5, we should be prepared for that variant to arrive. XBB.1.5, which has been nicknamed "the Kraken" because of its transmissibility, has been seen in other cities in Texas. Although XBB.1.5 has not yet been detected in Austin's surveillance system or in water samples yet, as it has in other parts of Texas, Austin Public Health believes it will show up in water soon and signal widespread transmission of the subvariant. The XBB.1.5 subvariant went from 1% of all COVID-19 cases in the U.S. at the beginning of December to 40% by the end of the month, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Currently XBB.1.5 makes up 27.5% of cases in the Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana region. Health insurance: Blue Cross and Blue Shield could drop Ascension hospitals from network How much COVID-19 is in the area? On Thursday, the CDC moved the COVID-19 transmission levels in Travis, Williamson and Bastrop counties from low to medium. Hays and Caldwell counties have been at the high level for two weeks. This follows months of all the area counties being at a low level. "This new subvariant is making its way into our community right as many people were indoors gathering with others during the cold and over the holidays," said Dr. Desmar Walkes, the Austin-Travis County health authority. "When mixed with a flu infection, the combination can cause serious illness for those at-risk such as children and seniors." Because the level of spread has worsened, Austin Public Health is recommending that all people wear masks when social distancing is not possible, and people who are at risk for severe complications should wear masks in all public spaces. Caldwell and Hays counties should follow the recommendations for an area with a high level of spread, which is masking in public for everyone. Story continues Austin Public Health already has been requiring masks again in all health facilities since mid-December. Transmission levels (the number of cases per 100,000 people), are between 122.1 and 187.8, depending on the county, which is up from below 60 during most of last fall. How many patients are being treated for COVID? The number of people in hospitals with COVID-19 also has changed. In Travis, Williamson and Bastrop counties, 3.6% of staffed hospital beds are occupied by people with COVID-19, and there are 10.3 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people. In Hays and Caldwell counties, 10% of the hospital beds are occupied by people with COVID-19, and there are 24.1 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people. "Its important that we do what we know works to minimize spread," Walkes said. "Got symptoms? Get tested. Stay home if you don't feel well. Wear a mask if you cant keep your distance to protect those who are at high risk. Most importantly, get up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines." Since October, the number of available hospital beds has plummeted because of the triple epidemic: COVID-19, flu and respiratory viruses such as RSV. Central Texas has had no more than three pediatric intensive care unit beds available since November. Most days there are none. On the adult side, between 12 and 43 ICU beds have been available since November. "We need to avoid another surge," Austin Public Health Director Adrienne Sturrup said. "Our hospitals are treating patients with COVID-19, flu and various upper respiratory illnesses right now. If you have already resolved to prioritize your health with a healthier diet, or more physical activity in this new year, add getting vaccinated to your list." Your health: Cedar fever season has arrived in Austin. Here's what you need to know. What do we know about this XBB subvariant? Austin Public Health and the CDC want you to know these facts: XBB variants have rapidly replaced other subvariants in the U.S. They did the same in Europe earlier. The bivalent booster (the updated booster) still provides a level of protection and reduces the risk of hospitalization. XBB variants are resistant to existing COVID-19 treatments such as monoclonal antibody infusions. This is particularly worrisome for people who are immunocompromised. The symptoms of XBB variants are the same as other COVID-19 variants: cough, congestion, exhaustion, fever, sore throat, nausea, diarrhea and headaches. Triple whammy: 'A terrible year': Austin area battling a particularly rough cold and flu season Need a vaccination? Go to Vaccines.gov (Vacunas.gov in Spanish) to find flu and COVID-19 vaccine providers. You can get both the flu and COVID-19 bivalent vaccinations at the same time. Have COVID-19 tests on hand Free mail-order rapid antigen COVID-19 test kits are available through covid.gov/tests. Households are eligible for another round of four tests for a limited time. At-home COVID-19 test kits are available at APH Neighborhood Centers while supplies last. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also lists community-based testing sites online. You can get free N95 masks at local pharmacies. Use the CDCs mask-locator tool to find a site with free masks. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: New COVID-19 omicron variant in Central Texas; Is 'Kraken' next? Reuters Every Saturday a group of young South Koreans gathers in Incheon just west of Seoul to talk about their battles with drug abuse, seeking sympathy and support in often emotional exchanges. The free midday therapy sessions are organised by Choi Jin-mook, who fought addiction for more than 20 years before becoming a counsellor and advocating for a shift in South Korea's drugs policy towards treatment and away from punishment. Choi, 48, began taking nonprescription cough medicines at age 17 and was jailed for marijuana in his 20s. RIYADH, KSA / ACCESSWIRE / January 6, 2023 / HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, launched the National Intellectual Property Strategy (NIPST), which aims to encourage, manage, and invest in intellectual property (IP) and protect it effectively on the national level, in order to support innovation and creativity, and keep up with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, Friday, January 6, 2023, Press release picture The launch of the strategy will strengthen the Kingdom's ability to create economically and socially valuable IP assets to meet national and to increase economic growth, by building a strong IP ecosystem. IP is strongly related to objects of Vision 2030 that enable innovation and creativity, boost business, and helps a prosperous economy. Through NIPST, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is looking to support the empowerment of innovators facilitate business based on IP, and achieve a society that respect creative efforts. Company Name: Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Email: afarhan@saip.gov.sa Website: https://saip.gov.sa/ Contact Person Name: Abdulrahman Alfarhan SOURCE: Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/734307/Saudi-Arabia-to-LaunchesNational-IP-Strategy On Aug. 26, 2021, my teammates and I were on an urgent mission to get a female athlete through Kabuls Abbey Gate onto the airport grounds after shed spent hours in a massive crowd, under hot sun without water, trying to reach her evacuation flight. We were running out of time before the flight left. We needed a miracle. Could she get the attention of one of the Marines we saw in her photos of her surroundings? (We were working this operation from our homes far from Afghanistan.) It was a big ask when desperate thousands begged for Marines attention. But somehow one of them accepted her phone. I was on the other end of the line and will never forget his confused young voice as I passed him a message. He acted on the message. Now the talented athlete is building a new life in the U.S. Then just hours later, a suicide bomber attacked those Abbey Gate crowds, taking the lives of 13 U.S. service members and more than 150 Afghans. I had no way of knowing whether my Marine was among them. Rafi Sherzad spends time with his sons, Khushal Sherzad, left, 1, and Abdaal Sherzad, right, 3, at his apartment in Nashville on Dec. 21, 2021. Sherzad, a former Nashville resident, left Afghanistan with several relatives last year to escape the Taliban. I'm a civilian, and that day, so close virtually to the devastation, the magnitude of what our service members sign up for became viscerally real. As did the reason they feel a debt to the Afghan allies they we, our U.S. government promised never to leave behind. Im committed, like my military colleagues, to keeping our promise. Over a year later, so many volunteers like me are still working on the relocation effort, largely out of the limelight and headlines. As Afghans have made their way from chaos to our safe communities, other Tennesseans have taken up the baton and volunteered in ways we're are so good at, warmly welcoming new Afghan neighbors across our state. This is the best of who we are. I was once one of these local volunteers helping with English classes for new arrivals in Nashville, learning how such new neighbors benefit our communities. But despite all these volunteers, the path to safety is taking too long. Too many Afghan allies remain behind, in mortal danger or still in limbo even in the U.S. Part of this work can be done only by our government. Story continues Hear more Tennessee voices:Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought-provoking columns. Our U.S. senators have written letters to the Biden administration and made strong statements from the Senate floor, rightly calling out the administrations disastrous military withdrawal, demanding action on behalf of our allies, including endangered Afghan women and girls. Kami Rice But despite months of conversations with their offices, they havent committed as cosponsors, or even indicated support, of the Afghan Adjustment Act, a thoroughly bipartisan bill that provides real action, rather than just big words. The Afghan Adjustment Act does many things our senators have asked the government for this past year, so it should be a no-brainer for them to support it. The act follows the model of standard bipartisan adjustment of status legislation passed after U.S. wartime withdrawals from Vietnam and Iraq. Heavily negotiated between Republican and Democratic sponsors in the House and Senate, the bill would allow Afghans who entered the U.S. under humanitarian parole status a temporary permission to reside here to request permanent residency and go through substantive security vetting equivalent to vetting required under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program considered the gold standard of vetting. This bill is the answer to the less-than-ideal initial vetting for Afghans hurried to the U.S. during the evacuation. It encourages these Afghans to present themselves for more rigorous vetting in order to receive legal permission to remain in the U.S. The Afghan Adjustment Act also expands eligibility for Special Immigrant Visas to certain categories of Afghans trained by U.S. special forces. Creating a pathway to the U.S. for these highly trained allies is critical for U.S. national security. It is profoundly short-sighted for national-security-conscious senators not to protect this U.S. asset by providing for these forces to escape the Taliban. The Afghan Adjustment Act is egregiously overdue, and its best chance now is to be included in the mid-December omnibus spending bill. Our Afghan allies and the volunteers who continue the emotionally draining, around-the-clock work of assisting them need fellow Tennesseans to remind our senators to represent our Tennessee values love for America, our veterans and our new neighbors by supporting the Afghan Adjustment Act. Call Marsha Blackburn's office at 202-224-3344 and Bill Hagerty's at 202-224-4944. This is an action you can take, a tangible way for you to honor the lives lost at Kabuls Abbey Gate last August. Kami Rice is cofounder of AlliedShepherd.org, a member organization of the Afghan Evac Coalition. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Opinion: Tennessee senators should support the Afghan Adjustment Act JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan police have arrested two drug smugglers in Afghanistan's eastern Nangrahar province and discovered 364 kg hashish from their possessions, said a statement of provincial administration released here Sunday. The alleged smugglers were attempting to smuggle the contraband from Haska Mina district to provincial capital Jalalabad city when the police arrested both of them and seized the smuggled goods on Saturday. In a similar crackdown on illegal drug smuggling, the police also discovered 53 kg of opium poppy from a house in King district of the western Nimroz province on Friday and arrested two people, police officer Mohammad Nabi said. The Taliban-run administration has banned poppy cultivation and vowed to crackdown on illicit drugs and trafficking. Crime and Courts Reporter Donald W. Meyers is a multimedia journalist at the Yakima Herald-Republic covering crime and courts. He is also the writer behind It Happened Here, a weekly history column. Before coming to Yakima, Meyers covered a wide variety of beats at The Salt Lake Tribune, Daily Herald, and daily and weekly newspapers across New Jersey. He is also a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, serving as a regional officer in the organization as well as on the national Freedom of Information Committee. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. VALLETTA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The fourth "Happy Chinese New Year" film festival kicked off on Saturday evening with the Chinese film "The Bravest" at Malta's National Center for Creativity in Valletta. Maltese audiences will have the opportunity to watch four more Chinese films "The Climbers", "Looking Up", "The Wandering Earth" and "The Captain" during the film festival, which will last until Jan. 24. Chinese film-making had become more and more sophisticated in recent years, and its topics and themes were becoming more diversified, Aida Daoud Bushra told Xinhua after watching the film, adding that she loved Chinese culture very much and hoped to see more Chinese films in the future. Fiona Vella said she was delighted to watch the fine Chinese films on the occasion of the Chinese New Year. These films brought interesting Chinese cultural experience to Maltese audiences, whom would have the opportunity to enjoy the unique charm of Chinese culture and arts, she said. This was the first time Kevin Debono and his wife saw a Chinese film and they were amazed by the charm of the film. They said they hoped to see more Chinese films in Valletta in the future. "Happy Chinese New Year" film festival has become a vital brand event for Maltese people to experience Chinese culture, Yuan Yuan, director of the China Cultural Centre in Malta, told Xinhua, adding that she hoped more local people understand further the development of Chinese culture and society through visual arts. The Chinese Lunar New Year for 2023, or the Spring Festival, falls on Jan. 22. The co-passenger of the victim of the Air India urination case has made a new revelation. The flyer on the AI108 flight on November 26 claims that the only option left for the victim was to move to first because of the lack of seats in business class. The flight crew cleaned the seat though and left the blanket smelling of urine. He also says that they could have given Shankar Mishra's seat to the victim, but they didn't. He also claimed the flight's pilot made the terrified passenger wait nearly two hours before giving her a new seat. Sugata Bhattacharjee, an audiologist with a practice in the US who was travelling to Delhi with the accused, claimed in a handwritten letter to the airline that the unhappy passenger was forced to return to her filthy seat despite there being four empty first-class seats. Also read: Air India 'peegate': Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia assures of speedy action in urination incident In the complaint, a copy of which was reviewed by PTI, Bhattacharjee said he was seated on 8A (window) in the first row of business class, next to the accused Shankar Misra, who was in seat 8C. Shortly after lunch was served and the lights were switched off onboard AI 102 of November 26 (JFK New York to IGIA, New Delhi), the inebriated male passenger seated in Business Class seat walked to the elderly woman's seat (9A), unzipped his pants and urinated on her. The lavatory was four rows behind his seat. Bhattacharjee said he was woken up midflight when Shankar fell on him. "I initially thought he lost his balance due to a rough flight. However, as I was going to the restroom, I saw my two fellow passengers of 9A and 9C in distress," he said, adding the lady of 9A came to the gallery area, she was all wet. "We were shocked to realise that my co-passenger (8C) was so intoxicated that he went to the next row and urinated on her," he wrote. All this while, two air hostesses helped clean her up, change her clothes, and sanitized her belongings and seat. "The incidence has a multifaceted part to it. A senior citizen was subjected to trauma due to indecency of a passenger. She is a female who had no idea how to cope with the obscenity," he wrote. "I am bothered that the captain waited close to two hours before allotting her a fresh seat." According to the victim's complaint, she was made to stand for 20 minutes and offered a small seat used by airline staff as no seat was vacant in the Business Class. She sat on the small seat for about two hours and was asked to return to her own seat which was still damp and reeking of urine. When she refused, the victim was offered the steward's seat for the rest of the journey, the complaint stated. Bhattacherjee was all praise for the two cabin crew members who helped the woman clean up. The non-pilot crew, he said, went above and beyond their call of duty, "but when you have four first-class seats vacant, you don't make a distressed passenger go back to her (soiled) seat with human remains and wait for a crew seat to be vacant to move her." This, according to him, was "a poor judgement call by the captain." Bhattacherjee reportedly asked the crew for a complaint book to note down his protest against the handling of the situation but was provided a piece of paper. He wrote his complaint on that paper. With agency inputs On Saturday, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia promised swift action in the matter of a man who is accused of urinating on a female co-passenger on a New York-Mumbai aircraft last November. The accused, Shankar Mishra, was taken into custody by Delhi Police earlier in the day. The claimed event happened on an AI flight on November 26 of last year, travelling from New York to Mumbai. "Further action will be taken speedily after the completion of the ongoing proceedings," Scindia told reporters here without elaborating. Also read: Air India peeing episode: Patiala House court sends accused Shankar Mishra to 14-day judicial custody On Saturday, a Delhi judge denied the police's request to have Shankar Mishra taken into custody and instead ordered him to be held in judicial remand for 14 days. Shankar is accused of peeing on a female co-passenger on an Air India flight. The authorities requested a three-day hold on him so they could question him in custody. They claimed he needed to be recognised by three members of the cabin staff, two captains, and other passengers. Mishra was sentenced to judicial remand by Metropolitan Magistrate Anamika when she noted that the police had not requested his custody in order to record the testimony of other witnesses, including cabin crew and fellow passengers. "Just because there's public pressure, don't do this. Go by the law, the judge said. All reasons stated above... . PC is not required for recording the statement of witnesses. They can be interrogated in his absence. Statements can be recorded, and there is no requirement of his PC, the judge said. The court noted that on the basis of the evidence, the accused prima facie did not cooperate in the investigation. Perusal of records shows that the accused was deliberately avoiding joining of investigation. In order to make further investigation, recording of statements of crew members, recording statements, his custody is not required, the judge said Dr Sugata Bhattacharjee a doctor based out of New Hampshire state in the United States, in an interview to PTI, narrated the sordid events in the business class cabin of Flight AI102 on November 26, 2022 which have become front page news after they came to light last week. Bhattacharjee who was in seat 8A, while Shankar Mishra was in seat 8C in the business class of Air India New York-Delhi flight, wrote an elaborate complaint to Air India immediately after the flight landed, details his experience with his co-passenger Shankar Mishra and his interactions with the cabin crew. He says a drunk person may not be in his senses but the flight crew showed no compassion and failed in their responsibility. Minute-minute account of Pee-gate Dr Bhattacharjee told PTI he is speaking out now to elaborate on the complaint because of claims by Mishra's father that his son is innocent and may have been a victim of extortion. "It was a moral call for me, it was morality and I thought it was my moral obligation to stand and make a complaint and I did," he said. The buck stops with the pilot, the US-based doctor said, recounting that Mishra had four stiff drinks through lunch. He had also alerted a male crew member about Mishra having one too many and to keep an eye on him. Pointing to multiple failures in the "procedural part", the US-based audiologist, who made a handwritten complaint to the airline, told PTI that to make the woman talk to Mishra after the incident was a "no no because indecent exposure is a crime". "It's a sexual assault. And once that happens, nobody should take a mediation route," he said. "I was angry. I don't care about what a drunk man did because he's not in his senses and that's why he does it. But people who had the power and the authority, they showed no compassion. In a plane, the pilot is the chief person and the buck stops with him." While Bhattacharjee was in seat 8A, Mishra was in seat 8C in business class. Mishra, 34, who was missing for a few days after the incident came to light has been arrested from Bengaluru and sent to judicial remand for 14 days by a Delhi court. "The whole incident is very sad. The dignity of a senior citizen was played with because of over-intake of alcohol, a young person is in trouble, he has lost his job, his family, everybody else around him is going through a hard time, including him," Bhattacharjee told PTI in the phone interview. In his complaint to Air India, Bhattacharjee said the woman was made to go back to her soiled seat despite four seats in the First Class being vacant. His complaint was, he said, that a lot of standard operating protocols were not followed. "When something like this happens, you first contain a distressed passenger." Mishra had passed out and nobody even wanted to wake him up because nobody knew how he would behave. "They waited for him to wake up," he said. After the incident, Bhattacharjee said, the crew should have taken it upon themselves to ensure she was moved to a different seat. Instead, she was made to wait for a long time. It was only after the crew rest was over that she was given a seat that became available. "That is a no no. And that is what I protested," he said. When he asked why the elderly woman was not being given an available first-class seat, he was told by the senior flight attendant that she cannot make that decision. Only the pilot in command can take that call. "And that call was not made. So this is a failure," he said. In his view, the crew should not have put the victim and Mishra face-to-face for any negotiation. Instead, the captain should have alerted the ground staff before landing and ensured that Mishra is handed over to the authorities who would have taken the appropriate action, he said. "My anger was that nobody stood up to the responsibility and there were multiple failures in the procedural part." The pilot, Bhattacharjee said, should have done "anything and everything" to help and support the lady in all possible manner after such a traumatic incident. According to Bhattacharjee, Mishra would drink and he would just point to his glass and they would come and refill it. Mishra had then fallen asleep. At some point, Bhattacharjee woke up when Mishra "practically" fell on his seat. Bhattacharjee said he thought Mishra lost his balance because of turbulence. The doctor then slept. After he woke up he saw Mishra was awake, had sobered up and the crew had already spoken to him once about the incident. Shankar Mishra's first reaction As per the doctor, after Shankar Mishra was awake and had sobered up, crew had spoken to him about the incident. "The first thing Mishra said was 'Bro I think I am in trouble'. And my answer was, 'yes, you are'. And, he's like, I don't know what to do, I don't remember anything happening. I had not slept, I had too many drinks." As Mishra sobered up, he seemed afraid, he said. "But nothing justifies things like that. I am a man of giving people a second chance. But I still can't understand why he did that. If you cannot handle alcohol, you should not drink that amount," Bhattacharjee said. Before the incident, when he was talking to Mishra, he felt the younger man seemed a little incoherent. The doctor said Mishra asked him thrice about how many kids he had and what they did. It was then that he alerted a male crew member. "He had consumed enough... He was not in his senses," the doctor said. After the incident, Mishra came back to his seat and passed out. Bhattacharjee described the elderly woman as very soft spoken and said she was almost in tears after the horrific incident. She did not create any scene and did not shout or scream. "She was very quiet, she's a very, very decent lady." Bhattacharjee said he made a written complaint about the incident the very same day. He said he had asked for a complaint book but was handed over two pieces of white paper on which he wrote his complaint. He noted that two young crew members working in economy class wore gloves and helped clean the mess. Bhattacharjee said his thoughts are with everybody. "For the lady, who is a senior citizen, for the family of Mishra, who has a daughter and wife." "If you can't handle your drink, don't drink. I still feel Air India has one of the best connectivity and one bad apple should not tarnish the name of such a big organisation. And people should do their job. That's it," he added. With PTI inputs Amritsar Airport administration, in order to refute the accusations made against them regarding a disturbance, the administration claimed that passengers were informed about the Neos Airline flight's delay and that all required preparations were done to minimise any disruption. After their aircraft was delayed by many hours owing to foggy weather, 157 passengers are allegedly seen in distress at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in a video that went viral on social media on Saturday. "Passengers were informed about it, and they were offered hotel accommodation, but they denied it and continued to stay at the airport. Three-time meals and necessary arrangements were made for them," airport director V K Seth told ANI. Also read: Air India 'peegate': Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia assures of speedy action in urination incident "The flight was supposed to come on Jan 5 from Jaipur but got delayed by 1 hour," he said. The whole fiasco started on Wednesday night when an Amritsar-bound flight, Neos airline, was diverted to Jaipur due to bad weather conditions and low visibility issues."A flight from Neos Airline comes here every Wednesday from Milan. It was supposed to land on Jan 4 (Wednesday) around 11.50 P.M. at the Amritsar airport and depart around 1 A.M. on January 5 (Thursday). But due to foggy conditions and low visibility issues, the crew diverted the flight to Jaipur," the airport director said. He asserted that this flight required high visibility, which depends upon the pilot's training, the flight's performance, and such factors. "Though other flights were operating, this particular flight needed high visibility. Henceforth the crew took the decision of diverting it. And following the protocols and considering other issues such as pilot`s rest, it was decided that the flight can`t fly before the completion of twelve hours," he said. The flight reached Amritsar on January 5 around 8 P.M.V. K. Seth added, "Passengers apprehended that if the flight would not fly even on Thursday due to bad weather, as it got delayed, what measures would the airport take for them? Some demanded refunds too. There was an uproar for thirty minutes. They were pacified when they heard the flight would fly as the weather condition normalized. All passengers boarded the flight safely." "The flight got delayed on Thursday at Jaipur Airport as one of the passengers was entangled with some immigration issues," the airport director confirmed. Dismissing the charges, the Airport`s Manager, Amit Sharma, said, "People have smartphones nowadays. They record videos, but those are not verified. Two or three families were protesting. Even I have even brought diapers for the children at the airport. All necessary arrangements were made for them." (With ANI inputs) N Chandrasekaran, Tata Group Chairman, on Sunday (January 8) issued the first statement over the whole peeing on an elderly incident in the Air India flight. He admitted on Air India's response to be less swift in the whole incident where a drunk passenger named Shankar Mishra allegedly urinated on a 70-year-old woman on one of its New York-Delhi flight. The fiasco took place on November 26, 2022 and Chairman said the action by the Tata-owned former national airline should have been "much swifter". The accused Shankar Mishra was arrested by the Delhi Police from Bengaluru on Saturday. N Chandrasekaran's statement In a statement, which came days after the aviation regulator DGCA pulled up the Tata Group-owned full service carrier, Chandrasekaran also said that "we fell short of addressing this situation the way we should have." In a shocking incident, an inebriated man allegedly urinated on a female co-passenger, a senior citizen in her seventies, in the business class of Air India New York-New Delhi flight on November 26 last year. "The incident on Air India flight AI102 on November 26, 2022, has been a matter of personal anguish to me and my colleagues at Air India. Air India's response should have been much swifter. We fell short of addressing this situation the way it should have been," Chandrasekaran said in the statement on Sunday. "The Tata group and Air India stand by the safety and well-being of our passengers with full conviction. We will review and repair every process to prevent or address any incidents of such unruly nature," he added in the statement. DGCA's action on Air India DGCA has said Air India's conduct in handling the incident was "unprofessional" and it has issued show cause notices to the airline, its director of in-flight services and the crew that operated the flight. With PTI inputs New Delhi: Priyanka Chopra Jonas hosted a special screening of 'Chhello Show' (Last Film Show), India's official entry for the Academy Awards, for the voters who decide the Oscars in Los Angeles. The screening was followed by a dinner reception in Los Angeles for members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. 'Last Film Show' is one of 15 movies, along with the Korean 'Decision to Leave', Denmark's 'Holy Spider' and Pakistan's 'Joyland', on the Best International Feature Film short list for the 95th Academy Awards. The Los Angeles event was attended by the film's lead actor, Bhavin Rabari, along with director Pan Nalin and producer Dheer Momaya and a host of Academy members. Sharing her thoughts, Priyanka told the guests at the event: "I feel it's a really great time for our movies and I feel so great to be able to always be the shoulders for people from my country, from my industry. Obviously Pan Nalin, he is one of the most prolific filmmakers from our country. He made a movie that I love, 'Angry Indian Goddesses'." She added: "I have been a fan of his since I watched that movie. I was very excited to see 'Last Film Show' that he made with Dheer Momaya, and Siddharth Roy Kapur who is not here. I've done many movies with him. He's also a producer on this movie. So whether I knew them or not I am a fan of 'Last Film Show' and those who have watched it will remember it." Director Pan Nalin and Producers Siddharth Roy Kapur and Dheer Momaya said in a joint statement: "Priyanka is a global icon, a tremendously talented actor and most of all, a very generous person. We are very moved that she extended her support to Last Film Show by hosting this screening. The team was most thrilled by how much she loved the film, especially the performances of the child actors." The film was released by Samuel Goldwyn Films in the U.S. and by Roy Kapur Films in India. Orange Studios is releasing the film in France, while Shochiku Studios and Medusa are bringing it to Japanese and Italian cinemas respectively. LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese clean energy companies took the spotlight at the ongoing 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas with their innovative products and green energy solutions. Clean energy and energy storage solutions have been a focus at the show, which runs from Thursday to Sunday. Chinese clean energy companies attracted lots of attention and interests from visitors, exhibitors and reporters with their innovative solar generators, appliances and clean energy solutions. Jackery, a pioneer in the portable power industry with its manufacturing factories in Shenzhen of Guangdong Province unveiled innovative portable solar generators at CES 2023. Its Solar Generator 3000 Pro, producing a maximum of 8500Wh per day, can provide backup power for five days of outdoor adventures or home emergencies. Jackery also bagged four CES 2023 Innovation Awards for its innovative portable renewable energy solutions. "The pandemic has changed people's lifestyles. A lot of people prefer outdoor activities. Portable solar power generators could offer power for RVs, electric appliances such as microwaves, refrigerators, and BBQ ovens while they are outdoors," Jack Sun, founder and chairman of Jackery, told Xinhua. Jackery's solar power generators feature zero emissions, and are safe and shock-resistant, he said. "We are committed to enhancing innovation and power generation efficiency, and offering advanced green power solutions to global consumers." Global warming calls for urgent efforts to promote renewable energy, which offers significant opportunities for the clean energy industry. EcoFlow, another Chinese portable power and renewable energy company, debuted its whole-home backup power solution and new smart devices at the show, including solar-powered robotic lawn-sweeping mowers, portable air conditioners and fridges. "Rising power bills and extreme weather events have created an increasingly unstable energy situation for many people around the world. The pandemic also created a surge of interest in camping and other outdoor events," said Brian Essenmacher, EcoFlow's head of business development. Brian Beck, a show visitor from Anaheim, California, showed great interest in China-made solar power generators. He told Xinhua he is a beach lover, and always drives his RV to the beach over weekends. "These portable generators are small-sized, convenient and highly efficient, and are very competitive," he said. Ugreen, a Chinese consumer electronics brand, presented its portable power stations and charging products at the show. "It is the first time we participate in CES. We hope to take the opportunity to reach out to more consumers in overseas markets, and offer them our advanced energy management solutions," Beryl Liu, influencer marketing manager of Ugreen, told Xinhua. CES 2023 draws more than 3,700 exhibitors from over 170 countries and regions. Hundreds of Chinese companies are participating in the show, including well-known brands like TCL, Lenovo, and Hisense as well as startups. New Delhi: Twitter head Elon Musk has informed Twitter users that the first part of UI overhaul is coming on the micoblogging site this week. It will allow users to easy swipe right/left to move between recommended vs followed tweets, which he had earlier announced to come on the platform. He further informed that bookmark buttom, which is de facto silent like on Tweet details will be explained a week later. ALSO READ | Huge Lay offs: THESE companies announce to fire their employees in 2023 Twitter will soon allow long form tweets from early next month, according to Elon Musk. Easy swipe right/left to move between recommended vs followed tweets rolls out later this week. First part of a much larger UI overhaul. Bookmark button (de facto silent like) on Tweet details rolls out a week later. Long form tweets early Feb. Elon Musk tweeted on January 8, 2023. Easy swipe right/left to move between recommended vs followed tweets rolls out later this week. First part of a much larger UI overhaul. Bookmark button (de facto silent like) on Tweet details rolls out a week later. Long form tweets early Feb. January 8, 2023 ALSO READ | Ex-Microsoft employee trolled for attending a meeting while getting haircut Twitter plans to expand political ads soon Micro-blogging platform Twitter on Wednesday announced that it is planning to "expand" the political advertising it allows "in the coming weeks". The platform made the announcement from its Twitter Safety account, saying: "Today, we`re relaxing our ads policy for cause-based ads in the US. We also plan to expand the political advertising we permit in the coming weeks. "Moving forward, we will align our advertising policy with that of TV and other media outlets. As with all policy changes, we will first ensure that our approach to reviewing and approving content protects people on Twitter." Several users expressed their thoughts on the platform's announcement. While one user said, "this is actually a good call at Twitter. Kinda shocking", another commented, "translation: Advertisers don`t want to advertise on here anymore so we`re just gonna let the alt-right advertise whatever". Meanwhile, in November 2019, Twitter officially banned all kinds of political ads from its platform, weeks after former CEO Jack Dorsey announced that the theAmicro-blogging site would no longer allow those ads. (With IANS inputs) UP Board Class 12th, Class 10th Exams date sheet 2023: The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) is likely to release the UP Board Class 12th and Class 10th exams date sheet 2023 soon. According to media reports, the timetable for UP Board Intermediate and High School exams is expected to be released in the coming week. However, there has not been any official confirmation on the release of the UP Board Exam Datesheet 2023 yet. Once released, Class 12 and Class 10 students can check the timetable of their board exams on UPMSP's official website at upmsp.edu.in. While a total of 27,50,871 students have registered to appear for the 2023 Class 12th UP Board exams, 31,16,458 students have applied to write the 2023 UP Board Class 10th exams. UP Board exam timetable: Know how to check Class 12, Class 10 date sheet 1. Once released, UP Board Class 12 and Class 10 students can check their date sheets on Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad's official website -- upmsp.edu.in. 2. On the homepage, UP Board Intermediate and High School students need to scroll down and look for the "Important notice and download" section. 3. They then need to search for the "UP Board Class 12 date sheet" or "UP Board Class 10 date sheet" link under the "Important notice and download" section 4. Click on the link and you will be redirected to a new page. 5. The UP Board Class 12th date sheet or UP Board Class 10th date sheet will appear on your mobile or desktop screens. UP Board Exams 2023 datesheet: Intermediate, High School papers to begin in March Looking at the past few years' trends, the 2023 UP Board Class 12th and Class 10th exams are likely to begin in March and conclude in April. In 2021, the UPMSP conducted UP Board Intermediate exams from March to April. UP Board Class 10, Class 12 exams to have 'stitched' answer sheets For the first time, over 58 lakh students -- who have registered to appear in the UP Board high school and intermediate examinations 2023 -- will get stitched answer sheets. UPSMP's move is aimed at preventing the copy mafia from deliberately changing the answer sheets of meritorious students at different exam centers as witnessed in previous years. According to the officials, the decision has been taken after UP Board's experiment to provide stitched answer sheets to 10 sensitive districts, where such practices were feared in 2020, yielded desired results. In the earlier examinations, the copying mafia used to take out the cover page of the usual stapled answer sheets of meritorious students at the centres and put it on the copies of the weaker students in lieu of cash, after the examination was over. In many such cases, the Board has acted against centre managers and teachers besides debarring the guilty schools from the examination over such incidents. To prevent this, it started providing stitched answer sheets to select districts where such practices were reported in 2020. Hyderabad: And no niggling injuries are going to keep director Rohit Shetty down. After sustaining a minor injury on the sets of his directorial `Indian Police Force`, he returned to the shoot in no time. Actor Sidharth Malhotra, who is one of the main headliners of `Indian Police Force`, took to Instagram and shared a video with Rohit post his injury. In the clip, Sidharth can be seen saying, "We have the OG action master here who is back on set after an unfortunate incident." Sidharth further said that it`s not even been 12 hours but he`s a rockstar and is back on set. Rohit thanked his well-wishers in the video. "A true master leads by example. We all know about @itsrohitshetty Sir`s love for action and his passion towards the stunts he directs. Last night while performing a CAR STUNT action piece HIMSELF, he met with an unfortunate accident. After a sleepless night and a minor surgery he`s back on set in less than 12 hours...Sir , you are an inspiration to all of us. Love n Respect," Sidharth captioned the post. Earlier on Saturday, Rohit`s spokesperson issued a statement, sharing the director`s health update. "Rohit Shetty got some minor injury on his fingers while executing an action sequence for his upcoming web series Indian Police Force last night. The injury was immediately treated. And, he resumed his shooting shortly after the incident," the spokesperson said. A few hours later, Rohit shared a picture from the sets and thanked everyone for showing their concern after learning about the mishap. "Another car topple... but this time with stitches on 2 fingers.... Nothing to worry about, I am absolutely fine... thank you so much for your love and concern...Shooting Indian Police force for Amazon Originals in Hyderabad @primevideoin #indianpoliceforce," Rohit wrote. Talking about the web series, the `Indian Police Force` also stars Vivek Oberoi and Shilpa Shetty Kundra in lead roles and will premiere exclusively on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video. New Delhi: A team of narcotics cells squad detained five foreign nationals including a lady all from Nigeria after their visa had allegedly expired from New Delhi`s Neb Sarai area on Saturday, police said. Police said they had started their deportation proceedings. A team of Narcotics Cell Squad comprising Sub Inspector Narender Si Rajaram, ASI Surender, ASI Ramesh, Head Constable Kuldeep, and Captain Arun reached Raju Park, New Delhi for deportation proceedings of overstaying foreign nationals. At about 2:30 pm the team apprehended three African nationals whose visa was expired, police said. "The team was trying to bring them to the Police station, but suddenly around 100 African nationals gathered there and obstructed the police team. In the meantime, two of the detained African Nationals managed to escape. One was successfully apprehended," police said. He was identified as Philip (22), a resident of Lagos, Nigeria."Again at about 6.30 pm, a joint team of the Narcotics squad and Police Station from Neb Sarai reached Raju Park in search of the foreign Nationals overstaying in India and detained 4 African nationals including one lady," police said. The detained foreign nationals, all residents of Nigeria have been identified as knee Chukwu (53) -whose passport was seized, Igwe Emmanuel Chimezie (33)-no documents produced by him, Aziegbe John (24)-efforts are being made to trace his document and Queen Godwin (26)-Visa expired, police added."But again around 150-200 African nationals gathered there. They were also trying to help the detained African Nationals to escape but after sustained efforts, the police team succeeded in bringing them to Police Station Neb Sarai," police said. "The deportation proceedings of detained foreign Nationals have been started," police said. In a big revelation related to the Delhi car dragging case, the accused have reportedly admitted that they knew that the deceased Anjali was stuck under the car and they flee from the spot due to fear after the accident. The accused have told police during interrogation that after fleeing from the spot and travelling some distance, they realized that the girl's body was stuck under the car and thus they took repeated u-turns trying to get rid of the body. The accused informed police that they took four u-turns covering a distance of around 50 km in a stretch of just 13 km in two hours, so to avoid police barricades and checking at the Haryana Border. They also accepted that sometimes they drove the car very fast as well. During this, the accused were continuously talking on the phone to Ashutosh, at whose house they had later parked the car, they told police. Meanwhile, a Delhi court yesterday granted bail to Ankush Khanna who allegedly shielded the accused in the Kanjhawala accident case. Metropolitan Magistrate Sanya Dalal granted the relief to Khanna, who had surrendered on Friday, after observing that the charges against him were bailable. The judge noted that according to the investigating officer, Khanna had in his statement to the police said that accused Deepak was driving the vehicle. However, according to the investigation conducted so far, it has been found that the accused Amit was driving. Anjali Singh, 20, was killed in the early hours of the New Year after her scooter was hit by a car which dragged her for 12 km from Sultanpuri to Kanjhawala. Her friend fell to the side and fled the spot after the accident because she was "scared". Police had earlier arrested Deepak Khanna (26), Amit Khanna (25), Krishan (27), Mithun (26), and Manoj Mittal in the case. Later, they zeroed in on Ashutosh, who was arrested on Friday, and Ankush Khanna for allegedly shielding the accused. (With agency inputs) BSEB matric admit card 2023: The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has released the admit card for the Bihar Board class 10th or Matric exam 2023, today, January 9, 2023. The head of the schools can download the BSEB Class 10 admit card 2023 by visiting the official website of the Board at secondary.biharboardonline.com and biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in. The board has directed the school authorities to download and distribute the BSEB matric admit card 2023 till January 15. The board has directed the school authorities to download and distribute the Bihar board 10th admit card to students from January 8 to 15, 2023. The Bihar Board practical examinations will be held from January 19, 21, 2023 while the BSEB class 10 exams will be held from February 14 to February 22, 2023. BSEB Class 10th Admit Card 2023: Steps to download here Below are the steps through which candidates can download the admit card. Visit the official website, biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in or secondary.biharboardonline.com. Now, look for the link that reads, Bihar Board 10th admit card 2023. Enter the school code, Candidates Name, Fathers Name, and Date of Birth (dd/MM/yyyy). Now, Click on the Search button. Your BSEB matric admit card 2023 will be displayed on the screen. Download it and take a printout of it for future reference. The students are required to carry their Bihar board admit card 2023 for class 10 to their exam halls without fail. The BSEB class 10 exams will be held in 2 shifts, the morning shift will be from 9:30 AM to 12:45 PM and afternoon shift will be from 1:45 PM to 5 PM. The Bihar exam results for class 10 board exams will be declared in March or April 2023. BSEB released the class 12th admit card for practical examinations on January 4, 2023. Kottayam: In the wake of bird flu cases being reported in the state, Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Sunday said there was no cause for concern, but precautions need to be taken for preventing transmission of the infection to humans. The Minister, according to a government release, said that all districts have been alerted and everyone should follow directions issued by the Health department. The release said that the Health department was monitoring for fever and other symptoms among people in the affected areas. Symptoms of the infection in humans include severe upper back pain, fever, cough, shortness of breath, cold, and blood in the sputum, it said. Those at risk of the infection should get in touch with the nearest health center or a doctor on noticing any of these symptoms or if they have respiratory problems, the release said. It also said that bird flu or avian influenza is an infectious viral disease found in birds that are not usually transmitted to humans. But it can infect in rare cases due to a mutation in the virus, it said. Also read: H3N2 virus causing spike in flu in Delhi-NCR: Expert Therefore, those who come into contact with birds -- infected and healthy -- should take preventive measures like wearing gloves, and face masks and washing hands frequently, the release said. The disease can affect all kinds of birds like chicken, duck, quail, goose, turkey, and ornamental birds, it said. On Saturday, bird flu was confirmed in one of the wards of Chempu panchayat in the Kottayam district and 1,317 birds, including ducks, chickens, and love birds were culled. Revenue, health, police, panchayat, and animal protection departments worked jointly to cull the birds and scientifically destroy the remains, the district administration said in a release. (With inputs from PTI) Chinese Lunar New Year is celebrated in China for thousands of years and is a major holiday. This year the Chinese New Year is on January 22, 2023. The Chinese New Year is also called Spring Festival. The festivities continue for two weeks between a New Moon and the next full Moon. In Asia, the festival is celebrated in various forms of activities and comes to an end with a lantern festival. What is Chinese New Year? The Chinese New Year is among the most solemn festival in China. People celebrate it in order to remove the bad and old, and to welcome the new and the good. The Chinese community celebrates this festival with lion dance, dragon dance, temple fairs, flower market shopping and other activities. The most interesting experience of Chinese New Year is watching parades in Chinatown and having mouth-watering meals with the family. The families reunite to celebrate the occasion, while those working aboard return home to celebrate with their families. People hangs the 'Door Gods' pictures. The Door Gods are the guardians of an entrance and are believed to be popular Gods for ancient Chinese people. People decorate their houses in bright colours including red which is considered Good luck, while children are handed over money in red envelopes. Each year is associated with one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. This year is the Year of Rabbit. New Delhi: A teenage girl has been arrested by police in Delhi for shooting a 50-year-old woman. The victim, Khursheeda, was taken to the GTB hospital for treatment and is reportedly in stable condition. The incident occurred on Saturday evening when the girl entered Khursheeda's grocery store and shot her with a pistol. According to a senior police official, the alleged shooter is between 16 and 17 years old and had previously filed a report with police accusing Khursheeda's son of rape. Rape survivor shot woman at her grocery shop "On enquiry, it was found that Khursheeda runs a grocery shop and a girl aged between 16 or 17 years came into the shop and shot her with a pistol. Primary enquiry further revealed that the alleged girl had registered a case under Section 328 (administering stupefying drug with intent to cause hurt etc.), 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code and four POCSO Act against son of Khursheeda in 2021," said the official. Victim undergoing treatment The police said that the woman is undergoing treatment at the GTB hospital and her condition is stable. When the police arrived at the scene, the injured woman had already been taken to JPC Hospital by locals. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the alleged shooter had registered a case under Section 328 (administering a stupefying drug with intent to cause hurt) and Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code, as well as four POCSO Act, charges against Khursheeda's son in 2021. Also Read: Delhi SHOCKER: 5-year-old girl kidnapped outside her home and raped; accused captured on CCTV The teenage girl has been apprehended by police and the weapon used in the shooting has been recovered. The victim has received primary treatment at JPC hospital and has been transferred to GTB hospital for further care. Legal action is being initiated in response to the incident. This tragic event highlights the importance of addressing issues of sexual assault and the need for justice for survivors. (With IANS inputs) New Delhi: As per the latest order issued by the Directorate of Education, private schools in Delhi will remain closed till January 15, 2023. The order has been issued today, January 8 by Delhi Government. Noida Schools will remain closed till January 14, 2023. As per the orders issued by the District Magistrate of Gautam Buddha Nagar, Schools in Noida will remain closed for Classes 1 to 8 till January 14, 2023 due to the cold wave. ANI tweeted, All private schools of Delhi are advised to remain closed till 15th January 2023 in wake of cold wave prevailing in Delhi: Directorate of Education, Government of Delhi. All private schools of Delhi are advised to remain closed till 15th January 2023 in wake of cold wave prevailing in Delhi: Directorate of Education, Government of Delhi pic.twitter.com/1Jd4qrkris ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2023 According to a previous directive, all government schools in Delhi operated by the Directorate of Education would be closed from 1 January to 15 January 2023 for the winter break. Additionally, remedial sessions will be held during this time, according to the state government. Students in classes 9 through 12 will attend remedial sessions between January 2 and January 14, 2023. Remedial lessons are intended to update the curriculum and raise students' academic performance. Riyadh: According to the most recent data, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has maintained its sixth place among the world's top sovereign wealth funds with assets worth $607.42 billion. According to data provided by the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, China Investment Corp. is at the top of the list with $1.350 trillion in assets, followed by Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Norway Government Pension Fund Global, which have $1.13 trillion and $790 billion in assets, respectively. Kuwait Investment Authority comes in at number four with assets of $750 billion, followed by Singapore's GIC Private Limited at number five with $690 billion. Also Read: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2023: Significance of Diaspora in Indian Economy According to data from the SWF Institute, global sovereign wealth funds' total assets reached $10.30 trillion by the end of 2022, up from $10.12 trillion in September 2022. The PIF is currently driving Saudi Arabia's economic diversification process and is essential to achieving the objectives set forth in the Vision 2030 of the Kingdom. The PIF currently owns more than 54 businesses across ten different industries, and it has produced more than 500,000 direct and indirect jobs. PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan stated earlier in November that the fund intends to expand employment opportunities. "We intend to generate 1.8 million high-quality jobs. The quality of these figures and the jobs we are looking at are just as important, according to Al-Rumayyan. Also Read: Decline in Taiwan exports is expected to continue into the first quarter for the fourth consecutive month By the end of this decade, PIF's assets are expected to total between $2 and $3 trillion, according to Al-statement Rumayyan's from October. "By 2025, we hope to reach $1 trillion. And since our assets are currently less than $700 billion, we still need to raise another $400 billion, according to Al-Rumayyan, who spoke with the Thmanyah podcast. "Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is determined to reach it," he continued. "We have a complete plan from now until 2030 on how to reach a trillion and reach between $2 and $3 trillion." Also Read: 2023 Global economy strong despite challenges PIF also established the Saudi Coffee Co. and the Halal Products Development Co. in 2022. The HPDC wants to turn the Kingdom into a leading global halal hub, while Saudi Coffee Co. wants to develop sustainable coffee production in the southern Jazan region, which is home to the renowned Coffea Arabica. New Delhi: Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena nominated Satya Sharma as the protem presiding officer of a Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) meeting by the process of elimination from a list of six names sent to him by the AAP government, Raj Niwas officials said on Saturday. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote a letter to Saxena on Friday, accusing him of "blatant misuse of powers" in matters of appointment of a presiding officer and an alderman to the MCD. "Elected government is supposed to nominate MCD aldermen. It was shocking and saddening how LG dictated his pickings without consulting the government. "The tradition of appointment of senior most councillor as presiding officer was thrown to the winds and elected government's power of appointing presiding officer infringed by the LG," Kejriwal had alleged in the letter to Saxena. My letter to Honble LG Pl allow the elected govt to fulfil dreams of 2 cr people. Lets respect the Constitution. Lets strengthen democracy. pic.twitter.com/UIHxmoPI6Q Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 6, 2023 "Contrary to the claims being made by the chief minister and his colleagues in the Aam Aadmi Party, the Delhi LG scrupulously adhered to the constitutional provisions, Acts and statutes while nominating the interim (protem) presiding officer for the newly-elected MCD," a statement issued by the LG's office said. Saxena did not nominate Sharma as the presiding officer out of thin air, it added. Sharma's name, along with those of five other councillors, was sent to the LG by the MCD or the AAP government for consideration to be selected as the presiding officer, the statement said. The other names were Mukesh Goel, Preeti, Shakeela Begum, Hemchand Goel and Neema Bhagat. Despite the LG enjoying unbound legal discretion to select any councillor who was not in the race for the post of mayor or deputy mayor, he selected Sharma from the six names sent to him through the chief minister and the deputy chief minister on the basis of the universally-accepted process of elimination, the statement said. Mukesh Goel, a five-time councillor, was eliminated because of an investigation into a charge against him of "seeking Rs 1 crore for a party ticket in the recently-concluded MCD election", it added. Preeti was eliminated because of the criminal cases pending against her. Begum and Hemchand Goel were eliminated on the basis of their educational qualification. Begum has not studied beyond Class 5 and Goel is a high-school graduate, the statement said. Between Bhagat (MA) and Sharma (BA), both from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the latter was selected because of her prior experience of serving as a mayor. The statement said section 77(a) of the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, 1957, which deals with the appointment of a "presiding officer at meeting for the election of mayor", stipulates that the "administrator" will nominate a councillor to the post. It is unequivocally provided for vide section 2(1) of the Act that the "administrator" means the LG, they added. The LG, who is the "administrator", has nominated 10 people in pursuance of the powers vested in him vide section 3(3)(b)(i) of the Act, the statement said. Section 3(3)(b)(i) of the Act says: "10 persons who are not less than 25 years of age and who have special knowledge or experience in municipal administration, to be nominated by the administrator." This is the factual, legal and constitutional position and any attempt to deviate from it or create confusion regarding it by the AAP is nothing but its "characteristic politics of deceit, blatant lies and deliberate attempts at misleading" people, the statement said. Mumbai: Bhagat Singh Koshyari, the Governor of Maharashtra, has expressed his unhappiness in his role as Governor and his desire for the government to create a "Ministry of Pilgrimage" similar to the Ministry of Tourism. During an event for the Jain community, Koshyari stated that he feels sad and unhappy as Governor, but finds joy and peace when he meets with spiritual leaders. As quoted by the news agency ANI, he said, "I feel sad, not happy." But he stated, "when I meet spiritual leaders, it elevates my mind and brings joy and peace." He requested the govt to form 'Ministry of Pilgrimage' Koshyari went on to request that the government consider establishing a "Ministry of Pilgrimage" to promote and support the pilgrimage industry. He said, "I request the government to form a pilgrimage ministry like the 'Ministry of Tourism' because pilgrimage has its own dignity." The Governor did not elaborate on the reasons for his unhappiness in his role as Governor. Also Read: Will show BJP what Maharashtra is about: Uddhav Thackeray warns to remove Governor over Shivaji remark Koshyari has courted several controversies during his tenure. Recently, he was criticized by the state government for saying that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is considered a hero from the past, and in the present, the state may consider figures such as Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Nitin Gadkari as their heroes. The "Holy Jain Pilgrimage Darshan Circuit" was inaugurated at the Raj Bhavan by the State Tourism Department during the event. The Tourism Minister and a member of the Vaishnodevi Temple board were also in attendance. The inauguration of the pilgrimage circuit was intended to promote the Jain community's spiritual and cultural heritage, as well as boost tourism in the region. Varanasi: Excitement is high among the people of Varanasi over the Ganga Vilas Cruise which is scheduled to be virtually flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi on January 13. The cruise will cover a distance of nearly 4,000 km in 50 days. It will pass through the rivers of India and Bangladesh to reach Dibrugarh in Assam. It will have halts near important cities like Patna, Kolkata, and Dhaka, officials said. 'A milestone for Indian tourism' "The Ganga Vilas cruise will have foreign nationals and it will send a message to the people of the world on India`s tourism and this cruise will be very helpful in attracting tourists," said Sunil Upadhyay, a resident of Varanasi. "History is being created in the tourism sector. This is the longest water ride in the world. The previous governments had not given much importance to the water transport sector. The Ganga Vilas will be sending the message of unity and Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat to the rest of the world," said Arvind Mishra, another local. Terming it as a gift to Kashi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a local Kaushal Kumar Singh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has increased the pride of Varanasi with this Ganga Vilas Cruise. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed the entire picture of Varanasi ever since he became a Member of Parliament from this constituency. Tourism has been developed in Varanasi as a big industry," said Kaushal Pandey, another resident. Worlds longest river cruise from Varanasi on River Ganga to Dibrugarh on River Brahmaputra. Boarding: 10th January. Will reach Dibrugarh on 01st March. This cruise goes via: Patna, Kolkata, Dhaka, Dhubri, Guwahati, Majuli Island.#NewIndia #GangaVilasCruise pic.twitter.com/XoFxcSiWr8 Sunil Deodhar (@Sunil_Deodhar) January 6, 2023 A 50-day cruise journey from Varanasi to Dibrugarh The cruise will have a capacity of 80 passengers with 18 suits. The cruise will set off from Varanasi and reach Patna and Kolkata. Following this, it will set off for Bangladesh, re-enter India, and end its journey in Dibrugarh of Assam. The Cruise through its journey of 50 days, will be stopping at more than 50 places including several world heritage sites, according to officials. It will also pass through several national parks and sanctuaries during the stretch of its journey. Over a year after blasts shook Ludhiana court killing one person and injuring six others, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said in its chargesheet that Pakistan-based International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) and Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) terrorist handler Lakhbir Singh Rode is the mastermind behind the planned attack. The NIA said that Rode had planned to execute Improvised Explosive Device blasts at various locations in Punjab including December 23, 2021, Ludhiana court complex blast. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) chargesheet also states that Rode, in association with Pakistan-based smugglers, recruited India-based operatives to smuggle IEDs and to carry out blasts to cause maximum casualties and to strike terror among the general public to execute these plans. In furtherance of the conspiracy to carry out IED blasts in Punjab, it further said, Rode, with the help of Zulfikar alias Pehalwan, a Pakistan based Cross-border Arms-Explosives-Narcotics smuggler, Harpreet Singh alias Happy Malaysia, Surmukh Singh alias Sammu, Dilbagh Singh and Rajanpreet Singh, formed a terror gang to carry out blasts and smuggle weapons into India. Rode used the smuggling channels of Pakistan-based smuggler Zulfikar and his associates - Surmukh Singh and Harpreet Singh to deliver the IED to Gagandeep Singh who planted it to cause the blast in Ludhiana Court Complex and lost his life in the process. The NIA filed the chargesheet against five accused in the Ludhiana court complex blast case on Saturday before a special NIA Court in Punjab's Mohali. Those named in the chargesheet are Gagandeep Singh, Surmukh Singh, Dilbag Singh, Rajanpreet Singh, and Zulfikar. The accused persons chargesheeted under sections 120-B and 113 r/w 307,326, 436, 109 r/w 302 r/w 301 of Indian Penal Code, Sections 6 r/w 3, 4 Explosive Substance Act 1908, Sections 16, 18, 20 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Sections 4 Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act 1984. The case was initially registered on December 23, 2021, at Division -5 Police Station in Ludhiana Commissionerate, Punjab and re-registered by the NIA on January 13 last year. New Delhi: This year it's not just Gulmarg but all of Jammu and Kashmir's tourist destinations are witnessing a tourist boom amid sub-zero temperatures. With the onset of winter, the Kashmir Valley is seeing a huge increase in the footfall of tourists. Not only the world-famous ski resort Gulmarg -- which is fully packed during the winter season-- but other destinations like Pahalgam, Sonamarg, and even houseboats in Dal lake are crowded despite chilly weather. "We have great expectations from the winter season. Gulmarg is packed but traditionally Gulmarg has always been a winter destination. But now we are seeing tourists heading to other destinations like Pahalgam, Doodhpathri, Yousmarg, and Sonamarg," Deeba Khalid, Deputy Director of Tourism, said. "We are planning winter activities there as well so that more tourists are attracted to these places," she added. Khalid said that they are also promoting winter tourism because there are tourists who want to experience snow and Kashmir has that potential. "We are getting a lot of queries for other destinations. We have a very aggressive publicity plan, and we are showcasing Kashmir globally as well," she said. "We are having winter treks in Naranag and Marjoi for people interested in adventure travel," Khalid added. The houseboats on the Dal Lake used to be empty during the freezing temperatures but for the first time this year, the houseboats are fully booked as well. The temperatures have touched below minus 6 degrees Celsius and parts of the lake have frozen. "It's the most beautiful place, the winter is something else here," a tourist from Maharashtra said. "I don't think this can be experienced at any other place in India. It's stunning," she added. "Kashmir is called heaven on earth and it's a paradise and I agree with the saying. I had a fascination for snowfall and I wanted to come in winter and after coming here I felt my decision was not wrong," a tourist from West Bengal expressed. "They (officials) have done a great job while hosting tourists in the winters during freezing temperatures," she said. Lucknow: A Samajwadi Party office bearer was arrested here on Sunday for allegedly making indecent and derogatory remarks on social media, police said. Angry over Manish Jagan Agarwal's arrest, scores of Samajwadi Party workers gathered outside the Uttar Pradesh Police headquarters in Lucknow, demanding his immediate release. SP leader and former Leader of Opposition in UP Legislative Council Sunil Lathar told PTI that Mr Agarwal is associated with the party's social media cell. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav too has reached the place. Assistant CP, Hazratganj, Arvind Kumar Verma told PTI, "Manish Jagan Agarwal has been arrested for making indecent and derogatory remarks on social media. He was arrested on Sunday morning. A case was registered against him on January 4 under the IT Act. "In a tweet in Hindi, the Samajwadi Party said, "Honourable national president (of Samajwadi Party) Akhilesh Yadav has reached police headquarters, Lucknow. There is no responsible ('jimmedaar') person at the headquarters." The party's official Twitter handle also posted photographs of Yadav, SP leader Rajendra Chaudhary and others at the police headquarters. SP's chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary, who is also present at the place, told PTI, "So far, no person has met us here (at the UP police headquarters). SP's national president Akhilesh Yadav is at the UP Police Headquarters. We are trying to ascertain the reason for which SP worker Manish Jagan Agarwal has been arrested." The party termed the arrest of Agarwal as "condemnable" and "shameful", demanding he be released immediately. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accusing him of trying to divide Hindus. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said that it's in the DNA of Congress to divide and rule. He said that it's the same Congress which coined the saffron terror term and mocked Hindu Astha. Poonawala was reacting to Rahul Gandhi's remark that the BJP and the RSS don't respect 'Tapasvis'. "Congress has DNA of Divide & Rule & they are dividing Hindus again! They have been attempting to divide the country time and again, dividing it into the lines of the communal issue, dividing it into caste lines, and now the latest is their disgusting attempt to divide Hindus. Be it 'Tapasvi' or 'Pujari', both are important. Hindu religion is Sanatan religion. But Rahul Gandhi says -yeh desh Tapasviyon ka samman nahi karta, ye desh pujariyon ka nahi hai. Respect Tapasya and Tapasvis but why denigrate Pujaris for this? It shows his mentality....This is the same Congress party that termed Hindutva as ISIS and Boko Haram. They called Hindu dirty and terrorists. Congress has always mocked Hindu Astha - from saffron clothes to questioning the existence of Shri Ram!" said Poonawala. Congress has DNA of Divide & Rule & they are dividing Hindus again! Rahul Gandhi says yeh desh Tapasvi ka hai;Pujariyon ka nahi hai Respect Tapasya but why denigrate Pujaris? Congress always mocks Hindu Astha - from saffron clothes to questioning existence of Shri Ram! pic.twitter.com/QyUvZ0sB9E Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) January 8, 2023 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today said the BJP and the RSS do not respect 'tapasya' but want the people who do their 'pooja' (worship) to be respected only. Gandhi said the Yatra's purpose is also to let people hear the true voice of the country. "BJP is a 'sangthan of pooja', " he claimed, adding both the BJP and the RSS want people to 'worship' their leaders. "RSS wants they be forcibly worshipped. (PM Narendra) Modi ji wants this, that is why he does not meet you (media), that he be worshipped forcibly and all people in the country should worship him," Gandhi alleged. He further said, "The BJP and the RSS say there should not be respect of 'tapasya' and those who do their 'pooja' (worship), only they should be respected. Did demonetisation respect the 'tapasya' of the poor? Certainly not. It was an attack on 'tapasya." Kolkata: A Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator on Saturday stoked controversy by calling the ruling party in West Bengal a "company" and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a "brand". The comment drew sarcastic remarks from BJP leaders, who said he has "spoken the truth", while the TMC tried to downplay his comment, saying his choice of words was inappropriate but his intent wasn't. Howrah North MLA Goutam Chowdhury, while addressing a press conference, said, "Didi (as Banerjee is popularly called) is the brand with whom none else can be equated." "The TMC is a company whose brand is our leader, our Didi, Mamata Banerjee. We are non-entities. One can say we are medical representatives of a pharmaceutical firm. Didi is everything," Chowdhury said. He was among TMC leaders holding press meets on 'Didir Suraksha Kavach' outreach programme, and was speaking on how Banerjee reached out to people with the welfare projects. Reacting to the comment, BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said, "Everyone knows Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee are everything in the TMC. No one else has a voice. Chowdhury has unwittingly affirmed that truth once again." TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, however, said, "Chowdhury wanted to talk about the popularity of Mamata Banerjee but his choice of words was not appropriate. He has been cautioned to be more careful in the future while speaking." Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari had on several occasions earlier called TMC a private limited company and Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee as its director and managing director respectively. "There is only one post in the TMC, others are lamp posts," he had earlier said, alluding to Mamata Banerjee. TMC has organised district and assembly constituency-level press meets on the outreach programme in the last few days. Addressing a press conference in Rashbehari assembly constituency, Kolkata Dakshin MP Mala Roy said, "We have seen instances of people unable to get benefits of government schemes either due to technical error or some mistakes in their application." "In order to address these issues, 'Didir doots' (messengers of Didi) will reach out to every household and solve the problems so that people don't face delay in availing government benefits," she added. Rashbehari MLA Debashish Kumar, after unveiling the logo of the outreach programme, said 15 schemes including Khadya Sathi, Banglar Awas Yojana, Nijo Griha Nijo Bhumi, Swasthya Sathi, Kanyashree, Sikshashree, Aikyashree, Student Credit Card, Lakshmir Bhandar, Krishak Bandhu, Samajik Suraksha Yojana, Manabik Pension, Jai Bangla Pension Scheme, Bidhaba Bhata and Yuvashree will be covered under the outreach programme. Addressing another press conference in Kashipur-Belgachhia assembly constituency, local MLA Atin Ghosh said TMC leaders, including lawmakers, will spend 10 nights each in rural areas, listening to people's grievances. They will cover 3,343 anchal (region) across the state over the next two months. The TMC will start the campaign on January 11. TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had earlier said party workers will reach out to people across the state and ensure everyone avails the welfare schemes of the state government. Panchayat elections are due in the state this year. Indonesia's newly approved criminal code had many touristsand tourism sector scared with its law to ban sex outside marriage. Indonesia's parliament on December 6, 2022 passed a colonial-era criminal code, that includes a ban on sex outside marriage for everyone including visitors. Under the new system, the lawbreakers can face a punishment of up to one year in jail or fines. The recently passed legislation had the tourism sector, which is still recovering from Covid-19 blowback, worried that visitors might want to cancel their trip to island nation. The new code even forbids unmarried couples from living together, while there was a possibility of harassment including raid on hotel rooms if the couple chooses to stay together in a hotel room on their trip. Now, to tourists and tourism sectors relief the governor of Bali has announced that tourist will not be booked under the new criminal code. He said that the authorities will not be checking the marital status of tourists visiting the island. The criminal code includes laws restricting human rights and civil liberties, penalty for defaming the country's president, spreading fake news and committing religious blasphemy. However, it may take almost three years for the law to gradually take effect, giving plenty of time to draft regulations. The country is expecting to see tourism reach pre-pandemic levels by 2025. However, with the criminal code in place, the country might have faced a huge setback. The national tourism board is even calling it a "totally counter-productive." Chairman of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agency Bali, I Putu Winastra, said, "Especially in European countries, many people live together without getting married and even have children. We must protect their privacy." New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his admiration for a student named KM Diya, who shared a poem about exams on Twitter. The poem was tweeted by the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, a school system in India. In response, Modi tweeted that "stress-free exams are the best exams." He also mentioned that he will discuss this topic and more during the 6th edition of "Pariksha Pe Charcha," an annual event where Modi interacts with students, teachers, and parents about ways to reduce exam stress. The event will be held on January 27 at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. Registration for Pariksha Pe Charcha 2023 witnesses increase This year, registration for "Pariksha Pe Charcha" saw a significant increase compared to previous years, with over 38.8 lakh (3.8 million) participants, including students, teachers, and parents, from 150 countries. About 2,050 participants, selected through the creative writing competitions on MyGov, will be presented with a special `Pariksha Pe Charcha` kit comprising the English and Hindi versions of the book `Exam Warriors`, written by the Prime Minister Modi and a certificate. Also Read: 'Inspiring to see...', Satya Nadella says THIS on his meeting with PM Modi LISTEN TO HER POEM HERE: Very creative! Stress free exams are the best exams. We shall discuss this and more during #ParikshaPeCharcha2023 on the 27th of this month. https://t.co/12RCaDMWOk Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 7, 2023 What is the goal of Pariksha Pe Charcha? The goal of "Pariksha Pe Charcha" is to help students overcome exam anxiety and find ways to approach exams in a stress-free manner. It is an opportunity for students, teachers, and parents to interact with the Prime Minister and discuss their concerns about exams and life after school. The event has been well received in the past and is seen as a unique opportunity for students to engage with the government and share their experiences and ideas. (With ANI inputs) Ukrainian military denies 600 of its troops killed in Russian revenge attack 8 January, 07:25 PM Consequences of the attack of Russian troops on Kramatorsk on the night of January 8, 2023 (Photo:REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne) Russia's Ministry of Defence has claimed 600 Ukrainian troops were killed in Kramatorsk on Jan. 8, calling it a "revenge operation" for a Ukrainian attack thought to have killed hundreds of mobilized Russian troops in the Russian-occupied town of Makiyivka. The Russian ministry gave no evidence for its claim, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces has denied that the so-called revenge operation even happened. Read also: Russian agent gets 14 years in jail for spying on Ukrainian positions in Kramatorsk The Russian ministry on Jan. 8 claimed it had located temporary positions of Ukrainian troops in two college dormitories in Kramatorsk city in Donetsk Oblast. Video of day "There were over 700 Ukrainian troops in one of them and over 600 in the other," the message reads. They also wrote about "missile strikes" on them. Serhiy Cherevaty, a spokesman for the Ukrainian army, commenting on these claims to Suspilne TV, said they were untrue. The Russians are not capable of highly precise strikes, he said, and speculated that the Russians were simply carrying out an information operation. "This information is no more true than their claims of all our HIMARS being destroyed, Cherevaty said. Russia has made many claims to have destroyed Ukrainian HIMARS precision rocket systems so many, in fact, that the number of systems Russia claims to have destroyed is more than the number actually supplied to Ukraine. Read also: Kramatorsk under Russian artillery strikes This is an information operation of Russia's Ministry of Defense in response to the successful actions of the Ukrainian Army in eliminating large concentrations of personnel, their warehouses, logistics with our high-precision destruction systems. They have no such capability," Cherevaty went on. The mayor of Kramatorsk, Oleksandr Honcharenko, confirmed that there had been a Russian missile strike against the city on Jan. 8 overnight. He said two educational facilities, eight residential buildings and garages were damaged, but luckily no deaths or injuries had been reported. Reuters journalists visited the two college dormitories the Russian Defense Ministry had mentioned, neither of which had been seriously damaged by the missile attacks. "There were no obvious signs that soldiers had been living there, and no sign of bodies or traces of blood," the news agency wrote. Earlier, on New Year's Eve, Ukraine's military hit a college building in Makiyivka housing mobilized Russian troops. Infographics: NV Russian Igor Girkin, a military blogger convicted of mass murder of the passengers and crew of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, claimed hundreds of Russian troops were eliminated as a result of the strike. The massive losses were caused by the detonation of ammunition stored in the same buildings, he said. The ammunition detonated after the building was hit by HIMARS rockets. Read also: Kramatorsk woman charged with spying for Russia The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed the death of 89 troops in the Ukrainian attack, and said the mass use of mobile phones by the soldiers was to blame for their deaths, as this had allowed Ukraine to establish their location. Read also: Russian troops fired rockets at Kramatorsk overnight Cherevaty called the Russian version of events ridiculous. He said the Russians had failed to hide the location of the ammunition stores that Ukraine had attacked. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Sagar Island: The beach within 500-metre of the Kapil Muni temple, the centre of the Gangasagar Mela, has been facing steady erosion, prompting the West Bengal government to take measures to prevent deterioration of the shoreline, an official said on Saturday. Some "temporary arrangements" have already been made in view of the nine-day Mela which attracts lakhs of pilgrims starting on Sunday, while long-term measures will be taken up after the congregation is over. The official said that erosion in this part is natural and it happens due to the reduction of the tidal prism (the volume of water in an estuary between mean high tide and mean low tide), and associated chain effects, but Cyclone Yaas in May 2021 had aggravated the situation there. ALSO READ- Panic grips Joshimath as roads, homes develop massive cracks due to land subsidence: IN PICS "The beach near the Kapil Muni ashram had vanished due to erosion. It's around 450 metres away from the temple. Three roads near the temple are also vulnerable. But there is no need to worry. We have taken up a pilot project and restored the beach keeping in mind the Makar Sankranti congregation," he told PTI. Mahanta Sanjay Das, the head priest of Kapil Muni temple in Sagar Island, said the West Bengal government is working on the problem. "Water is gradually approaching the ashram. The Centre's cooperation is also needed," he said. Apart from the Mela area, erosion has been witnessed in Bankimnagar, Sumatinagar and Shibpur areas of the Island and the administration has taken steps to arrest it. ALSO READ- TMC MLA calls Mamata Banerjee 'brand', party 'company'; BJP reacts "We have used trap bags on the beach near the Kapil Muni Ashram. We have covered at least 475 metres of the area there. If this is successful, we have plans to use this method to arrest erosion there," the official said. Trap bags, better than conventional sandbags, are used to prevent flood and erosion. "The eroded portion of the beach has been first filled up with earth and then with sand-filled geotextile bags. The trap bags have been placed afterwards to prevent erosion and make the restoration strong enough to fight high tide," he added. An irrigation department official said these are temporary measures, and once the Mela is over, the administration is going to take up placing tetrapods in those places where erosion is "high" to stop further deterioration of the beach. A tetrapod is a form of wave-dissipating concrete block used to prevent erosion. "At the moment we are unable to use tetrapods keeping in mind the safety and security of the pilgrims since these are concrete-built,? the irrigation department official said. These tetrapods have been successfully used in Frazerganj and Digha to arrest shoreline erosion, he added. Lakhs of Hindu pilgrims gather in Sagar Island from different parts of the country and outside to take a holy dip at the confluence of the sacred Ganga and the Bay of Bengal on the occasion of 'Makar Sankranti'. Mumbai: Former media executive Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the murder of her daughter Sheena Bora, on Friday urged a special CBI court to procure CCTV footage of the Guwahati Airport, saying two lawyers had "spotted" a woman resembling Bora this week. Mukerjea (51), currently out on bail, has made the request to the court in a petition which is supported by affidavits of the lawyers who claimed to have come across a woman looking like Bora on Thursday morning. The court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file its response to Mukerjea's plea. Bora (24) was allegedly strangled to death in a moving car by Mukerjea, her then-driver Shyamvar Rai and former husband Sanjeev Khanna in April 2012, apparently over a monetary dispute, according to the CBI. Also Read: Mumbai court rejects daughters wish to stay with her mother Indrani Mukerjea Her body was allegedly burnt in a forest in the neighbouring Raigad district. Bora was Mukerjea's daughter from a previous relationship. The alleged murder came to light in 2015 after Rai was arrested in another case. While I was on a flight, I came across a woman who resembled Sheena Bora. To clear my doubt I cross-checked with my colleague & then we both planned to record my video in a way so that the woman too gets recorded in the background: Advocate Saveena Bedi Sachar pic.twitter.com/oxEoldYFhf ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2023 Indrani Mukerjea's husband and former media baron Peter Mukerjea was also arrested in the case for allegedly being a part of the conspiracy. He was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in February 2020, while Indrani Mukerjea got relief in May last year from the Supreme Court. Mumbai: Bollywood`s `Big B` had to brace an army of trolls taking jibes at him over a `horrible error` he made while posting to Twitter. Actor Amitabh Bachchan recently took to Twitter to apologize for mislabeling the `T numbers` on his posts. "T 4515 - A HORRIBLE ERROR ! all my T numbers have gone wrong right from the last right one T 4514 ..( this is correct ) .. everything after is wrong .." the `Baghban` actor wrote. "T 5424,5425,5426,4527, 5428, 5429, 5430 .. all wrong .. they should be T4515,4516,4517,4518,4519 4520,452 APOLGIES !!," he added. See his tweet T 4515 - A HORRIBLE ERROR ! all my T numbers have gone wrong right from the last right one T 4514 ..( this is correct ) .. everything after is wrong .. T 5424,5425,5426,4527, 5428, 5429, 5430 .. all wrong .. they should be T4515,4516,4517,4518,4519 4520,4521 APOLGIES !! Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) January 7, 2023 Netizens had a number of hilarious and sarcastic reactions to the `Sholay` actor`s post. "Thanks for the clarification sir. I was really worried as the order was wrong and due to that my balance sheet was not getting tallied," a user wrote. "Thanks for clearing this out sir. I was unable to sleep," another user wrote. Another user wrote, "Market crash karegi Kal ab!" (Now the market would crash tomorrow!). See the netizens reaction Sir, spelling of apologies is wrong, please correct it in T 4516 Dr Nimo Yadav (@niiravmodi) January 7, 2023 This is really a horrible error Sir, but still not that horrible when you threatened expelling students with any love affair in Mohabbatein under the garb of Parampara Pratishtha and Anushasan. pic.twitter.com/j3zhAYnWtt Prashant Arora (@PrashantIRAS) January 8, 2023 Meanwhile, noting the wrong spelling of `apologies` in Amitabh`s post, a user joked, "Sir, spelling of apologies is wrong, please correct it in T 4516". Meanwhile, on the work front, Amitabh was recently seen in the family entertainer film `Uunchai` along with Anupam Kher, Parineeti Chopra and Boman Irani. Helmed by Sooraj Barjatya, the film got positive responses from the audience. He will be next seen in `The Intern` along with Deepika Padukone and in a Pan India film `Project K` alongside Deepika Padukone and Prabhas. NEW DELHI: Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar, who made several outings in her glam avatar, recently, took a brief vacay. The stunner flew to Mexico with her friends for a fun-filled New Year celebration and had a blast. The actress celebrated the best New Year as she enjoyed a laidback holiday in Tulum, Mexico, with her gang. The 'Govinda Naam Mera' actress had a fun-filled vacation at Tulum, a scenic town on the Caribbean coastline of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, where she rang in the new year with her pals. Taking to social media, Bhumi took to Instagram and dropped photos from the time she spent there. She captioned the post, writing, ""My year so far...#Tulum #Vacay." In one of the videos, she showed her toned figure in that red bikini. In another photo, she posed for the camera in a printed black-red bikini which she paired with a crochet white skirt. She was dressed in a green silk-satin bralette and skirt set in another photo. The post garnered several likes and comments from her followers. For the unversed, Bhumi Pednekar worked as an assistant director at Yash raj Films for almost six years before she made her debut on the big screen with 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' in 2015. She bagged her Filmfare Award for best female debut for her performance. Before her debut, she helped cast for films like 'Chak De! India', 'Rocket Singh: Salesman of The Year' and 'Teen Patti'. Last seen on OTT released 'Govinda Naam Mera', Bhumi Pednekar has films like 'Afwaah', 'The Lady Killer', 'Bhakshak', 'Bheed', Gauri Khan produced Bhakshak, Mudassar Azizs Mere Husband Ki Biwi and a couple of more unannounced projects that will push the bar for cinema. NEW DELHI: Social media influencer Urfi Javed, who has been internet's favourite celebrity for her risque and bold fashion sense, has often been linked to Bollywood's celebrated lyricist Javed Akhtar, courtesy her surname. The actress-model has in the past been linked to the veteran filmmaker several times, because of their similar surname. Many of her fans have also speculated in the past if she was somehow related to Javed Akhtar. However, Urfi rubbished the rumours of her connection with Akhtar and once even sported a t-shirt which proclaimed "Not Javed Akhtar's Granddaughter". On Saturday, Urfi bumped into Javed Akhtar and shared a picture from their meeting. Joking about meeting her grandfather, the actress wrote, "Finally met my grandfather today. Also, he is a legend, right in the morning so many people lined up for selfies but he didn't refuse anyone, chatted with everyone with a smile. He was so warm! I'm in awe." Speaking about the connection, Urfi had told ETimes, "People have cooked up stories just because my entire name is Urfi Javed. But he was never associated with me in any way. All this is just done to troll him and put his name down by associating my outfit controversy with him. But how is that even relevant? Even if his own granddaughter wears anything of her choice what's wrong with that? Why is he being held responsible for that?" Urfi Javed gained fame after her appearance on reality show 'Bigg Boss OTT'. However, she was the first contestant to be evicted from the show. She often grabs limelight by walking on the streets and posing for the cameras in revealing outfits. Lately, several complaints have been registered against Urfi for her bold choice of dressing. The president of Mahila Morcha of BJP in Maharashtra, Chitra Wagh, accused internet sensation Urfi Javed of 'indulging in nudity' and said that 'nanga naach' won't be tolerated in Maharashtra. However, she gave it back to the politician, taking a sly dig at her, saying "her nanga naach will continues." New Delhi: Ever since superstar Yash has starred as the swashbuckling hero Rocky in the blockbuster `K.G.F.` franchise, neither he nor the cinema of the South Indian state has looked back. Starting off as an actor in theatre, Yash has gone on to star in a number of television and film projects prior to hitting gold with his magnum opus. His unabashedly rustic yet suave looks have sent his fans into a frenzy a number of times. As he turns a year older, let us take a look at some of the best fashion moments of the actor from his Instagram. All-white look The `K.G.F.: Chapter 2` star exuded class and confidence in this all-white look. He made an interesting fusion of fashion choices as he combined an off-white blazer and pants with a white kurta, instead of the more commonly worn t-shirt. His brown shoes added a nice little pop of colour to the overall outfit. Grey-blue tuxedo The `Raja Huli` actor appeared nothing short of dapper in this grey-blue tuxedo paired with a black shirt. The little pops of gold glimmering from his belt, shoes and the rings on his fingers complete his classic superstar look. Navy blue suit with white stripes In yet another classic look, the `Googly` actor wore a navy-blue suit with white stripes, which he paired with a white t-shirt. His dense beard and open hair accentuated the overall style quotient of the look. Casual attire While suits undoubtedly look amazing on the `Masterpiece` actor, pulling off a killer look in casual attire is also effortless for him. Dressed in a checkered cardigan paired with a red shirt and black jeans, he looked quite cool and street-smart. Ethnic blue kurta and waistcoat Takes our blues away in his blue ethnic outfit, Yash showed yet another side to his versatile fashion sense. Donning a blue kurta with a matching waistcoat, the `Gajakesari` actor lit up the frame in this simple yet suave look. We wish Yash a very Happy Birthday! New Delhi: NTR Jr and S.S. Rajamouli were welcomed with rounds of applause and shouts of "Bravo! Best picture of the year", by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the organisation responsible for the Oscars, at a special screening in Los Angeles of their much-talked-about film 'RRR'. The actor-director duo took centrestage after the screening to discuss various aspects of the movie which gave insights into the splendid bond they share. Speaking about NTR, who plays Bheem in the movie, during the discussion, Rajamouli said: "Komuram Bheemudu (the 'RRR' hit song) is the best thing that I have ever directed. It's my all-time favourite in all my films. Because NTR is such a great performer. If you place the camera only on one eyebrow of his, he can perform with that eyebrow. He's that good." NTR Jr. also spoke about shooting the interval sequence where he jumped out of the cage along with the animals. He said: "The best thing for me is the shot where Bheem jumps out with the animals. I never knew how the shot was supposed to be, he never told me how I was going to jump out with all these animals, he never told me how he's going to shoot. I only got to watch that when the movie released and I was like 'Woah'!" The Directors Guild of America theatre had more than 100 people in attendance for the 'RRR' screening and conversation with NTR Jr and Rajamouli. Those present included international journalists and Academy members. NTR Jr and Rajamouli are in LA to attend the Golden Globes, where 'RRR' is in the race in two categories -- Best Film and Best Song (for 'Naatu Naatu'). Apart from shaping up into a pan-India blockbuster, the movie has won hearts in many countries including Japan. It is also winning critical acclaim and waiting for the results of the Golden Globe nominations next week. New Delhi: Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven ChatGPT, that gives human-like answers to questions, is also being used by cyber criminals to develop malicious tools that can steal your data, a report has warned. The first such instances of cybercriminals using ChatGPT to write malicious codes have been spotted by Check Point Research (CPR) researchers. In underground hacking forums, threat actors are creating "infostealers", encryption tools and facilitating fraud activity. The researchers warned of the fast-growing interest in ChatGPT by cybercriminals to scale and teach malicious activity. "Cybercriminals are finding ChatGPT attractive. In recent weeks, we`re seeing evidence of hackers starting to use it to write malicious code. ChatGPT has the potential to speed up the process for hackers by giving them a good starting point," said Sergey Shykevich, Threat Intelligence Group Manager at Check Point. Just as ChatGPT can be used for good to assist developers in writing code, it can also be used for malicious purposes. On December 29, a thread named "ChatGPT - Benefits of Malware" appeared on a popular underground hacking forum. The publisher of the thread disclosed that he was experimenting with ChatGPT to recreate malware strains and techniques described in research publications and write-ups about common malware. "While this individual could be a tech-oriented threat actor, these posts seemed to be demonstrating less technically capable cybercriminals how to utilise ChatGPT for malicious purposes, with real examples they can immediately use," the report mentioned. On December 21, a threat actor posted a Python script, which he emphasized was the afirst script he ever created`. When another cybercriminal commented that the style of the code resembles OpenAI code, the hacker confirmed that OpenAI gave him a "nice (helping) hand to finish the script with a nice scope." This could mean that potential cybercriminals who have little to no development skills at all, could leverage ChatGPT to develop malicious tools and become a fully-fledged cybercriminal with technical capabilities, the report warned. "Although the tools that we analyse are pretty basic, it`s only a matter of time until more sophisticated threat actors enhance the way they use AI-based tools," Shykevich said. OpenAI, the developer behind ChatGPT, is reportedly trying to raise capital at a valuation of almost $30 billion. Microsoft acquired OpenAI for $1 billion and is now pushing ChatGPT applications for solving real-life problems. videoDetails Breaking: Akhilesh Yadav reaches to Lucknow Police Headquarters, Twitter handle Operator Arrest Yashwant Bhaskar | Updated: Jan 08, 2023, 02:46 PM IST The Uttar Pradesh Police (UP Police) has arrested the operator of the Twitter handle of the Samajwadi Party media cell. Due to this the politics of the state has heated up. BEIJING: Travellers began streaming into mainland China by air, land and sea on Sunday, many eager for long-awaited reunions, as Beijing opened borders that have been all but shut since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. After three years, mainland China opened sea and land crossings with Hong Kong and ended a requirement for incoming travellers to quarantine, dismantling a final pillar of a zero-COVID policy that had shielded China's people from the virus but also cut them off from the rest of the world. China's easing over the past month of one of the world's tightest COVID regimes followed historic protests against a policy that included frequent testing, curbs on movement and mass lockdowns that heavily damaged the second-biggest economy. Long queues formed at Hong Kong's international airport for flights to mainland cities including Beijing, Tianjin and Xiamen and some Hong Kong media outlets estimated that thousands of people were travelling across. I'm so happy, so happy, so excited. I haven't seen my parents for many years," said Hong Kong resident Teresa Chow as she and dozens of other travellers prepared to cross into mainland China from Hong Kong's Lok Ma Chau checkpoint early on Sunday. "My parents are not in good health, and I couldn't go back to see them even when they had colon cancer, so I'm really happy to go back and see them now," she said, adding that she plans to head to her hometown in eastern China's Ningbo city. Investors hope the reopening will eventually reinvigorate a $17-trillion economy suffering its lowest growth in nearly half a century. But the abrupt policy reversal has triggered a massive wave of infections that is overwhelming some hospitals and causing business disruptions. China's border opening follows start of 'chun yun', the 'great migration' period The border opening follows Saturday's start of "chun yun", the first 40-day period of Lunar New Year travel, which before the pandemic was the world's largest annual migration of people returning to their hometowns of taking holidays with family. Some 2 billion people are expected to travel this season, nearly double last year's movement and recovering to 70% of 2019 levels, the government says. Many Chinese are also expected to start travelling abroad, a long-awaited shift for tourist spots in countries such as Thailand and Indonesia, though several governments - worried about China's COVID spike - are imposing curbs on travellers from the country. Travel will not quickly return to pre-pandemic levels due to such factors as a dearth of international flights, analysts say. China on Sunday also resumed issuing passports and travel visas for mainland residents, and ordinary visas and residence permits for foreigners. Beijing has quotas on the number of people who can travel between Hong Kong and China each day. Families, friends exchange emotional hugs as China reopens borders At the Beijing Capital International Airport, families and friends exchanged emotional hugs and greetings with passengers arriving from Hong Kong, Warsaw and Frankfurt at the airport's terminal 3, meetings at the arrival hall that would have been impossible just a day ago due to a now-cancelled requirement for travellers from abroad to quarantine. I've been looking forward to the reopening for a long time. Finally, we are reconnected with the world. I'm thrilled, I can't believe its happening, said a businesswoman surnamed Shen, 55, who flew in from Hong Kong. Other people waiting at the airport included a group of females fans carrying long lens cameras in hope of catching a glimpse of South Korean boy band Tempest, the first idol group from South Korea to enter China in the past three years. Its so good to see them in person! They are much more handsome and taller than I expected, a 19-year-old who gave her name as Xiny told Reuters after chasing the seven-member boyband, who flew in from Seoul via the Chinese city of Dalian. With quarantine restrictions lifted, its going to be so much more convenient to fly over to see them, and for them to come to Beijing, she said. Such scenes of reunions, however, jarred with others of protests in some cities around China over the weekend, a reminder of how the economy remains under strain. Protests are not rare in China, which has over the years seen people come out in large numbers over issues such as financial or property scams. But authorities have been on higher alert after widespread protests in Chinese cities and top universities at the end of November against COVID restrictions. On Saturday, hundreds of Tesla (TSLA.O) owners gathered at the automaker's showrooms and distribution centres in China to protest against its decision to slash prices for the second time in three months, a move it made to spur sales at a time of faltering demand in the world's largest auto market. Best budget laptops in Nepal as of January 2023. Onlinekhabar collage Laptops now have been a daily need for many people in Nepal. Laptop sales in Nepal increased significantly during the Covid lockdown as work and study were done mostly online. Laptop prices also increased during that phase by a noticeable amount. Most laptops with the best specs are quite expensive. Yet, people are still searching for a budget laptop with the best features on it. So, here is a list of seven budget laptops costing under Rs 65,000 in Nepal for January 2023. SN Model Price 1 Acer Aspire 3 2021 Rs 60,000 2 Dell Vostro 15 3510 Rs 60,000 3 CHUWI GemiBook Pro Rs 61,550 4 Lenovo Ideapad Slim 1 Rs 62,000 5 Dell Inspiron 15 3511 Rs 64,000 6 Asus VivoBook M415DA Rs 64,444 7 HP Notebook 14 Rs 65,000 1. Acer Aspire 3 2021 The Aspire series of Acer is quite popular all over the world. In Nepal too, the Aspire series has got quite some heat with Mercantile Office System Pvt Ltd being its official dealer. One of the budget laptops with some good specifications is the Acer Aspire 3 2021. Weighing only 1.7 kg, it has a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display and a high-brightness Acer ComfyView. Acer Aspire 3. Photo: Hukut Specifications Weight 1.7 kg Dimensions (height, width, depth) 19.95mm*363.4mm*250.5mm Display size 15.6-inch Display IPS Full HD CPU Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor 6M Cache, 3.00 GHz to 4.10 GHz GPU Intel HD RAM 4GB HDD 1TB Battery 36.7 Wh 2-cell Li-ion battery Ports HDMI USB 2.0 Ports USB 3.0 Ports Network(RJ45) The price of Acer Aspire 3 2021 in Nepal is Rs 60,000. 2. Dell Vostro 15 3510 One of the best laptop companies popular all around the world is Dell. The company has been selling laptops for daily use, heavy work or gaming with the best specs and built quality possible. Out of those options and one from the Vostro series, the Dell Vostro 15 3510 is a budget laptop with good features in it. The Vostro 15 3510 weighs 1.69 kg. It has a display of 15.6 inches and a thickness of 0.7 inches. Dell Vostro 15 3510. Photo: Amazon Specifications Weight 1.69kg Dimensions (height, width, depth) 17.5mm*358.5mm*235.56mm Display size 15.6-inch Display HD Anti-glare LED Backlight 2 Side Narrow Border WVA Display CPU 11th Generation Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor (6MB Cache, up to 4.1 GHz) Graphics Intel UHD Graphics with the shared graphics memory RAM 4GB Storage 1TB HDD Battery 3-Cell Battery, 41WHr Ports 2-USB 3.2 Gen 1 port 1-USB 2.0 port 1-Audio jack 1-HDMI 1.4 port 1-Flip-Down RJ-45 port 10/100/1000 Mbp The price of Dell Vostro 15 3510 in Nepal is Rs 60,000. 3. CHUWI GemiBook Pro The Chinese brand CHUWI was released in Nepal a couple of years back by SHTC International Pvt Ltd. Out of the few variants it sells here in Nepal, the CHUWI GemiBook Pro is a budget laptop with good specifications in a budget-friendly range. The laptop has a 14-inch IPS display with a 2,160*1,440 Pixel resolution. Weighing approximately 1.5 kg, the laptop has 8 GB RAM and 256GB space of storage. CHUWI GemiBook Pro. Photo: CHUWI Specifications Weight 1.5kg Dimension (height, width, depth) 20.6mm*310mm*229.5mm Display size 14-inch Resolution 2k(2160*1440 pixel) CPU Intel Gemini lake N51004T4C Graphics Intel UHD Graphics 600 Storage 256GB RAM 8GB Battery 38Wh (7.6V/5000MA) Charging 12V/2A Ports 1-Full-featured type C 1-USB 3.0*1 3.5mm Audio Jack TF card slot DC charge The price of the CHUWI GemBook Pro in Nepal is Rs 61,550. 4. Lenovo Ideapad Slim 1 Megatech Trade Group being its official distributor, Lenovo has some of the best laptops in all the categories. The new Lenovo Ideapad Slim 1 is one of the interesting budget laptops on this list. With a 7000-series AMD Ryzen 3 732U processor, 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage, it might the best laptop for the price in the list. The laptop also features a 14-inch display with full-HD resolution and 220 nits brightness. It has a light weight of 1.38kg and a thickness of 0.70 inches. Lenovo Ideapad Slim 1. Photo: Amazon Specifications Weight 1.38kg Dimension (height, width, depth) 17.9mm*325.3mm*17.9mm Display size 14-inch Display type FHD (19201080) TN 220nits Anti-glare CPU AMD Ryzen 3 7320U (4C / 8T, 2.4 / 4.1GHz, 2MB L2 / 4MB L3) Graphics Integrated AMD Radeon 610M Graphics Storage 256GB SSD RAM 8GB Battery Integrated 42Wh Power adapter 65W Round Tip(3-pin) Ports 1-USB 2.0 1-USB 3.2 Gen 1 1-USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (support data transfer only) 1-HDMI 1.4b 1-Card reader 1-Headphone/microphone combo jack (3.5mm) 1-Power connector The price of Lenovo Ideapad Slim 1(2022) in Nepal is Rs 62,000. 5. Dell Inspiron 15 3511 Another masterclass by Dell is the Inspiron series. One of the most famous and popular models, Dell Inspiron has some budget laptops to high-end laptops available in Nepal. Among some of the budget-friendly models is Dell Inspiron 15 3511. Weighing 1.73kg and having a thickness of 0.74 inches, Inspiron 15 3511 has an 11th generation i3-1115G4 processor with 4GB RAM and 1TB HDD storage. The budget laptop has a 15.6-inch full HD display that delivers a maximum resolution of 1,980*1,080. Dell Inspiron 15 3511. Photo: NeoStore Specifications Weight 1.73kg Dimensions (height, width, depth 17.50mm*358.50mm*235.56mm Display size 15.6-inch Display type Full HD(1920*1080) CPU 11th Generation Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor Graphics Intel UHD Storage 1TB HDD RAM 4GB Battery 3-Cell Battery, 41WHr Power adapter 19.5V 2.31A AC Connections 1-USB 2.0 1-USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C (Optional with discrete graphics) 1-HDMI 1.4 1-Ethernet RJ-45 2-USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1-Headset Jack The price of Dell Inspiron 15 3511 in Nepal is Rs 64,000. 6. ASUS VivoVook M415DA One of the leading laptop brands in Nepal is ASUS. Nagmani International is the official dealer of ASUS laptops in Nepal. Among some of the series sold, ASUS VivoBook has quite the reputation. With a lot of budget laptops being sold in Nepal, ASUS VivoBook M415DA is a good option with the specs provided. A Ryzen 3 processor with 4GB RAM and 256GB SSD is given in the 14-inch laptop. This budget laptop weighs 1.6kg and is 0.78-inch thick. ASUS VivoBook M4DA15DA. Photo: Amazon Specifications Weight 1.68kg Dimensions (height. width, depth) 19.9mm*216mm*325.4mm Display size 14-inch Display Type Full HD 60Hz IPS Panel Storage 256GB RAM 4GB Battery 37WHrs, 2S1P, 2-cell Li-ion Processor AMD Ryzen 3 3250U Mobile Processor Ports 1-USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1-USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C 2-USB 2.0 Type-A 1-HDMI 1.4 1-3.5mm Combo Audio Jack Micro SD card reader 1-DC-in The price of the ASUS VivoBook M415DA in Nepal is Rs 64,444. 7. HP Notebook 14 Another trendy brand in Nepal is HP. With some of the best business, gaming and budget laptops, HP has a wide range of variety. The budget laptop with quite some specs from HP is the HP Notebook 14. Weighing 1.47kg, the Notebook 14 is provided with AMD Ryzen 3 processor, 4 GB RAM and 256GB SSD. This laptop consists of a 14-inch IPS display with Full HD (1920*1080 pixels) resolution. HP Notebook 14. Photo: Amazon Specifications Weight 1.47kg Dimension (height, width, depth) 17.9mm*324mm*225mm Display size 14-inch Display type FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, micro-edge, BrightView, 250 nits CPU AMD Ryzen 3 5300U Graphics AMD Radeon Graphics RAM 4GB Storage 256GB SSD Battery 3-cell, 41 Wh Li-ion Adapter type 45 W Smart AC power adapter Ports 1-SuperSpeed USB Type-C 2-SuperSpeed USB Type-A 1-HDMI 1.4b 1-AC smart pin 1-headphone/microphone combo The price of the HP Notebook 14 in Nepal is Rs 65,000. Amid the rapid surge in Covid-19 cases in the country, a Japanese health expert has issued a stark warning and said the daily new coronavirus cases could spike after mid-January, possibly surpassing the previous record, NHK World reported. Daily Covid tally could reach the Japanese government's earlier projection of 4,50,000 nationwide, according to Toho University Professor Tateda Kazuhiro, who is on the governments coronavirus advisory panel. The Japanese broadcaster NHK said the figure is much higher than the country's highest number in the seventh wave last summer. Kazuhiro said frontline healthcare facilities are under increasing strain to prevent in-hospital infections, as many patients who had been hospitalized for other illnesses like strokes later tested positive for Covid-19. On Friday, the Japanese health ministry confirmed 456 coronavirus-related deaths nationwide, the highest single-day toll in the country since the start of the pandemic. The earlier record was 420 on December 29, 2022. Also read: Covid-19: Japan logs all-time-high 463 coronavirus deaths in a day Moreover, the Japanese professor warned that more people may die given the overburdened hospital situation unless the rise in infections is curbed. Additionally, Kazuhiro said that a simultaneous seasonal influenza outbreak is likely. In the weekly epidemiological update released on January 4, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said globally, more than 3 million new cases and 10, 000 deaths have been reported in the week of December 26, 2022, to January 1, 2023. "This represents a reduction in weekly cases and deaths of 22 percent and 12 percent, respectively," WHO said. Over the past month, more than 14.5 million cases and over 46 000 new fatalities were reported globally - an increase of 25 per cent and 21 percent, respectively, compared to the previous period. As of January 1, 2023, over 656 million confirmed cases and over 6.6 million deaths have been reported globally. (With inputs from ANI) MADRID: A Spanish-language version of "Spare", the much-awaited memoir of Britain's Prince Harry, went on sale in book stores in Spain this week, days ahead of its official launch date. The book reveals details about Harry's relationship with his father, King Charles, his elder brother, Prince William, and other members of the British royal family that have never previously been published. As is usual for the royal family, spokespeople for Charles and William have declined to comment. Following are some of the key details outlined in the book: Prince Harry says brother William knocked him to floor during a 2019 argument Harry says his brother William, now heir to the British throne, knocked him to the floor during a 2019 argument at his London home over Harry's American wife Meghan. William called Meghan "difficult", "rude" and "abrasive", Harry writes. He says William grabbed him by the collar and knocked him to the floor, where Harry says he landed on a dog's bowl, cracking it. He says he refused William's challenge to hit back and that his brother later apologised over the incident. Harry, Prince William had asked father Charles not to marry Camilla Harry says he and Prince William had asked their father Charles not to marry Camilla Parker-Bowles, who is now Britain's queen consort. Nonetheless, he writes that both he and William ended up wishing their father a happy marriage and had some sympathy for their relationship. "Despite the bitterness and sadness we felt in closing another loop in the history of our mother, we understood this was irrelevant." Harry says he was encouraged by Prince William, wife Kate to go dressed as Nazi Harry says he was encouraged by Prince William and his wife Kate to go dressed as a Nazi to a fancy dress party in 2005, in what he has described elsewhere as "one of the biggest mistakes of my life". Harry dismisses media rumours that he was the result of an affair between Major James Hewitt and his mother Princess Diana and suggestions that his father had often joked about not knowing who Harry's real father was. Harry says the idea is absurd, given that his mother did not meet Hewitt until long after he was born. Prince Harry claims royal household dragged its feet over date, venue for his wedding with Meghan Harry claims the royal household dragged its feet over the date and venue for his wedding with Meghan. He says that when he consulted his brother about the possibility of marrying in Westminster Abbey or St. Paul's Cathedral, William said he could not marry there because they had been venues for the weddings of Charles and Diana and of William and Kate respectively. Instead, William suggested a village chapel near Charles' home at Highgrove House in southwest England. Harry and Meghan finally got married at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in May 2018. Prince Harry tried cocaine at age of 17 Harry says that when he was 17 he was offered a line of cocaine at someone's house and consumed the drug on several other occasions, although he insists media reports suggesting he was a drug addict were false and that he did not enjoy it. "It wasn't much fun and it did not make me feel especially happy as it seemed to do to everyone else, but it did make me feel different, and that was my main objective. I was a 17-year-old boy ready to try anything that altered the pre-established order," he writes. Harry also recounts how, as a student at the exclusive Eton College, he used to smoke cannabis in a bathroom at his house while the Thames Valley police served as his bodyguards, patrolling the exterior of the building. Prince Harry met woman with 'powers' who said she could feel Princess Diana's spirit Harry describes meeting a woman with "powers" who said she could feel Princess Diana's spirit. He says the woman was recommended by friends and that, while he had his doubts about her, as soon as he sat down "I felt an energy around her". "Your mother says that you are living the life that she couldn't live, the life she wanted for you," Harry quotes the woman as telling him. Prince Harry suffered frostbite, including to his penis, during trip to North Pole Harry describes how during a trip to the North Pole he suffered from early stages of what appears to be frostbite, including to his penis. He recounts telling his father about his injuries at a dinner on the eve of Williams wedding. "My father showed interest and sympathized with me when I mentioned that my ears and cheeks had burned due to the cold. I struggled to contain myself to not talk too much and tell him that my penis had also been affected..." Prince Harry says he killed 25 people in Afghanistan Harry says he killed 25 people when serving as a helicopter pilot in Afghanistan. He says he participated in six missions, all of which involved deaths, but says he saw them as justifiable as Taliban insurgents wanted to kill his comrades. "It wasn't a statistic that filled me with pride but nor did it leave me ashamed. When I found myself plunged in the heat and confusion of combat I didn't think of those 25 as people. They were chess pieces removed from the board, Bad people eliminated before they could kill Good people." For the last seven decades, India and Pakistan have been behaving like arch-rivals. However, Pakistan which sponsored terrorism against India, is now gradually realising that it has shot itself in the leg by exporting terrorism. Pakistan's economy is limping, its forces are under threat from the Taliban and the decreasing forex reserve and lack of dollar bills have made it hard for the nation to get goods released from customs. Senior Pakistani journalist Wusat Ullah Khan today exposed his country's policies through a video blog for BBC. He said that Pakistan today is fighting many problems including irregular monsoon, economic crisis, terror attacks by Taliban, Imran Khan who wants elections and declining forex reserve. Wusat Ullah Khan said that the Shehbaz Sharif government don't know how to deal with these crises. "The forex reserve has come down to 5 billion dollars from 16 billion dollars. There aren't enough dollars to get the goods lying in the port godowns released from customs....Just like a mother consoles her children that father will bring food when he will come, in the same way, the government also has nothing but consolation as it says that if IMF, China and Saudi Arabia deposit more dollars in the nation's coffers, then the economy will get breath for a few days," he said. Outlining the adverse impact of terror, he said that while India and Iran are already considered enemies, Afghanistan has also raised its voice against Pakistan now. "Everyone in Pakistan has been told for 75 years that the biggest enemy is India, but now when it is being told that Taliban is also our biggest enemy, it is difficult for a mind to believe which has been following the same path for 75 years. Although the number of soldiers who died in all the wars with India is about 20 thousand, while according to the Government of Pakistan, more than 70 thousand civilians and soldiers have been killed by Taliban terrorists. Still, the heart is not ready to accept that not an outside nation but terrorism is hollowing out the country from the inside," he said. Khan remarked that the Pakistan government is thinking about whether it should declare the Taliban as the biggest threat or continue to consider it as a spoiled brother just like before. It may be recalled that the Pakistan government have often supported the Taliban in the past and now it's finding it hard to get rid of the evil called terrorism that it has harboured for decades. Home Politics Chen Song, new Chinese ambassador to Nepal, arrives in Kathmandu Chen Song, the newly appointed Chinese ambassador to Nepal, is welcomed at Kathmandus Tribhuvan International Airport, on Sunday. January 8, 2022. Photo: Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu Kathmandu, January 8 Chen Song, the newly appointed Chinese ambassador to Nepal, has arrived in Kathmandu. He landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Sunday morning. Chen, the 22nd Chinese ambassador to Nepal, will succeed Hou Yanqi, who was called back by the Beijing government a few months ago. Speaking with journalists at the airport, the new ambassador said he would focus on closer ties between the two countries and communities for a shared future. I am deeply aware of the glorious mission and great responsibility. I will follow the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and Nepali leaders, stay devoted and dedicated to outlining their freehand brushwork of bilateral relations into a meticulous painting. (Updates to change headline) By Valentine Hilaire PANAMA CITY, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Canada-based miner First Quantum would suspend a "significant amount" of jobs at its operations in Panama if the Central American government forces it to halt operations during a contract dispute, the company said in a letter. "If we have to reduce operations to care and maintenance mode, the company will need to take steps to reduce expenditure across the business. We could be forced to suspend a significant amount of our valued workforce," the letter sent to employees and seen by Reuters said. The company's Cobre Panama mine generates about 40,000 direct and indirect jobs and interacts with some 1,800 suppliers, according to a consultant. First Quantum was notified on Dec. 21 of a government order for it to create a plan to halt operations within 10 working days, after it missed a deadline for a new contract due to disagreements centered on royalties and tax payments. "This is a drastic and, in our view, unnecessary step, which will potentially have a huge impact on employees, our suppliers and the community around us," said the letter, signed by General Manager Alan Delaney. First Quantum is working on the plan, but expects to reach a deal with the government before the order is enacted, the letter said, adding that its next step will be issuing an appeal. A spokesperson for the government did not reply to a request for comment on the timetable for the order. The Canada-based miner did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The two parties have been at odds for more than a year over payments to the government, contract stability and the area of the company's operations. The government has pushed to raise annual royalties to $375 million. First Quantum is prepared to meet and even exceed $375 million in royalties per year with downside protections, the letter said, though it did not outline the remaining hurdles preventing the two parties from reaching a contract. (Reporting by Valentine Hilaire Editing by Bill Berkrot) Elon Musk looks down during a speech. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images Elon Musk faces a class action lawsuit over tweets saying he secured funding to take Tesla private. His attorneys say the trial should be held in Texas instead of California to ensure fairness. Since Musk's Twitter takeover, prospective jurors are biased against the billionaire, they argued. Elon Musk's Twitter takeover has made him so unpopular in the state of California that it's unlikely he'd be able to get a fair trial, his lawyers argued in a recent court filing. The Tesla chief executive is facing a class action lawsuit over his 2018 tweets indicating he planned to take the electric vehicle company private at $420 per share and had "funding secured" to do so. Just one month after the initial 2018 tweet, Musk paid a $20 million fine and settled fraud charges with the SEC for making "false and misleading statements." Though Musk neither admitted nor denied the allegations, he resigned as Tesla's chairman and was replaced by Robyn Denholm. Northern California Senior District Judge Edward M. Chen, who will oversee the class action trial, ruled last year that Musk knowingly made the false statements, which may have impacted Tesla's share price. The upcoming trial will determine whether the posts indeed impacted Tesla's share price, if the company or its directors should be held liable, and if shareholders are entitled to damages, according to NBC News. After finalizing his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter last year, the billionaire remains roughly $13 billion in debt much of which is secured against his remaining stake in Tesla as part of the leveraged buyout, The Street reported, making the financial future of the two companies deeply entwined. Since the October 27 acquisition of Twitter, Tesla's stock price has fallen from $225.09 to $113.06 per share, its lowest point since August 2020. Musk's business dealings since acquiring the social media company, including mass layoffs and a culture current employees describe as "toxic," may also make it more difficult for the billionaire to be judged by a jury of his peers in California, according to his lawyers, and should be moved to Texas. Story continues Musk's attorney, Alex Spiro, argued in a motion filed Friday that a "substantial portion of the jury pool in this District is likely to hold a personal and material bias against Mr. Musk as a result of recent layoffs at one of his companies as individual prospective jurors or their friends and relatives may have been personally impacted. The existing baseline bias has been compounded, expanded, and reinforced by the negative and inflammatory local publicity surrounding the events." In December 2021, Tesla relocated its headquarters from Silicon Valley to Austin, Texas. Twitter remains based in San Francisco, California. Referencing regular protests and picket lines in front of Musk's offices in San Francisco some of which, Spiro said, are "endorsed and encouraged by local political figures" Musk's attorneys noted in the filing that the "negativity toward Mr. Musk was not isolated to the press" and "will deprive him of an impartial jury and his constitutional right to a fair trial." Should the request for a venue transfer not be granted by the court, Spiro requested a continuance to delay the trial, arguing the judge should allow time for "the passions that have been inflamed" by "recent events and biased local media coverage to dissipate" before jurors hear the case. The request is set to be heard by Judge Chen on January 13, according to the filing, just four days before the trial is set to begin. Musk, his legal team, and representatives for Tesla did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Tax refunds are coming up shy this year to the tune of $300, on average. Here are the 2 big reasons why and what you should do about it What are you looking forward to this spring? The Oscars? The return of Succession? King Charles III's coronation? If you answered "a juicy tax return," we've got some bad news. Don't miss UBS says 61% of millionaire collectors allocate up to 30% of their overall portfolio to this exclusive asset class Here's how much the average American 60-year-old holds in retirement savings how does your nest egg compare? 'Hold onto your money': Jeff Bezos issued a financial warning, says you might want to rethink buying a 'new automobile, refrigerator, or whatever' here are 3 better recession-proof buys Early data from the Internal Revenue Service shows that as of Feb. 3 the average refund amount for those keeners who have filed their taxes is $1,963. That's a 10.8% decrease from average return of $2,201 on Feb. 4, 2022. This comes as less of a surprise, as the IRS warned in a news release earlier this year that 'refunds may be smaller in 2023.' What gives? Here's why 2023 wont bring a hefty tax return for many households and what else you should know now that this years filing season is underway. Why refunds could be smaller this year During the pandemic, the IRS was doling out some pretty sizable refund checks. In 2022, the average tax refund was $3,176 a 14% jump from $2,791 in 2021, according to the IRS. But in 2022, there were no new stimulus checks from the federal government. And some expanded tax credits and deductions, like for charitable gift deductions and child care, have reverted back to pre-pandemic amounts. Back in 2020, Congress introduced a new incentive to encourage charitable giving. Taxpayers could claim up to $300 for cash donations (or $600 for married couples filing together), even if they didnt itemize but this provision wasnt extended for 2022. And families with children will see their child tax credit shrink, since its reverting back to the pre-pandemic level of $2,000 per child. In 2021, the credit was as high as $3,600 per child. Story continues Which means the days of supersized refunds are over. To make matters worse, those smaller refunds may take longer to arrive in your bank account. The tax agency, which has been suffering from a staffing shortage for years, has also warned some returns will take longer. Hoping to get in front of that, the IRS has cautioned filers shouldnt count on receiving refunds by a certain date especially if theyre planning to use those funds to make big purchases or pay off bills. Read more: If you arent shopping for a better deal on car insurance, youre probably wasting $500 a month heres how to save hundreds right now A smaller refund isnt always a bad thing One important thing to remember about tax refunds is you usually only get them when youve overpaid on your yearly taxes or withheld more than what you owe which means a refund is just the government paying you back money that was already yours to begin with. You essentially gave the revenue agency an interest-free loan throughout the year, when that extra cash could have gone toward your financial goals instead, whether thats paying down debt, building up an emergency fund or saving for retirement. The exception, of course, is when you can claim a refundable tax credit on things like heat pumps or child care. The IRS suggests checking your tax withholdings early in the year, so nows the perfect time to pull up those paystubs and review your W-4 forms. Figuring out whether your employer withheld too much will take some math: Youll have to add up your withholdings for each pay period and subtract your estimated tax liability from the total. Whatevers left over is your potential tax gap. From there, if you need to adjust your withholdings, youll have to fill out a new form. If youve got a more complicated tax situation or youre not sure where to start, you might consider speaking to a tax professional. Maybe by this time next year, youll be looking forward to an even smaller refund in 2024. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad's (KLSE:KPS) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 8.1x might make it look like a buy right now compared to the market in Malaysia, where around half of the companies have P/E ratios above 14x and even P/E's above 23x are quite common. Although, it's not wise to just take the P/E at face value as there may be an explanation why it's limited. Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad could be doing better as its earnings have been going backwards lately while most other companies have been seeing positive earnings growth. It seems that many are expecting the dour earnings performance to persist, which has repressed the P/E. If this is the case, then existing shareholders will probably struggle to get excited about the future direction of the share price. See our latest analysis for Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad pe Keen to find out how analysts think Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad's future stacks up against the industry? In that case, our free report is a great place to start. Does Growth Match The Low P/E? In order to justify its P/E ratio, Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad would need to produce sluggish growth that's trailing the market. Taking a look back first, the company's earnings per share growth last year wasn't something to get excited about as it posted a disappointing decline of 29%. Even so, admirably EPS has lifted 62% in aggregate from three years ago, notwithstanding the last 12 months. So we can start by confirming that the company has generally done a very good job of growing earnings over that time, even though it had some hiccups along the way. Turning to the outlook, the next year should bring diminished returns, with earnings decreasing 5.8% as estimated by the three analysts watching the company. That's not great when the rest of the market is expected to grow by 8.7%. In light of this, it's understandable that Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad's P/E would sit below the majority of other companies. However, shrinking earnings are unlikely to lead to a stable P/E over the longer term. Even just maintaining these prices could be difficult to achieve as the weak outlook is weighing down the shares. Story continues The Final Word We'd say the price-to-earnings ratio's power isn't primarily as a valuation instrument but rather to gauge current investor sentiment and future expectations. We've established that Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad maintains its low P/E on the weakness of its forecast for sliding earnings, as expected. Right now shareholders are accepting the low P/E as they concede future earnings probably won't provide any pleasant surprises. It's hard to see the share price rising strongly in the near future under these circumstances. And what about other risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 4 warning signs for Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad you should know about. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with a strong growth track record, trading on a P/E below 20x. 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 (Revises arrival date of Clean Ocean) Jan 6 (Reuters) - The following liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers are expected to arrive in Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands in the coming weeks. Estimated arrival dates, often revised by port authorities and AIS Live ship-tracking data on Refinitiv Eikon, are updated below. Some tankers heading for Belgium and Britain may be loading at the terminal. Those expected to load are indicated with an (). Those likely to perform ship-to-ship transfers are indicated with (STS). Tankers that have docked are indicated with (A). Floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) terminals are added to the table when they near deployment. As of Dec. 27 2022, this includes the Eemshaven terminal in the Netherlands, the Wilhelmshaven and Lubmin terminals in Germany and the Inkoo terminal in Finland. For the Reuters LNG guide, click here: LNG TANKER CAPACITY in EXPECTED ARRIVAL FROM PORT cubic metres BRITAIN Al Ruwais 210,000 Jan. 5 (A) Qatar South Hook La Seine 174,000 Jan. 6 United States South Hook Solaris 152,000 Jan. 7 United States South Hook Methane Princess 135,000 Jan. 7 United States Dragon Maran Gas Agamemnon 172,000 Jan. 7 United States Dragon Nohshu Maru 177,000 Jan. 7 United States South Hook Sonangol Sambizanga 158,000 Jan. 7 Angola Isle of Grain Megara 173,000 Jan. 8 Peru Dragon LNG Enterprise 174,000 Jan. 8 United States South Hook Castillo De Caldelas 178,000 Jan. 9 United States South Hook SM Albatross 171,000 Jan. 10 United States Dragon LNG Sakura 177,000 Jan. 11 United States South Hook Gaslog Seattle 155,000 Jan. 11 United States South Hook Sonangol Benguela 158,000 Jan. 13 Anglola Isle of Grain Flex Aurora 174,000 Jan. 16 United States South Hook BW Paris 159,000 Jan. 23 United States South Hook British Achiever 174,000 Jan. 25 United States South Hook SM Bluebird 170,000 Jan. 27 Peru Milford Haven BELGIUM Vladimir Rusanov 168,000 Jan. 7 Russia Zeebrugge Bu Samra 261,000 Jan. 10 Qatar Zeebrugge Clean Ocean 159,000 Jan. 10 (L) Egypt Zeebrugge Broog 134,000 Jan. 14 Qatar Zeebrugge Al Deebel 143,000 Jan. 17 Qatar Zeebrugge NETHERLANDS Prism Brilliance 180,000 Jan. 5 (A) United States Eemshaven Energy Universe 165,000 Jan. 5 (A) United States Gate Arctic Voyager 140,000 Jan. 7 Russia Gate Lng Schneeweisschen 177,000 Jan. 9 Egypt Gate Gaslog Geneva 174,000 Jan. 9^ United States Eemshaven Transgas Force 174,000 Jan. 15 United States Gate GERMANY Maria Energy 174,000 Jan. 3 (A) United States Wilhelmshaven FINLAND None scheduled Sources: Ports, AIS Live ship tracking, Refinitiv Eikon data. (^) Partial unload (*) Arrival date estimated based on flows data (Reporting by Nina Chestney) Following further delays this week, some former Twitter employees finally received their official severance agreements on Saturday after months of anticipation, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. However, the compensation is much less than what many expected, and the emails are landing in spam folders. After Elon Musk assumed control of the social media giant in late October, about three-fourths of the companys staff of 7,500 were let go in a series of cuts. Musk tweeted that those affected would receive "3 months of severance compensation." Previous Twitter leadership pledged to offer at least two months worth of severance pay as well as prorated performance bonuses, extended visa support, money for health care continuation, and the cash value of equity that would vest within three months, according to The Los Angeles Times. However, as we previously reported, the agreements sent out today provide laid-off employees in the U.S. one month of base pay as severance. Those let go in November have been kept on the payroll and have been paid their regular salaries for the previous 60 days due to requirements of the federal WARN Act, which mandates companies give a 60-day notice before mass layoffs. Although those workers had been barred from the company's internal systems since November, they were formally let go on January 4 in accordance with the law. What's more, employees will not be receiving their prorated performance bonuses, according to Twitter's severance material viewed by Fortune. Some employees received COBRA, which is money for health care continuation, a source said. "I mean I expected him to f**k us (he did)," an impacted employee wrote to Fortune. "This is about 1/3 of what he contractually owes us based on his purchase agreement." Although employees were given two months' pay during a "non-working" period to comply with the federal WARN Act, a lawyer for two class-action lawsuits against Twitter claimed that such money should not be included in the actual severance paid to employees, The Los Angeles Times reported. Story continues Not all impacted employees received their agreements, multiple sources told Fortune. The agreements are being sent out by a third-party service provider called CPT Group, in lieu of in-house HR services. It's not yet clear why only some have received their agreements, but many have been finding the agreements in their spam folder, sources say. Sources have pointed out some hiccups in the process, too. Those who received their agreements today were provided a unique login and directed to visit a domain, but that domain was set up roughly 5 hours before the severance agreements went out and doesn't have Twitter's name in it, causing many to believe it was a phishing attempt. After logging in and viewing their severance agreement, former employees have the option to sign or opt out of the agreement, according to a source familiar with the matter. The website has an accompanying FAQ page stating that impacted employees can anticipate payment within 45 days of their signed agreement. A downloadable "Additional FAQs" document confirms that employees will not be receiving performance bonus payments, which were set to be paid out in March, and that there will be "no negotiation of the agreement or the severance amount listed." As many as 5,500 laid-off Twitter employees were set to receive the official severance agreements, Fortune previously reported. Fortune reached out to Twitter outside normal business hours but did not receive an immediate reply. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com More from Fortune: San Francisco being hit with a brutal storm so severe that a meteorologist says is one of the most impactful hes ever seen How will the ultrawealthy ride out the recession? 1,200 investors worth $130 billion have one big strategy Blaming Damar Hamlins cardiac arrest on the COVID vaccine is wildly and irresponsibly speculative, says expert Meghan Markles real sin that the British public cant forgiveand Americans cant understand When Babu Brar arrived in the Fredericksburg area in 1995 from his native Punjab, India, he had $200 in his pocket and no place to live. But he believed in America fervently. Through sheer force of will, he made his American dream come true. Now hes helping Afghan refugees do the same. For three years, the Sikh electrical engineer and Indian army veteran worked three jobs, seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., going back and forth from a 7-Eleven to a gas station to a Jiffy Lube, picking up hours wherever he could and saving his money. He did well with Jiffy Lube, becoming a manager of the year. For years, he worked to bring the family to the United States from India and now 22 relatives have come to America, starting one business after another. Brar had begun taking classes at Germanna in 1999, and when some of his relatives wanted to get commercial drivers licenses, he decided to start his own CDL school. He learned that he had already taken some of the driving, business and English classes he needed, and he returned to GCC for more. He and his family now own national trucking businesses with over 30 vehicles, he says. Germanna was the starting point for everything, Brar says, adding that faculty member Tina Lance was essential for him. Brar said Lance, now Dean of Workforce Development at Germanna, encouraged him, teaching several of his business classes and helping him determine what other classes he needed to be successful. He has transferred to the University of Mary Washington, where hes working toward a business degree. Over the last 22 years [since beginning to take classes at Germanna] he continued his education while working toward owning his own business, Lance says. Through perseverance and dedication, he graduated with an associate degree in Spring 2021 and achieved deans list recognition. He is truly an example of the entrepreneurial spirit. Hes doing more than making money. Hes making a difference. Brar said his truck driving school helps 1820 Afghanistan refugees a month earn truck- and bus-driving credentials so they can support their families. He employs Afghan immigrants as instructors so there are no language barrier problems. Some of his instructors and students were interpreters for American forces until the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan. Some of his students were evacuated during the final days of the American presence there. 2020 CDL truck driving instructor Rahimullah Akhonzada said he and other instructors speak Pashto and Dari so there is no language barrier. He said all the instructors and students who worked as interpreters for U.S. forces are worried about relatives left behind in Afghanistan and hope to bring them to America. He says hes worried about his own family members still in Afghanistan. He helped both sides communicate, he says, but his family is paying a price. My parents, my sister and my brother are there, Akhonzada says. Because I worked for U.S. forces, its very hard for them [And] There is no way how to get them out. Another Afghan instructor at the school, Safiullah Ahmadi, says he enjoys being able to help other Afghan refugees here, filling out paperwork, translating for them when they go to the doctor, that kind of stuff. We help a lot of people who cant speak English. At the truck-driving school, says Ahmadi, we have many people, many students from Afghanistan [who came] during the evacuation from Afghanistan. They learn how to drive the truck and get a license. Ahmadi laughs when he recalls being anxious when he visited Kabul a few years ago after being away for some time and had to drive in city traffic there again: Driving is really crazy back there. You dont have a lot of traffic signals and lines If you can drive in Kabul, you can drive anywhere in the world. Germanna President Janet Gullickson says: Mr. Brars success is a testament to Germannas being in the community for good. Our students stay here and contribute here. We are delighted by his achievements and the accomplishments of all Germanna students. It took a village of people, including pastors and homeschooling parents along with a chimney sweep, plumber and piano tuner, to fix a variety of problems at the home of Audrey Lipscomb. After the work was done, the Stafford County woman, who was without heat and air conditioning most of last year, was ready to dance for joy. It was just a hallelujah time for me, said Lipscomb, whos 71 and an ordained minister. I did a little jig because I found out God does have people out there who really want to help you. Lipscombs story was featured in The Free LanceStar in late November and detailed the extreme conditions shes dealt with since the January 2022 blizzard knocked out her heat pump. She couldnt afford to fix it or to install a woodstove shed been given. Her son had bought the house for her, to get her out of a trailer in the woods, but Lipscomb was worried he couldnt take care of his wife and children for dealing with her problems. She had told him to let me take care of this on my own. The story was posted on the REACH Homeschool Groups Facebook page. Lipscomb is the honorary grandmother of some students in the group. A homeschooling mother, Susie Wood, had never met Lipscomb, but knew she had to do something after reading about her plight. When we saw the lengths she was going to, to stay warm, we knew we wanted to help, she said. Woods husband, Mark, owns HVAC Specialists of Virginia in Spotsylvania County, which provided a new 3-ton heat pump at a greatly reduced price and installed it for free, Susie Wood said. She had wanted to help another person in memory of her brother, Jay Seitz, who died last January. He was the kind of guy whod befriend anyone and would give you the shirt off his back if you were in need, she said. Helping Lipscomb allowed Susie Wood to meet her goal and it did the same for Daner Richardson, who owns Professional Firefighters Chimney Sweep and Gutter Cleaning in Caroline County. Every year, he provides free services to a family or older person who needs help. He told me, this is gonna be my Christmas gift to you, Lipscomb said about Richardson. There are people out there with a heart. Lipscomb had been told by another contractor that it would cost $3,000 to connect the chimney to the woodstove, but Richardson said all that was needed was a small section of pipe. He got the woodstove working before Christmas then returned the first week of January to make sure everything was good. He was one of an army of people who came forward to help, including those who raised about $3,400 to cover the cost of the new heating system. Bob and Claire Chapman contributed to the effort because Bob said he couldnt bear the thought of Lipscomb being without the basic comforts. Bill Shute, whose day job is tuning pianos, also partnered with John and Lonnie Reid, who pastor the New Generation Outreach in Fredericksburg, to help raise money for heating and plumbing equipment. The plumbing labor was provided by Joe Robinson of Certified Plumbing and Doug and Shirley Sergent of Shower Doors & More, both in Spotsylvania. When John Reid put out the call for donations for the Lipscomb project, he wasnt sure what kind of response he might get. It happened so fast, we were praising the Lord, the pastor said, adding that the church received several generous donations within a week. It was a real group effort to help someone in need, pretty pleasing and impressive. Shute and the Reids have worked together on various ministries over the decades as the Reids coordinate regular meals in downtown Fredericksburg for homeless people. Shute said Lipscomb was intrigued by this development, that people who had fed the homeless would be helping her since she herself operated a food pantry for many years, Shute said. When Shute asked Lipscomb various questions along the way, about which company to use or what work she needed done next, she said, Whatever you decide, I will be blessed. Lipscomb was right, Shute said, and that blessing spilled over to others. By following Gods leading, everyone in this story has been blessed, Shute wrote in an email. I will never be able to thank God enough in this lifetime. Thank you, Audrey Lipscomb, for seeking God and asking for help. The work didnt cost Lipscomb a dime, and she laughed that thats exactly the way I wanted it because I didnt have the money for it. She offered her gratitude and baked cookies for those who came by, and there were days when the house was filled with people. Shed like to provide lunch at the house for those who came to her rescue, including other people and church members whose names she couldnt recall. It was a miracle, they were some of the nicest people who came here, Lipscomb said. I was blessed all around. LOS ANGELES Priscilla Velazco brought her 16-month-old daughter to the hospital in Loma Linda on Christmas Eve, after the feverish girl had begun laboring to breathe. Four days later, Emilia was still at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, and her mother was still at her bedside, trying to soothe the toddler as she fussed and coughed. Oxygen was being piped to her nostrils through a device called a nasal cannula. "She was fighting them while they were putting it on," Velazco said of the device. It has been hard, she said, for a child so young to comprehend what is happening, why this unfamiliar thing has to be on her face. "That's the tough part she doesn't understand." Emilia Zarazua had fallen ill with respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, just one of the viruses that had been filling the beds at the pediatric intensive care unit for weeks. The collision of RSV, influenza, COVID-19 and other viruses has strained children's hospitals across the country this fall and winter, including Loma Linda, where "these numbers are beyond what we've ever had," said Dr. Cynthia Tinsley, chief of its division of pediatric critical care. Two hundred children had been hospitalized with bronchiolitis, "which is what these viral infections are," in its pediatric intensive care unit throughout 2021, Tinsley said. That was an unusually low number, one that the unit long since eclipsed in 2022. "We are now doing more than that per month," she said. As RSV and other viruses sent more babies and toddlers to the hospital, "we didn't have enough cribs." More cribs had to be rented or bought and brought in. Nurses, respiratory therapists and other employees have been working extra days and overtime. Traveling nurses have been brought in to help. Hospital staff began to meet four times a day to plan out how to manage the growing numbers of patients, Tinsley said, going over staffing, supplies and medications. Some children had been sickened by two or more viruses at once, worsening their illness. There are 25 beds in the Loma Linda pediatric intensive care unit, but some days its staff have been caring for 30 or 40 children and have had to expand into other units in the 364-bed hospital. Tinsley said the death rate for children has thankfully remained extremely low, but the strain on pediatric hospitals echoes what those for adults were enduring a year earlier amid COVID-19. "Almost every day, you start the day out full," Tinsley said. "And we end it late at night full." "Sometimes we get concerned about how long we'll be able to sustain this," Tinsley added, "if it doesn't start letting up." At the Loma Linda hospital, medical staff can detect more than a dozen different viruses with a swab, said Dr. Laura Pruitt, an attending physician. One of the most common has been RSV, for which there is no currently approved vaccine. It has been especially taxing for the youngest children because their airways are so small and are more easily constricted. Velazco said that RSV was not on her mind when Emilia first started coughing. "But once her fever kept coming back and pretty frequently I knew it had to be something more than a cold," Velazco said. Emilia lay in the hospital bed, cuddling a rainbow stuffed animal and glancing up at a television playing cartoons. From time to time, she lifted one hand to wave or give a hesitant thumbs up to the gaggle of adults gathered in and around the room. This was the first Christmas that Emilia was old enough to be aware of, Velazco said. During the holiday, a doctor had stopped by with some gifts, which were a welcome distraction from the strangeness of a hospital room. "It's unfortunate that we have to be here," Velazco said. "But I know they're doing everything that they can to help." One building over, downstairs in the pediatric emergency department, Megan Duke was relieved that the usual deluge of young patients seemed to have paused that day, possibly because children had been away from school. "It's been such a needed break for our team," said Duke, director of the pediatric emergency department and pediatric trauma services. "You can kind of see life coming back into them." There had been enough space to put an illuminated tree and donated gifts for the kids in a room usually used for medical procedures something that Duke said would have been impossible a week earlier. But "it's not gonna last," she said, explaining that their numbers usually rebound after holiday gatherings. In November, the pediatric emergency room at Loma Linda was averaging nearly 200 patients a day, and "now we're back to about 140," Duke said still a high number for a department with 26 beds. To expand its capacity, it had set up chairs in the hallways, separated with privacy dividers, where clinicians could attend to patients who were not as seriously ill. Inside one room in the emergency department, nurse Mollie Perez asked Merlina Segeda Rendon how she was feeling. The 12-year-old, who has leukemia, had tested positive for the coronavirus on a rapid test at home. At times, the preteen translated questions into Spanish for her mother, who said Merlina had been suffering a fever that would dip a little after she took Tylenol, only to resurge again. "Short of breath? Or just a cough?" Perez asked the 12-year-old. "Just a cough. And dizziness," she replied. "And then I threw up this morning. And my back hurts." The nurse told her that her oxygen levels were good news that the girl relayed to her mother in Spanish and asked her to sit up and take a deep breath so Perez could listen to her lungs. Perez reassured her mother that Merlina looked as though she was in good shape, but that the oncologist might want to draw some blood to be sure, and maybe give her some medicine. She told the girl and her mother to push the call button if they needed anything before she stepped out of the room again. This was the second time that Merlina had gotten COVID-19, her mother, M. del Carmen, said. She worried aloud about how the leukemia might complicate efforts to treat her daughter for the virus. In November, the San Bernardino County health officer urged families to take precautions such as washing hands, getting flu shots and COVID-19 vaccinations and masking when indoors, warning that high rates of respiratory illness were "severely impacting capacity in our pediatric hospitals." That same month, the Children's Hospital Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics wrote in a letter to President Joe Biden that "these unprecedented levels of RSV happening with growing flu rates, ongoing high numbers of children in mental health crisis and serious workforce shortages are combining to stretch pediatric care capacity at the hospital and community level to the breaking point," stating that more than three-quarters of pediatric hospital beds were full across the country. At Loma Linda, Tinsley and other physicians said they had gotten calls seeking beds from Mexico, Northern California and outside the state. Some families are as far as a nine-hour drive away from the hospital, Pruitt said, straining parents who are juggling child care for their other kids. As Tinsley was showing a reporter around, she stopped to greet nurse Chovi Parenteau and asked, "Did you have a good Christmas?" "I was here!" Parenteau answered, pausing outside a hospital room in a protective yellow gown and gloves. "God bless you," Tinsley replied. Before she continued rounding the unit, Tinsley reached over to give the nurse a sideways hug. "It's going to be better next year," Tinsley told Parenteau. "It's got to." Interactive: 12 charts that show COVID-19 variants, vaccinations, hospitalizations, cases and deaths Your browser does not support the iframe HTML tag. Try viewing this in a modern browser like Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Internet Explorer 9 or later. A Saunders County Sheriffs deputy, who was seriously injured after his cruiser ended up a creek and caught fire, was released from the hospital on Saturday, Jan. 7. Deputy Dominic Leuck sustained various injuries including a fractured rib, torn ligament in his ankle, a fractured cheek bone, bruising of his lungs, a concussion, bruises and lacerations. The accident happened after Leuck attempted to initiate a traffic stop of a vehicle speeding on Nebraska Highway 79 near County Road N at approximately 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6 The suspect vehicle immediately turned onto County Road N and proceeded east at a high rate of speed and a pursuit was initiated. In a news release, the sheriffs office stated that the deputy lost visual contact with the suspect vehicle, which had lost control and rolled into a field. The deputy then lost control and ended up in a creek at which time the cruiser caught fire and was engulfed in flames. The suspect, Dustin A. Hayes, 26, of Prague sustained minor injuries and was taken into custody and transported to Saunders County Corrections after medical clearance. The deputy was treated at Saunders Medical Center and later transferred to Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha for observation. Hayes was ultimately cited with flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, driving during revocation, possession of marijuana less than an ounce, and speeding. The sheriffs office news release stated that Leuck is on the road to recovery and appreciates the support from everyone. The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating both accidents. BUIES CREEK, N.C. No. 17 Nebraska returned from its holiday break by picking up a pair of 37-6 dual wins Saturday over Gardner-Webb 37-6 and Campbell. Nebraska opened the day by winning eight of the 10 matches against Gardner-Webb, including six with bonus points. Lenny Pinto (184 pounds) and Silas Allred (197) highlighted those wins with back-to-back first-period pins. Peyton Robb (157), Mikey Labriola (174) and heavyweight Cale Davidson all recorded technical falls, while Liam Cronin (125) earned a major decision. The Huskers then had bonus-point win in their first three matches against Campbell. Bubba Wilson started the dual a first-period pin at 165 pounds, while Labriola and Pinto followed with major decisions. Other bonus-point wins against Campbell came on a technical fall from Cronin, a pin by Brock Hardy (141) and Robb winning by forfeit. Nebraska begins Big Ten dual season on Friday when it hosts Minnesota. 20 moments of Husker glory Huskers slip past Florida in Sugar Bowl 1974 Nebraska completes finals comeback in Seattle Huskers claim first-ever trip to College World Series Nebraska knocks off No. 3 Kansas at Devaney How many tackles can one man break? Sitting on another title Tolly Thompson claims heavyweight showdown with pin Nebraska crowned Big Eight tournament champions Toting the trophy against the Hawkeyes Nebraska on the Olympics stage Fist-pumping past the Golden Gophers Memorial Stadium claims 300th consecutive sell out crowd Nebraska baseball lights up the scoreboard Browne claims conference title Jared Crick brings out the American flag Osborne exits Orange Bowl in style "The catch" Playing into the night in OKC A farewell to"TO" Huskers in the Olympics, Part II One of the blessings as well as the curses of constitutional democracy is that we keep on having to hold campaigns and elections. The 2022 midterm elections are over. City elections in many communities will take place this April. And, ready or not, the 2024 presidential election is soon to enter what political analysts call the invisible primary. Most of us are not planning to campaign for any office in 2023 or 2024. Yet, across Colorado and the United States, candidates and campaign staffers are preparing for forthcoming elections. Would-be candidates have no spring training camp or Kaplan prep tutoring program to attend. Campaigning for public office is typically a do-it-yourself job with lots of on-the-job training and improvisation. The best way to prepare for campaigning is to have worked in someone elses earlier campaign. Another way is to binge on classic Hollywood campaigns and election movies. It also helps to retrieve appropriate documentaries that have captured the essence of campaigning over the past several decades. Here is a guide to a few of these instructive and, in many cases, entertaining movies. Hollywood films first: The Last Hurrah (1958). Based on Edwin OConnors prize-winning 1956 novel of the same name, this film was directed and produced by the legendary John Ford and starred famous actor Spencer Tracy. The films title is a reference to fictional Mayor Frank Skeffingtons last and unsuccessful run for mayor of a city like Boston. Skeffington is loosely but accurately based on Bostons colorful rogue Mayor James Michael Curley, who held a number of political offices in Massachusetts for over four decades. This is a film about old-school ethnic and tribal campaigning. Patronage matters. Deals are made. Wards (political sections of the city) are organized. Wakes and funerals are important political events. Monetary kickbacks and graft are involved. Both the joys and the underbelly of politics get described. Campaigns can be exciting but, as the film makes clear, politics is not for the thin-skinned, the timid, or the overly earnest. The film is dated, slow-paced in places, yet it is a valuable initiation into the rites and rituals of big-city American politics. The Best Man (1964). Based on Gore Vidals hit Broadway play, this film is set in the final days of a national nominating convention for president of the United States. Only a few candidates have survived to this point. It appears to be a showdown between a principled, idealistic secretary of state named William Russell, played by Henry Fonda, and a hard-charging, attractive U.S. Sen. Joe Cantwell, played by Cliff Robertson. The two are fictionalized composites, yet Russell has some of Adlai Stevensons characteristics while Cantwell shares some of Richard Nixons attributes. Both candidates seek the endorsement of their political partys incumbent president. But both candidates have a past. Russell has been a womanizer and has had a nervous breakdown. There is a rumor that the what-ever-it-takes-to-win Cantwell may have had a brief homosexual affair during military service. The incumbent president wants to back a winning candidate, yet he has doubts about both leading contenders. The old president worries that Russell might be lacking in the backbone and political dexterity the job demands. But then the old president fears that Cantwell may be too ruthless. It is a surprise when an exceptionally bland governor, Merwin, gets the nod and nomination. Viewers are left wondering if the best man got tossed aside amidst the frenzied last days of this exhilarating yet exhausting political convention. As the film ends, the convention delegates are chanting Mer-Win, Mer-Win. This is a cynical, invaluable and timeless political movie. The Candidate (1972). This Hollywood classic stars Robert Redford as a handsome, idealistic and environmental lawyer running for the U.S. Senate in California. Young Bill McKay is the son of a former governor, yet he dislikes politics and all the platitudes and phoniness he associates with that profession. Enterprising campaign consultants talk McKay into running against a longtime entrenched conservative incumbent. They persuade McKay that, though he will probably lose, this will be a good way to promote his green agenda. Meanwhile, the consultants know they can make lots of money managing the campaign of this novice and malleable candidate. McKay allows himself to be groomed and packaged by his handlers. The attention of being in the spotlight mesmerizes McKay and flatters his ego. His handlers reshape him into being more centrist than he actually is. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Somewhere in the process our handsome knight becomes a politician. The film suggests candidates and their campaign managers will do a lot of trimming to triumph in an election. Redford gives a first-rate performance. The movie is highly simplified young good guy vs. old reactionary bad guy. We get no information on who is funding these campaigns. Films do a poor job of explaining campaign finance. Yet the political lessons here are many. The young good guy wins, but at that point he is not certain what the race was really about. In a famous movie last line, McKay asks his campaign manager, What do we do now? Primary Colors (1998). Award-winning journalist Joe Klein wrote a fictional account of Bill Clintons 1991-92 campaign for the 1992 Democratic Partys presidential nomination. It was made into a movie. Clinton was an underdog but he had been governor of Arkansas for 11 years. Gov. Jack Stanton (John Travolta) is Kleins fictional candidate. We watch him campaign in the New Hampshire presidential primary and in the Florida primary. He is bright and charming yet has considerable political baggage. Stanton is accused, like Clinton was, of having extramarital affairs and avoiding the military draft during the Vietnam War. The value of this film is its close look at campaign operations, campaign debates, radio and television interviews, and especially the interaction of campaign advisors with candidates. Jack Stanton appears to thrive on chaos yet somehow becomes a likeable rogue as he wrestles with policy issues, rival candidates, the media and the paradoxical life he has led. Joe Klein had to imagine what happened behind closed doors, yet what he discusses seems mostly believable. The movie captures the glory and the sleaze of modern political life. College students who watched this film with us were appalled by candidate Stanton yet admitted they probably would have voted for him, flaws and all. The real candidate, Bill Clinton, caught many breaks in the 1992 presidential election campaign. His wife stood by him, and popular New York Gov. Mario Cuomo decided not to run. In the general election, independent candidate Ross Perot, a billionaire, decided to run as a fiscal conservative. That meant there were essentially two Republicans running against Clinton in a three-way race. Despite his flaws, Clinton easily won the White House. Ever since the 1950s, documentary film makers have covered presidential elections. Here are a few worthy of attention: Primary 1960 (1961). U.S. Sens. John F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey campaign against each other in the 1960 Wisconsin Democratic presidential primary. This is almost like a family home made video yet it is useful. The Making of the President 1960 (1963). Portrays the extremely hard-fought and close race for president in 1960 between Democratic Sen. John F. Kennedy and Republican Vice President Richard Nixon. War Room (1993). A clever documentary account of Bill Clintons senior campaign advisors and how they plotted their victorious strategies in the 1992 presidential election. Colorful strategist James Carville is featured along with communications director George Stephanopoulos. Both of them became popular television news commentators in subsequent years. Mitt (2014). This is a Mitt Romney-friendly documentary showcasing the former Massachusetts governor and current Utah U.S. senator and his family. It reveals Romneys decision making in both his 2008 and 2012 presidential election campaigns (both unsuccessful). Romney and his father, a popular governor of Michigan in the 1960s, have been prominent traditional Republicans over the past 60 years. Mayor Pete (2021). South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg ran as an improbable candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. He ran against two billionaires and several well-known millionaires, and he came in first in the Iowa caucuses and second in the New Hampshire primary. This is a pro-Pete Buttigieg film and shows why he captured a respectable following and a Cabinet position (Transportation) in the Biden administration. Both this and the Romney documentary are instructive. You will probably confirm that you are not running for any office after you watch these films. But you probably will respect those who have the courage to run. At least you will understand the enormously challenging obstacle course we force electoral candidates to endure. A shooting Sunday near downtown Colorado Springs left one person dead, according to Gazette news partner KKTV. The shooting occurred just after 3 a.m. at Aspen Creek Apartments near Brookside Street and Nevada Avenue, the TV station reported. As of Sunday morning, there was no word of an arrest. The coroner will release the victim's name after that person's family has been notified. Sam Dunbar was about two weeks from obtaining his real-estate agents license and beginning a career when a tragedy changed the course of his professional life. On March 22, 2021, a man walked into a King Soopers market in Boulder and opened fire. Ten people were killed in the mass shooting, including Eric Talley, a Boulder police officer. Talley, who reportedly led a team of officers into the supermarket within 30 seconds of arriving on scene, is believed to have kept a catastrophic situation from becoming far worse. Impressed by Talleys bravery and selflessness, Dunbar decided to begin a career in law enforcement. Its a calling, he said. I dont regret the decision at all. Dunbars law enforcement career officially began Thursday when he and nine classmates graduated from the Pikes Peak Regional Law Enforcement Academy at Pikes Peak State College. The academy, which has been a part of the PPSC system for more than 35 years, offers a physically and mentally demanding course of study that includes more than 700 hours in curriculum and training. Cadets receive extensive training in firearms, law enforcement driving and arrest control, as well as classroom instruction toward the required Colorado Peace Officers Standards and Training exam. Students who complete the curriculum and pass the POST exam can serve with a police department anywhere in the Pikes Peak region. According to Dunbar, the inflow of information was almost nonstop throughout the 16-week course. I was amazed at how much I didnt know, he said. Chris Deisler, Woodland Parks police chief, gave the keynote address. Deisler, who served 30 years with the Winter Springs Police Department in Florida, assumed leadership in Woodland Park in March 2022. It may be easy to make proper decisions when someone is watching you, Deisler advised the graduating class. But the decisions and choices you make when someone is not watching you are the ones that will frame your character and who you are. Deisler said policing is about more than enforcing the law. Its about gaining, and keeping, the publics trust. Listen more and talk less, he said. Be willing to hear someones story and give them the chance to be heard, because sometimes, thats all they really want. And that simple act can save your life. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Several graduates received awards for exemplary performance during the course: Jason Craddock received an award for leadership; Jim Gary achieved the highest academic average; Spencer Van Camp, who battled back from an injury he suffered early in the spring semester, won the physical fitness award; Eduardo Ramirez Byrne got an award for firearms proficiency; and Heather Powers the only woman in the graduating class and the smallest in physical stature received an award for arrest control. James Freeman, who earned a Driving Skills Award, wasnt able to attend the ceremony. A small contingent of Boulder police officers attended the ceremony to congratulate Dunbar for his selfless, and highly unusual, decision. Dunbar was awarded a challenge coin that was designed in honor of Talley, and Cmdr. Kerry Yamaguchi read aloud from a personal letter written by Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold. The legacy of Officer Talleys compassion and selfless bravery will be served not only in the calls to which you are dispatched, but in the ways you show generosity to your fellow officers and the strength you find in serving others, the letter read in part. Leah Talley, Erics widow, also attended the ceremony and stuck around afterward to congratulate him and wish him well in his new career. That was pretty great, Dunbar said. Dunbars wife, Maddy, said she couldnt be more proud of him. He had already made the decision to go into law enforcement when we met, she said. Im just glad to be by his side through all this. Dunbar, 21, will begin serving with the Woodland Park Police Department on Jan. 17. Im excited about it, he said. I cant wait to get started. The Colorado Supreme Court on Wednesday is scheduled to take public testimony on a new rule that would require the justices to step down from overseeing any discipline case that involves them, their family, current or former colleagues or any co-workers. Who replaces the justices, however, is at the center of a long-running disagreement between the states high court and the independent discipline commission whose job it is to investigate allegations of judicial misconduct. Proposed Rule 41, as it is called, is part of the Colorado Rules of Judicial Discipline, the code that outlines how the commission does its business. Until now, the justices were the ultimate arbiter of any commission decision, determining whether any proposed sanction against any of more than 300 judges across Colorado would be made public or dismissed outright. The proposed rule suggests replacing the justices with a random selection of seven judges from the Court of Appeals, a move some say doesnt address potential conflicts of interest by those judges, many of whom are in line for appointment to the high court or whose former members are now a sitting justice. In a letter to the Supreme Court, the discipline commission said allowing the justices to name their replacements is problematic. Where grounds for disqualification of the full Court exist, the Court should not be able to exercise other functions that appear to influence or impact the outcome of a pending or impending judicial discipline proceeding, the commission wrote the court on Dec. 28. Stated in practical terms, a conflicted Court should not have the ability to choose or control it own legislature, its own investigator, its own prosecutor, and its own adjudicator when one of its current or former members is directly involved in (a) judicial discipline case. The commission has suggested the pool of judges replacing the justices extend to district court judges. Like the Colorado Supreme Court, the Colorado Court of Appeals is a collegial court. The Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court are also physically and administratively connected. Therefore, if a conflict exists at the Court of Appeals, then the whole Court of Appeals will be disqualified," the commission wrote. The letter also reveals without detail or explanation that Supreme Court Justice Monica Marquez, who is scheduled to replace current Chief Justice Brian Boatright, has recused herself from the rulemaking process. Marquez declined to comment when reached by The Gazette. The proposed rule is a direct result of a judiciary scandal that first broke in July 2019 with revelations of a lucrative contract given to a high-ranking Judicial Department official who faced firing over financial irregularities. The controversy exploded further in February 2021 when it was alleged the contract was a quid pro quo deal designed to prevent a sex-discrimination lawsuit by the former official who threated to reveal publicly a number of department misdeeds, including several instances of judicial misconduct that were never reported to the discipline commission. Those misdeeds were laid out in a two-page memo the department refused to release publicly until its existence was revealed in newspaper stories. Several investigations ensued two by the Judicial Department that determined there had been misconduct but not by any Supreme Court justice and the Colorado General Assembly created a special bipartisan committee of legislators who held hearings last summer to consider changes to the discipline process. Although that committee has made suggestions to the full Legislature, which is expected to take them up in the coming session that begins Monday, the Supreme Court until then maintains the authority to make rules that govern the discipline process. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. One of the committee's suggested changes is a constitutional amendment that would create a wholly independent discipline commission whose cases would be heard by a three-person panel made up of a judge, a lawyer and a citizen. Currently, the Supreme Court names a three-judge tribunal that only makes a recommendation for discipline that the court ultimately determines whether to uphold. Rule 41 takes immediate aim at the requirement for all seven Supreme Court justices to recuse themselves from any discipline matter that touches their membership, a former justice or a matter in which a justice or a family member could be involved, such as a witness or a judge under investigation. The idea that disciplinary cases could touch any member of the court surfaced with the allegation that then-Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Ben Coats was responsible for approving the contract to Mindy Masias, the departments chief of staff, in order to prevent the tell-all lawsuit. That allegation was made by the departments state court administrator, its top civilian, to the special legislative committee last summer, a reiteration of what had been revealed in February 2021. The former administrator, Christopher Ryan, said he resigned in order to protect the court from the blast of scrutiny that eventually materialized and that the result of the ensuing inquiries was designed to protect the robes. Coats became the target of at least two investigations, one of them announced by the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, which oversees the law licenses of lawyers across the state. Another is being conducted by the discipline commission, according to a person who said they filed the complaint. The commissions work is by law kept secret. The discipline commission, in its letter to the Supreme Court, noted that another sitting justice was part of the Masias memo. One of the accusations raised in the Masias controversy is that allegations of harassment by a Court of Appeals judge who later became a Colorado Supreme Court justice were suppressed by the Court of Appeals and the Colorado Judicial Department, the commission wrote. The commission has not said publicly whether that justice, Richard Gabriel, is under investigation. The scandal involves allegations that the state court administrator was in cahoots with the chief justice to buy the silence of an ex-employee who allegedly was blackmailing them with information about judges who should have been disciplined, Chris Forsyth, the executive director of The Judicial Integrity Project wrote the court on Dec. 28, urging a wholly public discipline process. Had the information been made public to begin with, there would have been nothing with which to blackmail the administrator or the chief justice. The judicial discipline process should be public to avoid this scenario in the future. In his own letter to the court, Sen. Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs, implored the justices to allow the legislative process to handle any changes to the judicial discipline system. The preemptory issuance of a proposed rule with a short deadline for comments short-circuits the process and is not justified, Lee wrote Dec. 27. Rather, these important issues should be explored and debated during the deliberative processes of Judiciary Committee hearings where multiple stakeholders can have the opportunity to participate. Lee added concerns about the justices naming their own replacements from the Court of Appeals: Lack of robust conflict rules could undermine public confidence in a judiciary where judges are judging judges and not furthering the goals of transparency and accountability. Lee was the prime sponsor of legislation that created the special committee that delved into the discipline process. He chaired the committee until he stepped down when criminal charges challenging his residency were filed in El Paso County. Those charges were dropped when it was determined key evidence provided by the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel was flawed. The high court is required to take public testimony about any new rule. The hearing is scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Supreme Court in downtown Denver. People always ask me why I live in Boulder. Now that the whole state of Colorado has basically politically turned into the intolerant town of Boulder, you live there, too. The states new shopping bag tax, excuse me, fee, which turns into an outright bag ban in a year, is a fine example of this statewide Boulder smugness. Boulder smugness is the addiction to coerce other people to do your virtue signaling. Boulder was always a hippie mecca. But when I moved there from Littleton, where I grew up, Boulder had a groovy you-be-you-baby attitude where both the Buddhist Naropa University and Soldier of Fortune Magazine could be started. With wealth, Boulder grew into a remarkably small-minded and uptight town. I remember waiting at a checkout line at the grocery store when the man in front of me said, arent you that Caldara guy? I put out my hand and said, Hi, Im Jon Caldara. He grimaced and merely said, Why dont you just fing leave? To which I could only reply, What? And leave all the diversity, acceptance and tolerance on which Boulder prides itself? I went to a Boulder restaurant, and they had a poster haughtily showing why they dont use plastic straws. It showed a sea turtle with a plastic straw up its nose. Sanctimoniously it said that we care for sea life and therefore customers could only get paper straws, and the self-righteous satisfaction of picking soggy bits of paper from their mouths after sucking down an overpriced Coke (Boulder has a sugary-drink tax, too). But theres just one problem with their proud virtue signaling: its a falsehood. No plastic straw from Colorado is going up the nose of a sea turtle unless you take it and do it yourself. Like plastic bags (see, got back to plastic bags), if not recycled, plastic straws in Colorado are entombed in landfills. If somehow they get released into the wild (like gray wolves) and get into the water system, they get caught up in a number of treatment facilities along the way to the turtle. Mr. and Mrs. Colorado, you may drink guilt free. People do use plastic bags to litter. Maybe we should pass some laws against littering. But maybe we should pass some laws against stealing cars first since Colorado is first in the nation in that. Plastic bags, like plastic straws, statistically make up basically none of the plastic waste problem in Colorado. Like almost all virtue signaling, its the inconsistency of the issue that makes it comical. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. I mean really, is the goal of this to reduce plastic? Cuz it doesnt. Next time youre in the grocery store try to tap your finger on every other piece of plastic that will still be legal in the store: the plastic bags in the produce section; the plastic that the products are packaged in; the plastic theyre delivered in, displayed on. Youll be there for days. Oh, and by the way, the ban only makes the plastic pollution worse (if that matters to anyone) because now instead of using lighter, cleaner American made plastic bags made from natural gas, not oil, people will be using thicker more polluting plastic bags to line their trash cans and pick up after their dog. Score another one for the virtue signal mandators. Or riddle me this one: if plastic bags and straws need to be outlawed even though they bring sizable benefit with statistically insignificant cost, why shouldnt plastic tampon applicators also be banned? I mean, other than the reality no man is brave enough to put his name on the bill. They do have cardboard applicators, you know. Colorado, welcome to Boulder-styles silly theatrics costly, inconvenient style over substance. Maybe there are reasons not to use paper or plastic bags. But please just do what good cultists do and convince us to join in your behavior and not what bad cultists do and force us. In some parts of the Muslim world, women are kept covered under burkas and veils to keep them virtuous, under threat of stoning. I hope any modern American woman finds such a mandate revolting. To subjugate another under somebody elses definition of virtue is simply immoral, even if those in power are 100% certain of their correctness. The situation here in Colorado is little different. They are 100% certain. And you live in Boulder now, baby. Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute in Denver and hosts The Devils Advocate with Jon Caldara on Colorado Public Television Channel 12. His column appears Sundays in Colorado Politics. The tragedy of homelessness in our communities and how to address this growing crisis is on the minds of not only elected officials and community leaders, but residents and business owners. Our communities are clamoring for solutions to protect quality of life and public safety, and to help the men and women living on our streets. The key question we face is whether to put the focus on housing, without preconditions or expectations of treatment, or do we put the focus on treatment to tackle the root causes of those experiencing homelessness. I passionately believe in treatment first. Not just because of the obvious shortcoming of the housing first policy, or because of the growing body of research that points to treatment as a more effective solution. For me and my family, this is personal and painful. The challenge of addressing homelessness is an incredibly complex and nuanced issue that will never neatly fit into our forced, binary politics of left versus right. Far too often any thoughtful discussions of solutions are drowned out by ideological rhetoric that cheapens the serious nature of the issue and the dignity of those living it. The complexity of the issue, and the very fact that it involves human lives, requires solutions that are flexible and can be tailored to the needs of the individuals and our communities. I have seen how untreated behavioral health issues, compounded by addiction, in those left alone in housing can have devastating effects. For this I dont need to read a study or to consult with experts; Ive witnessed it. Firsthand experience Growing up I was raised by a single mom who suffered from significant mental illness that was made worse at times by struggles with addiction. After my sister and I moved away for college and my grandfather, who was the tough love parent, passed away, I saw the disassociation that is common in those who face these challenges. The only time my mom sought treatment was when expectations were set by my grandfather or when she was compelled by the justice system. It was during the times of treatment, when I saw my mom stable and at her best, fully engaged with family and friends, funloving, and able to maintain employment. Over time, as expectations were dropped and participation in any type of peer recovery program beyond the court-ordered treatment were lifted, she became more isolated despite attempts by family to engage. Because of family support, my mom always had housing; she always had her basic needs met. Unfortunately, as is far too common with those provided housing without conditions, 10 years ago my mom lost her battle with mental illness and addiction and took her life, alone in housing provided free of expectations of treatment. It was only recently that Ive been able to talk to anybody outside my family about how my mom died. My sister, family, and I felt deep guilt and questioned what else we could have done to save her. Ive come to understand that not everybody can be saved, and maybe nothing else could have been done to prevent losing my mom. And while I believe this to be true, as a policymaker I refuse to support a policy that doesnt try. Housing first fails This brings me to why I have such deep and substantive concerns about the housing first policy that has been driving federal dollars for more than a decade. A careful review of the policy, and its often unintended but highly negative consequences, show us that it is not the comprehensive, compassionate and effective solution we need. Housing first lacks preconditions or expectation of participation in treatment whether it be for behavioral health, addiction recovery, or even workforce development to get you back on your feet. Many housing first advocates will point to Houston as an example of the policy working but ignore the less flattering examples in cities like San Francisco, Portland Seattle and others where the policy has led to unimaginable conditions of hopelessness and economic despair. History, and an overwhelming amount of data and evidence, continue to suggest that a new direction is desperately needed. As we often do to find where policies arent working, lets look at California. In 2016, California enacted a law that required that every state dollar spent on homelessness be spent on housing first programs. Homelessness in California has been increasing at a faster rate than the rest of the country. From 2015 to 2019 (starting the year before passage of the law mandating that state funding be used for housing first programs), unsheltered homelessness rose more than 47% and this is before the COVID pandemic in 2020. If housing first is the answer, California should be a leading example of reducing homelessness. Not surprisingly, it is the opposite. We also must acknowledge that there is a spectrum of men and women who experience homelessness. Whether experts support housing first or treatment first, there is little dispute that a segment of the homeless population needs access to permanent supportive housing. These are individuals who suffer from such significant mental health challenges, or possibly physical or cognitive disabilities, that they will never be able to live independently. These are the people who at one point in our countrys history would have been in supportive hospitals but who are now forced by policy to languish on our streets or in prisons. Major city mayors, including the mayor of New York City, are revisiting this policy, and I hope to see other states and cities do the same. We also know from research, and from advocates for the homeless here in Colorado and across the country, that permanent supportive housing is needed for only a relatively small percentage of those experiencing homelessness. Research suggests that the majority of those experiencing homelessness are suffering from a prolonged struggle with addiction and/or untreated behavioral health issues. Auroras path Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Which brings us to how we are working to tackle homelessness in Aurora. Its becoming clear that the strings attached to much-needed funding from Washington are really handcuffs that stifle our ability to shape life changing solutions that can and I believe will work for Aurora and other Front Range communities. Like many communities, Aurora was beset with encampments popping up along the side of our highways, next to businesses, and just beyond fence lines in many residential neighborhoods. The visibility of the camps made them top of mind and the abhorrent conditions within the encampments themselves were, and still are, a serious public health and safety issue for the community and those living in them. Our first step was to enact the camping ban introduced by Mayor Mike Coffman. But we also knew that a camping ban was not an end to this crisis, or a solution to the root causes of homelessness, but really the beginning of a journey to address the underlying challenge. Like the camping ban, it has become clear that the federal policy preference of housing first addresses little more than a symptom of homelessness and fails as a single solution to adequately address the root causes. Alone and without active participation in supportive services, it falls short of addressing the primary drivers of homelessness. In a report issued by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, it was noted that, in attacking the issue of homelessness, the toolbox must include all approaches that successfully address the problem. Stakeholders must consider innovative ideas and reject the idea that there are any sacred cows. Because of this, policies adopted should be flexible and avoid the danger of being a one-size-fits-all approach or being overly prescriptive in the way funding is appropriated and services are delivered. If we are serious about innovation, step one is for state and local officials to come together to advocate for change from Washington. Our congressional delegation would do us a great service by advocating that the federal government drop its housing first blinders and create an innovative block grant program. Lets have federal funding of homelessness programs through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) come with maximum flexibility to shape solutions for our communities. What might this look like in Aurora? There is great interest across the political spectrum in placing a greater emphasis on behavioral health support and addiction and recovery treatment. Just as Ive seen the tragic consequences of untreated behavioral health and addiction in my family, Ive also seen the triumph of recovery by loved ones through sustained and intentional treatment. We should never dismiss the ability of the human spirit to achieve recovery simply because the current condition seems too bleak. By giving state and local governments the ability to direct more funding toward treatment, we will have an opportunity to focus on the root causes of homelessness rather than simply applying Band-Aids to the symptoms. Treatment for addiction and recovery would not be the only benefit of increased flexibility of block granting federal homeless funding. Increased support for behavioral health another underlying root cause of homelessness would also be possible. Untreated behavioral health in everything from homelessness and crime to the heartbreaking rise in youth violence is a cancer on our communities. And we should not accept it. Beyond bandages By shifting the focus in funding from permanent supportive housing, beyond the population who need it, to treatment and support we have an opportunity to see meaningful change. Increased flexibility would also allow homeless funding to go toward programs that provide workforce development and job training, another desperately needed tool to help lift people toward self-reliance. As Aurora continues to work toward co-locating a variety of services, we should do so with the unwavering aim of supporting people who want out of homelessness instead of simply meeting their emergency needs in the moment. We should partner with effective nonprofits such as Step Denver, Ready to Work, and many others, that have a proven track record at helping those experiencing homelessness because of addiction rebuild their lives. Many programs that place conditions on housing often referred to as transitional housing dont accept federal funding out of fear of compromising their programs that have proven to be successful. The programs that have been successful in guiding people toward personal transformation have proven to attract private funding through philanthropy and with more public/private partnerships we could ultimately begin to lessen the costs to taxpayers. It is this outcome, personal transformation by providing the hand-up toward self-sufficiency, that should be the metric used to determine progress. It should never be good enough to simply measure success by the number of meals provided or beds offered during the cold nights but instead by the number of people we move from the streets to self-reliance. Ending homeless might never happen, but as with any successful organization it should be the infinite north star that we continually strive toward. Compassion for those experiencing homeless requires us to acknowledge the root causes that have shattered their lives and then offer a tailored path forward. My moms story of struggle showed me the depths of suffering that come with addiction and behavioral health challenges if left untreated. While the benefits of treatment first will not be realized by everybody, it can bring healing and recovery to many of our homeless men and women and long-lasting benefits to our communities if we make it a priority. We have an opportunity in Aurora to chart a different course, to pursue better solutions that are not limited by ideological motives, that provide greater flexibility, and that are ultimately more hopeful. The solutions wont always be perfect but working together we can make progress, so lets get to work. A Senate District 5 vacancy committee on Saturday chose outgoing state Rep. Perry Will, R-New Castle, to replace Sen. Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale, who announced his resignation last month, effective Tuesday, Jan. 10. With Will's selection, the General Assembly will have its full complement of 100 members. Will lost his bid for a second full term in the House in November, losing by seven percentage points to Democrat Elizabeth Velasco. Will was appointed to the House District 57 seat in February 2019, after Rankin, then in the House, was selected by a vacancy committee to head to the Senate to replace Sen. Randy Baumgardner, R-Hot Sulphur Springs, who resigned his seat. Senate District 5, as redrawn by the redistricting commission in 2021, includes Pitkin, Gunnison and Hinsdale counties and parts of Eagle, Garfield, Montrose and Delta counties. Will will be up for election to the Senate seat in 2024. Will is a former wildlife officer with the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife. In addition to Will, attorney Zachary Parsons of Glenwood Springs was a candidate for the seat. According to a news release from the SD5 vacancy committee, Will won on the first ballot. A tweet from Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta, said Will got 17 votes to Parsons' two. We have a new State Senator! Congrats Sen-elect Perry Will pic.twitter.com/jxQ8DVh43M Representative Matt Soper (@SoperMatthew) January 7, 2023 The vacancy committee, which is made up of the district officers, county Republican party chairs and vice-chairs and secretaries from the seven counties that make up the 5th Senate District, and Republican state representatives whom reside within the 5th Senate District, heard lengthy presentations from the two prospective candidates, along with a robust question-and-answer period for each candidate, the news release said. Philip Vaughan of Garfield County, who chairs the Republican Senate District 5 Vacancy Committee, noted that the vacancy committee has conducted a transparent process for selection of the 5th Senate District seat. We are excited to have Perry Will as our new State Senator and look forward to his representation in this important upcoming legislative session. Democratic candidates dominated Colorados November election, creating perhaps the most liberal-leaning legislature in state history. But that doesnt mean the fight for progressive policies has been won. Democrats flipped seven seats from red to blue in November, leading to a 69-31 Democrat-Republican split at the Capitol. In the House, the 46-19 split is likely the largest Democratic advantage in state history. And in the Senate, after months of predictions that a red wave would result in Republicans seizing control of the state Senate, Democrats ended up gaining two seats, only one short of a two-thirds majority. While these margins make Republicans almost powerless to block whatever legislation Democrats want to pass, political analysts see the defining conflict in this months legislative session as emerging among Democrats themselves pitting those who wish to push the envelope with the progressive proposals against those who favor a more moderate approach. Shifting delegation After the election, Colorado now has the seventh-highest percentage of Democratic state lawmakers in the nation, according to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures. By that metric, Colorado ranks sixth in the nation in terms of Democratic state House dominance and 11th for Democratic state Senate control. In addition to having more Democrats, the members of this years Legislature could be the most liberal that the state has ever seen, particularly in the state House. Theres no denying that the new class of lawmakers contains some very progressive new legislators, said Ian Silverii, a Democratic insider and former executive director of ProgressNow Colorado. Id be surprised if this werent one of the youngest class of freshmen, majority caucus or even entire House chamber in state history. He added: There are more women than ever before, more LGBTQ+ folks, more people of color and more Democrats from rural parts of the state than any class I believe Ive ever seen. The infusion of new blood comes as some of the partys most influential mainstream members are leaving the state House in January. Among them are outgoing House Speaker Alec Garnett, who will become the new chief of staff for the governor; Rep. Kerry Tipper, the Denver city attorney-designee; and, U.S. Rep.-elect Yadira Caraveo. At the same time, the House is getting an influx of progressive policymakers, notably Reps.-elect Elisabeth Epps, an abolitionist; Stephanie Vigil, a community organizer; and Javier Mabrey, a housing rights attorney. In the Denver metro delegation which makes up roughly half of the 65 House seats 15 legislators were replaced in November, almost entirely by more progressive candidates. Weeks later, Rep. Adrienne Benavidez announced her resignation and another three long-standing Denver representatives could potentially leave the House in a matter of months, as theyre running for local offices in April: Reps. Alex Valdez, Leslie Herod and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, with the first two seeking the mayors office and Gonzales-Gutierrez gunning for Denver City Council. Adrian Felix, president of Young Denver Democrats and secretary of Denver Democrats, said the new blood leaning further left than the outgoing Democrats reflects Colorados voters. Denver has this new delegation that I really think represents the city in terms of how left were moving. The ones that weve elected are much further left, Felix said. Not to rag on the older generations, but we kind of inherited a lot of these problems from their inability to solve these issues. So, maybe it takes a new group of people to get these things figured out. The shifting ideological lean among Denver lawmakers is especially important, as those lawmakers are largely responsible for setting policy trends for the state, said Seth Masket, professor of political science and the director of the Center on American Politics at the University of Denver. The legislators from the city, in some ways, set the tone for the majority party, Masket said. That means Coloradans could see a lot of legislation regarding affordable housing, criminal justice reform and "green" climate policies be introduced next session but it doesnt necessarily mean those bills will pass. Potential roadblocks While the incoming class of rookie lawmakers could be the most progressive , theyll still be first-year lawmakers and, therefore havent accumulated political influence . Floyd Ciruli, founder of the public policy research and consulting firm Ciruli Associates, said this will be one of the main challenges facing the progressive agenda, as moderate Democrats, such as House Speaker-designee Julie McCluskie, take the reins of the legislative session. Its extremely important as to who the leadership is, Ciruli said. The new speaker from Dillon is pretty moderate. The chairmen and the vice chairmen have a lot of power. Theres a lot of new people, but theyre not necessarily in the position to dominate or set the agenda. My sense is that there will be at least some pressure from the opposite direction. They will be restrained by folks with more experience and leadership. Ciruli said longer-standing centrist Democrats may fear political backlash for pursuing progressive policies. He pointed to the 2013 recall of two Democratic senators in Colorado for supporting gun-control legislation as evidence of what can happen when voters feel a party has overreached. We have moved much more progressive than that 2013 era, but that was a very liberal group and the backlash took place very quickly, Ciruli said. That made Democrats extremely, extremely cautious. Even with their massive majority, Democratic leadership, indeed, appears to be moving cautiously. Senate President Steve Fenberg told Coloado Politics he is going to make a conscious effort to keep legislation bipartisan and include Republicans in policy development. In her House committee assignments, McCluskie continued the tradition of making Rep. Marc Catlin vice chair of the agriculture committee, the only Republican to hold committee leadership for the third year in a row. These kinds of decisions have made some Republicans optimistic about the upcoming session, despite being at a numerical disadvantage. House Minority Leader Mike Lynch said McCluskie and Majority Leader Monica Duran have been very cognizant of giving Republicans the opportunity to contribute to the conversation. The leadership seems to be very common sense and concerned about all views at this point. I can just hope for the best that it will carry through in legislation, Lynch said. Im very hopeful that well still be able to get some stuff done and not have to be playing defense the whole time. ... But Speaker McCluskie shes got a challenge of a very diverse caucus. I dont know how shell handle that. Epps, one of the biggest names among the incoming progressive lawmakers, appears to be less optimistic than Lynch about the upcoming session. Already she has signaled that a fight is brewing. In a tweet posted on Dec. 16, Epps said she expects progressive efforts will fail more than they will pass. Were going to lose much more than we win in the coming year, Epps said. Our wins are gonna be big yes, but our losses will be painful and numerous (and indefensible). I hope you keep rocking with those of us who are in this work for the long haul. Mabrey said he believes the issues Coloradans want solved are not going to be controversial or divisive among the Democratic Party. The Democrats got to 46 seats, because the voters want us. They trust us to address the rising cost of living, to fight for affordable housing, to fight for these basic kitchen-table issues. I dont even want to delineate it in terms of progressive or not. I think its just common-sense policies that will help working families, Mabrey said. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. But as Mabrey has seen firsthand, Democrats have not always been willing to veer too hard to the left when it comes to passing big-ticket progressive legislation. Take, for example, 2021s Senate Bill 273, which sought to change the pretrial detention process by clamping down on the use of arrests and cash bail for low-level offenses. Epps and Mabrey, then community organizers, were among the advocates who pushed the bill through a 7-hour hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Epps sparred with the Republican committee members over the veracity of the points they made in opposition, while Mabrey and his mother, Catherine, told their personal stories of how the legislation could have affected their lives after an incarceration due to an incident involving a barking dog. The bill advanced on party lines that day, but picked up bipartisan opposition as it moved through the General Assembly. Less than three weeks after clearing Senate Judiciary, the bill died in the House Finance Committee after two Democrats Reps. Shannon Bird and Matt Gray voted with Republicans to shut it down. While Mabrey said he cannot ensure this kind of thing wont happen again next session, he hopes Democrats will be more willing to stand together because the stakes are too high for us to fail. We have to demonstrate to voters that democracy is a tool that can work for them to meaningfully and materially improve their lives, Mabrey said. Our economic system for too long has been stacked against working families. They trust Democrats to do something about it. Other factors could still prevent legislation from passing despite widespread support from Democratic legislators. Though the Senate reached a 23-12 Democratic majority, in seven of the 10 Senate committees, there is only a one-member difference between Republicans and Democrats, meaning Republicans only have to persuade one Democrat to vote no on a bill to prevent it from advancing to the full chamber. Newly Democratic Sen. Kevin Priola could help tip the scales for some bills. Though Priola switched from Republican to Democrat in August, he said it would not change how he votes, including opposing Democrat-backed abortion protections. In addition, the Senate is one Democrat short of a two-thirds majority, meaning Democrats alone would not be able to counteract Gov. Jared Polis if he vetoes a bill. This is a major concern for Felix of Young Denver Democrats. The problem theyre going to run into is that they have a governor who seems far more concerned about his presidential aspirations than he does with helping their constituents, Felix said. I know all of these legislators have great ideas, but its really about what the governor is going to allow. At this point in his career, hes just going to be prioritizing his own future. Felix said he fears Polis will veto any legislation that could be seen as controversial to avoid bad press. Polis is a mainstay on shortlists identifying potential presidential candidates for 2024. Felix pointed to last session, when Polis threatened to veto a bill expanding rights for mobile home residents because it would have capped lot rent increases in mobile home parks. Though the measure had broad Democratic support and enough votes to pass the House and the Senate as written, the bill was amended to remove the rent-stabilization portion to avoid Polis veto. A lot of (legislators) feel that Polis is going to be the be-all, end-all, Felix said. If he doesnt think itll benefit him in terms of his aspirations for running for president, hes probably not going to support it. Polis spokesman Conor Cahill defended the governors track record of supporting Democratic policies. The governor just had an over 19-point win on a platform and record of delivering for peoples pocketbook issues of saving them money, saving people money on health care, tackling high housing costs, and making us one of the top 10 safest states in the country, Cahill said. The governor intends to continue to focus on delivering on those promises and will always do whats right for Colorado. Felix said he is specifically worried that Polis will kill legislation regarding rent control, progressive criminal justice reform and increasing education funding next session, with the latter due to a reportedly lacking budget for the year. Voter response After Democrats expanded their legislative dominance in November in addition to winning every statewide office, five of eight congressional seats and nearly unseating Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert some party insiders believe the Republican Party is all but dead in Colorado. However, Silverii warns that a revival is possible, depending on the Democrats performance this session. When I got here in 2006, we were a red state that was quickly 'empurpling,' and anyone who thinks the pendulum cant swing just as hard and just as fast in the other direction needs to pay closer attention to history, Silverii said. Silverii encouraged the Democratic leadership to focus on caucus unity, common-sense progressive legislation and responding to community needs, while cautioning against ideological purity tests, performative legislation and personality politics. Though the worst thing Democrats could do, he said, is squander the opportunities the voters have given them by doing nothing. Ciruli suggested that voters may not have been choosing Democrats as much as they were rejecting Republicans, an opinion he thinks some moderate Democrats share. My thought is that new leadership in general is going to be very conscious of it. They won a great victory here, but it was a surprise. While its a welcome surprise for them, I think they recognized that it wasnt because the Democratic brand was completely adopted by everyone. Rather, there was a sense that the Republicans collapsed, Ciruli said. Though, this newest batch of lawmakers from the November election could also bring hope for Colorados Republican Party, said Eric Sondermann, an independent political analyst . The Republican caucus in both the House and the Senate, not just in the metro area but across the state, has gotten somewhat more mainstream. A number of those Republican primaries last June were won by the centrist Republican as opposed to the hardcore Trump-y Republican, Sondermann said. Moderate Republicans will have the opportunity to have somewhat more influence in an overwhelmingly Democratic legislature, so that piece is probably for the better. Of the 10 sitting GOP House members considered to lean the furthest right, nine of them did not run for reelection in November: Reps. Ron Hanks, Tim Geitner, Patrick Neville, Andres Pico, Kim Ransom, Shane Sandridge, Dave Williams, Mark Baisley and Kevin Van Winkle, the last two of whom switched to the state Senate. That leaves Rep. Stephanie Luck, who won her reelection, as the only remaining far-right House member. Pico, Geitner and Van Winkles seats were all won by Democratic candidates. For Republican candidates who are holding on to the seats, most are much more moderate than their predecessors. For example, Reps.-elect Lisa Frizell, Anthony Hartsook and Rose Pugliese, who are replacing Neville, Ransom and Sandridge, respectively. Dick Wadhams, a Republican political consultant and a former Colorado Republican state chairman, said in a recent column that, given the Democrats dominance at the state Capitol, little doubt exists the majority will push for more progressive legislation and therein lies an opportunity for the GOP. Wadhams said Democrats might actually go too far even in the minds of the unaffiliated voters who stood by them in 2022. War with Ukraine and concentration of power by the president of China are pointed out by consultancy as the main risks to the international community; for specialists, the union of the two leaders causes division in the world EFE/EPA/WU HONG Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping THE Russia and the President of China, Xi Jinpingrepresent the greatest risks for the world in 2023, according to the report carried out by the Eurasia Group, a company that researches political risk and annually gathers the most likely problems that the planet may face. According to them, recent events in the war in Ukrainewhich turns one year old next month, and the setbacks suffered by Vladimir Putins troops are set to result in a humiliated Russia and, once that happens, it will cease to be a global player to become the most rogue state dangerous in the world, posing a serious threat to the security of EuropeFrom U.S and beyond. On the other hand, the centralization of power in Xi Jinping, who is seen as the most powerful leader in China since Mao Tse-Tung, especially after winning the October elections, which granted him a historic third term, should lead to major mistakes that will cause political volatility and high uncertainty in the country, in addition to reverberate in the world. This is an enormous and under-appreciated global challenge, given the unprecedented reality of a capitalist state dictatorship playing such a disproportionate role in the global economy, the report notes. So how will these risks be felt around the world? Bernardo Wahl, professor of International Security at the Sao Paulo School of Sociology and Politics Foundation (FESPSP), explains that a humiliated Russia acting dishonestly could generate a geopolitical crisis of the highest order. A threat to global security, Western political systems, cyberspace, Ukrainian civilians and food insecurity. It is worth remembering that Russia and Ukraine, known as the granary of Europe, are two of the largest producers of wheat and corn in the world, representing, respectively, 29% and 19% of global exports. Since September, the troops of Vladimir Putin have suffered setbacks in the war recently, in a single attack by the Ukrainian Army, the Russians lost 89 soldiers. The result of the attack had negative repercussions within the country. However, Putin has little to lose from further escalation against the West and Ukraine, not least because Russia is almost completely isolated from the advanced industrial democracies economically, diplomatically, culturally and technologically. Faced with the difficulty of winning the conflict with Ukraine by taking initiatives, in addition to the fact that it is receiving more advanced military systems, such as the Patriot missile system, for air defense, Wahl claims, pointing to the Eurasia report, that Russia should start a asymmetric warfare with the West, seeking to inflict damage and weaken the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) instead of employing open aggression that relies on military and economic power that Russia no longer has. Despite the existing possibility of Russia losing the war and becoming the most dangerous rogue state in the world, the FESPSP professor warns that if Russia loses the war to Ukraine, it will be shaken and will need time to rebuild. However, this defeat can be good for those who support Ukraine. In the long term, however, the problem may reappear. Despite not publicly declaring its support for Russia in the war, China is an ally of Putin, in addition to being the second largest economy in the world, with real chances of becoming the first, as pointed out by political scientist and USP researcher Pedro Costa. The expert recalls that on February 4, 2022, at the opening of the winter olympics, held in Beijing, Putin and Xi Jinping signed a partnership, classified as without limits. After 20 days, the Russian president began the invasion of Ukraine. Apart from them being the greatest threat to the West, they have come together, which causes a rift in the world. On the one hand, we have the US, G7 and NATO partner, and on the other China, Russia and Eurasian allies. Costa adds that this alliance threatens the western order because if China grows, it is a problem, because it is stealing jobs, taking jobs from the US, G7 and western allies. If it grows little, it is a problem, because it is reducing international trade, explains Costa. He adds that the country is a threat to the West and now that they have joined Russia, which is a former Western rival and the second largest military force, they have become a risk, especially at a time when the US, allies of the G7 and NATO, are going through a moment of leadership crisis and global hegemony, as the political scientist points out. The current scenario makes some people say that international relations have returned to a time of competition between great powers. And this is a bit of what we are seeing, so much so that the report points to Russia and China as the main risks for 2023, says Wahl, warning that, as much as the Eurasia Group is a reputable company and considered the largest in the world in political risk, it is necessary to consider that their reports have a certain Americanocentric bias, that is, they have more impact in Europe and the United States, but it does not have such an effect in Brazil, mainly with the new government, in which Luis Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) should follow the policy of its other two mandates, of seeking multilateralism and relating to several countries, adds Wahl. Costa agrees, adding that it is necessary to ask for whom these two powers are a risk. Is China a threat to Brazil or a threat to the interests of US hegemony? In addition to Russia and Xi Jinping, the report also lists other topics. In all, there are ten points that require attention: Russia Xi Jinping Weapons of Mass Disruption Inflation shock waves Will energy crisis Global development standstill Political division in the United States Tik Tok Boom Water shortage Experts reinforce their concern about the energy crisis and point to inflation as another issue that raises alarm and should affect the entire world. The war in Ukraine has no end in sight and strangles the energy issue, and when this strangulation is created, we have an inflation problem that will have global repercussions, explains Pedro Costa. This energy issue, associated with the climate factor, generates inflation, as it increases the price of energy. Wahl adds that high inflation increases interest rates and harms emerging countries, such as Brazil. Costa draws attention to another point, the Covid-19 which is not over yet, especially now, with the explosion of cases in China. It is not known how the Chinese will handle this situation. And the way China handles the pandemic affects the global economy. Since ending the covid zero policy, which had been in force in the country for three years, the number of coronavirus cases has exploded in the country and has generated worldwide concern for the possible development of new strains. As a form of prevention, some countries have started to require a negative Covid-19 test for Chinese tourists who want to enter the country. On the other hand, China ended the prevention obligations and will reopen its border with Hong Kong on Sunday, 8. Re: As being in childhood, Albert Einstein was reportedly told that his in [ #permalink 2 Kudos Prior to the new police patrolling program, which requires police cars to patrol various areas of the city every hour, the sale of burglar alarms in the city was high. However, since the new program has been initiated, people are no longer buying those expensive equipments. Clearly, the people in the city are feeling a lot safer.The argument above is based on which of the following assumptions?(A) The number of households in the city has remained the same over the duration of this study.(B) The new police patrolling program has been able to bring the crime rate down in the city.(C) The price of the burglar alarms has remained steady over the duration of this study.(D) The performance of the burglar alarms has not impacted the sale of these alarms.(E) Peoples buying behavior of safety equipments is a reasonable indication of the degree to which they feel safe in their city. _________________ HIGH POINT High Point police found five people dead at a home Saturday morning in what theyre investigating as a murder-suicide incident. Officers arrived at 7:05 a.m. at a home in the 2700 block of Mossy Meadow Drive, in the northeastern part of the city, on a report of two people screaming for help, police said. Afterward, several people called 911. When officers arrived, they forced their way into the home, where they found three juveniles and two adults dead, police said. Police Capt. Matt Truitt declined to identify the victims or provide details on how they died. Emergency medical technicians pronounced the five people dead at the scene, police said. Investigators later interviewed the two people who had screamed for help, Truitt said. One of the two lives in the home and the other person was a visitor, Truitt said. They are both safe at this point, and they are unharmed, Truitt said. A Guilford County medical examiner was at the scene Saturday, Truitt said. The victims bodies will be taken for autopsies. A High Point police car blocked the intersection of Running Cedar Trail and Mossy Meadow Drive Saturday afternoon. The house where the incident occurred stands about 100 yards from the intersection, in the High Point neighborhood of Williams Grove. A group of six people stood along Running Cedar Trail, talking quietly with one another. They declined to speak to a Journal reporter about what had happened. There was no active threat Saturday to the High Point community, police said. High Point police are continuing their investigation. Gov. Roy Cooper delivered some welcome holiday presents recently to a handful of people who had served long sentences in state prison. Six were granted clemency and an early release, while four others whod previously served long sentences received full pardons. All 10 appear to have turned their lives around and more than paid their debts to a state in which criminal penalties particularly those that relate to drug possession and sales are incredibly severe. As welcome as the governors actions were, the hard fact remains that they dont go anywhere close to far enough. North Carolina doesnt have the harshest or cruelest prison/criminal justice system in the world (or even in the United States), but as a 2021 report from the Prison Policy Initiative made clear, its much closer to the bottom than the top. At the time, North Carolina was incarcerating 617 people for every 100,000 residents, the report said. And while several states had even more dreadful numbers in Louisiana and Mississippi, the number was well over 1,000 North Carolinas total still dwarfed the rates in all other modern nations. In Argentina, the number was 230. In Canada, 104. In Denmark, 72. The giant elephant in the room in this story is race. A 2021 study conducted by researchers at a Washington-based nonprofit, The Sentencing Project, reported that Black Americans are incarcerated in state prisons at nearly five times the rate of white Americans; North Carolina was one of 12 states in which more than half the prison population is Black. African Americans make up only 21% of North Carolinas population. The ways in which racial bias works to produce these kinds of appalling statistics are numerous but not especially mysterious. A Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice that Cooper established in June 2020 studied these issues in great detail and issued a lengthy report later that year that listed several, including policing and prosecutorial practices, the school-to-prison pipeline, obsolete drug laws, and discriminatory sentencing and incarceration practices. Its overarching conclusion: North Carolinas criminal justice system is afflicted with longstanding systemic racism. Another huge factor is poverty. Not only are poor North Carolinians of all races much more likely to find themselves caught up in the criminal justice system, theyre also much less equipped to extricate themselves from it. Welcome as they were, Coopers recent grants of clemency and pardon help illustrate this fact. Think about it: People who are incarcerated dont generally obtain such extraordinary relief on their own. It almost always takes a concerted effort by a network of supporters family, friends, lawyers to gain the attention necessary to win a grant of pardon or clemency. And while many of the close to 30,000 individuals North Carolina currently incarcerates in overcrowded, understaffed, frequently dehumanizing and often deadly facilities undoubtedly deserve the kind of second chance the governor provided to the lucky 10, the overwhelming majority lack the family and legal support to pursue such a request. Indeed, the state prison/criminal justice system has long been replete with stories of individuals who have become mired within it unjustly often for years or decades simply because they lacked the resources, support or intellectual capacity to draw attention to their plight. Such situations are especially common in low-wealth rural areas where poor criminal defendants may have received ineffective counsel at trial and lack any effective means of seeking redress. Its for all of these reasons and others that, for the third straight year, advocates from a coalition calling itself Decarcerate Now NC stood vigil outside the governors mansion throughout the month of December calling persuasively for a much more extensive clemency program. As the group noted in an open letter it delivered to the governor at the start of the vigil, the recommendations of Coopers Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice are on point and welcome, but the sad reality is that they have mostly fallen on deaf ears when it comes to policymakers who are in a position to make a difference. And while the group gets the fact that this is clearly not all the governors fault Republican legislative leaders who control the states lawmaking agenda remain aggressively and unrepentantly attached to the obsolete and racially charged get tough on crime policies of the late 20th century they also note that there is still much that Cooper can do with the executive powers he enjoys during the final two years of his governorship. See, for instance, outgoing Oregon Gov. Kate Browns recent decision to commute the sentences of 17 individuals on Death Row. The bottom line: Nearly a quarter of the way through the 21st century, North Carolina continues to maintain a deeply flawed and cruel prison/criminal justice system that, in many ways, has changed little since the demise of slavery. Surely, we can and must do better. And, surely, a caring and thinking leader like Gov. Roy Cooper can and should use the formidable tools at his disposal to commence such an effort in earnest in the New Year. Our president wants to change up the presidential selection process by moving the first primary from Iowa to South Carolina, claiming the Palmetto State is more representative of the rest of the country. However, his solution doesnt address much larger problems. If theres anything we learned from Novembers election its that our electoral process needs widescale reform. At the very top of the list is candidate selection. Too many unqualified candidates slipped through primaries (and sometimes the general election) without proper vetting. The most recent and egregious example is George Santos, who lied about his credentials and whose true beliefs and intentions are unknowable. On Tuesday, he became one of 435 in Congress who make our laws. Nobody properly vetted him. So, lets begin with the presidential nomination process, a circus that has turned into a made-for-television beauty contest that is neither representative nor guarantees the best-qualified nominees. Prior to 1968 and the Chicago Democratic Convention, the nominating process started with each states political parties selecting delegates to the national convention. These were weeklong, must-see events that contained drama, lots of nomination speeches, horse trading for votes and favorite-son candidates. There were genuine debates over the party platform, hammered out through extensive votes. Candidates had to make their case with each state delegation. It wasnt perfect, but the vetting in smoke-filled rooms included extensive candidate background checks and records of service, followed by robust discussions, then roll call floor votes. In most instances the process arrived at nominees who best represented their party and were electable. It doesnt have to be the old way, but what we are doing isnt serving us best. The two parties have become largely irrelevant. Theres more. North Carolina needs to do away with runoff elections. They are prohibitively expensive, turn out few voters and often end up doing the thing they were intended to prevent, namely, discriminating against those who dont vote a second time. Whether we institute ranked-choice voting or some other reform, lets agree that runoffs are a failed process. Another must-do reform is to take money out of the process. In North Carolinas November U.S. Senate race the amount of funds raised by candidates for their campaigns was miniscule in comparison to the sums that large, independent special-interest groups spent on their behalf. Supposedly those groups dont communicate or coordinate their efforts with the candidates, but youre naive if you believe that. For example, the Club for Growth spent more than $30 million to elect Ted Budd, and we dont know who is giving the money to this group or what they expect in return for their support. Yes, similar groups boost Democratic candidates. The point is that our elections should not be for sale to the highest bidder. In too many instances that is just what happens. As for voter access, if states cant provide equal access to registration and regulations that are fair and equitable, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act should be passed and enforced. I would make Election Day a holiday. Nobody should have to miss voting because they cant get off work. Also, I am totally in favor of voter ID, but not if it is discriminatory. Other states can do it without all the acrimony and lawsuits; I believe North Carolinians can do the same. The greatest possibility of election fraud, absentee mail-in voting, needs tighter regulation and oversight. Early voting has proved extremely popular and reforms need to guarantee accessible sites and ample days and hours to vote, especially on Saturdays and Sundays. The State Board of Elections should be completely bipartisan and so should our 100 county election boards. Workers should be properly trained and, while it is fine to have election observers, there should be very strict rules and penalties for anyone who tries to interfere with or intimidate voters. Finally, North Carolina should settle on one election machine company and the state should pay for and maintain each countys equipment. After the election the machines should be stored in a safe state facility. We live in a hyperpartisan political environment and finding common ground is often difficult, but all people of goodwill should agree that our elections are fair and efficiently administered and that all people eligible to vote can do so without fear or prejudice. Recent efforts have attempted to undermine our faith in elections. That trust needs restoring, and these reforms could help achieve that. Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras issued an official denial recently in response to an ethics complaint filed by state Democrats alleging she lived in a house owned by a nonprofit affiliated with a lobbyist and his foundation and that the arrangement could violate ethics codes. In December, the Montana Democratic Party filed an ethics complaint against Juras with the Commissioner of Political Practices. The complaint alleges that Juras resides at least part-time at a residence near the Capitol and owned by the Montana Family Institute. The institute is a nonprofit aligned with the Montana Family Foundation. Both the institute and foundation are led by Jeff Laszloffy, who through the foundation has long been a proponent of conservative political causes, lobbying on issues such as promoting school choice and opposing abortion. Gov. Greg Gianforte signed 15 bills in 2021 supported by the foundation, according to the complaint. The complaint included records from before Juras took office and questions the arrangement, such as whether she was paying rent or whether her rent was below market value. Either would constitute a gift and violation of state ethics laws for public officials. This prohibition was established to assure that public officials in Montana perform their duties for the benefit of the people of Montana, and not for private interests, the complaint states. Commissioner Jeff Mangan, who stepped down at the end of December, requested a response from Juras. In that response, she provided documents showing that she did pay to live in the home and contends her rent is at fair market value. Juras reply to the commissioner, provided to the Montana State News Bureau through a records request, calls the complaint false, unsubstantiated, scurrilous, and politically-motivated. In November 2020, Juras entered into a rental agreement for a home in a neighborhood near the Capitol then owned by the Gianforte Family Charitable Trust. Juras writes that she was informed by now-First Lady Susan Gianforte that the home would be transferred to the Montana Family Institute that December, prior to the inauguration of Greg Gianforte and Juras as governor and lieutenant governor. Property records indicate that the home is a two-bed, one-bath and her rental agreement states rent was set at $1,125 in 2020. The rental agreement has been modified at least twice to include Juras absorbing costs for utilities and snow removal. The rent went up 11.1% to $1,250 at the beginning of the year, the reply states. Juras defends the rates, saying they were negotiated at arm's length and reflect a fair market rental value representative of rents paid within the area for comparable properties. The filing includes an affidavit from Laszloffy echoing assertions from Juras. Both documents point to another property in the neighborhood owned by the institute, which they say is rented for $1,200 to support Juras rent as at fair market value. The Democrats filing includes a footnote from the real estate website Zillow to identify median rent in Helena as $1,850, and states a home in the neighborhood could command a higher rent. An examination of available rental homes in Helena on Friday returned few results and none in the immediate neighborhood. A determination on the complaint will depend on the appointment of a new commissioner by Gianforte. The commissioner will also face confirmation by the Montana Senate. A legislative committee tasked with advancing a group of applicants for Gianforte to consider deadlocked last month along party lines. The governor may now appoint a commissioner of his choosing that meets the qualifications of the job. Leo Segedin, 95, talks while sitting in front of his painting titled BLANK behind him displaying his experience as a child on Chicagos West Side Dec. 19, 2022, in Evanston. (Michael Blackshire / Chicago Tribune) Whatever issue came up for discussion during a recent visit with artist Leo Segedin, he rested his position on an axiom: Im a West Side Jew boy. What can I say? Advertisement Whether he was talking about the L that crosses many of his Chicago street scenes, chichi art galleries, pedagogical philosophy, or the Holocaust, he invoked the same bit of autobiography. Grammatically speaking, his self-description should be in the past tense: He is 95, and his West Side vanished eons ago, a victim of urban decay and urban renewal. But it is still to be seen on virtually every wall of his studio and living quarters. His home is effectively the suburban mausoleum of a quintessential Chicago neighborhood. Advertisement Segedin pointed to a painting of children playing various games on empty lots, prairies in Chicagoese. King of the Mountain, he explained, referring to one of those games, is a metaphor for politics. He has been doing this for 75 years: creating straightforward images with latent messages. Follow the Leader #3 depicts schoolchildren and workaday adults being directed down a street of Segedins youth by oversized, nattily dressed figures. In the coffee-table book Leopold Segedin: A Habit of Art, he identified them as Democratic Machine ward bosses. Paintings by Leo Segedin in his Evanston home on Dec. 19, 2022. (Michael Blackshire / Chicago Tribune) Every few years theyd come out of the woodwork and tell people the great things they were going to do, he wrote, and not much would get done in the interim. So it was a matter of following the leader and not going anywhere. Segedins parents lived at 3857 W. Polk St., not far from the border of the Jewish and Italian sections of Lawndale. On one of his canvases, two groups of menacing-looking young men are advancing on each other. Sure, we had fights, he said. But not like today. Not with knives or guns. Hed be confronted with virulent antisemitism if he crossed into the non-Jewish section of Lawndale. A big kid would grab him and ask: Are you a Jew? And Id say, Yes I am, " he recalled in that coffee-table book. And it stayed with me. That moment of fear. Advertisement Segedins father rang doorbells in neighborhoods even more impoverished than Lawndale. He was a collector for a jewelry store. Poor people would make periodic payments on a ring or bracelet theyd bought on time. Standing in their doorway, Segedins father nudged them with a reminder that an installment was due. From that perspective, his fathers view of his sons precocious talent for drawing was understandable: Art is a nice hobby, my father thought, Segedin said. But its no way to make a living. Leo Segedin, 95, discusses his artwork of Chicago's West Side on Dec. 19, 2022, in Evanston. (Michael Blackshire / Chicago Tribune) His mother agreed, but she took him, via the Garfield L, to see exhibitions at the Art Institute. In his 1956 painting, L Platform, the tracks unrealistically make a 90-degree turn and shoot off the top of the canvas. A curve symbolizes change, he noted. Segedins paintings are too schmaltzy for some critics taste. To that argument, he responds: Torn wallpaper, broken walls, cracked streets and sidewalks thats not sentimentalism. Thats history. Advertisement Segedin thinks of himself as a scholar who happens to work with a brush instead of a typewriter or a computer. He was first encouraged to pursue his muse by his homeroom teacher at Crane High School, who showed me that illustrators got paid for their art work, he said. He took a drafting course that gave him the skills for his hard-edge painting style. Years afterward, he doubled back to Crane as a teacher. He was feeling full of himself, until a student brought him back to earth: He threw an eraser. Hit me right in the head. When he went into the Army during the Korean War, his ambition was to be some kind of engineer. The Army had him teach drafting, then assigned him to create a mural at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. The finished product depicted a hunting scene in Missouri. Im a Jew boy from the West Side, he said of creating a scene so foreign from his own background. What can I say? Leo Segedin and his paintings, circa 1952. (Paul Ponsard / Handout) After the Army, he enrolled at the University of Illinois and boldly declared himself an art major. For a graduation project, students were required to enter a competition. Advertisement He sent a painting to the 1949 Artists of Central Illinois exhibition at the Decatur Art Institute. City Fabade depicted a well-worn apartment building and a storefront with the garish sign Roosevelt Furniture. I won second prize in a WASPY town with a West Side painting, he said. My professors finished below that. First prize went to a painting of flowers. Flowers! he repeated, as if still reconciling himself to that long-ago injustice. Returning to Chicago, he found himself face-to-face with the history of art, as he saw it. Before the French Revolution, artists were members of the aristocracys courts, he said. With their patrons gone, they had to sell their work through galleries. Galleries put a premium on what was new. Romanticism gave way to Impressionism, which gave way to Expressionism that yielded to abstract art. The nondescript images were justified by the wordier and wordier explanations posted alongside them. Segedin did not go along. That is not art, he said. It is philosophy. Advertisement Segdins paintings are sizable and realistic, if sometimes surrealistic. In Whats Next a skeleton puts his hand on an aged Segedin. Multiple images of Segedin go off to the horizon where an L car is about to exit the frame. Leo Segedin, 95, works on a new painting at his home studio in Evanston on Dec. 19, 2022. (Michael Blackshire / Chicago Tribune) In the 1950s, galleries were few and far between in Chicago. Segedin and a couple of artists opened a short-lived cooperative gallery. When he and his wife, Jan, had children, she went to work as a school librarian. But he needed a steady paycheck. So in 1955, he began a 32-year teaching stint at Northeastern Illinois University on the Northwest Side. He sees himself as something of a survivor of the academic world. When many artists become professors they never go back to painting, he said. I never gave it up. The academic calendar enabled him to broaden his horizon. In the 1950s, I tried to paint the coast of Maine the rocks and surf but as much as the scenery turned me on, I could never capture its dynamism, he wrote. In the political heat of the 1960s, he vented his anger against the Vietnam War and a depersonalized America with paintings with titles such as Parts of Man and Body Parts. Advertisement Vintage Chicago Tribune Weekly The Vintage Tribune newsletter is a deep dive into the Chicago Tribune's archives featuring photos and stories about the people, places and events that shape the city's past, present and future. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > They werent what people wanted to hang on their wall, Segedin acknowledged. The horror of Holocaust is a subject that has always exercised an irresistible force on his paintbrush and palette knife. And he has always done self-portraits, some free-standing, others of him inserted into the cityscape of his youth. Inevitably, he returns to the West Side. Its as much a duty as a choice his way of preventing his old neighborhood of Homan Avenue, Polk Street and Roosevelt Road from being thrown into the anonymity of historys dustbin. When I began painting, Chicago was the world I lived in, but today that Chicago exists only in my memory, and memory is always a reconstruction, he wrote in that coffee-table book. Every time I paint it, I create it all over again. Sign up to receive the Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter at chicagotribune.com/newsletters for more photos and stories from the Tribunes archives. Advertisement Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com. Here we are on the second anniversary of Trumps lie-fueled violent insurrection to try and halt Congress from certifying a duly elected president of the United States. Despite the death and destruction in its attempted takeover of the Capitol, the MAGA mob failed and many are now paying the price in prison. But lo and behold, a tiny band of MAGA clowns has managed to halt the function of Congress by refusing to vote for Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House and without a speaker, the House cannot even swear in its members, let alone perform its constitutional duties to the American public. There are 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The 20 MAGA extremists including Montanas own MAGA clown, Rep. Matt Rosendale comprise a mere 4.5 percent of the members. That such a tiny fraction of the House can grind its wheels to a stop isnt a victory for these deluded members. Its a tragedy and a tremendous stain on the reputation of the American governing process. Yet, while they can and have been playing the spoilers, they have no viable MAGA candidate of their own and their actions mean the rest of the members of the House, as well as the American public, are forced to watch their political theater make the Republicans a laughing stock for being unable to even elect a leader of their own party. Hows that for making America great again! Were the consequences not so tragic, it would actually be laughable to see these right-wingers torpedo their own slim Republican majority...and to be sure, many are laughing at the situation. But theres serious business afoot and while the MAGAs are more than welcome to barricade themselves in a room and fume, the other 415 members of the House are prevented from attending any national security briefings, reviewing sensitive intelligence, or even being in the room where those top secret documents are kept. Some may find it easy to dismiss such concerns, but considering Russia just sent out its most modern warship armed with Zircon hypersonic missiles against which the US has no proven defense, one might think members of Congress should be kept informed of the situation instead of being excluded thanks to a tiny handful of so-called Freedom Caucus members. Moreover, the demands of these extremists promise to upend the function of the House should they actually be met. They want one person just one to be able to stand up and call for the election of a new Speaker at any given time. Think, now, how many days have passed as a stunned populace watches McCarthy fail on a historic number of votes and then consider that process taking place whenever one disgruntled member decides to bring the House to a standstill. Thats chaos, not governance. The MAGA clowns are bad enough in Congress, but comes now our newly-formed Montana Freedom Caucus. Not sure about why thats necessary since its extremely rare one hears Montanans complaining about a lack of freedom. And unfortunately, their idea of freedom is often antithetical to actual personal freedom as in banning books they dont think you should read or subjects they dont think schools should teach, forced birth, and safeguarding the same election process that produced the first Republican legislative super majority in Montanas history. Americans are right to condemn the MAGA clown car tactics in Congress especially when they offer no viable alternative of their own. We can only hope Montana doesnt suffer a similar fate and wind up with a dysfunctional legislative MAGA clown car of our own. DECATUR Ethan J. Dickerson, who tried to beat a Decatur neighbor to death with a pipe wrench because he said the man was gay, will need inpatient mental health treatment, a judge has ruled. Macon County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Geisler made his decision based on an evaluation carried out by the states Department of Human Services. Geisler had found Dickerson, 20, not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity after a stipulated bench trial in November. A stipulated bench trial is where the prosecution and the defense agree on the facts in the case. Both Macon County States Attorney Scott Rueter and defense counsel Prya Murad had decided that Dickerson was not capable of understanding the criminality of his conduct" following an earlier mental health evaluation. The defendant had also been charged with committing a hate crime during the ferocious assault on Dickersons 60-year-old neighbor that had occurred the evening of Feb. 17 in the 1100 block of Delray Court. Dickerson has been held in the custody of the Macon County Jail since the judges not guilty finding, and his case was reviewed at a Friday hearing before Geisler. The court finds the defendant is in need of services on an inpatient basis by clear and convincing evidence, the judge ruled, after studying the latest evaluation report. Defendant to be committed to DHS for inpatient services. A sworn affidavit from the Decatur Police Department about the attack said patrol officers pulled up outside the victims locked house and smashed their way inside after hearing cries for help. Dickerson had immediately surrendered and was arrested without incident. The bloodied victim had described being attacked and beaten before being taped to a chair and beaten some more. Police reports quote Dickerson as telling the victim: You know why I have to do this youre gay, youre evil I am going to kill you. DHS doctors are to present a treatment plan to the court before April 6, when Geisler has scheduled a telephone review of the situation involving himself and the prosecution and defense. The judge also set Aug. 17, 2047, as the Thiem date in the case. Under Illinois law, a defendant found not guilty by reason of insanity, and in need of inpatient mental health treatment, can be involuntarily committed for an indefinite time period, but paradoxically only within certain limits. The law stipulates that period cannot exceed the maximum sentence, less credit for good time, the defendant would have served before becoming eligible for parole if they had been convicted of the most serious crime they were charged with. Updated mugshots from the Herald & Review Joseph A. Williams William A. Hosea Randolph Hayes Byron D. Theus Jetrevius O. Jarrett Phillip Gehrken Emmanuel White Aaron L. Hand Join Virginia Forage and Grassland Council at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24, at the Wytheville Meeting Center in Wytheville, Virginia, as we explore how Stockmanship, Infrastructure, and Forage Management can work together to work for you. Speakers and topics are as follows: Curt Pate has worked across the U. S. to teach effective stockmanship principles. His for profit approach highlights the increased economic benefits of handling stock correctly not only chute side, but in the field as well. Curt will discuss how to calm and settle livestock when moving them to new pasture, how to use stockmanship to encourage more uniform grazing, how to adapt your management to the forage resource, and much more. Johnny Rogers and his wife Sharon are first generation farmers who have become leaders in North Carolinas pasture-based livestock industry. In addition to selling Red Angus bulls and bred heifers, the Rogers finish beef cattle and sheep for wholesale buyers, and sell various meat products at local farmers markets. They operate Rogers Cattle Co. on 450 acres in Roxboro, NC. Lewis Sapp has worked for many years as a technical expert in the fencing industry, including both temporary, permanent, and electric fencing systems. Lewis will discuss designing or modifying existing fencing and watering systems to improve management flexibility and enhance pasture utilization. The cost is $50 for VFGC members and $60 for non-members. Register online at vaforages.org. Beginning Beekeeper Course A beginning beekeepers course will be held in the Executive Auditorium of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Virginia on Saturday, January 28, 2023. The class will start at 9 a.m. with registration and end at 3:30 p.m. Topics covered in the class include Honeybee Biology, Equipment Needed, Where and How to Get Bees, Locating the Apiary, Seasonal Management, Integrated Hive Management, and Nectar Sources. Every effort will be made to answer those basic questions that beginning beekeepers will have including equipment assembly, introduction of package bees to the hive, capturing swarms, inspecting the hive, etc. The cost of the class is $35 and is limited to 100 participants. Pre-register by sending a check payable to the Highlands Beekeepers Association to: Washington County Extension Office, 234 W. Valley St., Suite B, Abingdon, VA 24210 or register on-line at HighlandsBeekeepers.com. The class is sponsored by the Washington County Extension Office and the Highlands Beekeepers Association. Call the Extension Office at (276) 676-6309 if you have questions. As Martinsville's homeless problem continues to grow, police are not only finding themselves more involved, but are beginning to question the motives of some of those who may be responsible. "At this stage I can't say that there's anything illegal going on, but I think we can all agree that it's not ethical and it's not moral," said Martinsville Police Chief Rob Fincher. "We have an obligation to look into this and see what's going on and prevent things like this from happening." Fincher was speaking specifically about an incident that began Monday night and left the officers who responded to the scene bothered by what they saw. Fincher was still upset when talking about it on Thursday. "We try to keep track on all the different bathrooms and facilities on the walking trails because they are considered city parks," said Fincher. "There are hours that are posted when you can be in those areas. Two of our officers went out to the gazebo on Depot Street and there was a large number of individuals there." Fincher said someone had called Monday night and reported the activity, suggesting his office might want to investigate because the circumstances appeared suspicious. "When they go there they see a large number of people sitting around, hanging out, and so the officers approach and say 'Hey, this is city property; one hour after sunset you're not allowed to be here and you're going to have to move on,'" Fincher said. "They encountered a couple that was willing to kind of talk with them a little bit about what the situation was." Fincher said his officers are familiar with the handful of local people who are periodically found without shelter, but they did not recognize anyone in the crowd that had gathered along Depot Street Monday night. "That's why they were trying to inquire further what was going on," said Fincher. "The woman that they were speaking with just happened to be pregnant as well, and she stated that they were from out of state and they were enrolled in a program through a company called 'EPIC Health' and they had been in Danville." EPIC Health Partners LLC opened its doors in Danville in August 2015 and at the time there were only three employees and three individuals receiving mental health skill-building services, according to the company's website. "We have since grown and expanded, opening new sites across Virginia in Martinsville and Richmond and adding more programs to better serve our community," the EPIC site states. In Martinsville, records show, the company purchased a building at 20 Ellsworth St. in October 2020 for $160,000, and in August of last year the company purchased the former HomeTrust Bank Building at 8 Lester St. for $256,000. There were no vehicles in the parking lots of either buildings at impromptu visits by the Bulletin Thursday morning or Friday afternoon. The doors were locked at both buildings, and while there was no sign on the Ellsworth Street building a newly erected sign could be seen on one side of the Lester Street building and a Stop Work Order posted on one of its glass doors. The legal notice was issued by the building official demanding all work stop as of Jan. 5 until proper plans have been approved and permits have been issued. Yet on Wednesday four homeless people who were waiting for the bus from the library to the Warming Center told the Bulletin they had been scheduled to attend sessions at EPIC in Martinsville from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. that Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Two said they were Martinsville natives and the other two said they had been brought to Martinsville from other cities within the past couple of weeks. The other two homeless people the Bulletin talked with that day said that they also were recently arrived from out of town and were enrolled in EPIC programs. Fincher said the couple who talked with the police on Monday, Zenobra "Barry" Williams and Star Bullock, were taken from Danville to Martinsville by EPIC "under the guise of receiving care and services." "She had recently lost her home and they were going to provide some assistance to her," Fincher said. "She said when they were brought here it was under the assumption that they were going to be given some type of hotel room or something of that nature, but when they arrived they were told to stay at the warming shelter." But Fincher said Monday night was unusually warm outside, so the warming shelter was closed. "She contacted EPIC Health back to inquire as to what she was supposed to do and she said they were given a tent and told to go along the walking trail, find a good spot and sleep there," said Fincher. "They were advising them to trespass, but not only that, what really concerns us is the fact that night it ended up raining quite a bit. These individuals were being placed out in conditions that were not healthy, and she needs additional medical care for being pregnant." Fincher said his officers contacted him because they were concerned about the couple and weren't equipped to do anything about it. The following day when he read a report from the officers to him about it he realized just how concerned they were about what they saw, Fincher said. "We've seen different groups in and out and it seems like there's been an increase in people that appear to be homeless lately, but this was the first time we encountered something where we had someone saying that people were being brought here from other areas, and what was upsetting is the fact that they weren't really being brought here for services," Fincher said. "They were brought here and told to fend for themselves basically, and that upsets us." There we were, two hometown boys separated in age by 15 or 20 years, sitting in one of the last old-school, full-service gas stations in the world (or at least in the parameters of my world), talking about where things used to be. Needing a vehicle inspection for my truck, I pulled into Main Street Exxon on a new set of tires I had to break down and buy to pass that inspection and sauntered inside. Main Street Exxon, conveniently located on Main Street, is for sale. Its been there a while, long before Esso became Exxon. Ownership, according to various sources, some of which are reliable, went from two fellows who opened it in 1945, then to another fellow, then to Little John, then to Johnny, who recently decided it was time to slow down a bit and do something else. Back before previous owner Little John rode off into the sunset, he talked about the business in a newspaper story published a decade ago. We still pump our customers gas, clean their windshields and check their oil if they want, Little John said. We also do light repairs and oil changes. Thats the way weve always done things. Like they say, you cant teach old dog new tricks. He left out vehicle inspections, but thats what I needed that day and thats what I got, plus a pleasant conversation about where things used to be. I spoke with Johnnys son Caleb, told him the keys were in it and sat down in the office by the bays across from the only other person there, a well-dressed gray-haired gentleman some years my senior. How are you doing? I said in a friendly manner meant to assure him I wasnt there to rob the place. Its vehicle inspection time for me again. We dont have to do that in South Carolina anymore, he said, leading to a discussion about how it was a government racket designed to bilk hard-working taxpayers like us while failing to adequately compensate honest gas stations like the one in which were sitting for the time it takes fine fellows like Caleb to do it. What brings you here? I asked him. Someone told me I had a brake light out. Dont they fix those down in South Carolina? Maybe they ought to crank up those inspections again. They do, he said. Weve got a house just north of here. We split our time between South Carolina and here. He said he planned to move to that house full time once he finished up business in the Palmetto state, where he moved in 1984 when the textile industry was in a steep decline. Where did you grow up? he asked. Right down the road, I said. A house back up on the hill behind where Tri-County Oil Company used to be. Now where was that located? It was right beside where Marion Equipment used to be. Wait, I thought that was on down where the fish camp used to be? No, you are thinking of where the Ford place used to be. This was across the creek and up the hill from where Briscoes Trade Lot used to be. Finally, we got our used-to-bes in a row and I told him that Main Street Exxon was for sale, something he was not aware of. He said growing up, he worked there and nearly every other gas station in town, pumping gas, cleaning windshields and checking oil. Those were all used to be. I said I hoped whoever took it over would try to keep it like it is. It would be a shame to sit around talking about where one of the last old-school, full-service gas stations in the world (or at least in the parameters of my world) used to be. There we were, two hometown boys separated in age by 15 or 20 years, sitting in one of the last old-school, full-service gas stations in the world (or at least in the parameters of my world), talking about where things used to be. Needing a vehicle inspection for my truck, I pulled into Main Street Exxon on a new set of tires I had to break down and buy to pass that inspection and sauntered inside. Main Street Exxon, conveniently located on Main Street, is for sale. Its been there a while, long before Esso became Exxon. Ownership, according to various sources, some of which are reliable, went from two fellows who opened it in 1945, then to another fellow, then to Little John, then to Johnny, who recently decided it was time to slow down a bit and do something else. Back before previous owner Little John rode off into the sunset, he talked about the business in a newspaper story published a decade ago. We still pump our customers gas, clean their windshields and check their oil if they want, Little John said. We also do light repairs and oil changes. Thats the way weve always done things. Like they say, you cant teach an old dog new tricks. He left out vehicle inspections, but thats what I needed that day and thats what I got, plus a pleasant conversation about where things used to be. I spoke with Johnnys son Caleb, told him the keys were in the truck and sat down in the office by the bays across from the only other person there, a well-dressed gray-haired gentleman some years my senior. How are you doing? I said in a friendly manner meant to assure him I wasnt there to rob the place. Its vehicle inspection time for me again. We dont have to do that in South Carolina anymore, he said, leading to a discussion about how it was a government racket designed to bilk hard-working taxpayers like us while failing to adequately compensate honest gas stations like the one in which were sitting for the time it takes fine fellows like Caleb to do it. What brings you here? I asked him. Someone told me I had a brake light out. Dont they fix those down in South Carolina? Maybe they ought to crank up those inspections again. They do, he said. Weve got a house just north of here. We split our time between South Carolina and here. He said he planned to move to that house full time once he finished up business in the Palmetto State, where he moved in 1984 when the textile industry was in a steep decline. Where did you grow up? he asked. Right down the road, I said. A house back up on the hill behind where Tri-County Oil Co. used to be. Now where was that located? It was right beside where Marion Equipment used to be. Wait, I thought that was on down where the fish camp used to be? No, you are thinking of where the Ford place used to be. This was across the creek and up the hill from where Briscoes Trade Lot used to be. Finally, we got our used-to-bes in a row and I told him that Main Street Exxon was for sale, something he was not aware of. He said growing up, he worked there and nearly every other gas station in town, pumping gas, cleaning windshields and checking oil. Those were all used to be. I said I hoped whoever took it over would try to keep it like it is. It would be a shame to sit around talking about where one of the last old-school, full-service gas stations in the world (or at least in the parameters of my world) used to be. The N.C. Supreme Court will consider next month the case of a death-row inmate who alleges that Forsyth County prosecutors used a training document to make up non-racial reasons to remove potential Black jurors in his trial. Russell William Tucker, 56, is on death row after a jury convicted him in February 1996 of first-degree murder in the death of Maurice Travone Williams. Prosecutors alleged that Tucker fatally shot Williams, a security guard at a Kmart store on University Parkway, on Dec. 8, 1994. Williams was shot in the chest after authorities said Tucker walked out of the Kmart store. Williams believed Tucker had stolen clothes. Tucker's attorneys, Elizabeth Hambourger and Mark Pickett, filed a petition with the N.C. Supreme Court, asking the court to review a decision by Judge Stuart Albright of Forsyth Superior Court. Albright rejected Tucker's recent appeal. The N.C. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in the case on Feb. 8. It will issue a decision later this year. "We know that the problems of race discrimination in jury selection is a long-standing problem and one that continues into the present day," Hambourger said Thursday. "This is an example of a case where the evidence that discrimination occurred is really clear." Central to the claims Tucker is making is a 1986 U.S. Supreme Court decision called Batson V. Kentucky, which prohibited racial discrimination in jury selection. In criminal cases, prosecutors and defense attorneys have a certain number of peremptory challenges that they can use to remove a juror without stating a reason. But if criminal defense attorneys suspect that prosecutors are using race to get ride of potential jurors, they can make a challenge based on the U.S. Supreme Court case. A judge would then offer prosecutors a chance to provide a race-neutral reason for why they got rid of a particular juror. That's what happened in Tucker's case, when a Forsyth County prosecutor used peremptory challenges to remove five potential Black jurors. Tucker's attorneys challenged the removals but a judge accepted prosecutors' non-racial reasons. But Hambourger and Pickett say Assistant District Attorney Rob Lang wasn't giving his true reasons for removing the Black jurors. Instead, he was using specific language he got from a training document he obtained several months before the trial called "Batson Justifications: Juror Negatives." Hambourger and Pickett said Lang and Assistant District Attorney David Spence pulled specific language from the training document to come up with ready-made, non-racial reasons that were often based on racist stereotypes of Black people to get rid of Black jurors. For example, Thomas Smalls, a married Black man with children who had lived in Forsyth County for years, was removed as a potential juror. When asked why, Lang cited Smalls' body language and inappropriate responses to prosecutors' questions. Hambourger and Pickett said "body language" and "inappropriate responses" came directly from the Batson training document. "If he's giving false reasons (for removing a Black juror), the conclusion you have to reach next is that his real reason was race and he was using this pre-prepared list to hide that fact from the court," Hambourger said Wednesday. Another Black juror, Debra Banner, was struck because she was not registered to vote and did not have "sufficient stake in the community," even though she had lived in Forsyth County all her life. She also was married and had children. Those reasons were not based on the Batson document but were indicative of racial bias, Hambourger and Pickett argued. They also argued that a statistical study of North Carolina capital cases done by two Michigan State University law professors provides ample proof of a pattern of racial discrimination and bolsters Tucker's claims. According to the study, Forsyth County prosecutors were 2.25 times more likely to strike Black potential jurors than non-Black jurors. State prosecutors with the N.C. Attorney General's Office have denied the allegations. Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neill has previously said he cannot comment on pending litigation. Spence, a prosecutor in Carteret, Craven and Pamlico counties, and Lang, an assistant U.S. attorney, have both previously declined to comment. In court papers, Hambourger and Pickett have argued that Lang and Spence have used similar strategies in at least two other murder cases Robbie Lyons, who was executed in 2003 for killing a store clerk, and Henry Jerome White, whose murder conviction was vacated last year. Prosecutors had accused White of fatally shooting a Winston-Salem man during a robbery at an auto paint and repair shop. In those cases, they said, Lang and Spence provided non-racial reasons for removing Black jurors that didn't apply to white jurors. In Lyons' case, Lang struck five out of eight Black and Hispanic people from serving on the jury, or 62%. He struck eight out of 38 white potential jurors, or 21%. White's case was unique because the N.C. Court of Appeals found that Spence discriminated against potential Black jurors. That wasn't enough to overturn White's conviction because at the time, criminal defendants had to prove prosecutors excluded Black people from juries solely due to race. Since that time, the law has changed. Last May, a judge overturned White's murder conviction based on a joint motion saying that his trial attorney represented White so poorly that his constitutional rights were violated. In exchange, White pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was released with time served. State prosecutors have argued in court papers that race was not a factor in jury selection in Tucker's case and that the training document was meant only to remind prosecutors across North Carolina that they are not to use race. Yet, Hambourger said, Tucker's case shows prosecutors using the exact language from the training document. "It's not just that they use reasons that sound like...it is really verbatim off the cheat sheet," she said. Winston-Salem and Forsyth County experienced 40 homicides in 2022, with 33 killings happening in the city. Seven homicides occurred in the Forsyth County last year. The citys 2022 homicides represented a 25% decrease to the 44 homicides that occurred in 2021 in Winston-Salem, according to police statistics. However, the city's 33 homicides in 2022 marks an 18% increase in the city since Winston-Salem had 27 homicides in 2017, according to police statistics. The numbers show that there were 32 homicides in 2020 within the city, 32 homicides in 2019 and 26 homicides in 26, the statistics show. The 2022 victims consisted of 28 men and five women. A group of 27 victims died by gunfire, and two victims were stabbed. Two homicide victims died of insulin overdoses, and one victim was burned to death. By comparison, Greensboro had 41 homicides in 2022, Charlotte had 109 homicides last year, and High Point had 15 homicides in 2022, police spokespeople in those cities said. Police spokespeople in Raleigh and Durham couldnt be reached for comment about their homicides last year. Among the Winston-Salem's 2022 homicides, there were three domestic-violence related killings, said Kira Boyd, a spokeswoman for the Winston-Salem Police Department. "We cannot release information about gang and drug related homicides because it could possibly compromise investigations," Boyd said. Detectives are working with the Forsyth County District Attorney's Office and other law enforcement agencies to investigate the homicides, said Capt. Amy Gauldin, who leads the police department's criminal investigations division. "Detectives are dedicated to pursuing all investigative leads and doing their part in an effort to bring justice to the families," Gauldin said. "Community involvement and participation are critical to these investigations, and detectives are grateful for the participation of the community and families impacted by these incidents." In 2022, seven homicides happened in Forsyth County, as compared to six that occurred in Forsyth in 2021, the statistics show. Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr. of Forsyth County sees many factors behind the overall decrease of homicides. Here at the Office of the People, we believe that our consistent presence in community relationships, focus on juvenile intervention, and investment in the overall social impact to our community is the cornerstone for reducing violence," Kimbrough said. Make no mistake about it, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office family is committed to safety and a better quality of life for the entirety of Forsyth County, including the city of Winston-Salem," Kimbrough said. Since July, 20 deputies have worked with Winston-Salem police officers on saturation patrols in city neighborhoods affected by gun violence, Kimbrough said. "It has made an unmistakable impact resulting in a measurable difference for our community," Kimbrough said. "It takes funding to provide the resources that serve and protect. "In order to sustain our current efforts in our community and on saturation patrol, we will require more funding, more cooperation and many more collaborative efforts," Kimbrough said. "We are excited to continue our tireless efforts to improve the quality of life while decreasing the violence and number of homicides." Many of the Winston-Salems killings were disputes that turned into homicides as a result of guns being present during those incidents, said Tiffany Zhang, a visiting assistant professor of sociology and criminal studies at Salem College. "Research shows that a lack of interpersonal communication actually increases homicide rates more than drug crimes," Zhang said. If the city wants to decrease homicide rates for 2023, they should start programs at younger ages that teach children and teenagers how to communicate in a healthy way so disputes don't escalate to murder. "In addition, in many of these situations, murder probably wouldn't have happened if a gun wasn't present during the dispute," Zhang said. In late October, District Attorney Jim O'Neill of Forsyth County accused Johnathan Howard Hayes of Winston-Salem, a former nurse at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, of killing two patients and trying to kill a third patient. Hayes, 47, was charged Oct. 25 with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, O'Neill said at that time. The case drew widespread statewide and national news attention. Hayes administered a near-lethal dose of insulin to Pamela Jean Little on Dec. 1, 2021. Little, who is in her 60s, survived, O'Neill said. Hayes is accused of administering lethal doses of insulin to two other female patients, O'Neill said. On Jan. 5, Hayes gave insulin to Gwen Zelda Crawford, 60, who died three days later on Jan. 8. On Jan. 22, Hayes gave insulin to Vickie Lynne Lingerfelt, O'Neill said. Lingerfelt died on Jan. 27. Hayes is being held in the Forsyth County Jail with no bond allowed, the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office said. Hayes is scheduled to appear June 15 in Forsyth District Court. Another high-profile case, the shooting death of Alexander Dekontee Weah, 24, of Charlotte attracted statewide news attention in early August. Weah died on Aug. 5 in an exchange of gunfire with four Greensboro police officers and a Charlotte police detective at the Speedway convenience store in Clemmons. The officers were trying to arrest Weah on a murder charge out of Charlotte. Talaya Hinson who said she was Weah's fiancee told the Winston-Salem Journal that officers fired first, hitting Weah twice in the back before Weah fired one shot. The officers then fired multiple shots at Weah, killing him, she told the Journal. On Nov. 21, O'Neill said that after law-enforcement officers approached Weah, Weah ran and then pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired at the officers, striking one of them twice. The officers, ONeill said, returned fire and killed Weah. Alexander Weah died from gunshot wounds to his head, torso and extremities, according to his death certificate. O'Neill said that Hinson's account of the shooting is inaccurate. Weah's death happened in Forsyth County, but the State Bureau of Investigation investigated the circumstances that led to the shooting. ONeill cleared the five law enforcement officers who fired their guns at Weah. The officers will not face any criminal charges. In Winston-Salem, city officials are pleased with the 25% reduction in the number of homicide in 2022 as compared with 2021 tally of 44 homicides, Mayor Allen Joines said. However, 33 is still too many, and we must continue to work hard to further reduce the number, Joines said. There are many factors involved in the reduction, including a number of programs instituted by the Winston-Salem Police Department as well as other programs that were started such as C.U.R.E. (Communities United for Revitalization and Engagement) and other social programs. C.U.R.E. is an alliance of neighborhood association representatives and community stakeholders. The alliance received $200,000 in the citys budget for fiscal year 2022. Kevin Mundy, who represents the Southwest Ward on the Winston-Salem City Council, said that council members urged city residents who lived in neighborhoods affected by gun violence "to come forward with information" and help police arrest suspects responsible for the unsolved homicides. "The community is stepping up, owning this problem and helping to solve it has to have an impact as well," Mundy said. The police department's gun crime-reduction unit and the departments use of technology might be factors in the decreasing number of homicides as well, Mundy said. He pointed to the departments gunshot detection system and its real time crime center. Technology helps police officers "work smarter because there are fewer of them," Mundy said. Keith Vereen, the first vice president of the Ministers' Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity, shared his perspective on the citys homicides in 2022. Vereen, the conference's chairman of its social-justice committee, said he doesnt believe the 25% decrease in homicides in 2022 as compared to 2021 "has anything to do with what happens immediately after the fact that someone has been murdered." "I believe it is primarily coincidental that there has been a reduction in homicides this year," Vereen said. "I also don't believe it is relative to increased police presence, if there is a current shortage of police officers to investigate the murders after they occur, this would likely indicate that there is also a shortage of officers to prevent such occurrences as well.' Vereen, the pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Kernersville, said that residents working with police is a positive step in helping identify and apprehend people who threaten the local community. "But I don't see how that would deter anyone who is involved in a heat of the moment homicide or a premeditated act of murder," Vereen said. "The major factors concerning this current decrease in numbers (are) probably time, interactions and opportunity. "Increases and decreases in the murder rate occur locally, statewide and nationally without any definitive indicators that specifically explain why from year to year," Vereen said. "What I do believe would help continue a downward trend in homicide rates is the funding of community prevention programs." Investing money in communities "that are experiencing the most occurrences of violence" is the right approach to address criminal activity, gun violence and homicides, Vereen said. In March, the shooting deaths of two people in an incident on U.S. 52 in Winston-Salem also generated news coverage in central North Carolina. Toriyana Marquez Gaskins, 20, of Argonne Boulevard was fatally shot as she drove a car shortly after 11:30 p.m. March 6 on U.S. 52 South near 25th Street. Treshaun Raymond Milton, 19, of Kingstree Ridge Drive, a passenger in Gaskins car, also was shot and severely wounded in the incident that killed Gaskins. Milton later died of his injuries at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. No arrests have been made in connection with the deaths of Gaskins and Milton. The most significant news last week came not from the U.S. House floor, where Rep. Kevin McCarthy struggled to locate whatever pieces of his soul he hadnt yet sold, hoping one last morsel might turn the tide with the Never-Kever contingency of his party. The main event was in Covington, Ky., where a bipartisan group of legislators led by President Biden and accompanied by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, retired Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio and other staunch Republicans met to announce an historic investment in the dilapidated Brent Spence Bridge, a nationally recognized corridor that allows interstate commerce to flow between the Bluegrass state and its neighbor, the Buckeye state and further across the country. I believe it sends an important message, an important message to the entire country, Biden said during a ceremony on Wednesday near the soon-to-be-renovated bridge. We can work together. We can get things done. We can move the nation forward, but just drop a little bit of our egos and focus on what is needed in the country. We all know these are really partisan times, McConnell added. But I always feel that no matter who gets elected, once its all over, we ought to look for things that we can agree on and try to do those, even while we have big differences on other things. McConnell and other legislators had sought funding to repair the bridge, which former President Trump called dangerous chunks of concrete tend to fall from it, along with other hazards for decades. Its hard to avoid the contrast between the bridge effort and the failure of House Republicans to speedily select a new leader despite their majority. Jokes abound, our favorite perhaps being: How many McCarthys does it take to change a lightbulb? Well, first he needs a house ... If you cant laugh at this situation, then all you can do is cry or criticize, as Democrats were, of course, eager to do. But Democratic Sen. Chris Murphys point, tweeted on Thursday, is completely valid: Electing a Speaker is the easy part. Governing is much, much harder. The Brent Spence Bridge renovation is just one anticipated result of the bipartisan infrastructure law, which contains $1 trillion for roads and bridges, broadband networks and water projects across the U.S. including in North Carolina. And that law is just one of several significant bipartisan accomplishments shepherded by Biden. Others include the CHIPS and Science Act, which will return manufacturing jobs to the U.S., and the PACT Act, designed to help veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals while deployed abroad. Call it the establishment it gets things done. For the public good. While Freedom Caucus conspiracy theorists and insurrection supporters are posing as tough kids for Fox News cameras, serious legislators are doing their jobs. Such situations will continue until voters stop electing candidates whose major qualification is their hatred of the enemy that wants to destroy the country. That movement has failed to accomplish anything positive. This isnt to say that Democrats dont have problems of their own. But despite their reputation for disorganization, they were not the ones who were preventing new House members from being sworn in so the body could get to work. Theres nothing we cant accomplish when we work together. We could even get the deficit and the southern border under control if our elected officials work together toward those goals in good faith. Weve seen the power of cooperation. Thanks to the House majority, were likely to spend the next two years receiving a demonstration of the opposite as well. Morton brings a decade of experience working with business and consumers on their financial needs most recently with Bank of the West where he was Lincolns senior relationship banker and earned a variety of titles and awards for his successes in the community, particularly with local business clients. Prior to joining the team at Exchange Bank, Morton began his career in banking with Wells Fargo. Morton stated, I am excited to join Exchange Bank as they have a customer driven culture and numerous products that can meet every personal or business customers needs. Thousands of Chinese nationals in Vietnam flock to borders on first day of China's reopening Thousands of Chinese nationals in Vietnam mostly experts, businessmen and workers have descended on the northern border gates with China on Sunday, hoping to get home as China starts reopening after years of the stringent zero-COVID policy. Chinese nationals waiting outside Huu Nghi (Friendship) International Border Gate in Lang Son Province on Sunday morning to exit Vietnam and return to China. Hundreds stood in line from the early morning hours at the Mong Cai International Border Gate in Quang Ninh Province for long-awaited reunions during the Lunar New Year holiday and festival. Mong Cai City has stopped the mandatory RT-PCR COVID-19 testing on people and goods passing through Bac Luan II Bridge, Km3+4 road and Ka Long border gate connecting it with China, following the neighbouring countrys easing of travel curbs and border closures that have been in place since the start of the pandemic in early 2020. Mong Cai City has made plans to welcome back Chinese tourists, reviewing all facilities and infrastructures at the border gate to make repairs if needed, cleaning up and disinfecting the guest reception zones, and preparing for the reopening of duty-free shops in the border gate. Hoang Ba Nam, secretary of the Mong Cai City Party Committee, said that the authorities of Mong Cai and the Dongxing (China) communicate regularly, exchanging information and agreeing on the timing of exit and entry between the two sides, and promoting import and export activities at border gates and markets. Chinese nationals outside the Mong Cai International Border Gate on Sunday morning. VNA/VNS Photo Van uc The governments of the two cities mobilised the people of both sides to renew passports and visas to facilitate entry and exit and implement pandemic prevention and control based on ensuring safety for people and visitors. At the Huu Nghi (Friendship) International Border Gate in Lang Son Province, at the exit area, all border guard, customs, and health quarantine units have increased the number of staff operating and are working at full capacity in assistance of the departing citizens. The border gate management centre has also mobilised staff to distribute over 300 boxes of free water. The authorities said about 600 Chinese citizens passed through the border gate in two hours out of the 3,000 present by 9am. A Chinese national from Jiangxi Province said he was beyond glad to finally return to his family after three years, in time for the new year holiday. Major Tran Van Hung, deputy head of the Border Guard at Huu Nghi border gate, said that in the past days, on average, this border gate only received about 200 people on entry and exit. According to Major Hung, functional agencies have informed that people entering China need a certificate of negative COVID-19 test by PCR method within the past 48 hours, along with other paperwork as regulated. Most had prepared and met the requirements, so the exit procedures went smoothly. At Tan Thanh Border Gate in Lang Son, from early morning, about 250 vehicles were waiting to enter China to bring in exported goods, 70 per cent of which were fruit and agricultural products. Tan Thanh Border Gate presently uses two methods of freight forwarding contactless delivery method (cutting hooks and cranes for containers) and traditional delivery and receipt of goods as before (drivers and people travelling with vehicles across the border to warehouse yards in the opposite country to deliver and receive goods). Exchange activities between the residents on both ends of Ho Kieu Bridge (Lao Cai Province) after three years of COVID-19 closures. Tourism resumption celebrations also took place at Lao CaiHekou border area this morning after years of disruption. From 7am today, the Lao CaiHekou International Land Border Gate officially opened to serve entry and exit activities to Hekou District, Yunnan Province (China) and Lao Cai Province, Vietnam. At the ceremony, the organising committee welcomed and gave flowers to 30 tourists and border residents from Hekou. Deputy Head of the Management Board of Lao Cai Province's Economic Zones Ha uc Thuan said that this event is within the framework of the programme to restore entry and exit activities of border residents and tourists passing through international border gates after long hiatus. The resumption of travel is expected to facilitate cross-border exchanges and tourism activities and create livelihoods for people on both sides of the border. U.S. Reps. Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene speak in the House chamber during the third day of voting for speaker at the Capitol on Jan. 5, 2023. (Win McNamee / Getty Images) Two years after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, some of the same far-right Republican members of Congress who refused to certify the lawful election of President Joe Biden are waging a new attack on democracy by throwing the U.S. House into chaos. The anti-democratic cancer inspired by the twice-impeached, disgraced former president continues to metastasize. A majority of the 20 GOP members of an insurrectionist caucus who repeatedly blocked California Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthys bid to be House speaker are election deniers. Several even sought pardons for their votes on Jan. 6, 2021, to overturn the presidential election. They still have paid no real price for their sabotage. Advertisement As tempting as it may be to gloat, Democrats should pump the brakes on celebrating the self-destructive Republican disarray on the House floor, where McCarthy had lost 14 votes for speaker before winning. This small cabal of Never Kevin rebels is just getting started, halting the peoples business and taking Congress hostage to their anti-government agenda. The cost for the United States is way more serious. Biden was right when he called the spectacle embarrassing, and he wisely warned that the rest of the world is looking to see if we can get our act together. Allies have been watching U.S. conduct warily since the Trump years, wondering whether American democracy is back and stable, or if it remains broken. Authoritarian governments in Moscow and Beijing must be cheering the historic dysfunction. Advertisement Not since before the Civil War have this many ballots been needed to elect a House speaker, and none of the business of the House from swearing in the new members to making critical national security decisions can be conducted until one is selected. The record was held by the 34th Congress, which took two months and 133 ballots to elect a speaker in 1855. The consequences of the current string of votes for speaker brought legislative business to a standstill, prompting a group of GOP House members with military experience to warn that the prolonged impasse was a threat to national security and U.S. veterans, holding up committee work and halting intelligence briefings. Given recent history, none of this should be a surprise, but a leaderless House is one more reminder of the damage America suffers from the destructive intraparty schisms and scorched-earth tactics of the last decade. Voters in Novembers midterm elections demonstrated again the country remains closely and bitterly split between Republicans and Democrats. But now a new era of divided government is underway, with different parties controlling the House and Senate by narrow margins. The GOP, the party of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan, spent days destroying itself on live TV, obviously worrying many right-wing warriors. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich warned that the GOP is in the greatest danger of meltdown that its been in since 1964. Gingrich recently told Fox News Fox & Friends that the choice was between McCarthy or chaos. Even with a McCarthy win, the rebels seem bent on creating more gridlock, self-destruction, even economic turmoil. On Friday, most of the rebels finally switched their votes back to McCarthy, but a hard-core group of obstructionists held out longer. If they are willing, even eager, to paralyze the House now over the speaker vote, imagine what they could do to Americas credit rating when the debt ceiling comes to a vote later this year and they push Republicans not to raise it, risking default. Other countries will be watching. Many Democrats may consider it entertaining to watch the GOP in full kamikaze mode. But hold the popcorn; theres too much at stake. Incoming Republicans have arrived determined to launch investigations into Hunter Bidens business dealings, the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Biden teams approach to the COVID-19 pandemic. They threatened to impeach Biden. Partisanship aside, none of that can even start until after a speaker is elected. Advertisement The opposition Democrats greatest strength right now is they offer a successful record of accomplishment from the last Congress and a contrast to the chaos on Capitol Hill. The image of Biden, recently standing with Republicans and Democrats and dedicating a sorely needed bridge between Kentucky and Ohio, was well planned for Democrats. Biden should keep showcasing the substantive fruits of his bipartisan deals like that, forged with moderate Republicans in the last Congress. Voters arent blind. Biden planned to mark the second anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection Friday by awarding the Presidential Citizens Medal to 14 election officials and police officers who held the line on that infamous day and defended democracy. Its well deserved and sends the right message. Actions have consequences. The recent report of the Jan. 6 committee that investigated the attack on the Capitol referred four GOP members of Congress, including McCarthy and two of his rebel rivals, to the House Ethics Committee for defying subpoenas from the committee. With Republicans in the majority now, that referral may languish. Its hard to feel sorry for McCarthy. Like many of the extremists who objected to him for the speakers role, its only fair to remember he was one of 139 House members who bowed to Donald Trumps false claims of fraud and voted to object to the peaceful transfer of power. Hundreds of Trumps foot soldiers who attacked the Capitol are being prosecuted. Their leaders deserve no less. Presidential candidates and election deniers who continue to spread toxic lies against Americas democracy even if they are in Congress should be looking over their shoulders at the long arm of the law. Storer H. Rowley, a former foreign correspondent and national editor for the Tribune, is an adjunct lecturer in journalism and communication at Northwestern University. Advertisement Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. More than a year after Lancaster County received a $150,000 grant to analyze and enhance community policing efforts in and around Lincoln, local officials trekked to Maine to begin to plot the future of policing in Nebraska. The grant funding awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice in December 2021 was specifically earmarked to fund an examination of local law enforcement's current response to "crisis response" 911 calls, often involving residents experiencing mental health emergencies or struggling with substance use issues. The ultimate goal of that analysis is to develop a community-based crisis response system that, officials say, will ultimately see trained clinicians responding alongside Lincoln Police officers to mental health calls, rather than sending armed police to handle such calls without professional help. "The community is saying, 'We don't want officers doing this work,'" Police Chief Teresa Ewins told the Journal Star. "And we've been saying this for years in law enforcement. 'This is not our job.'" So Ewins and a handful of city and county officials traveled to the East Coast in early December to study what the future of crisis response might look like in Lincoln. In Portland, Maine, the police department first began using a cooperative response model the same dispatch method Lincoln hopes to implement as soon as this year in the 1990s, when the department created a mental health police liaison position, placing a trained clinician in the department to respond with police to crisis calls. In the 30 years since, what was once a single position has evolved into a full-blown behavioral health unit for the Portland Police Department, staffed with three full-time liaisons and 15 interns available to respond with police to mental health or substance use disorder calls. The department also trains all of its officers in crisis intervention within their first year on the job. And in 2021, the department created an alternative response liaison position, bringing aboard a clinician to respond to such calls instead of police, rather than alongside officers. In Lincoln, officials are focused more on a cooperative response one that will include a combination of police officers and city-employed coordinators or clinicians who work for local organizations such as CenterPointe, Lutheran Family Services or the Mental Health Association of Nebraska. "We have to build to that," Ewins said of Portland's alternative response program. "They understand their landscape in Portland. We don't necessarily know that yet, and so I want to make sure it's about safety. So at some point I do envision that we'll be able to do (an alternative response method)." In Portland, a city of about 68,000 people, both programs have proved to be effective tools for both the police department and the residents officers and clinicians contact, according to department data. From May 2021 to May 2022, Portland's behavioral health unit made contact with residents 1,322 times 22.6% of which were without any officer present at all. Over the course of a year, the clinicians cleared officers from co-response calls 125 times, saving police 61 hours of patrol time. And clinicians took 88 individuals to a hospital for treatment, voluntarily in most cases. Clinicians had to call for police back-up only twice in the 1,300 contacts. And only five of the contacts led to arrests. "I think one of the things that was eye-opening to me is how you never know how this type of position's going to be perceived in law enforcement," said Sara Hoyle, Lancaster County's Human Services director who visited Maine along with Ewins, County Commissioner Sean Flowerday and Jennifer Williams, the mayor's chief of staff. "This position is not a commissioned officer. But the way that they had it (in Portland), the positions had respect from the officers. The officers relied on the positions. They wanted them there at the scene with them. They knew that it was asset to have them on board, that it saved them time." The hope is to at least partially emulate Portland's model in Lincoln, where police fielded 3,838 mental health calls for service in 2021, 3,795 in 2020 and 3,474 in 2019, according to department data. As of now, it's still up to armed police officers to respond to such calls, though once on scene, police can call for trained clinicians from local organizations when the situation calls for behavioral health care, said Tim Dolberg, a Lincoln Police investigator who has served as the department's mental health coordinator since 2020, when the position was created. Dolberg has spent much of the last two years strengthening LPD's relationship with community partners, training new recruits in behavioral health threat assessment and identifying residents who generate upward of 100 mental health calls for service every year, an effort he said has been effective. The creation of Dolberg's coordinator position marked an initial step toward such a program, and the department plans to hire a homeless coordinator and appoint a captain to oversee what will become LPD's Behavioral Health Unit. Dolberg said the city's current model has served Lincoln well, but he wishes it was utilized more frequently a drawback he hopes will be addressed as the department gets set to enter a new era of policing. "I think in moving toward the future, co-response and really having that immediate response from both a clinician and officer together, working together, the officer can be there more as that safety piece just to ensure everything is going smooth," he said. "But then really just let that clinician do their thing." If youre an honest, experienced, visionary education leader, the Nebraska State Board of Education may have a job for you. Board members Friday reached a consensus on some attributes they want in the next Nebraska commissioner of education. It appears that applicants may not need to be a former superintendent, though having that on ones resume might help convince some board members that youre the right one for the job. Being energetic, charismatic, a critical thinker and a good negotiator also are on the want list. Consultants with a search firm led the members in a brainstorming session to determine the boards wants. The attributes identified by the board will be fine-tuned in the coming days and form the basis of the job description for the position. The board is paying a search firm, McPherson and Jacobson, to help it find a replacement for Matt Blomstedt. He resigned Tuesday and joined a Washington, D.C., firm. Among the top character traits board members seek are honesty, trustworthiness and fairness. We need to be able to trust our new commissioner to fulfill the vision that we have on a day-to-day basis, said Elizabeth Tegtmeier, a member from North Platte. And if we as a board cant trust him or her, the public wont be able to trust us either. And as for professional experience, board members said they want a visionary educational leader whos a creative problem-solver and a good communicator. The candidate, they said, should have experience with complex organizations and varied school districts and setting. Board President Patti Gubbels said applicants should have experience managing a large organization like the Nebraska Department of Education with its multiple responsibilities. Board members Deborah Neary of Omaha and Kirk Penner of Aurora indicated during the meeting they wanted someone with superintendent experience. Penner narrowed that further, saying he wanted someone with experience as a Nebraska superintendent and someone with backbone. Last week, Melissa Poloncic, president of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators, said many superintendents and educators across the state would like the next commissioner to have superintendent experience. One of the consultants, Steve Joel, a former superintendent for Lincoln Public Schools, cautioned the board against making superintendent experience a requirement. Joel said that could exclude potentially good candidates, such as assistant or deputy commissioners in other states who are ready to be commissioners but dont have superintendent experience. Penner said he still would like a person from the superintendent ranks. I understand you dont want to be too specific, Penner said. But this is one that Im personally looking for and hoping we find a qualified Nebraska superintendent. Board member Sherry Jones said she wants someone with fear of the Lord who understands and appreciates Midwestern values. Jones said that God's word says "a fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" and that a person who fears will lack nothing. Thats what I want for our commissioner, to be wise and to lack nothing, Jones said. Jones, interviewed after the meeting, said her faith is foundational in her life. She said the nation has drifted from the biblical principles on which it was founded. Joel said he would like to begin advertising the position in the next five to 10 days. The public will have a chance to weigh in via an online survey. The timetable calls for naming finalists in late March. The Lincoln Journal Star's top photos from 2022 A series of controversial updates to Lincolns floodplain regulations will be back before the City Council on Monday, including a series of amendments that attempt to find middle ground between protecting residents from an increased flood risk and the cost of doing so. Tom Beckius, the councilman who has been working on the amendments in the three weeks since the council delayed a vote on the issue, said he believes he has the four votes necessary to pass most of them and ultimately the package of updates. That doesnt mean everyones happy, and the process has pitted the city the floodplain regulations are a top priority of Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and environmental advocates who support the changes against a coalition comprised of developers, engineers, those in real estate and other organizations represented by Kent Seacrest. It has also split the council, including two members who say they were essentially shut out of negotiations on the final amendments. I believe there was no communication or discussion the last few weeks like we were told there would be, said Richard Meginnis. There was no two-way communication. There was only one-way communication and that was with the mayors office, and thats my concern. A lack of listening to the citizens. Chairwoman Tammy Ward said she was also disappointed. The councils intent when they delayed this was to work out some more compromises. From my view, that didnt happen, with the exception of maybe one amendment. But Beckius said his fellow council members could have introduced their own amendments to address coalition concerns but didnt. He acknowledges the amendments wont give anyone everything they want, but he was faced with a series of proposed changes requested in December by the coalition, and the city administration, which didnt want to enact them. City officials have said theyve already made significant changes to the regulations based on coalition concerns. So that leaves me at an impasse, he said. So its me and my council members ... were legislators. Thats actually our job. So, in some ways, asking groups to go and work it out amongst each other is nice but not always realistic. Councilwoman Sandra Washington, who worked on flooding issues when she was with the National Park Service, said she reached out to Beckius to help, and believes they have a good package of amendments that address many of the concerns. I think that the proposals of the city, as theyve been added to and tweaked, I think they adequately address the concerns the coalition raised, she said. Theyre not exactly as the coalition wants, but the city has the responsibility to listen to everyone and there are certainly other folks who say Why did you even allow that?" Beckius, who is a real estate broker and developer, said he did his best to address coalition concerns, and also make sure residents are protected from the additional flood risk. In the end, the amendments, he said, are what he thinks can pass. Meginnis said both he and the coalition saw nothing until Thursday, and he is considering introducing additional amendments based on issues the coalition didnt feel were addressed, though he was unsure if there was time to put them together. Seacrest said he hasn't gotten enough feedback on the amendments from coalition members to comment. All sides agree on two things: theres an increased flood risk based on updated rainfall totals and a Salt Creek resiliency study; and that the regulations will mean increased costs for owners of existing property in the floodplain that make significant improvements and for developers building in new areas. The proposed changes that have gotten the most attention are those that would require property in the floodplain to be built an additional foot above the base flood elevation (a so-called 2-foot freeboard), those pertaining to property adjacent to the floodplain and buffers required along stream corridors that limit how close development can occur. City officials say the proposed changes are an interim step needed to protect Lincoln residents from the increased flood risk while the Federal Emergency Management Agency updates the citys floodplain maps a process that can take five to eight years. The 2-foot freeboard would revert to 1 foot once the new maps are done. The coalition and others who oppose some of the regulations want more study, interim mapping or changes to the proposed regulations. One of the biggest sticking points in the amendments, Beckius said, deals with the minimum stream corridor rules and when the buffers around those streams kick in. The stream corridors are not in the floodplain but fill with water during heavy rains and the proposed rules stipulate when those buffers where development cant occur kick in. The city proposes they kick in when a stream drains 40 acres; coalition members want it to be 80 acres. Beckius has introduced an amendment to increase the rule to 80 acres, but he said he doesnt think he has the votes to pass it. Hes introduced an alternative that Washington said the city will accept and the coalition suggested: allowing for piping in the flood corridors between 40 and 80 acres. Piping is not allowed now. Beckius said he also worked with the city to include language in the rules that acknowledge the cost of building roads and bridges across those minimum flood corridors. Thats been a priority for city officials, because they want neighborhoods to be connected, he said. The language will allow developers to negotiate limiting or eliminating the need to build those roads, which could save them hundreds of thousands of dollars, he said. The councilman also is offering amendments that define certain terms the coalition wanted defined. He said the city and coalition couldnt agree on a definition, and hes moving forward with the citys wording. Hes also introducing amendments that allow for more flexibility in grandfathering projects and to reduce costs for developers related to record-keeping requirements. What his amendments dont do is address concerns the coalition has about requirements for property adjacent to the floodplain. The coalition doesnt want the city to regulate adjacent lots because it's not required at the state or federal level. The city says it has regulated adjacent lots for years and believes it should continue to do so. Gene Hanlon, who represents an environmental improvement floodplain coalition and who supports the citys proposals, said he can live with all the amendments except the 80-acre minimum flood corridor change. Im not very excited about that and hope the council doesnt approve those. I can live with the other ones, he said. Its good the city take action on this and not delay it, so we have the protections in place. At least two people have weighed in on the latest proposed changes the council will debate Monday. Bruce Johnson, who just served two terms on the Lower Platte Natural Resources District, sent an email to council members urging them to keep the minimum stream corridor proposal at 40 acres, which he said would significantly reduce the risk of flooding for homes and businesses. Mark Whitehead, who owns Whitehead Oil Co., sent a letter to the council urging it to adopt the coalition suggestions, saying the 2-foot freeboard would put Lincoln at odds with other communities and would have a devastating effect on the ability to develop in the 84th Street and U.S. 6 area. The council is expected to vote Monday and because Jane Raybould was elected to the Legislature, there will be just six members. Amendments must have four votes to pass; a tie vote on the ordinances would mean theyd be put on the next agenda. OMAHA In a time when Nebraska's partisan divide seems wider than ever, Democrats and Republicans set aside their political differences to celebrate the introduction of a new governor. Roughly 3,500 people filled CHI Health Center in downtown Omaha for Gov. Jim Pillen's inaugural ball Saturday night. The guest count was more than a thousand higher than Pillen's predecessor, Pete Ricketts, had at his last inaugural ball, which was held at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln in 2019. "Tonight is an extraordinary celebration of Nebraska," Pillen said. Ricketts was in attendance Saturday, and called the increased capacity an improvement from his previous celebrations. He described inaugural balls as "a wedding on steroids," recalling that at his first ball in 2015, he spent about two hours in a line taking pictures with people. "It is a blur," Ricketts said. Several other prominent state Republicans were in attendance, including U.S. Reps. Don Bacon and Mike Flood, Sen. Deb Fischer, new Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and a swath of state senators. Multiple Nebraska Democrats were also on the guest list, including former governor and U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, along with roughly a dozen state senators. Among them was state Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha, who said he was happy to attend an inaugural ball in his home turf in Legislative District 7. Though the Nebraska Legislature got off to what he called "a rocky start," with lawmakers still stuck debating whether committee assignments are overly partisan, he said inaugural balls are typically events where politicians can dance together regardless of party affiliations. The dancing did not happen until later in the evening kicked off by Pillen and first lady Suzanne Pillen dancing to "What a Wonderful World," played by The Jordan Kahn Orchestra. Before that, guests crowded into a large ballroom for dinner, where the main entree was a Frenched bone-in center-cut loin chop a nod to Pillen's background as a hog producer. Suzanne Pillen promised to put "pork on the plate" back in November when announcing the event. More than an hour after dinner was served, Pillen had yet to have a chance to sample the meal. He spent much of the night shaking hands with attendees. He said meeting up with old friends one of whom traveled from Hawaii to attend was one of his favorite parts of the night. "You can feel the energy, can't you?" Pillen said. Pillen took the stage just after 8 p.m. for his remarks, first praising his wife for her role in organizing Saturday's event. While on the campaign trail, Pillen said he would often hear voters say they weren't sure about him, but they knew Suzanne Pillen would make a great first lady. He fought back tears recalling his late father, who died 24 years ago. Before his death, Pillen said his father saw things changing in the state, but he would be shocked at how far Nebraska has come since then. "There's never been a better time to be a Nebraskan than now," Pillen said. He ended his speech with familiar rhetoric used during his campaign he called on Nebraskans to work together to make progress. He has long advocated for an "attitudinal change" in state government, to focus more on the greater good for the whole state rather than specific regions. "I'm just Jim Pillen," he said. "None of us can achieve great things alone, but together we can." Close Gov. Jim Pillen greets guests at his inaugural ball at the CHI Health Center on Saturday night. Guests arrive for the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha attends the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and her husband, J. Kevin O'Rourke, attend the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Gov. Jim Pillen greets guests at his inaugural ball in Omaha on Saturday. First lady Suzanne Pillen attends the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Former Gov. Pete Ricketts attends Pillen's inaugural ball. Ricketts recalled that at his first ball in 2015, he spent about two hours in a line taking pictures. "It is a blur," Ricketts said. Trev Alberts, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln athletic director, attends the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Guests arrive for the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen attends the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Matt McGuire of Wisner attends the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Table settings for the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Guests arrive for the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Gov. Jim Pillen speaks at his inaugural ball in Omaha on Saturday. Gov. Jim Pillen speaks at his inaugural ball in Omaha on Saturday. Gov. Jim Pillen speaks at his inaugural ball in Omaha on Saturday. Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly attends the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Gov. Jim Pillen speaks at his inaugural ball in Omaha on Saturday. Gov. Jim Pillen speaks at his inaugural ball in Omaha on Saturday. Gov. Jim Pillen speaks at his inaugural ball in Omaha on Saturday. Photos: Nebraskans gather to celebrate inauguration Saturday's inaugural ball was staged at CHI Health Center Omaha. Gov. Jim Pillen greets guests at his inaugural ball at the CHI Health Center on Saturday night. Guests arrive for the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha attends the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and her husband, J. Kevin O'Rourke, attend the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Gov. Jim Pillen greets guests at his inaugural ball in Omaha on Saturday. First lady Suzanne Pillen attends the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Former Gov. Pete Ricketts attends Pillen's inaugural ball. Ricketts recalled that at his first ball in 2015, he spent about two hours in a line taking pictures. "It is a blur," Ricketts said. Trev Alberts, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln athletic director, attends the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Guests arrive for the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen attends the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Matt McGuire of Wisner attends the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Table settings for the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Guests arrive for the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Gov. Jim Pillen speaks at his inaugural ball in Omaha on Saturday. Gov. Jim Pillen speaks at his inaugural ball in Omaha on Saturday. Gov. Jim Pillen speaks at his inaugural ball in Omaha on Saturday. Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly attends the inaugural ball for Gov. Jim Pillen in Omaha on Saturday. Gov. Jim Pillen speaks at his inaugural ball in Omaha on Saturday. Gov. Jim Pillen speaks at his inaugural ball in Omaha on Saturday. Gov. Jim Pillen speaks at his inaugural ball in Omaha on Saturday. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy JACKSON When looking for improvements to his familys farming operation, Taylor Nelson seeks solutions that will lead to greater efficiency. In that search, hes embraced technology and how it can help get work done faster, better and with fewer workers. Its about having a mindset that embraces change. Not every problem will be solved with technology, but a lot of them will. Its got to be a willingness to learn and adapt to change, said Nelson, a fifth-generation farmer who operates Nelson Farms with his father, Doug. That willingness to seek improvement is one reason Nelson was recently named one of Americas Best Young Farmers and Ranchers, an honor given annually to five farmers nationwide by DTN/Progressive Farmer magazine. The award recognizes the next generation of ag producers who demonstrate business innovation, betterment of agriculture and community improvement. Nebraska farmer awarded one of America's Best Young Farmers and Ranchers Taylor Nelson stands amid the tractors in the Nelson Farms machine shed in rural Jackson, Neb. Nelson, 32, was recently recognized by DTN/Prog You work hard and do the best you can. To be recognized nationwide is an honor, the 32-year-old Nelson said. Its not just a credit to me, but also a credit to the generations before. Nelson Farms grows corn and soybeans on 9,000 acres in Dakota, Dixon and Thurston counties. Look inside the farms machine shed in rural Jackson, and youll see John Deere tractors and farm equipment similar to what others use. Nelson is helping John Deere take the next step forward, serving as a spokesman for the manufacturers autonomous tractor technology. John Deere engineers have spent hours at Nelson Farms testing one of the tractors, which through GPS and other technology, operates remotely without a driver and performs fall tillage while Nelson is in the combine harvesting crops in other fields. Autonomous tractors ultimately will be programmed to perform other jobs, allowing farmers to do two or more tasks at once, saving them time and the need to find as many capable hired hands in a tight labor market. Nelson foresees a day when autonomous grain carts will aid harvest. Were always looking for whats a better way to do something, a more efficient way, he said. Nebraska farmer awarded one of America's Best Young Farmers and Ranchers Taylor Nelson uses a model to explain John Deere's autonomous tractor technology being tested at Nelson Farms, a 9,000 operation he runs with Nelson met the Progressive Farmer editor a year ago at a John Deere symposium and was interviewed about his relationship with the tractor manufacturer. That interview led Nelson to apply for the Young Farmer award, something hed seen featured in the magazine over the years. He submitted his application, highlighting his farms quest for efficiency and also his community involvement. He was notified in May or June that hed been named one of the award recipients, and magazine staffers came to the farm for an interview, photos and video. They returned for another round of interviews and photos at harvest time before announcing the recipients in November. Nelson and the other four honorees were recognized at an awards program in Nashville. Nelson wanted to farm since he was a boy. The cost of getting into agriculture after he graduated from college was steep, so he started Jackson Express, a convenience store and fuel center, in 2012. Before selling the business in 2020, hed learned how to build and manage a business and employees, helpful skills for full-time farming. Hes relied upon his familiarity with technology to implement changes he hopes will make Nelson Farms more efficient and increase production. Along the way, he and other farmers his age helped re-establish the Northeast Nebraska Corn Growers Association, through which they launched the Growing Potential Ag Youth Festival, an annual event in which up to 300 fifth-graders in a six-county area spend a day in hands-on, interactive activities that teach them about agriculture and introduce them to career opportunities. Nebraska farmer awarded one of America's Best Young Farmers and Ranchers Taylor Nelson climbs into a tractor at the Nelson Farms machine shed in rural Jackson, Neb. Nelson, 32, was named by DTN/Progressive Farmer ma Ive taken the position of wanting to embrace the future of farming and future of agriculture, Nelson said. A young farmer hoping to plant the seeds of agricultural possibilities in the minds of the next generation. The Lincoln Journal Star's top photos from 2022 Anglers in Nebraska got a lot accomplished in 2022 just by buying a fishing permit. Regardless of their success on the water, their purchase of a permit and the Aquatic Habitat Stamp that is included helped fund more than $8 million in improvements through the Nebraska Aquatic Habitat Program in 2022. In essence, they helped bring new life to aging waters. The program, celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022, enhances aquatic ecosystems by implementing restoration techniques in streams, lakes, reservoirs and the watersheds that feed them. In addition to improving aquatic habitat and water quality, the program also improves boat and bank angler access. When the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission established the Aquatic Habitat Program in 1997, it was the only one of its kind in the nation. Since its inception, the Aquatic Habitat Program has generated more than $90 million for improvements to 137 water bodies across Nebraska, said Dean Rosenthal, fisheries administrator. The commission takes great pride in the improvements we thanks to partnerships, volunteers and staff have made so that Nebraska is a tremendous state to fish in. We are committed to maintaining and improving fishing access for anglers. Aquatic habitat and angler access improvement work was accomplished throughout the state during 2022. Here is a list of projects completed or nearly completed last year using Aquatic Habitat Program, Sportfish Restoration and Nebraska Environmental Trust funding. North Platte I-80 Lake: The south side of the lake received several upgrades. Five fishing piers were built, and Americans with Disabilities Act access was added to the boat ramp and one pier. Barriers to prevent overgrown vegetation also were installed near these fishing piers. Valentine National Wildlife Refuge: Carp barriers, which prevent carp from moving into or out of a water body, often can clog with vegetation. Rotating screens were installed to prevent this problem in the outlet structures of Clear and Hackberry lakes. Grable Pond North at Fort Robinson State Park: This pond was deepened along the perimeter. The outlet structure also was replaced and an ADA-access jetty was installed, with fish habitat features placed within casting distance. I-80 lakes: Russian olive and cedar trees were cleared around West Wood River, Bufflehead, West Brady and East Sutherland wildlife management areas. This opened areas for angler access that had become too overgrown for easy access to the water. Summit Lake: The sediment basins were excavated on the south and west ends to restore them back to their original capacity and prevent sediment from entering the main reservoir. Angler jetties and the boat ramp also were improved and stabilized, and a kayak launch site was developed. Bordeaux Creek: This Pine Ridge project was designed to reconnect the creek to the floodplain, ultimately improving bank stability and cool-water fish habitat. These changes, which remain under construction, will improve the trout fishery and fishing access, greatly enhancing recreational opportunities for anglers. Wagon Train Lake: This project restored the sediment basin to its original capacity and modified the design to improve sediment capture. Habitat shoals and vegetation barriers were added to the reservoir basin, and undesirable fish were removed. The lake is currently being restocked. A boat launch and angler access areas will be repaired in 2023. Gracie Creek: Flooding from 2019 substantially reduced the capacity of the Gracie Creek Pond near Calamus Reservoir. This project developed a sediment dike to make it easier to remove sediment in the future. It also removed 30,000 yards of sediment from the pond. Habitat and angler access improvements also were made below the outlet, which will provide improved opportunities for anglers fishing for white bass in the spring. Victoria Springs SRA: Research is being conducted to identify sources of nutrients in the lake that are causing considerable issues with aquatic vegetation and duckweed. These issues have led to fish kills and open water angler access difficulties. Investigations currently are being evaluated to determine feasible management strategies to improve conditions. Read more about the Aquatic Habitat Program at OutdoorNebraska.gov/aquatichabitatprogram. No. 17 Nebraska returned from its holiday break by picking up a pair of 37-6 dual wins Saturday over Gardner-Webb 37-6 and Campbell. Nebraska opened the day by winning eight of the 10 matches against Gardner-Webb, including six with bonus points. Lenny Pinto (184 pounds) and Silas Allred (197) highlighted those wins with back-to-back first-period pins. Peyton Robb (157), Mikey Labriola (174) and heavyweight Cale Davidson all recorded technical falls, while Liam Cronin (125) earned a major decision. The Huskers then had a bonus-point win in their first three matches against Campbell. Bubba Wilson started the dual a first-period pin at 165 pounds, while Labriola and Pinto followed with major decisions. Other bonus-point wins against Campbell came on a technical fall from Cronin, a pin by Brock Hardy (141) and Robb winning by forfeit. Mark D. Jensen, who was convicted in February 2008 of the murder of his wife at their Pleasant Prairie home, will stand trial again starting Monday in Kenosha County Circuit Court. It will have been 14 years, 10 months and 20 days since he was convicted of killing Julie Jensen, 40, almost a decade earlier in 1998. The case has been in and out of courts for decades. Mark Jensen and his attorneys will appear before Judge Anthony Milisauskas with jury selection beginning Monday. It is expected to last last five or six weeks with opening statements expected on Wednesday. Late least year, Milisauskas ruled that a key piece of evidence the so-called letter from the grave used to help convict Mark Jensen of killing his wife will not be allowed into evidence. Mark Jensen was convicted on evidence that included a letter his wife wrote before her death and gave to a neighbor. In it, she wrote that if anything happens to me that her husband would be my first suspect. The letter was revealed after her death. However, in early 2022 a U.S. Supreme Court rejection helped pave the way for this new trial. The nations highest court declined to hear the case after an appeal of a Wisconsin State Supreme Court ruling that Jensen should receive a new trial without the letter used as evidence. Mark Jensen has maintained his innocence for decades. His attorneys have argued Julie Jensen was depressed and killed herself after framing her husband for her death. Prosecutors argued Mark Jensen killed his wife with antifreeze in order to be with his mistress and that he searched the internet for ways to make her death look like a suicide. Jensen, who has been in custody in the Kenosha County Jail on a $1.2 million bond, was previously sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole by Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder. Schroeder presided over the original trial that was moved to Walworth County in part because of pre-trial public interest. The new trial is expected to draw media from across the nation to the Kenosha courtroom. The original prosecutor, Robert Jambois, a former Kenosha County District attorney, will also return to prosecute the case before Milisauskas, now the third Circuit Court judge to preside over the case. Jensen was sentenced in 2008 after a jury convicted him. A series of appeals followed, and in 2013 a federal court overturned his conviction and ordered that he be retried or released from prison. A federal judge ruled Julie Jensens letter was harmful to Mark Jensens defense. When a second prosecution began in 2017, Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Chad Kerkman ruled the letter should be admitted and Kerkman reinstated Jensens conviction without a second trial. However, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in March 2021 that Jensen must receive a new trial and that the letter and incriminating statements his wife made cannot be used by prosecutors. What followed were appeals that ended when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the case. Prior decisions from courts ruled the so-called letter from the grave violated Mark Jensens Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses against him. Getting away with murder: Nebraska cold cases Patricia Webb Tina McMenamin Ali Saleh Al-Saidi Gina Bos Ann Marie Kelley Carl Bittner K.K. Kody Christi Nichols Donald Bennett Ernestine Ruschy Eugene McGuire Jay Durnil Mary Heese Gregory Moore Irvin Settje Jason Remsen Jason Vesper Brian Walker Arthur Morley Jay Blockson Jeanne Kassebaum William, Bernice and Barbara Peak Jeffrey Snoddy Joy Blanchard Demetrius Simpson Julie Derrick Leah Rowlands Letha Harley Mary Cabral Mary Cronin Merlin Mosel Mitchell Simon Patrick Vostades Rebecca Williams Richard Chadek Richard Lessley Robert Beaudoin Robert Heelan Rudolfo Flores Russell McKnight Sandy Green Sarah Neal Tyrone Banister Waddell Robinson Charles Hanks Jan. 2-6 This list is not comprehensive. Municipalities are listed as they appear on the criminal complaint. Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. To see mugshots of the accused, visit journaltimes.com/gallery. Additional information about the complaints can be found at: journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts. Nathaniel J. Alexander, 1600 block of Grand Avenue, Racine, first degree recklessly endangering safety (use of a dangerous weapon), possession of a firearm by a felon. Susan Ann Ball, 900 block of State Street, Union Grove, possession of narcotic drugs, possess/illegally obtained prescription, felony bail jumping. Brett M. Baumann, Franksville, Wisconsin, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (3rd offense, general alcohol concentration enhancer), possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia. Michael J. Botelho, Red Granite, Wisconsin, possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia, felony bail jumping. Erick A. Bouie, 4900 block of 34th Avenue, Kenosha, stalking (domestic abuse assessments), computer message (threaten injury or harm, domestic abuse assessments), obstructing an officer, disorderly conduct (domestic abuse assessments), misdemeanor bail jumping. Jonathan P. Calverley, 2000 block Geneva Street, Racine, operating a motor vehicle without owners consent, possession of narcotic drugs, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia. Lyric S. Carothers, 500 block of Greenfield Road, Racine, operating without a license (2nd offense within 3 years), misdemeanor retail theft (intentionally take less than or equal to $500), felony retail theft (intentionally take between $500-$5,000). John E. Clay, 1300 block of 12th Street, Racine, misdemeanor battery, disorderly conduct, misdemeanor bail jumping. Christopher A. Cosey Jr., 1300 block of Lathrop Avenue, Racine, attempt first degree intentional homicide (use of a dangerous weapon), first degree recklessly endangering safety (use of a dangerous weapon), possession of a firearm by a felon. Joseph D. Cotton, 1500 block of Kentucky Street, Racine, felony retail theft (intentionally take between $500-$5,000), drive or operate a vehicle without owners consent, possession of drug paraphernalia. Alvis G. Davis, 1500 block of Deane Boulevard, Racine, possession of narcotic drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of THC, receiving stolen firearm. Corrina R. Delaney, Salem, Wisconsin, possession of narcotic drugs. Debra R. Delap, 1600 block of North Green Bay Road, Mount Pleasant, disorderly conduct, misdemeanor bail jumping. Tanner A. Easton, Racine, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (2nd offense), failure to install ignition interlock device, operate motor vehicle while revoked. Mariha D. Evans, Zion, Illinois, felony retail theft (intentionally take between $500-$5,000), resisting an officer. Faith M. Fisher, 1900 block of Kearney Avenue, Racine, first degree recklessly endangering safety, obstructing an officer, misdemeanor bail jumping, operate motor vehicle while revoked. Sherell M. Gamble, 1600 block of Grand Avenue, Racine, harboring or aiding a felon. Robby D. Herman, 2000 block of Blake Avenue, Racine, misdemeanor bail jumping (domestic abuse assessments), misdemeanor battery (domestic abuse assessments), disorderly conduct (domestic abuse assessments). Brett M. Heuer, 2100 block of North Emmertsen Road, Mount Pleasant, obstructing an officer. Laron Tierre Holland Jr., 4700 block of Indian Hills Drive, Mount Pleasant, burglary of a building or dwelling, operating a motor vehicle without owners consent, attempt burglary of a building or dwelling. Nashon D. Hollimon, 3800 block of Republic Avenue, Racine, possession with intent to deliver narcotics (use of a dangerous weapon), possession with intent to deliver/distribute/manufacture THC (less than or equal to 200 grams, use of a dangerous weapon), maintaining a drug trafficking place (use of a dangerous weapon). Devonte T. Jackson, 500 block of Greenfield Road, Racine, misdemeanor retail theft (intentionally take less than or equal to $500), felony retail theft (intentionally take between $500-$5,000). Gary L. Jones, 800 block of North Memorial Drive, Racine, burglary of a building or dwelling, theft (movable property, special facts), possession of a firearm by a felon, misdemeanor theft. Tommie L. Kelley II, 400 block of Main Street, Racine, disorderly conduct, criminal damage to property, criminal trespass, misdemeanor bail jumping, trangulation and suffocation (domestic abuse assessments). Rashantie T. King, 1600 block of Grange Avenue, Racine, operating without a license (2nd offense within 3 years), misdemeanor bail jumping. Travis J. Kleser, Eagle, Wisconsin, disorderly conduct, misdemeanor theft, possess/illegally obtained prescription. Neil V. Loomis, 1700 block of Wisconsin Avenue, Racine, false imprisonment (domestic abuse assessments), felony intimidation of a victim (domestic abuse assessments), misdemeanor battery (domestic abuse assessments), disorderly conduct (domestic abuse assessments). Gregory O. Martin, 1800 block of Roosevelt Avenue, Racine, possession of THC (use of a dangerous weapon). Salena A. Martinez, 1100 block of Geneva Street, Racine, substantial battery (use of a dangerous weapon), disorderly conduct, felony bail jumping. Bobby A. Martz, 200 block of Howland Avenue, Racine, misdemeanor battery, disorderly conduct. Kalem D. Miller, 1300 block of Jones Avenue, Racine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of THC, misdemeanor bail jumping. Michael Dantay Morgan Sr., 900 block of Peck Avenue, Racine, possession of cocaine, possession of THC. Jenisa L. Moore, Park City, Illinois, felony retail theft (intentionally take between $500-$5,000). Timothy G. Nitz, 1600 block of Taylor Avenue, Racine, criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, misdemeanor bail jumping. Eric G. Otto Jr., 1400 block of Meadow Lane Avenue, Mount Pleasant, resisting an officer, possession of THC. Santiago Quiroz, Franksville, Wisconsin, strangulation and suffocation, misdemeanor battery, disorderly conduct. Steven M. Reszczynski, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, threat to a law enforcement officer, obstructing an officer, disorderly conduct. Rashad M. Roaf, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operate motor vehicle while revoked. Sariya Q. Ross, Zion, Illinois, felony retail theft (intentionally take between $500-$5,000). Jessie J. Sabala, 1100 block of Ohio Street, Racine, possession of THC, possession of a controlled substance. Ricardo Barajas Salas, 600 block of West State Street, Burlington, attempt second degree sexual assault of a child under 16 years of age, attempt incest. Brianna A. Sarson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia. Jacob A. Sawisky, Homeless, Racine, misdemeanor retail theft (intentionally take less than or equal to $500), misdemeanor bail jumping. Maurice L. Smith, 800 block of College Avenue, Racine, disorderly conduct, possession of THC. Celina L. Suarez, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, resisting an officer, disorderly conduct. Jose M. Suarez, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, obstructing an officer, disorderly conduct. Nico D. Tirado, 500 block of Jones Street, Racine, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct (use of a dangerous weapon), burglary of a building or dwelling, telephone harassment, strangulation and suffocation, stalking resulting in bodily harm. Mathew J. Waters, 100 block of 1st Street, Waterford, disorderly conduct, obstructing an officer, felony bail jumping. Deandre L. Willis, 2400 block of Loraine Avenue, Racine, operate motor vehicle while revoked. Timmy D. Young, 1700 block of Skyline Drive, Racine, possession of narcotic drugs, possession of THC, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (1st offense, with a minor child in the vehicle). House Republican leader Jim Durkin debates with members of the Illinois House shortly before the chamber passed changes to the controversial criminal justice law known as the SAFE-T Act at the Illinois Capitol building on Dec. 1, 2022, in Springfield. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) When Illinois House Republican leader Jim Durkin was subjected to a rare challenge of a legislative leader in a primary five years ago, he summed up his job duties in three sentences. Ive got to work on policy. Ive got to raise money. But Im also an unlicensed psychiatrist at times in Springfield, the leader of the GOP minority in the House said en route to a big victory for his House seat. Advertisement On Tuesday, when the 102nd General Assembly is scheduled to come to a close, Durkin will retire after 24 years in the legislature the last nine as House GOP leader, he said. His psychiatric skills, he said, are no longer able to respond to an increasingly rightward Republican Party mindset, fostered by former President Donald Trump and his followers, that threatens to relegate the party to permanent minority status in the state. Advertisement State Rep. Jim Durkin listens on Dec. 12, 2022, during an Illinois House committee hearing at the Bilandic Building about new gun legislation. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Ill just say that operating without a license got even more challenging, said Durkin, 61, of Western Springs, who considers himself as somewhere between a moderate and conservative Republican. The politics have changed. The party over the last at least six years has shifted, he said. The only way you can win in Illinois is that youre going to have to just find the candidates that reflect the district. And we should not hold anyone to the 100% (party) purity test that some people in this party expect throughout the state. [ Illinois GOP, suffering from Trump factor and right-wing ideology, teeters on edge of irrelevance ] Shortly after the Nov. 8 election expanded the Democrats advantage in the House to a record 78 members compared with 40 Republicans, Durkin announced he would not seek another term as House GOP leader, and his decision to resign his seat had been expected. The Republican leader for the 103rd General Assembly will be state Rep. Tony McCombie of Savanna. Durkins successor representing the 82nd House District will be selected by local Republican township officials. Durkin points the blame for the disastrous election results particularly in the suburbs that were once a cornerstone of Illinois Republicanism at a statewide GOP ticket led by gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, a state senator who leaned heavily on his evangelical Christianity in his campaign and who was endorsed by Trump. A new legislative map drawn by Democrats also was a factor. We had some great (GOP House) candidates in the suburbs and collar counties and they were all painted (by Democrats) with the same brush, as being Trump sympathizers from a party of intolerance and extremists, he said. The Trump factor and Jan. 6 is something thats not going away anytime soon. And that obviously was in many peoples minds when they talked about their fear for democracy. Durkin said he thinks Republicans in Illinois will not be successful until the party distances itself from Trump and acknowledges both his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and his 2020 election defeat to Democratic President Joe Biden. I hope that at some point in the near future, and I think were getting there, that the party breaks its fever of Donald Trump and understands and learns from the past. Some people will never get there, he said. So I would just say the sooner that the public realizes that hes not value added to the Republican Party, we can start looking at what this party used to be about. A party that didnt insist upon this purity test. A party that is fiscally conservative first of all, certainly, but we can have a fair and respectful debate within the party on issues related to the Second Amendment, to life and these other social issues, that have been dragging us down in areas that we have to compete in mainly the suburbs and the collar counties, he said. Advertisement [ State Rep. Tony McCombie says GOP needs to move forward after tough election as she takes over a diminished House caucus ] Durkins caucus was becoming increasingly split between remaining suburban moderates and downstate conservatives who have become a new center of Republicanism, representing the far-larger geographic area outside Chicago but an area with declining population. A group of far-right Republican lawmakers known unofficially as the Eastern Bloc, of which Bailey was a member, chafed under policies expanding abortion and gay rights and also proposed legislation to make Chicago a separate state. I cant run a candidate in the western suburbs whos going to win who is mirroring what someone says campaigning on in the Deep South, Durkin said. I just dont think we should be promoting the 51st state in the collars and the suburbs when it certainly plays well downstate. Durkin became friends with the late U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, even serving as his Illinois director in the 2008 presidential campaign against home-state favorite Barack Obama. Durkin said McCain would have figured a way to avoid the Republican mess that led to the U.S. House taking 15 ballots before electing Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California speaker, and also would have ensured that on Jan. 6, maybe something different, maybe something could have been averted. The John McCain I know would have gone outside of the Capitol and kicked the asses of the insurrectionists and Trumps as well, Durkin said. Hes the statesman that this country needs. Advertisement Durkin is one of eight sons in a family steeped in politics and law. He grew up in Westchester and attended Fenwick High School in Oak Park. After studying criminal justice at Illinois State University, Durkin received a law degree from John Marshall Law School and went to work for the Illinois attorney generals office and later the Cook County states attorneys office. [ State GOP analysis of election data highlights Republican weaknesses in suburbs ] In 1995, local Republican leaders appointed Durkin to fill the House seat vacated by Tom Walsh, who was moving to the state Senate. Durkin opted not to seek reelection in 2002 and won a three-way primary to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. Durkin lost 60% to 38% to the well-known and well-funded incumbent, but the race stayed focused on policy rather than negativity and elevated Durkins stature. He and Durbin also developed a friendship. Durkin returned to the House in 2006, filling the seat held by Republican state Rep. Eileen Lyons, who had resigned, and winning the general election. In 2013, he was elected to his first term as House Republican leader, succeeding Tom Cross of Oswego, who made an unsuccessful run for state treasurer. In 2016, with the financial assistance of wealthy one-term Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, the House GOP was able to end then-House Speaker Michael Madigans Democratic veto-proof supermajority, flipping four Democratic seats in contests that attacked Madigans longtime power. But two years later Democrats picked up seven seats as Rauner was defeated by billionaire Democrat J.B. Pritzker for governor, restoring the Democratic supermajority in the chamber. Madigan has pleaded not guilty to federal corruption charges related to Commonwealth Edisons acknowledged efforts to try to gain his favor through jobs and contracts for allies, with a subsequent indictment alleging AT&T did the same. The ComEd charges led to Madigan being ousted from his role as the nations longest-serving statehouse leader and he was replaced by Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch of Hillside two years ago. Advertisement At the inauguration of that General Assembly, Durkin delivered a stinging rebuke to Madigans leadership in response to Democratic praise for the former speakers tenure. While Durkin faced criticism over his remarks, he said, That was not the place to thank Michael Madigan for his contributions to Illinois. How tone-deaf can these Democrats be? I was not going to let those comments go unanswered. Years before he became leader, Durkin saw his status elevated by Madigan, who picked the Republican former prosecutor to chair a special committee to investigate prosecutorial misconduct amid disclosures of misconduct and wrongful convictions. The House approved the panels recommendations but the legislation that ensued failed in the Republican-controlled Senate, only to be largely adopted a few years later amid a number of Tribune reports of wrongful convictions in death penalty cases. That was the first time that I really took heat as a legislator, Durkin said. Many people who were involved in the criminal justice system were very upset with me, but I knew this was the right thing to do. Last year, he was awarded the Defender of the Innocent award by the Illinois Innocence Project through the University of Illinois at Springfield for his work on legislation to ban deception during the interrogation of a minor in a criminal investigation. [ Illinois Supreme Court halts plans to eliminate cash bail and other pretrial court changes ] But Durkin has been a vehement opponent of the Democrat-backed criminal justice reform law known as the SAFE-T Act and its provision to eliminate cash bail. The law, which has been stayed pending Illinois Supreme Court review of its constitutionality, is haphazard, reckless, sloppy and makes inoperable changes to the criminal justice system that will just add confusion to the judge, prosecution and also the defense, he said. One of his last legislative votes was as the lone Republican to vote with Democrats to approve a ban on military-style firearms and large-capacity magazines. Durkin, who has long backed various gun control initiatives, said his vote not only represented his districts beliefs but was a reflection of his years as a prosecutor. Advertisement Ive had to go to the morgue, Ive seen the pictures. Ive talked to the families, Durkin said of victims of gun violence. If someone is not going to rethink their position after what happened on the Fourth of July in Highland Park, I just dont know how anybody can ignore that. I didnt and I refuse to. Durkin also served as the lead Republican in the House prosecution of the 2009 impeachment of former Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was removed from office by a unanimous Senate vote and later imprisoned on federal corruption charges. His prison sentence was commuted by Trump. [ Illinois House sends Senate bills banning certain semi-automatic weapons, expanding abortion protections ] It was a defining moment for the state, he said of the impeachment proceedings. This was a moment where (we) were able to exercise the Constitution and police state government and I felt that we accomplished our goal. Among his legislative victories was the enactment of tougher standards for cancer-causing ethylene oxide emissions of the sort that led to the closure of a Sterigenics sterilization plant in Willowbrook where population clusters of people with cancer had been found. But he said his most significant action was to convince state Medicaid regulators to allow Medicaid coverage for continuous glucose monitors and lifting a monthly cap of 100 testing strips for blood sugar for people with Type 1 diabetes. One of his daughters has the condition. That to me, is, I would say, one of my best and proudest moments, which is not a press release type of issue, Durkin said. When you have the ability to serve in this position to get the attention of regulators and explain to them the problem and why it needs to be fixed, that justifies my 24 years that I served in the General Assembly. Advertisement rap30@aol.com 1. Yes. Having a community member interview panel is an excellent opportunity for input. 2. Yes. Its good that the city will allow residents to meet the finalist at a reception. 3. No. The city should have conducted a public survey early in the process, as KISD is doing. 4. No. Residents should be able to meet candidates before a lone finalist is chosen. 5. Unsure. Its hard to know how to gauge the proper level of public involvement. Vote View Results CCFBank has opened its new La Crosse branch office in the former King Street Kitchen restaurant location at 141 S. Seventh St. downtown. The Altoona-based bank purchased the former restaurant in November 2021 and extensively remodeled it into a branch office, which opened on Dec. 28 with six employees. Lobby and drive-up hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. CCFBank has 23 locations and offers banking services to businesses, farmers and consumers, including residential mortgages. CCFBank officials note that the bank received the 2021 Wisconsin Small Business Administrations Volume Lender Award for most approved 7(a) loans, for banks with an asset size of between $1 billion and $5 billion. That involved 53 approved loans totaling $40.9 million. Why did the bank decide to expand into La Crosse? It just fit our footprint, said Regional President Dustin Hundt, who oversees the banks offices in La Crosse, Tomah, Ettrick, Mondovi and Osseo, and mainly works at the La Crosse office. He noted that the bank acquired F&M Bank in Tomah in 2019 and that The plan was always to open an office in La Crosse. Hundt, a La Crosse native, said all six of the offices employees such as relationship banker and Onalaska-area native Teri Marg, and Community Bank President Colin Fleming have worked in other area banks. Ive worked at several banks in this community and this one has a community bank feel to it as well, Fleming said. We can make decisions locally. Were very relationship-driven. For more information, call the new La Crosse office at 608-394-5150 or visit https://ccf.us/location/la-crosse. In November, WCCU Credit Union in Westby launched the first mobile credit union branch in the state. Its new mobile facility is 32 feet long, is on wheels and can provide people with access to the same array of credit union services that they can find at WCCUs brick-and-mortar offices, said Kerri Theige, WCCUS marketing director. It travels throughout the credit unions membership area. Its monthly schedule can be found on the credit unions website and Facebook page. Our credit union identified a need in our communities more accessible banking that would reach traditionally underserved areas of the state, Theige said. While it is not reasonable or cost-effective to have an office in every town, our new mobile branch gives us the opportunity to the next-best thing a branch on wheels, she said. Our members in more remote areas, including the Amish, have been very receptive to have us come to their community. While our mobile branch serves as a traveling office, it will also be featured in parades and at local community events. The mobile branch is stored in Westby. It leaves from the Westby office and returns there at the end of the day. For more information, call 608-632-5514 or visit www.wccucreditunion.coop or the credit unions Facebook page. Allison Rodriguez Steers opened Prissy Potty at 115 10th Ave. S. in Onalaska on Jan. 1. The new business rents restroom trailers that each have two womens and one mens portable restrooms. The restrooms are much larger than the portable toilets that most people are familiar with. And they have stainless steel sinks with running water, mirrors over vanities, air conditioning, heating and interior and exterior LED lighting. The restrooms are stylish and sparkling clean, Steers said. You will feel like you are using a regular fancy bathroom, she said. People can decorate them as they wish for any occasion, Steers said. I also have a few decorators who can help and provide decorations. Steers said the restroom trailers are perfect for weddings, birthday parties, graduation parties, arena events, outdoor events, VIP events, construction sites, wineries and for every person who hates using public portable toilets. Prissy Potty will have a booth at the La Crosse Wedding Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 22 at the La Crosse Center. For more information, call 952-221-8088 or visit www.prissypotty.com or Facebook. (tncms-asset)0343c5ca-515a-5bca-b499-76cb70067feb[1](/tncms-asset) PRAIRIE DU SAC This eagle release, perhaps more than most, was spiritual. Art Shegone, a member of the Menominee and Potowatomi tribes, burned sage, cedar and sweet grass in a large clam shell that rested in the shell of snapping turtle. Bill Miller, a Grammy Award-winning artist and a member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Tribe near Shawano, sang and used a preserved eagle wing to bless the eagles and those who gathered Saturday at the VFW boat landing along the Wisconsin River. And for Patty Kierski, the release of four eagles here was a fitting tribute to her late husband, Mike, an environmental scientist and longtime volunteer with the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council. In June, Mike was killed by a motorist in a hit-and-run crash while riding his bike in Sauk County. Just prior to the release on Saturday, Patty was able to put her right hand on the chest of a rehabilitated eagle that had survived lead poisoning near Crandon in northern Wisconsin. She not only could feel the eagle's heart beat, but seemingly that, too, of her late husband of 35 years who had just retired before dying at the age of 59. The work over the years for Mike Kierski, included advocating for the elimination of lead ammunition, the primary cause of lead poisoning in eagles as a result of eating contaminated meat. "The symbolism here is very strong and very meaningful," said Patty Kierski, who was joined by two of her four children. "It's something Mike would have loved. He was very proud of his work." The efforts of volunteers like Mike Kierski and Marge Gibson, founder of the Antigo-based Raptor Education Group Inc., which has rehabilitated thousands of birds over the past 30 years, will be on full display next weekend when the eagle council hosts its 37th annual Bald Eagle Watching Days. The two-day event that begins Saturday will include volunteers, who will staff an overlook at 490 Water St., in Prairie du Sac, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days to help visitors find eagles and answer questions. But all of the other specialized programming will be limited to just Saturday at the River Arts Center, 105 Ninth St., Prairie du Sac. It will include a live birds of prey program at 10 a.m. from the Schiltz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee and at 11:30 a.m. a discussion about eagle nests with the Madison Audubon chapter. David Stokes will present at 1:30 p.m. a "Laughing with Animals" program followed at 3 p.m. with a video of Saturday's eagles release and a question-and-answer session with Gibson, who last year released 50 rehabilitated eagles and is caring for another 21 that she hopes to release later this year or in 2024. Lead poisoning About 80% of the eagles she cares for suffer from lead poisoning, which shuts off the bird's digestive systems and causes kidney and heart failure. "They usually come in starving," Gibson said. "We usually take in about 100 a year, but northern Wisconsin is a more remote region so eagles aren't found, so there are many more that are dying from it." One of the answers, according to Gibson and Jeb Barzen, president of the eagle council, is copper bullets, which are less toxic. The challenge is getting hunters to make the switch to an ammunition that is more expensive but better for the environment. The council is working with local sporting goods stores and gun shops to subsidize the sale of copper ammunition. "So people have a chance to be exposed to that ammunition, see if they like it and see if it does what they really want for success in deer hunting," Barzen said. "The more that they like it, the more we would hope they continue to use it. If this succeeds, there's no limit to how broad it can get." Protecting habitat Ferry Bluff Eagle Council, a nonprofit established in 1988, has worked over the years to protect, maintain and enhance bald eagle habitat in the Sauk Prairie area through education, research and management. One of its earliest successes came in its initial year when the council advocated and worked with the Department of Natural Resources to designate the Ferry Bluff roosting area south of Sauk City a state natural area. However, this year the area, along with Cactus Bluff, is closed through March 31 to protect roosting eagles, whose numbers can grow to over 100 as they use the bluffs to sleep and protect themselves from wind and harsh weather. The council's volunteers over the past 35 years have also organized eagle counts to document not only the numbers and location of the majestic birds, many of which likely come from northern Wisconsin, but to provide data to local governments, landowners and others interested in eagle conservation. The data has been used to help determine the timing of eagle releases, evaluating the significance of disease outbreaks and the appropriate time frames for construction projects along or near the river from Prairie du Sac to Spring Green. In 1972, Wisconsin was home to 108 nesting territories but today, there are more than 1,600. And, as of last year, there are now eagle nests in all of the state's 72 counties. That's because the DNR last spring documented a nesting pair on public land in southern Milwaukee County, the only county where a nest hadn't been found. Aid from donors "I think people are fascinated by them," Gibson said. "They're so big and they have such an amazing life history. But for someone to see them up close is kind of a special joy of mine." But the majority of Gibson's work is done out of the spotlight at her Langlade County compound 34 miles northeast of Wausau that is the largest of its kind in the state. With a small staff, a few volunteers and a yearly influx of summer interns, Gibson nurses various species of birds back to health. She is licensed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service but gets no federal or state money. Her nearly $300,000 in expenses are covered by donations. One of the eagles released Saturday was hit by a car near Merrill, while two others suffered from lead poisoning and were rescued from a nest last May just south of Sauk City after their parents had died, likely from lead poisoning. Erin Kapp of Middleton was among the volunteer nest observers with the Madison Audubon chapter who spotted the two young eagles, who could not fly and were without their parents. On Saturday, Kapp, who became more interested in birds during the pandemic, was on hand as Gibson released both into the partly cloudy sky a mile south of the Prairie du Sac dam, which provides prime fishing opportunities and plenty of trees for daytime perching. "With a lot of wildlife you can't really intervene, but it was a huge undertaking to get to these eagles," said Kapp, a marketing writer. "Knowing they were dying was terrible, but to give them a shot at survival was awesome. And then knowing they pulled through and had such good care at REGI and are able to be real eagles in the wild is amazing." Minnesota AARPs monthly Fraud Watch identifies the following scams. Avoid crypto scams Heres a New Years resolution we could all benefit from: Be vigilant about cryptocurrency scams. Fraud involving crypto investment schemes and crypto as payment in other schemes skyrocketed in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Reported losses exceeded $1 billion. Last year, the evergreen online romance scam turned into crypto investment opportunities starting on such platforms as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn in addition to dating sites and apps. The target can see their assets gaining value as they continue to invest more money, only the crypto exchange they are on is fake. When they try cashing out, theyre told they must first pay excessive fees, and they dont get their money back. In the crypto as payment schemes, criminals convince targets that some urgent matter requires quick payment and direct them to a nearby crypto-ATM machine that converts cash into electronic currency. These losses are virtually unrecoverable. The best way to avoid these scams really any scam is to know about them so you can avoid engaging from the start. Seek a financial advisors guidance on investing, and anyone pressuring you to pay by crypto to address and urgent or time-sensitive matter is a criminal. Credit repair scams If youre like a lot of Americans, you spent a lot this holiday season and you might be in the mood to tackle your debt in the New Year. Getting yourself out of debt is hard work and it is time intensive. Be wary of offers of guaranteed quick fixes. Criminal scammers prey on financial fears by offering simple solutions. These offers usually involve up-front fees (which are illegal), bad advice like stopping communication with your creditors and vague details on what services they provide. If you need help getting out of debt, turn to an organization like the nonprofit National Foundation for Credit Counseling. When a favor is really a scam We all want to be helpful, especially when the request comes from our boss, a friend or a community leader. This instinct is something criminals take advantage of. Thats why you should be suspicious of any urgent message that asks you to do me a favor. These scams can impersonate a boss needing last-minute gift cards for an employee appreciation event or a local faith leader who needs a quick favor of you to buy gift cards to support a family in need. These quick gift card requests promise reimbursement, which never comes. Be aware of short, urgent text messages, emails or social media messages asking for your help purchasing gift cards. Criminals can hack into the profiles of friends, family and community members to send messages in their name. In the professional space, the message often looks like its from your employer, but the criminal may have added a letter or number to the sender information. Like so many scams, this one relies on getting the target into a heightened emotional state of course you want to respond to your boss quickly or help your faith community support those in need. If you ever get a message asking for your help buying gift cards, contact the sender in a way you know to be legitimate and verify. Chances are the request was from a criminal scammer. Utility bill scams Winter is upon us and with temperatures plummeting in many areas, keeping the heat on is critical a fact that criminals try to take advantage of. They impersonate utility companies, threatening to cut off service if an immediate payment isnt made. The goal of these crooks is to create a sense of urgency so the target acts quickly to pay the alleged past-due balance. If you get a surprise visit or call from the utility company this winter, hang up and dont engage. Contact your utility company in a way you know to be legitimate (online account, app or customer service number from a prior bill) to determine if there is a problem with your account. And know that no legitimate company will seek immediate payment for a new-to-you issue. Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam. Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork. Close IN PHOTOS: Winona in December snow Scenes around Winona after snow covered the city on Thursday. When the Masterpiece Theater builds at Fifth and Washington streets, it can give Winona a generous gift by preserving an open view of the Winona Public Library. Approach Winona Public Library from the west on Fifth Street today, you see why the buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. The Roman dome, the beautiful Bedford stone exterior and two delicately arched windows rise in a clear view. The length of the building shows off the color of the stone, and a side-view of the front entrance hints at something special ahead the historic entrance of Minnesotas oldest active library building Georgian marble columns, ornate oak doors, a frieze thats invited the public into the WINONA FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY since 1899. William Laird spent $50,000 to give Winona a library, valued at millions today. Greg Gaut in Lairds Legacy claims the building embodies classical ideals and has the feel of ancient architectural triumphs. The western view of the library can also inspire easier expressions. When a newcomer heads into town on Fifth, a kid in the car might say, Hey, Mom, whats that building? Grandma might say, O-o-o-oh, how wonderful! The Laird Library Building reflects a community that values its past as well as future, where dialogue between government and the public has been successful enough to preserve a beloved treasure, a lynchpin of democracy and equality. The library symbolizes philanthropy but also successful community and citizenship. Masterpiece Theater will require parking, one kind of open view. It might also feature a courtyard or entrance that faces the library from a distance. Please, let our library stand out and shine clearly for all to celebrate. Richie Swanson House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch speaks Oct. 6, 2022, at the Palmer House Hilton during the Illinois Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Juggling a coffee, a briefcase and his cellphone, Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch was making his way through the metal detectors two years ago at the Springfield convention center where the Illinois House was conducting business when he got a call from a phone number he didnt recognize. It came from Springfields 217 area code. So Welch picked up, figuring it must be some staffer with news about work. Advertisement Instead, the voice on the line was that of embattled Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, the longest-serving legislative leader in American history. He was calling to say history may be about to change. Madigan of Chicago wanted to know if Welch of Hillside was interested in the job. Facing unyielding opposition from 19 mostly female lawmakers, Madigan matter-of-factly delivered a once-unfathomable message that Welch recounted last week in an interview with the Tribune: Ive done this a long time. The votes arent there. Its time to step aside. Advertisement Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch gets a standing ovation after being elected the Illinois speaker of the House for the 102nd General Assembly at the Bank of Springfield Center, Jan. 13, 2021. (Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register/AP) Madigans words launched Welch into a furious, 48-hour, lobbying campaign of House Democrats that ended with him as the first Black House speaker in Illinois two centuries of statehood. I got pretty emotional during that call, Welch recalled. When I called my wife, I was still pretty emotional. Heres the thought of me being speaker starting to set in. As Welch begins his second term as speaker this week, the Tribune aimed to detail the hectic behind-the-scenes machinations two years ago that resulted in the end of Madigans 36-year reign as head of the House, the internal fights among House Democrats to pick his successor and the beginning of Welchs tenure. In contrast to the chaos in Washington, no tense moments are expected this week in naming the Illinois House speaker, given that Welchs House Democrats won a modern-day record 78 seats a group Welch now calls The Great 78. Welch put a final exclamation point on his first, two-year term this past week when the House approved Democratic-led initiatives to ban high-powered firearms and expand abortion rights. Two years ago, the fight to strip Madigan of the speakership splintered the Illinois House Democratic caucus between supporters who ignored warning signs as a federal investigation was closing in and opponents, led by the 19, who felt Madigans links to a quickly expanding scandal involving utility giant Commonwealth Edison foretold the end of his unprecedented run. Many Democrats also were tired of being tarnished because they were members of a Madigan-led caucus that opened them up to constant political attacks by Republicans who tried to win campaigns by tying all Democrats to the speakers contentious command. There are no rules of engagement when you go up against the longest-serving speaker in the whole nations history, said Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego, a Marine Corps veteran who became the first Democratic House member to challenge Madigans speakership. Theres no guidebook to that. But, at the end of the day, I wanted representatives to have a choice. Rep. Terra Costa Howard, the Glen Ellyn Democrat who had only been in office two years at the time, said she came out early against keeping Madigan as speaker because, I wanted to be able to look my kids in the eye and know that I did the right thing. Advertisement I did not want the work that I did to be tied to that level of corruption and power, she said. Madigan loyalists some lawmakers, lobbyists and union operatives lashed out at those seeking change, according to some of the 19. They said they were labeled as traitors, cussed out and still experience some strained relationships. Oh, man. It was brutal. It was brutal, said Rep. Maurice West II, the only Black lawmaker to join the opposition group, a move made before the coalition was big enough to take away Madigans gavel. I felt isolated. I felt alone. And it hurt. West, a Rockford Democrat, eventually delivered the first nominating speech for Welch to lead the House. He also recalled how in March 2022, a little more than a year later, Madigan was indicted. We were on the House floor when this happened. On the House floor, recalled West, an ordained minister. Just think if he was speaker when this happened. And so I wept in my seat because it vindicated us. In January 2021, Madigan initially refused to give up his grip on power despite growing odds against him and as House lawmakers worked through long, tumultuous days as one term was ending and a new two-year term was beginning. Advertisement In multiple closed-door meetings of House Democrats, Madigan tested the strength of his opposition while also clearing the way for the General Assembly to pass the criminal justice reform package now known as the SAFE-T Act. One of three major initiatives championed by Black lawmakers at the time, the law would become a flashpoint in the 2022 election as it received soft-on-crime criticism and required multiple amendments even before a Kankakee County judge struck down as unconstitutional a no-cash bail and other court provisions that were supposed to take effect Jan. 1. It is now before the Democratic-led Illinois Supreme Court, where Welch said he remains pretty confident the justices will see it our way. Critics viewed the SAFE-T Acts passage as Madigans way of trying to keep minority support for his effort to hold onto the speakership, and they blamed him for allowing the bill to advance before it could be thoroughly vetted. That was one of the worst moments in that chambers history, on process and substance, said House Republican leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs, who opposed the bill. That would not have passed under the old Mike Madigan under those conditions. But he was desperate to hang on. Though he had survived controversies over the decades, Madigans clout took a serious hit the moment U.S. Attorney John Lausch unveiled on July 17, 2020, a deferred prosecution agreement with ComEd in a yearslong bribery case. Madigan was not charged or even named at that point, but he was identified nonetheless with the designation of Public Official A. In a matter of months, Madigans House Democrats would abandon the man whose political acumen helped many of them secure their roles in the legislature and whose roots dated back to Mayor Richard J. Daley, Madigans onetime mentor who ran Chicagos once-indomitable Democratic machine. Advertisement Ever since Madigan was dethroned in January 2021, his political trajectory has spiraled downward. He returned to his Southwest Side home and resigned a month later from the House seat hed held for more than 50 years. And last year, Madigan was indicted twice once involving the alleged bribes-for-favors scheme with ComEd and a second time in a superseding indictment that included similar allegations involving AT&T. Both utility giants have acknowledged they placed Madigan allies in little-to-no work jobs in hopes of winning his favor on their legislative agendas. ComEd agreed to a $200 million fine, a local record, and AT&T agreed to a $23 million fine. Both have bribery counts pending that will be dropped if they cooperate. Madigan did not return messages left for him for this story. His case is up for a status hearing on Monday. He has pleaded not guilty and has used more than $8 million from his political funds to pay criminal defense lawyers. Seeds of the rebellion The uprising against Madigan began quietly. For more than a decade before he was ousted, Madigan had been holding off a tide of controversies. Starting in 2010, the Tribune published The Madigan Rules, a first-of-its-kind, yearslong investigation that outlined numerous potential conflicts of interests between his private business as a tax appeals lawyer and his elected position. The Tribune also detailed Madigan patronage, tracing more than 400 men and women who had obtained government jobs also worked elections for him, donated regularly to his campaign funds, registered voters for him or circulated candidate petitions on his behalf. And the Tribune disclosed a secret report that scolded Madigan for mixing patronage and government issues at Metra, the suburban rail service. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 84 Former Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan departs from his lawyers' office, March 9, 2022, after making his first virtual court appearance for his indictment. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) In early 2018, the Tribune revealed campaign worker Alaina Hampton alleged she was sexually harassed by Kevin Quinn, a top Madigan lieutenant and the brother of 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn. Madigan dumped Kevin Quinn from the speakers government and political organizations at the height of the national #MeToo movement. But the scandal, along with other misbehaving aides the speaker ousted, carried a lingering effect that weakened Madigan politically. Advertisement [ 10 years of Madigan coverage: Read the Tribunes investigations into Illinois House speaker ] Then, in 2019, the first major hint of how serious a burgeoning federal investigation came when the FBI raided the homes of several Madigan allies, including one of Madigans closest confidants, Michael McClain, a former state representative and longtime contract lobbyist for ComEd. While Madigan told reporters he was not a target of anything, the Tribune disclosed before 2019 was over that federal authorities had tapped McClains phone and had quizzed at least four people about Madigans operations. Loyalists for Madigan, who had been speaker for every year since 1983 except two in the mid-1990s, discounted the developments and noted hed always managed to ride out political storms before. But some wary lawmakers, including the earliest members of the 19, called and texted each other, wondering what it would take for other colleagues, as one put it, to say, Enough. Public official A effect The Public Official A designation in the ComEd case rocked Madigan like nothing before when it hit in July 2020. ComEd acknowledged in the deferred prosecution agreement that it hired Madigans Southwest Side cronies into little-to-no-work jobs, handed out internships to college kids from his 13th Ward empire, steered business to political ally Victor Reyes law firm, and installed former McPier boss Juan Ochoa on the state-regulated utilitys board of directors all in hopes the speaker would look favorably on the utilitys agenda. Neither Reyes nor Ochoa have been accused of wrongdoing. ComEd benefited lucratively from multiple pieces of legislation it wanted during a bribery scheme that stretched from 2011 to 2019, prosecutors said. While Madigan tried to downplay the revelations by saying hed never made a legislative decision with improper motives and that he had not engaged in wrongdoing, he did little to calm some Democrats nerves. Advertisement Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he was deeply troubled and frankly Im furious, and a small band of Democratic lawmakers began to organize. Rep. Anne Stava-Murray on the House floor at the State Capitol in Springfield on Jan. 29, 2020. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) Among the first to push for removing Madigan as speaker was, not surprisingly, Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, who refused to support Madigan for speaker two years earlier following the 2018 #MeToo issues. This time she said he should resign both as speaker and as chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party. A Naperville Democrat, Stava-Murray recalled in a recent Tribune interview that her first thought about the ComEd case was how my constituents were right about him. Costa Howard released a statement saying the corruption and unethical behavior revealed in the ComEd probe made it impossible for Madigan to continue. Kifowit, whod previously received campaign support from Madigan, said she would not vote for him as speaker because he should be held to a higher standard. Also in the mix was Rep. Kelly Cassidy, the Chicago firebrand who had successfully pushed Madigan to conduct what became a searing critique of the legislatures workplace culture following the 2018 #MeToo allegations. When Chicago-based Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, who had just been appointed to the House in 2019, joined the small group, she wasnt sure that it would result in an actual leadership change but was motivated by the need to rebuild trust in government and politics, she said. Amid the ComEd accusations, Republicans called for a separate investigation into Madigans actions and the Democratic-led House established a special committee to look into the matter and named Welch a Madigan ally as head of it. Advertisement Madigan acknowledged the criminal case that identified him as Public Official A had made it difficult for our caucus and party but said in a statement that many House Democrats he talked to still spoke favorably about keeping him in charge. I have no plans to resign, Madigan said, a comment that spurred Pritzker to say the speaker needed to stand up and answer questions about the ComEd case. Kifowit announces bid for speaker As grumbling among Democratic lawmakers continued, Kifowit in October 2020 announced she would run against Madigan for speaker. You cant make change if nobody is going to step up and be the person thats the change agent, Kifowit said. State Rep. House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, speaks with Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, prior to the swearing in ceremony for the 102nd General Assembly at the Bank of Springfield Center on Jan. 13, 2021. (Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register/AP) Even though Kifowit didnt get overwhelming support, Costa Howard saw the announcement as a game-changer. Madigan backers dug in against Kifowit and insisted Madigan should still be the speaker. Advertisement Welch soon announced the special committee investigating Madigan wouldnt hold any more meetings until after the Nov. 3 election, a decision Republican leader Durkin called a disgrace. But the fissures kept expanding. Less than two weeks before the election, West said during an interview on a Rockford television news program that he would not vote for Madigan for speaker. After the interview, West spoke with Welch and then called Madigan in his 13th Ward office the next day, a Saturday, at 7 a.m. He said, Between now and when the vote (for speaker) is, I hope I can do what must be done to help you reconsider your vote, West recalled, saying he held firm in his opposition. I was ready to lose my seat if I had to. Madigan blamed for political losses While the ComEd scandal simmered, political defeats on Election Day of 2020 also damaged Madigan. Voters rejected both a Democratic-backed proposal to enact a graduated state income tax and the candidacy of Illinois Supreme Court Justice Tom Kilbride in a year when Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden easily won Illinois. Madigan took much of the blame for the losses as Republicans tied both issues to the embattled speaker. Advertisement After the election, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat, and Pritzker questioned keeping Madigan as chair of the state party. And U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, also a Democrat, suggested Madigan should no longer be either speaker or party chair. While Madigan showed no sign of taking the advice from the Democratic leaders, federal prosecutors changed the political landscape once again a few weeks later when they indicted McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and two other ComEd lobbyists. They have all pleaded not guilty. The indictments, alleging schemes to influence Madigan, triggered a renewed surge in the anti-Madigan movement. The next day, eight more House Democrats came out against Madigan, raising the number of colleagues against him to 16, meaning hed only be able to get 57 of the 60 votes needed to be reelected speaker. Among those making their opposition clear was a group of four women lawmakers who previously had written Madigan privately asking him to consider stepping aside: Reps. Deb Conroy of Elmhurst, Robyn Gabel of Evanston, Anna Moeller of Elgin and Ann Williams of Chicago. We felt that we needed to have change, said Conroy, who two months ago was elected head of the DuPage County Board. We were not publicly going to come out against him without having conversations with him first. Hers was a very difficult conversation. Advertisement I was struck by the fact that I dont think at the time that the speaker realized the seriousness of just how difficult it was for all of those 19 members to come to that decision, Conroy recalled. Moeller said she had hoped Madigan would have retired before trying to win another term as speaker but that his decision to run again put House Democrats and the party in a difficult position, given the ComEd cases. Eventually the group got to 19 when Addison Rep. Kathy Willis, who Madigan recruited years earlier and had promoted to his House leadership team, said she would not vote for Madigan as speaker. In all, the 19 were: Cassidy, Conroy, Costa Howard, Gabel, Kifowit, LaPointe, Moeller, Stava-Murray, West, Williams and Willis, as well as Reps. Jonathan Carroll of Northbrook, Margaret Croke of Chicago, Eva-Dina Delgado of Chicago, Daniel Didech of Buffalo Grove, Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz of Glenview, Will Guzzardi of Chicago, Bob Morgan of Deerfield and Sam Yingling of Grayslake. Even though the opposition was increasing, Madigan still had strong supporters. The Black Caucus held a forum with both Madigan and Kifowit. Madigan secured 21 of 22 members, with West still holding out. Madigan moved fast. Advertisement He called me immediately and said, Mr. West, now that the rest of the Black Caucus is on board with me, does this give you cover to come back to the fold? West recalled. West declined, and he still remembered the speakers nonresponse. The silence was so loud on the other end of the phone, West said. Madigans last stand As lawmakers arrived in Springfield at the beginning of 2021, three women would challenge Madigan for speaker: Reps. Stephanie Kifowit, Ann Williams and Kathy Willis. But, at 78 years old, Madigan would make his last stand. The four of them sat at a table in front of their fellow House Democrats in closed-door meetings for hours of blistering questions at the convention center, where the House was meeting amid the COVID-19 pandemic because it had more room. On their first ballot, Madigan received only 51 votes, nine shy of the 60 needed. Williams garnered 18 votes, the highest total of any challengers. Advertisement I jumped in and ran for speaker to be a catalyst for change, Williams recalled. I wanted it to move the ball forward and I think I did. The 18 votes that Williams received were viewed by several lawmakers interviewed as the majority of the 19 making it clear to Madigan that they were serious about wanting a new leader. Kifowit received three votes, and Willis dropped out prior to the vote and tossed her support to Williams. Shortly after that vote, Madigan made a move few had anticipated. He suspended his bid for another term as speaker, freeing up anyone else to try to round up 60 votes and leaving open the chance that he could swoop back in if his colleagues could not rally behind a successor. Madigans maneuver prompted two new entrants Welch and veteran Rep. Jay Hoffman of downstate Swansea among a handful of lawmakers Madigan called. Welch said the longtime speaker advised him to secure votes with the Black, Latino and downstate caucuses in that order. Advertisement Speaker Michael Madigan on the floor as the Illinois House of Representatives convenes at the Bank of Springfield Center on Jan. 8, 2021. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) I dont think he favored me, Welch said. I had to get out there and earn those votes. Those 48 hours, Ill remember for the rest of my life. I had to convince my colleagues to vote for me. But Madigans advice also included an important first step for Welch: Check with his wife, ShawnTe Raines-Welch. I said, So this is going to be crazy, Welch said. You know how they are. Theyre going to beat the hell out of me. You sure youre OK with this? Welch vividly recalled her response: I can take it, whatever else they throw out at you. If youre interested, Im 100% behind you. He quickly sought support from fellow members of the Black Caucus, but they questioned whether Madigan, who no one was ready to count out yet, was just trying to smoke out traitors. The Black Caucus was having none of it, Welch said. None of them believed it was real. Advertisement But when the Black Caucus met again 12 hours later, their opinions about Madigans motives had changed and they told Welch theyd back him. Welch then needed the Latino Caucus backing. He bolted out to find Rep. Lisa Hernandez, the Cicero Democrat and Madigan ally who headed the caucus and is now head of the state Democratic Party. Like the initial skepticism of some of the Black Caucus members, Welch recalled, Hernandez too wasnt convinced Madigans suspension was legitimate. But a day later the Latino Caucus too backed Welch, soon bringing the race down to he and Hoffman, as Kifowit and Williams dropped out. By the time the full Democratic caucus met late that Tuesday, Welch had 50 votes to Hoffmans 15. Questions about Welch Just as it looked like Welch was rapidly moving toward 60 votes, he faced questions about his past. The Tribune posted a story on Welch that included details from a 2002 police report about Hillside officers getting called to Welchs home and his ex-girlfriend alleging that Welch slammed her head into a kitchen countertop numerous times after she called him a loser. The report said Welch denied the allegations. It also said the woman did not press charges after talking it over with a Welch relative. Welch released a statement, saying the verbal argument occurred nearly two decades ago. He also added: I will be honest that I have reconciled with the individual since that night. Advertisement An alarmed Alaina Hampton, the former Democratic campaign worker who called out Madigan aide Kevin Quinn over sexual harassment, questioned how House Democrats could get behind Welch with the allegations outlined in the police report. In a tense face-to-face moment in Springfield, Welch addressed a hastily gathered group of mostly women lawmakers at the convention center to attempt to quell concerns. Cassidy looked at the police report story in the context of growing up in a violent home, where she said her father abused her mother and that her mother was discouraged from filing charges against him. It threw me into a tailspin, the North Side lawmaker recalled. It dredged up memories of how she had to leave her home the night her mother was threatened, she said. Though she plans to vote for Welch this year, she said she voted present two years ago because she had little time to process the allegations. Stava-Murray said Welch was very straightforward and shared directly with us about the issue and ultimately, obviously, made enough of us comfortable with what he said that we were OK with voting for him. Advertisement I think that we also have to keep in mind that, disproportionately, we are going to see Black men with those sorts of charges thrown against them, the suburban legislator said. It is a racial bias that exists in our country. Rep. Mary Flowers, a South Side Chicago Democrat who is dean of the House, called the story about Welchs past a shocker. But Flowers said, without a conviction, the incident could be considered a he say, she say matter. Welch recalled answering every question and cited the gathering as one of several very powerful, emotional moments during that 48 hours. I just remember at some point during that meeting I didnt say a word anymore, Welch said. The women started saying, We know this man. The full Democratic caucus, having worked deep into the night and early morning, gathered once again hours later on Jan. 13, the day they would all be sworn in at noon. Welch had hit 55 votes, and colleagues suggested he and Hoffman leave the room and work out their differences. Advertisement Hoffman would remain on the House Democratic leadership team and throw his support to Welch. The deal gave Welch 70 votes. Welch in, Madigan out When Madigans reign as speaker officially ended on the House floor, it was almost anti-climactic. Standing behind the scenes at the Bank of Springfield Convention Center on Jan. 13. 2021, incoming Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, D-Hillside, from left, and outgoing Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, with Secretary of State Jesse White, Whites duties include swearing in lawmakers to new terms. (John Berry) But as West rose to nominate Welch to be the new speaker, the Rockford lawmaker first called for a standing ovation for Madigan. No matter where you stand on a scale of favorability, we must give recognition to whom recognition is due, West said. Durkin recalled the praise for Madigan caused him to immediately rewrite a speech he had prepared because this was not the time nor should there ever be a moment in time to praise Mike Madigan because of his alleged widespread corruption under his watch. Citing the ComEd scandal and a legacy driven by absolute power and control, Durkin told fellow lawmakers that Madigans legacy is also one which failed its citizens with unbalanced budgets, broken pension systems, tax increase after tax increase, with nothing to show for it. Advertisement Before he left, Madigan voted for Welch and issued a statement acknowledging it is time for new leadership and wishing his successor well as he begins a historic speakership. It is my sincere hope today that the caucus I leave to him and to all who will serve alongside him is stronger than when I began, Madigan said. And as I look at the large and diverse Democratic majority we have built full of young leaders ready to continue moving our state forward, strong women and people of color, and members representing all parts of our state I am confident Illinois remains in good hands. Welchs rule In his address to the new House, Welch declared a new day in Springfield, and his Democratic troops have since seen differences between Welchs leadership and Madigans highly secretive control. Welch has made himself more available to rank-and-file Democrats, taken more of their calls and texts, and loosened up the flow of information from the speakers office. Welch said he and Madigan have the same core Democratic beliefs, noting how Madigan stood up to one-term Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. But I think were different in our approach to how we protect those values, Welch said. And I have to believe his style comes from his longevity and his age and the time that he came through, and my style comes from my age and the time Im living in. Advertisement Its also a different job now. During much of his time as speaker, Madigan had to work with Republican governors, which only enhanced his power as the states top Democrat, while he often fought with Democratic governors as he exerted that power. Welch has the advantage of working with a wealthy progressive Democratic governor and his position as speaker, while a top Democrat, is not the same role that Madigan filled. Still, some Madigan stalwarts are concerned Welch, as he tries to smooth over inevitable bumps that come with a major transition, has yet to be as organized as the former speaker. And a few lawmakers, staffers and lobbyists have noted the loss of institutional memory. Yet Welch has received mostly good reviews for diversity in assigning tasks to and bringing in more people in bill negotiations. Welchs troops advanced an agenda that included supporting clean energy, reproductive rights and anti-violence legislation. I dont think you can argue with results, Hoffman said, and the results of what hes been able to do have been fairly large in a short period of time. Advertisement Overcoming the doubts, Welch raised big campaign dollars to back candidates and worked with Senate President Don Harmon of Oak Park to redraw boundaries of state legislative, congressional and Illinois Supreme Court districts all of which led to Democratic gains. Durkin said Welch used a heavy hand to tilt districts so favorably for Democrats that they largely determined the outcomes before the election. It was not a good moment in Illinois history, Durkin said, particularly since Democrats had promised a fairer approach. The new day for Democrats, a party that rose to dominance under Madigan, is defined now by moving ahead without him. Its not the new day that Republicans had hoped for, but Durkin acknowledged Welch was successful in passing his agenda. Looking ahead, Welch said his House Democrats certainly have not peaked yet. When House Democrats gathered in caucus during Novembers veto session, they saw a night-and-day difference from the infighting of two years ago. They found themselves laughing with each other rather than yelling. There is no doubt that we have turned a corner in the House, Williams said. It feels like a cloud has been lifted. Advertisement rlong@chicagotribune.com Dear W.C., I live in a duplex. My neighbor is a woman in her early 70s that I would like to nominate for your assistance program. She is an amazing woman that is raising her three teenaged granddaughters and still works full-time. I dont know how she does it, but I know she is struggling. Last week her car broke down when it was so cold, and I gave her a ride to work. I felt terrible seeing her struggling in the snow and ice trying to get her car started with her oldest granddaughter. She had to have it towed in for service and now she cannot pay the bill. She is very upset because the girls need some winter clothing. I stopped over today to offer some food and found her duplex very cold inside. She said she has the thermostat turned down because she is unable to keep up with the utilities with all the added expenses lately. She didnt go into detail, but you dont need to be a rocket scientist to see the woman is having a hard time. Could you please contact her and let her know I referred her or else she may not even talk to you. She is a proud hard-working woman who is always thinking of others before herself. Dear Readers, I called the woman with the contact information the neighbor had provided. Just as she said, she did not answer so I left a voicemail letting her know I was calling from The Time is Now to Help thanks to the letter written to us by her caring neighbor. Within a few minutes I received a phone call in return from the grandmother. She seemed embarrassed and asked me some questions about how our program works. I explained how we help over 600 people each year thanks to our wonderful donors and volunteers. Soon she was no longer embarrassed, just relieved we had called to possibly help. We talked about the neighbor and the things she had observed and heard. I asked about the car and the repairs that were done. She sent me a picture of the invoice and I noted there were several other repairs that still needed to be completed. The grandmother admitted she was unable to afford any further work on her car, even when there were issues relating to their safety. I told her we would pay the car repair bill so she could get her car from the service department. Then I instructed her to take her car to our trusted car repair dealership to have it evaluated there. The grandmother began to cry as she had already missed much needed days at work or had to ask the neighbor for rides when she knew they did not have the time or money for gas. This would be a huge relief for this overworked and overstressed grandmother. The woman filled me in on why she was raising her grandchildren, substance abuse by the childrens parents and abandonment played a large part in her decision to take on this responsibility three years ago. I commended her on being such a wonderful caring grandmother. I asked about their lack of heat and food insecurity. The grandmother admitted to turning her thermostat dangerously low. Once she promised she would not use this drastic of a measure in the future, I promised to pay her overdue utilities and some into the future. I also promised to include gift cards for much needed and appreciated food, toiletries and winter clothing for the granddaughters. This time the grandmother sobbed tears of relief as we removed their very real pains of poverty. Thank you for allowing us to bless this family with poverty relief that will get this grandmothers budget back on track and carry them for several months safely into the new year. We are past the halfway mark for the $50,000 Give a Hand Up Christmas Matching Grant. Please donate knowing every penny of your donation will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling your donation, and 100% will be used to provide poverty relief in our communities. These funds are needed for the many people turning to us during the harsh winter months that are upon on. Thank you and God Bless you! Health & Happiness, Love & GOD Bless Everyone, Sal Please Help: There are many coming to us in desperation. Our good fellow creations need our compassion. Together we make a big difference. 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Anyone who would like a Time Is Now donation box in your business, please call (262) 249-7000. Prayer Chain: The power of prayer and positive thoughts comes from the true healer, our Lord answering our prayers. Please pray for healing for the following people: Brian, Talyn, Mike, Sylvia, Richard, Jennifer, Jayden, Maria C., Alex, Lily, Kaitlyn, Sheila, Rhonda, Deda Lee, Betty, Marilyn, Helen, Dennis, Mary, Joseph, Jordan, Jean, Tom L., Dr. Peter, Alyce, Matthew, Pam E., Jenene B., John S., Patricia H., Darlene, Ron K., Marian K., Judy, Wendy, Eric, Anthony, Mary, Charlie, Tom P., Christina, Billy, Mike, Cheryl, and Ellie. Rep. Massie, Tucker Carlson Seek New Church Committee To Investigate FBI Interference in U.S. Politics Jan. 7, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)The new session of the House of Representatives will create a new Church Committee to investigate misdeeds, illegalities, and crimes committed by United States intelligence agencies, with a focus, it appears, on the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), yesterday, a guest on the Tucker Carlson Show, announced that, reporting that it has the approval of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. On his Jan. 3 show, Carlson called for a new Frank Church Committee designed to discover what the FBI and intelligence agencies have been doing to control domestic politics in this country. Theyve been doing a lot, but no one in Washington wants to talk about it. This topic is effectively off limits ... for almost 50 years. The Church Committee was a special Senate Select Committee, whose investigation in 1975-76 revealed the wrongful practices of the CIA in its MK-Ultra project, and the FBI with its COINTELPRO. Carlson had previously emphasized the role of the FBI in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots, its control of electionsThe FBI is now a bigger force in American elections than any single group of votersand control of the media. But there may be more that the new Church Committee may investigate. Recall that in his Dec. 15, 2022 program, Carlson reported on a source who, having seen classified documents, said the CIA had assassinated President John F. Kennedy, and Carlson posed the release of the classified documents. In his Jan. 6 show, Carlson said, So we spent all week telling you about the fight on Capitol Hill over whos going to be the next Speaker of the House. There was a standoff. Well, during that period, Kevin McCarthy decided to make some changes ... and one of them is something that weve been talking about and certainly thinking about for quite some time which is the creation of a committee modeled after the famous Frank Church Committee of the 1970s that will look a lot more closely at the influence of the FBI and the various Intel agencies on domestic politics.... Kevin McCarthys going to do that.... His plan we have just learned is to appoint really one of the most honest and dogged members of Congress ... Thomas Massey of Kentucky to head that committee, the new Church Committee ... who joins us now. Massie: Thanks Tucker. It looks like Ill probably be on that committee but I cant say that I will run it. I will say that ... while weve seen this drama on the House floor, behind the scenes along with those people who withheld their vote for Kevin McCarthy until they got the transformational changes in the House and the way the House works, we were working ... to make sure that this Church Committee [is created]. Were making sure that this committee wasnt going to be fenced in, that it wasnt just going to be a show committee. We wanted to make sure that we have full jurisdiction, that if we stumble onto something at another three-letter agency that they dont say whoa thats out of your jurisdiction, or if we find out theres more than a violation of the First Amendment right, if there are other civil rights that are being violated, weve secured a guarantee that we can go wherever the evidence leads us. Carlson: Frank Church certainly attempted it, and the Congress attempted it again, in 1976, with their special committee on assassinations. Those committees bumped right headlong into a wall of secrecy, and it drove a lot of them those members kind of crazy. Are you prepared for this, honestly, awesome task? Massie: I think we are and weve been laying the groundwork for that. [Rep.] Dan Bishop (R-NC), ... [Rep.] Jim Jordan (R-OH), weve been talking to the [House] Intel committee which has the authority to get all of that information. By the way a lot of this is going to play out down in the SCIF [secured rooms]. Youre going to have to trust the people that are put on this committee, and Ill tell you what if theres something fishy going on, Ill come out of the SCIF and tell you. But a lot of it will be behind closed doors; theyll be classified information but if we find anything illegal or unconstitutional, we will bring it forward. Carlson: Im so grateful that youre doing this, and I really hope that if you find anything like that, to the extent you can tell us about it, you will. Thomas Massie ... thank you. The outcome will depend on the vision, or limitations, of the committee members, and the geometry put into place around them by an informed, truly patriotic citizenry. Special sections issued by the Daily Southtown and Star Newspapers commemorating the end of the 20th century in 1999 relied heavily on the newspapers archive of historic photographs, which would have been lost if not for photographer Mary Compton and a group of area historians. (Paul Eisenberg / Daily Southtown) The secret could finally be told. Homewood-based historian Elaine Egdorf had been sworn to silence by our mutual friend, Mary Compton, who died Christmas Eve after a yearslong battle with ovarian cancer. Advertisement After seeing the obituary, My first thought was, God bless you, Mary. Now I can tell, Egdorf said. Mary had been freelancing as a writer and photographer for the Daily Southtown and other outlets even as she dealt with her devastating disease and the side effects of chemotherapy. I first met her when I was hired at Star Newspapers in the late 1990s, where she already had been a longtime staff photographer. Advertisement We were there in 2001 when The Star marked 100 years since its founding in Chicago Heights. A few years later the papers marked a century since the founding of the first of the many papers that came together to eventually become the Daily Southtown, including the Englewood Economist and the Daily Calumet. At the time, the Star and Southtown maintained separate newsrooms on the first floor of the same building, a former Gatelys Peoples Store at 159th Street and Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park. I was gone by the time the papers merged in 2007 to become the SouthtownStar, having left to take care of my young son and pursue a living in freelance writing. So I missed the bulk of the downsizing, the dark days when wave after wave of my former colleagues were unceremoniously shown the door as the company dealt poorly with the electronic challenges of the 21st century. Eventually, the former Peoples Store office with its sometimes-functioning escalators became too large for the remnants of what were once two bustling newsrooms. Company officials decided to sell the building to Menards, and less than a decade after celebrating centennials, the remaining Southtown workers had to figure out what to do with a vast accumulation of archival material. A smaller Southtown office down Harlem Avenue wouldnt be able to hold the decades worth of printed newspapers and photographs generated by generations of journalists. Things were moving quickly. Dumpsters were deposited at the buildings back door loading dock. Mary Compton, a former photographer and reporter who worked in the south suburbs for publications including The Star newspapers and Daily Southtown, died Dec. 24 in her Country Club Hills home. (Rebekah Crane) Thats where Marys secret comes in. She was visiting with Egdorf and was concerned that the photographs were going to be thrown away the next day, said Egdorf, president of the South Suburban Heritage Association. Mary told me who to call, gave me the number and told me who to ask for and what to ask for, she said. I did what she suggested and asked if we could have some of the photos. I had no idea what I was getting into. She received permission to retrieve photo prints and newspapers from a storage room where theyd been accumulating for years. She also got on the phone with friends from other historical groups to come help. They would have one day to rescue what they could. The rest would be dumped. Advertisement I called these people and said we meet tomorrow morning. Bring boxes, Egdorf said. A group of about 10 or 12 people, all representing south suburban historical groups, showed up at the rear loading dock the next morning, and we just started going through the drawers, she said. There was a caveat, though. Mary told me I should never dare tell anyone what she told me to do, Egdorf said. I dont know the reason. We didnt talk about that. But she said you cant ever tell how you found out. So I never told anybody. She made me promise to never tell, and I was OK with that, so nobody ever knew how I found out about it. After the crew of historians had collected all they could handle we probably could have used more boxes, Egdorf said they brought everything to the Thornton Historical Societys headquarters, an old church that has a large room in the back once used for Sunday school classes. We lined up six tables and started placing all the brown envelopes alphabetically, starting with Alsip and going around that way, she said. Some of what we collected could have been for any of us. We worked there most of the summer. Advertisement Elaine Egdorf stands in front of a metal historical marker along the Dixie Highway in Homewood in 2022. Egdorf was part of an effort to keep historic newspaper photos and clips from being thrown away, with the items going instead to area historical societies. (Paul Eisenberg / Daily Southtown) Eventually, the SouthtownStar photographs and news clippings were distributed to historical groups across the south suburbs and beyond. Egdorf sent some to the Chicago History Museum, and many of the train photos went to the Lockport-based Blackhawk Railway Historical Society. Im not sure what people did with some of these, but the historical societies took them back to their museums and archives, Egdorf said. Brad Bettenhausen of the Tinley Park Historical Society, was among those who met Egdorf at the Peoples Store loading dock that early summer morning. We had a limited window to retrieve items from the newspaper archive and I pretty much dropped whatever I was doing to go over to see what we could retrieve related to Tinley Park and the vicinity, he said. The newspaper photos and clippings are valuable items to help document local history. I regret that we did not have enough time, and still lament the materials we had to leave behind. I reached out to a few former co-workers from those days, all who remember a lot of confusion surrounding the Southtowns move, first to a smaller office in Tinley Park and then shortly after that to the Chicago Sun-Times office downtown. One colleague said the moving window was tight they had about 10 days to get everything out. A photographer said he remembered being told to throw away his negatives because they wouldnt be able to find anyone that would take them. Advertisement Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > When the Sun-Times sold its suburban newspapers, including the Daily Southtown, to Tribune Publishing a few years later, I remember another colleague describing his day starting in the old Sun-Times building, loading a box with items from his desk and carrying it down the street to the Tribune Tower. While the remaining suburban staff made that trip safely, no electronic archive of photographs from the Southtown and other suburban newspapers ever arrived. Tribune Publishing now technically owns the photos, I was told, but we dont actually have them. We had lots of great photographers on staff who captured some amazing images of life in the Southland. The collection likely included plenty of routine pictures, too grip-and-grin shots of officials shaking hands and other standards of 20th century community coverage. While a lot of what we got wasnt earth shattering, it still helps to tell a story of our life and times, Bettenhausen said. I am glad that we were able to save them from a landfill. Mary Compton cemented her lasting legacy through her acts of kindness, her compassion for everyone she met and her talent for showcasing the good in people. She didnt need anyone to know that she was responsible for saving perhaps the only remaining copies of a centurys worth of images and stories. But Im glad Marys secret is finally out. She deserves this enduring photo credit. Advertisement Landmarks is a weekly column by Paul Eisenberg exploring the people, places and things that have left an indelible mark on the Southland. He can be reached at peisenberg@tribpub.com. EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR SUNDAY JANUARY 8, 2023 Escalating MilitarizationSpeak Out To Stop It Even More Jan. 7, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)As of the first week of the New Year, the escalation is dramatic for confrontation and militarization, not only in Ukraine, making general war all the more likely. It is no time to back down from sounding the alarm, and now time for organizing for the alternative: peace through development. The next Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base, Germany is set for January 20, the eighth such meeting. It is a target point in a countdown of pressure and public pledges for more arms to Ukraine. The U.S. Defense Department made a showy announcement yesterday of another $3 billion worth of U.S. hardware committed to Ukraine, and issued a Fact Sheet giving a long list, detailing weapons deliveries to date and to come. France has pledged armored personnel vehicles and more. On Jan. 6, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called Italian authorities to pressure them to cough up more arms for Ukraine. On Jan. 6, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III spoke by phone with German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, commending her for Germanys decision to provide additional military capabilities to Ukraine, including one Patriot air defense battery and Marder infantry fighting vehicles. That is not enough for Bundestag Defense Committee Chairwoman Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP). She raved to the Neue Osnabrucker Zeitung that supplying the Marders is not enough. European partners are waiting for Germany to also be ready to move in some Leopard main battle tanks. Another in the camp of raving screamer war hawks is John Bolton, who today announced his candidacy for the U.S. Presidency in the 2024 election, fittingly stating his intentions on British TV, on the Good Morning, Britain show. Boltons program is to demand NATO get much tougher on Russia and China. In addition to arms pledges, the NATO military networks are publicly talking of training and support for a new coordinated operations capacity in the Ukraine military. Yesterday at the White House, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, and at the Pentagon, Deputy Secretary for Eurasia Laura Cooper, gave separate briefings to reporters on the plans to upgrade the Ukraine military. Kirby stated that sending Ukraine Bradley infantry fighting vehicles will further combined arms maneuver warfare. He elaborated, You might remember the Pentagon just recently said theyre going to start training, at a battalion level, Ukrainian troops outside the country on combined arms maneuver.... Cooper stated that the new package of arms to Ukraine, will change the dynamic on the battlefield. These capabilities will complement and work with the expanded U.S. led training beginning this month that will build Ukraines capacity to conduct joint maneuver and combined operations. The premise of these plans is indefinite combat. How much of this is fiction, and how much reality is a pertinent question. But either way, the policy is madness. Moreover, the same madness is proceeding in building up and exercising military forces in Asia, focussed against both China and Russia, as targets. The question was asked yesterday at the U.S. State Department Foreign Press Center briefing, is not the new Japanese security militarization policy a threat in the Pacific? Spokesman Ned Price fell over himself to deny this, repeatedly saying, there is no threat. Price said that Tokyos intention is to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific, a vision shared by the U.S., etc. But this week, mutual military commitments will be discussed Jan. 11 in Washington, D.C., at the 2+2 meeting of Japanese and American defense and foreign policy ministers/secretaries. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will visit President Joe Biden at the White House Jan. 13. Were at the moral limits of how much militarization can continue to go on, is the expression used about German arms to Ukraine, expressed by the Russian Embassy in Berlin yesterday. But this concept of being at the limits is applicable now in many locations. Therefore, the events, dialogue and statements organized by the Schiller Institute and networks, and collaborators everywhere, are playing a critical world-historical role to bring about a last-minute shift away from this doomsday scenario. Look at the three upcoming events, including Jan. 8 described below. The impact of the Schiller Institute was acknowledgednegativelybeing named, along with individuals and the LaRouche movement in a hitlist in the Wall Street Journal editorial posted on Jan. 6 by Adrian Karatnycky, who is part of high networks that deploy the Kiev governments U.S.-funded hitlist operation, the Center To Counter Disinformation (CCD). The opinion commentary was headlined, Putins American Cheerleaders, by the Atlantic Councils Ukraine expert. Karatnycky named and denounced individuals for cooperation with official [Russian] propagandists who beat the drum for a state perpetrating massive war crimes and atrocities, including Tulsi Gabbard, Tucker Carlson, Jeffrey Sachs, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, and others. He wrote, Most U.S. guests on Russian media come from the fringe, including former Virginia State Sen. Richard Black, who associates with the Lyndon LaRouche movements Schiller Institute, and Scott Ritter, an embittered and disgraced former American intelligence officer turned critic of the war in Iraq. He did not name Lyndon LaRouches German wife, Schiller Institute founder and chairwoman Helga Zepp-LaRouche, who is at the top of Ukraines CCD hitlist. Zepp-LaRouche will keynote an international conference Jan. 8 hosted by Diane Sare in New York, LaRouche Independent candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024. Zepp-LaRouche made the point today that we are in a very worrisome domain given the determination of those continuing to deploy toward war. It is not just in Ukraine. It is urgent for people to wake up, and not just follow things, but mobilize. Make your voice heard. Rapa Nui, widely known as Easter Island, is a Chilean territory in the Pacific Ocean. The island is home to a French-born artist who is offering beautiful gifts to the islands Roman Catholic Church. The artist, Delphine Poulain, was born in Paris 52 years ago and has been in love with Rapa Nui since she first visited in 1994. She smiled remembering her decision. I was riding a horse through the beach when I first ... thought I want to live here, she said. Poulain said she loves the freedom and the peace provided by the island, which is home to about 7,700 people. Last year, Poulain offered a gift: stained-glass windows representing important moments leading to and including the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The windows show the 14 Stations of the Cross. They were a gift to Holy Cross Church in Hanga Roa, the islands main city. The Rapanui community is mostly Catholic, but its religious activities are mixed with its ancestral beliefs. The music that people sing during church events describe biblical stories translated to the Rapanui language. The wooden statues that show Christian figures such as the Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit are unlike Western images. Instead, they were influenced by the art of the islanders ancestors. The statue of Mary, near the altar of the church, looks like ancient human figures known as moai. Close to the main entrance, the third symbol of the Holy Trinity is not a dove, but a manutara -- a bird that was considered holy more than 120 years ago. The Rapanui people are protective of their identity. They sometimes welcome foreigners only if they work to learn about the islanders culture. On a burial place, or tomb, where the remains of missionary Sebastian Englert are kept, the writing says: He lived among us and spoke our language. Poulain said that winning acceptance from the local people was not easy, but she has been patient. Her stained-glass windows were another step. Since she began placing them in the church on December 24, 2021, some Rapanui who did not communicate with her before now wave their hand when they see her pass. I have so much respect for the island and the people, she said. Before I was alone, but now people know my husband and my children. Poulains desire to become part of the island is clear in her daily life. Her family lives near the beach on the coast. The color of their house is similar to the color of the areas rocks. The water used at their home is collected from rain. The family uses a solar energy collector for electricity. When Poulains family moved here, they only had a tent to protect themselves. Now their house stores many things the island has given them. The top of the house was built with metal and the rest with wood. The dishes are washed on what used to be the bottom of a bathtub; above the dining room is a light that was once a metal waste can. There has been a lot of difficulty, but also a lot of happiness. This was my dream and living your dream is incredible, Poulain said. Im John Russell. Maria Teresa Hernandez reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. ___________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story stained glass n. colored glass that is used to make pictures and patterns in windows translate v. to change words from one language into another language figure n. a form representing a person altar n. a table or raise structure in a church used in Christian religious ceremonies symbol n. an object that represents an idea or quality missionary n. a person who is sent to a foreign country to do religious work (such as to convince people to join a religion or to help people who are sick, poor, etc.) tent n. a portable shelter that is used outdoors, is made of cloth (such as canvas or nylon), and is held up with poles and ropes bathtub n. a large and long container in which people take baths or showers Many migrants are arriving at the U.S.-Mexican border in need of medical and mental health treatment. Doctors, social workers, shelter directors, clergy and law enforcement officials say growing numbers of migrants have experienced or witnessed violence. Dr. Brian Elmore volunteers at a health center in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The city is on the U.S.-Mexico border. Elmore has treated about 100 migrants for viruses affecting the lungs and some for emergencies. But he said trauma worries him the most. Most of our patients have symptoms of PTSD I want to initiate a screening for every patient, said Elmore who is an emergency doctor at Clinica Hope. PTSD stands for post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a condition of extreme tension caused by a shocking or severe event in the past. But there are few resources for this kind of care. Shelters have been flooded by new arrivals and migrants who have been in Ciudad Juarez for months. Only the most severe cases are treated. Like a pregnant 13-year-old who fled gang rapes, and so needs help with childcare and middle school, said Zury Reyes Borrero. Borrero works in Arizona with the Center for Victims of Torture. He said he visited such a girl when she gave birth. We get people at their most vulnerable, he said. In the past six months, Reyes Borrero and a coworker have worked with about 100 migrants in Catholic Community Services Casa Alitas. It is a shelter in Tucson, Arizona. In December, Casa Alitas was receiving about 700 people daily released by U.S. officials. They came from countries including Congo and Mexico. Each visit can take hours, as the case workers try to build trust with migrants, Reyes Borrero said. Most migrants are traumatized by what they left behind or what they saw on their trip, said Leonce Byimana. He is director of U.S. clinical services for the Center for Victims of Torture. He said the migrants need first-aid mental health as well as long-term care that is even harder to get once they leave the shelters. Left untreated, trauma can get worse to the point where it requires psychiatric care instead of treatment and self-help, said Dylan Corbett. He is the Hope Border Institutes director, the group that operates Clinica Hope. Reports say there has been an increase in pregnant women and girls in the border area. Some are victims of attacks. Some are younger than 15. Volunteers and activists have used limited legal, medical and other resources to help these victims. The situation has left hundreds of other victims of political violence and organized crime without help. In many cases, forensic tests at border medical centers that aim to record mental and physical abuse are very important to migrants asylum cases. Byimana said often no other evidence is available for courts to make asylum decisions. Asylum is given to those who cannot return to their countries for fear of harm or violence. That can include violence against women. But it takes years for asylum cases to be decided in U.S. immigration court. Syracuse Universitys Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, an information center, said more than 1.5 million people are waiting for their cases to be heard. Activists say a long wait for asylum and a long trip through many countries can worsen the trauma that migrants experience. Sarah Howell treats migrants suffering from problems in Houston, Texas. She has been studying trauma and forced migration for 15 years. Theres a different tension and fear in faces than Ive seen before, she said. Im Dan Novak. Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. ___________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story trauma n. a difficult experience that causes emotional problems n. (medical) a serious injury to the body initiate v. to start something to happen screening n. a process of finding out information from a person for a purpose vulnerable adj. able to be hurt or influenced physically or emotionally psychiatric adj. related to medical treatment of mental or emotional disorders forensic adj. related to the use of scientific knowledge to solve crimes 2022 was a busy year for the United States National Aeronautic and Space Administration and 2023 promises more space progress. Today, we look forward to some of NASAs planned missions. Lunar landings One of NASAs major missions last year resulted in a successful uncrewed test flight that sent the Orion spacecraft into orbit around the moon. The mission is part of the space agencys Artemis program, which aims to land American astronauts on the moon by the mid-2020s. In preparation of that goal, NASA has contracted with private companies to build landers for the moon. Their design permits them to carry equipment and instruments for studying conditions on the lunar surface. Several landers are expected to arrive on the moon this year. One, developed by NASA partner Intuitive Machines, is set to launch in early to mid-2023. The IM-1 mission will land at an area called Schroters Valley on the near side of the moon. Another, built by NASA partner Astrobotic, is to launch sometime before April. The space agency said that spacecraft, called the Peregrine Lunar Lander, is expected to land near Lacus Mortis, an area near the equator of the moon. The landers instruments will collect data on and examine many parts of the moons atmosphere and surface. In addition, they will study things like how radio signals behave on the moon and will test landing technologies and communication systems. ESA Jupiter mission The European Space Agency (ESA) plans to launch a spacecraft to explore Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. Jupiter is a giant gas planet, with an atmosphere made up mostly of hydrogen and helium. ESA officials have said they plan to launch the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer spacecraft, called JUICE, sometime in April. The mission will make detailed observations of Jupiter as well as its three large moons, Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. ESA says it hopes the in-depth observations will help scientists learn more about Jupiters complex environment as they use the planet as a model for other gas giants across the universe. Asteroid missions NASA plans to launch its Psyche spacecraft in early October. It is expected to travel three-and-a-half years to an asteroid. The metal asteroid is orbiting the sun between Mars and Jupiter. NASA wants to study it. Scientists believe it may have separated in violent crashes during the creation of the solar system. The other will be a return mission of NASAs OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft. It spent more than two years observing an asteroid named Bennu. In October 2020, the spacecraft successfully collected sample material from the asteroid. OSIRIS-Rex is now on a trip back to Earth, with an expected arrival in September of 2023. Scientists say they hope the sample can help them better understand how planets formed, as well as how life might have developed on Earth. Boeing Starliner test flight Boeings Starliner spacecraft is set to attempt its first crewed test mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in April. The test is the last step in the process before NASA approves the spacecraft to carry out regular missions to the ISS. Private American company SpaceX, another NASA partner, has been transporting astronauts and materials to the ISS since 2020. Starliner completed its first uncrewed flight test to the ISS in May. But Boeing experienced several technical difficulties with the spacecraft during the mission and has worked with NASA to fix the problems as it prepares for the planned crewed flight. Experimental aircraft NASA also plans to fly two experimental aircraft in 2023. The first mission is called Quesst. It involves a NASA research plane called X-59, a supersonic aircraft. Supersonic is a term for an object that travels faster than the speed of sound. The goal of Quesst is to provide data that could change rules that ban supersonic flight over land. NASA says X-59 was developed with technology that reduces the loudness of a sonic boom to very low levels heard on the ground. NASAs other experimental plane with plans to fly in 2023 is called X-57. The aircraft runs on electric power. It was built to demonstrate that all-electric technology could make flying cleaner, quieter and more sustainable. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from NASA, The Associated Press and Reuters. Quiz - Space Missions to Watch in 2023 Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story mission n. an important project or trip, especially involving space travel giant adj. very large sample n. a small amount of something that gives you information about the thing it was taken from sonic boom n. an explosive sound made by an aircraft, bullet, etc. made when something travels faster than the speed of sound sustainable adj. able to continue over time _________________________________________________________________ What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., right, members of Congress, and family of fallen officers, pauses for a moment of silence, on the second year anniversary of the violent insurrection by supporters of then-President Donald Trump, in Washington, Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (AP Photo/Matt Rourke/AP) Whats Quickly? Its where readers sound off on the issues of the day. Have a quote, question or quip? Call Quickly at 312-222-2426 or email quickly@post-trib.com. Representatives just held a congressional ceremony on the steps of Congress to honor the police that lost their lives and that were injured on the January 6th insurrection. There were only a handful of Republicans present. My question is why do Republicans continue to say they support law enforcement when they dont? Are they just liars and hypocrites about everything. The answer is of course they are. Advertisement To be perfectly honest, the idea that thousands of regressives could come up with 12 or 13 intelligent comments is a pipe dream. And to me, it sounds like you are the one whos head is exploding. And WE are hypocrites? Too funny! My coffee was especially delicious this morning as I was reading the P-T. I realized it was the sweet, sweet taste of NWI Republicans tears from crying about how mean Democrats are to them. Also, did anybody else get their whiny Republican BINGO card filled out on Fridays Quickly temper tantrum? So much for the party of rugged manliness. Buncha little brats, if you ask me. Advertisement Im guessing that on a daily basis there are not 12 or 13 intelligent conservative comments submitted to Quickly. Democratic liberals care about issues and some Republican posters only want to demean and spout off about wokeness. Its the same old tired and dishonest mantra. Liberals embrace a free press, but most conservatives are indoctrinated by the propaganda machine known as Fox News. Its not radical to care about what can make us better. The derisive rhetoric is tearing our country apart. I would like to thank, and compliment, the Post-Tribune for publishing the Quickly column, allowing its readers the chance to voice their opinion in a fairly unfettered way. (Unlike the other major paper in the Region, which rarely publishes reader commentary.) What would be even more refreshing would be for posters to comment based on the old saying: Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. I heard that Trump is a recommended candidate for Speaker of the House. I dont see how this is possible, but I think it is a marvelous idea. Speaker Trump has a nice sound to it. Honestly, Trump and Biden are too old to be president, look at all of the senile screwups made these past two years. I have just one comment for the Quickly writers who think the behavior of Republicans are good examples of democracy at work. If Democrats decide to follow the Republican dysfunction, I hope you you will also commend them for their chaos! Forgive me, just one other comment. Democrats, please dont copy or emulate the Republican behavior. If you do, America as we know it is doomed! Just to point out the obvious to all of you snowflakes who will refuse to see it over the next two years ... the Republicans in the House will not be successful in passing any major legislation in this Congress. After all, the Democrats still control the Senate and Biden is still President. They may pass certain bills just to make a point, and send them to Schumers desk to die, but their main goal is to STOP BIDENS AGENDA. If the Republicans can do that, then they will have succeeded in helping to save our country from the Biden Black Hole of Spending. And then we can send Sleepy Joe into retirement with the 2024 election. What you see the Republicans doing with the Speaker of the House is exactly how they will govern. Incompetent people on the first day removing metal detectors and arguing about god in government and people trying to flee dictators. They are even going to swear in a habitual liar if they ever elect a speaker. Then again, thats not that unusual they support Trump. Read more at www.post-trib.com/opinion. This State Journal editorial ran on Jan. 8, 1993: Pity Chelsea Clinton. All this 12-year-old girl wants to do is find a good school and meet some new friends in a brand new city, and her dilemma has become the center of a nationwide debate over the future of public education. Chelseas parents, Bill and Hillary, have enrolled Chelsea in Sidwell Friends, a private school favored by liberal, well-to-do Democrats in Washington, D.C. Annual tuition: About $11,000, not an insignificant chunk of change, even to the president-elect and his successful lawyer wife. So whats wrong with the Clintons exercising their freedom of choice to send Chelsea to a private school? Not a thing, especially given the alternatives. Public schools in Washington, like those in many large cities, are failing. Five separate reports criticized them last year. An outside audit said the system was unstable and mismanaged. Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly said she would no longer throw good money ... after bad. Can you blame the Clintons for refusing to join the District of Columbia PTA? No. If there is some inconsistency in the Clinton familys decision, however, it is the failure to recognize that their freedom to choose is vastly superior to the freedoms available to other families who live within a few blocks of the White House. These are poor, mostly black families who would dearly love to escape the District of Columbia School System but cannot because they cannot afford even $1,100, much less $11,000. Clinton should re-examine his blanket opposition to providing public vouchers for inner city families to send their children to private schools. ... No one is suggesting that choice is a panacea, but former Arkansas Gov. Clinton, of all people, ought to recognize that states need room to experiment. Heres some simple advice for the state Legislature, whose members were sworn into office last week: Represent the will of the people. What does that mean? When the public overwhelmingly supports a policy decision, get it done. We the people of Wisconsin actually agree on a lot. For example: 84% of registered voters in the latest Marquette Law School poll said they support legal abortion in the case of rape and incest. And a majority 55% support Roe v. Wades constitutional projections. Only 37% of statewide respondents favored the repeal of Roe last June. Lawmakers should listen. They should get rid of Wisconsins ancient law forbidding abortion in virtually all cases, including rape and incest. Approved in 1849 before women had the right to vote Wisconsins long-dormant law is now enforceable again, forcing women to travel to other states for the procedure. The Republican-run Legislature shouldnt cling to a puritanical law that close to 9 out of 10 people oppose across Wisconsin. They should agree with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers that women deserve some freedom to choose. 78% in the Marquette poll said they favor more state funding for police. Only 15% were opposed. That means the next state budget should increase state aid to local governments, because local governments run police and sheriffs departments. The budget also should address drunken driving, which is on the rise. 73% support requiring businesses to provide paid leave for the parents of newborns. Only 18% dont like the idea. Approving a paid-leave mandate would bring Wisconsin into the civilized world. Democrats have been supportive for years. Now Republicans are coming around. Get it done to help more families thrive. 64% of respondents to a previous Marquette poll supported the legalization of marijuana, similar to neighboring Illinois and Michigan. That was more than twice as many as the 30% who opposed legal pot. Evers and the Democrats are on board. Top Republican lawmakers last week were moving closer to accepting medical marijuana, which more than 80% of respondents have favored. Just as the prohibition of alcohol didnt work a century ago, neither has the ban on recreational marijuana. State lawmakers should respect the freedom of adults to safely use the mild drug, while working to prevent teen use and drugged driving. 63% of respondents in the latest Marquette poll support increasing state aid to public schools, rather than steering more money to private schools. Only 29% prioritized private schools. That means the next state budget should include a solid increase for public K-12 education. Its not just polling that shows the need for greater investment. Voters approved 64 of 81 school referendums in last falls election. Why would the Republican-run Legislature disregard the will of the people in so many cases? The main reason is gerrymandering. They dont have to fear voters because theyve shaped their legislative districts to unfair advantage. While the two major parties collected similar numbers of votes statewide last fall, the Republican-controlled Legislature nonetheless maintained huge majorities of 64-35 in the Assembly and 21-11 in Senate. Gerrymandering is the main reason why. The Marquette poll asked voters about that, too, back in late 2021: 63% of respondents (including 62% of Republicans) favored a nonpartisan commission to draw fair voting districts. Only a quarter of those surveyed said the politicians should control the process. Lawmakers, please respect your constituents. Approve nonpartisan redistricting the way the Republicans in Iowa have done, with bipartisan backing. Thats the most important action of all. Pleased as punch is what I was on the first day of the new year 2023 as I savored every word in the Jan. 1 column "Americans find their happy place ." It stated, Wisconsin ranks in Top 10 globally for overall well-being. I first discovered the delights of living in Madison in 1976 as a student and a mother of two youngsters and am back for a spell after being gone elsewhere here and there and everywhere for well over three decades. Just about everyone I know is aghast that I would leave my permanent home in Hawaii (ranked No. 1 happiest political unit in the world) to return to live in Wisconsin, even if only for a stint. But then, most of them have never resided here, let alone visited this wonderful state. TWIN FALLS Shawn Barigar remembers his first encounter with Tesla representatives. It was 2015, and he was the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce president. The Tesla employees were looking to build electric vehicle chargers in the strategic location of Twin Falls, about the midway point along Interstate 84 between previously existing chargers in Boise and in Tremonton, Utah. A deal was made to have Tesla construct the eight superchargers at the Twin Falls Visitors Center. We thought it was a cool amenity, Barigar, who was recently appointed the citys economic development director, said of the Tesla chargers. After all, he said it was low-cost advertising that could draw Interstate 84 travelers who might end up pumping more money into the local economy, even if it was in the form of purchasing a few souvenirs from the visitor center. The charging station might have made an unusual sight for many people unfamiliar with electric vehicles at that time, but now the popularity of electric vehicles has grown. The chargers didnt get a lot of use at first, Barigar said, but the last he heard, the location saw several hundred charges per month. The latest superchargers to be installed in Twin Falls are at the Starbucks location at Bridgeview Boulevard, in partnership with Volvo Cars and ChargePoint. And more chargers are expected to be on the way as part of a government plan to improve the nations electric vehicle infrastructure. The latest news comes as part of Starbucks plan to build charging stations roughly 100 miles apart at Starbucks stores to electrify a major thoroughfare that opens electric vehicle travel between the markets of Seattle, Boise, Salt Lake City and Denver, a Starbucks press release said. Public EV charging should be as easy as getting a great cup of coffee and now, it can be, said Michael Kobori, Starbucks chief sustainability officer. Unlike the Tesla chargers, which can only be used on Tesla models, any EV equipped with a standard CCS1 or CHAdeMO receptacle will be able to use the chargers at Starbucks for a fee. Drivers of Volvos will have access to the stations at no charge or at preferential rates. The ChargePoint chargers can bring the Volvo C40 Recharge, for example, from a 20% charge to a 90% charge in about 40 minutes, Starbucks said. While many of the drivers who will be charging their vehicles will come from out of state, more Idahoans are jumping on the electric vehicle bandwagon, with numbers of registered vehicles almost doubling in a year. While the 4,500 EV cars Idahoans own are just a fraction of the 1.8 million total cars in Idaho, the state is making plans for more EV chargers, made possible with the help of federal funding. This summer it was announced that Idaho could receive $28 million over a five-year period as part of the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. The state has submitted a plan and the process of investigating sites and looking at the programs requirements is an ongoing process, said Richard Stover, the administrator for the Idaho Office of Energy and Mineral Resources. Twin Falls Starbucks will have electric vehicle charging station The multinational coffee shop chain announced chargers at up to 15 stores across the 1,350-mile route from Denver to the Seattle headquarters. I envision the funding we will get under NEVI will be significant but not enough to build out the whole state, Stover said. Installation of a charger can cost anywhere from $150,000 to more than $1 million depending on what kind of infrastructure is needed, such as whether purchase of a transformer will be required. Its a broad range, and depends on lots of different factors, Stover said. Under NEVI, the owner of the land, such as a business, is required to make a 20% match. The state of Idaho wont be owning the land under the NEVI program, he said. The state will be looking to get the best bang for our buck as it aims to qualify for the NEVI funds, Stover said, and the chargers will be located only in designated alternative fuel corridors. There will be a meeting next week at the Times-News that should have never fallen from the calendar. When this newspapers Editorial Board left its last roundtable, sometime in 2018, or so Ive been told, and didnt return the next week, Im pained to say the Times-News essentially became an observer in a place in this state where it should be a leader. Where its voice matters and needs to be heard. Now we break the silence. Im thrilled to announce the Times-News Editorial Board has been reassembled following weeks of conversations with dozens of people who reached out to express interest after I raised the boards revival as one of my top initial priorities as editor. I am truly grateful to each person who took the time to visit with me. They called from different towns and counties. They shared their ideas, their stories. They expressed sincere care about the Magic Valley and its future. They also rightfully pointed out the importance of local journalism at a time in this country when far too many people go without a daily newspaper even in cities larger than Twin Falls or, worse, have been left to starve in a news desert. Its the responsibility of the Times-News, the most prominent and far-reaching news organization in southern Idaho, to inform, educate, speak out, endorse, connect the dots and more. That is not a mission we fulfill without using our own voice. The board will comprise two representatives from the Times-News myself and Managing Editor Mychel Matthews, whose weekly Hidden History column on Thursdays has long been a favorite of readers and three community representatives who will bring unique perspective and experience to our conversations around the table. Brian Johns, who regularly visited Twin Falls through his childhood and, in 2008, moved here with his wife and four daughters, has been active around the community for years. He is a member of the Magic Valley Interreligious Dialogue, a group of leaders from various religions and denominations, and previously served on the Magic Valley Commonwealth School Board and was involved in local politics with the Republican Central Committee. The medical director for St. Lukes Occupational Health, Johns is certified in occupational and environmental medicine by the American Board of Preventive Medicine. Laurie Lickley, a former two-term Republican representative in the Idaho House, is a native of the Gem State, a graduate of the University of Idaho and part of a century-old ranching family in Jerome. She is well known for her advocacy of the beef industry (including a cant-miss customized license plate), most recently serving as president of the Idaho Cattle Association. Lickley is a former past president of the Jerome Rotary Club and also volunteers at the Idaho Foodbank and the Magic Valley Early Learning Collaborative. Doug Maughan, who retired in 2017 after nearly 20 years as the College of Southern Idahos public information officer, has lived in Idaho since his family moved from Utah to Buhl in 1958 to open an Arctic Circle restaurant. Prior to his work at CSI, Maughan was a longtime radio and television reporter in Idaho, including about 17 years at KMVT, where he anchored the news, hired and trained reporters, and managed staff. Even in retirement, Maughan continues to serve as a part-time campus photographer at the college. We will work with purpose to explore key local issues while asking relevant (and sometimes tough) questions along the way and striving to provoke a civil, thoughtful community conversation. Our mantra: More thought, less attack. To be clear, when we need to take a stand, we will. But were not simply going to be a bully. Theres already too much noise and vitriol, particularly around politics, and we dont contribute to the greater good by adding to it. The best future is the one we work toward together. The first Times-News editorial in years is coming soon, and many more will follow. When youve kept quiet for so long, after all, theres a lot to say. As Martinsvilles homeless problem continues to grow, police are not only finding themselves more involved, but are beginning to question the motives of some of those who may be responsible. Their concerns and concerns of others in the community, in fact, have led to the establishment of an Emergency Housing & Community Support Commission, which will be the topic of a presentation during Tuesdays City Council meeting. Additionally, Police Chief Rob Fincher is scheduled to address City Council right after that, though the City Council meeting agenda does not specify what his topic will be. At this stage I cant say that theres anything illegal going on, but I think we can all agree that its not ethical and its not moral, Fincher told the Bulletin Thursday. We have an obligation to look into this and see whats going on and prevent things like this from happening. Fincher was speaking specifically about an incident that began Monday night and left the officers who responded to the scene bothered by what they saw. Fincher was still upset when talking about it on Thursday. We try to keep track on all the different bathrooms and facilities on the walking trails because they are considered city parks, said Fincher. There are hours that are posted when you can be in those areas. Two of our officers went out to the gazebo on Depot Street and there was a large number of individuals there. Fincher said someone had called Monday night and reported the activity, suggesting his office might want to investigate because the circumstances appeared suspicious. When they go there they see a large number of people sitting around, hanging out, and so the officers approach and say Hey, this is city property; one hour after sunset youre not allowed to be here and youre going to have to move on, Fincher said. They encountered a couple that was willing to kind of talk with them a little bit about what the situation was. Fincher said his officers are familiar with the handful of local people who are periodically found without shelter, but they did not recognize anyone in the crowd that had gathered along Depot Street Monday night. Thats why they were trying to inquire further what was going on, said Fincher. The woman that they were speaking with just happened to be pregnant as well, and she stated that they were from out of state and they were enrolled in a program through a company called EPIC Health and they had been in Danville. EPIC Health Partners LLC opened its doors in Danville in August 2015 and at the time there were only three employees and three individuals receiving mental health skill-building services, according to the companys website. We have since grown and expanded, opening new sites across Virginia in Martinsville and Richmond and adding more programs to better serve our community, the EPIC site states. In Martinsville, records show, the company purchased a building at 20 Ellsworth St. in October 2020 for $160,000, and in August of last year the company purchased the former HomeTrust Bank Building at 8 Lester St. for $256,000. There were no vehicles in the parking lots of either buildings at impromptu visits by the Bulletin Thursday morning or Friday afternoon. The doors were locked at both buildings, and while there was no sign on the Ellsworth Street building a newly erected sign could be seen on one side of the Lester Street building and a Stop Work Order posted on one of its glass doors. The legal notice was issued by the building official demanding all work stop as of Jan. 5 until proper plans have been approved and permits have been issued. Yet on Wednesday four homeless people who were waiting for the bus from the library to the Warming Center told the Bulletin they had been scheduled to attend sessions at EPIC in Martinsville from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. that Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Two said they were Martinsville natives and the other two said they had been brought to Martinsville from other cities within the past couple of weeks. The other two homeless people the Bulletin talked with that day said that they also were recently arrived from out of town and were enrolled in EPIC programs. Fincher said the couple who talked with the police on Monday, Zenobra Barry Williams and Star Bullock, were taken from Danville to Martinsville by EPIC under the guise of receiving care and services. She had recently lost her home and they were going to provide some assistance to her, Fincher said. She said when they were brought here it was under the assumption that they were going to be given some type of hotel room or something of that nature, but when they arrived they were told to stay at the warming shelter. But Fincher said Monday night was unusually warm outside, so the warming shelter was closed. She contacted EPIC Health back to inquire as to what she was supposed to do and she said they were given a tent and told to go along the walking trail, find a good spot and sleep there, said Fincher. They were advising them to trespass, but not only that, what really concerns us is the fact that night it ended up raining quite a bit. These individuals were being placed out in conditions that were not healthy, and she needs additional medical care for being pregnant. Fincher said his officers contacted him because they were concerned about the couple and werent equipped to do anything about it. The following day when he read a report from the officers to him about it he realized just how concerned they were about what they saw, Fincher said. Weve seen different groups in and out and it seems like theres been an increase in people that appear to be homeless lately, but this was the first time we encountered something where we had someone saying that people were being brought here from other areas, and what was upsetting is the fact that they werent really being brought here for services, Fincher said. They were brought here and told to fend for themselves basically, and that upsets us. 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: Patients might be happier with their care when their physician trained with the specialist they're referred to, a new study suggests. Researchers found that when patients saw a specialist, they generally gave better ratings to their care if that doctor had gone to medical school with their primary care provider. On the whole, they said those specialists take more time to talk with them, give clear explanations, and involve them in health care decisions. If that sounds puzzling, the researchers said the explanation may be fairly simple: Doctors are just like everyone else, and up their game when their peers are "watching." "Doctors are people, too, and most of us want to perform at our best in front of a familiar, respected peer," said senior researcher Dr. J. Michael McWilliams, of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "It makes you feel good if you're able to excel in those situations," he said. Of course, no one expects primary care doctors to refer patients only to their old medical school friends. But McWilliams said the findings raise questions about how to better encourage peer relationships and accountability among doctors, and whether that can improve patients' care. Traditionally, efforts to boost the quality of patients' care have focused on financial incentives. But that doesn't cut it when it comes to individual physicians, according to McWilliams. "When we think about how to motivate doctors, we need to think about what motivates humans," he suggested. The study, published online Jan. 3 in JAMA Internal Medicine, used electronic health records from more than 8,600 patients in the same large health system. All were referred to a specialist by their primary care doctor at some point between 2016 and 2019. In about 3% of those visits, the primary care doctor and specialist had trained at the same medical school at the same time. That served as a "predictor" of whether the doctors knew each other, McWilliams said. However, it's not certain that they did. Despite that, the researchers did find that patients reported different experiences when their specialist had "co-trained" with their primary care doctor. On average, they gave a 9-percentage-point higher rating to the quality of their care, versus other patients. That's the difference between a specialist being average or near the top of the heap, the researchers said. Overall, those patients were happier with intangibles, like their specialist's friendliness, and were more likely to feel the doctor explained things clearly and involved them in decision-making. Beyond that, there were some signs that those specialists altered objective aspects of care: They were more likely to prescribe medications than specialists who did not co-train with the referring doctor. However, that's not necessarily a good thing, said Dr. Don Goldmann, chief scientific officer emeritus of the nonprofit Institute for Healthcare Improvement, in Boston. There's no way of knowing whether those prescriptions were actually the best care, he pointed out. Goldmann, who was not involved in the study, had some other caveats: It's not known whether patients ultimately fared better if their doctors co-trained. And co-training does not automatically mean there was an actual peer relationship. So it would be a "leap" to conclude that patients get better care when their primary care doctor and specialist are friends, according to Goldmann. That said, he agreed it's important for primary care providers and specialists to have trusting relationships. Goldmann pointed to the example of "care compacts"where primary care doctors and specialists have agreements on their protocols and expectations, with the aim of providing the best care. But it could also be worthwhile, Goldmann noted, for doctors to get a coffee together. "Get to know each other, through whatever means you like," he said. McWilliams noted that during training, doctors routinely work in teams, but once they're in practice they're often isolated. He said that health care systems could "get creative" in breaking that isolation, even through something as simple as moving work stations out of exam rooms and into common areas where doctors could interact. Another tactic, McWilliams said, could be "regular, collegial" discussions of cases, to help doctors learn from one another. No one is suggesting, however, that patients given a referral make sure their doctor is friends with the specialist. Beyond the practicality issue, there are plenty of other factors that influence the quality of patients' care. As an example, Goldmann pointed to studies showing that Black patients tend to receive better care when their physician is also Black. And regardless of the doctor, Goldmann said, the wider health care systemwhich sways things like the timeliness of patients' care, and the flow of information among doctorshas to function well. More information: Maximilian J. Pany et al, Physician-Peer Relationships and Patient Experiences With Specialist Care, JAMA Internal Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.6007 The Cleveland Clinic has advice on questions to ask your doctor. Journal information: JAMA Internal Medicine Copyright 2022 HealthDay. All rights reserved. A series of cultural events, organized by the China Cultural Center in Laos and the Culture and Tourism Department of China's northeastern Liaoning Province, have been held in the Lao capital to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. The Ancient Chinese Landscape Painting Exhibition themed "Picturesque Rivers and Mountains" kicked off the 2023 "Happy Chinese New Year" Festival activities on Friday. At the opening ceremony, 40 landscape paintings (replicas) of China's Ming and Qing Dynasties featuring the unique artistic charm of ancient Chinese painting were on display at the China Cultural Center in Laos. Monxay Laomuasong, secretary-general of Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union's Central Committee, said this festival made him feel the profoundness of Chinese culture and the unique charm of Chinese landscapes. People can have a deep experience with Chinese culture through various activities in the festival, such as watching traditional Chinese lion dance, writing Chinese character "Fu" or "blessing" in English, and wearing the traditional Chinese clothing, Li Yiping, director of the China Cultural Center in Laos, told Xinhua on Sunday. "The activities are receiving a good response from the guests, and the festive atmosphere was in full bloom," Li said, adding that more festival events are organized and will last till the Chinese New Year Eve, which falls on Jan. 21 this year. 15th Annual Missoula Writes Missoula Writes 15th Annual Writing Contest do you have the write stuff? Missoula Public Library's annual writing contest accepts fiction, non-fiction and poetry submissions Jan. 9 through Feb. 19. Prizes will be awarded for the top three submissions in each category and in four age groups: 8-10, 11-14, 15-18 and 19+. This year you will have an opportunity to workshop your entry with local authors prior to submission. Full contest rules, details, and submission link will be available on Jan. 9. To submit your work visit: missoulapubliclibrary.submittable.com/submit. Newspapers in Genealogy Research Obits and articles and gossip, oh my! Learn to use newspapers in genealogy research at Missoula Public Librarys next genealogy class. Held on Jan. 9 in Cooper Room A on Level Four of the library from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Missoula Job Service Classes This week Missoula Public Library offers two Missoula Job Service classes. First on Jan. 9 is a Job Search and Resume Workshop. An in-depth look at how to design your resume to navigate your job search. This workshop includes how to use Applicant Tracking Systems to your advantage, search for and analyze job postings, utilize accepted resume formats, and write a resume that stands out. This is where to start if you are looking to take your job search to the next level, and secure an interview with the job you want. No registration required. Also on Jan. 12 we will offer a Resume Office Hours. Work directly with workforce consultants from Missoula Job Service to get constructive feedback to help you sharpen your resume, edit your cover letter, and focus your job search. Registration required. Call 721-2665 or email crystalk@missoula.lib.mt.us to register. Participants will need to bring their resume or cover letter on a flash drive or access it online for this workshop. Both classes take place from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Cooper Room B on Level Four of the library. Memory Cafe: Find Your Rhythm with the Drum Brothers Missoula Public Librarys Memory Cafe is a safe, welcoming, and supportive space for individuals experiencing memory loss and their caregivers and family members and occurs on the second Tuesday of every month. The next cafe is Jan. 10 from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Level Four Cooper Room. This month find your rhythm as Drum Brothers leads us in a fun and interactive drumming session. Community Cooking @ the Library: Butternut Squash Soup Join Missoula Public Library in the Level Three Demo Kitchen, on Jan. 10 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. with Missoula Co./MSU Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences, Kelly Moore. Kelly shows us how to make a hearty and warming butternut squash soup perfect for chilly winter days! One topic will be covered monthly, presented on the second Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the librarys demonstration kitchen. Democracy Project: Montanas Changing Political Landscape with Mike Dennison The Democracy Project and Humanities Montana are pleased to host a Missoula Public Library teen-led civic engagement program with a lecture from host Mike Dennison. Participating teens will also share information about what they are currently working on. Join in the discussion on Jan. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Level Four Cooper Room. Tuesday Yoga at the Library Join Missoula Public Library Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Cooper Room A on Level Four of the library and end your day right with yoga. During this class led by local instructor Kristen Stoeger, participants can expect to start with breath work, transition into mindful movement, settle in for a yoga nidra meditation, and finish with some gratitude. Kristens teaching style is a mix of techniques involving poses from hatha, restorative, gentle yoga, and yoga nidra meditation that is about being present in your body and noting how you feel. Class is designed for basic skills and beginners are welcome! Kristen is also certified through the Veterans Yoga Project in Mindful Resilience Yoga to teach in a trauma-informed manner. Space is limited and online registration is required. Register online at registerfortuesdayyoga.eventbrite.com. Participants are encouraged to wear a mask during this class and must sign a liability waiver prior to the session by downloading and printing it or by filling out a provided copy before class begins. Download the waiver (PDF) here tinyurl.com/5f5h4jvw. Participants are welcome to bring their own yoga mats or use mats that are provided. Tech Connect: Android Basics Meet with a Missoula Public Library staff member to learn all about your Android device in this Tech Connect class on Jan. 12 from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. in Cooper Room A on Level Four. This class is for those who have a new Android mobile device (smartphone or tablet), or are considering getting one, and want to learn more about the basic functions. It will support attendees to get connected, identify common apps, and build confidence in using their device safely. World Wide Cinema World Wide Cinema is Missoula Public Librarys free monthly film series of first-run independent and foreign films. Jan. 13 the film is Cocoon from Germany. Its a tale of the many metamorphoses of a young woman, depicting teenage sexual desire and life in the city during one scorching summer in Berlin. Running time is 95 minutes. All films are shown in the original language with English subtitles. Doors are open from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. and the film starts at 6:30 p.m. in Cooper Room A on Level Four of the library, late entry is not allowed. Attendees must enter from the librarys parking garage, all other doors are locked. Tony Brockman didnt miss a beat when asked what brought him to a Saturday morning get-together with some state lawmakers outside of Clancy. Im here for the sausages, the freshman Kalispell Republican joked, then quickly added he was there to begin building relationships with fellow legislators. Brockman was among about 15 new, seasoned and former legislators who came together for a How the Sausage is Made party that taps into the famed quote by 19th century German chancellor Otto Von Bismarck: "Laws are like sausages. It's best not to see them being made. It was held amid the 68th session of the Montana Legislature that started Monday. Saturday was the return of an event started by Jon Bennion in 2019. He held it again in 2020 but took a hiatus in 2021 and 2022 due to COVID-19 concerns. Saturdays lesson was cosponsored by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center, of which Bennion, who also writes a food column for Lee Newspapers, is a board member. Tiegan Avery, Mansfield program officer for democracy programs, said they were committed to ethical leadership. She said the mission of the center is foster globally minded leaders of integrity. We do a lot of events like this to talk about the challenges of leadership, she said. Bennion, a former chief deputy state attorney general, said all freshman legislators were invited. He said he hoped they would soon learn their vote matters as much as anyone else serving in the Legislature. And he hoped it would help them build relationships with fellow lawmakers. He said it was after the first sausage-politics making party in 2019 that a lawmaker told him that the event planted buds for relationships with fellow lawmakers. Bennion explained to attendees why they were there. I see a vanishing ingredient in politics and that is civility, he said in his opening remarks. He then offered 14 tips each on the rules of good sausage making and the rules of good legislating. Many of the rules had a familiar ring as they jumped from category to category. Rule No. 1 for sausage making was to start with good ingredients. Rule No. 1 for good legislating was to start with the best information. The lawmakers were also greeted with videos from U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Gov. Greg Gianforte. Daines complimented the legislators for coming together to find bipartisan solutions to help Montanans and said he looked forward to seeing the work the legislators accomplished. Tester warned of serious challenges facing state lawmakers, such as a nursing home crisis, and said all of the solutions put up now have been inadequate. He said powerful people want to privatize public education, the foundation of this countrys democracy. He said the stakes are high. Good sausage is made with good ingredients, and I dont know of any sausage that is made with just one thing, he said, adding that as legislators from all over the state they have an opportunity to make good sausage and dont be afraid to try new seasoning. And Tester, who lost three fingers as a boy in an accident with a meat grinder, got a chuckle from the room when he said he doesnt use his meat grinder much anymore, but said he was confident the lawmakers would do what is right for Montana. Gianforte touted his own sausage-making skills and encouraged lawmakers to work with each other. He said his favorite was bockwurst. The keys to making a good sausage are having the right ingredients, following the recipe and finding the flavor and having guests to enjoy the sausage, he said. Gianforte said he was in the majority and minority party while in Congress and said The key to getting anything done is to build relationships with your colleagues in your caucus and across the aisle. He also said that lawmakers would have to decide if they wanted to be a workhorse or a showhorse. He said it is the workhorse that gets the job done. Ultimately though, you want to succeed for the people of your district and all Montana, Gianforte said. Bennion was helped by Andrew Mace, culinary director and co-founder of Old Salt Co-op, and Kent Schoberle, Old Salts meat program director. Schoberle said the beef and pork fat being used for the sausage came from Helmville and Deer Lodge, and the group was going to make breakfast sausage and Italian sausage. The lawmakers, wearing aprons and rubber gloves, were then told to help mix the ingredients together. They put the sausage in casings and were then to take some home. Many said they were looking forward to getting to know their colleagues better, regardless of party lines. Freshman Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, said she spent her first week meeting a ton of people. She hoped to meet both Republicans and Democrats on Saturday that I may not get a chance to speak to in a more relaxed environment. Newly minted Rep. Sherry Essmann, R-Billings, said she came because she wanted to meet people across the aisle. She said she was glad the press was there to show that lawmakers can get along as human beings. Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, R-Kalispell, said she loved the opportunity to meet with fellow lawmakers. "It's a special thing that people would want to spend time together on a Saturday," she said. Freshman Rep. Laura Smith, D-Helena, said when she campaigned for office she had people from all parties tell her they were tired of the toxicity of politics. She said it was important for her to talk to people of all political persuasions. Rep. Gary Parry, R-Colstrip, joked that he came because thought it would be fun. Besides, Ive got nothing better to do on a Saturday, he said, adding he liked Bennions rules for politics and sausage making. They are good reminders, Parry said. But not only freshman attended, there were others like GOP Reps. Denley Loge and Julie Dooling and Democratic Sen. Shane Morigeau and Rep. Alice Buckley. And there were some no longer in the Capitol in Helena, like Democrats Jim Keane of Butte and Zac Brown, a former representative from Bozeman, who attended. Keane had served as a senator and a representative and said he had termed out this session after having served in the Legislature since 2001. Keane urged all lawmakers during the session to ask themselves one simple question before going to bed at night: What have I done for Butte today? Freshman Rep. Jonathan Karlen, D-Missoula, said it was nice to chat with colleagues in an environment outside the Capitol. It would be great to continue an event like this every couple weeks, he said. Addressing the effects of climate change is especially frustrating to scientists because some public attitudes are in opposition to climate change mitigation policies. According to surveys taken by the Yale Program on Climate Change, only 52% of adult Montanans believe that climate change is primarily caused by human activities and can be lessened by human actions. This is in striking contrast to a recent published review of the scientific literature which found that over 99% of all peer-reviewed scientific studies concluded that climate change is primarily human caused. The 27th Conference of the United Nations on Climate (COP27) met last November in the Egyptian coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh with over 35,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries in attendance. The goal of the conference was to develop a global approach to combat the effects of climate change through emissions reduction, increased efforts to adjust to climate change, and enhanced financing. The primary outcome of COP27 was the creation of a "Loss and Damage" fund to compensate more vulnerable nations as they deal with rising sea levels, massive storms, and droughts. For example, Pakistan recently incurred over $30 billion in damages from severe flooding intensified by higher sea levels. Higher sea levels cause more frequent tidal flooding and worsen storm surge. These effects threaten the economy, human health, and infrastructure. Global mean sea level has risen over 10 inches since 1880. The accompanying figure shows the rise in sea level between 1880 and 2009 as measured by the Sea Level Group of the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Sea level is rising due to a combination of increased melting of glaciers and ice sheets, expansion of seawater caused by warming, and increased pumping of groundwater. These effects are related to increased greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, which increase global temperatures. It is estimated that if the world does nothing to mitigate ongoing sea level rise, rising sea levels could cost the global economy $14.2 trillion in lost or damaged assets by the end of the century, as larger areas of land, home to millions of people, are inundated. For example, when Hurricane Ian barreled into the coast of southwest Florida last year, the 150-mph winds drove a massive and destructive storm surge inland. Estimates put Ians damages at nearly $100 billion. Had Ian hit a century ago, when sea levels were nearly a foot lower, the storm would have caused billions less in storm surge damage. The effects of climate change present the United States with unprecedented economic and health threats. We face a variety of challenges (e.g., climate change, COVID-19, etc.) that require scientific understanding to solve. Recent studies explored the association between opposition to scientific consensus, and how much people actually know about these issues. Results indicate that people with the greatest opposition to scientific consensus have the lowest levels of objective knowledge. The gap in understanding between scientists and citizens is the biggest challenge that we face today in addressing these problems. Most Wanted List Donations of new or gently used copies of any of the Top 10 Titles are most appreciated. To date, the library has received 974 of the most wanted books. Current BCPL Top 10 Holds 1. Triple Cross by James Patterson 14 holds 2. The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham 9 holds 3. Desert Star by Michael Connelly 7 holds 4. The Choice by Nora Roberts 5 holds 5. The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber 5 holds 6. Body of Evidence by Irene Hannon 4 holds 7. A Christmas Memory by Richard Paul Evans 4 holds 8. Devils Delight by M.C. Beaton 4 holds 9. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 4 holds 10. Wicked Dreams by Lisa Jackson 4 holds Current New York Times Best Sellers and NC Cardinal Consortium Holds 1. It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover 217 holds 2. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover 324 holds 3. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 369 4. Verity by Colleen Hoover 335 holds 5. The Boys From Biloxi by John Grisham 623 holds 6. Fairy Tale by Stephen King 98 holds 7. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens 78 holds 8. Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover 99 holds 9. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid 71 holds 10. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 654 holds Libraries closed All locations of the Burke County Public Library will be closed Monday, Jan. 16, for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Outside book boxes will be open at all sites. Adult programming Winter Reading Book-opoly is back! The program runs through Tuesday, Feb. 28. Pick up a game board and read books to have the chance to win prizes! For adults only. For more information, call 828-764-9269, visit bcpls.org/adult or email danielle.townsend@burkenc.org. Bibliomaniacs subscription boxes will be available for pick-up on Monday, Jan. 9, at registrants preferred library. Join us Thursday, Jan. 12, at 5:30 p.m. at the Valdese Public Library for a DIY Winter Birdfeeder. Join us as we create a suet-filled winter treat for our feathered friends! Preregistration is required. Needlework in the Morning will meet Friday, Jan. 13, at 10 a.m. at Little Guatemala. No registration is needed. All programs are adults only unless otherwise specified. For information on any adult program or to register, call Danielle at 828-764-9269 or email danielle.townsend@burkenc.org. Young adult programming Its time for another week of YAS programs for middle and high school students. Monday, Jan. 9, is our monthly Young Adult Advisory Board (YAAB) meeting. If you are interested in joining this board, call Lizzie at 828-764-9273 or by email at lizzie.whisnant@burkenc.org. Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 6 p.m. at the Valdese Public Library is #YAS Its Art night. Come follow an easy tutorial to make fun acrylic canvas art. Thursday, Jan. 12, at 4 p.m. at the C.B. Hildebrand Public Library is a Metal Stamping 101 class. Come learn how to make metal-stamped jewelry and make your own stamped metal bracelet. No preregistration is required to attend any of these programs, YAS programs are limited to middle and high school students only unless otherwise noted. Winter Reading Program 2023 is still going on. You can participate at bcpls.readsquared.com. For more information about these and other Young Adult Services programs, call Lizzie at 828-764-9273 or email lizzie.whisnant@burkenc.org. Childrens programmingHave your kids started their Winter Reading Challenge yet? 2023s challenge is a BINGO Board and there are two ways to participate: digitally via the ReadSquared app or website or on paper. If you were registered in ReadSquared for the summer reading program, you have already been transferred into the Winter Reading Challenge. If you are new to ReadSquared, you can download the mobile app or access the website at bcpls.readsquared.com. Prefer to use a paper BINGO Board? No problem! Just come by any of our library branches to pick one up. See our website, Facebook page or any library location for more details on the Challenge. Coming up this week, the Youth Services departments has programs coming up that will excite and entertain your families: Monday, Jan. 9: Zoom Patrol at the C.B. Hildebrand Public Library at 3:45 p.m.; A monthly storytime for families with Sgt. Marlow of the Long View Police Department. Preregistration is required. Saturday, Jan. 14: Skins and Skulls with the South Mountain State Park at the C.B. Hildebrand Public Library at 11 a.m.; Learn about native forest animals, and experience nature through touch in this interactive program. No preregistration is required. Saturday, Jan. 14: Winter Lego Club & Movie Party at the Valdese Public Library at 2:30 p.m.; Watch a LEGO movie with a LEGO snack while building a LEGO challenge item! No preregistration is required. eBooks @ your libraryThere are 4,157 Burke County Public Library users registered to use the librarys digital collection available through the e-iNC consortium and NC Kids Digital Library. This digital collection includes eBooks, audiobooks and streaming video available to Burke County Public Library cardholders. Apps are available for download for a variety of devices including Kindle, iPhone and Android phones. Go to http://omc.overdrive.com to see the apps. To access the collection and download items go to http://e-inc.lib.overdrive.com and follow the instructions to set up an account. You will need to know your library card number and your PIN. Please contact the library if you need any assistance. Find us on the web Go to www.bcpls.org for a list of programs and events. Unless noted otherwise, all library programs are free. Some programs have preregistration and age requirements. A presentation from a health department employee to county commissioners on the latest county health assessment led to one of its new board members railing against communism, Marxism and critical race theory. Chae Moore, public health education supervisor for the Burke County Health Department, told the Burke County Board of Commissioners during its pre-agenda meeting on Tuesday about the 2022 Burke Community Health Assessment. She said 2,149 people responded, which was double the response of the 2019 community health assessment. Moore told the board that key findings from surveys and focus groups told them mental health, obesity with risk factors, substance use disorder, lack of affordable housing, health literacy or cultural competence and transportation were issues in Burke County. Burke Wellness Initiative, along with some other community members, narrowed down the top three priority areas of focus for the next three years, Moore said. The top three priority areas are mental health, which also was on the list in the 2016 community health assessment, substance use disorder, which has been on the list for the last seven years, and obesity with risk factors, Moore said. She and Burke Wellness Initiative will develop a community health improvement plan that will be due later this year. The group will look at what programs currently exist that deal with the three problems in the county, what programs can be enhanced and what can be developed in dealing with the three, Moore said. Moore went on to expand on some of the findings from the health assessment and then asked the board if they had any questions. Commissioner Phil Smith, who was elected to the board in November, was the first one to speak and took issue with the health department equity team, which is mentioned in the health assessment document that was presented to the board. I see words on there, equity is one of them, cultural bias, health equity, cultural competency and health care. How do we achieve our desired equity impact?, Smith said. Just coming from an old conservative who knows a little bit about the Constitution and used to teach Western civilization, that sounds a whole lot like critical race theory and social justice, which are two tenets of communism and Marxism. Nowhere in the document is critical race theory mentioned. According to Moore and the document, the health department accepted a two-year Advancing Equity grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The assessment says the health department created an internal equity team and found that staff possessed ground level knowledge of diversity, equity and inclusion, but could benefit from external health equity training. In spring 2022, the health department joined in a partnership with an outside equity consultancy, Work for Change LLC, based in Charlotte, according to the health assessment. Work for Change led health department staff in discussions on cultural bias, health equity, cultural competency in health care, organizational identity alongside communication, and how to achieve desired equity impact, the health assessment said. The health assessment says over the two years of the grant, the health department was to take a deeper dive into its own internal and external equity practices. Smith also took issue with the Work for Change group and asked who invited them and whether there was any oversight of what the organization was teaching. Moore said the group tailored a lesson plan that was specific to each particular group. She said equity was the background of why they had the training and the training was one of the requirements of the grant. But we also want to create an environment at the health department that if anyone, no matter where they go within the county, if they are mistreated, for whatever reason, that they come to us and that they receive the best care as possible, Moore said. Thats really like the bottom line of like what were trying to get at, so just equity and how we interact with each other as staff members, but then also equity and how we interact with the public was our main goal. Burke County Health Department Director Danny Scalise assured the board that critical race theory, nor Marxism, was not part of the training or conversation of the training. So we look at different populations that are in this community and a lot of times we are the place that takes care of them, Scalise said. And we have to understand whether its the Guatemalans that have come here or senior citizens, we look at population health in these things. The scores for elementary, middle and high-school level achievement are in, and they arent looking good. Across the state and in Buttes public schools, proficiency in math and reading have declined in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A few public schools in Butte School District are seeing lower scores than the state average in both reading and math. Butte School District Superintendent Judy Jonart acknowledged that, like the rest of the country, Butte students have been impacted by COVID. Were not unlike anybody else, we saw that drop, Jonart said. Especially in the 2020-2021 test scores, there was loss of learning, and thats on the whole spectrum. Even more advanced students had learning loss. However, she said the district is working to address learning loss. This is not solely working on getting test scores up and includes addressing the needs of the whole child, including mental health, emotional and physical needs. Brian OLeary, communications director for the Montana Office of Public Instruction, said per the Department of Education, school districts must set aside 20% of their Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III Base funds for learning loss. For Butte, the total allocation was $2,341,309, which means $468,261.80 must be used to make up the COVID learning loss. According to the Montana OPI, $565,020 of Buttes ESSER funds have been spent, leaving $1,776,289. Jonart said Buttes ESSER funds have helped provide the district with reduced class sizes and extended learning times after school and during school. She said that close to 700 students attended last years summer program and that money has been allocated for homeless students and more after school programming. The after school programs are two hours a night on average, four to five nights a week. One thing weve done and Im very proud of this weve partnered with the Southwest Montana (Community Health Center) and we have two school-based clinics in our district one at Kennedy and one at West to provide access to medical nurses and doctors so they have access right there at school, Jonart said. Despite all the interventions, Jonart said there are still traces of COVID that are affecting kids school performance, namely attendance. Kids are still getting sick, she said. Theres been a lot of illness this year. We want them to come to school on a regular basis but dont want them to come sick. But the research is clear: Kids do best when theyre in school learning. Jonart also said that the Butte District has implemented updated, evidence-based academic software to provide faster interventions for students who need extra help. These interventions include progress monitoring for students. The OPIs report cards are split into three categories: state, district and school. There are four ways students at each entity can test: novice, nearing proficient, proficient and advanced. According to the 2020-2021 School Report Card from the Montana Office of Public Instruction, 76% of Butte High School students were below-proficient in mathematics, while 13% were proficient and 11% were advanced. In reading, 50% of Butte High School students were below proficient, 29% were proficient and 21% were advanced. In science, 72% of students were below proficient, 22% were proficient and 6% were advanced. Pre-pandemic, during the 2018-19 school year, the number of students below proficient was 68% in mathematics, 51% in reading and 61% in science. This accounts for an 8% decrease in proficiency in math, a 1% increase in proficiency in reading and an 11% decrease in science from 2018-19 to 2020-21. Because of COVID and waived testing requirements for the 2019-2020 school year, there are no school report cards available for the 2020-2021 school year. Besides Butte Highs apparent anomaly in reading, this trend between pre- and post-pandemic academic performance translates across the state and country. Bozeman High School, which is ranked as the best high school in Montana by U.S. News & World Report, had 50% of students who were below proficient in math, 20% were below proficient in reading and 48% were below proficient in science for the 2020-2021 school year. For the 2018-2019 school year, 46% were below proficient in math, 33% were below proficient in reading, and 35% were below proficient in science. Dawson High School in Glendive, which is ranked in the bottom for Montana High Schools by U.S. News & World Report, had 80% of students below proficient in math in the 2018-2019 school year, 44% below proficient for reading and 62% below proficient in science. In the 2020-2021 school year, 83% of Dawson High School Students ranked below proficient in math, 53% were below proficient in reading and 76% were below proficient in science. According to the Montana OPIs website, Montana students during the 2018-2019 school year were 59% below proficient in math, 50% below proficient in reading and 38% below proficient in science. In the 2020-2021 school year, the below-proficient number in science almost doubled to 74%. In reading, it increased to 54% below proficient, and in math, it went up 6% to be 65% below proficient in math. Butte High School ranks as number 42 on U.S. News & World Reports list of best Montana high schools. ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Butte is home to six elementary schools. In Montana OPIs school report cards, there is no standardized test data in science for elementary and middle schools in the 2020-2021 school year. Jonart said the district has updated interventions for math and reading grades in kindergarten through eighth grade. Weve also implemented some early childhood classes to address younger students so we can get them ready for school as well, she said. She explained that in some schools, this is a kindergarten program that allows 4-year-olds. And thats based on economic need, Jonart said. We opened that up to people and families that didnt qualify for Head Start but may need some additional extended learning time for their 4-year-olds. Outside of Butte-Silver Bow, Morning Star School in Bozeman, which ranks at the tops of U.S. News & World Reports list of Montana elementary schools, tested much better than any Butte-Silver Bow schools. During the 2020-2021 school year, 24% of students tested below proficient in math and 21% tested below proficient in reading. This is still a dip from the schools 2018-2019 scores, when 16% of students tested below proficient in math and 13% tested below proficient in reading. OLeary said that the OPI doesnt track specifics as to why one school performs better than another. Many factors may result in one school declining more or another outperforming, he said. PHOENIX Former Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey's border barrier of shipping containers has been largely dismantled in time for a new Democratic administration, costing tens of millions of dollars over just a few months as they were set up and taken down again. Removal of the hulking red, gold and blue steel boxes is creating a stark visual shift in affected sections of Arizona's southern landscape as a new governor takes power and another $76 million in state funds is spent to remove the containers on top of the $95 million it cost to put them there. Ducey had said the containers placed at an opening along the border near the western community of Yuma and across a grassland valley in eastern Arizona's Cochise County were intended as a temporary measure until the Biden administration undertook permanent construction to secure the border. Gov. Katie Hobbs, who was sworn in last week, was among Democrats who called it a political stunt. Border security was a key issue of Donald Trump's presidency and remains a focus for many Republicans. Hobbs' GOP rival, Kari Lake, campaigned on a promise to dispatch the National Guard to the border on her first day in office. The issue wound up in federal court after Ducey sued, asking that Arizona be recognized as having the sole or shared jurisdiction for the strip of federal land the containers were placed on. He also argued Arizona had the right to protect its residents from illegal immigration he termed a humanitarian crisis. An agreement between Ducey's administration and the federal agencies named in his lawsuit called for the containers to come down by Wednesday, the day before Hobbs's inauguration. But the court later stayed all deadlines in the case by 30 days to give Hobbs and new Attorney General Kris Mayes time to review the situation. In Yuma, all 130 of the containers covering about 3,800 feet were removed by Tuesday. Workers continue to dismantle the container wall in Cochise County, said Russ McSpadden, who has regularly visited the site in remote San Rafael Valley as a southwest conservation advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity. About a third of some 3,000 containers were erected there, raising concerns about possible harm to local wildlife and natural water systems before protesters halted the work in early December. Environmentalists said the work in the Coronado National Forest imperiled endangered or threatened species like the western yellow-billed cuckoo and the Mexican spotted owl. Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls said that although the U.S. government plans permanent construction to close the big gap around the Morelos Dam section that immigrants often wade through, he worries about gaps not scheduled for construction. The U.S. Border Patrol announced Friday that construction to close the gap near the Morelos Dam will begin next week, noting that the swift-moving Colorado River poses potential hazards for drowning and other injuries for migrants and the agency's own personnel. "The containers were never going to totally stop people from crossing, but it was a way to better control it," said Nicholls, a Republican who is in regular contact with the White House and U.S. agencies about hundreds of asylum seekers arriving in his small city daily. Nicholls said he is already in talks with the Hobbs administration about border security and wants the governor to visit the area. "I'm hoping she makes her way here sooner rather than later," he said. "We still feel like it's an emergency." Under Ducey, Arizona was busing hundreds of migrants from the Yuma area to the U.S. capital. Nicholls said the regular bus trips to Washington continue despite the change in governors, with the nonprofit Regional Center for Border Health assuming the contract. He said that without any kind of migrant shelter, Yuma is ill-prepared to help newcomers who need a place to stay, and that offering bus rides to Washington allows many to travel free to the East Coast where they may have family. Unlike busloads of migrants being sent to East Coast cities from Texas, nonprofit groups in Washington have said the buses from Arizona come with detailed manifests of passengers and their nationalities, coordination on arrival times and medical personnel aboard each trip. Ducey's administration had sent more than 2,500 migrants on some 70 trips to Washington beginning in May. Ducey's administration earlier estimated each bus trip cost about $80,000 in state funds, which would put the total cost so far well over $5.6 million. Photos: Scenes from the US-Mexico border as Title 42 decision looms The next wave of storms to cross Northern California has triggered a flood watch for the North Bay region, including Napa County. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. The National Weather Service on Saturday morning announced the watch for valley, coastal and mountain areas in Napa, Solano and Marin counties, including the Napa and Russian rivers. The alert will stay in effect through 4 p.m. Tuesday. A high wind advisory in the North Bay, for gusts up to 50 mph, also is in effect through 1 p.m. Sunday. Heavy runoff from storms expected to bring multiple inches of rain through and beyond the weekend may cause flooding of waterways and low-lying, urban and poorly drained areas. Low-water crossings may be flooded, and extensive street flooding may be possible, the weather service advised. For the second time in three days the Napa County Flood Control and Resource Conservation District closed the flood gates at downtown Napas Oxbow Commons shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday, cutting off McKinstry Street, which passes through the green space. The gates to the Commons, a flood relief channel for the Napa River, will stay closed through Tuesday, when the river is expected to crest north of the city at 1 a.m. at 23.3 feet above the 22-foot monitoring stage but below the 25-foot flood level. The weather service also warned of severe wind gusts during back-to-back storms forecasted to sweep through the Bay Area from Saturday afternoon into Tuesday. Rain began arriving in Napa County Saturday afternoon and was expected to continue into Sunday morning, with wind gusts reaching 40 to 60 mph and higher speeds in mountain areas. Flooding risks were expected to rise Sunday due to storm runoff. A second storm is predicted to bring heavier rain into the county on Monday, from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wind gusts may peak at 45 to 70 mph, and higher in the mountains. Flood risks will remain high into Tuesday, although rains will moderate in the morning. Rain totals in Napa were expected to reach 1 to 1 inches Saturday, to 1 inch Sunday, and 1 to 3 inches Monday, according to the weather service forecast. Napa Countys Office of Emergency Services warned that soils already saturated by previous rains will enable even moderate winds to topple trees, potentially pulling down power lines, endangering lives, and adding waterway debris that can contribute to flooding. Residents are advised to exercise caution when driving, and should stay clear of any downed power lines and call 911 and then Pacific Gas & Electric Co. at 800-743-5000. After a relative lull on Friday, more Pacific storms were lined up to blast into California, where successive powerful weather systems have knocked out power to thousands, battered the coastline, flooded streets, toppled trees and caused at least six deaths. Remnant showers from the previous storm, a bomb cyclone, fell around the state and dangerous surf pounded the coast despite declining wave heights, while some areas enjoyed sunshine. A Southern California pier was damaged by high surf and winds overnight and will remain closed until it is repaired, officials said. Streets flooded in low-lying beach cities. The next round of severe weather arrived in Northern California on Friday night and was expected to spread south into the central region during the weekend, increasing flooding concerns due to already saturated soil. Heavy snow was forecast for the Sierra Nevada. A very active weather pattern across the Pacific Ocean will continue to push energetic and fast-moving low pressure systems toward the West Coast, the National Weather Service said. California continues to take the brunt of the heavy precipitation and strong winds associated with these systems as we head into the first full weekend of 2023. During the weekend, the next moisture-laden Pacific cyclone is forecast to approach California with the next onslaught of heavy rain, the service said. The storms are atmospheric rivers, long plumes of moisture stretching far out into the Pacific, and capable of dropping staggering amounts of rain and snow. Downtown San Francisco had its wettest 10-day period since 1871 between Dec. 26 and Jan. 4 when 10.33 inches of rain fell. The all-time 10-day record was 14.37 inches in January 1862. The storms have also been piling up much-needed snow in the drought-stricken states mountains, where the snowpack supplies about a third of Californias water supply. It has been a deep week with almost 5 FEET of snow (57.9 inches, 147 cm) falling in the last 7 days! the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab tweeted Friday. The statewide snowpack was 191% of normal to date and 76% of the April 1 average, which is usually the peak, according to the California Department of Water Resources. Storms have been arriving in California since early November. A powerful New Years weekend storm caused extensive flooding in Northern Californias Sacramento County and four deaths. It undermined a massive oak tree that fell Monday and crushed a nursery school in Marin County. The school was empty at the time. That storm was followed on Wednesday and Thursday by a bomb cyclone, a shorthand reference to a storm intensified by a rapid plunge in air pressure through a process called bombogenesis. Two deaths were reported, including a 2-year-old boy killed when a redwood fell on a mobile home in Occidental. In Fairfield, a 19-year-old woman died in a crash when her vehicle hydroplaned and then struck a utility pole, according to police. he seaside village of Capitola in Santa Cruz County about 60 miles south of San Francisco suffered possibly the worst damage as waves that were forecast to top 25 feet crashed into homes and restaurants at the mouth of Soquel Creek and knocked out a section of its historic wooden pier. Hurricane-strength gusts as high as 101 mph toppled trees onto buildings and roads, knocked out power lines and blew down the roof on a gas station in South San Francisco. National Weather Service meteorologist Warren Blier said the wind speed recorded on a Marin County hilltop was among the highest he could recall in a 25-year career. The storms wont be enough to officially end the states ongoing drought, now entering its fourth year, but they have helped. Not including the latest deluge, recent storms moved parts of the state out of the exceptional drought category in the U.S. Drought Monitor. Most of the state, though, remains in the extreme or severe drought categories. This story includes reporting from Napa Valley Register city editor Howard Yune and Associated Press reporters Martha Mendoza, Brian Melley and John Antczak. Photos: Scenes from around Napa Valley as storms continue to batter the area Storm Coverage 2 Storm Coverage 1 Storm Coverage 3 Storm Coverage 4 Storm Coverage 5 Storm Coverage 6 Storm Coverage 7 Storm Coverage 8 Storm Coverage 11 Storm Coverage 10 Storm 1 Storm 2 Storm 4 Storm 3 Storm 5 Storm 6 Napa Storm 1 Napa Storm 2 Napa Storm 3 Napa Storm 4 Napa Storm 5 Napa Storm 6 Napa Storm 9 Storm Storm Kennedy Park encampment Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Updated at 3:58 p.m. Sunday A flood watch remained in force for the Napa Valley as forecasters predicted multiple inches of rain would lash the North Bay, starting Sunday night and continuing through Monday the latest in a series of powerful storms expected to pass through California through the week. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Meanwhile, forecasters declared a high wind warning for Napa County from Sunday night into Monday morning, as wind gusts were expected to blow down trees and power lines adding to numerous power outages the Bay Area as rain-soaked soil has made poles and trees more prone to toppling. After a dry interlude Sunday morning with tentative wisps of sun, the Bay Area and much of California braced for more stormy weather that would raise the potential for road flooding, rising rivers and mudslides on soils already saturated after days of rain. Showers and thunderstorms were expected to arrive in the county before 4 p.m. Sunday, followed by rain through the night and wind gusts, Napa County said in a social media update. Rainfall in Napa was expected to measure 1 to 2 inches Sunday night, 1 to 1 inches Monday, and to inch Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. The storm marks the latest atmospheric river to drench Northern California over the last couple of weeks, whipsawing the region from one of its driest three-year runs in recorded history to a state of perpetual flood risk. Still, even though the recent wet weather has begun to alleviate drought conditions across Northern California, experts say it has yet to fully end the regions historic drought. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch through Tuesday for almost the entire Bay Area. Among the rivers most at risk of flooding are the Russian River near Guerneville; Alameda Creek near Niles Canyon and Sunol, Arroyo de la Laguna at Verona in Alameda County; Coyote Creek at Milpitas and at Edenvale; Pacheco Creek near Dunneville in the South Bay; and the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz County. The agencys flood watch in the North Bay, which took effect Saturday morning, will remain in force through 4 p.m. Tuesday as heavy rains are expected to swell local waterways to flood-monitoring stage. The Napa River north of the city of Napa was expected to exceed its monitoring level of 22 feet Monday evening, peaking at 23.4 feet at 6 p.m. a foot lower than previous estimates, according to the California Nevada River Forecast Center. Flood stage on the river is 25 feet at Oak Knoll Avenue. Napa Countys OneRain tracking website recorded 0.75 inch of rain at the Napa city corporation yard for the 24 hours ending at 10 a.m. Sunday. Heavier rain fell at various Upvalley and high-elevation sites, topped by the Dry Creek fire station, which received 1.81 inches. Sunday morning, the weather service announced a high wind warning for Napa, Sonoma and Marin counties from 8 p.m. Sunday to 8 a.m. Monday. South winds were expected to reach 20 to 35 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph on valley floors, and 35 to 50 mph with gusts peaking at 80 mph in areas above 1,000 feet. Power interruptions remained widely scattered across the Bay Area Sunday morning as the rains temporarily abated. The most recent outage affected 1,038 customers in American Canyon, according to the utility's online outage map. As of 10 a.m., about 65 PG&E customers had been blacked out in north Napa since 8:10 p.m. Saturday, along with 80 west of St. Helena who have been without power since Wednesday. The Napa Valley Unified School District is monitoring the forecasts of heavy rain and high winds, but planned to open its Napa and American Canyon campuses Monday as scheduled following the holiday break, spokesperson Julie Bordes said Sunday afternoon. Any information about school closures forced by severe weather will be posted to NVUSDs website nvusd.org, or the sites of individual schools. Alerts also will be released through direct messages to school families through the ParentSquare platform. The National Weather Service warned of a relentless parade of atmospheric rivers over the coming week, producing heavy rain and mountain snow. Atmospheric river storms are long plumes of moisture stretching out into the Pacific and are capable of dropping staggering amounts of rain and snow. The agency's Sacramento office tweeted early Sunday that parts of the Sacramento Valley were experiencing strong winds with gusts up to 60 mph, as well as numerous trees and power lines down with power outages. More than 300,000 customers had their electricity knocked out in and around the state's capital, according to a Sacramento Municipal Utility District online map of outages overnight. Joey Kleemann was listening to the winds howling shortly after midnight, wondering whether she should move her car, when she heard a gigantic, thumping, crashing sound as a massive tree fell onto the Sacramento home where she's lived for 25 years. The gusts were strong enough to rip the tree up from its roots, pulling the concrete sidewalk up with it. Cracks in the roof meant rain streamed into her dining area throughout the night. Shes hoping to get a tarp over the damaged area in anticipation of more showers. I just had a feeling with the winds. They were scary winds, she said. Mostly I focused on: it could be so much worse. In the Los Angeles area, scattered rain fell during the weekend while stormy conditions were expected to return Monday, with the potential for up to 8 inches of rain in foothill areas. High surf was expected through Tuesday, with large waves on west-facing beaches. The state Department of Transportation warned motorists to stay off mountain roads after closing a stretch of U.S. 395 in Mono County due to heavy snow, ice and whiteout conditions along the Eastern Sierra. With the severe nature of this storm, Caltrans is asking all drivers to limit nonessential travel until the peak of the storm has passed, the department said in a statement. The wet weather comes after days of rain in California from Pacific storms. A series of recent weather systems have knocked out power to thousands, flooded streets, battered the coastline and caused at least six deaths. Since Dec. 26, San Francisco received more than 10 inches of rain, while Mammoth Mountain, a popular ski area in the Eastern Sierra, received nearly 10 feet of snow, the National Weather Service reported. The storms wont be enough to officially end Californias ongoing drought but they have helped. Later this week, three additional storms fed by atmospheric rivers streaming across the Pacific Ocean are expected to hit Northern California. While none of them are expected to be as powerful as the storm hitting late Sunday night and Monday, they could still cause flood damage in parts of the Bay Area, said Michael Anderson, California state climatologist. He said that federal resources have been mobilized to help the National Weather Services forecasts. Five Air Force C-130s and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are flying over the Pacific Ocean reaching as far as Hawaii to gather data on the coming storms. These next storms are really going to start seeing some flood stages be reached, said Anderson, during a call with reporters Saturday. Theres a lot to keep an eye on and a lot to track. With reports from Napa Valley Register city editor Howard Yune, Bay Area News Group reporters Jakob Rodgers and Gabriel Greschler, and The Associated Press. Photos: Scenes from around Napa Valley as storms continue to batter the area Storm Coverage 2 Storm Coverage 1 Storm Coverage 3 Storm Coverage 4 Storm Coverage 5 Storm Coverage 6 Storm Coverage 7 Storm Coverage 8 Storm Coverage 11 Storm Coverage 10 Storm 1 Storm 2 Storm 4 Storm 3 Storm 5 Storm 6 Napa Storm 1 Napa Storm 2 Napa Storm 3 Napa Storm 4 Napa Storm 5 Napa Storm 6 Napa Storm 9 Storm Storm Kennedy Park encampment Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm Storm You are here: Business China has seen steady increases in a variety of energy resources in 2022 as the country stepped up efforts to ensure energy security against a volatile global market. The following is the output of the world's largest energy consumer's fossil fuel as well as clean energy in 2022: China produced some 4.45 billion tonnes of coal last year, up 8 percent year on year. Natural gas output topped 217 billion cubic meters, registering an annual increase of over 10 billion cubic meters for a sixth straight year. Crude oil production climbed back to over 200 million tonnes. The newly installed capacity of renewable energy reached 140 million kW, bringing the tally of total installed capacity to exceed 1.2 billion kW. Wind and solar power saw their newly installed capacity surpass 120 million kW, a record high. Major energy projects completed a total investment of about 2 trillion yuan (about 290.2 billion U.S. dollars), lending strong steam to the country's economic growth. China also saw several landmark energy projects completed in 2022, including the world's largest clean energy corridor, and the most efficient compressed air energy storage station. For 2023, China expects to produce 205 million tonnes of crude oil and secure an annual natural gas output growth of over 6 billion cubic meters. By the end of this year, the installed capacity of wind power, solar power, and hydropower might reach about 430 million kW, 490 million kW, and 423 million kW, respectively. When was the last time you used your high school French? Was it when you tried to help French tourists find the Oxbow Market? Or when you tried to purchase deux chocolats in the Latin Quarter? Or maybe you closed the book on speaking French after your final French exam and never again uttered a single bonjour. Maybe now is the time to dust off your French, improve your skills and make some new friends. The Alliance Francaise of Napa Valley (AF Napa) provides exciting ways to experience French culture and learn or improve French language skills right here in Napa. AF Napa was founded 35 years ago to share the spirit and culture of French-speaking countries through language courses, lectures, social events, French movies (with English subtitles), music, comedy, and online resources. AF Napa also offers a drop-in conversation group called Les Copains (the friends), which meets on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon via Zoom. Members range from native French speakers to people with little or no French language skills. Even people who cant speak a word of French can join AF Napa to enjoy a variety of celebrations and cultural events. AF Napa is the local branch of the international Alliance Francaise, an organization with over 850 branches throughout the world. Created in Paris in 1983, the international Alliance Francaise founders included luminaries like Louis Pasteur, Jules Verne, and Ferdinand de Lesseps, the developer of the Suez Canal. AF Napa was founded by a group of local French expats and Francophiles. The new chapter had to be approved by the French consul in San Francisco who initially objected since the very large Alliance Francaise in San Francisco was already serving the Bay Area. Napa residents Jean-Jacques Vitrack, Malek Mehaouchi, and other founding members of AF Napa invited the French consul to tour Napa. Many wine glasses later, it was evident that Napa and France both love and produce great wine, and the consul enthusiastically approved Napas own Alliance Francaise chapter in 1987. AF Napa is not subsidized by the international Alliance Francaise. The groups funding comes from donations, class tuition and event fees. Initially the Napa chapters members were mostly native French speakers. The group still has several native French members, but the membership has grown as more people born in the United States have joined in the fun. One American member who studied French in her youth is Patricia Sullivan. She studied at the Cordon Bleu in Paris and worked at a Parisian restaurant. She says, I even dreamed in French, but not anymore. Like many Alliance Francaise members, she eventually forgot her French from lack of use, and now she participates in French classes and the AF Napa Saturday conversation group to recover and improve her former language skills. A member of the Alliance Francaise since 2018, Patricia tells new members, I really love the fact that everybody is so welcoming. Suzanne Keebler is a member who worked in Paris for five years as a young adult. Over the years, she lost the French language she had learned from her grandmother (who spoke no English) and at Notre Dame des Victoires school in San Francisco. Suzanne was inspired to join the Napa Alliance Francaise after attending the Les Copains conversation meetings at Downtown Joes. (Les Copains meetings are currently on Zoom, but some in-person meetings will likely begin soon). She particularly loves the AF Napa films and cultural events. The AF Napa chapter offers four levels of French classes ranging from beginning to advanced. Founding member Malek Mehaouchi has been the teacher since 2012. A native of French-speaking Algeria, Malek was raised in France. Maleks adoptive parents taught in France, so teaching comes naturally to him. As a young adult, Malek taught classes in Algeria. Maleks students often comment on how his sense of humor makes his classes fun. Im passionate about teaching, he says. Teaching for the Alliance Francaise became a passion, and my friends there are like family to me. Current AF Napa board president Susan Davis has been a member of the board for eight years. I joined after attending some Alliance Francaise singing group events, she says. I took French in high school and love the sound of the language. Susan joined the board because she wanted to help the organization, and she was the board secretary for five years before becoming the president. According to Susan, French classes are useful for those who want to learn French, and they are fun and enriching for those who want to exercise their brains. Recent past president Dan Dempsey has been involved with the French language for most of his life. As a young Marine officer, he was assigned to teach French for two years at the Marine Corps school for officers. Later he served in Vietnam, where he used French with village chiefs and Vietnamese officers. Dan was the head of the 70-man Marine contingent guarding the U.S. embassy in Paris from 1968 to 1970. He has been an AF Napa board member for eight years, and he loves to spread his interest in French culture. Use it or lose it, he says to remind people of the importance of practice for those who already speak French. During the pandemic, most AF Napa events, classes, and Saturday conversation meetings have been held online via Zoom, but as COVID-19 has ebbed, the organization has begun to offer some in-person classes, films and social events. Information about membership, events, and classes is available on the AF Napa website, https://afnapa.com and on Facebook and Instagram. EU monitoring mission in Armenia not present in the area when Azerbaijan attacked Armenia National Security Service Border Guard Troops commander dismissed Armenia MOD: Tegh village incident that led to undesirable consequences was due to deployment adjustment Mayor of Frances Lyon expresses unconditional support to people of Karabakh Pashinyan: Armenian side had recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan Criminal proceedings launched into Armenia soldiers being killed, wounded by Azerbaijan near Tegh village Chairman-in-Office: OSCE supports continuation of Armenia-Azerbaijan direct contacts MFA: Russia asked Armenia to explain information about participating in joint military exercises with NATO Zakharova does not disclose details of Russian, Turkish FMs talks on Armenia-Turkey relations Russia MFA spox: CSTO mission deployment details can be talked about when Armenia is ready Zakharova: Russia favors complete unblocking of Lachin corridor Russia MFA: Other players engagement will lead to Armenia-Azerbaijan relations destabilization EU calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to intensify border delimitation talks, until then to respect 1991 line Russia MFA spox: Yerevan, Baku accepted proposal to hold another bilateral talks Pallone: This is another senseless provocation from Azerbaijani forces against Armenia Zakharova: Russia Border Guard Service, army took measures to de-escalate situation near Armenias Tegh village Armenia deputy defense minister on possible Azerbaijan provocations again: Nothing can be ruled out Armenia MP: Azerbaijanis demanded not to do engineering work, our soldiers responded, battle started from that Marukyan: This is continuation of attacks carried out against Armenia in May and November 2021, in September 2022 About 100 killed in airstrikes in rural Myanmar Criminal proceedings to be launched against Armenia opposition MP Mher Sahakyan Armenia MP: Army corps commander was there, talks were to be held but Azerbaijan resorted to provocation Mher Grigoryan, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State discuss security issues in Armenia, region Parliament observes minute of silence in memory of Armenia soldiers who died yesterday Newspaper: How Europe reacts to yesterday's provocation by Azerbaijanis? Anahit Manasyan is elected Armenia ombudsperson Armenia MOD: No significant ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan recorded at night MOD: 3 of wounded Armenia soldiers in satisfactory condition, other 3 in moderate, severe, critical condition RA MOD announces names of soldiers killed by Azerbaijani Armed Forces As of 10:15 p.m., the situation on the frontline is relatively stable. RA Ministry of Defense The destruction of Artsakh and Syunik is a key issue for Turkey and Azerbaijan. David Babayan Suren Papikyan interrupts his working visit and returns to Armenia Azerbaijans provocation is another encroachment on the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia. MFA Azerbaijan MOD publicizes data on own losses during latest Baku provocation Russia MOD: 2 ceasefire violations recorded in Karabakh The reason for Azerbaijan's aggression is not being sanctioned by the international community. Edmon Marukyan Four Armenian soldiers killed, six wounded because of Azerbaijani provocation. MOD Video shows how Azerbaijani soldiers approach and open fire at Armenian soldiers Armenia National Assembly cancels special session Legislature deputy speaker on Azerbaijani infiltration into Armenia: Not case where accountability is implied Azerbaijanis opened fire in direction of Sotk Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan army continues provocation, uses mortars Azerbaijani shooting resumes in direction of Armenias Tegh village Haykakan Zhamanak: Armenia Special Army Corps commander wounded in skirmish MOD: Armenian side has casualties and wounded, according to preliminary data Shots fired at Tegh village area, Armenia has casualty Armenia parliament vice-speaker: Turkey border shall be open for 3rd countries citizens at summers beginning Armenia lawmaker: Azerbaijan has violated mutual understanding on Karabakh issue Sargis Khandanyan: Armenia does not play football on CSTO issue Armenia Prosecutor General submits petition to parliament for consent to prosecute opposition MP Ruling force MP: Before sending mission, CSTO must record Armenia territorys occupation Photo traps of Armenias Khosrov Forest State Reserve capture grizzly bear again Peskov calls information about Egypt president's covert shipment of rockets to Russia sensational lie The Washington Post: Egypt planned to secretly send up to 40,000 rockets to Russia, leaked US document says Earthquake hits Iran-Turkey border zone, also felt in Armenia Sharm El Sheikh-Yerevan flight that landed in Turkey arrives in Armenia capital Bortnikov: Terrorists want to destabilize the situation in Caucasus 15 more people from Karabakh transferred to Armenia medical centers, 10 patients return Russia airspace to be closed for flights to Europe until 2029, Eurocontrol announces Armenia defense minister visits NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (PHOTOS) North Korea leader announces strengthening of war deterrence forces AraratBank provides support to 100 children from underprivileged families Foreign Affairs: External threat may force Iran to enter into open conflict on Armenias side Foreigners make about 400 real estate sales transactions in Armenia in February Russia emergency service: UAV falls in Belgorod city airport territory on Monday Armenia becomes donor to International Development Association of World Bank Bitcoin rises nearly 7% to $30,200 Sharm El Sheikh-Yerevan flight lands in Turkey Karabakh authorities send proposal to hold meeting to Azerbaijani side shamshyan.com: Man, 57, found dead at downtown Yerevan churchyard Yerevan city council supposed to elect new mayor today but majority faction not attending session Armenia legislature kicks off regular 4-day session Newspaper: Armenia, Azerbaijan see further negotiations on Washington platform Next-generation Countryman crossovers first photos surface Scientific miracle: Atoms first photo is 5 years old shamshyan.com: Man who returned from Moscow dies suddenly at Yerevan international airport Woman who threw umbrella at Armenia PM is released from custody Turkey FM: We coordinate every step with Armenia with Azerbaijan Woman detained after throwing umbrella at PM Pashinyan in Armenia village Tokayev: Kazakhstan supports Azerbaijan-Armenia relations normalization process Aliyev: Work on peace treaty with Armenia not going very smoothly Turkey FM: It would have been difficult for Azerbaijan to take Karabakh if we had not manufactured UAVs Yerevan subway resumes normal operations Shamkhani: Any geographical change in South Caucasus will play into hands of enemies of regional security, stability Politico: EU mission in Armenia may cast shadow over Azerbaijan-EU natural gas deal Technical breakdown at Yerevan subway Philippines, US to hold largest joint military exercise in their history Azerbaijan arrests 4 more people suspected of collaboration with Iranian special services CNN: US wiretaps Zelenskyy telephone conversations MTS Armenia company to not be sold Sputnik Armenia: CSTO mission ready to arrive in Armenia, Russian ambassador says Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Selection Committee honorary co-chair Benjamin Ferencz passes Mayor of Frances Lyon pays tribute to Armenian Genocide victims, Karabakh wars martyrs US Navy destroyer illegally enters South China Sea, Beijing says Azerbaijanis found in Armenia rural community, they knock on house door MOD: Azerbaijan soldier found, detained in Armenia Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan goal is to subject Karabakh to ethnic cleansing even 35 years after Maragha crime EU mission presence in Armenia near Azerbaijan border worries Baku 2 Azerbaijan servicemen go missing Russia interior ministry notes countries whose citizenship is most often obtained by Russians, Armenia among them After Germany's latest refusal to pay war reparations to Poland, Polish officials are calling on the US and the UN for support. The government also aims to have its demands clarified to Germans, DW reported. "Germany's response is astonishing to us in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as for the Polish state. The German government cannot answer a question that was never posed. Neither negotiations nor conciliatory discussions took place." That's what Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk had to say about Germany's newest refusal to pay Poland reparations for World War II. Mularczyk made the statement on Wednesday in Warsaw. "We do not accept Germany's position. We reject it as completely unjustified and wrong. We will continue to act within Germany and on the international stage to urge the German population and the international community to change its position," Mularczyk said. Berlin's statement, which caused such widespread outrage, was short and direct: "According to information from the Federal Republic of Germany, the matter of reparations and compensation for losses during World War II is closed, and Germany has no intention of negotiating the issue." The reaction from Poland's government was swift. A response from the Poland's MFA noted: "The Polish government will continue its efforts to settle the question of debt that was accrued a result of German aggression and its occupation of Poland from 1939 to 1945." It is unlikely that anyone associated with Poland's United Right, the political alliance that has ruled the country since 2015, thought Germany's decision would be different. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had already made this clear on Oct. 4, after the Polish government had sent a diplomatic note to Berlin the previous day demanding. "Germany upholds its historical responsibility unequivocally. It's our eternal duty to remember the suffering Germany brutally inflicted upon millions of Polish people," Baerbock said in a statement in October. "The pain that Poland endured was especially pronounced compared to other places. Nevertheless, from the point of view of the German government, the issue of reparations is, as you know, closed." Her remarks were directed at Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau. Poland demands 1.3 billion euros Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk is a member of the Polish Law and Justice Party (PiS), which remains the country's largest party. Years ago, Mularczyk made demands for reparations a priority. Since 2017, he has chaired a parliamentary committee to assess the country's losses in World War II. On Sept. 1, 2022, the 73rd anniversary of the German invasion of Poland, Mularczyk published the committee's final report, which claimed the country was entitled to 6.2 billion zlotys (about 1.32 billion euros). Mularczyk was appointed secretary of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last year. This Tuesday (Jan. 2, 2023), he called Germany's response disrespectful to the Polish state and Poles. In 1970, former West German Chancellor Willy Brandt made a moving apology in front of a monument to Jewish g The relationship between France and Germany is at the heart of the European project and is key to European stability, but the alliance is falling apart. The war in Ukraine has exacerbated the shifting center of influence of the European Union toward Central Europe - Germany and its eastern neighbors-where, unlike Germany, France's position has never been relatively impressive. Both countries have disagreements over the energy crisis prevailing in Europe and their defense policies. What the growing disagreements will mean for the EU in the midst of the Russia-Ukraine war, when Europe needs more cooperation, writes Modern Diplomacy. Both countries have the two most significant economies on the continent; they are considered pillars of the EU. However, when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, disagreements between the two countries on issues such as energy, defense and the economy reappeared. The gap was further exacerbated by the Russian gas shortage and its impact on the economy. This crisis has demonstrated the fragility of European economies as Europe prepares for a cold winter with an intensifying energy crisis. In addition, the crisis has raised concerns about the EU as a whole and whether it can meet the demands of its citizens. Two major areas of disagreement are energy and defense. The war in Ukraine and the subsequent disruption of energy supplies have put energy at the top of Europe's political agenda. At the end of September, Germany announced a large energy support package worth 200 billion euros. This did not sit well with the French president. He was annoyed that Germany did not inform him in advance about ensuring European security. According to French officials, the German package would lead to even greater economic division, and the government in Berlin would potentially distort competition within the bloc by subsidizing energy for business. In Paris and other European capitals, which are worried about the impact of the war on their own energy costs, Germany's unilateral decision to spend up to 200 billion euros to subsidize skyrocketing gas prices has caused uproar. It also contradicts EU-wide energy restrictions and increases in joint EU borrowing to reduce the pain of rising gas prices. Both the Germans and the French disagree about which energy source should be used. When it comes to defense, another question arises, as evidenced by Berlin's recent military procurement decisions. Germany decided to spend part of its newly created investment fund of 100 billion euros on American F-35 fighter jets, much to the annoyance of Paris. These purchases were a serious blow to long-standing efforts to cooperate with France in the development of next-generation fighter planes and tanks. Likewise, Macron sees such moves as counterproductive to Europe's long-term need to strengthen its own defense. Paris is also frustrated by the slow progress in developing the Future Combat Air System, Europe's flagship defense project launched by Paris and Berlin in 2017 to strengthen the continent's military capabilities. There are concerns about Germany's long delay in supplying weapons to Ukraine. Moreover, Germany and 14 other European countries, with the exception of France, signed the Heavenly Shield initiative on the sidelines of the last NATO conference. It was reached despite French and Italian cooperation on the Mamba anti-missile project. There are disagreements over EU energy policy priorities, also related to the evolving fuel crisis. Keep in mind that the parties come from different positions: Germany faces a direct threat from supply disruptions to the sustainability of its entire economy, while France, which currently relies on a combination of nuclear and alternative energy, is theoretically less dependent on hydrocarbons, and Russian gas in particular. The French leadership can therefore work to at least partially pursue a green course within the EU, more readily endorsing the introduction of threshold pricing for Russian oil and gas, while their German counterparts should replace depleted energy sources as soon as possible, even if that means underperforming on environmental indicators. France and Germany disagree on how to deal with Europe's energy or security crisis. It is worth saying that these disagreements are probably exacerbated by the fact that the balance of power in Europe has been shifting away from Germany over the past couple of years. Scholz has not enjoyed the same political respect as Merkel, and Germany's reckless dependence on Russian gas looks shamefully naive. Two of the EU's strongest and richest members have historically dealt with sporadic conflicts in their union. The bloc's stability is threatened by Russia's conflict in Ukraine, and other members, such as Poland and the Baltic states, have challenged the authority of Paris and Berlin. The rift between Germany and France is likely to worsen. This is especially noticeable in light of accusations against countries with little political and economic power, such as Poland and the Baltic states, that they are questioning French and German leadership in the EU. The viability of a geopolitical Europe built on the wreckage of World War II has been called into question because of the difficulties it has faced, the size and consequences of which may not be evident in the near future. In the end, what is needed today is a renewed partnership between France and Germany, not the alienation of the two countries. Both are considered engines of European unity and cooperation, so they must cooperate because these states recognize the importance of European unity and cooperation, which have made the Franco-German pair so powerful and influential. The children stuck in Armenia as a result of the blockade of Artsakh will study at the places of temporary residence from tomorrow, Aida Ganjumyan, Advisor to the State Minister of Education and Culture, who has been staying in Goris with her children for almost a month and cannot return to Artsakh, told Armenian News-NEWS.am. "The children will go to Goris School No. 1 from tomorrow, we have already agreed. There are children who go to the music school, they will go to the local music school until the situation is settled. What the enemy wants is to cut off the children from their environment, deprive them of their basic right to education, but it will not succeed, we can't allow that, the children will definitely go to school until the roads are opened," she said. 270 children from Artsakh remain in Armenia as a result of the blockade, 20 of whom are in Yerevan and the rest in Goris. Ganjumyan noted that they do everything to organize the daily life of children as diverse as possible, organizing various events and activities to make children's day full. "It's very difficult. The children have been away from home and parents for a month now. We have psychological conversations to make it as easy as possible for the children to cope with the situation. But no matter how we organize daily life, no matter how hard we try, the child wants his school, his parents, his daily life. It's been a month since children's lives have been disrupted." Aida Gyanjumyan noted that they have appealed to various international organizations and reported violations of children's basic rights, but they are all indifferent. "The world is indifferent to human rights violations, children's right to movement, to education is violated, but we do not receive a proper response," she added. Since December 12, 2022, Azerbaijan blocked the Lachin corridor connecting Artsakh with Armenia, resulting in a blockade of 120,000 residents of Artsakh, including 30,000 children. 1,100 civilians, including 270 minors, cannot return from Armenia to Artsakh. A former Louisiana sheriff's deputy has been sentenced to 100 years in prison after pleading guilty to a number of sex crimes, including child abuse. Authorities said Dennis Perkins, 47, will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to a range of offenses, from rape, child abuse images and video voyeurism to "food contamination with bodily substances. He is not eligible for parole. Prior to his arrest in 2019, Perkins worked as a deputy for the Livingston County Sheriff's Office for 17 years. His ex-wife Cynthia Perkins, a former schoolteacher, was also arrested. She pleaded guilty to reduced charges in exchange for a 41-year sentence as part of an agreement that would have required her to testify against Dennis Perkins. The Perkins family came under scrutiny after a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. An IP address linked to the couple's home in the Baton Rouge suburb of Denham Springs led authorities to seize thousands of videos and photos. Investigators arrested the couple in October 2019. An attorney said the bulk of the charges against the couple involve a child under the age of 13. The couple was charged with rape, attempted rape, video voyeurism and making child abuse images over a period of months in 2019. Hi-Tech Pipes has said it signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Uttar Pradesh for setting up a mega manufacturing facility of steel tubes and pipes, and flat steel processing with an investment of Rs 510 crore. The agreement was signed under the Invest UP programme under the leadership of Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath. Under this MoU, the proposed investment will be Rs 510 crore to be invested in a phased manner, according to a statement from Hi-Tech Pipes shared with exchanges on Saturday evening. Further, the company also said the favourable business environment and the special incentive packages offered by the UP government will additionally help the company to strengthen its position in the steel tubes and pipes and flat steel processing industry. Ajay Kumar Bansal, Managing Director, Hi-Tech Pipes, said: "We are extremely proud and happy that the company has entered into this MoU with UP government. Hi-Tech Pipes has strong presence in Uttar Pradesh (UP) for more than three decades with our own manufacturing facility(ies)... This transaction will support the capacity expansion plans and strengthen our position in the steel tubes and pipes space." (ANI) India is now a more transparent economy and people are getting used to paying taxes, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said. He said any reforms taken up by the government in the last eight years, including good and services tax (GST), significantly impacted the economy and that recent GST collections were very robust. "India has been evolving. A lot of structural changes that took place in the last eight years have had a significant impact on the way the Indian economy is poised to take off in the next 25 years," Goyal said. The Union Minister was virtually addressing the participants on the occasion of 27th edition of the Wharton India Economic Forum via videoconference on Saturday. The theme of the event was India's leading innovation in the age of uncertainty. Piyush Goyal said the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) was also an important reform measure that had led to robust banking systems in India. "Collectively, these banks have been able to provide resources for industry and infrastructure to grow," He said. The commerce minister said reforms like privatisation, digitisation of the economy, decriminalisation of laws and simplification of compliances to enable ease of doing business. "These reforms prepared India for the next 25 years and we hope to see the Indian economy among the top three economies in the world," Piyush Goyal said. Responding to a question regarding which sectors are strategic priorities for the government, Goyal said that infrastructure, semiconductors and domestic manufacturing are some of the priority sectors. The commerce minister said infrastructure, semiconductors and domestic manufacturing were some of the priority sectors for the Indian economy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was focused on building a robust infrastructure in India. "Private sector is also contributing to India's infrastructure story," he added. He also spoke about the government's PLI initiatives under the Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme. As part of its Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme, the government launched production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes in varied sectors to make Indian manufacturers globally competitive, attract investments, enhance exports, integrate India into the global supply chain and reduce dependency on imports. He recalled the country's struggle during the Covid-19 pandemic and said despite that the Indian industry rose to the occasion and became the manufacturer of personal protective equipment. (ANI) It's the birthday of Kannada cinema's 'Rocking Star'. Naveen Kumar Gowda, who is famous by his stage name Yash, has been a formidable figure in the film industry of Karnataka. Ever since he starred as the swashbuckling hero 'Rocky' in the blockbuster 'K.G.F.' franchise, neither he nor the cinema of the South Indian state has looked back. Starting off as an actor in theatre, Yash has gone on to star in a number of television and film projects prior to hitting gold with his magnum opus. His unabashedly rustic yet suave looks have sent his fans into a frenzy a number of times. As he turns a year older, let us take a look at some of the best fashion moments of the actor from his Instagram. The 'K.G.F.: Chapter 2' star exuded class and confidence in this all-white look. He made an interesting fusion of fashion choices as he combined an off-white blazer and pants with a white kurta, instead of the more commonly worn t-shirt. His brown shoes added a nice little pop of colour to the overall outfit. The 'Raja Huli' actor appeared nothing short of dapper in this grey-blue tuxedo paired with a black shirt. The little pops of gold glimmering from his belt, shoes and the rings on his fingers complete his classic superstar look. In yet another classic look, the 'Googly' actor wore a navy-blue suit with white stripes, which he paired with a white t-shirt. His dense beard and open hair accentuated the overall style quotient of the look. While suits undoubtedly look amazing on the 'Masterpiece' actor, pulling off a killer look in casual attire is also effortless for him. Dressed in a checkered cardigan paired with a red shirt and black jeans, he looked quite cool and street-smart. Takes our blues away in his blue ethnic outfit, Yash showed yet another side to his versatile fashion sense. Donning a blue kurta with a matching waistcoat, the 'Gajakesari' actor lit up the frame in this simple yet suave look. (ANI) Actor Amitabh Bachchan recently took to Twitter to apologize for mislabeling the 'T numbers' on his posts. https://twitter.com/SrBachchan/status/1611792812386971649 "T 4515 - A HORRIBLE ERROR ! all my T numbers have gone wrong right from the last right one T 4514 ..( this is correct ) .. everything after is wrong .." the 'Baghban' actor wrote. "T 5424,5425,5426,4527, 5428, 5429, 5430 .. all wrong .. they should be T4515,4516,4517,4518,4519 4520,452 APOLGIES !!," he added. Netizens had a number of hilarious and sarcastic reactions to the 'Sholay' actor's post. "Thanks for the clarification sir. I was really worried as the order was wrong and due to that my balance sheet was not getting tallied," a user wrote. "Thanks for clearing this out sir. I was unable to sleep," another user wrote. Another user wrote, "Market crash karegi Kal ab!" (Now the market would crash tomorrow!). Meanwhile, noting the wrong spelling of 'apologies' in Amitabh's post, a user joked, "Sir, spelling of apologies is wrong, please correct it in T 4516". Meanwhile, on the work front, Amitabh was recently seen in the family entertainer film 'Uunchai' along with Anupam Kher, Parineeti Chopra and Boman Irani. Helmed by Sooraj Barjatya, the film got positive responses from the audience. He will be next seen in 'The Intern' along with Deepika Padukone and in a Pan India film 'Project K' alongside Deepika Padukone and Prabhas. (ANI) According to Variety, a US-based news outlet, Roizman received five Oscar nominations, for 'The French Connection', 'The Exorcist', 'Network', 'Tootsie', and the 1994 Western 'Wyatt Earp'. In 2017, he received an honorary Academy Award for his achievements in the industry. In addition to his Oscar nominations, Roizman received an Emmy nomination for his cinematography (using film, not videotape) of the 1972 Bob Fosse-helmed Liza Minnelli variety show, 'Liza With a Z'. In 1997, Roizman was given a lifetime achievement award by the American Society of Cinematographers. On five movies, including 'Three Days of the Condor', 'The Electric Horseman', 'Absence of Malice', 'Tootsie' and 'Havana', he collaborated with celebrated auteur Sydney Pollack. According to author Susan Dworkin, in 'Making Tootsie: Inside the Classic Film with Dustin Hoffman and Sydney Pollack', Pollack and Owen Roizman's powerful working relationship was based on a shared appreciation of style. However, Roizman established a significant professional connection with William Friedkin before Pollack. As per a report by Variety, born in Brooklyn, Owen Roizman's father, Sol, was a newsreel photographer, and his uncle, Morrie, was a film editor. In 1958, Owen earned a math and physics degree from Pennsylvania's Gettysburg College. Despite eventually pursuing a degree in show business, Roizman claimed in 2011 during the Ojai Film Festival that his education was not a waste of time. Bill Gunn's 1970 film 'Stop' was his debut project with the lens. The movie received an X rating for its sexual nature. Warner Bros. paid for it, but the apprehensive studio put it on hold and it was never shown. Roizman was awarded a lifetime achievement award in 2001 by the Camerimage International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography, in Poland. (ANI) If your alertness and reaction speed fluctuate more than usual, you may be more vulnerable to a viral disease. The study was led by experts from the University of Michigan, who collaborated closely with colleagues from Duke University School of Medicine and the University of Virginia. "We all know that if we're stressed, or haven't slept enough, that predisposes us to have a less resilient immune system," said Alfred Hero, the John H. Holland Distinguished University Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at U-M and corresponding author of the study in Scientific Reports. "This is the first exposure study in humans to show that one's cognitive performance before exposure to a respiratory virus can predict the severity of the infection," he said. Subtle variations in every day cognitive performance can signal changes in brain states that are known to increase the risk of illness such as stress, fatigue and poor sleep. The team wanted to measure cognitive function and explore whether it was predictive of immune performance after exposure to a respiratory virus. Cognitive variability, measured with an at-home, digital self-test, turned out to be very predictive. The team studied a cohort of 18 healthy volunteers who took brain performance tests three times per day for three days and then were exposed to a cold virus known as human rhinovirus. The software provided 18 measures of cognitive function including reaction time, attention and rapid switching between numbers and symbols, which were combined to derive an index of variability. "In the beginning, we didn't find that cognitive function had a significant association with susceptibility to illness because we used the raw scores. But later, when we looked at change over time, we found that variation in cognitive function is closely related to immunity and susceptibility," said Yaya Zhai, a recent Ph.D. graduate in bioinformatics at U-M and first author of the study. She and Hero led the development of the cognitive variability index. The team assessed viral shedding by using a saline solution to wash out the nasal passages of participants. They determined the presence of viral infection and the quantity of virus in the fluid by growing the virus in a cell culture. As for symptoms, the team used the Jackson score, in which participants rated themselves from one to three on eight common cold symptoms. "This is an interesting observation in a relatively small study. I hope that there will be a chance to confirm these findings in a larger, more definitive study," said Ronald Turner, professor emeritus of pediatrics at the University of Virginia, who ran the experiment. The team is optimistic that smartphone use could eventually help identify times of heightened susceptibility to illness, monitoring cognitive indicators like typing speed and accuracy as well as how much time the user spends sleeping. "Traditional clinical cognitive assessments that look at raw scores in a single time point often do not provide a true picture of brain health," said P. Murali Doraiswamy, director of the Neurocognitive Disorders Program at the Duke University School of Medicine, who designed the neurocognitive testing portion of the study. "At home, periodic cognitive monitoring, through self-test digital platforms, is the future of brain health assessment," said Doraiswamy. The study was part of a project funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to discover whether it was possible to predict susceptibility to illness in soldiers. That project was led by Geoffrey Ginsburg, then a professor at the Duke Center for Applied Genomics and Precision Medicine, and he led the contingent of the team analyzing blood samples for biomarkers that could indicate susceptibility to illness. The experiment also discovered a few genetic markers that may indicate reduced immune function, which the team may explore further in future studies. (ANI) An application has been moved in Delhi's Patiala House Court on behalf of fugitive criminal Rajvinder Singh to give his consent to extradite him to Australia. He is accused of murdering an Australian woman in Queensland, Australia in 2018. Earlier, he said that he wish to go to Australia to contest the case there. On the way to the courtroom, Rajvinder told the reporters, "I did not kill the woman. I want this case to be investigated by the Australian police." Asked about why he fled from Australia, Rajvinder Singh said he would explain everything before the court. Link Metropolitan Magistrate Swati Sharma listed the application moved on behalf of Rajvinder Singh for consideration on January 10. Legal Aid Counsel (LAC) Love Deep Gaur moved the application on behalf of Rajvinder Singh. Singh was produced before the Link judge as the concerned judge was not available on Saturday. Earlier on Saturday, the Link judge said that the statement will be recorded by the concerned judge only. Special public prosecutor Ajay Digpaul submitted that it was not a normal case and there was an urgency. He already expressed his desire to go to Australia on the last date. Today his statement was to be recorded only. A reward of Rs 5.5 crore was declared for his arrest. Thereafter, the judge said she would take instructions from the chief metropolitan magistrate. On the last date of the hearing on December 24, Rajvinder Singh before the Court expressed his "desire to go to Australia and contest the case there." Rajvinder Singh is facing an extradition inquiry in India. He was arrested on November 25, 2022. He was arrested and produced before Patiala House Court by the Delhi Police special cell on November 25. The Court remanded Rajvinder Singh to judicial custody. Earlier a non-bailable warrant was issued for the arrest of Rajvinder Singh by the court. According to sources, Rajvinder was in Australia for 10 years and was working as a male nurse. The woman who was allegedly killed by him was unknown to him. He holds a BSc degree. He also got Australian citizenship and was married to a woman who is also an Australian citizen. Delhi Police special cell arrested Rajvinder, an accused of killing an Australian woman in Queensland in 2018. The Queensland police declared a reward of 1 million Australian dollars, the largest ever offered by the department for giving information about the accused. On November 4, 2022, vide Twitter, the Australian High Commission informed the declaration of the reward of 1 million Australian dollars on the arrest of one Rajvinder Singh, an Indian-origin Australian citizen, who had committed the gruesome murder of an Australian woman on October 21, 2018 in Queensland, Australia and had been absconding ever since. INTERPOL had issued Red Corner Notice (RCN) regarding the said accused. The CBI/INTERPOL, New Delhi had got issued a non-bailable warrant, under The Extradition Act, against his name from the Patiala House Court on November 21, 2022. On November 25, based on inputs shared by CBI/INTERPOL and Australian counterparts, the accused was apprehended near GT Karnal Road and arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police. (ANI) Army troops opened fire on the line of control (LoC) in J&K's Poonch on Saturday after noticing "suspicious movement", a defence official said. "Around 7.50 p.m., after noticing suspicious movement close to 638 Post of 19 Madras in Balakote sector of the LoC in Poonch, army opened fire for about 5 minutes," a defence source said, adding that the details are awaited. --IANS sq/vd ( 77 Words) 2023-01-07-20:52:02 (IANS) China released the 10th edition of its diagnosis and treatment protocol for COVID-19 on Saturday, the first of its kind since the country announced that it will be managed as a Category B disease. Over the past three years, the virus has been strictly prevented and controlled according to the same strict Category A standards that apply to diseases such as the plague and cholera. But in light of how the epidemic situation has evolved, with the current variants of the virus more transmissible but less virulent than earlier ones, and with few cases presenting as pneumonia, the disease has been downgraded from novel coronavirus pneumonia to novel coronavirus infection, and it is to be managed accordingly, starting Sunday. The previous edition of the protocol was released in March last year. The latest edition calls for a treat-it-as-it-is shift of focus for the governments and public health systems, as well as neighborhoods and individual residents, as the emphasis is on treatment rather than preventing infection. The revised national protocol, which is based on the experience of some big cities in their head-on collision with the virus last month, will undoubtedly help standardize diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 infections nationwide, as in line with clinical practice it classifies cases as being light, medium, severe or critical. This will be especially welcomed by small towns and rural areas, as the protocol improves the diagnostic criteria and warning indicators for severe and critical cases, which will ease the pressure on their public health facilities as less severe cases can be treated with over-the-counter medications at home. The adjustment of the protocol can help ensure that limited medical care resources can be concentrated on caring for those who are most vulnerable, such as the elderly, children and people with underlying diseases, in a bid to prevent and reduce the occurrence of severe cases and minimize the number of deaths caused by COVID-19. But having said that, more medical care resources should now be diverted to villages in light of the requirements of the protocol so as to minimize the pressure on the public health system and the national economy that is expected to arise as a result of the projected resurgence of COVID-19 infections during the 40-day Spring Festival holiday peak travel period that will begin on Friday. The issuance of the protocol should prompt public health departments across the country to accelerate the adjustment of the distribution of medical resources between urban and rural areas through the pre-settled assistance model, whereby major hospitals in cities provide local rural clinics and village doctors with direct assistance in terms of personnel, medicines, funding, facilities and equipment, as well as diagnosis and treatment guidance. The protocol highlights the importance of quick diagnosis, high clinical treatment efficiency, early treatment and the use of a combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicines, the importance of which has been fully demonstrated in the nation's fight with the virus last month after it lifted its strict virus control policies. The latest COVID-19 infection diagnosis and treatment protocol, which adheres to the country's consistent principle of always putting life and health first, effectively responds to the appeals and demands of society, while still being firmly rooted in science and the actual epidemic situation in the country. Since the first version of the diagnosis and treatment protocol for COVID 19 was released in January 2020, there have been obvious changes in each version. But these have all been determined by the constancy of the guiding ideology, which demands a scientific response to the pandemic and flexibility in the diagnosis and treatment measures so that they can address the evolving situation. Each of the 10 editions represents an important stage in the development of China's epidemic prevention and control efforts, as each of them marks the optimal approach under the prevailing conditions at that time. Each has fulfilled its mission for the period they were made for. It is good to see that many provincial-level regions, including Beijing, Tianjin, Chongqing as well as Fujian and Guizhou provinces, have already issued their implementation plans in accordance with the latest protocol. For instance, they all give full play to a hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system and greater coordination and connection between grassroots clinics and the fever departments of major hospitals, so as to boost the capacity of the former to handle COVID-19 cases. The rapidity with which localities are executing the protocol should serve to consolidate people's confidence that their lives and health will continue to be effectively guarded against the virus and that the removal of the constraints on socioeconomic activities will bring the return of their life to normal at an early date. What's more, given its optimized COVID-19 strategy, the world's second-largest economy is in a better position to help boost the global economic recovery as an anchor to global supply chains and a main driving force for the global market. JD-U Parliamentary Board President Upendra Kushwaha on Saturday said that he expects that the RJD will take disciplinary action on MLA Sudhakar Singh soon "We are waiting for 'Kharmas' (a month beginning mid-December and ending on Makar Sakranti in mid-January, and considered unauspicious) to finish. Then we are expecting that RJD would take disciplinary action against Sudhakar Singh," he said. Sudhakar Singh had used unparliamentary words like Shikhandi, night watchman, and beggar to target Nitish Kumar. Following his statements, the JD-U strongly objected and asked Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav to control his MLA. Tejashwi Yadav had declared Sudhakar Singh "a BJP agent" but did not take any action against him, saying that the matter was brought to the notice of party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and he will take the decision. "The way Sudhakar Singh gave the statement against CM Nitish Kumar and a spokesperson of RJD defended it, it looks like the script was written from one place," Kushwaha said. Asked about the merger of the JD-U with the RJD, Kushwaha said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar already clarified that there is no question of merger of these two parties. Kushwaha also said that he has good personal relations with BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi and he had wished him on his birthday but that does not mean that the JD-U will come close to the BJP. "We have ideological differences with BJP and hence we can't come together," he said. --IANS ajk/vd ( 262 Words) 2023-01-07-23:00:05 (IANS) A man in north Delhi was arrested for allegedly posing as a member of Randeep Bhati gang and making an extortion call to a jeweller from a Pakistani number, said an official on Saturday. The accused has been identified as Ajay Kumar, 30. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police, Northeast, S.K. Sain, a complaint was received on December 31 at Bhajanpura police station in which the complainant, a local jeweller, alleged that a person called him over the phone from a Pakistani number and disclosed himself as Tarun Bhati from Randeep Bhati gang. "He demanded Rs. 1.5 lakh as extortion money and threatened to kill the jeweller if the money was not arranged. The complainant also provided recordings of the threat which appeared to be serious. Accordingly, a case under Sections 387 (extortion) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code was registered and the investigation was taken up," he said. "Police team was formed but the main challenge was that the mobile number used for the threat was from Pakistan and the IP address was of Philadelphia, US. "Then efforts were made to trace the details of mobile phones and IP addresses through various telecom and internet operators, both national and international. In that process details of more than 50 suspected mobile numbers were analysed. After analysis of different numbers, the police team zeroed-in on a person residing in Ghonda, in north Delhi," the DCP said. "The information was further developed through local informers, raids were conducted at different places and the accused Ajay Kumar was apprehended from his house," said the official. During interrogation, the accused confessed to his crime and disclosed that in 2019, he sold his house, invested the sale proceeds of around Rs 27 lakh in the share market but lost almost all the money and was going through financial hardships. In July 2022, he approached his neighbouring jeweller (complainant), got released his jewellery from Muthoot Finance and sold the same to the complainant. It is at this time he got the idea to threaten the complainant and to make some easy money. "He arranged fake numbers through anonymous persons on Facebook. The mobile phone used in the commission of the crime has been seized," the official said, adding further probe is going on. --IANS ssh/vd ( 398 Words) 2023-01-07-23:22:02 (IANS) The Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the Digital India Awards 2022 acknowledge, inspire and motivate not only government entities, but also startups to attain the vision of a digital India. The awards are but a step towards transforming India into a digitally empowered society where people's potential is unleashed by effective use of digital governance, she said. The President also said that social justice should be the prime objective of digital innovations. India would develop into a knowledge economy only when the digital divide is substantially bridged through the use of technology. Speaking at the awards ceremony, Vaishnaw recalled how Prime Minister Narendra Modi had initiated the Digital India programme eight years ago. Since then, India has set an example for the world by harnessing technology to deliver services to people at the grassroot level, he said. Digital India Awards encourage and honour innovative digital initiatives by government entities at all levels. These awards aim to inspire and motivate not only the government entities, but also startups and grassroots level digital initiatives in fulfilling the Digital India vision. e-NAM, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, won the Platinum Award in the Digital Empowerment of Citizens category. Transport Mission Mode Project (eTransport) received a gold award while Judgment Search Portal received silver award in the same category. Similarly, e-Vivechna App (MP) received platinum award in Digital Initiatives at Grassroots Level category, while DeGS Computer Basic Training (Jharkhand) received gold and Ksheerasree Portal (Kerala) received silver award in the same category. --IANS kvm/arm ( 319 Words) 2023-01-07-23:28:03 (IANS) According to Police, the third floor of an under-construction building collapsed resulting in the death of the two victims. Several people were trapped inside the building are were rescued following an operation that lasted for four-five hours. The fire brigade and NDRF teams were pressed into action to rescue the people and the bodies trapped in the Debris of the building. "At 4 am we received a rescue call about a building collapse. We immediately sprung into action. 5 people were at the top of the building during the collapse. 3 people were rescued and 2 died," said the Fire Officer on an under-construction building collapse in Shanthi Nagar, Kukatpally. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday got emotional while meeting the affected families at Joshimath town of the state's Chamoli district. CM Dhami met people across the ages, from old ones to children to have a first-hand account of their problems. He said, "Our effort is to make everyone safe. Preparations are made for necessary arrangements. Our first task is to take people to safer areas." CM Dhami also said, "We are also contemplating if people need to be migrated from here and rehabilitated. We are also finding out a location for this. As of now, this is the winter season. So, we are looking into the issues that need to be addressed immediately." The Chief Minister informed that leading institutes like IIT Roorkee and others are in talks with the ISRO to find out the cause. "Geoscientists are working. Apart from Guwahati institute, IIT Roorkee is also in talks with ISRO. Everyone is trying to find out the causes." In Joshimath town, huge cracks have been seen in houses, roads, and fields and many houses have suffered subsidence. Cracks have been found at several places on the Joshimath-Malari border road, which connects the India-China border, due to landslides in Joshimath. A large part of the Badrinath National Highway is also in the grip of landslides. Joshimath Municipal Chairman Shailendra Pawar said huge cracks appeared in the houses due to water leakage from inside the ground in the Marwadi ward. The central government on Friday set up a panel to conduct a study of the occurrence of land subsidence and its impact on Joshimath town. District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana said that all construction work has been halted in view of the situation in Joshimath until further orders. According to the Chamoli district administration statement on Friday, out of 561 establishments, 153 in the Ravigram ward, 127 in the Gandhinagar ward, 28 in the Marwadi ward, 24 in the Lower Bazaar ward, 52 in the Singhdhar ward, 71 in the Manohar Bagh ward, 29 in the Upper Bazaar ward 27 in the Sunil ward and 50 in Parsari have reported cracks, due to which the operations of Hotel View and Malari Inn were restricted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, till further orders. On Thursday, nine families were displaced, including four families in Joshimath Municipal Corporation, one from Gurudwara Joshimath, one from Tourist Hostel, Manohar Bagh and others. Locals of Joshimath had blocked the Badrinath Highway on Thursday morning to protest and get the government and administration to take the matter of land subsidence seriously.A total of 38 families have been displaced so far. Meanwhile, with the continuous land subsidence in the Joshimath, the state government has dispatched a team of experts to the area to assess the situation. The teams from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have also been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure, Chamoli Chief Development Officer (CDO) Lalit Narayan Mishra said on Friday. (ANI) Nearly a month after Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu formed his government in Himachal Pradesh, his cabinet was expanded on Sunday adding seven more ministers, including former Congress CM Virbhadra Singh's son. Their swearing-in ceremony was administered by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and it took place at the Raj Bhawan in Shimla. A total of seven MLAs, including former state Chief Minister Virbhadhra Singh's son Vikramaditya Singh was sworn in as cabinet ministers. MLAs, Dhani Ram Shandil, Chander Kumar, Harshwardhan Chauhan, Jagat Singh Negi, Rohit Thakur, and Anirudh Singh, also took oath as cabinet ministers. Chief Minister Sukhu and his deputy Mukesh Agnihotri were also present at the ceremony. On Saturday, Sukhu said that a list of 10 people has been submitted to the party's high command and the state government will be implementing the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) in the state soon after the first cabinet meeting. Under OPS, the pension of central and state government employees was fixed at 50 per cent of the last drawn basic pay, while under the new system of the New Pension Scheme, 10 per cent of the basic pay and dearness allowance will be contributed by the employee. In the November 12 Assembly elections manifesto, Congress had promised to implement the Old Pension Scheme, if voted to power. The CM arrived in Shimla from Delhi, on Saturday evening, after meeting the party's high command. "The meetings were personal. The Cabinet expansion is also my prerogative and I handed over the list of ten MLAs to the high command. As soon as the approval comes through, we will roll the ball to expand the Cabinet," the CM said, speaking to reporters. He further added that he would visit Mumbai on Sunday. "I am going to Mumbai tomorrow and have another scheduled event in Pune... As soon as I receive the approved list of candidates, I will effect the Cabinet expansion. We are in the government to change the system, not for power," Sukhu said on Saturday. (ANI) According to Aloor police, the women attacked the man alleging that he circulated morphed photos of a woman in the community through social media. The women have been booked under section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and a case has been registered against them. Police arrested the women on the complaint of Shaji, a native of Muriyad in Thrissur district. All of the accused are members of Emperor Emmanuel Retreat centre in Chalakkudy of Thrissur district. The complainant Shaji, his wife Ashlyn, son Sajan, and their relatives were allegedly beaten up after being dragged out of their car. (ANI) DSP Borkeri Terang said, "42 (Narcotic capsules) weighing 20 grams were recovered. The capsules were hidden in small plastic containers. We suspect many people are involved in this." Police nabbed two drug peddlers and another person near the Jatinga area on Friday. Police said, "We have carried the search operations based on a tip-off. Accordingly, we hatched a plan and intercepted the car." The Border Security Force of Guwahati Frontier seized 5,023 kilograms of ganja, and 43,719 Yaba tablets and apprehended 221 smugglers this year so far, informed officials on December 1. Since January 1 till November 30 last year, the troops of BSF under Guwahati Frontier have rescued 8,678 cattle heads, seized 41,876 phensydyl bottles, 5,023 kgs of ganja, 43,719 Yaba tablets (worth Rs 2.18 crore) and 5,13,000 FICN, added officials. The Guwahati city police in November apprehended two drug peddlers and seized large quantities of contraband worth Rs 5 crore from a vehicle, informed the city police. Based on secret information, a team of Guwahati city police led by Joint Commissioner of Police Partha Sarathi Mahanta intercepted a Xylo passenger vehicle in the Gorchuk area and recovered 20,000 Yaba tablets in possession of two persons. (ANI) The police have identified the accused as Chetram of North West Delhi's Jahangirpuri and said that he was previously sent to jail under sections 107 and 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). According to the police, Chetram stabbed his wife multiple times with a screwdriver to take revenge for his previous arrest and later also cut his nose. A First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged in the matter and the police have taken up the investigation. More details are awaited. (ANI) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora has written a letter to Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia seeking the resumption of flights from Ludhiana in Punjab under UDAN, in the same way as other airports in the state are operational under UDAN. 'Let the common citizen of the country fly' was launched by the Government of India with the aim of Ude-Desh-Ka-Aam-Nagrik (UDAN), but some airports and UDAN operations in Punjab have not been reopened even after COVID, as per the AAP lawmaker. Arora requested in his letter, "resumption of flights to Ludhiana from Sahnewal airport till the time Halwara Airport is operational. There was a flight under UDAN to Ludhiana which was stopped in Covid times and never started again". While starting flights under UDAN to Ludhiana, the government assured that flights from small towns would connect big cities and businesses would benefit and grow. As we know, Ludhiana is a big centre for industries in Punjab. "I would like to apprise you that Ludhiana being one of biggest industrial cities not just in Punjab but also in the country and with over 5 million population it is imperative to resume flights to Ludhiana immediately," Arora's letter read. "I would request you to kindly direct the concerned officials to recapitulate Alliance Air for resumption of flights to Ludhiana at the earliest under UDAN," the AAP MP's letter read. (ANI) Flash Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has appreciated China and Chinese enterprises' great help to the flood-affected people of the country. Speaking at a meeting for donation of funds to the flood-affected people by the China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC) at the Prime Minister's House here on Friday, Sharif expressed his gratitude to China for its support to Pakistan. The prime minister thanked Chinese companies for the help they have provided to the Pakistani people in flood-affected areas since severe floods hit Pakistan last year. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has brought benefits to the people of Pakistan with Chinese enterprises' contribution in the fields of energy and infrastructure in Pakistan, Sharif said, adding that Pakistan welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in the new energy industry, especially photovoltaic energy project. "Best wishes to Tripura's hardworking CM Dr Manik Saha Ji. He is respected for his humility and hard work and is undertaking numerous efforts for Tripura's progress. Praying for his long and healthy life," tweeted PM Modi. Saha was born on January 8, 1953, in Agartala, Tripura. Notably, Tripura BJP has started the 'Jan Viswas Yatra' programme to strengthen the party support base in the state. Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off 'Jan Viswas Yatra' from Dhamanagar in North Tripura district and Sabroom in South Tripura district on Thursday. BJP national president JP Nadda will be present on the concluding day of the yatra on January 12 where he will address the masses. The Yatra will last for eight days and cover 60 constituencies of the state. The main purpose of the Yatra is to showcase the developmental works the BJP government has done since 2018. Assembly polls in Tripura are slated for 2023. (ANI) Amid the land subsidence continuing in the Joshimath area of the Chamoli district in Uttarakhand, the Prime Minister's office on Sunday said it would hold a high-level meeting this afternoon. "Principal Secretary to PM Dr. P K Mishra will hold a high-level review with the Cabinet Secretary and senior officials of Government and members of National Disaster Management Authority at PMO today afternoon," an official release said. District Officials of Joshimath will also remain present through video conference on this issue. According to the release, senior officers of Uttarakhand will also attend the review through video conferencing. The meeting is being held in wake of the cracks that have developed in the area in the last few days. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has also directed to constitute a coordination committee at government level led by the Additional Chief Secretary and at the local level under the chairmanship of Commissioner Garhwal, for the help and relief and rescue of the people affected by the Joshimath landslide. The town of Joshimath also called Jyotirmath, is the winter seat of Lord Badrinath, whose idol is brought down from the main Badrinath temple to Vasudeva temple in Joshimath every winter. The holy town of Joshimath is revered by the Hindus as an important pilgrimage center of the country. Meanwhile, the district administration has made arrangements for the affected families in the subsidence. Following the appearance of cracks in the houses, a total of 66 families are reported to have migrated from Joshimath as of now. "The district administration has made arrangements for the families affected by the natural calamity to stay in safe relief camps," the administration said on Sunday. (ANI) The notification stated, "On January 9, 2023, the Minister will be chairing a review meeting of different flagship schemes by the government of India in Ampati, South West Garo Hills alongside the government officials and stakeholders." "On January 10, 2023, Rupala will be meeting self-help groups for women, dairy farmers and the fisheries entrepreneurs of the region" the ministry added. This will be the first time Union Minister Rupala is visiting the South West Garo Hills of the state, confirmed the ministry. He would also visit Bangladesh Border Haats to interact with the communities living along the border. Border Haats in Meghalaya are a result of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of India and the People's Republic of Bangladesh in order to improve the livelihood of the people living in the areas bordering Bangladesh, the Government of Meghalaya states in its website. Currently, there are two functional Border Haats, India-Baliamari from Kalaichar, West Garo Hills District, Meghalaya to Kurigram District, Bangladesh while four new Border Haats are under implementation. These Haats help trade food items, forest products, cottage products and small agricultural household items. (ANI) An unidentified miscreant who has been accused of vandalising the St. Michael's Church cemetery, has been booked by the Mumbai Police. The miscreant vandalised 18 crosses and some monuments in the cemetery of Mahim's St. Michael's Church, Mumbai on Saturday morning, said the police. According to the press statement of the church, "It is with sadness I would like to inform you that a certain miscreant entered our Church premises today the 7th January 2023 at around 6 A.M and vandalized about 18 crosses in the Church Cemetery." Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Zone 5 Manoj Govind Patil told ANI about the incident, "This unfortunate incident happened on Saturday morning. We have booked a person, but not been arrested yet. A case was registered under Section 295A. The investigation is underway." This incident enraged the Catholic community of Mumbai, according to the police. About the incident, Father Lancy Pinto St. Michael's Church (Mahim) said, "The accused entered through the back door to the cemetery area and said to the watchman, 'I'm going inside the church. We have shared the CCTV footage with the police for further investigation. We have registered a case against the unknown person." According to the church's press release, "An FIR has been lodged at Mahim Police Station and investigations have begun." The press release further said, "The police have assured us that they will arrest the person concerned based on CCTV footage and the statement of witness and will take appropriate legal action. A further investigation is also being conducted to check for any security lapse." The attack on the Mahim Church triggered political reactions as well. NCP Spokesperson Clyde Crasto tweeted, "News of Graves and Crosses vandalised at the St. Michael's Church graveyard in Mahim, Mumbai is very disturbing. This incident happened immediately after the temporary withdrawal of land acquisition notice to St. Peter's church, Bandra raises many doubts." In a series of tweets, Clyde Crasto demanded the perpetrators of this crime must be arrested and severe action must be taken. (ANI) Sudden fire broke out in a private bus under the limits of KPHB colony in Telangana's Hyderabad on Saturday, the police said adding that there have been casualties reported. When the bus caught fire, it was carrying at least eight people including two bus drivers and an assistant driver. No injuries have been reported, the police said. The police suspect some mechanical problem in the bus as a cause of this fire, however, the investigation is still underway. "A private travellers bus Kaveri travels caught fire yesterday (Saturday) around 9.15 pm. After the bus driver and one other person noticed the fire in the driver's cabin, everyone was cautioned and immediately got down of it. The fire eventually spread across the bus and was engulfed in the flames. The police and firefighters immediately rushed to the spot and controlled it in time," Police Inspector, KPHB colony, B Kishan Kumar said. Earlier on Friday, a massive fire broke out at Sohail Hotel near Nalgonda X Road under Chaderghat police station in Hyderabad causing the death of one person. According to the officials, that person died due to a high density of smoke after he was stuck and could not be rescued. (ANI) Ahead of the Pongal festival, procuring of sugarcanes directly from the farmers as per the directives of the Tamil Nadu government has been initiated, informed the District Collector of Madurai. Speaking to ANI, Aneesh Sarkar, the District Collector of Madurai said, "We have initiated the process of procuring sugarcane directly from farmers for this district as the Tamil Nadu government has directed." The Pongal festival is set to start on January 15, which marks the last day of the Tamil month called 'Marghazi'. The first day of the festival is called Bhogi Pongal. The festival is observed over the span of 3-4 days in the state. Procuring the sugarcanes directly from the farmers has generated diverse reactions across farmers, daily-wage earners and district collectors. A farmer Bharath said, "This Year officials have come directly and procured sugarcane from farmers. I am happy about it. We have seen profits this year. We are given Rupees 20 per sugarcane." On the other hand, a daily-wage earner Selvam said, "The government pays us two rupees 50 paise for cutting a cane. We are not benefited from this. We requested the government to increase the wage and make it four rupees." The District Collector said, "Offering sugarcane is an integral part of the celebration of Pongal. Sugarcanes are grown in the plantations in Madurai in large numbers." He further added, "This time, we are focusing on the quality of sugarcanes. Sugarcanes which are as tall as 6.5 feet, would be procured for Pongal and would be given as gift." (ANI) Organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangha Bhaurav Devras Seva Nyas, the event, over two days on January 7-8, aimed at creating public awareness on 'panchtatva' (five elements), which, according to ancient texts and popular belief, goes into the making of a human body. CM Adityanath addressed the meeting on its concluding day. "Our bodies are made of 'panchtatva' or five elements. Since these elements belong to nature, one needs to ensure a proper balance for them to be working well. The seminar at the BHU aims to rase popular awareness on 'panchtatva'," the UP CM said. Senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members Bhaiyaji Joshi and Swami Kadsiddheshwar were among the dignitaries at the event. Initially, the eventually was supposed to be organised in December. But it was postponed to the new year on account of the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam. (ANI) The operator of the Samajwadi Party Twitter cell was arrested for making indecent comments targeting different persons from the political arena on social media for some time. In an official press release by the Lucknow Police, Agarwal was arrested under several sections of IPC including section 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth and residence). According to the press release, a chargesheet had been filed against the SP worker in the past at Police Station Hazratganj under various sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000, including section 66 (computer-related offences) and non-bailable section 67. Meanwhile, the party workers staged a protest outside police headquarters in Lucknow and demanded the release of Agarwal immediately. "Arrest of Samajwadi Party worker Manish Jagan Agarwal by Lucknow Police is condemnable and shameful. Police should release the SP worker immediately," Samajwadi Party tweeted on their official Twitter handle. SP President Akhilesh Yadav reached the Lucknow Police headquarters to protest against the arrest and meet Agarwal, as informed by the party through their official Twitter handle. As per the sources, a twitter quarrel was going on between Bharatiya Janata Party and the Samajwadi Party for quite some time. Three cases have been registered in Hazratganj Kotwali against Manish Jagan Agarwal, as per the police officials. The social media in-charge of BJP Yuva Morcha, Richa Rajput had also filed a case against the Twitter handle of the Samajwadi party on January 4, as per the sources. (ANI) Rakimul SK (30), a Malda-based counterfeit currency racketeer, was arrested by Kolkata Police on Saturday. "Acting on credible source information, a team of Special Task Force (STF) on January 7 at about 4:10 pm, apprehended one person from JBS Haldane Avenue near Topsia crossing, Kolkata," police said in a statement. "During the search 300 pieces of high-quality counterfeit Indian currency notes of Rs 500 each, amounting to Rs 1,50,000 were recovered and seized from his possession," the statement added. A case under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered against the accused. (ANI) Punjab Police on Sunday issued an advisory banning the manufacture, sale and use of Chinese kite flying string in the state, coming on the heels of Ujjain police's crackdown on Chinese 'manjha' sellers the previous day. "As per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, strict action will be taken against those buying or selling Chinese kite flying string. Say No to Chinese 'Dor'," read the advisory, tweeted by Punjab Police. "Chinese kite string is a non-biodegradable product. it does not get decomposed & sustains in the environment for a long time," DGP Punjab Police tweeted. Under rule 144 of CrPC Act 1973, the advisory added, people involved in selling Chinese kite string will be punished. It urged parents not to allow their children to use it for kite flying and make them aware of its outcome. On Saturday, amid the reports of deaths by throat slitting due to Chinese 'manjha', police in Ujjain swung into action by launching a crackdown on the sale and use of the banned Chinese string used in kite flying. In Ujjain, a girl had died after her throat was slit by Chinese 'manjha'. Police in Ujjain have activated drone surveillance to detect users and sellers of banned Chinese 'manjha'. Vinod Meena, City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Ujjain, said, "There is a complete ban on the purchase, sale and use of Chinese 'Dor' in the Ujjain district. Here 2 traders were caught red-handed while selling Chinese dor. The police administration has demolished the houses of both the traders". 'A girl and a young man died due to throat-slitting incidents. The roofs of kite fliers' houses are being checked. Along with this, search is going on at the shops in the market," Meena had said. In Ujjain, the police conducted a campaign led by IPS Vinod Kumar Meena and instructed the shopkeepers not to sell Chinese 'manjha'. Satyendra Kumar Shukla, SP Ujjain, said on Saturday that the users and sellers of Chinese 'manjha' are being detected through drones. "Keeping in view the death of a 21-year-old due to 'Chinese dor', we have started a campaign against its use this year. We are trying to find out the people who use and sell Chinese 'Manjha'," Satyendra Kumar said on Saturday. Police said that cases are being registered against those found involved in selling Chinese 'Manjha'. (ANI) Flash Over the past three years, China has continually refined its COVID-19 strategy in response to the evolving pandemic situation, but putting people and life first has always been its guiding principle, said Mi Feng, a spokesperson for the National Health Commission (NHC) at a briefing on China's COVID-19 policy held in Beijing on Friday. The briefing, organized by the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, aimed to explain China's optimization of its COVID-19 response to foreign diplomats. Diplomats from more than 130 embassies stationed in China, including over 30 ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions, attended the event. Mi said the current focus of China's COVID-19 response is being shifted from infection prevention to medical treatment, which is scientific, timely and necessary. "We are improving protection for vulnerable groups and increasing the ability to receive and treat patients," he said. Jiao Yahui, head of the NHC's Bureau of Medical Administration, said the weakened pathogenicity of the disease, a high vaccination rate and the accumulation of experience has allowed China's epidemic prevention and control policy to enter a new stage. One of the major developments of the new stage is managing COVID-19 with measures designed to combat Class B infectious diseases, instead of Class A ones, starting Jan. 8, 2023. Liang Wannian, head of the COVID-19 response expert panel under the NHC, said China's fine-tuning of its COVID-19 policy was based on the assessment of variant characteristics, the changing pandemic situation at home and abroad, and the experience accumulated in implementing previously modified measures. Twenty adjusted measures were announced last November, which included loosening quarantine requirements, close contact management, and criteria for COVID-19 risk area categorization. On Dec. 7, 2022, China released a circular on further optimizing its COVID-19 response, announcing 10 new prevention and control measures. Liang said the optimized measures would make China's COVID-19 response more targeted and science-based. "The optimization will allow us to make more efficient use of relevant resources, better integrate epidemic prevention and control with socioeconomic development, and better ensure people's daily lives and meet their needs for medical and health services while maximizing the protection of their health and safety and minimizing the impact of the pandemic on socioeconomic development." In line with the optimized COVID-19 strategy, China has stepped up efforts to prepare its healthcare system, such as setting up more fever clinics and adding hospital beds and ICU beds. According to Jiao, China has opened nearly 57,000 fever clinics, among which 16,000 are in grade II hospitals or above and 41,000 are in community hospitals. She said as of Jan. 4, China had 1,310 specialist hospitals and 1,539 upgraded makeshift hospitals for treating COVID-19 patients, with 588,000 and 834,000 beds, including 61,000 and 60,000 ICU beds, respectively. Regarding the current priorities in China's COVID-19 response, Liang emphasized enhancing medical treatment, with a focus on preventing severe cases and death; ramping up vaccination efforts, especially among the elderly; strengthening the development, production and supply of medicines; and paying close attention to variants of the coronavirus. While continuously optimizing its COVID-19 response, China has conducted active international exchanges and cooperation, sharing information with and providing assistance to other countries and international organizations within its capacity. Mi said China has provided hundreds of billions of anti-pandemic supplies to 153 countries and 15 international organizations, supplied 2.2 billion vaccine doses to more than 120 countries and international organizations, sent 37 medical expert teams to 34 countries, and shared experience in pandemic prevention and control with more than 180 countries and regions as well as over 10 international organizations. Guo Yezhou, vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), said the CPC had maintained regular contact with more than 500 political parties and organizations in over 160 countries. Guo said that entrusted by the CPC Central Committee, the IDCPC has shared updated editions of China's COVID-19 control protocols on time and offered anti-pandemic supplies to political parties in need. "We will continue to advance international cooperation on COVID-19 and make greater contributions towards building a global community of health for all," he said. At the briefing, Chinese speakers also answered questions from foreign diplomats on inspection and quarantine policies, virus mutation monitoring, vaccine development and vaccination, the application of traditional Chinese medicine, communication with the World Health Organization, and foreign aid. The Uttarakhand CM commended PM Modi for performing 'Putra Dharma' (duties of son) and 'Rashtra Dharma' (duties of an administrator) simultaneously at the Public Tribute Havan Yajna programme organised in the memory of Heeraben Modi. CM Dhami said, "I was in Kolkata for a meeting on Namami Gange project, the day PM Modi's mother passed away. After performing the last rites of his mother, PM Modi joined the scheduled programme around 11.30am on the same day. He performed the 'Putra Dharma' and 'Rashtra Dharma' at the same time." Remembering Heeraben Modi, who died a centanarian, Dhami said, "Modi-ji's mother worked hard throughout her life and inculcated true values in him. The prime minister continues to embrace and follow the ideals that his mother instilled in him." Meanwhile, CM Dhami on Sunday participated at the inauguration programme of Maa Dhari Devi and Lord Shri Nagaraja Dev Doli Shobhayatra 2023 at Nehru Colony in Dehradun. He offered prayers to Maa Dhari Devi and Lord Shri Nagaraja Dev Doli, wishing for happiness, peace and prosperity of the people of his state. (ANI) In the wake of the land subsidence incident in Uttarakhand's Joshimath, the Centre on Sunday constituted a team of experts from seven different organisations to study and submit its recommendations. A team of experts from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Institute of Disaster Management, Geological Survey of India, IIT Roorkee, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, National Institute of Hydrology and Central Building Research Institute have been tasked to study and give recommendations on Joshimath situation. The decision was taken in a high-level review meeting chaired by Principal Secretary to Prime Minister PK Mishra. In the meeting, it was also decided that the Secretary of Border Management and Members of NDMA will visit Uttarakhand on Monday and assess the Joshimath situation. Uttarakhand Chief Secretary SS Sandhu briefed Prime Minister's Office from Joshimath during the review meeting chaired by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, who also was apprised that Government of India agencies and experts are assisting the state government to prepare short, medium and long-term plans. Mishra was also informed that one team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and four teams of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have already reached Joshimath. The Cabinet Secretary and senior government officials and members of the National Disaster Management Authority along with other officials and departments concerned attended the meeting chaired by Mishra at PMO earlier in the day. District Officials of Joshimath were also present in the meeting through video conference on this issue. Senior officers of Uttarakhand also attended the review through video conferencing. The gateway to pilgrimage sites like Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib, Joshimath is facing a major challenge due to land subsidence, with more than 600 houses developing cracks. On Saturday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the affected areas and met people whose houses had developed cracks. The Chief Minister said the multi-institutional experts and scientists are studying the land subsidence to suggest measures and decode reasons behind this. Dhami reiterated the government's topmost priority is to save lives. In a telephonic conversation with Dhami, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday also inquired about the steps taken for the safety and rehabilitation of the affected residents of Joshimath. According to Chief Minister's Office (CMO), PM Modi inquired about the progress of immediate and long-term action plans to mitigate and resolve the concerns of residents. "PM Modi spoke to CM Pushkar Singh Dhami over the telephone and inquired about the steps taken for the safety and rehabilitation of the affected residents and the progress of the immediate and long-term action plan to solve the problem," the Uttarakhand CMO said in a statement. The CMO added that the Prime Minister was personally monitoring the situation in Joshimath and the ongoing work to ensure the safety of civilians in the area. PM Modi also assured all possible assistance to save Joshimath in his telephonic conversation with CM Dhami. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Indore on Monday to attend the ongoing three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. "Looking forward to being in the vibrant city of Indore tomorrow, 9th January to mark Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. This is a great opportunity to deepen the connect with our diaspora, which has distinguished itself globally," prime minister Modi tweeted. Notably, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is being organized in person after a gap of four years and the first after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Leaders from various nations have arrived at the airport in Madhya Pradesh's Indore to attend the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention that started today. This event provides an important platform to connect with overseas Indians and to enable the diaspora to interact with each other. The theme of this year's convention is "Diaspora: Reliable partners for India's progress in Amrit Kaal." Over 3,500 diaspora members from 70 countries have registered for the Pravasi Bharatiya Convention (PBD) Convention. The PBD Convention will have five thematic Plenary sessions and all the plenary sessions will feature panel discussions, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday lauded Indian youths for "connecting India to the world" at the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Delivering the inaugural address at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, he said, "Whether it is the startup of technology, the younger generations are at the forefront of connecting India to the world. Our endeavour is to maximise our support for the diaspora. We aim to focus on the redressal of grievances through online mechanisms. I am confident that Indian youth at home and abroad will propel the growth of this country to greater heights. We strive to create a better workplace and non-discriminatory approach." Jaishankar said that India has the largest diaspora in the world. "What's unique about us is the intensity of bonding among us in the community abroad. This is an era where we're increasingly confident about our prospects and seek to connect with the international community," said EAM Jaishankar. He said that the country's relationship with 34 million people of Indian origin is what brings us here. "This relationship was very much evident amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. We recognised the tremendous response that we got from PIO. Our bond has become ever stronger as the result of all the trials. The identity of the diaspora is derived from how closely is connected," he added. (ANI) Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai on Sunday praised the Chitrakala Parishath institution, saying that it must not remain restricted to Karnataka and should grow at the national level. Speaking after inaugurating the 20th Chitrasanthe organized jointly by Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath and the Department of Higher Education here on Sunday, he said, "The National School of Drama (NSD), Delhi has earned a top position, similarly, the Chitrakala Parisath must grow at the national level." "The government is ready to extend all cooperation to build this organization further. This is one of the institutes which can take the Brand Bengaluru to the national level, and it must grow along the lines of IIT, IIM, and the National School of Law University," he added. CM Bommai said that paintings reflect the rich Indian culture and such a work is not happening anywhere. "The Chitrasanthe must not be restricted to Bengaluru alone as there are a good number of artists in Kalyana Karnataka and south Karnataka but they lacked a proper platform for the exhibition of their talent. This year, the Chitrasanthe must be held in four divisional headquarters, Mangaluru, Mysuru, and Hubballi-Dharwad for which the government will give full cooperation. Bengaluru is quite a unique city as it has been a home for technology, IT/BT, new science, and Startups, besides a cradle for art, culture, and spirituality thanks to spiritual centres like ISKCON, Art of Living, and Isha Foundation," he said. Bommai said the government has permitted to have an exhibition in NGEF highlighting the growth of Science and Technology in Bengaluru. "Suitable land will be provided to have an exhibition to show how a variety of arts have grown in the state capital. From next year, the Chitrasanthe can be held for two days and the citizens must purchase the artwork to encourage the art. The painting is an expression of feeling and emotion. The painting needs no technology and the same can be used to improve the art. The inner feelings can be expressed through the artworks," he further said. The Chitrakala Parishath Chairman BL Shankar, Higher Education Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayana, MP P C Mohan, MLA Rizwan Arshad, and others were also present at the event. (ANI) Vanita Sharma, mother of Tunisha Sharma, refuted the allegations of the family of Sheezan, an accused in the late actor's murder case, and alleged that he used her to meet his expenses for drugs. Vanita also denied the claims of Sheezan's family that Tunisha was being "neglected" by her mother which led her to depression, and said that the late actor loved her very much and shared everything with her. Speaking to ANI, Tunisha's mother said, "I do not need to explain to anyone what relationship I shared with Tunisha. Tunisha was my daughter, she was the closest to me. She loved me very much. Even she used to sleep with me and used to share everything with me." Tunisha's mother also referred to the actor's audio to state that both of them loved each other. She alleged murder "instead of suicide" while citing the instance of the day Tunisha died. The mother alleged that Sheezan had taken her to the hospital which was farther from the set instead of a nearby hospital. "It could be murder instead of suicide. Because Sheezan took Tunisha to a hospital far away from the studio, whereas the hospital was just 5 minutes away from the studio. But he did not take her there. There should be an inquiry as to what happened between Tunisha and Sheezan in those 15-20 minutes. Only then the truth will come out. Had Sheezan taken Tunisha to the nearest hospital, Tunisha would have been with us today because she was still breathing," she claimed. Retorting to the allegations by Sheezan's family that Tunisha's mother controlled her finances, so much so that she had to plead before her mother for her own money, Vanita said that she transferred Rs 3 lakh in 3 months to Tunisha. "Tunisha had no shortage of money. I used to transfer money to her from time to time. Even in the last 3 months, I had transferred up to Rs 3 lakh rupees to Tunisha. Tunisha used to buy expensive branded things. Whatever things Tunisha wanted, she used to bring them," she said. She claimed that she used to give whatever Tunisha asked for and fulfilled all her wishes. The mother said that Tunisha, in the last few days, had started "hiding things" and taking money from her friends. "Although for the last few days, she had started hiding things. She started asking for money from her friends and even used to tell them not to tell her mother. So it is possible that Sheezan was taking drugs and for that Tunisha was asking her friends for money. Sheezan was also getting her addicted to drugs. Tunisha used to meet Sheezan's expenses. Even when his car broke down, Tunisha used to help him. For 1 month, he was traveling in my car as well," she claimed. She also denied Sheezan's family's allegation that Vanita used to "strangulate" Tunisha and said that she never even raised her hand on her daughter. "Till date, I have never raised my hand on Tunisha, let alone strangle her. Sheezan and his family have used Tunisha in every way. Tunisha has visited America, Dubai, and Kashmir. We used to make plans to visit everywhere and we had also made plans to go to Goa. Whatever allegations Sheezan's family is making regarding Tunisha are totally wrong," she said. The mother further said that Tunisha had told her about breakup with Sheezan and his habit of consuming drugs. "When Tunisha had a breakup with Sheezan, she had told me that Sheezan used and cheated on her and even slapped her. Even Sheezan used to take drugs. Tunisha was in a relationship with Sheezan since June. When they went to Ladakh for an outdoor shoot. I had no problem with Tunisha's relationship. She told me that she is in love with Sheezan and wants to marry him. I had no objection but many changes had come in Tunisha. She started speaking Urdu, and started wearing hijab and it was not because she was doing a Muslim show. In fact, even before this he had done the show Ishq Subhan Allah, then there were no changes in this way, so it is obvious that Sheezan was asking him to do all these things," the mother claimed. "Sheezan already knew everything about Tunisha's age and religion. Whatever he is saying today is totally baseless. I want justice from the government, this whole matter should be investigated and Sheezan should be punished severely," she added. Sheezan Khan was reportedly dating Tunisha Sharma, who was allegedly found hanging at a TV serial set on December 24, a fortnight after the two allegedly broke up their few-months-long relationship. Within hours of the actress' demise, Sheezan Khan, who worked with the 20-year-old actor in 'Ali Baba Dastaan-E-Kabul', was arrested on charges of abetment to suicide. (ANI) Raising serious concerns over the land subsidence incident in Uttarakhand's Joshimath, Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Sunday said that if tunneling is leading to weakening structure then it must be stopped immediately, adding that a committee of the locals should be formed to analyze the exact reason behind such a situation. Coming out in support of the people and the BJP government in Uttarakhand in these challenging times, Rawat said, "Joshimath's existence, lives and livelihoods of residents stand threatened. We stand with them. We are with the Government and the Chief Minister in this challenge. It's a little delayed but if we work promptly and the Centre uses all its might - it should be a national mission to save Joshimath," he said. Rawat appealed to form committee of the locals and suggested to take the advise of experts and said that if tunnelling is leading to weakening structure then it must be stoped. "If experts say that tunnels or other factors are the culprits, all of them should be stopped & things should be taken up afresh. A committee of the locals should be formed, and with continuous consultation with everyone, improvements should be made," he said. According to the District Disaster Management Department, cracks were observed on 603 buildings, 68 families have been relocated as hundreds of houses, roads and farmlands have developed cracks over the past few weeks, causing panic among the residents of Joshimath, who considered the gateway to Badrinath, Hemkund Saheb, Valley of Flowers, and Auli. In the wake of the land subsidence incident in Uttarakhand's Joshimath, the Centre on Sunday constituted a team of experts from seven different organisations to study and submit its recommendations. A team of experts from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Institute of Disaster Management, Geological Survey of India, IIT Roorkee, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, National Institute of Hydrology and Central Building Research Institute have been tasked to study and give recommendations on Joshimath situation. The decision was taken in a high-level review meeting chaired by Principal Secretary to Prime Minister PK Mishra. In the meeting, it was also decided that the Secretary of Border Management and Members of NDMA will visit Uttarakhand on Monday and assess the Joshimath situation. Uttarakhand Chief Secretary SS Sandhu briefed Prime Minister's Office from Joshimath during the review meeting chaired by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, who also was apprised that Government of India agencies and experts are assisting the state government to prepare short, medium and long-term plans. Mishra was also informed that one team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and four teams of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have already reached Joshimath. The Cabinet Secretary and senior government officials and members of the National Disaster Management Authority along with other officials and departments concerned attended the meeting chaired by Mishra at PMO earlier in the day. District Officials of Joshimath were also present in the meeting through video conference on this issue. Senior officers of Uttarakhand also attended the review through video conferencing. The gateway to pilgrimage sites like Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib, Joshimath is facing a major challenge due to land subsidence, with more than 600 houses developing cracks. On Saturday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the affected areas and met people whose houses had developed cracks. The Chief Minister said the multi-institutional experts and scientists are studying the land subsidence to suggest measures and decode reasons behind this. Dhami reiterated the government's topmost priority is to save lives. In a telephonic conversation with Dhami, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday also inquired about the steps taken for the safety and rehabilitation of the affected residents of Joshimath. According to Chief Minister's Office (CMO), PM Modi inquired about the progress of immediate and long-term action plans to mitigate and resolve the concerns of residents. "PM Modi spoke to CM Pushkar Singh Dhami over the telephone and inquired about the steps taken for the safety and rehabilitation of the affected residents and the progress of the immediate and long-term action plan to solve the problem," the Uttarakhand CMO said in a statement. The CMO added that the Prime Minister was personally monitoring the situation in Joshimath and the ongoing work to ensure the safety of civilians in the area. PM Modi also assured all possible assistance to save Joshimath in his telephonic conversation with CM Dhami. (ANI) Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan on Sunday expressed solidarity with the TDP national president and former chief minister, Chandrababu Naidu, a press release issued here said. Pawan Kalyan visited Chandrababu Naidu's residence here to extend support to the TDP's fight against, what they called, the most undemocratic order, GO 1. They said that Andhra Pradesh is now undergoing a worse situation than the Emergency, the statement added. Chandrababu Naidu said that attempts are being made to stifle the voice of the Opposition parties in the State. He announced that all the political parties along with people's organisations would wage a combined war to save democracy, the press release said. "Pawan Kalyan found fault with the State Government for creating obstacles to Chandrababu's tour in Kuppam. The Jana Sena chief said that he called on Chandrababu only to express his solidarity with him. He said that both of them reflected on the prevailing situation in the State, particularly after the GO 1 was issued and felt that the State Government was only trying to suppress the Opposition parties," it added. ''The YSRCP Government was acting in an atrocious manner and brought in the British era GO 1 only to stifle the voice of the Opposition parties. Pensions are being withdrawn at will and no Minimum Support Price (MSP) is not being paid to farmers," a Press release quoting Pawan Kalyan said. All the Opposition parties want to fight unitedly against such tendencies of the State Government. The attitude that no one should question the YSRCP Government is highly condemnable, the Jana Sena chief said. "It is really surprising that a leader who has been representing the Assembly segment seven times is not allowed to visit his home constituency. Is it not the duty of the police to provide security when meetings are being organised," Kalyan asked. ''When I questioned the police they failed to give a proper reply to me,'' the TDP supremo said, adding if political leaders have the freedom to move only then democracy will be saved". "This Government does not want Pawan Kalyan and TDP national general secretary, Nara Lokesh, to undertake padayatra, Chandrababu Naidu said and made it clear that the political parties and people's organisations will wage a combined fight to save the democracy. If necessary the Centre too should interfere, the press release added. (ANI) Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India ], January 8 (ANI) UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who has received the title of 'Infrastructure Man' from Union minister Piyush Goyal, is determined to make the state of Uttar Pradesh a trillion-dollar economy and is working in this direction with missionary zeal, a press release from the chief minister's office said. "The infrastructural growth that Uttar Pradesh has been witnessing for the last five and a half years under the leadership of CM Yogi, is proving to be the foundation stone for big investments in the state. Impressed by the image of Yogi and the infrastructure of the state, the investors of the country and the world are eager to invest in the state. Investment proposals worth Rs 7.12 lakh crore were received during the roadshows abroad and of over Rs 5 lakh crore during the first domestic roadshow in Mumbai held by the Chief Minister himself. The state government has set a target of Rs 17 lakh crore for the Global Investors Summit to be held in February," read the press release. During his recent roadshow in Mumbai, CM Yogi had one-to-one meetings with various top business leaders. These top leaders included heads of leading industrial houses including Mukesh Ambani, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Ajay Piramal, Sajjan Jindal, Jinal Mehta, and Darshan Hiranandani. "The enthusiasm of the industry regarding the presence of CM Yogi in Mumbai could be gauged from the fact that the auditorium was packed to its capacity and people queued up outside it to hear the UP CM. When the CM's address was over, everyone stood up and clapped, while all the business leaders praised the policies and working style of Yogi Adityanath and the environment of UP," the official statement added. Regarding investment in UP, billionaire businessman Niranjan Hiranandani said, when he had asked his father about political interference or that of local goons in this project of UP, "Yogi ji said that in UP either the goons are in jail or out of the state, and we really had the same experience." Hiranandani Group has set up a world-class data centre park in Greater Noida without any hurdles. By the end of this year, the group would be investing Rs 6,500 crore in this data centre park. He said that he believed that 'UP does what UP says' in the Yogi government. Emphasising that UP has become corruption-free, Niranjan Hiranandani said that industrialists need to explore investment opportunities in the state. President of CII and Bajaj Finserv Ltd Chairman Sanjeev Bajaj also described Chief Minister Yogi's vision as an example of sustainable and inclusive development, the press release added. He said: "We are the industry partner of the UP Global Investors Summit, but it was our choice. UP did not come to us for this, we ourselves were so impressed with the thinking, vision and methodology of Chief Minister Yogi that we proposed to be a part of the summit". "After returning from abroad, the UP delegation confirmed that foreign investors are very impressed with the image of CM Yogi. The delegation said that foreign investors are not only eager to meet CM Yogi but also to know how he has taken the infrastructure to new heights in a big state like Uttar Pradesh. Also, foreign investors all praised the CM for improving law and order in the state. These foreign investors are not only ready to invest in UP on a large scale but also want to work as partners of the government. There are also some investors who are very impressed with the achievements of the state government, but they want to finalize the investment proposal only after meeting CM Yogi. All such investors will attend the Global Investors Summit to be held in Lucknow on February 10-12 and will file their intent in the presence of Yogi," an official statement added. "Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has resolved to take Uttar Pradesh, the state with the largest population in the country, forward on the path of development. He believes that UP has potential, vision and immense possibilities. He is providing every necessary resource to the investors in the state. The CM is striving to make Uttar Pradesh the growth engine of the country and as per the intention of Prime Minister Modi, he has resolved to make Uttar Pradesh a trillion-dollar economy. In this sequence, he sent his 8 teams on tour to bring investment from 16 countries, while he himself started the domestic roadshow from Mumbai. The film on the development of UP which he showed to the business leaders in Mumbai was also sent abroad along with a video message. The investment proposals Uttar Pradesh has received is the result of the growing faith of investors in Yogi," it added. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the world's longest river cruise with MV Ganga Vilas on January 13 from Varanasi, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said. According to the Minister, the luxury cruise will cover a distance of more than 3,200 kms across 27 river systems in 5 states in India and Bangladesh. "Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are exploring the immense wealth that our rich river system has to offer. This avenue of sustainable development via inland waterways has received a tremendous boost as efforts to augment cargo traffic as well as passenger tourism has borne fruit with encouraging results. The MV Ganga Vilas cruise is a step towards unlocking the huge potential river tourism in the country has to offer," Sonowal said. The Minister exuded confidence that the country's rich heritage will get further transcended in the global stage as tourists will be able to experience the spiritual, the educational, the well-being, the cultural as well as the richness of the biodiversity of India. "From Kashi to Sarnath, from Majuli to Mayong, from Sunderbans to Kaziranga, this cruise packs an experience of a lifetime. I believe that this wonderful initiative, under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi ji, is the beginning of a new era in river cruise tourism in India and strengthening our government's commitment to enabling Act East, both through policy and practice," he said. According to an official statement, the 51 days cruise is planned with visits to 50 tourist spots including World Heritage Sights, National Parks, river Ghats, and major cities like Patna in Bihar, Sahibganj in Jharkhand, Kolkata in West Bengal, Dhaka in Bangladesh and Guwahati in Assam. "The MV Ganga Vilas vessel is 62 meters in length, 12 meters in width and comfortably sails with a draft of 1.4 meters. It has three decks, 18 suites on board with a capacity of 36 tourists, with all the amenities to provide a memorable and luxurious experience for the tourists," the statement said. "The ship follows sustainable principles at its core as it is equipped with pollution-free mechanisms and noise control technologies. The maiden voyage of MV Ganga Vilas will witness 32 tourists from Switzerland relishing the Varanasi to Dibrugarh journey. The expected date of arrival of MV Ganga Vilas in Dibrugarh is on 1st March, 2023," it added. The itinerary of MV Ganga Vilas has been curated to showcase the rich heritage of India with stopovers in spots of historical, cultural and religious importance. The statement further said that the MV Ganga Vilas will stop at Sarnath from the famous "Ganga Arti" in Varanasi. "It will also cover Mayong, known for its Tantric craft, and Majuli, the largest river island and hub of Vaishnavite culture in Assam. The travelers will also visit the Bihar School of Yoga and Vikramshila University, allowing them to soak in the rich Indian heritage in spirituality and knowledge. The cruise will also traverse through the biodiversity-rich World Heritage Sites of Sunderbans in Bay of Bengal delta, famous for Royal Bengal Tigers, as well as Kaziranga National Park, famous for one horn rhino," the statement said. Highlighting the need to develop river cruise tourism in the country, Sonowal said that the development of this sector would generate employment opportunity in the hinterland. "The government is making capital expenditure to build capacity for the success of river cruise tourism in the country. He said the river tourism circuits will be developed and integrated with the existing tourism circuits for maximum exposure and rapid development of this sector in the country," he said. According to the statement, the global River cruise market has grown at ~5 per cent over the last few years and is expected to constitute ~37 per cent of cruise market by 2027. Europe has been driving growth with approx. 60 per cent share of river cruise vessels in the world. "In India, 8 river cruise vessels are operational between Kolkata and Varanasi while cruise movement is also operation on National Waterways 2 (Brahmaputra). Tourism activities like river rafting, camping, sightseeing, kayaking and so on are operation in many spots in the country. The construction of 10 passengers terminals across NW2 are going on which will further bolster the prospect of river cruise. At present, four river cruise vessels are operational in NW2 while it is operating in limited capacity in NW3 (West Coast Canal), NW8, NW 4, NW 87, NW 97, and NW 5," the statement said. (ANI) In view of the increasing cold wave in North India, the Jharkhand government on Sunday issued a notice to close both government and private schools for students of Classes KG to 5 in the state till January 14. Regular classes will resume on January 16. "In view of the cold wave conditions, schools in Jharkhand will remain closed for students from KG to standard 5 till January 14 and regular classes will resume from January 16," the Government said in the notice. Several states' education departments have issued orders to keep schools closed. Earlier, the District Magistrate of Patna, Chandrashekhar Singh on Saturday issued a notice to close both government and private schools up to Class 10 in the state till January 14. "In view of the cold wave conditions, schools in Patna will remain closed for students up to Class 10 till January 14," the DM said in the notice. For the last few days, a huge temperature drop has been recorded in the entire Bihar including Patna. In view of this, orders have been issued to close the school. Meanwhile, the IMD said that cold wave/severe cold wave conditions are very likely in some parts of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, north Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. "Cold Day to severe cold day conditions reported at most places over Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh; at many places over Bihar; at a few places over North Rajasthan and North Madhya Pradesh. Cold Day conditions were also reported at a few places over Delhi," IMD said. IMD on Saturday also issued a red alert for the next 24 to 48 hours, warning of severe cold in parts of North India, including Delhi. Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 2 degrees Celsius on Saturday. In an exclusive interview with ANI, RK Jenanmani, a weather scientist at IMD said, "The Delhi University's Ridge area recorded a minimum of 1.5 degrees Celsius today, which is the lowest recorded this season." The official weather station for the Capital, Safdarjung, recorded a minimum temperature of 2.2 degrees Celcius, while Lodhi road logged 2 degrees Celcius. Jenanmani said severe cold conditions are prevailing in Delhi-NCR and parts of the national capital are, in fact, colder than some popular tourist destinations in the sub-Himalayan region. "The western disturbance, which was expected to break this cold spell, hasn't been too effective. A vast swathe of the North Indian belt, including Delhi, North Madhya Pradesh, North Rajasthan, Punjab and Western Uttar Pradesh, are colder than Shimla, Manali and the western Himalayan region where the minimum temperature has increased," he said. He added that dense fog prevails in a vast area of North Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi."Churu in Rajasthan reached freezing point while the temperature of Nowgong in Madhya Pradesh's Chhattarpur district reached sub-zero, at 0.5 degrees Celcius. Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh recorded 2.2 degrees Celcius and Hisar in Haryana recorded the lowest in the state, at 2 degrees Celsius," he said. He added, "The Indian Meteorological Department has issued red alerts for the next 24 to 48 hours, warning of severe cold in North India and dense fog for North Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana Chandigarh, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh. An 'orange alert will also be in place for January 8 to 9. After that, the severe cold is likely to abate. We expect the Western Disturbance to take effect from January 10 and there will, hence, be some respite from the cold from January 9." "For the next 48 hours, people are advised to take all the safety measures and avoid stepping out, unless it is very urgent," Janemani said. (ANI) The incident took place at a gutkha factory. According to local reports, the lift-carrying workers developed a technical fault after which it crashed. Three critically injured workers were shifted to the DDU Hospital where they were declared dead. Another injured worker was admitted to the BLK Kapoor Hospital. "Three people were killed in the accident whereas another injuries and is currently under observation," an official said. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday said cheap but quality medicine was available over 9000 Janaushadhi Kendra opened across the country. Speaking to the media, Mandaviya said, "I visited one Kendra in Bhubaneswar too and met several beneficiaries. They told me that branded medicines available at Rs 200 in the market are available at Rs 50 here". Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana has made phenomenal progress in the last 8 years and Janaushadhi Kendra has become the medicine shop of the poor in the country, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya had said in November 2022. "Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya claimed that 8,809 Janaushadhi stores operational under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana are providing quality and affordable medicines for every citizen. In the last 8 years, the number of Janaushadhi Kendras has increased by 100 times, "Mandaviya had told ANI. "In the year 2014, there were around 80 Janaushdhi Kendra in different parts of the country and in the year 2022 Janaushadhi Kendras jumped up to more than 8,800 which is a 100 times increase," Mansukh Mandaviya had said. An official of the Chemical & Fertilizer Ministry had told ANI on condition of anonymity that the daily sale of Janaushdhi Kendra is Rs 4 crores and average beneficiaries daily is more than 4.5 lakh people and the monthly sale of Janaushdhi Kendra is more than Rs 100cr and the yearly sale was Rs 893 crores in 2021-22 and target for 2022-23 is Rs 1,200 crores. "Since the year 2019 total savings are estimated at Rs 15,360 crore and the number of medicines available at shops are 1616 and 240 surgical and other items. The target for medicines this year (2022-23) will increase upto 1800," the official had told ANI. With an objective of making quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India in November 2008. Under the scheme, dedicated outlets known as Janaushadhi Kendras are opened to provide generic medicines at affordable prices. As of today, more than 8,800 Janaushadhi Kendras are functional across the country. The product basket of PMBJP comprises more than 1,616 drugs and 240 surgical items. BPPI (Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertakings of India) has been established under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt. of India, with the support of all the CPSUs for co-ordinating procurement, supply and marketing of generic drugs through Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana Kendra. (ANI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday addressed the NCC Republic Day Camp 2023 and appreciated the youth wing of the armed forces for its contribution to the society. "We will progress as a nation, socially and economically only when we believe in 'Nation First' ideology. NCC Cadets' qualities, spirit and motivation must leave a cascading effect on future generations to emulate. NCC Camp is indeed a microcosm of our country, with representation of cadets from every state and union territory," Kejriwal said on the occasion. "Delhi has always encouraged the growth of NCC and has extended a helping hand wherever required," he added. The Delhi CM was invited to the camp by Lt. Gen. Gurbirpal Singh, Director General, National Cadet Corps (NCC). The NCC DG also received the Chief Minister on his arrival to the camp under due protocols. The Chief Minister then proceeded to the dais to receive the 'General Salute' from the Guard of Honour. Post inspection of the Guard, the Delhi Chief Minister visited the Flag Area which represents different themes presented by 17 state NCC directorates. On the occasion, the CM was given a memento to mark his presence. The Chief Minister said: "It gives me great pleasure to have shared time with you all today. Your training imbibes you with discipline, camaraderie, a secular outlook, the spirit of adventure and infuses, in you, the ideals of selfless service to the society. Our great nation needs these values in the present times and it gives me great reassurance that our youth are being groomed by NCC to be responsible, socially aware and disciplined citizens of our country." "I wish all of you the very best in life and urge you again to be the torchbearers of our society and continue with your good work. Your qualities, your josh and your motivation must leave a cascading effect on future generations to emulate," he added. --IANS avr/pgh ( 331 Words) 2023-01-08-20:20:03 (IANS) A study emphasised the need of using a biocultural approach in environmental conservation efforts. The research was led by the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona's Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB). When deciding which aspects of nature to protect, conservationists have largely relied on ecological criteria defining species' vulnerability and resilience. However, there is a growing call to broaden conservation criteria to include human aspects as well.A new article led by ICREA Professor at ICTA-UAB Victoria Reyes-Garcia and published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS) argues that new biocultural approaches are needed to introduce means to connect humans and other components of nature in order to achieve nature stewardship. "The focus on ecological criteria alone has failed to halt our biodiversity crisis," says Victoria Reyes-Garcia, who explains that "this has also created unintended injustices on Indigenous peoples and local communities worldwide. According to the researchers, the purely ecological approach, sans humans, risks perpetuating existing inequalities. For example, while proposals to safeguard 30-50% of the planet against extraction or development is sound conservation math, such proposals "face opposition", on the grounds that they might increase the negative social impacts of conservation actions and pose immediate risks for people whose livelihoods directly depend on nature", they said. "Conservation is designed to reduce or remove human impacts on species to give some breathing room to those species to recover," noted Ben Halpern, coauthor on the study and Director of UC Santa Barbara's National Center for Ecological Analysis & Synthesis (NCEAS). "However, if taking those actions limits opportunities for people to engage with the species that define their culture and their values, the conservation will have no sticking power and can actually harm those cultures and people." To help implement this biocultural approach, the research team compiled the most comprehensive list thus far of culturally important species: 385 wild species (mostly plants) that have a recognized role in supporting cultural identity, as they are generally the basis for religious, spiritual and social cohesion, and provide a common sense of place, purpose and belonging. The list of species is part of a proposed framework and metric -- a "biocultural status" -- that combines information on the biological as well as the cultural conservation status of different components of nature. "We realized that prevailing classifications based on how vulnerable species are did not consider any of their cultural importance to people," says Sandra Diaz, a researcher at CONICET and the National University of Cordoba. "Without the acknowledgement and protection of local, special relationships to nature that sustain some populations -- often Indigenous -- we risk losing an important dimension of conservation," she added. "When the human cultures that use and value an animal or plant species are lost, a whole body of values, of knowledge about that species is lost too, even if the organism itself does not go extinct. Our relationship with the natural world becomes impoverished," notes Diaz. Conversely, according to the authors, recognizing the connections between people and nature and incorporating them into decision-making could enable actions based on both ecological conservation priorities and cultural values, while aligning with local priorities. The study's focus on culturally important species could pave the way for mechanisms to enable the adoption of biocultural approaches, which has so far proven difficult. The paper comes at a timely moment, as the Convention on Biological Diversity prepares for the next set of biodiversity goals such as the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. "As the conservation community increasingly seeks to include diverse worldviews, knowledge and values in nature management and restoration, the framework and metric proposed here offer a concrete mechanism that combines local perspectives on which species are culturally important, with scientific assessments of the biological and cultural status of those species," Reyes-Garcia said. "Together, they provide an actionable way to guide decisions and operationalize global actions oriented to enhance place-based practices, such as those of Indigenous people, that have supported the conservation of social-ecological systems over the long term." To sustain culturally important species, according to the authors, society will need a more complete list of these species' conservation status, and ultimately, direct greater support to the cultures that value them. According to co-author Rodrigo Camara-Leret of the University of Zurich, one of the most important messages in this study is that conservation assessments have largely overlooked species that matter to local cultures, underscoring a big communication gap between local people and the academic community, and even between the natural and social sciences. "To close this communication gap and foster more equitable conservation, we need to promote more long-term engagement with local communities to develop and maintain truly collaborative conservation partnerships," he says. "For this to happen, there are growing calls for academic institutions to recalibrate how they judge impact, and for donor agencies to step up to the challenge of supporting longer research projects that take time, but which are highly effective in knowledge generation and promoting biocultural conservation." (ANI) The US House of Representatives finally got a Speaker, past 1 a.m. on Saturday. Republican Kevin McCarthy won in the 15th round of a historically stalemated election in the House of Representatives to become its 55th Speaker, putting him second in line to the presidency, after the Vice President. "I'm glad it's over," McCarthy told reporters later. The Speaker of the US House of Representatives is elected by the newly-elected 435 members of the chamber. No Speaker's election had gone beyond the first vote since 1923 and none had gone for as long since the American Civil War (1861-1865). McCarthy went through a torturous five-day election opposed by a determined group of Republican lawmakers, who numbered 20 at one stage. A handful of them held out till the end but voted "present", lowering the bar to allow him to clear the board with 216 votes - against the 218 needed, his Democratic rival Hakeem Jeffries ended with 212, the votes of all his fellow Democrats. It was past 1 a.m. "As Speaker of the House my ultimate responsibility is not to my party," McCarthy said in a speech in the House. "Our responsibility is to our country." McCarthy, 57 is a member of the House of Representatives from California, same as Nancy Pelosi, the Democrat he is succeeding. His victory has come at a steep price as he made once concession after another to the Republican holdouts to secure their support - including a new rule that will allow any one member of the Republican conference to call for a vote to oust him. Pelosi has called it a "shrinking Speakership". The five-day election exposed a bitterly divided Republican conference,which holds the House with a narrow majority. In November 8, 2022 midterm elections, Republicans won the House by a weaker-than-expected margin of 222 to 212. The Democrats retained control of the Senate. The holdouts were all staunch supporters of former President Donald Trump but they resisted his calls till the end to rally behind McCarthy, who was also endorsed by the former President. --IANS yrj/vd ( 362 Words) 2023-01-07-23:16:03 (IANS) Guyana President Mohamed Irfaan Ali today arrived at Delhi Airport for a seven-day visit to India starting from January 8. During his visit, he will travel to six cities - Delhi, Indore, Bengaluru, Kanpur, Agra and Mumbai and also participate in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention being organized at Madhya Pradesh's Indore. Mohamed Irfaan Ali is the Chief Guest at the 17th edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas scheduled to be held in Madhya Pradesh's Indore from January 8-10. He will travel to Indore on January 8 to attend the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, according to the media advisory issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. Mohamed Irfaan Ali will hold a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on January 8. On 9 January, Mohamed Irfaan Ali will attend the inaugural session of the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention 2023, as per the media advisory. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, which will feature Mohamed Irfaan Ali's address. Furthermore, Special Guest of Honour, Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi will also make an address at the 17th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention. Mohamed Irfaan Ali will also hold a meeting with PM Narendra Modi on January 9. He will hold a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu on January 10. On the same day, he will attend the valedictory session and the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Samman awards ceremony. On January 11, Mohamed Irfaan Ali will attend the programme in Indore. After concluding his visit to Indore, Guyana's President is scheduled to travel to Agra, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kanpur and Mumbai to attend various programmes on January 12-13. Mohamed Irfaan Ali will depart from Mumbai on January 14. Notably, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention provides an important platform to connect with overseas Indians and to enable the diaspora to interact with each other. The theme of PBD Convention 2023 is "Diaspora: Reliable partners for India's progress in Amrit Kaal." More than 3,500 diaspora members from 70 countries have registered for the PBD Convention. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will have three segments. During the event, a Commemorative Postal Stamp 'Surakshit Jaayen, Prashikshit Jaayen' will be released to highlight the importance of safe, legal, orderly and skilled migration, the Ministry of External Affairs said in the press release. PM Modi will inaugurate the first-ever digital Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Exhibition on the theme "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav - Contribution of Diaspora in Indian Freedom Struggle" to showcase the contribution of diaspora freedom fighters in India's Independence. A special town hall is scheduled to be held in view of India's ongoing presidency of the G20 on January 9. The PBD Convention will have five thematic Plenary sessions and all the plenary sessions will feature panel discussions. First Plenary is scheduled to be held on 'Role of Diaspora Youth in Innovations and new Technologies', chaired by Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, as per the press release. The second Plenary will be held on 'Role of Indian Diaspora in promoting Indian Healthcare Eco-system in Amrit Kaal: Vision @2047', chaired by Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Mansukh Mandaviya and co-chaired by Minister of State for External Affairs, Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh. In the press release, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the third Plenary is due to be held on 'Leveraging the soft power of India - Goodwill through craft, cuisine & creativity', chaired by Minister of State for External Affairs, Meenakashi Lekhi. The fourth Plenary is scheduled to be held on 'Enabling global mobility of Indian workforce - Role of Indian Diaspora', chaired by Union Minister of Education, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan. Fifth Plenary on 'Harnessing the potential of diaspora entrepreneurs towards an inclusive approach to nation building', chaired by Union Minister of Finance, Nirmala Sitharaman, as per the press release. Notably, the PBD convention is being organised in person after a gap of four years and the first after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 16th edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was conducted in a virtual format. (ANI) * External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday lauded Indian youths for "connecting India to the world" at the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Delivering the inaugural address at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, he said, "Whether it is the startup of technology, the younger generations are at the forefront of connecting India to the world. Our endeavour is to maximise our support for the diaspora. We aim to focus on the redressal of grievances through online mechanisms. I am confident that Indian youth at home and abroad will propel the growth of this country to greater heights. We strive to create a better workplace and non-discriminatory approach." Jaishankar said that India has the largest diaspora in the world. "What's unique about us is the intensity of bonding among us in the community abroad. This is an era where we're increasingly confident about our prospects and seek to connect with the international community," said EAM Jaishankar. He said that the country's relationship with 34 million people of Indian origin is what brings us here. "This relationship was very much evident amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. We recognised the tremendous response that we got from PIO. Our bond has become ever stronger as the result of all the trials. The identity of the diaspora is derived from how closely is connected," he added. Speaking about the changes in India, he highlighted MADAD an e-portal that will help Indian citizens living abroad to file consular grievances online on the services offered by the Indian Missions and Posts abroad and International Yoga Day. "Many of our embassies now offer yoga dance and music classes. It is a matter of pride for us. Within the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged us all to focus on Amritkal. It is important that the Indian community abroad also does the same. India is changing in front of our eyes in a manner that is unprecedented. India has the largest diaspora in the world and most will say the talented one," said Jaishankar. Speaking about the venue, he said, "People have spoken about Indore as the cleanest city. It is the city of the warmest people and hospitality." He also showed his pleasure over Australian MP Zaneta Mascarenhas who attended the Youth Pravasi Bhartiya Divas. "We have also gathered here as India marks 75 years of Indian independence and as we move towards 100. I am glad to see that the guest of honour today is from our Quad and Indo-Pacific partner, Australia," said Jaishankar. Ministry of External Affairs and the Government of Madhya Pradesh welcomed members of the Indian diaspora in Indore. The theme of this edition is 'Diaspora: Reliable partners for India's progress in Amrit Kaal.' Speaking at the event Australian MP Zaneta Mascarenhas said, "Indian community is the fastest-growing diaspora in Australia. PM Anthony Albanese is looking to visit India later this year. India is a diverse country. Indian diaspora seeks to do great things in the world." She was amused at the several impressions that India gave her. "There is so much vibrancy and colour here. India is a diverse country. Indian diaspora seeks to do great things in the world. We get the best aspect of Indian culture," she added. Mascarenhas said that the Australia-India relationship has never been this closer. "Our nation has shared perspective. "Innovation happens by mixing new ideas with old ways. Indians in the Indian diaspora have tremendous work ethics," she said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister of I&B and Youth Affairs & Sports, Anurag Thakur, as well as, Dr Ausaf Sayeed, Secretary, (CPV & OIA) also addressed the event. "Indians from the engineering and technology sectors have achieved greater feats abroad. Many Indians now play a crucial role in these firms abroad. There's 'Make-in-India' and 'Digital India'. Now, India is taking greater strides in development. Now the country has become self-reliant as well under the leadership of PM Modi," said Chouhan at Youth Pravasi Bhartiya Divas. Meanwhile, Thakur said that India is a land of thousand years old civilisations and gave the backgrounder to the organization of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas. "Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa 108 years ago. India is 1/6th of humanity. Indian-origin people have shown pragmatism in a foreign land. Indian diaspora youth has special & unique qualities," said Thakur. He also said that the Indian diaspora is unparalleled. "Some of the kindest minds of Indian origin have played a strategic role. Indian diaspora youth have some special and unique properties. The concept and theme of Youth Pravasi Bhartiya Divas is rooted in the Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," he added. Sayeed said that the celebration today focuses on the youth who has been at the forefront, adding that India is home to the world's largest youth population. (ANI) Tourists are concerned about Indonesia's new criminal code that includes a ban on sex outside of marriage, reported NHK World. The controversial revisions of the colonial-era penal code are leaving some in the tourism industry worried travellers may be deterred from visiting as the tourism sector still recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. Indonesian President Joko Widodo approved the revision earlier this week. It will apply to both citizens and foreigners in the country, including tourists, reported NHK World. Violators will face up to a year in prison or fines. The code also prohibits unmarried couples from living together. Some local authorities have been cracking down on sex outside marriage, such as raids on hotels. There are worries that the law will scare away tourists and investors, even before it goes into effect in three years, reported NHK World. The national government says under the code, local authorities won't be free to do so, meaning the code will actually be protecting everyone, including foreign tourits. Only the families of those involved will be able to alert authorities. There are worries in the tourism industry in Bali that the code will take another bite out of visitor numbers. With foreign arrivals to Bali expected to reach pre-pandemic levels of 6 million by 2025, Indonesia's national tourism board has described the new code as "totally counterproductive". Chairman of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agency Bali, I Putu Winastra, said, "Especially in European countries, many people live together without getting married and even have children. We must protect their privacy." He is calling on the government to explain the code so people in other countries can fully understand it, reported NHK World. Simon Butt -- a professor and director of the centre for Asian and Pacific law at the University of Sydney's law school -- said the sex ban for unmarried couples was unlikely to affect tourists. "Provided that no such complaints are made to Indonesian police," Professor Butt warned. "Police cannot proceed with investigating adultery or cohabitation without a complaint. Not just anyone can make a complaint," he added. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday urged the Indian diaspora to invest in India, saying that India is becoming easier to do business. Addressing the Malaysian delegation with Sivakumar Varatharaju Naidu, Minister of Human Resources, Malaysia, EAM said, "It is a country which is becoming easier to do business. The reputation has grown very much in the last few years. There are a lot of innovations, startups, which are upcoming. Those of you who have interest in small and medium scale will find many more partners today in India than perhaps was the case earlier." India is organizing the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in Indore. The Ministry of External Affairs with the Government of Madhya Pradesh welcomed members of the Indian diaspora in Indore from Jan 8-10, 2023. The theme of the Convention is 'Diaspora: Reliable partners for India's progress in Amrit Kaal.' Jaishankar also held a bilateral meeting with Naidu earlier where they exchange of MOUs. He also met with Ministers from Mauritius. "I assured the minister in the brief meeting we had before this. We would like to understand from all of you in the course of this Convention, even afterward - what are the obstacles? What are the challenges? What can we do better? Everybody can always improve and we are very open-minded. We do not take the attitude that -- that is the way it is -- we know best. The change is not only in cleanliness but also in an open mind. We are willing to listen to all of you, understand all of you, and take your suggestions, and views into consideration. I look forward very much to working with you to build a much stronger relationship between India and Malaysia," he said. Speaking about Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, he said, "We are doing this physically after a bit of a gap because of the Covid. It is all the more momentous for that reason. I think, in the last few years, we have also seen a lot of changes which have brought the Indian diaspora closer to India." Lauding Indian diaspora help during the COVID-19 pandemic he said, "Even during the Covid period, many of you took a lot of interest, and made a huge effort to support the Covid treatment and handling in India. We appreciate that very warmly. On our part, we also tried to be helpful, especially to the countries where Indian-origin communities, there was a particular focus." Jaishankar said that the trade between India and Malaysia has crossed USD 20 billion and he hoped that it will grow in the coming years. "Today the Indian community remains a strong bridge between India and Malaysia. Historically, we always had good, close, cordial relations. We work together in the ASEAN also bilaterally. We have today trade of more than USD 20 billion, we believe that trade can definitely grow in the years to come. I hope that your visit here will also give you a sense of the changes in India and I think, Indore is a very good example of changes in India," said the EAM. He also lauded Indore ranked number one in the country in the cleanliness campaign and said that not only the city has changed, but the mindset is also open and gave a glimpse of India's stride in the economic field. "In fact, in our cleanliness campaign, this is a city which ranked number one in the country. Spend a little time going around the city, that itself will give you a sense of the change. It's not just the change in cleanliness, there is a change in overall mindset. Today there is a lot of optimism, we still believe that we will get 7 per cent rate of growth at a time when the global economic condition is quite difficult," he said. He also hoped to make India a tourist-friendly country and said that such events help in bonding with people of Indian origin. "We certainly are hoping to make our country tourist-friendly. There is a certain emotion or feeling that we bring in such events. It's not like a business meeting, it is something deeper than that. For us, bonding with people of Indian origin is something which is a very important part of our global outlook, especially under Prime Minister Narendra Modi," said Jaishankar. Sharing his experience of PM Modi's visit to Malaysia, he said, "Many of you will remember his visit to Malaysia. I had the privilege at that time of accompanying him on that visit. I myself can remember how warmly he was received. We need to build on all these good feelings in our relationship. The strong common interest that we have, the opportunities that will work to the benefit of both of us." (ANI) The local residents of Ghor Province, Afghanistan have warned that if the Taliban-led Health Ministry keeps ignoring the ongoing crisis in the healthcare sector in Ghor province the patients will die. The already critical situation has worsened due to the Taliban's ban on women working as there are no female doctors or caretakers for patients, the Khaama Press reported quoting local sources. The Khaama Press reported quoting a resident of Tolak District, Obidullah who complained about the shortage of medicine and healthcare facilities at the district's clinic. He said to Hasht-e-Subh that in previous years, patients used to get several medicines from the clinic, which has now been cut short. Notably, this may be because of the winter in the province resulting in snowfalls that block the key roads that connect the Ghor to other major cities like Kabul and Herat blocking any possible help. There is also a major scarcity of female doctors and genealogy specialists that need to be addressed. The Khaama press report further mentions according to sources, only two female doctors serve at the provincial hospital of this province. Obstetric and gynaecological patients do not get the proper treatment and face serious risks while giving birth. Prior to this United Nations International Rescue Committee (IRC), a New York-based human rights organization working in Afghanistan, has decided to pull out from the country after the Taliban's decision to ban female NGO workers last month. "Without the female staff at all levels and across all sectors, we cannot deliver principled, needs-based aid and programs at scale for those hit hardest by this crisis. The challenges hold true for every sector of the humanitarian response, not only for programs related to protection, gender-based violence and women's empowerment," IRC said in a statement on January 5. And in yet another effort to lift the ban Top UN diplomat in Afghanistan met Taliban-appointed education minister Mohammad Nadeem in Kabul on Saturday and called for the urgent lifting of the bans on female education and work for aid agencies. "Afghanistan is entering a new period of crisis. Taliban bans on female education & work for aid agencies will harm all Afghans. UN envoy Potzel Markus called for the urgent lifting of the bans in a meeting today with de facto authorities' Minister Higher Education, Moh. Nadeem," United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in a tweet.(ANI) The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards-2023 is due to take place here in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday to honour the persons of Indian origin for their outstanding achievements both in India and abroad. Poland-based businessman Amit Kailash Chandra Lath, who helped Indian students in Ukraine during 'Operation Ganga" last year, was chosen in the field of Business/Community Welfare. Amit Lath, also the director of the Europe-India Chamber of Commerce, Central-East Europe chapter, played a leading and outstanding role in the government's Operation Ganga mission to rescue Indians stuck in Ukraine and helped them get back home safely via Poland. After Russian president Vladimir Putin declared a "special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24, Amit Lath emerged as a beacon for thousands of Indian students trying to escape the conflict. In an interview with ANI, Amit Lath said that he is privileged to receive the award from the President and that the relationship between Poland and India today is at a different level. "It is a great honour and privilege not only for our family but for the entire Indian diaspora in Poland and in Europe because the Poland-India relationship is at a different level as of now and getting this award is like making India-Poland relations much closer and much intact", said Amit Lath. Speaking further on how he took it upon himself to coordinate between the Indian Embassy in Ukraine, Poland, and with the students for their evacuation and temporary stay, Amit said that as an Indian diaspora, we need to get into this together and so we ensured to make this more successful. "Operation Ganga was a great initiative by the government of India. As you know on the 24th of February when it all started, the Indian government decided to evacuate Indian students and when we were in deep search of places for them to stay, the Indian embassy approached me to ask for help and to look at various options of where we can accommodate these students and after two days and three days we realized that we as an Indian diaspora need to get into this together. So, we ensured to make this more successful," he said. "Of course, the entire Indian diaspora, a lot of business people have left their businesses and got into this operation to help and to ensure the safety of those kids back home," he added. Speaking further on the role of the Indian diaspora in various countries, Amit said that this operation was a very good example of how the Indians living abroad play an important role in every situation. "Operation Ganga is a very good example of how the Indian diaspora played a very active role, whether it is a crisis or anything. They don't look at it as a state. They look at it as a country. We are all together and the Indian diaspora plays a very very crucial role. And I think it is a great opportunity. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is the place where I feel is the right platform for the global Indians to meet and to express their views," he said. The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) is the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians. The awards will be conferred by the President of India at the PBD Convention in the valedictory session of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations. The awardees represent the excellence achieved by the diaspora in various fields. (ANI) Minister Jaishankar and Suriname President discussed ways to enhance the ties in the domains of economy, culture, and capacity building. "A pleasure to call on President @CSantokhi of Suriname in Indore today. His presence at the 17th PBD Convention underlines the close bonds between our countries. Discussed enhancing our relationship in the economic, culture, capacity building and people to people domains," Jaishankar tweeted. Suriname President is in India to attend the PBD convention as the Special Guest of Honour. President Santokhi, who arrived in India late Saturday evening, is the third Person of Indian Origin (PIO) to assume the Presidency of Suriname. Yesterday, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra welcomed Suriname President to the city of Indore. The city of Indore is decked up to hold the Indian government's flagship event that aims to enhance engagement with overseas Indians. The three-day convention is being organized in partnership with the Madhya Pradesh Government in Indore. The theme of this PBD Convention is "Diaspora: Reliable partners for India's progress in Amrit Kaal". Over 3,500 diaspora members from nearly 70 different countries have registered for the PBD Convention. On Sunday, the inauguration of the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. On Monday, the PBD Convention will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will feature addresses by the Chief Guest, Guyana President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and Chandrikapersad Santokhi. A Commemorative Postal Stamp 'Surakshit Jaayen, Prashikshit Jaayen' will be also released to underline the importance of safe, legal, orderly and skilled migration. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the first-ever digital PBD Exhibition on the theme "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav - Contribution of Diaspora in Indian Freedom Struggle" to highlight the contribution of our diaspora freedom fighters in India's Independence. Later on Tuesday, President Droupadi Murmu will confer Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2023 and preside over the Valedictory Session. (ANI) Additional Inspector General of Karachi Police Javed Alam Odho has said that street crime is Karachi's biggest problem, reported Pakistan-based The News International newspaper. According to Odho, the Karachi Police has in the last year, arrested 36,000 suspects in connection with various crimes. He said that most of the street criminals were identified through CCTV cameras. Street crime is happening but those involved are being arrested through CCTV camera footage, said Odho. He said the Safe City project is currently in process of being launched. He also said that they are stressing on cameras being installed in Karachi in collaboration with the public-private sector, adding that the Karachi police have been working on the project for the past four years, according to The News International Newspaper. Odho said that Karachi's business community and business organisations are supporting the police in the project. He said the police through the help of traders, has installed over 5,000 cameras, while more than 30,000 cameras have been installed across Karachi. CCTV camera footage has played an important role in catching the killers of Bilal, who had been shot dead a few days ago, the Additional Inspector General said, according to The News International report. According to Odho, through collaboration with Karachi community policing, CCTV cameras have been installed at the Azizabad, Nazimabad and Malir City police stations. Over 200 cameras had been installed in North Nazimabad, he said, adding that the crime rate had dropped drastically in the police stations where cameras had been installed. With the completion of the Safe City project, a clear reduction in street crime would be witnessed, said Odho. Recently, Geo News reported that amid the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, Karachi has witnessed an "alarming increase" in street crime, exacerbated by the recent floods. A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee was held on Friday under the chair of Senator Mohsin Aziz, where the police officials reviewed the city's overall law and order situation and expressed concerns over the sharp rise in street crimes. They assessed the performance of the Sindh Police in preventing street crimes, including theft, robbery, kidnapping, murder and target killings in detail, Geo News reported. The police officials told the committee that after the recent floods, there had been an "extraordinary increase" in street crimes in the city, adding that the police officers have been directed to lodge FIRs. Sharing the data about the cases, the police officers said that 42,669 crime incidents were reported in 2011, 39,694 in 2015, 61,244 in 2020 and 84,045 in 2021. Moreover, 385 people were killed in 2018 and 393 people in 2021, while 369 suspected killers were arrested till August 31, 2022, Geo News reported. (ANI) A police constable was killed and another sustained gunshot wounds after militants attacked a police patrol in Pakistan's Bannu on Saturday, the Dawn reported. According to officials, a police mobile van came under a gun and bomb attack in Bannu's Domel area. This attack followed after a team from Domel police station spotted two suspicious motorcyclists while on patrol duty. The officials signalled the motorcyclists to stop. "But they violated the signal, opened fire on the cops and also hurled a hand grenade towards them," the Dawn quoted an official as saying. The police personnel fired back at the attackers, who managed to flee to Dogar Umarzai village. The militants, according to the report, entered a house and held the family hostage. "While the police were surrounding the house, the attackers hurled a hand grenade towards them, killing head constable Pasham Khan and wounding another constable, Shah Wali Khan," the official said. An exchange of fire followed between the police and the militants. The militants, however, managed to escape. The officials said additional police reinforcements from the township and other nearby police stations, as well as commandos of the Quick Response Force (QRF), also reached the area and launched a search for the attackers, according to the Dawn. The dead body and the injured constable were shifted to Bannu local hospital. Recently, two Pakistani police personnel and a civilian were killed in separate militant attacks in the Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Two men in their 40s, including a police officer, lost their lives when armed motorcyclists attacked them near the Paharkhel Thall area in Lakki Marwat, the Dawn reported. "As soon as Younas Khan and Asmatullah riding a motorcycle reached Manjiwala link road from Paharkhel Thall village, two armed motorcyclists opened fire on them," a police officer was quoted as saying by the Pakistan daily. As militancy continues to rise in Pakistan, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan regions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province have seen more attacks compared to other divisions of the province in the last few months. The prime target of the attacks remained police and security forces in North and South Waziristan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan districts of the DIK and Bannu division, The News International newspaper reported. In a matter of few months, attacks were reported in Peshawar, Khyber as well as a few districts of Malakand and Kohat divisions. According to the Pakistani newspaper, most attacks were carried out on police stations, posts and patrolling vehicles or the policemen fell victim to target killing. (ANI) An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation will meet Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on the sidelines of the upcoming Geneva conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan on January 9. The IMF delegation will discuss outstanding issues with Dar, an IMF spokesperson said on Sunday, Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reported. The International conference will be co-hosted by the Government of Pakistan and the United Nations. The conference aims to garner support for the people and government of Pakistan after the 2022 floods in Pakistan. The event will bring together government representatives, leaders from the public, private sectors and civil society. On Sunday, an IMF spokesperson told Dawn that an IMF delegation is expected to meet with Dar on the sidelines of the Geneva conference to discuss "outstanding issues and the path forward". This comes two days after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that an IMF delegation will come to the country in two to three days to finalise the ninth review of Pakistan's $7bn Extended Fund Facility (EFF). Sharif made the remarks while addressing Hazara Electric Supply Company's (HESC) inaugural ceremony in Islamabad. Pakistan in 2019, entered a USD six billion IMF programme which was increased to USD seven billion in 2022. The programme's ninth review, which was supposed to release USD 1.18 billion, is currently pending. Due to the PML-N-led government's unwillingness to accept certain conditions placed before it by the IMF, the review had earlier been delayed for two months. The disagreements are yet to be resolved, according to The Dawn. Sharif said that last night, he spoke to IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva about Pakistan's agreements with the fund. Sharif said he assured Georgieva that the current Pakistan government wished to fulfil the IMF agreement's terms that the previous PTI-led government had broken. According to Sharif, Pakistan will try its best to fulfil the terms of the IMF agreement. Shehbaz said he told Georgieva that the "economic situation is in front of you, I can't burden the common man any further [...] She assured me that she understands my difficulty," reported The Dawn. Sharif said he asked Georgieva to dispatch an IMF delegation to Pakistan in order to complete the IMF programme's ninth review. "She told me that an IMF team will arrive in Pakistan in two to three days," he said. (ANI) Former Pakistan President and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday took notice of an incident at the Karachi airport where a female security officer belonging to a minority community was threatened by a man with a blasphemy charge, reported Pakistan's The News International newspaper. According to Zardari, it was shameful to accuse a female security officer of blasphemy in order to prevent her from performing her duties. Zardari, according to the report, asked the Pakistan government to provide security to the female officer. He said the accused should be punished if the accusations against the female security officer turn out to be false. "Accusing someone of blasphemy is a very serious matter," Zardari said, as quoted by The News International newspaper. The blasphemy allegations should be investigated, he said. According to Zardari, some elements want to defame Pakistan under the guise of religion and the government and people should discourage such behaviour," the former President was quoted as saying in the report. Recently, The Nation, a Lahore-based daily, reported that law enforcement agencies in Pakistan are tightening the noose on blasphemers on social media and arresting people allegedly involved in such activity. Sixty-two people involved in blasphemy cases have been detained, The Nation reported. Of the arrested blasphemers, nine have been awarded capital punishment by courts. None of the involved in these cases has been let off on bail, The Nation reported, quoting tentative statistics. Joseph Jansen, chairperson of the rights group Voice for Justice said the existing blasphemy laws do not guarantee a fair trial and religious freedom, and the accuser enjoyed impunity despite presenting false evidence and false testimony, the newspaper said. Jansen noted that Pakistan's blasphemy laws were incompatible with international human rights standards. "The accuser, who levels blasphemy allegations against any person, is bound to prove malicious intent, but this stipulation is missing in legislation and is not taken into account during blasphemy trials," he was quoted as saying by the Dawn. (ANI) China and Hong Kong resumed regular passenger traffic on Sunday, ending almost three years of self-imposed Covid-19-related restrictions, even as the second largest economy faces a huge spike in Covid cases. The state media outlet Global Times reported that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region became the top destination for inbound tickets on Sunday. This comes after obligatory PCR tests and centralised isolation for people arriving in China were canceled on Sunday. Earlier, most border checkpoints in Hong Kong were closed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus in early 2020. People could enter mainland China only through the city's airport or checkpoints on the bridges Shenzhen Bay and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau, after which they were obliged to stay in quarantine. Hong Kong and China authorities have agreed to a daily quota, according to which 50,000 people per day can now cross the border through ground checkpoints in both directions. Besides, an additional quota allows 10,000 people to travel by plane, ferry or bus through the bridge Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau. People coming from Hong Kong are no longer required to take PCR tests on arrival to the mainland. But they need to get tested 48 hours prior to the border crossing. City Chief Executive of Hong Kong John Lee on Sunday visited the Lok Ma Chau checkpoint, which covers 70 per cent of the quota, according to Radio Television Hong Kong. He said that customs clearing on the first day of resumed passenger traffic was going smoothly, adding that the quota of 50,000 seems sufficient. He also underlined that, if necessary, the quota can be revised in consultations with authorities of the provinces of Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Last month, China's government suddenly did away with its 'Zero Covid' policy. Among other things, the authorities have introduced the abolition of indiscriminate PCR testing, and the ability for asymptomatic citizens or those with mild symptoms to remain in home isolation. (ANI) China is willing to work with Nepal to seek common development, said the newly appointed Chinese envoy to Nepal Chen Song on Sunday after he landed in the capital city of Kathmandu. Speaking to journalists at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Chen said he will work to further enhance the bilateral relations between China and Nepal, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported. "I stand ready to work closely with Nepali friends from all walks of life, gather wisdom and pool strength to bring more benefits to the two peoples, and jointly write a new chapter of the China-Nepal strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity," Chen was quoted as saying by the Nepali newspaper. "China is willing to work with Nepal to stay true to our original aspirations, inherit friendship, join forces to seek common development, and build a closer China-Nepal community with a shared future in the new era," he added. Taking to Twitter, Chen said it's a great honor for him to take over as the 22nd Chinese ambassador in Nepal. "It's been a privilege and a great honor for me to serve as the 22nd Chinese ambassador in Nepal. Arriving in Kathmandu today, I was amazed by its magnificent beauty and unique culture, and impressed by people's kindness and warmth," he tweeted. China's new envoy also stressed that he we ready to work with his Nepali friends "to unleash the full potential of China-Nepal cooperation." "I, together with my colleagues in the Embassy, stand ready to work with Nepali friends from all walks of life to unleash the full potential of China-Nepal cooperation, and elevate the bilateral relations to a new height," he added. The Kathmandu Post report said that China had proposed Chen as the new ambassador to Nepal in November. The report added that Chen replaces Hou Yanqi, who has returned to China after completing her four-year tenure in October. (ANI) Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office A 19-year-old Tennessee man was arrested New Year's Day after authorities said he pulled over several people while impersonating a police officer. Jackson Jones, 19, was wearing a black bulletproof vest with a "Sheriff" patch on it along with a duty belt with knives, a flashlight, and handcuffs when he was questioned by authorities, according to a statement by the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office. According to the sheriffs office, Jones told deputies he was wearing the vest only because it was comfortable, and he said that he worked for the Campbell County Sheriff's Office in Tennessee. According to authorities, a person who was pulled over by Jones became suspicious after he claimed to be an undercover officer and acted aggressively. Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office Sheriff Tommie Johnson III said in the statement to call 911 if you ever don't believe you are being pulled over by a real officer. "911 operators will be able to tell you for sure whether there are any officers conducting traffic stops in your area." Johnson wrote. According to jail records, Jones was booked on transporting an open container of beer and impersonating a police officer. It was not immediately clear whether Jones has an attorney. The sheriffs office added that Jones's cousin, who serves as jail administrator in Campbell County, told authorities that Jones previously worked at the jail and no longer has that job after he impersonated an officer there, too. MADISON, Wis. (AP) It's been 90 years, but socialism is back in the Wisconsin Legislature. After taking their oaths of office Tuesday, two freshman Assembly members made it their first order of business to revive a socialist caucus that has been dormant since the 1930s. As self-identified democratic socialists a movement that has been regaining popularity in the U.S. with the help of young Democrats Reps. Ryan Clancy and Darrin Madison plan to hold their own meetings to advance their policy goals while also caucusing with Assembly Democrats. In the Republican-controlled Legislature, however, the socialist caucus is a minority within a minority. It's highly unlikely that either Democrats or the new caucus will have their way on most issues. Clancy, a Milwaukee County supervisor, was still optimistic about bringing to the Assembly ideas he has successfully pushed for at the local level, such as guaranteed counsel for tenants facing eviction. The things that we can get done are things which are common sense and have not been looked at as bipartisan fights, he said. But Republicans, predictably, don't see it that way. Socialism has failed everywhere in the world that it has been tried," Republican Majority Leader Rep. Tyler August said. It is not what makes our country great. Clancy and Madison both hail from districts in Milwaukee, a city with a storied past as home to one of the most prominent socialist movements in the nation's history. In 1910, during socialism's heyday in the United States, Milwaukee sent the first socialist to Congress and was the first major American city to elect a socialist mayor. Two years later, it took Democrats and Republicans joining forces behind a single candidate to oust Mayor Emil Seidel, who went on to run for vice president on a socialist ticket. Cities from Reading, Pennsylvania, to cities on the West Coast had prominent socialist politicians, but even in that landscape, Milwaukee stood out, said Philip Rocco, a professor of political science at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Story continues Socialist politicians sat in the Wisconsin Legislature as early as 1878, according to the Legislative Reference Bureau, but most socialist state lawmakers held office between 1917 and 1935, when the first socialist caucus appeared. Even after socialism fell under the same McCarthy-era stigma as communism during the 1950s, its visibility persisted in Milwaukee. Mayor Daniel Hoan, the city's second socialist mayor, held the position for 24 years after taking office in 1916. The city's third and final socialist mayor, Frank Zeidler, left office in 1960 after serving three terms that overlapped with Wisconsin Sen. Joseph McCarthy's notorious anticommunist campaign. The unique, pragmatic approach to socialism that made Milwaukee's socialist mayors so popular with voters also caused friction with the Socialist Party of America, which had more ideological, revolutionary aims, Rocco said. Milwaukee socialists earned the nickname sewer socialists" for their practical focus on infrastructure projects and improving public health. It's a history Madison and Clancy have embraced, identifying as sewer socialists in their campaigns and touting endorsements from the Milwaukee chapter of Democratic Socialists of America. We want to continue this legacy and redefine what it means to be a socialist in the state of Wisconsin, Madison said. That means, in Clancy's words, focusing on unsexy policy as the socialist lawmakers of the early 1900s did. At the top of the fledgling caucus's list of priorities are addressing issues with youth prisons and the prison system, improving access to child care and pushing to make utilities public resources. August said most of those issues would be nonstarters for Assembly Republicans but that his caucus was open to working with lawmakers on the left. Branding themselves as socialists hasn't always been easy, Madison and Clancy said, especially on the campaign trail where socialism has become a dirty word. Even in the Democratic stronghold of Milwaukee, where Clancy ran unopposed and Madison's only challenger was in a partisan primary, the socialist label was often a tough sell to voters. There were folks who were really close to me and cared about me who knew that carrying this label would put a target on my back," Madison said. "They heavily encouraged me, Dont do it. Be a socialist internally, but dont push that out into the world. Madison and Clancy's victories mirror a national resurgence in democratic socialism's popularity over the past decade, with longtime stalwarts of the movement like Sen. Bernie Sanders joining U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and a younger generation drawn to socialist ideals under Trump-era immigration and economic policies. But Rocco said Milwaukee is once again uniquely fertile ground for the ideology. This was where this form of municipal socialism kind of proved itself not just as a possible model of government, but as a model of government that earned the city the moniker of one of the best-run cities in the United States, he said. The leaders of the Milwaukee chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America report that their membership has grown steadily since re-founding the chapter in 2016. And for an ideology that hasn't been represented by so much as a single lawmaker at the state level since some 30 years ago, the opportunity to propose legislation, even if it is quickly dismissed by Republicans, is a big one. Just the very fact that we can introduce legislation now and propose ideas can move the conversation, said Alex Brower, the group's co-chair. Those things can be really significant. ____ Harm Venhuizen 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. Follow Venhuizen on Twitter. Two people are injured after a shooting in Daytona Beach, police said on Saturday. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<< Daytona Beach Police said they are investigating shooting scene on Hudson Street. Police said the two victims have non-life threatening injuries. They ask people to avoid the area. Check back with Eyewitness News for updates. See a map of the scene below: Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Sunday handed President Biden a letter in which he criticized the presidents visit to the southern border town of El Paso. The governor was greeting Biden on the tarmac when he handed him the letter, which began with Abbott writing: Your visit to our southern border with Mexico today is $20 billion too little and two years too late. Moreover, your visit avoids the sites where mass illegal immigration occurs and sidesteps the thousands of angry Texas property owners who lives have been destroyed by your border policies, the letter read. Abbott claimed in the letter that downtown El Paso had been sanitized of the migrant camps that he said had overrun the city in an attempt by the administration to shield Biden from the chaos that Texans experience on a daily basis. This chaos is the direct result of your failure to enforce the immigration laws that Congress enacted, Abbott wrote. The governor, who has consistently criticized the Biden administration for the migration crisis, accused the president again in the letter for emboldening drug cartels that are bringing fentanyl across the border, an issue consistently brought up by Republicans when criticizing border policies. Abbott lays out five policy areas he wants Biden to address that include complying with the statues mandating that various categories of aliens shall be detained to stop unlawfully paroling aliens en masse, and to fully enforce Title 42, the Trump-era policy that allows for migrants to be quickly expelled at the border without asylum processing. Abbott also suggested taking steps to prosecute illegal entry between ports and allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to remove immigrants in the country illegally, immediately resuming construction of the border wall in Texas, and designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. When you finish the photo-ops in a carefully stage-managed version of El Paso, you have a job to do, Abbott wrote before listing the criteria. Story continues Abbott in the letter also praised former President Trumps border policies that he said resulted in historically low levels of illegal immigration. The Texas Republican has himself been criticized by Democrats for sending buses of migrants from Texas to various Democratic cities, including a bus of more than 100 migrants sent to Washington, D.C., on a frigid Christmas Eve. Earlier on Sunday, Abbott criticized the administration over not communicating with local officials about the presidents trip to the border until the night before. Sunday is Bidens first trip to the southern border since taking office. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is planning a logistics hub at Istanbul Airport and a data centre near the Turkish capital Ankara with an investment of more than $1 billion, its president, Michael Evans, was cited as saying. Turkey's Sabah newspaper reported Evans as saying in an interview that the company was looking to invest in Europe and the Middle East and that he sees Turkey as a very strong production base. "We have a serious investment plan at Istanbul Airport. We can evaluate e-export plans from here to Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. We plan an investment of more than $1 billion," Evans was quoted as saying. Trendyol, one of Turkey's best known e-commerce platforms, is backed by Alibaba. "The reason we chose Trendyol was that its technology was advanced and its potential was great. We are positioning this place as a base for Europe and the Middle East," he said. (Reporting by Daren Butler; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) Another trainload of Russian soldiers (approximately 700-800 people) was moved to Belarus on the night of 6-7 January. Source: Belaruski Hajun, an independent Belarusian military monitoring media outlet Details: It is reported that "a special train with 15 passenger carriages passed through Smolensk station on its way to Belarus." It arrived at Vitebsk station in Belarus, with the carriages carrying some 700-800 Russian Armed Forces personnel. This train repeated the exact route of the previous one which, as was confirmed later, had also arrived in Vitebsk on the night of 5-6 January carrying 700-800 soldiers. Therefore at least 1,400-1,600 Russian soldiers could have been transferred to Vitebsk in the last two days. "Additional confirmation is that Russian Armed Forces soldiers were seen going around in groups and visiting shops in different places in the city on the evening of 6 January," Belaruski Hajun pointed out. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! On Sunday, 8 December, Ukrainian forces of Air Command Centre struck down a Russian helicopter and a drone on the eastern front; most likely they were a Ka-52 and an Orlan-10 respectively. Source: Ukrainian Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Quote: "Today, on 8 January 2023, between 11:00 and 14:00, operators of the mobile S-300B1 anti-air missile system from the Air Command Centre destroyed an enemy helicopter and a drone on the eastern front; most likely they were a Ka-52 and an Orlan-10 UAV, the latter of which was trying to carry out reconnaissance of our positions." Background: Earlier on 8 January, soldiers from Air Command Skhid (East) destroyed an enemy reconnaissance drone in the skies over Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Armed Forces of Ukraine have struck a dormitory in occupied Rubizhne, Luhansk Oblast; as a result, at least 14 mobilised Russians were killed, reports Office for Strategic Communication. Source: Stratcom Quote: "Rubizhne. According to the preliminary information, 14 mobilised Russians have dressed up nicely in fashionable black bags [i.e.,died] due to an attack on the dormitory of a medical university." Details: The Office for Strategic Communication emphasises that the number of injured is still unknown. Background: The Defence Forces of Ukraine launched an attack on a Russian military base in occupied Makiivka in Donetsk Oblast on New Year's Eve, killing 400 and wounding 300 occupiers. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Serhii Cherevatyi, the spokesman for the eastern group of Ukrainian troops, refuted the statement made by the Russian Ministry of Defence claiming that the [Russian] missile attack on Kramatorsk on the night of 7-8 January was revenge for the strike by the Defence Forces of Ukraine on Makiivka just after midnight on New Year's Eve. Source: Suspilne, a Ukrainian public broadcaster, citing Serhii Cherevatyi, the spokesman for the eastern group of Ukrainian troops; Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti, citing the Russian Defence Ministry. Details: On Sunday [8 January], the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation called the missile attack on Kramatorsk on the night of 7-8 January a "revenge operation" for the attack on the Russian military base in Makiivka carried out by Ukraine late on New Year's Eve. "Following the Kyiv regimes criminal attack on a training site for Russian servicemen in the settlement of Makiivka [in the Russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast of Ukraine - ed.] in the first minutes of January, the joint group command of Russian troops implemented a revenge operation. Over the past day, Russian intelligence has revealed - and confirmed through several independent channels - the temporary deployment sites of the Armed Forces of Ukraine servicemen in Kramatorsk," the Ministry of Defence of Russia said. The Russian Defence Ministry claims that more than 700 Ukrainian servicemen have been housed in dormitory No. 28 and more than 600 in dormitory No. 47. As a result of a "massive missile attack" on these targets, over 600 Ukrainian servicemen have allegedly been killed. However, Serhii Cherevatyi, the spokesman for the eastern group of Ukrainian troops, emphasised that the statement of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation is incorrect, because the Russian army does not have the ability to deliver high-precision strikes. Quote: "This information is as true as the report that they [Russian troops ed.] destroyed all our HIMARS. Story continues This is an informational operation by the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation in response to the successful attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with its high-precision attack systems, against large clusters of Russian personnel, warehouses, and logistics. They [Russian troops ed.] don't have that capacity." Background: Earlier, Oleksandr Honcharenko, Mayor of Kramatorsk, reported that Russian invaders struck Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast, using missiles on the night of 7-8 January. Many buildings were damaged following the attack. No casualties have been reported. The Defence Forces of Ukraine launched an attack on a Russian military base in occupied Makiivka in Donetsk Oblast on New Year's Eve, killing 400 and wounding 300 occupiers. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! I am currently in a 12% tax bracket and attempting to convert as much money as I can to a Roth individual retirement account (IRA) without going into the next bracket. I am trying to do this to reduce my required minimum distributions (RMDs) when I reach 72. In doing so, I am also paying my taxes from outside my retirement accounts. Is it a good idea to make the conversion when the market is down? Can I wait until Tax Day to pay taxes on that conversion? I am anticipating increasing tax rates after the Republican tax cuts sunset in 2025. -Patrick The Roth conversion strategy youve described is a great way to get in front of required minimum distributions (RMDs) and potentially reduce the total amount of taxes that youll pay over time as well. Here are my thoughts on executing that strategy and preparing for your tax bill. A financial advisor may help you understand the tax impacts of your investment and income decisions. Understanding Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) This image shows a retiree typing on a laptop Tax-advantaged retirement accounts like 401(k)s, 403(b)s and IRAs require that you take required minimum distributions once you turn 72. Under prior law, the age to begin taking RMDs was 70 , but it was raised to 72 with the passage of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement, or SECURE, Act in 2019. The amount you have to take is based on your remaining life expectancy according to IRS tables. You can wait until April 1 of the year after you turn 72 to take your first RMD, but you need to do it by Dec. 31 each year after. The distribution gets no special tax treatment. When you withdraw from tax-deferred accounts, you must pay taxes at your tax rate. A potential problem here is that it limits your flexibility, reducing your ability to plan your distributions in the most tax-efficient way. Roth Conversions to Avoid RMDs and Future Taxes So with that understanding in mind, how does a Roth conversion help? The RMD rules do not apply to Roth IRAs, and qualified distributions arent taxable. To alleviate both the requirement to take RMDs and tax implications of future withdrawals, you can move money from your tax-deferred account into a Roth IRA. Story continues Roth Conversions When the Market Is Down Whether a conversion is a good idea for you is dependent on a number of factors. The big things to consider are your ability to pay the taxes and your current and expected future tax rates. The general idea is that if you are in a lower tax bracket now than you expect to be in retirement, and you can afford the tax bill, a Roth conversion usually makes sense. If a Roth conversion is good for you, a down market makes it even better. Thats because your tax bill is based on the amount you convert. If the market has dropped, you can move more shares for the same dollar amount (and tax bill). Heres a simple example: Suppose you have 1,000 shares of an exchange-traded fund (ETF) in your tax-deferred account that you want to convert. At the start of the year, each share was worth $65, so in total, it was worth $65,000. If you convert all 1,000 shares, youd owe taxes on $65,000. But now, suppose that the price of those shares has dropped to $50 and they are worth a total of $50,000. You can convert the same 1,000 shares and pay taxes on $15,000 less. At a 12% tax rate, that makes the conversion $1,800 cheaper. Paying the Tax Bill Retirees calculating their tax bill Its good that you are able to pay the taxes from outside your retirement account. As for whether you can wait until you file your return next year to actually pay the tax bill, it depends. Theres no special rule for conversions. You simply need to follow the standard IRS tax payment rules. Those rules essentially require you to pay taxes throughout the year, so that by the end of the year, you have paid an amount roughly equal to your expected tax liability. Refunds or payments at filing time are simply the difference between your prepayments and actual tax liability. Most employees dont have to worry about this because their employer withholds estimated taxes from their salary and sends a check to the IRS for them. Contractors and self-employed individuals estimate taxes quarterly and send in the appropriate payment themselves. To avoid an underpayment penalty, you need to make estimated tax payments equal to: At least 90% of your total tax liability for the year. Or At least 100% of last years tax liability if your adjusted gross income (AGI) was under $75,000 if you are single and $150,000 if you are married, and 110% if it is over. If youve made enough estimated payments from other sources to satisfy one of those conditions, you can wait until you file to settle up on the conversion. Otherwise, you need to send in a tax payment. Changing Tax Rates You make a good point about the current tax environment relative to what it will likely be in the future. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will sunset at the end of 2025, and income tax rates will revert to pre-2017 levels unless Congress does something. That is certainly a factor to consider. Brandon Renfro, CFP, is a SmartAsset financial planning columnist and answers reader questions on personal finance and tax topics. Got a question youd like answered? Email AskAnAdvisor@smartasset.com and your question may be answered in a future column. Please note that Brandon is not a participant in the SmartAdvisor Match platform. Investing and Retirement Planning Tips If you have questions specific to your investing and retirement situation, a financial advisor can help. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesnt have to be hard. SmartAssets free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. As you plan for income in retirement, keep an eye on Social Security. Use SmartAssets Social Security calculator to get an idea of what your benefits could look like in retirement. Photo credit: iStock.com/Goran13, iStock.com/PeopleImages The post Ask An Advisor: Can I Harness the Bear Market to Cut My RMDs and Tax Bill? appeared first on SmartAsset Blog. EL PASO, Texas (AP) President Joe Biden walked a muddy stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border and inspected a busy port of entry Sunday on his first trip to the region after two years in office, a visit shadowed by the fraught politics of immigration as Republicans blame him for record numbers of migrants crossing into the country. At his first stop, the president observed as border officers in El Paso demonstrated how they search vehicles for drugs, money and other contraband. Next, he traveled to a dusty street with abandoned buildings and walked along a metal border fence that separated the U.S. city from Ciudad Juarez. His last stop was the El Paso County Migrant Services Center but there were no migrants in sight. As he learned about the services offered there, he asked an aid worker, If I could wave the wand, what should I do? The answer was not audible. Bidens nearly four-hour visit to El Paso was highly controlled. He encountered no migrants except when his motorcade drove alongside the border and about a dozen were visible on the Ciudad Juarez side. His visit did not include time at a Border Patrol station, where migrants who cross illegally are arrested and held before their release. He delivered no public remarks. The visit seemed designed to showcase a smooth operation to process legal migrants, weed out smuggled contraband and humanely treat those who have entered illegally, creating a counter-narrative to Republicans claims of a crisis situation equivalent to an open border. But his visit was likely do little to quell critics from both sides, including immigrant advocates who accuse him of establishing cruel policies not unlike those of his hard-line predecessor, Donald Trump. In a sign of the deep tensions over immigration, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, handed Biden a letter as soon as he touched down in the state that said the chaos at the border was a direct result of the presidents failure to enforce federal laws. Biden later took the letter out of his jacket pocket during his tour, telling reporters, I havent read it yet. Story continues House Speaker Kevin McCarthy dismissed Biden's visit as a photo op, saying on Twitter that the Republican majority would hold the administration accountable for creating the most dangerous border crisis in American history. El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego welcomed Bidens visit, but said a current lull in arrivals prevented the president from seeing how large the group of newcomers has been. He didnt get to see the real difficulties, said Samaniego, who was in the local delegation that greeted Biden. It was good that he was here. Its a first step. But we still need to do more and have more time with him. Elsewhere in El Paso where Biden did not visit, hundreds of migrants were gathered Sunday outside the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where they have been sleeping outdoors and receiving three meals a day from faith groups and other humanitarian organizations. The migrants included several pregnant women, including Karla Sainz, 26, eight months along. She was traveling in a small group that included her 2-year-old son, Joshua. Sainz left her three other children back home in Venezuela with her mother. I would ask President Biden to help me with a permission or something so we can work and continue, she said. Juan Tovar, 32, one of several people in her group, suggested he also had political reasons for leaving his home country. Socialism is the worst, he said. In Venezuela, they kill us, they torture us, we cant talk bad about the government. We are worse off than in Cuba. Noengris Garcia, also eight months pregnant, was traveling with her husband, teen son and the small family dog from the tiny state of Portuguesa, Venezuela, where she operated a food stall. We dont want to be given money or a house, said Garcia, 39. We just want to work. Asked what hes learned by seeing the border firsthand and speaking with the officers who work along it, Biden said: They need a lot of resources. Were going to get it for them. El Paso is currently the biggest corridor for illegal crossings, in large part due to Nicaraguans fleeing repression, crime and poverty in their country. They are among migrants from four countries who are now subject to quick expulsion under new rules enacted by the Biden administration in the past week that drew strong criticism from immigration advocates. Biden's recent policy announcements on border security and his visit to the border were aimed in part at blunting the impact of upcoming investigations into immigration promised by House Republicans. But any enduring solution will require action by the sharply divided Congress, where multiple efforts to enact sweeping changes have failed in recent years. From Texas, Biden traveled south to Mexico City, where he and the leaders of Mexico and Canada will gather on Monday and Tuesday for a North American leaders summit. Immigration is among the items on the agenda. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met Biden at the airport Sunday night and joined him in the presidential limousine for the ride to Biden's hotel. The numbers of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has risen dramatically during Bidens first two years in office. There were more than 2.38 million stops during the year that ended Sept. 30, the first time the number topped 2 million. The administration has struggled to clamp down on crossings, reluctant to take measures that would resemble those of Trump's administration. The policy changes announced this past week are Biden's biggest move yet to contain illegal border crossings and will turn away tens of thousands of migrants arriving at the border. At the same time, 30,000 migrants per month from Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela will get the chance to come to the U.S. legally as long as they travel by plane, get a sponsor and pass background checks. The U.S. will also turn away migrants who do not seek asylum first in a country they traveled through en route to the U.S. Migrants are being asked to complete a form on a phone app so that they they can go to a port of entry at a pre-scheduled date and time. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters aboard Air Force One that the administration is trying to incentivize a safe and orderly way and cut out the smuggling organizations, saying the policies are not a ban at all" but an attempt to protect migrants from the trauma that smuggling can create. The changes were welcomed by some, particularly leaders in cities where migrants have been massing. But Biden was excoriated by immigrant advocate groups, which accused him of taking measures modeled after those of the former president. Administration officials disputed that characterization. For all of his international travel over his 50 years in public service, Biden has not spent much time at the U.S.-Mexico border. The only visit that the White House could point to was Biden's drive by the border while he was campaigning for president in 2008. He sent Vice President Kamala Harris to El Paso in 2021, but she was criticized for largely bypassing the action, because El Paso wasn't the center of crossings that it is now. Trump, who made hardening immigration a signature issue, traveled to the border several times. ___ Associated Press writers Andres Leighton in El Paso, Texas; Anita Snow in Phoenix; Morgan Lee in Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report. TEHRAN, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Top Iranian and Pakistani military commanders on Sunday called for establishing a joint military working group, the official IRNA news agency reported. The remarks were made in a phone conversation between the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri and the newly-appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Pakistan Army Sahir Shamshad Mirza. Noting the good relations between the armed forces of the two countries and the development of defense and security cooperation especially on the common borders, Bagheri announced full readiness of the Iranian armed forces to speed up the establishment of a joint military task force with Pakistan. The Iranian commander considered the establishment of border markets as an effective step in enhancing the security of common borders, urging an increase in the border guards forces of the Pakistani army. Shamshad Mirza also considered accelerating the establishment of a joint military task force as one of the priorities of the Pakistani army, saying the common border of the two countries is the border of peace and friendship. President Joe Biden visited the U.S.- Mexico border on Sunday, his first trip since taking office, with a stop in El Paso, Texas, before he headed to Mexico City for a North American leaders' summit. In El Paso, Biden met with local politicians, border officials and others involved with immigration; he also toured a border wall. The president's trip was relatively brief and he appears not to have met with any migrants directly. According to a White House official, Biden wanted to highlight El Paso as a model for what can be done with the immense task of migration management in the face of intense challenges the city has faced. In the past month, El Paso has become an epicenter for the ongoing surge of people arriving to the U.S. in the south. However, the number of migrants illegally crossing into El Paso is down more than 70% since the recent surge in December, the White House official said in a statement. Border Patrol in El Paso is also now making about 700 apprehensions a day on average, down from a peak of 2,500 in December, according to a source familiar with the data. PHOTO: President Joe Biden tours El Paso port of entry, Bridge of the Americas, a busy port of entry along the border, in El Paso Texas, Jan. 8, 2023. (Andrew Harnik/AP) Since October, the number of illegal border crossings by Venezuelan migrants into El Paso has dropped to a quarter of what it was before the administration launched the first push in its latest border crackdown. During his border trip Sunday, Biden assessed the implementation of $600 million in improvements to El Paso's busiest land border crossing, the Bridge of the Americas port of entry, according to the White House. There, he met with law enforcement officials and watched demonstrations. Biden also visited the El Paso County Migrant Services Center, which uses Federal Emergency Management Agency funding to support struggling migrants. At the center, he asked questions about their operations. The White House official said ahead of the president's arrival that he would be joined on his trip by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas -- whom Republicans have singled out for criticism, calling on Mayorkas to resign -- and Biden was planning to meet with local leaders and regional lawmakers, including Democratic Texas Reps. Henry Cuellar, Vicente Gonzalez Veronica Escobar; El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser; and El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego. Story continues Biden was greeted in Texas by Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican. The men shook hands and Abbott handed Biden some papers, which Abbott later told reporters was a proposal with five solutions to immigration problems. MORE: Domestic extremism targeting migrants at southern border could rise amid possible end of Title 42: DHS Abbott said the White House had reached out to his office on Saturday night to invite him to greet Biden at the airport. Biden arrived in El Paso in the afternoon and stayed for about three hours before departing to Mexico City for summit meetings on Monday and Tuesday, according to his schedule. In addition to this other stops, Biden made an unannounced appearance at a wall along the border, walking along it and briefly speaking to the press. He was there for about 27 minutes. According to pool reporters traveling with him, he said the federal government would provide every resource needed at the border. He also said he had not read Abbotts letter yet and he called the situation in Brazil -- where protesters stormed government buildings -- outrageous. PHOTO: President Joe Biden walks with U.S. Border Patrol agents along a stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso Texas, Jan. 8, 2023. (Andrew Harnik/AP) Biden's visit to Texas comes after an avalanche of GOP criticism focusing on what they cast as the president's two-year delay in personally witnessing and addressing ongoing immigration. "After almost two years in office, President Joe Biden has said he is finally going to visit our southern border. This checks a box, but it doesn't even begin to solve the problems we are facing there," Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., wrote in an op-ed Saturday. "The president neglecting to visit the southern borderduring a time when we are facing record illegal crossings and there is a clear crisiswould be the equivalent of our commander-in-chief not visiting the Pentagon during a military operation, not going to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) during the COVID-19 pandemic, or not assessing the damage after a natural disaster, just to name a few," Capito wrote. Mayorkas described the issue another way in an appearance on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. 'We are dealing within a broken immigration system that Congress has failed to repair for decades," he said, telling anchor George Stephanopoulos that he doesn't intend to resign. "The world is dealing with the greatest displacement of people since World War II, in the Western Hemisphere. Our entire hemisphere is gripped with a migration challenge," Mayorkas added. Last week, the Biden administration announced a plan to expand border enforcement, including more expulsions of migrants but also a new pathway to seek refuge in the United States. On Thursday, Biden said his administration will admit 30,000 migrants each month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, but they would have to meet strict criteria including having a sponsor in the U.S. He is also further restricting migrants from those same four countries who try to cross the border illegally, announcing his administration will expand policies to remove them under Title 42, a public health restriction, or through enhanced standard immigration processing. Under this protocol, officials expect to send as many as 30,000 of the migrants back to Mexico each month. PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden shakes hands with Texas Governor Greg Abbott upon his arrival to the U.S.-Mexico border to assess border enforcement operations, in El Paso, Texas, Jan. 8, 2023. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Responding to these steps, the American Civil Liberties Union said that Biden's actions "further ties his administration to the poisonous anti-immigrant policies of the Trump era instead of restoring fair access to asylum protections." Gov. Abbott has also called Biden's border enforcement plans "nothing more than a band-aid for a historic flood." In announcing the immigration actions on Thursday, Biden tempered expectations by saying they "aren't going to fix our entire immigration system" but would rather help manage a "difficult challenge." In the 2022 fiscal year, southwest border encounters reached 2,378,944, according to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol data. The latest figures for fiscal year 2023 show that the El Paso sector alone has encountered 106,561 migrants. (Those figures can include one migrant who is encountered multiple times.) MORE: Title 42 actually contributes to increased migration numbers, data suggests Immigration has been a major source of GOP-fueled criticism for Biden since he took office. It will also be one of the biggest points of discussion among Biden, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the summit in Mexico City. Fentanyl trafficking, trade and economic development are also expected to be discussed. PHOTO: With the U.S.-Mexico border in the background President Joe Biden talks with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials in El Paso Texas, Jan. 8, 2023. (Andrew Harnik/AP) White House spokesperson John Kirby said last week that Biden would meet one-on-one with Lopez Obrador on Monday and have another one-on-one meeting with Trudeau on Tuesday before all three gather. Cooperation with Mexico will be key for the Biden administration to manage migration along the southern border and an in-person meeting will give Biden an opportunity to convince Lopez Obrador to accept more migrants from countries that block U.S. expulsions. It'll be the first time the three leaders meet together in person since November 2021, when Biden hosted a summit at the White House. Biden focuses on El Paso in his first presidential trip to the US-Mexico border originally appeared on abcnews.go.com President Biden on Sunday was greeted in El Paso, Texas, by Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who earlier in the day was criticizing the administration over not communicating with local officials about the presidents trip to the southern border until the night before. Abbott shook Bidens hand on the tarmac and handed him a letter from Abbott addressed to Biden criticizing him for the visit. Your visit to our southern border with Mexico today is $20 billion too little and two years too late, the letter read. Texas Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar, Veronica Escobar and Vicente Gonzalez also greeted the president, along with El Pasos Democratic Mayor Oscar Leeser. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas also traveled with the president to Texas. Biden then visited the Bridge of the Americas port, where Customs and Border Protection officers were lined up to meet him. Sunday is Bidens first trip to the southern border since taking office. Republicans for weeks lambasted Biden for not visiting sooner, criticizing his administration over border policies they deem to be too lenient. Earlier on Sunday, Abbott accused the Biden team of failing to communicate with local officials about the presidents visit to El Paso. Listen, during this entire time, Joe Biden has not called me. He did not call me, nor [did] his staff call, and let us know, either about his visit or to invite us, until last night. We got a random e-mail to one of my staff members asking if I would be there to meet him on the tarmac, Abbott said on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on the plane to El Paso that Abbott was invited and she understood that he would be at the airport when Biden landed. Updated 3:56 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Migrants traveling in a group of more than 1,000 from countries including Nicaragua, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic cross the Rio Grande in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to ask for political asylum in the United States on Dec. 11, 2022. (Herika Martinez / AFP/Getty Images) Sitting on train tracks a few hundred feet south of the U.S. border, Nathalie Gonzalez, 23, pulled her 4-year-old daughter a little closer. Night was coming. She had no idea where they would sleep. They had journeyed 3,000 miles from Venezuela to seek asylum, slogging through jungles, hiding in cargo trains and begging on streets for food. At last they had arrived in this chilly industrial city in northern Mexico, where the only thing that now separated them from the United States was a trickle of river, a line of National Guard troops and the new patchwork of U.S. immigration policies that had stranded them here. Its so close, Gonzalez said, staring at the El Paso skyline. But so far. Texas National Guard troops in El Paso stop migrants from entering a popular crossing area along the bank of the Rio Grande on Dec. 20, 2022, as viewed from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. (John Moore / Getty Images) As President Biden visits El Paso on Sunday, his first trip to the border since taking office two years ago, this is what he faces: Thousands of people from some of the worlds most oppressive countries marooned in Mexico because of the expansion of a Trump administration policy that allows border agents to immediately expel migrants without considering their asylum claims. In recent years, even as hundreds of thousands of migrants from Mexico, Central America and elsewhere were swiftly deported under Title 42, a rule invoked by ex-President Trump that allows the government to impede the entry of foreigners during a public health emergency, people from Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela and other countries were generally allowed to enter the U.S., given temporary work permits and granted asylum hearings. Their home countries were simply too unstable or too politically at odds with the United States for agents to coordinate mass deportations. But as a surge of migrants from those countries overwhelmed U.S. border towns in recent months, leading local officials to plead for federal help, the Biden administration began sending Venezuelans arriving at the border back to Mexico without giving them asylum hearings. On Thursday, Biden expanded that policy, saying people from Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti would also be immediately sent back to Mexico. Story continues Colombian migrant Jaider, 18, holds his puppy Trucha while looking over the Rio Grande into El Paso on Dec. 19, 2022. He said he had carried the dog for his entire journey from Colombia. (John Moore / Getty Images) Do not just show up at the border, Biden said in a speech announcing the new approach. Stay where you are and apply legally from there. Biden also announced a new pathway to legal entry for people from the four countries, saying that as many as 30,000 of them per month would be allowed into the U.S. if they applied via an online application from their home country, found a U.S.-based sponsor, passed a rigorous background check and purchased a plane ticket. But many criticize the plan as unrealistic, with Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) saying it will exclude migrants fleeing violence and persecution who do not have the ability or economic means to qualify. The flurry of changes leaves people like Gonzalez, her daughter and others who had already begun the journey to the U.S. with few options. Gonzalez said she sees no choice now but to try to sneak into Texas illegally. Were afraid. We dont want to do it this way, Gonzalez said. But the thought of staying in Mexico with its drug gangs and extortion terrifies her. And back home in Venezuela, she said, the minimum wage is $30 a month and my daughter has nothing to eat. Biden said this week that he hopes his administrations new plan will substantially reduce the number of people attempting to cross the border. Immigrants keep warm by a fire at dawn after spending a night alongside the U.S.-Mexico border fence in the El Paso area on Dec. 22, 2022. (John Moore / Getty Images) He announced the plan amid mounting pressure from officials in cities including El Paso, where in recent weeks thousands of migrants have been camped on sidewalks in near-freezing temperatures. El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser, a Democrat, declared a state of emergency. With local shelters overrun, the city has been offering migrants places to sleep on city buses. The city had been bracing for even more migrants last month, when Title 42 was supposed to be lifted, per order of a federal judge who ruled that it was being used arbitrarily and was no longer justified as a pandemic health measure. Some 19 Republican-led states appealed to the Supreme Court, and the court ruled that Title 42 would remain in place until the high court decided a case. Even if it is eventually lifted, the new Biden policies applying to Venezuelans, Cubans, Nicaraguans and Haitians would remain. While the new guidelines may relieve stress on American communities, they are already putting pressure on Mexican cities. Inside a Mexican government office underneath a bridge that connects El Paso to Ciudad Juarez, Enrique Valenzuela stood before a crowd of bedraggled migrants who had recently been deported from the U.S. and told them a difficult truth. They dont want you there, Valenzuela said of American officials. They want you here. Migrants congregate on the banks of the Rio Grande at the U.S. border with Mexico on Dec. 20, 2022, where members of the Texas National Guard cordoned off a gap in the U.S. border wall. (Morgan Lee / Associated Press) A burly man dressed in a flannel coat, Valenzuela has helped coordinate migrant assistance for the Mexican state of Chihuahua for five years. In that time he has seen multiple iterations of U.S. immigration policy that have been aimed at keeping as many migrants as possible in Mexico, and he believes that part of his job is to help migrants come to terms with reality. Juarez, he told them, was a city packed with people from other parts of Mexico who had come to work factory jobs. Were all the grandchildren of immigrants, he said. Youre here now, he said. You need to try to find work. You need to integrate yourself into society. The migrants looked at him warily. One young man wore a sign around his neck that he had used to raise donations for his journey to the U.S. It said: Help us realize our dream. When one of the recent returnees asked about how to find a place to stay, Valenzuela said there were shelters. We have spaces today, right? he asked a young assistant. She shook her head no. We already filled up? he said, with a look of incredulity. She nodded. Valenzuela sighed and vowed to call around to local pastors to see if any churches had space. Were on the cusp of another emergency, he said in an interview later. Once again, he said, Mexico would be left to grapple with decisions made in the United States. Unlike some past changes, the new enforcement rules appear to have Mexicos blessing. Under the new plan, Mexico agreed to accept deportees from Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Haiti, which it hadnt done in the past. Bidens announcement came just days prior to his first official visit to Mexico, where he will fly after his event in El Paso for a two-day summit with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Immigration is one of a number of issues including climate change, manufacturing, security and trade that the leaders are expected to discuss. The discussions will occur in Mexico City, far from many of those whose lives they have the potential to affect. Like Leonela Murillo Leal, 20, who on a recent afternoon was asking for handouts in downtown Juarez with an infant on her hip while she tried to keep her two older children from running into the road. To occupy them for a few minutes, she used the few pesos someone had just handed her to buy popsicles. She and her husband, Jose Arteaga Farrilla, 31, left Venezuela five years ago, at a time when the country was roiled by food scarcities, soaring inflation and bloody street protests calling for the removal of autocrat Nicolas Maduro. They joined hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who fled to Ecuador, and later went to live in Chile, but said they couldnt find enough work and faced xenophobia. When they heard Venezuelans were being allowed into the U.S., they headed north, at one point trekking on foot for 70 miles through the Darien Gap, the thick jungle that connects South and Central America. The kids had fevers and diarrhea, Murillo said. We saw dead people. It was ugly. A lot of people told us we wouldnt make it, Arteaga said. But they had. The family crossed into the U.S. from the town of Piedras Negras on Dec. 21 and were promptly returned across the border. For nine days, they were held there in a Mexican immigration facility, passing Christmas and New Years Eve. When they got out, they hopped a cargo train to Juarez. They had heard that Biden was coming to the border there for a visit. There were rumors circulating that he might make a benevolent announcement. Were going to wait to see what the president says, said Arteaga. Some say hes going to let people in. No, interjected one of the men the family was traveling with. He wont. Well, I wont go back to Venezuela, said Arteaga. I wouldnt even go back if they flew me. Me neither, said his wife. At least here I can find a crumb of food for my kid. Times staff writer Hamed Aleaziz contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday condemned "the assault on democracy" in Brazil after supporters of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro invaded the country's Congress, presidential palace and Supreme Court. Biden said he looked forward to continuing to work with leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who defeated Bolsonaro in the most fraught election in a generation last year. "I condemn the assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil. Brazils democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined," Biden said on Twitter. Earlier on Sunday, Biden said the situation in Brazil was "outrageous." The violence echoed the U.S. Capitol invasion two years ago by supporters of former President Donald Trump. The sight of thousands of yellow-and-green clad protesters running riot in the capital capped months of tension following Brazil's Oct. 30 vote. Bolsonaro, an acolyte of Trump's who has yet to concede defeat, peddled the false claim that Brazil's electronic voting system was prone to fraud, spawning a violent movement of election deniers. "I condemn this outrageous assault on #Brazils govt buildings incited by demagogue Bolsonaros reckless disregard for democratic principles," U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on Twitter. "2 yrs since Jan. 6, Trumps legacy continues to poison our hemisphere. Protecting democracy & holding malign actors to account is essential." Bolsonaro flew to Florida 48 hours before the end of his mandate and was absent from Lula's inauguration. Representative Joaquin Castro, a Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told CNN that Bolsonaro "basically used the Trump playbook to inspire domestic terrorists to try to take over the government" and "is a dangerous man." "The United States should not be a refuge for this authoritarian who has inspired domestic terrrorism in Brazil," Castro said. "He should be sent back to Brazil." (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and David Shepardson in Washington and Jarrett Renshaw in El Paso, Texas; Editing by Daniel Wallis) Joe Biden heads to El Paso, Texas today as his administration faces important questions about how to address the ongoing tide of thousands of Central- and South Americans hoping to seek asylum in the US every month. The presidents voyage marks his first trip to the US-Mexico border as president and comes specifically as his administration is fighting in the courts to end Title 42, a controversial public health protocol used by both the Trump administration and now his own as legal justification for turning migrants away at the border. His administration just recently expanded that authority to create a new guideline authorising US Customs and Border Protection to turn away migrants from several countries; in October of 2022 the system was invoked to turn away all Venezuelan migrants encountered at the border, with administration officials citing a massive surge of both individuals and families originating from the South American country. Then last week Mr Bidens team expanded the policy, stating that it would now affect all asylum applicants from Haiti, Cuba and Nicaragua as well. In each case, a new pathway has been established for migrants with sponsors to apply and be admitted. But even with the expanded legal authority his administration wields thanks to Covid-19, Mr Bidens team faces criticism for the general continued trend of thousands of migrants crossing the border illegally every month. Many who are encountered by US Customs and Border Protection are processed at holding facilities and deported while others are released; according to CBP statistics, nearly a quarter of a million people were encountered by agents in September, the most recent month for such data. Tens of thousands were expelled immediately and continue to be expelled every month. Driving the issue are several factors, including Americas long-neglected immigration law framework that lawmakers have tried and failed countless times to reform. Economic conditions, political instability and violence caused by organised crime across Central and South America also continue to be major drivers of northward migration. Story continues Vice President Kamala Harris was appointed by Mr Biden to lead his administrations efforts to address those factors, but the efforts of the White House have yet to achieve meaningful results. Meanwhile, red state leaders like Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas continue to protest the Democrats supposed inaction and have organised bus caravans of recently-arrived migrants to cities with Democratic leadership in an attempt to keep media attention focused on the issue. The prospect of passing any immigration reform through Congress currently looks dimmer than ever, thanks to a new slim Republican majority in the House largely expected to be beholden to its most conservative members. It isnt clear what, if anything, the Biden administration plans or even could do to blunt the trend short of reversing course and embracing the policies put in place by the Trump administration to control migration that were loudly denounced as inhumane and were of questionable effectiveness when it came to actually dissuading people from migrating north. According to the White House, the president plans to assess border enforcement operations and meet with local officials who have been important partners in managing the historic number of migrants fleeing political oppression and gang violence in Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Cuba, a clear nod to the four countries impacted by his Title 42 expansion. He told reporters this past week that he was hoping to wait for a final decision on the fate of Title 42 before visiting; the Supreme Court ordered that it remain in place last month but the legal battle over the policy continues. I wanted to make sure that I knew what the outcome was, at least the near outcome was, on Title 42, before I went down, Biden said, while acknowledging that such a plan was no longer feasible. I dont like Title 42. But its the law now, and I have to operate within it. Republicans, meanwhile, blasted Mr Bidens trip as nothing more than a photo op in an official statement from the RNC. Ronna McDaniel, GOP chairwoman, is conducting her own counter-visit to the border at the same time the president will be there. Following Sundays trip to the border, Mr Biden is set to fly to Mexico City for attendance of the North American Leaders Summit and bilateral meetings with the leaders of both Mexico and Canada. JAKARTA (Reuters) - A boat with 185 Rohingya refugees landed on the shores of Indonesia's Aceh province on Sunday, a local disaster agency official said, following hundreds who arrived late last year fleeing desperate conditions in refugee camps in Bangladesh. Over half of those who arrived around 2:30 p.m. Sunday were women and children, Ridwan Jamil, head of Aceh Besar disaster agency, told Reuters. Photos Ridwan shared showed the refugees sitting in groups and lying down on the sand. Hundreds of Rohingya have reached Aceh in the past few months, including a boat that washed ashore carrying 174 in late December. The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said that 2022 could be one of the deadliest years at sea in almost a decade for the Rohingya, who have long been persecuted in Buddhist-majority Myanmar. For years many Rohingya have fled to neighbouring states such as Thailand and Bangladesh, and to Muslim-majority Malaysia and Indonesia. Fishermen in Aceh had spotted three boats they strongly suspected were carrying Rohingya refugees in waters near Rondo Island, state news agency Antara reported late on Saturday. It was unclear whether the boat that landed was one of them. Nearly 1 million Rohingya live in crowded conditions in Bangladesh, including many of the hundreds of thousands who fled a deadly crackdown in 2017 by Myanmar's military, which denies committing crimes against humanity. Rights groups have recorded a significant increase in the number leaving the camps. It is not clear what is driving the larger exodus, but some activists believe the lifting of COVID restrictions around Southeast Asia could be a factor. (Reporting by Gayatri Suroyo. Editing by Gerry Doyle) ADRIANO MACHADO/REUTERS Hordes of supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro assaulted Congress, the Supreme Court, and other key government buildings in the countrys capital on Sunday, recalling the historic attack on the U.S. Capitol just over two years ago. Despite an attempt by police to dispel the mob with tear gas, protesters overwhelmed security barriers and broke windows to enter the buildings, which are located in Brasilias Three Powers square, the Associated Press reported. Local television channels and footage shared on social media showed protesters, decked out in green and yellow, heading up a large ramp to the congressional building. Some reached the Senate chamber, where they were seen in video footage bouncing around the room, using benches as slides. Crowds similarly streamed into the presidential offices, where they roamed around and built barricades with furniture. They are throwing chairs out of the windows, one commentator for local outlet GloboNews explained. Radicais brincando com o patrimonio publico! Invadiram o plenario do Senado Federal pic.twitter.com/0Oq47VDQVI Murilo Fagundes (@muriloffagundes) January 8, 2023 In another eerie echo of the Jan. 6 riots, some livestreamed the occasion, encouraging their viewers to like and subscribe, The New York Times reported. Roughly 3,000 protesters, many of whom have been camped out on the plaza for days, were on the scene, according to local news estimates cited by Reuters. Army officers were present on the scene, both on the ground and in the air. Soldiers in a helicopter appeared to be firing both anti-riot ammunition and tear-gas canisters at the crowd, the Times said. Even Bolsonaro Is Calling for His Nazi-Saluting Superfans to Quit Holding the Country Hostage President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was not home at the time of the assault, instead he was reportedly on an official trip to Sao Paulo state. Congress was similarly not in session. Story continues Though the presidential and congressional offices stood mostly empty, CNN reported that a team was working in the palace when the protesters breached the building. Several officials were still waiting to be evacuated by the Air Force in the midst of the chaos. Da Silva, commonly known as Lula, announced he would enact an emergency decree allowing the federal government full powers to bring the capital back under control by any measures necessary. The decree will remain in effect until the end of the month. URGENTE: Invasores quebram vidracas da chapelaria do Congresso e invadem a Camara dos Deputados. Extremistas ja estao no Salao Verde e nos anexos do predio. Tambem houve invasao ao Palacio do Planalto. Presidente Lula nao esta no local. pic.twitter.com/lP91pLqTuf Renato Souza (@reporterenato) January 8, 2023 In a statement, Valdemar Costa Neto, a congressman serving as the head of Bolsonaros right-wing Liberal Party, said it was a sad day for Brazil. We cannot agree with the plundering of the national Congress, he continued. All orderly demonstrations are legitimate. Disorder has never been part of our nations principles. I want to tell you that we vehemently disapprove of this type of attitude and let the law be enforced, strengthening our democracy. Flavio Dino, Brazils minister for justice, tweeted that the absurd attempt to impose their will by force will not prevail, adding, The government of the Federal District has ensured there will be reinforcements. And the forces at our disposal are at work. Senate President Rodrigo Pachecho similarly condemned the attack, tweeting, I vehemently repudiate these anti-democratic acts, which must urgently undergo the rigor of the law. Bolsonaro Flees Brazil to Hide Out in Home of MMA Fighter in Florida Many of Bolsonaros supporters have categorically refused to accept that he lost the nations presidential election to his far-left rival in October. Some have called for the military to intervene and forcefully overturn the election. Bolsonaro, who served as Brazils president from 2019 until last month, has baselessly alleged that a software bug compromised a swath of the countrys voting machines during the election. In November, a pro-Bolsonaro coalition filed a complaint with local electoral authorities, claiming to have found signs of irreparable malfunction in the machines. A day later, Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes fined the coalition $4.3 million for the bad faith attempt to overturn the election. Bolsonaristas invadem o Congresso Nacional em manifestacao antidemocratica pic.twitter.com/fpLp7TThD2 Metropoles (@Metropoles) January 8, 2023 Da Silva was inaugurated last week after winning 51 percent of the vote in a neck-and-neck runoff election. Having fled Brazil following his loss, Bolsonaro is currently in Orlando, Floridastaying in a home owned by a mixed-martial-arts fighter just a few miles away from Disney World. 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. Supporters of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro stormed the countrys presidential offices, Congress, and Supreme Court on Sunday amidst widespread refusal to accept his electoral defeat. Bolsonaro was defeated by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who served as president from 2003 until 2010, and was inaugurated last week. Since the election in October, Bolsonaro has consistently cast doubt over the integrity of the results. This absurd attempt to impose their will by force will not prevailThe government of the Federal District has ensured there will be reinforcements. And the forces at our disposal are at work, the Brazilian justice minister Flavio Dino wrote on Twitter. Protesters reportedly prevented police from entering several properties using barricades and struck a law enforcement officer on horseback with clubs and sticks. Footage from inside the National Congress shows men clad in Brazilian flags walking through offices filled with smoke. Apoiadores de Bolsonaro, que nao aceitam o resultado das eleicoes de 2022, invadem e causam destruicao no Palacio do Planalto. pic.twitter.com/m4ZiV6ddGH Metropoles (@Metropoles) January 8, 2023 Officials across the political spectrum in Brazil have condemned the violence as anti-democratic. The National Congress will not tolerate these attacks on democracy! Lets be firm and investigate those responsible for the events of January 8th. Each of them must be punishedEvery one of them must be prosecuted and arrested! There will be no tolerance, senator Jean Paul Prates of Lulas Workers Party tweeted following the news. Prates called the protesters terrorists. Prates sentiments were echoed by Rodrigo Pacheco, president of the Brazilian senate and member of the Social Democrat Party. Im vehemently against these antidemocratic actions which should be punished according to law urgently, Pacheco noted in a statement. Story continues PHOTOS: Bolsonaro Supporters Protest Bolsonaro is living at the home of a former mixed martial artist in Orlando, Fla. He cautioned supporters against violence in response to the rioting. We live in a democracy or we dontNo one wants an adventure, Bolsonaro said in a recorded statement, the New York Times reports. The widespread rioting, driven by a refusal to accept the results of an election, mirrored the events of January 6, 2021, when thousands of supporters of former president Trump overran the U.S. Capitol. Top Brazilian officials had warned for months that Bolsonaros supporters may react violently if he was defeated. More from National Review HOHHOT, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The land ports of Manzhouli and Erenhot on China's borders with Russia and Mongolia, respectively, saw cross-border passenger traffic on Sunday, three years after the two ports in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region suspended services due to COVID-19 epidemic control measures. "We are very happy about the resumption of passenger customs clearance at the Erenhot Port, which has greatly facilitated the exchanges between the two peoples," said a Mongolian passenger who gave his name as Enkbold. Wang Tielin, a border inspection official at the Manzhouli port, said that more than 80 percent of the border inspection police force was dispatched to the front line to ensure the smooth operation of the passenger service. At the Erenhot port, inbound passengers and freight truck drivers can use their cell phones to declare in advance through an app provided by customs. The customs have also introduced a variety of non-invasive inspection equipment for baggage inspection, which has improved the efficiency of customs clearance and made things more convenient for passengers. Meanwhile, at the land checkpoint in Hunchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, the first group of Russian passengers entered on Sunday. "I miss the food and friends here in China. The resumption of passenger services by the Hunchun customs has made it convenient for us to come and go. I will travel to China more often to do business," said Iurov Sergei from Vladivostok, Russia. Inbound passengers from the two countries are requested to show negative nucleic acid test results taken within 48 hours. BANJA LUKA, Bosnia (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin was awarded in absentia by Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik on Sunday, during a ceremony marking the Bosnian autonomous Serb Republic's national holiday. Putin was awarded the medal for the "particular patriotic care and love towards Republika Srpska" and merits in developing and strengthening cooperation and political relations between "friendly states of Republika Srpska and the Russian Federation", moderators said. The Serb Republic is a region that makes up Bosnia along with the autonomous Bosniak-Croat Federation. Dodik, the region's separatist president who has long favoured ties with Russia over those with the West, praised Putin for being a reliable support to the Serb Republic and said he would present the medal to him at their next meeting. "Thanks to the position of Vladimir Putin and the strength of the Russian Federation, the voice and position of Republika Srpska has been heard and respected," he said. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Dodik had tried to block efforts of the tripartite presidency for Bosnia to join European Union sanctions against Russia. At the same time, Russian envoys have supported Dodik in his secessionist moves aimed at weakening the central government. Last month, Russia denounced the EU for granting Bosnia a candidate status to join the bloc. It has earlier warned that it would consider Bosnia's moves towards joining NATO to be a "hostile act". (Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic in Sarajevo; Editing by Louise Heavens) SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) The Bosnian Serb separatist leader on Sunday awarded Russian President Vladimir Putin with the highest medal of honor for his patriotic concern and love for the Serb-controlled half of Bosnia. Putin is responsible for developing and strengthening cooperation and political and friendly relations between RS (Republika Srpska) and Russia, the Bosnian Serb president, Milorad Dodik, said at the awards ceremony in the Bosnian Serb stronghold of Banja Luka. Dodik, who visited Putin in September in Moscow, has maintained close ties with the Russian president despite Russia's war in Ukraine. The medal will be presented to Putin during the next meeting between the two. Moscow has often been accused by the West of seeking to destabilize Bosnia and the rest of the Balkans through its proxies in Serbia and Bosnia. Dodik has openly advocated tearing away the Serb-controlled half of Bosnia from a Bosniak-Croat federation to join it up with neighboring Serbia. A U.S.-brokered peace deal in 1995 ended a war in Bosnia that left at least 100,000 people dead and millions homeless, but left the country deeply divided between its three main ethnic groups. Moscow has been exploiting the divisions by tacitly supporting Dodiks separatist policies. Dodik awarded Putin on the occasion of the day of Republika Srpska, which has been deemed illegal by Bosnias constitutional court. It marks the day when Bosnian Serbs proclaimed they were splitting from Bosnia in 1992 with the aim of separating the Serb-populated regions of the Balkan state and join them up with Serbia. Tensions were running high in Bosnia as the Serbs planned to hold their main celebrations on the outskirts of Sarajevo on Monday, the town they held under siege for three years during the war. Thousands of people were killed in the relentless shelling and sniping of the Bosnian capital. Photo composite by The Daily Beast/Courtesy Penguin Random House Of course, Edmund White was writing when The Daily Beast arrived at his Manhattan apartment. The novel-in-progress is called Losing It: A Ghost Story, inspired by a nephew whom White had once cared for, and who, at 50, committed suicide. White had been writing poems too, he said, while proffering the bound proof of another novel, The Humble Lover, due to be published in May, about a beguiling male ballet dancer caught up in a multitude of rich-person intrigues. I dont have anything else to do, White said, smiling, of his relentless production of words. Edmund White: Sex, Success, and Survival White, the much-laureled monarch of modern queer literature, is a writing engine of fiction, non-fiction, biographies (including of Jean Genet), and memoirs (including of his time living in France in Our Paris: Sketches From Memory and Inside a Pearl: My Years in Paris). Unsurprisingly, in his and husband Michael Carrolls Chelsea apartment, books are piled high. With mottled daylight struggling to assert itself through the windows, lamps illuminate their spines. The booksold, new, hardback, paperbackare the cushion and covering of every surface. White says he doesnt suffer from writers block or fret over narrative structures, but rather aims for what Forster called the horizonthe point you want to get to in a book, even if youre not sure how youll get there. Now the couple have a new addition to their bustling library: the graphic novel version of A Boys Own Story, Whites 1982 autobiographical coming-out novel long considered a classic by generations of readers, LGBTQ and otherwise. Now, it has become an illustrated book (Top Shelf Productions, $29.99), written by Carroll and writer, artist, and filmmaker Brian Alessandro, with dreamy, Edward Hopper-ish illustrations by Igor Karash. The book has been in gestation for around five years, said Alessandro, and the group worked on it concertedly during the pandemic. That period of time meant he and White had kept weird hours and weird behaviors, said Carroll. Oh, you should hear about some of our weird behaviors, deadpanned White. Soon to turn 83, he said he had been totally hands-off when it came to the graphic novel. I trust Michael 100 percent. Story continues For Carroll, 58, the biggest challenge was imagining dialogue in a novel that had originally been full of indirect speech, and hope that the new format could allow an already iconic book to echo beyond its original dimension, and reach a new, younger audience with striking drawings and pacy plotting. We didnt want to lose the reader for one minute. The original novel is already very ambitious, I dont think its going to be bested in terms of its daring. But it has to be said, theres a lot of coming-out novels in the world now. The panels of the graphic novel evoke the young narrator Eddies first sexual experiences with a fellow teen, and his troubled and complex relationship with his parents, with the narrative spinning forward and back in time from the 1950s to 1990, which the original novel didnt do. As White told this reporter in 2014, he grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. His fatherpresented in the graphic novel with a luxuriant pornstache he never actually hadwas an entrepreneur of varied fortunes. His parents divorced when he was 7; White lived with his mother and sister Margaret (to whom he remains very close) in Chicago, and returned to Cincinnati and his father for the summers. I never liked my father, White said. He really was a dullard and misanthrope. My mother and he were married for 22 years and it was an ill match. She encouraged me to be a writer She didnt care later when I wrote about her. Well, I came off better than you did, shed say to my sister. Edmund White poses for a portrait on W22nd Street on February 28, 2000 in New York City, New York. David Corio/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images White majored in Chinese at the University of Michigan and moved to New York in the early 1960s, working for Time-Life Books. In the 1970s, he and a collection of gay writers, including Andrew Holleran and Felice Picano, formed a club called The Violet Quill. In the graphic novel we see the flaxen-haired Eddie at the Stonewall Riots (yes, White was there), and his sex and desire-permeated lives in Paris and New York. Many years ago White co-wrote The Joy of Gay Sex, which he was, and remains, eminently well-qualified to write aboutand has done, including his time as an S&M slave to a much-younger master. AIDS and its devastation marks where the graphic novel ends in 1990. White was 50 at the time; a slow progressor, he has lived with HIV himself for almost 40 years, and has written about its impact, both personally and culturally, in many books. White once told me he had been criticized by the author and activist Larry Kramer for not writing about AIDS in the 1980s. Larry attacked me as viciously as anyone has. When The Farewell Symphony came out, he wrote that my asshole was as busy as a toilet. I was very angry, but Im a nice forgiving guy, so I forgave him. I was nice to him at parties. Courtesy of Penguin Random House Alessandro, a friend of Whites, told The Daily Beast of writing the graphic novel, It was a very tall order. The original book is 40 years old. I know it's Eds most famous book. He has a legion of fans who really appreciate it, and look to it as a kind of inspiration and model. It was a little bit intimidating at first but also an exciting opportunity. I do my best when challenged, and working with Michael Carroll on it made it a lot easier. One of Whites innumerable gifts is that he can write frankly and graphically about sex and still find nuance, sanctity, and elevation, Alessandro wrote in his review of Whites last novel, A Previous Life, in January 2022and this combination of qualities is also woven into A Boys Own Story in graphic novel form. What we can learn most from the French, White once told this reporter, is about experiencing something simply for pleasure, taking pleasure from life, enjoying pleasure for pleasures sake, including in sex. The idea of the time switches, showing the trajectory of Stonewall, LGBTQ liberation, and the AIDS pandemic, was to give readers something additional and unexpected to chew on, said Alessandro. Its to show a panoply of gay mens experiences through that time periodoppression, liberation, and devastation. Ed wrote a biography of Proust, and we wanted this to have a Proustian quality too, of Ed walking through his past and interacting with his boyhood self and memories in the same space. Alessandro, a former teacher, hopes the graphic novel brings a younger generation to the landmark novel. I was really shocked how little history many of my students knewnot ancient history, but the last 50 years of it. So few people in their teens and early 20s have a grasp of what went down a few decades ago. Also, it may be a little too idealistic, but I hope the novel inspires people who are closeted to come out, and maybe educate some bigots. That might be lofty, but its something to aspire to. A book ban would certainly get us noticed, Carroll said of one prevailing symptom of the rising tide of anti-LGBTQ bigotry in America. Those on the right wander around needing objects for their fury. Gays are always good for that, I guess, said White. Karash is straight, and Russian by birth. When the books editor Ryan Runstadler told him of the books more sexually charged moments. Karash said, I was worried how I would project that specific gay desire, but I tried to dive deep in the reading. I like to work on anything which accomplishes a greater goal. From the first few pages of the book, I was totally engaged. For me, there are a lot of universal things in the book. Yes, its controversial in places, but we are in a different time and place now. Growing up in the Soviet Union, sexuality in general was a taboo. It wasnt in literature, film, anywhere. If you asked questions, no one answered. There are a lot of Easter eggs in it Carroll had first read the original Boys Own Story in his early twenties, after reading Whites survey of late 1970s queer America, States of Desire. The graphic novel team wrote by committee: I felt like I was the guardian of the original book, of getting too far away from it. It was an interesting process. Everyone had to agree on everything as a group, Carroll said. Just like Kevin McCarthy, White said drilyat the time, so, so long ago, when McCarthy had just lost the second of what would take 15 rounds of votes to become speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. White thought the completed graphic novel was very beautiful. I was momentarily taken aback by the jumping around in time, because as a coming-out novel, I felt it was something the character was doing in a linear way, very slowly. But then I realized the time jumps were a good thing because one of the problems I had with the original novel was how to indicate to the reader that everything turned out all right, which the graphic novel conveys in a very direct way. Alessandro said three LGBTQ artists were too nervous to take the project on, because of its depictions of teen sexuality. The most challenging thing was the sexual nature of the book and the sexually explicit situations it describes, Karash said. The language of the book is extraordinary and elegant, and I wanted the illustrations to be elegant and not too anatomical and porn-like. (Karash has also created the cover of Alessandros new novel, Performer Non Grata, which will be released by Rebel Satori Press in April.) Courtesy of Penguin Random House Alessandro has a background in clinical psychology, and said that Runstadler thought the project had a Freudian quality to it, mapping the journey of a 13-year-old closeted gay teenager to becoming a 50-year-old out gay man. Theres a quietly epic intent to the book, reaching across decades, places and countries, Alessandro said. Forty years on from when the book was first published, we have the luxury of applying an analysis to it that maybe makes this work a bit meta. There have also been 40 years of having Edmund White in our lives, which gave us the chance to apply a meta-contextual analytic quality to this adaptation which I thought was great fun. There are a lot of Easter eggs in it. Carroll said he liked the idea of now doing the other two books in the trilogyThe Beautiful Room Is Empty (1988), The Farewell Symphony (1997)as graphic novels, perhaps using different writers and illustrators. Almost all of them would be good movies too, Carroll said. Forgetting Elena would be pretty trippy too as a graphic novel, White said of his first novel, published in 1973. The novel inspired by his nephew is based on Theophile Gautiers 1866 novel Spirite. White said his nephew could be charming, but had violent mood swings, a drinking problem, and behaved erratically, such as when he had set his family home on fire. White took him in after he had been committed to a mental hospital. I felt like, Why is he sitting there drinking coffee all day doing therapy and no school? White said. Later, his nephew wrote books about his time spent with White, and a book about A Boys Own Story. They were very good, said Carroll. But everything disappointed him, he thought they should have sold more copies. He made a series of choices that ended up with him having no money and no future. There was no way to cap the resentment and delusions that came from that. Later in his life, he threatened to shoot White and Carroll. The novel is a way of remembering his life, and who he was in totality. Next, Carroll said he was working on getting a flat stomach, while White will turn his attention to a memoir about his most colorful hookups. I never re-read my own writing, White told The Daily Beast. I think writing is a kind of kiss-off. If I write about someone it means Im through with themso I never wrote about Michael because Im still in love with him. The couple married in 2013. It started out, White told me a few months later, as a practical necessity, with White keen to ensure Carroll received proper health coverage and other benefits. But also its turned out to be very nice. Weve been together for 18 years, and we both feel more committed to each other. Being married makes our relationship more recognized, especially for heterosexuals, who make a big fuss out of it. White and Carroll have an open relationship; White is currently seeing Kyle, a 34-year-old nice Southern boy. Hes desperately, deeply interested in comic books, and very rich. He doesnt work. Hes very hot, but he ghosts me for a month at a time. Carroll is seeing Carlos, 35, an indefatigable artist. White said his internal healthafter two strokes and a heart attackwas good; his mobility not so much. I should go back to therapy and get better, he conceded. Carroll, whose dedicated care of White this reporter has seen up close, said, Then he had a trainer Anyway, I sort of got bored of the whole idea, White said. Probably I should get un-bored. I let him do what he wants, theres nothing I can do, Carroll said, smiling resignedly. I let him do what he wants too, White echoed, also smiling. 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. STORY: In an echo of the Jan. 6, 2021 invasion of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump, several thousand protesters broke into the buildings and were seen on television smashing furniture inside the Supreme Court and the Congress. Local media estimated about 3,000 people were involved. Many of the protestors dispute the result of the Oct. 30 election in which leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva beat Bolsonaro. The former president repeatedly questioned, without evidence, the credibility of the country's electronic voting system, and many of his hardcore supporters believe him. Protesters also invaded the parking lot of the Planalto Palace, according to CNN Brasil. Lula is currently on an official trip in Sao Paulo state. The Seminole County Sheriffs Office is investigating after a landlord was shot in Sanford. On Saturday night, deputies responded to a shooting call on 120 South Crystal View. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<< According to the arrest report, Michael Matthews was in his rented bedroom with his girlfriend, when the landlord, Michael Baker, entered the bedroom and demanded the duo vacate the home within 10 minutes. Baker said that if Matthews and his girlfriend did not leave the residence Baker would have his friend remove the two by force. Read: Man found shot, killed Saturday night in Orange County, deputies say Deputies said that after Baker returned 15 minutes later, Matthews grabbed a gun and waved it at the victim. Baker told deputies that he turned to leave the room and was shot in the shoulder. Read: Biden makes first trip to US-Mexico border The victim was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Matthews was arrested and charged with attempted 2nd-degree murder and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Read: 9 things to know about the new COVID-19 variant, XBB.1.5 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. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo by ALEXEI DRUZHININ/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images Russia's war on Ukraine triggered a larger embrace of the yuan for oil sales which could shift the crude market. Kpler lead crude analyst Viktor Katona told Insider that Russia has essentially "become an Asian nation." The birth of a so-called petroyuan could spread across Asia for crude transactions, he added. While the dollar will likely remain the dominant global currency in the near future, the rise of a so-called petroyuan will gain momentum as China leverages its status as the world's biggest oil importer, analysts say. The greenback remains the top currency for trade and foreign reserves. But Beijing is increasingly pushing the yuan as a currency for oil deals, challenging the dollar's lead in commodity markets. In particular, Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year was the biggest driver in the shift away from the dollar, said Viktor Katona, lead crude analyst at Kpler. As Western countries froze Russia's currency reserves and shunned its oil, Moscow embraced Asia as an alternative crude market and surpassed Saudi Arabia last year as China's top oil supplier. In fact, Russia has effectively become "an Asian nation that in my opinion has introduced the yuan into large-scale oil trade," Katona told Insider. And although defenders of the dollar point to its widespread trust and liquidity, he said "it is naive to think that China will not be seeking to control the price of oil, that it would not want to conduct trade in the currency that it controls." That's especially the case after the Federal Reserve's aggressive monetary tightening campaign sent the dollar soaring last year, he added. Because oil deals are largely priced in dollars, a rising greenback makes oil contracts more expensive. And as yuan-based trade with Russia is rising, China is also targeting the Middle East to reorder energy markets. During a trip to Saudi Arabia last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to use the Shanghai Petroleum and National Gas Exchange to carry out yuan-based energy deals. China and Saudi Arabia also signed over $30 billion in trade deals during the visit. Story continues That trip marked "the birth of the petroyuan," according to a recent note from Credit Suisse analyst Zoltan Pozsar, who said China wants to dedollarize parts of the world after the currency's dominant status was used against Russia. Pozsar also pointed out that Russia, Iran and Venezuela account for 40% of OPEC+'s proven oil reserves, with the GCC making up another 40%. Eventually, the petroyuan will pick up steam regionally as well, forcing many Asian countries to "reconsider their trading routines," Kpler's Katona said. One of China's central tenets of its commodity policy, he added, is strict oversight over even the most mundane details of crude and currency trade that could aid in strengthening the country's grip over energy markets. "It [China] tightly controls state-owned oil companies, sets directions for how much they can export. It caps the price of coal when necessary, centralizes the purchasing of iron ore when it senses that its companies are being treated differently," Katona said. Read the original article on Business Insider By Joyce Zhou and Yew Lun Tian HONG KONG/BEIJING (Reuters) -Travellers streamed into China by air, land and sea on Sunday, many eager for long-awaited reunions, as Beijing opened borders that have been all but shut since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. After three years, mainland China opened sea and land crossings with Hong Kong and ended a requirement for incoming travellers to quarantine, dismantling a final pillar of a zero-COVID policy that had shielded China's 1.4 billion people from the virus but also cut them off from the rest of the world. China's easing over the past month of one of the world's tightest COVID regimes followed historic protests against a policy that included frequent testing, curbs on movement and mass lockdowns that heavily damaged the second-biggest economy. Long queues formed at the Hong Kong international airport's check-in counters for flights to mainland cities including Beijing, Tianjin and Xiamen. Hong Kong media outlets estimated that thousands were crossing. I'm so happy, so happy, so excited. I haven't seen my parents for many years," said Hong Kong resident Teresa Chow as she and dozens of other travellers prepared to cross into mainland China from Hong Kong's Lok Ma Chau checkpoint. "My parents are not in good health and I couldn't go back to see them even when they had colon cancer, so I'm really happy to go back and see them now," she said. Investors hope the reopening will reinvigorate a $17-trillion economy suffering its slowest growth in nearly half a century. But the abrupt policy reversal has triggered a massive wave of infections that is overwhelming some hospitals and causing business disruptions. The border opening follows Saturday's start of "chun yun", the 40-day period of Lunar New Year travel, which before the pandemic was the world's largest annual migration, as people returned to their hometowns or took holidays with family. Story continues Some 2 billion trips are expected this season, nearly double last year's movement and recovering to 70% of 2019 levels, the government says. Many Chinese are also expected to start travelling abroad, a long-awaited shift for tourist spots in countries such as Thailand and Indonesia. But several governments - worried about China's COVID spike - are imposing curbs on travellers from the country. Travel will not quickly return to pre-pandemic levels due to such factors as a dearth of international flights, analysts say. China on Sunday resumed issuing passports and travel visas for mainland residents, and ordinary visas and residence permits for foreigners. Beijing has quotas on the number of people who can travel between Hong Kong and China each day. VISITORS, HOMECOMINGS At the Beijing Capital International Airport, families and friends exchanged emotional hugs and greetings with passengers arriving from places such as Hong Kong, Warsaw and Frankfurt, meetings impossible just a day earlier. I've been looking forward to the reopening for a long time. Finally we are reconnected with the world. I'm thrilled, I can't believe its happening, said a businesswoman surnamed Shen, 55, who flew in from Hong Kong. Others waiting at the airport included a group of women with long-lens cameras hoping to catch glimpse of boy band Tempest, the first idol group from South Korea to enter China in three years. Its so good to see them in person! They are much more handsome and taller than I expected, said a 19-year-old who gave her name as Xiny, after chasing the seven-member group, who arrived in Beijing from Seoul. CONCERNS OVER RURAL AREAS China downgraded its COVID management to Category B from A, which had allowed local authorities to quarantine patients and their close contacts and lock down regions. But concerns remain that the great migration of city workers to their hometowns and reopening of borders may cause a surge in infections in smaller towns and rural areas that are less-equipped with intensive-care beds and ventilators. The World Health Organisation said on Wednesday that China's COVID data underrepresents the number of hospitalisations and deaths from the disease. Chinese officials and state media defended the handling of the outbreak, playing down the severity of the surge and denouncing foreign travel requirements on Chinese residents. Jiao Yahui, an official from the National Health Commission, said in an interview published by state broadcaster CCTV on Sunday that demand for emergency and critical care in China's large cities had likely peaked but was rising fast in small and midsize cities and rural areas due to the Lunar New Year travel. Some 80% of ICU beds in China's top- and second-tier hospitals were in use, up from 54% on Dec. 25, she said, adding that the country's medical services to treat COVID were facing an "unprecedented challenge". Health officials told a news conference they would not rule out the possibility of taking emergency COVID prevention measures such as suspending nonessential large-scale activities and business at large entertainment venues to deal with large outbreaks. China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced two new daily COVID deaths on the mainland, compared with three a day earlier, bringing the official death toll to 5,269. (Reporting by Joyce Zhou in Hong Kong, Yew Lun Tian and Josh Arslan in Beijing; Additional reporting by Tony Munroe in Hong Kong; Yingzhi Yang and Eve Wu in Beijing; Writing by Brenda Goh in Shanghai; Editing by William Mallard) by Xinhua writer Wang Zhuolun JERUSALEM, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Driving through the Negev Desert in southern Israel is a more enjoyable experience than you might imagine because the sand-dominated uphills and downhills lack no colorful surprise: camel grass, trees of lush palm dates and apricots, and cactus with vibrant fruit, dotting the dry lands and showing unique life resilience. The desert surrounds parts of the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest land-based elevation on Earth. The waters of the hyper-saline lake are about 10 times saltier than those of the normal ocean, making it a harsh environment for all life and agricultural activities near the lake. However, not far away from the southernmost tip of the Dead Sea, a wide variety of daily consuming vegetables thrive in apparent defiance of such unfavorable conditions. In the greenhouses of an experimental farm called Vidor Center where scientists regularly conduct innovative agricultural research, the bright-colored peppers, watermelons, berries, onions, aubergines, and tomatoes are all full of vitality, showcasing how vegetables can be planted in arid lands and soil of high salinization. The soil nourishing the vegetables, which is about 50 to 60 cm deep, was transplanted from elsewhere, and with drip irrigation and fertigation - the application of fertilizers or nutrients into a farming system through the irrigation network, the yield is maximized, said Naftali Lazarovich, a professor at Israel's Ben-Gurion University of the Negev specializing in dryland agriculture. According to Israeli media reports, drip irrigation waters 75 percent of crops in the country, while only 5 percent of farms worldwide utilize the technology because of technological and financial barriers. To save water and achieve digital management of precision farming, a large number of sensors are applied on the ground, with all data unremittingly being uploaded to the cloud, Lazarovich told a group of international agricultural experts inside a greenhouse with inviting ripe green peppers. "When the climate is demanding, we need to irrigate differently, and this is one of the challenges here. We use sensors in the soil to estimate the water content in different locations, and in this way, it would help us schedule irrigation smartly," he said. Through remote control on mobile phone applications and computers, farmers can always monitor the growth of crops and make timely adjustments, Lazarovich added. The experts came all the way from different parts of the world for a conference themed "Dry Lands, Deserts and Desertification" held by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The unique environment and ecological system around the Dead Sea provide rich samples for agricultural research and attract specialists from around the globe to exchange experiences and delve into solutions to optimizing agricultural production. Compared with the rarely-seen colorful and succulent vegetables, the date palm trees, the typical heat-resistant variety on dry lands, are more visible near the Dead Sea. Surprisingly, researchers have found that dates grown in the area can be even sweeter, juicier, and more aromatic than those in normal dry lands, said Oded Friedman, an Israeli date palm tree-planting expert. Of course, high-tech methods still make a difference. A closer look at the date palm trees will find that many of them are embedded with tubes parallel to the ground as if they are receiving "acupuncture treatment." According to Friedman, they are micro-sensors used for accurate monitoring, each containing two probes, one for heating and the other for measuring temperature difference. "The salty soil makes irrigation applied to the date palm trees about twice the normal amount, and the nitrogen application in fertilizers is about 50 percent less efficient. However, we are always on the way to make the results better," said Friedman. BEIJING (Reuters) -China will not include Pfizer Inc's Paxlovid in an update to its list of medicines covered by basic medical insurance schemes as the U.S. firm quoted a high price for the COVID-19 drug, China's Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) said on Sunday. The COVID-19 antiviral drug is currently covered by the country's broad healthcare insurance scheme under temporary measures the regulator introduced in March last year as outbreaks rose. But authorities held talks with Pfizer in recent days to decide whether to include it in the latest version of their list, which they update annually. Inclusion on the list means a drug is accessible via state insurance schemes, which will boost volumes but comes with the condition that manufacturers lower prices. Past rounds have seen drugmakers cut prices by as much as 62% after negotiations with officials. "We will continue to collaborate with the Chinese government and all relevant stakeholders to secure an adequate supply of Paxlovid in China. We remain committed to fulfilling the COVID-19 treatment needs of Chinese patients," Pfizer said in a statement, without elaborating. The NHSA said Paxlovid would continue to be eligible to be paid for by state medical insurance until the current planned end-date to the temporary measures of March 31. While the talks on Paxlovid failed, they succeeded with two other COVID-19 treatment drugs -- herbal medication Qingfei Paidu granules and Chinese drugmaker Genuine Biotech's Azvudine -- which will be included in the list's update, the regulator said. Three years into the pandemic, China began pivoting away from its signature "zero COVID" policy last month after historic protests against the economically-damaging curbs that had been championed by President Xi Jinping. The sudden loosening of restrictions has fueled a giant wave of infections and prompted many to turn to underground channels to procure remedies such as Paxlovid, which a clinical trial has found to have reduced hospitalisations in high-risk patients by around 90%. Story continues Boxes of Paxlovid are changing hands for as much as 50,000 yuan ($7,313.15), more than 20 times the original price of 2,300 yuan, according to local media reports and social media posts. Beijing has been largely resistant to Western vaccines, but has greenlighted foreign oral treatments Paxlovid and Merck's Molnupiravir. It approved Paxlovid in February. Reuters reported on Saturday, citing sources, that China is in talks with Pfizer to secure a licence that will allow domestic drugmakers to manufacture and distribute a generic version of Paxlovid. Last month, China Meheco Group Co Ltd said on Wednesday it signed an agreement with Pfizer to import and distribute Paxlovid in mainland China. Pfizer also signed a deal in August for Chinese drugmaker Zhejiang Huahai to produce Paxlovid in mainland China solely for patients there. ($1 = 6.8370 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Brenda Goh, Yingzhi Yang and Roxanne Liu; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky, Elaine Hardcastle and Daniel Wallis) BERLIN (AP) Climate activists pledged Sunday to defend a tiny village in western Germany from being bulldozed for the expansion of a nearby coal mine that has become a battlegroundbetween the government and environmental campaigners. Hundreds of people from across Germany gathered for protest training and a subsequent demonstration in the hamlet of Luetzerath, which lies west of Cologne next to the vast Garzweiler coal mine. The open-cast mine, which provides a large share of the lignite a soft, brownish coal burned at nearby power plants, is scheduled to close by 2030 under a deal agreed last year between the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia and utility company RWE. The company says it needs the coal to ensure Germany's energy security, which has come under strain following the cut in gas supplies from Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. But environmental groups have blasted the agreement, saying it will still result in hundreds of millions of tons of coal being extracted and burned. They argue that this would release vast amounts of greenhouse gas and make it impossible for Germany to meet its commitments under the 2015 Paris climate accord. (We) will fight for every tree, for every house, for every meter in this village, said Luka Scott, a spokesperson for the alliance of groups organizing protests. Because whoever attacks Luetzerath, attacks our future. Prominent campaigners have rallied support to defend the village from destruction, citing the impact that climate change is already having on Germany and beyond. German news agency dpa reported that some activists have erected barricades and other defensive measures to prevent Luetzerath being razed. Last week, protesters briefly clashed with police at the site. The village and surrounding areas belong to RWE and the last farmer residing there sold his property to the company in 2022 after losing a court case against his eviction. Since then, only a handful of activists have remained, some living in self-built tree houses or caravans. Police have said no clearance will take place before Jan. 10. By Bianca Flowers RACINE, Wis. (Reuters) -Members of two local unions that have been on strike since May at CNH Industrial factories in Wisconsin and Iowa on Saturday voted down a tentative labor contract, the United Auto Workers union said. The union did not disclose how many workers at the two plants rejected the four-year deal, which included wage increases of 25% to 38% according to CNH on Sunday. Still, union members said the proposed contract failed to provide enough of a raise to combat inflation, additional vacation days or better healthcare coverage. The UAW represents about 1,000 workers at the plants, and union officials had warned a rejection of the latest offer was likely. "We're going to notify the company and see if they are willing to come back to the table," said Yasin Mahdi, the UAW local president in Racine, Wisconsin, where the company employs about 700 people. "I hope the next time they come with a real, bona fide offer." CNH officials said the latest offer was its "last, best and final" and in a statement encouraged employees to "reconsider their position in another vote." The company said it will wait for the union to take the next step. Workers in May had rejected an offer by the maker of agriculture and construction equipment that included an 18.5% wage increase over three years. The Italian-American company brought in replacement workers to keep the factories operating once the strike began, union officials said. The plant in Racine, 60 miles (100 km) north of Chicago, makes tractors and combines, while the Burlington, Iowa, facility builds tractor loaders backhoes and forklifts. The strike has stretched well beyond the two-month average in the United States, said Robert Bruno, a labor professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. With a tightening labor market, union workers in the industrial sector for companies such as Boeing and Deere & Co have gone on strike in recent years. Story continues In 2021, more than 10,000 Deere workers in three Midwest states rejected two contract offers before a deal was reached to end a five-week strike. For CNH workers, who last struck the company in 2004, some have taken second jobs to augment strike pay they receive from the UAW. They note the company has been reporting strong profits, including $670 million on an adjusted basis in the most recent quarter. At an elementary school in Wisconsin where the ballots were cast, workers voiced frustration and determination. "This is a multibillion dollar company, they can afford to give us everything we're asking for. We're not asking for too much," said 61-year-old Alric Davis. Kelly Peters, a sub-assembly worker at the Racine plant, was not ready to vote yes. "Theyre just giving increments, like dangling a bone to see if were going to bite. Im not biting," she said. (Reporting by Bianca Flowers in Racine, Wisconsin; Editing by Leslie Adler, Ben Klayman, William Mallard and Diane Craft) President Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) after a joint event at a bridge connecting Kentucky and Ohio that will be upgraded with money from the bipartisan infrastructure deal. (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press) The television split screen told the story. On one side, Republicans in the House of Representatives labored through the fourth of the 15 ballots they needed during four days of gridlock to choose Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker. On the other side, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell stood beaming with President Biden as they congratulated each other for a bipartisan success: a $1.6-billion deal to replace a crumbling highway bridge across the Ohio River. On one side, partisan dysfunction. On the other, an old-fashioned deal. Biden seized the moment to ladle compliments on his longtime sparring partner and to drive home a lesson. We disagree on a lot of things, he said of McConnell (R-Ky.). But heres what matters: Hes a man of his word. I believe it sends an important message to the entire country: We can work together. We can get things done. McConnell wasnt daring enough to praise Biden, but on the larger issue he responded in kind. These are really partisan times, he said. But I always feel no matter who gets elected, once its all over we ought to look for things we can agree on. If there was a winner in the brawl on the House floor last week, it wasnt McCarthy (R-Bakersfield). McCarthy got the speakers job, but gave away so much power along the way that it was probably a Pyrrhic victory. He still faces the challenge of herding an untamable majority with only four votes to spare, amid in-house critics who would gladly see him fail. The real winner was a man who wasnt there: McConnell, the phlegmatic leader of the nonanarchic Senate GOP. At some point in this year of divided government, Congress will steer into a crisis a standoff over the federal debt limit, perhaps, or gridlock over government spending. Only one person on the Republican side will have the power and skill to avert catastrophe, and it wont be McCarthy; it will be Bidens wily, unlovable colleague, McConnell. Thanks to the dysfunction in the House, he is now Congress indispensable man. Story continues Thats why Biden was doling out compliments underneath the giant bridge that connects northern Kentucky to southern Ohio. He knows hes going to need McConnells help. The infrastructure bill that passed Congress in 2021 was a high-water mark for bipartisanship on McConnell's part; he supported it in large part because it included the bridge, a project hes worked on for decades. But Congress still needs to pass spending bills to keep the government running. And in the second half of the year the Treasury expects to hit the debt ceiling, the legal limit on federal government borrowing (currently $31.4 trillion). At that point, Congress will need to raise the limit to avert a default that could crash the financial markets. Weve seen this movie before. In 2011, during President Obamas first term, tea party Republicans in the House, the precursors of todays Freedom Caucus, threatened to let the federal government default on its debts. The House speaker at the time, John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), couldnt govern his own majority; White House aides joked that Boehner couldnt deliver a pizza. It took weeks of negotiations between McConnell and Biden, Obamas vice president, to produce a deal that raised the debt ceiling in exchange for long-term deficit reduction. (The deficit didnt stay down for long, but the crisis was averted.) McConnell has a sound political reason for working with Democrats: He believes his party has damaged itself by acquiring an image as the party of chaos. The GOP came agonizingly close last year to winning a majority in the Senate and restoring McConnell to the job he wants most, majority leader. But voters rejected candidates chosen and endorsed by former President Trump Herschel Walker in Georgia, Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania, Blake Masters in Arizona and the Senate remained in Democratic hands. Independent voters and moderate Republicans concluded that we were sort of nasty and tended toward chaos, McConnell said last year in an interview with NBC. They didnt have enough confidence in us, in several instances, to give us the majority, he said. His goal is to detoxify the GOPs image by steering toward a more orderly version of conservatism. We have a high bar to get over in asking the American people for governing responsibility again, Scott Jennings, a former McConnell aide, explained last week. The independents in the midterm let us know that we havent yet met that bar. But we damn well better get there if we hope to win the White House and win back the Senate in 2024. McConnell hasnt turned into a moderate. After the election, he summed up his agenda in partisan terms: Were going to fight Democrats recklessness and promote our common-sense conservative values. But like Biden, he knows that cutting deals can help him politically. The next two years in Congress will see more collisions than cooperation between the two parties. But between McConnell and Biden, it might also include a few more opportunities for bipartisanship just when it's needed most. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Authorities have released the identity of a 35-year-old man who was shot to death Saturday in East St. Louis. Jabril Ross of the 1600 block of N. 44th Street in East St. Louis was pronounced dead at 10:35 a.m. at the scene of the shooting, said St Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. Few details were released about the shooting, which reportedly happened at a barber shop. Illinois State Police Zone 6 Public Safety Enforcement Group agents responded to the scene of the shooting in the 7400 block of State Street around 9:46 a.m. Saturday, according to a press release. Authorities are investigating the death as a homicide, the release states. Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has any information should contact Crimestoppers at 314-725-8477 or Public Safety Enforcement Group agents at 618-343-5239. Witnesses can remain anonymous, according to Illinois State Police. Reporter Lexi Cortes contributed to this report. People enjoy their time in the Medina of Tunis, Tunisia, on Jan. 5, 2023. China's move to downgrade the management of COVID-19 from Class A to Class B starting from Jan. 8 has excited governmental officials and tourism industry players in the Middle East, who are gearing up to welcome back Chinese tourists absent for three years due to the pandemic. (Xinhua/Xu Supei) TUNIS/CAIRO, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's move to downgrade the management of COVID-19 from Class A to Class B starting from Sunday has excited governmental officials and tourism industry players in the Middle East, who are gearing up to welcome back Chinese tourists absent for three years due to the pandemic. LONG-AWAITED RETURN OF CHINESE TOURISTS China has continuously optimized its COVID-19 responses, the latest of which will be lifting restrictions on citizens' outbound trips as of Sunday. The move is warmly welcomed by tourism practitioners in the Middle East. "We are so happy to hear the good news," Amir Ben Aribia, general manager of the Tunisian travel company Tunisia Blue Sky, told Xinhua. With Chinese tourists accounting for 90 percent of the company's business before the pandemic outbreak, Ben Aribia has been closely following the adjustment of China's COVID-related policies. Karim Mohammed, a souvenir shop owner in the famous Khan El Khalili bazaar in Egypt's capital of Cairo, said that he expected Chinese tourists to return to Egypt soon. As the Belt and Road cooperation runs through the Middle East region where more countries offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to Chinese citizens, the number of Chinese arrivals has surged in the pre-pandemic years. In 2016, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) started to grant visas to Chinese visitors upon arrival. In 2017, over 764,000 Chinese tourists visited the UAE, representing a 41-percent increase year on year. According to the 2020 report of Dubai Tourism, the easing of the UAE visa rules in 2016 led to the doubling of the number of Chinese visitors to the Gulf country in four years. When Saudi Arabia announced the issuance of tourist visas to visitors from 49 countries in 2019, China topped the number of tourist visas issued by the kingdom. Chinese tourists used to come in groups, which helped boost his business significantly, Mohammed said. Halis Aydogan, an official of the Turkish company Pasha Balloon Tours, told Xinhua that in Cappadocia, famous for its hot air balloon tours, Chinese tourists accounted for nearly half of some 600,000 balloon trip takers in 2019. HUGE POTENTIAL FOR MIDDLE EAST Despite the rapid growth, China remains a tourism market with huge potential for the Middle East. Experts believe the return of Chinese tourists would have a positive impact on a wide range of sectors in the region. "Not only does a hotel stay benefit the hospitality industry, but visitor spending in retail and leisure activities boosts demand for employment and stimulates the wider economy," Ross Curran, an assistant professor at Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, told The National, an English daily newspaper with headquarters in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, the return of Chinese tourists would strengthen cultural exchanges between China and the Mideast countries in the long run. Chinese tourists show more interest in the historical sites and natural landscapes, Ben Aribia said, adding that the Chinese travel style brings the industry a stable and handsome income. That is why Tunisia Blue Sky has focused on the Chinese market in recent years, he said. Abedulrazzak Abo Mohaisen, a Jordanian who owns a workshop selling his handcrafted traditional Arabic daggers near the historical Roman Theater of Amman, said he expected a prosperous season brought by the return of Chinese visitors. "I believe that good numbers of Chinese tourists will revive tourism in Jordan. China is a major country with an ancient civilization, and cooperation with it in this sector will be very promising," he said. Saudi Arabia's Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb said that he hopes more Chinese tourists would visit and learn about Saudi heritage, culture, and people. "China is one of Saudi Arabia's main trade partners, and we have been enjoying Chinese culture and heritage for many years, especially the delicious food that can be found everywhere in Saudi Arabia. Now, we want the Chinese to come," the minister told Xinhua before the 116th World Tourism Organization Executive Council Meeting in Jeddah. PREPARATIONS FOR NEW TOURIST WAVE With restrictions on Chinese citizens' outbound trips lifted, a surge in numbers in 2023 is expected. Analysts noted that the travel industry needs to remain flexible to respond to changing conditions. International tourism arrivals, up 60 percent in 2022, will rise by a further 30 percent in 2023, with Chinese tourists acting as a great impetus to the growth, according to the London-based Economist. For now, hoteliers and travel agents in the Middle East are making preparations for a new wave of Chinese tourists. "We sit and work with our friends ... to plan on receiving Chinese visitors and organizing new tours and destinations in the city," Serhan Kochan, a tour operator for the Ligarba Travel Agency in the largest Turkish city of Istanbul, told Xinhua. He said his teams are creating unique excursion tours to cover some newly restored or opened tourist destinations along the coast of the sea. Irfan Karsli, head of the Ligarba Travel Agency, said Chinese tour groups are expected to start visiting Turkiye in April and the arrivals of large numbers of Chinese tourists would help boost the country's ailing economy. Elhamy Al-Zayyat, a tourism expert and former head of the Egyptian Tourism Federation, said that Egypt targets a 30-percent rise in tourists per year after China lifts overseas travel restrictions, but promotional campaigns alone are not enough. "We need interesting services and innovative measures so as to lure Chinese tourists and challenge other competing markets," he said. Al-Zayyat also hoped that Egypt would cooperate with Chinese travel agencies to attract more Chinese tourists by providing interesting projects. "Chinese tourists will be impressed when they return to Egypt, because Khan al-Khalili has undergone a comprehensive development process that increased its beauty while preserving the Islamic heritage nature of the place," said Mohammed Saleh, an owner of a traditional Egyptian food restaurant in the bazaar. People visit the Medina of Tunis, Tunisia, on Jan. 9, 2023. China's move to downgrade the management of COVID-19 from Class A to Class B starting from Jan. 8 has excited governmental officials and tourism industry players in the Middle East, who are gearing up to welcome back Chinese tourists absent for three years due to the pandemic. (Photo by Adel Ezzine/Xinhua) This photo taken on Jan. 5, 2023 shows a view of a street in Tunis, Tunisia. China's move to downgrade the management of COVID-19 from Class A to Class B starting from Jan. 8 has excited governmental officials and tourism industry players in the Middle East, who are gearing up to welcome back Chinese tourists absent for three years due to the pandemic. (Xinhua/Xu Supei) New COVID-19 testing mandates for travelers arriving from China into the U.S. went into effect Thursday, requiring all passengers two and older to provide negative results from tests taken no more than two days before travel. While other nations such as Japan, India and South Korea have taken similar measures, some Asian community advocates in the U.S. worry that the move could spark anti-Asian hate and bias while unfairly singling out one particular group of travelers. Harmful rhetoric may ignite the firestorm, advocates say. What weve seen is that its not only policies alone that spur incidents, but the language that elected officials and public figures use, said Manjusha Kulkarni, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, a San Francisco-based consortium of several groups formed in response to rising anti-Asian sentiment during the COVID-19 pandemic. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted a reception to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the Rose Garden of the White House on May 17, 2022. While highlighting examples of contributions by Asian Americans to U.S. culture and history, President Biden also said the country must push back again anti-Asian bias, xenophobia and harassment which spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kulkarni cited inflammatory terms such as kung flu used by former President Donald Trump and others as the pandemic began to unfold in 2020, followed by the stricter public charge rules affecting Asian immigrants and mass deportations of those from Southeast Asia. Since we started receiving incident reports in March 2020, we have more than 11,000 reports from individuals across the country who have experienced anti-Asian hate, said Kulkarni, who is also executive director of the AAPI Equity Alliance, a coalition of organizations serving Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Los Angeles County, California. There are many sources of information that drive animosity, but combined, it has the effect of legitimizing the scapegoating of Chinese Americans and other Asian Americans. Heres what to know. Why did the U.S. make the change? The U.S. had lifted the last of its negative-test mandates for travelers in June, although the CDC still suggested that passengers be tested just prior to flights and that they avoid travel if they were sick. COVID-19 testing requirements have been recently instituted or renewed by the U.S. and other countries as infection rates surge in China following a relaxing of that nations rigid anti-virus restrictions. China had initially adopted a zero COVID strategy that kept infection rates low but hampered the nations economy while fueling public resentment. In addition to the CDCs renewed restrictions, at least one cruise line operator Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which runs the Norwegian, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas lines is now requiring pre-cruise testing for passengers whose travels have taken them to mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau in the previous 10 days. The moves come as China anticipates its busiest travel season Lunar New Year, which starts Jan. 22. Story continues Why are advocates concerned? Community advocates worry that, as in the earlier stages of the pandemic, targeting travelers from a specific region may inadvertently give rise to blanket bias and mistreatment of Asian Americans. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., center, is joined by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., third from left, at a news conference to discuss an Asian-American hate crime bill, Monday, April 19, 2021, in New York. Frank Wu, president of Queens College, City University of New York, noted that the pandemics accompanying rise in anti-Asian sentiment not only targeted Asian Americans but even others thought to be. In April 2021, for instance, a 70-year-old Mexican American woman was reportedly brutalized aboard a metro bus in Los Angeles by an attacker who mistook her as Asian. Many of the people attacked were not of Chinese descent, Wu said. But they were blamed for the virus. What the hate crimes showed is that haters do not draw distinctions. Such sentiments were further provoked by the words and actions of political leaders and public figures, Kulkarni said. Our major concern is when discrimination and racism overrule science, she said. We saw some of that at the start of COVID: Instead of taking responsibility for the outbreak in the U.S., the Trump administration looked to pin the blame on China specifically. Prejudice against Asian Americans became a distraction to finding solutions to the pandemic when they were critically needed. What measures could be taken instead? Kulkarni said that while its important to follow public health experts advice, its unfair to single to single out a particular geographic region even as experts predict up to 2 million deaths and hundreds of millions of infections in China as a result of its eased restrictions. A man wearing a mask passed by a statue of a cartoon character in Beijing, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. In a sharp reversal, China announced a series of measures rolling back some of the most draconian anti-COVID-19 restrictions. We know infection rates are on the rise in many countries across the globe, Kulkarni said. If we are truly worried about these variants and their spread through travel, then we should consider looking at new masking policies and requiring negative tests for all travelers, no matter where they come from. Wu said that while it makes sense to set up protocols to protect the U.S. from particular areas with severe COVID-19 outbreaks, such actions should be cautiously implemented. We just need to be careful, Wu said. Good policies can inspire bad actions. Dig Deeper This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID-19: Test mandates for travelers from China renew fears of bias Rep. Dan Crenshaw speaks to media on Capitol Hill on the opening day of the 118th Congress. (Carolyn Kaster/AP) Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, on Sunday said he was sorry if any of his House colleagues were offended by his heated rhetoric during the protracted speakership conflict over the past week. "To the extent that I have colleagues that were offended by it, I sincerely apologize to them. I don't want them to think I actually believe they're terrorists. It's clearly a turn of phrase that you use when it is an intransigent negotiation," Crenshaw said on CNN's "State of the Union." "That's where the heartburn is" Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) responds to the tension surrounding Kevin McCarthy during a chaotic week of House speaker votes and whether Republicans learned something from it. @CNNSotu #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/EsRugfV7tf CNN (@CNN) January 8, 2023 Crenshaw, an outspoken supporter of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, had a number of fiery criticisms of the far-right GOP holdouts who forced significant concessions from the Republican leader by refusing to back him in vote after embarrassing vote. McCarthy eventually flipped enough votes to secure the speakership in the early hours of Saturday morning. At various points in the weeklong series of votes, Crenshaw called these holdouts "enemies," suggested they were narcissists, and compared their negotiating style to terrorists. We cannot let the terrorists win, he said. Fox News host Tucker Carlson blasted Crenshaw for the comments, which he called "the snarling face of the donor class" of the Republican Party. Crenshaw fired back on Twitter. "Unclutch your pearls," he wrote. "Grow thicker skin." Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., left, pulls Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., back as they talk with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. (Andrew Harnik/AP) The back-and-forth was only a small part of the GOP maelstrom over the past week. On the House floor, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., had to be physically restrained when confronting Rep. Matt Gaetz, a leader of McCarthy's hard-right opposition group. Story continues Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said Sunday on CNN that the raw emotions helped open up the negotiations. "A little temporary conflict is necessary in this town in order to stop this town from rolling over the American people," said Roy, one of the GOP holdouts who repeatedly voted against McCarthy before supporting him. "Some of the tensions you saw on display, when we saw some of the interactions there between Mike Rogers and Matt Gaetz ... we need a little of that." "Sometimes democracy's messy," Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said on Fox News, "but I would argue that's exactly how the founders intended it." WATCH: @Jim_Jordan joined @ShannonBream on #FoxNewsSunday to discuss the future of the 118th Congress, the southern border crisis, and more! "Sometimes democracy's messy, but I would argue that's exactly how the founders intended it. They wanted real debate, real input..." pic.twitter.com/I79hHFk0Sj Fox News Sunday (@FoxNewsSunday) January 8, 2023 But that conflict may be an omen of battles to come as a divided Congress navigates high-stakes negotiations over the debt limit, spending bills and more. And it's likely more bridges will need to be mended on the Republican side, as McCarthy's emboldened right flank wields new influence. "Things get heated. And things get said," Crenshaw said Sunday on CNN of his "terrorist" insult. "Obviously, to the people who took offense by that, it's pretty obvious that it's meant as a turn of phrase. It's in the context of intransigent negotiations." He added: "Look, I've got pretty thick skin. I get called awful, vile things [by] the very same wing that I'm fighting, that I was fighting at that moment, so I was kind of taken aback by the sensitivity of it." BOULDER, Colo. (AP) Tristan da Silva scored 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting to help Colorado cruise to a 62-42 win over Oregon State on Saturday night. Da Silva who scored a career-high 30 in Colorado's 68-41 win over Oregon on Thursday hit a 3-pointer, JVonne Hadley followed with a jumper and da Silva added a layup to make it 7-0, KJ Simpson hit two free throws to make it 16-6 with 11:37 left in the first half and Buffaloes led by double figures the rest of the way. Simpson, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard who went into the game leading Colorado (11-6, 3-3 Pac-12) in scoring (18.7 per game), had a season-low six points on 1-of-8 shooting but grabbed seven rebounds with a career-high tying six assists. Dexter Akanno led Oregon State (7-9, 1-4) with 10 points. Freshman Tyler Bilodeau had four points, a career-high 12 rebounds, two blocks and a steals. The Beavers committed eight turnovers, made 8 of 29 from the field, including 2 of 9 from 3-point range, and did not attempt a free throw in the first half. They set season lows for points in a game and points in a half (18 in the first). UP NEXT Oregon State returns home to play No. 5 Arizona which had 28-game home win streak snapped Saturday with a 74-61 loss to Washington State on Thursday Colorado visits USC on Thursday ___ More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 SALT LAKE CITY (AP) N'Faly Dante finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season and Oregon beat Utah for a 10th straight time, 70-60 on Saturday. Dante sank 6 of 7 shots from the floor for the Ducks (9-7, 3-2), who were coming off a 27-point loss at Colorado. Will Richardson pitched in with 11 points and four assists. Kel'el Ware and Jermaine Couisnard scored 10 apiece off the bench. Marco Anthony topped the Utes (12-5, 5-1) with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Lazar Stefanovic had 13 points and Branden Carlsen scored 10 with nine rebounds. Dante sank all four of his shots and had nine points and nine rebounds to help the Ducks grab a 34-27 lead at halftime. Carlson scored eight points to help the Utes erase half of a 14-point deficit over the final 3:32. Oregon shot 43% in the first half but made just 3 of 13 from beyond the arc. Utah fared worse, shooting 26.7% while missing 10 of 11 shots from distance. The Ducks built a 63-51 lead with 3:41 left on a layup by Richardson. Utah battled back when Anthony scored the final four points in a 7-0 run to get the Utes within 63-58 with 2:07 remaining. Dante missed two free throws with 1:12 left, but Richardson hit the floor for a rebound and called a timeout. That led to Quincy Guerrier's 3-pointer and the Ducks led by eight with 59 seconds left. Oregon, the worst free-throw shooting team in the Pac-12 at 66%, sank 4 of 4 in the final 47 seconds to preserve the win. The Ducks shot 40% overall and made just 7 of 28 from beyond the arc. But they made 17 of 25 foul shots, in spite of a 5-for-11 effort by Dante. Utah shot 36% overall and hit only 3 of 21 from distance (14%). UP NEXT Utah: The Utes travel to play No. 10 UCLA on Thursday and USC on Saturday. Oregon: The Ducks return home to play Arizona State on Thursday and No. 5 Arizona on Saturday. ___ More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 On Sunday, the Defence Forces of Ukraine shot down three Russian helicopters and three drones. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine report Quote: "In the course of the past 24 hours, Ukrainian aircraft carried out airstrikes on 10 areas where the enemy was concentrated and on three of its positions of anti-aircraft missile systems. In addition, Ukraines defenders shot down three enemy drones, probably Orlan type, and three helicopters: Mi-24 and Ka-52; the type of one more helicopter is being clarified. At the same time, Rocket Forces and Artillery units of the Defence Forces of Ukraine hit two areas of Russian military personnel concentration and fuel and lubricant storage points of occupiers." Details: Russian troops are conducting offensive operations on the Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Lyman fronts, and are trying to improve the tactical position on the Kupiansk front. Occupiers are concentrating their efforts on capturing the Donetsk Oblast within the administrative border, but are having no success. In the course of the past 24 hours, Russias forces launched a missile attack and 19 airstrikes. They have also shelled civilian infrastructure 10 times using missile launcher rocket systems. There were no significant changes on the Volyn, Polissia, Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna fronts. Certain military units of the Armed forces of Belarus and Russia continue to carry out missions in Ukraines border areas, and no formation of Russian offensive groups has been detected. At the same time, Russian troops are shelling positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian objects along the entire line of contact. On the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna fronts, the areas around the settlements of Kucherivka in Sumy Oblast, as well as Staritsia, Kolodiazne and Novomlynsk in Kharkiv Oblast came under Russian fire. On the Kupiansk front, Russian forces shelled the areas of the settlements of Pershotravneve and Ivanivka in Kharkiv Oblast and Stelmakhivka and Miasozharivka in Luhansk Oblast. Story continues On the Lyman front, Makiivka, Nevske, Kuzmyne, Chervopopivka and Dibrova in Luhansk Oblast. On the Bakhmut front, Berestove, Bilohorivka, Vesele, Rozdolivka, Bakhmut, Bila Hora, Dyliivka, Druzhba, Zalizne and New-York in Donetsk Oblast have been affected by Russian shelling. On the Avdiivka front, Russian troops attacked Avdiivka, Nevelske, Marinka and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast. On the Zaporizhzhia front, Russian forces shelled Dorozhnianka, Charivne, Mali Shcherbaky, and Kamianske areas in Zaporizhzhia Oblast with tanks and an entire spectrum of artillery. On the Kherson front, occupiers continue shelling the settlements along the right bank of the Dnipro River. Kherson city has been hit by Russian missile launcher rocket systems once again. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The DeKalb Police department is searching for a suspect they believed fired shots at another man but injured an innocent bystander instead. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police say they were called to a Texaco station on Columbia Drive just before 5 p.m. on Wednesday where they found a man who had been shot in the leg. Officers told Channel 2 Action News a car drove by the gas station and opened fire on another car, striking the man who was pumping gas at a different car. Investigators said the man, identified only as being in his 40s, was not the intended target. TRENDING STORIES: Police said the suspect fled the scene in the pictured vehicle. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the DeKalb police. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday mobilized the state national guard to help local officials respond to a large influx of Cuban migrants landing in the Florida Keys. DeSantis, a Republican, activated the Florida National Guard and directed state law agencies to assist in the Keys through an executive order in response to the arrival of more than 700 mostly Cuban migrants over the New Years weekend alone. In a statement, the governor criticized Democratic President Joe Biden and the federal governments immigration policies and response to the migrants landing in the Keys. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<< The governors statement made no mention of the Biden administrations announcement Thursday of a new policy to start turning back Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans at the Texas border, along with Venezuelans, who arrive illegally. The administration also said it would offer humanitarian parole for up 30,000 people a month from those four countries if they apply online, pay their airfare and find a financial sponsor. Some migrant advocates said that the new policy could worsen the situation in Florida. Ramon Raul Sanchez with the Cuban American group Movimiento Democracia said even more Cubans may risk their lives by taking to the sea to reach the U.S. instead of flying to Central America and coming to the Texas border by land. Blas Nunez Neto, acting Assistant Secretary for Border and Immigration Policy in the Department for Homeland Security, said the new program could incentivize Cubans not to come illegally by sea. Read: He said Cubans would be better off applying under the new parole program announced Thursday because that would give them a potential path to residency that they might not otherwise have. Do not risk your life at sea because there are much better options under the new program, he said. DeSantis said Florida will deploy airplanes, helicopter and marine patrols to the area to support water interdictions and ensure the safety of migrants attempting to reach Florida through the Florida Straits. Story continues Read: More than 4,400 migrants, mostly Cubans with some Haitians, have arrived by boat in Florida since August as those two countries face deepening and compounding political and economic crises. Because Washington and Havana dont have diplomatic relations, it is problematic for the U.S. government to send Cubans back once they arrive in Florida. Those who are stopped at sea are already taken back, since Cuba will accept those people. Almost 8,000 Cubans and Haitians have been intercepted since August about 50 per day compared with 17 per day in the 2021-22 fiscal year and just two per day during the 2020-21 fiscal year. Officials said at least 65 migrants have died at sea since August. Read: 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. A store clerk has been arrested after shooting an armed robber in self-defense at a Dollar General in Louisiana. According to local police, Rafus Anderson was working at the downtown Monroe location when the robbery took place. Per Fox 5 Vegas, when the thief took the money from the register and attempted to leave the store, the employee pulled out a gun and fired more than one shot in his direction. The suspect was hit along with an innocent bystander who was shopping at the time. When officers arrived on the scene, the robber was found lying in the money he had just robbed the store of, the police report stated. Unfortunately, he died later on from complications from the gun wound. After Anderson locked up the store, as usual, he went to the police station to turn himself in according to the report. When he was questioned by police about what took place, he mentioned that this was the sixth time someone tried to rob the store in the last five months. Four of the attempted robberies had been successful so he felt scared that he could be killed this time. The clerk was released from jail earlier this week without bail and had a court appearance the next day. The New Yorker and ProPublica discovered that dollar stores are a popular target for robbers due to their location in communities and the cash flow. There has been no statement from Dollar General at this time. By Dave Graham MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - North American leaders aim to give new impetus to strengthening economic ties at a meeting this week, even as a major dispute grinds on over Mexico's energy policies which has distracted from cooperation on other issues like immigration. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will host his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for talks in Mexico City from Monday through Wednesday, the first summit between the three since late 2021. "A meeting like this is so that we keep moving forward on economic integration," Lopez Obrador said this week. Still, Mexico remains mired in an energy dispute with the United States and Canada, who argue their firms have been disadvantaged by Lopez Obrador's campaign to give control of the market to his cash-strapped state energy companies. A combative leftist, Lopez Obrador says his policy is a matter of national sovereignty, on the grounds that past governments skewed the energy market to favor private interests. Washington and Ottawa believe his actions breach the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade deal, and have launched dispute resolution proceedings against Mexico, souring the mood for cooperation over jobs and investment. Trudeau told Reuters on Friday he would make the case that resolving the energy dispute would help bring more foreign investment to Mexico, and was confident of making progress. Others argue the time for negotiation is over. Aindriu Colgan, director of tax and trade policy at the American Petroleum Institute - whose members include ExxonMobil and Chevron - said it was time to call a dispute panel because "Mexico is blatantly violating the USMCA." Ahead of the summit, officials have publicly stressed North America's shared economic interests, while privately tempering prospects for a major breakthrough on the energy spat. "They will do their utmost to make it appear a happy gathering," said Andres Rozental, a former Mexican deputy foreign minister. "As long as Lopez Obrador keeps migrants out of the border area, Biden will be happy." Story continues SNUBS, FENTANYL, IMMIGRATION Since the COVID-19 pandemic scrambled supply chains, policymakers have stepped up calls for firms to relocate business from Asia to make the region's economy more resilient. As part of that drive, Lopez Obrador, who in June snubbed Biden's invitation to the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles in protest at his exclusion of the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, wants to discuss his plan to boost solar power in northern Mexico and secure U.S. financial support for it. Biden's aides say they expect a positive tone at the gathering after the announcement of a new migration plan this week, and Mexico caught a prominent cartel boss. Ovidio Guzman, son of jailed kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, is a leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, a gang blamed for helping to fuel a surge in fatal overdoses of synthetic opioid fentanyl in the United States. The U.S. government said stopping fentanyl flows would be an important part of talks on combating drug cartels. Supply chains, climate change and immigration would also be discussed. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said any tensions over Lopez Obrador's June snub had dissipated and the two presidents were in a better position to work together. Mexico's government has repeatedly urged the United States to commit funds to Central America and southern Mexico to boost development and stem the northward trek of migrants from what has long been one of the poorest regions on the continent. It has also urged Washington to make it easier for migrants to get U.S. jobs. A Mexican official said the deal unveiled on Thursday broadening border expulsions would do that due to a quid pro quo it contained on facilitating migrant entry by air. Mexico has recently also raised U.S. hackles with a plan to prohibit imports of genetically modified corn. Although Lopez Obrador's government agreed to delay the ban until 2025, the issue would be discussed, he said. (Reporting by Dave Graham, Jarret Renshaw, Matt Spetalnick and Steve Scherer; Editing by David Holmes) SANAA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A female Yemeni artist uses her paintings to tell more Yemenis about the country's rich history, time-honored traditions, and splendid culture, as a way to plead for peace and unity in the divided country. "In my paintings, I used the letters from the ancient Musnad scripts and symbols from the Kingdom of Saba to show how rich our history is as a country," Susan Kailian, a Sanaa-based artist, said to Xinhua during her personal exhibition held in the Houthi-controlled capital. The Musnad script, which has a history of more than 3,000 years, is believed to be one of the earliest written systems created by the Arabs. The Kingdom of Saba, on the other hand, was a kingdom located in modern-day Yemen that flourished between the 8th century BC and the 3rd century AD. Both of them are evidence that Yemen has been one of the cradles and centers of Arab civilization. The Yemeni artist believed that informing more Yemenis about their country's history would help the war-torn country reconcile. "One who does not know his or her own history cannot recognize the present nor create a future. The Yemeni civilization has always been neglected, therefore I liked to shed light on glimpses of our history, which has plenty of proud achievements," the artist stated. She added that, from a historical perspective, Yemenis, whether they are from the south or north, are the descendants of one civilization. "While the current civil war and political divisions have separated us, we are still bonded by one history, one civilization, and one blood," said Kailian, standing next to a painting of a girl in Yemeni traditional dress. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi group seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government out of the capital Sanaa. The war, mainly fought between Yemenis, has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 4 million, and pushed the poorest Arab country to the brink of starvation. Art has become a luxury out of reach for most ordinary Yemenis, as two-thirds of the population has to worry daily about bringing bread to the table. But there are still people who want to pursue aesthetic pleasures and feed their souls. For dozens of visitors at the exhibition, what catches their eyes immediately is the artist's use of bold colors and abstract designs. "I think the paintings may seem a bit abstruse to foreigners, but as a Yemeni, I immediately find a connection to them," an exhibition-goer named Abdul Karim said, adding the artist has embedded various Yemeni traditional elements into her works. Aside from delving into history, Kailian did not shirk from the ongoing civil war that has caused immense suffering in this ancient land. She also displayed pictures of the bloodshed, violence, and deaths, which have become a normal scene for Yemenis. "I made these paintings to explain the miserable and painful reality that we live through, which we hope will be a phase that we can overcome," the artist explained. "The suffering of the Yemeni nation has been too long and what pains me most is that the war is being fought by people from one nation, my nation," she said emotionally. Construction in downtown Los Angeles in 2019. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) To ease Los Angeles crushing housing shortage, the city needs a lot more new homes, especially affordable ones. Yet the City Council has been sitting on two community plans that would make it easier for developers to construct housing and boost the number of low-income units in downtown and Hollywood. Whats the holdup? Politics and scandal. Last fall, just as the council was about to begin debating the Downtown Community Plan, a leaked audio recording revealed three council members making racist and demeaning comments about their colleagues and constituents. Two of the council members involved Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo, who has since been replaced on the council had helped shape the plan because their districts include parts of downtown. On development matters, the City Council generally defers to the council member who represents the area. And with the two men going into hiding after the scandal, the councils Planning and Land-Use Committee put the plan on hold. The political culture around development is already problematic. Council members treat their districts like fiefdoms in which they have complete control over land-use decisions. But that deference is now slowing the citys much-needed effort to modernize its land-use rules and plan for 455,000 new homes, including 185,000 affordable units by 2029 to meet state requirements. As the months ticked by, civic leaders have become increasingly concerned by the delays. The Downtown Community Plan also known as DTLA 2040 because it would set the vision for the next 20 years of development is an integral piece of the citys strategy to solve the housing crisis. The downtown area represents just 1% of the citys land, but planners expect it will add 100,000 new homes or 20% of the citys housing growth over the next two decades. Community plans set the goals and rules for development in a neighborhood, including where new homes, jobs and other development projects can be built. In a city where land-use decisions can be epic battles, there is broad support for DTLA 2040, which was approved by the Planning Commission in September . Story continues Business groups like that the plan provides clear rules for developers. It does away with some of the case-by-case negotiations between the developer and council members that can breed corruption as seen in the indictment of former downtown Councilmember Jose Huizar and allows for quicker approvals. It can take years to permit a mixed-income apartment building under current rules; under the proposed plan, such a development could get approved in months. Affordable-housing advocates and community groups like that the plan supports neighborhood-serving businesses like grocery stores and health clinics. It also allows developers to build bigger projects in exchange for reserving some units for acutely low-income" residents who have an income of less than $10,000 a year. The category can include seniors and people living on Social Security payments who may be too poor to qualify for other subsidized housing. There is still some necessary debate over details. Garment factory workers are concerned new development pressure will push manufacturing out of the Fashion District. Business groups take issue with a provision that allows only affordable housing on skid row. And Chinatown property owners worry the restrictive zoning in their area would squelch investment and new construction. But there can be no discussion or compromise until council members take up the plan. The Hollywood Community Plan has been on hold for even longer; it's been awaiting council consideration for more than 500 days. The Hollywood plan would also create clear rules on when developers would be required to include affordable units in exchange for building bigger again, limiting the political negotiations that too often stymie production of market-rate and affordable housing. If the City Council doesnt act on the Downtown and Hollywood plans by May, the documents will expire and the Planning Department will have to restart the approval process, which could delay the plans by as much as a year. And, because the Downtown and Hollywood plans have dragged on for so many years, the Planning Department hasnt been able to accelerate work on the next round of community plans. L.A. leaders should be rushing to accommodate more housing production. The community plans are too important to stall. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Biden administration last week announced a significant new crackdown on unauthorized migration at the border while opening new legal pathways for some people to enter the U.S At issue once again is Title 42, a decades-old public health law that was first used by the Trump administration in the wake of COVID-19 to initiate restrictions on humanitarian protections and quickly expel migrants. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attempted last year to rescind the border expulsion order, a federal judge in Louisiana kept it in place -- and then the Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal from mostly GOP-led states, stopping another federal judge's ruling that Title 42 had to end in December. The government under President Joe Biden has both defended and been critical of Title 42, but officials now say they must enforce it while the legal battles play out even as Biden said last week, "I don't like Title 42." MORE: Images reveal social media recruitment tactics of suspected human smugglers The plan announced last week will utilize Title 42 and other methods like the standard authority under Title 8 to send as many as 30,000 unauthorized Haitians, Cubans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans to Mexico each month. At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security is expanding a parole program to allow up to 30,000 migrants per month to seek asylum as long as they meet specific criteria. Applicants will need sponsorship in the U.S. and are required to pass background checks. Those who cross into the U.S. illegally will be disqualified. "What we heard today was a major expansion of enforcement at the border but, at the same time, the creation of some legal pathways for people to come into the country lawfully and some ways of applying for an asylum appointment ahead of time as well," said Andrew Selee, president of the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute. PHOTO: Migrants seeking asylum in the United States stand around a fire to keep warm after crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico, Jan. 2, 2023. (Herika Martinez/AFP via Getty Images) Diplomatic tensions and logistical challenges have prevented the return of many Cubans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans to their home countries. The new agreement with Mexico will allow for more of them to be swiftly returned across the border as long as the Title 42 order remains in place, pending a Supreme Court decision. (Arguments before the court are scheduled for February.) Story continues While the move was met with criticism from both sides of the political spectrum -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., called it a "disastrous and inhumane relic" -- Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Sunday on ABC's "This Week" that the immigration system is constrained by Congress' inability to pass bigger changes. The Department of Homeland Security intends to implement the newly announced migrant removal plan even if Title 42 ends, officials said Thursday. MORE: Title 42 actually contributes to increased migration numbers, data suggests However, some experts say using standard immigration processes to return non-Mexicans to Mexico could be difficult and will require full cooperation with the Mexican government -- a topic that is likely to arise when Biden meets with Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for a summit this week. "It is going to be a little more complicated because Mexico would have to sign an actual agreement with the United States to take people back under Title 8, which was the regular way of returning people," Selee, with the Migration Policy Institute, told ABC News. "But it is possible to do that." Mexico has opposed so-called "safe third country" agreements to take migrants in the past and was reluctant to cooperate even with admitting migrants temporarily under the "remain in Mexico" protocols begun under the Trump administration. But throughout the pandemic, Mexico has taken back some non-Mexican migrants, primarily from northern Central American countries. PHOTO: Immigrants bundle up against the cold after spending the night outside along the U.S.-Mexico border fence on Dec. 22, 2022, in El Paso, Texas. (John Moore/Getty Images) The U.S. conducted nearly 345,000 expulsions of El Salvadorans, Guatemalans and Hondurans in fiscal year 2022. The vast majority were sent back to Mexico, one U.S. official said. Small numbers of Cubans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans had also been returned to Mexico prior to last week's announcement, according to two U.S. officials. Despite the potential diplomatic and legal complications that could prevent deportations, Mayorkas said Thursday that the administration intends to use standard immigration processing under Title 8 of U.S. law to return unauthorized Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans once Title 42 ends. "The longevity of these programs is something that, of course, depends on what we are experiencing at the border and the dynamism, as I mentioned, of the migration challenge that is gripping this hemisphere -- and quite frankly, the entire world," Mayorkas said. "With respect to Mexico, Mexico makes its independent decisions with respect to the needs it must address through the mechanisms it has available to it." MORE: Supreme Court keeps Title 42 in place while agreeing to hear states' appeal Immigrant advocates remain concerned that the Biden administration's new plan will effectively result in an expansion of the Title 42 order for Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans, curtailing their access to asylum and other humanitarian protections due to the swift nature of the removal process. Eleanor Acer, senior director Human Rights First, said the strategy signified a "doubling down on cruel and counterproductive policies" from the Trump administration. "Every day that these policies are in place, people seeking refuge will be turned away to suffer horrific abuses," Acer said in a statement. "This subversion of human rights and refugee law is a stain on the record of President Biden and his administration that will inflict indelible harm on human lives, human rights, and the refugee protection system globally." PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers remarks about border security policies in the Roosevelt Room in the White House, Jan. 5, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) While the Trump administration did attempt to strong-arm Mexico into accepting more migrants, there are significant distinctions with the Biden administration's approach, such as the pairing of parole options and a commitment to tripling refugee admissions from the Western Hemisphere over the next year. "I think we have to see the details before we know -- there are certainly echoes of what we saw during the Trump administration, even if it's not exactly the same policy," Selee said. There are limited exceptions made for those who might be subjected to the Title 42 order, including those deemed "particularly vulnerable" by the Department of Homeland Security. ABC News' Luke Barr contributed to this report. Explaining Biden's new border strategy: Expelling some migrants while expanding some asylum claims originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Ivan Fedorov, Mayor of Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, has reported that explosions have occurred overnight at the Hydromash industrial machinery manufacturing plant which had been captured by Russian forces. Source: Fedorov on Telegram "It has been very loud at the Ruscist-captured [Russian forces] Hydromash plant, where they have set up another military base. The rumbling lasted for several hours, an incendiary wave broke the windows of neighbouring houses, and smoke was still billowing over the plant in the morning." Background: Fedorov reported that there had been a series of explosions in the city overnight on 7-8 January. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Dumbarton Rail Bridge across San Francisco Bay as viewed from Menlo Park, California. Yalonda M. James/Getty Images Facebook spent $20 million on plans to revive a railway line that would run near its office. Meta's Juan Salazar told The New York Times it wanted to reduce congestion caused by its staff. Political pressure and impatience put pressure on plans that were abandoned after the pandemic. Facebook spent $20 million on plans to revive an old railway line to Silicon Valley, but political hurdles and COVID-19 led it to abandon the idea, a report says. The New York Times reported that the company tried to renovate the Dumbarton Rail Bridge to streamline traffic to its headquarters while expanding its property portfolio. The Times reported that Warren Slocum, president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, wanted to restore the Dumbarton Rail Corridor, an 18-mile stretch that passes Meta's Menlo Park headquarters. To do so, the bridge which has laid dormant for four decades would need a costly renovation. Slocum told the Times he approached tech companies including Facebook in 2017 to discuss securing funds. Facebook stood to benefit from the idea. Its headcount multiplied nearly ten-fold between 2011 and 2017 to 25,000 employees as it expanded and acquired Instagram and Whatsapp. But this growth helped cause significant traffic congestion around Silicon Valley, according to a feasibility study. Meta's local policy and community engagement director, Juan Salazar, told the Times: "It was something that would not just help us as a company in terms of bringing our employees in but also help the region." Facebook spent $20 million over the next three years on the project, per Salazar, which included hiring staff with experience in rail projects and contracting consultants to look at things including pods to transport commuters across the corridor. Parts of the railway were expected to be operational by 2028, per the Times report. However, several factors conspired to see the $2.6 billion project shelved. More than a dozen people told the Times that political dysfunction in the region, and Facebook's own growing impatience, put early pressure on plans. Story continues The end came when the pandemic struck and ushered in a new era of remote working, unintentionally solving much of Silicon Valley's traffic problem. "I was heartbroken," Slocum said of the project's collapse. "I understood some of the business reasons, but heartbroken nonetheless." Meta has sought to reduce office space in recent months and laid off 11,000 employees in November as its bet on VR continues to hemorrhage money. The company did not immediately respond to a request for further comment from Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider National Broadband Map (Photo: FCC Screenshot) The Federal Communications Commission has launched the interactive map to encourage individuals and families to self-report on their broadband connectivity. The site also includes a bulk challenges page where Tribal governments can comment on broadband connectivity on Tribal lands. The data will be utilized to allocate funding for the National Telecommunications and Information Administrations Broadband Equity, Access, and Development (BEAD) program. More than half of Indian Country remains offline or underserved, thanks to poor connectivity in rural areas and a fiber backbone that avoids many tribal reservations, per prior Tribal Business News reporting. Part of the problem lies in incorrect data: the FCC census has routinely overstated the level of service in many rural communities in particular tribal communities, according to Matthew Gregg, a senior economist at Minneapolis-based Center for Indian Country Development. The main reason is that internet service providers could claim that a location is completely served if the ISP provided internet to at least one household within a given location or if the ISP could serve that location soon, Gregg told Tribal Business News. The new FCC broadband map is meant to address these inaccuracies. Tribal or other officials who want to make bulk challenges and individual households are encouraged to visit the new National Broadband Map website and report connectivity issues or a lack of service by Jan. 13, according to an FCC statement. The FCCs updated census comes after years of reflection and questions about tribal connectivity. COVID-19 has thrown the issue of Indian Countrys connectivity into sharp relief as communities suddenly in need of telehealth and distance learning services could not consistently connect to video calls or access online classes. Federal responses to the increased need have included spectrum auctions, technical assistance, and an unprecedented flood of funding for infrastructure and adoption programs. As a result, good data becomes a crucial component in determining grants and support for a given initiative, Gregg said. Story continues The BEAD program, for example, aims to direct $42.5 billion in total at the broadband problem, distributed to and eventually through state governments. Since tribes can access that funding through partnerships with their surrounding states, good data can funnel more of that pot to those most in need of it, Gregg said. More accurate data will lead to a more efficient allocation of BEAD dollars, Gregg said. States with more unserved locations will receive more BEAD funding. In addition to this years allocation of BEAD funding, the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program is nearing the end of its initial $1.98 billion pot of funding though that amount falls well short of the initial $5 billion requested during the programs first application period. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has promised a second funding opportunity of another $1 billion will arrive soon, according to recent statements, but has not specified when applications for that opportunity will begin. Good data will play a role in where that money goes, according to prior Tribal Business News reports, as industry experts and tribal leaders continue discussing their needs with federal supporters. A January 2022 story in Tribal Business News points to a Senate hearing on the issue, during which Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said the FCCs most recent data was worse than nothing since it pointed support efforts in the wrong direction. If we had nothing, we could use our intuition. Instead, we have actual bad data, which leads policymakers at the legislative level to engage in magical thinking about who has broadband connectivity and who doesnt, Schatz said. It has to do with how the corporations want to count connectivity. Its having an army of really well-educated individuals who work as hard as they can to remove their common sense when theyre trying to analyze whether people have connectivity to the internet. Lack of connectivity has been an ongoing problem throughout Indian Country as a result of issues such as digital redlining. Even when Natives can get online, they often pay more for the privilege and for less speed than their urban counterparts. Research conducted by the Center for Indian Country Development reveals that households in Indian Country pay substantially more for basic home internet service than households located in neighboring, non-tribal areas, Gregg said. Secondly, additional researchshows that business owners are reluctant to operate their establishments in Indian Country due to the lack of reliable internet. Connectivity also plays a central role in the exodus of young people from Native reservations, exacerbated by the inability to join the advent of remote work. From a social perspective, more reliable, faster internet allows for greater access to the remote work revolution, which could curb the outmigration of young, educated individuals from tribal communities, Gregg said. Greater deployment will lower prices and spur local economic development. About the Author: "Chesley Oxendine (Lumbee-Cheraw) is an Oklahoma-based reporter for Native News Online and its sister publication, Tribal Business News. His journalism has been featured in the Fort Gibson Times, Muskogee Phoenix, Native Oklahoma Magazine, and elsewhere. \r " Contact: ChezOxendine@idonthaveit.com A man was taken Saturday to a Fresno hospital after he was apparently stabbed in an incident that began as a dispute among family members, authorities said. Officers with the Fresno Police Department responded about 7:18 a.m. to the area of East California and South Lee avenues regarding a family disturbance, Lt. Skye Leibee said. While en route, officers were told there was a victim of a stabbing. Officers arrived and located the man, who had wounds to his right rib cage and neck. Officers rendered aid until other emergency personnel arrived. The man, who is in his 20s, was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition. Police said they learned a disturbance broke out among family members, with at least three separate fights. The person who was stabbed and the suspect, however, are not related, Leibee said. Leibee said the suspect had gone inside the home before officers arrived, but surrendered after multiple announcements by police. The suspect, who was not identified by police but also said to be in his 20s, was booked into the Fresno County jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Finnish Defense Minister Mikko Savola said on Jan. 7 that Finland was preparing its 12th package of military aid for Ukraine, without disclosing its content for security reasons. The decision will be made in coming weeks, Savola said. Finland is ready to provide Ukraine with Leopard 2 battle tanks if Europe gives it the green light, Antti Hakkianen, chairman of the defense committee in Finland, said, Finnish news site MTV Uutiset reported earlier. Finland has already sent about 190 million euros worth of military aid since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, according to European Truth. The United States and Germany announced on Jan. 5 that the U.S. would provide Ukraine with 50 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles worth $2.8 billion, while Germany approved a shipment of its Marder infantry fighting vehicles. On Jan. 4, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the decision to supply Ukraine with light tanks and Bastion armored fighting vehicles. LAGOS, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian railway authorities on Sunday announced the closure of a train station in the southern state of Edo until further notice after an armed attack Saturday. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said in a statement the decision became necessary following rising security challenges. "This is to inform our general public, and most especially our esteemed passengers, that the station has been temporarily closed due to security issues, till further notice," the NRC said. Nigerian police told Xinhua on the phone Sunday a group of gunmen gained entry into the Igueben train station in Edo state Saturday and began to shoot sporadically in the air before abducting scores of passengers waiting to be conveyed to Warri, a city in the neighboring Delta state. The police have launched an operation to arrest the fleeing gunmen and rescue the abducted victims, said a police spokesperson. Firefighters made two successful animal rescues in Oviedo this week. Seminole County first responders saved a hawk and a kitten on Thursday. According to a release, the county notified the Seminole County Fire Department to try to rescue a hawk that had gotten stuck in an alcove at Evans Elementary School in the morning. Read: SunRail meeting shows a new station coming to Orange County The city said firefighters managed to get the bird down safely, and it was not in distress or injured. Firefighters made two successful animal rescues in Oviedo this week. Firefighters made two successful animal rescues in Oviedo this week. Firefighters made two successful animal rescues in Oviedo this week. Firefighters made two successful animal rescues in Oviedo this week. Oviedo Police later received a call on Alafaya Boulevard, where a kitten was spotted on the road. Read: Seminole County firefighters put out car fire on I-4 Officers arrived at the scene, but the stray cat ran into a nearby parking lot and inside the engine bay of a Lexus. Read: Amway Center opens new sensory room for people with special needs The City of Oviedo said witnesses saw the animal go into the car, which was not running. Firefighters removed the wheel and rescued the kitten without any injuries. 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 incident occurred on a November 26 Air India flight from New York to to New Delhi. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images Shankar Mishra, a former Wells Fargo VP, was arrested in India on Saturday, local outlets reported. Officials accused Mishra of drunkenly urinating on a 72-year-old woman on an Air India flight in November. After a search to locate him, Mishra now faces charges including sexual harassment for the incident. Shankar Mishra, a former vice president for the Indian subsidiary of Wells Fargo, was arrested on Saturday after a search by police and was charged with sexual harassment, obscenity, and "insulting the modesty of a woman." The charges are related to a November 26 incident in which Mishra drunkenly urinated on a fellow passenger, a 72-year-old woman, during an Air India flight from New York to New Delhi, police said. On Friday, Mishra was described by a senior police official as "missing," with law enforcement searching for him in the state of Karnataka, India. Local news outlet Mirror Now reported on Saturday he had been taken into judicial custody and was expected to remain there for 14 days, though he had filed a petition for bail. In response to the incident, Air India is reconsidering its policy of serving alcoholic beverages, Mirror Now reported. Representatives for the airline did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Wells Fargo confirmed on Friday that Mishra had been fired. A statement released by the international banking giant described the incident as "deeply disturbing." Representatives for Wells Fargo did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Artist, illustrator Sergiy Maidukov The Russian invasion of Ukraine was the defining event of 2022 not only for our country, but also for Europe and global security in general. Therefore, the key question for politicians, businessmen, and ordinary citizens is whether the war will end in 2023. Both the trends of economic development and domestic political life, as well as the international situation, will depend on this. Unfortunately, there is no clear and unambiguous answer yet. But some outlines of the further course of events have already been outlined, so it is possible to determine probable political scenarios for the future. Let us first consider the contingencies for the end of the war which are the least probable. For example, #1: a Russian military victory. Putin failed to achieve this result even in the first weeks of the war, when it seemed he had every opportunity to do so. But over time, hostilities have shown that the Russian Federation is noticeably weakening and gradually leaving the occupied territories in Ukraine. In addition, Kyiv relies on the military-technical and economic support of its international partners. Yes, Moscow has large natural and considerable economic and human resources, so the Kremlin has enough money for the war. This is enough for its continuation, but not for victory. The heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people and the successful actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed this possibility. The second of these scenarios is a peace treaty between Russia and Ukraine. After Russia annexed four temporarily occupied Ukrainian regions, even the theoretical possibility of any compromise disappeared. The Kremlin is unlikely to agree to the return of at least some of the annexed territories to Ukraine, and for Ukrainians it is unacceptable to abandon even part of the regions seized by Russia. On the part of individual countries and international organizations, various peace plans to end the war between Russia and Ukraine may periodically appear, but in the belligerents themselves, they will meet with a critical reaction. Story continues The third scenario is the emergence of a direct military conflict between Russia and NATO, including the risk of a global nuclear war. According to most experts, this is still unlikely (due to its lethality), but the option of further development of the current war is still possible. The West is clearly trying to avoid this fatal scenario. But what can we expect from Putin, who is inexorably on the path of escalation? Is he ready to take desperate steps in the face of the threat of defeat? And will criminal orders be carried out in Russia which could destroy the country itself, and with it most of the world? There are no clear answers to these questions. But in the short term, this scenario seems unlikely, as Putin will try to achieve his goals by means of a conventional war. From a dead end to the most optimistic The most controversial (and, in fact, a dead end scenario) is the freezing of the war. That is, the emergence of an equilibrium of both sides war fighting capacities, the stabilization of the front line, and the transition of hostilities to a positional phase for a sufficiently long period (about a year, and maybe longer). The maximum that is possible under this scenario is a technical and procedural agreement on a ceasefire (at the level of the military leadership of the opposing sides). The option of "freezing the war" could also be used in the event of extremely critical problems for Ukraines energy system, respectively, in the face of huge humanitarian risks for our countrys large cities. This scenario does not provide for a full-fledged peace, but rather an indefinite and unstable pause before a new war. At the same time, as the experience of the war in Donbas has shown, a ceasefire agreement can be violated from time to time. Such a scenario would be possible under the following conditions: Russia adapts for long war, but does not have the ability to defeat Ukraine; The West continues to provide Kyiv with moderate (but smaller in volume) military-technical and economic support, the minimum necessary to deter Russian aggression, but insufficient for offensive operations and the liberation of the occupied territories; and international partners push the leadership of Ukraine to a ceasefire agreement. The realization of this scenario will inevitably provoke criticism both in Ukraine and in Russia, which will also lead to their instability. In Ukraine, an internal political confrontation may arise between those who support continuing the war and those who support at least a temporary cessation of hostilities and mass bombardment of large cities. The discussion may also affect the Zelenskyy Administration, as this scenario is unlikely to have a positive impact on their approval ratings. Depending on these trends and the situation at the front, the problem of extending martial law in Ukraine will be decided. A more likely scenario for the unfolding of events is the continuation of martial law and the postponement of the date of the parliamentary elections to 2024, after the presidential elections. This scenario is unlikely in the immediate future. But if the war drags on for a long period (at least until the fall of 2023), its chances will grow. The most optimistic scenario for Ukraine is the complete liberation of the occupied territories. This will be possible with a combination of the following factors: a qualitative strengthening of the military potential of Ukraine with the help of international partners, which will create a significant advantage over the Russian army and allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to carry out successful offensive operations; and the emergence of an acute internal political crisis in the Russian Federation as a result of severe military defeats and the aggravation of internal socio-economic and political problems. The end of the war in this case will occur either as a result of the Armed Forces marching to the Ukrainian-Russian border of 1991 and the actual cessation of hostilities, or by signing (by representatives of the Ukrainian Armed Forces) an agreement on the cessation of hostilities along the 1991 Ukrainian-Russian border. The implementation of this scenario will significantly strengthen Ukraine's foreign policy position. In particular, it is highly likely that negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU will begin, and favorable conditions will appear for considering Ukraine's application for NATO membership. With this unfolding of events, a high level of support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his political power can be expected. If the war ends in autumn, then martial law will be procedurally ended in November or December 2023. And then first the presidential elections will be held (in the spring of 2024), followed (in the autumn of 2024) by parliamentary elections, which is in the interests of the presidential team. Under such conditions, there will be significant changes in the party system of Ukraine, in particular, the emergence of new political forces, as well as the rebranding of the ruling party with a significant renewal of its leadership and staff. The composition of the government may also be updated. The lines of February 24 A moderately optimistic scenario - a "combat draw" - a gradual (stage-by-stage) liberation of most of the occupied territories, with the exception of Crimea and, possibly, part of the Donbas. In short, this means the Ukrainian military reaching the approximate borders of February 24, 2022. This scenario may become possible under the following conditions: sufficiently successful offensive actions by the Ukrainian Armed Forces; relatively stable military-technical and economic support for Ukraine from our international partners; the military-political and economic weakening of Russia, but without the emergence of a systemic internal crisis; stabilization of the front line on the administrative border with Crimea and, possibly, in the Donbas. In this case, hostilities may end after some time with a technical agreement on a temporary (but not definite in time) ceasefire. The issue of the liberation of the Crimea will move to the diplomatic plane. This scenario may also work as a result of the position of our international partners, who will be afraid of the risk of Russia using tactical nuclear weapons in the event of an offensive by Ukrainian troops in Crimea. If there is a tangible demand in Ukrainian society to end the war even without the liberation of Crimea, it will also contribute to this scenario. The internal political situation in Ukraine under such conditions will unfold unevenly. There will be criticism about the incomplete liberation of all the occupied territories. At the same time, there will be satisfaction from the liberation of the territories that Ukraine controlled until February 24, 2022. The issue of extending martial law will be decided depending on the situation at the front, as well as the domestic political situation. Parliamentary elections are highly likely to be post-poned to 2024 and will take place after the presidential elections. Thus, the likelihood that the war against the Russian invaders could end in 2023 is quite high, but still not absolute. The specifics of how the war ends will be determined by the effectiveness of the combat operations of each of the warring parties, by how much the support provided by Ukraines international partners meets its needs, as well as by the development of the internal political situation in Russia. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A Marion woman who was killed during a brutal attack by a man on New Year's Day in Wyandot County will be laid to rest on Monday. According to a report from the Upper Sandusky Police Department, Keris L. (Dilgard) Riebel, age 22, Marion, was found dead inside the Dollar Tree store on East Wyandot Avenue when officers arrived on the scene around 4:25 p.m. last Sunday. Officers were dispatched to the store after receiving a report that a male subject who was "waving a machete around" and had struck a female employee, who turned out to be Riebel. KERIS L. RIEBEL Riebel was recently married on Oct. 8, 2022 to her husband, Jordan, and the couple resided in Marion. She was also a recent graduate of Franklin University with a degree in human resources business management. Riebel was an alumnus of Wynford High School, graduating in 2019, according to a post on the district's Facebook page. The funeral service for Riebel is scheduled at 11 a.m. Monday at Trinity Baptist Church in Marion. Visitation is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at the church. Riebel was memorialized in her obituary as someone who "had a great love for Our Lord. She loved the bible and was devoted daily in reading the scriptures. Her heart for the Lord was reflected in the way she lived life, always having a smile, and her loving spirit and kindness for others. She will never be forgotten." In addition to her husband, Riebel is survived by her parents, Benjamin and Shandell Dilgard of Nevada, her sister and brother, who both reside in Nevada. She is also survived by her husband's parents and sisters as well her grandparents, and her great grandmother. Riebel's family members have established a GoFundMe page to collect donations that will be used to pay for her funeral and other expenses, according to the page. Donations to the fund have exceeded $72,000 since it was established in the days following her death. The initial goal was to raise $30,000. The suspect was identified as Bethel M. Bekele, age 27, Upper Sandusky. Police located him in the 100 block of South Fifth Street in Upper Sandusky not long after the incident at the store and he was detained. Story continues According to a report in The Daily Chief-Union, Bekele appeared in Upper Sandusky Municipal Court on Tuesday and was charged with murder, an unclassified felony that, if he is convicted, carries with it a sentence ranging from 15 years to life in prison plus a maximum $15,000 fine. Upper Sandusky Police Chief Jared Lucas said in his probable cause affidavit that surveillance video footage of the attack on Riebel was obtained from the store. Prosecutors described the attack as "random, sudden, and unprovoked." No motive for the attack has been publicly released yet. Bail has not been set yet, according to online records maintained by the Upper Sandusky Municipal Court. Wyandot County Prosecutor Eric J. Figlewicz and Bekele's court-appointed attorney William F. Kluge filed a joint motion for a continuance of the bail hearing during a hearing held Thursday in municipal court. During Bekele's initial court appearance on Jan. 3, Figlewicz requested that the court deny bail in the case. Upper Sandusky Municipal Court Judge James M. Ruhlen will hear arguments on bail during Bekele's next court appearance, which is scheduled at 2 p.m. on Jan. 11. Bekele is currently incarcerated at the Wood County Jail in Bowling Green. Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Funeral on Monday for Marion woman killed in Upper Sandusky attack Jan. 8The Pennsylvania Game Commission is asking for the public's help finding turkey flocks to trap for ongoing turkey projects. The agency is encouraging Pennsylvanians to report the location of any turkey flocks they see between now and March 15. Information is being collected online at pgcdatacollection.pa.gov/TurkeyBroodSurvey. Visitors to that webpage will be asked to provide the date of the sighting, the location, and the type of land (public, private or unknown) where birds are seen, among other things. Game Commission crews will visit sites to assess them for the potential to trap turkeys. Turkeys will not be moved; they'll simply be leg banded and released on site. In four Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) some also will be outfitted with GPS transmitters, then released back on site to be monitored over time. Trapping turkeys during winter is part of our ongoing population monitoring as well as a large-scale turkey study. Just like the last three winters, the Game Commission will put leg bands on male turkeys statewide. Hunters who harvest one of those turkeys, or people who find one dead, are asked to report the band number by either calling the toll-free number or emailing the Game Commission using the email address on the band. New on this year's leg bands is a website for directly reporting the information into the database. "These data give us information on annual survival rates and annual spring harvest rates for our population model and provides the person reporting information on when and approximately where it was banded," said Mary Jo Casalena, the Game Commission's turkey biologist. The Game Commission is also attaching GPS transmitters to a sample of turkeys in WMUs 2D, 3D, 4D and 5C; on approximately 150 hens and 100 males total. The four study areas have different landscapes, turkey population densities, and spring hunter and harvest densities. "We're studying turkey population and movement dynamics, disease prevalence, and other aspects that may limit populations" Casalena said. Story continues These studies are being done in partnership with Penn State University and the University of Pennsylvania's Wildlife Futures Program. The population and movement portion of that work is looking at how landscape and weather impact hen nest rates, nest success, poult survival, predation, habitat use and movement. The disease portion of the study is examining how disease prevalence varies based on landscape and impacts things like the survival and nesting rates of hens of different ages. This is accomplished by collecting blood, tracheal, feces and skin from turkeys that receive backpack-style transmitters at the time of capture. The study will continue next winter for both males and females, and continue through 2025 for hens, so that in the end, the Game Commission will monitor more than 400 females and more than 200 males. Researchers from Penn State University and the University of Pennsylvania's Wildlife Futures Program will interpret the data collected. Biologists from Maryland, New Jersey and Ohio joined the study this year as well. "It is the largest turkey project we've ever conducted, with the hope of answering many questions regarding current turkey population dynamics," Casalena said. Finding birds to trap is key to accomplishing the work. That's where the public comes in. Fortunately, Pennsylvanians have a history of helping in this way. Last winter's Wild Turkey Sighting Survey was extremely useful to staff for locating trappable flocks, Casalena said. "The public was so helpful last year and even helped with monitoring sites and trapping," Casalena said. "We really look forward to it expanding this winter." Half-ton butter sculpture highlights 2023 Farm Show theme: Rooted in Progress Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding today unveiled the 2023 Pennsylvania Farm Show butter sculpture. Carved from 1,000 pounds of butter, it highlights this year's theme: Rooted in Progress. The sculpture, a longtime PA Farm Show staple that celebrates Pennsylvania's 5,200 dairy farmers, highlights the strong roots Pennsylvania agriculture has today thanks to a vision rooted in progress and eight years of targeted support and investments for the industry. "We celebrate this year's theme, Rooted in Progress, by highlighting the progress made over the past eight years and the opportunity that Pennsylvania's farm families have today to innovate, diversify, and plan," said Redding. "The entire commonwealth benefits from the strong roots we've cultivated for agriculture. These roots feed local economies and Pennsylvania families, they break down walls holding Pennsylvanians back, and they are a strong foundation for the future." The sculpture, sponsored by American Dairy Association North East (ADANE), depicts several generations of a dairy farming family, enjoying a moment together amid the backdrop of their family farm, celebrating how they work together to produce wholesome food for their community in a sustainable way. The sculptors, Jim Victor and Marie Pelton, began work in mid-December to craft the work of art from butter donated by Land O' Lakes in Carlisle, Cumberland County. Following the show, the butter will be moved to the Reinford Farm in Juniata County to be converted into renewable energy in the farm's methane digester. "The butter sculpture is a creative way to showcase the important role agriculture plays in our lives. Producing nutritious milk and dairy products, and feeding people, is what I love most about being a dairy farmer," said dairy farmer Steve Harnish of Central Manor Dairy LLC in Washington Boro, Pa. "This sculpture could be my own family. This is a meaningful way to show how dairy farmers work with their loved ones on land where they have deep roots, but always farming for the future." Pennsylvania is also rooted in the next generation. The commonwealth leads the nation in preserved farmland. Since January 2015, the Wolf Administration has invested more than $273 million in preserving 116,527 acres on 1,416 farms across the state. Since 1988, Pennsylvania has protected 6,148 farms and 619,191 acres in 58 counties from future development, investing more than $1.6 billion in our agriculture industry's ability to feed our families and our economy. In addition, Pennsylvania leads the nation in young farmers, with 14 percent of the state's farmers under 35. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture lifts up new and young farmers by offering grant programs and tax incentives through the PA Farm Bill. The butter sculpture is on display in the Farm Show's Main Hall. The Pennsylvania Farm Show runs Jan. 7-14, 2023. Admission is free. Farm Show parking is $15, and all major credit cards are accepted. For faster service, have your card ready upon entry to the parking lot. The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center is easily accessible from Interstates 81 and 83. Must-see exhibits at 2023 PA Farm Show Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was joined by canine companion, Honey Bee, for a tour of the PA Farm Show Complex and Expo Center to showcase new features and returning favorites focused on progress at the 2023 Farm Show. On their tour, Redding and Honey Bee visited some must-see exhibits and encouraged Pennsylvanians to stop by them while at the show. The exhibits included: Conservation and Sunflower Exhibits, GIANT Expo Hall Take a look at how Pennsylvania farmers are protecting our precious soil and water resources, how home gardeners can do their part, and what role sunflowers can play not just as a stunning selfie backdrop, but in protecting our environment. Forrester Farm Equipment LTD Display, GIANT Expo Hall Check out the massive machines, including the New Holland FR Forage Cruiser, that will be on display, and learn about the high-tech farm equipment that helps farmers make progress in both efficiency and conservation. Department of Agriculture Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement Booth, GIANT Expo Hall Stop by the Dog Law Enforcement table at the Farm Show and pick up a dog license application love your dog, license your dog! Also stop by to see the sweet dogs that will be hanging around. Pennsylvania Hardwoods Exhibit/WoodMobile, Main Hall Learn about Pennsylvania hardwoods and their sustainability and take in their beauty at the refreshed hardwoods exhibit. And don't forget to check out the fan favorite Pennsylvania WoodMobile to learn even more about the industry's progress. So You Want to Be a Farmer Exhibit, Main Hall Visit the expanded So You Want to Be a Farmer exhibit in Main Hall for interactive info and fun for all ages. Pick the brains of professionals from the new PA Agriculture Business Development Center, PASA Sustainable Agriculture, Rodale, PA No-Till Alliance and more your destination to feed your progress! World War II Homefront Window Display, Maclay Street Lobby, and WWII Display, GIANT Expo Hall We cannot make progress without first understanding history. See some WWII homefront posters to get a glimpse of the times, and plan to visit Space #2310 in the GIANT Expo Hall to see a WWII display commemorating the Pennsylvania Farm Show's role during the war. Join us on Thursday, Jan. 12, for Service Members, Veterans and their Families Day, which will feature the popular Army-Navy Cook-off at 1 p.m., as well as other cooking demonstrations and much more. For an up-to-date 2023 PA Farm Show schedule of events, visit the show's website. 2023 Farm Show hours Sunday, Jan. 8: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The 2023 Farm Show will feature fun and educational experiences. Here are some of the top activities and stops: Kids can become Farm Show AgExplorers by visiting different stations as part of a unique program that teaches visitors of all ages about Pennsylvania agriculture through fun, interactive, and hands-on learning. If you can't participate in person, check it out online. Visit the new Ag Immersion Lab, sponsored by GIANT in partnership with the PA Friends of Agriculture Foundation, in the GIANT Expo Hall for fun things for kids to see and learn. Head over to Destination Dairy in Northeast Exhibit Hall to the Moo U interactive, STEM learning area with hands-on activities for kids with all ages. Families can check out goat snuggling each day in the New Holland Arena! Participate in Meet the Breeds to find out which dog is best for your family. Take a selfie with the sunflowers in the GIANT Expo Hall! Older kids and teenagers can participate in Judge Alongs for cookies, potatoes, floral arrangements, and more to learn about judging processes. Check out the vendors in the New Holland Arena, where there will be face painting and lots of places to shop. After all the fun, grab a new orange cream milkshake and more delicious PA foods at the food court! Also, as a reminder, a nursing station will be located in the Cameron St. Lobby. Learn more about the 2023 Farm Show, the schedule, and how agriculture is Rooted in Progress at farmshow.pa.gov. 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 Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., left, pulls Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., back as they talk with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and other during the 14th round of voting for speaker as the House meets for the fourth day to try and elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. Andrew Harnik/AP It took several days of negotiations and voting before Kevin McCarthy seized victory amid a slew of Republican infighting. GOP lawmakers on Sunday attempted to tone down concerns about infighting and instability. After days of voting and 15 ballots, members of the GOP said they "accomplished an enormous amount." Here's what different members of the party had to say. Rep. Chip Roy: 'We need a little of this breaking the glass in order to get us to the table' U.S. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) (L) talks with Rep.-elect Chip Roy (R-TX) in the House Chamber during the fourth day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 06, 2023 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee/Getty Images A key moment that emerged from the saga was when Rep. Mike Rogers had to be held back from charging at Rep. Matt Gaetz, who instigated some of the turbulence amid the multitude of votes. The Texas Republican argued on CNN Sunday morning that "a little temporary conflict is necessary in this town." "Some of the tensions you saw on display when we saw some of the interactions there between Mike Rogers and Matt Gaetz, you know some of that is, we need a little of that. We need a little of this breaking the glass in order to get us to the table, in order for us to fight for the American people and to change the way this place is dysfunctional," Roy told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union." Kentucky Republican Rep. Andy Barr told ABC's "This Week" that the process "was quite healthy from the standpoint of getting all of these issues resolved now." "I understand the American people's frustration with the delay in electing a speaker," Barr said. "Not only did the framers of our Constitution expect us to debate the operations of the House and the House rules and how we're going to function, that's what a healthy democracy actually requires." Rep. Dan Crenshaw: The holdouts 'didn't know what they wanted' House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., right, and Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, are seen on the House floor after a vote in which McCarthy did not receive enough votes to become Speaker of the House on Wednesday, January 4, 2023. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas followed Roy's interview on CNN shortly afterward, noting that he and a majority of other Republicans were frustrated by the holdouts in the caucus who didn't appear to know what they wanted to negotiate for. Story continues "The reason the 200 were so upset was because we felt we had already come to the agreement that we have now. This was not new. We had this stuff," Crenshaw told Tapper on Sunday. "Early on in that week before we had taken a single vote, in a conference with everyone there, Kevin McCarthy asked one of the leaders of this group, 'What else do you want? Let's make this work. What else do you want?' And they couldn't answer in that moment, and that was a real turning point for a lot of people." Crenshaw added: "That was what created all of that animosity throughout the week because it's not as if we were fighting over something. It wasn't as if we were trying to stop them from getting something they wanted. It's that we didn't know what they wanted." When Gaetz caved after over a dozen rounds of voting and marked himself as "present" instead of backing a different conservative, he allowed McCarthy to seize victory by lowering the number of votes needed to win. When asked why he changed his strategy, Gaetz said he "ran out of things I could even imagine to ask for." "There's not as much disagreement as everyone thinks on how that rules package went by and what some of the new changes needed to be," Crenshaw said. "The only thing I'll disagree with this group on is it could have been done earlier. So that's what justifies the animosity that occurred all week. It seemed very, very pointless." Rep. Dan Bishop: The GOP 'accomplished an enormous amount' Dan Bishop, then a US Rep.-elect, delivers remarks in the House Chamber during the third day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 05, 2023 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee/Getty Images Republican Rep. Dan Bishop said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that the party wasn't getting enough credit for its successes in the last week. "My view is we've had an opportunity to take a hard look at each other in the Republican conference over the course of this past week," Bishop said. "Folks in the media constantly said, 'Oh, it's dysfunction and chaos.' No, it was deciding the most important questions about how this Congress is going to proceed, and we accomplished an enormous amount." The North Carolina Republican added that he believed the country would see a "great and productive Congress." "I think Kevin McCarthy is an extraordinarily talented leader," Bishop said. "I'm confident that we're going to, under his leadership, accomplish a great deal for the American people." Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) January 8, 2023 Rep. Andy Biggs: Republicans 'showed glimpses of what a bona fide constitutional republic should look like' From left, Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., and Bob Good, R-Va., are seen on the House floor during a vote in which Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., did not receive enough votes for Speaker of House on Friday, January 6, 2023. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona made similar remarks Saturday night, saying in a statement on Twitter that "the opposition effort still revealed a few positives." "We deliberated as a body for the first time in a long time and showed glimpses of what a bona fide constitutional republic should look like. We ought to keep doing that," Biggs said on Twitter. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, echoed a similar sentiment in reflection of the vote for House Speakership "The House of Representatives is a rough and rowdy place," Gonzales said on CBS's "Face the Nation." "This is only the beginning. And with such a small minority, Republicans are much different than Democrats. We're not just going to line up and jump off the cliff," Gonzales said. Some members of the opposition party were not convinced. Texas Democratic Rep. Colin Allred told CNN not to "be fooled" by the sugar-coated commentary Republicans shared following the speaker election. "Don't be fooled by what they were saying. This was not what they wanted. this was not good for them or for the country," Allred said on Sunday. "They had two months to do these negotiations from the last election. I think it's a preview of what we're going to see throughout this congress which is their inability to govern." Read the original article on Business Insider Governor Abbott welcomed President Biden to the Southern border Sunday afternoon by accusing him of conducting a sanitized visit designed to shield him from the chaos unleashed by his immigration policies. When Biden disembarked from Air Force One, Abbott greeted him with a scathing letter blasting his mishandling of the border crisis and calling the trip $20 billion too little and two years too late. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says Bidens visit to the border is two years and about $20 billion too late. pic.twitter.com/I22QEEGxoE The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) January 8, 2023 Abbott claimed Bidens itinerary, part of a diplomatic tour with Canada and Mexicos leaders, avoids the sites where mass illegal immigration occurs and sidesteps the thousands of angry Texas property owners whose lives have been destroyed by your border policies. President Bidens border visit today is to a sanitized version of El Paso. He has no plans to enforce federal immigration laws, Abbott tweeted shortly after meeting with the president during his long-awaited trip, the first since hes made since assuming office. Bidens plan will only entice MORE illegal crossings. Texas will continue our historic border mission to protect our state. El Paso, Abbott said, was cleared of migrant camps that occupied the downtown area before Bidens arrival. When you finish the photo-ops in a carefully stage-managed version of El Paso, there is a responsibility to enforce the immigration laws on the books, Abbott said. The Texas governor presented five immediate action items, demanding that the Biden administration comply with detainment statutes for migrants, stop paroling illegal aliens en masse, reimplement the Remain-in-Mexico policy and Title 42 expulsions, prosecute illegal entry between ports of entry, and allow ICE to remove aliens. Story continues Construction of the border wall must urgently be finished in Texas, using the billions of dollars Congress has appropriated for that purpose, Abbott argued. Finally, he urged the president to classify the Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist groups. Speaking to reporters on a tarmac in El Paso, Abbott also said the Biden administration has an obligation to reimburse Texas for the money its spent on border enforcement. This is all for show, Abbott said of Bidens visit. Biden told the governor he wanted to collaborate with Texas on getting the border under control, Abbott said. Title 42, the pandemic-era policy that allowed the government to expel migrants to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, currently remains temporarily in place under Supreme Court ruling, slightly tempering the flood of migrants pouring over the border. Even with the rule intact, however, current daily migrant apprehensions run at about 7,000 a day. That number doesnt include the extra 2,000-odd got-aways who evade capture as they enter. If Title 42 is eliminated, the rate of illegal immigration could explode, doubling or even tripling from current levels, experts project. Biden has received intense criticism for not visiting the border sooner, with the migrant influxes overwhelming local towns, border agents, and supply centers. More from National Review CAIRO, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed in the collapse of a five-story building on Sunday in Upper Egypt's Assiut Governorate. The rescue teams managed to rescue a girl and an elderly woman from under the rubble, said Assiut Governor Essam Saad in a statement, adding the rescue was underway for others missing. A total of 12 ambulances and four civil protection vehicles hurried to the collapse site where a security cordon was imposed, the governor noted. A technical committee has been formed to find out the causes of the accident and check on the nearby buildings to ensure none of them was affected. In a similar accident on Saturday, two young men were killed when a three-story building collapsed in the northern coastal province of Alexandria. A man has been arrested after Georgia State Patrol caught him speeding in downtown Atlanta while in possession of drugs. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Saturday, just after midnight, Georgia State Patrol was sitting on the Interstate 75/85 connector near 17th street, facing northbound. Troopers say a black Lexus SUV, was traveling 94 mph while in a posted 55 mph speed zone. Troopers caught up to the car near the Peachtree Street overpass. The driver, identified as Siraij Ibrahim, reportedly began to pull towards the shoulder at the exit for Georgia 13, but then sped up and initiated a chase. The chase lasted over 5 miles, before trooper were able to box the car in against the barrier wall, the release states. TRENDING STORIES: According to GSP, Ibrahim allegedly threw a large amount of drugs out of the window. Ibrahim is facing charges of reckless driving, speeding, DUI, open container, felony fleeing, felony possession of schedule II narcotic, felony possession with intent to distribute, felony tampering with evidence and 10 other traffic charges. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: By Tife Owolabi YENAGOA, NIGERIA (Reuters) - Gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles have abducted more than 30 people from a train station in Nigeria's southern Edo state, the governor's office said on Sunday. The attack is the latest example of the growing insecurity that has spread to nearly every corner of Africa's most populous country, posing a challenge to the government in advance of a February presidential election. Police said in a statement that armed herdsmen had attacked Tom Ikimi station at 4 p.m. (1500 GMT) as passengers awaited a train to Warri, an oil hub in nearby Delta state. The station is some 111 km northeast of state capital Benin City and close to the border with Anambra state. Some people at the station were shot in the attack, police said. Edo state information commissioner Chris Osa Nehikhare said the kidnappers had taken 32 people, though one had already escaped. "At the moment, security personnel made up of the military and the police as well as men of the vigilante network and hunters are intensifying search and rescue operations in a reasonable radius to rescue the kidnap victims," he said. "We are confident that the other victims will be rescued in the coming hours." The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had closed the station until further notice and the federal transportation ministry called the kidnappings "utterly barbaric". The NRC last month reopened a rail service linking the capital Abuja with northern Kaduna state, months after gunmen blew up the tracks, kidnapped dozens of passengers and killed six people. The last hostage taken in that March attack was not freed until October. Insecurity is rampant across Nigeria, with Islamist insurgencies in the northeast, banditry in the northwest, separatists in the southeast and farmer-herdsmen clashes in the central states. (Reporting by Tife Owolabi; Additional reporting by Felix Onuah in Abuja and Garba Muhammad in Kaduna; Editing by David Holmes) Hakeem Jeffries (CNN) -- Hakeem Jeffries made history as the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress, addressing the 118th Congress for the first time in the early hours of Saturday morning. "As John Lewis would sometimes remind us on this floor, we may have come over on different ships but we're all in the same boat now," Jeffries said, referencing the late civil rights legend and longtime congressman. "We are White. We are Black. We are Latino. We are Asian. We are Native American. We are Christian. We are Jewish. We are Muslim. We are Hindu. We are religious. We are secular. We are gay. We are straight. We are young. We are older. We are women. We are men. We are citizens. We are dreamers," he continued. "Out of many we are one. That's what makes America a great country. And no matter what kind of haters are trying to divide us, we're not going to let anyone take that away from us. Not now. Not ever." "This is the United States of America, a land of opportunity. The fact that I'm able to stand up here today is another data point in that narrative." The New York Democrat now leads the minority party in the US House of Representatives, succeeding Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who served as speaker in the prior session of Congress when Democrats held the majority. In addition to being the first Black lawmaker to attain such a position, he is also the first person elected to lead House Democrats to be born after the end of World War II. Jeffries' position was made official after the conclusion of a prolonged floor fight for House speaker. California Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy ultimately secured the powerful position leading the GOP majority in the chamber following days of painstaking negotiations and failed votes. Jeffries told the Congress that he also wanted to "make clear" that Democrats "will never compromise (their) principles." "House Democrats," he said, "will always put American values over autocracy, benevolence over bigotry, the Constitution over the cult, democracy over demagogues, economic opportunity over extremism, freedom over facism, governing over gaslighting, hopefulness over hatred, inclusion over isolation, justice over judicial overreach, knowledge over kangaroo courts, liberty over limitation, maturity over Mar-a-Lago, normalcy over negativity, opportunity over obstruction, people over politics, quality of life issues over QAnon, reason over racism, substance over slander, triumph over tyranny, understanding over ugliness, voting rights over voter suppression, working families over the well-connected, xenial over xenophobia, 'yes, we can' over 'you can do it,' and zealous representation over zero-sum confrontation." Story continues For Democrats, Saturday officially marked the end of an era -- and the start of a new one -- as Jeffries, at 52, takes up his new position after Pelosi and top-ranking Democrats Steny Hoyer and Jim Clyburn announced they would be stepping down from their leadership positions. Clyburn is expected to become assistant leader in the new Congress. Jeffries addressed Pelosi in his remarks early Saturday, thanking the California Democrat "for all that (she has) done." "It's an honor to stand on your broad shoulders," he said, "as well -- as well as the shoulders of the great Steny Hoyer and the great Jim Clyburn, two consequential leaders in their own right." House Democrats selected Jeffries to helm their party during a closed-door election in November. He ran unopposed, and Democrats have united around him following Pelosi's exit from leadership after two decades helming the party. Jeffries will likely be at the forefront of the House Democratic minority for the next two years with Republicans holding a slim majority in the chamber. The 118th Congress first convened on Tuesday with the House failing to elect a new speaker that day. While Republican quarrels prevented the election of a new speaker for days, ultimately going to 15 rounds of voting, Democrats displayed unwavering support for Jeffries, who consistently earned 212 votes from his party as Republicans split votes across multiple lawmakers. At one point in the early rounds of balloting, Democrats in the chamber chanted "Hakeem, Hakeem," while standing and clapping for their soon-to-be leader. Jeffries' lead at the time over McCarthy represented a win for Democrats on that first day with the GOP in the majority as the speakership election went to multiple rounds of balloting. "We are looking for a willing partner to solve problems for the American people, not save the Republicans from their dysfunction," Jeffries told reporters Tuesday, saying that he was not willing at that point to help Republicans elect a speaker. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Jeffries studied political science at the State University of New York at Binghamton and received a master's degree in public policy from Georgetown University. He also attended law school at New York University School of Law where he was on the law review. He started his career in politics after being elected to the New York State Assembly in 2006. In 2012, he was elected to New York's 8th congressional district, which includes parts of Brooklyn and Queens. During his time in Congress, Jeffries has pushed for policing reform, including a national ban on chokeholds following the death of Eric Garner, a Black man who died in 2014 after being held in the restraining move. He was also instrumental in the passage of the First Step Act and co-sponsored the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that passed the House but failed in the Senate. In 2019, he became chairman of the Democratic caucus, making him the youngest member serving in leadership. Jeffries was also part of a select group of lawmakers who were impeachment managers during the Senate trial of then-President Donald Trump. Jeffries, who was first elected in 2012, embarks on his sixth term with ambitions to restore the enhanced child tax credit, get his party back to the majority in 2024, call out what he describes as Republican extremism and rebuild economic access. "I just look forward to the opportunity to do the most good for the greatest number of people possible for as long as I have the opportunity to do so and can operate at the highest level," he told CNN last month. Jeffries ascending to become one of the highest-ranking Black politicians ever in America comes as a record number of Black people assume their role in Congress. They will navigate the Capitol, making decisions for their constituents, in a building where the foundation was laid by slaves. This headline and story have been updated with additional developments. The-CNN-Wire & 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Related: Hakeem Jeffries Becomes 1st Black Lawmaker to Lead a Party in Congress ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) EJ Harkless scored 25 points, including 21 in the second half to spark UNLV to a 84-77 win Saturday night over No. 21 New Mexico. The Rebels (12-3, 1-2 Mountain West) had four other players in double figures, with Keyshon Gilbert adding 14. We put the ball in EJs hands tonight and he made really good decisions, UNLV coach Kevin Kruger said. And he made things happen. Morris Udeze scored 22 with 13 rebounds to lead the Lobos (14-2, 2-2) and Jamal Mashburn Jr. had 19, but star guard Jaelen House was held scoreless in the second half, finishing with 12. Harkless added six boards, five assists and was 7-for-7 from the foul line. New Mexico scored the first eight points of the game, holding the Rebels scoreless for the first three minutes. Being more patient, Kruger said he told his team. Thats what we were talking about. They really sped us up early. It became a shootout there in the first four minutes and they scored a lot of points. Trailing 43-38 at the half, UNLV opened the second half with a 9-0 run to take its first lead of the game, an advantage that eventually grew to 63-55 after a Harkless layup and foul shot after a flop call on House. An absolute poor, poor start in the second half, Lobos coach Richard Pitino said. A 9-0 run. We tried to claw back. We were really, really close. We just couldnt quite get over the hump. Just have to try not to get too emotional about it. Absolutely at the beginning of the second half, we were not ready to go. And thats on me. We have to be better coming out of halftime for sure. BIG PICTURE For New Mexico, the question was whether it could rebound from its first loss of the year Tuesday at Fresno State after starting off 14-0. The Lobos did not respond well to the challenge, trailing the bulk of the second half after leading the entire first half. Riding a disappointing start to conference play, UNLV turned to its defensive prowess as it came into the game leading the country in turnover margin (8.0) and second in forced turnovers per game (20.7) while holding opponents to 64.5 points. Although the numbers were off for the Rebels, they produced 21 points off turnovers. Story continues HOUSE CALLS Holding the dynamic House scoreless in the second half took a team effort, Kruger said. In the second half, we did a much better job of having aggressive switches, he said. There was only a handful of times where we didnt come together and communicate and making sure we were in front of the ball. With a guy like House, as fast as he is, as quick as he is, and his instincts are where his are, any mistake you make, he can exploit it. And I think the guys did a really good job of making the looks tough and keeping their hands up but not giving him the layups or the free throws. SECOND HALF CHANCES They were terrific offensively and we were pretty poor defensively in the second half, Pitino said. They went and got it. Harkless was terrific in the second half. They weathered the storm. We were close, but we couldnt quite close it out. UP NEXT The Lobos host Oral Roberts on Monday to replace an earlier game with New Mexico State that was canceled after a shooting involving an Aggies player and a New Mexico student the morning before the game. The Rebels host Boise State on Wednesday with a chance to even its conference mark. ___ More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 Prince Harry has commented on Jeremy Clarksons hurtful and cruel newspaper column about wife Meghan Markle, during his interview with ITVs Tom Bradby. Harry sat down with the British broadcaster ahead of the release of his memoir Spare, which reportedly contains several startling claims about his relationship with the royals, drug use, and military service in Afghanistan. Addressing the newspaper article, which prompted a landslide of complaints to press regulator Ipso and was eventually taken down, Harry told Bradby: What [Clarkson] said was horrific, and is hurtful and cruel towards my wife. But it also encourages other people around the UK and around the world, men particularly, to go and think that its acceptable to treat women that way, the duke, 38, continued. After the release of Harry and Meghans six-part Netflix docuseries in December last year, Clarkson, wrote that he loathes the Duchess of Sussex on a cellular level and wants people to throw lumps of excrement at her, in an op-ed for The Sun. The newspaper article was widely condemned by several celebrities and public figures, including Carol Vorderman, John Bishop, and the broadcasters own daughter Emily Clarkson. Clarkson tweeted he was horrified to have caused so much hurt following the backlash, and said that he would be more careful in future. Harry said: To use my stepmothers words recently as well, theres a global pandemic of violence against women. His response to the op-ed was part of a larger discussion with Bradby about the British media, calling it the epicentre of so many of the problems across the UK. He expressed his desire to try and change the press and said the royal familys silence over harmful coverage of his family is deafening. Harry continued: And from what I have learnt and believe of the monarchy, if someone in this country, if someone, you know, especially in the US, no names mentioned, tweets or says certain things that are just categorically harmful and dangerous, you have the president and the vice president speak out against it. Story continues But, everything to do with my wife, after six years, they havent said a single thing. But theyre willing to defend themselves regularly. Excerpts from Harrys personal and moving memoir were published after the ghostwritten book was accidentally put on sale in Spain, ahead of its global release date on 10 January. Harry: The Interview is available to view on ITVx. Follow the latest updates here. Prince Harry has claimed members of the royal family had gone to bed with the devil to rehabilitate their image. Referring to the media as the devil in his latest interview, the Duke of Sussex touched on the veiled relationship between the royal family and the British tabloid press. Asked by ITVs Tom Brandy about the dukes love for the royal family, Harry said: I love my father. I love my brother. I love my family. I will always do. Nothing of what I've done in this book or otherwise has ever been to any intention to harm them or hurt them. However, he continued: After many, many years of lies being told about me and my family there comes a point where going back to the relationship between certain members of the family and the tabloid press, those certain members have decided to get in the bed with the devil, right? He alleged that members of the royal family did this to rehabilitate their image. If you need to do that, or you want to do that, you choose to do that. Well that is a choice, Harry explained. But the moment that rehabilitation comes at the detriment of others, me, other members of my family, then thats where I draw the line, the duke continued. In volume one of Harry and Meghan, Harry alleged that there was leaking but also planting of stories about the duchess to the British press, adding that theres a hierarchy of the family. Prince Harry and Meghan have faced fierce battles with the British press (Getty Images) He also compared the UK medias treatment of Meghan with Williams wife, the Princess of Wales, claiming that the royal family were never willing to tell the truth to protect us. The family motto is Never complain, never explain, but its just a motto, he said. Prince Harry and Meghan have faced fierce battles with the British press, most notably, Meghans lawsuit against Daily Mail publisher over printing a private letter she had sent to her father. In their latest clash with the press, Prince Harry was among a group including Sir Elton John which launched legal action against the owner of the Daily Mail newspaper over phone-hacking allegations. Story continues Prince Harry said members of his royal got into bed with the devil to save their press image (ITV) The action claims the individuals have become aware of compelling and highly distressing evidence they have been victims of abhorrent criminal activity and gross breaches of privacy by Associated Newspapers. Prince Harry successfully sued Associated Newspapers in the past, with a judge ruling in July that parts of an article in The Mail On Sunday were defamatory. And in 2021 he accepted an apology and substantial damages over false claims he snubbed the Royal Marines after stepping down as a senior royal. Follow the latest updates here. Before we begin the new week in earnest, we're taking a look back at the week that was, and the stories that led the news with Taunton Daily Gazette readers. Top stories this past week included: Back in July, the Taunton School Committee increased its stipend by 100%: from $6,000 to $12,000. The Taunton City Council, which raised its annual stipend last month, across two meetings in full public view, learned about the School Committee's stipend increase in December. This confused and upset some councilors. Especially since it is the City Council that approves all departmental budgets for each fiscal year, including the school department's. So, how did the School Committee get a stipend increase approved by the City Council, without the Council's knowing about it? The answer is convoluted, if there is one. In Raynham, town voters will decide whether or not to expand the senior center. For many of the town's seniors, the Raynham Senior Center is a home away from home. But space can get cramped. Voters will head to the polls for a special town election on Feb. 7 to decide the fate of a pair of Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusions including a $2 million debt exclusion for the design, planning and construction of a 1200-1400-square-foot addition to the senior center. These were the Top 5 stories of the past week, according to Gazette readers: 'I find these visits incredibly moving': Healey gets up-close look at Southeastern, MA Before she was sworn in as the 73rd governor of Massachusetts, Maura Healey stopped by the city for a visit at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South's Taunton Clubhouse. She and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll were in Taunton as part of their Team Up Massachusetts tour to highlight community service-oriented work and the incoming administrations goal of making the state more affordable for families, Healey said. Governor Maura Healey at the Taunton Boys and Girls Club Tuesday. The focus of Tuesday's visit to the Boys & Girls Club, on Court Street, was the club's hydroponic farms. Story continues 'I find these visits incredibly moving':Healey gets up-close look at southeastern Mass. A look at the 2022 Taunton dining scene In 2022, there was a lot of change in the local restaurant scene. We said goodbye to two restaurateurs, one of them part of a local fixture, and the other who was just getting his dream started: Mike George of Colonial Do-Nut Shop, and Eddie Odney, owner of and chef at Tauntons Acadia Seafood & Bar. In 2022, we also said farewell to Colonial Do-Nut. There were many new additions to the Taunton dining scene this past year, with some places changing hands, and others expanding the flavor palate of hungry locals. Owner and chef Andreia Mourao shows off linguica and steak coming off the barbecue for the lunch hour at Real Brazil Restaurant and Market on Tremont Street in Taunton on Thursday, April 14, 2022. Here's a look at Taunton's 2022 restaurant scene. On the menu:Here are the restaurants that opened and closed in the Taunton area in 2022 Bridgewater-Raynham regional school superintendent extends 'personal' leave for 60 days Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District Superintendent Derek Swenson, who has been on a temporary leave of absence for "personal reasons" since September 2022, will extend his leave for an additional six weeks, the district's school committee said. Students were welcomed back by Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District Superintendent Derek Swenson at the new George H. Mitchell Elementary School in Bridgewater on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. The Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District School Committee announced Tuesday that Swenson "will continue to be out of work for personal reasons for the next six weeks. He will be using his accrued contractual time." School news:Bridgewater-Raynham regional school superintendent extends 'personal' leave for 60 days Raynham Police warn 'grandparent scam' is circulating in the community Raynham police are warning the public about a scam going around targeting the elderly. According to Raynham Police Chief James Donovan, a scheme becoming more common referred to as the "grandparent scam" entails the scammer calling a person and telling them that a relative has been arrested. The Raynham Police Department has received several reports of this scam in recent weeks, but there are some simple steps you can take to avoid getting caught up in this particular scam. Phone scam:Raynham Police warn 'grandparent scam' is circulating in the community Custom-built home on over 3 acres of land sells for $750K in Taunton This week's top-selling home in Taunton is a multi-level, custom-built house. Secluded on a picturesque property at 528 Tremont St., it sits on 3.26 acres surrounded by woodlands and recently sold for $750,000. Built in 2006 and impeccably maintained, the 3,000-square-foot house features Brazilian cherry floors, cathedral ceilings, and a stoned gas fireplaced family room. And that's not all. Check out this property, as well as other recent top-sellers, in the latest Greater Taunton real estate report. Real estate:Custom-built home on over 3 acres of land sells for $750K in Taunton Taunton Daily Gazette/Herald News copy editor and digital producer Kristina Fontes can be reached at kfontes@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette today. This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Taunton Gazette Top 5 Maura Healey restaurants Derek Swenson police By Tim Hepher (Reuters) - A mobile air-launched rocket system to be used in Britain's first domestic satellite launch could sow the seeds for a globally dispersed rapid-response capability to put extra eyes in space in times of war, executives and analysts said. Virgin Orbit, part-owned by billionaire Richard Branson, plans to launch nine satellites from a LauncherOne rocket attached under the wing of a modified Boeing 747, to be flown from a new spaceport in Cornwall on Monday. Barring delays, it will be the first time a satellite has departed from western European soil. For now the focus is on commercial payloads from companies such as Space Forge, which is developing in-orbit manufacturing. But the launch is also seen by many as a blueprint for quicker launches of limited satellite capacity for tactical military purposes, in what planners call "Responsive Launch". "Ukraine woke up the world in a lot of ways," Virgin Orbit Chief Executive Dan Hart told a news conference in southwest England on Sunday. "Clearly there is a hope of a pan-European, as well as a U.S. collaboration ... and that we have responsiveness so that if something happens in the world, we can get assets there right away," he told the pre-launch briefing, monitored online. Virgin Orbit said last year Britain's Royal Air Force was doing exercises to demonstrate the value of "Responsive Launch". Britain had a brief foray into space launch activities in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when its Black Arrow rocket was cancelled after just one successful mission. The rocket's four launches took place in Australia in an era when commercial satellites barely existed. Now, constellations of miniaturised satellites are heading an explosion of commercial activity in low Earth orbit. 'FLEXIBLE AND AGILE' Lobbing small satellites into low orbit at short notice would do little more than fill temporary gaps in coverage from large spy satellites, but experts say the technology has some dual civil and military potential and could spread costs. Story continues "It gives you greater resilience or redundancy or duality of systems, whether that's for position, navigation and timing or quicker access ... as we've seen in Ukraine," Ian Annett, deputy chief executive of the UK Space Agency, told Sunday's briefing. "It's a natural transition that helps us develop security capabilities, but also, for government, keeps costs down whilst providing commercial opportunities as well." Elon Musk's SpaceX activated its Starlink constellation over Ukraine after Russia's invasion last February. Its communication links have been used by civilians and by Ukraine's military. Luxembourg said in October it had signed a letter of intent with Virgin Orbit to develop a "rapid and flexible response to different threats", for NATO and other allies. Its defence ministry has called for "new, more flexible and agile satellite launch procedures and techniques from Europe". Britain's own 2022-25 space roadmap calls for dual-use capabilities in Earth Observation and Space Domain Awareness. Virgin Orbit is also talking to Japan and Australia. Questions remain, however, over how quickly the mobile launch concept could work its way into actual budgets, which are dwarfed by U.S. spending on space. "Everyone is playing up military space as the next big thing," said UK-based defence analyst Francis Tusa. "But ministries of defence have eyes larger than their stomachs." The system's liquid propellant and final rocket assembly also require some local infrastructure, and Europe's crowded airspace has thrown up significant regulatory obstacles. "At the moment, it's a bit bigger on the commercial side, but we see the defence and national security side growing so I think in this steady state, it'll probably end up being 50/50," Hart told Reuters. (Reporting by Tim Hepher; Additional reporting by Joey Roulette; Editing by David Holmes) HOLLAND A local man has pleaded guilty to cocaine trafficking. Jason Duenas of Holland pleaded guilty to possession of more than five kilograms of cocaine with intent to distribute, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Mark Totten on Friday, Jan. 6. Duenas, 27, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 10 years in prison. The date of sentencing in federal court in Grand Rapids has not yet been scheduled. Drug dealing at kilogram scale doesnt just ruin lives, it ruins communities, Totten said. Apart from the harm caused to drug users and their loved ones, trafficking at this level fuels deadly gun violence that can subject entire neighborhoods to a climate of fear and reprisal. "My office remains committed to holding dealers fully accountable for their willingness to trample communities in pursuit of profit. Subscribe:Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage According to facts contained within Duenas written plea agreement, he kept approximately 19 kilograms of cocaine stored inside a home this past summer. Most of the cocaine was packaged into bricks that were stored in and around a laundry room to which Duenas had access. He planned to sell the drugs to others for personal profit, Totten said. Duenas arrest was the culmination of an interagency investigation led by the West Michigan Enforcement Team, the Holland Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland man pleads guilty to cocaine trafficking ABUJA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian police on Sunday said they have launched a manhunt for unknown gunmen who attacked a train station in Nigeria's southern state of Edo, kidnapping dozens of passengers Saturday. Chidi Nwabuzor, a spokesman for the police in Edo, told Xinhua via telephone that the police were yet to ascertain the exact number of kidnapped passengers at the Igueben train station Saturday evening. The gunmen gained entry into the terminal and began to shoot sporadically in the air as the passengers were waiting to be conveyed to Warri, a city in the neighboring Delta state. "Some passengers were also injured but not taken away by the criminals," Nwabuzor said, noting the gunmen quickly fled the scene. A manhunt has been launched by the police, with a view to rescuing the kidnapped passengers and apprehending the gunmen, said the police spokesman. CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 23: Director Ali Abbasi attend the photocall for "Holy Spider" during the 75th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 23, 2022 in Cannes, France. Swedish-Iranian filmmaker Ali Abbasi never could have imagined the backdrop his film, based on Spider Killer Saeed Hanaei who targeted and killed 16 prostitutes between 2000 and 2001, would be released into. In "Holy Spider," female journalist Arezoo Rahimi (Zar Amir-Ebrahimi) travels to the Iranian holy city of Mashhad to investigate the serial killings of sex workers by the "Spider Killer" (Mehdi Bajestani), who believes he is on a mission from God to cleanse the streets of sinners. As she digs deeper into the case, she discovers a chance for justice though law enforcement doesn't seem as enthusiastic or willing to help, and she finds that the killer has even garnered support for his actions. Just as the film was beginning to release around the world following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, civil unrest and protests against the Iranian government associated with the death of Mahsa Amini began in September. Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman, was arrested by morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly. There were reports that officers beat her and caused a fatal head injury, but police denied the allegations and said she suffered a heart attack. Since then, thousands have protested in the streets and hundreds have been killed. Abbasi said his whole life view has changed since the protests began, especially seeing so many people coming together to fight for women's rights. Deadly protests continue to rage across Iran weeks after Mahsa Amini died in police custody "We're all in this state of mutual shock and amazement because it seems like we're unearthing a new side of our culture and civilization which we never thought existed," Abbasi told The Desert Sun. "In the Western media and anaylses about Iran, there was always this last paragraph that the situation is bad and dark, but maybe there will come a generation and this generation of young people would change things and they'd have different values. Lo and behold, that generation is here, and they're really progressive in a way that I almost find it shocking." Story continues "This is the first time I would say there's a political movement in Iran that is based on women's rights, rights of minorities and freedom, and it's not about gasoline is expensive or we want to have this election or not. It's about fundamental human rights, not only in affluent upper middle class areas in Tehran, but it's about human rights in villages in the middle of the desert," he continued. "It is really both tragic because the reason people are in the streets because the regime keeps killing young people, but there's some beauty watching this huge organism becoming one and standing up." It's also made conversations about "Holy Spider" even more important. Any time the film is discussed, it always ends up coming back to the protests in Iran, which Abbasi said is "really what motivates me." "That is more important to me than statues or nominations because we are part of an incredibly important moment in Iranian history, and I would say the history of the Middle East, that really can make a difference for millions of people, and it cannot be talked about enough," he added. "Holy Spider," though, has garnered its fair share of support since its release. Amir-Ebrahimi won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival and is Denmark's official submission to the International Feature Film category for the 95th Academy Awards. The film will also play at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Based on the true story of an Iranian serial killer, Abbasi said he remembers following the story at the time, but recalls it not being as well-known as one would expect. It was also a story that made him question the competence and negligence of Iranian law enforcement. The director said the killer had a very clear pattern of where he was picking up the women, disposing their bodies and even calling members of the media to inform them of his latest killings. When it came to writing the story, Abbasi did not want to create a true crime story, but rather a film noir. Although many of the details are based on reality, the director took some liberties by changing the killer's name and even modifying some hard-to-believe moments. Abbasi said Hanaei had tenants living downstairs when he was committing the murders, who somehow never questioned what was taking place upstairs. If he kept that element in the movie, "it would just be too unbelievable," he said. The film has received criticism, especially from Western critics, Abbasi said, over its depiction of violence against women. He said he did not set out to create a film about the "plight of Iranian women," although that is interwoven throughout the story. Instead, he wanted to depict Iranian life in a way that most cinema doesn't. LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: Alongside protesters, Ali Abbasi and Zar Amir Ebrahimi attend the "Holy Spider" UK premiere during the 66th BFI London Film Festival at the Southbank Centre on October 08, 2022 in London, England. "The concreteness and harshness and the moral indignation that we have, it's not really present in the mainstream Iranian cinema. The same way that you see movies from the U.S. I'm really shocked when I'm walking around Los Angeles or New York or any bigger city, almost on every street there is a homeless person, and I'm thinking of American movies that I watch. How many homeless people are there in 'Spider-Man'?" Abbasi said. "These things have been there and they are there, but it's not only because it comes from Iran, but it's a specific sensibility that we make it our duty or we make it our priority to depict these details as well." He added that stars Amir-Ebrahimi and Bajestani weren't too afraid to dive into the darker parts of Iranian culture either and that they felt "it was a necessary part of the process to pay justice to it." In Iran, audience reception has been "insanely positive," he said, which has exceeded his wildest dreams. During one screening, an 85-year-old woman told him how proud she was of the film, and he never would have thought an elderly woman would react in that way to a "really violent arthouse movie with a blowjob scene." However, it showed him that there are many out there who have been longing for something more in films. In "Holy Spider," female journalist Arezoo Rahimi (Zar Amir-Ebrahimi) travels to the Iranian holy city of Mashhad to investigate the serial killings of sex workers by the "Spider Killer." "I feel this speaks somehow to my initial thesis when we were making the movie. We have been so bad at depicting our own life in a truthful way," Abbasi said. "It's been a very heavily retouched image of Iran that we've presented to the world, and there is real thirst after something that feels more true." How to Watch What: 'Holy Spider' When and Where: 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7 at Palm Springs High School; 6:45 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8 at Regal Cinemas Palm Springs; and 9 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 15 at Camelot Theatres (Palm Springs Cultural Center) Cost: $13 for general seating More info: psfilmfest.org Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. She's also a member of the Hollywood Critics Association. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 'Holy Spider' director Ali Abbasi discusses Iranian protests House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) on Sunday said the keys have been handed over to extremists after the House elected Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to the Speakership. It is exactly the American people and the solutions they need to meet the challenges that were completely left out of the Speakers chaos we saw this week. It not only endangered our countrys national security, but it also showed that the keys have been handed over to extremists, Clark told host Jake Tapper on CNNs State of the Union. Clark underlined the unity of Democrats in their agenda after the party banded together to vote for Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) in the successive contests with McCarthy. The Republican won the top House leadership slot early Saturday after flipping a number of holdouts who had stalled any candidate from getting the needed majority of votes, making concessions to hard-liners in negotiations on the rules package. Pressed Sunday on whether Democrats could find some common ground with the GOP in some of the concessions, like tweaks to the amending process for legislation proposals, Clark said the matter was a smoke screen. When they talk about process, that is a smoke screen, Clark said. All the talk about process and amendments and germaneness, that is cover for what theyre really trying to do, which is dismantle the equities of our economy. And to make sure that their billionaire buddies continue to thrive at the expense of hard working American families, the new House minority whip added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. From left, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., attend the House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing of the United States Department of Justice with testimony from Attorney General Merrick Garland, Oct. 21, 2021 on Capitol Hill in Washington. Michaels Reynolds/Pool via Associated Press, File Kevin McCarthy was elected speaker on Friday night after a week of disarray and 15 rounds of voting. The battle for speaker revealed new divisions among the hard-right wing of the party. Thanks to the events of the past week, McCarthy may struggle to manage the slim GOP majority. What would've been the House GOP's first week back in the majority since 2018 turned into a days-long chaotic battle over who would lead the chamber in the 118th Congress. After a wild Friday night on the House floor, Rep. Kevin McCarthy ultimately won the speakership after 15 rounds of voting during which a hardline faction of 20 Republicans refused to vote for him until he made a number of concessions. The extent of those concessions was not entirely clear, but the ordeal revealed a GOP with newly complex divisions. "It's a schism within a schism," Kevin Kosar, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who studies Congress and US politics, told Insider. The GOP for years has increasingly been divided into MAGA-type lawmakers essentially devoted supporters of former President Donald Trump and those more willing to go against or distance themselves from the former president. But the speaker battle showed those MAGA lawmakers are divided amongst themselves more than ever before, suggesting the bloc may be more unpredictable in the new Congress than it previously seemed which could make McCarthy's job of navigating a slim majority much more difficult. The 'Trumpy tribe' divided "Factions within parties are normal," Kosar said. "If we didn't have factions within parties, it would be kind of creepy." He pointed to the MAGA lawmakers who often buck the Republican establishment, but also to the progressive Democrats, like Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Pramila Jayapal, who have sparred with and made demands of their leadership as well. However, the MAGA representatives, many of which are members of the House Freedom Caucus, have almost without exception united around similar causes, typically taking the stance of Trump himself. Those lawmakers include Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Jim Jordan of Ohio, and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, among others. Story continues Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., left, talks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., during the eleventh vote 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. Alex Brandon/Associated Press They were among the Republicans to embrace some of Trump's most extreme views, including the false claims of widespread fraud about the 2020 presidential election, and all voted to overturn the election results on January 6, 2021. But during the House speaker battle this week, some of them found themselves on opposites sides, even after their would-be leader, Trump, took a stance. "Trump himself is yelling that people should get behind McCarthy and guess what, you've got 20 people just ignoring him," Kosar said, adding one can argue the "Trumpy tribe" of people in the House have actually diminished "because they have split amongst themselves." Longtime allies Greene and Gaetz were in direct opposition, with her standing behind McCarthy and Gaetz leading the charge against him. Greene even complained that Gaetz and other members of the Freedom Caucus, including Boebert and Perry, shut her out of negotiations with McCarthy. "Do you know why I'm upset? Because Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert, and Scott Perry, the chairman of the Freedom Caucus, walked into Kevin McCarthy's office last night and made their own personal demands about what subcommittee chairmanships they want to have, and who they want on committees, and who they want taken off committees," she said on Tuesday. "And guess what? The chairman of the Freedom Caucus negotiated nothing for me." Jordan was also standing behind McCarthy, pitting him against Perry, his close ally. "These guys used to be brothers in arms. Not anymore. Not on this topic," Kosar said. Many were watching to see if Trump chiming in would sway the votes, but when he endorsed McCarthy on Wednesday and urged lawmakers to get behind the Californian, the 20 holdouts didn't budge, indicating Trump's own influence is diminishing in the MAGA wing of the party. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., talks to Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., after Gaetz voted "present" in the House chamber as the House meets for the fourth day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. Alex Brandon/Associated Press Navigating the divisions with a slim majority McCarthy won the speakership by making concessions to the hardline Republicans opposing him. Reports, including from Bloomberg and Politico, have said those concessions may include a government spending cap and a House rules framework that would diminish the speaker's power and give more power to individual members. For instance, McCarthy was said to have agreed to a rule change to expand the rights of members to "motion to vacate the chair," which would essentially allow a single lawmaker to force a chamber-wide "no confidence" vote for the speaker. With such a slim majority over the Democrats 222-213 McCarthy will need the support of almost every member of his party to pass legislation. Meaning although MAGA lawmakers make up a relatively small percentage of the Republican conference, McCarthy will need at least some of their support. With new divisions and animosities on display after the House speaker battle, it's unclear how effectively McCarthy will be able to do just that. "How many sore heads are there going to be after this is settled? How many rubbed wrong feelings from those who went to the mat on each side of this?" Kosar told Insider this week before the final vote on Friday. "And how is that going to play out for the ability of the GOP to build majorities and cooperate, and pull the team together and let bygones be bygones? That's an open question." Read the original article on Business Insider Footage of a customer at a Houston restaurant pulling out a gun and shooting dead a would-be robber was posted online (Twitter / Gage) A vigilante customer who fatally shot a masked robber at a Houston taqueria is being sought by police. Shocking video footage of the robbery at Ranchito #4 in southwest Houston shows a robber circling the tables demanding cash and valuables from customers. As the gunman passes a booth, a patron pulls out a handgun and begins firing at him from behind. The customer continues shooting as the robber collapses to the ground near the restaurant front door, and then stands and delivers two more shots point blank, the security video recorded at 11.30pm on Thursday shows. The robber, who was dressed in a black ski mask, black gloves and black clothing, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. Police said the suspect was armed with a plastic pistol such as a BB gun. The customer then returns the stolen wallets and cash to the startled diners, before leaving in his pickup truck. Footage of a customer at a Houston restaurant pulling out a gun and shooting dead a would-be robber was posted online (Twitter / Gage) A customer who shot a robber at a Houston taqueria is described as white or Hispanic (Houston Police Department) Houston police have released photos of the shooter and his truck while appealing for information in finding him. Police have not filed any charges against the customer. Officers were dispatched to a shooting call at the restaurant at the above address and observed an unknown black male in all black clothing, a black ski mask, and black gloves had been shot multiple times inside the business, Houston police said in a statement. Houston police released this image of a pickup truck that they say the customer left the restaurant in (Houston Police Department) Paramedics pronounced him deceased. Witnesses told officers the suspect entered the restaurant and pointed a pistol at patrons as he demanded their money. Witnesses told officers the suspect entered the restaurant and pointed a pistol at patrons as he demanded their money. As the suspect collected money from patrons, one of the patrons, described as a white or Hispanic male, produced a gun of his own and shot the suspect multiple times. Pedro Lopez, the owner of Ranchito #4, told ABC13 staff were deeply shaken by the incident. Watch: Londoners strip off for 'No Trousers Tube Ride' Making eye contact on the London Underground can already be pretty awkward, so imagine if your fellow commuters were in their underwear, too. For the first time in two years, the No Trousers Tube Ride returned to the capital on Sunday, the name of which is pretty self-explanatory. Despite the chilly winter weather, hundreds of commuters boarded trains in their pants with the hope of giving travellers something to giggle about. The annual event, which first came to the capital in 2009, had been postponed since 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more: London Tory councillor faces investigation for revolting rape comment Ever have a dream about forgetting to wear trousers to work? (AFP/Getty Images) Hundreds of participants amassed in Chinatown before beginning their journey. (AFP/Getty Images) Today's event was also the first since the opening of the Elizabeth Line. (AFP/Getty Images) Todays comeback was also the first event since the opening of the Elizabeth Line last year. Run by the Stiff Upper Lip Society, the event does have some rules, including no thongs, see-through garments, or anything else that might offend people. Our aim is to make people laugh, not p**s them off, the organisers said. Participants amassed at Chinatown to start their journey, with group leaders instructing them to remove their trousers and store them in their backpacks. Read more: Sex pest attacks help fuel rise in London transport crimes The event first came to London in 2009 - inspired by New York City's No Pants Subway Ride. (AFP/Getty Images) Participants were given some ground rules, including no thongs or obscene undergarments. (Reuters) It's hard to tell if this made riding on the Tube more or less awkward. (AFP/Getty Images) The event's organisers say they want to 'give strangers experiences of chaos and joy'. (Getty Images) Some had formal business attire on their top halves, and others wore brightly coloured budgie smugglers with pride. The annual journey was inspired by the No Pants Subway Ride in New York City, launched by Improv Everywhere in New York in 2002. It caught on, and now thousands of people take part in similar events every year in more 60 cities in over 25 countries. Rishi Sunak has said it would be 'wrong' to ignore the impact COVID has had on the NHS. (AFP/Getty Images) The prime minister has blamed COVID-19 for hospital bed shortages and record A&E and ambulance delays plaguing the NHS. Rishi Sunak insisted that improvements are being made to the health service already but that it was a "reality" that the pandemic contributed to a huge backlog in the system. "I think it's not right to ignore the impact that COVID had. The reality is that for two years the NHS had to stop doing lots of things that it normally does," he told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show. Read more: Sunak demands bold and radical action to ease NHS crisis as more strikes loom "Unsurprisingly, once we get back to normal, all of those treatments come back at a pace that was anticipated but is obviously very significant. "Has the NHS had pressures before? Of course it has, but COVID has undeniably had an enormous difference, and it is wrong to ignore that. "I can't help that COVID happened, I can't help that there are now thousands of people in hospitals who normally would not be there." Watch: Rishi Sunak refuses to answer whether he uses a private GP three times Many NHS trusts are facing unprecedented ambulance delays and A&E waits. (Getty Images) The PM said a difference was already being made, with more people who didn't need to be in hospital being moved to social care or home. He said more treatment was being provided outside of hospital to people who've had falls, meaning they don't take up hospital bed space, and that ambulance services were learning "best practice" from trusts that have slashed delays. Read more: Starmer attacks Tories over NHS crisis and claims 'we desperately need a change' However, many health workers on the ground don't feel like the situation is improving much, with the number of free NHS hospital beds sinking to their lowest level ever recorded. Critics of the government say that problems faced by the health service were mounting long before COVID-19. As Kuenssberg pointed out to the prime minister, the four-hour target set for being admitted by and discharged from A&E hasn't been met since 2015. Story continues While COVID put the NHS under huge pressure, critics have pointed out that it was struggling long beforehand. (Reuters) Pressed on whether he accepted that the NHS was under crisis, Sunak said: "Well, as I said, the NHS is under pressure." He added that "what matters more than words is action", pointing out that three weeks after he became prime minister, his autumn statement included "billions of extra pounds for the NHS and social care". Sunak said change is already happening but that the problems facing the NHS are "not going to be solved overnight" and that, while delays in A&Es and long lines of ambulances waiting outside hospitals are "unacceptable", around 10% of NHS trusts "account for over half of all ambulance handover delays". Read more: Hospital patients could be discharged to hotels if 'safe' The PM said that following talks with health leaders on Saturday, he had a "renewed sense of confidence and optimism" that the NHS could overcome its hurdles. However, he refused to say whether his family was registered with a private GP when asked by Kuenssberg, adding: "As a general policy I wouldn't talk about me or my family's healthcare situation. "It's a distraction from what the real issue is, which is, are we making sure that there's high quality healthcare available for the country?" The prime minister refused to be drawn on infighting within Buckingham Palace and Prince Harry's strained relationship with the Royal Family. (Reuters) Sunak also refused to be drawn on whether he would step-in to help the Royal Family resolve its infighting, following the leaking of details from Prince Harry's highly-anticipated memoir Spare. The Duke of Sussex makes a number of explosive claims in the book, including that his brother Prince William physically assaulted him, and that his father the King demanded that Meghan Markle be kept away from the Queen as she lay on her deathbed. There is some precedent for prime ministers getting involved in situations like this, with John Major offering "support and guidance" to Charles and Diana in 1992, before the couple separated. Sunak, however, said he would "never ever comment on matters to do with the Royal Family". He added: "I think the public like me have enormous regard for the Royal Family and are deeply proud of them. I certainly am it's one of the things that 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. "We saw that last year, very movingly multiple times, and I'm confident that we'll see it this year with King Charles's coronation which will be another fantastic occasion for the country to come together and celebrate something special about Britain." In the wake of the Highland Park massacre, the Illinois House on Friday approved a bill which would ban the sale, manufacture, delivery and purchase of assault weapons. The bill is expected to pass the state Senate and be signed by Gov. J. B. Pritzker this week. It would ban the sale and possession of assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition like those used in the July 4 Highland Park parade shooting which killed seven people and wounded dozens more. The suspect in the attack, 21-year-old Robert E. Crimo III who prosecutors said opened fire onto the parade from a rooftop -- has been charged with more than 100 felony counts, including murder and attempted murder. Under the bill, those who already own weapons on the banned list can keep them, but would need to register them with Illinois State Police within 300 days. Lauren Bennett, who was at the parade with her family, was shot twice, but survived. "And I was lucky, because I got out of there alive," Bennett told CBS News this week. "A centimeter in any direction and I wouldn't be here talking to you." The bill had been debated for years, but found renewed support following the Highland Park shooting. Bennett was among those who testified at a hearing with state lawmakers last month in support of it. "I'm hoping we can save lives," Bennett told CBS News of her decision to speak out. "I'm hoping another parade isn't the site of another mass shooting." In July, just weeks after the attack, Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering testified before Congress, calling for a federal assault weapons ban. "You have to ask yourself, 'Why do our laws permit somebody to be able to shoot 83 rounds in under a minute?" Rotering told CBS News this week. "We need to stop talking about our gun culture and talk about our human rights, our right to live free from fear of violence," Rotering said. Jackie Sundheim, 63, was one of the seven people killed in the Highland Park shooting. Story continues "For me, there is just a massive hole in my heart, hole in my life," her husband, Bruce Sundheim, told CBS News, as he and their daughter, Leah Sundheim, sat down for their first interview since the murder. "It's just the sheer impact of how many people knew her and she touched," Leah said. "As a society, we have to get to a place where someone can't just wake up and say, 'I'm going to go out and shoot 50 strangers,'" Bruce said. Security video shows Border Patrol agent slamming migrant to the ground Congressman dad cares for infant son amid House speaker battle Minnesota girl who beat cancer donates hair to children in need Insiders who bought Associated British Foods plc (LON:ABF) stock in the last 12 months were richly rewarded last week. The company's market value increased by UK1.5b as a result of the stock's 12% gain over the same period. In other words, the original UK848k purchase is now worth UK925k. While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. See our latest analysis for Associated British Foods Associated British Foods Insider Transactions Over The Last Year In the last twelve months, the biggest single sale by an insider was when the Non-Executive Director, Emma Adamo, sold UK799k worth of shares at a price of UK20.92 per share. We generally don't like to see insider selling, but the lower the sale price, the more it concerns us. The silver lining is that this sell-down took place above the latest price (UK17.71). So it may not shed much light on insider confidence at current levels. Emma Adamo was the only individual insider to sell over the last year. Notably Emma Adamo was also the biggest buyer, having purchased UK848k worth of shares. Over the last year, we can see that insiders have bought 52.24k shares worth UK848k. But they sold 38.20k shares for UK799k. In the last twelve months there was more buying than selling by Associated British Foods insiders. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! Associated British Foods is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Insider Ownership I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. It appears that Associated British Foods insiders own 0.6% of the company, worth about UK81m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders. Story continues What Might The Insider Transactions At Associated British Foods Tell Us? There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Overall we don't see anything to make us think Associated British Foods insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Associated British Foods. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 1 warning sign with Associated British Foods and understanding this should be part of your investment process. Of course Associated British Foods may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here TOKYO, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Cooperation and common development are the proper relationship between Japan and China, former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has said. The year of 2023 marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. At the end of 2022, the Japanese government approved three updated documents on its security and defense policies including the new National Security Strategy, vowing to largely increase its military expenditure for the next five years. In this regard, Fukuda said in an interview with Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun that if this continues, the relationship between Japan and China will become an arms race. "Can the two countries really be happy in this way?" Fukuda said, adding that cooperation and common development should be the relationship between the two countries. Fukuda noted that China's military strength had obviously grown in the past nearly 10 years. However, he said, China does not want to go to war with Japan. "Without today's China, even the United States cannot develop its own economy well. The basic consensus should be that Japan, the U.S. and China, along with the rest of the world, are a community of shared interests." Fukuda noted that last year saw the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, and the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed in 1978 had led to better relations between the two countries. Since then, although the development of Japan-China relations has not always been smooth, friendship and mutual assistance are the prerequisites for the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Fukuda said, expressing hope that Japan will not forget its original aspiration 50 years ago. Investigators respond after a chemical attack suspect was arrested. Christoph Reichwein/dpa via Reuters An Iranian man was detained in Germany on suspicion of plotting a suspected chemical attack, officials said Sunday. Police from the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia said in a statement that the unidentified 32-year-old man was "suspected of having prepared a serious act of violence that endangers the state by procuring cyanide and ricin to commit an Islamist-motivated attack." Both substances are extremely toxic, and even small amounts of the latter can easily kill a human. The man's home in the town of Castrop-Rauxel was raided after this information was obtained, and he was taken into custody along with one other person suspected of being an accomplice to the plot. Herbert Reul, a North Rhine-Westphalia security official, told German news agency dpa that "we had a serious tip that led the police to intervene that very night." The Associated Press reported that this tip came from U.S. security officials, seemingly in line with a local prosecutor who told reporters the time was from a "friendly foreign intelligence service." While the search of the man's residence didn't turn up any toxic substances, the investigation remains ongoing. According to dpa, it is not thought that this man was working at the behest of the Iranian government. However, officials believe he was a member of a minority extremist group of Sunni Muslims. "Our security services take any information about Islamist terror threats very seriously, and act," Interior Minister Nancy Faser said in a statement, lauding the quick efforts of law enforcement to detain the suspect. You may also like 9 brutally funny cartoons about Kevin McCarthy's speaker vote disaster Virginia teacher shot and wounded by 6-year-old in classroom What's in Prince Harry's new book, Spare? JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's new far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Sunday that he instructed police to remove Palestinian flags from public spaces. Israeli law does not outlaw Palestinian flags but police and soldiers have the right to remove them in cases where they deem there is a threat to public order. The directive from Ben-Gvir, who heads an ultranationalist party in Benjamin Netanyahu's new government and as minister oversees the police, seems to take a hard line in requiring their removal. It follows the release last week of a long-serving Palestinian prisoner, convicted of kidnapping and killing an Israeli soldier in 1983, who waved a Palestinian flag while receiving a hero's welcome in his village in northern Israel. Ben-Gvir, in a statement, said that waving the Palestinian flag is an act in support of terrorism. "It cannot be that lawbreakers wave terrorist flags, incite and encourage terrorism, so I ordered the removal of flags supporting terrorism from the public space and to stop the incitement against Israel," Ben-Gvir said. Arabs in Israel account for around a fifth of the population and most are descendants of Palestinians who remained within the newly founded state after its 1948 war of independence. They have long debated their place in Israel's politics, balancing their Palestinian heritage with their Israeli citizenship, with many identifying as or with the Palestinians. (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Daniel Wallis) MILAN (Reuters) - The Italian government has rejected a request from a ship run by Doctors Without Borders non-governmental organisation (NGO) to assign a safe port closer to the place where it rescued 73 migrants, an NGO official said on Sunday. Italy's interior ministry did not comment on the issue. The dispute is part of a broader tug-of-war between Italy's right-wing government and NGOs over where to disembark migrants saved in the Mediterranean sea. On Saturday Doctor Without Borders' ship Geo Barents received permission from Rome to dock to Ancona port, which is in central Italy and on the country's east coast, far away from Sicily where NGO boats normally disembarked rescued migrants. "The interior ministry rejected our request for a closer safe port for the disembarkation of the 73 survivors on board the Geo Barents. The ship is heading north," Doctors Without Borders' Mission Head Juan Matias Gil said in a message on Sunday. After rescuing migrants on a rubber dinghy offshore Libya, Geo Barents on Saturday asked for a closer port, adding it would take it more than three days to reach Ancona while weather conditions were deteriorating. (Reporting by Francesca Landini, Editing by Louise Heavens) Laura Schultz Pipis, executive director of the United Way of Monroe/Lenawee Counties January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and Jan. 11 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Human trafficking is a humanitarian crisis that is a form of modern-day slavery. Not only is human trafficking prevalent around the world, but also cases of human trafficking are reported in all 50 states. Victims are trafficked for a variety of purposes, such as commercial sex, agricultural work or other forms of labor. The face of human trafficking can be rich, poor, men, women, adults, children, foreign national or U.S. citizen. They are all generally vulnerable in some way, but all victims share the loss of a most cherished human right freedom. The Polaris Project hosts the national Human Trafficking Hotline and conducts extensive research on human trafficking. Their research shows there are 25 industries who utilize human trafficking in the United States. Human trafficking is a market-based economy that exists on principles of supply and demand. It is a high profit enterprise with limited or low risks. It is illegal under international, federal and Michigan state law. The Federal Victims Protection Act of 2000 and Michigan Penal Code address underage minors and adults involved in all forms of human trafficking, affected by the use of force, fraud or coercion (i.e. manipulation by traffickers or perpetrators). As a society, we are seeking better understanding of the nuances of trafficking. It is a power and control issue, similar to domestic violence and sexual assault. Because of the secretive, coercive nature of human trafficking, it is hard to find an exact figure of how many people are trafficked in the United States. I have been a part of both the Monroe and Lenawee County Anti Human Trafficking Coalitions, collectively for over 10 years. This is a subject dear to me, as dark as it is. You can help fight human trafficking by reading more about it, have a Monroe County Coalition member speak to your group or simply help mentor vulnerable youth in your sphere of influence. You also can donate to the Monroe County Anti Human Trafficking Coalition through the Community Foundation of Monroe County (www.cfmonroe.org or 734-242-1976). Story continues The Monroe County Anti Human Trafficking Coalition (MCAHTC) is working closely with the Monroe County Sheriffs Office and their VIPER (Violent Internet Predator Exploitation Response) task force to combat human trafficking. The Coalition is hosting a joint meeting on Jan. 17 with all local law enforcement partners to provide an update on Coalition activities in honor of January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The Department of Homeland Security also has an excellent awareness campaign called the Blue Campaign (www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign). The Polaris Project is home to the National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888), and they have great information as well (www.polarisproject.org). There is also a very active Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force (www.mhttf.org ). Family Counseling and Shelter Services is also a good resource on violence against women issues: www.fcssmc.org or call 734-241-0180. For more information about human trafficking or upcoming events, you can contact Mary Kapp at kapp.mary1@gmail.com or Laura Schultz Pipis at lpipis@unitedwayMLC.org or 734-242-1331. You can follow the MCAHTC Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MonroeAntiHumanTraffickingCoalition. Please note that the United Way is hosting our fourth Racial Equity Challenge in a 21-week format challenge with weekly email prompts Jan. 16 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) through June 19 (Juneteenth). The challenge is a self-guided learning journey designed to deepen participants understanding of, and willingness to confront, racism. Participants will engage in a series of readings, videos, podcasts and daily reflections as part of the program. The challenge facilitates a way for participants to identify and commit to their actions to advance racial equity. Participants can register at www.unitedwayMLC.org beginning Monday, Jan. 9. Laura Schultz Pipis is the executive director of the United Way of Monroe/Lenawee Counties. This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: United Way: January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month By Leika Kihara TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Sunday his government and the central bank must discuss their relationship in guiding economic policy after he names a new Bank of Japan (BOJ) governor in April. The remark heightens the chance the government may revise its a decade-long blueprint with the central bank that focuses on beating deflation, a move that would lay the groundwork for an exit from the BOJ's ultra-loose monetary policy. Asked what kind of person he would choose as BOJ governor, Kishida said it will be someone "best suited for the job" when Haruhiko Kuroda's term ends in April. "The government and the BOJ must work closely together, but also each play its own role" in achieving price stability and higher wage growth, Kishida said in a programme on public broadcaster NHK. "Under the new BOJ governor, we must discuss the relationship between the government and the BOJ," said Kishida, who has authority to choose the central bank head. The BOJ stunned markets last month by widening the band around its 10-year bond yield target to address market distortions caused by its policy, a move investors saw as a prelude to a future rate hike. Markets are rife with speculation the BOJ could move further to phase out Kuroda's massive stimulus by tweaking its yield control policy under a new central bank governor. "In guiding monetary policy, policymakers must have a view on the outlook for the economy. There needs to be careful communication and dialogue with markets," Kishida said, when asked whether the BOJ needs to tweak it ultra-loose policy. Surging raw-material import costs have pushed inflation well above the BOJ's 2% target in recent months, achieving what Kuroda's decade-long stimulus efforts had failed to accomplish. Kuroda has dismissed the chance of a near-term interest rate hike on the view the BOJ must keep supporting the economy until the current cost-push inflation turns into a demand-driven one accompanied by higher wages. Story continues But his remarks have failed to tame market expectations of a near-term tweak to the BOJ's ultra-loose policy, which is blamed by critics for crushing bank margins, distorting bond market pricing and fuelling a yen plunge that pushed up import costs. "The BOJ must revise its extraordinary monetary easing," which has caused pain on households and companies by triggering a sharp yen fall, Kenta Izumi, leader of main opposition the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said on Sunday. "While communicating closely with markets, the BOJ needs to make its policy more flexible with an eye on an eventual normalisation of monetary policy," he told the NHK programme. Core consumer prices in November rose 3.7% from a year earlier, and analysts expect inflation to remain above the 2% target in coming months, as companies continue to pass on higher costs to households. Wage rises have lagged well behind inflation, with nominal pay up just 0.5% in November from a year earlier. The BOJ will likely upgrade its inflation forecasts at a rate review this month, sources have told Reuters, underscoring its conviction that robust domestic demand will keep inflation sustainably around its 2% target in coming years. (Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Sandra Maler and William Mallard) This November 2018 file combination of photos provided by the Burlington County Prosecutors office shows Johnny Bobbitt, left, Katelyn McClure and Mark D'Amico. Bobbitt is the homeless veteran who admitted to conspiring with the New Jersey couple, McClure and D'Amico, in a GoFundMe scam that raised more than $400,000. Associated Press A New Jersey woman got three years in state prison for creating a fake GoFundMe. Katelyn McClure, 32, was already serving a one-year sentence on federal charges. The fake GoFundMe for a homeless veteran earned $400,000. A New Jersey woman who faced theft charges after creating a fake GoFundMe with her boyfriend to scam donors out of $400,000 was sentenced to three years in state prison on Friday. Katelyn McClure, 32, was already serving a one-year sentence on federal charges related to the case. McClure was sentenced to three years in state prison on Friday for theft charges, according to the Associated Press. Prosecutors said that McClure and her former boyfriend Mark D'Amico came up with a fake story in November 2018, claiming that a homeless veteran named Johnny Bobbitt Jr. had given his last $20 to McClure when her car ran out of gas, according to the AP. McClure, D'Amico, and Bobbitt all went as far as giving television and newspaper interviews in support of their campaign which they named "Paying It Forward," according to the AP. Police began investigating when Bobbit sued D'Amico and McClure, claiming that he did not receive the money from the campaign, the AP reported. D'Amico was sentenced to five years in state prison in 2019 to run concurrently with a 27-month federal term and Bobbit was sentenced to federal and state probation. Read the original article on Insider Sayfullo Saipov ((St. Charles County, Mo., Department of Corrections/KMOV via AP, File)) The terrorism trial of Sayfullo Saipov is this week expected to conclude and head to jurors, who will decide whether the Uzbek immigrant will be the first person ordered to face the federal death penalty during the Biden administration. A bike path into his battlefield Prosecutors say Saipov ploughed a rented Home Depot truck onto Manhattans crowded West Side bicycle path in 2017, killing eight and injuring numerous others in an Islamic State-inspired plot. The attack was the deadliest act of terrorism in New York City since 9/11. During his closing arguments this week, federal prosecutor Jason Richman said the alleged terrorist turned a bike path into his battlefield. Mr Saipov, who came to the US on a work visa in 2010 from Uzbekistan, has admitted to the attack, and his attorney argues only that Saipovr didnt carry out his plan at the behest of Isis and rather was acting on his own, a distinction which could affect the severity of the sentence. If youre planning to die in an attack, you are not planning to join an organization, New York City public defender David Patton said this week. I will admit that there is something strange about discussing the possible explanations for an awful crime that is inexplicable and senseless, but its what hes charged with, and its the decision youre being asked to make. Saipov didnt testify, and his defence called no witnesses. Victims speak out Prosecutors presented evidence that they said showed Saipov believed he was acting in furtherance of a larger Isis plot, including a jailhouse phone call where he called himself a soldier of the caliphate, and his request to hang an Isis flag in his hospital room. The trial also featured firsthand accounts from survivors of the truck attack. Marion Van Reeth, who was visiting New York from Belgium when the 2017 incident occured, described waking up in a hospital bed to find she had lost her legs. Its a terrible shock, of course. I couldnt believe it was true. Of course I had a lot of pain, but I didnt realize I lost both legs, Ms Van Reeth testified. Friedel Decadt, also of Belgium, described watching the suffering of her sister Ann-Laure, who ultimately died of her injuries. Story continues Her gaze was lifeless. She just stared up into the air and there was lots of blood gushing out of her mouth, Ms Decadt said. A man with monsters inside Saipovs journey to America started on an optimistic note, after he won the green card lottery and came to the US on a work visa as a 22-year-old. The Uzbek immigrant came from a well-off family in the capital Tashkent and practised traditional Islam, without any hints of extremism, officials have said. Once arriving in the US, however, Saipov struggled to find work in the hotel industry, where he was employed in his home country, and instead settled into a rootless existence as a truck driver, the New York Times reports. Those who knew him described him as having a poor knowledge of Islam and a vulgar character as well as monsters inside. I always thought deep in my soul that he would be jailed for beating someone or insulting someone, Mirrakhmat Muminov, a truck driver who knew Saipov, told the paper. He had a vulgar character. A test of Bidens contradictory stance on the death penalty Its not just the New Jersey resident who is on trial. The Biden administrations confusing, seemingly hypocritical stance on the death penalty is under heavy scrutiny. Joe Biden has said hes against executions, but his Justice Department is still seeking the death penalty for the Uzbek immigrant. President Biden, who was instrumental in crafting numerous tough on crime policies as a senator in the 1990s, made the surprising announcement that he was against the death penalty on the 2020 campaign trail, explaining he was renouncing his past support because a mountain of evidence about wrongful convictions now showed we cannot ensure we get death penalty cases right every time. Whats more, a year later, the Justice Department announced in July 2021 it was putting federal executions on hold as the government reviewed its capital punishment policies, following a historic execution spree under Donald Trump. Serious concerns have been raised about the continued use of the death penalty across the country, including arbitrariness in its application, disparate impact on people of color, and the troubling number of exonerations in capital and other serious cases, attorney general Merrick Garland wrote in a memo at the time explaining the moratorium. He assured me that on his watch, there would be no federal executions, Representative Ayanna Pressley told The Independent last year. The presidents personal discomfort around executions hasnt stopped the Justice Department from pursuing the death penalty in a number of terrorism and domestic extremism cases, including the Manhattan truck attack, as well as the prosecution against Boston Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and white supremacist church gunman Dylann Roof, even though, as The Independent has reported, some victims families in both cases have expressed their wishes that the government refrain from using the death penalty. The Biden DoJ has also continued defending death sentences ordered under other administrations, too. They have been consistently inconsistent, death penalty expert Professor Austin Sarat of Amherst College told The Independent. In July of 2021, the same month Mr Garland announced the execution moratorium, federal prosecutors praised an appeals court for affirming the death sentence against Tsarnaev. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (Federal Bureau of Investigation) "The jury carefully considered each of respondents crimes and determined that capital punishment was warranted for the horrors that he personally inflicted," Acting Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote in a brief at the time. The White House told Reuters at the time that Joe Biden still opposes the death penalty, but the DoJ has independence regarding such decisions. President Biden has made clear that he has deep concerns about whether capital punishment is consistent with the values that are fundamental to our sense of justice and fairness, a spokerson told the wire service. In March of 2022, the Supreme Court further upheld the Boston Bombers sentence. Roofs prosecution followed much the same trajectory. In 2021, a month after the moratorium was announced, a federal prosecutor celebrated an appeals court upholding the white supremacists death sentence, calling it a sign that justice will be served for the victims, the survivors and their families. In October of 2022, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal challenging Roofs execution. Critics argue Mr Biden is saying one thing and doing another. The president has said he hopes to seek legislation outlawing the death penalty, though hes expended virtually no public political capital pushing for such a priority. Whats more, according to Robert Dunham of the Death Penalty Information Center, even without a new law, the president could still end the federal death penalty for a generation by commuting the sentences of the 44 federal death row inmates to life in prison. Otherwise, the presidents stance wont mean much to future death row residents once he leaves office. The Biden executions will take place under future administrations, but make no mistake, they will be Biden executions, Mr Dunham told The Independent. What next? Once the jury decides on a conviction, the trial will move to the punishment phase, where the 12-member panel will decide on whether to impose a capital sentence. The penalty phase could stretch as long as another month, the New York Times reports. The Independent and the nonprofit Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) have launched a joint campaign calling for an end to the death penalty in the US. The RBIJ has attracted more than 150 well-known signatories to their Business Leaders Declaration Against the Death Penalty - with The Independent as the latest on the list. We join high-profile executives like Ariana Huffington, Facebooks Sheryl Sandberg, and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson as part of this initiative and are making a pledge to highlight the injustices of the death penalty in our coverage. LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Flau'jae Johnson scored 26 points, including eight during a 12-0, second-quarter run to break the game open, Angel Reese also scored 26 and No. 7 LSU blew out Kentucky 67-48 on Sunday for its best start in school history. The Tigers (16-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) never trailed, but led by just 19-17 through nearly 15 minutes. Johnson followed with six consecutive points to spark the key run for a 31-17 halftime cushion that included another layup by the freshman guard. LSU also shut down Kentucky for the final 5:52 of the half, forcing three turnovers during that stretch while taking advantage of nine missed attempts by the Wildcats. Johnson had even more late in the third quarter, draining consecutive 3-pointers during an 8-0 spurt to make it 47-26. After the Texas A&M game (a 74-34 rout), we really focused on how we start games and how we finish games, Tigers coach Kim Mulkey said. I saw a lot of good things when the game started, and saw some good things in the second quarter and the third quarter. Of LSU's best start, the coach added, It just feels good to win, and planned to share the milestone with her team on the flight home. Johnson made 10 of 18 from the field and both of LSU's 3-pointers on seven tries and fell a point shy her career best of 27 against Northwestern State in November. Reese, who had a school-record 28 rebounds and 26 points in a 74-34 rout of Texas A&M, was just 5 of 14 shooting but made 16 of 17 free throws for her nation's-best 16th double-double. The Tigers outshot Kentucky just 40%-35%, but dominated nearly every other statistical category including rebounding (45-23). Maddie Scherr had 22 points and Robyn Benton 11 for Kentucky (8-8, 0-4), which dropped its fourth in a row and lost its second game this season in Rupp Arena, home of the men's basketball team. The Wildcats trailed by as many as 29 early in the fourth before regrouping to outscore the Tigers 21-13 in the quarter. Story continues The Tigers entered the contest among five teams tied atop the SEC at 3-0 in league play. They've steamrolled league foes by average margin of nearly 30 points per game and keyed by Reese, who came in ranked first nationally with 15.8 rebounds and sixth in scoring at 24.1 points per game. NUMBERS GAME Reese has scored at least 20 points in 12 of her last 13 games. ... Kentucky made 6 of 17 3-pointers compared to just 2 of 7 by LSU. Scherr drained a career-high four for the Wildcats. ... The Tigers outrebounded the Wildcats 30-15 defensively, outscored them 34-18 in the paint and 14-2 on the break. ... LSU finished with just a 14-12 edge on second-chance points. BIG PICTURE LSU: With a defense that sealed off the paint and scored 29 points off turnovers and a huge advantage at the foul line (25 of 31), falling short of their nation-leading 91.2-point average didnt matter. They also committed 25 turnovers, but were fortunate that they didnt factor either into another lopsided victory. Kentucky: The Wildcats stayed close for the first 15 minutes behind solid defense that slowed down the Tigers. Then came the cold spell that opened the door for LSU and created a deficit they couldnt overcome offensively. Especially at the foul line, where they made 4 of 9. I like that were aggressive defensively," coach Kyra Elzy said, "but at the end of the day we have to find a way to score and get to the free throw line for easy scoring opportunities where they scored 25 free throws and they had 31 attempts. "We were four for nine. So we need to get there more. UP NEXT LSU visits surprising Missouri on Thursday. Kentucky visits top-ranked South Carolina on Thursday in its first meeting since the Wildcats upset the Gamecocks for the SEC Tournament championship. ___ AP womens basketball: https://apnews.com/Womenscollegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 Poll: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll COLOMBO, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka and Thailand are to hold the third round of negotiations on the free trade agreement between the two nations on Jan. 9 and Jan. 10 in Colombo, Sri Lankan President's Media Division (PMD) said on Sunday. Twenty-six delegates from Thailand will attend the discussions, the PMD said. The discussions will focus on topics including trade in goods, trade in services, investments, rules of origin, custom cooperation, trade facilitation and economic cooperation, the PMD said. According to the PMD, Sri Lanka in 2021 imported goods from Thailand worth 355 million U.S. dollars and exported goods worth 59 million dollars to Thailand. A New York judge has swatted down Donald Trumps attempt to dismiss a $250m fraud lawsuit against him and his family, saying the presidents repeated claims hes been singled out in a political witch hunt are frivolous . In September, New York attorney general Letitia James accused the former president, and his children Donald Trump, Jr, Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump, of manipulating the value of Trump Organization assets on the order of billions of dollars to receive undue insurance and loan benefits. On Friday, New York Supreme Court justice Arthur F Engoron overruled Mr Trumps arguments that Ms James was acting out of political bias and lacked standing to bring the bombshell civil suit, which seeks to bar the Trumps from being an officer in any company registered to do business in the state. This court (and at least two others) has soundly rejected the witch hunt argument, he wrote in his ruling, describing Mr Trumps arguments that he was a victim of a sham prosecution as borderline frivolous even the first time defendants made them. The attorney general celebrated the decision, the latest win for her office after the same court ruled in November to appoint an independent monitor to oversee how the Trump Organization prepares its financial statements. "Once again, Donald Trumps attempts to evade the law have been rejected," Ms James said in a statement, writing the ruling "makes clear that Donald Trump is not above the law and must answer for his actions in court. The Independent has contacted Mr Trumps attorney for comment. The New York judge also rejected a move from Ivanka Trump attempting to dismiss the charges against her. Mr Trumps attorneys had argued the attorney general was targeting the former president, who was singled out and subject to selective treatment, pointing to Ms Jamess campaign trail statements criticising Mr Trump. The evidence is irrelevant if you are selectively prosecuted and there is prosecutorial misconduct, Trump lawyer Alina Habba said last year. In February, the New York court rejected that argument as well. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) on Sunday didnt rule out the possibility of a motion to vacate the Speakership being put forward during this Congress after Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) secured the top House leadership slot. As he worked to flip holdouts within his party and secure the votes he needed to take the Speakership, McCarthy agreed to lower the threshold for forcing a vote to oust the House Speaker to just one lawmaker. Im not convinced we can go the entire Congress without having it. But I believe that if thats used, I believe that, right now, the overwhelming majority of Republicans realize that Kevin McCarthy needs a chance to govern, and were going to give him a chance, Comer said Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press. Im not going to say there wont be one person who tries to abuse that motion, but Im confident that McCarthys going to be able to be given the green light to govern and to lead this conference and do the things we told the American people we were going to do during the midterm elections, Comer added. Around 20 Republicans cast ballots for alternate candidates throughout 15 rounds of voting before McCarthy garnered enough votes to win the Speakership, signaling tensions within the party even as it takes power with a majority of House seats. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said ahead of President Bidens first visit to the southern border that Congress must act on legislation to strengthen border enforcement and bolster the countrys asylum processing infrastructure. I think every person who has a legitimate asylum claim should be able to make that claim, Khanna said on Fox News Sunday with Shannon Bream. But we should make sure that its legitimate That is why its actually Congress that needs to act to strengthen the border and have more border enforcement but also to have more people who can process these claims. Khanna said one of the key initiatives of the federal government is to determine whether asylum seekers are not just coming to the U.S. for economic opportunities. The Biden administration, as part of its revamped border enforcement plan, has said it hopes to get as many asylum seekers as possible to fill out asylum applications online. It is a policy Khanna said he supports. As a representative from Silicon Valley, I think if we can get people making these applications before they make that treacherous journey, that would be an improvement, Khanna said. Khanna also urged lawmakers to act with compassion in coming up with border security measures. We need to secure the border but also have the humanity, Khanna said. I think we as a nation need to have an obligation to people who are refugees to file for asylum and we also need a secure border. I wish we could come together on that. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) Jordan Eberle and Andre Burakovsky led the way with a goal and two assists each for the Kraken, who picked up their fourth consecutive win as they defeated the Senators 8-4 on Saturday night. Seattle got goals from eight different players and 13 had at least one point. Justin Schultz, Matty Beniers, Vince Dunn and Daniel Sprong had a goal and an assist each. Jared McCann and Oliver Bjorkstrand also scored for Seattle. Martin Jones made 19 saves for his 18th win of the NHL season. I think the strength of this group is in the depth that we have. And thats not just the forwards its the defense, its the goalies. You see teams that have four lines and six (defensemen) who can contribute and thats dangerous, said Eberle. In my opinion, a lot of the teams that make the playoffs, its because of that (depth). The Senators (18-18-3) got three goals from Tim Stutzle and another from Brady Tkachuk. Anton Forsberg started in goal for the Senators but was pulled in favor of Cam Talbot 15 minutes into the game after allowing three goals on five shots. Talbot turned aside 14 of 19 shots. Theres no excuses on my end. It was a tough night for both of us. Well both take the heat on this one, Talbot said. You score four goals in a hockey game you should be able to make the rest of the saves to win the game. The Kraken led 5-3 to start the third but quickly made that a 7-3 lead on goals by Dunn and Eberle in the opening five minutes. Stutzle completed his hat trick at 5:20 of the period to pull the Senators to within three goals, but Burakovsky scored midway through the period for an 8-4 lead. Weve been at our best when weve been able to roll four lines and not have a huge concern over each matchup. Thats the way our team is built, Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said. Were asking everyone to contribute, play the right way, play with responsibility defensively. We werent airtight there tonight, but we were good enough at the right times. Story continues NOTES Saturdays game was the first of the season between the Senators and Kraken. They will meet again at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on March 9. The lone scratches in the game Saturday were Kraken defenseman Cale Fleury and forward Ryan Donato. Stutzle extended his point streak to seven games. UP NEXT Kraken: At Montreal on Monday night in the fourth of a seven-game trip. Senators: Host Nashville on Monday night to wrap up a four-game homestand. ___ AP NHL: www.apnews.com/hub/NHL and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports Lacey Chabert tells us all about the first of three new movies in the popular Hallmark franchise. A2022 Hallmark Media/Allister Foster Last year Hallmark gave viewers something brand new: A trilogy of films that were connected stories rooted in female friendship. The leaders in all things feel-good TV have started off 2023 with a bang. Not only are we getting a sequel to the trilogy of The Wedding Veil films, we are getting a sequel trilogy. Three brand new movies starring Lacey Chabert, Alison Sweeney, and Autumn Reeser kick off with The Wedding Veil Expectations, premiering January 7. Star Lacey Chabert recently chatted with Southern Living about getting to continue to tell Averys story. I was so glad that we got the chance to continue the stories because oftentimes the movies end with that first kiss or the characters falling in love and we see their wedding very quickly. And audiences and myself included, always want to know, well what happened to them in their relationship once they were in love? I want to see that. And so its a rare occurrence that we get to, so I was thrilled they let us do another trilogy. We pick up in this first movie of this new series with Avery (Chabert) and Peter (Kevin McGarry) navigating life as newlyweds. The couple are in the midst of a renovation on the historic home they purchased while balancing career and their relationship. Were a married couple now and we had conversations about real life things. And were renovating this house together and Avery has this awesome surprise that shes really excited to share with Peter. Theyre excited to start a family together. And its the complications and stresses that come with that and making big decisions. Its all very real. But of course always under the Hallmark banner of everything being centered in love and goodness, Chabert said, adding Its a different pace in this movie. There isnt the meet-cute. We arent watching characters fall in love. Were watching characters deeper in love. Story continues Eagle-eyed fans of Chabert may notice something of an Easter egg sprinkled throughout this film. Several times we will see Avery in pajamas and shes wearing pieces from her real-life clothing line with HSN. You can shop the looks and get Averys pajamas for yourself here. But beyond the love story, The Wedding Veil Expectations also continues telling the story of the friendship between the three lead women of this series. At the heart of it, it really is about the relationship between the three women and how they support each other through these new phases of life. Now that theyre all married they still find themselves having to make big decisions about whats next in their careers, whether or not they are starting a family, and what they want for themselves and it is different from each other. We see them show up for each other repeatedly. Time after time, drop everything and be there in any way that they need each other. Theyre really like sisters, the Mississippi native explained. The three films in this series are now complete. Production wrapped on the last one late in 2022, and the last movie took the cast on location to Greece and Bulgaria. Chabert explained how life imitated art over the span of filming these six movies. For us, Autumn, Ali, and I, making these movies together, going on these adventures, getting to film all over the world, it really has been such a joy. And Ive gotten to know them better as women and mothers and actresses that I respect so much. And we have such fun memories from making these six movies. And its something that Im really grateful for. She also acknowledges that the fans play such a vital role in what they do. I have to say thank you to all of the fans. I dont think there are more loyal fans than Hallmark fans. We appreciate the support so much. And its because so many people tuned in for the first round and supported us and got excited about The Wedding Veil that it was positively received, it was because of all of that support that we got the chance to do this again. For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Southern Living. Police are looking for a man who fatally shot another man late Friday under the 6th Street Viaduct and fled. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles police are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred under the 6th Street Viaduct in Boyle Heights late Friday, authorities said. Officers responded around 10 p.m. and found a 25-year-old man who had been shot multiple times, according to LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman. The victim was rushed to a hospital, where he died, she said. His identity has not been released. Police believe the victim and shooter were filming a music video when a dispute ensued. The assailant pulled a gun and shot the man under the bridge in the 500 block of South Mission Road, Eisenman said. The shooter described by police as 18 to 20 years old fled in a vehicle. Police did not provide details about his height or weight, the weapon or the vehicle. The incident remains under investigation and is believed to be gang-related, Eisenman said. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A large structure fire in East Spencer required more than one department and one day to put it out. The heavily involved fire began Saturday night around 6:30 p.m. along South Long Street at an abandoned school administration building. Channel 9 was able to speak with East Spencer Fire Chief Shawn McBride. McBride told us that some of his firefighters were on the scene before the call came into dispatch due to the size of the fire. ALSO READ: Fire at north Charlotte home was intentionally set, investigators say We also learned that the fire was so severe that all working firemen had to be removed from the building. Crews tried fighting the fire from inside, but the flames quickly moved from the basement to the roof. According to Assistant Chief Troy Agner, the first and second floor of the historic building fell into the basement. East Spencer,NC**((5 Alarm)) Structure Fire**(former school administration building) 110 South Long Street. Heavily involved, multiple departments working; (photo>Salisbury Post) Rowan County #FireinNC pic.twitter.com/7SbG69692g NCFireFighters (@ncfirefighters) January 8, 2023 For neighbors like Amanda Billings, the sight of the flames engulfing the century-old building will linger in her memory. Thats been a landmark here since I lived here, and everybody is very sad, Billings said. Just like the Dunbar Center is gone, now this is gone. I dont know what they are going to do now. Billings says smoke filled her street while flames ripped through the building. My mom and dad both came back out and they said it was shooting up above the building, Billings said. We could smell it from inside even though our doors are shut. On Monday, McBride told Channel 9 that crews will likely be out at the scene for another three days while the fire continues to burn. Story continues McBride acknowledged the other departments that came to assist ESFD, including Kannapolis Fire, Salisbury Fire, Rowan County Fire, Rowan County Emergency Services, and Locke Fire Department. At this time, the fire is still under full investigation, and a full search of the building has yet to be done. This is a developing story. Check back at wsoctv.com for updates. (WATCH BELOW: Local business owner supports Damar Hamlins GoFundMe with large donation) Edson, the first baby born in Las Cruces in the new year, was born at MountainView Regional Medical Center at 12:48 p.m. Jan. 1, 2023. LAS CRUCES Las Crucens rang in the new year with parties and chile drops, but two local families will forever celebrate New Years Day 2023 as their little ones birthdays. Edson was born at MountainView Regional Medical Center at 12:48 p.m. Jan. 1, 2023. He is officially the first baby born in Las Cruces in the new year. Several hours later, Xareni Victoria Hernandez entered the world at 8:53 p.m., at Memorial Medical Center weighing 8 pounds and 12 ounces. She was the first baby born at MMC in 2023. The babys mother, Yulissa Madrid, 24, said she was in labor for 15 hours before Xareni arrived a week ahead of her estimated due date. Xareni Victoria Hernandez, born Jan. 1, 2023 at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces, pictured with her big brother, Xzavier Jose Hernandez. Xareni joins the family as the second child. Her older brother, Xzavier Jose Hernandez, is a few months shy of turning 2, and enjoying his new role as older sibling. Nothing beats being home with your family, Madrid said in a text message. Madrid said her daughters unique name was chosen to match her brothers. The babys middle name, Victoria, comes from Madrids grandfather, Victorio. Xareni Victoria Hernandez, born Jan. 1, 2023 at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces, heads home from the hospital. Madrid is originally from Las Cruces, born at MMC, and raised in Hatch. She is a student at New Mexico State University studying diagnostic medical sonography. Others are reading: Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, LRomero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Las Cruces welcomes Xareni and Edson, 2023 New Year's Day babies An injured miner receives treatment at a hospital in Badakhshan province, Afghanistan, Jan. 8, 2023. (Str/Xinhua) FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The rescue team has recovered three miners from under the debris after 61 hours in Afghanistan's northern Badakhshan province, the provincial director of information and culture Qari Maazudin said Sunday. "The remaining two miners were recovered from under debris at 09:20 p.m. Saturday while another was rescued on Friday and thus the rescue operation is over after 61 hours," Ahmadi told reporters here. Several miners were working in a tunnel of a gold mine in Yawan district on Thursday when the tunnel caved in, trapping the three people, the official said, adding that the trio had been recovered and shifted to a hospital for medical treatment. Injured miners receive treatment at a hospital in Badakhshan province, Afghanistan, Jan. 8, 2023. (Str/Xinhua) Photo Illustration by Erin O'Flynn/The Daily Beast/Getty Images Russias biggest LGBTQ organization is back, less than a year since Vladimir Putins government forced it to close, suing it for acting under foreign influence as part of a crackdown on gay rights. The organizations head, Dilya Gafurova, told The Daily Beast that the Sphere Foundation, the legal entity that operated the Russian LGBT Network, is now back up and running. She says it will have to operate unlicensed or the government would refuse to register the group, which was established as a new body on Jan. 1. As a consequence of our legal entitys liquidation, we faced a choice: we could either go our separate ways or buckle up and look for solutions, Gafurova told The Daily Beast. As somebody heading Sphere, I really would not have blamed anyone at the time whod wanted to leavewe already had put up a good fight, had a good run while we could; I mean, we were the ones who supported the LGBT+ movement across Russia for over 11 years, and some members of our team had been public, doing advocacy and awareness-raising work, and therefore were running high personal risks. But very few did leave, our core team is preserving itself. Despite the inability to pay salaries for the last three months and having an uncertain future, Dilya and her team have continued their work under the radar since September. In a blow to Putins homophobic agenda, the Sphere Foundation is now expanding once again with all of its previous programs and projects intact. The organization has been supporting LGBTQ movements in Russia for many years and it will now include feminist initiatives, too. On Dec. 5, Putin signed a law that expanded Russias restrictions on what it calls LGBT propaganda. According to the new law, any action or spreading of any information which is considered an attempt to promote homosexuality in public, online, or in films, books, or advertising, could result in a heavy fine. This Russian Gay Couple Hopes Their Wedding Will Help Change Minds Story continues Revamped Russian LGBTQ organization, Sphere Foundation, is ready to take the fight against the new law. Bring it on, we say, Gafurova said. The LGBTQ community in Russia feels incredibly vulnerable as Putins regime has given a green light to hatred towards the community. We were the ones that had been running a campaign against the previously existing ban on LGBT propaganda among minors. The previous law was not used much, wasnt really appliedmostly to curb activism and the work of such organizations as ours on awareness-raising, said Gafurova. We see the new legislation as an expanded version of thatthe wording is so vague, the government may use it as it pleases them if theyre willing to target ones activity. What is LGBT propaganda anyways? They have this set of bills that now touches upon so many spheres, like media, book publishing, streaming platforms, stores and e-commerce, and yet propaganda isnt even clearly defined. Sphere Foundation has already been working against the new legislation and encouraged people from different regions to write to their members of parliament (MPs) asking not to pass the bill. Over 15,000 letters went out to Russian lawmakers and 84,000 people signed a petition before Putins LGBT propaganda law was adopted anyway. We want to continue encouraging people to voice their discontent over this, to make it known that the queer community in Russia cannot be muzzledand that the way the government perceives LGBT+ people and the way that the actual Russian society does are very different, Gafurova said. Many are asking us why the Russian government would pass such legislation now, when its grappling with enough issues as is. In fact, it makes a lot of senseits a part of an ideological confrontation with the West. Being LGBT+, in the eyes of Russian MPs, is the result of harmful Western influence, a hybrid war, as they call it. According to Gafurova, the new law does not prohibit the Sphere Foundation from providing psychological and legal assistance to the LGBT+ community in Russia. But she expressed concern while talking to The Daily Beast that without spreading awareness on its social media about their work, nobody would come to the organization asking for help. She is concerned that the organization is public and they could label its very existence as propaganda. Gafurova said that the organization wants to preserve its advocacy work and raise awareness about the harmful aspects of the LGBT propaganda legislationthat certainly qualifies as propagandizing non-traditional relations. We made our peace with it, said Gafurova. We will not change a thing, so the LGBT+ people will not be made feel as if they are on their own with whats happening. LGBTQ Russians Fight to Survive Putins Campaign of Hate Sphere Foundation was established in 2011 and soon grew to become Russias biggest LGBTQ organization. With its partner organizations and activists, it focused on helping the queer community in the North Caucasus, who came under attack from the repressive regime of Chechnya in particular. Sphere also led the campaign against the nationwide 2013 propaganda law, which outlawed homosexuality being treated as normal or promoted to minors. Since 2014, Sphere has also been providing emergency support to the LGBTQ community and their families in life-threatening situations across Russia. Gafurova told The Daily Beast that for the Russian government Spheres liquidation was almost like cutting off the dragons head as much of the support to the LGBT+ movement in Russia across the regions came from Sphere over many years. We were also behind assisting queer people in the North Caucasus after 2017 until 2022, said Gafurova. They definitely had an ax to grind with us. Maybe they thought itd be enough. But its now becoming apparent it wasnt. As the organization moves to support LGBTQ Russians against Putins homophobic law, it is cautious as the government may watch its activity very closely. Deteriorating human rights conditions in Russia and concerns raised by anyone could leave them facing harsh punishments and fines. Gafurova also talked about Putins invasion of Ukraine and said she doesnt believe its possible to be a human rights activist and condone such actions by the Russian government. 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. In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:MDC) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. View our latest analysis for M.D.C. Holdings The Method As M.D.C. Holdings operates in the consumer durables 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. We use the Gordon Growth Model, which assumes dividend will grow into perpetuity at a rate that can be sustained. The dividend is expected to grow at an annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.0%. We then discount this figure to today's value at a cost of equity of 10%. Relative to the current share price of US$34.5, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate) = US$2.3 / (10% 2.0%) = US$28.8 dcf Important Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at M.D.C. Holdings 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 10%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.335. 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 M.D.C. Holdings Strength Debt is well covered by earnings. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Dividend is in the top 25% of dividend payers in the market. Weakness Earnings growth over the past year underperformed the Consumer Durables industry. Opportunity Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 3 years. Moving On: Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For M.D.C. Holdings, we've compiled three essential elements you should look at: Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with M.D.C. Holdings . Future Earnings: How does MDC's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the NYSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Love Island star Jack Fowler has revealed he had an extreme allergic reaction after being served ice cream containing nuts on a flight. He said his throat closed and he felt his tongue begin to swell within seconds of being served the food, despite repeated reminders to staff that he had a life-threatening allergy. The 27-year-old, who appeared on the ITV2 show in 2018, said he felt extremely lucky to have immediately noticed something was wrong with the vanilla ice cream, which he spat out before discovering it had crushed pistachio nuts in it. The former reality TV contestant, who said he was left struggling to breathe, said it was the second time during his flight with Qatar Airways that he had been served nuts, having been offered pastries with nuts after boarding the plane. He wrote on Instagram: I told Qatar Airways hostesses five times I was anaphylactic to nuts (life-threatening allergy). As well as asking for reassurance when every meal was served to me, that it was nut-free. To be given nuts TWICE is such a massive failure from Qatar Airways. Within seconds I couldnt breath properly after eating the crushed pistachio nuts beneath my vanilla ice cream. My throat closed and my tongue felt like it was swelling. I was told the vanilla ice cream was my safest option. It wasnt. Qatar Airways you have failed in so many ways. Im extremely lucky. The next person might not be. In the post, Fowler warned all airlines that more needed to be done to protect those with severe allergies. He said that the pilot had contacted different countries to divert him to for treatment, but it was not necessary because Fowler had reacted so quickly. But I cannot begin to tell you how scary that was. I told you five times Im allergic. You gave me nuts twice. I couldve died. The next person might not be so lucky. Absolute shambles, he wrote. (Jack Fowler Instagram) The ice cream incident came one hour after Fowler had written on Instagram about what he thought was a lucky escape avoiding nuts on a pastry that he was served. Story continues He wrote on his Story: I told my airhost at the beginning of the flight that I am anaphylactic to all nuts (extremely allergic to nuts). He made a note and assured me it wouldnt be a problem. After selecting my meals, I was later served pastries with nuts on it. Thankfully I spotted them and didnt eat it. And when notifying my hostess about it, he was extremely sorry. But this is the kind of situation couldve gone soooo bad. Me eating a nut in the air despite me even taking an EpiPen, would have caused me to have a serious shock and quite possibly die. We would have had to divert and land in order for me to get treated in time. Moral of this story is: if youre a flight attendant reading this, make sure you have a system that works and prevents this type of thing from happening. In the post, he also encouraged allergy-sufferers to speak up and not to feel like you are being a nuisance for having a dietary requirement. Fellow Love Island stars Montana Brown, Ellie Brown, Wes Nelson and Kaz Crossley all shared messages of support and relief that he had survived the incident. Musician Tom Zanetti said: Thats insane. Glad u knew what u was u doing and glad ur ok pal. A spokesperson for Qatar Airways said: Passenger health and safety is of paramount importance to Qatar Airways and we require all passengers with severe food allergies to notify the airline no less than 48 hours in advance of flying with a completed medical information form (MEDIF) as instructed on our website. The airline will work with the passenger to reduce the risk of contamination but as flights are public, an allergen-free environment is not guaranteed. We are aware of an issue concerning a passenger who had a reaction to nuts on board and are investigating the incident. Additional reporting by Press Association Suffolk Police had to close a road after a magnet fisher found explosives in a river. (Facebook/Suffolk Constabulary) A magnet fisher searching a local river sparked an emergency when he found some historic explosives. Suffolk Police said a road had to be closed at the village of Long Melford after the railway track explosives dating back to the 1960s were found. In a Facebook post, the force's Sudbury and Haverhill Police team said the magnet fisher was fishing from a bridge looking for objects of interest when he made the discovery. "The most unusual job of the day played out along the B1064 in #LongMelford earlier this afternoon during which we had to close the road for a short while," the post said. "A visiting magnet fisherman decided to see what he could pull out of the river using the local bridges. "In amongst his 'catch' was a knife, some shotgun cartridges, a BB gun and just for good measure, a couple of railway track explosives." Read more: Man, 83, killed wife then took his own life after they decided to 'go together' The explosives which are thought to be leftovers from the 1960s dismantling of the Sudbury to Bury railway line sparked a scare and led to the road being closed, police said. The post added: "It was these latter items that triggered the road closure and as the area still has 'disused railway status' it should have been Network Rail that came out to do the honours but they are on strike. "In the end, EOD (explosive ordanance disposal) came out and took the little devices away." The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is conducting an investigation after a man was shot and killed Saturday by deputies in Bulloch County. According to the GBI, at approximately 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, two deputies responded to a 911 call reporting that a man was assaulting his father in a mobile home park. When deputies arrived, they located the father, who is disabled, with visible injuries. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to the GBI, deputies attempted to take Jules Robert Lee, 32, into custody but struggled with him as he resisted. During the fight, deputies fired their stun guns, which were ineffective. The GBI says Lee pulled a firearm and fired at the deputies. TRENDING STORIES: Both deputies fired shots at Lee, hitting him. Lee was taken to a hospital where he later died. Both deputies were uninjured. Lees father was treated by EMS at the scene for minor injuries. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Kirill Marchenko recorded his first career hat trick and scored in a shootout to lift the Columbus Blue Jackets over the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on Saturday in a matchup of the Metropolitan Divisions best and worst teams. Carolina, which sits atop the division, has now lost three straight. Patrik Laine scored in the shootout, and Kent Johnson added the shootout game-winner and two assists for the Blue Jackets, who won for just the second time in their last 11 games. Joonas Korpisalo stopped 39 shots. Max Pacioretty had two goals and Brady Skjei scored on the power play for Carolina. Antti Raanta stopped 15 shots in his first loss since Nov. 17. We had a pretty solid game in some areas, especially if it wasnt great, Carolina coach Rod BrindAmour said. Even though we got two power-play goals, we got fortunate really on those. Thats an area that wasnt great tonight. Thats probably the difference in the game. After a scoreless first, Marchenko put Columbus up 1-0 with the second power-play goal of his career at 7:26 of the second period, and he made it 2-0 just 1:36 later. Hes so coachable, Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said of Marchenko. He wants to learn and its not just the offensive side. Hes always working. Hes a really neat personality to have around. You love to see him, and I like that because the smile just gets bigger. Its great. Carolina then roared back. Pacioretty scored his first Hurricane goal, with a lucky bounce off a Blue Jacket leg that pinballed past Korpisalo at 11:20, before Skjei made it 2-2 with a power-play goal at 17:18. Pacioretty scored again at 18:56 on the power play. Marchenko pulled Columbus back even at 5:23 of the third with his third goal of the night. I just shoot it, he said. I know the nets there and just shoot. Its working. I dont know how. MARCHENKO MAGIC Marchenko, who made his NHL debut Dec. 6, became the first rookie this season to score a hat trick, and also the first to record two power-play goals in one game. He is the sixth Blue Jackets rookie to do so, joining Nikita Filatov, Matt Calvert, Cam Atkinson and Pierre-Luc Dubois. The most recent Blue Jacket was Cole Sillinger in 2021-2022, who assisted on Marchenkos third goal. The native of Barnaul, Russia, now has eight goals and six in his last seven games. Story continues INJURY UPDATE Carolinas Stefan Noesen was missing from the lineup after suffering a lower-body injury Tuesday in New York. Columbus Eric Robinson remained out with an upper body injury. ON A ROLL Skjei scored his eighth goal and leads all Hurricanes defensemen in that category this season. Paul Stastny has recorded a point in three straight games. 4-0N-4 A third-period penalty that carried 5 seconds into the overtime by Columbus Sean Kuraly meant both teams skated 4-on-4 for 4:55 of the 5-minute extra period. The NHL rule states that if one team starts OT with a man advantage, each team gets four skaters after the penalty expires until a game stoppage. NO BRAINER Larsen on having Marchenko go first in the shootout: Hes having that night, thats a no brainer, him out there. UP NEXT Carolina: Hosts New Jersey on Tuesday night. Columbus: Visits Washington on Sunday night. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports A Texas woman was arrested after she went on a racist rant targeting a group of Indian-American women. Kali9/Getty Images The teacher shot by a 6-year-old student in Virginia is recovering, Newport News mayor says. Mayor Phillip Jones told the BBC that the incident was a "dark day in our history." It's unclear how the student was able to obtain the gun. The Mayor of Newport News, Virginia where a teacher at Richneck Elementary School who police said was shot by a 6-year-old student called the incident "a dark day in our history." "We don't have all the answers about how a six-year-old was able to handle a firearm or how a six-year-old was able to access a firearm," Mayor Phillip Jones told the BBC. "This is a dark day in our history and I think this is a red flag for the country," Jones who took office just five days ago told the BBC that the teacher, Abby Zwerner's recovery was "trending in a positive direction" but she's still in critical condition after sustaining life-threatening injuries in Friday's incident. On Friday, Newport News Police Department Chief Steve Drew said the student has been detained. No students were injured, police said. "The altercation was between a 6-year-old, the student who did have the firearm, and the teacher, and then the round was fired," Drew said late Friday, according to USA Today. "This was not an accidental shooting." In a statement, Jones said police were investigating how the shooting happened, and are trying to get the child all the services he may need. "I do think that after this event, there is going to be a nationwide discussion on how these sorts of things can be prevented," Jones said, according to the Guardian. Read the original article on Insider Fire crews battle a fire at an Associated Milk Products, Inc. plant on January 2, 2023 in Portage, Wis. Melted butter spilled into the Portage Canal as a result of the fire, which started in a butter storage room. PORTAGE, Wisc. In a very Wisconsin environmental predicament, a dairy plant in Portage went into a meltdown during a Monday night fire that spilled warmed butter into the historic Portage Canal. Fire crews were dispatched to Associated Milk Producers in Portage, according to the Portage Fire Department. While first responders found heavy smoke and fire coming from the plant when they arrived, the primary obstacles to fighting the fire were heavy smoke and melted butter. The fire started in a butter storage room at the plant, the fire department said. The melted sweet cream was beginning to flow through the building as it heated up, slowing down fire crews as they tried to get inside the plant. After several hours, the fire was extinguished. No injuries were reported, and local agencies are still determining the cause of the fire. 'Billion-dollar disaster': Half of Sacramento in dark, soggy California braces for worst storm yet What's everyone talking about?: Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day Portage Fire Chief Troy Haase said although the melted butter had been "99% contained" to the plant, some of the liquid spilled into the nearby Portage Canal, a historic waterway. The spill was floating on top of the canal in an area about 30 by 20 feet wide, Haase said. The fire department said that a hazmat team dealt with the mess in the canal by using boom absorbents, which are also used to control oil spills. The AMPI butter mess isn't nearly as big as the 1991 "butter fire" at the Central Storage & Warehouse Co. in Madison, but it does present similar environmental challenges. Butter spills, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, can mimic the negative effects of petroleum-based oil spills like bad smells and damaged plants and animals. The Portage Canal, which was completed in 1876, has been the subject of a decades-long cleanup and restoration project by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. In a statement released Thursday, the DNR said that about 20 gallons of butter made it into the canal during the fire and has since been removed, with "minimal" impact to the environment so far. Most of the butter that left the plant traveled to a local wastewater treatment plant, which has been operating normally. This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Wisconsin dairy plant fire spills melted butter into canal DHAKA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh has been declared free from dangerous Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane pesticide, commonly known as DDT pesticide. Bangladeshi Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin made the announcement at a press conference on Sunday. The press briefing came after Bangladesh's successful removal of 500 tons of DDT from a medical sub-depot in Chattogram city, some 242 km southeast of the capital Dhaka, in December last year. According to the World Health Organization, DDT is a persistent organic pollutant (POP), a chemical that can have significant negative effects on both human health and the environment. Bangladesh imported 500 metric tons (500,000 kg) of the pesticide in 1985 to control malaria-carrying mosquitos. Upon arrival, it was put into a government compound in the Agrabad district in Chattogram city. Over the years, many of the boxes and bags have disintegrated, leaving exposed piles of the white DDT powder. In 1991, Bangladesh imposed a DDT ban, but the huge consignment remained. Under a project titled "Pesticide Risk Reduction in Bangladesh," the toxic substance was completely exported to France for incineration, according to the ministry. A search is underway for a missing 43-year-old woman who didnt pick up her son after school, Pennsylvania officials say. Jennifer Brown, of Limerick Township, was last seen around 2 p.m. on Jan. 3 by a friend and business associate, the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office said in a Jan. 6 news release. Brown was supposed to pick up her son from his bus stop after school the following day, but she never showed up, officials said. Her vehicle was found at her home, along with her keys, purse and wallet, and her work cellphone. Police havent been able to find Browns personal phone, investigators say, adding that the device has not been communicating since the morning of Jan. 4. Law enforcement is very concerned about (her) welfare, District Attorney Kevin Steele said. Family and friends gathered outside Browns home for a vigil on Saturday, Jan. 7, praying that she will be found safe, WPVI reported. This has been a nightmare, Browns aunt, Diane Brehm, told the station. We are truly living a movie that were involved in and its a nightmare. Neighbors described Brown as a responsible person and dutiful mother. Theres no way she would leave him behind or like, not be home for him, neighbor Ellen Friend told the TV station. Its honestly completely out of character. Shes a very friendly person. I dont see her having any enemies. Shes very caring of all the neighbors, especially the elderly. Brown is described as five-feet, one-inch in height, weighing roughly 150 pounds, officials said. Anyone with information that could help investigators is encouraged to call Limerick police at 610-495-7909, or Montgomery County detectives at 610-226-5553. Her family is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to her being found. Man who FaceTimed mom before disappearing is found dead in submerged car, NC cops say Missing doctor found dead after surveillance video leads Michigan cops to frozen pond Missing 72-year-olds body found tangled in net after his boat sank, TN officials say Family found hunter dead in Michigan woods four years ago, cops say. Now two arrested ULAANBAATAR (Reuters) - Mongolia will push ahead with plans to list a state mining firm embroiled in a corruption scandal that has sparked protests in the capital Ulaanbaatar, with new ownership likely to help drive out graft, the country's justice minister told Reuters. The state-owned Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi JSC (ETT) owns a large chunk of a sprawling 6-billion tonne coking coal deposit near the Chinese border that has been at the heart of Mongolia's plans to grow its small and mining-dependent economy for more than a decade. But development at Tavan Tolgoi has been held back by poor transport links and disputes about how Mongolia's strategic assets should be funded and owned. Fluctuations in global coal prices and cooling investor sentiment have also stymied previous efforts to list ETT's shares overseas. "The prime minister is putting forward an initiative to change (ETT's) governance and make it public quickly," said Nyambaatar Khishgee, Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs, after thousands gathered in recent days to protest government corruption. "It is expected that this will end the problems of transparency in the mining sector and public officials' corruption," he added. A spokesperson for ETT was not immediately available for comment. Protesters clashed with police in the capital Ulaanbaatar last week, as recent allegations of so-called "coal theft" at Tavan Tolgoi brought many to the streets demanding action against those responsible. Hundreds of protesters were still at the city's central square on Tuesday, with some erecting traditional tents known as gers to stay overnight as temperatures plunged to minus 30 Celsius. Mongolia earns about 50% of its export revenues from coal, mostly mined by ETT. However, around 400,000 tonnes of coal produced by the company in recent years is unaccounted for, the government said in October. Earlier allegations suggest almost 1 million tonnes of coal were exported but not registered between 2011 and 2017. Story continues Nyambaatar said all contracts signed by ETT have now been made public. Details of the owners of 25,000 trucks involved in transporting ETT coal have also been disclosed. The authorities are also investigating 7,373 trucks that repeatedly carried coal to the Chinese border between 2013 and 2017 but appeared to have arrived empty. Mongolia also plans to appoint a top international auditor to look into ETT's finances, Nyambaatar said. The government is working hard to ensure exports from the project are not disrupted by the probe, Nyambaatar said, and it will also steer clear of an inspection of Chinese coal buyers, who account for about 85% of sales. "We are trying to reduce risk as much as possible," said the minister, adding he had met China's ambassador to Mongolia this week to reassure him that trade would not be impacted. Mongolia has long been plagued by poor governance of its state-owned mining companies, which are saddled with billions of dollars of debt. But its economy has been further hit by strict COVID lockdowns from 2020 to 2021 that drove up unemployment, as well as high energy costs due to the war in Ukraine. "How can we leave our children in this ugly debt-ridden society?" said Gantulga Tumentogtokh, 42, who stayed overnight at the central square for a fifth day, wrapped in a goat fur coat to stay warm. "We should indeed issue shares (in state owned companies) and develop Mongolia. If we had already done that, our lives would be different. I want to see accountability," he added. However some questioned whether the government's efforts will go far enough. "Galloping price increases and widening poverty is the reason for public anger," said Otgochuluu Chuluuntseren, an economist and former government official. "In the short term, we need reform in the governance of the SOE (state-owned enterprises). In the long term, the business must thrive on creating more sustainable and decent jobs," he added. (Reporting by Munkhchimeg Davaasharav in Ulaanbaatar. Additional reporting by David Stanway in Shanghai. Editing by Dominique Patton and Raju Gopalakrishnan) Jan. 8OLYMPIA More time behind bars or less? As the Washington Legislature begins its work for 2023, lawmakers will have to weigh that and other tough decisions on drugs as they craft new sentencing rules for possession or ending all jail time for those crimes altogether. In February 2021, the state Supreme Court declared Washington's felony drug possession statute unconstitutional. The case came out of Spokane after Shannon Blake claimed a pair of pants she was wearing during her arrest had been given to her without knowledge of a bag of methamphetamine in the coin pocket. The court ruled that Washington's law was unconstitutional because it made possession a felony even for people who did not know they had drugs on them. The decision left lawmakers scrambling to come up with a fix by the end of the legislative session. Their solution made drug possession a simple misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine or both. For the first two offenses, those possessing drugs would be diverted to treatment instead of jail. The new law also focused on treatment, providing more funding for community recovery programs. But the Legislature's solution in 2021 was only temporary, with a provision that gave lawmakers until July of this year to come up with a long-term plan. Otherwise, the state would end all prosecutions for simple drug possession. The Supreme Court decision also created a backlog in court systems across the state of defendants previously convicted and fined under the law. In Spokane County, staff in the court clerk's office analyzed drug possession cases filed from January 1993 to February 2021, Spokane County Clerk Tim Fitzgerald said. They determined as many as 10,344 people were entitled to some relief on simple possession charges during that time period, with refunds for fines imposed by the court totaling a little more than $2.4 million. The clerk's office worked with the prosecutor's office to prioritize cases where defendants still were in custody, Fitzgerald said. Story continues "We wanted to get those folks before the court as soon as possible, so that we're not looking at them now, in 2023," Fitzgerald said. As of Dec. 1, the most recent date for which Fitzgerald had information available, the courts have vacated or dismissed 2,769 such cases and provided refunds totaling $162,000, an average of about $59 a person. If a fine was imposed by a judge but no amount was paid, the defendant would not get any money back. Some of those refunds were applied to other cases a defendant might have against them, and penalties owed as restitution to victims of the crimes, Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald said he anticipates the state will continue to provide money to counties to compensate workers who are putting in additional time to resolve old drug possession cases. The money is provided in the form of a refund requested by Fitzgerald's office. Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Gonzalez told reporters Friday he understands going through old cases is complicated and time-intensive. Gonzalez said he expects courts across the state will comply with the new ruling, but that it probably would take at least five to eight years to get to every retroactive case. The floor debates in 2021 showed a deep divide, even among those in the same party. Some wanted to move Washington toward a post-war-on-drugs policy that decriminalized drugs, while others said people with addiction needed jail as an incentive to change. Almost all legislators, however, agreed more funding and resources need to be pushed into recovery and behavioral health treatment. "I think that there's a diversity of views in the Legislature about what the right approach is, but I do feel like there's a consensus building to do something that's public health-focused," Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, D-Spokane, said, adding that some penalties for drug possession likely will remain. Lawmakers to address penalties, behavioral health gaps The biggest issue lawmakers need to address is dealing with drug possession. One option is to go back to the old statute but simply adding the word "knowingly." That would keep possession a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, but also address concerns from the Supreme Court that someone has to know they are possessing drugs in order to be charged. Lawmakers also could choose to keep what they passed two years ago, which makes possession a simple misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine or both. Another option would go a step in between and make possession a gross misdemeanor, which would be punishable by up to one year in jail, a $5,000 fine or both. A bipartisan committee of lawmakers, local government members, public defenders, prosecutors, substance abuse experts and people who have recovered from drug addiction has been meeting over the last year to come up with recommendations for the Legislature to address the Blake decision. Though all of the committee's recommendations aren't finalized, one of its biggest recommendations is decriminalizing possession. Oregon in 2021 eliminated jail time for people possessing small amounts of drugs . But Washington lawmakers already have said they do not think that will pass this session. Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, said she is "highly skeptical" that decriminalization will pass the Legislature. Dhingra, a former prosecutor, serves as the chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee. Dhingra said a number of bills will be introduced this session surrounding the Blake decision that will give lawmakers options in terms of penalty. Rep. Dan Griffey, R-Allyn, said a criminal penalty should be in place to motivate people to seek treatment. "I still think it might be a mistake to decriminalize," he said. "I think having legal sanctions gives people better reasons to get better." Griffey said the long-term system he envisions doesn't include permanent prison sanctions, but something more like a two-year program that ends with records being expunged. Griffey, a member of the Blake committee and a former firefighter, said there needs to be a more robust system in place to help people get better. The first step to that is getting more resources to first responders. Gov. Jay Inslee said in a December interview that there should still be some penalties for drug possession to incentivize people to get better. The ultimate goal is treatment, and Washington needs to build the capacity for that, he said. Meanwhile, lawmakers on the other end of the spectrum are looking to increase penalties. Spokane Valley Republican Mike Padden, the top Republican on the Law and Justice committee, said he wants to go back to the old statute, which made possession a felony, and add the word "knowingly," which would address the issue the Supreme Court had. Padden has prefiled a bill for the Legislature to consider with nine other Republicans signed on as co-sponsors. He said decriminalization is "a definite nonstarter for me." Camerina Zorrozua, an attorney with the Spokane-based nonprofit law firm A Way to Justice who has represented Blake defendants across the state, said conversations about future criminal statutes and figures about the number of judgments vacated and money refunded miss the point. Many people still behind bars in Washington may have ended up there because of a conviction on a simple possession charge, beginning a pattern of incarceration that disproportionately affected people of color. "What's really missing is the fact that there are nuances to the Blake work that don't just get processed in a stack of paperwork," Zorrozua said. She said the costs to people's lives for being jailed for crimes now deemed unconstitutional were significantly more than fines that will be refunded. For example, she said, some people were imprisoned and unable to see loved ones before they died. Others face hardships in housing, employment and more because of the consequences of a law that was declared unconstitutional. Addressing those issues will be difficult, but lawmakers could help by establishing a standard system to be compensated by the courts that is uniform across the state, she said. "Some of these clients have Blake cases in multiple counties," she said. "That process should not depend on who the prosecutor is." Kurtis Robinson, executive director of the advocacy group I Did the Time who was directed to treatment for his cocaine addiction by a probation officer, said that accountability should be part of a person's path to recovery. But the Blake decision offers lawmakers the possibility of rethinking the punitive approach of law enforcement. "Maybe we ought to do something that's more humane," said Robinson, who is 19 years sober of all substances following that intervention. "I'm living proof that that works." Lawmakers will have to address a number of other issues surrounding the Supreme Court's decision. One of the biggest is improving treatment services across the state. The law passed in 2021 required law enforcement to refer offenders twice to treatment before arresting them, but at the moment, there are still not enough places for those people to go. In a Law and Justice Committee hearing in December, Caleb Banta-Green, a researcher at the University of Washington who served on the committee formed to give recommendations to the Legislature, said some people were being referred to treatment by law enforcement on their first two offenses. But there still aren't enough resources to provide all offenders treatment they need, he said. "We have very large treatment gaps," Banta-Green said. He said there are huge geographic gaps in treatment and in the type of treatment that people actually want, such as places that are easily accessible and where people are treated well. Rep. Lauren Davis, D-Shoreline, said the Legislature had no warning that the Blake decision was going to happen. Trying to set up treatment programs and move out millions of new dollars takes time, she told the committee. Recommendations for treatment include setting up all-in-one health engagement hubs across the state where people can go for medical care, substance abuse and mental health treatment, as well as social services, and expanding rural access to opioid treatment programs in central and Eastern Washington. Other recommendations from the committee include providing tax breaks for landlords who use their properties as recovery homes; increasing funding for more housing for people in recovery; improving investments into the behavioral health workforce; and implementing law enforcement-assisted diversion. Staff writer Kip Hill contributed to this story. Laurel Demkovich's reporting for The Spokesman-Review is funded in part by Report for America and by members of the Spokane community. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor. The duffle bag containing $300,000 was waiting to be taken inside a Chase Bank in Brooklyn for a cash drop. NYPD Crime Stoppers Police say two men approached the truck driver for help while another stole the duffle bag on Friday. The bag containing $300,000 in cash was left unattended on the armored truck's bumper, officials say. The three suspects fled the scene on foot and are still on the run from police. A Brinks truck driver was helping two men asking for directions on Friday, and before he knew it, a third man snatched $300,000 from the vehicle's bumper and vanished, officials said. The driver was making a cash drop around 1 p.m. at a Chase Bank in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood, the New York Post reported. Police said the duffle bag full of money was sitting unattended on the bumper of the armored truck when two of the thieves started up a conversation with the driver. A third robber grabbed the bag while the driver was distracted, police said. The unidentified robbers then "fled the scene on foot." They were still at large as of Sunday afternoon, and police were seeking the public's help capturing the suspects. "They just distracted him while talking to him," an NYPD spokesman said, according to the NY Post. "It was a crime of opportunity. Someone saw an opportunity." If apprehended, the men could face up to 15 years in prison for grand larceny, according to New York laws. Read the original article on Business Insider Two-time champion Naomi Osaka has withdrawn the Australian Open, adding her name to a growing list of notable withdrawals (Steven Paston/PA) (PA Archive) Two-time champion Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open, adding her name to a growing list of notable withdrawals. Organisers confirmed on Sunday that Japans Osaka, the Open champion in 2019 and 2021, will not be playing in Melbourne. Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. We will miss her at #AO2023, the tweet said. The 25-year-olds ranking has slipped to 47 and she has not played since September after withdrawing during the second round in Tokyo. Osaka won her first-round match at that tournament when Australias Daria Saville withdrew after one game with a knee injury. Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. We will miss her at #AO2023 #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 8, 2023 Osaka won only one completed match since May and was beaten in the first round of her three previous tournaments, including the US Open at which she also is a two-time champion. Ukraines Dayana Yastremska has been promoted to the main draw in her place. The Australian Open, which starts on January 16, has already has lost several leading players including mens world number one Carlos Alcaraz who pulled out on Saturday with an ankle injury. KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia aims to boost bilateral trade with neighboring Indonesia including cross-border investments in a number of key sectors, a Malaysian official said on Sunday. Among areas of interest are pharmaceuticals, aerospace, palm-oil processing, consumer goods, as well as defense and security, International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said in a statement. These were reflected in nine Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between Malaysian and Indonesian companies, with a total potential investment value of more than 1.6 billion ringgit (363 million U.S. dollars), he said. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is currently on a two-day official visit to Indonesia from Sunday to Monday, his first tour abroad since assuming office last November, with trade being high on the agenda. Within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Indonesia is Malaysia's second-largest partner in trade and the third-largest source of foreign direct investment. Total trade between the two countries was roughly 23 billion dollars in 2021, a 45.5 percent year-on-year increase compared to 2020. For the period of January to November 2022, the bilateral trade between both countries had already exceeded 27 billion dollars, approximately 33 percent more than the corresponding period in 2021. MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Two-time champion Naomi Osaka has confirmed she will not play at the Australian Open, adding her name to a growing list of notable withdrawals. Organizers confirmed in a tweet on Sunday that Japans Osaka, the Open champion in 2019 and 2021, will not be playing in Melbourne. Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open. We will miss her at #AO2023, the tweet said. The 25-year-old Osakas ranking has slipped to 47 and she hasnt played since September after withdrawing during the second round in Tokyo. She won her first round match at that tournament when Australias Daria Saville withdrew after one game with a knee injury. Osaka won only one completed match since May and was beaten in the first round of her three previous tournaments, including the US Open at which she also is a two-time champion. Last week she posted pictures on social media of a trip to Europe with her United States rapper boyfriend Cordae and had been considered unlikely to play in the first Grand Slam of the season. Ukraines Dayana Yastremska has been promoted to the main draw in her place. Osaka took a mental health break after missing the 2021 French Open and later said she had been struggling with depression and anxiety for several years. Her absence from Melbourne adds to uncertainty over when or if she will resume her career. The Australian Open which starts on Jan. 16 already has lost several leading players including mens world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz who pulled out Saturday with an ankle injury. Former finalist Simona Halep also is not playing this year and Venus Williams also has handed back a wildcard entry after suffering an injury while practicing in Auckland. ___ More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports NORMAN, Okla. (AP) Ana Llanusa scored 23 points, Skylar Vann hit the final go-ahead basket, and No. 17 Oklahoma defeated No. 11 Iowa State 82-79 on Sunday in a matchup of the Big 12's top two offenses. In a game with 25 lead changes, Oklahoma struck last. Vann scored at the basket to give the Sooners an 80-79 lead with seven seconds left. After a timeout Ashley Joens drove baseline for Iowa State, only to be met by Madi Williams who blocked Joens' layup, grabbed the rebound and called timeout to essentially seal the win. Iowa State fouled Taylor Robertson who made two free throws for a three-point lead with 1.6 seconds left. After another timeout, Iowa State's 3-point attempt by Nyamer Diew from the top of the key came up well short. Llanusa was 9-of-15 shooting, 4 of 9 from 3-point range, and Vann finished with 13 points and eight rebounds for Oklahoma (12-2, 2-1 Big 12). Nevaeh Tot also scored 13 points, and Robertson finished with 10. The Sooners' Kennady Tucker and Llanusa hit 3-pointers in the final minute of the third quarter to give OU a 59-48 lead heading to the fourth. Iowa State got hot from 3-point range, making 4 of 5 in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter to get within 67-64. Joens added two free throws and the Cyclones were within one point with 5:07 to go. Denae Fritzs 3-pointer gave the Cyclones a 70-69 lead with 3:23 to go. There would be nine more lead changes, including four in the final minute. Joens finished with 27 points and nine rebounds. She made 12-of-13 free throws. Lexi Donarski scored 20 and Diew 14 for the Cyclones (10-3, 2-1). Iowa State scored the first five points of the game and that would be the largest lead of a first half in which both teams shot less than 37% overall and less than 30% on 3-pointers. Iowa State led 36-35 at halftime, helped in large part by making 11-of-12 free throws and committing only four fouls. Oklahoma did not attempt a free throw in the first half. Story continues Oklahoma, averaging 87 points per game, has the No. 7 scoring offense in the nation. Iowa States 79.7 points per game is second to Oklahoma in the Big 12 and 21st in the nation. ___ AP womens college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 Jan. 7Craig Alford was indicted by a Cobb grand jury this week for murder in a November shooting that left one dead. Alford, 20, is charged with one count of malice murder, one count of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Alford allegedly shot 20-year-old Brodrick Ford at 1839 Mohon Circle, not far from Dobbins Air Reserve Base, in the early morning of Nov. 12, 2022, according to an arrest warrant. Alford is also alleged to have shot and injured Tyreek Turner. Alford was arrested by the Cobb Sheriff's Office on Dec. 14, according to jail records. In a Dec. 5 Facebook post, the Cobb Sheriff's Office said it collaborated with the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Carolina Regional Fugitive Task Force to apprehend Alford in North Carolina. Jail records indicate Alford is homeless and originally from North Carolina. The Cobb Sheriff's Office said Alford was extradited to Georgia from North Carolina, and the arrest records indicate he was taken into custody by Cobb authorities at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Huber Heights Police are looking for man they say robbed a mail carrier at gunpoint Saturday morning. >>ORIGINAL STORY: Postal worker robbed at gunpoint in Huber Heights; police investigating Officers responded to the area of Mt. Whitney Road and Taylorsville Road around 10:00 a.m. News Center 7s Brandon Lewis says this area is a block away from Old Troy Pike. It is also a residential area full of apartments and homes. The US Postal worker told police a man wearing a ski mask and dark clothes showed a gun and stole their phone, mail bag and mail scanner, according to spokesperson for Huber Heights Police. Officers were able to find the scanner and bag. The postal worker was not hurt. >>Stop using the blue boxes; Another area police department issues warning of increased mail theft Lewis spoke with someone who lives in the area and he says this is just not the types of things he wants to hear happen. When I was a kid, like 8, 9, 10 years old, I aint hear about that stuff growing up on the news, said Nicholas Barbee of Huber Heights. There wasnt mail carriers getting robbed at gunpoint, like why? Theres not a reason for stuff like that. People should just go out and get a job. News Center 7 reached out to the US Postal Inspector at the Cincinnati field office and they released a statement: Postal Inspectors were notified and responded along with local law enforcement and canvassed the area, a spokesperson said. In the meantime, we are asking the public if anyone saw the incident or has information to provide to please contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455. >>An ongoing issue; Mail theft leads area police department to urge against using blue drop-boxes Lewis says News Center 7 reached out to Huber Heights Police Saturday morning and they tell us the suspect was a black man and is still at large. We will update this story as we learn more. Prince Harry has explained his and wife Meghan Markles decision to leave the UK and relocate overseas in his ITV interview with Tom Bradby. The Duke of Sussexs conversation with the British presenter was broadcast on Sunday (8 January), two days before the release of his memoir Spare. The interview began with Harry narrating an excerpt from his book, recounting the night his father Charles, then-Prince of Wales, told him his mother Diana had died. Harry then told Bradby that he took myself back to that moment so he could remember details from that night, when he was 12 years old. You know, my father coming in, in his dressing gown and sharing that news with me, only now as part of writing the book, that I really think about how many hours hed been awake, the duke said, adding he had compassion for Charles having to break this to my two sons. Explaining that was part of the reason why we are here now, Harry continued: I never want to be in that position. I dont want history to repeat itself. I do not want to be a single dad. And I certainly dont want my children to have a life without a mother or a father. Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior members of the royal family in March 2020, and relocated to Montecito, California in the United States. Excerpts from Harrys ghostwritten autobiography have been published by the UK press in the run-up to its official launch on 10 January, after it was accidentally put on sale in Spain last week. A biographer of King Charles has suggested that the book and his rolling dispute with the royal family could mark the beginning of the end of the monarchy. 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. Harry: The Interview is now available to watch on ITVx. Follow the latest updates here. NEW YORK The infuriated head of the state nurses union unloaded Saturday on Mount Sinai Hospital officials for its decision to stop negotiations as a strike deadline with a promised walkout loomed. We are outraged by these tactics, said New York State Nurses Association President Nancy Hagans. These employers have engaged in unfair and unlawful behavior trying to silence our nurses. Mount Sinai, along with Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and Mount Sinai Morningside and West, remain the last hospitals without a deal as union officials warned of a 6 a.m. Monday walkout of 8,700 nurses. Only Mount Sinai has halted negotiations as the clock ticks toward a walkout, said Hagans a charge the hospital disputed. What I would urge is they come to the table and bargain in good faith, said the union leader, specifically citing the need to negotiate over the lack of staffing in recent years ... The pandemic really exposed how short-staffed weve been. When the nurses left, they never replaced them. The hospital, in a statement Saturday, said it was actually the union that needs to return to the bargaining table and continue the negotiations. Mount Sinai is dismayed by NYSNAs reckless actions, said the hospitals response, adding their proposed pay raise was in line with other city hospital offers. The union is jeopardizing patients care, and its forcing valued Mount Sinai nurses to sacrifice their dedication to patient care and their own livelihood. There was better news earlier Saturday when nurses at three city hospitals reached tentative agreements on new contracts. The union announced the pending deals with Bronx Care, the Flushing Hospital Medical Center and the Brooklyn Hospital Center, while nurses at Maimonides Medical Center ratified their new three-year settlement with the facility on Friday night. The approval of this agreement is good for Maimonides, good for our nurses and good for the patients we serve, said Maimonides Health CEO Ken Gibbs. We worked together to find common ground that supports our hardworking nurses and ensures our patients ... continue to receive the best possible care. Story continues Separate strike authorizations were pending at several other medical facilities in Brooklyn. With tentative deals now also reached at Richmond University Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian, negotiators continued to bargain in hopes of a new agreement at the remaining facilities. Hagans previously said the union was ready to continue talks until 11:59 p.m. Sunday. The union president said the number of nurses has declined steadily since the pandemic and staffing levels were now dangerously low, bringing additional urgency to the bargaining tables. She also took note of the seven-figure salaries paid to some hospital executives. The union head said her workers seek a better patient-to-nurse staffing ratio, alleging the neonatal intensive care unit at Mount Sinai assigned one nurse for four of the tiny patients as opposed to the usual one nurse for two infants. Other negotiation points included a ratio of one nurse to two patients in intensive care and at least one nurse for every five patients in medical surgical units. Reaching an agreement is all about our patients, she said. We put our patients above profit, and we were willing to negotiate. Our biggest concern is our patients, and right now staffing is our top priority. East Silver Springs Boulevard is closed after a crash Saturday, Ocala Fire Rescue said. Firefighters said the crash happened around 9 p.m. near Northeast 19th Avenue. Read: Orange County deputies search for suspect after teen shot near Wekiva High School Crews are working to restore a substantial loss of power, and East Silver Springs Boulevard is closed between the blocks of 1900 and 2100. Read: Woman accused of killing retired Mount Dora couple faces murder charges According to a release, fire crews found a white Cadillac SUV and a red Jeep blocking the lanes once they arrived at the scene. Crews worked to restore a substantial loss of power. Read: 2 injured after shooting in Daytona Beach, police say Investigators said a power pole was on the white SUVs bumper and power lines were on the ground. Crews worked to restore a substantial loss of power. Ocala Fire Rescue said that the driver of the red Jeep was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, but no other injuries were reported. Ocala Police Department, Ocala Electric Utility and Marion County Fire Rescue assisted with the scene. See a map of the scene below: Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Elon Musk runs both Tesla and Twitter. Frederic Brown/Getty Images Elon Musk's Twitter troubles have had minimal impact on Tesla sales at Octopus EV, its CEO said. Just two customers decided to change makes, Fiona Howarth told the Financial Times. Musk has become an increasingly polarizing figure since his takeover of Twitter last October. Elon Musk has become increasingly controversial since taking over Twitter last October, but specialist leasing firm Octopus EV says there's little evidence that his conduct has affected its sales of Tesla cars. Just two of Octopus EV's Tesla customers out of "well over 1,000" switched to another make last year over Musk's decisions at Twitter, its CEO Fiona Howarth told the Financial Times. While small, she said the dip was still worth noting, given how loyal Tesla customers have usually been. Three longtime Tesla owners recently told Insider that they're ditching their cars over Musk's actions at Twitter. Bob Perkowitz, a self-described former fanboy, said he hasn't bought a new Tesla because of Elon Musk's apparent right-wing views, his tumultuous Twitter acquisition, and his radical emphasis on free speech which he fears will allow misinformation to spread more widely online. Investors in Tesla shares have also been voting with their feet in recent months. The stock was trading at its lowest level since August 2020 on Friday, leading one investor to question whether Musk was deliberately tanking the carmaker. But it's not all down to Twitter. Tesla also fell victim to broader slumps in demand for electric vehicles last year, particularly in China one of its largest markets. The company closed the year by offering discounts as prices for used Teslas plummeted. Musk's net worth fell by $200 billion in 2022, per Bloomberg, in the biggest and fastest individual loss on record. Octopus EV, Tesla, and Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider Online personality Andrew Tate is led away by police, in the Ilfov area, north of Bucharest, Romania, last Thursday. (Observator Antena 1 / Associated Press) Before Andrew Tate was arrested by Romanian authorities on charges of human trafficking, he was operating another problematic business: peddling toxic masculinity to his legion of fans, followers and customers. For years now, Tate has been holding court with insecure men on social media platforms, promising them strength in return for a price. In disturbing videos and performances on YouTube and TikTok, he lectures them on how to mistreat women while creating an aura of masculine dominance. And, unnervingly enough, its been incredibly lucrative. Tate isnt alone. In recent years, toxic masculinity has become a booming industry filled with ridiculous figures and equally ridiculous assurances. Theres virtually no end to the muscle-bound characters promising lonely marks theyll get bigger, stronger and find themselves swimming in women if theyll only eat raw organs, follow exhausting regimens of physical and mental endurance and, most importantly, if theyll hand over their credit card information and sign up for annual shipments of supplements and assorted products. This kingdom of grift and ugliness didnt appear out of nowhere. The ideas that define it gained traction with the rise of Gamergate, a subculture uprising targeting women in the video game industry, and metastasized into the Make America Great Again movement with Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. Since then, it has served as reactionary backlash to #MeToo and matured into something of a multilevel marketing ecosystem replete with major players like Tate and networks of downstream characters and wannabe influencers. The worldview is problematic by itself. As a response to #MeToo and multiculturalism, it promotes aggressive misogyny as the default ideology. Blame for the problems of the world, both real and imagined, is placed on changing gender norms and female and LGBTQ empowerment. Customers are reassured that they are the true victims. These changing norms are, after all, a massive attack on men as the rightful rulers and patriarchs of society, and only by purchasing products and swearing fealty to the so-called alpha males at the top of the marketing pyramid can adherents discover the truth behind what is sold as an immense conspiracy. Story continues Considering the core beliefs of this worldview, it shouldnt come as a surprise that this subculture lends itself to worsening right-wing radicalization. An emphasis on male aggrievement and the subject as the target of a grand, generational-defining conspiracy lends itself to reactionary movements. Major figures in this industry cash checks while adjacent personalities and groups use the appeals to further conspiracy theories like so-called "White Replacement" and other antisemitic lies. Men, they repeat over and over, are the protectors of civilization, and shadowy cabals are constantly attempting to undermine their power in an effort to destroy all that is good and holy in the world. The answer, they continue to repeat, is to oppose liberal democracy and embrace authoritarian figures who perform the same faux-masculinity, like Trump, Jair Bolsonaro and Vladimir Putin. We have seen this before, and it is worrying that this trend follows the same beats as previous cycles. In times of suffering and widespread aimlessness, authoritarian movements have predictably appealed to frustrated white young men with promises of glory and power while scapegoating tolerance, progress and moral degeneracy. The solutions are always the same: A war-like stance against the conspirators and a rebirth of tradition and the patriarchal hierarchy. What is being sold to these men are merely consumer identities, but over time they give way to ideology and purpose. We have to look no further than the American firearms industry, which has capitalized on masculine insecurity for decades by playing on mens fear that they might not be able to protect their families, creating a poisonous culture marked by the threat of mass shootings and even armed insurrection. Just a cursory glance at the internet sites and forums that led to Gamergate reveals a cesspool that eventually birthed domestic terrorists who shot up public spaces in the name of fighting against domestic invasion by immigrants. It is very tempting to gawk at these grifters and laugh at their grandstanding and, as was the case with Tate, their eventual downfall. But these trends are symptoms of something larger, something incredibly insidious. Toxic masculinity has always represented a threat, but its growth as a concentrated, ideological marketplace is a worrying development. It tells us that conditions are worsening, and history tells us that we must address the problem before it spirals out of control. Jared Yates Sexton is a writer and the author of "The Man They Wanted Me to Be: Toxic Masculinity and a Crisis of Our Own Making. He is also the co-host of the Muckrake Podcast. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. As the pandemic generated upheaval for all people and sectors, arts organizations moved into a period of intense transition. Generally reliant on in-person engagement, arts organizations found themselves struggling to connect with their audiences and facing debilitating losses in earned revenue. And yet arts leaders' belief in the importance and power of art, creativity and expression even and perhaps especially during periods of fear and crisis did not waver. To continue engaging audiences and sustain hard-built infrastructure, many organizations entered a period of experimentation and discovery. In Delaware as elsewhere organizations moved content online, moved experiences outdoors, and redesigned their spaces to permit social distancing. They developed and implemented rigorous protocols to support the safety of their staff and communities. India Colon-Diaz, of Wilmington, ties on a headdress at the Delaware Art Museum ahead of a show highlighting the Indigenous people of Wilmington. Organizations rooted in communities experiencing the greatest consequences of the pandemic sought to provide support in whatever ways they could, through varying forms of care, connection and resources. Despite the crisis, all of these organizations demonstrated extraordinary resilience, commitment and creativity buoyed by programs like the Paycheck Protection Program and flexible support from funders. At the same time, the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 gave momentum to a reckoning already begun in the arts and culture sector. More:No Firefly, No Cry: Plenty of Delaware entertainment to love in 2023 The sector has a long history of racism, including the colonial origins of collecting institutions, the privileging of Western European and white American cultural practices and objects, and the exclusion of people of color from opportunities granted to white artists and culture-makers. Organizations rooted in and focused on BIPOC communities have found ways to thrive despite substantive struggles to secure the levels of support available to white-dominant institutions. Patron-centric models reliant on wealthy, predominantly white governing boards make it difficult for organizations to change the status quo even as they grow more conscious of the harm it perpetuates for BIPOC staff, audiences and communities. Story continues Within this context, the Delaware Division of the Arts (DDOA) collaborated with the Delaware Arts Alliance to conduct an informal needs assessment, meeting with leaders at many of Delawares arts and culture organizations to learn from them what the sector needs to intentionally evolve after two years of experimentation, learning and soul searching. From these conversations, a theory of change began to emerge: that the future vitality, relevance, and impact of Delawares arts and culture sector depends on its ability to offer value and resonance for all members of its community. Connected to this, each organization needs a business and governance model aligned to the specific forms of value it is poised to provide. We believe that this requires the following six commitments from organizations: Actively apply principles and practices of inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA) Understand and meet the needs of current and prospective audiences Prioritize building and stewarding relationships Embrace innovation and experimentation Contribute actively and strategically to building strong and equitable communities Articulate their impact and value The DDOAs conversations with Delaware organizations surfaced that they are yearning for space, community and support to imagine and operationalize their futures. In response, the State of Delaware committed $3M in seed funding to the Delaware Arts Equity and Innovation Incubator. The Arts Incubator is an eight-month program that guides cohorts of organizations through discovery and planning, helping them focus and prioritize their change efforts. This process prepares them to pilot new programs or practices with financial support from the Division. More:Thank you for a great year of Open Call. Here's why you should join us in 2023 The first cohort of five organizations completed the eight-month program in spring 2022 and provided overwhelmingly positive feedback on the experience. At the conclusion of the program, we issued an anonymous survey to the 22 board, staff, artists and community representatives who participated most heavily in the programs offerings. Of the 21 people who completed the survey, 86% indicated that the program had prepared them to advance IDEA within their organizations, with the other 14% noting that they didnt need this type of support but derived other value from the experience. A second cohort of four organizations is currently in process. This is long-term work that requires dedicated, collaborative action by arts organizations, private funders and the state. Over time, we will measure our success by assessing the following metrics: The state of Delawares 1 million inhabitants feel connected to and represented by the states arts and culture organizations. Arts organizations demonstrate increasingly diverse audiences, artists, staff, and board. BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving organizations receive increased support. Organizations have the business models they need to deliver effectively on their missions and values. The State of Delaware has expanded its ability to support arts organizations by: Addressing state-level structural issues that impede organizations ability to advance IDEA. Knitting connections between arts organizations and public agencies to advance shared goals. Scalability is achieved through the transfer of learnings and practices to other departments in the state of Delaware and to arts agencies across the U.S. Jessica Ball is director of Delaware Division of the Arts. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: The last few years inspired tremendous change in Delaware arts sector How far off is Sigma Healthcare Limited (ASX:SIG) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow. Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Sigma Healthcare The Model We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$27.5m AU$37.5m AU$45.5m AU$58.0m AU$65.0m AU$70.1m AU$74.4m AU$78.0m AU$81.1m AU$83.7m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 7.90% Est @ 6.09% Est @ 4.82% Est @ 3.94% Est @ 3.32% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 7.3% AU$25.6 AU$32.6 AU$36.9 AU$43.8 AU$45.8 AU$46.0 AU$45.5 AU$44.5 AU$43.1 AU$41.5 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$405m Story continues We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.9%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.3%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = AU$84m (1 + 1.9%) (7.3% 1.9%) = AU$1.6b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$1.6b ( 1 + 7.3%)10= AU$784m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is AU$1.2b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$0.6, the company appears quite good value at a 50% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf Important Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Sigma Healthcare 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 7.3%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.898. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Sigma Healthcare Strength Debt is well covered by cash flow. Weakness Interest payments on debt are not well covered. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Healthcare market. Opportunity Expected to breakeven next year. Has sufficient cash runway for more than 3 years based on current free cash flows. Good value based on P/S ratio and estimated fair value. Threat Paying a dividend but company is unprofitable. Looking Ahead: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Sigma Healthcare, there are three further aspects you should further research: Financial Health: Does SIG have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does SIG'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 Australian 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 Owen Roizman arrives at the ninth Governors Awards at the Dolby Ballroom on Nov. 11, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Jordan Strauss / Invision/Associated Press) Five-time Oscar nominated cinematographer Owen Roizman, who shot landmark films including The French Connection, The Exorcist, Network and Tootsie, has died. He was 86. The American Society of Cinematographers confirmed Saturday that Roizman had died after a long illness. New York-born Roizman, who died at his home in Los Angeles, was given an honorary Oscar for his career achievements in 2017, having retired from the film business in the 1990s without yet taking home one of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gold statuettes, despite the multiple nominations. Roizman was known for his collaborations with Sydney Pollack and William Friedkin. His film work included "Play It Again, Sam," "The Heartbreak Kid," "Three Days of the Condor" and "Wyatt Earp." He received his first Oscar nomination for 1971's "The French Connection" his second film which starred Gene Hackman as a violent police detective. After filming the influential Friedkin-directed neo-noir crime thriller, including its famed car chase sequence, Roizman became known for his "gritty" documentary style, a designation he found amusing, given the wide variety of genres in which he excelled. "Immediately after 'The French Connection,' I got labeled as a gritty New York street photographer, which I thought was very funny because I had never shot anything like 'The French Connection' before that," Roizman told the Los Angeles Times in a 2017 interview. "I got a kick out of that. My primary goal was always just to serve the story and to tell the story visually the best way I knew how." Roizman, born in Brooklyn on Sept. 22, 1936, grew up with camerawork in his blood. His father, Sol, was a cinematographer for Fox Movietone News. His uncle Morrie was a film editor. After graduating from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, he began his career as an assistant cameraman in commercials and worked his way up to cinematographer. He got his break in a low-budget 1970 film, Stop, that was seen by almost no one except for some key people Friedkin and "The French Connection's" producer Phil D'Antoni, who liked his work. Story continues "The French Connection" was notable for its use of available outdoor light, giving it its real-life feel. The seminal chase scene veers through the mean streets of New York as hard-nosed Det. Popeye Doyle (an Oscar-winning Hackman) commandeers a civilian car and tries to keep up with the hit man who is attempting an escape on an elevated train. It was done in two different ways, Roizman told The Times in 2011. Three cameras were used inside the car, including a camera on the dashboard that would look out through the windshield and one over the drivers shoulder. From the outside, we had five cameras. We broke it down to five stunts, and the rest of it was just bits and pieces. For each of the stunts we had five cameras set up at different angles to cover it all." Roizman told American Cinematographer that "the biggest problem there was trying to match because the light was changing constantly. As we'd run along the track, another train would pass and block out the light. Or we'd go between tall buildings and that would cut down the light in the middle of a scene." His work on Friedkin's 1973 film, "The Exorcist," is remembered for bringing a lived-in realism to the supernatural horror genre. One of the challenges of filming the climatic exorcism scene was to convey the freezing temperature of the child's bedroom by getting the actors' breath to show onscreen, he said to American Cinematographer. To get the believable effect, the filmmakers created a replica of the room and refrigerated it. "A system was developed that could refrigerate the room quickly to any temperature from zero to 20 below," Roizman said. "The breath showed up fine at zero, but Friedkin wanted the actors to really feel the cold because he felt that would help their acting. An actor on his knees for 15 minutes at 20 below zero is really going to feel cold. It worked out very well." The film earned Roizman his second Oscar nod. He moved from New York to Los Angeles in 1976, later establishing his own TV commercial production company, Roizman & Associates. His other Oscar-nominated work spanned several decades, including Sidney Lumet's TV news satire "Network" (1976), Pollack's Dustin Hoffman comedy "Tootsie" (1982) and Lawrence Kasdan's western "Wyatt Earp" (1994). "The French Connection," "The Exorcist," "Network" and "Tootsie" were all nominated for best picture as well. "The French Connection" won. In 1997, he received a lifetime achievement award from the American Society of Cinematographers. He said he never regretted turning down any film even "Jaws," the industry-changing Steven Spielberg summer blockbuster from 1975. "We spoke for maybe three hours on the phone, and I really liked him and I still to this day love the guy," Roizman said. "But what he didnt know is that I was thinking to myself the whole time, as he was describing the story to me, Jesus, a shark terrorizing a town on Long Island that means going on a boat a lot. I get seasick. So that didnt sound too inviting to me. So I turned it down really for that reason." He is survived by his wife, Mona Lindholm and his son, Eric Roizman, who pursued his own career behind the camera, working on "Wyatt Earp" with his father, in addition to other pictures. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By Emma Farge and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber GENEVA (Reuters) - Pakistan and the United Nations are holding a major conference in Geneva on Monday aimed at marshalling support to rebuild the country after devastating floods in what is expected to be a major test case for who pays for climate disasters. Record monsoon rains and melting glaciers last September displaced some 8 million people and killed at least 1,700 in a catastrophe blamed on climate change. Most of the waters have now receded but the reconstruction work, estimated at around $16.3 billion, to rebuild millions of homes and thousands of kilometres of roads and railway is just beginning and millions more people may slide into poverty. Islamabad, whose delegation is led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, will present a recovery "framework" at the conference where United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and French President Emmanuel Macron are also due to speak. Guterres, who visited Pakistan in September, has previously described the destruction in the country as "climate carnage". "This is a pivotal moment for the global community to stand with Pakistan and to commit to a resilient and inclusive recovery from these devastating floods," said Knut Ostby, United Nations' Development Programme's Pakistan Representative. Additional funding is crucial to Pakistan amid growing concerns about its ability to pay for imports such as energy and food and to meet sovereign debt obligations abroad. However, it is far from clear where the reconstruction money will come from, especially given difficulties raising funds for the emergency humanitarian phase of the response which is around half funded, according to U.N. data. At the COP27 meeting in Egypt in November, Pakistan was at the forefront of efforts that led to the establishment of a "loss and damage" fund to cover climate-related destruction for countries that have contributed less to global warming than wealthy ones. Story continues However, it is not yet known if Pakistan, with a $350 billion economy, will be eligible to tap into that future funding. Organisers say around 250 people are expected at the event including high-level government officials, private donors and international financial institutions. Pakistan's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Khalil Hashmi, said Islamabad was willing to pay for about half of the bill but hoped for support from donors for the rest. "We will be mobilising international support through various means," he said. "We look forward to working with our partners." An International Monetary Fund(IMF) delegation will meet Pakistan's finance minister on the sidelines of the conference, a spokesperson of the lender said on Sunday, as Pakistan struggles to restart its bailout programme. The IMF is yet to approve the release of $1.1 billion originally due to be disbursed in November last year, leaving Pakistan with only enough foreign exchange reserves to cover one month's imports. (Reporting by Emma Farge and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber in Geneva, Gibran Peshimam in Islamabad, Valerie Volcovici in Washington; Editing by Christina Fincher) By Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation will meet Pakistan's finance minister on the sidelines of a conference in Geneva beginning on Jan. 9, a spokesperson of the lender said on Sunday, as Pakistan struggles to restart its bailout programme. The lender is yet to approve the release of $1.1 billion originally due to be disbursed in November last year, leaving Pakistan with only enough foreign exchange reserves to cover one month's imports. "The IMF delegation is expected to meet with Finance Minister (Ishaq) Dar on the sidelines of the Geneva conference to discuss outstanding issues and the path forward," a spokesperson of the IMF said in a message to Reuters. The conference in Geneva, co-hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, will look to gather international support for the country in the aftermath of devastating floods last year. The floods killed at least 1,700 people and caused billions of dollars of damage to critical infrastructure. A plan laying out a timeline and the financing of the rebuilding effort has been a sticking point in talks to clear the ninth review that will release $1.1 billion in IMF funds and unlock other international funding too. Dar has been critical of the IMF lately, publicly saying that the lender was acting "abnormally" in its dealings with Pakistan, which entered the $7 billion bailout programme in 2019. The IMF spokesperson also said its Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva had a "constructive call" with Sharif regarding the Geneva conference and supported Pakistan's efforts to rebuild. (Reporting by Gibran Peshimam; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) 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. My number is 25. Its not a number that fills me with satisfaction, but nor does it embarrass me, he wrote. Pen Farthing, founder of animal rescue charity Nowzad (PA Media) 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. 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 Harrys remarks over his time in Afghanistan have been met with widespread criticism from members of the British military, with some warning that the duke has risked his own security and made himself a target. Story continues The Taliban also issued a statement condemning the royal, with its commander Molavi Agha Gol calling him a big mouth loser. A poster advertising the launch of Prince Harrys memoir Spare is seen in a shop window in London (Getty Images) Mr Farthing made headlines last year for his public campaign, nicknamed Operation Ark, to evacuate his staff and their families, and the rescue animals in the care of his charity Nowzad. The charity operated an animal clinic, dog and cat shelter and donkey sanctuary in Afghanistan. It chartered a plane to evacuate the animals and staff from Kabul during the UK evacuation but ended up in a war of words with defence secretary Ben Wallace over whether it was allowed to land at the airport. Penn Hills police are looking for a missing woman they consider to be endangered. Authorities say Nia Rash was last seen on Dec. 28. She was seen at a bus stop on Frankstown Road and Duff Road in Penn Hills at around 4:15 p.m. and later seen getting off of a bus at Penn Avenue and South Graham Street in Pittsburgh. Rash was wearing a black coat with a hood with fur, gray sweatpants and light brown Ugg boots when she went missing. Family members say Rash requires medication but it was left at her house when she left. Anyone with information on Rashs location is asked to call 911 or to contact Penn Hills Police at 412-342-1167. 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: 11-month drug trafficking investigation results in 7 Allegheny County arrests, AG says Browns send Jadeveon Clowney home after critical comments Police: Arrest warrant issued for man after woman found stabbed to death in her Pittsburgh home VIDEO: Steelers preparing to take on Cleveland Browns for possible playoff spot DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts A pro-life pregnancy center network is taking matters into its own hands and hiring private investigators to find pro-abortion terrorists who attacked its medical office, claiming that the FBI is slow-walking its probe, which has not resulted in any arrests. CompassCare is partnering with the Thomas More Society, a nonprofit law firm fighting for religious liberty, to hire private investigators to find the perpetrators on its own terms and timeline. After talking with our investigators so far, theyve already provided very valuable insight that we didnt know. And they do have a track record of identifying terrorists both internationally and domestically, Compass Care CEO Jim Harden told National Review. Compass Cares Buffalo location was firebombed and vandalized in June by pro-abortion extremists claiming to be affiliated with the group Janes Revenge following the leak of the Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v. Wade. The damage cost the organization over $100,000 in new security. After rebuilding for 52 days, the center re-opened its doors to patients. Pregnancy resource centers often provide an alternative to abortion, including free medical and financial support to pregnant and new mothers. Security alone at all three of our sites has cost $150,000 this year. In the next budget it will probably cost us an additional $80,000 every year, Harden told National Review at the time. Harden even had to temporarily relocate his family due to doxxing threats from pro-abortion activists. After the arson attack against Compass Care in Buffalo, N.Y., Janes Revenge claimed responsibility in an online memorandum. It also threatened to unleash a rampage of violence against pro-life clinics. Over the summer, the FBI announced it would investigate attacks on pregnancy-resource centers across the country as acts of domestic violent extremism after 124 Republican Members of Congress urged U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland that it do so. Story continues However, Harden has alleged for four months that the FBI has been delaying the investigation into the violence against 77 pro-life clinics nationwide. For example, the agency did not conduct a forensic analysis of CompassCares video surveillance footage until July 13th, five weeks after the attack, the center reported. The FBI advertised a $25,000 reward for information that could lead to the arrests of arsonists, but Compass Care called that a ruse designed to feign interest in an investigation. Harden said Compass Care would likely take the FBI reward to offset the expense of hiring the private investigators if they apprehend suspects. If the FBI is interested in quelling the nationwide hate crimes against Christian pro-life organizations, they would offer a reward for information leading to the arrests of all 78 attacks, not just for the pro-abortion terrorists who firebombed our facility, Harden said. It is a sad day when private citizens are left to do the work of law enforcement. More from National Review President Joe Biden is set to travel to Atlanta next week, according to White House officials. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The release states that on Sunday, Jan. 15, the president will deliver remarks at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The last time the president was in Atlanta, he traveled with Vice President Kamala Harris in Jan. 2022 to discuss voting rights. Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock is the pastor of Dr. Martin Luther Kings historic church. TRENDING STORIES: According to Warnocks website, he has served as the churchs Senior Pastor for more than 15 years. In Dec., Warnock won by a slim margin against Republic challenger Hershel Walker hotly contested runoff that drew record voter turnout in Georgia. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Read also: After Bradley, Marder IVFs, Ukraine may receive Western tanks media Metsola praised the decision of Germany and the United States to transfer Marder and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles to the Ukrainian army. She also noted that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin expects Europe to abandon Ukraine. "This should not be allowed, Metsola said. Its important that Europe continues to politically, humanitarianly and militarily support Ukrainians, she said. But it is also important that Europe strengthens its own defence and becomes a real military alliance. Read also: Frances sending AMX-10RC light tanks to Ukraine is an important decision before next Ramstein meeting U.S. newspaper the Wall Street Journal reported earlier that Poland had begun to consider supplying Ukraine with Leopards tanks. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki confirmed negotiations were underway, but said Poland does not plan to transfer Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine without support from a broader coalition of allies. Finland has also confirmed its readiness to supply Leopard 2 combat tanks to Ukraine, if Europe adopts this step in general. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Prince Harry claims Queen Consort Camilla launched a campaign to marry his father, now King Charles, in his new book Spare. Harry narrated an excerpt from the now-leaked memoir during the broadcast of his ITV interview with Tom Bradby on Sunday (8 January). The book is scheduled for release on Tuesday (10 January) but extracts from it were published by the UK press after it was accidentally put on sale in Spain, five days before its official launch date. During Harry: The Interview, the Duke of Sussex read out a section about Camillas relationship with Charles from the ghostwritten autobiography. Harry writes that while he and William supported their fathers relationship with Camilla and endorsed her, they asked him not to marry her. He didnt answer. But she answered. Straight away. Shortly after our private summits with her, she began to play the long game, Harrys narration continues. A campaign aimed marriage, and eventually the Crown, with Pas blessing we presumed. When Bradby suggested Harry was pretty consistently scathing towards Camilla, the duke replied: Theres no part of any of the things that Ive said [in the book] that are scathing towards any member of my family, especially not my stepmother. There are things that have happened that have been incredibly hurtful, um, some in the past, some current, he continued. The Independent has reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment. Elsewhere during the interview, Harry told Bradby the reason he left the UK with wife Meghan Markle in 2020 was because he doesnt want history to repeat itself and end up a single dad. He also suggested members of the royal family had gone to bed with the devil to rehabilate their press image. Harrys sit-down with Bradby comes two days before the release of Spare, which includes several shock revelations about the royal family, the dukes use of drugs, and his military service in Afghanistan. A biographer of King Charles argued that it could ultimately put the the status of a significant institution of state at stake. Harry: The Interview is available to stream on ITVx. Follow live updates here. Prince Harry says there have been 25 versions of the story where it was reported that Meghan Markle made his sister-in-law, the Princess of Wales, cry. Around the time of the Sussexes wedding, a widely publicised report emerged alleging that Meghan had made Kate Middleton cry over an argument over bridesmaids dresses. Speaking in an ITV interview ahead of the release of his memoir Spare on Tuesday 10 January, the Duke of Sussex answered questions about how that story unfolded and its impact. According to Harrys memoir, Meghan was left in tears and Kate visited the following day to apologise. Questioned on why the story was never corrected, Prince Harry said: It's a question for them. They were more than happy to put out statements for less volatile things. My understanding is the reason they didnt want to come out and say it wasn't true would therefore lead to Well if it wasn't that, was it the other way round? When in fact you didnt need to confess that it was the other way round. Prince Harry admitted that tensions were high but stressed that he believed the palace could have denied the reports. The Independent has contacted palace representatives for comment. King Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at Sandringham in Christmas 2017 (AFP via Getty Images) In her interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Meghan said her sister-in-law the Duchess of Cambridge made her cry, and it was not the other way around despite what was reported in the tabloids. According to Meghan, the tabloid reports that accused the women of feuding over flower girl dresses before the royal wedding in 2018 were true to an extent, but it was the Duchess of Sussex who was made to cry. I dont say that to be disparaging to anyone because it was a really hard week of the wedding and she was upset about something, the duchess said. A few days before the wedding, she was upset about something. Yes, the issue was correct about flower girl dresses. Princes William and Harry in 2018 (Getty Images) She said the timing of the issue was especially upsetting amid the uncertainty over whether her father would attend her wedding. He ultimately didnt, after claiming to have suffered a heart attack. Story continues I thought in the context of everything else going on in the days leading to the wedding, it didnt make sense to not doing what everyone else was doing, which was being supportive, Meghan said. Following the altercation, which Meghan said made me cry, she told Winfrey that Kate owned it and apologised with a handwritten note and flowers. And she did what I would do if I knew that I hurt someone, right, to just take accountability for it, the duchess said, adding that it isnt fair to get into the details because Kate apologised. Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty Images Royalist is The Daily Beasts newsletter for all things royal and Royal Family. Subscribe here to get it in your inbox every Sunday. Prince Harry said that his family were abusers who had got in bed with the devil by cooperating with the mediaand he could not remain silent in the face of distortions of the truth in his first solo interview Sunday night on British television. However, Harry, who insisted he is now happy, also told ITVs Tom Bradby that he loved his brother Prince William and father King Charles, speaking tenderly about them and saying he wanted to reconcile with them, and 100% believed forgiveness could happen. Asked how he could expect to reconcile with them despite having taken a flamethrower to family bridges, Harry said: Well theyve shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile up until this point. And I'm not sure how honesty is burning bridges. You know, silence only allows the abuser to abuse. Right? So I dont know how staying silent is ever gonna make things better. Thats genuinely what I believe. Harry also said he felt very at peace and had never been happier, despite fleeing his home country with wife Meghan Markle and son Archie fearing for our lives, at the time of their so-called Megxit. Prince William Burning, King Charles Heartbroken Over Prince Harrys Memoir The revelations tumbled forth as Harry gave the first televised interview for his bombshell memoir, Spare, to be released tomorrow. The Spanish translation of the book was accidentally released six days early in Spain last week, and its contents have been widely reported. Later Sunday evening, his interview with Anderson Cooper on CBS 60 Minutes was set to be broadcast. Harry also denounced a recent article by Sun columnist Jeremy Clarkson in which Clarkson said he wanted Meghan to be paraded through the streets naked and pelted with excrement. His words caused near-universal condemnation. Harry said: What he said was horrific and is hurtful and cruel towards my wife, but it also encourages other people around the U.K. and around the world, men particularly, to go and think that it's acceptable to treat women that way. To use my stepmothers words recently as well, there is a global pandemic of violence against women. Story continues Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attend the first annual Royal Foundation Forum held at Aviva on February 28, 2018 in London, England. Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images The British press was an antagonist in the relationship he had with the rest of his family, Harry said. The tabloids want to create as much conflict as possible. The saddest part of that is certain members of my family and the people that work for them are complicit in that conflict. The interview featured extracts from the book read by Harry, including the opening sequence, in which Harry described being told by his father that his mother had died in a car crash. Harry said he only cried once at the burial and described his bemusement at greeting the public who had wet hands from wiping tears away while he and William were unable to show any emotion. Harry also said William didn't want to be close to him at Eton. In terms of the much-discussed incident when William pushed him over, he told Bradby: "He wanted me toto hit him back, but I chose not to. But again, so much of the relationship between me and William and the way it played out was because of the narrative, or thethe distorted narrative that was being pushed through the British press. And some people within his office that were feeding him utter nonsense." Of Charles, Harry read from Spare: Hed always given an air of not being quite ready for parenthood: the responsibilities, the patience, the time. Even he, though a proud man, would have admitted as much. But single-parenthood? Pa was never made for that. To be fair, he tried. Speaking of his fathers plight as a widowed father, he said, I never want to be in that position. That is part of the reason we are here now. Harry spoke tenderly about his father and brother, and appeared filled with regret and anguish at the collapse of their relationship, but also consumed with anger at what he perceived as their cooperation with the press. I love my father. I love my brother. I love my family. I always do. Nothing of what I've done in this book or otherwise has ever been to harm them or hurt themAfter many, many years of lies being told about me and my, my family, there comes a point where, you know, again, going back to the relationship between certain members of the family and the tabloid press, those certain members have decided to get in the bed with the devil, right? Theres no part of any of the things that Ive said are scathing towards any member of my family, especially not my stepmother, Harry insisted. There are things that have happened that have been incredibly hurtful . . . some in the past, some current. At the moment, I don't recognize them, as much as they probably don't recognize me, Harry said of Charles and William. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend a service marking the centenary of WW1 armistice at Westminster Abbey on November 11, 2018 in London, England. Paul Grover- WPA Pool/Getty Images Bradby tackled Harry on his attacks on his brother, saying, But the portrait of your brother is harmful to him, I mean people may choose not to accept it or whatever, but it is harmful to him I think he would say he found you emotional, defensive, he couldnt get through to you, he found it extraordinarily frustrating, Harry shot back, It's quite a listlist of things, assumptions youre making. Bradby replied: Im just saying I think that would be the counter narrative on the other side, that the truth is more nuanced and all the rest of it. Right? That would be the defense. Harry replied: Well the truth, supposedly at the moment, has been theres only one side to this story. Right? But there's two sides to every story. And you know, I have put in a lot of work and effort in to resolving my own trauma from many, many years ago, and I will continue to work on that, andand I think other people within my family could do with that support as well. Because certainly from my perspective, um, you know, I'veI've learnt a hell of a lot. Again in the book I talk about unconscious bias, and being called a racist by the British press. Harry defended his decision to leave the royal family, saying: We were dedicated to a life of service, as is proven by everything that we're doing now with the work that we do. And the proposal was very much on the table, publicly, which is we can't cope in this situation and we're gonna put our mental health first, we've asked for help and support. At that time I didnt fully understand how muchor how complicit the family were in that pain and suffering that was happening to my wife, and the one group of people that could've helped or stopped this from happening were the very people that werethat were encouraging it to happen. And I sit here now in front of you asking for a family. Not an institution. I want a family. And I understand how that might be hard for them to be able to separate the two, but to me everything that I've witnessed and experienced over the years, there has to be a separation. When he told William and Kate about his relationship with Meghan, Harry said there was a lot of stereotyping that was happening, that I was guilty of as well, at the beginning, around her being an American actress. Some of the things that my brother and sister-in-lawsome of the way that they were acting or behaving definitely felt to me as though unfortunately that stereotyping was causing a bit of a barrier to them really sort of, you know, introducing or welcoming her in. At one stage Bradby, referring to the relationship between Meghan and William and Kate, asked: But the impression is thatthat they justthere's almost from the get-go it's just they dont get on. Fair? Harry replied, Fair. Asked why, Harry said: Lots of different reasons. I had put a lot of hope in the idea that, you know, itd be William and Kate and me and whoever. I thought the four of us would bring me and William closer together, we could go out and do work together, which I did a lot as the third wheel to them, which was fun at times but also, I guess slightly awkward at times as well. But, yeah, I dont think they were ever expecting me to get into a relationship with someone like Meghan who had, you know, a very successful career. Harry told the story, reported in the Sunday newspapers, of William ordering him to shave his beard off for his wedding to Meghan. Harry denied that he called his family racist in his famous interview with Oprah Winfrey. Bradby said, In the Oprah interview you accused members of your family of racism and Harry replied, No I didnt. the British press said that.Diddid Meghan ever mention that they're racist? Bradby clarified the question, saying, She said there were troubling comments about Archies skin color.Harry replied: There was there was concern about his skin color. Bradby said: Right. Wouldnt you describe that as essentially racist?Harry then said: I wouldnt, not having lived within that family.Bradby replied: Right. But you dont Harry said: So again going back to the difference between what my understanding is because of my own experience, the difference between racism and unconscious bias, the two things are different. But once its been acknowledged, or pointed out to you as an individual, or as an institution, that you have unconscious bias, you therefore have an opportunity to learn and grow from that in order so that you are part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Otherwise unconscious bias then moves into the category of racism. Bradby tried again, asking: But I suppose I mean isnt there a danger that people are gonna think badyou know, you havent identified which members of the family Prince Harry, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge arrive at the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference at Lancaster House on February 13, 2014 in London, England. John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty images Harry responded: And I will never talkand I will never talk about that. I mean what happened to Ngozi Fulani is a very good example of the environment within the institution, and why after our Oprah interview, they said that they were gonna bring in a diversity tsar. That hasnt happened. Everything they said was gonna happen hasnt happened. Ive always been open to wanting to help them understand their part in it, and especially when you are the monarchy, at theyou have a responsibility and quite rightly people hold you to a higher standard than others. Certainly the media should. Right? So, the way that Ive learnt it through my own experience and for what Ive seen and what Ive heard, yes, youre right the key word is concern, which was troubling. But you speak to any other couple, mixed race couple around the world, and you will probably find that the white side of the family have either openly discussed it, or secretly discussed, you know, What are the kids gonna look like? And that is part of a, you know, bigger conversation that needs to be had. Talking to Bradby about why he had once called a fellow soldier a racist epithet, Harry talked of mistakes he made in his 20s. They were never intentional to harm anybody, but I recognise from that a level of unconscious bias within me that probably came from a combination of my upbringing, things I was exposed to and things that I saw in the media. And I made a choice to right that wrong. Harry knew that I wasnt a racist and describes how that had been a horrible place. But there was a level of unconscious bias that existed within me that needed to be confronted, Harry said. In one moving section of the interview, Harry explained how his Harry then private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, had got him access to government files on his mothers death. He said he was eternally grateful to Lowther-Pinkerton for editing out the most graphic pictures. He said: But you know, you can see that I saw the back of her blonde hair, you know, slumped on the back of the seat. There were other photographs, um, that would probably show my mothers face and blood. Um, and those, I assume were the ones that Jamie removed. An extract from the book is read which runs: Paps, (paparazzi) and reflected paps and refracted paps on all the smooth metal services and glass windscreens. Those men whod chased her. Theyd never stopped shooting her while she lay between the seats. Unconscious or semi-conscious. And in their frenzy, theyd sometimes accidentally photographed each other. Not one of them was checking on her, offering her help, not even comforting her. They were just shooting, shooting, shooting. Asked why he had written the memoir, Harry said he had endured having 38 years of having my story told by so many other different people with intentional spin and distortion, and he wanted to now own his story. He said that he done everything he could privately to get through to my family but said he was consistently told, Youre imagining it. At the end of the interview Harry said that his departure from the royal family was embarrassing for some people, saying, Im very at peace. I am in a better place than Ive ever been, and I think that probably angers some people, infuriates others, because just by the nature of me leaving, Im sure they, they, some people always thought that Meghan would leave, right, but I dont think they ever thought that I would leave as well, but, just by leaving that has, its, its embarrassing for some people. It wasnt something that I would have necessarily chosen at the time, but you know, I own my story, and I own the results. But, Ive got two beautiful kids and an amazing wife, like the happiness in my family now I have never felt anywhere else before. He added: Its been hard, Im not going to lie, its been really hard at times, but I guess theres also a lot of people who refuse to accept that I could be happy out here, because of what Ive left behind. But the reality is Ive never been happier. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The Duke of Sussex claims he was unsure whether his grandmother was trying to tell him she wanted to refuse his request - Julian Simmonds Queen Elizabeth II gave the Duke of Sussex a cryptic response when he asked her permission to marry Meghan, he reveals in his memoir. Prince Harry was unsure whether his grandmother was trying to tell him she wanted to refuse his request, was being sarcastic or playing word games. The Duke feared he was doomed to be the next Margaret, he writes, in reference to his great aunt, Princess Margaret, who was not allowed to marry the love of her life, divorcee Peter Townsend. The Duke recounts the moment he plucked up the courage to ask the Queen in his forthcoming book, Spare, which is officially published on Tuesday but was released early in Spain. He admits he was scared and always nervous in her presence. And the moment was made even more awkward when the Queen simply replied: Well then I suppose I have to say yes. Harry had no idea what she was saying. 'She felt she had to say yes?' He writes: She felt she had to say yes? Did that mean that she was saying yes, but wanted to say no? I didn't understand. Was she being sarcastic? Ironic? Deliberately cryptic? Was she allowing herself a bit of wordplay? I dont remember my grandmother being a fan of wordplay and this would have been the strangest time to start being one (without mentioning tremendously inappropriate). The Duke had earlier confided in his aides, Ed Lane Fox and Jason Knauf, that he wanted to propose but was told there were strict rules governing such things and that first and foremost, he would have to ask his grandmother. Harry suggests he was taken aback by the suggestion, asking if that was a real rule. It didnt make any sense, he writes. A grown man asking his grandmother for permission to marry. However, he recalls the absurdity of his father, then 56, having to ask permission to marry the Queen Consort. The Duke picked an October 2017 family shooting trip at Sandringham to make his move. He opted not to tell Prince William of his plans because he had already warned him against it. Too fast, too soon, he is alleged to have said. Story continues Harry claims his brother was pretty discouraging about him dating an American actress at all, implying that her nationality and profession was akin to being a convicted criminal. Prince Harry claims his brother was 'discouraging' about him marrying an 'American actress' - KIRSTY O'CONNOR/AFP On the day in question, he watched the late Queen drive a Range Rover into the middle of a field to look for dead birds, alone and with no security. I tried to engage her in some light chat to loosen her up, he writes. The full seriousness of all this was finally starting to sink in. The Duke muses over what would happen if his grandmother said no. Would he dare to disobey her or would he have to end his relationship with Meghan? This moment was either the start of my life or the end, he says. It would all come down to the words I chose, how I delivered them and how granny heard them. With a dead bird in each hand, he chased after the Queen as she approached her vehicle, surrounded by hunting dogs. I needed to get to it without one more second of hesitation, he writes. I saw her waiting for me to speak, and not waiting patiently. Her expression screamed: Out with it. Agonisingly long pause He says: Granny, you already know that I love Meg a lot, and I have decided that Id like to ask her to marry me, and theyve told me that well. I have to get your authorisation before asking for her hand. She replies: You have to do that? Yes, he says. Thats what your people have said and mine too. The Duke reveals her expression was impenetrable during an agonisingly long pause. Eventually, she replies: Well then I suppose I have to say yes. He finally realises that she has given him permission to marry and splutters thank you. He was desperate to hug her, he says, but did not. Instead, he helped her into the vehicle and they made their way back to the rest of the family. A complete overhaul of your photo collection is a big project, but it doesnt have to be. As fun as it is to take more than five pics of every cute animal, life event, or meal, your phone has a limit. For every beautiful shot, youre probably saving a bunch of junk. Are you getting that storage full message? Its a pain. On an iPhone, do this one thing to get storage space back in an instant. A complete overhaul of your photo collection is a big project, but it doesnt have to be. I clean my photo library up in a flash! Tap or click for the steps I use to clean my digital photo library. What could you do with $500? You could win a $500 Amazon Gift Card on my site. Enter now at Komando.com/Win! Easily remove duplicates on your iPhone Apple added a valuable tool for iOS 16. Your iPhone now has a duplicate photos folder where you can merge anything duplicated. Its so easy to use. Heres how: Open the Photos app and select Albums. Scroll down and select Duplicates. Its under Utilities. You can either select all of them by hitting Select > Select all > Merge or select individual photos and tap Merge. Confirm your choice and take back some storage space. Tip within a tip: Storage still low? Heres how to see whats eating up space on your phone. Delete any apps youre not using. They take up more space than you realize. Clean up your photo folder on Android Android phones have a trick to clear up space you might not know. It takes just a few taps. Rather than manually locating and deleting everything you dont need, open the Files by Google app, then select Clean. If you dont have it, head to the Google Play Store and download it for free. Tap Confirm and free up > See junk files and select what you want to clear. When youre ready, tap Clear > Clear. That's all it takes to remove screenshots, memes, duplicates, and other junk hiding among the important photos. Tip within a tip: Stop scrolling forever to find the picture you want. You can search your photo gallery. Heres how and some tricks to find what you want. Story continues Speed up your smartphone Clearing out files, images, and apps from your smartphone helps it run faster and smoother. It improves your batterys performance and extends its life. Tap or click here for 7 simple ways to speed up your phone. While youre cleaning out your phone, clean the cookies. These tiny files slow down your phone and help companies track your online activities. Its worth doing this now and then. Tap or click here for complete steps to get the job done. Keep your tech-know going My popular podcast is called Kim Komando Today. Its a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions like you from all over the country. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your convenience, hit the link below for a recent episode. PODCAST PICK: Porn scams, new humanoid robot, grow taller with $150k legs Plus, fast charger secrets, the feds crack down on social media censorship, how to find the best router, and the best way to keep your cellphone number private. Check out my podcast Kim Komando Today on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, Komando. Learn about all the latest technology on the Kim Komando Show, the nation's largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com. The views and opinions expressed in this column are the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to quickly clean up your smartphone photo library and save space. To get a sense of who is truly in control of Direct Line Insurance Group plc (LON:DLG), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 87% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). Institutional investors would appreciate the 6.3% increase in share prices last week, given their one-year returns have been disappointing at 11%. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Direct Line Insurance Group, beginning with the chart below. See our latest analysis for Direct Line Insurance Group What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Direct Line Insurance Group? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. Direct Line Insurance Group already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Direct Line Insurance Group, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Direct Line Insurance Group is not owned by hedge funds. Artemis Investment Management LLP is currently the company's largest shareholder with 6.3% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 5.6% and 5.2% of the stock. Looking at the shareholder registry, we can see that 52% of the ownership is controlled by the top 12 shareholders, meaning that no single shareholder has a majority interest in the ownership. Story continues 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 are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. Insider Ownership Of Direct Line Insurance Group The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. 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 data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Direct Line Insurance Group plc in their own names. It is a pretty big company, so it would be possible for board members to own a meaningful interest in the company, without owning much of a proportional interest. In this case, they own around UK3.9m worth of shares (at current prices). Arguably, recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 10% stake in Direct Line Insurance Group. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Direct Line Insurance Group , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here An aerial view shows Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)'s multi-purpose destroyer Izumo (DDH-183) leading the fleet during the International Fleet Review to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the JMSDF, at Sagami Bay, off Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, Japan, on Nov 6, 2022. [Photo/Agencies] Japan seems intent on stepping up unsettling efforts to strengthen its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. According to a US Naval News website report on Tuesday, as well as two large warships dedicated to ballistic missile defense that it is building to replace the canceled land-based Aegis missile defense system, Japan plans to build two new destroyers equipped with the US' Aegis missile system, increasing the number from eight to 10. That means that it will have more Aegis destroyers than the US Navy's Seventh Fleet, which has nine Aegis destroyers stationed in Japan. The Aegis ship combat system is an integrated collection of sensors, computers, software, displays, weapon launchers and weapons deployed on all the US Navy's cruisers and destroyers, except the three Zumwalt-Class stealth destroyers. To justify its militarization, which will overturn its postwar defense strategy, Japan has cited threats from Russia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and, of course, China. According to the report, Japan has justified the need for more Aegis-equipped vessels with the claim that "Considering possible armed conflicts with China in the future, it is necessary to increase the number of Aegis destroyers to protect the fleet from Chinese anti-ship missile attacks". Last month, the Japanese Cabinet approved three defense documents, the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Program Guidelines and the Mid-Term Defense Program, all of which, echoing the Joe Biden administration's National Security Strategy, refer to China as Japan's "biggest strategic challenge". Of course, this is nothing but an excuse for Japan to let the military genie out of the bottle, which it has long hoped to do. The documents pave the way for Japan's biggest post-war military build-up plan, under which Japan will spend 43 trillion yen ($313 billion) over the next five years to strengthen its military, buying cruise missiles "capable of striking China" and developing hypersonic weapons, among other things. To match its growing military ambition, in mid-December Japan approved a record-high $51 billion draft defense budget for fiscal year 2023, up 26.3 percent from the previous fiscal year, which roughly accounts for 2 percent of Japan's GDP and breaks the 1 percent benchmark that had been maintained for six decades. Given that Japan has yet to truly repent for the war atrocities it committed in World War II, a right-leaning Japan that is breaking free of the constraints of its so-called pacifist Constitution should sound the alarm for all peace-loving people and countries in the region and beyond. Japanese politicians' attempts to rebuild the country as an "Asian military and political power" through leveraging the strength of its alliance with the US are leading their country onto a dangerous road of militarization, which paints a gloomy picture for regional peace and stability as it will only brew troubles. Jan. 7JOHNSTOWN, Pa. Right after the holidays, the Red Cross holds its annual Lifesaver's Ball to replenish local blood supplies. This year's event took place on Saturday at the Richland Township Fire Department hall. "Blood donations usually drop over the holidays because people are visiting family and friends and, you know, a lot of people are sick this time of year," Autumn Moore, a Red Cross district manager for donor services, said. "It's a tradition for people to do it this time of year. We've been doing it for years." Fifty-six units were donated. "It's very good for this time of year," Moore said. But the need for blood is ongoing, so the local Red Cross holds other events throughout the year, many of which are sponsored by individuals or organizations. "We're always looking for sponsors or people to adopt a blood drive program basically. ... It's always nice to have sponsors, like businesses, to adopt a blood drive," Moore said. Anybody interested in donating blood can visit redcross.org/give-blood.html to find a location. It has been 20 years since the crash of the Air Midwest Flight 5481 in Charlotte, killing all 21 people on board. On January 8, 2003, Air Midwest Flight 5481 pitched up uncontrollably on the runway during takeoff. The plane stalled and then crashed into the ground, killing 19 passengers and two crew members. An investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found major deficiencies in Air Midwests maintenance practices and deemed the cause of the crash to be an improperly rigged elevator system. ALSO READ: None hurt after large flames tear through abandoned school building in East Spencer Commercial airlines tend to follow the same path following the crash when it comes to dealing with victims. Some choose to offer private settlements as compensation to victims; the settlement is usually accepted and both parties try to move past the tragedy. One of the main factors of the settlements is that defendants pay the plaintiffs without admitting fault. Plaintiff Teresa Shepherd and her husband, Pastor Doug Shepherd chose not to take the bait after they lost their daughter Christiana in the crash. The Shepherds were not motivated by money, they wanted the airline to admit its wrongdoing and assure that safety changes would be made. The Shepherds, along with another family who lost a loved one in the crash, were represented by Baum Hedlund Aristei and Goldman in the Air Midwest litigation. Goldman knew that it would not be easy to convince Air Midwest to admit fault for the crash. Defendants in legal cases of this size tend to be more focused on moving past the tragedy and settling with plaintiffs. Air Midwest insisted on a clause in the settlement expressly denying blame. The judge who oversaw the case added to the difficulty. The judge was upset that we were even asking for it, Goldman recalled in an interview for the Audible podcast Say Youre Sorry, which aired in 2021 Episode 4. I think he was quite angry with me because he thought this was a ploy that I was using to increase the settlement amount, that we would give it up when they raised the amount of money, and we had to say, No, thats not the case. Story continues Only after the Shepherds stood in front of the settlement judge and said they would not settle until their concerns for safety and a public apology from the airline were addressed, Air Midwest began to seriously consider their demands. Following multiple mediation sessions, Air Midwest finally agreed and committed to issuing a public apology. ALSO READ: Statesville hospital volunteer hangs up vest after 14 years The Shepherds invited all of the families of victims in the crash to attend the apology ceremony that Baum Hedlund had organized on May 6, 2005, at the crash memorial site at Charlotte Douglas Airport. Air Midwest President Greg Stephens told families that the airline and its maintenance provider, Vertex, apologized to everyone affected by the tragic event. Air Midwests apology and safety changes made a large impact in the aviation field even though the airline ceased operation in 2008. In a podcast interview, Teresa Shepherd talked about a friends son who became an airplane mechanic and that their story was used as an example. He said, Wait, I know those people! And their point was, every decision you make, every bolt you dont turn, and every job you dont finish, affects people like this. This is what happens if you dont do your job right. That felt really, really good, said Shepherd. ALSO READ: Dog surrendered by owner at Charlotte Douglas airport; rescue tries to find home Attorney Ronald Goldman will be retiring from practicing law after a 60-year career on January 10, 2023. Hes named the airlines apology as one of the greatest achievements of his career. The 20th anniversary of the tragic Air Midwest 5481 crash is an opportunity to reflect on the ongoing fight for aviation safety. The lives lost, and the loving memories of each precious life, continue to spur our efforts. We believe that, out of this disaster, aviation safety has taken a step forward, as our work has led to concrete training and staffing improvements in maintenance shops. Those improvements are part of the legacy of all those touched by Flight 5481, and I am honored to have played a part in it, said Goldman. Victims of the Air Midwest Flight 5481 Crash have been identified as: Caitlin Albury, 13 Marsh Harbour, Bahamas Nicholas Albury, 21 Marsh Harbour, Bahamas Robin Albury, 38 Marsh Harbour, Bahamas Sreenivasa Badam, 24 India Mark Congdon Baltimore, Maryland Keith Coyner Coral Springs, Florida Forrest Demartino Dayton, Ohio Sylvain Dubois Fort Lauderdale, Florida Richard E. Fonte, 29 Jacksonville, North Carolina Gary Gezzer, 42 Fort Lauderdale, Florida Jonathan Gibbs (first officer) Charlotte, North Carolina Steven J. Krassas Richmond, Virginia Katie Leslie (captain), 25 Charlotte, North Carolina Richard Lyons, 56 Boston, Massachusetts Ima Pearson Las Vegas, Nevada Christiana Shepherd, 18 Boston, Massachusetts Joseph M. Spiak, 46 Boston, Massachusetts Ganeshram Sreenivasan, 23 India Paul Stidham, 46 Dayton, Maryland Michael Otto Sullivan Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ralph Sylvia Richmond, Virginia (WATCH BELOW: Cabarrus County sheriffs office shows facilities to public with open house) Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., left, pulls Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., back as they talk with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. during the 14th round of voting for speaker as the House on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. Andrew Harnik)/AP Photo GOP Rep. Tim Burchett called Rep. Mike Rogers a "redneck" after he lunged at Rep. Matt Gaetz on the House floor. Burchett suggested that Rogers had been drinking prior to the brawl, but did not provide evidence. Burchett went on to say that his colleague "shouldn't have crossed that line." Republican Rep. Tim Burchett called his colleague Rep. Mike Rogers a "redneck" and suggested that he had been drinking before he got into a brawl on the House floor late on Friday. C-SPAN cameras captured Rep. Rogers of Alabama lunging at Rep. Matt Gaetz and being restrained by Rep. Richard Hudson, after Gaetz had what appeared to be a tense exchange with Kevin McCarthy. "People shouldn't be drinking, especially when you're a redneck, on the House floor," Rep. Burchett told CNN's Kate Sullivan about the incident. He did not provide evidence or elaborate on why he believed Rogers had been drinking prior to the incident. "I would drop him like a bag of dirt," Burchett said about Rogers. "Nobody's gonna put their hands on me. Nobody's gonna threaten me." Burchett went on to say that it was an "unfortunate moment" and that Rogers "shouldn't have crossed that line." Rogers, a McCarthy supporter, confronted Gaetz after his vote helped sink McCarthy's 14th effort to be elected speaker. He was eventually elected during the 15th round of voting. Representatives for Burchett and Rogers did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. Burchett later wrote a tweet that said Rogers had not been drinking on the floor of the House. January 12: This story has been updated to reflect further comments by Republican Rep. Tim Burchett. Read the original article on Business Insider Shortly after Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on Jan. 8 that 600 Ukrainian troops had been killed "as part of a retaliatory operation" in the city of Kramatorsk in the eastern Donetsk Oblast, Reuters reported that the attack missed its targets and there were no obvious signs of casualties. Earlier it had been announced by Russia that the target of the revenge attack was two college dormitories where Ukrainian military personnel were temporarily stationed. "This is an information operation of the Russian defense ministry," said Ukrainian military spokesperson Serhii Cherevatiy to Suspilne. Journalists from Italian newspaper La Republicca and Finnish outlet Yle also visited the scene. Finnish journalist Antti Kuronen noted that the strike on one of the "dormitories" was not a direct hit, and in any case, the building was clealy not occupied due to a complete lack of insulation. On New Year's Eve, Ukraines Armed Forces struck a Russian temporary barracks in occupied Makiivka, Donetsk Oblast, killing around 400 Russian soldiers and wounding least 300, according to the Ukrainian military's estimates. Unlike previous instances of similar high-precision Ukrainian strikes on Russian personnel accomodation, Russia's Defense Ministry acknowledged that the attack took place, but gave the death toll as being only 89. MICHAEL REYNOLDS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Amid the failure of six ballots to select a speaker of the House of Representatives, leading Republican contender Rep. Kevin McCarthy continues talks with GOP lawmakers in an effort to break the stalemate. As of early Jan. 5, McCarthy had secured 201 of the 218 votes he needs to take the speakership, Reuters reported. See: How Rich Is Former President Donald Trump? The Future of Finances: Gen Z & How They Relate to Money Democrat Nancy Pelosi stepped down from her role as speaker of the House at the end of 2022, leaving the House without a speaker at the start of the new year. By some accounts, McCarthy is recognized as one of the wealthiest politicians in the U.S. The website CAKnowledge.com reported his net worth as $95 million. However, according to Celebrity Net Worth, McCarthy is only worth $300,000. Other sources, including the Los Angeles Times, report his net worth at a minimum of $81,000. As a congressional representative and Republican House leader, McCarthy receives an annual salary of $193,400. If he is elected speaker of the House, that will increase to $223,500. Born in Bakersfield, California, McCarthy graduated from California State University, Bakersfield, and went on to serve in the California State Assembly. He joined the U.S. House of Representatives in 2007 and has held the roles of party whip and minority and majority leader. Take Our Poll: Do You Think People Should Invest In Crypto? Discover: How Rich Are President Joe Biden, VP Kamala Harris and the Wealthiest US Politicians? According to CAKnowledge.com, McCarthy owns several assets in the form of luxury cars, as well as California real estate worth $21 million. According to his biography on the House of Representatives website, he still lives in Bakersfield with his wife and their two children. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Rich Is Kevin McCarthy? Russian forces attacked a UN mission in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on Saturday, 7 January, despite the "Christmas ceasefire" declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Source: Oleksandr Starukh, Head of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, during the 24/7 national newscast Quote from Starukh: "The aggressor country, which promised to refrain from shooting, has attacked a UN humanitarian mission, which brought humanitarian aid to the city of Orikhiv." Previously: On the evening of Saturday, 7 January, Russian forces carried out a missile strike on the outskirts of the city of Zaporizhzhia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to implement a ceasefire during Christmas. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A group of Russian hackers reportedly targeted three U.S. nuclear research laboratories in the summer of 2022. The Russian group Cold River carried out a phishing campaign against scientists at the Brookhaven, Argonne, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories to obtain passwords, Reuters reports. According to the report, hackers created fake login pages for the laboratories and contacted nuclear scientists to try to trick them into revealing their passwords. "This is one of the most important hacking groups you've never heard of," Reuters quoted Adam Meyers, senior vice president of intelligence at U.S. cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike saying. "They are involved in directly supporting Kremlin information operations." Cold River hacked into and leaked emails belonging to the former head of Britain's MI6 spy service in 2022 and targeted Britain's foreign ministry in 2016. Also Read: Russian Ministry Website Hacked With The Message 'Glory To Ukraine' The hacking team has been involved in many other high-profile hacking incidents. According to Reuters, western officials say the Russian government is a global leader in hacking and uses cyber espionage to spy on foreign governments and industries to seek a competitive advantage. In a blog post, SEKOIA.IO said that Cold River sought to contribute to "Russian intelligence collection about identied war crime-related evidence and international justice procedures." However, Reuters was unable to confirm this detail. Read Next: Putin Threatens To Strike New Targets In Ukraine, Says This Is What's Prolonging The War Photo: Pete Linforth/Pixabay. See more from Benzinga Don't miss real-time alerts on your stocks - join Benzinga Pro for free! Try the tool that will help you invest smarter, faster, and better. 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Members of the National Guard of Russia shot six Russian soldiers near the settlement of Chystopillia in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on 5 January. These soldiers were going to give themselves up into captivity to the Defence Forces of Ukraine. Source: Report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Quote: "In order to strengthen the military discipline and to prevent the spread of panic among the military personnel of the occupying forces deployed on the Zaporizhzhia front, our opponents have activated several units of Russias National Guard. It was revealed that on 5 January, near the settlement of Chystopillia, six soldiers, who had the intention of giving themselves up into captivity, were shot." Details: The General Staff reports that pursuing the goal of discrediting the Ukrainian military command, Russians are spreading disinformation about the Defence Forces of Ukraine allegedly planning to launch attacks on the medical institutions in Luhansk Oblast, where injured Russian soldiers are undergoing treatment. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, the head of Ukrenergo, the national energy company, has stated that attacks on the Ukrainian energy system were planned by the Russian military together with power engineers. Source: Kudrytskyi in a comment to Financial Times Quote: "Attacks are planned and carried out not only by the Russian military, but also by Russian power engineers." Kudrytskyi states that Russian engineers knew the Ukrainian power system "like the back of their hand" because it was connected to Russia's system before the full-scale invasion last February. But now Ukrainian engineers better understand the Russian strategy and can take measures aimed at minimising the consequences of the attacks, Kudrytskyi added. Ukrainian officials state that Russia conducted a systematic campaign aimed at destroying transformers located in key nodes of the power grid distribution system, and not the power plants themselves, FT writes. The goal was to break up the grid into isolated islands and prevent electricity from flowing between regions, power experts say. A significant part of Ukraines energy-generating capacity is located in the west and reaches the centre and east via high-voltage lines. Background: On 1 January, Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, the head of Ukrenergo [national energy company], stated that in theory there is a possibility of a complete blackout, but in practice he does not see such a danger now. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russian occupiers carried out seven missile attacks on Kramatorsk and two attacks on Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast on the night of 7-8 January. Source: Pavlo Kyrylenko, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration Details: Buildings of an educational institution and an industrial facility as well as a garage cooperative were damaged in Kramatorsk. A strike hit an industrial district of Kostiantynivka. Preliminary information indicates that there were no casualties after the attacks. Moreover, a few hours prior to that, Kurakhove town and Kurakhivka village came under Russian fire, damaging private houses and heating pipes supplying the entire Kurakhove hromada. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a city, town or village and its adjacent territories - ed.] At 23:00 Kyiv time, Putins so-called "Christmas ceasefire", during which the Russians did not stop their attacks and combat actions, ended. Background: The Russians carried out attacks on Kharkiv Oblast, with two strikes in the city of Merefa, and one man was killed. In addition, the occupiers launched a missile attack on the outskirts of Zaporizhzhia on the evening of Saturday. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Jan. 7NEW LONDON OK, so maybe it's not so sexy to crave the role of the Grinch. The party pooper. The killjoy. But then, there are fewer feelings sweeter in sports than victory on another's soil, watching all your rivals exit the gym somewhere between disappointed and annoyed. And this was The Plan all along for St. Bernard on Friday night at Conway Gym. The party for New London coach Craig Parker's 500th win may be inevitable, just not on the Saints' watch. "We have a lot of guys from New London on our team," St. Bernard senior Tyson Wheeler said. "We couldn't let them lose this game." The Saints were rarely threatened, turning a game which could have been awash in drama into a 69-51 victory before 1,300 fans. Wheeler scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half, while teammate Cedrick Similien guarded New London sophomore (and former St. Bernard teammate) Devan Williams perhaps better than anyone else has this season. Williams finished with 15. "It was a big win because it was the next one on our schedule," St. Bernard coach Mark Jones said. "New London is a historical program and we want to get where they are." Similien scored 15, Amare Marshall had 12 and Amyre Gray 10 for the Saints (6-2). Marshall, who missed school all week with an illness, combined with teammate Ryan Outlow to give St. Bernard a decisive rebounding edge, especially early in the game. "The kids played their butts off," Jones said. "We did a great job on Devan. He's one of the best players in the area." St. Bernard led by eight at half. New London got as close as three early in the third period, but never threatened after that. Wheeler hit a runner, got a steal and made a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter that sealed it, pushing the lead to 16. "Everyone was talking about this game all week," Wheeler said. "We marked it on our calendars. We played with a lot of intensity in the second half." Story continues Da'Shaun Phillips added 15 for the Whalers (4-2) while freshman Xavier Goode scored 10. Parker, who left the bench midway through the second half for an undisclosed reason, goes for win No. 500 at home Tuesday night against Griswold. m.dimauro@theday.com Director Sam Mendes has said that social awkwardness plays a big part in the difficulties people have discussing mental health, as he launched his latest film in Kent. Empire of Light is set in a dilapidated cinema in a 1980s coastal town and is billed as both a love letter to cinema and a love story between Olivia Colmans Hilary and Micheal Wards Stephen. The film also deals with mental health Hilary has a mental illness and is based loosely on Mendess mother and also race, as Wards character faces racial prejudice throughout the film. Speaking on Sunday 8 January at the films premiere at the Dreamland amusement park in Margate, Kent, Mendes said: I had stories I wanted to tell from my own childhood; for me the Eighties are a really vibrant and resonant time to write about. I wrote it during lockdown and there was a huge upsurge in mental health issues as people were trapped in their homes and held in that vice-like grip. I also think we havent found a very good way of expressing mental health issues in this country. Its often the case if someone comes out of hospital having gone in for an illness, you ask how they are, but if they come out of a mental hospital they tend not to ask. Its a very difficult thing to talk about and it tends to get brushed under the carpet, with social awkwardness being the norm. Race is an ongoing debate that we have to find a way to move forward in, its something thats just as relevant today as it was in the Eighties. Colman said it was a big responsibility to take on a character inspired by Mendess mother. She said of her role as Hilary: It was quite nerve wracking when you know it means so much to Sam, and he saw it at such close quarters in such formative years, so the responsibility is quite great but then Sam does make it a really nurturing and safe space. He tells jokes all day, really bad ones, but it means you can make a mistake and its OK, and he guided us and made it all OK. Empire of Light starring Colman, Ward, Colin Firth and Toby Jones is released in cinemas on Monday 9 January. (Reuters) -Seattle's public school district filed a lawsuit against Big Tech claiming that the companies were responsible for a worsening mental health crisis among students and directly affected the schools' ability to carry out their educational mission. The complaint, filed on Friday against Alphabet Inc, Meta Platforms Inc, Snap Inc and TikTok-owner ByteDance with the U.S. District Court, claimed they purposefully designed their products to hook young people to their platforms and were creating a mental health crisis. In an emailed statement, Meta, which owns Facebook, said it has developed more than 30 tools to support teens and their families and will continue to work closely with experts, policymakers and parents. Google said it has invested heavily in creating safe experiences for children across its platforms and has introduced "strong protections and dedicated features to prioritize their well being," while Snap said it works closely with many mental health organizations to provide in-app tools and resources for users and that the well-being of its community is its top priority. TikTok did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. In the past, the companies have said they aim to create an enjoyable experience for users and exclude harmful content and invest in moderation and content controls. The lawsuit says the companies' actions have been a substantial factor in causing a youth mental health crisis. "Defendants have successfully exploited the vulnerable brains of youth, hooking tens of millions of students across the country into positive feedback loops of excessive use and abuse of Defendants' social media platforms," the lawsuit said. Students with mental health issues perform worse, causing schools to take steps including training teachers to identify and address such symptoms, hire trained personnel, and create additional resources to warn students about the dangers of social media, the complaint said. Story continues The lawsuit seeks compensation for monetary damages and other penalties. In 2021, U.S. lawmakers accused Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg of pushing for higher profits at the expense of children's mental health following testimony by whistleblower Frances Haugen. Facebook has consistently said it disagrees with Haugen's characterization that the company failed to protect teen girls on Instagram. "The argument that we deliberately push content that makes people angry for profit is deeply illogical," Zuckerberg posted on his Facebook page in response. "We make money from ads, and advertisers consistently tell us they don't want their ads next to harmful or angry content. And I don't know any tech company that sets out to build products that make people angry or depressed." (Reporting by Jyoti Narayan in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Rhea Binoy in Bengaluru and Sheila Dang in Dallas; Editing by Lisa Shumaker, Daniel Wallis and Andrea Ricci) Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) said on Sunday that there is an obvious deal to be made between Republicans and Democrats over border security and immigration reform. To me, there is an obvious deal on immigration, King said on CBSs Face The Nation with Margaret Brennan. The deal is increased border security, a path to citizenship for Dreamers and weve got to work on legal immigration for workforce. King floated the idea of a compromise between the parties as President Biden is slated to visit the southern border for the first time since he entered the White House. King said that while he thought Biden should have made the trip sooner, he was delighted he decided to visit the border. Lets work on this because we cant have the chaos and the humanitarian crisis that we have, King said. We ought to be able to move in a bipartisan way. King also reflected on the last two years of Congress, arguing it has been one of the most effective sessions in the last few decades. He said lawmakers should look to the previous Congress as a model for getting key legislative goals, including immigration, through the House and Senate. I think immigration is a great opportunity to do the same thing. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. - Introducing the lifestyle of Seoul and the industries and technologies that bolster such a lifestyle - Emphasizing technologies of Seoul: City of Green Technology and Smart Transportation' - Introducing the competitiveness of the convergence content industry that combines creators, digital content, and high-tech technology Seoul, Korea - (NewMediaWire) - January 8, 2023 - Hyunwoo Kim, the CEO of the Seoul Business Agency (SBA), introducing Seoul's future vision and digital infrastructure at of CES 2023 held in Las Vegas, USA, on January 5th (Thurs, local time) Photo by Aving News. The Seoul Business Agency (SBA, CEO Hyunwoo Kim), the policy implementation agency that supports Seoul's industrial promotion and SME's growth, held a Vision Announcement Ceremony' to introduce Seoul's future vision and digital infrastructure at of the CES 2023 held in Las Vegas, USA, on January 5th (Thurs) 13:00 (local time). The event was attended by Hojae Song, Seoul Economic Job Planning Officer, SBA CEO Hyunwoo Kim, major officials from large corporations and start-ups, CES visitors, and both domestic and foreign media. Under the theme of "CES, Invitation to Seoul", the event showcased the lifestyle of Seoul, which became the city envied by the world, along with high-tech industries, technologies, and contents based on digital infrastructure that made "Amazing Seoul" possible, targeting the global investors. Seoul was ranked 8th as a Superstar City', 10th as the best city to start a business, and 4th as a digital city based on major indicators such as GDP and assessments by financial institutions. As such, Seoul is one of the leading cities in the area of economy, culture, business, technology, etc. The Seoul Business Agency (SBA) introduced a variety of technologies such as smart mobility technology that realizes dreams related to everyday life and core technologies to promote renewable and smart energy including eco-friendly fuel cells and next-generation batteries, to align with the theme of , Seoul: City of Green Technology and Smart Transportation'. Story continues Smart mobility is the main concept of the of CES 2023. Seoul is actively working to establish a new Urban Air Mobility (UAM) system and achieve Net Zero, under the goal of Seoul: City of Smart Transportation and Clean Air, the key agenda of Seoul Vision 2030. With the goal of creating the foundation for Urban Air Mobility (UAM), Seoul is planning to operate an Air Taxi' that travels from Incheon Airport to Yongsan in just 15 minutes in 2025 and fully commercialize the autonomous driving of public transportation in Seoul. In addition, Seoul aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 by developing core technologies to promote new renewable and smart energy, such as eco-friendly fuel cells and next-generation batteries, in order to respond to climate change. Furthermore, by highlighting one of its representative industries, the digital contents industry, SBA emphasized the fact that it is constantly producing contents loved by the world such as BTS, Squid Game, Baby Shark, etc. and taking the lead in OTT and SNS platforms. SBA plans to prepare for new convergence contents that adopts high-technology such as K-contents, NFT, XR, etc., and come up with measures to promote them in the global market, amidst the global trend of the creator economy. At the CES event, Hyunwoo Kim, CEO of SBA, first revealed the plan to hold the SeoulCon Festival' at DDP at the end of December 2023. The SeoulCon Festival is planned to be the project that invites a large number of influencers, such as YouTubers and TikTokers, from around the world to shed light on Seoul's beauty and fashion industry and DDP and broadcast live to people around the world. Hyunwoo Kim, CEO of SBA, said, "As the best public accelerator, SBA intends to shed light on the future vision of Seoul that will be realized through diverse industries, companies, and policies at the venue of CES, the global platform that the whole world focuses on." MEDIA CONTACT Seoul Business Association Jay Lyu jaylyu@sba.seoul.kr https://www.sba.seoul.kr/eng Been thinking about the relationship between creators and their creations. I suppose many creations emerge from creators experiences traumas, hopes, losses, loves, prejudices. Ive always been fascinated how and to what extent creators lives affect their creations. Seems logical their lives might influence their work. But it makes me wonder about certain creators. Ive been reading about American architect Frank Lloyd Wrights creations, mostly what he called his Prairie style houses. (One of his small Usonian houses not Prairie style is on display at Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, Arkansas.) We had the honor of visiting the Prairie style Dana-Thomas house in Springfield, Illinois getting a private three-hour tour by an impressively astute guide and were overwhelmed by the architecture, inside and out. Our knowledge of Wrights often shifty, devious and dishonest life whetted our interest and partially spurred us to see the house. But were those traits represented in his architecture? He built houses mostly for wealthy clients who allowed him much freedom to indulge his craft. Yet the 16,000-square-foot Dana-Thomas house was not ostentatious but instead represented what Wright hoped was a democratic and American standard for this countrys architecture. We saw little, if any, deviousness or dishonesty in his work. His life? Not always the shining star of truth, justice and the American way. He was disloyal to women (several of them), dishonest to lenders (borrowed and often didnt pay back), ran from many creditors and legal obligations (sometimes driving across the country to hide), dictatorial to his many apprentices (hired them for architectural work and often forced them into manual labor, including scrubbing floors), failed to complete many promised projects. In short, he often reneged on obligations, giving in to his massive ego and profligate ways. Not exactly a pillar of righteousness. But his work? It is masterful in scope and execution, sometimes bringing Japanese design seamlessly into his work. He not only designed houses but everything in them art glass, lamps, murals, sconces, furniture. He called his work Truth in Architecture. Story continues So, should he be judged by the truth of his work or his sometimes deceitful and fraudulent actions? Should we dismiss his creations because of the way he behaved a notion much discussed in artistic criticism of all forms? And most importantly, do creations honestly represent the creators' lives and actions? Is the real Frank Lloyd Wright embodied more in his work than his behaviors? Should we even care what he was like? Do his creations represent him wholly? Going further: If there is an ultimate creator, should we revere it as we imagine it to be or revel in the creation we can see: the universe, galaxies, trees, stones, creatures. Should we honor that creation as the real essence of who or what the creator is? These have always been philosophical, mythical and religious discussion points. Perhaps creator, creation and essence are inseparable. Maybe its useless to differentiate. Why not merely exalt in the all of everything? A street-side picture of the Springfield, Illinois, Dana-Thomas house hangs on my wall a masterclass itself in composition. In it, I see Frank Lloyd Wright, his essence, not so much the actions of his life. Finally, Im left with one overriding question: Could all things be one how we act, what we create, who or what we revere? Im thinking on that. And I am, by far, not the first to ponder such inscrutable notions. I've been accused of overthinking things. Perhaps I am now. Michael Pulley lives in Springfield. He can be reached at mpulley634@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Michael Pulley: Can we separate creators from their creations? Valentyn Reznichenko, the Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, has said that a Russian UAV was shot down in the skies over Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on the afternoon of 8 January. Source: Reznichenko on Telegram Quote: "Minus another enemy UAV. Soldiers from Air Command Skhid (East) destroyed an enemy reconnaissance drone in the skies over the oblast." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! SYDNEY (AP) Australia started the day needing 14 wickets for an unlikely victory and a South African series clean sweep but could only muster six as the Proteas batting finally showed some grit to force a draw in the third test at at Sydney Cricket Ground. The hosts toiled under some welcome sun in a match that was frequently impacted by weather delays and while it achieved its first aim on Sunday of enforcing the follow on after bowling South Africa out for 255, further inroads proved few and far between. The wicket was still pretty good, we knew we were up against it, captain Pat Cummins said immediately after the match. We kept putting some balls in some good areas, hopefully the luck turned. But that wasnt the case, they batted beautifully. We were probably up against it. We had 150 overs to try and take 20 wickets on a pretty good batting surface. Really proud of all the efforts. At stumps South Africa was 106-2 in its second innings having lost Dean Elgar again cheaply to complete a miserable series for the skipper and Heinrich Klaasen was the only wicket to fall in the final session. Josh Hazlewood took five wickets over the two South Africa innings in his return to the team after missing three tests with injury, while Cummins bowled with menace throughout the final day to claim four wickets. Earlier, Australia ended South Africas first innings rearguard resistance shortly after lunch and enforced the follow-on. As he did in the first innings Cummins (1-16) made the initial breakthrough, again having Elgar (10) caught down the leg side for the second time in the match. It completed a miserable series for the Proteas skipper who made just 56 runs in six innings after scores of 3, 2, 26, 0, 15, 10 for an average of just over 9. It's just a bit frustrating that I could never get going throughout the series and when I could get going I managed to run myself out which is a massive no-no in test cricket, Elgar said on his meagre series return. Story continues After surviving multiple television reviews from a luckless Nathan Lyon, Heinrich Klaasen's luck finally ran out when Hazlewood (1-9) found a way through the batter's defense to bowl him for 35. Sarel Erwee (42 not out) and Temba Bavuma (17 not out) saw the tourists safely to the close without further loss and South Africas first drawn test in 47 matches. We actually had a conversation last night, just the players, around we can either go and lie down and just let Aussie roll us here and create a little bit more embarrassment or we actually go out there and fight out day five, said Elgar. It was great to see how the guys responded. Earlier Sunday, Hazlewood took 4-48 as the hosts eventually broke South Africa's resistance and bowled them out for 255, still 20 runs short of the follow-on target despite it being their highest score of the series. Marco Jansen took several fearsome body blows from Cummins early in the day in a courageous innings of 11 from 78 balls before his resistance was finally ended from the unlikely source of Travis Heads part-time spin. Keshav Maharaj top scored with 53 from 81 balls and Simon Harmer made his highest test score of 47 from 165 balls as the two lower order batters shared a 85-run stand over nearly 27 overs before Hazlewood removed both with balls angling towards the stumps. Nathan Lyon (2-88) caught and bowled Kagiso Rabada to finish the innings and Cummins immediately enforced the follow-on and gave his team 47 overs to try and bowl South Africa out again. On Saturday, Australia had a glimpse of what appeared an unlikely victory as it took six of the 20 South African wickets it needed after Cummins declared the hosts first innings at 475-4, with Usman Khawaja top scoring with 195 not out and Steve Smith making 104 for his 30th test century. Cummins then took three wickets in a fearsome display of pace bowling at his home SCG, while Hazlewood picked up two and Nathan Lyon claimed another as the Proteas finished Saturday at 149-6, trailing Australia by 327 runs. The draw denied Australia the win it needed to confirm a series clean sweep and its place in the world test championship final to be played at Lords in England in June, although it will have further opportunities to do so on the tour of India starting in February. There, they will need to win or draw one of the four tests in qualify for the final, or hope Sri Lanka do not win both their away tests in New Zealand in March. Australia had already won the series after two crushing defeats in the first two tests at Brisbane and Melbourne for its first series win at home against South Africa since 2005-06, where it also won 2-0 in a three test series. ___ More AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports A bag of THC-infused "Doritos." Yelena Dzhanova/Insider A new study found that children are consuming cannabis-infused products at astronomical rates. The packaging often resembles something familiar or enticing, like candy or chips. "A 3-year-old who sees a chocolate bar is very motivated to get to it," a poison control expert said. What do Doritos, Nerds, Fritos, and Haribo gummy bears have in common? They're all popular snacks consumed by millions in the US and they each have cannabis-infused lookalikes on the market. While these products are intended to be sold to and consumed by adults in the United States, they're making their way into the hands of a much younger audience. Children under the age of 6 are consuming cannabis at astronomical rates, according to a study published Tuesday by three emergency specialists in Illinois. From 2017 to 2021, the researchers found, reports of cannabis exposure in young children increased by 1,375%. The researchers analyzed data collected by America's Poison Centers, a nonprofit that represents 55 poison control centers in the US. While the study focused on children younger than 6, older kids are also consuming cannabis-infused products. In May, six elementary school students in California were hospitalized after eating Cannabis-laced Cheetos. In September, middle-schoolers in Georgia passed around "edible gummy bears" that some parents fear might have contained THC. And in November, six middle-school students in Missouri got sick after eating marijuana edibles passed around in class. "It's definitely something that they just get into by accident, and the fact that they're intentionally marketed to look like tasty candies is definitely a problem," said Antonia Nemanich, one of the study's authors. At first glance, it can be hard to tell the difference between a recreational cannabis product and a regular snack. Laws on cannabis packaging vary from state to state, according to Chris Wood, a California-based lawyer who specializes in corporate, transactional, and tax work for the cannabis industry. But generally, there are a series of items that must be visible on the outside of a package carrying a cannabis-infused product. They include: Story continues Universal symbols that indicate the presence of cannabis A prominent government warning specifying the legal age and possible effects of consumption How many servings are included in the package Images indicating what a serving looks like But because laws vary and because the industry is growing so quickly that it's escaping regulation not every package will include all these labels. Storefronts for four recreational weed stores in Queens, New York. Yelena Dzhanova/Insider In New York City, unlicensed weed shops boomed after the state legalized cannabis in 2021. One store in Washington Square Park sells Doritos and Fritos infused with 500 to 600 milligrams of THC. Aside from labels specifying the amount and various warnings and other design minutiae, the packaging looks nearly identical to non-THC chips. "If you're an adult who's not looking very closely or maybe does not have a high level of literacy looking at that label, you might miss it," said Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Copycat products are not legal in some states, Wood said. California law, for example, forbids anything that resembles or can be confused with a commercially available, non-cannabis product. But products are still sold across state lines on the black market, he said. Lookalike products are almost always produced by unlicensed manufacturers. An example of a product made and sold by Hippy Mood. Courtesy of Amy Romejko Some manufacturers, like Pennsylvania-based Hippy Mood, incorporate child safety locks on their products to prevent child access. The packaging for Hippy Mood products is designed not to entice kids, according to co-owner Amy Romejko. "We don't put anything [on the packaging] that it mimics candies, like children's candies, or anything like that," Romejko said. The study found that 97% of the exposures between 2017 and 2021 occurred in residential settings, meaning children often got into a parent or guardian's stash. "It's important that parents lock these up, put them in places that are inaccessible to children," Nemanich said. "But then if they were to mess up and say, leave it out on the counter, the way that they're packaged right now, it's something that if a kid even just sees it, I think it's inevitable." Parents should also make sure to keep an eye on children while they're near a stash of cannabis-infused products. "Remember the kids sometimes climb on chairs to get into cabinets," said Calello of the New Jersey Poison Control Center. "A 3-year-old who sees a chocolate bar is very motivated to get to it." Adults should immediately contact poison control if they suspect a child has accidentally consumed a cannabis-infused product. Symptoms for children who consume cannabis can vary widely, depending on their age, weight, and dose. Michele Caliva, administrative director of the Upstate New York Poison Center, told Insider she's seen cases in which children who've consumed cannabis are in an "altered state." They could be drowsy, acting scared, or paranoid. In some cases, she said, children have been monitored for 12-24 hours in the hospital. Other times, the effects might be more severe. Children might experience hallucinations or have seizures, Calello said. In some cases, children might end up on a ventilator because they're unable to breathe, according to Kaitlyn Brown, clinical managing director at America's Poison Centers. "That is a really rare portion of children, but I think it's important to highlight that those severe complications have been reported just because cannabis is considered to be really safe by a lot of adult users and experienced users, but we're definitely seeing how differently toxic doses impact children just because they're able to ingest larger quantities of these cannabis products," Brown said. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 20: Pre-rolled joints and gummy infused candy are sold on World Weed Day April 20, 2022 in New York City's Washington Square Park. Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images Normally, pediatric poisoning is something kids grow out of, Calello said. But it's different with cannabis edibles because they can look like candy. "A 9- and 10-year-old is very interested in eating candy whether they know it contains cannabis or not," she said. And cannabis-infused products may not be the only concern. Doctors and poison control experts said magic mushrooms, which are sometimes packed in chocolate, could be next. "It's something on our radar for sure," said Brown of America's Poison Centers. If you believe you have been exposed or need emergency assistance please call Poison Help at 1.800.222.1222 or visit PoisonHelp.org for additional resources and support. Read the original article on Insider Supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro demonstrate against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, outside Brazils National Congress in Brasilia, Brazil, December 8, 2023. REUTERS/Adriano Machado Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the nation's Congress, per Reuters. Bolsonaro, a far-right politician, was ousted in an election last October. He has challenged the election results and doubted the credibility of the country's voting system. Supporters of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro on Sunday stormed the country's Supreme Court and National Congress buildings in the capital, Reuters reported. Citing local media, Reuters reported that around 3,000 people were involved and stormed the buildings destroying furniture and property in the buildings. NPR reported that supporters climbed on top of the roof of the building and broke the glass on its windows. The sight drew eerily similar to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection in Washington, D.C. The clashes in Brazil came just a week after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in on January 1. Supporters of Bolsonaro have been protesting ever since Lula da Silva won the election against Bolsonaro in October, NPR reported. Bolsonaro, a far-right politician, had challenged the election results spewing doubt about the credibility of the country's electronic voting system, Reuters reported. According to a video posted on Twitter, some protesters pulled a policeman off his horse and struck him with sticks and poles. The New York Times reported that dozens stormed into the presidential offices with several protesters making a barricade to prevent police from entering and allowing more protesters to get in. The buildings were fairly empty since Congress was not in session on Sunday, the Times reported, adding that Lula da Silva was in Sao Paulo, and Bolsonaro is believed to be in Florida. The former president traveled to Florida last month as his term in office came to an end. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Read the original article on Insider Biden's administration filed its full legal defense of its student-debt relief plan to the Supreme Court. Student-loan company MOHELA is central to the lawsuit filed by six GOP-led states. The DOJ said that ruling in favor of the states' argument could set a strange legal precedent. A Missouri-based student-loan company has found itself at the center of a lawsuit blocking student-loan forgiveness and President Joe Biden's administration said its role could set a strange legal precedent moving forward. It's a critical year for millions of student-loan borrowers as Biden's plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt will have its day at the Supreme Court on February 28. For over two months, implementation of the relief has been blocked due to two lawsuits against the administration. One was filed by two student-loan borrowers who did not qualify for the full $20,000 amount of relief, and another by six Republican-led states who said the relief would hurt their states' tax revenues, along with that of student-loan company MOHELA. While the administration has pushed back on the arguments in both cases and claimed neither of them have the standing to sue, the latter involving MOHELA is complex, given that the company itself denied it had any involvement in the case in November following the 8th Circuit ruling that blocked the relief. Adding to that complexity, the Justice Department wrote in a legal filing on Wednesday night that upholding the 8th Circuit's ruling would mean that "banks could sue anyone who causes financial harm to their borrowers, credit-card companies could sue anyone who causes financial harm to their customers, and governments could sue anyone who causes financial harm to their taxpayers." Dalie Jimenez, a law professor at University of California Irvine and director of the Student Loan Law Initiative, told Insider that Biden's legal defense "did a really good job in saying that if A causes financial harm to B, and B owes money to C, then C can sue... and that's bonkers." Story continues She added that the states' standing is questionable, and she's concerned of the legal precedent it would set should the Supreme Court rule in their favor. "I think this is an important case," Jimenez said. "I'm a little bit afraid of what is going to happen more for the larger implications on what the Supreme Court does, what its purpose is, and its role and legitimacy. Favoring the GOP-led states' case has "startling implications" Since the lawsuit arose, Biden's Justice Department has argued that MOHELA is a separate entity from the state and can sue and be sued on its own, and the department responded to the states' claim that the relief would cause MOHELA to stop receiving servicing fees, which would impair the company's "ability to fulfill its state-law obligation to contribute a specified amount of money to the state treasury." "But the States have never alleged that the plan will cause MOHELA to default on its obligations to the State," the Justice Department wrote. "And it is pure speculation that, if the plan causes a reduction in MOHELA's revenues, MOHELA will respond by defaulting on its obligations rather than, say, cutting its other expenditures." Steve Vladeck, a professor at the University of Texas School of Law, said during a Wednesday press call that every case filed in a federal court has to demonstrate that the plaintiff would be injured by the policy, that the injury can be directly traced back to the defendant, and that the relief they're seeking would address those injuries. But the harms MOHELA could suffer are unknown and "Missouri itself is not harmed directly, and... the indirect harm Missouri suffers through the harm to MOHELA is speculative at best," Vladeck said. And, as the Justice Department wrote in its filing, four of the states Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Carolina said the debt relief would also hurt their tax revenues because their state tax codes chose to include debt relief as gross income, even though federal law prevents debt relief from being taxed through 2025. "Any harm to the States' treasuries here is likewise self-inflicted," the filing said, adding that "any resulting reduction in their tax revenues is fairly traceable not to the Secretary's plan, but instead to their own choices about how to structure their tax laws." Should the Supreme Court rule in favor of the states, it would have "startling implications," the filing said. "Virtually all federal actionsfrom prosecuting crime to imposing taxes to managing propertyhave some incidental effects on state finances," it said. "If such incidental effects suffice for standing, every State would have standing to challenge almost any federal policy." While Biden's Education Department extended the student-loan payment pause 60 days after June 30 or when the lawsuits are resolved whichever happens first Jimenez said that if the Supreme Court ends up striking down the debt relief, it's vital the administration finds another way to deliver student-loan forgiveness before payments resume. "I do think that even if they end up holding this particular cancellation program to not be proper, that there are other ways that the administration can do this and should do this," she said. Read the original article on Business Insider Joe Biden was confronted by the governor of Texas on the tarmac on Sunday after the latter complained hours earlier that he had only been extended an invitation to meet him as an afterthought. The moment occurred as Mr Biden touched down in the Lone Star State for a trip to the US-Mexico border, where he met with agents from US Customs and Border Protection as well as local elected leaders. The trip comes as the president has long faced criticism from conservatives for not viewing the situation at the US-Mexico border firsthand, as well as for rolling back controversial Trump-era immigration policies that were long decried by Democrats as inhumane. Greg Abbott handed the president a letter outlining his concerns about the number of migrants encountered in the US-Mexico border region, which has steadily risen in the two years Mr Biden has been in office. The letter concluded with a list of demands that included steps not even taken by the Trump administration during the latters four years in power. Today, I met with President Biden during his first visit to the border. I hand-delivered a letter asking him to do his constitutional duty to secure our border and keep Texans and Americans safe. Full letter: https://t.co/04B6hYfKRJ pic.twitter.com/bAHxCbBNJ8 Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) January 8, 2023 Those steps included declaring drug cartels to be international terrorist groups, potentially authorising US military action against them, as well as greatly expanding detentions and deportations of undocumented immigrants. He also seeks that the Biden administration cease releasing migrants while their asylum claims are adjudicated, and continue construction of border fencing ordered built by Donald Trump. It was a laundry list of steps the president is highly unlikely to take, especially given the unlikelihood of the White House taking any steps to try and work with Republicans in the Senate to pass immigration reform legislation; that possibility all but died with the election of a GOP majority in the House largely seen as beholden to the far right. Story continues President Joe Biden meets Texas Governor Greg Abbott in El Paso, Texas (REUTERS) Mr Abbott in particular has faced scathing criticism from Democrats in recent months over a busing campaign that has led to groups of Central- and South American migrants being dropped off in cities and towns controlled by Democratic elected officials, including outside of the US Naval Observatory in Washington DC (home of the vice president). In many cases, those migrant bus caravans have ended with large groups of migrants including children being dropped off in the dead of night with little to no coordination between local governments and only volunteer groups available to assist the migrants in finding shelter or further transportation to another destination. Rep. Tony Gonzales said Sunday he was frustrated that the White House told him he couldn't be part of President Joe Biden's planned trip to the Southern border . "Im not this crazy extremist Republican. Im jumping up and down, pushing against my party when I think its right," said Gonzales (R-Texas), who represents parts of El Paso, on CBS' "Face the Nation." Gonzales, who said he asked Biden to visit the border seven months ago, said he didn't know why he wasn't invited. The congressman's comments came shortly before Biden was expected to touch down in El Paso for his first trip to the border since becoming president. Last week, Biden unveiled a new immigration policy aimed at curbing illegal crossings, following widespread criticism from Republicans about his administration's handling of the southern border. The members invited on the trip were Texas Reps. Veronica Escobar, Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez all of them Democrats along with local leaders, according to the White House. Asked Sunday on "Face the Nation" why her Republican colleagues weren't invited, Escobar avoided the question. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On his trip, Biden needs to hear from local leaders about how immigration challenges "have grown exponentially" in the face of "an historic refugee crisis in our Western Hemisphere," Escobar said. Escobar said she has worked with the Biden administration, including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, but that policy has hit a "brick wall" in Congress. "Many of my colleagues felt why are we, you know, basically working on all this immigration work when we have a 50/50 Senate and no Republicans willing to work with us?" Escobar said. "I'm hoping things change." Mayorkas, for his part, said Sunday on ABC's "This Week" that he had no plans to step down, following threats of impeachment from newly elected Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Story continues A bipatisan group of senators is expected to also visit the border this week, led by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), according to a Friday press release from Sinema. "I hope they see what the president will see today, which is opportunity, but also long overdue work," Escobar said of the Senate group. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), who was not among those listed on the release as visiting the border this week, said Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation" he was "delighted" Biden is making the trip. He should have gone sooner, in my view," King told host Margaret Brennan. The following is a transcript of an interview with Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas that aired on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, on "Face the Nation." MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back to Face The Nation. President Biden travels to El Paso today after announcing new border enforcement actions last week. Democratic Congresswoman Veronica Escobar will travel with the president to Texas later today. I'm so glad you could join us. REP. VERONICA ESCOBAR (D-TX): Thank you for having me. MARGARET BRENNAN: So the president is going to visit one of the busiest ports of entry in El Paso. He's going to meet with officials and other aid organizations. What can we do to make sure that this three hour visit is more than just a photo op? REP. ESCOBAR: Well, we've worked with the White House to make sure that all the folks who are actually doing the work on the ground day to day are the ones that the president will meet with. He needs to hear about how, over time, the challenges that we have faced as a country on immigration, on border issues - they have grown exponentially. What we are seeing Margaret is an historic refugee crisis in our Western Hemisphere, and our infrastructure is outdated. Our processes are outdated, and the border has for too long been used as a political prop. We all have to come together and solve this once and for all. MARGARET BRENNAN: Why aren't there any Republicans from Congress invited to go with the president? REP. ESCOBAR: You'd have to ask the White House that question, you know. I, I have been working very closely with the administration. I know two of my colleagues who are coming on the trip have also been working very closely with the administration. I think. From my perspective, I want to spend as much time just sharing with the president, what we're seeing what we've seen since 2014, the warning signs we've seen since 2014, and most importantly, what we can do going forward to focus on the solutions that our country needs that border communities need and a way that we can better treat everyone in the process with dignity. Story continues MARGARET BRENNAN: So we looked at the latest CBS polling, only 38% of Americans actually approve of what the president is doing on immigration. 62% disapprove. This has consistently been one of his weakest issues. And it was just this last week, he gave his very first speech on the border policy. For the first time he's going today. And it's taken, what two years to find some kind of alternative to Title 42. I understand it's going before the Supreme Court. But why is it taking so long to get just this? REP. ESCOBAR: This challenge that we're facing is so complex. I'm with you, I would have loved to have seen the administration lean in on immigration from day one. MARGARET BRENNAN: Why didn't they? REP. ESCOBAR: Because, you know, you'd have to ask them that. I have been in Congress. I'm starting. I was just sworn in yesterday for my third term. And I've been working on border issues and border solutions since day one. The executive branch is not the only branch of government that needs to do its job, though. And I will tell you, I've worked very closely with Secretary Mayorkas. He has been phenomenal. Every idea that I have asked him to explore he has. Every collaboration I've asked him to engage in, he has. Where it's been - where I've hit a brick wall is Congress. And frankly, Democrats and Republicans alike. I mean, last Congress, we had a majority, we passed House Democrats did pass immigration bills. We didn't do as much as I wish we would have. But many of my colleagues felt, why are we you know, basically working on all this immigration work when we have a 50/50 Senate and no Republicans willing to work with us. I'm hoping things change. There's a bipartisan delegation going to El Paso from the Senate tomorrow. And I hope they see what the president will see today, which is opportunity, but also long overdue work. MARGARET BRENNAN: That's why I asked why the White House wasn't including Republicans in that delegation you're going with. Let's talk about what the administration did just announce because it's pretty big, this policy. They're expanding the use of that same Title 42 policy, the pandemic era restrictions that allow for expulsion without guaranteed asylum hearings. And it's going to allow them to dramatically step up expulsions of Cubans, Nicaraguans, Haitians, Venezuelans, they make up the majority of those crossing. You oppose Title 42. Does that mean you oppose what the Biden administration is doing? REP. ESCOBAR: Well, it's a complicated answer. So the - the administration in the absence of any legislation from the Congress has very few tools available. I'm a staunch opponent of Title 42. In fact, I think Title 42 is the reason why those apprehension - encounter numbers are so high because people kept trying over and over and over again. When you're expelled from the border, you're going to try in different areas. I think it also helped fuel the human trafficking that we've seen a significant increase in, and all of this started with the Trump administration. In my conversations with the Department of Homeland Security, because a Louisiana judge essentially created a situation where they have to continue to use Title 42. They can't go to a different policy, which was used prior to Title 42 called Title Eight. Now, Title Eight is - is much more punitive. And I think that is what the Administration is ultimately going to go toward, once a judge allows the Biden administration to do away with Title 42. MARGARET BRENNAN: Which could come in June from the Supreme Court. REP. ESCOBAR: Could come in June, but even then, Margaret, we will not have had a legislative solution. So all of these executive branch efforts really are just temporary band-aids, whether it's Title Eight, whether it's Title 42, if we need to make sure that Congress acts. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah, it sounds like you don't have a lot of high hopes for that kind of action. But let me ask about the Biden policy. So it's going to allow 30 - up to 30,000 migrants per month from the four countries we just listed to enter if they have a US sponsor. It will also allow migrants to apply via cell phone app, something called CBP One. Does someone fleeing abject poverty really have a cell phone to apply for access? REP. ESCOBAR: Believe it or not most of and let me tell you, I've been in the immigration space for 30 years, I've been working on immigration, both as an advocate as a local government official, and now in Congress. I spent two weeks with migrants leading up to my trip back to DC to get sworn in, whether they were in custody or whether they were in a shelter, I had conversations. The vast majority of refugees who are fleeing their home countries do have cell phones, that's how they communicate with one another. That's how they communicate with their the folks at home. But I will tell you, we do need far more robust State Department involvement, especially for those who do not have access to that kind of technology. We need far greater education. Many of the refugees that I have spoken to, especially over the last couple of weeks, are - have no concept of what the asylum process is. Their idea is I'm going to go to the border, I'm going to get a job. And I'm going to help my family, something all of us would do, of course. So there's a lot of work that needs to be done, whether it's assisting those who don't have a cell phone, access these services and legal pathways offered through CBP one, or whether it is edu- helping to educate folks about those legal pathways so that they have a better shot. MARGARET BRENNAN: I asked you that because I know some have argued is it's discriminatory against those who have the least. Mexico as part of this binding agreement has agreed to take about 30,000 people a month from the four countries. But one of the things that we've consistently heard over the past few years and - it was a harsh criticism of the Trump administration - is that when individuals are pushed back to Mexico, and they're awaiting some kind of action, they face a lot of violence. So if you criticize it during the Trump administration, you must be a critic during the Biden administration? REP. ESCOBAR: Absolutely. And that's why I'm - I'm grateful that the president's going to Mexico City to talk to the president. Every step of the journey along the way for these refugees, people who leave with little more than a backpack, and their hopes and dreams experience a nightmarish journey along the way. And many migrants have told me in fact that the - the most dangerous part of the journey is in Mexico. And so there's a lot of work that needs to be done. But Margaret, not just in Mexico, but for the entire hemisphere. We are seeing people fleeing their home countries heading to Costa Rica, heading to countries all as all south of here. We have to make sure that diplomatically we are engaging at the highest levels. And finally giving the western hemisphere the kind of attention that it has lacked for a long time by, by the US government. MARGARET BRENNAN: Congresswoman, thank you for your time today. REP. ESCOBAR: Thank you, Margaret. MARGARET BRENNAN: We'll be right back. CBS News poll on Americans' views on 2023: Things get better, but still not good GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales criticizes White House for handling of Biden border trip GOP Rep. Nancy Mace says she might oppose House rules package, calls Gaetz a "fraud" Donald Trump marked the two-year anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riot by accusing a lunatic police officer of shooting protester Ashli Babbitt for no reason and reiterating his false claims about a stolen 2020 election. On Saturday, Mr Trump gave a speech at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, as part of an event surrounding the conservative CPAC conference. During his remarks, the former president referenced Babbitt, a right-wing demonstrator who was shot and killed by police during January 6 as she attempted to climb through a window into the Capitol, and the recent arrest of Babbitts mother at a January 6 commemoration in Washington. Ashli Babbitts mother was arrested yesterday because she was protesting the death of her daughter being shot by a lunatic, Mr Trump said . Trump tonight complains about Ashli Babbitts mother getting arrested yesterday, and says Ashli was shot by a lunatic for no reason .. Were not gonna let this go on .. What theyve done to (J6) protesters. pic.twitter.com/vtyi8uVBvG Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) January 8, 2023 So she loses her daughter and then on top of it she gets arrested and we are not going to let this go on, Mr Trump added. These people are horrible, horrible people. What theyve done to protesters. These are protesters. They were protesting a dishonest election. On Friday, Babbitts mother Micki Witthoeft, 58, was arrested when a group of protesters who did not have a permit to demonstrate on the Capitol grounds attempted to cross a street and enter the grounds. Video shows officers telling Ms Witthoeft to move out of the street or be arrested, which she responds to by turning around and offering her hands to be handcuffed. "The officers and officials told the group to get out of the road or the group would be arrested. The sidewalk was open. A woman in the group was given multiple warnings to get our of the road," according to a press release from the US Capitol Police. "Instead of getting out of the road, the woman refused to leave, turned around with her hands behind her back, and asked to be arrested." Story continues VIDEO: Today while holding a second anniversary march for January 6 around the Capitol, Micki Witthoeft, the mother of Ashli Babbitt, was arrested by Capitol Police Lieutenant Ryan Schauf for refusing to move to the sidewalk. Video by me @N2Sreports pic.twitter.com/e59iHpqCNx Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) January 6, 2023 She was given a citation to appear in court and released later that day. Since her death, Babbitt has become a martyr to the far-right . Lt Michael Byrd, the officer who shot Babbitt, has defended the shooting, saying the decision saved countless lives because Babbitt was about to break into a part of the Capitol not far from legislators. I know members of Congress, as well as my fellow officers and staff, were in jeopardy and in serious danger, he said in 2021. And thats my job. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) After running a campaign heavily focused on national politics and her time as President Donald Trump's spokeswoman, Sarah Huckabee Sanders says she wants to keep her attention on Arkansas as she takes charge as the state's 47th governor. Sanders will be sworn in Tuesday, becoming the first woman governor of Arkansas, her home state. She also is ascending to the post her father, Mike Huckabee, held for more than a decade. Sanders, who served nearly two years as White House press secretary, is the best-known former Trump official to assume elected office. Since winning election, the 40-year-old Republican has largely avoided weighing in on the former president who endorsed her bid and appeared prominently in her campaign materials. Right now, my focus is strictly on Arkansas, getting sworn in here on Jan. 10 and hitting the ground running for my first legislative session," Sanders told The Associated Press in an interview last week when asked if she will support Trump's 2024 presidential bid. Keeping the focus on Arkansas will be tested as she embraces legislative priorities that include overhauling the state's education system, cutting income taxes and adopting new public safety measures. She clearly has some national aspirations, University of Arkansas political science professor Janine Parry said. In order to fulfill those, its likely shell have to show some capacity for governance. Sanders takes office as Trump's influence in the GOP appears to be waning. Sanders' predecessor, Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, is considering a run for president and has said Trump winning the Republican nomination would be the worst scenario" for the party. Sanders, however, has said she thinks the country would be better off right now if Trump were in office. She faces an environment most governors would dream of. Arkansas sits atop more than $2 billion in reserve funds and Republicans expanded their supermajority in the state Legislature in November. Story continues Sanders said the first bill on her agenda she wants the Legislature to pass is an education reform measure containing a pay raise for teachers, a focus on improving literacy rates and more school safety measures. Sanders has not proposed a specific pay hike amount though House and Senate committees have recommended $4,000 teacher raises. In his lame duck budget proposal last year, Hutchinson recommended education funding be increased by $550 million over the next two years to accommodate teacher raises. Sanders also supports some form of school choice parental empowerment as she puts it to allow state money to be used for private schools or homeschooling. Parents should be able to decide how and where their kids can best be educated," she said. Sanders has indicated she will follow the lead of another high-profile GOP governor, Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis, another potential presidential contender. Her pick for education secretary, Jacob Oliva, is one of the top Florida school officials. Sanders said she would support legislation similar to a Florida law that forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. Critics, who have dubbed the ban the Don't Say Gay" law, have said that type of restriction marginalizes LGBTQ people. Sanders said she also hopes to begin fulfilling her promise to phase out the state income tax, though she did not have a specific amount of a cut she'd push for this year. Hutchinson has signed several income tax cuts into law the past eight years. The incoming governor's agenda also includes public safety measures, with Sanders supporting a new prison and a truth in sentencing" law. And she wants to look at work requirements for the state's Medicaid expansion, despite a federal judge blocking such a requirement. Sanders stopped short of saying whether she will continue Medicaid expansion, but wants to examine its costs and sustainability. My job and my goal is not to take assistance away from the people who need it, but we also can't bankrupt the state," she said. Her inauguration marks the first time in 42 years Arkansas will have a governor without any experience in elected office. Hutchinson, a former congressman, has been a fixture in Arkansas politics since the 1980s. Thats created uncertainty in the Legislature. Democrats, whose ranks have shrunk in the Legislature, said they're wary but keeping an open mind. We know the rhetoric, we know the Trump administration weve seen," said Democratic Rep. Tippi McCullough, the House minority leader. We know all of that. But we dont now how shes going to govern.'' Republicans, some of whom clashed with Hutchinson in his final years in office, said they view the lack of elected experience as a plus. The main difference is just the freshness of perspective, said Republican Sen. Bart Hester, the chambers incoming president pro tem. I feel like Gov. Sanders is coming in with no strings attached. Sanders sought advice from her father and others, and said she plans to be hands-on while dealing with the Legislature. I dont know how to be anything other than involved and hands-on in whatever Im doing, Sanders said. Another exchange of prisoners has taken place; 50 more Ukrainian servicemen were freed as a result. Source: Andrii Yermak, the Head of the Presidential Administration Yermak Quote: "Another successful exchange of prisoners. We have brought 50 more of our defenders home. These are men belonging to the Armed Forces, territorial defence, the National Guard of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service, the Ukrainian Navy,and the Special Operations Forces. 33 officers, 17 privates and sergeants. We are bringing home people that were captured at the Chornobyl NPP, defenders of Mariupol, boys from the Donetsk front and Bakhmut, as well as from Kyiv, Chernihiv and Kherson oblasts, where intense battles took place. This exchange is not the last one. Our ultimate goal is to bring back all our people, and we will make it happen." Later, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that this time 25 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 13 National Guard of Ukraine servicemen, four border guards, three servicemen of Ukrainian Naval Forces and five members of territorial defence are returning to their families. Among the freed defenders are 11 captives from the Chornobyl NPP, eight defenders of Mariupol, nine defenders of Kyiv Oblast, as well as captives from Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk, as well as Chernihiv and Kherson Oblasts. The oldest person freed is 54 years old, and the youngest is 19. This is the 36th exchange since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. In total, 1,646 Ukrainians have been returned home, among them both military personnel and civilians. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Key developments on Jan. 8: Russian forces are slowly advancing in the eastern Donetsk Oblast, and the situation is very difficult in the town of Soledar, near the fiercely contested city of Bakhmut, a Ukrainian defense official said on Jan. 8. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar reported that tough heavy fighting is raging in eastern Ukraine as Russia masses its forces in a desperate bid to capture any settlement for propaganda purposes. Ukrainian forces, mainly composed of mobilized civilians, are fiercely defending and advancing little by little as well in the heavily fortified east of the country, according to Maliar. Its very difficult in Soledar, Maliar said in a Telegram post. They (Russian troops) concentrated considerable efforts there in order to reach the borders of Donetsk Oblast. Maliars statement comes a few days after Russian propagandists reports that Russian forces had allegedly broken the Ukrainian defense in Soledar and that fighting raged in the town. Serhiy Cherevaty, a spokesman for Ukraines Eastern Group of Forces, on Jan. 7 denied Russias earlier report that it had captured Soledar, saying that Ukraine still controls the town despite the continuing heavy bloody battles on the ground. Also on Jan. 7, Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on national television that Ukrainian forces are trying to retake lost positions in Soledar where Russian forces had partial success, but the town remains under Ukrainian control. Story continues Kyrylo Mykhailov, an analyst with Conflict Intelligence Team, an independent Russian investigative group analyzing the war in Ukraine, told the Kyiv Independent on Jan. 8 that Russian forces have likely made some progress (in Soledar), but it does not appear to be stable. In a Telegram post, Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Kremlin-controlled mercenary Wagner Group fighting alongside the Russian military in eastern Ukraine, said that capturing Soledar and Bakhmut was vital since they have an underground network where troops and tanks could be stored. "The cherry on the cake is the system of Soledar and Bakhmut mines, which is actually a network of underground cities," Prigozhin said on Jan. 7. It not only (has the ability to hold) a big group of people at a depth of 80-100 meters, but tanks and infantry fighting vehicles can also move about. Ukraine earlier said that Russia had brought in multiple private army groups, including Wagner, in a desperate bid to boast even a minor advance amid its stalled war efforts. Soledar is located about 15 kilometers northeast of Bakhmut, a salt-mining city nearly emptied of its 70,000 residents that Russia has desperately tried to capture for the past six months. Russian forces made marginal confirmed advances in Soledar amid continuing Russian offensive operations around Bakhmut and along the western outskirts of (occupied) Donetsk city, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based defense think-tank observing the war in Ukraine, said on Jan. 7. Recent Russian gains in Soledar do not portend an imminent encirclement of Bakhmut, contrary to claims made by Russian sources, the ISW said, adding that the long-sought encirclement of Bakhmut is still a distant goal for Moscow. Evolving front line Behind the fierce battles raging in the Bakhmut sector, Russian troops are strengthening their defense as they anticipate Ukraine to launch yet another counteroffensive to liberate more territories. Russias bolstered defense fortification signals that Russian commanders are likely pre-occupied with Ukraines potential breakthrough in the northern part of Luhansk Oblast in the east of Ukraine, or the central part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast in the southeast of Ukraine, the U.K. Defense Ministry said on Jan. 8. A major Ukrainian breakthrough in (occupied parts of) Zaporizhzhia (Oblast) would seriously challenge the viability of Russias land bridge linking Russias Rostov region and Crimea, the U.K. Defense Ministry said in its daily intelligence report. Meanwhile, a potential Ukrainian success in the largely occupied Luhansk Oblast would further undermine the Kremlins war goal of capturing the Donbas, an industrial heartland comprised of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, according to the report. This intelligence report comes a few months after Ukraines successful counteroffensive in the east and south of the country, which included the liberation of Kherson the only regional capital that Russia had been able to capture since February 2022. More than ten months into Russias full-scale invasion, Ukraine has liberated about 40% of territories that Russia had occupied since February. Kyiv has repeatedly vowed to recapture all of its occupied territories from Russia. In its Jan. 7 intelligence report, the U.K. Defense Ministry said that Ukrainian forces are pushing in around Kreminna in Luhansk Oblast and that fierce fighting raged west of the occupied town. Kreminna sits some 25 kilometers northwest of Sievierodonetsk, the pre-last Ukrainian holdout in Luhansk Oblast that served as the regional administrative center until Russian troops occupied the city in late June. Attacks amid Russias said ceasefire As Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox Christmas over the weekend in Kyiv and elsewhere away from the front line, heavy fighting raged in the south of Ukraine. Speaking on television, Southern Operational Command spokeswoman Natalia Humeniuk said on Jan. 8 that the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the countrys south continues. She claimed that neither Ukraine nor Russia had absolute control over the Kinburn Spit, and the operation is difficult, especially due to the weather. The narrow, 10-kilometer-long Kinburn Spit is part of Mykolaiv Oblast, but it's attached to mainland Kherson Oblast in the south of Ukraine. Russian attacks against civilians living in the liberated parts of Kherson Oblast also continued over the weekend. In a Telegram post on Jan. 8, Kherson Oblast Governor Yaroslav Yanushevych reported that Russian troops used widely banned air-dropped incendiary ammunition to attack the central residential area in Kherson city. Yanushevych said that there were no casualties or distractions as a result of the attack. Moscow has not commented on Yanushevychs accusation of its troops using banned weapons. Despite Russias claim about a ceasefire on Jan. 6-7, during which Russian President Vladimir Putin said fighting would temporarily halt to meet Orthodox Christmas, Russian attacks killed two civilians and wounded nine across Ukraine on Jan. 7, according to Deputy Head of the President's Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko. Prisoner swap In other news, Ukraine and Russia executed their first prisoner exchange in 2023 on Jan. 8, swapping 50 military personnel, both sides reported. Among Ukrainians who returned are 33 officers and 17 privates and sergeants, according to Head of Ukraines Presidential Office Andriy Yermak. Nearly 3,400 Ukrainian soldiers were still held in Russian captivity as of Jan. 3, according to Ukrainian ombudsman for defenders' rights, Aliona Verbytska. An estimated 15,000 Ukrainians, both military and civilians, were still missing as of late December, Verbytska said during an interview with German media network Redaktions Netzwerk Deutschland (RND). Ukraines defence forces struck 26 concentrations of Russian forces and repelled Russian attacks in the vicinity of 16 cities, towns and villages over the course of the past 24 hours. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 8 January Quote: "The enemy is deploying additional military personnel, weapons, equipment and ammunition to combat zones in order to replenish losses and support their offensive." "The enemy is suffering significant losses while conducting offensives on the Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Lyman fronts and trying to improve the tactical position of its forces on the Kupiansk front. The occupation forces are on the defensive on the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson fronts." Details: Despite the so-called "ceasefire" declared by the Russian President Vladimir Putin over Christmas, Russian forces carried out nine missile strikes, three airstrikes and 40 attacks using multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) over the course of 7 January. Some of these attacks targeted civilian infrastructure, killing and injuring civilians. Over the course of the past 24 hours, Ukraines defence forces repelled Russian attacks near 16 cities, towns and villages, including Stelmakhivka, Makiivka and Bilohorivka (Luhansk Oblast), and Rozdolivka, Soledar, Bakhmut, Zalizne, Pervomaiske, Vodiane and Pobieda (Donetsk Oblast). Areas in and around Starytsia and Dvorichna (Kharkiv Oblast) came under Russian attack on the Siversk and Slobozhanshchyna fronts. A Russian attack drone struck the area in the vicinity of Oleksandrivka. Russian artillery shelled areas in and around Ivanivka, Stelmakhivka, Miasozharivka, Ploshchanka, Makiivka, Nevske, Chervonopopivka and Dibrova (Luhansk Oblast) on the Kupiansk and Lyman front. On the Bakhmut front, Berestove, Bilohorivka, Vesele, Krasna Hora, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka, Bila Hora, Dyliivka, Zalizne and New-York (Donetsk Oblast) came under Russian fire. Story continues On the Avdiivka front, Russian forces shelled Nevelske, Marinka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk Oblast). On the Novopavlivka front, Velyka Novosilka, Zolota Nyva and Vuhledar (Donetsk Oblast) came under Russian attack. On the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson fronts, Russian forces deployed tank guns, mortars, and tubed and rocket artillery to fire on areas in and around Antonivka, Charivne, Dorozhnianka, Inzhenerne, Bilohiria, Oleksiivka, Mali Shcherbaky, Stepove and Kamianske (Zaporizhzhia Oblast). The General Staff also reported that Russian occupation forces stopped broadcasting all Ukrainian TV channels in Hornostaivka, Kaiiry, Zavodivka and Marinske on the occupied territory of Kherson Oblast; only Russian TV is broadcasting in those areas. Ukraines aircraft carried out airstrikes on 21 areas where Russian forces were concentrated and on three Russian anti-aircraft missile systems over the course of 7 January. Three Russian Orlan-10 reconnaissance drones were shot down. Ukraines Rocket Forces and Artillery struck a Russian command post, five concentrations of Russian military personnel and equipment and two ammunition storage points. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! An elderly man who suffers from dementia was been found Sunday afternoon in Newington, after going missing from his East Hartford home Saturday afternoon, police said. Robert Abrom, 72, left his home in the 300 block of Park Avenue about 1 p.m. Saturday to go for a walk and never returned home, according to a Silver Alert issued by the East Hartford Police Department. Officers searched the area near Abroms home and near a home where he used to live on Oxford Avenue. Connecticut State Police K-9s were called in and a bloodhound helped search for Abrom, police said. He was eventually found Sunday afternoon, police said, with help form several jurisdictions. According to police, Abrom had minor injuries, for which he was being treated at a local hospital. The Russian ministry gave no evidence for its claim, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces has denied that the so-called revenge operation even happened. Read also: Russian agent gets 14 years in jail for spying on Ukrainian positions in Kramatorsk The Russian ministry on Jan. 8 claimed it had located temporary positions of Ukrainian troops in two college dormitories in Kramatorsk city in Donetsk Oblast. "There were over 700 Ukrainian troops in one of them and over 600 in the other," the message reads. They also wrote about "missile strikes" on them. Serhiy Cherevaty, a spokesman for the Ukrainian army, commenting on these claims to Suspilne TV, said they were untrue. The Russians are not capable of highly precise strikes, he said, and speculated that the Russians were simply carrying out an information operation. Read also: 14 houses damaged by Russian attack in Kramatorsk Photo Report "This information is no more true than their claims of all our HIMARS being destroyed, Cherevaty said. Russia has made many claims to have destroyed Ukrainian HIMARS precision rocket systems so many, in fact, that the number of systems Russia claims to have destroyed is more than the number actually supplied to Ukraine. Read also: Kramatorsk under Russian artillery strikes This is an information operation of Russia's Ministry of Defense in response to the successful actions of the Ukrainian Army in eliminating large concentrations of personnel, their warehouses, logistics with our high-precision destruction systems. They have no such capability," Cherevaty went on. The mayor of Kramatorsk, Oleksandr Honcharenko, confirmed that there had been a Russian missile strike against the city on Jan. 8 overnight. He said two educational facilities, eight residential buildings and garages were damaged, but luckily no deaths or injuries had been reported. Read also: Russia attempting to advance towards Kramatorsk, general staff says Story continues Reuters journalists visited the two college dormitories the Russian Defense Ministry had mentioned, neither of which had been seriously damaged by the missile attacks. "There were no obvious signs that soldiers had been living there, and no sign of bodies or traces of blood," the news agency wrote. Earlier, on New Year's Eve, Ukraine's military hit a college building in Makiyivka housing mobilized Russian troops. Russian Igor Girkin, a military blogger convicted of mass murder of the passengers and crew of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, claimed hundreds of Russian troops were eliminated as a result of the strike. The massive losses were caused by the detonation of ammunition stored in the same buildings, he said. The ammunition detonated after the building was hit by HIMARS rockets. Read also: Kramatorsk woman charged with spying for Russia The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed the death of 89 troops in the Ukrainian attack, and said the mass use of mobile phones by the soldiers was to blame for their deaths, as this had allowed Ukraine to establish their location. Read also: Russian troops fired rockets at Kramatorsk overnight Cherevaty called the Russian version of events ridiculous. He said the Russians had failed to hide the location of the ammunition stores that Ukraine had attacked. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine More than $26 million in unclaimed property was returned to Floridians in December, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said. The Division of Unclaimed Property said that in 2022, it returned more than $351 million to Floridians; since 2017, the state said $1.8 billion in unclaimed property has been returned to its residents. READ: Orlando man becomes overnight multi-millionaire in Florida Lottery scratch-off game Florida currently holds more than 14 million unclaimed property accounts, with a total value of more than $2.5 billion, Patronis said. I am encouraging every Floridian to search now for unclaimed property for yourself, your friends, your loved ones, and even your business. The state defines unclaimed property as a financial asset that is unknown or lost, or has been left inactive, unclaimed or abandoned by its owner. The most common types of unclaimed property are dormant bank accounts, unclaimed insurance proceeds, stocks, dividends, uncashed checks, deposits, credit balances and refunds, the Florida Department of Financial Services said. READ: Florida Lottery pays over 2 billion to education funds in fiscal year In December, Patronis said Orlando ranked fourth out of Floridas metro regions for the most unclaimed property returned to residents. December 2022 Unclaimed Property Returns by Region: Miami - $7.85 Million Tampa/St. Pete - $6.11 Million West Palm Beach - $3.93 Million Orlando - $3.09 Million Fort Myers/Naples - $1.5 Million Tallahassee - $1.04 Million Jacksonville - $885,462 Pensacola - $665,794 Panama City - $494,044 Gainesville - $446,628 To check if you have unclaimed property, click here. READ: What are the 10 largest US lottery jackpots ever won? CFO @JimmyPatronis Returns More than $26 Million in Unclaimed Property in December Read more: https://t.co/CIJsGKNXr8 pic.twitter.com/Sx8B4jyfrQ FL DFS (@FLDFS) January 5, 2023 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. (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Energy has rejected the first batch of bids from oil companies to resupply a small amount of oil to the nations emergency crude oil stockpile in February, according to a DOE spokesperson. The DOE last month had said it would purchase up to 3 million barrels for delivery to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in February, the first buy since last years record 180-million-barrel release to tame U.S. pump prices. Following review of the initial submission, DOE will not be making any award selections for the February delivery window, the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. DOE will only select bids that meet the required crude specifications and that are at a price that is a good deal for taxpayers, the spokesperson said. Details about the submissions were not available. President Joe Biden had announced the 180 million barrel sale in late March to combat surging gasoline prices after the February invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the worlds largest exporter of fossil fuel. That sale shrunk levels in the SPR to the lowest since 1984. The administration has said it wants to repurchase the oil at around $70 a barrel. (Writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Daniel Wallis) What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? Amongst other things, we'll want to see two things; firstly, a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an expansion in the company's amount of capital employed. If you see this, it typically means it's a company with a great business model and plenty of profitable reinvestment opportunities. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It? For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. The formula for this calculation on Verizon Communications is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.083 = US$27b (US$375b - US$53b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2022). Thus, Verizon Communications has an ROCE of 8.3%. On its own that's a low return on capital but it's in line with the industry's average returns of 8.0%. See our latest analysis for Verizon Communications roce In the above chart we have measured Verizon Communications' prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering Verizon Communications here for free. What Does the ROCE Trend For Verizon Communications Tell Us? On the surface, the trend of ROCE at Verizon Communications doesn't inspire confidence. Over the last five years, returns on capital have decreased to 8.3% from 13% five years ago. Meanwhile, the business is utilizing more capital but this hasn't moved the needle much in terms of sales in the past 12 months, so this could reflect longer term investments. It may take some time before the company starts to see any change in earnings from these investments. Story continues In Conclusion... Bringing it all together, while we're somewhat encouraged by Verizon Communications' reinvestment in its own business, we're aware that returns are shrinking. And investors may be recognizing these trends since the stock has only returned a total of 1.1% to shareholders over the last five years. So if you're looking for a multi-bagger, the underlying trends indicate you may have better chances elsewhere. One more thing, we've spotted 2 warning signs facing Verizon Communications that you might find interesting. While Verizon Communications isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets. 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 Prince Harry. Illustrated | Amazon, Getty Images Still waiting to get your hands on a copy of Prince Harry's Spare? We've got you covered in the meantime. Here are some of the newly released memoir's biggest revelations and allegations: Neither King Charles III nor Prince William made the book's dedication page Several stores in Spain accidentally put the book up for sale on Jan. 5, which allowed at least The Sun to score a Spanish-language version before launch day. And per the outlet's translation, the memoir's dedication page reads: "For Meg, Archie, and Lili and, of course, my mother." The names Meg, Archie, and Lili refer to the Duke of Sussex's wife, son, and daughter, respectively. But Prince William, Harry's brother, and King Charles III, Harry's father, are noticeably absent from the epitaph. Harry and William allegedly got into a physical altercation According to The Guardian, Harry at one point in his memoir recounts a physical altercation with his brother William after the latter allegedly called Meghan Markle Harry's wife "difficult," "rude," and "abrasive." By Harry's account, he and William had agreed to meet at Nottingham Cottage, where Harry was living, to discuss Harry's romantic relationship. William then complained about Megan and things escalated from there. The pair shouted back and forth before a frightened Harry moved into the kitchen; William then followed. "Willy, I can't speak to you when you're like this," Harry allegedly said, handing his brother a glass of water. But William "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," Harry continues, "ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dog's 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." William then left, but returned "looking regretful" and apologized. When he later departed a second time, however, William suggested Harry keep what happened from Meghan. "You mean that you attacked me?" Harry allegedly replied, to which William responded, "I didn't attack you, Harold." Story continues Meghan later learned of the incident, but only after she noticed "scrapes and bruises" on her husband's back. When Harry then told her about the altercation, she "wasn't that surprised, and wasn't all that angry," he writes. Harry says Camilla, the queen consort, changed his bedroom into a dressing room Once Harry was out the door, Queen Consort Camilla Parker Bowles allegedly turned his bedroom at Clarence House in London into "her own personal dressing room," Page Six summarizes. "I tried not to care. But especially the first time I saw it, I cared," Harry writes. He claims to have urged his father not to marry Camilla Though Harry writes that he and his brother "recognized that [their father] was finally going to be with the woman he loved, the woman he'd always loved," and "the woman fate might've intended for him in the first place," both apparently urged Charles not to marry Camilla, the supposed "other woman" in his marriage to William and Harry's late mother, Princess Diana. The brothers allegedly assured their father they would welcome Camilla into their family, but they didn't believe he needed to marry again. Charles proceeded regardless. "We pumped his hand, wished him well. No hard feelings," Harry says. Even so, Harry writes that he later felt as though Diana was "blocking rather than blessing" Charles and Camilla's marriage, on account of multiple delays in the ceremony, Us Weekly reports. Harry says he was dubbed the 'spare' the day he was born When Harry was born, Charles allegedly told Diana: "Wonderful! Now you've given me an heir and a spare my work is done," per the prince's memoir. As the old royal saying goes, "a first son is an heir to titles, power and fortune, and a second is therefore a spare, should anything happen to the first-born," The Guardian explains. Charles allegedly made jokes about Harry's 'real' dad Charles apparently had no problem making jokes about the long-festering rumor that Major James Hewitt, Diana's former lover, was Harry's real father, per a segment of the memoir reviewed by Page Six. "Pa liked telling stories," Harry writes, "and this was one of the best in his repertoire. He'd always end with a burst of philosophizing Who knows if I'm really the Prince of Wales? Who knows if I'm even your real father?" "He'd laugh and laugh, though it was a remarkably unfunny joke, given the rumor circulating just then that my actual father was one of Mummy's former lovers: Major James Hewitt. One cause of this rumor was Major Hewitt's flaming ginger hair, but another cause was sadism." Harry says Charles didn't hug him when breaking the news of Diana's death By Harry's account, Charles did not hug his son when sharing the news of his mother's death. "He wasn't great at showing emotions under normal circumstances," Harry writes, "how could he be expected to show them in such a crisis?" At the time, the prince claims, Charles sat down on the edge of his son's bed and "put a hand on my knee. 'Darling boy, Mummy's been in a car crash,'" Harry recalls his father saying, before recounting how he waited in that moment for good news that didn't come that his mother would be okay. "Mummy was quite badly injured and taken to hospital, darling boy," Charles continued. Harry says his father always called him "darling boy," but "he was saying it quite a lot now. His voice was soft. He was in shock, it seemed." He killed 25 Taliban fighters while in Afghanistan "Most soldiers can't tell you precisely how much death is on their ledger," the prince writes of his time in the military. "My number: 25." He says he refrained from humanizing his targets in the "heat of combat" because "you can't kill people if you think of them as people. I'd been trained to 'other-ize' them, trained well. On some level I recognized this learned detachment as problematic. But I also saw it as an unavoidable part of soldiering." He regrets Googling some of Meghan Markles' Suits scenes In Spare, Prince Harry writes that he made "the mistake" of watching some of Meghan Markles' Suits sex scenes online when the pair first began dating. Now, he says he'll need "electric-shock therapy" to get the images out of his head. "I'd witnessed her and a castmate mauling each other in some sort of office or conference room," he says. "I didn't need to see such things live." Harry comes clean about his drug use Harry also admits for the first time to trying cocaine as a teenager, Sky News reports. He writes that he was "offered a line" during a "hunting weekend" at someone's house and that "since then I had consumed some more." "It wasn't very fun," he goes on, "and it didn't 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." Even so, the Duke of Sussex concedes to also trying mushrooms while staying at actress Courteney Cox's house in 2016. At the time, a party had broken out, and he and his friends "spotted a huge box of black diamond mushroom chocolates. Someone behind me said they were for everybody. Help yourself, boys. My mate and I grabbed several, gobbled them, and washed them down with tequila," Harry writes, per Vice News. After gobbling down the chocolates, the prince then went to the bathroom, where he says the trash can "became a head." He stepped on the can's foot pedal to open its lid, "and the head opened its mouth," Harry continues. "A huge open grin." Then the toilet became a head, as well: "The bowl was its gaping maw, the hinges of the seat were its piercing silver eyes. It said, 'Aaah.'" He had a frostbitten 'todger' at William and Kate Middleton's wedding A 2011 charity trip to the North Pole left Harry with "frost nipped ears and cheeks," as well as a frostbitten "todger," or penis, he writes in his memoir, per Page Six. And while his "ears and cheeks were already healing" upon his return to the U.K., "the todger wasn't," he says. "It was becoming more of an issue by the day." Unfortunately, the prince wasn't able to remedy the situation before William and Kate Middleton's wedding, meaning his extremities were still "frost nipped" as he stood next to his brother at Westminster Abbey. He claims to have lost his virginity to an 'older woman' in a field In another particularly juicy revelation, Prince Harry recounts how he lost his virginity to an older woman in a "grassy field behind a busy pub." The woman, who "liked horses," treated the prince like "a young stallion," he says, likening the encounter to a "quick ride, after which she'd smacked my rump and sent me to grace." Harry wasn't William's best man, and William wasn't Harry's Apparently, the palace lied about Harry and William being each other's best men. Harry says he actually selected his "old friend" Charlie for the role, and that William, possibly as a result, didn't show up to drinks the night before the ceremony. "Was he sulking because he wasn't my best man? Was he annoyed because I had asked my old friend Charlie instead?" Harry writes, alluding to his brother. "The Royal Family announced Willy was the best man as they had done with me when he and Kate got married. Did that have something to do with it?" Further, Harry says his family issued a "bare-faced lie" when announcing he was William's best man back in 2011. William "didn't want me giving a best man's speech," Harry says, claiming he was told to go along with the lie so William's friends and actual best men weren't scrutinized. He addresses his infamous Nazi costume In Spare, Harry sheds new light on his decision to wear a Nazi costume to a party in 2005. He says he was deciding between the Nazi outfit and a pilot get-up, and "phoned Willy and Kate" to get their opinions. "Nazi uniform, they said." When he tried the costume on, "they both howled," he writes. "Worse than Willy's leotard outfit! Way more ridiculous! Which, again, was the point." Of course, the prince would later come to regret his choice. Upon seeing the photos, "I recognized immediately that my brain had been shut off, that perhaps it had been shut off for some time. I wanted to go around Britain knocking on doors, explaining to people: I wasn't thinking. I meant no harm," he writes. "But it wouldn't have made any difference. Judgment was swift, harsh. I was either a crypto Nazi or else a mental defective." Per CNN, the prince ends the passage by writing that the "shame would never fade. Nor should it." He describes seeing Queen Elizabeth II's body at Balmoral Castle "I braced myself, went in," Harry writes of seeing his late grandmother, who passed in September of 2022. "The room was dimly lit, unfamiliar I'd been inside it only once in my life. I moved ahead uncertainly, and there she was. I stood, frozen, staring. I stared and stared." "It was difficult, but I kept on, thinking how I'd regretted not seeing my mother at the end," he continues. "Years of lamenting that lack of proof, postponing my grief for want of proof. Now I thought: Proof. Careful what you wish for." He says he then whispered to the queen that he hopes she is happy and that she is with her husband, Prince Philip. Update Jan. 10: This article has been updated to include additional information from Prince Harry's memoir. You may also like Why car sales are falling in the U.S. Are the rich ruining thrifting? 7 scathingly funny cartoons about George Santos' lies By Pavel Polityuk and Vladyslav Smilianets KYIV/SIVERSK, Ukraine (Reuters) -Russia has stepped up a "powerful assault" led by the Wagner contract militia on Soledar in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv said on Monday, describing a difficult situation for forces repelling waves of attacks around the salt mining town and nearby fronts. Soledar, in the industrial Donbas region, lies a few miles from Bakhmut, where troops from both sides have been taking heavy losses in some of the most intense trench warfare since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly 11 months ago. Ukrainian forces repelled an earlier attempt to take the town but a large number of Wagner units quickly returned, deploying fresh tactics and more soldiers under heavy artillery cover, Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said on Telegram. "The enemy literally step over the corpses of their own soldiers, using massed artillery, MLRS systems and mortars," Malyar said. She said the attackers were drawn from Wagner's best reserves. Russia's defence ministry did not mention either Soledar or Bakhmut in a regular media briefing on Monday, a day after facing criticism for an apparently false claim of a missile strike on a temporary Ukrainian barracks. Wagner was founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Drawing some recruits from Russia's prisons and known for uncompromising violence, it is active in conflicts in Africa and has taken a prominent role in Russia's war effort in Ukraine. Prigozhin has been trying to capture Bakhmut and Soledar for months at the cost of many lives on both sides. He said on Saturday its significance lay in a network of cavernous mining tunnels below the ground: "It not only (has the ability to hold) a big group of people at a depth of 80-100 metres, but tanks and infantry fighting vehicles can also move about." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in nightly video remarks on Sunday that Bakhmut and Soledar were holding on despite widespread destruction, but that in Soledar "things are very difficult". Story continues Military analysts say the strategic military benefit for Moscow of capturing the towns would be limited. A U.S. official has said Prigozhin is eyeing the salt and gypsum from the mines, believed to extend over 100 miles underground and contain auditorium-scale caverns. In an evacuee centre in nearby Kramatorsk, Olha, 60, said she had fled Soledar after moving from apartment to apartment as each was destroyed in tank battles. "All of last week we couldn't go outside. Everyone was running around, soldiers with automatic weapons, screaming," said Olha, who gave only her first name. "There isn't one house left intact," she said. "Apartments were burning, breaking in half." Pro-Russian bloggers quoted Prigozhin as saying his forces were fighting for the administration building in Soledar. The Ukrainian military said reinforcements had been sent to the town. Two British voluntary workers are missing near Soledar, Ukrainian police said. Some 25 miles (40 km) to the north in the town of Siversk, Ukrainian soldier Heorhil, 28, said each side was hitting the other with heavy artillery. Russian regular forces had replaced less well-trained fighters in the area, he said. "Unfortunately, both sides are suffering big losses, which means also our units have losses," he said, speaking near destroyed houses blanketed in snow. "One should never underestimate the enemy." Reuters was not able to independently verify the battlefield reports. MARKETPLACE STRIKE Further north in the Kharkiv region, a Russian missile strike on a marketplace in the village of Shevchenkove killed two women and wounded four others, including a 10-year-old girl, regional prosecutors said. Badly injured people lay on the ground and rescue workers sifted through piles of rubble, overturned and burning stalls, and a large crater, video footage from police and Ukraine's presidential office showed. A police officer carried a girl with blood on her face from the scene. Russia did not immediately comment on the reports from the village, which Kyiv recaptured from Moscow in September. Ukrainian authorities reported multiple Russian strikes across the country, including on Ukraine's second city, Kharkiv, and infrastructure in the regions of Donetsk, Kherson and Mykolaiv - where the regional governor said 15 people were injured in the shelling of a coastal town. As the war grinds towards the one-year mark, Russia's military is under domestic pressure to deliver battlefield successes. Hawkish voices have sought escalation, after the loss of captured territory and high rates of death and injury. Russia, which initially cited a need to rid Ukraine of nationalists, now says it is fighting a Western threat to its own existence. Kyiv and its Western allies, which have imposed broad sanctions on Moscow and sent Ukraine weapons to defend itself, say the invasion was entirely unprovoked. Britain is considering supplying Ukraine with tanks for the first time, Sky News reported, citing a Western source. Britain's Ministry of Defence did not immediately respond to a request for comment. France, Germany and the United States all pledged last week to send armoured fighting vehicles, fulfilling a long-standing Ukrainian request. The Kremlin said the new weapons would "deepen the suffering of the Ukrainian people" but not affect the outcome of the conflict. (Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Philippa Fletcher and Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Peter Graff and Kevin Liffey) Wearing her crown and greeting each student in Amherst Elementary Schools cafeteria with a warm smile and a wave, Miss Virginia Victoria Chuah was in her element Jan. 5. teaching children about the importance of making healthy choices. Chuah visited all six Amherst County public elementary schools during a two-day tour that concluded Friday, speaking with students at various assemblies with a goal of helping them learn what good choices are and how to say no to unhealthy ones. The talks also focused on understanding what it means for students to be a leader in their community and among friends, and identifying a trusted adult and the role they play in the lives of youth. In making a personal connection with students during her stop at Amherst Elementary School on Thursday, Chuah said she loves to dance and performs ballet. Im also a huge Harry Potter fan, Chuah said, which elicited immediate positive reaction from her young audience. The University of Pittsburgh alumna asked students what they want to be when they grow up and what their goals are. During the Amherst Elementary School visit, the responses she heard for careers included being a doctor and firefighter. Being a good person I love that goal! Chuah said after hearing from one student. The Miss Virginia Organization and Virginia ABC share the combined goal of educating students about making positive decisions to better prepare for success, according to a news release from ACPS announcing Chuahs tour. Supported by the Virginia ABC Education and Prevention mission to eliminate high risk and underage alcohol use, Miss Virginia educates elementary school students about the risks of alcohol and other drug use. The Miss Virginia School Tour messaging aligns with the Virginia Standards of Learning of Advocacy and Health Promotion, Essential Health Concepts and Healthy Decisions focusing on substance use prevention as outlined in the SOLs. During the tour, Chuah asked Amherst Elementary students for an example of a trusted adult with answers that included their principal, school nurses and police officers. She also encouraged them to treat others with kindness and show positive leadership. You can be a leader in your classroom, Chuah told the children. You never know whos watching. Especially my big kids, you have a lot of people looking up to you seeing how youre acting. Chuah also spoke about the importance of setting goals. Whats important to remember about goals though is they dont happen overnight, she said. Goals come from working hard and taking steps every day to reach your goal. The reigning Miss Virginia said she enjoyed the tour and interacting with hundreds of children. I love speaking with kids, Chuah said in an interview. Its the best part of the job, seriously. I love being on stage and l love public speaking. Its very natural to me. It just feels like Im having a lot of conversations at one time. She said its vital for students to know how certain actions can keep them from meeting their goals. I think its very important for them to visualize these things they want to accomplish and realize the real consequences of unhealthy choices and how detrimental it can be for their futures, Chuah said. Autism awareness also was another topic dear to Chuah personally, as her brother Luke is on the autism spectrum. Its always been something that I naturally want to advocate for and share, Chuah said of raising awareness. So its really great I get to do that in this capacity. Connecticut State Police in Hartford are seeking the publics help after an unidentified victim was shot multiple times while driving on Interstate 91 in East Windsor early Saturday morning. According to police, at approximately 2 a.m. on Saturday, the victim was driving a white 2019 Honda Accord in the center lane of I-91 northbound near Exit 44 in East Windsor after leaving the Flaming Llama Night Club in Hartford with at least one other passenger in the vehicle. A vehicle described as a dark-colored SUV or truck pulled alongside the victim and fired multiple shots into the vehicle, police said. The victim was struck multiple times. A passenger of the vehicle transported the victim to a local hospital where the victim was treated with non-life threatening injuries, according to police. The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call or email Trooper Yaroslav Lukashenko of Troop H at 860-534-1000 or yaroslav.lukashenko@ct.gov. Rio Launches Google Cloud based 10-Bed ICU Project and Tele ICU Hub Kohima, Sun, 08 Jan 2023 NI Wire Kohima, Jan. 6, 2023: In a major boost to the healthcare system, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday launched 10-bed ICU wards and across 12 districts during a program held at Capital Cultural Center, Kohima. During the conference a Tele-ICU Hub was also launched at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK). This move is considered a major boost in the state towards improving the overall healthcare system. Google Cloud software is used to connect Tele Hub at NHAK and District Hospitals. Google offered its software to Nagaland for free for one year. This is another major offering from Google Cloud services in the healthcare industry. These days Internet and Cloud computing is being used across the world to provide high class healthcare solutions to the patients. With this launch of new Cloud based healthcare services, 12 district hospitals receiving 10-bed ICU facility includes: NHAK; district hospitals in Dimapur, Noklak, Tuensang, Phek, Peren, Kiphire, and Longleng; District Civil Hospital, Mon; Dr. Motsuo Memorial District Hospital Wokha; Dr. Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital, Mokokchung; and Hezukhu Memorial District Hospital, Zunheboto. Patients in these districts will be benefited and doctors from a central location will be able to provide their services. According to the official statement four new districts will also get a similar facility. During the programme at Capital Cultural Centre in Kohima, Rio said that there is potential to transform the critical healthcare services at government hospitals in the state. Such service will provide best healthcare near to the patients even in the remote districts. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio also pointed out that being a frontier border with Myanmar, Nagaland is facing challenges in extending critical healthcare in remote areas. Due to insufficient specialist doctors and infrastructural deficiencies it is difficult to make ICU in district hospitals other than NHAK. Running an ICU is very technical and requires manpower and experienced doctors, So, in such situations remote healthcare systems work well. The Tele-ICU Hub at NHAK will now be able to monitor and provide critical care services remotely using technology such as Cloud and high-speed internet networks. CM urges the doctors and nurses to use the newly created facility to better service patients. The Chief Minister said that MoU was signed with the eGov Foundation, Nirmaan Organisation, and Karuna Trust on 31st May 2021. This project was initiated during the second wave of COVID-19 and now it is finished in a 1 year time period. He further added that such facilities are difficult to make ICU facilities operational in District Hospitals other than at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima, and this project will address the shortage of specialists through the Tele-ICU Hub at NHAK. Neiphiu Rio appreciated Nandan Nilekani and Srikanth Nadhamuni for their constant support, and Vinod Khosla for funding the 10-Bed ICU project and Tele ICU Hub. The Chief minister further sought their support for development, attracting investments and promoting entrepreneurship in the state. During the occasion, Health Minister S Pangnyu Phom assured the consistent availability and connectivity through high-speed internet to the district hospitals. This enables the specialists at NHAK to provide services to patients in other remote places through the tele-ICU facility. The Health Minister also requested eGovernment Foundation and other donors to boost the health infrastructure by setting up more ICU facilities in the districts of Chumukedima, Niuland, Shamator and Tseminyu. Chairman of 10-Bed ICU Organisation, Srikanth Nadhamuni, said that Nagaland became the first state to launch 10-bed ICU wards in every district hospital in less than a year. He further added that the world class equipment, technologies and machineries are used. He is expecting the launch of such services in remaining states with the support of Nagaland government. Tele-ICU Hub setup details All the ICU units installed at 12 districts are connected with the use of high quality Tele-ICU equipment to the Tele-ICU Hub at NHAK via cloud software provided by Google. Google is offering software and Cloud resources to Nagaland for free for a year. This setup will enable medical staff in district hospitals to get real-time medical advice and consultation from specialists in NHAK. ICU data will be provided to the doctors panel at NHAK, which will help experts at NHAK to monitor patients in real-time and provide medical advice to the staff in remote locations. In this setup Google Cloud computing bases system is used to connect the ICU at a remote location to the monitoring unit at NHAK. In this setup hi-resolution cameras, 5-para-monitor integration at the tele-ICU and 4k TV monitors at the Tele-ICU Hub is used. The HDFC Bank supported the 10-bed ICU facility in Dimapur. Such healthcare facilities will be very useful in India where there is a shortage of highly experienced healthcare professionals. In 2023 and beyond it will be good if all State Governments and Central Government work together to provide world class health infrastructure to the people of India. More about Cloud Computing These days Cloud computing is used by the health sectors for deploying innovative healthcare services around the world. There are many Cloud Migration Services, Application Development and Support services helping other organizations in developing solutions for enterprises. Cloud Computing is growing fast and in the coming years we will see an upward trend. Weather Alert ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR ALL OF EASTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA... ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM CDT THURSDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR ALL OF EASTERN NEBRASKA AND SOUTHWEST IOWA.. The National Weather Service in Omaha/Valley has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from noon to 8 PM CDT Thursday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * Affected Area...In Iowa, Monona, Harrison, Shelby, Pottawattamie, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont and Page. In Nebraska, Knox, Cedar, Thurston, Antelope, Pierce, Wayne, Boone, Madison, Stanton, Cuming, Burt, Platte, Colfax, Dodge, Washington, Butler, Saunders, Douglas, Sarpy, Seward, Lancaster, Cass, Otoe, Saline, Jefferson, Gage, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee and Richardson. * Winds...South 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * Relative Humidity...As low as 21 percent. * Impacts...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. && East Alabama Health has become the second healthcare system in the United States to offer the worlds first 3D whole breast ultrasound tomography system, called SoftVue. This system is FDA approved and was created to address the problem associated with imaging dense breasts. Studies have shown that SoftVue technology is able to identify more cancer with greater accuracy and potentially fewer biopsies than full field digital mammography alone, according to EAH. The first facility to offer this new technology is in Detroit, Mich., near the headquarters of Delphinus Medical Technologies, the company that created SoftVue. The president and CEO of the company, Mark Forchette, is a graduate from Auburn University who wanted to give back to the Auburn community by offering the system to the local healthcare facility. Forchette graduated in 1981 with a degree in marketing. Cynthia Lorino M.D., medical director of the Breast Health Center in Auburn, said the center is honored to have the opportunity to use the new technology and to offer better care for patients. She said women with dense breasts have an increased risk for developing cancer, and mammography misses about 50% of cancers in women with dense breasts. Weve started this protocol to help those patients, so that they dont wind up with advanced cancers that are not seen on a mammogram, Lorino said. Its a new technology that allows us to see the breast tissue differently than a regular ultrasound and more accurately so that there are less false positives. Lorino said this will help detect things a mammogram wouldnt be able to and will help detect cancer at an earlier stage. Its hopefully going to save lives, and thats the whole point of all this, she said. The SoftVue system has been operational at the Breast Health Center for two months now, and Lorino said its been working out beautifully. The patients are very happy with it, she said. Its an easy test for them and it allows us to look at all of the tissue. We feel more comfortable that were able to give the most thorough exam we can to our patients. Lorino said theyve already found things in patients with this system that a mammogram wouldnt have. The scan takes about 2 to 3 minutes on average for each breast and is performed on the same day as a mammogram. There is no compression or radiation involved. Basically the patient lies on her stomach and the breast is suspended in a warm water bath, which is changed out after each patient so that everything is kept very sanitary, Lorino said. Its a very quick exam for the patient, doesnt take them long, and for most people its very comfortable. The imaging ring emits soundwaves that travel through and around the breast capturing images every 2 millimeters, allowing radiologist to get a 360 degree view. The radiologist then reviews the images alongside mammography to determine if further examination is needed. Lorino expects to see other facilities start using this technology once supply chain issues are resolved. I wonder if he still remember the blueberries? Reply Thread Link Last he talked about it was maybe a year or so after the events and he downplayed his role a lot and I think might have distanced himself from it. I remember rolling my eyes over it Reply Parent Thread Link I still think he's hot tbh. Reply Thread Link I'm writing everyone up for blueberry-related comments. Reply Thread Link Thin line, war. Thin line! Reply Parent Thread Link I'm sorry to this man but he is typecast as The Blueberry Guy for me forever! Reply Parent Thread Link Omg I knew these 2007 icons would come in handy! Not a fan of the Thanksgiving short but can we get a Simon Pegg nick frost reunion. Reply Thread Link I had to google the blueberry thing as the comments confused me, and I wish I hadn't! lol Reply Thread Link Sweet strawberry child. Reply Parent Thread Link I have always preferred strawberries over blueberries tbh! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Also cheers to everyone that was here for blueberry fest. Hot thirsty mess for that hairy man. Reply Thread Link Lmao omg I legit still have 3 Eli icons saved here Reply Thread Link Make it 4. Lmao my god. Reply Thread Link I might have a 5th but it's got a weird name and I'm not sure. Lmao abusing your comment to stpo. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Also reading Rita. Stop. I legit heard it in my mother's voice. Woof Reply Parent Thread Link I was a huge huge huge grindhouse fan. I have the official movie posters framed and in my guestroom. and so many pieces of official merch and hand made items. That film experience combined with inglorious basterds was like a film golden age for younger me. Reply Thread Link Borderlands is fun. Haven't played 3. Don't know why they decided to make Tiny Tina a standalone when its literally the exact same thing as the dlc. Reply Thread Link We're getting Thanksgiving but not Don't??? This is an outrage! Reply Thread Link I was not disappointed when I clicked on the comments. Reply Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link Frank, do you like blueberries? Reply Parent Thread Link Edited at 2023-01-08 08:09 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Now I'm remembering how much I wish they're make more Mindhunter. Reply Thread Link I rewatched it last fall and goddamn, it's just so fucking good. We DESERVED more of that show and we'll likely never get it lol truly grinds my gears, especially considering how meh Fincher's recent works have been. Reply Parent Thread Link Thanks for the clarification, I guess Reply Thread Link Whenever I think of the BTK killer, I think of how his ego finally got him apprehended. For those unaware he had stopped killing for like a decade or two. But then out of the blue he wanted his ego stroked and/or relive his glory and sent something to the police if I send you a note from a floppy disk, you cant track that back to me, right?! Be honest! And the police was like oh of course not! Reply Thread Link Edited at 2023-01-08 08:38 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Truly one of my favorite true crime takedowns ever. The best though is Richard Ramirez just getting his ass absolutely beat by an entire neighborhood before the cops could get there. Reply Parent Thread Link omg yes! Reply Parent Thread Link LMFAO i was listening to a podcast about him and was generally sitting there horrified but i laughed for a solid minute listening to them describe how he got spotted and started getting nervous bc people were staring at him and then he got absolutely WRECKED. you love to see it. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Yessss!! I just worked this into conversation the other night with my family. Lives rent free in my mind. Reply Parent Thread Link IIRC the disc had info about the church he went to so they knew it was someone from that church. I keep hoping the DNA databases will lead to us finding out answers to cold cases like the Zodiac killer, they are what caught the Golden State Killer. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link whoa whoa whoa, so they told him that was true and he believed them and proceeded to send a floppy disk? If that's the way he was caught, amazing! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link yeah and I think the only reason he even started talking to the media/police after his dormancy was because some writer claimed he was dead or in jail. idiot was home free but his ego could not take people thinking he didnt get away with it! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Truly the hubris only a white man could have Reply Parent Thread Link literally he wasn't anywhere on the police's radar until he contacted them again, like 100% he would've gotten away with it if it weren't for his own need for attention. Reply Parent Thread Link lmaooooooooooooooooooo. Be honest??? hahaha. That just shows you how highly he thought of himself. yeesh. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link thanks I guess but also hope he rots in hell Reply Thread Link I mean... he got a master's in criminal justice? So studying a serial killer makes sense? It's not like he was studying poetry or math or something. Reply Thread Link Right. There are a lot of people studying and/or interested in studying that stuff. That alone doesnt or shouldnt make them suspicious. But if you add DNA, car, cell phone evidence on top of that - its not crazy to speculate he was studying it for the ~wrong reasons~ Of course everyone deserves the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law but it does sound like the police may have evidence. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm not saying that to defend him or anything- seems damn clear this is the right guy- it's just not really noteworthy that someone studying criminology or criminal justice, regardless of WHY they are studying it, would learn about a high profile serial killer. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Im sure seeing this little aside from a serial killer felt great to the family of his victims. How charming! Reply Thread Link his daughter wrote this article about him that i'd recommend reading: https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/a25346777/kerri-rawson-btk-killer-dennis-rader-daughter-interview/ Reply Thread Link Reading that reminded me that the Clovehitch Killer was based on him. Reply Parent Thread Link Could you imagine living your life only to find out that your dad was a serial killer? I cant fathom Reply Parent Thread Link Can you imagine being his wife? They were married for 34 years! Reply Parent Thread Link Omg last year we had this high profile manhunt for someone who basically trafficked and murdered this young woman from Colombia in our area. I remember seeing local news about it for months and there was a big grassrooots effort to put pressure on the police to prioritize the case. Eventually they found some surveillance footage from a gas station and managed to ID his car and thereby him. One morning I get called into an emergency morning meeting with my assistant principal and a couple of 7th grade teachers (I teach 6th) because it turns out the culprit was the father of one of my students from last year and they were concerned for his mental health and that other students would try to retaliate against him. It was crazy just to realize that I had held several parent meetings with someone involved in human trafficking and capable of murder. I can't imagine finding out something like that about a family member. Reply Parent Thread Link She still gets death threats from her POS father's fans, which is so revolting. Edited at 2023-01-08 08:41 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I hope no one continues to speak to you, you motherfucker Reply Thread Link For real this man is HEINOUS. I hate that hes still alive. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm kind of not over the fact that btk was replying to tmz's email, did I read that right? What a crossover of shittyness I couldn't have thought up. Reply Thread Link I didnt know you could get emails in prison. Reply Parent Thread Link TMZ are amoebas on fleas on rats. Reply Thread Link Why does this remind me of a line from a movie Reply Parent Thread Link Because its a line I stole from a movie. Reply Parent Thread Link Grease Reply Parent Thread Expand Link frenchie knew Reply Parent Thread Link BTK is literally one of the most insufferable serial killers ever. He would leave bowls of cereal at crime scenes because he is a serial killer and hah hah hah SO CLEVER. Most serial killers are self serving, self absorbed assholes, but BTK takes the cake in that regard to being just so fucking annoying. Have fun rotting in jail because you got caught via floppy disc. Reply Thread Link I did not know about the cereal thing Reply Parent Thread Link His fan fiction he wrote about himself was weird too. Reply Parent Thread Link This is so horrifying. Reply Thread Link I dont even know who this man is. Sorry to this man. Reply Thread Link MELBOURNE, Australia Venus Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open for an undisclosed injury she sustained while playing in a tournament in Auckland, New Zealand this week. A seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, Williams received a wild-card entry into the Australian Open last month to compete in what would have been her 22nd major at Melbourne Park. But the Australian Open said on Saturday the 42-year-old Williams had withdrawn from the tournament beginning Jan. 16. It did not provide specifics regarding the injury. It continues a run of misfortunes for Williams, who last played at Melbourne Park in 2021. A two-time Australian Open finalist, Williams injured an ankle and knee in that appearance when stumbling awkwardly at the net in a second-round match against Sara Errani. Her best efforts at Melbourne Park came when she was beaten by her sister Serena Williams in finals in 2003 and 2017. Now ranked 1,003, Williams said when granted the wild card in December that she was excited to be returning to Melbourne. "I've been competing in the country for over 20 years now and the Australian community has always supported me wholeheartedly," she said. The five-time Wimbledon singles champion has struggled with injuries over the past two years and was restricted to playing just four tournaments in the U.S. last August. She did not progress beyond the first round in those events and ended her season when beaten by Alison van Uytvanck at the U.S. Open. But she started 2023 on a positive note by defeating fellow American Katie Volynets in Auckland. She was then beaten by China's Zhu Lin in three sets in the second round. Debbie Hartman voted for Lauren Boebert for Congress in 2020 and again in 2022, delighted by Boeberts unequivocal defense of cultural issues that animate the Republican Partys far right flank. But as Hartman shopped recently at a supermarket in this Rocky Mountain ranching outpost, she had one piece of advice for the Colorado lawmaker. Tone down the nasty rhetoric on occasion and just stick with the point at hand, said Hartman, 65, a veterinary tech assistant. That sentiment reflects Boeberts challenge as she begins her second term in the House. In her relatively short time in Washington, she has built a national profile with a combative style embracing everything from gun ownership to apocalyptic religious rhetoric. Constituents such as Hartman in the Republican-leaning 3rd Congressional District laud Boebert for defending their rights, but cringe at her provocations, contributing to an unexpectedly tight race last year that she won by just 546 votes out of more than 300,000 cast. She tapped into what Trump was doing, and she maybe took it too far in some instances, said Alex Mason, 27, adding that Boebert, whom he supports, is still more tactful than former President Donald Trump. In an interview, Boebert said this slim victory, it opened my eyes to another chance to do everything that Ive been promising to do. To the congresswoman, that means being more focused on delivering the policies I ran on than owning the left, adding she hoped to bring the temperature down, to bring unity. For much of past week, however, the temperature on Capitol Hill was only rising. Boebert was a leading voice among a group of lawmakers who refused to support Rep. Kevin McCarthys bid to become House speaker, a historic revolt against a party leader. McCarthy finally won the gavel early Saturday morning. Some of Boeberts toughest words are increasingly aimed at fellow Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, another controversial Trump acolyte who was one of McCarthys most prominent conservative supporters. I have been asked to explain MTGs beliefs on Jewish space lasers, on why she showed up to a white supremacist conference. Im just not going to go there, Boebert said over the phone as she rode in a car winding through the high canyons near her hometown of Silt before the speakership vote. She wants to say all these things and seem unhinged on Twitter, so be it. Boebert, 36, insisted that while she may try to pick fewer fights with the left, shes not going to become a different person even after barely beating an opponent, Democrat Adam Frisch, who had targeted what he called Boeberts angertainment. A lot of those on the left have said: Look at your election, are you going to tone it down, little girl?' she said. Im still going to be me. The slim margin has stirred discussion about whether she might be vulnerable in another race next year, with Frisch saying he has received encouragement from lawmakers in Washington to run again.. But, she said, shes thinking more about what its like to be a member of the majority party. In the minority, all I had was my voice, the only thing I could do was be loud about the things Im passionate about, she said. Now, We have to lead right now, we have to show Americans that we deserve to be in the majority. People in Boeberts district, which runs from the ruddy red mesas in Grand Junction that stand sentry over rugged, high-desert terrain to the coal mining hamlets nestled in the Rockies, say the landscape promotes a kind of frontier libertarianism. To many voters, Boebert became a standard-bearer for a rural way of life and values that they feel are being both persecuted and forgotten. Larry Clark, who spent 50 years tending to his familys 160-acre ranch before his relatives sought cash for the land, points to one example. Many more liberal city-dwellers east of the Rockies voted to reintroduce wolves to the Western Slope, where the predators prey includes livestock that drives the local economy. They dont understand what rural life is like, said Clark, who only had encouraging words for Boebert, a staunch opponent of reintroduction. Send the wolves to Boulder. Even if theyve grown wary of her excesses, many of Boeberts supporters say shes amplified their concerns nationally and served as an an antidote to progressive Democrats such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. Raleigh Snyder, a retired aircraft mechanic in Grand Junction, said Boebert was Americas only chance against endemic corruption in Washington. Still, he said shes probably going to have to learn to temper her approach, but dont change her goals. Outside Rifles City Market, Maryann Tonder said she doesnt want Boebert even to feel that she has to compromise principles to get stuff done. But, she added, you can do it in a way that is not over the top. Another Boebert supporter in Rifle, Julie Ottman, who was pushing a cart out of City Market, said, sometimes you got to give a little bit in order to get. But others are pressing Boebert to stand firm. I dont want her to bow, said Mike Gush, 64, a coal miner from the small town of Craig. I would stop supporting her. Omahas first Daves Hot Chicken will open Jan. 13. The fast-food restaurant, at 335 N. Saddle Creek Road, serves fried chicken at heat levels ranging from no spice to reaper and offers kale slaw, mac and cheese, crispy fries and cheese fries as sides. The chain plans to open five locations in Nebraska over four years. They will be split between Lincoln and Omaha. Each one will employ between 40 and 50 workers. Daves started in 2017 as a pop-up in a parking lot. Following its success, chef Dave Kopushyan and three others opened a brick-and-mortar location in East Hollywood, California. They partnered with Wetzels Pretzels co-founder and former CEO Bill Phelps and movie producer John Davis in 2019 to franchise across the U.S. and beyond. Hours at the Omaha location will be 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays; and 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Visit daveshotchicken.com for more information. New Papillion Legion eatery The Monarch Grill by La Paz is the latest restaurant to open in American Legion Post 32 in Papillion. It replaces the Poppin Smoke Southern Grill, which was operated by Chip Holland, former proprietor of The Tired Texan, a popular barbecue restaurant in southwest Omaha. Hollands restaurant replaced Morans Grill, which moved to Highway 370 and Twin Creek Drive. All that took place over a couple of years. The owners of La Paz in Lincoln are behind the new post restaurant. La Paz has been serving Mexican food for 30 years, six of which have been under the new owners. Its menu features a wide variety of appetizers, an award-winning potato chorizo soup, enchiladas, burritos, tacos, flautas, fajitas and some north-of-the-border selections. It also offers some vegetarian choices. The Monarch Grill will open to the public on Jan. 13. The post is open from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. To see a complete menu, go to facebook.com/americanlegionpost32. Kamp Blackstone adds one If youre craving gourmet hot dogs and tater tots, and you need to stop at the convenience store for toothpaste afterwards, head to Kamp Blackstone at 36th and Farnam Streets. You can buy all those things at Kamp Concessions, the newest tenant in the space formerly known as The Switch Food & Beer Hall. In addition to the aforementioned items, you can get popcorn, sweet pretzels, chicken sandwiches, nachos, candy, soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes and more. The idea is to make it a bodega-style one-stop shop. The food has gotten rave reviews on social media. With the bar and the hamburger stand that opened previously, Kamp Blackstone appears to be shaping up nicely. Its open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day but Sunday, when its closed. Im wondering whats coming next. You can keep up with whats new at facebook.com/kampblackstone. No more Lettuce Express Many New Years resolutions took a hit before 2023 even started. Lettuce Express, a fresh salad restaurant near 145th Street and West Maple Road, permanently closed at 5 p.m. on New Years Eve. Opening during the pandemic, it served salads with a variety of veggies and proteins. According to Facebook, Oklahoma Joes will open up in the Lettuce Express space this spring. The Winery near Westroads reopens The Winery is back at 741 N. 98th St., on the corner of the Clocktower Village strip mall across from Westroads Shopping Center. It originally was launched in 1986 and had been open for more than 30 years before it closed in 2018. New owners Holly Jones and Julie Hockney brought back the original deli menu and approachable wine selections while giving the shop a fresh look. It was known for its chicken salads, lettuce salads and deli sandwiches, including a Reuben. The space is available for private parties. And you can order online at toasttab.com for pickup, where the full menu is posted. Business hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day but Sunday, when its closed. For other info about The Winery, go to wineryomaha.com. Want to know what Hastings, Nebraskas, claim to fame is? Just say Hey, Kool-Aid! Every year since 1998, Hastings has held a weekend-long festival to celebrate the inventor of Kool-Aid, Hastings own Edwin Perkins. Perkins created the drink mix in 1927 in his mothers kitchen when he figured out how to dehydrate a liquid concentrate and turn it into a powdered drink. It was a Kool idea in 1927, and it remains one today. The annual community festival is a nostalgic, family-friendly good time with a ton of events such as a parade, cardboard boat races, a jingle contest, kids costume contest and fireworks, just to name a few. And of course, you will bump into the Kool-Aid Man, he who loves Kool-Aid so much that he busts through brick walls and yells, Ohhhhh yeahhhhh. The cheap sugary drink can take anybody back to childhood with one sip. So, imagine the sugar rush and cool mustache you get from participating in the Kwickest Kool-Aid Drinking Contest. The original Kool-Aid drink mix came in six flavors: grape, orange, cherry, lemon lime, raspberry and strawberry. You can now try more than 20 flavors from the Worlds largest Kool-Aid stand. Lets reminisce on simpler, sweeter times when we all drank the Kool-Aid. Ponca Hills still is one of Omahas most picturesque outskirts. One of its least known, too. Its history has been rarely chronicled, which adds to its cloak of mystery. What has transpired in the area northwest of the Mormon Bridge on Interstate 680? It was home for Native Americans, primarily the Omaha. It was where the first hangings in Nebraska Territory took place. It once was a magnificent forest of red oaks. Now, its a community nestled in the valleys or perched on the ridges. Its an area known for its two primary business, the Alpine Inn and the Forgot Store along Calhoun Road, and its parks, Hummel and Neale Woods. How did Ponca Hills get its name? The Poncas never were known to be in the area. But Ponca Creek shows up on territorial-era maps. Rockport Hills, referring to the defunct river town that supplied Omaha with much of its early lumber and bricks, is one early name given to the area. Evidently inspired by the hill rising from the creek on the Florence-to-Fort Calhoun road, Ponca Hill began gaining usage. But the plural version was seldom used until 1948. Its when Ponca Hills, the name Henry B. Neef, president of Gate City Iron Works, gave to the home he built. His was one of the first around to use solar power as a heating option. Along the Calhoun road, horse thieves Harvey Braden and John Daley met with frontier justice on Jan. 8, 1859. They were in the Douglas County jail awaiting trial for stealing four horses from a Mr. Conner of Fort Calhoun and taking them to Shelby County, Iowa. A mob, including some notable citizens of Omaha and Florence, went to the jail, got the key, grabbed the prisoners and hauled them by wagon to a spot two miles north of Florence. The county sheriff the next day found the men hanging from a stout oak tree. Early days saw claim jumping. Tales were told of Steve Neale, of the Neale Woods family, lashed 60 times by the Omaha Claim Club at Florence, then 40 more after his attackers rubbed cayenne pepper under his nose to see whether he was still alive, and then held under water in the pond on Mill Creek. Friends broke him out of confinement before he was forced to sell his claim. Perhaps the largest landowners in Ponca Hills was the Thomas Price family. At one time, they had 1,400 acres. They donated land for the District 21 school (now Ponca Elementary in OPS) probably twice, and for churches. Prices son, Tom, and World-Herald writer Howard Erickson in 1939 recalled how much of Ponca Hills had been part of Omahas Black Forest. From an editors note: In the steep hills north of Florence running beyond Ponca Creek and inland from the Missouri River as far as the Omaha Country Clubs grounds on 72nd Street, there was once upon a time a black forest which was a hunters and trappers paradise. Much of it has been logged off for railroad ties and firewood, drought years have taken a heavy toll on some varieties of trees, but when October 1 comes it offers as beautiful a color vista as can be found anywhere in the world according to naturalists. The densest portion of the forest was along Ponca Creek. Then came the building of a railroad from Omaha to Sioux City in the early 1880s. They wanted timber for ties and they wanted it quick, Erickson wrote. The farmers and land owners wanted to cut down and deliver the timber as fast as they could. The red oak, according to Price, was easy to cut down, being softer than the bur oak, for instance. The red oaks were cut down by the thousands, and the rich lands were cleared of what Tom Price considers the most beautiful of trees. The trees rotted out in a few years and had to be replace with more durable wood. Burr oak was used for replacement, still furthering reducing the forest. Ponca Creek runs into the Missouri River north of N.P. Dodge Park. Until 1960, it was three miles longer. The city Parks and Recreation Department had the creek diverted. The city marina now occupies the lower part of the old creek bed. The Forgot Store dates to possibly 1894. (It) must be a source of joy to the farmer who has been to town to make purchases and who, when on the way home, finds that he has forgotten somethings that the folks at the farm need badly, The World-Herald wrote in 1904. It has a sign, and a crude one, compared to some of the city signs, that tells one it is the Forgot Store. The Forgot Store has forgotten merchandise for a while. Its become a bar and grill, with Junior Mathiesen its newest owner. In the 1970s, a Billboard No. 1 hit was penned there Convoy, by Chip Davis and Bill Fries. Davis gold record is hanging on a wall. The Alpine Inn started as the Washington Inn Washington Highway was an early national designation for U.S. Hwy. 73/Calhoun Road in 1930. Thirty years later, new owners renamed it and the place became popular for its chicken. And, of course, the raccoons and other wildlife attracted by the chicken bones set outside. Another longtime Ponca Hills restaurant was the A-Ri-Rang Club near Hummel Park. Earl S. Ben and family served Asian cuisine from 1949 to 1994. It was a membership club (fee $6 in 1974) at times. A fire of suspicious origin gutted the vacant building in 2010 and it was later razed. The Omaha Public Schools history of Ponca School starts with the first building a one-room log structure donated by Thomas Price in 1871. It opened with eight students. After the log school was destroyed by fire, a new school was built in 1882 for 10 grades in one room. The OPS history doesnt have this, but Ponca School was the scene of an accidental shooting stemming from a snowball fight in 1883. A bullet from a .45-caliber needle gun, fired carelessly by a young man as his group of three were driving away, went through the arm of a 5-year-old girl, left a powder mark on a 11-year-old girls upper lip and went through the thigh of the 5-year-olds brother. The young man expressed deep remorse. Nor does its history have this: Teachers wanted to be at Ponca School even though they were paid less than at other nearby country schools. The school was famous, a local resident told The World-Herald in 1908, from the rumor that any young woman who taught there was married inside a year. Fact. They do! Lots of em marry the young men around here and settle down here and send their children to Ponca school. We get swamped with applications. The 1882 building was added to twice, then a larger one-room school was built in 1899. After several additions were made, and it became part of OPS in 1959, a new school opened at 11300 North Post Road in 1963 and the Ponca Volunteer Fire Department built on the vacated site. With an area this vast, the history of Ponca Hills and its secrets must spill over to another installment. Next week, its an early resort, a cave of many possible origins and a possible extended stay by Jesse James and his gang. In a time when Nebraska's partisan divide seems wider than ever, Democrats and Republicans alike set aside their political differences to celebrate the introduction of a new governor. Roughly 3,500 people filled the CHI Health Center in downtown Omaha for Gov. Jim Pillen's inaugural ball Saturday night. The guest count was more than a thousand higher than Pillen's predecessor Pete Ricketts had at his last inaugural ball, which was held at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln in 2019. "Tonight is an extraordinary celebration of Nebraska," Pillen said. Ricketts was in attendance at the ball Saturday night, and called the increased capacity an improvement from his previous celebrations. He described inaugural balls as "a wedding on steroids," recalling that at his first ball in 2015, he spent about two hours in a line taking pictures with people. "It is a blur," Ricketts said. Several other prominent state Republicans were in attendance, including U.S. Reps. Don Bacon and Mike Flood, Sen. Deb Fischer, new Attorney General Mike Hilgers, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and a swath of GOP state senators. Multiple Nebraska Democrats were also on the guest list, including former governor and U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, along with roughly a dozen Democratic state senators. Among them was State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha, who said he was happy to attend an inaugural ball in his home turf in Legislative District 7. Though the Nebraska Legislature got off to what he called "a rocky start," with lawmakers still stuck debating whether committee assignments are overly partisan, he said inaugural balls are typically events where politicians can dance together regardless of party affiliations. The dancing did not happen until later in the evening kicked off by Pillen and first lady Suzanne Pillen dancing to "What a Wonderful World." The Jordan Kahn Orchestra performed through the rest of the night. Before that, guests crowded into a large ballroom for dinner, where the main entree was a Frenched bone-in center cut loin chop a nod to Pillen's background as a hog producer. Suzanne Pillen promised to put "pork on the plate" back in November when announcing the event. Over an hour after dinner was served, Pillen had yet to have a chance to sample the meal himself. He spent much of the night shaking hands with attendees. He said meeting up with old friends one of whom traveled over 6,000 miles from Hawaii to attend was one of his favorite parts about the night. "You can feel the energy, can't you," Pillen said. Pillen took the stage just after 8 p.m. for his remarks, first praising Suzanne Pillen for her role in organizing Saturday's event. While on the campaign trail, Pillen said he would often hear voters say they weren't sure about him, but they knew Suzanne Pillen would make a great first lady. He fought back tears recalling his late father, who died 24 years ago. Before his death, Pillen said his father saw things changing in the state, but he would be shocked at how far Nebraska has come since then. "There's never been a better time to be a Nebraskan than now," Pillen said. Pillen ended his speech with familiar rhetoric used during his campaign he called on Nebraskans to work together to make progress. He has long advocated for an "attitudinal change" in state government, to focus more on the greater good for the whole state rather than specific regions. "I'm just Jim Pillen," he said. "None of us can achieve great things alone, but together we can." Omaha World-Herald best videos of 2022 BLOOMINGTON Nestled within Briarwood subdivision where Dawes Place becomes Norbloom Avenue is an unmarked remnant of a once magnificent monument that memorialized the names and legacy of 700 McLean County soldiers killed during the Civil War. The original monument was built across town at the center of Franklin Park, the first public park for Bloomington. The 49-foot monument featured four soldiers standing above octagonal columns bearing the inscribed names of the 700 dead, and above the figures were the words, McLean Countys Honored Sons, Fallen but Not Forgotten. The dedication ceremony was on June 17, 1869. Judge Lawrence Weldon, a friend of Abraham Lincoln, gave the dedicatory address, beginning by summarizing the feelings of the community. This silent yet impressive memorial admonishes us, as to the sacrifices which have been made that freedom might live, that social and political order might be maintained, that the blessings of a free government might descend to our children. said, closing with a summons: Let us be true to the memories of the past, the interest in the present, and the hopes of the future. Let us be inspired by that noble sentiment worthy of ancient holiness: Malice towards none, charity for all. By 1898 the monument started deteriorating due to weather and material defects. In the early 1900s, local veterans began lobbying to raze the monument and to build a new one at Miller Park. This is where the story begins for the remnant that maintains a silent vigil in Briarwood today. The Pantagraph reported on Dec. 23, 1914, that, the old soldiers monument had been razed and the material was being hauled away. As much stone as possible is being sold to local people, who desire it in ornamenting door yards. By Jan. 2, the last debris had been removed from Franklin Park and the remnant was moved to its current location in what would become Briarwood subdivision on the border of Bloomington and Normal. To understand the mystery surrounding the remnant, one must understand more about the development of Briarwood and its owners, E.M. Evans, and his wife Nan Morgan Evans. Mr. Evans was a consummate civic leader who was known for giving his time and talents unselfishly and without hope or thought of recognition. He had a personal appreciation of art in the broader sense which he used to great advantage for community betterment. Mr. Evans devoted his time to varied business interests and to the improvement of real estate which he owned. He was responsible for the development of Lake Bloomington and an adequate water supply for the community, served as an Illinois Wesleyan University trustee for many years, and was a longtime director for the Association of Commerce, serving as president for one term. Nan Morgan Evans descended from early McLean County settlers. Her grandfather was Civil War Gen. William Orme, and her great-grandfather was William McCullough, both associates of Abraham Lincoln. Orme was instrumental in the founding of the 94th Illinois Volunteer Regiment, known as the McLean County Regiment. A superb equestrian, McCullough was part of the Fourth Illinois Calvary and would die during the battle of Coffeeville in Mississippi. Among her many interests, Nan was a member of the McLean County Historical Society and was the longtime director of the Lucy Orme Morgan Home that was named in her mothers honor in 1929. E.M. Evans chaired the Bloomington Centennial Celebration Committee for the State of Illinois 100th anniversary. In November 1918 he wrote a letter to the mayor of Bloomington offering 7 acres at the corner of Linden and Emerson streets as a city park. The request included naming the park Centennial Park and installation of a marker noting that the name reflects the 100th anniversary of Illinois statehood. On Dec. 3, 1918, the offer was accepted, and the property was deeded to the City of Bloomington. The monument remnant was moved in December 1914 and positioned on the property. The Evanses must have intended for the remnant to be part of the park. In August 1921, Mr. Evans would file an abstract title for Briarwood subdivision with the Town of Normal. The proposed subdivision was interesting in that, part was located in Normal and part in Bloomington. The abstract was approved in September. Early drawings of the subdivision included the Centennial Park site. In November Evans presented the city with over $1,300 in pledges from 14 residents for building a pergola, gateway and a centennial monument. By 1923 Briarwood was under development, but the city had still not started developing the park. In June 1924, the Bloomington City Council deeded the park property back to the Evanses because the city had not followed through with its agreement to develop the park. By 1926 the Briarwood addition was in full swing with advertisements boasting paved streets with full water and sewer installation in an attractive area adjacent to Maplewood Country Club. The Pantagraph would have a Model Bungalow developed in Briarwood that featured modern construction with the utmost in style, comfort, convenience and modern ideas. Cooperating firms included E.M. Evans donating the lot, Associates of A.L. Pillsbury as architects, and Dick & Fletcher Company serving as the contractors. The dream of Centennial Park was replaced by additional houses, and the remnant from the old soldiers monument would become a lawn ornament on a public easement, an obscure piece of history with no notation of its story and importance to the community. Perhaps we will never know why the remnant was of interest to the Evanses. It is plausible to think that it might have been important due to Nans family connection with local Civil War heroes. E.M. Evans passion for community beautification and history is surely part of the story as well. The remnant will be part of the refurbishment initiatives for the McLean County Museum of History through its Historic Marker Matching Gift Initiative. This spring a descriptive marker will be added near the remnant to share its story with those that find their way to this local treasure. You can learn more about the project and make a contribution online at bit.ly/MarkerMatch. Gallery: Historic front pages from The Pantagraph's archives September 12, 2001 - 9/11 January 29, 1986 - Challenger disaster May 23, 1927 - Lindbergh flight November 03, 2016 - Cubs win the World Series November 22, 1963 - Assassination of President Kennedy October 23, 1962 - Cuban Missile Crisis September 02, 1945 - World War II August 09, 1974 - Nixon resigns December 08, 1941 - Attack on Pearl Harbor July 21,1969 - Moon landing June 06, 1944 - D-Day March 20, 2003 - Iraq war May 07, 1937 - Hindenburg disaster April 16, 1912 - Sinking of the Titanic July 29, 1914 - World War I BLOOMINGTON A card is more than neatly arranged words of kindness: Its also a signal of hope. Hundreds of cards were prepared Friday and Saturday at several downtown Bloomington spots for recipients of Midwest Food Banks disaster relief food boxes. For 13-year-old Lainy Goeke, a paper cutout of a cup of hot cocoa gave one of her cards a touch of warmth. The Bloomington teenager was one of the first on Friday evening to stop by Angel Ambrose Fine Art Studio, 101 W. Monroe St., Bloomington. Goeke said her favorite part about crafting cards is getting to make whatever you want and its a way to express yourself. It doesnt have to be neat. It doesnt have to be messy. You just get to do what you want, Goeke said. And she knows someone will appreciate reading it. Goeke was soon joined by Dawn Dieckgrafe, also of Bloomington, who drew a flower on one of her cards. Dieckgrafe said she finds crafting and drawing relaxing. Angel Ambrose, who was also present Friday, said she helped organize the Cards of Hope project last year. She said shes volunteered at MFB for several years, and added that its an amazing place that does worldwide good. The studio owner said she started to think about how she could leverage her art to give back. And thanks to The Pantagraphs advance article on the card-making project last month, she said a newspaper reader independently made 34 cards and brought them to her studio Friday. It branched out into the community, she said of the Cards of Hope initiative. Ambrose also noted Mickey Lower delivered her 100 more cards. Other studios that pitched in works included the Inside Out Accessible Art cooperative, Art Vortex Studio, and Threshold to Hope. After adding up 16 card donations before Friday, plus 90 cards made at Janean Bairds Art Vortex Studio, Ambrose counted 279 collected for the food bank. Mia Jazo-Harris dropped in Saturday at Bobzbay Books, 419 N. Main St., to pitch in a few cards for the cause. She came with friend Lisa Callis; both are of Bloomington. Jazo-Harris said Cards of Hope is a nice community thing. Its a fun way to give back a little bit, with certainly not any big trouble on our part, she said. Having recently retired, Jazo-Harris said shes been trying more crafts, like watercolors and pottery. By press time Saturday, about 10 cards had been prepared at the bookstore. Tara Ingham, director of MFB, said Cards of Hope is a creative way to get people in the community involved with her organization. Cards are a symbol of hope for people going through a disaster, in a time of need, she said, adding that both new and professional artists can do it. Ingham said theyre grateful for the different art studios that are creatively collaborating on this endeavor. Cards can be dropped off throughout the month at Bobzbay Books or Threshold to Hope. For more information, contact Angel Ambrose at 309-825-4655. Todays top pics: China Digital Art Museum If lobster ravioli is on the menu at a restaurant, you better bet Im ordering it. When I was growing up, it was the ultimate luxury to be able to order my two favorite things in one dish: pasta and lobster. So I was extra excited to develop this recipe. Sure, making ravioli is going to take some time and effort; its just the nature of this pillowy filled pasta. But I streamlined the process as much as possible. Just remember that its supposed to be fun and its even better if you do it with a buddy. Ingredient notes for lobster ravioli The pasta: I started with Kitchns go-to homemade pasta recipe. The ratio of eggs to flour is just perfect, and the soft dough is super easy to work with. The lobster: To make things simpler, Im not expecting you to cook your own lobster (although you certainly can if you have access to fresh lobster!). Start with whole cooked lobsters and crack the meat yourself, or buy already shelled lobster meat. The filling: Once you get the lobster ready to go, just add a bit of ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, lemon zest, and garlic. You dont want too much lobster reigns supreme. The sauce: Because I wanted all the time and effort to go into preparing the ravioli, but couldnt sacrifice not having a great sauce, I used my go-to tomato and wine cream sauce. It comes together in less than 10 minutes and tastes as silky and rich as any long-simmered pasta sauce. And the combo of wine and lobster is richly satisfying. That said, my sauce is not the only way. A buttery garlic sauce, Alfredo, or marinara would suit this dish just as well! What to eat with lobster ravioli Lobster ravioli is such a stunning dish that it must be the main attraction on the table. Pick crisp green sides to accompany it (think: steamed broccoli, a simple green salad, or roasted asparagus). A nice, fresh bread like a baguette to sop up extra sauce is clutch. And if you drink white wine, keep the rest of the bottle that you used to cook the sauce on ice to serve alongside dinner. Tips for rolling out the pasta dough 1. The dough should be super thin. It should almost be transparent. 2. Dust the pasta lightly with flour as needed. This will help to keep it from sticking. You can also lightly dust the machine or rolling pin with flour. 3. Dont hurry the process. If the pasta is tearing, you are likely moving it through the roller too fast. Slow down and make sure to put it through each thickness a few times before proceeding to the next. Your options for rolling out the pasta dough KitchenAid pasta attachment: The fastest and easiest way to roll out pasta is using the pasta attachment on a KitchenAid stand mixer. Hand roller: A hand roller is going to be the next-best bet for cranking out thin sheets of pasta. By hand: If you dont have either gadget, do it the old-fashioned way. Just be prepared rolling out pasta with a rolling pin takes a lot of elbow grease. Your options for cutting the ravioli No matter which way you choose, these are going to taste and look amazing. The truth is you need very little tools to actually make ravioli, but the more you have, the easier the process. For clean edges: An ordinary chefs knife (or pizza cutter) works for clean edges. For fluted edges: Use a fluted-edge pastry cutter. This will give a more rustic look. For the most consistent shape: Opt for a ravioli mold. This is my preferred method. (I use a mold my mom got in the 70s that has stood the test of time!) Lobster Ravioli Serves 4 to 6; makes 45 to 50 ravioli 1 recipe Fresh Pasta Dough (about 1 pound) Semolina flour, for pasta rolling 1 ounce Parmesan cheese (1/2 cup firmly packed freshly grated or 1/3 cup store-bought grated), plus more for serving 1 medium lemon 4 cloves garlic 3 (about 1-pound) whole cooked lobsters, or 8 to 9 ounces cooked lobster meat 3/4 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese (6 ounces) 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided, plus more as needed 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 small yellow onion 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 cup tomato paste 1/2 cup dry white wine 1/2 cup heavy cream Chopped fresh parsley or basil leaves, for garnish Roll out the pasta dough: 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and generously dust with semolina flour. 2. Cut 1 pound pasta dough into 8 pieces. Roll out the dough one piece at a time (cover the remaining pieces of dough in plastic wrap to keep them from drying out): Set a pasta roller to the thickest setting. Flatten the piece of dough into a thick disk with your hands, dusting with semolina flour if it feels sticky. Feed it through the pasta roller twice. Fold the dough into thirds, like a letter, and press it between your hands again. 3. With the pasta roller still on the widest setting, feed the dough crosswise (folded-side in first) between the rollers. Feed it through once or twice more, until smooth. If desired, repeat this folding step. This helps to strengthen the gluten in the flour, giving it a chewier texture when cooked. 4. Begin changing the settings on the roller to roll the pasta thinner and thinner. Roll the pasta 2 or 3 times at each setting (no need to fold anymore), and don't skip settings (the pasta tends to snag and warp if you do). If the pasta gets too long to be manageable, lay it on a cutting board and cut it in half crosswise before you continue rolling. 5. Roll until the pasta is very thin and you can see your hand through it (setting 6 on a KitchenAid pasta roller attachment). Sprinkle lightly with semolina flour and lay flat on the baking sheet. Repeat rolling out the remaining pieces of dough, separating the layers of pasta sheets with more parchment paper. Make the ravioli filling and prep for the sauce: 1. Prepare the following, adding each to the same medium bowl as you complete it: Finely grate the zest of 1 small lemon until you have 1 teaspoon; reserve the zested lemon for another use. Finely grate 1 ounce Parmesan cheese (about 1/2 cup), or measure out 1/3 cup store-bought grated; grate more for serving if desired. 2. Finely chop 4 garlic cloves; add half to the bowl and reserve the remaining for the sauce. Crack and remove the meat from the claws and tails of 3 (about 1 pound) whole cooked lobsters (about 2 cups); discard the shells. Finely chop the meat and add to the bowl. 3. Add 3/4 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese, 1/4 teaspoon of the kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and add to the bowl. Stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. 4. Finely chop 1 small yellow onion (about 1 cup) and reserve for the sauce. Make the ravioli: 1. Line a second baking sheet with parchment paper and sprinkle with semolina flour. Sprinkle a work surface with semolina flour and arrange a pasta sheet on top with a longer side closer to you. 2. If the pasta sheet is at least 4 inches wide from top to bottom, spoon 1 1/2-teaspoon portions of the filling onto the bottom half of the pasta sheet about 1-inch apart. Gently brush a little water around each portion of filling. Starting from one side and working your way to the other, fold the top half of the sheet down and over the filling, pressing out the excess air around each portion of filling as you go and sealing the top and bottom together. If the dough gets sticky at any point, dust generously with semolina. 3. If the pasta sheet is less than 4 inches wide, spoon 1 1/2-teaspoon portions of the filling across the center of the sheet about 1-inch apart. Gently brush a little water around the border of the sheet. Starting from one side and working your way to the other, place a second sheet over the first sheet, pressing out the excess air around each portion of filling as you go and sealing the top and bottom together. If the dough gets sticky at any point, dust generously with semolina. 4. Using a pasta cutter or sharp knife, cut around each portion of filling to form individual raviolo. Dont worry if they are not perfect they will still taste great. 5. Transfer the ravioli to the baking sheet in a single layer and repeat filling all the pasta sheets. Gather the pasta scraps, reroll them, and form more ravioli until you run out of filling. You can cut up any remaining pasta scraps and cook them up for a snack. If you dont plan to cook the ravioli right away, refrigerate uncovered for up to 4 hours. (See Recipe Notes for freezing instructions.) 6. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add half of the ravioli and cook until the pasta is cooked through and al dente, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the ravioli with a large slotted spoon or spider to a colander. 7. Repeat cooking the remaining ravioli, but reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining. Make the sauce: 1. Return the now-empty pot to medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and heat until shimmering. Add the onion and remaining 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the reserved garlic and cook, stirring often, until golden and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add 1/4 cup tomato paste and cook, stirring often, until the tomato paste slightly darkens in color, about 1 minute. 2. Add 1/2 cup dry white wine and boil, scraping up the browned bits at the bottom of the pot, until reduced by half, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup heavy cream and add 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water. Bring to a boil. Add the ravioli and toss and cook until the sauce coats the ravioli and theyre heated through, about 2 minutes. If the sauce is too thick, add more of the pasta water as needed. Taste the sauce and season with more kosher salt as needed. Serve garnished with more grated Parmesan and chopped fresh parsley or basil leaves. Recipe notes The ravioli can be made ahead and frozen uncooked on a baking sheet in a single layer until solid. Transfer to zip top bags and freeze for up to three months. Cook from frozen, adding 1 minute to the cooking time. Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to two days. (Laura Rege is a contributor to TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who love food and home cooking. Submit any comments or questions to editorial@thekitchn.com.) FLICK LITE: Our latest listings, as offered by the readers and your own resident Lite Boy... Newest twist to an age-old mistake In that ever-continuing confusion between the Bloomingtons in Illinois and Indiana, there is additionally this all-new wrinkle: In a recent press release from the White House was news of President Bidens intent to nominate five members to the U.S. Amtrak Board of Directors, including, as read the release, Christopher Koos, Mayor of Normal, Indiana. Umm...Indiana? We checked. There actually is a Normal, Indiana, an unincorporated community between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. But it has no mayor and so few residents it is not even included in census counts. Latest greatest obituary line From the notice of Denise Cesario, 67, of Towanda: She left behind a hell of a lot of stuff for her daughters to go through, most of which they have no idea what to do with. So if youre looking for a large flamingo walking stick, an obscene amount of slightly snazzy Christmas ornaments, every known color of turtleneck dickies, or any size of serving platter, Denise was your kind of lady and she would want to share her stash with you. Newest bumper sticker snicker As read the sticker on a cars back window in Washington, Illinois: Go ahead and pass me; I left on time. Most natural job switch Both words congressman and commentator begin with C and each have 11 letters, and it didnt take long for Normal West High grad and former McLean County Board member Adam Kinzinger to make that job switch on Thursday, stepping down from Congress to a job as a senior commentator for CNN. The move by Kinzinger, 44, elected to Congress 10 years ago as a conservative Illinois Republican, to the TV venue viewed by many as a liberal mouthpiece naturally sparked instant criticism and cynicism by Republicans on Twitter, and conservative Fox News host Tucker Carlson devoted six minutes to sarcastically bid a sad goodbye to my favorite congressman, suggesting Kinzingers recent mood swing and ideological sashay was surely caused by a bout with mid-life male menopause. Goodbye, Miss Kinzinger, Carlson ended drippingly. More Fun Places To Visit, If Only For Their Names (As offered by the readers) Chicken Bristle, Illinois Snow Shoe, Pennsylvania Eclectic, Alabama Correctionville, Iowa Another example of these odd supply chain issues If you went online at Christmas to send someone that annual gift to friends elsewhere Bloomingtons own Beer Nuts you first were hit by a warning: Given the increasing demand of Beer Nuts products and continued supply chain issues, supplies are limited, and various items remain out of stock for extended periods. As one lamented, The world has gone nuts! Most downright prophetic advance According to an AP news report, the new ShakeAlert cellphone app that recently warned Californians of an impending earthquake was hailed by authorities as groundbreaking. Best Name Club Rick Ridings. Owns a car dealership in Monticello. Todd Bong. Mayor of Tremont. Brian Cashman. General manager of the New York Yankees who signed Aaron Judge for $360 million. The latest edition of Kids say the darnedest things My family, says Vicki Tilton, of Bloomington, is addicted to iced tea, usually from Thorntons. When the tea gets low, they just top it off with water. Makes for a day of relatively healthy drinking. They joke about it looking like, well, you know, pee. Then, one of the girls says, Since its tea and water, we can call it Twat-er! Mom says, Umm, lets not call it that. Maybe well just call it Wea! They still call it Twat-er! says Vicki. The latest fame for the Normal even in Illinois On the Showtime series The L Word: Generation Q, season 3, episode 3, a contestant on a Dating Game-like show is asked, Say something funny about yourself, and the response by the contestant (played by actress Joey Lauren Adams): Something funny? Umm ... Im, uh ... from Normal, Illinois. Replies the questioner: Thats more of a fact than a joke, but, OK, Ill play along. Whats so normal about Normal? Would I fit in? Umm, uh, its the people, I-I guess, who make it normal. So, umm well... Were not sure if thats an endorsement or not. Got an item for Lite? Send to: bflick@pantagraph.com, or the Bill Flick page on Facebook. Our January board of contributors: Linda Wiseman, Roanoke; Susan Erdman, Chenoa; Lee Templeton, Palmview, Texas; Meredith McClarty, Queens, New York; Kerry Kidwell, Heyworth; Kurt Gummerman, Mary Louise Hahn, Michael Vandegraft, Vicki Tilton and Bob Bradley, Bloomington; Roy Roberts and Roger Hughes, Normal. Check out this tour of Bloomington-Normal-area football fields BLOOMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL: Fred Carlton Field NORMAL COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL: Dirk Tharp Field NORMAL WEST HIGH SCHOOL: Wildcat Stadium CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Bill Hundman Memorial Field UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL: Hancock Stadium PONTIAC HIGH SCHOOL: Williamson Field PRAIRIE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL: Lewis Field, Fairbury OLYMPIA HIGH SCHOOL: Olympia High Stadium, Stanford TRI-VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL: Viking Field, Downs EL PASO-GRIDLEY HIGH SCHOOL: El Paso-Gridley Football Field, El Paso HEYWORTH HIGH SCHOOL: Hornet Stadium FIELDCREST HIGH SCHOOL: Veterans Park, Minonk EUREKA HIGH SCHOOL: McCollum Field DEER CREEK-MACKINAW HIGH SCHOOL: Jim McDonald Field, Mackinaw LEROY HIGH SCHOOL: L.A. McKean Field GCMS HIGH SCHOOL: GCMS Football Field, Gibson City FLANAGAN-CORNELL HIGH SCHOOL: Flanagan-Cornell Football Field, Flanagan TREMONT HIGH SCHOOL: William H. Poorbaugh Field LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL: Handlin Field DWIGHT HIGH SCHOOL: Oughton Athletic Field RIDGEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL: Ridgeview High Football Field, Colfax FISHER HIGH SCHOOL: Kellar Field CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL: Sprague Field BLUE RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL: Kenneth Rittenhouse Memorial Field, Farmer City STREATOR HIGH SCHOOL: Streator High School Athletic Fields Prince Harry is expected to lob more criticism at the U.K. royal family in broadcast interviews to promote his soul-baring new memoir, which has generated incendiary headlines even before its official release. A prerecorded interview with Britains ITV is scheduled to air Sunday evening. CBS show 60 Minutes is set to run a conversation with the prince later, and he is appearing on Good Morning America and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In extracts released in advance, Harry tells ITV journalist Tom Bradby that he cried only once after his mother, Prince Diana, died in 1997 at her burial. He said he feels guilt about not showing emotion when he and his brother Prince William greeted crowds of mourners outside Kensington Palace, Dianas London home. In the book, Spare, Harry blames his familys stiff-upper-lip ethos, saying he had learned too well the family maxim that crying is not an option. There were 50,000 bouquets of flowers to our mother and there we were shaking peoples hands, smiling, Harry told ITV. 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. Spare is the latest in a string of public pronouncements by the prince and his wife Meghan since they quit royal life and moved to California in 2020, citing what they saw as the medias racist treatment of Meghan, who is biracial, and a lack of support from the palace. It follows an interview with Oprah Winfrey and a six-part Netflix documentary released last month. The Associated Press purchased a Spanish-language copy of the book in advance of its publication around the world on Tuesday. In the ghostwritten memoir, Harry, 38, describes the couples acrimonious split from the royal family in 2020, after their suggestion of a part-time royal role was rejected. Harry contrasts the withdrawal of the couples taxpayer-funded security with the case of his uncle, Prince Andrew, who was removed as a working royal over his friendship with the U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Last year, Andrew settled a lawsuit from a woman who accused him of sexually abusing her while she traveled with financier Epstein when she was 17. Andrew paid an undisclosed sum as part of the settlement, but didnt admit wrongdoing. Harry alleges that no one considered removing Andrews security despite the shameful scandal. The book also explores Harrys grief at the death of his mother and his long-simmering resentment at the role of royal spare, overshadowed by the heir older brother William. He recounts arguments and a physical altercation with William, reveals how he lost his virginity (in a field) and describes using cocaine and cannabis. He also says he killed 25 Taliban fighters while serving as an Apache helicopter pilot in Afghanistan a claim criticized by both the Taliban and British military veterans. Royal officials havent commented on the allegations, though allies have pushed back on the claims, largely anonymously. Veteran British journalist Jonathan Dimbleby, a biographer and friend of King Charles III, said Saturday that Harrys revelations were the type that youd expect from a sort of B-list celebrity, and that the king would be pained and frustrated by them. In the ITV interview, Harry says he wants reconciliation with the royal family, but the ball is in their court. Fund management company Databank will reopen its independent branches on January 10, 2022 - the first time since December 22, 2022, following a shutdown resulting from physical and verbal attacks on its staff by some of its clients. The staff of the fund management company have been working remotely and engaging clients on digital platforms since the closure but the company in an e-mail and text message to its clients on Saturday, January 7, 2023, said it "will apply a phased approach to re-opening" its physical locations. The re-opening will commence on January 10 with business resuming at its independent branches located in Accra, Cape Coast, Ho, Koforidua, Kumasi, Sunyani, Takoradi, Tamale and Tema. This will be followed by the re-opening of Databank co-locations within GTBank and UBA branches located in Accra, Ashaiman, Kasoa, Tarkwa, Wa and KNUST. The company in an email to its clients last December said it had been affected by the liquidity challenges that have rocked the fund management industry owing to the "macro-economic crisis" facing the country. It said the crisis had resulted in the company's inability to pay withdrawal requests and impacted its original two-week estimate for withdrawals. In an interaction with clients of the firm on Zoom on December 28, 2022, the Chief Executive Officer of the Databank Group, Kojo Addae-Mensah said the firm's fixed income investments were in government of Ghana bonds which had been affected by the Ghana Domestic Debt Exchange (GDX) programme which was announced on December 5. He said the announcement of the GDX resulted in the shutdown of the secondary market which denied the firm the ability to sell the bonds to meet client redemption requests. He added that the secondary market was still closed, so his outfit was engaging the government to in the interim provide liquidity to meet client redemption requests. Mr Addae-Mensah disclosed that his outfit had engaged security personnel to provide security for its staff and clients at its branches but this was twisted by some media houses who reported it as intimidation of clients. Source: graphic.com.gh 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 Two suspects reportedly involved in last December's chaos at the National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth and women's congress in Cape Coast in the Central Region have been arrested by the police. A statement from the police service indicates the two suspects: Abdul Halid Shaibu alias Oluu and Ibrahim Razak are currently being held in custody and assisting in investigations. They were arrested in Tamale in the Northern Region on Saturday, January 7, 2023. "While proceedings were ongoing at the Congress two rival groups violently clashed throwing stones, blocks, sticks, clubs, chairs among others, causing injury to three persons and destruction to property...the intervention of the Police brought the situation under control for the processes to continue to the end without any further incident," the police said in a statement. The statement further explained: the faces of the suspects have been shown because they had been declared wanted with their images already displayed in our quest to seek public assistance in getting them arrested 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 News Reuters U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has called for the Biden administration to carry out an investigation after a Reuters report showed how Russian authorities are using facial recognition to curb dissent with the aid of U.S. technology. Wyden, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, said that "American technology shouldnt be a linchpin in Russias authoritarian surveillance machine." "The administration should thoroughly investigate allegations that U.S. chips are being used in Russias facial recognition and surveillance regime and do what it takes to cut off the flow of sensitive technology to Putin and his cronies, Wyden told Reuters. 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 motorist navigates his way through a crack on a road in Joshimath, India, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. Authorities have stopped all construction activity and started shifting hundreds of people panicking after seeing a temple collapse and cracks in over 600 houses due to subsidence of land in a northern Indian hilly town, officials said on Saturday. Credit: AP Photo Authorities in an Indian Himalayan town have stopped construction activities and started moving hundreds of people to temporary shelters after a temple collapsed and cracks appeared in over 600 houses because of sinking of land, officials said Saturday. Residents of Joshimath town in Uttarakhand state say they started noticing cracks in houses, especially after 2021 floods in the region. No injury was reported in the temple collapse late Friday and those living nearby had vacated the area a day earlier. Himanshu Khurana, a district administrator, said more than 60 families have been moved to government relief camps. The number is likely to go up to 600 families, media reports said. Television images also showed cracks in roads, hampering the movement of vehicles. Ranjit Sinha, a top state disaster management official, said the immediate cause of the cracks "seems to be the faulty drainage system, which has resulted in water seepage under the houses that has led to their sinking." The government will pay 4,000 rupees ($50) per month for six months to those rendered homeless in Joshimath, a temple town of around 25,000 people that sits at an altitude of 1,890 meters (6,200 feet) and falls on key Hindu pilgrim as well as trekking circuits, Khurana said. Tens of thousands of devotees heading for Badrinath and Him Kund Sahib, key Hindu and Sikh pilgrimage sites, pass through Joshimath, 490 kilometers (305 miles) northeast of New Delhi. The huge flow of pilgrims and tourists saw the town expanding exponentially over the years with the massive construction of buildings and roadways, which some experts have linked to land subsidence. The construction activities that were temporarily halted include the Chardham all-weather roada flagship federal government enterprise to connect various Hindu pilgrimage sites, a project to set up trolleys pulled by ropes to carry pilgrims and tourists in nearby Auli, and hydropower stations. The region witnessed a devastating cloudburstan extreme rainfall in a short timethat resulted in the death of hundreds in 2013 as well as severe flooding in 2021. Experts say fast shrinking glaciers, in part due to climate change, is also another reason the region is hit by repeated disasters. "Between 2015 and mid-2021, at least 7,750 extreme rainfall and cloudburst instances have been noted in Uttarakhand. Such instances are detrimental to Joshimath as they may increase the number of impacted buildings, eventually exacerbating the vulnerability of the locals," said Kavita Upadhyay, a water-policy expert who is currently a research associate in the Oslo Metropolitan University's Riverine Rights project. Upadhyay, who is from Uttarakhand and lives in the region, said unabated large-scale infrastructure projects as well as uncontrolled tourist inflow have also contributed to land sinking. "The slopes of Joshimath are formed from landslide debris. This means that there's a limit to which the town can be burdened by buildings or disturbed by activities such as the construction of big infrastructure projects like dams and roads." A study by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority has warned that construction by removing boulders and blasting the hillside would lead to severe environmental damage. In May last year, Meera Rawat, a resident, was startled while cooking in the kitchen when she heard a gurgling sound of water flowing underneath the floor. "That day, I realized something bad was going to happen in our town of Joshimath. In September, I saw a small crack in the floor. In December, it widened, and we vacated the house," Meera said. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. South Jersey physicians are seeing a post-holiday surge of COVID-19 cases, contributing to an increase in hospitalizations and patients across the areas health care facilities. Doctors attribute the rising infections to the indoor gatherings that are typical during the holiday season. Inpatient admissions for patients with COVID have doubled over the last month and disproportionately impact our community members who are over 70 years of age, said Dr. Andrea McCoy, chief medical officer at Cape Regional Medical Center. McCoy said the severity of the illnesses has kept patients in the hospital longer, a factor in the high patient count at Cape Regional. On Wednesday, health care workers were busy at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Mainland Campus in Galloway Township, moving between rooms while the sounds of beeping machines filled the air. Most staff were covered from top to bottom with personal protective equipment as they aided the most contagious. Others helped patients get out of their rooms, walking with them side by side. Theyve to come to work every day with the sole purpose of helping others and doing their due diligence to share the knowledge theyve acquired, Dr. Thomas Brabson said of AtlantiCares pandemic response. Its become a peculiar time for the pandemic; while many community restrictions to limit the spread of the coronavirus have ended, case spikes still occur every few months. Meanwhile, booster vaccination numbers lag. The continued spread of COVID-19 along with the flu and RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, has contributed to a tripledemic, according to health experts. New Jersey Department of Health data showed hospitalizations increasing gradually in recent weeks, from 1,485 on Dec. 20 to 1,701 on Jan. 6. Across AtlantiCares system, COVID-positive admissions and tests took a sharp uptick in the week between Christmas and New Years Eve, said Gemma Downham, corporate director of patient safety and infection prevention at AtlantiCare. Thats really a pattern that were seeing for a third year in a row now, Downham said. Booster doses of vaccines against the disease arent where they should be, she added. But this years winter uptick isnt comparable to that of 2021, Downham said, when the omicron variant drove caseloads to record levels. At Inspira Health, Dr. Matt Warner, chair of emergency medicine at the companys Vineland, Bridgeton and Elmer hospitals, has noticed more COVID-19 cases within the past week. Meanwhile, case counts for flu and RSV appear to be shrinking, Brabson, Warner and Downham said. It was just a much earlier flu season, Warner said of studies by Inspira. Things really got shifted earlier in the year compared to years past. Flu cases appear to be coming down significantly, Warner said. Folsom School referendum for $7 million project approved by voters FOLSOM Residents voted in a referendum on Dec. 13 and seemingly approved a $7 million proj The same can be said at Cape Regional, McCoy said. Influenza continues to be more prevalent than prior years but, at least this week, seems to be trending down from the peak in mid-December, McCoy said. Health experts have attributed the ending of pandemic-related mandates on masking and social distancing to the illnesses gaining ground. Add to that the return of children to school in the fall, with some of them more susceptible to getting sick as their immune systems adapt to the return of the viruses. So far, Inspira, AtlantiCare and Cape Regional say they havent run out of beds. McCoy, however, said housing patients has been tight because of prudence needed when handling infectious diseases. With some respiratory illnesses, we want to be careful of which patients are sharing rooms, so at times, there were tricky logistics in coordinating available beds with available staff and the optimal use of private and semi-private rooms, McCoy said. Here are the four stages of drought classification However, moderate drought is actually the lowest-tiered version of drought in a four-step cl Also, all three hospital systems have had to deal with members of their staff getting sick. Fortunately, the peaks of each infection were staggered so that we have been able to maintain operations, McCoy said. Our team has really gone above and beyond to support each other and be available to provide care for our community. Both AtlantiCare and Inspiras teams are asking the public to find the most appropriate places for help, prioritizing visits to urgent care facilities or their family doctor, unless theyre grievously ill. They also encourage people to voluntarily wear a mask when they are sick and around others, especially those with compromised immune systems. For now, the path forward may be uncertain, given the pandemics unpredictability, hospital officials said. It is really almost impossible to make correct predictions, Warner said. The big lesson that I think weve learned in emergency medicine, and medicine in general, is that we have to be continually vigilant, prepared and ready for the unexpected because theres been so many different turns and shifts over the past several years that its so hard to predict. After an audit from the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller found Brigantine had drastically underfunded its lifeguard pension plan and was essentially $4.5 million short of its obligations, Mayor Vince Sera suggested every beach town was facing similar issues. The report brought the issue of lifeguard pensions, first required in a state law approved in the 1920s, under public scrutiny. Around the region, annual municipal contributions toward lifeguard pensions range from $103,212 in Margate to more than $1 million in Atlantic City. Assemblyman Don Guardian, R-Atlantic, was the mayor of Atlantic City six years ago, when Gov. Chris Christie criticized the citys pension plan for lifeguards. Christie was in the process of taking over Atlantic Citys debt-plagued local government, and Guardian insists that governors attitude toward Atlantic City was generally combative. But on this topic, there was more agreement than normal. Brigantine addresses state audit at council meeting BRIGANTINE City officials are working to address issues highlighted in a recent report by Guardian, in fact, still favors a gradual ending of the practice. We should honor the pensions that we promised, but going forward, new guards would not keep putting money in, Guardian said. In 2016, then-state Senate President Steve Sweeney introduced legislation to end the lifeguard pension program, but it went nowhere. Guardian and other lawmakers contacted for this article said no one seems interested in the issue now. Some towns say the payments arent an issue. At this point, our lifeguard pension is not a draw on us, said Todd Burkey, chief financial officer for North Wildwood. He said the city pays $48,000 a year toward lifeguard pensions. Fred Miller, who spent decades with the Ocean City Beach Patrol, would rather keep it that way. He started as a lifeguard in Stone Harbor in 1960 and worked every summer with the Ocean City Beach Patrol from 1965 to 1997, working as a teacher in Pennsauken during the rest of the year. He now divides his time between Ocean City and Florida, and said he gets about $5,000 a year from his lifeguard pension. Nobodys living happily ever after on it, thats for sure, he said. But he sees the pension as a good incentive for older guards to remain on the beach, providing experience and guidance to younger guards. Some towns are not required to offer a pension plan for lifeguards. Avalon, for instance, does not offer such a plan. Under the state law, towns, township and boroughs on the ocean do not have to offer pensions. Even in cities where they are available, not every guard gets a pension. A lifeguard has to serve for at least 20 years and reach the age of 45 to be paid an annual amount based on half of an average of annual salaries. Most lifeguards spend a few years on the beach while in high school or college, but many are required to contribute to the pension plan. A small percentage stay with a beach patrol long enough to be eligible for the pension. Theyre paying for it, but they dont get it, Miller said. And while most end up with a modest sum, a few retired guards bring in as much as $60,000. Some guys are getting big money, Miller said. Ocean City beach tags go on sale this weekend after recent price increase OCEAN CITY Seasonal beach tags for summer 2023, for which the governing body recently agre According to several sources, the pension plan was created with Atlantic City in mind, and Atlantic City spends more than average. The 2022 approved city budget shows $1.33 million for lifeguard pensions. Thats one-tenth the $13.4 million the city pays toward police and firefighter pensions in the same budget. Ending pensions for new guards is not something thats been a topic of conversation within the city, said Andrew Kramer, spokesperson for the city. In Ocean City, City Council had also asked the state to allow it to end the pension program, to no effect. Council President Pete Madden said no one on council has discussed the matter for years, and there is no current move to change the pension in Ocean City. The city is currently in negotiations with the Ocean City Lifeguard Association on a new contract. In recent years, members of the public have called on the city to increase the annual pay for lifeguards, suggesting the current pay levels have led to shortages of guards, although city spokesperson Doug Bergen said over the summer that recruitment was no more difficult than in other years. In a statement posted to social media over Labor Day weekend, the Ocean City Lifeguard Association said island visitors depend on the lifeguards, who are an important part of the citys reputation for safety. But guards in the city are paid less than those in neighboring towns, the statement alleges. Lifeguarding at the Jersey Shore is indeed a summer job, not a career. But its demanding work. Its proven lifesaving work. And its valuable work, the statement reads. Ocean City employed about 160 guards over the summer, with $1.625 million budgeted for Beach Patrol salaries and an additional $85,500 for other expenses. The city also contributed $240,000 to the pension fund, with an additional $50,000 in contributions from active lifeguards. Meanwhile, 43 retired guards collected a pension totaling about $300,000 this year, an average of $6,977 per retired guard. By comparison, auditors found that in Brigantine, employee contributions exceed the citys contributions, which in 2021 were roughly $20,000, but which the city tripled last year to $60,000. Auditors are recommending it will take more than that to reduce the deficit: Their estimate is $358,000. In the fall of 2020, just months before the presidential election, the Federal Bureau of Investigation lied to the news media and social media platforms in order to trick them into suppressing truthful information about one of the candidates. Are you outraged? Are you waiting to find out which candidate the FBI protected before you decide how outraged youre going to be? If youre following the steady release of the Twitter Files, the archive of internal company communications that owner Elon Musk has opened to a team of independent journalists, then you already know which candidate federal law enforcement officials were lying to protect. If you rely for news on one of the organizations that was tricked, youll have to wait for them to decide theyre ready to talk about it. The FBI has reacted to the disclosures in the sketchiest way possible, by calling them misinformation. Connoisseurs of government scandals will recognize this as a particularly fine specimen of the non-denial denial. As journalist and author Michael Shellenberger wrote recently, FBI calls Twitter Files misinfo but doesnt deny that it had Hunter Bidens laptop since December 2019; told Twitter a hack-and-leak involving Hunter may occur in Oct 2020; was spying on Giuliani when he gave a copy of laptop hard drive to NY Post. To fill in the details, a laptop computer belonging to then-candidate Joe Bidens son Hunter was dropped off for repair at a computer shop and abandoned. The owner of the shop took possession of it, observed evidence of criminal activity on the hard drive and contacted the FBI. The Delaware office of the FBI issued a subpoena for the laptop and the hard drive and took possession of them in December 2019. Having heard nothing from the FBI by the following August, the computer shop owner gave a copy of the hard drive to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was President Donald Trumps personal attorney. Giuliani gave a copy of the hard drive to the New York Post, and the FBI knew this because the bureau had Giuliani under surveillance. What was on the laptop? Emails that showed evidence of then Vice President Joe Bidens awareness and involvement in business dealings his son had with entities tied to foreign governments, including China. A lot of money changed hands, a lot of hand-shaking meetings took place in U.S. government buildings, a lot of thank-you notes were sent. Hunter Bidens business deals appear to have been based entirely on influence peddling, since he had no prior experience or involvement in the types of businesses that were paying him while his dad was vice president. The New York Post published its blockbuster story on Oct. 14, 2020. Some Americans already had ballots and were voting by mail. But the story was shot down nearly everywhere. An Oct. 17 analysis from NPR was typical, calling the story questionable and asserting that the emails have not been verified as authentic. NPRs David Folkenflik wrote that the story was marked more by red flags than investigative rigor. Now we know that the FBI aggressively sought to discredit the story both before and after it ran. The FBI basically came to us, was like, Hey ... you should be on high alert. We thought that there was a lot of Russian propaganda in the 2016 election. Theres about to be some kind of dump similar to that, Facebooks CEO Mark Zuckerberg said. Much more is revealed in the Twitter Files, dug out by Shellenberger and others. The FBI ran a full-blown influence operation to convince U.S. news and social media outlets that the scoop they were about to read about the Biden family was merely Russian propaganda. As just one example, in September 2020, NPRs former CEO, Vivian Schiller, organized an event at the Aspen Institute that was billed as a tabletop exercise on how to handle a potential Hack-and-Dump operation related to then-candidate Joe Bidens son, Hunter. The exercise was named The Burisma Leak, referencing the Ukrainian energy company that paid Hunter to serve on its board. The confidential document, now published from Twitters internal communications, describes the day-by-day news reporting and commentary that would hypothetically follow from the leak of the hacked material, leading up to Day Eleven: Thursday, October 15th, The second presidential debate. Shellenberger reported that the exercise was attended by Meta/Facebooks head of security policy and the top national security reporters for The New York Times, the Washington Post and others. The goal was to shape how the media covered it and how social media carried it, he wrote. The New York Post published its blockbuster story on Oct. 14, 2020. Sure enough, Twitter locked the newspapers account and blocked users from sharing the link, even in direct messages. Facebook also took action to suppress the reach of the story. Major news organizations threw shade at the story and at the Post. When Trump brought up the story during a presidential debate, Biden called him a liar and said intelligence professionals had stated it was Russian propaganda. Since then, the formerly skeptical news organizations, most recently CBS News, have verified and admitted that the laptop and the emails were authentic and not hacked. The FBI knew that the whole time, and continues to mislead the American people about its role in the suppression of truthful information immediately before a presidential election. Congress has to do something about this. Soon. We cannot fix the problems that American health care confronts and creates without innovation. The issues are too well known: Care that is too expensive. Inequities that disproportionately affect the poor and our most vulnerable people and communities. Access to expertise that is limited both geographically and demographically. We have probed and pondered these problems long enough. Addressing them will take fresh thinking, next-generation tech tools and bold new approaches. In a word: innovation, and all the promise and disruption the act of invention involves. Health care systems can no longer contentedly sit on the sidelines awaiting the next new thing, much as consumers anticipate the newest car model or next mobile phone. Clinicians and hospitals, researchers and analysts need to claim a seat at the table of innovation, and make a seat for established world-class partners and early-stage entrepreneurs alike. In the last month alone, Hartford HealthCare has announced three such partnerships. Google Cloud: Our teams will work alongside Googles designers, engineers and data scientists as we co-create a safe and secure system to make better sense of health data. Massive amounts of health data are generated every day, but too much of it is hidden in unstructured and increasingly complex patient records. Google, the worlds leader in organizing information, will work with Hartford HealthCare and use artificial intelligence and machine learning to augment existing experts and unlock trends in the data, understand and predict each persons health needs, and advance the diagnosis and treatment of disease at the individual and population health levels. Connecticut Innovations: The states strategic venture capital arm and Hartford HealthCare signed an agreement to work with startup companies and pilot digital health solutions. The early stage companies will have the opportunity to work with our clinicians and pilot their inventions, we will help these entrepreneurs find ways to enhance their products to improve care, and Connecticut Innovations will assist in supporting the scaling and commercialization of novel technologies. Morningside Group: This diversified investment group is engaged in private equity and venture capital investments, with a particular focus on digital health innovations that can transform healthcare delivery. Hartford HealthCare will work with Morningside to advance digital health innovations from existing portfolio startup companies and collaborate with inventors to test their hypotheses in the real world, bringing new technologies to life and making care better and more affordable. In each instance, we are not waiting for others to ideate, invent and transform. We are innovators ourselves, creating a space where fledgling solutions flourish and have the potential to more equitably and excellently deliver care. For example, working with Dimitris Bertsimas, PhD, associate dean of business analytics at MIT-Sloan, Hartford HealthCare created an analytics platform called H2O that improves operating room scheduling, enhances staffing efficiency and helps patients return home safely and sooner. We have partnered with, and invested in, other innovations that also use the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning to: Increase the accuracy and precision of cancerous tumor removal Enhance pathologists ability to quickly and accurately detect breast cancer Prevent intravenous devices from dislodging, a quality and safety issue that adds billions of dollars a year in avoidable cost Develop convenient virtual care for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Send timely text messages informing patients of tests and treatments they are due for, and remind them of medications they need. Smart technology can identify health conditions before they become severe, guide access to equitable, cost-effective care options, and allow clinicians to deliver care that is more personalized and precise. We are changing the paradigm for healthcare innovation partnering with and creating connections between inventors and investors, academic institutions, government, industry and others who can make it happen. Through collaboration, teamwork and validation, we will no longer lament the failure points of the nations health care; rather, we will create more opportunities for meaningful, transformative solutions which will enhance health care delivery for all. Dr. Barry Stein is vice president and chief clinical innovation officer at Hartford HealthCare. Machines and computers improve speed and efficiency everywhere, including in the casting and counting of votes in New Jersey. One benefit is that election results can be available sooner than in the old days of hand counting paper ballots. Another is that crude vote rigging with ballots disappearing or suddenly being produced has been much reduced. Computers and machines have their own weaknesses, of course. They can malfunction on their own or due to manipulation by someone seeking to influence their report of the voting. Weve long advocated the combination of the two voting systems a computerized voting machine system that produces a verifiable paper backup of all of the ballots. Up until recently, New Jersey only had one county (Sussex) with such election technology. Now Atlantic County is changing to this most secure form of voting, buying 325 new voting machines, with New Jersey picking up about half of the cost. The machines are made by Election Systems & Services of Omaha, Nebraska, one of four voting systems certified by the state. They work seamlessly with the ES&S electronic poll books the county changed to last year. Most counties still use AVC Advantage from Dominion Voting Systems, the voting machines that Atlantic County has depended on for two decades. Superintendent of Elections Maureen Bugdon called them wonderful, reliable dinosaurs that are on their last legs and difficult to keep operating. Two years before the pandemic disrupted and undermined election practices, we strongly urged the state to fund and counties to switch to voting machines with paper backups. A Princeton professor in 2016 showed it took just 7 minutes to replace a computer chip in a voting machine with one that manipulated election results. The machines are at risk for that because they are distributed and left unsecured prior to the election. A 2004 case in Cumberland County showed what someone intent on steering an election could do. A county employee programmed voting machines there to award the votes for two popular candidates to others, handing them the victory. The rigged election was only caught because the small number of voters in the case made it obvious. There was no way of knowing how many votes in other elections had been awarded to candidates not chosen by voters. State appellate court judges expressed serious concerns about ballot integrity and ordered a review of the states election safeguards. The next year, Gov. Jon Corzine signed into law a requirement that all voting machines in the state include a paper backup by 2008. But that deadline came and went with no compliance, and the Legislature suspended it indefinitely. The new machines will give voters the utmost confidence in the security of their ballots. Theyll insert their numbered ballot into the voting machine, make their selections, confirm that the selections made are what they intended, and only then will the machine record their vote and print the ballot as a backup. The results tabulated by the voting machines can then be randomly checked against the paper ballots to ensure that the machines are properly recording and tabulating votes. And if there is any question about the voting, for example a suspicion by poll watchers that something might be wrong, the paper ballots can be examined to conclusively verify the results. The bipartisan Atlantic County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to buy the new voting machines that provide a paper audit trail. Thats as it should be, in accord with a principle that should govern changes to election laws and practices. Such changes must be made with substantial support from the major parties and independents. If they are not, the public may reasonably assume the political party pushing for them is seeking an unfair advantage. Untreated sewage to be released in rivers after project completion will be 597 MLD daily, which equals to 59,700 tankers In earlier parts of this series, we have touched upon topics such as some irreversible damages that the River Front Development (RFD) project of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) would cause. They are given below. Frequent and severe floods in Pune (as given in the project report itself) Destruction of biodiversity Depletion of groundwater etc Moreover, there would be many adverse impacts of this project on our health and daily life, such as: More traffic jams Rivers remain extremely polluted Four barrages will be constructed to store polluted water obstructing the natural flow of the river How much cleaning of rivers will be achieved The PMC claims that cleaning the rivers is a prime objective of the RFD. Unfortunately, not a single rupee will be spent to clean rivers under the RFD. Facts as on record portray a completely opposite picture as far as river pollution is concerned: Daily water supply to Pune by irrigation dept: 1,732 MLD Daily groundwater extraction: 310 MLD Daily water consumption: 2,042 MLD As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 80-pc consumption converted to sewage Total sewage generation: 1,634 MLD (80 pc of 2,042 MLD) Present sewage treatment capacity: 477 MLD Untreated sewage presently released in the rivers: 1,157 MLD Proposed STPs (sewage treatment plants) under JICA: 560 MLD Total STP capacity in future: 1,037 MLD (477+560 MLD) Thus, untreated sewage to be released in rivers after RFD: 597 MLD Barrages or sewage canals Thus, even if the PMC completes all proposed STPs, 597 MLD (59,700 tankers daily) untreated sewage will be released in rivers converting them into sewage canals. The PMC boasts of the JICA project of 11 proposed STPs which is doing rounds of tables in the civic body for the last five years. The question is: If the PMC is really worried about the pollution of the rivers, why has it not started the JICA project without wasting time? Four barrages will impound this sewage water to form 5 to 6-m deep five huge sewage lakes storing 57.12 million cu m of polluted water within the city, where mosquitos, water hyacinth wil thrive. Imagine what will happen to the citizens health. Is it not the PMCs foremost responsibility to clean the rivers before beautifying them? Multiple legal violations Besides these impacts, there are multiple legal violations by this project. In addition to the nonconsideration of stormwater flow from the 1,296 sq km free catchment area and the confluence effect on the rise in flood levels, this project blatantly violates all standard norms and legal provisions. The environmental clearance (EC) accorded to this project is a mystery on its own. While issuing the EC, the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) has shown built-up areas in this project as under: FSI area (sq m): 00 Non-FSI area (sq m): 00 Total BUA area (sq m): 00 In total violation of this, the built-up area (FSI & non-FSI) actually proposed in this project is millions of sq m. Further, it is stated in the EC that, Project Proponent informed that there are four barrages to be constructed. As the committee has no expert working in this field, the committee has not gone into this aspect. A proper appraisal from the proper authority in this regard is solicited. Firstly, if any expert was not available to assess the impacts of the barrages, why was not any outside expert consulted? And more importantly, as this is a condition in the EC, why has the PMC started the work without assessment of the impacts of barrages, which will be as big as four large dams? As per the rules of the irrigation department: No construction is permissible inside the blue flood Line. No change in the cross-section of the riverbed is allowed. This project is nothing but massive constructions inside the blue line to reduce the river width throughout its length of 44 km. The Indian Standards for Embankments direct that, embankments can be built only on the ridge of the banks of river ie, not on the riverbed. The RFD project totally disregards this norm by proposing huge embankments right in the riverbed reducing the river crosssection by up to 40 pc. The PMC claims that this project is cleared by the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS). In a letter dated April 5, 2021, the CWPRS has categorically denied this saying, The CWPRS did not conduct any study for the RFD of the PMC and the CWPRS is not clearing authority in the matter. Relevance of Sabarmati model The Pune RFD is based on the Sabarmati riverfront model without giving least thought to the difference between local situations like distance from upstream dams, variation in rainfall, flood frequency, etc. In case of Sabarmati, the nearest upstream dam is at Dharoi at a distance of 130 km. In Pune, the nearest Khadakwasla dam is at 7 km. The width of channelised Sabarmati is 265 m, in Pune, it will be only 90 m. In Pune due to the huge deficit in sewage treatment, it will be even worse. Apathy of citizens In short, the RFD project is in no way a river rejuvenation project but a mere construction project to build embankments and will constrict the river to reclaim flood plains to create a land of 1,544 acres. All this, at the cost of perpetual depletion of groundwater, irreversible destruction of biodiversity and eternal risk of floods in Pune. Rivers are quite capable of becoming beautiful and healthy on their own. Today, they are begging for minimal anthropogenic interference. If we continue in the same fashion, the day will dawn when the rivers will show their wrath. Well, we all Punekars need to take that call. Sarang Yadwadkar (Architect & member, Planning Committee of the Development Plan, Pune city) Pupils demand inquiry into depositing of charge amount in bank account of vice-principals son; ask administration to come clean on awarding of contract; principal says matter not under their jurisdiction Allegations are rife that online payment collected by the contractor for parking vehicles on the premises of the countrys renowned Indian Law Societys (ILS) Law College is being siphoned off to the bank account of Ajay Jaybhay, son of the institutes vice-principal. Bringing the matter to the notice of the college administration, students have demanded a thorough investigation. When Mirror tried to get to the root of it, Law College principal Deepa Pathrukar and vice-principal Santosh Jaybhay said they have no idea about the online payment for parking. According to them, parking on the premises of the college and appointment of contractors for the purpose come under the jurisdiction of the Indian ISLs office bearers. Posing a question on awarding of the contract for parking, Akshay Jain, Secretary of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, said, Who is the Law Colleges parking contractor? Whether the contractor is in any way related to the viceprincipal and his son, should be investigated. Was there any financial transaction between them while tendering the parking contract the truth should be brought before everyone, including the students. The bank concerned and the college administration should clarify whether Jaybhays help was taken for online payment due to lack of an account. The law college premises have several parking slots that are used by students, staff, and visitors alike. The parking charges are collected online. An LLB student, who did not wish to be named, informed that a few years ago, they had submitted a written complaint to the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) regarding the collection of parking fees from students and visitors. Following that the ILS Law College, which is affiliated with the SPPU, revised the rates for two-wheelers and four-wheelers. Now, the online payment for parking is being deposited in Santosh Jaybhay sirs son Ajay Jaybhays bank account. We dont know whats happening. Because Ajay is also an ILS Law College student. When we met Jaybhay sir in December and asked him about it, he told us that theyd sort out the issue. But due to Christmas and the year-end holidays, there was no official clarification by the college management. We demand that the college administration come clean on this at the earliest. Jain, in his explanation, said: Most probably, as per SPPUs policy issued on December 9, 2014, the parking facility should be free. But if a college administration charges Rs 5 for twowheelers and Rs 10 for four-wheelers, then it is mandatory to install CCTV cameras and cover sheds in parking slots. Most colleges charge extra money from students, teaching and non-teaching staff. Therefore, some students of ILS Law College approached us and requested that we intervene and sort out the parking fee payment issue. The students alleged that their online payment for parking was deposited in the vice-principals sons bank account. When I met Santosh Jaybhay and asked about this, he felt guilty and told me that a new tender process will be initiated in January. Another LLB student said, When we verified the mobile number for parking fee payment, we were shocked to find that it was of Ajay Jaybhays. Why was the parking fee getting deposited in his bank account? An inquiry should be initiated by the college administration. There should be transparency in such financial transactions. The college administration should clarify whether the parking tender was awarded to the person holding the concerned bank account or not. Meanwhile, Ajay Jaybhay clarified: I am not aware of this alleged online payment in my bank account. If there is any illegal transaction, then the principal should have called me and asked about this. Santosh Jaybhay, on the other hand, said, These allegations are wrong. The information regarding parking and contractor is in the ILS head office. I dont have any idea about the online payment in my sons bank account. Principal Deepa Pathrukar said, The parking and contractor issue comes under the Indian Law Societys head office jurisdiction. It is not under the principals jurisdiction. I dont have any official information about this. I will collect the information from the ILS head office and then comment on this. A ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on Friday has overturned a U.S. District Court judges denial of qualified immunity in a lawsuit against a Bettendorf Police officer and the city of Bettendorf. The appeals court justices remanded the case back to U.S. District Court, Davenport, with instructions that the federal claims brought against Bettendorf Police Officer Bryan Payton and the city should be dismissed. According to the Cornell Law School website, qualified immunity protects a government official from lawsuits alleging that the official violated a plaintiff's rights, only allowing suits where officials violated a clearly established statutory or constitutional right. In his ruling dated Oct. 19, U.S. District Court Judge Charles Wolle said Paytons investigation of a womans claims of sexual misconduct by her attorney, Stephen Newport, which led to Newports arrest and public trial, was incomplete and did not meet the standard for qualified immunity. However, in their ruling Friday, Appeals Court Justices Steven Colloton, Raymond Gruender and Duane Benton reversed the denial of summary judgment based on qualified immunity as to Newports claims against Payton and the City. In April 2018, Newport was arrested on charges of third-degree sexual abuse and indecent exposure, as well as a prostitution charge, but was found not guilty of those charges at trial. Newport filed a lawsuit against Payton and the city of Bettendorf on June 22, 2019, in U.S. District Court, Davenport. According to the suit, Newport had represented Deborah Deevers for more than a year concerning a personal-injury claim in 2017 and 2018. On March 14, 2018, Payton and the city of Bettendorf obtained a search warrant for Newport based on what the suit alleges were false statements and claims made by Deevers to Payton and without probable cause. Payton, according to the suit, should have known that Deevers statements were false and malicious but relied upon them without any good-faith basis to do so. Deevers was upset with Newport over a settlement Newport had negotiated on her behalf as her lawyer. According to the suit, the search of Paytons offices was unlawful as the warrant was based on false statements and claims. The statements Deevers made led to the filing of complaints and affidavits by Payton in Scott County District Court on April 20, 2018. The Iowa Attorney Generals Office used those statements to prosecute the case. The suit claims that Newports civil rights under the Fourth and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution were violated. Payton and the city of Bettendorf filed a motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity, which was denied. In their decision, the appeals court justices said that Newport did not establish that the affidavit contained inaccuracies or material omissions that made it misleading. The affidavits description accurately paraphrased Newports statements during a recorded phone call with his client, the justices said. Even if the affidavit were supplemented with the entire transcript of the call, it would still support a conclusion of probable cause to search. As to the arrest warrant affidavit, the justices noted there is a conflict between the district courts factual assumption and undisputed photographs in the record. Newports client alleged that the attorneys office door was locked during one incident, but the district court assumed that Paytons affidavit failed to mention that photographs showed no lock on the door, the justices said. The photographs, however, contradict this assumption and show a lock on the door, so we may accept that fact as true. Paytons affidavit accurately set forth statements made in a recorded phone call and other evidence that supported probable cause, the justices said. Adding the fact that the former client was disgruntled would not have eliminated the existence of probable cause." Newport, the justices said, "offered no specific, non-conclusory evidence that Officer Payton believed the affidavits were false or that he recklessly misconstrued the clients allegations or the statements in the recorded phone call. On the claim that Payton violated the Fourth Amendment by arresting Newport before conducting a reasonably thorough investigation, the totality of circumstances were sufficient to lead a reasonable officer to believe that Newport had committed a crime. Newport also was arrested pursuant to a valid warrant, the justices said. Newport asserted in his lawsuit that Payton conducted an inadequate investigation and thus violated Newports rights under the due process clause of the 14th Amendment. However, the justices said the record "contains no evidence that Payton purposely ignored evidence suggesting that Newport was innocent or that there was systemic pressure to implicate Newport in the face of contrary evidence." Given that the clients assertion that she was present at Newports office on the date in question was corroborated by a signed and dated document, it was not conscience shocking that Payton proceeded without interviewing others who were in the office on that date, the justices said. For these reasons, we conclude that Newports federal constitutional claims against Payton should be dismissed, the justices said. Because the evidence does not support a conclusion that Payton committed a constitutional violation, we have jurisdiction to consider the Citys appeal of Newports pendant claim for municipal liability, and that claim necessarily fails for lack of an underlying violation. The justices concluded that Payton is entitled to qualified immunity on the federal claims alleged in Count I of the complaint, and therefore reverse the order denying summary judgment of those claims. The Citys appeal is inextricably intertwined with Paytons, and we also reverse the order denying summary judgement for the City on the count. The justices also reversed the denial of summary judgment based on qualified immunity as to Newports federal claims against Payton and the City. We can discern no ruling by the district court on Paytons motion for summary judgment on Newports state-law claims. As the federal claims should be dismissed, we remand the case with directions to dismiss Counts II through V of the complaint without prejudice. Robert Bobby Crimo III, the alleged Highland Park Fourth of July parade shooter, prank-called a New York Post reporter on New Years Eve from jail, the outlet reported Saturday. The phone call to the reporter came in at 8 p.m. on Dec. 31 from Lake County Adult Corrections Facility, the Post said. He reportedly made a joke before hanging up. Is your refrigerator running? Crimo III, 22, said. You better go catch it! he said, according to the Post. Crimo III fired dozens of shots from a rooftop perch into a crowd gathered for the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, according to prosecutors in the case. Seven people were killed and 48 wounded. He has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder. His next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 31. The Post had attempted to schedule an interview with Crimo III through the jails communication app in December, the outlet said. The meeting was never arranged, and Crimo III ended up calling the number on the reporters profile weeks later. When the reporter answered the call on New Years Eve, Crimo III was identified by a prerecorded voice message. Liz Turnipseed, 41, was one of the many people injured in the shooting. She was shot in the pelvis while attending the parade with her husband and 3-year-old daughter, the Post reported. She told the Post she now walks with a cane and suffers from panic attacks in crowded public spaces. In response to the phone call, Turnipseed said Crimo III clearly doesnt have any respect for life and people in any way shape or form. Whether thats him making an unbelievable lame prank call to a reporter or committing a mass shooting, I think it just speaks to the terrible person that is, Turnipseed said to the Post. Photos: Highland Park parade shooting suspect appears in court US Shooting-July Fourth Parade US Shooting-July Fourth Parade US Shooting-July Fourth Parade US Shooting-July Fourth Parade US Shooting-July Fourth Parade US Shooting-July Fourth Parade US Shooting-July Fourth Parade US Shooting-July Fourth Parade US Shooting-July Fourth Parade US Shooting July Fourth Parade US Shooting-July Fourth Parade US Shooting-July Fourth Parade US Shooting July Fourth Parade US Shooting-July Fourth Parade US Shooting-July Fourth Parade US Shooting-July Fourth Parade CHICAGO - Juggling a coffee, a briefcase and his cellphone, Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch was making his way through the metal detectors two years ago at the Springfield convention center where the Illinois House was conducting business when he got a call from a phone number he didnt recognize. It came from Springfields 217 area code. So Welch picked up, figuring it must be some staffer with news about work. Instead, the voice on the line was that of embattled Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, the longest-serving legislative leader in American history. He was calling to say history may be about to change. Madigan, of Chicago, wanted to know if Welch, of Hillside, was interested in the job. Facing unyielding opposition from 19 mostly female lawmakers, Madigan matter-of-factly delivered a once-unfathomable message that Welch recounted last week in an interview with the Tribune: Ive done this a long time. The votes arent there. Its time to step aside. Madigans words launched Welch into a furious, 48-hour, lobbying campaign of House Democrats that ended with him as the first Black House speaker in Illinois two centuries of statehood. I got pretty emotional during that call, Welch recalled. When I called my wife, I was still pretty emotional. Heres the thought of me being speaker starting to set in. As Welch begins his second term as speaker this week, the Tribune aimed to detail the hectic behind-the-scenes machinations two years ago that resulted in the end of Madigans 36-year reign as head of the House, the internal fights among House Democrats to pick his successor and the beginning of Welchs tenure. In contrast to the chaos in Washington, no tense moments are expected this week in naming the Illinois House speaker, given that Welchs House Democrats won a modern-day record 78 seats a group Welch now calls The Great 78. Welch put a final exclamation point on his first, two-year term this past week when the House approved Democratic-led initiatives to ban high-powered firearms and expand abortion rights. Two years ago, the fight to strip Madigan of the speakership splintered the Illinois House Democratic caucus between supporters who ignored warning signs as a federal investigation was closing in and opponents, led by the 19, who felt Madigans links to a quickly expanding scandal involving utility giant Commonwealth Edison foretold the end of his unprecedented run. Many Democrats also were tired of being tarnished because they were members of a Madigan-led caucus that opened them up to constant political attacks by Republicans who tried to win campaigns by tying all Democrats to the speakers contentious command. There are no rules of engagement when you go up against the longest-serving speaker in the whole nations history, said Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego, a Marine Corps veteran who became the first Democratic House member to challenge Madigans speakership. Theres no guidebook to that. But, at the end of the day, I wanted representatives to have a choice. Rep. Terra Costa Howard, the Glen Ellyn Democrat who had only been in office two years at the time, said she came out early against keeping Madigan as speaker because, I wanted to be able to look my kids in the eye and know that I did the right thing. I did not want the work that I did to be tied to that level of corruption and power, she said. Madigan loyalists some lawmakers, lobbyists and union operatives lashed out at those seeking change, according to some of the 19. They said they were labeled as traitors, cussed out and still experience some strained relationships. Oh, man. It was brutal. It was brutal, said Rep. Maurice West II, the only Black lawmaker to join the opposition group, a move made before the coalition was big enough to take away Madigans gavel. I felt isolated. I felt alone. And it hurt. West, a Rockford Democrat, eventually delivered the first nominating speech for Welch to lead the House. He also recalled how in March 2022, a little more than a year later, Madigan was indicted. We were on the House floor when this happened. On the House floor, recalled West, an ordained minister. Just think if he was speaker when this happened. And so I wept in my seat because it vindicated us. In January 2021, Madigan initially refused to give up his grip on power despite growing odds against him and as House lawmakers worked through long, tumultuous days as one term was ending and a new two-year term was beginning. In multiple closed-door meetings of House Democrats, Madigan tested the strength of his opposition while also clearing the way for the General Assembly to pass the criminal justice reform package now known as the SAFE-T Act. One of three major initiatives championed by Black lawmakers at the time, the law would become a flashpoint in the 2022 election as it received soft-on-crime criticism and required multiple amendments even before a Kankakee County judge struck down as unconstitutional a no-cash bail and other court provisions that were supposed to take effect Jan. 1. It is now before the Democratic-led Illinois Supreme Court, where Welch said he remains pretty confident the justices will see it our way. Critics viewed the SAFE-T Acts passage as Madigans way of trying to keep minority support for his effort to hold onto the speakership, and they blamed him for allowing the bill to advance before it could be thoroughly vetted. That was one of the worst moments in that chambers history, on process and substance, said House Republican leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs, who opposed the bill. That would not have passed under the old Mike Madigan under those conditions. But he was desperate to hang on. Though he had survived controversies over the decades, Madigans clout took a serious hit the moment U.S. Attorney John Lausch unveiled on July 17, 2020, a deferred prosecution agreement with ComEd in a yearslong bribery case. Madigan was not charged or even named at that point, but he was identified nonetheless with the designation of Public Official A. In a matter of months, Madigans House Democrats would abandon the man whose political acumen helped many of them secure their roles in the legislature and whose roots dated back to Mayor Richard J. Daley, Madigans onetime mentor who ran Chicagos once-indomitable Democratic machine. Ever since Madigan was dethroned in January 2021, his political trajectory has spiraled downward. He returned to his Southwest Side home and resigned a month later from the House seat hed held for more than 50 years. And last year, Madigan was indicted twice once involving the alleged bribes-for-favors scheme with ComEd and a second time in a superseding indictment that included similar allegations involving AT&T. Both utility giants have acknowledged they placed Madigan allies in little-to-no work jobs in hopes of winning his favor on their legislative agendas. ComEd agreed to a $200 million fine, a local record, and AT&T agreed to a $23 million fine. Both have bribery counts pending that will be dropped if they cooperate. Madigan did not return messages left for him for this story. His case is up for a status hearing on Monday. He has pleaded not guilty and has used more than $8 million from his political funds to pay criminal defense lawyers. Seeds of the rebellion The uprising against Madigan began quietly. For more than a decade before he was ousted, Madigan had been holding off a tide of controversies. Starting in 2010, the Tribune published The Madigan Rules, a first-of-its-kind, yearslong investigation that outlined numerous potential conflicts of interests between his private business as a tax appeals lawyer and his elected position. The Tribune also detailed Madigan patronage, tracing more than 400 men and women who had obtained government jobs also worked elections for him, donated regularly to his campaign funds, registered voters for him or circulated candidate petitions on his behalf. And the Tribune disclosed a secret report that scolded Madigan for mixing patronage and government issues at Metra, the suburban rail service. In early 2018, the Tribune revealed campaign worker Alaina Hampton alleged she was sexually harassed by Kevin Quinn, a top Madigan lieutenant and the brother of 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn. Madigan dumped Kevin Quinn from the speakers government and political organizations at the height of the national #MeToo movement. But the scandal, along with other misbehaving aides the speaker ousted, carried a lingering effect that weakened Madigan politically. Then, in 2019, the first major hint of how serious a burgeoning federal investigation came when the FBI raided the homes of several Madigan allies, including one of Madigans closest confidants, Michael McClain, a former state representative and longtime contract lobbyist for ComEd. While Madigan told reporters he was not a target of anything, the Tribune disclosed before 2019 was over that federal authorities had tapped McClains phone and had quizzed at least four people about Madigans operations. Loyalists for Madigan, who had been speaker for every year since 1983 except two in the mid-1990s, discounted the developments and noted hed always managed to ride out political storms before. But some wary lawmakers, including the earliest members of the 19, called and texted each other, wondering what it would take for other colleagues, as one put it, to say, Enough. Public official A effect The Public Official A designation in the ComEd case rocked Madigan like nothing before when it hit in July 2020. ComEd acknowledged in the deferred prosecution agreement that it hired Madigans Southwest Side cronies into little-to-no-work jobs, handed out internships to college kids from his 13th Ward empire, steered business to political ally Victor Reyes law firm, and installed former McPier boss Juan Ochoa on the state-regulated utilitys board of directors all in hopes the speaker would look favorably on the utilitys agenda. Neither Reyes nor Ochoa have been accused of wrongdoing. ComEd benefited lucratively from multiple pieces of legislation it wanted during a bribery scheme that stretched from 2011 to 2019, prosecutors said. While Madigan tried to downplay the revelations by saying hed never made a legislative decision with improper motives and that he had not engaged in wrongdoing, he did little to calm some Democrats nerves. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he was deeply troubled and frankly Im furious, and a small band of Democratic lawmakers began to organize. Among the first to push for removing Madigan as speaker was, not surprisingly, Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, who refused to support Madigan for speaker two years earlier following the 2018 #MeToo issues. This time she said he should resign both as speaker and as chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party. A Naperville Democrat, Stava-Murray recalled in a recent Tribune interview that her first thought about the ComEd case was how my constituents were right about him. Costa Howard released a statement saying the corruption and unethical behavior revealed in the ComEd probe made it impossible for Madigan to continue. Kifowit, whod previously received campaign support from Madigan, said she would not vote for him as speaker because he should be held to a higher standard. Also in the mix was Rep. Kelly Cassidy, the Chicago firebrand who had successfully pushed Madigan to conduct what became a searing critique of the legislatures workplace culture following the 2018 #MeToo allegations. When Chicago-based Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, who had just been appointed to the House in 2019, joined the small group, she wasnt sure that it would result in an actual leadership change but was motivated by the need to rebuild trust in government and politics, she said. Amid the ComEd accusations, Republicans called for a separate investigation into Madigans actions and the Democratic-led House established a special committee to look into the matter and named Welch a Madigan ally as head of it. Madigan acknowledged the criminal case that identified him as Public Official A had made it difficult for our caucus and party but said in a statement that many House Democrats he talked to still spoke favorably about keeping him in charge. I have no plans to resign, Madigan said, a comment that spurred Pritzker to say the speaker needed to stand up and answer questions about the ComEd case. Kifowit announces bid for speaker As grumbling among Democratic lawmakers continued, Kifowit in October 2020 announced she would run against Madigan for speaker. You cant make change if nobody is going to step up and be the person thats the change agent, Kifowit said. Even though Kifowit didnt get overwhelming support, Costa Howard saw the announcement as a game-changer. Madigan backers dug in against Kifowit and insisted Madigan should still be the speaker. Welch soon announced the special committee investigating Madigan wouldnt hold any more meetings until after the Nov. 3 election, a decision Republican leader Durkin called a disgrace. But the fissures kept expanding. Less than two weeks before the election, West said during an interview on a Rockford television news program that he would not vote for Madigan for speaker. After the interview, West spoke with Welch and then called Madigan in his 13th Ward office the next day, a Saturday, at 7 a.m. He said, Between now and when the vote (for speaker) is, I hope I can do what must be done to help you reconsider your vote, West recalled, saying he held firm in his opposition. I was ready to lose my seat if I had to. Madigan blamed for political losses While the ComEd scandal simmered, political defeats on Election Day of 2020 also damaged Madigan. Voters rejected both a Democratic-backed proposal to enact a graduated state income tax and the candidacy of Illinois Supreme Court Justice Tom Kilbride in a year when Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden easily won Illinois. Madigan took much of the blame for the losses as Republicans tied both issues to the embattled speaker. After the election, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat, and Pritzker questioned keeping Madigan as chair of the state party. And U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, also a Democrat, suggested Madigan should no longer be either speaker or party chair. While Madigan showed no sign of taking the advice from the Democratic leaders, federal prosecutors changed the political landscape once again a few weeks later when they indicted McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and two other ComEd lobbyists. They have all pleaded not guilty. The indictments, alleging schemes to influence Madigan, triggered a renewed surge in the anti-Madigan movement. The next day, eight more House Democrats came out against Madigan, raising the number of colleagues against him to 16, meaning hed only be able to get 57 of the 60 votes needed to be reelected speaker. Among those making their opposition clear was a group of four women lawmakers who previously had written Madigan privately asking him to consider stepping aside: Reps. Deb Conroy of Elmhurst, Robyn Gabel of Evanston, Anna Moeller of Elgin and Ann Williams of Chicago. We felt that we needed to have change, said Conroy, who two months ago was elected head of the DuPage County Board. We were not publicly going to come out against him without having conversations with him first. Hers was a very difficult conversation. I was struck by the fact that I dont think at the time that the speaker realized the seriousness of just how difficult it was for all of those 19 members to come to that decision, Conroy recalled. Moeller said she had hoped Madigan would have retired before trying to win another term as speaker but that his decision to run again put House Democrats and the party in a difficult position, given the ComEd cases. Eventually the group got to 19 when Addison Rep. Kathy Willis, who Madigan recruited years earlier and had promoted to his House leadership team, said she would not vote for Madigan as speaker. In all, the 19 were: Cassidy, Conroy, Costa Howard, Gabel, Kifowit, LaPointe, Moeller, Stava-Murray, West, Williams and Willis, as well as Reps. Jonathan Carroll of Northbrook, Margaret Croke of Chicago, Eva-Dina Delgado of Chicago, Daniel Didech of Buffalo Grove, Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz of Glenview, Will Guzzardi of Chicago, Bob Morgan of Deerfield and Sam Yingling of Grayslake. Even though the opposition was increasing, Madigan still had strong supporters. The Black Caucus held a forum with both Madigan and Kifowit. Madigan secured 21 of 22 members, with West still holding out. Madigan moved fast. He called me immediately and said, Mr. West, now that the rest of the Black Caucus is on board with me, does this give you cover to come back to the fold? West recalled. West declined, and he still remembered the speakers nonresponse. The silence was so loud on the other end of the phone, West said. Madigans last stand As lawmakers arrived in Springfield at the beginning of 2021, three women would challenge Madigan for speaker: Reps. Stephanie Kifowit, Ann Williams and Kathy Willis. But, at 78 years old, Madigan would make his last stand. The four of them sat at a table in front of their fellow House Democrats in closed-door meetings for hours of blistering questions at the convention center, where the House was meeting amid the COVID-19 pandemic because it had more room. On their first ballot, Madigan received only 51 votes, nine shy of the 60 needed. Williams garnered 18 votes, the highest total of any challengers. I jumped in and ran for speaker to be a catalyst for change, Williams recalled. I wanted it to move the ball forward and I think I did. The 18 votes that Williams received were viewed by several lawmakers interviewed as the majority of the 19 making it clear to Madigan that they were serious about wanting a new leader. Kifowit received three votes, and Willis dropped out prior to the vote and tossed her support to Williams. Shortly after that vote, Madigan made a move few had anticipated. He suspended his bid for another term as speaker, freeing up anyone else to try to round up 60 votes and leaving open the chance that he could swoop back in if his colleagues could not rally behind a successor. Madigans maneuver prompted two new entrants Welch and veteran Rep. Jay Hoffman of downstate Swansea among a handful of lawmakers Madigan called. Welch said the longtime speaker advised him to secure votes with the Black, Latino and downstate caucuses in that order. I dont think he favored me, Welch said. I had to get out there and earn those votes. Those 48 hours, Ill remember for the rest of my life. I had to convince my colleagues to vote for me. But Madigans advice also included an important first step for Welch: Check with his wife, ShawnTe Raines-Welch. I said, So this is going to be crazy, Welch said. You know how they are. Theyre going to beat the hell out of me. You sure youre OK with this? Welch vividly recalled her response: I can take it, whatever else they throw out at you. If youre interested, Im 100% behind you. He quickly sought support from fellow members of the Black Caucus, but they questioned whether Madigan, who no one was ready to count out yet, was just trying to smoke out traitors. The Black Caucus was having none of it, Welch said. None of them believed it was real. But when the Black Caucus met again 12 hours later, their opinions about Madigans motives had changed and they told Welch theyd back him. Welch then needed the Latino Caucus backing. He bolted out to find Rep. Lisa Hernandez, the Cicero Democrat and Madigan ally who headed the caucus and is now head of the state Democratic Party. Like the initial skepticism of some of the Black Caucus members, Welch recalled, Hernandez too wasnt convinced Madigans suspension was legitimate. But a day later the Latino Caucus too backed Welch, soon bringing the race down to he and Hoffman, as Kifowit and Williams dropped out. By the time the full Democratic caucus met late that Tuesday, Welch had 50 votes to Hoffmans 15. Questions about Welch Just as it looked like Welch was rapidly moving toward 60 votes, he faced questions about his past. The Tribune posted a story on Welch that included details from a 2002 police report about Hillside officers getting called to Welchs home and his ex-girlfriend alleging that Welch slammed her head into a kitchen countertop numerous times after she called him a loser. The report said Welch denied the allegations. It also said the woman did not press charges after talking it over with a Welch relative. Welch released a statement, saying the verbal argument occurred nearly two decades ago. He also added: I will be honest that I have reconciled with the individual since that night. An alarmed Alaina Hampton, the former Democratic campaign worker who called out Madigan aide Kevin Quinn over sexual harassment, questioned how House Democrats could get behind Welch with the allegations outlined in the police report. In a tense face-to-face moment in Springfield, Welch addressed a hastily gathered group of mostly women lawmakers at the convention center to attempt to quell concerns. Cassidy looked at the police report story in the context of growing up in a violent home, where she said her father abused her mother and that her mother was discouraged from filing charges against him. It threw me into a tailspin, the North Side lawmaker recalled. It dredged up memories of how she had to leave her home the night her mother was threatened, she said. Though she plans to vote for Welch this year, she said she voted present two years ago because she had little time to process the allegations. Stava-Murray said Welch was very straightforward and shared directly with us about the issue and ultimately, obviously, made enough of us comfortable with what he said that we were OK with voting for him. I think that we also have to keep in mind that, disproportionately, we are going to see Black men with those sorts of charges thrown against them, the suburban legislator said. It is a racial bias that exists in our country. Rep. Mary Flowers, a South Side Chicago Democrat who is dean of the House, called the story about Welchs past a shocker. But Flowers said, without a conviction, the incident could be considered a he say, she say matter. Welch recalled answering every question and cited the gathering as one of several very powerful, emotional moments during that 48 hours. I just remember at some point during that meeting I didnt say a word anymore, Welch said. The women started saying, We know this man. The full Democratic caucus, having worked deep into the night and early morning, gathered once again hours later on Jan. 13, the day they would all be sworn in at noon. Welch had hit 55 votes, and colleagues suggested he and Hoffman leave the room and work out their differences. Hoffman would remain on the House Democratic leadership team and throw his support to Welch. The deal gave Welch 70 votes. Welch in, Madigan out When Madigans reign as speaker officially ended on the House floor, it was almost anti-climactic. But as West rose to nominate Welch to be the new speaker, the Rockford lawmaker first called for a standing ovation for Madigan. No matter where you stand on a scale of favorability, we must give recognition to whom recognition is due, West said. Durkin recalled the praise for Madigan caused him to immediately rewrite a speech he had prepared because this was not the time nor should there ever be a moment in time to praise Mike Madigan because of his alleged widespread corruption under his watch. Citing the ComEd scandal and a legacy driven by absolute power and control, Durkin told fellow lawmakers that Madigans legacy is also one which failed its citizens with unbalanced budgets, broken pension systems, tax increase after tax increase, with nothing to show for it. Before he left, Madigan voted for Welch and issued a statement acknowledging it is time for new leadership and wishing his successor well as he begins a historic speakership. It is my sincere hope today that the caucus I leave to him and to all who will serve alongside him is stronger than when I began, Madigan said. And as I look at the large and diverse Democratic majority we have built full of young leaders ready to continue moving our state forward, strong women and people of color, and members representing all parts of our state I am confident Illinois remains in good hands. Welchs rule In his address to the new House, Welch declared a new day in Springfield, and his Democratic troops have since seen differences between Welchs leadership and Madigans highly secretive control. Welch has made himself more available to rank-and-file Democrats, taken more of their calls and texts, and loosened up the flow of information from the speakers office. Welch said he and Madigan have the same core Democratic beliefs, noting how Madigan stood up to one-term Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. But I think were different in our approach to how we protect those values, Welch said. And I have to believe his style comes from his longevity and his age and the time that he came through, and my style comes from my age and the time Im living in. Its also a different job now. During much of his time as speaker, Madigan had to work with Republican governors, which only enhanced his power as the states top Democrat, while he often fought with Democratic governors as he exerted that power. Welch has the advantage of working with a wealthy progressive Democratic governor and his position as speaker, while a top Democrat, is not the same role that Madigan filled. Still, some Madigan stalwarts are concerned Welch, as he tries to smooth over inevitable bumps that come with a major transition, has yet to be as organized as the former speaker. And a few lawmakers, staffers and lobbyists have noted the loss of institutional memory. Yet Welch has received mostly good reviews for diversity in assigning tasks to and bringing in more people in bill negotiations. Welchs troops advanced an agenda that included supporting clean energy, reproductive rights and anti-violence legislation. I dont think you can argue with results, Hoffman said, and the results of what hes been able to do have been fairly large in a short period of time. Overcoming the doubts, Welch raised big campaign dollars to back candidates and worked with Senate President Don Harmon of Oak Park to redraw boundaries of state legislative, congressional and Illinois Supreme Court districts all of which led to Democratic gains. Durkin said Welch used a heavy hand to tilt districts so favorably for Democrats that they largely determined the outcomes before the election. It was not a good moment in Illinois history, Durkin said, particularly since Democrats had promised a fairer approach. The new day for Democrats, a party that rose to dominance under Madigan, is defined now by moving ahead without him. Its not the new day that Republicans had hoped for, but Durkin acknowledged Welch was successful in passing his agenda. Looking ahead, Welch said his House Democrats certainly have not peaked yet. When House Democrats gathered in caucus during Novembers veto session, they saw a night-and-day difference from the infighting of two years ago. They found themselves laughing with each other rather than yelling. There is no doubt that we have turned a corner in the House, Williams said. It feels like a cloud has been lifted. A Davenport man serving eight years on federal supervised release on a drug trafficking conviction is facing charges after he allegedly fled police and crashed his SUV early Saturday injuring the three passengers in the vehicle. Joseph Allen Sutton, 41, is charged one count each of eluding, second-degree criminal mischief and serious injury by vehicle. Each charge is a Class D felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of five years. Sutton also is charged with operating under the influence-first offense, a serious misdemeanor that carries a jail sentence of up to one year, as well as traffic offenses of operating a non-registered vehicle, open container, failure to use safety belts, failure to obey a traffic control device, improper lane change and failure to maintain control. According to the arrest affidavit filed by Iowa State Patrol Trooper Ian Cornwell, at 12:12 a.m. Saturday, Cornwell saw a dark-colored 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe that was westbound on Interstate 74 from the area of State Street in Bettendorf. The Tahoe had no registration plates or temporary tag. When Cornwell tried to perform a traffic stop on the vehicle it fled at a high rate of speed. After reaching speeds in excess of 60 mph, the Tahoe eventually crashed in the 2400 block of Middle Road in Davenport, taking out a picket fence and trees behind 46 Crestwood Terrace and totaling the vehicle. Cornwell approached the vehicle and saw occupants with injuries and Sutton climbing into the back seat attempting to flee on foot out the rear passenger window. Sutton was taken into custody. Cornwell said Sutton showed no remorse for his actions and never even asked about the passengers of the SUV or their injuries. Three passengers from the Tahoe were taken by Medic EMS to Genesis Medical Center East, Davenport, for treatment. One of the passengers had a significant injury to her face, while the other two also were admitted to the hospital for treatment. Sutton also was taken to Genesis East because of a complaint of a neck injury. Sutton refused to participate in tests for drunken driving and refused to give a sample of his breath. A search warrant was obtained for specimens to be sent to the state crime lab. In December of 2008, Sutton was arrested along with three other men for distributing cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine. On Aug. 5, 2009, Sutton pleaded guilty to one count of drug conspiracy, and on June 24, 2010, he was sentenced to 240 months, or 20 years in federal prison, to be followed by 10 years on federal supervised release. On March 18, 2020, Suttons sentenced was reduced to 160 months, or 13 years and four months in prison, to be followed by eight years on federal supervised release. His sentence was reduced as part of the First Step Act of 2018. Sutton was released from the federal prison on April 18, 2022. Federal authorities could revoke is supervised release and send him back to federal prison based on the new charges. Sutton was being held Saturday night in the Scott County Jail on a bond of $8,000, cash or surety. Do you have an event or calendar item you would like published in the Ravalli Republic? Please email your submission to events@ravallirepublic.com. Submit information in paragraph form. Posters and flyers will not be accepted. Monday, Jan. 9 Bitterroot Public Library, Bird Window Decal Take Home Kit. First come, first served, grab-bag kit. Kit includes all materials and instructions to create at home. Hamilton Senior Center, lunch is served 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $5; Hand and foot (canasta) $2, every Monday, 12:30 p.m. 820 N. 4th St., Hamilton. Stevensville Senior Center, 8 a.m. Coffee Club, meals at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; Pinochle at 7 p.m. 100 Mission St., Stevensville. Golden Age Club, exercise class, 9-10 a.m. 727 S. 5th St., Hamilton. Bitterroot Audubon eBird Workshop, Bitterroot Audubon is collectively having a Big Year. The chapter aims to count the number of species they identify in Montana from Jan. 1 until Dec. 31. The group will conduct the count using eBird and share lists to a group eBird account. Eric Rasmussen will present a workshop on using eBird for beginners or those who need a refresher, on Jan. 9 at 3 p.m. You must register in advance for this workshop: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvf-mrrzIsHtMr0etOS9Wcm06xfO_GEtAC After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the workshop. For more information go to bitterrootaudubon.org. Tuesday, Jan. 10 Bitterroot Public Library, Coloring Club for Adults, meeting room, 10:30 to 1 p.m. Builders Club, 4 to 5 p.m., meeting room, registration required. Socrates Cafe, 6:30 to 9 p.m. meeting room, no registration required. For more information call 406-363-1670. 306 State St., Hamilton. bitterrootpubliclibrary.org. North Valley Public Library, The Book Club at NVPL, 10 a.m. to noon. Role playing games, 4-6 p.m., in-person or online (teens). For more information call 406-777-5061. 208 Main St., Stevensville, northvalleylibrary.org. Stevensville Senior Center, 8 a.m. Coffee Club. Exercise, 10 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday. 100 Mission St., Stevensville. Journey Through Grief Support, a six-week series for anyone who is grieving the death of a loved one. Tuesdays, Jan. 3 March 28, 2:30 p.m., at St Francis of Assisi, 411 S. 5th St, Hamilton. Please RSVP at stfrancishwm@gmail.com. Hamilton School District Regular Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Washington Elementary, room 4. The Board will be conducting this meeting with live participation. In addition to meeting in person, the District will broadcast the meeting LIVE on the HSD#3 Facebook page. You are encouraged to join the meeting at: https://www.facebook.com/HamiltonSchoolDistrict3 Corvallis School District Regular Board Meeting, 6-7 p.m., Corvallis High School Library. Wednesday, Jan. 11 Bitterroot Public Library, Baby and Toddler Story Time, meeting room, 10:30 a.m., registration required. Junior Chef Creations, meeting room, 4 to 5 p.m., registration required. For more information call 406-363-1670. 306 State St., Hamilton. bitterrootpubliclibrary.org. North Valley Public Library, Songs & Stories for Preschoolers, 10:30-11 a.m. Wild & Weird Wednesdays with Science Officer Lisa, 4-5 p.m. For more information call 406-777-5061. 208 Main St., Stevensville, northvalleylibrary.org. Hamilton Senior Center, lunch is served 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $5; 820 N. 4th St., Hamilton. Stevensville Senior Center, 8 a.m. Coffee Club, meals at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 100 Mission St., Stevensville. Golden Age Club, exercise class, 9-10 a.m. Pinochle games, 1 p.m., multiple bid, $2. 727 S. 5th St., Hamilton. Thursday, Jan. 12 Bitterroot Public Library, Little Explorers, meeting room, 10 to 11 a.m., registration required. Kids 3D Printing Workshop, meeting room, 4 to 5 p.m., registration required. For more information call 406-363-1670. 306 State St., Hamilton. bitterrootpubliclibrary.org. North Valley Public Library, Game & Gab: Bingo, noon-1:30 p.m., (adults). Herbs & Spice for When the Weather's Not Nice, 6:30-7:30 p.m. (adluts). For more information call 406-777-5061. 208 Main St., Stevensville, northvalleylibrary.org. Stevensville Senior Center, 8 a.m. Coffee Club. Exercise, 10 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday. 100 Mission St., Stevensville. Friday, Jan. 13 Bitterroot Public Library, Preschool Story time, 10:30 a.m., meeting room, registration required. One on One Tech Support, 10 a.m. to noon, reservations recommended. Full STEAM Ahead, 3:30 to 5 p.m., meeting room, registration required. For more information call 406-363-1670. 306 State St., Hamilton. bitterrootpubliclibrary.org. North Valley Public Library, Open World Fridays, 4-6 p.m., teens (12-18). Choose to 3D print objects and then paint them, create a craft, explore the Dungeons & Dragons handbooks, or make a zine, its up to you. For more information call 406-777-5061. 208 Main St., Stevensville, northvalleylibrary.org. Hamilton Senior Center, lunch is served 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $5; Pinochle games, 1 p.m., $3. 820 N. 4th St., Hamilton. Stevensville Senior Center, 8 a.m. Coffee Club, meals at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 100 Mission St., Stevensville. Golden Age Club, exercise class, 9-10 a.m. 727 S. 5th St., Hamilton. Saturday, Jan. 14 Hamilton Senior Center, bingo is every first and third Saturday, opens at noon, play begins at 1 p.m. $2 entry fee. $10/15 games. Must be 18+ to play. Flea Market is the 2nd Saturday of every month from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., September to May. 820 N. 4th St., Hamilton. Stevensville Senior Center, pinochle at 7 p.m. 100 Mission St., Stevensville. AA Meeting, 6-10 p.m., Bitterroot Public Library, 306 State St. Further ahead Monday, Jan. 16 Bitterroot Audubon January Program: A Father-Son Big Year of Birding and Beyond. Join Bitterroot Audubon as acclaimed Missoula author Sneed B. Collard III recounts the entertaining adventures behind his humorous, award-winning memoir Warblers and Woodpeckers: A Father-Son Big Year of Birding (Mountaineers, 2018) and other bird books and articles. Hell also recall he and his sons accidental Big Year of 2022 featuring Pinky, Americas most famous flamingo. This Zoom-only program is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 16. You must register in advance, before 5 p.m. on Jan. 16th. The registration link is: Jan. 19-25 Submissions Accepted for the 2nd Annual Winter Wonderland Art Exhibit, Submissions will be accepted at North Valley Public Library for the 2nd Annual Winter Wonderland Art Exhibition 2023 from Jan. 19 through Jan. 25. To submit, complete the submission form found on the library's website or, you may pick up a submission form at the NVPL front desk. Only drawings or paintings accepted. Your artwork must be an original piece on the theme of "Winter Wonderland." Artwork may not be larger than 24" on any side. Best of Show ribbons will be awarded to one winner in each category (Youth, Teen, and Adult) during the Winter Wonderland Art Exhibit held Thursday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 11th annual Cowboy Ball, a fun, festive, western themed fundraiser with proceeds going to support the Rockin RC Rodeo and the Equestrian side of The Ravalli County Fairgrounds. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., with a cash bar and with live music by country-rock band 406 from 8:30-11:30 p.m. Tickets on sale now, call 406-363-3411. Ravalli County Fairgrounds, Hamilton. A proposal to conduct logging, forest thinning and prescribed burning on 19,147 acres of public land scattered from Clinton to Drummond has drawn scrutiny from conservation groups who say it overstates wildfire risk at the expense of wildlife protection. The Bureau of Land Management's Missoula Field Office began planning the Clark Fork Face Forest Health and Fuels Reduction project about two years ago, in early 2021, with the intent to begin work in spring 2023. Work would occur in phases over the next 1015 years. The agency says the project is aimed at improving forest conditions to be more fire resilient, particularly around former industrial logging and mining lands throughout the Garnet Mountains that are now dotted with private homes. The majority of the work in the project is proposed for areas in far-northern Granite County, near the Garnet Ghost Town northwest of Drummond. Critics say the agency minimized the proposal's threat to critical habitat for grizzly bear and Canada lynx species protected under the Endangered Species Act. They say the agency is using wildfire risk as a scare tactic to garner public support for a project that will log more acres than the agency admits, and prioritizes timber harvest over habitat protection. Further, they allege that the Missoula Field Office tried to rush the project through the public process with minimal scrutiny. BLM officials maintain that the project was properly publicized and vetted. They point out that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency responsible for enforcing the Endangered Species Act, agreed with the BLM's analysis that the project may have only minimal impacts on grizzlies and lynx. And, they say, active management for wildfire resilience is the top priority for land in the project area. The project aligns with the U.S. Forest Service's Wildfire Adapted Missoula plan and the Montana Forest Action Plan. Plus, Congress has mandated that the BLM perform active forest management, and gave the agency money to do it. The project attracted little public attention until about a month ago. The BLM held two public meetings while scoping the project in March 2021: one in Drummond and one in Clinton. Those meetings were held outdoors because of the coronavirus pandemic. The agency advertised the meetings in advance in the Missoulian, in a public press release and on social media. A Missoulian reporter attended one of the meetings and the paper ran a story about the project at the time. The agency received about a dozen public comments following the two meetings, mostly from locals and mostly supportive, according to Kyle Johnson, a forester with the BLM's Missoula Field Office and the leader of the interdisciplinary team planning the Clark Fork Face project. He said about a dozen more people contacted him directly with thoughts on the proposal after the meetings. The agency is currently accepting comments on the project until 5 p.m. Jan. 15. The project After a century of industrial logging and full-suppression firefighting, forests in the Garnets are severely overgrown with small, densely packed trees of about the same age, according to data the BLM compiled from ground and satellite surveys. The agency says the project is needed to "promote resilience to wildfire" on the landscape by reducing fuels and breaking up homogenous tree stands that should also protect life and property in the area, according to the BLM. The project is also needed to set the forest back on a trend toward historical forest conditions; to enhance habitat for limber pine (a close relative of the federally protected whitebark pine); to protect the forest from insect and disease outbreaks; and to provide economic benefit from logging, including "capturing the value of dead and dying timber while it remains salvageable." The BLM developed the project within a 247,191-acre planning area a broad region from Bonner to east of Drummond, bounded on the south by Interstate 90 and on the northwest by Highway 200. The area covers much of the Garnet Mountains and is a checkerboard of state, federal and private lands. Only 23,666 acres, or 10%, of the planning area is BLM land. Of that, the project entails work on 19,147 acres of BLM land that's 80.9% of the BLM land in the planning area, but just 7.7% of the total planning area. According to the BLM, the project entails timber harvest, or logging, with prescribed fire on 9,812 acres. Prescribed fire would be the primary treatment on an additional 5,068 acres. Cutting and removal of fire-prone vegetation would be conducted on 2,394 acres. Thinning, or the cutting of non-commercial trees, would be conducted on 1,567 acres. Limber pine enhancement, which involves thinning, would be conducted on 306 acres. Work would occur in phases, from west to east, over 1015 years. Entwined with the BLM's 19,147-acre Clark Fork Face project, the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation oversees 51,930 acres, or 21%, of the broader planning area. The Nature Conservancy owns 12%. Nearly half the planning area 119,342 acres, or 48% is privately owned land. The BLM can work with the DNRC and The Nature Conservancy to perform work similar to this project, and is partnered with the DNRC to provide public funds to private landowners in the planning area who wish to carry similar work on their own property. But the BLM's current project proposal addresses only the work the agency plans for its 19,147 acres. Clear-cutting The project drew more attention after the BLM announced its draft environmental assessment (EA) for the project on Dec. 5, with a comment period through Dec. 16. Executive director of Alliance for the Wild Rockies Mike Garrity then took aim at the project in an opinion piece published Dec. 13 and 14 in publications statewide. He claimed that the project will log significantly more land than the EA states, and that the BLM tried to sneak the project past the public to avoid scrutiny. He blasted the short comment period. The EA states that "regeneration harvest," often called clear-cutting, may occur in 1,476 acres of the project. Because of proximity to structures, the EA states, clear-cuts will be used in place of high-severity prescribed burning where the habitat is dominated by lodgepole pine of uniform age. Garrity and Mike Bader, a grizzly bear research biologist and consultant to a variety of conservation groups, maintains that the BLM actually intends to clear-cut 16,000 acres of land, with significant negative impacts to federally protected species, particularly grizzlies and lynx. They say that many of the forest treatments listed in the EA will end up being clear-cut logging. They say they were informed by a whistleblower within the BLM. "I think its an awful project," Garrity said in a Dec. 29 phone call. "As the whistleblower told me, they just want to get the cut out. Theyre not going to do any of the reasons that they proposed for the project the purpose or need. Theyre not going to make the forest more fireproof or resilient." Garrity and Bader did not provide documents or communications to support their allegations beyond sharing what they said the whistleblower told them. Upon requests from the Missoulian, Garrity and Bader said they encouraged the whistleblower to contact the newspaper directly for this story. The person had not contacted the Missoulian as of Friday night. Wildfire issues At the BLM, Johnson said there are about 2,600 structures in the broader planning area. "We really are dealing with an urban interface environment," Johnson said. "Were not talking about if that fire ignites, were talking about when. Were not claiming or wanting to stop the fire. Were wanting to affect the fire intensity and severity." Garrity and Bader are part of a collection of conservation groups that on Friday submitted a joint 46-page public comment on the project. The groups the Flathead-Lolo-Bitterroot Citizen Task Force, Friends of the Bitterroot, Western Watersheds Project, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, WildEarth Guardians and Footloose Montana alleged that "the bias towards industrial logging under the guise of fire protection is apparent." Garrity argued that the treatments the BLM has proposed won't actually make forests less prone to wildfire. Cabins scattered throughout the mountains, he said, do not constitute wildland-urban interface, or WUI. To protect homes, he said, only areas immediately around a home, the "home ignition zone," and building features susceptible to embers should be treated. "The main reason they want to do this is to protect homes," he said, "and there are homes mostly next to the highways there arent many homes up in the Garnets. They dont want to tell the public what theyre doing, because they dont want to tell the public, 'Well, were clearing old-growth forest.'" Responding to comments Asked directly about allegations the agency was trying to conceal the project, BLM officials reiterated that project scoping and the draft EA release were both accompanied by press releases, news stories and social media posts. Johnson said the initial 10-day comment period in early December was the result of the agency so far receiving little interest in the project beyond a few supportive landowners in the Garnets. The agency extended the comment period after receiving five requests to do so within the first 24 hours of the Dec. 5 announcement, he said. It's now a 45-day comment period. "Some might see that as a backpedaling," he said, "but really what it was was a reaction to the comments we were getting." Since Dec. 5, the BLM has received about 30 new comments, Johnson said Wednesday. Some are relevant to the project as described in the EA. But many are about 16,000-acre clear-cuts or logging old-growth, he said, which aren't what the BLM said it intends to do. "Most of them are saying, 'dont clear-cut,'" he said. "A lot of them were (from) out of the area speaking solely to what Garrity wrote." Garrity acknowledged that the BLM held two public meetings during project scoping, but he faulted the agency for not holding a meeting in Missoula, "even though theres a lot of people in Missoula who recreate in the Garnets." He said he wasn't aware of the project until a few days after the Dec. 5 announcement. Bader called the rollout of the project "one of the worst Ive seen in 40 years of reviewing public projects. It was a stealth release. They were hoping to fly this one under the radar." In a statement Thursday, BLM Missoula Field Office Manager Erin Carey said, "I can't speculate about a whistleblower or why Mr. Garrity felt that I was not open to receiving public comment." She noted that the project had been publicized from the start and that the agency had solicited public comments. Johnson and Ernie McKenzie, a fisheries biologist and the assistant field office manager for Missoula, noted that they already have modified the project. The project originally considered all of the BLM's 23,666 acres in the planning area for forest treatments. In fall 2021, the agency pared that down to the current 19,147 acres (a reduction of 4,519 acres, or 19%). The reduction in treated acres meant the agency could reduce road building by about 50%, Johnson said. "We didnt want to propose roads in un-roaded parcels," Johnson said, describing such parcels as "proxy for secure habitat" for protected species. "Those acres were outside of the immediate threat to private property and private resources." They also noted that feedback from the Fish and Wildlife Service led to the project's phased implementation, with the goal of localizing wildlife disturbance to one area at a time. Bader's most recent published study, with Paul Sieracki, focused specifically on grizzly bear denning habitat and demographic connectivity in the region. He said that while the Garnets aren't ideal denning habitat, the range offers a bear travel link to the Sapphire and Bitterroot ranges south of Interstate 90. "They think they can wave the fire card like a magic wand and make everything else go away. Like, Yeah, well hurt grizzlies, but well protect homes,'" Bader said of the project. Stevens said that protecting species' habitat and the work described in this project are "not a zero-sum game" because the work may not hurt the species. The conservation groups wrote in their comment that the project would violate the Endangered Species Act by harming protected species. Harm would come not just from activity in habitats, but especially from what the groups characterized as flawed analysis of road construction in habitat, and reduction in thick foliage cover sought out by grizzlies and lynx. As part of the NEPA process, the BLM initiated consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the project in April. Consultation lasted into November, when the service issued its biological opinion on the project. The service concurred with the BLM's analysis that the project "may affect and is likely to adversely affect" grizzly bears, Canada lynx and lynx habitat. The EA also argues that inaction would make severe wildfire more likely, which poses a greater risk to wildlife than the project. But, according to the BLM, wildfire risk does trump wildlife protection in the specific area of this project, although officials also said the two are not always mutually exclusive. The Missoula Field Office's current Resource Management Plan outlines three levels of Fire Management Zone. The Clark Fork Face project proposes work in Fire Management Zone 1, where the Management Plan states that land shall be managed primarily "to protect life, increase the safety of firefighters, and protect property, improvements, and infrastructure as a priority." "Overall, the cumulative effects of the proposed action could exacerbate short-term disturbance or displacement to limited grizzly, lynx or wolverine individuals in particular circumstances," the EA states. "However, populations and critical habitat resources would be maintained. In the long-term this project could be expected to improve habitat quality and resiliency for the 3 species." Johnson said that the agencies determined that there may be some impacts to grizzlies and lynx, but that in Fire Management Zone 1, wildfire resilience takes priority. The Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for enforcing the Endangered Species Act, he noted, and found that "all of our work was in alignment with the act." Bader argued Thursday that the Endangered Species Act should trump the Fire Management Zone priorities: "The existing baseline condition is already taking grizzly bears. Under the law, a federal agency cant further degrade a baseline. The law is the Endangered Special Act, and you cant just trump it with an opinion." Road impact Bader said that the project is "flagrantly violating" the official interagency Conservation Strategy for grizzly bears in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, which among other constraints limits road density on public lands in grizzly habitat. The EA states that 22 miles of roads would be built for the project: 6 miles of temporary road to be abandoned after three years, and 16 miles of permanent roads that would remain after the project. The EA states that 19 miles of roads that already exist on the landscape, but that aren't recognized in the agency's road inventory, would be formally recognized: "This change is not an increase of road miles or density as they are currently existing but would lead to better mapping, maintenance and upkeep by classifying them as BLM System roads." Bear mortality increases with road density. The EA states that open road density across the broader planning area is already a "relatively high" 2.46 miles of road per square-mile of land (mi/mi). On BLM land, it's 3.49 mi/mi. Johnson said the project was designed to build roads only in places that already have them, with the goal of maintaining "secure habitat," or areas more than 500 meters from a road. "Were not going into previously un-roaded parcels," Johnson said. "These parcels already have roads there and were either rerouting or extending those roads." Since most of the roads already exist, the BLM argues, and others are temporary, road density would increase by a tolerable 0.2%. Conservation groups disagree. They say the BLM's density calculation is flawed and the project will increase road density in violation of the Conservation Strategy, which aims for preserving secure habitat with less than 1 mi/mi of open roads and 2 mi/mi of total road density. Bader said the BLM's consideration of existing roads was as if "they suddenly found these roads," and now are going to perform work to upgrade them. "The existing amount of roads was already diminishing denning habitat." The BLM plans to keep all of the roads closed in perpetuity, according to the EA. But Garrity and Bader said that people will still use the roads, regardless of their status, because the agency lacks capacity to enforce closures. "Its an impact they didnt consider, and they have to," Bader said. "They dont have any enforcement up there in the Garnets to prevent illegal road use. Its a free-for-all if people want it." Garrity, Bader and some of the conservation groups have won in courts on the issue of roads before. In response to the Lolo National Forest's Soldier-Butler Project in the Ninemile drainage west of Missoula, the Flathead-Lolo-Bitterroot Citizen Task Force and Alliance for the Wild Rockies successfully sued the Forest Service to halt the project in 2021, winning in federal magistrate court and again on appeal. Among their chief complaints was road construction associated with the project, which Bader and Sieracki analyzed in a 2020 study commissioned by the Task Force. By calculating road density in static parcels rather than a "moving window" of geospatial analysis, Bader said, and by omitting roads on nearby non-BLM land, the BLM's calculation is illegally flawed the same as Soldier-Butler. A difference between Soldier-Butler and Clark Fork Face is that Soldier-Butler was proposed within a federally recognized demographic connectivity area for grizzly bears. The Clark Fork Face project is not in a recognized connectivity area. Nonetheless, Bader said that the BLM's proposal has the same flaws as Soldier-Butler, in which "we sued them and we won." The Clark Fork Face project, he said, is ripe for a lawsuit. "I think it's a fat target, I really do." A longtime journalist known in the industry for thoughtful storytelling and serving readers has been named managing editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Ngs four-decade career in eight newsrooms includes extensive experience in the New York area, one of the nations most fiercely competitive markets. His newsrooms have racked up numerous awards, and Ng himself has sat on Pulitzer Prize committees. Coates said hes looking forward to working with Ng on strategies to continue expanding The Times-Dispatchs digital audience while focusing on aggressive reporting with urgency. David is a terrific journalist with a long history of engaging readers in the communities where hes worked. Hes a strong and focused leader, and Im thrilled hes bringing his considerable talent to our Richmond newsroom, Coates said. Ng said good journalism comes from treating his teams well and with respect. He is known as an editor who encourages staff to have time with their families and who could be relied upon in the face of any issue. In Providence, Ng ran all newsroom operations, including the implementation of new storytelling concepts. The Journal is the oldest continually publishing newspaper in the country. He previously was executive editor of the New York Daily News, where he set the agenda for award-winning daily news coverage. As an assistant managing editor at The Star-Ledger in New Jersey, Ng helped oversee the direction of coverage that won a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage over the resignation of Gov. Jim McGreevey. Ng is a first-generation American and son of Chinese parents who immigrated to New York in 1957. He credits his mother for banning the use of English at home to preserve the familys heritage, knowing that her children would learn the language and adapt culturally as they went to school. With artistic know-how and hard work, Kristin Donaldson is an integral part of community nonprofit Hanover County resident Kristin Donaldson combines her artistic ability with her know-how for hard work to give back in a couple of different ways. He was co-editor of his high school newspaper in the Bronx before becoming an editor of the school newspaper at Marist College, where he graduated cum laude. His first job in journalism was as a reporter for the New York Post, where he spent nearly 13 years, rising to city editor then to associate managing editor. At the New York Daily News, he also served as deputy managing editor and as metropolitan editor. Additionally, his career brought him to Newsday Media Group as a senior news editor, New Jersey Advance Media as a senior news editor and ALM Media as an editor. When asked how his background as the son of immigrant parents and an editor in the competitive New York market have influenced his view on journalism, Ng responded saying, in two ways. One, as an Asian American, I always felt as if I lived in two worlds, neither one better than the other, just different. From that, Ive come to believe that there are two sides to every story and there are times I need to understand that none of us own the truth, we just own our version of what we think is true, Ng said. Secondly, on competition, Ive learned that its not about winning. Its about being better than we were yesterday. He received several prestigious awards from organizations for Asian American Journalists. He also served as a Pulitzer Prize juror in 2006 and then the Pulitzer Prize chairman in 2007. Ultimately, Ng says he wants to bring his talents as a storyteller to The Times-Dispatch newsroom, and learn what makes the city tick. Whether we tell the stories by word, or by images or by data, it is important that we get it right because these stories dont belong to us. They belong to our readers, they belong to our public, they belong to our public officials, Ng said. These stories done right are our bridges and they can help all of us understand each other. If we can get that right, then we will have earned our pay for the day. 29 photos from The Times-Dispatch archives Two cities. Two wars. On two continents. Over 100 years of separation. Richmond and Ferizaj, Kosovo: a million worlds apart, but similar in striking ways. Mickael Broth, a Richmond artist known as the Night Owl, recently returned from a trip to Kosovo, where he was invited to participate in the annual MuralFest Kosova held in Ferizaj. I had an amazing time all around, but felt most connected to the fact that their community was trying to get past a war in their past. For them, the war is recent, having happened roughly 20 years ago. For us, we experience a city still grappling with a war that happened over 150 years ago, Broth said. Kosovo was the center of a brutal war in the late 1990s between the ethnic Albanians and Serbians in which many thousands lost their lives before NATO intervention brought it a close. Many years later, Kosovo declared its independence, but the country continues to experience conflicts between Albanians and Serbians. Nils Westergard was the first Richmond artist to participate in MuralFest in 2019, followed by fellow Richmond muralist Emily Herr in early 2022. Westergards work has become a Richmond landmark, immediately recognizable for its striking black-and-white stencil style depicting youth culture like the two-story girl in the Fan with hands covering her face. Westergard travels often, and his work can also be found in international places like Berlin and Croatia, signed with a black butterfly. Westergard painted a double-headed eagle as his first mural in Kosovo, which faced controversy almost immediately. Both the Albanians and Serbians use a double-headed eagle in their crests and flags and, by merging the two into one, I hoped to create a sort of avian yin-yang that unified the two, while acknowledging both their differences and similarities, Westergard said. The mural was immediately tagged with graffiti the year 1998 scrawled across it and splashed with paint. Id been talking to the guy almost every day, Westergard said of the tagger. He fought in the war. The war was only 20 years ago. Its still very fresh. Wed hear guys that would say, The Serbians came and killed my best friend. Ill never forgive them, Broth said. Westergard said he understood the emotional reaction to his work and learned more about the conflict between the Albanians and Serbians as he painted, often talking with locals, like the man who tagged his mural. There was a certain awkwardness. Youre not from there; you dont know the depth of the conflict, Herr said. Shes known locally for the traveling mural project Girls! Girls! Girls! to better represent women in public art. Also her bright pink mural of a woman and child under a spotlight can be found near Quirk Hotel. She visited Kosovo last year and painted during MuralFests 2021 festival that carried a Home theme. This program, they have a really strong sense of art to establish an identity for Ferizaj. It was really inspiring to participate in. It felt like a step forward, action by action, said Herr, who rented a car and spent several days getting a feel for the city. For the festival, she painted a landscape mural inspired by the Kosovo countryside. MuralFest has been around for seven years and, in that time, has created over 100 murals, mostly in the city of Ferizaj. Every year, we decide to work on a theme, for which we want to raise awareness to, or simply a topic to be elaborated into our society, said Lebibe Topalli, executive director of MuralFest, via email. Ten artists are invited every year, often with two Americans in the mix. MuralFest has been contributing to the cultivation of art and cultural heritage in our city and throughout Kosovo since its beginnings. We started aiming to give an identity to Ferizaj as a City of Murals inspired by the first mural created in Ferizaj during the 60s The Waiter, which is also one of the main identity points of the city, Topalli said. Broth, who visited Kosovo in October, built and installed a large-scale public sculpture that was fabricated on-site and installed at the University of Applied Sciences. He created a gate that was inspired by the double-headed eagle on the Kosovo flag. I fabricated the piece on-site using a welder I couldnt read the instructions to and a material iron Id never worked with before. ... It was a challenge to be sure, Broth said. But the people couldnt have been more wonderful to deal with. The theme for last years MuralFest was On(Off)line. Broth decided to create a gate to represent the duality of self: how we present ourselves online vs. who we really are. The gate has always symbolized that to me: You are one person on one side and another as you pass through. MuralFest discovered Westergards work on social media. After working with him, he suggested Herr, who suggested Broth. It was a wonderful artistic chain, Topalli said. You get to see their work stamped on the walls of our city, contributing to the main goal into transforming Ferizaj into the City of Murals and become part of the urban gallery created in this small city. MuralFest also seeks to involve youth talent and help young artists grow in their careers. All of the artists worked with local youth in workshops. Topalli said Westergard taught his stencil technique to the young artists of Kosovo; Herr showed them how to create art en plein air; and Broth created a sculpture out of random materials. All created something beautiful and meaningful for our country. Westergard described downtown Ferizaj as an essential square with big apartments with murals on them. It has a very outdoor gallery feel everywhere. As for connections or lessons that Richmond could learn from Kosovo, Broth said, MuralFest is very intentional about the murals going up. Theyre big statement pieces. Here in Richmond, it can be more of an afterthought. At MuralFest, theyre not looking for a pretty piece of art or great Instagram photo. Theyre looking for something meaningful to their story and to the people who will see it, Broth said. Ive always felt irritated by mural tourism. [Whereas in Kosovo], it felt very genuine and powerful. Blank canvas as a city establishing its character and identity, Herr said. While Ferizaj is using art to forge a new identity for itself, Broth believes something similar has been happening in Richmond over the past several years. I felt a lot of parallels to the shift Ive seen in Richmond over the past decade, as we struggle to outgrow our own history of conflict and paint a brighter picture for the future, he said. Murals can help people move forward. People have embraced murals here. Its a way of changing the landscape and saying, This place can be a colorful, fun community of expression. Its the transformative power of public art. And now the two cities are threaded together: sister cities of murals. PHOTOS: Richmond artists in Kosovo A 32-year-old Henrico County man died in a vehicular crash in the Lakeside area on Saturday night, according to county police. Henricos police and fire divisions responded to a crash in the 7400 block of Ranco Road at around 8 p.m. for a crash involving a Toyota Tacoma pickup and a parked semi-trailer. First responders worked to extricate the driver from the pickup and provide aid, but Yunior Morales Garcia died at the scene. According to police, speed and failure to wear a seatbelt are all factors considered in this investigation. The crash remains under investigation. A woman driving on Interstate 295 in Hopewell early Saturday was shot and sustained injuries that are not life-threatening, according to Virginia State Police. At 12:53 a.m., the 36-year-old woman from Hopewell was driving a 2009 Toyota Camry in the northbound lanes of I-295 when a vehicle approached from behind and someone began shooting at her car, according to state police. The driver was struck and was able to pull over at the 13-mile marker. She was transported to Southside Medical Center and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Virginia Commonwealth Universitys medical college was intimately connected to the institution of slavery in the mid-1800s, according to a new report commissioned by the university. Each year, the college owned or rented enslaved people who cooked food, cleaned classrooms, laundered clothes, stoked furnaces and maintained buildings. The report, published last month, called the use of enslaved workers a sad and troubling chapter in the history of VCUs medical college. It comes in response to a state law passed in 2021 that requires VCU and four other colleges to examine the extent to which slavery impacted their schools, to commemorate the enslaved peoples lives and to form a response. The law directs the University of Virginia, the College of William & Mary, Longwood University and Virginia Military Institute to do the same. With the report complete, VCU will now form a commission to determine its next step, school President Michael Rao told the board of visitors last month. Its the latest action VCU has taken to reckon with its past. The school has removed names and symbols of people associated with the Confederacy and re-examined the human remains scattered in a well under a campus building. The university must acknowledge and thoughtfully examine the role that slavery played, has played and continues to play in human beings, Rao said. In 2021, then-Gov. Ralph Northam signed a law requiring the five public colleges built before the Civil War to examine their relationship with slavery. The law directs them to implement a scholarship or economic program for students with a connection to slavery in hopes of lifting low-income students out of poverty and correcting the wrongs that took place on college campuses, lawmakers said at the time. VCU responded by commissioning a 74-page report written by a retired New York University professor, Peter J. Wosh, at a cost of $30,000. Some of his findings, VCU already knew that the medical college, founded in 1838, existed for nearly 30 years in what became the capital of the Confederacy, a city where slavery permeated many facets of government, business and life. And that enslaved workers known as resurrectionists dug up dead Black bodies to transport them to the college for medical dissection. But Woshs work added detail and gathered historical information in a way never done before. Matt Conrad, VCUs vice president for government relations, called the findings painful and shameful. 4 to 8 workers per year The medical college opened in 1838 as a division of Hampden-Sydney College. It became a public institution, the Medical College of Virginia, in 1854. According to tax and census data, it routinely owned or rented between four and eight enslaved laborers each year from 1848 to 1864. In 1862, the city valued each of the colleges enslaved individuals at $600. Its highly likely, Wosh said, that enslaved workers built the Egyptian Building in 1844, since most of the local workforce at the time was enslaved. When MCV constructed a new infirmary in 1860, it contracted R.B. Woodward, an enslaver. Its unclear if he used enslaved workers in construction, but the subcontractors he hired also enslaved people. The college employed a demonstrator of anatomy, who was required to pay half the cost of an enslaved servant the school paid the other half. And the schools deans and physicians became rich off the backs of enslaved labor. Among the schools 23 physicians, 15 collectively owned at least 101 African Americans during their careers at MCV. Its unclear if students brought enslaved manservants with them to school. But most students lived in boarding houses, which depended on slaves for meals, the washing of clothes and the maintaining of living quarters. Most of the students came from slave-owning families. Employees may have used their own slaves for work at the college. Caleb R. Newman, a steward, oversaw purchasing supplies, cooking, laundry, maintenance and the procuring of servants. He owned five people. MCV profited in both concrete and indirect ways from slavery, Wosh wrote. The culture permeated both the institution and the individuals connected with it. The college advertised itself to the Owners and Hirers of Negroes, and students from the north sought out MCV because it was friendly to the institution of slavery. White patients received better care they could choose any faculty member to treat them, and they could buy a private room. Black patients werent afforded such luxuries. Rumors that the infirmary killed Black patients and used them for dissection spread far and wide. Even the Richmond Dispatch, a predecessor to The Times-Dispatch, noted discussion that sick Black people taken to the infirmary seemingly never came back alive. To tamp down speculation, Levin Smith Joynes, dean of MCV, published an ad saying that no patient dying in the infirmary white or Black was sent to the dissecting room. Other records support his claim. And all this occurred while MCV preached a message of philanthropy. MCV never reckoned with the contradictions between its often lofty and humanitarian rhetoric and its commitment to slavery during the antebellum period, Wosh wrote. By the end of the Civil War in 1865, Richmond was in ruins, the infirmary had closed and slavery no longer played a role at MCV. Wosh said his report does not answer every question. Its unclear how MCVs actions compared with other medical colleges in the South. And the identities of the enslaved are left largely unknown. An 1860 tax record lists no names, just ages, races and genders: a 45-year-old mixed-race woman, a 25-year-old Black woman, a 40-year-old Black man. How other colleges are responding The five colleges directed to research their relationship with slavery have completed various levels of work. Longwood University has started a project called the Bicentennial Initiative to better understand the role of African Americans on campus, a school spokesperson said. Longwood was founded in 1839 as Farmville Female Seminary. When the Union Army arrived in April 1865, it burned school records, the spokesperson said. As a result, Longwood has little historical information on the use of enslaved labor. Scant evidence shows college leaders engaged in the practice of leasing enslaved women for domestic work. William & Mary began to study its association with slavery in 2009 when it commissioned the Lemon Project, named for a man owned by the college. Last year, William & Mary unveiled a 45-foot-long memorial to the enslaved. The school has determined it owned or hired more than 100 African Americans between its formation in 1693 and the end of the Civil War. Many are known only by their first names. William & Mary has started two endowments for need-based scholarships for students with a demonstrated historic connection to slavery. Theyre called the Lemon scholarship and the Anne R. Willis scholarship named for the wife of a longtime faculty member. UVa has identified more than 4,000 enslaved laborers on its campus. A school spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on the status of the universitys response. VMI had a close relationship with the Confederacy its cadets fought in the Battle of New Market, and Confederate Gen. Thomas Stonewall Jackson was a professor there. A spokesperson for VMI did not respond to a request for comment. VCUs report is just one piece in the universitys effort to come to terms with its past. In 2020, it began removing the names, plaques and busts along campus that honored members of the Confederacy. Last year, it began inspecting with careful reverence the human remains found in the Marshall Street well. It hopes to determine some biographical information about the people, perhaps even their place of birth. A next step from VCUs commission is expected by the end of the academic year. Authorities in Hanover County responded at around 7 a.m. Saturday to Route 301 between Stumpy and Peaks roads for a multivehicle crash that left one person dead, a spokesperson for Hanover Fire-EMS said. That section of Route 301 is a mostly residential two-lane road about 5 miles east of the Hanover airport. Authorities did not identify the number of cars involved or a cause for the wreck or say if any charges were filed. The incident caused a substantial fuel leak, which was managed by an outside contractor, the spokesperson said. The General Assembly returns to Richmond on Wednesday to kick off a 46-day session that will feature spirited battles over issues ranging from abortion, education and tax cuts to the Richmond-Petersburg brawl over casino rights. Members of the Richmond Times-Dispatch politics team will preview the session in a 2 p.m. discussion Tuesday, to be livestreamed on Richmond.com. On Wednesday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin will outline his agenda for the second year of his term, delivering his State of the Commonwealth address to a joint session of the legislature. The Republican governors priorities include an additional $1 billion in tax cuts; a bid to bar most abortions in the state after 15 weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest and when the womans life is in jeopardy; furthering school choice; and fixes for the states mental health system. Democrats will seek to block Youngkin on abortion and school choice, while pushing more funding for schools and the states behavioral health system. Democrats also want to rein in the states soaring housing costs, tighten oversight of medication costs and advance a tutoring program to help students make up ground lost during COVID-19. Democrats currently hold a slim edge in the Senate, and Republicans hold a slight margin in the House, pending the results of three special elections on Tuesday to fill legislative vacancies. Looming over the session are the fall elections when all 40 Senate seats and all 100 seats in the House of Delegates are on the ballot. Follow coverage of the General Assembly session and other state politics news on Richmond.com and in The Times-Dispatch. The elementary school teacher that police say a 6-year-old boy shot Friday afternoon is improving and was listed Saturday in stable condition, according to Newport News police. The department said in a statement that Police Chief Steve Drew met with the victim and her family Saturday morning. She has improved and is currently listed in stable condition. Chief Drew asked that you continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers. On Twitter, James Madison University President Jonathan Alger identified the teacher as Abby Zwerner, a JMU graduate who is listed as a first-grade teacher at Richneck Elementary. All of us at James Madison University are deeply saddened by the reported tragic shooting of JMU alumna Abby Zwerner, Alger posted on behalf of the school community. We offer prayers and best wishes for Abbys health and recovery and want to do all that we can to support Abby, her family and friends, fellow teachers and their families at this incredibly difficult time. JMU is prepared to support those impacted by this incident now and in the weeks to come. Police previously said they took a 6-year-old boy into custody following the shooting. No students and no other adults were injured. In a statement Saturday, Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones said the city is saddened and disheartened by the terrible tragedy at the school. It is almost impossible to wrap our minds around the fact that a 6-year-old first grader brought a loaded handgun to school and shot a teacher, however this is exactly what our community is grappling with today. Jones said we are all hopeful that she will recover from this ordeal. He praised the first responders and said the police department is working diligently to get an answer to the question we are all asking how did this happen? He said the city also is working to ensure the child receives the support and the services he needs as we continue to process what took place. Hollingsworth & Vose, a manufacturer of advanced materials used in filtration, battery and industrial applications, has announced a $40.2 million investment to enhance its Floyd County operation. The company said it will expand its facility on Christiansburg Pike to accommodate new production equipment to meet increased demand and create an estimated 25 new jobs. Weve been a part of the Floyd, Virginia community since 1976. This facility is essential to serving both our global and domestic customers, said Josh Ayer, chief operating officer of Hollingsworth & Vose. We are delighted to continue to support Hollingsworth & Voses growth in Floyd County. Their new investment is over three times bigger than the largest private investment in our countys 191-year history, said Joe Turman, chairman of the Floyd County Board of Supervisors. Incorporated in 1892 and headquartered in East Walpole, Massachusetts, the company has been family-owned for seven generations. In 1976, H&V established its first Virginia facility in Floyd County and employs more than 200 workers. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Floyd County to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Youngkin approved a $558,700 grant from the Commonwealths Opportunity Fund to assist Floyd County with the project. Former Martinsville City Attorney and Assistant City Manager Eric Monday will begin a new job as general counsel for the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission next month. Mike Stewart, executive director of the airport commission, confirmed Friday that Monday will be joining the airport on or about Feb. 1. Stewart said Monday will begin his new job at $140,000 a year and by bringing the general counsel function back in-house, in addition to being responsible for the commissions legal affairs, Monday will also be in charge of procurement, contracts and leasing functions. Im very much looking forward to working at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport, Monday said via email. Both Mr. Stewart and the Commission members have an exceptional commitment to improving the airports role as a major economic driver for our entire region. Its exciting to be a part of that. Monday had been the attorney for the city of Martinsville since 2003, general counsel to the Blue Ridge Regional Airport Authority and maintained a selective private law practice. His wife, Monica Taylor, is a partner in the Roanoke law firm of Gentry, Locke, Rakes and Moore. Monday worked closely with outside counsel in Martinsvilles legal attempt to revert from an independent city to a town within Henry County. Wrote Monday: I wish the best for Martinsvilles citizens. This is my hometown and it deserves a future every bit as bright and successful as its past. Martinsville Bulletin New River Community College will be offering a group of evening machine technology courses in the spring 2023 semester. Courses include machine shop operations, technology of machining, machining techniques, and precision machining techniques. All four courses are eight credit hours each and will meet on Monday-Thursday nights from 6:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. in person on NRCCs Dublin campus, with the first day of class on Monday, January 23. NRCC faculty member Warren Crandall will be teaching the 14-week courses. The class schedule is available at www.nr.edu/schedule. Virginias Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund Infrastructure Grant Program supporting local farms and food producers announced in late December that it will financially support ten proframs with shares of $368,885 in matching grants Created by the General Assembly in 2021, AFID Infrastructure grants are awarded biannually to support locally identified investments that aid small-scale farmers and food producers in growing their operations. This largest ever grant round is a result of the 2022 General Assemblys decision to double the maximum award to $50,000. Independent businesses engaged in the processing of meat, poultry, and vegetables benefitted from funding this round, alongside multiple food processing facilities that are operated by non-profits or local governments. Local and regional organizations that received funding were: City of Roanoke, $50,000 to support the Local Environmental Agriculture Project (LEAP), a non-profit focused on creating economically viable outlets for local farmers and food producers, such as farmers markets and commercial kitchens. In addition, LEAPs commercial kitchen supports more than 40 food businesses with equipment, resources, and training. Their farmers markets host 50 local vendors, the majority of which are meat, produce, and dairy producers. In 2021, LEAP received support from the city of Roanoke to create a commercial kitchen and food hub in the underserved West End neighborhood. Funds will be used for the purchase and installation of a large walk-in cooler at the new food hub. Franklin County, $33,333 to support an expansion by KC Farms Meats, a family-owned custom meat processing business. KC Farms Meats offers custom meat processing services to 39 livestock producers in the region who sell directly to their customers. Funds will be used to purchase a new smoker and walk-in freezer, which will allow the business to expand its product offerings to include specialty sausages, hotdogs, bacon, and ham. Bedford County, $21,500 to support a new commercial kitchen by established meat processor EcoFriendly Foods. The company has had success selling value-added products, such as hand pies, soups, and stews, which are prepared in rented kitchen space. Grant funds will purchase commercial kitchen equipment, including a tilt skillet and additional refrigerated storage space. Carroll County, $50,000 to support the Virginia Produce Company with the purchase and installation of high-efficiency vacuum cooling equipment for produce. Vacuum cooling safely chills produce and removes problematic surface moisture in a fraction of the time as conventional methods, while also using 75% less energy. This rapid and efficient cooling method reduces product lost through moisture damage and increases shelf life, which expands the potential customer market. The Virginia Produce Company sources from more than 40 farms in the region to supply fresh produce to major food retailers. City of Galax, $15,052 to improve the Galax Farmers Market. This funding will be used to improve the appearance and overall customer experience. Appalachian Independence, a group that advocates for people with disabilities, has provided support for this project Andrea Gee already had a husband, a child and six years of working at a bank under her belt when she decided to become a registered nurse. She knew that making such a drastic career change was going to take much effort, along with bringing big changes to her life. Still, Gee felt compelled to make the move. Ive always took care of people, since I was a kid, she said. When I worked for a bank, it was all about sales goals, and it just wasnt me. Gee started out as a nurses aide, working for Carilion Clinic and taking prerequisite classes for registered nurse training at Virginia Western Community College. She worked long shifts, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. or from 11 p.m. to 11 a.m., and took classes during the day. Its the kind of demanding schedule that can make a lot of people give up on becoming a nurse, and Andrea said the stress doesnt stop when you get certified as one. The stress and burnout is a big challenge, Gee said. If you dont have a solid support system, it can be hard to keep going. I had other nurses who I worked with who would listen to me talk or cry when I was stressed, and give advice, and that helped me get through it. With prerequisites finished, and references she met while working as an aide, Gee is currently participating in an accelerated certification program at Radford University Carilion in Roanoke. Her education is being paid for by the Carilion Clinic Foundations Doris and Lynn Morris scholarship, and shes working on a more relaxed schedule while she completes her training. Gee, a member of the Navajo Nation who came to Virginia from Arizona, said she wanted to be an example to other Native Americans interested in attending college, and entering the medical field. For her, Failure is not an option. Now nearly finished with her certification, Gee, who lives in Vinton, acknowledges that the stress of the certification is something she might not have been able to endure without help from family, friends and co-workers. As far as support, I have a great support system from my unit directors to my husband, family, and friends. Without their support I would not be almost finished with the ABSN [Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing] program, Gee said. Nursing school is hard, and its even harder when you have a toddler. In recent years, Carilion and other medical systems have begun partnering with universities in new ways, attempting to address a national nurse shortage. Jeanne Armentrout, the chief administrative officer at Carilion, said that Carilion has also introduced new programs to address the stress with which nurses contend after theyre licensed and employed. We try to embrace our employees, Armentrout said. We have wellness consultations, where employees will make the rounds at different units to check in on nurses, talk to them, and give them what they might need. Armentrout said a chronic nursing shortage existed before COVID-19, yet its been exacerbated by pandemic stress of the last two years. The effects of the pandemic on the nursing workforce are, for a number of reasons, especially visible now, Armentrout said. At the beginning of the pandemic, people were scared, and a lot of nurses who wanted to travel waited until it seemed to be safe enough to go other places, Armentrout said, about the shortage in Virginia in particular. Currently, according to the Virginia Healthcare and Hospital Association, there are 4,510 job openings for nurses in Virginia, and 514 in Roanoke alone. The nurse shortage has been particularly hard on assisted living communities in Virginia. A recent report from the Virginia Health Care Association-Virginia Center for Assisted Living said that 7,500 employees have left Virginias assisted living facilities since February. At Carilion Clinic, the turnover rate for nurses, which hovered at about 13% on average before COVID-19, increased to around 20% at the pandemics peak, according to Armentrout. The turnover rate has begun to even out, but is still relatively high for Carilion. Armentrout and others in Carilion leadership have worked to remedy the shortage by giving nurses aides and others more ready access to training and education. Carilion Clinic provides nursing certifications through Radford University, clinical education and training through Virginia Tech, and nurses aide training through Virginia Western Community College. Carilion already the Roanoke Valleys largest employer has also taken a more active role in the community to advocate for health care as a rewarding career choice, she added. Other options for nurse education in Roanoke have emerged such as Galen College of Nursing, which announced this week its plan to open a school in Roanoke County, offering associate degrees for nursing with few prerequisites. A private institution with campuses in eight states, Galen College is affiliated with the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), a national health care system that includes LewisGale hospitals in Salem, Blacksburg, Pulaski and Low Moor. This new college would provide a new option for recruitment with an advantage toward LewisGale, which is Carilions health care competitor in the region. The shortage, however, has also impacted nurse education in the area, according to Lauren Hayward, the director of Virginia Western Community Colleges nursing program. Hayward said that nurses both leaving the profession and leaving the area means that schools with licensing programs have a hard time filling vacant positions for instructors. Its hard to find experienced instructors right now, Hayward said. We pull from the same pool of local nurses that our clinical partners do. Hayward added that, to address the problem, shes seen more hospitals partnering with community colleges and universities, something she expects to see more of in years to come. The COVID-19 pandemic has also affected the number of nurses entering nursing programs in an unprecedented way, according to Hayward. When someone is offered a spot in a nurse licensing program, theyre able to defer taking their seat, as Hayward refers to it, for up to a year. Before the pandemic, most nurses would immediately enter the program. Now, many nurses are uncertain about the stresses of the medical profession, and many defer their seats in the program. Ive never seen that happen before, Hayward said. While many are uncertain about entering the profession, many older nurses near or above retirement age, who would have continued working in pre-pandemic conditions, are opting to retire earlier. Retirements, according to Hayward, were always going to lead to a nursing shortage peak, but the pandemic has brought the peak closer than originally expected. Before the pandemic, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing released a report estimating a peak shortage in 2029. Post-pandemic, that peak is expected in 2024 or 2025. Beginning Monday, Montgomery County property owners can schedule an appeal hearing with the Board of Equalization after a recent reassessment raised values by an average of 30%. Many property owners, however, received notices upping values by much more than that a sizable percentage by more than double. The county, by law, conducts its reassessment every four years. An appeal hearing can be scheduled by calling 540-394-3126 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, according to a county news release. The deadline to request an appeal before the equalization board is Feb. 10. The appeal hearings will be held in February and March. The amount of real estate taxes owed are the result of the assessed real estate value and the real estate tax rate. The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors and the Blacksburg and Christiansburg town councils have not taken any action on the reassessment or real estate tax rates that could be lowered to reduce the tax burden on property owners. Or the elected bodies could approve the current rates or raise them. The reassessment reflects the market value of homes based on recent comparable sales, according to the county release. Homeowners should consider whether the value shown on their property assessment notice is what they would sell their home for if currently listed on the real estate market. Property owners who believe their property assessment is higher than the market value may appeal their assessment, according to the county release. The county Board of Supervisors will be evaluating the real estate tax rate during the upcoming budget process. There will be several opportunities to address the board during that process, beginning with a public hearing this month, with another hearing in April. Citizens can also address the board at any of its regular meetings, the next one being Monday at 7:15 p.m. at the County Government Center in Christiansburg. The board of supervisors will likely set the real estate tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year at a meeting in April 2023. The real estate tax bills are typically mailed in May, with a June 5 payment deadline. RICHMOND Rep. Bob Good's week in the limelight as a prominent holdout against new House Speaker Kevin McCarthy won't endear him to the House leadership, but it's unlikely to hinder his re-election efforts in 2024, according to Virginia political analysts. "It doesn't help him, but it's not critical to his re-election," Larry Sabato of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said of the 5th District Republican. "This new district," which Good won in November by 15 percentage points, "is more rural, deeply Republican and very conservative." The 5th District stretches from Albemarle County and Charlottesville east, where it picks up a 14,000-vote slice of Hanover County and all of Louisa, Goochland and Powhatan counties. It extends south to Danville, and Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg counties on the North Carolina line. On Friday afternoon Good wrote a guest essay for The New York Times, titled: "I'm one of the last holdouts against Kevin McCarthy - and I won't back down." By early Saturday morning, Good joined the other five remaining GOP holdouts in voting "present" instead of backing other Republicans. "Present" votes don't count in the tally. The holdouts' switch enabled McCarthy to top 50% with 216 of the 428 votes cast. The other two congressmen representing Western Virginia, Reps. Ben Cline, R-Botetourt, and Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, both have supported McCarthys bid. "At the end everyone has to recognize that something has to work," said Bob Holsworth, another veteran Virginia political analyst. He said the late shift "reminded me of a jury that's been deliberating for days and then comes to Friday afternoon." Good has railed against McCarthy for weeks, asserting that the California lawmaker is not trustworthy and that he has not stood up to Democrats. Good says he and fellow conservatives have been pushing for rules changes that would give House members more time to read bills, more chances to offer amendments and the power to limit the scope of legislation, so that lawmakers are not forced to vote for measures they consider extraneous. McCarthy also reportedly agreed to make it easier for any House member to call for a vote to oust the speaker. In a Dec. 28 opinion piece for The Times-Dispatch Good also hinted at a more personal aspect of his opposition to McCarthy. He criticized McCarthy for opposing conservatives in GOP nomination contests rather than using those resources to help Republicans in general elections. "The upcoming speaker vote is about more than defeating McCarthy and electing a better leader in January" Good wrote. "This is about striking a blow against the uni-party swamp cartel, and defeating a Republican system that is hostile to conservatives, resents its base voters, and resists empowering individual members in order to retain power in the hands of an elite few." Politico wrote in December about the "festering relationship" between Good and McCarthy. Good reportedly resented that McCarthy backed Rep. Denver Riggleman - the Republican incumbent - against Good's 2020 challenge from the right in which Good prevailed in a drive-through convention. McCarthy reportedly retorted that he had spent $2 million to boost Good in that fall campaign. Some conservatives were not pleased that the final six holdouts voted "present" early Saturday. "At ballot 14 we won," tweeted John Fredericks, a radio host who led Donald Trump's Virginia campaigns in 2016 and 2020. Then "we had the great cave." Holsworth said Saturday that if Good "ever had interest in directing governmental resources toward his district that's damaged, but I don't think he ever had that interest." He added that while Good is "relatively safe" in his district, any hope "to be an influential player is completely undermined." Sabato said that Good does not depend on corporate PAC funding and likely can get enough small donations from individuals to sustain his campaign operations. But he added that "politicians have long memories" and House GOP leaders know that Good was "probably the most adamant" of McCarthy's Republican opponents. That likely angered GOP leaders, Sabato said, because "it's made the Republicans look bad just as they were trying to get started." Virginia has a constitutional duty to provide children across the commonwealth with a free, high-quality K-12 education. As a parent whose children attend public school, and as a member of the House of Delegates, I believe this constitutional duty requires Virginias education system to focus on students needs not protecting entrenched interests. Thats why in the upcoming General Assembly session, I intend to propose legislation that will get rid of longstanding, discriminatory processes that block Virginia students from accessing the quality public education that they deserve. Its built around a simple, constitutional concept: Public schools should be free to Virginians. Period. Under Virginias existing system, students generally must attend a designated public school based on where they live. If that school is poorly run, or has limited academic offerings, the students family can choose to homeschool, pay for private school tuition or pay out-of-zone tuition fees to attend another public school. For many Virginia families, none of those options will work. Thats why change is overdue. There is no legitimate reason to deny a Virginia student who lives outside of a schools zoning boundaries from enrolling there if the school has available capacity. Similarly, if a child is zoned to attend a poor-performing school, that child should have an opportunity to enroll in another public school that meets their needs for a high-quality education. And, if parents want to enroll their child without the additional expense of out-of-zone tuition fees at a public school near where they work, rather than where they live, they should have that right. Most families that I know support this idea as pro-family, pro-education policy. In fact, most Virginians do; a recent statewide survey showed two-thirds of Virginians believe Virginia kids should be able to attend a public school they arent zoned for. This problem isnt new, but the recent pandemic and disparity in the duration of school closures, approaches to masking, and academic testing data highlighted the urgent need for reform. The current system has proven to be a barrier to quality education and upward mobility, particularly for students in lower-income families. Since many homebuyers use school performance as a major factor in their purchasing decision, prices near higher performing schools tend to drive higher, pushing those homes out of reach for families with limited resources. But we cannot afford to maintain arbitrary and discriminatory restrictions that prevent Virginia families from securing a high-quality education. Perpetuating this system is bad for communities and the commonwealth, and it leaves special interests and bureaucrats as the only winners. Through this proposal, Virginia could realize the significant and positive benefits of a student-centered education system. Florida, Delaware and Wisconsin are among the states that have adopted similar policies as part of a broader effort to update antiquated education systems, improve school management and ensure students are equipped with the academic skills theyll need to succeed in the future. The policy in those states has not resulted in the dismantling of public education. On the contrary, it has provided more students with greater opportunities, strengthening their chances for success in the classroom and beyond. This is a goal that most Virginians share. We want our children to have access to great opportunities to learn and grow, and we want systems in place that create those opportunities. When the system isnt meeting that objective, we need to change it. That is precisely what this proposal seeks to do. This legislation is rooted in ensuring families are empowered and students are put first. Its what our constitution demands. DARLINGTON, S.C. History in South Carolina runs at least a meter deep but the archaeologists digging at Marlboro County's Cashaway Church site are only interested in the first layer that encompasses the mid-1700s forward the time Evan Pugh was pastor of the church Baptist and documented daily life of the surrounding settlements. Archaeologists with several state organizations working under the auspices of the Archaeological Institute of the Pee Dee were on hand Thursday for the dig, funded by the Florence County Museum, on southern Marlboro County land owned by Diamond Hill Plywood, said Ben Zeigler with the institute. Several sifting tables, staffed by dig members, stood around a recently revealed brick foundation surrounded by white flags that indicated graves while several archaeologists sat on the ground and used trowels and brushes to reveal history -- after they brushed the dirt off of it. "It's going to be brick and we'll find precious little else," said DNR archaeologist Tariq Ghaffar as he troweled and brushed dirt off of shallowly-buried bricks. Bricks, in a way, were what they were looking for as that is what's left of the Cashaway Church. The frame structure above the foundation was long ago removed from the site. "We've found a few precious ceramics and some window glass but 99% brick," Ghaffar, a 30-year veteran archaeologist, said. "The most important thing we're looking for here is the shape of the structure." "We have a good idea of how they used it and when they used it and how big it was -- but we have to ground truth that," Ghaffar said. Another question for the crew was the unusually large size of what the presumed was the building's fire box. The last size reference they have for the church is that it was 20x30 -- 600 square feet. The land was donated by the James Family, settlers in that community. Archaeologists also have the journal writing of Pugh who wrote almost daily of his travels within and interactions with the Cashaway community. This is the second year of a winter dig at the site. Last year's dig went down a meter and discovered undisturbed layers of indigenous people who lived in a community at the same site. "Once good real estate, always good real estate," Ghaffar said. "Anytime there's a historic site there's going to be a prehistoric site to go with it." Ghaffar said the bricks used for the foundation were locally produced and joined by mortar that was made with lime derived by burning oyster shells. "Also had the free labor of enslaved people," Ghaffar said of the community. "There would have been quite a number." Archaeologist Andrew Agha said the most exciting artifacts dug up so far were several types of glass, a small shard of ceramics and iron nails. "It's slightly curved, would have been part of a larger bowl. 17th and 18th century, not imported since Revolutionary War time. We don't find it in anything after 1790s," Agha said of a shard of Delft ceramics. "Poor man's porcelain, but still costly. By this time people had it but, up here, I didn't expect it." The bowl, of Dutch origin, would likely have been imported to the Colonies through Charleston and would have had to have survived the trip north with the settlers. Much the same story with the glass -- some window and some bottle. The window glass -- which was an expected find -- likely was imported through Charleston and would have needed to survived the trip north to the settlement, Agha said. Given the fragility of window glass that would have been no small feat, Agha said. The window glass also shows the value placed by the community on the building, he said. Records from the era indicate the building also had shutters. The other glass came from a wine bottle and a medicine bottle, Agha said. That is no guarantee that was the last thing in the bottles before they broke, Agha said. Such things would have been treasured for their ability to contain many substances beyond that for which they were designed and likely originally contained, he said. "I'm willing to bet these nails came from Charleston," Agha said of iron nails bent over where the penetrated the board into which they were nailed. The nails could have originated in Charleston, but every boat in transit likely had a barrel or two of nails aboard so they could have also been imported. "What we get from this is when they built the church they hammered the nail on the back side of the board. We can get how thing the planks were that created the walls of the church," Agha said. The dig also produced the mortar used to connect the bricks. One chunk still retained an oyster shell, Agha said. One key to the importance of the building, Zeigler said, was its use beyond a church. "This was the center of public life," Zeigler said. It was likely the first building seen by travelers as they arrived to the community either by road or the Great Pee Dee River at the site. The building served as the community's courthouse where Pugh served as the community's judge in matters of dispute. The building also was the site of a Revolutionary War skirmish and retained bullet holes from the event well into modern times, said Zeigler who was told that by people who would have later encountered the building. Much of the building's history was written in journals by Pugh -- a Quaker who moved south and died owning more than 20 slaves, Zeigler said. The site holds a unique opportunity for archaeologists, Zeigler said. "This is an incredible opportunity in the sense this area was heavily utilized and populated from the 1750s up until the turn of the 19th century. The trajectory of this church is a good example," Zeigler said. The community started out as subsistence farmers who traded along the north side of the Great Pee Dee River, he said. With the invention of the cotton gin and the importance of cotton as a crop the community moved to the south side of the river, which flooded less and offered better farm land. The church congregation moved as well, first to Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church and then to Mechanicsvile Baptist Church, Zeigler said. "They left behind a Colonial landscape down in the swamp -- dikes, roads, every piece of high ground would have had barns on it, slave settlement," Zeigler said. "The good thing for us is they left it behind and so it's almost like a time capsule." Much of the site, historic and prehistoric, remains to be explored, Zeigler said. The Institute has another nearby location set for exploration, Zeigler said. The existing site can wait for a year, or 10 years, for future exploration. There is that much there, he said. ORANGE CITY, Iowa Woudstra Meat Market, an iconic and longstanding establishment in Orange City, has undergone a significant expansion in the last couple years under new ownership. And the owners still have big things they want to get done. In 2021, the Hooglands and Posts -- husbands and wives Junior and Kim Hoogland and Steve and Vonda Post -- took over the nearly century-old Woudstra Meat Market, 117 Central Ave. NE, a retailer of specialty meats, cheeses, sweets, wines, utensils, decor, Dutch items and hot lunches. Soon after they acquired Woudstra, the Hooglands and Posts began construction on a new meat locker plant south of Orange City, called Highland Post. It was completed in the spring of last year. They're hoping to get USDA approval to sell meats processed at their locker directly to consumers at the downtown Orange City store. Woudstra Meat Market expansion Martina Hoogland, marketing manager of Woudstra Meat Market and a member of the Hoogland family that co-owns the store, is shown Thursday at t And last year, they took over a neighboring storefront on Orange City's Central Avenue, which gave them roughly 1/3 more floor space then they had before. The butchering had formerly taken place at the downtown store, but that part of the shop was getting old and wasn't very spacious, and it didn't meet USDA standards. What's more, hauling livestock to be processed in downtown Orange City wasn't very convenient for anyone, Kim Hoogland said. "The farmers had been bringing their trailers into a shared alleyway that also shares with a home decor store and a grocery store" she said. "So we had a lot of trucks coming in and out all the time, and it was just getting too congested and very tight." Meanwhile, on a broader scale, the capacity of the region's meat lockers (independent, often specialty facilities that process smaller quantities of livestock, and sometimes game, brought there by individuals who take the meat directly for themselves) had come under strain in the last few years. So it seemed the demand was there for a larger, more modern facility. "My husband and I are in the dairy and beef industry," Kim Hoogland said. "And our partners are in the hog industry. And we were having a hard time getting our animals into places. And we're like, 'If we know our animals are getting hard to get into places, there's a lot of other farmers that are struggling with that as well.'" "A lot of your meat lockers were (booked) over a year out, and so if you had an emergency you ended up having to just put that animal down because there was nobody who could process it for you," she added. Woudstra Meat Market expansion Woudstra Meat Market in downtown Orange City is shown Thursday. The longtime business expanded last year after taking over an adjacent space t Woudstra Meat Market expansion Kim Hoogland, co-owner of Woudstra Meat Market, stands in front of a display of Woudstra-branded shirts Thursday. The longtime Orange City bus The new meat locker can process "about double" what the downtown butcher shop was capable of -- they're currently processing about 12 head of livestock a week, with hopes to process as many as 24 per week. Their coolers can accommodate about 70 carcasses. The locker also includes a retail space. Because Highland Post is not yet "official," as Kim Hoogland put it -- meaning USDA approved -- meat processed there cannot yet be sold at the retail level. They're in the process of attaining that status, and they're hoping that'll come "within the year." For the time being, the meats sold at the Woudstra store come via a USDA-approved supplier. "Which is another reason we want to become official, because then we can do that with our own, local meat instead," Kim Hoogland said. A bigger store About a year ago, the Radio Shack adjoining Woudstra Meat Market on Central Avenue -- which had a Dutch facade that rather closely resembled Woudstra's own -- went out of business. It was a sensible move, so the Hooglands and Posts took over the storefront on Feb. 1 of last year and knocked out part of a wall that had separated the two stores. "We expanded a lot of our gift items, a lot of our Dutch items," Kim Hoogland said. "And we also added a couple consignment apparel lines." Woudstra traces its heritage (and name) to 1926, when the Dutch immigrant Jelle (who went by James, or Jim) Woudstra bought a half-interest in an existing Orange City butcher shop. The store was operated for decades by the Woudstra family, notably by James' sons Alfred "Al" Woudstra and Leroy "Lee" Woudstra. Over the years, Woudstra developed a reputation for its quality products and quaint Dutch character, and what Hoogland described as a "nationwide" customer base. "We have a lot of visitors from California, Washington, just kind of all over," due in part to the nearby presence of Northwestern College and Dordt University, Kim Hoogland said. "A lot of people say, 'We can't come to this area without stopping in to Woudstra's!'" The Woudstra family sold the business in 1995. It subsequently changed hands among different families on several occasions, eventually ending up in the possession of the Hooglands and Posts. With Woudstra's centenary coming up in a few years, the Hooglands and Posts would like to renovate their buildings. "We're hoping, by then, to have the downtown (store) completely remodeled," Kim Hoogland said. "And we'll still have the meat counter and the cheese counter, but then we'd also like to add an eating establishment of some sort, so that we can become a true farm-to-table facility." Woudstra Meat Market expansion Martina Hoogland, marketing manager of Woudstra Meat Market, gestures toward a display of Iowa wines Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, while talking abo SIOUX CITY Michael Meredith's family continues to struggle with the hypothetical question of what might have happened had they taken action to have him involuntarily committed to a hospital earlier in the day. If his mother, Carol Meredith, and uncle David Gill had gone to the Woodbury County Courthouse at 2 p.m., would he still be alive? By filing for a committal an hour earlier on Jan. 12, a day Michael was hallucinating and threatening to commit suicide by police, would a judge's order have been issued yet that afternoon, early enough for a sheriff's deputy to go to Michael's house and pick him up before he left on his suicide mission? "I still think about that," Gill said. Instead, Gill and Meredith went to the clerk of court's office at 3 p.m. and filled out the paperwork for an involuntary committal, turning it in 10-15 minutes before the office closed at 4:30. They were told a judge would review it the following morning. Gill said he doesn't remember the clerk telling them why it wouldn't be reviewed yet that afternoon. Less than two hours later, Michael was dead, shot by a Woodbury County Sheriff's deputy after rushing at him and striking him with a tire iron. Gill and Meredith found out first hand a shortcoming of the involuntary commitment procedure: It's an option available only during business hours. If a person having a mental health crisis refuses to voluntarily go to a hospital and a police officer called to intervene doesn't take action to make an emergency hospitalization, the only option left often is a court-ordered involuntary committal, which requires an application by two people to be filed in the clerk of court office, then a judge's review and order. Finding gaps In Woodbury County, once it's approved and processed, a clerk walks across the street to deliver the order to the sheriff's office, where it's processed and given to an officer in the transport division or a deputy, who will then seek the individual to take him or her to a hospital. If that application is made late in the afternoon, as was the case with Michael Meredith, there are no guarantees the order will be processed and/or acted upon yet that day, some who deal with commitments on a regular basis say. "It's really with the latecomers that there's the gaps," said Brian Vakulskas, a Sioux City lawyer with experience with the committal process. "I've tried to get a judge at 4:25 and not been able to find one." That shouldn't be the case, said District Judge Patrick Tott, chief judge of the Third Judicial District, which includes Woodbury County. One judge on a rotating basis is designated to review all commitment applications, which are to take priority over other court filings, Tott said. If that judge leaves early for the day, he or she typically alerts the clerk's office so if an application is filed, it can be sent to another judge. If a judge is still reviewing an application after 4:30, someone in the clerk's office will remain to process the judge's order. An application filed before the end of the business day at 4:30 should not sit overnight because no judge was available to review it. "That would by far be the exception to the rule," Tott said. "The idea is those are processed as quickly and immediately as possible." Had Carol Meredith's request for her son's committal been reviewed yet that day, Tott wondered whether it would have been processed by the sheriff's office, which by law is required to receive commitment orders. That office, too, is closed by 4:30, and Tott said it can be hard to reach someone if a committal order is issued after office hours. "I know the topic has come up on a couple occasions. I know they're aware of the fact we'd like to have someone get them regardless of the time," Tott said. Availability Woodbury County Sheriff Chad Sheehan said someone in his office is always available to receive commitment orders. Deputies and jail officers are on duty at any given time, and the clerk's office knows how to contact them if a committal order is signed after business hours. Orders have been delivered to the jail as late as 6 p.m., he said. "We take the orders when they're brought over. If it's after hours, we take them," Sheehan said. "Our office might be closed at 4:15, but we have deputies and jailers 24/7. We're reachable 24/7." Sheriff's Sgt. Blake Stahlecker, who oversees the four-person transport division tasked with seeking people who are subject of committal orders in addition to driving jail inmates to and from court appearances and transporting inmates to prison, said it's rare that an order comes in after 4:30, and the clerk's office typically notifies him when one is coming after the office is closed. "They'll usually give me a heads up if they're processing something late," Stahlecker said. "We don't know about an order until we get it." If received after hours, when transport officers have left for the day, Sheehan said committal orders are given to a deputy to search for the individual, though deputies may be dispatched on other calls at the time and might not always be immediately available to seek the person who's the subject of the committal order. "It is a priority, but it depends on the totality of the circumstances of the day," Sheehan said. "We work as fast as we can." Options for emergency help An involuntary committal is often a family's last resort to get emergency mental health treatment for a loved one refusing to seek help, and most people in need of assistance get it through other avenues before a family must take that step. Most individuals who receive emergency mental health care come to the emergency room voluntarily, be it by private vehicle, an ambulance or with police, said Kristin Yaneff, a behavioral health social worker at UnityPoint -- St. Luke's in Sioux City. In Iowa, four hospitalization options exist when seeking treatment for someone who's experiencing a mental health crisis: a voluntary admission to the hospital or a mental health facility, a 12-hour hold, a 48-hour emergency hospitalization or involuntary court committal. When a person comes to the hospital voluntarily, he or she can leave at any time. Sometimes they just need medications or to be set up with outpatient services, Yaneff said, but doctors can observe them and admit them to the hospital if they're acutely psychotic, suicidal, manic or a risk to themselves or others. "Just because a person has a mental illness, it's not illegal and it doesn't mean they're unsafe. There's a very fine line," Yaneff said. "We typically do err on the side of caution." Law enforcement officers also may take a person in crisis for an emergency hospitalization. Iowa law says any peace officer who reasonably believes a person is mentally ill and poses a threat to him or herself or others can take that person into custody without a warrant and transport them to a hospital or mental health facility. State law allows doctors to hold the person at the hospital for 12 hours. If doctors believe the person needs extended care but he or she doesn't want to stay at the hospital, they can seek a 48-hour hold from a judge. If it's after 4:30, doctors in Woodbury County contact a judge or magistrate who is on call to request such a hold, which goes into effect once the judge gives verbal approval. Exercising rights After 48 hours, the hold expires. The hospital can't hold a person against his or her will, but they can stay voluntarily, and many do, Yaneff said. If they insist on leaving, a doctor will discharge them against medical advice. "Mentally ill people still have rights," Yaneff said. "Even if experiencing a mental health crisis, as an adult you have the right to make care decisions." If the medical staff believes the person should stay beyond 48 hours but doesn't want to, they might encourage the person's family to seek an involuntary court-ordered committal, the same kind of committal Michael Meredith's family sought. "It's very easy to get someone committed (in Iowa)," Vakulskas said. But a drawback to the involuntary committal process is that applications can be made only during business hours at the courthouse. If a person is having a crisis at night or on the weekend, the only option is to have the person go to the hospital voluntarily or call 911 and seek an emergency hospitalization from police, who can seek assistance from the Mobile Crisis Assessment Team, a group of mental health professionals on call around the clock to assist law enforcement officers encountering someone experiencing a mental health crisis. Calling the Sioux Rivers Crisis Center is another option. "Some things are easier said than done," Tott said. "There are options, they're just not ideal." Ideally, he said, the court system would be able to accommodate after-hours applications for involuntary committals, but to do so would mean extended office hours, requiring either the hiring of additional personnel or overtime pay for existing staff. That's currently not feasible, Tott said, under the judicial system's budget as approved by the Legislature. "We try to do everything within our power and resources," he said. SIOUX CITY The Sioux City Council is expected to discuss a new 25-year sewer treatment agreement with South Sioux City. The council has already approved agreements of the same length with North Sioux City, Sergeant Bluff and Dakota Dunes. South Sioux City is building its own $46.4 million wastewater treatment plant next to the Missouri River and north of the Tyson Fresh Meats lagoons. However, South Sioux City will continue to take its residential sewer across the north river crossing, according to Tom Pingel, the citys utility director in charge of Sioux Citys regional wastewater treatment plant. Pingel previously told The Journal city officials expect to have all the sister cities under the new agreement before it expires. After five deferrals, the council voted unanimously in November 2019 to terminate the existing agreements. The termination notice becomes effective four years after receipt of the notice. The previous agreements with Sergeant Bluff and North Sioux City had been established 39 years ago, while the agreement with South Sioux City had been in place for 38 years. Dakota Dunes, a planned community that borders North Sioux City, entered into a sewer treatment agreement with Sioux City on Dec. 3, 1990. That agreement was subsequently amended and restated on April 12, 1993, May 14, 2007, and October 3, 2016. The agreements had no sunset dates, and automatically renewed unless other action was taken, and didnt provide Sioux City with any remedy when flow limits are exceeded. On Nov. 25, 2019, the City of Sioux City gave notice of termination to the sister cities. They received a letter signed by Mayor Bob Scott, warning that the city may end the contracts that govern the amount of waste each community can send to Sioux Citys regional wastewater treatment plant at 3100 S. Lewis Blvd. and the rates each city pays. According to city documents, the new agreement with South Sioux City, like the agreements with the other sister cities, will ensure that capacity at the Sioux City regional wastewater treatment plant doesnt get over-allocated and implements several new provisions, including a fats, oil and grease program; odor and corrosion control; monitoring requirements and discharge limitations; a re-opener clause; and a user charge plan and payment to the City of Sioux City. Historically, the sister city agreements have been used to define the hydraulic loading that each sister city can contribute to Sioux City. Establishing an allocation for each city allows them to view it as a benchmark they can compare their historical wastewater generation to and evaluate their own capacity for growth, the documents state. The new agreements will help the sister cities plan for economic growth, as well as attract businesses and residents to the region. EDITOR'S NOTE: Carol Meredith spent all day Jan. 12 trying to convince her son, Michael Meredith, to seek help. Having gone without sleep for five days and showing signs of going through withdrawal from alcohol, Michael had been hallucinating, imagining a couple breaking into his house and later telling him to travel to Pennsylvania, then seeing caterpillars crawling on his ceiling. Michael continually refused medical treatment, telling Carol he'd commit suicide by police before allowing her to take him to the hospital. Carol called police to Michael's Sergeant Bluff home, hoping an officer would take Michael to the emergency room for an emergency hospitalization. But after speaking with Michael, the officer didn't believe he had a convincing case for hospitalization. Out of options, Carol and her brother, Sioux City lawyer David Gill, filed a petition for a court-ordered involuntary committal, but by the time it was filed late in the afternoon, they were told it wouldn't be reviewed until the following morning. Stopping by Michael's house on her way home, Carol urged him to stay inside that night after he refused to go home with her. About an hour later, police were calling emergency dispatchers to report shots had been fired in a Sergeant Bluff mobile home park. Officer involved shooting findings Members of Michael Meredith's family listen as Woodbury County Sheriff Chad Sheehan and then-Woodbury County Attorney Patrick Jennings talk du -------------------- SERGEANT BLUFF -- Carol Meredith had left her TV off the night of Jan. 12. Her brother, David Gill, was working at his law office in downtown Sioux City when he saw a breaking news notification about a man being shot by police in Sergeant Bluff. There were no other details, but Gill's mind immediately filled with dread. Just a few hours earlier, he'd been in Sergeant Bluff trying to convince his nephew Michael Meredith, Carol's son, to seek a mental health assessment after having hallucinations that had already led to two police calls to his home. He and Carol had even filed a court petition late that afternoon to have Michael involuntarily committed, but it wouldn't be reviewed by a judge until the following day. Knowing Michael had been threatening to do something that would force police to kill him -- commit suicide by police -- Gill thought immediately of Michael when he saw news of the shooting. "I knew it was him," Gill said. Sgt Bluff officer involved shooting Police tape hangs between two units at Woodford Mobile Home Park in Sergeant Bluff on Jan. 13, the morning after Michael Meredith was fatally Checking it out Concerned, he drove to Sergeant Bluff to check on Michael and, approaching from Interstate 29, saw the flashing emergency lights of police and emergency vehicles in Michael's neighborhood. He pulled into Michael's driveway and could see lights on inside the house. About to knock on the back door, Gill was approached by an officer, who told him he couldn't enter. When Gill asked why, the officer said he couldn't tell him. Gill explained he needed to check on his nephew, to see if he might be involved in the situation that was attracting all the police attention across the street. The officer wouldn't tell him more. Frustrated, Gill drove to Carol's house, told her about the news he'd heard and his encounter with police at Michael's house. The two, along with Michael's brother Chris, went back to Michael's house. Again, a police officer told them they couldn't go inside despite their insistence they needed to check if Michael was safe. "By then, the three of us came to the conclusion we knew what we were going to hear," Gill said. They returned to Carol's home, then decided to go to the hospitals to see if they could find Michael. They first went to the MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center emergency room. "I asked, 'Is Michael Meredith there?' and (a nurse) told me, 'you'll have to talk to police,'" Chris said. Carol jumped in. "I said, 'I'm his mother. I need to know if he's dead or alive.' She told me we'd have to talk to the police about it." Officer involved shooting Law enforcement officers gather at the scene of an officer-involved shooting at Woodford Mobile Home Park, 501 B St., in Sergeant Bluff on Jan They went back to Carol's home. Gill received a text message from his wife, informing him of a news report that the person who had been shot in Sergeant Bluff had died. "Shortly after I got the text, two state troopers appeared at the door," Gill said. Michael had been shot, one of them told the family, and had died at the hospital. Then came a visit from Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation special agent Lynn Olesen, who interviewed the family and discussed the early stages of the investigation into the shooting with them. Getting the details The family was told that, minutes before the call from the mobile home resident was made, Michael had broken into a car nearby and sat in it, apparently waiting for someone to call police. When no officers came, he attempted to break into the mobile home, prompting the call that led to his fatal confrontation with officers. Carol shared with Olesen all the events -- Michael's strange behavior, his lack of sleep, his talk of suicide by police -- that had happened earlier in the day. She said investigators realized the incident wasn't some random burglary interrupted by police. A DCI official said the investigation into Michael's death is completed and the agency had no further comment on it. The agency's final report is not a public document and will not be released, a lawyer for the Iowa Department of Public Safety said. "I knew that night they realized it was a suicide," Carol said. "He just went out so they'd kill him." The next day, at 1:46 p.m., Gill received a call from the clerk of court's office to confirm that a judge had approved his and Carol's petition for an involuntary committal for Michael earlier that morning. burglary call.mp3 Your browser does not support the audio element. ---------------------------- After more than a month of reviewing the shooting, then-Woodbury County Attorney Patrick Jennings announced he had determined the shooting of Michael was justified. At the conclusion of Jennings' press conference, Woodbury County Sheriff Chad Sheehan released video, recorded by the deputies' body cameras, of the shooting. The first person dispatched to the mobile home park was Sergeant Bluff police officer Jereme Muller. A resident had called 911 to report that a white male was attempting to break into his house and his car. Muller arrived at 5:47 p.m. Woodbury County Sheriff's deputies Devin Groenhagen and Eric Fay, in the area for a training exercise, also responded and arrived just after Muller. As the three walked toward Lot 5 in the early evening darkness, the area illuminated by street lights and their flashlights, the officers heard shouts from a female and male saying, "you're on my porch." Groenhagen, followed by Fay, ran to the trailer, approaching between a parked car and a neighboring trailer. Muller followed and approached from the driveway. Body cam video showed the deputies walk up to the trailer, and Michael immediately rush out at them, a four-way tire iron in his right hand. Groenhagen backed up while Fay could be heard shouting "show us your hands" three times before Michael hit Fay in his left forearm with the tire iron. Fay then fired two shots as Groenhagen discharged his Taser. The entire encounter lasted less than 10 seconds. "It was not until Deputy Fay felt that his life was in danger that he discharged his firearm," Jennings said during the press conference. "It was reasonable, under the circumstances known to Deputy Fay, for him to fear for his safety." One of the two shots fired by Fay entered Michael's chest on the right side and traveled to the left, puncturing his heart and coming to rest near his left armpit. Michael could not be heard saying a word during the encounter and never spoke after being shot. Fay, with a vehicle behind him and unable to retreat from Michael's rapid advance, was forced to make a split-second decision. Drawing conclusions "In this case, unfortunately, the ending that happened was out of our control," Sheehan said when releasing the video. "The incident wasn't going to end any other way." ------------------------ Michael's obituary appeared in the Journal four days after his death. The first line read: "Michael S. Meredith, 35, of Sergeant Bluff, died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, from suicide after suffering many years with alcoholism." Carol wrote those words purposely to let the world know her son wasn't a criminal, some strung-out drug user who was shot while attacking cops, as people assumed in comments posted at the end of online media stories about the shooting. He was a troubled man dealing with addiction and mental illness. "I felt he was being portrayed as someone who went over to burglarize a trailer court," she said. "This is not some criminal activity. It was the result of some mental health crisis." A different man His fiancee, Lauren Lanning, does not believe Michael intended to commit suicide that night. He was out of his mind and not living in reality, she said, a condition caused by the combination of insomnia and alcohol withdrawal that led to his hallucinations. "Coming at somebody with a tire iron, that definitely was not him," she said. "I don't think he would have done what he did that night without all those factors. That wasn't him." Based on Michael's comments to her hours before his death, Carol firmly believes his death was a suicide and could have been prevented. Michael needed help, and Carol tried every means possible that day to get it for him. Instead, she found perceived weaknesses in the protocols set up to help people like her son. "There should be a clear process what happens," Carol said. "I know who to call. Think about the people who don't know what to do." Rather than quietly mourn, Michael's family chose to speak publicly about his issues and call for more responsiveness to people experiencing a mental health crisis. "How can court officials make sure cases don't fall through the cracks like Michael's did? This is an example of a case that failed," Gill said. "There were some deficits that occurred in the assistance we sought that day. We'd like people in institutions and agencies to think about whether there are better ways to handle these situations." No one will ever know what was going on inside Michael's mind during his final hours and whether he wanted his life to end. Regardless of his intentions that night, Michael forced officers to make a life-or-death decision. His family hopes for changes making it easier for people like Michael who are experiencing a mental health crisis to end up in a hospital rather than a morgue, so another officer isn't forced to be an involuntary participant in another person's suicidal plan. Iowa Democrats made a new pitch to have the Iowa caucuses remain in the lineup of early states that kick off the presidential nominating process. Outgoing Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Ross Wilburn sent a letter Friday to Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison and co-chairs of the DNC's rules committee requesting it vote next month to grant Iowa a conditional waiver to be among the slate of five early nominating states after New Hampshire and Georgia failed to meet a deadline proving they have buy-in from state leaders to change the dates of their primaries. The DNCs Rules and Bylaws Committee voted last month on a new calendar for its presidential nominating process. Committee members voted to grant conditional waivers to South Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Georgia and Michigan to hold their presidential primaries ahead of the rest of the country, stripping Iowa of its first-in-the-nation status and moving it out of the early window entirely in favor of more diverse battleground states. Republicans already agreed to keep Iowas first-in-the-nation caucuses for GOP candidates and several Republicans already have been to the state to weigh the possibility of presidential runs. Iowas caucuses have led the pack in presidential preference contests since 1972, drawing media attention and millions of dollars in campaigning from presidential hopefuls. Under the proposed 2024 calendar which still needs to be formally ratified by the full DNC early next month South Carolina would go first, holding its primary on Feb. 3, followed by New Hampshire and Nevada on Feb. 6, Georgia on Feb. 13 and Michigan on Feb. 27. The waivers required state party officials to submit letters to the committee by Jan. 5 showing they have buy-in from state leaders to change the dates of their primaries. New Hampshire also was required to show that state politicians were working to expand early voting access. New Hampshire law mandates Granite State Democrats to hold their primary a week before any other state in the nation. Repealing or changing the states elections laws is unrealistic and unattainable with a Republican-controlled legislature and GOP governor unwilling to change their date or current voter access laws, New Hampshire Democrats wrote in a letter to the DNC rules committee. Georgias primary date is set by Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, whose office has said it will neither hold two separate primaries nor hold the primary at a time that could cost one party delegates or violate the rules of either party. Moving the states primary to Feb. 13 would run afoul of GOP rules. Because of that, Wilburn urged the rules committee look at other options and consider granting Iowa a conditional waiver at its February meeting in Philadelphia. Wilburn, who announced last month he will not seek another term as leader of the state party, emphasized last month that Iowa Democrats would be willing and able to adapt its caucuses to the committee's preferences, rather than relying on state legislators to make changes. "As a state party-run contest, we retain the ultimate ability to tailor our contest to RBC rules and specifications and maintain a flexibility that states with state-run contests cannot," he wrote. Wilburn, in his letter, highlighted changes Iowa Democrats proposed to the caucus process to increase participation and accessibility, and give Iowa the flexibility to change the date of its contest while complying with state law and work within the wider calendar framework. In its bid to remain in the early nominating window, the Iowa Democratic Party proposed an overhaul of the caucuses that would allow Democrats to express their preference for president by mail ahead of the precinct caucuses. On the night of the caucuses, Democrats would announce the results of the early vote and conduct the regular party-organizing business of the caucuses. National Democrats soured on Iowa following a chaotic 2020 caucus night for Iowa Democrats when a smartphone app meant to make reporting results easier failed. As a result, the official Democratic caucus results were not reported for several weeks. The debacle compounded existing concerns about Iowa's lack of racial diversity and barriers to participation, requiring in-person participation. Wilburn, too, noted Iowa Republicans have seized on the opportunity to double down on their caucuses and feed the narrative that Democrats have turned their back on Iowa and rural America. Democrats cannot forget about entire groups of voters in the heart of the Midwest without doing significant damage to the party for a generation, he wrote to DNC officials. Rules committee leaders, however, said they want to give New Hampshire and Georgia more time to meet waiver requirements. "As you know, we expected both the New Hampshire and Georgia efforts to be complicated but well worth the effort if we can get them done," DNC rules committee co-chairs Jim Roosevelt Jr. and Minyon Moore wrote in a memo to members Thursday. "We remain committed to doing all we can to see our plan through. This calendar does what is long overdue and brings more voices into the early window process. Scott Brennan, the only Iowan on the DNC rules committee, said Iowa Democrats stand ready, willing and able to fill in for New Hampshire and Georgia. Brennan said he expects the committee will discuss Wilburns request at its February meeting, but meet virtually in the meantime in the next couple of weeks to discuss granting a deadline extension for New Hampshire and Georgia. Wilburn added: "It's clear not every state granted a waiver last month was able to meet the deadline for submitting letters of intent indicating their compliance with the DNC's conditions for early states. This means discussions surrounding the presidential nominating calendar are very much ongoing, he said. Iowa will be a part of those conversations as we proceed." At this writing, the U.S. House of Representatives is in a tangle. Divided Republican members cannot settle on a speaker. Commentators say that two powerful conservative PACS are moving in to sort things out for them. If true, its a sad acknowledgement of the partys fixation on power and money to the exclusion of the public interest. Of course, by the time this essay goes through three days of editing and printing it may all be history with Kevin McCarthy or a substitute (most likely a southern member) ensconced in the speakers chair. However it turns out, it does not bode well for the next two years. The whole spectacle reminds me of something I experienced during my eight years in the Illinois Senate. At the beginning of 1977, the Illinois senate was locked in a weeks-long tussle of selecting its president. I confess to having been a part of the problem. It started four years earlier, when I began my first term. At the new sessions orientation meeting, I looked up two new members whom I learned were progressive Democrats. I found them in conversation with Sen. Terry Bruce who had a reputation for independence. I suggested to them that we ought to form a study group to examine bills so that we didnt have to depend on leadership to decide our votes. Sen. Ken Buzbee from southern Illinois said he was thinking the same thing. Sen. Betty Ann Keegan of Rockford readily agreed and offered to get Sen. Dawn Clark Netsch of Chicago to join us. I objected, not wanting anyone from the Chicago organization in the group. Keegan laughed, Youll like Dawn. Shes different. I found Sen. Bruce to be the one with the best combination of knowledge and political ability and early on maneuvered his election as our leader. It was simple. I insisted on a secret vote and told him that he and I should vote for him. By the second round, someone - most likely Netsch - would as well. And so it was. The five of us called ourselves the Democratic Study Group and maneuvered to get at least one of us on every committee so we would have access to all relevant information on every bill. Through the next two years, we met every evening to share information, with no obligation to vote together. Two years later, three newly-elected, independent-minded senators joined us to form The Crazy Eight. Our Chicago colleagues viewed us with suspicion and we had some rough times in caucus, but we held together and were able to make some important legislative and procedural changes, including the elimination of proxy voting. After the 1976 election, we decided on a bid to make Bruce president of the senate to break Chicagos hold on leadership. Harold Washington had joined the senate by then and the black caucus decided to back him. Thirty affirmative votes were needed to win and the majority Democrats were split into three factions. The stalemate lasted for weeks. During the second week, it became obvious that we could not win, so I decided to try something different. In those days, there were progressive Republicans in the chamber and I sought out the most approachable, arranged a private meeting with him and anyone else he thought might be open to a compromise. Three G.O.P. senators joined me in a local motel room to discuss a deal. I asked what they thought of an agreement to vote for Bruce in exchange for bi-partisan membership in all committees. I assured them this was just me talking; I hadnt run it by anyone else. If they were interested, I would sound out the Crazy Eight and Washingtons group. They agreed to consider it seriously: bi-partisanship sounded worth pursuing. I agreed to test the waters on my side. Two days later, I asked my colleagues if it might be worthwhile to try working with Republicans. They said it was a waste of time. I asked them at least to let me try. The following week, I had worked out a two-step agreement: an offer to give majority Democrats only a one-member advantage on committees (normally it would be four or five). If there were some interest, but no takers, to follow up with an even split. When I told my colleagues of the chance, they were surprised, but consented and the first offer was made. As I suspected, the Republicans took my offer to the Chicago contingent and asked if they would match it. They were turned down. Now that it was out in the open, the Republicans went into an hours-long caucus while Chicago leadership had a mild panic, thinking they would lose. When the caucus ended, One of the three gave me the okay sign. Did they buy it? I asked. No, but many of them are close enough to take your second offer. It was a heady thought: actual bi-partisanship! I told Bruce, get ready to organize. We were to be in session around the clock that weekend in an attempt to break the deadlock. We were called in for a vote, with the same split result. When it ended, Sen. Shapiro, the Republican leader, rushed up to the podium, whispered something to Gov.Thompson who was presiding, and he immediately adjourned the senate for the weekend. Thats it, I thought; were done. It will all come apart over the weekend. The pressure of the moment was gone and conventional politics will prevail. Bruce imagined that we could resume negotiations on Monday, but I assured him it was over. Monday came and, with it, the realization that we had to cave and accept Chicagos offer of chairmanships for Crazy Eight members as recompense. Not what I wanted. Last Wednesday nights Congressional adjournment was made to achieve something similar: time for those in charge to enforce partisan unity. By now, well know if it succeeded. Bi-partisanship remains an ideal. Power politics, backed with serious money, wins. FOREST CITY, Iowa Darwin Lehmann is no stranger to school consolidation. The superintendent of both the Central Springs and Forest City school districts in northern Iowa, he was there when the Woden-Crystal Lake district was dissolved and absorbed into the Forest City district. Now, hes worried that a measure, championed by Gov. Kim Reynolds and sure to be a top issue in the legislative session starting Monday, may lead to more defunding and consolidation. In the upcoming legislative session, Republican leaders will take another swing at passing a measure that would give some parents the option to use taxpayer dollars that would otherwise go to public schools to subsidize a private school education. Lehman said the legislation would take money from schools that are already struggling with lower-than-requested state funding. Reynolds plan last year would have taken around $5,360 out of a public school for each student who took advantage of the program, for use at a private or charter school. That plan would have made 10,000 scholarships available to families making up to 400% of the poverty line or parents with children in Individualized Education Plans, and only for students who were in public school the previous year or were starting kindergarten. The plan included a provision that distributed some of a students per-pupil funding to rural schools to mitigate some of the negative effects. Proponents of the policy, which they call school choice, say the proposal would give parents more choice in their childrens education and provide options for children who dont succeed in a public school. Opponents use the term vouchers and say the plan would cut down already struggling schools and give public dollars to schools that do not have the same requirements and obligations as public schools. House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, said in an interview hes optimistic that the House will have the votes to pass a school choice measure, which stalled in the chamber last year. This year will see the chartering of a new Education Reform Committee, which Grassley will chair and will look at a school choice proposal. I do have a level of optimism that the support will be there within the caucus, but I dont know what that looks like exactly today, he said. Grassley didnt outline any specifics as far as the scope of what House Republicans will consider, but he said the Education Reform Committee will focus on a holistic approach to education. The proposal may be broader than what has been suggested in the past, he said. I see it more being around something that looks more like reform, he said. ...Looking at public and private, and how can we do better in education as a whole in Iowa? Thats more of the concept of what I think will be in that committee. Rural school concerns For the rural schools that Lehmann oversees, losing just a few pupils funding could mean the difference between hiring a teacher in schools that are already losing enrollment and receiving less state funding than they say they need. In the long run, he said that poses the risk of more consolidation. Forest City serves several surrounding communities and has a little over 1,000 enrolled students in the current school year. How are you going to maintain your budget and your programs? With less money, youre going to look at larger class sizes potentially, loss of programs, whole grade sharing, maybe, and there's some reorganizations, consolidations down the road, he said. And that would take time, but thats where that goes. Lehmann noted private schools already have some state backing in the form of tax credits: Iowans can donate to School Tuition Organizations which help subsidize private school tuition for low- and middle-income families and receive 75% of the donation as a tax credit. Jason Blaser, a math teacher at Forest City and the president of the citys education association, said private schools shouldnt be getting public subsidization because they dont have the same requirements and obligations as public schools. If a kid who potentially could receive a voucher is on an IEP, or needs some other sort of accommodations, a public school accepts that student with open arms, he said. A private school can say, Sorry, we dont have qualified staff or we choose not to allow you to come into our school building. The Forest City School District, like many rural schools, is also an economic engine and workforce development driver for the city, said Beth Bilyeu, the director of economic development for the city. After motorhome manufacturer Winnebago and 3M, the school is the citys largest employer. Bilyeu said a loss of funds could weaken some of the schools selling points, like career development centers and college class offerings. She said companies often use the school as a recruiting tool to bring people to the city. I think, just, take a step back and look at the bigger picture, she said. Weve all been the instigator or the recipient of unintended consequences, and there isnt much cushion. Iowa parent wants tuition assistance Imelda Vargas of Sioux Center hopes that a tuition assistance program can help her three daughters continue attending a private Christian school. While last years proposals only applied to students currently in a public school, advocates are hoping lawmakers expand to more students, including those already enrolled in nonpublic schools. Vargas oldest daughter attended a public preschool, but afterward she enrolled her in Sioux Center Christian School for Pre-K, and all her children now attend the school. Tuition for three students to attend the school in the 2020-21 school year was $13,288. Vargas receives tuition assistance from the school and from the Northwest Iowa Christian School Tuition Organization. Still, after a recent divorce and change in her financial situation, Vargas said this year will be the last year her children can attend the school without state-funded assistance. If eligible for tuition assistance, Vargas said she wont be worried about if it is enough money or a lot of donations Its always a worry how much you qualify, how much you have to pay, so it will take away a lot of worry about that. House Republicans trying again House Republicans failed to get enough support to pass a voucher-style bill in the House last year, when at least a dozen Republicans, many from rural areas, refused to support the measure. Many were concerned about the effect the policy would have had on schools in their area. Passing a similar measure this year was a major plank in Reynolds 2022 campaign. She took the rare measure of endorsing primary challengers to several Republicans who opposed the bill in the November election, ultimately leading to the loss of some incumbents. As the Governor has stated numerous times, she will never give up on providing children with the best learning environment they deserve, Reynolds spokesperson Alex Murphy said in a statement in November. Parental choice in education is not a zero-sum game and her focus continues to be on raising the quality of education in every Iowa school and for every single child. Responding to concerns about damages to rural schools, the House will look to pair school choice measures with allowing for more flexibility in how public schools can use their state-provided dollars, Grassley said. How can we try to give them some flexibility, because what we hear a lot back home is We're not as worried about school choice if we can just have some flexibility in what we do, he said. In the Senate, there was less dissent among Republicans in 2022. Annette Sweeney of Alden was the only Republican who voted against the tuition assistance proposal. Jack Whitver, the Senate majority leader from Grimes, said he wants to work with the House to have one bill early on in the session to focus on, rather than competing proposals. He said the Senate would take the lead from Reynolds, who will likely announce her proposal during her condition of the state address on Tuesday. We dont really want to take anything off the table, he said. We just want to have a very open conversation and see where it goes from there. Democrats to oppose measures Whatever proposal Republicans put forward, Democrats in both chambers have vowed to oppose it. Jennifer Konfrst, the Democratic House Leader from Windsor Heights, will be the ranking member on the Education Reform Committee and said she will work to shine a spotlight on the Republicans plan. I kind of like the fact that its in its own committee because it gives us an opportunity to shine a light on this voucher scheme instead of trying to run it through another committee with all the other things that are going on, she said. Konfrst said, even with turnover in the House, she doesnt think House Republicans have the votes locked in to pass the measure. She said shell still be working with Republican legislators to convince them to vote against the measures. Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls of Coralville echoed those sentiments, and he said Senate Democrats would oppose the Republicans' proposals. Were going to stand up for parents and kids and teachers against the Republicans radical attack on public education, Wahls said. ...We know that they're already developing plans to try and force it through. We think it's a threat to rural schools in particular, we think it'll force more school consolidation, bigger class sizes, fewer learning opportunities for kids. Close Students pass to their next class at Forest City Middle School in Forest City, Iowa, on Thursday, January 5, 2023. The fifth through eighth grade school has an enrollment of 350 students. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette) Daniel Sarasio Meyer explains an algebra problem to two of his students in an Algebra II class at Forest City High School in Forest City, Iowa, on Thursday, January 5, 2023. The high school has ninth to twelfth grade students and has an enrollment of about 324 students. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette) Ryan Friederich helps a student navigate a task in a virtual computer repair shop in his eighth grade computer science class at Forest City Middle School in Forest City, Iowa, on Thursday, January 5, 2023. Students are put in the role of a computer repair tech and are given a customer's computer to diagnose and fix, including ordering the necessary parts or build a system from scratch according to customer specifications. The fifth through eighth grade school has an enrollment of 350 students. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette) Students in Ryan Friederich's eighth grade computer science class work on tasks in a virtual computer repair shop at Forest City Middle School in Forest City, Iowa, on Thursday, January 5, 2023. Students are put in the role of a computer repair tech and are given a customer's computer to diagnose and fix, including ordering the necessary parts or build a system from scratch according to customer specifications. The fifth through eighth grade school has an enrollment of 350 students. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette) Fifth grade match teacher and president of the Forest City Education Association Jason Blaser speaks at Forest City Middle School in Forest City, Iowa, on Thursday, January 5, 2023. The fifth through eighth grade school has an enrollment of 350 students. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette) Ryan Friederich helps a student navigate a task in a virtual computer repair shop in his eighth grade computer science class at Forest City Middle School in Forest City, Iowa, on Thursday. Students are put in the role of a computer repair tech and are given a customer's computer to diagnose and fix, including ordering the necessary parts or build a system from scratch according to customer specifications. The fifth through eighth grade school has an enrollment of 350 students. Daniel Sarasio Meyer explains an algebra problem to two of his students in an Algebra II class at Forest City High School in Forest City, Iowa, on Thursday, January 5, 2023. The high school has ninth to twelfth grade students and has an enrollment of about 324 students. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette) Daniel Sarasio Meyer explains an algebra problem to two of his students in an Algebra II class at Forest City High School in Forest City, Iowa, on Thursday. The high school has ninth to twelfth grade students and has an enrollment of about 324 students. Photos: A day at Forest City School District Students pass to their next class at Forest City Middle School in Forest City, Iowa, on Thursday, January 5, 2023. The fifth through eighth grade school has an enrollment of 350 students. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette) Daniel Sarasio Meyer explains an algebra problem to two of his students in an Algebra II class at Forest City High School in Forest City, Iowa, on Thursday, January 5, 2023. The high school has ninth to twelfth grade students and has an enrollment of about 324 students. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette) Ryan Friederich helps a student navigate a task in a virtual computer repair shop in his eighth grade computer science class at Forest City Middle School in Forest City, Iowa, on Thursday, January 5, 2023. Students are put in the role of a computer repair tech and are given a customer's computer to diagnose and fix, including ordering the necessary parts or build a system from scratch according to customer specifications. The fifth through eighth grade school has an enrollment of 350 students. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette) Students in Ryan Friederich's eighth grade computer science class work on tasks in a virtual computer repair shop at Forest City Middle School in Forest City, Iowa, on Thursday, January 5, 2023. Students are put in the role of a computer repair tech and are given a customer's computer to diagnose and fix, including ordering the necessary parts or build a system from scratch according to customer specifications. The fifth through eighth grade school has an enrollment of 350 students. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette) Fifth grade match teacher and president of the Forest City Education Association Jason Blaser speaks at Forest City Middle School in Forest City, Iowa, on Thursday, January 5, 2023. The fifth through eighth grade school has an enrollment of 350 students. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette) Ryan Friederich helps a student navigate a task in a virtual computer repair shop in his eighth grade computer science class at Forest City Middle School in Forest City, Iowa, on Thursday. Students are put in the role of a computer repair tech and are given a customer's computer to diagnose and fix, including ordering the necessary parts or build a system from scratch according to customer specifications. The fifth through eighth grade school has an enrollment of 350 students. Daniel Sarasio Meyer explains an algebra problem to two of his students in an Algebra II class at Forest City High School in Forest City, Iowa, on Thursday, January 5, 2023. The high school has ninth to twelfth grade students and has an enrollment of about 324 students. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette) Daniel Sarasio Meyer explains an algebra problem to two of his students in an Algebra II class at Forest City High School in Forest City, Iowa, on Thursday. The high school has ninth to twelfth grade students and has an enrollment of about 324 students. Tonight's weather conditions in Sioux City: Partly cloudy. Low 22F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. It will be a cold day in Sioux City Monday, with temperatures in the 30s. It looks to reach a cold 35 degrees. We'll see a low temperature of 16 degrees tomorrow. We'll see sunshine tomorrow, but also cloud cover at times. The area will see gentle winds tomorrow, with forecast models showing only 8 mph wind conditions coming up from southwest. This report is created automatically with weather data provided by TownNews.com. Stay in the know. Visit siouxcityjournal.com for local news and weather. Texas and Oklahoma would like to leave the Big 12 for the SEC earlier than 2025. If the rest of the conference is willing, it appears Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is open to letting them leave. Not much has changed as far as the timeline for when the Longhorns and Sooners could leave. For 2023, the two SEC bound programs are all but guaranteed to play in the Big 12 for at least one more season. According to Yormark, that could be it for the two teams. The buyout has been a huge holdup for Oklahoma and Texas, though the Longhorns are doing well financially. Should the conferences other teams let them free of their conference obligations, that hurdle could disappear. TCU and Baylors recent success could make the conference more open to parting ways with the conferences two moneymakers. Last season, Baylor won the Sugar Bowl after defeating Oklahoma State in the Big 12 championship. TCU is potentially on the verge of its first national championship since 1938. We will continue to monitor when Texas could depart from the conference. Story originally appeared on Longhorns Wire Oregon student-athlete Will Richardson joins Pac-12 Networks' Don MacLean and Roxy Bernstein after the Ducks' defeat Utah on Saturday, Jan. 7 in Salt Lake City. Follow Pac-12 mens basketball this season with the Pac-12 Now App. Download the Pac-12 Now App today and set alerts for Pac-12 mens basketball to make sure you never miss a moment of the action. Pac-12 Now is available today in your app store for iOS, Android, and Apple TV. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/about-50-of-germans-consider-cabinet-decision-to-give-kiev-marder-vehicles-wrong-survey-1106128159.html About 50% of Germans Consider Cabinet Decision to Give Kiev Marder Vehicles Wrong: Survey About 50% of Germans Consider Cabinet Decision to Give Kiev Marder Vehicles Wrong: Survey BERLIN (Sputnik) - Almost half of Germans consider the cabinets decision to give Kiev Marder infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) wrong, a survey conducted by... 08.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-08T12:43+0000 2023-01-08T12:43+0000 2023-01-08T12:43+0000 military ukraine germany /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/08/1106128009_84:0:1266:665_1920x0_80_0_0_e24028d41b667f350efa522b0325a719.jpg On Thursday, US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a joint statement that the United States and Germany intended to supply Ukraine with infantry fighting vehicles and train Ukrainian troops to use them. On Friday, German cabinet spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said Germany would planning to supply about 40 Marder IFVs in the first quarter of 2023. According to the survey, which 1,001 people took part in, 49% of respondents perceive Berlins decision to supply Marder IFVs to Ukraine as a mistake, while 40% support this initiative. Besides, 38% of Germans believe that Germany should intensify its military aid and give Ukraine Leopard battle tanks, however, 50% are against this measure. Western countries have been ramping up their military support for Kiev since the beginning of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. In April, Moscow sent a note to NATO member states condemning their military assistance to Kiev. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any arms shipments on Ukrainian territory would be "legitimate targets" for Russian armed forces. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in turn, stated that arms provision was undermining prospects for a future peace process. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/russian-embassy-slams-germanys-decision-to-send-new-heavy-weapons-to-ukraine-1106085810.html ukraine germany 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 germay, ukraine, german aid to ukraine, german military aid to ukraine, german weapons supplies, opinion poll Guntur DistrictSP Arif Hafeez and others inspecting the place where stampede occured at Vikas Nagar in Guntur District. (Photo by arrangement) Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh government has prohibited public meetings and rallies from being held on roads, including national highways, citing public safety. The order comes in the wake of a stampede at a rally held by the main opposition Telugu Desam Party at Kandukuru last week in which eight persons were killed. The prohibitory order was issued late on Monday night under the provisions of the Police Act, 1861. The government noted in its order that "the right to conduct a public meeting on public roads and streets is a subject matter of regulation as Section 30 of the Police Act, 1861 itself mandates." Principal Secretary (Home) Harish Kumar Gupta, in the GO, asked the respective district administration and police machinery to identify "designated places away from public roads for conduct of public meetings, which do not hamper the flow of traffic, public movement, emergency services, movement of essential commodities, etc." "The authorities should avoid permitting meetings of public roads. Only in rare and exceptional circumstances permission for public meetings may be considered, with reasons recorded in writing," the Principal Secretary said. The Principal Secretary highlighted the Kandukuru incident that occurred on December 28 and noted that "holding of meetings on public roads and road margins is leading to deaths and creating traffic obstructions." Police take a long time to control the situation, he added. The opposition parties have decried the government's decision and called the GO "atrocious". https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/al-shabaab-terrorist-group-seeks-dialogue-somali-govt-says--1106123657.html Al-Shabaab Terrorist Group Seeks Dialogue, Somali Gov't Says Al-Shabaab Terrorist Group Seeks Dialogue, Somali Gov't Says Somalias government has said that the al-Shabaab terrorist group has requested the beginning of negotiations amid the military offensive that the country's army has launched against the extremists. 2023-01-08T09:20+0000 2023-01-08T09:20+0000 2023-01-09T14:32+0000 africa east africa horn of africa somalia al-qaeda al-shabaab terrorist group terrorist attack terrorism counter-terrorism /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/08/1106123805_0:71:2934:1721_1920x0_80_0_0_647262e773ab6b4ffc5128f9f05533c2.jpg Somalias government has said that the al-Shabaab terrorist group has requested the beginning of negotiations amid the military offensive that the country's army has launched against the extremists, calling it an "all-out war."The deputy defense minister highlighted that negotiations are possible with the faction which consists of locals, while for foreigners there is only one option - "to return to where they are from." He added that the government is "ready to receive" Somalis who want to surrender. In this case, they should follow the governments instructions and gradually reintegrate with their society. Otherwise, they will "face the Somali National Army in the front lines."This is the first time the terrorist group has sought an open dialogue with Somalias federal government. However, there has been no immediate confirmation of this from al-Shabaab itself.In September, Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud during his visit to the US stated that the al-Shabaab militant group is not willing to negotiate, while the government is open for a dialogue. The al-Shabaab jihadist movement has been fighting against the Somali government since the mid-2000s. The group, which has managed to seize control over some parts of Somalia, is also active in other countries of the Horn of Africa, including Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti.The Somali president was elected in May last year, and several months later announced an "all-out war" on al-Shabaab following another terror attack. Since then, the countrys armed forces along with troops of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) have intensified military operations against the terrorist organization. However, since the beginning of the offensive the attacks carried out by the group haven't stopped. In October, at least 121 people were killed and over 300 injured in the deadliest attack in Somalia since 2017. The two car explosions took place in Somalias capital, Mogadishu, near the education ministry at the Sobe junction. The site was the same junction that saw an al-Shabaab truck bombing in 2017, which resulted in over 500 deaths.In November, al-Shabaab militants attacked the Villa Rose hotel in Mogadishu, reportedly killing at least four people. The latest terrorist attack in Somalia occured in the Hiran region in the central part of the country, as at least 20 people were killed in two simultaneous suicide car bombings. But no group has yet claimed responsibility for the terror act. *Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda are terrorist organizations outlawed in Russia and other countries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221128/somalias-al-shabaabs-bloodiest-deeds-1104786069.html africa east africa horn of africa somalia 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 east africa, horn of africa, somalia, al-shabaab, terrorist attacks, terrorist group, militants, negotiations https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/apple-to-open-first-flagship-stores-in-india-soon---reports-1106120546.html Apple to Open First Flagship Stores in India Soon Apple to Open First Flagship Stores in India Soon MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Apple is getting ready to open its first flagship stores in India in the first quarter of 2023, The Financial Times reports. 08.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-08T03:51+0000 2023-01-08T03:51+0000 2023-01-08T03:52+0000 science & tech apple india china /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/04/0b/1094686149_0:153:2925:1798_1920x0_80_0_0_713f1a2f04f8c150b25084e1207ffb5d.jpg The Palo Alto, California-based tech giant has already started hiring retail store workers in India and has posted plans to fill many other job vacancies, according to the newspaper. In December, CNBC reported that India was planning to take over some of Apple's production of the iPad from China. Apple announced last year that it had begun assembling its flagship iPhone 14 in southern India. It has been producing the older models of the iPhone in the country for a few years now. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Apple was actively looking to shift production out of China to other Asian destinations, including India and Vietnam. china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International apple, india, china https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/biden-arrives-in-el-paso-to-tour-us-southern-border-for-first-time-since-taking-office-1106146662.html Biden Arrives in El Paso to Tour US Southern Border For First Time Since Taking Office Biden Arrives in El Paso to Tour US Southern Border For First Time Since Taking Office EL PASO, Texas (Sputnik) - President Joe Biden arrived in El Paso, Texas, on Sunday afternoon to tour the US southern border amid record-breaking numbers of... 08.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-08T20:40+0000 2023-01-08T20:40+0000 2023-01-09T04:10+0000 joe biden biden administration immigration us-mexico border us-mexico border /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/09/1106148174_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_cb0819b01f11ff4cc2a4e0c9cbee488b.jpg Biden was greeted by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser. Abbott told reporters at the airport after greeting Biden that he told the US President about the urgent needs required to address the border crises. The two spoke for a long moment on the tarmac of the airport. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas also joined Biden on his visit to the border. Last week, Biden said his visit to the border in El Paso is to assess border enforcement operations, meet with local officials and community leaders to discuss their needs as they cope to manage the influx of migrants. The Biden administration recently rolled out new measures designed to help deter high migration levels on the border. Biden's plan includes admitting up to 30,000 migrants from Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Cuba each month; admitting up to 20,000 migrant refugees from other countries in Latina America and the Caribbean; proving nearly $23 million to Mexico and countries in Central America to help manage migration in the region; increasing funding to US border cities impacted by the border crisis; and surging immigration judges to the US southern border to help process migrants. In December, National Border Patrol Council vice president Chris Cabrera told Sputnik that morale among US Border Patrol agents is extremely low as they brace for the border crisis to intensify once Title 42 is lifted, which a final decision is expected to be made by the Supreme Court this summer. The Biden administration claims it has been surging resources to the US southern border to prepare for the lifting of the Title 42 policy. However, Cabrera said there isn't enough manpower to deal with the current crisis. In late December, a Sputnik correspondent reported that the Biden administration erected a sprawling tent camp in El Paso that will be used to house an anticipated surge of migrants arriving on the US border with Mexico. The correspondent, in November and December, witnessed tens of thousands of migrants arriving at the US-Mexico border in the Mexican border city of Juarez, more than a thousand migrants lined up each day for more than a week to wait their turn to enter the United States. Cabrera, who works in one of the busiest sectors for illegal migration on the southern border known as the Rio Grande Valley, emphasized that the only way to address the crisis on the southern border is through legislative action, but Democrats and Republicans for the most part have failed to make any substantial progress on the issue. Most migrants coming into the United States illegally are being released into the United States after they are apprehended on the US southern border, Cabrera pointed out. The United States has seen two consecutive record breaking years of illegal crossings into its territory since Biden assumed office in January 2021. Well over two million illegal crossings into the United States were recorded in fiscal year 2022, according to Customs and Border Protection data. 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 joe biden, biden administration, immigration, us-mexico border, us-mexico border https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/biden-calls-newly-elected-us-house-speaker-mccarthy-1106119723.html Biden Calls Newly-Elected US House Speaker McCarthy Biden Calls Newly-Elected US House Speaker McCarthy WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Joe Biden held a phone conversation with the newly-elected US House of Representatives Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, on... 08.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-08T00:02+0000 2023-01-08T00:02+0000 2023-01-08T00:02+0000 americas joe biden kevin mccarthy speaker of the house house speaker /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/07/1106098681_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_b829b8cffe9eaa570413d5ba4b7cb17e.jpg Earlier on Saturday, Biden said in an official statement that he and First Lady Jill Biden were offering their congratulations to McCarthy on his election as Speaker of the House. In the early hours of Saturday morning, House lawmakers elected Republican Kevin McCarthy as speaker in the 15th round of votes, ending four days of deadlock that stalled the lower chamber from conducting business. McCarthy received 216 votes. Republicans hold a 222-212 majority in the House. A total of 21 Republicans voted in opposition to McCarthy over the course of 15 ballots, before negotiating a deal with the dissenters on House rules and other political matters. The House met on Tuesday in its first session of the 118th Congress, during which the majority party typically elects a speaker. However, opposition by a number of Republicans over the course of over a dozen ballots blocked McCarthy's leadership bid for nearly four days. The situation marked the first time in a century that the House failed to elect a speaker on the first ballot, and the first time since 1859 the chamber took more than 10 ballots to come to a conclusion. Biden called the situation embarrassing, but said that it was not his problem. americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International joe biden, kevin mccarthy, speaker of the house, house speaker https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/biden-visiting-southern-border-in-first-trip-as-president-amid-record-migration-in-region-1106120727.html Biden Visiting Southern Border in First Trip as President Amid Record Migration in Region Biden Visiting Southern Border in First Trip as President Amid Record Migration in Region President Joe Biden will visit the US southern border on Sunday to assess federal immigration enforcement efforts to manage the record-breaking surge of migrants arriving in the United States under his watch. 2023-01-08T04:51+0000 2023-01-08T04:51+0000 2023-01-08T04:51+0000 americas joe biden migration mexico /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/1a/1105799388_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_83bc3a13ed75a87d215f8953a19b092b.jpg Biden's political opponents have repeatedly slammed the president for failing to visit the border amid the crisis. Former President Trump last week unveiled his own plan to secure the border, which included strikes on cartels. The United States has seen two consecutive record breaking years of illegal crossings into its territory since Biden assumed office in January 2021. Well over two million illegal crossings into the United States were recorded in fiscal year 2022, according to Customs and Border Protection data. 400,000 migrants have come to the southern border since October (which is start of fiscal year 2023). During Trumps last year in office that was how many migrants came all year in his last year, 2020. Biden last week said his visit to El Paso, Texas is to assess border enforcement operations, meet with the local officials and community leaders, possibly also migrants. The US president added that he will listen about what US immigration enforcement officials and communities need in order to appropriately manage the influx of migrants arriving on the southern border. Biden said he intends to convince Republicans in Congress to cooperate with him to help provide more tools that will help alleviate pressure on US federal agencies and border communities feeling the pressure of dealing with the border crisis. In the previous week, prior to Biden's visit to the southern border, his administration rolled out new measures designed to help deter high migration levels on the border. Moreover, Biden's new policy includes a five-year reentry ban for migrants caught making a second unlawful entry into the United States and who are not eligible to be expelled under the Title 42 public health rule that has been used since the Trump era to deter the flow of migrants. On the Front Line: Biden Border Policies Ineffective so Far In December, National Border Patrol Council vice president Chris Cabrera told Sputnik that morale among US Border Patrol agents is extremely low as they brace for the border crisis to intensify once Title 42 is lifted, with a final decision expected to be made by the Supreme Court this summer. The Biden administration claims it has been surging resources to the US southern border to prepare for the lifting of the Title 42 policy. However, Cabrera said there isn't enough manpower to deal with the current crisis. In late December, a Sputnik correspondent reported that the Biden administration erected a sprawling tent camp in El Paso that will be used to house an anticipated surge of migrants arriving on the US border with Mexico. The correspondent, in November and December, witnessed tens of thousands of migrants arriving to the US-Mexico border in the Mexican border city of Juarez, more than a thousand migrants lined up each day for more than a week to wait their turn to enter the United States. According to media reports, the Biden administration expects some 14,000 asylum-seeking migrants to cross the US southern border into the United States if Title 42 is rescinded. Cabrera, who works in one of the busiest sectors for illegal migration on the southern border known as the Rio Grande Valley, emphasized that the only way to address the crisis on the southern border is through legislative action, but Democrats and Republicans for the most part have failed to make any substantial progress on the issue. Most migrants coming into the United States illegally are being released into the United States after they are apprehended on the US southern border, Cabrera pointed out. 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 us-mexico border, us migration, migration to us, mexican migrants in us, biden's migration policy, us migration policy, biden visits southern border https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/bolsonaro-supporters-storm-presidential-palace-and-congress-building-1106146538.html Bolsonaro Supporters Storm Presidential Palace and Congress Building Bolsonaro Supporters Storm Presidential Palace and Congress Building Supporters of Brazils former president have been protesting the results of the October 30 presidential elections which saw Lula defeat Bolsonaro by a thin... 08.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-08T20:28+0000 2023-01-08T20:28+0000 2023-01-09T18:11+0000 americas lula da silva brazil brazil protest jair bolsonaro /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/08/1106146393_1:0:1366:768_1920x0_80_0_0_a33007b3b2971891c0c3736797aa20bb.png On Sunday supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the National Congress building in Brazil. Lusa News, a Portuguese National News Agency, reported that hundreds of people invaded the building and called for a military intervention to overthrow President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a left-wing veteran, who was inaugurated last week.The scene in Brazil mimics that of the January 6 United States Capitol attack, during which supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in an effort to keep Trump in power, despite his loss in the 2020 election to President Joe Biden. americas brazil Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg lula da silva, brazil, brazil protest, jair bolsonaro https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/condoleezza-rice-robert-gates-say-putin-will-retain-donbas-territories-1106120112.html Condoleezza Rice, Robert Gates Say Putin Will Retain Donbass Territories Condoleezza Rice, Robert Gates Say Putin Will Retain Donbass Territories WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Moscow is set on keeping control of the territories that have voted to become part of Russia amid the special military operation in... 08.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-08T02:22+0000 2023-01-08T02:22+0000 2023-01-08T03:36+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine condoleezza rice robert gates ukraine russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/06/07/1083094360_0:169:2958:1833_1920x0_80_0_0_2eadded31b339e3ba9c1de883fdaa7c3.jpg According to Rice and Gates, most of Ukraines industrial capacity and mineral wealth are under Russian control, while the Ukrainian infrastructure and the economy have suffered greatly. "Count on Putin to be patient to achieve his destiny," Rice and Gates said.They stressed that Kiev is dependent almost entirely on Western aid and the United States must increase its military supplies to Ukraine if it wants Ukrainian troops to push back Russian forces. Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, after the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian provocations. In response to Russias operation, Western countries have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow and have been supplying weapons to Ukraine. On September 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the heads of the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics, as well as Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, signed agreements on the accession of these territories to Russia, following referendums that showed that an overwhelming majority of the local population supported becoming part of Russia. ukraine 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 condoleezza rice, robert gates, ukraine, russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/italys-weapons-delivery-to-kiev-will-not-take-place-until-parliament-informed-1106127033.html Italy's Weapons Delivery to Kiev Will Not Take Place Until Parliament Informed Italy's Weapons Delivery to Kiev Will Not Take Place Until Parliament Informed ROME (Sputnik) - The sixth package of Italy's military assistance to Ukraine is being under discussion, as it is necessary to inform the Italian parliament... 08.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-08T11:28+0000 2023-01-08T11:28+0000 2023-01-08T11:28+0000 military italy ukraine military aid /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105195/56/1051955610_0:578:3256:2410_1920x0_80_0_0_cd754043ee91f59eb50d411715fd107e.jpg "The sixth defense package still needs to be finalized. The delivery will not take place until the parliament is informed," Tajani told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. The senior official added that Rome was holding talks on the issue with Paris to improve the delivery of the air defense systems. On Thursday, US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz released a joint statement announcing commitments of infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron promised his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to supply Kiev with an unspecified number of AMX-10 RC armored combat vehicles. The Biden administration officially announced its largest to-date package of military assistance to Ukraine worth $3.75 billion on Friday. It includes Bradley fighting vehicles, surface-to-air missiles, howitzer artillery guns, mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAPS) light vehicles, among other weaponry. UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Friday that the United Nations would like to see an end to the conflict in Ukraine, amid the new US weapons package. The Russian Foreign Ministry previously sent a note to NATO countries, indicating that they were "playing with fire" by supplying weapons to Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that pumping Ukraine with weapons did not contribute to the success of peace negotiations and would have a detrimental effect on the conflict. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230107/report-western-military-aid-to-kiev-reflects-lack-of-desire-for-peace-1106095487.html italy 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 italy, ukraine, italian aid to ukraine, italian military aid to ukraine, weapons supplies to ukraine, ukrainian conflict, ukrainian crisis https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/moscow-carries-out-retaliation-operation-in-response-to-kiev-strike-on-makeevka-1106129866.html Moscow Carries Out Retaliation Operation in Response to Kiev Strike on Makeevka Moscow Carries Out Retaliation Operation in Response to Kiev Strike on Makeevka In response to the Ukrainian attack on the temporary deployment facility of the Russian troops in the city of Makeevka in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Russian armed forces carried out a retaliation operation. 2023-01-08T14:14+0000 2023-01-08T14:14+0000 2023-01-17T15:30+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine donetsk people's republic /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/08/1106129934_0:107:3259:1940_1920x0_80_0_0_a9806dbb976a2fad27961da74479ff0b.jpg "Over the past day, Russian intelligence has discovered and reliably confirmed through several independent channels the temporary deployment points of the Ukrainian armed forces in the city of Kramatorsk. There were more than 700 Ukrainian servicemen in dormitory No. 28 and more than 600 Ukrainian servicemen in dormitory No. 47. As a result of a massive missile strike on these points of temporary deployment of units of the Ukrainian armed forces, more than 600 Ukrainian servicemen were destroyed," the ministry said.On January 1, at 00:01 Moscow time (21:01 December 31 GMT), Ukrainian artillery fired six HIMARS rockets at a temporary deployment point of a Russian military unit in the area of Makeevka, with two rockets intercepted by air defense, first deputy head of the Russian Armed Forces' Main Military-Political Directorate, Lt. Gen. Sergey Sevryukov, said. Four rockets hit the building where Russian servicemen were stationed, killing 89 soldiers. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/kiev-continuing-shelling-of-donbass-while-russian-troops-observe-christmas-ceasefire-russian-mod-1106082226.html russia 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 russia's special military operation in ukraine, russia, ukraine. russian special operation in ukraine, russian military operation in ukraine, conflict in ukraine, russian strikes in ukraine, ukrainian crisis https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/nato-rejects-serbian-request-for-sending-military-contingent-to-kosovo-1106125658.html NATO Rejects Serbian Request for Sending Military Contingent to Kosovo NATO Rejects Serbian Request for Sending Military Contingent to Kosovo ATO-led peacekeeping mission Kosovo Force (KFOR) has rejected Belgrade's request to deploy the police and troops to Kosovo and Metohija. 2023-01-08T10:48+0000 2023-01-08T10:48+0000 2023-01-08T11:04+0000 world serbia kosovo pristina aleksandar vucic /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105043/31/1050433126_0:0:3841:2162_1920x0_80_0_0_f1d84689218068b8451f0c5670822522.jpg The president added that it was "a predictable answer." Vucic sent a formal letter in the middle of December, asking NATO mission to allow Serbian army and police and Kosovo. Kosovo, predominately inhabited by Albaninans, broke away from Serbia in 1999. In 2008 it declared its independence. Serbia, however, does not recognize the sovereignty of former province and considers Kosovo as part of Serbian territory. About 100 United Nations member states recognize Kosovos independence. Simmering conflict became emergent when Kosovo attempted to coerce ethnic Serbs to change their vehicle license plates that were acquired before 1999. This move led Serbs in Kosovo to quit their participation in all central and local governmental structures.Tensions became more violent when Pristina arrested former Serbian policeman Dejan Pantic allegedly over terrorist activities. Kosovar Serbs started building barricades blocking the main border crossing.Situation came at ease at the end of December when Pristina agreed to move Dejan Patic under home arrest and Serbs started to dismantle barricades. However, it was aggravated by shooting incident when member of Kosovo Security Forces wounded Serbian boy and a young man.In the middle of December, Pristina applied for the membership in European Union. Vucic called it an unpleasant event and stated that by that moment, 10 countries had withdrawn their recognition of Kosovo. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230107/which-countries-dont-recognize-kosovo-and-what-are-their-reasons-1106115420.html serbia kosovo pristina 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 part of serbia, albanian extremism, kosovar separatism, kfor A collapsed part of a house due to landslides at Joshimath in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Saturday, Jan. 7 , 2023. (PTI Photo) Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered immediate evacuation of around 600 families living in houses which have developed huge cracks and are at risk in Joshimath town which is sinking. "Saving lives is our first priority. Officials have been asked to shift around 600 families living in endangered houses in Joshimath to safe locations," Dhami told reporters here on Friday after reviewing the situation in the sinking town with officials via video conference. "We are also working on short and long-term plans to address the situation in Joshimath," he said. The chief minister will visit Joshimath on Saturday, meet the affected people and hold a meeting with officials. Garhwal Commissioner Sushil Kumar and secretary, disaster management, Ranjit Kumar Sinha along with a team of experts are camping on the ground to constantly monitor the situation, Dhami said. Relocation of people from the affected areas should be done expeditiously, he told the officials. Medical treatment facilities should be available on ground and arrangements for airlifting people should also be made, he said. An immediate action plan as well as a long-term action plan should be prepared and work on both should be started in right earnest, Dhami said. Procedures should be simplified to expedite work on treatment of danger zones, sewer and drainage. "Lives of our citizens are most important for us " he said. "Joshimath should be divided into sectors and zones and action should be taken accordingly. A disaster control room should also be set up in the town," the chief minister said. For permanent rehabilitation of the affected people, alternative locations should be identified in Pipalkoti, Gauchar and other places, he said. The district magistrate should stay in touch with people and the potential danger zones should also be identified. "Moving people to safe locations is necessary. Satellite images can also be useful in this. All departments should act with a team spirit to achieve success in the exercise," Dhami said. Adequate deployment of State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force personnel should be made to help the affected people, he said, adding helicopter services should also be made available, if required. "Joshimath is a town of religious and cultural importance. Care should be taken to ensure that the livelihoods of people are not affected," he said. A temple collapsed on Friday evening in Singdhar ward of Joshimath, further alarming residents living under constant fear of a major disaster in the offing. Luckily there was no one inside the temple when it collapsed as it had been abandoned after it developed huge cracks over the past 15 days, locals said. Huge cracks have appeared in scores of houses while many have suffered subsidence. Nearly 50 families have been moved to safer locations, officials said. Apart from them, 60 families living in a colony meant for Vishnu Prayag Jal Vidyut Pariyojana employees have been shifted elsewhere, its director Pankaj Chauhan said. Marwari area, where an aquifer burst three days ago, is the worst hit as water is constantly coming down from it. All construction activities related to mega projects like the Char Dham all-weather road and the National Thermal Power Corporation's hydel project have been stopped till further orders on the demand of residents. The Auli ropeway, which is Asia's biggest, has been stopped after a huge crack developed beneath it, former president of the local municipality Rishi Prasad Sati said. Land subsidence has been going on for more than a year but the problem has aggravated over the past fortnight, he said. Meanwhile, protests continued on Friday as people staged a dharna at the tehsil office Joshimath demanding rehabilitation. As Joshimath's susbsidence seemed to aggravate, the ruling BJP sent a team to the town to assess the situation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/over-60-flights-canceled-after-plane-makes-emergency-landing-in-japan-following-bomb-scare-1106119972.html Over 60 Flights Canceled After Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Japan Following Bomb Scare Over 60 Flights Canceled After Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Japan Following Bomb Scare TOKYO (Sputnik) - More than 60 flights were canceled at Chubu Centrair International Airport in Japans Aichi Prefecture after a Jetstar flight made an... 08.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-08T00:27+0000 2023-01-08T00:27+0000 2023-01-08T00:27+0000 world japan fukuoka kyushu flight cancellations bomb threat /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102611/00/1026110027_2:0:1561:877_1920x0_80_0_0_83d42ccb57bd7d3df99c9a0fdbbcb4f7.jpg The plane was heading from Narita International Airport near Tokyo to Fukuoka, located on Japans Kyushu Island, when it made an emergency landing on Saturday morning. Nippon TV reported that 63 flights were canceled at Chubu Centrair International Airport, while another four aircraft were forced to change their destination. There were a total of 136 passengers and six crew members on board the Jetstar aircraft. The NHK broadcasted reported on Saturday, citing police, that a total of five people were injured during the evacuation process. Police have inspected the aircraft, particularly the cargo hold, but did not find any explosives. Because of the emergency landing, the runway at Chubu Centrair International Airport was closed for 4.5 hours, NHK said. japan fukuoka kyushu 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 japan, fukuoka, kyushu, flight cancellations, bomb threat https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/over-dozen-people-die-in-road-accident-in-southeastern-china---reports-1106120251.html Over Dozen People Die in Road Accident in Southeastern China Over Dozen People Die in Road Accident in Southeastern China MOSCOW (Sputnik) - More than a dozen people were killed and over 20 were injured in a road accident in the province of Jiangxi in southeastern China, a... 08.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-08T03:32+0000 2023-01-08T03:32+0000 2023-01-08T04:05+0000 world china jiangxi car crash /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103330/17/1033301769_0:44:1024:620_1920x0_80_0_0_e5d0914d87428ae138f7712005770bd8.jpg The accident occurred on Sunday in Nanchang County around 1 a.m. local time on Sunday (5 p.m. Saturday GMT).At least 17 people died and another 22 were injured, the report said. The broadcaster also stated that an investigation into the accident is underway.After the crash, Nanchang County police issued an advisory, warning drivers that the area was experiencing "foggy weather." "Please pay attention to fog lights... slow down, drive carefully, keep a safe distance from the car in front, avoid pedestrians, do not change lanes and overtake," the statement warned.China Central Television said on Sunday that the cause of the accident, which happened just before 1:00 a.m. local time (17:00 GMT on Saturday) was under thorough investigation.Heavy fog was reported in Nanchang County around the time of the accident. china jiangxi 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 china, jiangxi, car crash https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/presidents-of-venezuela-colombia-meet-in-caracas-to-discuss-bilateral-ties-1106121782.html Presidents of Venezuela, Colombia Meet in Caracas to Discuss Bilateral Ties Presidents of Venezuela, Colombia Meet in Caracas to Discuss Bilateral Ties Colombian President Gustavo Petro has met with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro during the formers official visit to Caracas, the second one since the reestablishment of relations between the two countries. 2023-01-08T06:21+0000 2023-01-08T06:21+0000 2023-01-08T06:21+0000 venezuela caracas nicolas maduro colombia gustavo petro americas /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/08/1106121937_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_4abcd4a4fe17ad9e2bc538013cd87b03.jpg In a statement released following his meeting with Maduro, Petro said that Venezuela will continue to support the Colombian government and that the two countries have agreed on investment, industrial and agricultural cooperation. Joint infrastructure, energy and food industry projects are also being considered. On September 26, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the reopening of the shared border with Venezuela after three years of feuding, and on November 8, both countries resumed round-trip flights. On November 1, Petro visited Caracas and met with Maduro for the first time. The sides signed a joint declaration outlining the key areas of future cooperation. They said the initial period of bilateral normalization would focus on the opening of land, air, river, and sea transport, the creation and reactivation of joint border security mechanisms, as well as the restoration of consular services. venezuela caracas colombia americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International maduro meeting with gustavo petro, petro visits caracas, venezuela, colombia https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/south-korea-mulls-purchase-of-israeli-sky-spotter-early-warning-system-1106122201.html South Korea Mulls Purchase of Israeli Sky Spotter Early Warning System South Korea Mulls Purchase of Israeli Sky Spotter Early Warning System South Korea is considering the purchase of the Israeli early warning electro optical Sky Spotter system, which helps detect and track aerial objects, such as drones. 2023-01-08T07:06+0000 2023-01-08T07:06+0000 2023-01-08T07:06+0000 world south korea seoul democratic people's republic of korea (dprk) pyongyang drones air defense system /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0a/05/1101521096_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_ec22b18a1b3d7441090a714a5980a43c.jpg In the coming weeks, the South Korean military plans to decide whether to formally request the purchase of the system following a review on its effectiveness in countering Pyongyang's drone threats. In December, a group of drones believed to be North Korean crossed the inter-Korean border. South Korea tried to shoot the drones down and scrambled fighter jets and helicopters to intercept them. One of the aircraft, a KA-1 light attack plane, reportedly crashed during takeoff. Four small North Korean drones flew near Ganghwado Island in South Korea, and another flew up to the northern region of the metropolitan agglomeration, including Seoul. South Korean media later said that one drone managed to return back to the North, while the remaining four disappeared from radars. The South Korean Defense Ministry called the violation of the country's airspace by North Korean drones a provocation and pledged to respond. At the same time, the ministry said that the North Korean drones could not have obtained any meaningful information.Relations between North Korea and South Korea began to deteriorate over the past two years. In December 2022 Yoon Suk-yeol administration officially re-labeled North Korea as an enemy a mark which was previously lifted by Yoon Suk- yeol predecessor Moon Jae-in. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared that his country will boost nuclear arsenal exponentially. In addition, he accused United States of creating Asian version of NATO by forging the alliance with Japan and South Korea. south korea seoul democratic people's republic of korea (dprk) pyongyang 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 drones, south korea air defense, seoul https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/south-sudans-unity-govt-faces-dispute-while-paving-way-to-new-constitution--media-1106126554.html South Sudan's Unity Gov't Faces Dispute While Paving Way to New Constitution Media South Sudan's Unity Gov't Faces Dispute While Paving Way to New Constitution Media South Sudan has faced dispute between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Dr. Riek Machar over the dismissal of a regional state official, against the backdrop of efforts to renew the law-making process in the country. 2023-01-08T13:13+0000 2023-01-08T13:13+0000 2023-02-14T14:10+0000 africa east africa south sudan politics constitution government national unity government president /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/08/1106126408_0:316:3077:2047_1920x0_80_0_0_03ddb7706774885bfbac5de19267b8d9.jpg A dispute between South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the country's first vice-president, Dr. Riek Machar, over the dismissal of a regional official has broken out.The dispute comes against the backdrop of efforts to renew the law-making process in the country, as reported by the media.Since 2018, the country's government has functioned under the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), one of the peace deals which ended the South Sudanese Civil War (20132020).According to the agreement, five main political factions participate in a unity government: the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, SPLM-Juba which is led by President Kiir, SPLM in opposition led by Dr. Machar, SPLM Freed Detainees, South Sudan Opposition Alliance, and a bloc of other political parties.According to Dr. Machar, Kiir's decision to sack the vice-president's party mate Amer Ateny, Jonglei state's legislative speaker, was unilateral and contradicts the R-ARCSS deal. On Christmas Day, Ateny accused the Jonglei state governor of poor administration. The state has suffered from floods and a series of conflicts among inhabitants.Kiir's decision to dismiss Ateny followed a meeting with the Jonglei governor and his deputy.The wrangle comes as the East African country attempts to renew preparations for a new constitution. In December, the president signed the Constitution Making Process Bill 2022, which involves restructuring of the National Constitutional Review Commission established ten years ago in order to develop a new supreme law. The bill implies that the legislative team will be appointed in consultation with coalition partners under the R-ARCSS.The transitional period in South Sudan is scheduled to end with elections in 2025. africa east africa south sudan 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 south sudan politics, south sudan constitution, south sudan elections, south sudan government, s sudan, south sudan president, salva kiir, riek machar https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/thousands-participate-in-anti-government-protest-in-tel-aviv---reports-1106120397.html Thousands Participate in Anti-Government Protest in Tel Aviv Thousands Participate in Anti-Government Protest in Tel Aviv A mass anti-government demonstration has been held in Tel Aviv after Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced a new legal reform, Israeli media report. 2023-01-08T03:39+0000 2023-01-08T03:39+0000 2023-01-08T04:33+0000 world tel aviv israel protests /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/19/1105779836_0:271:2679:1777_1920x0_80_0_0_371557b8b1b1c4fbac510010de2d8ba3.jpg More than 10,000 people protested at Habima Square in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, reports said. Another rally was held at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art on Saturday, while some protesters marched through the city streets. The Black Flag movement reportedly promised more anti-government demonstrations next Saturday and called on people to join the "tens of thousands who came out tonight." The Saturday protest came after Levin announced a legal reform package on Wednesday that would limit the authority of the High Court of Justice, according to Israeli media reports. Israel's new government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was sworn in before the country's parliament on December 29. tel aviv israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International israel protests, tel aviv protests, israelis protesting against legal reform https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/ukraines-sbu-prepares-provocation-in-kharkiv-region-to-discredit-russian-army---moscow-1106146859.html Ukraine's SBU Prepares Provocation in Kharkov Region to Discredit Russian Army - Moscow Ukraine's SBU Prepares Provocation in Kharkov Region to Discredit Russian Army - Moscow MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) prepared a provocation using the bodies of civilians who died in the Kharkov region in order to... 08.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-08T20:51+0000 2023-01-08T20:51+0000 2023-01-09T04:04+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine moscow ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/18/1105771575_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_b03fed61508d526a0dda4409b4018165.jpg "Ukrainian special services have prepared a new large-scale anti-Russian provocation aimed at discrediting the Russian armed forces and accusing Russian servicemen of allegedly committing war crimes. On the eve of Orthodox Christmas, representatives of the State Bureau of Investigation and the SBU organized the digging up of graves in cemeteries in the villages of Kazachya Lopan, Veliky Burluk, Shipovatoye and Khatnoye in the Kharkov region, where local residents who died from natural causes were buried while Russian troops were in these areas from February 24 to September 6, 2022," the ministry said. The ministry added that the Kiev regime, through provocations, seeks to keep the attention of the West against the background in the absence of success on the battlefield. In late August, the Russian Defense Ministry said it was moving its troops in the regions of Kharkiv and Kherson to other positions and regrouped to continue the military operation in the Donbas more effectively. Since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine has repeatedly attempted to discredit Russian armed forces by staging provocations. In April, Ukrainian authorities and media distributed footage showing the bodies of dead civilians strewn across Bucha and blamed the killings on Russian forces that withdrew from the city on March 30. The Russian Defense Ministry said that the footage was a staged provocation and that no civilians died at the time the Russian forces controlled Bucha. moscow 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 moscow, ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/ukrainian-army-conducted-hundreds-of-strikes-during-ceasefire-russian-defense-ministry-1106131844.html Ukrainian Army Conducted Hundreds of Strikes During Ceasefire: Russian Defense Ministry Ukrainian Army Conducted Hundreds of Strikes During Ceasefire: Russian Defense Ministry The Ukrainian army has conducted several hundred artillery strikes during the unilateral ceasefire regime on January 6-7. 2023-01-08T15:17+0000 2023-01-08T15:17+0000 2023-01-08T15:21+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ceasefire russia ukraine russian military russian defense ministry /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/08/1106132304_0:0:3099:1744_1920x0_80_0_0_d610608078ea78f8e94161397b18bf60.jpg During the entire period of the ceasefire, Ukrainian troops continued to conduct intensive shelling of settlements and Russian positions, the ministry said.The Ukrainian army has conducted around 370 artillery strikes against the Russian armys positions in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions during the ceasefire, according to the defense ministry. Ukrainian troops fired over 160 large-caliber shells and 20 rockets against residential areas of Donetsk, the ministry said. Today, Ukrainian artillery, which targeted settlements, has been suppressed by retaliation fire of Russian troops, the Defense Ministry concluded On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the Defense Ministry to introduce a 36-hour ceasefire along the line of contact between the warring sides in Ukraine from January 6-7 to allow Orthodox Christians in the areas of hostilities to attend church on Orthodox Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Olexiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's national security and defense council, rejected the truce offer. On Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukrainian troops continued shelling in the Donbas despite the ceasefire observed by Moscow. russia 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 russia`s special operation in ukraine, christmas ceasefire, ukrainian army, russian military operation in ukraine, russian special operation in ukraine, russian strikes in ukraine, putin orders ceasefire in ukraine, ukraine rejects ceasefire, ukrainian crisis, ukrainian conflict, war in ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/un-calls-for-prompt--transparent-investigation-of-bukina-faso-killings-1106124988.html UN Calls for 'Prompt & Transparent' Investigation of Burkina Faso Killings UN Calls for 'Prompt & Transparent' Investigation of Burkina Faso Killings The deaths of at least 28 people in Burkina Faso must be investigated rapidly, said Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 2023-01-08T13:36+0000 2023-01-08T13:36+0000 2023-01-08T14:52+0000 africa west africa burkina faso volunteer forces killing investigation the united nations (un) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0a/13/1102087309_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_e5b8c99b741087d518717d1a3dfe8647.jpg The deaths of at least 28 people in Burkina Faso must be investigated rapidly, said Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.The dead bodies of 28 males were found on New Year's Eve in the north-western town of Nouna, mostly inhabited by Muslims and ethnic Fulani. The Burkinabe Civil Society Organization claimed that the killers were dressed as members of the pro-government Homeland Defense Volunteers (VDP) auxiliary force.Earlier, Turk stressed the necessity to enhance the preparation of the volunteers and supervision over them in order to ensure respect for human rights in the country.The VDP program was launched by Burkinabe authorities in 2019 in order to allow civilian volunteers to join Burkina Fasos military forces in the fight against terrorist groups linked to Daesh-* and Al-Qaeda-linked* terrorist groups, which became more active in 2015, eventually seizing vast territories.*terrorist organizations banned in Russia and many other states africa west africa burkina faso 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 bukina volunteers, burkina killings, bukina coup, bukina terroriststs, bukina investigation, bukina inquiry https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/unfit-for-office-netizens-troll-biden-over-reports-of-2024-campaign-launch--1106131025.html Unfit for Office: Netizens Troll Biden Over Reports of 2024 Campaign Launch Unfit for Office: Netizens Troll Biden Over Reports of 2024 Campaign Launch Speaking at a post-mid-term election in November, Joe Biden made it clear that he intends to seek another presidential term, but that it was ultimately a family decision, due to be announced early next year. 2023-01-08T15:01+0000 2023-01-08T15:01+0000 2023-01-08T15:01+0000 viral us joe biden twitter netizens users election us presidential campaign 2024 us presidential elections /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/08/1106130738_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_cc72472a585495ea65e77425a0e0792a.jpg Netizens have hit out at US President Joe Biden amid reports that he is "readying the details around his 2024 reelection campaign."The message was echoed by a slew of users who published sarcastic tweets in which they specifically pointed to Bidens alleged health problems.He doesn't know what year it is, doesn't know who the president is and can't speak. Perfect candidate for the left, one message read.The remarks followed unnamed sources telling a US media outlet that Biden plan to announce his intent to run for a second White House term in the coming weeks, most likely in February when he is due to deliver his State of the Union address. One source insisted that a more formal announcement is expected to come in April.The claims were preceded by POTUS telling reporters in November about a yet-to-be-announced family decision related to his much-anticipated move to officially declare readiness to run for a second term.The 46th president has repeatedly been bashed by Republicans over his numerous gaffes, which they said are a sign of poor health-related problems. GOP members argue that Biden, who is the oldest president in the history of the US, is not mentally fit to run the country. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220926/poll-most-democrats-do-not-support-bidens-candidacy-for-2024-elections-1101226729.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20221121/have-tides-turned-in-bidens-favor-71-of-democrats-say-he-could-win-reelection--1104517581.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 reports of joe biden and his aides readying the 2024 campaign launch, the november us mid-term election, twitter users' frustration over reports on biden readying the 2024 campaign launch CRPF officers during reviewing the security situation after the twin terror incidents, in Rajouri, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. (PTI Photo) Rajouri: One more civilian succumbed to his injuries taking the number of killed persons up to seven in two separate firing incidents that took place in the Dhangri area of Rajouri district, officials said on Sunday. The deceased identified as Prince undergoing treatment died at Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu. Notably, six civilians including two children were killed and many more injured in two terror attacks in Upper Dangri village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district last Sunday evening and Monday morning. Meanwhile, the Indian Army on Sunday said that the security forces have neutralised two terrorists involved in the attack. "On Saturday, around 8 PM, the alert troops of Indian Army deployed on the border fence in Balakot (District Poonch), observed suspicious movement ahead of the border fence and subsequently neutralised two terrorists," Indian Army said. The official further said that the area has been cordoned off and operations are in progress. Six civilians including two children were killed and many more injured in two separate terror attacks in Upper Dhangri village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district in subsequent evening and morning incidents. Central Reserve Police Force jawans have also been deployed in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri. After the killing incident on January 1, the locals of the Dhangri village demanded the deployment of forces to boost security in the area. The Union Home Ministry had issued an order to deploy an additional 18 companies to Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the civilian killings in the two terror attacks in the Rajouri district. While four people were gunned down on January 1 evening, two children were killed and several others injured after a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast occurred in the same vicinity in Rajouri's Upper Dhangri village on January 2 morning. The injured were being treated in Jammu hospital. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/us-border-city-cleaned-of-illegal-migrants-ahead-of-bidens-visit-1106145236.html US Border City Cleaned of Illegal Migrants Ahead of Biden's Visit US Border City Cleaned of Illegal Migrants Ahead of Biden's Visit MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on Sunday that illegal immigrants are being expelled from the streets of the border city of El Paso with... 08.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-08T18:17+0000 2023-01-08T18:17+0000 2023-01-08T18:17+0000 americas texas us migrant crisis illegal migration border crossings gregg abbott joe biden /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/1c/1105841761_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_b987bfb7c25868ef0e6b8743d41a4927.jpg Biden is expected to visit El Paso later in the day, where he will familiarize himself with the migration situation on the US southern border for the first time since the beginning of his presidency. Last week, Biden announced his intention to send additional forces to the US southern border and to expand the practice of expedited deportation of illegal migrants. At the same time, he suggested legally admitting 30,000 immigrants from Nicaragua, Cuba and Haiti into the country each month. After visiting El Paso, Biden will travel to Mexico for a summit of leaders of North American states, where the issue of migration in the region will also be discussed. The White House has continuously dodged questions about why Biden has not visited the southern border amid record-breaking migration numbers that are overwhelming federal and state resources. Republicans have also previously urged the US president to visit the border to get a first-hand look at the crisis. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221228/civil-rights-group-says-holds-biden-admin-accountable-for-us-border-crisis-1105862163.html americas texas 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 southern border, us southern border crisis, migration crisis, illegal migration, biden visits southern border, biden visits southern border for the first time https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/us-condemns-any-effort-to-undermine-democracy-in-brazil-says-national-security-adviser-1106147118.html US Condemns 'Any Effort to Undermine Democracy in Brazil', Says National Security Adviser US Condemns 'Any Effort to Undermine Democracy in Brazil', Says National Security Adviser WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Joe Biden is following the situation in Brazil, where supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro seized the congress... 08.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-08T21:57+0000 2023-01-08T21:57+0000 2023-01-09T16:00+0000 brazil brazil protest joe biden biden administration emmanuel macron americas bolsonaro supporters riot in brazil's capital latin america /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/07/0b/1097205638_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_500cc1beaa93768094e5cea4bfe3b7ba.jpg "The United States condemns any effort to undermine democracy in Brazil. President Biden is following the situation closely and our support for Brazils democratic institutions is unwavering. Brazils democracy will not be shaken by violence," Sullivan said on Twitter on Sunday. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also condemned the Sunday attacks on the National Congress and the Supreme Court by protesters in Brasilia. Media and police report that an antidemocratic protest has turned violent and is now occupying areas of central Brasilia including the Brazilian National Congress and areas surrounding the Plaza of the 3 Powers," the embassy said on Twitter, adding that "Using violence to attack democratic institutions is always unacceptable."The embassy urged US nationals to avoid the area where the unrest is taking place on Sunday.Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has called the attacks on government buildings in Brasilia barbaric and ordered the use of federal forces to restore order in the capital. The federal intervention in Brazils Federal District will last until January 31, according to Lulas decree. He promised to find and punish those responsible, as well as those who financed the unrest.French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the actions of Bolsonaro's supporters, tweeting: "The will of the Brazilian people and the democratic institutions must be respected!" On January 1, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in and started his third term as president of Brazil. He won the presidential election in the runoff on October 30, defeating Bolsonaro by a close margin, prompting countrywide protests from supporters of the former Brazilian president. brazil americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International brazil, brazil protest, joe biden, biden administration, emmanuel macron, bolsonaro supporters riot in brazil's capital, latin america https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/west-is-losing-influence-in-africa-says-eritrean-ambassador-to-russia-1106122351.html West is Losing Influence in Africa, Says Eritrean Ambassador to Russia West is Losing Influence in Africa, Says Eritrean Ambassador to Russia In an interview with Sputnik, Eritrean Ambassador to Russia Petros Tseggai shared his opinion regarding the Western influenc in Africa and the perspectives of relations between his country and Russia. 2023-01-08T09:18+0000 2023-01-08T09:18+0000 2023-01-08T10:01+0000 africa east africa eritrea russia interviews ambassador france us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/08/1106122924_0:0:3124:1757_1920x0_80_0_0_67a83d611f876be5c939a7303c4df8b3.jpg France and other Western countries are losing their influence in Africa, Eritrean Ambassador to Russia Petros Tseggai said in an interview with Sputnik.According to him, "another world" is being built at the moment, and Africans can "breathe freely," gaining full independence from American and French influence.Tseggai noted that the countries that suffer the most from foreign manipulations are former French colonies, as France has "not a neo-colonialist, but a colonialist attitude". When decolonization took place in the 20th century, he underlined, African countries were made to "keep their deposits in French banks" and many African leaders had a "little colonial Europe in their heads." Now, the diplomat said, the younger generation does not agree with such a state of affairs.Eritrea has normal relations with its former metropole Italy, but the negative historical role which the European country played in the colonial era, is remembered, Tseggai noted. He also said that he wishes to enhance relations with Italy, as "there are no bad peoples" but "manipulation" is unacceptable.Talking about US policy, Tseggai warned that Washington's influence can lead to the resumption of the Tigray conflict, as the US supports the Tigray nationalist rebels. He noted that while America tells Eritreans to leave Tigray, it is only the Ethiopian government that can ask Asmara to do so.Eritrea supported Ethiopia in the fight against the Tigray People's Liberation Front, which erupted in November 2020 and ended with a ceasefire treaty in November 2022 as a result of an African-Union-led peace process. In late December, it was reported that Eritrean troops had started a withdrawal from major cities in Tigray.Tseggai added that regardless of the Wests opinion, Eritrea will continue military and technical cooperation with Russia and underlined that his country also wishes to develop a partnership with Moscow in the sphere of mineral exploration and oil production.He also noted that Eritrea views the development of agriculture as a priority in order to enhance food security. The ambassador noted that although his country does not buy grain directly from Russia and is rich in fertilizer, he views Moscow's offer to supply free fertilizer to Africa as "a very good gesture."He said that earlier, cooperation between the two countries suffered when Eritrea was under UN sanctions. Now that they are lifted, the prospects are more positive.He added that he was a student in Odessa, when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. Now, Tseggai said, there are Eritreans who are studying in Russia.According to the ambassador, the Eritrean delegation will take part in the 2023 RussiaAfrica Summit the Eritrean leader Isaias Afwerki could attend the event himself if the situation on the border with Tigray is stable.The summit will take place in Saint Petersburg in July and will be a follow-up to the 2019 summit in Sochi. Every African state is invited to the meeting.The previous event of the kind was co-hosted by Egypt. Participants outlined priority spheres for economic partnership with measurable goals for coming years in areas such as security, trade, cooperation within international platforms, science, technology and culture.Earlier, Sputnik asked analysts to comment on the topics of Western influence in Africa and its perspectives. According to the experts, France is losing the support of Africans, as it goes on to pursue its unilateral goals in its former colonies. The Sahel region, for instance, has seen anti-French protests and tensions between the European state and several West-African governments, especially military ones, as the French forces proved unable to contain the terrorist threat in the region.Talking about American policies in Africa, experts note that Washington seeks to counter growing Chinese influence on the continent a recent example of such US efforts was the 2022 USAfrica Leaders' Summit. Analysts underline that America is unlikely to succeed competing with China in Africa due to fundamental differences in approaches. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221223/kenya-knows-where-russia-is-despite-eu-claims-seeks-to-boost-cooperation-ambassador-says-1105729836.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20221222/too-little-too-late-us-not-flexible-enough-to-compete-with-china-in-africa-experts-say-1105669086.html africa east africa eritrea russia france 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 eritrea ambassador, eritrea sanctions, eritrea west, eritrea russia, eritrea oil, tigray conflict https://sputnikglobe.com/20230108/west-to-demand-serbia-recognize-kosovo-if-belgrade-slaps-sanctions-on-russia---vucic-1106129702.html West to Demand Serbia Recognize Kosovo If Belgrade Slaps Sanctions on Russia, Vucic Says West to Demand Serbia Recognize Kosovo If Belgrade Slaps Sanctions on Russia, Vucic Says The West will require the Serbian authorities to sign an agreement with the partially-recognized republic of Kosovo on its formal recognition once Belgrade agrees to impose sanctions against Russia. 2023-01-08T14:02+0000 2023-01-08T14:02+0000 2023-01-08T14:10+0000 world aleksandar vucic serbia russia kosovo /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0b/14/1104469452_0:46:3087:1782_1920x0_80_0_0_deead960543e4639b42ae23c9b45ace6.jpg Vucic recalled that Belgrade has withstood external pressure for about 100 days, refusing to impose sanctions against Russia over the special operation in Ukraine. The Serbian president suggested that Pristina could be granted membership in the United Nations without formal recognition of the independence of the self-proclaimed republic by Belgrade. In October, Vucic said that Belgrade would not impose sanctions on Russia until the very existence of Serbia is threatened, seeking to pursue its own independent foreign policy and further develop relations with Moscow. At the same time, Vucic has repeatedly acknowledged over the past months that Serbia was under more pressure due to its policy toward Russia. In 2008, the Kosovo-Albanian structures in Pristina unilaterally proclaimed independence from Serbia. Since then, Kosovo has been recognized by 100 UN member states. In 2016, the EU and Kosovo signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, which confirmed Pristina's intention to join the bloc and its readiness to carry out the required political, economic, trade and human rights reforms. In March 2022, the Kosovar parliament adopted a resolution urging the government to take all necessary steps to join NATO, the EU, the Council of Europe and other international organizations. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220324/how-us-nato-illegal-bombing-of-yugoslavia-undermined-rule-of-law-in-the-world-23-years-ago-1094157612.html serbia russia 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 russia-serbia relations, ant-russian sanctions, nato expansion After a pocket-popping win at the top class a week ago, Saulsbrook Victor raced aggressively throughout to land a repeat victory in the $34,000 Preferred Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night (Jan. 7). Driver Austin Sorrie sent Saulsbrook Victor for the point to a :26.1 first quarter before yielding command to Sintra into the backside. Sorrie then tipped Saulsbrook Victor back off the pegs to reclaim control past a :54.4 half and rolled strongly to three-quarters in 1:23.4. With a breather under the bit, Saulsbrook Victor braved for home as So Much More barreled off cover in pursuit of the lead late. Saulsbrook Victor held his ground to the pegs and to the beam, keeping a length in front of So Much More with Sometime Somewhere settling for third in a dead-heat with Points North closing from third over. The winning time was 1:51. Brett MacDonald owns Saulsbrook Victor, a five-year-old gelding by Source Of Pride. The Ronald MacDonald trainee collected his 11th win from 47 starts and pushed his bankroll to $210,885. He paid $5.40 to win. A trio of second-prelim divisions of Pop-Up Series went to gate on the Saturday undercard. Beachin Lindy delivered in the first division while drifting to the center of the course but kicking for the finish to stop the clock in 1:54.1, finishing 2-1/4 lengths better than Arukidinme Cabbie. Austin Sorrie steered the Stephen Charlton trainee, who paid $3.40 to win. Clever Character, despite a broken headpole, charged for the finish headstrong to take a three-quarter-length victory as the 7-5 favourite over G A Speed Sammy in 1:53.4. Travis Cullen steered the Jodie Cullen trainee to complete a training hat trick for the barn, which won earlier on the night with Dontpokethedragon ($14.40 to win) and Snow Shark ($5.60). While closers took the first two divisions, speed ruled the final Pop-Up split with James MacDonald uncorking a pillar-to-post job with Michelle LeBlanc trainee St Lads Cash. He clocked a 1:51.3 mile to best pocket-sitter Maximumlovin by 2-3/4 lengths and paid $5 to win. To view Saturdays harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results Woodbine Mohawk Park. Standardbred Canada would like to thank all members who have taken the time to complete the survey for the 2022 National Economic Impact Study, a joint project of Standardbred Canada (SC) and the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS). Survey results will go a long way to present a national front and story on the economic and social impacts of horse racing across Canada. Due to the importance of ensuring the industry has had ample time to complete the survey and to collect as much valid data as possible, SC and CTHS have collectively agreed to extend the deadline for members to complete the survey to Friday, Jan. 20. As reported earlier, it is paramount that members take the time to complete the survey so that strong representation from all facets of the industry is collected and compiled. We are thrilled with the attention and the number of respondents that have taken the time to complete this survey thus far, stated Dan Gall, SC President and CEO. The more surveys completed, the more accurate the data will be to tell our story to our stakeholders. Gall added that he is hopeful that the new extended deadline will prove positive to the overall impact and accuracy of how our industry contributes to the local, provincial and national economy. The SC-CTHS National Economic Survey can now be completed until Friday, Jan. 20 by clicking here. For answers to some frequently asked questions about the study, click here. Trot Insider has learned that longtime harness racing industry participant Benoit Frenette of Laval, Que. passed away on Jan. 6, 2023 at the age of 60. Ben was involved in racing from a young age as the son of the late Jean-Louis Frenette, former handicapper at Blue Bonnets for many years. Ben eventually made his way into the race office as the race secretary at the legendary Montreal racetrack. Just before Blue Bonnets / Hippodrome de Montreal closed, he moved to Aylmer then to Rideau Carleton Raceway where he also performed race secretary duties. After the race office at Rideau closed, Frenette stayed involved in the industry as a judge for both the AGCO in Ontario and RACJ in Quebec. Ben is survived by his partner of the past 30 years, Sylvie Lecuyer, children Isabelle Nathan-Frenette and Sebastien Nathan-Frenette, his grand-children Trystan and Lory, his sister Sylvie (Michel), his brother-in-law Claude (Johanne), relatives and friends. The family will receive condolences at the Mausolee St-Martin (back building) of the funeral complex Alfred Dallaire-Memoria, 2159 St-Martin E., Laval, QC (514-277-7778) on Friday, Jan. 27 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. A celebration of life will follow at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Quebec Cancer Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Benoit Frenette. Culpeper resident Yhilee (pronounced Jaylee) Lopez Chavarria deserves some congratulations for accomplishing the milestones in 2022 of graduating from high school and passing the U.S. citizenship exam. The 18-year-old had help from her mother, Ingrid Rivera, in achieving her goals along with the volunteer tutors and staff at Culpeper Literacy Council. It has been a journey to achievement. Chavarria recalled coming to America from Nicaragua as a 7-year-old. She had never been in a plane before. I remember coming here around Christmas to get my first gift here. It was really fun, I really enjoyed going to the planeit was so high up as a little kid, Chavarria said in a recent interview in the literacy council offices on South Main Street. She settled with her parents in Manassas and attended elementary school there. Gibberish, Chavarria of how English sounded. I pretty much didnt know any English, it was kind of hard to understand when people talk to me. Even the Spanish spoken by other ESL students was hard to understand with different meanings for words in different dialects. It kind of like messed my head up, the Spanish with the English together, Chavarria said. Her family moved to Culpeper and she attended Floyd T. Binns Middle School before graduating last year from Eastern View High School. Now, Chavarria talks in proficient English. It was her moms idea to take the U.S. citizenship exam. Rivera, 35, had been taking English classes at Culpeper Literacy Council for three years after learning about the local nonprofit on the internet. ESL classes are the majority of what the council offers, along with classes for the occasional citizenship exam. Rivera decided she and her daughter would try it. She was like just suddenly one day, We should get our citizenship, after I graduated, and I said OK. From there on, we just started studying and doing the paperwork, Chavarria said. I was like, Thats too much workcould we wait another day? She say sorry, We cant wait. Students study 100 questions provided by U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services over the 11-week course offered at Culpeper Literacy, said Director Lynn Gore. They get asked 10 questions randomly (on the exam) and have to get six of them right, and Yhilee got all of hers right, Gore said. Examples of the questions, focused on U.S. government and history, were passed around at a recent Culpeper Literacy Council fundraiser at Old House Vineyards, she said. It started a lot of conversation and of course I picked the hardest ones I could find, Gore said. There was one nobody knew the answer to and I said I know one person in the room who does and Yhilee says, I do! Its the best because it really is going to change her life for the better and her mothers when she gets hers. Chavarria said the test was not that hard. I already learned that in school, most of it, she said. Going through Culpeper County Public Schools and learning history and government systems certainly helped prepare her, said Culpeper Literacy Council office manager Caroline Pearce, another Eastern View graduate. Yhilee is super smartso when it came time for citizenship it was really just narrowing down to those 100 questions to study for, Pearce said. Her English was flawless, that was also pretty effortless for her as well. Ingrid is still continuing to come to the classes every morning and working really hard until she gets her date for her test. Test day for Yhilee was on a Friday at the ICE office in Fairfax County. The teens literacy council tutor, a volunteer, attended with her for support. She was crying in the morning before the test, Rivera said, her daughter translating from Spanish. Chavarria brushed off the anxiety saying the test was pretty quick and easy. Who was the first president, who is your senator, who is your U.S. Representative, how many senators are there? How many House representatives there are, whats the capital of the United States, whats your state capital, she listed off. Abigail Spanberger, Chavarris said, quizzed on her representative in Culpeper. As for her U.S. Senators? Tim Kaine and I dont know the other one, said Chavarria, erupting in giggles, told the answer. Yeah, Mark Warner. She was excited to learn she passed the test. I was really happy because I was really nervous at the beginning. Rivera continues to study for her exam as she waits on paperwork to arrive. She recently received a test date, three weeks from now. The Culpeper mom of three understands more English than she speaks presently, and it has been a journey for her as well. Rivera was 22-years-old when she left her native Nicaragua for Virginia, after meeting her husband, of El Salvador. Through her daughter, Rivera said she felt sad to leave her native country because she left all her family there. But Rivera said she will never move back. The stay-at-home mom is proud of Yhilee for following the path to U.S. citizenship. It was for a better opportunity for me to study and go to college to do something here in the U.S. since I always tell I never want to go back to Nicaragua, said Chavarria, translating. This is my home now. Yes. Very happy, her mother said. The growing family moved seven years ago from renting an apartment in Manassas to owning a home in Culpeper. She likes everything, said Chavarria. Tranquilo, says Rivera, Very chill, me gusta the small places you can go to, like Shenandoah (National Park), Fauquier, Chavarria said, translating. In Nicaragua, where she lived, there was fresh, cool mountain air. Thats what reminds her of Nicaragua from herethe mountains, said her daughter. Chavarria looks forward to participating in naturalization ceremony to complete her citizenship and is currently working in a jewelry shop. She has ambitions. I was planning to go to NOVA (Community College), study radiology and probably along that career, medicine, said the 18-year-old. It feels great, she added of being an American citizen. I want to travel. I want to go to maybe, Chavarria trailed off, looking at her mother, where the wind takes me. Culpeper Literacy Council is gearing up for another U.S. Citizenship Exam class at 10 a.m every Tuesday starting Jan. 17. All council services are free with a $40 registration fee. Culpeper County Supervisor David Durr is one of the volunteers helping to teach English to local community members, Gore said. More volunteers are always needed, she added, and its pretty easy to do starting with orientation and training on how to teach adults using a standard curriculum and prepared lesson plans. Its pretty well programmed so the teachers dont have to do a ton of work to get ready for the classes and were both here if they have questions, Gore said of her and the office manager. A couple of their regular volunteers are on break for personal reasons so the need is high in order to maintain the level of English classes for second language learners, she added. Why should people care about helping English as second language speakers in the community? Well, If these folks get help with English they get better jobs they can support their families better, their kids do better in school if mom and dad speak English and read in the home and they also become more productive members of our community so it really benefits everybody when they learn, Gore said. I also like to shine a light on the volunteers because they give so much and I dont think people realize that everybody here is a volunteer, other than the two of us part-timewe could not keep going without them. See Culpeper Literacy Council on Facebook, contact 540/825-5804 or admin@culpeperliteracy.org. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai paying homage to Shri Siddheshwar Swamiji (Photo by arrangement) Mangaluru: The last rites of Jnanayogi Shri Siddheshwar Swamiji of Sri Jnanayogashrama, who passed away on Monday, were held with full state honours on Tuesday. The 82-year-old seer who was suffering from age-related ailments for a few days passed away on Monday evening. The mortal remains of the seer were placed for the public to pay respect at Ashram and later at Sainik School. He was cremated in the Math premises in the presence of seers and political leaders. Thousands of devotees from Karnataka and also bordering villages of Maharashtra thronged to pay homage to the seer who was known for his sermons and simplicity of life. Seers of various Maths and politicians led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai paid last respects to the seer. Leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and former AICC president Rahul Gandhi condoled the death of Swamiji. According to sources, the seer had made it clear that his mortal remains should be cremated and no memorial should be constructed. A soft-spoken Seer with a simple appearance, Swamiji enjoyed great love and respect among the devotees. He was famous for his discourses in Kannada, English, and Marathi. People were used to eagerly attend his sermons. They found solace in the sermons when he addressed the topics related to the common man. He would explain even the complicated matters of the scripts in an easily understandable language. Swamiji used to visit the rural areas of the region and the number of devotees who visited him when he was unwell was a testimony for the love and affection he enjoyed. At the very young age of 14, Swamiji got his spiritual calling and became the disciple of Shri Mallikarjuna Swamiji. Iredell Sheriff Darren Campbell said 22 people were arrested on drug-related charges in recent round-up efforts. The arrests, he said, stem from investigations conducted in the latter part of 2022 and this year. The majority of these suspects have significant criminal histories, Campbell said. Ten of these suspects were on probation at the time of arrest, two are verified gang members and all were directly involved in the sale of or facilitating the sale of narcotics to an undercover investigator, he said. By continuing to target those criminals who break our laws and sell these illegal drugs in our communities, we are able to drive down crime rates, reduce breaking and entering, robberies, and other types of violent crimes which are associated with drug dealing. We want to create a very unprofitable environment for drug dealers to try and conduct their business. We want to thank the community for the continuous information which is provided about drug-related issues. We hear you; we are investigating and are making arrests based on your information and tips. The Iredell County Sheriffs App is an easy way to provide information on drug dealing and other crimes. The app is available as a free download on the Apple Store and Google Play. On the homepage of the app you will see the Submit a Tip button, and within a few minutes, you can have the information in their hands. The following individuals were arrested as part of this round-up: Rico Maurice Polk, 29, of Trailway Drive, Statesville, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II and felony sell or deliver Schedule II; $20,000 bond. History includes felony breaking and entering, and misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license is revoked, possession of marijuana, shoplifting concealment of goods, intoxicated and disruptive, resisting a public officer, simple possession of Schedule VI, second-degree trespassing, assault inflicting serious injury, assault with a deadly weapon, larceny of a motor vehicle, domestic violence protection order violation and possession of Schedule II. He is currently on probation for resisting a public officer, felony maintaining a place for use or sale of controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of Schedule II. Charles David Gilmore, 33 of Sonja Drive, Statesville, felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, $20,000 bond. History includes felony common law robbery, felony malicious conduct by a prisoner, felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana paraphernalia, driving while license is revoked, resisting a public officer and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He is currently on probation for felony interfering with an electronic monitor and is a verified by the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections as a Folks Nations gang member. Dariel Odas Dugger Jr., 49, of South Race Street, Statesville, two counts each of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule III and felony sell Schedule III, $3,500 bond. History includes felony sale of Schedule II, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine and misdemeanor counts of driving while license is revoked, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, common law uttering, simple possession of Schedule VI, resisting a public officer and larceny. He is currently on probation for misdemeanor larceny. Jerome Millsaps, 31, of Harris Bridge Road, Stony Point, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II, $20,000 bond. History includes felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Jessie Michael Teno, 29, of Davis Trail Lane, Troutman, four counts each of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II and felony sell or deliver Schedule II and one count of felony obtain property by false pretense, $50,000 bond. History includes misdemeanor counts of obstructing justice and possession of drug paraphernalia. Cassandra Rene Hernandez, 51, of Allen Creek Road, Statesville, two counts each of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II and felony possession of Schedule II, $40,000 bond. History includes felony perjury, felony sell or deliver counterfeit controlled substance, felony sale of cocaine, felony sale of Schedule IV and misdemeanor larceny. Ricky Lynn Thompson, 58, of Poor Boy Drive, Cleveland, three counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II and two counts of felony sell or deliver Schedule II, $10,000 bond. History includes felony possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, felony sale of cocaine, felony possession of Schedule II and misdemeanor counts of driving while impaired, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, driving while license is revoked, larceny and simple possession of Schedule IV. Kathy Lavonne Caldwell, 56, of Hillside Drive, Mooresville, three counts each of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II and felony sell or deliver Schedule II, $50,000 bond. History includes DWI and simple worthless check. Isaac Rufus Knox, 62, of Old Charlotte Road, Statesville, trafficking crystal methamphetamine, $120,000 bond. History includes felony breaking and entering, felony possession of a weapon of mass destruction, felony obtain property by false pretense and felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and misdemeanor counts of DWI, driving while license is revoked, larceny, assault with a deadly weapon and fictitious information to an officer. Jacob Lee Mitchell, 28, of Bristol Drive, Statesville, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II and felony sell or deliver Schedule II, $30,000 bond. History includes misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana paraphernalia, DWI, possession of drug paraphernalia, larceny, stalking, assault on a female and driving while license is revoked. He is currently on probation for DWI, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of Schedule VI. Misty Lou Ferguson, 44, of Baker Street, Statesville, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II and felony sell or deliver Schedule II, $40,000 bond. History includes possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, felony larceny and misdemeanor larceny. Amanda Lee Coker Goldsmith, 39, of Catawba, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II and felony sell or deliver Schedule II, $10,000 bond. History includes misdemeanor counts of larceny, shoplifting concealment of goods, driving while license is revoked, financial card fraud and breaking and entering. Emmett Jerome Griffin, 52, of Sylvia Street, Statesville, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II and felony conspire to sell or deliver Schedule II, $15,000 bond. History includes driving while license is revoked. He is currently on probation for possession of Schedule II. Katina Nicole Bennett, 27, of Armfield Street, Statesville, two counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II and one count of felony sell or deliver Schedule II, $5,000 bond. History includes misdemeanor counts of resisting a law enforcement officer and possession of drug paraphernalia. Anthony George Sturghill, 60, of Wedgedale Avenue, Statesville, three counts each of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II and felony sell or deliver Schedule II and one count of felony sell or deliver a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, $50,000 bond. History includes felony uttering a forged instrument, felony forgery of instrument, felony assault with a deadly weapon with serious injury and felony possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine and misdemeanor disorderly conduct, DWI, possession of stolen goods or property, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license is revoked, interfering with utility meter, larceny and intoxicated and disruptive. He is currently on probation for possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II. Kevin Lynn Waddell, 43, of Log Cabin Road, Statesville, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II, $3,000 bond. History includes felony obtain property by false pretense felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule IV and misdemeanor counts of simple worthless check, DWI, driving while license is revoked, ethnic intimidation, larceny, resisting a public officer and assault on a female. Joshua Shwayne Ramseur, 31, of Pine Tree Road, Statesville, four counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II, $2,500 bond. History includes felony possession with intent to sell or deliver counterfeit controlled substance, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II and felony larceny of a motor vehicle and misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana, simple assault, DWI, assault on a government official, driving while license is revoked and assault on a female. He is currently on probation for DWI, felony possession with intent to sell Schedule II, driving while license is revoked, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver counterfeit controlled substance, felony larceny of a motor vehicle, assault on a public official, assault on a female and larceny. Kingsley Michelle Perkins, 37, of Sonja Drive, Statesville, felony possession of a controlled substance, $30,000 bond. History includes felony possession of methamphetamine, felony obtain property by false pretense and felony simple possession of Schedule IV and misdemeanor counts of worthless check, possession of marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon, second-degree trespass, assault with a deadly weapon and assault on a government official. She is currently on probation for felony obtain property by false pretense, felony possession of Schedule II and misdemeanor assault on a government official. Ian Timothy Bass, 20, of Kannapolis, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II and felony possession of a controlled substance inside a prison or jail facility, $75,000 bond. History includes misdemeanor counts of breaking and entering, larceny, possession of marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon and reckless driving with wanton disregard. Jacob Donovan Gifford, 27, of Albemarle, felony possession of a controlled substance inside a prison or jail facility, $2,000 bond. No criminal history listed. He is currently on probation for misdemeanor assault on a government official and misdemeanor resisting an officer. Katelynn Paige Woolledge, 27, of Arthurs Road, Troutman, felony possession of a controlled substance inside a prison or jail facility, $2,000 bond. History includes felony sell or deliver Schedule II and misdemeanor counts of resisting a public officer, shoplifting concealment of goods, larceny and second-degree trespass. She is currently on probation for felony sell Schedule II. Katelan Lodemia Daugherty, 22, of Durand Lane, Statesville, three counts each of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II and felony sell or deliver Schedule II, $75,000 bond. History includes misdemeanor breaking and entering and driving while license is revoked. When I was much younger and the Earth was cooling, I used to look through Our State magazine in our high schools library. At that time the magazine was called The State, and the covers were printed in only two colors. Nevertheless, there was always something good to read inside. Todays Our State has the look of Arizona Highways or Southern Living, which in my opinion, is high praise. A special issue of Our State hit the magazine racks recently. It was titled, NC-101, like it was an entry-level college course. Its subtitle was The Ultimate Guide to North Carolina and featured a bulging pulled-pork sandwich on the cover. The 196-page, lavishly-illustrated issue was well worth the cost, $9.99, especially if the purchaser was someone new to our particular slice of heaven. Among the featured articles were 20 Tar Heel iconic landmarks, 15 articles on Tar Heel towns from Manteo in the east to Cherokee in the west. Of the 10 historic sites, I have visited all but two, Fontana Dam and Tryon Palace. I am proud to boast that I am partly responsible for having the Battleship North Carolina on display in Wilmington, which I have visited twice, having been one of the North Carolina elementary school children to have brought in my dime to Save Our Ship years ago. As a former N.C. middle school history teacher, I especially enjoyed the column 50 Moments That Made NC. According to the introduction to this article, We asked historians from the mountains to the coast to weigh in on what they consider to be our states most pivotal events and influential people. These moments are arguably some of the most significant. I was not one of the historians they consulted, but while I would argue over some of the moments included in this survey, all are significant. The trouble is that we have, perhaps more than our share of significant events to occur here, although some of these events did not appear particularly significant at the time they happened. Elsewhere, there is a column devoted to the Carolina classic, slow-cooked pork, with slaw, on a bun. East or west, Carolina cue is best, and 15 million of us Tar Heels, who know what good food really is, should in union shout, You got that right, Brother! It is a wonder we can still fit in our denim blue jeans, as The Old North State was the place where Hardees Restaurants, Krispy Kreme donuts, Mount Olive pickles, Lance Crackers, Pepsi Cola and Cheerwine soft drinks, and other delicacies first crossed the palates of the hungry and thirsty masses. Our state is also the nations leader in sweet potatoes production and the nations third largest pork producer. Our States editor, Jennifer Hudson, has given us much food for thought with this yummy issue. See if you can find a copy at your favorite magazine stand. One more thing: The issue ends with a nine-question pop quiz. One of the questions asks, Which county leads our state in dairy production? See if you can fill in the blanks to get the correct answer: I R D L L. The Daily News reached out to local law enforcement to follow up on previously reported cases that have not been solved. Here are the updates. Woodland High School bomb threats Law enforcement are still investigating bomb threats against Woodland High School made in October and November, according to Sgt. James Keller of the Woodland Police Department. On Nov. 9, Woodland High School received a bomb threat the second threat in less than a month which triggered the Federal Bureau of Investigations involvement in the case. Woodland High School received two calls on Nov. 9; the first was at 10:17 a.m., in which a caller warned about a gas leak in the cafeteria, and the second call arrived 20 minutes later, claiming there was a bomb inside a classroom. District buildings were searched before people were allowed back in. The Woodland Police Department also received a call on the morning of Oct. 10 stating two explosive devices were in lockers at the high school and set to go off before noon. Students were evacuated but no device was found. The FBIs Seattle office spokesperson Steve Bernd would not comment on specifics about the investigation, but said all threats are examined. The FBI and our law enforcement partners take each threat seriously, he said in a statement. We investigate and fully analyze each threat to determine its credibility. Hoax threats take first responders away from legitimate calls and actual emergencies. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any and all suspicious activity and/or individuals to law enforcement immediately. Suspicious death at Alabama Street camp A suspicious death reported at the Alabama Street encampment last August has been ruled an accidental drug overdose, according to Longview Police spokesperson Branden McNew. Police initially responded to the tent camp on the night of Aug. 30, 2022, at roughly 10 p.m. after a reported drug overdose. When police arrived, they found the dead body of a woman in her 30s, who they said expired several hours earlier. McNew told The Daily News back in August that police spotted suspicious circumstances around the body that ignited the investigation, which is now closed. Body found behind YMCA Longview police continue to investigate the 2021 murder of 57-year-old homeless woman Lisa Jo Patterson, nearly two years after her death, according to McNew. A 2021 press release says police found sufficient evidence that a homicide occurred after Pattersons body was found behind the YMCA of Southwest Washington on 15th Street. Officers on patrol report they found Pattersons body at 2 p.m., on Feb. 14, 2021, and that she previously lived in Illinois. Human remains were of Kelso victim The human remains found in a rural area of Kelso back in July are those of a man who police say was shot and then blown up. Jerome Markert, 47, and Jethro Welter, 53, are scheduled to go to trial in 2023 over the case and are each charged with first-degree murder, possession of explosives and unlawful disposal of human remains. Officials are aiming to bring home millions of dollars to upgrade roads, parks and neighborhoods in Cowlitz County during the state legislative session that starts Monday. The Industrial Way and Oregon Way intersection is back in front of the Legislature this year as the regions largest financial request. The most recent design the Washington State Department of Transportation presented in September will cost $175 million, meaning that an additional $76 million needs to be acquired. A request for the full funding was included in the Governors budget released in December. Kelly Hanahan, spokeswoman for the Washington Department of Transportation, said the departments goal is to secure that funding by the middle of 2023 through a mix of state and federal requests to complete the project in one phase of construction. Hanahan said meetings throughout 2022 with local businesses, municipalities and elected officials provided a pathway forward and is the basis for requesting the funding increase from Legislature. The Longview City Council voted in December to seek state funds for three projects. The largest request is $750,000 to renovate and replace Martins Dock, which the city says is sinking into Lake Sacajawea. The city originally planned to repair Martins Dock with the $900,000 allocated to park renovations during the last legislative session, but due to increased costs, officials put the dock improvements on hold. The money, instead, helped pay for restroom and sidewalk updates at Lake Sacajawea Park. Longview is also requesting $500,000 to install new lighting and sidewalks in the Highlands, a neighborhood of more than 5,000 with higher poverty and unemployment rates compared to the city or county, according to Longview staff. A city report says the area lacks redevelopment options, so officials aim to increase the neighborhoods safety and quality of life. Last year the neighborhood restarted a neighborhood watch program due to what residents said was increased crime. Longview is seeking $150,000 to replace the 30-year-old playground at Windemere Park in West Longview to ensure area youth have options to play outside, especially as West Longview grows, the report states. Other goals Longviews other priorities align with the legislative goals from the Association of Washington Cities, the lobbying group representing more than 250 cities in Washington, and the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Those goals include providing more affordable housing, reaching a final decision on drug possession enforcement following the Blake decision and providing behavioral health resources. Kelso City Manager Andy Hamilton said the city also usually supports the priorities from the two major associations. The Kelso City Council will hold a workshop to set priorities for the state Legislature and Congress ahead of its Jan. 17 meeting. Earlier this year, both cities voiced their support for a regional training center for police officers in Cowlitz County or a nearby region. Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee and several legislators said during a session preview Thursday that the training centers remained a priority for the upcoming session. Cowlitz County officials report they are looking for additional funds this legislative session for the replacement of the Tower Road bridge near Castle Rock after heavy rains in early 2022 destroyed a culvert underneath and swept away the roadway. A temporary bridge opened late last month. The Legislature preview session Thursday in Olympia focused on housing, employee shortages and crime. Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee released last month his $4 billion budget proposal to build new housing in Washington, starting with 7,500 new units over the next two years. The biggest new feature of the package is requesting a public referendum vote to allow the state to bond for more money than the current debt limit allows. We need to have supportive services but first, if I may, we need to have a roof for people and that means we have to build in the state of Washington, Inslee said. Inslee said his proposal doesnt focus on any specific types of housing. The longterm focus was on building new homes at multiple different price points, but Inslee supports tiny home developments as a crucial step up from sprawling encampments or large shelters. Once you give them privacy, even though its an 8-by-10 small pod of wood or fiberglass, it can become very, very successful. And thats why I have advocated to give opportunities for local communities to do these tiny home villages, Inslee said. Recently, a similar pallet home village replaced a tent camp on Alabama Street in Longview. Longview officials say housing is a priority in the legislative session, as they aim to eliminate regulatory barriers that delay creating affordable housing, according to a city report. Longview officials say they are looking to create housing stock for all income levels. Homelessness was one of the top three concerns for voters in the state as the legislature plans to convene, according to a Crosscut/Elway poll released Thursday. Western Washington was the most pessimistic region in the poll, with only 36% of respondents saying the outlook for Washington or the United States was getting better. The biggest partisan split over new housing is about how much building and converting of properties should be done by the state. Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, leader of the Senate Republicans, said the current cost of building homes made it economically impossible for the state to have a major role in the housing market. Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, said the focus should be on easing permitting regulations for local government, potentially changing sections of the Growth Management Act. If we focus on that level of reform, we would get better and faster cures than creating new levels of bureaucracy, Walsh said. Workforce shortages and crime The Crosscut/Elway poll shows a third of Washington voters picked the economy as their biggest concern in December. During the party sessions Thursday, Braun and state Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, shared a broad interest in reforms that would boost the number of nurses, mental health experts, law enforcement and other high-demand workers. There are things across the spectrum where we could do a better job of getting folks in, whether its a permanent solution or a temporary solution, to try and get people into professions, Braun said. Approaches mentioned Thursday included interstate deals to let nurses from other states transfer their license to Washington or expanding training and vocational programs. Inslee also said he was one of 50 governors dealing with an increase in crime rates last year. His public safety proposals included regional training centers for law enforcement an idea Cowlitz County cities have voiced support for and new gun restrictions that have been widely opposed by Republicans. 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 man looks onto the show floor from a Wehead spatial video communication device at the Wehead booth during the CES tech show Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. The device, controlled via a smartphone, laptop, or tablet, allows the user to remotely look around through the device's camera and observe the environment an interact with people in the room. Credit: AP Photo/John Locher Tech companies showed off their latest products this week at CES, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show. Crowds of investors, media and tech workers have streamed into cavernous Las Vegas venues to see the latest tech from big companies and startups. There are flashy concept cars, screens of every possible variety, robots that can help with a range of tasks and technology for homes. Some tech innovations are already available to buy while others may never make it past the prototype stage. The show runs through Sunday. Here are some highlights: VIDEO CALLS WITH A TWIST Tired of the same old videoconference calls? Zero Distance thinks it may have the answer. The company's Wehead device helps people at a meeting feel like a remote attendee is in the room with them. The device looks something like a machine you might find at the eye doctor, but with screens on the front. The person participating from afar looks like they're there in 3D and when they look around or nod, the machine also moves. Wehead works with standard computer or smartphone webcams. "If there are a few people around the table and just one screen, not everybody can see the screen, and the person in the laptop, he or she is not able to see everybody," Wehead creator Ilia Sedoshkin said. "That's the obvious application." Stella Clark of BMW AG, shows off the BMW i Vision Dee concept car that changes color during a pre-show keynote at CES 2023 Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, in Las Vegas. Credit: AP Photo/Jack Dempsey "But for people who spend like 40 hours a week in their home office, they don't see other people a lot. So feeling the real person in the room, using some space on your table, can give you less loneliness," Sedoshkin said. The Wehead costs $1,555, with a pro version available for $4,555. COLOR-CHANGING CAR BMW is betting on a car that can change colors. The German car manufacturer's latest concept car can display up to 32 colors and allows drivers to customize their cars digitally. That's not the only thingthe mid-size sedan has a voice assistant as well as physical and digital elements that allow the headlights to create facial expression and express moods such as joy, astonishment and approval. The car is called BMW i Vision DeeDee for "digital emotional experience." The splashy ride is the next iteration of BMW's color-changing technology unveiled at last year's CES, when the company showcased a car that had the ability to change from black to white. An ADAM beverage robot makes boba tea at the Richtech Robotics booth during the CES tech show Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. Credit: AP Photo/John Locher The body of the latest version is divided into 240 segments, all of which the company said can be controlled individually and allow for an endless number of patterns to be generated. The car will be available in 2025. A BOBA ROBOT From milk tea to passion fruit, ADAM the robot can make any boba tea drink you like. ADAM also can function as a bartender or barista, but it made boba tea for delighted CES attendees who used digital touch screens to select their drinks. "ADAM is intended to be basically a way to attract guests and a way to make drinks fully automated and very efficient," Timothy Tanksley of Richtech Robotics said. The two-armed robot has two grip handles that can be customized to make specific drinks. While taking a break from mixing beverages, ADAM can dance to keep people entertained. A GrowUp nut milk machine is seen at the CES tech show on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. GrowUp allows people to brew their own nut milk at home with water and any nut, from cashews and walnuts to almonds and pistachios. Credit: AP Photo/Rio Yamat ADAM, which can be rented for events or hired full-time, is among a range of robots on display at CES this week doing a variety of tasks from disinfecting surfaces to making deliveries. NUT MILK ON DEMAND During the pandemic shutdowns in 2020, California resident Luiz Rapacci had a hard time finding his favorite almond milk at grocery stores. He looked up online recipes to make his own, but they were messy and time-consuming. Almost three years later, Rapacci is at CES to unveil his nut milk brewing machine, the GrowUp brewer. With GrowUp, customers can make nut milk at home in minutes with water and their chosen variety, from cashews and walnuts to almonds and pistachios, Rapacci said. The machine costs $599 and is available now for pre-order. PERFECT EYEBROWS L'Oreal's Brow Magic is bringing augmented reality to your eyebrows. A booth worker demonstrates L'Oreal's smart brow applicator that uses augmented reality to help print eyebrows on the face during CES Unveiled, before the CES tech show, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Las Vegas. Credit: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer The company's app scans your face and uses AR to make personalized recommendations for choices of shape, thickness and effect. You apply a primer, then the Brow Magic device uses 2,400 tiny nozzles to brush over and paint your eyebrows. L'Oreal developed Brow Magic in partnership with Prinker, which makes a device that quickly applies temporary tattoos. The makeup in Brow Magic, which is expected to launch later this year, can last up to two days and be taken off with regular makeup remover. 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: In this May 15, 2019, file photo, founder of Alibaba group Jack Ma arrives for the Tech for Good summit in Paris. Leading Chinese financial technology provider Ant Group announced Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, that its founder, e-commerce billionaire Jack Ma, will give up control of the company. Credit: AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File E-commerce billionaire Jack Ma will give up control of Ant Group, the leading Chinese financial technology provider he founded. In a statement posted Friday, Ant Group said that after an ownership restructuring, "no shareholder, alone or with other parties" will have "control over Ant Group." The company is an affiliate of e-commerce giant Alibaba, which Ma also founded. The move follows other efforts over the years by the Chinese government to rein in Ma and the country's tech sector more broadly. Two years ago, the once high-profile Ma largely disappeared from view for 2 1/2 months after criticizing China's regulators. The government at the same time also forced Ant Group to call off a highly-anticipated IPO that would have raised over $3 billion, just days before it was to launch. Yet Ma's surrender of control comes after other signs the government was easing up on Chinese online firms. Late last year Beijing signaled at an economic work conference that it would support technology firms to boost economic growth and create more jobs. And last month, the government said it would allow Ant Group to raise $1.5 billion in capital for its consumer finance unit. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The government counsel told the court that due to vacancies and the non-availability of teaching staff, the government decided to fill them with in-service medical officers. (File Photo: DC) Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court pulled up the state government for filling posts of lecturers in the Ayush department through a backdoor method, instead of direct recruitments, as per the Ayurvedic Medical Service Rules. Through government order (GO) 71 issued on June 28, 2022, the state government relaxed Rule-3 of the Ayurvedic Medical Service Rules, concerning direct recruitments for lecturers/assistant professors, through the conversion of in-service medical officers appointed under the non-teaching cadre. However, ayurvedic doctors challenged the GO in the High Court, which stayed the order and asked the government to file counters. The government counsel told the court that due to vacancies and the non-availability of teaching staff, the government decided to fill them with in-service medical officers. The division bench, headed by Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, questioned when the last notification was issued to fill the vacancies in question and asked how many notifications were issued for the same over the past 10 years, to which the government counsel did not have a reply. The court refused to vacate the stay and stated that such backend recruitments could not be allowed. A student research project in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences may help scientists protect endangered manatees in the Amazon River. Inspired by her longtime interest in aquatic mammals and ecology, Kaitlyn Romoser recently spent a month in Brazil working toward her thesis. She collected environmental DNA, eDNA, samples to detect the presence of endangered Amazonian manatees. Romoser, a graduate student in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, is pursuing her masters degree in ecology and conservation biology. She received her undergraduate degree in environmental studies and oceanography in 2019 from the Texas A&M College of Arts and Sciences. Unfortunately, the pandemic interrupted her plans to attend a university with graduate-level oceanographic programs. However, she quickly remembered Texas A&M professors Kirk and Leslie Kelso-Winemiller, who led her and 19 other students on a study abroad trip to the Amazon while she was an undergraduate student. Leslie Kelso-Winemiller is an instructional associate professor in the department. She reached out to Kirk Winemiller, interim head of the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, about taking her on as a graduate student. After exploring several options for research on aquatic mammals, they settled on a plan to study Amazonian manatees using eDNA technology for her masters thesis. During her year-long preparation for the trip, Romoser corresponded with several Brazilian researchers studying manatees and found three scientists eager to collaborate. It was the perfect set of collaborators to work with and share data and findings, she said. The eDNA method has incredible potential for surveying animals, especially in areas as expansive as the Amazon. Amazonian manatees and eDNA technology Amazonian manatees are the lone species exclusive to freshwater and the smallest member of the Sirenia order. Although they have few predators, they were hunted heavily for their meat, fat and leather. To better protect the species, the Brazilian government began prohibiting hunting by 1973. Currently, their population continues to be negatively impacted by illegal hunting, ongoing habitat destruction, increasing pollution and boat traffic. Wildlife management requires reliable population survey data. However, current methods for tracking Amazonian manatee numbers, such as visual sightings and side-scan sonar, are inefficient and result in significant data gaps. Essentially, researchers using eDNA methodology test water for viable DNA strands that can be multiplied in the lab via polymerase chain reaction, PCR. This technology, which has improved dramatically in recent years, uses eDNA from a variety of sources, including saliva, excrement, skin or other material shed by the animal into the environment. Applying that methodology to her study, Romoser visited the Amazon River during the dry season when she expected the reduced amount of water to concentrate manatees for the survey. Samples were collected at three locations, including the Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve near the town of Tefe on the western Amazon, where manatees are more protected from human encroachment. The other survey locations were near the major cities of Manaus in the central Amazon and Belem in the eastern Amazon. Amazonian manatees are extremely elusive, so they are very difficult to survey by sight or even with sonar because they shy away from humans, she said. This survey will contribute data that Brazilian researchers and conservationists can use to protect this species. Passion for ecology and conservation Romoser said the manatee survey was an incredible experience. The project taught her about the planning and execution of international field research as well as how knowledge gained from coursework is applicable in the field. As of now, not all results have returned from the lab, but she already is contemplating a return trip to the Amazon to expand the research for a possible doctorate degree. Romoser is passionate about teaching ecology and excited about the prospect of hands-on fieldwork in the water. Her research experience, together with her role as a teaching assistant in the department, have convinced her she wants to become a professor. The study was good for me personally, because it took me out of my comfort zone, she said. It was a year of planning that came to fruition during one intense month. It was exciting to collaborate with other scientists and see the potential for eDNA in surveys of aquatic and land animals, especially over very large ranges. I think it has reinforced what Ive done over my student career and what I want to achieve in my professional career. As the number of shootings of on-duty Texas law enforcement officers increases, a local College Station nonprofit is working to install bullet-resistant glass in patrol vehicles throughout the Brazos Valley. Clifford Dorn, president of Operation Safe Shield, said the company has raised over $500,000 dollars since its inception in 2021 to install protective glass in newer patrol vehicles in the seven-county region. However, he said more funds are needed to get the job done. Whenever there is an officer shot we get notified right away, Dorn said. It is heartbreaking to know that this is happening, and if we could move faster and we had more money, we could get those protected. The worst thing to hear is if we had somebody on schedule to get their car done, and they were injured because we couldnt get it done fast enough because we didnt have the money to do it. Two Brazos County law enforcement officers were shot in a 12-hour period Dec. 30. Sergeant Brittany Re of the Brazos County Sheriffs Office and Bryan Police Officer Najee Watson were shot by the same suspect, according to law enforcement. After hearing about the incident, Dorn said he wanted to do everything he could to stop this in the future. [Officer Re] got shot through her side window and that was a new car, Dorn said Friday. Unfortunately, we didnt have it in the rotation to get the glass in, and we want to prevent something like that from happening again. Deputy Tony Piccolo, Brazos County Precinct 2 Constable, was assigned one of the six newest vehicles in Brazos County with the bullet-resistant glass in his windshield, front-side windows and door panels. It hits home when it happens here where you work, Piccolo said. You hear about it in the news and different places. But in Brazos County, I wouldnt say the crime is increasing, but its here. We are seeing a spike and increase especially on attacks against police officers. We are also looking into getting some shields to carry around and walk with, especially in the school districts. When Piccolo heard his newly shielded vehicle would arrive just before Christmas, he was extremely grateful. As a law enforcement officer, this is the best Christmas gift that any officer can imagine; it is protection, he said. There are so many times that you have your head down and you are doing reports, checking your computer and taking your eyes off the public; and for the most part, people are good. But there are some bad people that there is no telling at what point in time things can go south, and that bullet can get thrown your way. You just never know. Marilyn Moore, secretary for Operation Safe Shield, said first responders are overworked and underpaid, but she hopes that these shields offer them more safety. By giving that extra layer of protection, it not only gives them peace of mind, but their families peace of mind to keep them safe, she said. Bryan-College Station used to be such a small city and shootings like this didnt happen, it was more in bigger cities and that doesnt discriminate anymore. It is happening here. Moore and Dorn both said the bullet-resistant glass allows officers to return fire out of the side windows while still being protected from bullets directed at them. They have a higher level of protection that will protect all rounds all the way up to an AR-15, Dorn said. The entire windshield, side windows and door panels will become bullet-resistant. So far, glass has been installed in Burleson, Fayette and Brazos County and costs about $8,100 per vehicle installation, and is outsourced by Georges Auto Glass in Bryan, Dorn said. Our goal is every vehicle throughout the state of Texas needs to be protected, he said. In Texas, we support law enforcement so much and we hope eventually we can get this done through the state legislature. Operation Safe Shield started after the Texas Legislature passed SB 2222 to provide bullet-resistant windows for all Texas Department of Public Safety patrol vehicles in response to two incidents of officers being shot through the windows of their patrol cars, according to the companys website. Dorn also co-founded Backing the Badge BCS with Kristi Schiller of K9s4Cops, both of whom decided to form Operation Safe Shield as a nonprofit to generate funds to further this initiative. The initial scope of operation will be to equip all law enforcement departments in Brazos County, including Bryan, College Station, Texas A&M University and Blinn College police as well as the Brazos County Sheriffs Office and all Brazos County constables, Dorn said. Deputy David Wilcox of the Brazos County Sheriffs Office said they fully support the project. We are very excited to get our cars outfitted with that, he said. Anything that is going to help keep our officers and our deputies safe is something that, of course, we look forward to. We are excited to see how it works out. On April 13, Operation Safe Shield is hosting a fundraiser for Brazos County law enforcement officers to have more glass installed in their vehicles. The event will be held at the Brazos County Expo Center and all law enforcement officers are invited free of charge. There will be dinner, a raffle, a silent auction and live music. Guests can purchase tickets at operationsafeshield.org. For more information or to donate, visit their website, call 820-4820 or email admin@operationsafeshield.org. The Texas Department of Public Safety has decided to terminate a Texas Ranger who responded to the horrific May 24 attack at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. In a letter Thursday, DPS Director Steve McCraw told Texas Ranger Christopher Ryan Kindell that his actions following the shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers did not conform to department standards. Kindell has five days to appeal the decision. You should have recognized the incident was and remained an active shooter situation which demanded an active shooter response rather than a barricaded subject situation, McCraw wrote in the letter obtained by The Texas Tribune. Reached for comment Friday, Kindell would say only that he intends to appeal his firing. Kindells September suspension caused ripple effects through the criminal justice system in South and West Texas where he was the lead investigator on 50 high-profile investigations, including murders, sexual assaults and public corruption. But police experts and the Uvalde County district attorney had raised questions about whether DPS was retroactively punishing a handful of officers for not following policies that werent in place at the time of the shooting. Among their concerns: By firing a few officers, DPS and other law enforcement agencies will avoid serious analysis of how hundreds of police from multiple agencies stood by for more than 70 minutes while children and teachers lay shot in a fourth grade classroom. In response to a request under the Texas Public Information Act, DPS said it does not have a written active-shooter policy. Instead, the agency said at the time of the Uvalde shooting that DPS relied on guidance from the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State University. Known as the ALERRT doctrine, its considered the premier active-shooter training program in the state. In July, McCraw sent an agencywide memo telling DPS officers the agency will continue to embrace the ALERRT doctrine, but with one important addition. DPS Officers responding to an active shooter at a school will be authorized to overcome any delay to neutralizing an attacker, McCraw wrote. When a subject fires a weapon at a school he remains an active shooter until he is neutralized and is not to be treated as a barricaded subject. We will provide proper training and guidelines for recognizing and overcoming poor command decisions at an active shooter scene. McCraw and DPS spokesman Travis Considine would not comment Friday. In October, McCraw decided to terminate Juan Maldonado, a DPS sergeant whod also responded to Robb Elementary on May 24. Maldonado opted to retire rather than appeal his firing. Jesse Rizo, the uncle of 9-year-old Jackie Cazares, one of the students who was killed at Robb Elementary, had criticized McCraw for taking so long to hold officers accountable. On Friday, Rizo said Kindells firing sends a strong message. Kindell had been in charge of investigating major crimes in Uvalde and Real counties. In rural regions with smaller police departments, Texas Rangers act as lead detectives on nearly every high-profile case. After his suspension in September, Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell dismissed charges against two sexual assault defendants Kindell had investigated and agreed to a six-year plea deal to a juvenile capital murder defendant. I am concerned, Mitchell said in an interview last month. Ive got some other cases that if his situation does not get resolved soon, they may be dismissed. In his letter, McCraw told Kindell that as a Texas Ranger, you are expected to overcome conflicting information and to accurately assess the tactical situation. Kindell was one of 91 DPS officers at the scene. Also on the scene were 149 U.S. Border Patrol officers, 25 Uvalde police officers and 16 sheriffs deputies. You took no steps to influence the law enforcement response toward an active shooter posture, McCraw continued. This constitutes a failure to perform your duty competently. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit on Thursday against President Joe Biden, accusing his administration of nullifying a federal law that prevents immigrants from obtaining a green card if they are likely to depend on government social services. The lawsuit filed in a U.S. District Court in Victoria claims the Biden administration seeks to further its open borders policy by enacting a new agency rule that effectively nullifies federal law excluding aliens likely to become public charges. In 2019, the Trump administration expanded a rule that would allow immigration officials to deny permanent resident status also known as a green card to immigrants if they previously received or in the future expected to receive food assistance, Medicaid, housing assistance or other public benefits. In 2021, the Biden administration stopped implementing that rule and in December 2022 implemented its own rule that mirrored a 1999 policy that defined a public charge as someone who is using public cash assistance or being institutionalized for long-term care on the governments dime. The rule restores the historical understanding of a public charge that had been in place for decades, until the prior Administration began to consider supplemental public health benefits such as Medicaid and nutritional assistance as part of the public charge inadmissibility determination, the Department of Homeland Security said in September when it announced its own rule. The rule announced today speaks to the Biden Administrations commitment to restoring faith in our legal immigration system. Paxtons lawsuit, which claims the Biden administration violated the law by revoking the Trump-era rule and adopting its 2022 rule, asks a federal judge to halt the use of the new rule. Since Biden took office two years ago, Texas has sued his administration more than 20 times, with most of the lawsuits focused on immigration policies. A majority of the lawsuits have been filed in courtrooms overseen by a Trump-appointed judge. Ive sued Biden over a dozen times to secure our southern border, Paxton tweeted on Thursday, adding, Ill keep suing & winning until he & his lawless Dems follow the law. Paxtons office has been successful in temporarily halting some of the Biden administrations immigration policies. Most recently, Texas joined an Arizona-led lawsuit that has forced the Biden administration to continue enforcing the emergency health order known as Title 42 to expel migrants to Mexico without allowing them to claim asylum. States have a strong interest in protecting parental rights, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argued in a brief filed last month in support of Floridas controversial law Parental Rights in Education Act. The amicus brief, filed by a coalition of 14 state attorneys general, led by Texas, defended Floridas law which prohibits classroom instruction involving sexual orientation or gender identity through third grade, but some have challenged as harmful and vague. Students, parents and teachers have challenged Floridas law passed in March 2022 in federal court, arguing that it discriminates against the LGBTQ community and violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia recently signed on in support of the lawsuit, arguing the law is harmful and could have severe negative health impacts on LGBTQ+ students. But Paxton and the other Republican attorneys general say the bill does not discriminate against the LGBTQ community and that states have authority to govern curriculum for sensitive subjects for young children. It also signals the appetite lawmakers have in several states, including Texas, to replicate the Florida law. Paxtons brief is only the latest in a series of moves by Republican lawmakers and top state officials signaling an appetite for legislation that targets discussions about gender identity and sexual orientation within schools. Both Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov Dan Patrick last year expressed interest in replicating Floridas controversial law. In November, Abbott alluded to his support for stopping what he called indoctrination in schools in response to a Fox News article about a Fort Worth teacher who reportedly came out to students and staff as nonbinary and discussed it with the middle schoolers. Our schools are for education, not indoctrination, Abbott wrote and said that lawmakers would put a stop to this nonsense in the upcoming legislative session that begins Tuesday. Abbott said schools must stop pushing woke agendas, a phrase conservatives have used to refer to the teaching of critical race theory, gender fluidity and other culture wars topics in schools. Patrick also emphasized copying Floridas law and regulating school libraries during his bid for reelection last year. In an email sent by his campaign in April 2022, which began with criticism of Disney, Patrick wrote he was angry with the company. He said Disney pushed back against the Florida law, which he characterized as mandating that schools cannot sexualize children in elementary school. After his reelection in November, Patrick laid out his priorities for the Senate. The priorities focus heavily on education, including a parental rights bill. At least half a dozen bills addressing parental rights already have been filed ahead of the upcoming session. Among those are SB 176, by Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Wallisville, which would establish the Texas Parental Empowerment Program a school voucher-like program and HB 631, filed by Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, that seeks to cement parents rights to what information they are given about the childrens academic, mental, emotional and physical well-being. Two other bills also require parental permission before students take a sex education class or receive instruction on other topics related to human sexuality, if passed. Tension over how to address gender and sexuality in schools has put students and teachers in the crosshairs of an increasingly bitter political fight, including when Abbott ordered Child Protective Services to investigate reports of children receiving care regarding their gender. Ahead of the legislative session, members of the Houses conservative Freedom Caucus pre-filed bills to expand restrictions on transgender athletes to the collegiate level and to prohibit minors from receiving gender-affirming care such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy. Curriculum also has been targeted, with more than a dozen bills that address what aspects of human sexuality and reproduction are included in sex education classes, what students are taught about bullying or harassment, and whether classes focused on ethnic studies should be available to students. School boards have addressed some of the same issues. The U.S. Department of Education opened a civil rights investigation into Granbury ISD last month after officials removed books with LGBTQ themes. Advocacy groups, including the ACLU of Texas, have called on the departments Office of Civil Rights to investigate the Frisco and Keller districts. The group has called for investigations into Keller ISD for its new policy prohibiting books about gender fluidity and Frisco ISD for its policy restricting bathroom usage to facilities that align with a persons biological sex. Last fall, Grapevine-Colleyville trustees determined that district staff should not talk about sexual orientation or gender identity until after a child has finished fifth grade. The worlds glaciers are shrinking and disappearing faster than scientists thought, with two-thirds of them projected to melt out of existence by the end of the century at current climate change trends, according to a new study. But if the world can limit future warming to just a few more tenths of a degree and fulfill international goals technically possible but unlikely according to many scientists then slightly less than half the globes glaciers will disappear, said the same study. Mostly small but well-known glaciers are marching to extinction, study authors said. In an also unlikely worst-case scenario of several degrees of warming, 83% of the worlds glaciers would likely disappear by the year 2100, study authors said. The study in Thursdays journal Science examined all of the globes 215,000 land-based glaciers not counting those on ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica in a more comprehensive way than past studies. Scientists then used computer simulations to calculate, using different levels of warming, how many glaciers would disappear, how many trillions of tons of ice would melt, and how much it would contribute to sea level rise. The world is now on track for a 4.9 degrees Fahrenheit temperature rise since pre-industrial times, which by the year 2100 means losing 32% of the worlds glacier mass, or 48.5 trillion metric tons of ice as well as 68% of the glaciers disappearing. That would increase sea level rise by 4.5 inches in addition to seas already getting larger from melting ice sheets and warmer water, said study lead author David Rounce. No matter what, were going to lose a lot of the glaciers, said Rounce, a glaciologist and engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University. But we have the ability to make a difference by limiting how many glaciers we lose. For many small glaciers it is too late, said study co-author Regine Hock, a glaciologist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Oslo in Norway. However, globally our results clearly show that every degree of global temperature matters to keep as much ice as possible locked up in the glaciers. Projected ice loss by 2100 ranges from 38.7 trillion metric tons to 64.4 trillion tons, depending on how much the globe warms and how much coal, oil and gas is burned, according to the study. The study calculates that all that melting ice will add anywhere from 3.5 inches in the best case to 6.5 inches in the worst case to the worlds sea level, 4% to 14% more than previous projections. That 4.5 inches of sea level rise from glaciers would mean more than 10 million people around the world and more than 100,000 people in the United States would be living below the high tide line, who otherwise would be above it, said sea level rise researcher Ben Strauss, CEO of Climate Central. Twentieth-century sea level rise from climate change added about 4 inches to the surge from 2012 Superstorm Sandy costing about $8 billion in damage just in itself, he said. Scientists say future sea level rise will be driven more by melting ice sheets than glaciers. But the loss of glaciers is about more than rising seas. It means shrinking water supplies for a big chunk of the worlds population, more risk from flood events from melting glaciers and about losing historic ice-covered spots from Alaska to the Alps to even near Mount Everests base camp, several scientists told The Associated Press. For places like the Alps or Iceland ... glaciers are part of what makes these landscapes so special, said National Snow and Ice Data Center Director Mark Serreze, who wasnt part of the study but praised it. As they lose their ice in a sense they also lose their soul. Hock pointed to Vernagtferner glacier in the Austrian Alps, which is one of the best-studied glaciers in the world, but said the glacier will be gone. The Columbia Glacier in Alaska had 216 billion tons of ice in 2015, but with just a few more tenths of a degree of warming, Rounce calculated it will be half that size. If theres 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit of warming since pre-industrial times, an unlikely worst-case scenario, it will lose two-thirds of its mass, he said. Its definitely a hard one to look at and not drop your jaw at, Rounce said. Glaciers are crucial to peoples lives in much of the world, said National Snow and Ice Center Deputy Lead Scientist Twila Moon, who wasnt part of the study. Glaciers provide drinking water, agricultural water, hydropower, and other services that support billions (yes, billions!) of people, Moon said in an email. This new study better factors in how the glaciers ice melts not just from warmer air, but water both below and at the edges of glaciers and how debris can slow melt, Stendel and Mottram said. Previous studies concentrated on large glaciers and made regional estimates instead of calculations for each individual glacier. A participant tries to control a bull during an annual bull taming event "Jallikattu" in Palamedu village on the outskirts of Madurai. (AFP Photo) CHENNAI: The bull taming sport, Jallikattu's first event of the year began with fanfare in Pudukkottai District of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, which saw active participation of young men. Over 300 bulls were released into the sporting arena one after the other in Thachankurichi village of Pudukkottai since morning and at least 350 tamers vied with each other to dominate the bulls. State Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Siva V Meyyanathan and Minister for Law, S Regupathy inaugurated the Jallikattu event. Prizes including a brand new motorcycle, pressure cookers and cots are on the offer for winning bulls and tamers. Authorities inspected the arrangements, including security and safety aspects before permitting the event. The Tamil Nadu government had recently notified elaborate guidelines for Jallikattu events. A horse cart race was held at Aranthangi in Pudukottai District. The Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board and the Nebraska Sorghum Producers Association will host their 2023 Nebraska Sorghum Symposium on Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis. Topics of interest covered at this free event will include presentations on agronomy, climate, soil health, research, marketing and more. Presentations will be given by researchers, industry professionals, Nebraska Extension, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The event begins at 9 a.m., includes lunch, and will adjourn around 4:30 p.m. Pre-registration is requested for meal planning purposes, and registration can be found at www.eventbright.com (keyword: 2023 Nebraska Sorghum Symposium!). Questions can be directed to Nate Blum, executive director of the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board, at 402-471-4276 or sorghum.board@nebraska.gov. South central water conference The South Central Water Conference will be is planned for 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, at the Phelps County Ag Center in Holdrege. This free event will bring experts and agricultural producers together to provide an opportunity to discuss issues around water. The event will also include area merchants, agricultural supplies, researchers and university faculty to discuss products, services, research and educational updates. Topics include drone technology, rusty pivots and nitrates, research updates, and NeDNR projects. To allow flexibility for participants, this program is being offered in person as well as online via Zoom. The Zoom link will be available on the Tri-Basin NRD website (https://www.tribasinnrd.org/south-central-water-conference) to online participants before Jan. 31. Sponsors include the Tri-Basin NRD, Lower Republican NRD, Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, Nebraska Extension, and the Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce. Questions can be directed to the Tri-Basin NRD at 308-995-6688. Commercial/non-commercial pesticide applicators Nebraska Extension will be providing pesticide trainings this winter for commercial/non-commercial applicators. Applicators who wish to obtain or renew their current license are encouraged to participate in these trainings. Local and state-wide training dates are available online for initial commercial/non-commercial pesticide applicator trainings (https://pested.unl.edu/initial-classes-registration) and for recertifying commercial/non-commercial pesticide applicator trainings (https://pested.unl.edu/pesticide-safety-recertification). Physical dates are not listed here as there are several categories and training sites available across the state depending on the needs of the applicator. Commercial/non-commercial applicators can find a complete list of categories, study materials and resources at https://pested.unl.edu/certification-and-training. Contact your local Extension Office or the Pesticide Safety Education Office, 402-472-1632, for more information. 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. Rock Riser is a 17-year-old junior at Branchville High School. Until recently, the Bowman native enjoyed doing what many of his peers do: fishing, duck hunting, spending time outdoors, playing sports, spending time with this friends, going to church and more. Now hes in a fight for his life. He needs a lung transplant. Hes spent nearly 50 days in the intensive care unit, said one of his sisters, Brooke Riser. Hes been diagnosed with a chronic lung disease due to an inhalation injury, she said. Doctors arent certain what the teen inhaled that caused the injury, she said. She said her brother may have inhaled dust or chemicals from working on the familys farm or it may be due to vaping, or some other reason. Getting the diagnosis took time and multiple tests. The teen contracted COVID-19 in 2021, but recovered with no lingering side effects. Hed also had pneumonia, she said. She noted that her brother also has been treated for asthma and sleep apnea in the past. On Nov. 4, he underwent sinus surgery, she said. Nine days later, however, he spiked a fever and his parents took him to the emergency room at the Regional Medical Center. Health care workers performed a battery of tests on the teen at RMC, but couldnt pinpoint the cause of the fever or what was causing him to have some breathing difficulties. Then on Nov. 20, they transferred him to Prisma Health Childrens Hospital in Columbia. They ran more tests than I can count, Brooke said. Each of the tests were negative. Her brothers breathing continued to deteriorate. After nine days, nurses placed him on a ventilator and flew him to the Childrens Hospital at the Medical University of South Carolina. He needed more oxygen support, his sister said. Doctors still didnt know what was causing him to be sick, she added. Thirteen days later, doctors said we needed to put Rock on ECMO or were not going to have him, she said. It was hard news to take. ECMO is an abbreviation for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. An ECMO machine is a type of life support that keeps blood moving through the body and keeps the oxygen and carbon dioxide balanced in the blood. An ECMO machine has been connected to his body for nearly one month. He was also transferred from the childrens hospital to the ICU of the main MUSC hospital. Rock also has a tracheostomy ventilator to help him breathe. The goal is to get Rock stronger and let his lungs rest while ECMO does all of the work, his sister said. This past Monday, after daily exercises with therapists and his care team, he took 12 steps with their help and using a walker. By Friday morning, physical therapists and his care team assisted him in walking 184 feet. The goal was to get him stronger so he could be officially placed on the list for a bi-lateral lung transplant. On Friday, that goal was reached. At 5:15 p.m., Rock was actively listed for a lung transplant. The familys Miracle for Rock Riser Facebook page announced His score is 91, which places him in the top 1% in the United States for a lung transplant! Thank you Lord! We give You all the praise! Rocks parents, Gregg and Kena Riser, along with his sisters Keagan Riser James, Margo Riser and Brooke Riser and other family members take turns staying with the teen, especially when hes feeling anxious. Hes been using a white board with a dry erase marker to communicate, since hes not able to talk with the tracheostomy placement. Brooke said on Dec. 23, her brother wrote on the white board that he wanted to know the date. He wrote 12-23-22 on the board. He next wrote, Thats when I got saved. Ask Jesus in my heart. The teens favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13, which is: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. The Riser family has been drawing strength from Jesus Christ. Multiple churches have been praying for the teen and his family, especially Fellowship of Praise in Santee, where they attend. On Friday morning, students at Branchville High School led their second prayer event for him. Area students have also sent cards and notes to Rock. Businesses, churches and individuals are trying to help the Riser family offset the teens medical costs. One of the ways to show financial support is through the purchase of bracelets, T-shirts and decals. They can be purchased here: www.keaganriserphotography.com/shop Some individual retailers are also selling bracelets to help with his medical expenses. The teen and his family are grateful for the raffles and other efforts of individuals and businesses who are collecting funds for his medical expenses. They are also comforted by the many churches and individuals who are praying. To keep up with the most current information about Rocks journey, visit the Miracle for Rock Riser Facebook page. NORTH CHARLESTON Fine craft artists from across the state are invited to participate in the 21st annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Competition and Exhibition. As the states longest-running fine craft competition and exhibition, objects selected for the show may compete for cash prizes totaling up to $6,500. The exhibition is presented as a component of the annual North Charleston Arts Fest, to be held May 3-7, 2023. A $16 entry fee applies, which covers the artists first entry if accepted into the exhibition. Each additional piece the artist chooses to enter will be $15. Artists may submit up to four entries. The application is strictly available online and may be accessed via the link at NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com/apply. Deadline for entries is Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Artists in need of assistance with the application process may contact the Cultural Arts Department to schedule a one-on-one meeting, which can be conducted over the phone or in person. Organized and presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, this unique exhibition offers fine craft artists from across South Carolina the opportunity to exhibit their inspiring objects in the media of clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood and three-dimensional mixed media. Thousands have enjoyed the refined talents of South Carolina fine craft artists during past annual exhibitions. The juror for the 2023 competition is Karen A. Stock, professor of fine art at Winthrop University in Rock Hill. Stock earned her master's degree and Ph.D. from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. The 21st annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition will be on display May 3-7, 2023, at the Charleston Area Convention Center, located at 5001 Coliseum Drive in North Charleston. A free public reception and announcement of awards will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Convention Center on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. For more information about the North Charleston Arts Fest, Palmetto Hands, or other exhibition opportunities, contact the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at 843-740-5854, email culturalarts@northcharleston.org, or visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com. The guardian ad litem program is committed to finding people who are dedicated to making a difference in childrens lives. The program provides foster children with volunteer advocates who represent their interests during court hearings. One guardian is teacher Dr. Tracy Haigler, who says shes excited for the opportunity to be the voice of a child who may have been abused or neglected and to make a positive difference in a child's life. The GAL program is a child-advocacy initiative that helps neglected and abused kids throughout South Carolina. It has volunteers who learn about the child, take information on the child's life and present recommendations to the court on what to do for the childs well-being. Whenever I hear good news about a child's continued success from a parent or other family members, I'm really elated and grateful for having the opportunity to make a positive difference, Haigler said. My voice as a guardian ad litem is an opportunity to respond to the needs of the children with love and hope, Haigler said. For her, its rewarding to help a child. My reward for helping a child in need is the joy in my heart. My spiritual upbringing taught me the importance of showing compassion, Haigler said. The program was created in 1984 by Cass Elias Carter in Columbia. According to its website, a study found that when a GAL volunteer is assigned to a child, 95% of children do not stay in long-term foster care and 90% never return to the child welfare system. Haigler was inspired to join after a former student had to be relocated because needed resources werent in the area. That led her to want to help out other kids in similar situations. I was saddened because South Carolina (Department of Social Services) could not find a therapeutic foster home for her. A few weeks later, I saw information on the guardian ad litem program and I decided I wanted to volunteer to make sure abandoned, abused or neglected children had a voice, Haigler said. This path led to the two of them reuniting as Haigler was tasked with the child as her first case. It was an instant full-circle. The childs father was located and, after meeting DSSs treatment plan, the child was returned to the custody of her father, Haigler said. Haigler said volunteering helps her better understand children who are from unique and problematic backgrounds. I think my experience as a guardian has helped me to be a better teacher. As the guardian, I go into the childrens homes and see their physical environments. I speak to their parents, or their siblings, or other adults and actually see some of the struggles of children up close and personal, Haigler said. Its given me a greater understanding of why certain behaviors evidence themselves in school. This understanding gained as a guardian has helped me to be more empathetic as a teacher, Haigler said. As she continues her volunteering with the GAL program, she tries to recruit others to be a part of it and gain the happiness she gets from it. I always try to encourage others to volunteer whenever someone tells me they're looking for a volunteer opportunity. I tell them about the guardian ad litem program and the joy I feel when I meet the children involved in the cases, Haigler said. The GAL program provides yearlong training to those who want to be a guardian. All applicants for the GAL program will undergo a background and reference check, then will be given special training. Experience with human services or the law is not necessary. For more information on how you can become a volunteer guardian ad litem, contact David McAlhaney at 843-277-5849 or email David.McAlhaney@childadvocate.sc.gov. You can also visit GAL.SC.GOV Perhaps the public perception is Ill believe it when I see it, but highway projects announced in 2022 represent major infrastructure improvements for South Carolina that are vital to development, commerce and highway safety. The S.C. Department of Transportation is using roughly $600 million approved by legislators for widening of rural stretches of interstates 26 and 95. The money comes from $453.5 million in federal COVID aid the General Assembly designated to roadwork in a law signed by Gov. Henry McMaster, plus $133.6 million lawmakers allocated to rural interstates in 2022-23. In total the General Assembly has approved spending nearly $2 billion on the widening of I-26. Veteran Lexington County state Sen. Nikki Setzler, a member of the joint legislative committee approving use of the federal money, said, We are making a difference in infrastructure in South Carolina. Ten years from now, youre not going to recognize the infrastructure in this state with the improvements being made. Setzler has reason to be excited about the plans. Lexington joins Orangeburg, Calhoun, Dorchester and Berkeley counties in being home to rural stretches of I-26 that are a dangerous four-lane bottleneck moving west from Charlestons multiple lanes and east from Columbias wider highway. S.C. Secretary of Transportation Christy A. Hall has said the state will likely begin soliciting bids at the end of 2023 for a portion of the project to improve I-26 from Columbia. The first part of the project will cover seven miles between the Jedburg exit and S.C. Highway 27. I-26 was built 60 years ago and today carries 22 million vehicles per year, including about 7 million trucks. That number has grown by more than 30% in just the past decade alone, Hall said. Also, the first 33 miles on Interstate 95 in the Lowcountry should be six lanes total by 2030. Northbound interstate 95 is a big problem. One of the nations busiest roads is three lanes in Georgia, but bottlenecks as travelers approach the South Carolina state line. The interstate will be widened to six lanes between the Georgia state line and Yemassee. A second phase of the project would widen northbound interstate 95 to the Point South Exit. This will cover every entry point into Beaufort County. Not to be forgotten are two projects vital to making I-26 and I-95 widening as effective as it must be: Constructing a new interchange at I-26 and I-95 and replacing the I-95 bridges over Lake Marion. McMaster has said the I-26/Interstate 95 interchange in Orangeburg County is a priority. Plans call for realignment to allow traffic to flow better from one interstate to the other. SCDOT this past year made a push for federal funds to replace the two, two-lane bridges over the lake. SCDOT estimates construction will begin in 2024 at a cost of $322 million. This project will replace the existing, structurally deficient bridges and road approaches with new infrastructure that will accommodate three lanes in each direction. The current I-95 bridge over Lake Marion was built in 1968. Approximately 38,900 vehicles, including freight, travel over the bridge daily. Replacement of the bridges is part of SCDOTs 202127 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. South Carolina is a growing state aggressively seeking development in tourism and industry. Success will not come without modern transportation infrastructure. The current plans for I-95 and I-26 are certainly no end-all for those two major highways, but making the designated improvements will be a major step forward. Union Home Minister Amit Shah Minister with Tripura CM Manik Saha being garlanded during a BJP rally at Dhamanagar in poll-bound Tripura on Thursday. PTI Imphal: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of several projects in Manipur on Friday. He will inaugurate the Churachandpur Medical College and Hospital, and unveil a 120-feet-high statue of a polo player riding a pony at Heingang Marjing Hill in Imphal East district. The Union home minister will also hoist the national flag in Moirang area in Bishnupur district, where Indian National Army soldiers had raised the tricolour on the Indian soil for the first time. Shah is also scheduled to inaugurate and lay foundation stones of various other projects at Chingei Lampak area in Bishnupur district. The Manipur government has beefed up security in the state in view of Shah's visit. He arrived here on Thursday and was received at the airport by Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Union minister R K Ranjan. A no-fly zone for drones and UAVs was also announced near the areas where Shah will visit. Last month, the U.S. Census Bureau released new population figures for Wyoming and other states. The numbers received little attention, but they offered a warning for anyone who was paying attention. For the first time in at least a century, Wyoming recorded more deaths than births. Weve heard stories for years of young people leaving Wyoming for what they perceive to be better opportunities in other states. The census figures back up those anecdotes, and serve as a warning for anyone who wants Wyoming to flourish long into the future. Our state leaders often tell us they are motivated not out of concern for themselves, but for their children and grandchildren. But what does it say about their governance that their children and grandchildren arent sticking around? The reality is many of the decisions made at the Capitol have been with the present, and not the future, in mind. The overwhelming focus appears to be on maintaining the status quo so that taxes dont change, and on legislating national issues with little to no bearing on the state. What does it say that were worried that our young people might be exposed to few books in the Kelly Walsh High School library, but not that they are choosing in greater numbers to start their adult lives elsewhere? Weve written many times about the need for Wyomings leaders to develop a plan for putting the state on the path toward a more sustainable future. That would require supporting Wyomings existing energy industry, but also acknowledging that fossil fuels cant alone generate the revenue we need to sustain our schools, our towns and other government services over the long term. Our young people are more likely to stick around if they feel there is real economic opportunity here. Theyre also more likely to make Wyoming their home if they believe its leaders share their values. As the legislative session gets underway this week, lawmakers would be wise to remember that. We find ourselves flush with cash thanks to better-than-anticipated energy prices. We can afford, without harming our present, to invest in new ventures rather than in just keeping taxes as low as possible. Gov. Mark Gordon coasted to reelection and is one of the nations most popular governors. He has the political capital and the cash to pursue an aggressive agenda that sets Wyoming up for the future. Lawmakers, meanwhile, should shy away from legislation that distracts us from the goal of a more sustainable future. They should also avoid bills that send the message to young people to find another place to start their families. Polls suggest the Legislature is out of step with Wyomingites especially young Wyomingites on a number of issues, from Medicaid expansion to abortion restrictions. Young people are, by in large, not worried about critical race theory or USDA guidelines. Instead, they want to know that their community will have resources for young families, job opportunities and plenty of things to do outside of work. Theres a clear divide between many young Republicans and the old guard. The Wyoming Republican Party is strongly opposed to same-sex marriage, and many older lawmakers are worried about gender identity issues. But the young people they hope will become the next generation of the GOP by in large dont care who people love or what their gender is. In fact, they prefer a community thats open and welcoming to people, regarding of their sexuality or gender. And they will vote with their feet. In coming days, youll heard much talk from lawmakers about protecting the future for their children and grandchildren. But pay attention to whether their actions are focused on future generations or on themselves. Your childs education should be a family priority, according to Kimarie Richardson-Thomas, who has taught for 23 years in the public school system. Richardson-Thomas is the Academic Dean at Goodwood Secondary School, and teaches English Language, English Literature, and CAPE Communication Studies. A relative of one of the two men killed along the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway in Piarco, on Monday night, heard the gunshots that ended their lives and saw the vehicle they were in pull to the side of the road. The dead men are Shamba Chandler, a resident of Maracas/St Joseph and Mt DOr Road, Champs Fleurs, and Carlsbury Lewis, also known as Berry, of Mohammed Street, St Augustine. The growing demand for gun licences by members of the business community is understandable, but far from being the practical solution to crime that many seem to believe it to be. With home invasions on the rise, it is debatable whether the business community is at any greater risk of crime than any other group. BJP state chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar. (Photo: Twitter) KAMAREDDY: The Devunipally police booked BJP state chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar and other party leaders under non-bailable sections of the law, for allegedly forcing their way into the Kamareddy collectors office on Friday night. On Friday, Sanjay and BJP leaders had sought to meet the collector, Jitesh V. Patil, but were stopped by the police. They tried to force their way in, causing a melee, in which police and a few BJP workers were injured. A police patrol vehicle was also damaged. The police, registered a case against Sanjay, former ZP chairperson K.P. Venkataramana Reddy, former MLA Enugu Ravinder Reddy and ABVP activists who were accompanying the leader. Sub-inspector D. Uday Shankar said that on a complaint from the collectorate, a case was registered under the IPC for assault on public servant, disobedience of order promulgated by a public servant, causing hurt, causing damage, wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, unlawful assembly and rioting and under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Kamareddy police warned that stringent action will be initiated against the agitators if they indulged in violence. They said that under the pretext of helping farmers, a few persons were trying to disturb the peace. Municipal minister K.T. Rama Rao and district minister V. Prashanth Reddy had clarified doubts over the master plan but a few persons provoked the farmers to indulge in violent protests, police alleged. PHOENIX The 2023 legislative session gets started Monday, Jan. 9, with perhaps the worst-kept political secret: Republican lawmakers are going to send bills to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs even knowing ahead of time she will veto them. The frank admission by the top GOP lawmakers in both chambers came Friday as they and their Democratic counterparts gave a brief overview of the upcoming session at a luncheon hosted by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. We want to try to work with the governor, said incoming Senate President Warren Petersen. And the Gilbert Republican said he had set a record several years ago as the lawmaker who got the highest percentage of his bills signed by the governor. Petersen said every lawmaker has the same goal. How you have a high percentage of bills passed is you look at the landscape, you look at the legislators, you look at the chairs (of the committees through which the bills have to pass), he said. And that calculus, Petersen said, includes the governor. His record, however, was set when fellow Republican Doug Ducey was the states chief executive. Now that situation has changed. But Petersen said that wont affect the decision whether to transmit bills to the governor. There may be some bills that you do know that are going to get vetoed, he said. I wouldnt imagine there would be a million of those or a huge block of those, Petersen continued. But those may be important to advance your cause. Ben Toma of Peoria, set to be installed as House speaker, agreed. I guess Im stating the obvious at some point here, he said. But there will be bills that are going to be important for our caucus to get on the governors desk that are going to be important for her probably to veto. What it comes down to, Toma said, is that Republicans and Democrats just dont see things some things the same way. It just highlights the difference of opinion on what is best for the state, he said. Neither GOP leader gave specific examples of what issues they are likely to advance even anticipating Hobbs rejection. The confession of sorts came as no surprise to Murphy Hebert who is in charge of communications for the new governor. It seems to be how it works, she said. But Hebert also said that lawmakers should not be surprised when those bills come back. Governor Hobbs has made it very clear shes willing to use the veto stamp, she said. And not just any veto stamp. Hobbs was given a veto stamp that once belonged to Janet Napolitano, the last Democrat to hold office, which apparently had been kept by one of the former governors aides. And he, in turn, presented it to Hobbs. It comes somewhat used. PHOENIX Seeking to restore public confidence, Gov. Katie Hobbs on Friday created a bipartisan panel to study the states election system and recommend changes. The move comes on the heels of what has been arguably the most controversial state election in decades. In fact, there are still three active legal challenges to the reported outcome by those who lost. Hobbs, who as secretary of state had been Arizonas top elected official, said those who administer races rely on clear and effective laws and procedures to do their jobs. Improving Arizonas election laws requires collaboration among state and local election administrators, election security experts, and voting rights advocates, the new governor said in her executive order. And she said a bipartisan and coordinated effort will identify solutions that enhance the accessibility and security of Arizonas elections. Hobbs said she wants the report by Nov. 1. That would allow time to prepare recommendations that could be approved in the 2024 legislative session and, depending on how quickly lawmakers act, potentially be in place for the election that year. But the deadline also accomplishes another goal. It could give the governor an excuse to veto some of the changes already being considered by Republican lawmakers this session by saying any alterations should await the task force recommendations. The governor set up the panel, which will have at least 11 members, to guarantee representation from various interests, including Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes or his designee as well as two county recorders nominated by Senate President Warren Petersen of Gilbert and House Speaker Ben Toma of Peoria, both of whom both Republicans. Also included will be an election security expert who will be named later, two election directors nominated by counties, a member of a voting advocacy organization, someone who has a background in campaign finance laws and someone who understands election equipment and technology. The expertise of that last person is likely to be crucial given that there have been complaints that the machines that tabulate votes essentially are black boxes, with no open-source codes of exactly how they do their jobs. And the companies that make these devices generally have been unwilling to share their software saying it is proprietary and confidential. Those same concerns have been behind calls to outlaw electronic tabulation of ballots in favor of hand counts. Legislation to require that has gone nowhere at least in part amid concerns that it would be impractical to count 2.6 million ballots, each of which includes dozens of individual races. And a lawsuit to force that change, filed by failed gubernatorial hopeful Kari Lake and Mark Finchem who lost his race for secretary of state, was thrown out of federal court. It is now on appeal. One goal is to ensure consistent, secure, and accessible election administration and voter registration practices across the state. That was highlighted just this past month in the recount of the race for state attorney general. Pinal County ended up with more changes between the initial count and the final tally than the other 14 counties combined. County officials have blamed the problems on human error. Another is to help ensure that election officials, administrators and poll workers get training. In Maricopa County there were complaints that election workers did not inform voters of what they can do to ensure their votes were counted after some tabulators would not accept their ballots. One option was to go to another polling place. But that required that voters be informed that they need to check out of the first site or the records at the second site would show they already had voted. That apparently did not happen at all locations. One interest group not included on the task force falls into the category of what could be called election deniers who have been at the forefront of seeking to overturn the results, not just of the 2022 election but even the 2020 presidential race. Hobbs press aide Josselyn Berry said her boss did not think it was necessary. The list of committee members will include experts, she said. And those experts will no doubt be aware of and speak to the policies and processes that need improvement. And Berry said there was something else in who Hobbs did and did not include. Shes already made it clear she doesnt want to give any credence to election deniers, Berry said about her boss. We want this task force to actually be effective, she continued. So what use would it be to have obstructionists for the sake of it? Daniel Lucas was able to serve and protect the Tucson community for years as a police officer. Now, Lucas and his family get to make a difference in the community as a comic book characters. Lucas and his family are the inspiration behind, PTSDad, a locally made comic book that aims to help educate readers on what post-traumatic stress disorder is and how it affects families. Two years ago, Lucas was approached by his friend Danh Truong, the managing partner of Proper Villains LLC, a local company that offers marketing strategies, social media management, graphic design and video editing for businesses. Truong wanted to create a comic book for kids that would help them understand what PTSD is and wanted Lucas input since he was diagnosed with PTSD in 2017. I just hope that this is a way that families could start having that conversation and having it in a manner that was not over the heads of kids, Lucas said. Ive had to fear how to describe PTSD to a 7-year-old. Its not always right there on the tip of your tongue, so were hoping to help some people with that. Lucas worked as a Tucson police officer in the midtown division for about 10 years. In 2017, Lucas left the force after realizing his condition had become too severe and it was no longer safe for him to be deployed in the streets. When I left, there was hardly anything for guys like cops, firefighters or EMTs, they dont have a VA, Lucas said. There wasnt even a support group for first responders, so its been a tough road. Im very fortunate to have a family that has stood by me and have been so supportive. With Lucas on board, Truong and Jessica Deitrich, the artist and writer behind the comic, created the first volume: PTSDad and the Super Family go to the Grocery Store. In this specific story, the reader gets to see the family go on a grocery store trip where PTSD dad has to handle different triggers that take place at the store, such as loud noises and stressful situations. The story also features various coping mechanisms for PTSD and is color coded to show the different emotions the family goes through. First time I saw the art, I was like, yeah, thats it Lucas said. It was at Comic-Con and I saw this sitting on a table, I would pick this up. Thats when I really was like, wow, this is real and this is going be a really cool project. When creating the comic, Deitrich wanted to make sure the information they were putting in the story was correct, so in addition to Lucas input, the comic also gets feedback from a local psychotherapist who specializes in trauma and first responder trauma. It was also important to the PTSDad creators that the comic could be used by therapists to help start a conversation on the subject, so Lucas reached out to various places in Pima County to offer copies of the comic book. Lucas has reached out to Pima County Victim Services, the Southern Arizona Childrens Advocacy Center, the Jewish Family and Childrens Services of Southern Arizona, La Frontera and a couple of local counseling offices in order to help distribute the comic. He even reached out to a few national organizations. When telling other law enforcement friends about the comic, Lucas said some of them have already placed pre-orders are expecting his autograph. Lucas children also got to preview a copy recently. Lucas said they loved it and called their friends to tell them all about it. The reception has been extremely positive so far. So if thats an indication, it might do good, Lucas said. After two years of hard work and edits, the first volume of PTSDad will be available to the public Jan. 19. The comic will be available at the Proper Villains office, 310 S. Williams Blvd., Suite 315. Twenty percent of all the earnings will be going to the Erik Hite Foundation, named for the Tucson police officer killed in the line of duty. PTSDad will even have its own booth at this years Tucson Comic-Con where copies will be passed out. As for the future of PTSDad, Truong hopes two have two more volumes ready by September. The second volume will be in the point of view of Lucas oldest son and the third volume will feature the wifes point of view. I remember how alone I felt when I left the department. I was like, what do I do now? Lucas said. Hopefully, we can bridge some of that gap with other families and get the conversation moving in our community. A tiny home that a local nonprofit is hoping to create a village of will be on display at the Tucson Mall next week, with community members invited to come check it out and learn more about the project. The Homing Project was started in 2021 by a former El Rio doctor and her son, who has experience working with similar projects in Southern California. The effort hopes to provide housing for a small portion of the more than 2,500 unsheltered individuals in Pima County. In the little over a year since the nonprofit's formation, J. Kristin Olson-Garewal and her son, Raj Garewal, have teamed up with Catalytic Health Partners, an Arizona company that works with people who tend to overutilize traditional medical services primarily due to homelessness to provide services for residents. It's also amassed a team of volunteers to help with fundraising, community outreach, planning, development and more. But it hasn't all been smooth sailing. A mistake on the group's application for an American Rescue Plan Act grant through the city means they'll have to return $186,000 in funding, which Olson-Garewal called a significant loss. Still, organizers are optimistic that they can make up the money and have plans for fundraisers throughout the year, starting with an Egyptian High Tea next month at the Scottish Rite Center. They're also continuing to apply for grant funding, although Olson-Garewal said most funders require nonprofits to have been up and running for at least three years to qualify. Olson-Garewal estimated they'll need about $1.4 million to complete the project. The initial hope is for a 30-house village based on the Pallet shelter model that's used in dozens of cities across the United States, but Olson-Garewal said the long-term game-plan will be for more. Pallet houses come in 64- and 100-square-foot models and can be assembled quickly. The 64-square-foot model houses two beds, a desk and room for storage. The larger unit can accommodate a family of four, and in all pallet houses, the beds fold up to help maximize space. Each unit includes electricity, heating and air conditioning, and has secure, locking doors. The Homing Project's plan will include on-site security and residents who work will pay rent after six to 12 months, since the project will be providing electricity and paying the water bill. By paying an "appropriate rent" based on their income, the resident will also establish a track record as a renter, which will help in their search for more permanent housing. The group plans to hire a chef to organize a crew of residents who will take turns making their own meals and handling cleanup. Qualifications to live in the community have not yet been worked out. "No amount is too little," she said. "If everyone gave $5, we'd be in." The 64-square-foot unit that will be at the Tucson Mall spent most of December outside of First Christian Church, located on East Speedway near the University of Arizona. It's currently in storage, but will be stationed outside the mall's food court from Jan. 13 through 17. On a Thursday in late December, a group of four people stopped by just as Olson-Garewal was opening up, eager to learn more about the project. Olson-Garewal said that while she believed the cold and rainy weather cut down on foot traffic, the tiny home still had its fair share of visitors, most of whom were unsheltered individuals wanting to know if they could use the shelter and how they could get one of their own. After its stay at the mall, the tiny home will make its way across town, with Olson-Garewal saying she's hopeful to display it at the Pima County Fairgrounds, University of Arizona Mall and other prominent locations. This spring, the group received an offer to use nine acres of land free of charge for the next five years. But between zoning, planning and other issues with the space, there's still plenty of work to be done before the group can break ground, install water lines and address other infrastructure needs. They're working with a water engineer they found through Habitat for Humanity Tucson and are also looking into a possible partnership with the organization. Gathering support Andy Squire, a spokesman with the Tucson City Manager's Office, said that the mayor and council are open to just about any and all solutions they can explore. "I don't think I've ever worked with a council that's making such an effort to treat this as humanely as possible and find solutions for our houseless community members," he said. "Everyone is throwing everything they've got at it." The challenge in Ward 5, where the property the group wishes to use is located, is that the neighbors are concerned about an additional project for unsheltered individuals moving into their neighborhood, Squire said. But there are also construction challenges with the property, Squire said, including entitlements, building restrictions, fire code and water access. The group will have to address all of these as they submit plans with the city. "It's a great thing that they're really trying to get that fundraising going," Squire said, adding that the group is also working with engineering firms who have been in talks with the city's planning and development department. Olson-Garewal and others have gone door-to-door in neighborhoods near the property, trying to engage residents and homeowner association members in conversations. One association has been unwilling to meet and Olson-Garewal said the next step is to ask residents if they'd be willing to host an informational meeting for neighbors on their street, with The Homing Project supplying refreshments. They've had some success through public meetings. Only three neighbors showed up to a meeting in July at the El Pueblo Center and all were unhappy about the prospect of a "homeless shelter" in the area. But by the end of the hour-long meeting, two of the three were on board with the plan and had offered to volunteer with the group. "If this is a place that will help people get on their feet, I'm in support of it," one woman said to organizers. In September, more than two-dozen people gathered at Las Palmas Events on the south side for a presentation and meeting about the project. A handful of volunteers were on hand to answer questions, including board members and Casa Maria Soup Kitchen employees Brian Flagg and Roxy Valenzuela. Olson-Garewal told attendees about the plan for the tiny house village, which will be located about a mile away. "We're trying to get people comfortable with the idea of bringing people who are formerly homeless into a village," she said, her words translated into Spanish by a member of the audience. "Arizona has had some of the worst rent increases in the country and only 25% of those who have rental assistance vouchers have been able to access housing." Attendees asked questions about psychiatric and substance use services and Olson-Garewal was met with applause at the end of the presentation. Many attendees lingered after, snacking on Sonoran hot dogs and talking with Olson-Garewal and other volunteers. She said they're open to hearing about any reservations in regards to the project and working with neighbors to help alleviate their concerns. "When people hear about it, they understand it," Olson-Garewal said. WASHINGTON House Clerk Cheryl Johnson became an unlikely folk hero in Washington this past week, running the lower chamber of Congress with a steady hand as Republicans struggled to elect a speaker amid historic chaos. Deploying only her own custom gavel and gently chiding words, Johnson guided the House through multiple rounds of voting on live TV, pushing back when members of both parties got off topic or stepped out of line. Her calm but stern demeanor earned high marks on Capitol Hill and social media, where a number of people, including a member of Congress, joked that lawmakers should just elect her speaker. Cheryl Johnson, the clerk of the House, for Speaker? tweeted Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California on Thursday. Shes been extraordinary without any rules passed and in having some sense of fairness and order. Two members have even mistakenly addressed her as Madam Speaker instead of Madam Clerk in their remarks. A little-known position outside the Capitol, the clerk is chosen by the members of Congress every two years, meaning Johnsons job may be at risk now. Leaders in both parties say it will ultimately be up to newly elected House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to decide whether to reappoint her. The jobs typical duties are the mundane but essential work of the House: preparing and delivering messages to the Senate, handling communications with the White House and certifying the passage of bills. But the clerk occasionally is thrust into the spotlight. Along with the House Sergeant at Arms, Johnson twice was charged with hand-delivering articles of impeachment against Donald Trump to the Senate. And the clerk is nominally in charge of the House when it convenes for the first time. Normally, thats measured in minutes, with the clerk using a special 13-inch lacquered maple gavel taken out of storage just for that day until she hands over duties to the new speaker. But Johnson remained on the dais until early Saturday morning, after McCarthy finally got his own party to rally behind him as speaker on the 15th round of balloting, the first time that the decision has gone to multiple rounds of ballots since 1923. When a bystander noted that Johnson was getting a lot of attention this week, her response was dry and self-effacing: I need that, she said. Then, seeing two security officers flanking her, she added, They arent here for me. Although she was named as clerk by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2018, Johnson has a more bipartisan background than some of her predecessors. She had previously worked as an aide to a committee chaired by former Speaker John Boehner who recalled her through a spokesman as always nice and on initiatives to boost D.C. museums, such as the Smithsonians National Museum of African American History and Culture. She is living up to the reputation that led her to have this job in the first place, said Danny Weiss, an ex-chief of staff to Johnsons boss at the time, former Rep. George Miller, a California Democrat, praising her high degree of integrity and lack of partisanship. A native of New Orleans, Johnson graduated from the University of Iowa and earned a law degree from Howard University. Shes the second Black American to serve as House clerk and one of only four women to hold the job since 1789. I worked with Cheryl for years and am thrilled to see her up on that podium, said Linda St. Thomas, chief spokesperson for the Smithsonian Institution, jokingly adding that she wasnt sure how thrilled Johnson is right now. Democratic Rep. Julia Brownley of California said that presiding over the House can be a trying duty even in the best of times, but that Johnson has done a good job of going straight down the middle in keeping lawmakers in line. Nobody understands really how tough it is until youre up on the dais with the gavel in your hand, she said. Even Republicans, mired in an embarrassing intraparty fight, showed their appreciation. Shes doing great, Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a moderate Republican, said this past week. She hasnt screwed anything up yet. To make things more difficult, the House couldnt pass any rules until it chooses a speaker, meaning that Johnson had few tools to keep proceedings in line. That was apparent on Wednesday, when Republican Rep. Kat Cammack of Florida lamented that Democrats were celebrating her partys inability to come to an agreement. They want us to fight each other, she said, urging her fellow Republicans to back McCarthy. That has been made clear by the popcorn and blankets and alcohol that is coming over there. Democrats began booing and shouting for the claim about alcohol to be stricken from the record a common request when a lawmaker has stepped over a rhetorical line which a grinning Cammack laughed off. But with no rules in place, Johnson couldnt strike the words. She waited, banged the gavel several times, then gently chastised Cammack. The clerk would ask all members-elect to abide by the established decorum of the House while making nominations, she said. On Thursday, Johnson began the proceedings by noting that she has the responsibility to preserve order and decorum in the chamber and asked members to address all questions to her and not attack each other directly. Members of both parties stood to applaud, a rare moment of bipartisan agreement in the chamber. We know them mostly as the faces. They are engraved upon our currency, or they gaze out from ornate frames on museum walls, or from the pages of encyclopedias or history books stern-looking fellows in powdered and pig-tailed wigs, knee-high stockings and frock coats, whose ramrod postures and unsmiling expressions speak to the extremely serious and stately business of creating a country out of chaos. Collectively, they are known as the Founding Fathers, who put their lives and livelihoods on the line when they put their names at the bottom of document now known as The Declaration of Independence. The musical 1776, written by Peter Stone and Sheldon Edwards, told the story of the tumultuous days leading up to that moment, as delegates from the 13 American colonies debated the merits of independence from, or capitulation to, Great Britain. Theatre Tulsa is planning to stage a new version of this 1969 musical, and it is doing so in a way that is designed to shake the dust of history from these characters and this story. The show will feature a female and nonbinary cast taking on the roles of such figures as John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock and some 20 more members of the Continental Congress of 1776. When men are cast in roles that represent positions of power, we tend to take it for granted that thats just the way it is, said Jarrod Kopp, Theatre Tulsas executive director. But if you cast women in those roles, it forces you to think about the nature of that power, and how that might change the way you see these characters. It will be like meeting these historical figures for the first time, said Liz Bealko, who is directing the production that opens Jan. 13 at the Tulsa PAC. While we are performing the script exactly as it is written, just seeing these characters embodied is this way will help the audience see them in a new light. The production will feature Kristen Simpson as John Adams, Amanda Nichols as Thomas Jefferson, Nan Kemp as Benjamin Franklin, Teresa Nowlin as John Hancock, Laura Skoch as Andrew McNair and Karlena Riggs as John Dickinson. Several cast members will have multiple roles, including Kate Parker as John Witherspoon and Abigail Adams, Lydia Gray as Lyman Hall and Martha Jefferson, and Emma Morris, whose three roles include George Washington. Bealko, a native of Henrietta who is now a New York City-based performer and director, makes her Theatre Tulsa debut as the shows director and choreographer. Holly Harper is the shows music director, and the shows score will be performed by musicians of the Tulsa Peoples Orchestra, conducted by Benjamin Ray. I was not familiar with the show before this, Bealko said. I think I may have heard some of the songs before, but that was it. And I like that, because it allows me to be more organic in creating a show. What people are going to see is something they arent going to see anywhere else, because its the result of my working with this group of actors. And this is the most supportive cast I have ever worked with, Bealko said. Some of them are people Tulsa audiences will recognize, and some havent been involved in theater in decades, but something about this show grabbed them. And theyve all really come together to create such a beautiful environment, where everyone feels at home. That behind-the-scenes harmony is in contrast to the action of 1776, as John Adams, who serves as the shows central character, works to bring together the various factions within the delegation to agree on declaring independence. There are royalists who want to remain under British rule, as well as those who want to make certain the institution of slavery, which serves as the economic foundation for most of the Southern states, is not challenged. And there is the reluctance of Thomas Jefferson, who would rather be with his new wife than tasked with writing the declaration. There is a lot of comedy in the show, as the delegates bicker with each other, Bealko said. But there are also a lot of serious, even uncomfortable, issues that are raised, like the issue of slavery. Kopp added that casting the show with women helps to elevate the action, so that it does not come across as a dry history lesson. Instead, Kopp said, you have this moment in history, and how these people made the decisions they made, being presented before you in real time. And the great thing is that is makes it so that the ending doesnt seem like a foregone conclusion. Anything can happen. You want them to sign (the Declaration), you hope they will sign it, Bealko said. But you understand what it will cost them if they do. Its a tribute to the inspiring nature of these people. Theatre Tulsa is not alone in taking a nontraditional approach to this musical. We had 1776 on our radar as a show we wanted to do for several years, Kopp said. We just couldnt find the right slot for it in our seasons. Then, I was at a community theater convention and heard about a company that was going to do 1776 with an all-female cast, and that caught my attention. Then I learned that there was a revival production planned for Broadway, and I figured we would have a very narrow window to get the rights to do it, he said. Fortunately for Theatre Tulsa, the company that controlled the rights to 1776 made it available. Kopp said one reason why doing the musical with an all-female cast appealed to him was that it would reflect the increasing presence and influence of women in American politics, beginning with Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential run to Kamala Harris becoming the first woman to serve as U.S. Vice President. It makes you wonder what this country might be if women were in those roles (of power and authority) in the first place, Kopp said. Having an all-female cast would also continue a practice Theatre Tulsa has of giving actors the opportunity to take on roles they ordinarily might not get the chance to play, such as in the companys recent staging of Little Shop of Horrors, which had a cast made up primarily of people of color. There is an assumption that when you do something like this, its to be disrespectful, Kopp said. That is the opposite of what we are aiming for with this show. Were wanting to give a different but still very respectful look at the beginning of this nation and how it was founded. Union minister G. Kishan Reddy. (Photo by arrangement) HYDERABAD: Union minister G. Kishan Reddy on Saturday slammed IT minister K.T. Rama Rao for claiming that Telangana received far less funds than what it sent to the Centre every year. Calling Rama Raos statement as irresponsible, Reddy said that the remarks were aimed at stoking conflict against the Centre. Speaking to reporters after the state-level bankers committee meeting here, Reddy said that money spent by the state government in a particular constituency does not mean that all of those funds were generated from that area. Hyderabad is home to many national institutions and defence establishments, all of which are national assets. Crores are spent each year on them, details of which are not revealed. Does this mean that these are not in Telangana, the minister said. Very soon, I will present every single detail of how Central funds come to Telangana for various purposes. He said it was the states responsibility to ensure funds were used for the purposes for which they were designated. The Telangana government should ensure funds meant for farmers and gram panchayats will actually reach them. It should attend to the farm loan waiver that was not implemented, leaving many farmers in the lurch, he said. Earlier, addressing a meeting of BJP booth committee workers, he took a dig at Rama Rao and said, There was no need for dramatic comments of I will resign if I am proved wrong. The people will anyway send the BRS packing. He said that BJP party state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar was ready for a debate on the issue with Rama Rao. Meanwhile, senior party leader N. Indrasena Reddy told reporters that Rama Raos allegations exposed his lack of understanding of how Central funding worked. The Modi government had raised the states' share of direct disbursements from 32 to 42 per cent. Then there were Central programmes and schemes such as Kisan Samman Nidhi, ration subsidy, and fertiliser subsidy, he said. To explain these to Rama Rao, the BJP does not need any senior leader. Our spokesperson Kishore Poreddy is enough to take on Raos irresponsible claims. The 45th anniversary of one of the most iconic moments in Tulsa pop culture history the Jan. 11, 1978, performance by the prototypical punk rock band the Sex Pistols at the Cains Ballroom will be commemorated with a special live podcast event, Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the Cains, 423 N. Main St. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the live podcast starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free. The event is presented by OKPOP Museum and sponsored by Little Wing Productions, The Outsiders House and Cains Ballroom. The podcast will feature John Holmstrom, creator and publisher of Punk magazine, who covered the bands Tulsa performance for his magazine. The Tulsa date was also Holmstroms 25th birthday, and he will share stories of his experiences that day at the concert and with the band at their hotel afterward. Holmstrom will be joined in the podcast by former Cains Ballroom owner Larry Shaeffer and fellow promoter Scott Munz, who booked the bands Tulsa concert; and Meg Charron and Garrett Weindorf, hosts of the OKPOP Radio Hour. The Sex Pistols, which created a sensation in Great Britain with such songs as God Save the Queen, Pretty Vacant, and Anarchy in the U.K., made their only U.S. tour in January 1978, a seven-date trek through the southern half of the United States, with Tulsa being the next to last stop. The band also left a physical mark on Tulsa, when bassist Sid Vicious punched a hole in a backstage wall at the Cains. Military helicopters airlifted hundreds of people from communities cut off by "once in a century" floods in Australia's northwest, an official leading relief efforts said on Sunday, noting water covered some places "as far as the eye could see". The crisis in the Kimberley - an sparsely populated area in Western Australia state about the size of California - was sparked last week by severe weather system Ellie, a former tropical cyclone that brought heavy rain. "The water is everywhere," Western Australia Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson told reporters in Perth. "People in the Kimberley are experiencing a one-in-100-year flood event, the worst flooding Western Australia has had in its history." In some parts, he said flood waters stretched for 50 kilometres with inundation "as far as the eye can see". The emergency comes after frequent flooding in Australia's east over the last two years due to a multi-year La Nina weather event. Some eastern regions have endured four major flood crises since last year caused by the La Nina system, which is typically associated with increased rainfall. The town of Fitzroy Crossing, a community of around 1,300 people, has been among the worst hit, with supplies having to be airlifted in due to flooded roads. Across the Kimberley, where around 50% of residents are Aboriginal, 233 people had so far been evacuated due to flooding, authorities said. A view shows damaged Fitzroy Crossing bridge due to heavy flooding, in Fitzroy crossing, Australia January 7, 2023. Photo: Joe Ross/via REUTERS The Bureau of Meteorology said on Sunday that rain had eased as the storm shifted eastwards to the Northern Territory, but warned that "record-breaking major flooding" continued in the Kimberley. "Many roads are impassable and many communities are now isolated," the forecaster said on its website. The Fitzroy River hit 15.81 metres (52 feet) at Fitzroy Crossing on Wednesday, breaking its 2002 record of 13.95 metres, a bureau spokesperson said. State emergency authorities have warned residents in other small communities of rising water in the region, which includes the resort town of Broome, about 1,240 miles (2,000 km) north of Perth. While the extent of flood damage was difficult to assess, authorities expected the recovery effort to take months. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday described the flooding as "devastating" and pledged federal assistance. Australian Defence Force (ADF) aircraft were being used to assist flood-hit communities, and Chinook helicopters were en-route to help relocate residents, according to authorities on Saturday. Five ADF helicopters will start operations in the Kimberley by Thursday, a defence spokesperson said. Military helicopters airlifted hundreds of people from communities cut off by "once in a century" floods in Australia's northwest, an official leading relief efforts said on Sunday, noting water covered some places "as far as the eye could see". The crisis in the Kimberley - an sparsely populated area in Western Australia state about the size of California - was sparked last week by severe weather system Ellie, a former tropical cyclone that brought heavy rain. "The water is everywhere," Western Australia Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson told reporters in Perth. "People in the Kimberley are experiencing a one-in-100-year flood event, the worst flooding Western Australia has had in its history." In some parts, he said flood waters stretched for 50 kilometres with inundation "as far as the eye can see". The emergency comes after frequent flooding in Australia's east over the last two years due to a multi-year La Nina weather event. Some eastern regions have endured four major flood crises since last year caused by the La Nina system, which is typically associated with increased rainfall. The town of Fitzroy Crossing, a community of around 1,300 people, has been among the worst hit, with supplies having to be airlifted in due to flooded roads. Across the Kimberley, where around 50% of residents are Aboriginal, 233 people had so far been evacuated due to flooding, authorities said. A view shows damaged Fitzroy Crossing bridge due to heavy flooding, in Fitzroy crossing, Australia January 7, 2023. Photo: Joe Ross/via REUTERS The Bureau of Meteorology said on Sunday that rain had eased as the storm shifted eastwards to the Northern Territory, but warned that "record-breaking major flooding" continued in the Kimberley. "Many roads are impassable and many communities are now isolated," the forecaster said on its website. The Fitzroy River hit 15.81 metres (52 feet) at Fitzroy Crossing on Wednesday, breaking its 2002 record of 13.95 metres, a bureau spokesperson said. State emergency authorities have warned residents in other small communities of rising water in the region, which includes the resort town of Broome, about 1,240 miles (2,000 km) north of Perth. While the extent of flood damage was difficult to assess, authorities expected the recovery effort to take months. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday described the flooding as "devastating" and pledged federal assistance. Australian Defence Force (ADF) aircraft were being used to assist flood-hit communities, and Chinook helicopters were en-route to help relocate residents, according to authorities on Saturday. Five ADF helicopters will start operations in the Kimberley by Thursday, a defence spokesperson said. Check out the news you should not miss in Vietnam today: Society -- Some US$9 billion is needed to develop a 174-kilometer express railway connecting Ho Chi Minh City with the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, which will allow a maximum speed of 190 kilometers per hour for passenger trains and pass through six southern localities Ho Chi Minh City, Long An, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, and Can Tho, according to a report sent by the Railway Management Board to the Ministry of Transport. -- The Peoples Committee of southern Dong Thap Province, the Ministry of Transport, other relevant departments and agencies, and experts have reached a consensus on establishing a team to regulate the recovery of the body of a 10-year-old boy who has been trapped in a 35-meter-deep hollow concrete pile for over eight days. The boy had been earlier declared dead by local authorities. -- The Peoples Committee of Ward 11, District 5 in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday called on 20 households in an old and deteriorated apartment building at 440 Tran Hung Dao Street to relocate to the An Phu Apartment Building on Hau Giang Street in District 6 to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year, or Tet, holiday. -- Immigration activities to China through the Mong Cai Border Gate in northern Quang Ninh Province will be resumed from today, November 8. However, Vietnamese entering China must show proof of a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test taken 48 hours of their arrival. The requirement will be also imposed on drivers and driving assistants transporting goods to the northern neighbor through border gates in Lang Son Province. -- Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi has taken measures to serve more than 100,000 passengers in the height of the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. The airport is expected to welcome some 580 flights on the peak day of the holiday. -- The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has proposed the municipal Peoples Committee allow Greenlines DP Technology Co. Ltd to continue exploiting the second quay at the Bach Dang Wharf in District 1 until the end of this year as its contract to use the wharf expired on December 31 last year. -- Three customs officials at the Nam Can Border Gate in Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam have been detained for allegedly receiving VND2 billion ($85,233) from an enterprise to allow its overloaded ore transporting vehicles from Laos to go through the border gate over 5,000 times. Business -- Nearly 14,300 foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises in Vietnam reported losses in 2021, making up 55 percent of the total number of FDI firms in the country, according to the Ministry of Finance. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Check out the news you should not miss in Vietnam today: Society -- Some US$9 billion is needed to develop a 174-kilometer express railway connecting Ho Chi Minh City with the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, which will allow a maximum speed of 190 kilometers per hour for passenger trains and pass through six southern localities Ho Chi Minh City, Long An, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, and Can Tho, according to a report sent by the Railway Management Board to the Ministry of Transport. -- The Peoples Committee of southern Dong Thap Province, the Ministry of Transport, other relevant departments and agencies, and experts have reached a consensus on establishing a team to regulate the recovery of the body of a 10-year-old boy who has been trapped in a 35-meter-deep hollow concrete pile for over eight days. The boy had been earlier declared dead by local authorities. -- The Peoples Committee of Ward 11, District 5 in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday called on 20 households in an old and deteriorated apartment building at 440 Tran Hung Dao Street to relocate to the An Phu Apartment Building on Hau Giang Street in District 6 to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year, or Tet, holiday. -- Immigration activities to China through the Mong Cai Border Gate in northern Quang Ninh Province will be resumed from today, November 8. However, Vietnamese entering China must show proof of a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test taken 48 hours of their arrival. The requirement will be also imposed on drivers and driving assistants transporting goods to the northern neighbor through border gates in Lang Son Province. -- Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi has taken measures to serve more than 100,000 passengers in the height of the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. The airport is expected to welcome some 580 flights on the peak day of the holiday. -- The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has proposed the municipal Peoples Committee allow Greenlines DP Technology Co. Ltd to continue exploiting the second quay at the Bach Dang Wharf in District 1 until the end of this year as its contract to use the wharf expired on December 31 last year. -- Three customs officials at the Nam Can Border Gate in Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam have been detained for allegedly receiving VND2 billion ($85,233) from an enterprise to allow its overloaded ore transporting vehicles from Laos to go through the border gate over 5,000 times. Business -- Nearly 14,300 foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises in Vietnam reported losses in 2021, making up 55 percent of the total number of FDI firms in the country, according to the Ministry of Finance. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Kawa Wandi and his wife had planned to travel the world, but the gorgeous city of Hoi An inspired them to replant their roots in central Vietnam. "I have been to many places in the world, such as Bali, Thailand, and South Korea, but when I came to Hoi An, I felt like resting," said Swedish national Wandi. "This place has become our second hometown." "I just returned with a bunch of beautiful photos and memories of the place where we clubbed together to provide a structure to supply fresh water to the people of the Co Tu ethnic group in Tay Giang District, Quang Nam Province." Supporting the community Wandi and his wife spend much of their time doing volunteer and charity projects around Hoi An, most recently spending a morning repainting a playground by the lake in Cam Ha Park. "One day in 2020, I drove by the lake in the afternoon and found the landscape to be so poetic, but only a few children were playing nearby," he recollected. "They were using wooden sticks for their game instead of real toys. "I wanted to help them." Wandi then told his wife, Nishte, about the park and the couple decided to donate playground equipment and work with authorities to give it a much-needed makeover. As word of their plan spread across the community, local youth groups vocalized their support. Soon enough, a new playground, complete with see-saw steps and a swing set, was built in Cam Ha Park, much to the curiosity and excitement of the local children. The couple made sure each piece of playground equipment was painted in a smattering of bright colors. At first, the playground in Cam Ha Park bustled with children and the sound of laughter from dawn till dusk. After two years, however, it fell into a state of disrepair. Refusing to give up on his and his wifes dream of helping the community, the Wandis returned to the playground and spent VND20,000,000 (US$851) painting and repairing any damage. "I feel very satisfied when I pass by [the park] and see the children running around and climbing," Wandi said. "Despite only costing a small amount of money, my gift has helped them." Kawa Wandi delivers gifts to a school in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam. Photo: T.B.D. / Tuoi Tre Fighting COVID-19 Despite the pandemic having been under control for nearly a year, many Hoi An residents still remember Wandi and his magnificent beard riding on a motorcycle through the streets of the city through the pandemic, delivering boxes of hot food to frontline workers. Though photos of Wandi carrying out his good deeds went viral on Vietnamese social media, many people do not realize that the Swedish nationals charity is his way of giving back to the city that showed him the same kindness and hospitality. Wandi and his wife, along with their three children, packed their bags in 2017 with plans to see the world and live a nomadic lifestyle. Initially, they planned to spend just two or three months in each stop on their journey, but when COVID-19 struck Vietnam in 2020, the family found themselves in a unique situation. They were foreigners simply visiting Hoi An at the time, but the family felt the local community cared for them as if they were one of their own. "It's really rare to find a place that has the same things to offer as Hoi An," Wandi said. "The city seems to combine everything. It has rural and urban areas, a river, and the sea. "We fell in love with the city the first time we came here and it is hard for us to leave." He did his best to take care of Hoi An during the pandemic. Nearly anytime there was an urgent need, Wandi showed up to help, including bringing food and water to people in isolation centers and providing those in need with clothes, rice, and food paid for with his own money. In fact, he became so well known that a small group of locals began joining him in his efforts to help. Wandi also reached out to his friends in Sweden for help and, together, they set up a foundation to bring donations to Hoi An from around the world. Such donations have since been put toward libraries for schools in nearby mountains, building fresh water access points, and visiting underprivileged communities in the central province of Quang Tri. The playground that Wandi helped to build and maintain over the past two years in Hoi An, Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam. Photo: Photo: T.B.D. / Tuoi Tre Labeled a hero Wandis efforts to help Hoi An throughout the pandemic caught the attention of local authorities and, in 2020, he was invited to participate in a ceremony held to honor those who made significant contributions to the citys fight against COVID-19. At the event, Wandi was shocked by just how appreciative Hoi An was of his work. All in all, Wandi helped facilitate around US$50,000 in donations to buy supplies for those in need and provide fresh water to those without access. About 80 percent of those donations actually came from the personal savings of the Wandi family. Unfortunately, when the Wandis took a family vacation to Da Lat, a resort town in Vietnam's Central Highlands region, in April 2022, their home in Hoi An had a break-in. The Hoi An community, who had been so appreciative of the family, took to social media to call on authorities to hunt down the burglars, but all efforts were unsuccessful. Still Wandi and his family were grateful for everyones help. "Even though we lost many things, I received so much love. I love Hoi An and all the people here," Wandi wrote on Facebook. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Kawa Wandi and his wife had planned to travel the world, but the gorgeous city of Hoi An inspired them to replant their roots in central Vietnam. "I have been to many places in the world, such as Bali, Thailand, and South Korea, but when I came to Hoi An, I felt like resting," said Swedish national Wandi. "This place has become our second hometown." "I just returned with a bunch of beautiful photos and memories of the place where we clubbed together to provide a structure to supply fresh water to the people of the Co Tu ethnic group in Tay Giang District, Quang Nam Province." Supporting the community Wandi and his wife spend much of their time doing volunteer and charity projects around Hoi An, most recently spending a morning repainting a playground by the lake in Cam Ha Park. "One day in 2020, I drove by the lake in the afternoon and found the landscape to be so poetic, but only a few children were playing nearby," he recollected. "They were using wooden sticks for their game instead of real toys. "I wanted to help them." Wandi then told his wife, Nishte, about the park and the couple decided to donate playground equipment and work with authorities to give it a much-needed makeover. As word of their plan spread across the community, local youth groups vocalized their support. Soon enough, a new playground, complete with see-saw steps and a swing set, was built in Cam Ha Park, much to the curiosity and excitement of the local children. The couple made sure each piece of playground equipment was painted in a smattering of bright colors. At first, the playground in Cam Ha Park bustled with children and the sound of laughter from dawn till dusk. After two years, however, it fell into a state of disrepair. Refusing to give up on his and his wifes dream of helping the community, the Wandis returned to the playground and spent VND20,000,000 (US$851) painting and repairing any damage. "I feel very satisfied when I pass by [the park] and see the children running around and climbing," Wandi said. "Despite only costing a small amount of money, my gift has helped them." Kawa Wandi delivers gifts to a school in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam. Photo: T.B.D. / Tuoi Tre Fighting COVID-19 Despite the pandemic having been under control for nearly a year, many Hoi An residents still remember Wandi and his magnificent beard riding on a motorcycle through the streets of the city through the pandemic, delivering boxes of hot food to frontline workers. Though photos of Wandi carrying out his good deeds went viral on Vietnamese social media, many people do not realize that the Swedish nationals charity is his way of giving back to the city that showed him the same kindness and hospitality. Wandi and his wife, along with their three children, packed their bags in 2017 with plans to see the world and live a nomadic lifestyle. Initially, they planned to spend just two or three months in each stop on their journey, but when COVID-19 struck Vietnam in 2020, the family found themselves in a unique situation. They were foreigners simply visiting Hoi An at the time, but the family felt the local community cared for them as if they were one of their own. "It's really rare to find a place that has the same things to offer as Hoi An," Wandi said. "The city seems to combine everything. It has rural and urban areas, a river, and the sea. "We fell in love with the city the first time we came here and it is hard for us to leave." He did his best to take care of Hoi An during the pandemic. Nearly anytime there was an urgent need, Wandi showed up to help, including bringing food and water to people in isolation centers and providing those in need with clothes, rice, and food paid for with his own money. In fact, he became so well known that a small group of locals began joining him in his efforts to help. Wandi also reached out to his friends in Sweden for help and, together, they set up a foundation to bring donations to Hoi An from around the world. Such donations have since been put toward libraries for schools in nearby mountains, building fresh water access points, and visiting underprivileged communities in the central province of Quang Tri. The playground that Wandi helped to build and maintain over the past two years in Hoi An, Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam. Photo: Photo: T.B.D. / Tuoi Tre Labeled a hero Wandis efforts to help Hoi An throughout the pandemic caught the attention of local authorities and, in 2020, he was invited to participate in a ceremony held to honor those who made significant contributions to the citys fight against COVID-19. At the event, Wandi was shocked by just how appreciative Hoi An was of his work. All in all, Wandi helped facilitate around US$50,000 in donations to buy supplies for those in need and provide fresh water to those without access. About 80 percent of those donations actually came from the personal savings of the Wandi family. Unfortunately, when the Wandis took a family vacation to Da Lat, a resort town in Vietnam's Central Highlands region, in April 2022, their home in Hoi An had a break-in. The Hoi An community, who had been so appreciative of the family, took to social media to call on authorities to hunt down the burglars, but all efforts were unsuccessful. Still Wandi and his family were grateful for everyones help. "Even though we lost many things, I received so much love. I love Hoi An and all the people here," Wandi wrote on Facebook. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! More than US$9 billion is required to develop a 174-kilometer high-speed railway connecting Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, according to a report sent by the Railway Management Board to the Ministry of Transport. The Railway Management Board has worked with six southern cities and provinces to which the railway will pass throughHo Chi Minh City, Long An, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, and Can Thoto make the pre-feasibility report for the project, as assigned by the Ministry of Transport. They reached a consensus that the development of the express railway is vital to meeting the transport demand in the future, and ensuring the harmonious and sustainable traffic infrastructure development, urban restructuring, and population distribution along the Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho corridor. The Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho express railway was designed to run from the An Binh Station in Binh Duong Province to the Can Tho Station in the namesake city. The double-track railway will be used for both passenger and cargo trains. Along the route, there will be 15 stations and 11 depots. The express railway will allow a maximum speed of 190 kilometers per hour for passenger trains and 120 kilometers per hour for cargo trains. The project was planned to be conducted under the public-private partnership model. The state will pay for site clearance, while the investor will mobilize capital for construction, operate the project on a trial basis, and transfer the project to the government under a build-transfer-lease contract. In particular, the investor will develop the railway and lease it to an operator within 30 years. The Railway Management Board said it had worked with localities on the direction of the railway and locations of stations. However, the board has yet to receive the response of the Peoples Committees of Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Tien Giang to complete the pre-feasibility report for the project. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! More than US$9 billion is required to develop a 174-kilometer high-speed railway connecting Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, according to a report sent by the Railway Management Board to the Ministry of Transport. The Railway Management Board has worked with six southern cities and provinces to which the railway will pass throughHo Chi Minh City, Long An, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, and Can Thoto make the pre-feasibility report for the project, as assigned by the Ministry of Transport. They reached a consensus that the development of the express railway is vital to meeting the transport demand in the future, and ensuring the harmonious and sustainable traffic infrastructure development, urban restructuring, and population distribution along the Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho corridor. The Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho express railway was designed to run from the An Binh Station in Binh Duong Province to the Can Tho Station in the namesake city. The double-track railway will be used for both passenger and cargo trains. Along the route, there will be 15 stations and 11 depots. The express railway will allow a maximum speed of 190 kilometers per hour for passenger trains and 120 kilometers per hour for cargo trains. The project was planned to be conducted under the public-private partnership model. The state will pay for site clearance, while the investor will mobilize capital for construction, operate the project on a trial basis, and transfer the project to the government under a build-transfer-lease contract. In particular, the investor will develop the railway and lease it to an operator within 30 years. The Railway Management Board said it had worked with localities on the direction of the railway and locations of stations. However, the board has yet to receive the response of the Peoples Committees of Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Tien Giang to complete the pre-feasibility report for the project. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! TANDE Company, a producer of sportswear products in Thai Binh Province, northern Vietnam has fastened Tet gift sets on the motorbikes of thousands of its workers. On social networks, many people have hailed the company for its thoughtfulness for its workers. Special way to give Tet gifts TANDE Company, located at Nguyen Duc Canh Industrial Park in Thai Binh City of the namesake province, has some 18,300 employees working in 10 factories. Over the past few years, the company has prepared Tet gift sets, including commodities, and tied them to workers motorbikes. Trinh Thanh Dinh, chairman of the companys labor union, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that all 10 factories of the company have given Tet gifts to workers in this way over the past five years. Since last year, gift sets have been prepared with more care," Dinh said. We spent VND33 billion [US$1.4 million] buying Tet gifts worth nearly VND1.2 million [$51.1] each for 18,300 laborers." Tet gift sets are tied carefully to thousands of workers motorbikes. Photo: K.Linh / Tuoi Tre Touching workers hearts Dinh added that laborers, besides bonuses, received essential goods. In particular, each gift set includes 10 kilograms of rice, a box of beer cans, glutinous rice, fish sauce, and seasoning powder. Due to the high number of workers, they had drawn up a Tet gift-giving plan since September last year. "We gave rice and beer to workers on Saturday and gift sets including 10 products each to them today," Dinh added. The company will give them lucky money on January 18 so that they can give it back to their grandparents and parents. Workers of TANDE Company are happy when they receive Tet gifts in a special way at the end of the lunar year. Photo: K.Linh / Tuoi Tre Bui Nhu Khue, a worker of the company, told Tuoi Tre that she was touched as she received Tet gifts, including practical ones, two times before the Tet holiday, which is two weeks away. Despite not being the first time to receive gifts, I feel eager. We are happy and moved, Khue shared. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! TANDE Company, a producer of sportswear products in Thai Binh Province, northern Vietnam has fastened Tet gift sets on the motorbikes of thousands of its workers. On social networks, many people have hailed the company for its thoughtfulness for its workers. Special way to give Tet gifts TANDE Company, located at Nguyen Duc Canh Industrial Park in Thai Binh City of the namesake province, has some 18,300 employees working in 10 factories. Over the past few years, the company has prepared Tet gift sets, including commodities, and tied them to workers motorbikes. Trinh Thanh Dinh, chairman of the companys labor union, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that all 10 factories of the company have given Tet gifts to workers in this way over the past five years. Since last year, gift sets have been prepared with more care," Dinh said. We spent VND33 billion [US$1.4 million] buying Tet gifts worth nearly VND1.2 million [$51.1] each for 18,300 laborers." Tet gift sets are tied carefully to thousands of workers motorbikes. Photo: K.Linh / Tuoi Tre Touching workers hearts Dinh added that laborers, besides bonuses, received essential goods. In particular, each gift set includes 10 kilograms of rice, a box of beer cans, glutinous rice, fish sauce, and seasoning powder. Due to the high number of workers, they had drawn up a Tet gift-giving plan since September last year. "We gave rice and beer to workers on Saturday and gift sets including 10 products each to them today," Dinh added. The company will give them lucky money on January 18 so that they can give it back to their grandparents and parents. Workers of TANDE Company are happy when they receive Tet gifts in a special way at the end of the lunar year. Photo: K.Linh / Tuoi Tre Bui Nhu Khue, a worker of the company, told Tuoi Tre that she was touched as she received Tet gifts, including practical ones, two times before the Tet holiday, which is two weeks away. Despite not being the first time to receive gifts, I feel eager. We are happy and moved, Khue shared. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A green comet named C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is expected to be about 26 million miles from Earth on February 2. Mike Hankey A green comet named C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is approaching Earth, according to NASA. The comet most recently passed our planet 50,000 years ago, during the last Ice Age, according to astronomers. The comet is expected to be visible at night as it swings past Earth in early February. A green comet is set to pass by Earth for the first time since the Stone Age, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and it may be visible in the skies in late January and early February. Astronomers discovered the comet, a ball of ice named C/2022 E3 (ZTF), in March 2022. They'd never seen it before, because it takes an incredibly long time to circle the sun, completing an orbit over tens of thousands of years. Modern astronomy didn't exist last time this comet was in our neighborhood. The comet is expected to be about 26 million miles from Earth on February 2. That would be the closest it has been to the Earth in 50,000 years, according to astronomers. Back then, a period known as the Upper Paleolithic era, was when humans are believed to have left Africa and settled in Asia and Europe. Neanderthals still walked the Earth. The planet was in the middle of an Ice Age. Hyperrealistic face of a neanderthal male is displayed in a cave in the new Neanderthal Museum in northern Croatia. REUTERS/Nikola Solic The icy cosmic visitor will pass our planet at nearly 109 times the average distance of the moon, but the comet is burning so bright that it could still be visible in the night sky. "Comets are notoriously unpredictable, but if this one continues its current trend in brightness, it'll be easy to spot with binoculars, and it's just possible it could become visible to the unaided eye under dark skies," NASA wrote in an update on December 29. How, where, and when to spot comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) In the Northern Hemisphere, the green comet should be visible just before dawn in late January. At first, spotting it may require a telescope, but as it approaches Earth NASA expects viewers can see it with binoculars. "The new long-period comet has brightened substantially and is now sweeping across the northern constellation Corona Borealis in predawn skies," NASA said in a news release December 24. At that time, it was still too dim to see with a telescope. Story continues A completely darkened new moon could provide ideal dark skies for spying the comet on January 21. In the Southern Hemisphere, the green cosmic snowball will be visible in early February. Why the comet is green Another green comet, called ISON, passed Earth in 2013. NASA The comet has a "greenish coma, short broad dust tail, and long faint ion tail," according to NASA. Many comets glow green. Laboratory research has linked this aura to a reactive molecule called dicarbon, which emits green light as sunlight decays it. Dicarbon is common in comets, but it's not usually found in their tails. That's why the coma the haze surrounding the ball of frozen gas, dust, and rock at the center of a comet is glowing green, while the tail remains white. The comet likely came from the mysterious Oort Cloud The Oort Cloud is the most distant part of the solar system. NASA/JPL-Caltech Experts told USA Today that the comet most likely came from the Oort Cloud, the farthest region of the solar system, which NASA describes as a "big, thick-walled bubble made of icy pieces of space debris the sizes of mountains and sometimes larger." The Oort Cloud is the most distant part of our solar system, encircling everything like a "giant spherical shell," according to NASA. It's so far away that astronomers measures its distance in astronomical units (AU). One AU is the distance between Earth and the sun. The inner edge of the Oort Cloud is 2,000 to 5,000 AU away. That distance means astronomers have never observed an object in the Oort Cloud, so it's still a "theoretical concept," according to NASA. But astronomers suspect many far-traveling comets like C/2022 E3 (ZTF) come from there. The comet won't return for another 50,000 years if ever This is your only chance to see comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), and may be the last chance humanity ever gets. "We don't have an estimate for the furthest it will get from the Earth yetestimates varybut if it does return it won't be for at least 50,000 years," Jessica Lee, an astronomer at Royal Observatory Greenwich, told Newsweek. "Some predictions suggest that the orbit of this comet is so eccentric it's no longer in an orbitso it's not going to return at all and will just keep going," she added. Correction: January 9, 2023 A photo caption in an earlier version of this story misstated when the comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is expected to get to 26 million miles from Earth. It is February 2, 2023, not 2022. Editor's Note: This story has been updated with additional information about the comet and how to see it. Read the original article on Insider Passengers are seen upon their arrival at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport from other countries, in Shanghai on January 8, 2023. (Hector RETAMAL / AFP) Beijing: China on Sunday welcomed international travellers and returning residents without the need to quarantine for the first time in three years, even as infections surge after it scrapped its stringent zero-Covid policy. The first flights under China's new "no quarantine" rules for international travellers landed at airports in Guangzhou and Shenzhen in southern Guangdong province early on Sunday morning, state-run CGTN TV reported. Officials said 387 passengers were aboard two flights from Toronto and Singapore on the day the country ended its strict COVID-19 restrictions for travellers. On Sunday, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region resumed cross-border travel with the Chinese mainland. Many other Chinese borders also saw cross-border travel. At the Shanghai Pudong International Airport, a man surnamed Jiang, who was the first to complete the immigration procedures told reporters that "it is very convenient all the way from exit hatch to border inspection and clearance," the report said. Last month, China announced it was lifting COVID-19 restrictions that mandated international arrivals undergo nucleic acid tests and quarantine. Inbound travellers only need to take a PCR test within 48 hours before departure, and they no longer need to apply for a health code from Chinese diplomatic and consular missions. The Chinese government on Saturday ordered the release of people detained over a host of coronavirus-related incidents. The scrapping of the travel rules comes at a time China is grappling with a sudden spurt in coronavirus infections fuelled by the Omicron variants after the government relaxed its stringent zero-Covid policy last month in the wake of a wave of anti-government protests. Officials argue that the Omicron variant is not as lethal as the Delta strain, which caused massive casualties all over the world. Ahead of the complete relaxation of Covid rules, the Chinese government on Saturday ordered the release of the people detained for Covid-related cases. A government notice said that any property that had been seized should be released, while quarantine and control measures at the state borders will also no longer be criminalised. There was no direct mention of whether the order is applicable to scores of people held during last month's rare protests against the zero-Covid policy, some of which called for the end of Chinese President Xi Jinping's continuation in power. The videos of protests in Shanghai posted on social media showed people openly shouting slogans such as Xi Jinping, step down and Communist party, step down. Observers say last month's protests also mark the first such open dissent against the leadership of Xi, who in October last year was elected for an unprecedented third five-year term by the once-in-a-five-year-congress of the ruling Communist Party of China. Hundreds of people have been arrested in the last three years for resisting the lockdowns of their apartments and dragging people out of their flats to take them to quarantine centres. While the announcement of scrapping all quarantine rules was widely welcomed at home, the timing of the opening also fuelled concerns abroad as it comes ahead of the country's annual Spring Festival on January 22 during which millions of Chinese will travel to destinations all over the world. The WHO said China is downplaying the severity of the virus outbreak in the country. We believe the current numbers being published from China under-represents the true impact of the disease in terms of hospital and ICU admissions and particularly in terms of deaths, Dr. Michael Ryan, Director of WHO emergencies, told a media briefing in Geneva on January 5. Ryan's remarks came after Chinese health officials met their WHO counterparts and briefed them about the current run of the Omicron variants in the country. It was the spring festival travels by the Chinese in 2020, especially from Wuhan where the coronavirus infections first broke out, that was largely blamed for the massive spread of Covid-19 in the world, causing unprecedented death and devastation. The spring festival holiday will officially last about a week, but is unofficially expected to go on for about 40 days. The travel-starved Chinese are already gearing up to travel in big numbers abroad, considering that they don't have to quarantine on return. Previously, passengers coming from abroad had to mandatorily stay in over two weeks of quarantine in government accommodations, which was gradually reduced to five days with three days of home observation. China's 40-day Chunyun or Spring Festival travel rush, the world's largest human migration, which has begun is expected to see about 2.09 billion passenger trips made this year, up 99.5 per cent from the 2022 level. The passenger volume has rapidly scaled up following the country's optimised epidemic response amid the release of pent-up demand for travel, China's Ministry of Transport said on Friday. Though the official holiday lasts about a week from January 22, Chunyun in 2023 will last 40 days from January 7 until February 15, it said. According to official media, at least 30 known Omicron sub-variants have been detected in Shanghai in recent days. Australia, Canada, India, Israel, Malaysia, Morocco, Qatar, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, the USA and several EU countries have asked travellers from China to show PCR tests taken 48 hours before, while Morocco even banned Chinese travellers from entering the country fearing the spread of Covid-19. India has mandated COVID-19 negative test reports for travellers arriving from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand. If found positive, the travellers have to serve a period of quarantine. China termed these restrictions against Chinese travellers as discriminatory. We firmly reject using COVID measures for political purposes and will take corresponding measures in response to varying situations via the principle of reciprocity, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing earlier this week. BINH DUONG The culture and lifestyle of Binh Duong Province are featured in a new collection of ao dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) by fashion designer and poet Hue Thi. The collection celebrates 26 years of Binh Duongs construction, development and growth, transforming from a poor province with a mostly agricultural economy to an economy featuring industry and services. It was introduced in a special cultural programme organised by local authorities in Thu Dau Mot starting on January 3. The collection includes ao dai designs for women and girls in Vietnamese silk and satin in red, purple, lotus pink, yellow and black. The images of Binh Duong, which used to be a part of Gia inh - Sai Gon (now HCM City) and its age-old cultural heritage, are featured. My new ao dai collections highlight the beauty of Southern women, said 41-year-old Thi. I used elements from the culture and costumes by 15 ethnic groups living in Binh Duong, including Khmer and Hoa people, to create my designs. Thi has created many ao dai for women and men. She loves working with the traditional silk called Lanh My A, a famous satin that has been made for more than 100 years in ong Thap and An Giang provinces. Lanh My A is sold to neighbouring provinces and exported to Cambodia, Laos, Hong Kong, France and other European countries. My ao dai designs are inspired by Vietnamese women and their beauty. Each of my clothes is linked to women and their daily lives, said Thi, who began her fashion career a decade ago. Binh Duong is one of the fastest growing provinces in the southern key economic zone and among the countrys hottest investment destinations. It attracted $2.6 billion worth of FDI last year, 45 per cent more than the full-year goal and up 74 per cent year-on-year. The province has had four items of national intangible culture, including: Tuong Binh Hiep Lacquercraft, Binh Duong Pottery, Tan Khanh Ba Tra Martial Arts and the Ky Yen Festival of Tan An communal house. These are valuable heritage showing the richness and diversity in the cultural life of the people and land of Binh Duong. VNS HA NOI During a discussion at the parliament's second extraordinary session on January 7, numerous legislators expressed their support for the National Assembly's issuance of a resolution outlining the national master plan for 2021-2030. The draft master plan targets that by 2050, Viet Nam will have become a developed and high-income country with an equal, democratic, and civilised society. It will strive for annual GDP growth of 6.5-7.5 per cent between 2031 and 2050, with a per capita GDP of US$27,000-32,000 and an urbanisation rate of 70-75 per cent by 2050. Viet Nam also aims to have established itself as a developing country with modern industry, upper-middle income, and economic growth driven by science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation by 2030. To obtain the targets, the national master plan identified groups of focal tasks, including basically forming a national infrastructure framework, stepping up economic restructuring in tandem with growth model reform, and developing national growth pillars. Legislators shared that the national master plan is essential as it will be the basis for making and implementing plans for sectors, regions, and localities. Trinh Xuan An, an NA deputy from the southern province of ong Nai, said the draft master plan has solid political, legal and practical grounds, noting it should be feasible, effective, understandable, and easy to be assessed and monitor. Echoing the view, deputy Tran Quang Minh from the central province of Quang Binh pointed out the importance of cooperating with other countries and forecasting the regional and international situations to guarantee the master plans sustainability. Some other legislators recommended the drafting agency, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, revise some contents to ensure that the master plan is in line with reality. At the sitting, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung provided further information related to issues mentioned by NA deputies. VNS PHU YEN Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Sunday attended a programme to celebrate the Lunar New Year (Tet) in Phu Yen, organised by the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour and provincial authorities. Speaking at the event, representatives of the province said that in 2022, Phu Yen had successfully cared for labourers in the province. Nearly 1,500 trade union members and workers have received support on Tet holidays with VN1.7 billion (US$76,000). More than 1,000 trade union members affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and fatal diseases were also provided financial support. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that building a strong working class was an important task of the Party, State and the whole political system. Over the past years, the Party and State have paid special attention to the working class and labourers, issuing and implementing many appropriate guidelines and policies, which have gained important results. After more than 35 years since the oi moi (renewal) process started, the Vietnamese working class has increased in quantity and matured in quality. They have become more dynamic, creative, and proactive in production and business and continue to affirm and promote their role in socio-economic development. The Prime Minister said that the country is forming a class of well-trained young workers with high education qualifications according to international standards. The Vietnamese working class represents advanced production methods and creative and scientific labour. The Prime Minister said that when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, most workers sympathised and shared with businesses' difficulties, actively working with the whole country to prevent and control the pandemic. When the country called on people to start living and working with the new normal, workers immediately got to work and started working enthusiastically. On behalf of the leaders of the Party and State, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh warmly praised, acknowledged and congratulated the achievements of the Trade Union, workers nationwide in general, and workers in Phu Yen Province in particular for what they have achieved in recent years, making an important contribution to the overall achievements of the country. The Prime Minister praised the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour for the initiative and successful organisation of the New Year reunion programmes for many years, contributing to a warmer spring for workers, especially workers in industrial zones and with difficult circumstances. Trade unions at all levels and branches have also actively organised many meaningful activities such as 'Tet Trade Union Market', 'Tickets of gratitude', and the 'Spring love bus' to help workers return to their hometown to celebrate Tet. At the same time, thoughtful Tet celebrations have been organised to take care of employees who have difficulties, lose their jobs, get sick, have accidents, or suffer the consequences of natural disasters. According to the Prime Minister, most businesses have done well in adjusting the regional minimum wages and have plans to pay salaries and Tet bonuses for employees. Many businesses pay for buses for workers to return to their hometowns and prepare gifts to thank the workers' parents. "This is a very practical and meaningful act, showing respect, gratitude and recognition of employees' contributions so that employees can be more attached to the business and consider the business their second home," Chinh said. However, he pointed out that there are many policies for workers that are not suitable or those that are tardily implemented. A part of the trade union cadres lack insight, do not grasp the thoughts and aspirations of workers, and have not been successful in providing support and protection for the legitimate interests of employees. Working, accommodation and living conditions of workers in some places are not guaranteed. Many workers have to work in unhealthy environments and do not have proper housing. The lack of schools and kindergartens in industrial parks is a pressing problem. PM Chinh expressed his understanding, sympathy and deep sharing of employers' and workers' difficulties and hardships. He said that the Party and State have issued and implemented many mechanisms and policies to support and create conditions to improve workers' material and spiritual life. The Government will drastically direct ministries, branches and localities to pay attention and spend appropriate resources to solve basic problems to improve the lives of workers and employees. Accordingly, the focus will be drastically building one million social apartments for workers. The goal is for workers to truly enjoy the fruits of the country's development; so that every Tet holiday will be the moment of happy reunions for workers with their beloved families," Chinh said. VNS BEN TRE A newly built primary school has been transferred to the southern province of Ben Tre under a joint project between the US Office of Defence Cooperation Vietnam and the province. Trinh Viet Bang Primary School in inh Trung Commune includes eight fully furnished classrooms and two teachers rooms as well as a handicap-accessible ramp, said a press release by the US Embassy in Ha Noi. Speaking at the hand-over ceremony on Friday, Deputy Chairwoman of Ben Tre Province's Peoples Committee Nguyen Thi Be Muoi said: This valuable assistance improves primary education facilities in Binh ai Districts inh Trung Commune and helps send children to school which is a part of our local development strategy. US Defense Attache Colonel TJ Bouchillon said: This project reflects our commitment to a strong, prosperous, resilient, and independent Viet Nam, and a free and open Indo-Pacific region. It underscores the common belief that a successful future lies with preparing the next generation to successfully tackle challenges they will face, whether local, national, or global. The new school is expected to help support Ben Tre Province to better facilitate education for children in the commune and provide safe shelter during natural disasters. The project was constructed and supported by the Chuong Duong Company, the New Horizon Company, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the Ben Tre Province's Peoples Committee. US Indo-Pacific Command under the Overseas Humanitarian Disaster Assistance and Civic Action Programme funded the construction project. Viet Nam and the US mark the 10-year anniversary of the Comprehensive Partnership between the two countries in 2023. VNS by Nguyen My Ha I recently got a phone call from an old acquaintance from Germany, a foster parent to an ethnic Mong young girl from Sa Pa. "Could you tell us your opinion of the education system in Viet Nam?" she asked earnestly. This German couple did not have biological children but took a teenage girl -- who had been made to work to provide for her parents-- under their wing. The woman is now married with children, and the Germans are concerned about their education. "Oh, she's afraid her kids cannot study with the best teachers, and when she was a child, she saw the teachers of her schools in the mountains near Sa Pa take money from tourists, meant for children, and keep it for themselves," she said. This happened at least 10 years ago when the woman was still small, but it was not something she could forget. Mistreated by her own parents and neglected by teachers during her brief time at school, this young woman is now raising two children of her own and wants to secure them the best future she can. I gave my German friend the response millions of Vietnamese would give and said I didn't have a clear-cut answer. A good local public school should be enough for your child anywhere on earth. I believe a good routine for preschoolers or a neighbourhood kindergarten should be enough for a child's needs. Your kids get to go to a kindergarten, where they can make some friends, have a couple of teachers to take care of them, be given some food, and learn how to wash their hands and faces, and discard the garbage properly. The basics are enough to begin with. In between these actions, they can learn to draw, to colour in, listen to stories, sing songs, or craft some items. They get to play in the playground, wait for their turn to get something, and do morning or midday exercises. They make good friends during the day, so when they have dinner at home, they can talk about their friends to their parents in the evening. This is a good schooling. I've seen parents who work too hard to get their children to a school with a good reputation, but the kids have to wake up at 6am, and it takes them an hour to get to school and the same to get back home in the afternoon. It is too long and stressful for a young child. Getting woken up too early, the kids fall asleep again on the bus. When they get to school, they are not washed, brushed, or ready to start a new day. Recently, several schools in Ho Chi Minh City decided to start half an hour later in winter so that children would not have to get up too early. The move has been welcomed by parents and teachers, and, of course, the children. At any school, children need to feel comfortable and eager to go in the morning, and have plenty to talk about when they get home. While I believe that children need to go to school not only to study but also interact with teachers and other students, many parents believe their kids can be home-schooled to get the necessary knowledge to pass tests needed to get to college and beyond. But school doesn't mean studying only. It's where your children grow, make friends, fight with a few, make some great ones, and detest others. It is where they learn to navigate peer pressure. It's a journey, not always easy, and if you manage to circumvent most obstacles, you become more mature to adapt to the storms coming your way in the adult world. We can't always be so assertive when speaking about training our children or giving them an education we think is best. We make mistakes and let them down sometimes despite our wishes to provide them with the best we can. As far as the education question goes, as parents, you probably know your children best, and you can consult schools and others about their ideas and choices. But I can't say which one is best. One type of school might be good for some children at a certain time, but not so good for others. It's not sheer luck when it comes to children. You work hard, and the results take time to show. It's not always the sweet smell of success you wished for either, but at least you did your best. No one can ask for more than that. VNS Vietnam is home to the Dung Quat Oil Refinery, the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex, and condensate processing plants with a total capacity of 14 million tonnes of petroleum per year. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), this volume only meets around 70 per cent of current domestic demand, with the rest being imported through key petroleum traders. State-owned Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) has proposed adjusting the investment policy of the Dung Quat Oil Refinery to allow for 7.5 million tonnes per year, while the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex has not yet established an investment plan for capacity expansion. Dung Quat Oil Refinery plans expansion to bolster production capacity According to the MoIT, it is estimated that by 2045, Vietnam will lack about 12 million tonnes of petroleum and 3.5 million tonnes of petrochemical products per year. This shortage is even larger according to PetroVietnam's calculations, reaching nearly 12 million tonnes of petroleum in 2025 and increasing to nearly 20 million tonnes by 2030. PetroVietnam has therefore proposed crafting a project to build a refinery and petrochemical complex in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Accordingly, in phase I the complex is set to turn out 12-13 million tonnes of crude oil and 660,000 tonnes of condensate, LPG, and Ethane per year. The plants output will be 7-9 million tonnes of petroleum and 2-3 million tonnes of petrochemicals per year. The MoIT has also requested the government to direct PetroVietnam to continue studying the project, complemented by inputs from relevant ministries and sectors. Following supplemental investment in phase II, the project aims to raise the output by an additional 3-5 million tonnes of petroleum and 5.5-7.5 million tonnes of petrochemical products per year. According to PetroVietnam, the projects investment scale in phase I will be $12.5-13.5 billion and a further $4.5-4.8 billion in phase II. The MoIT believes that in the face of complex global developments, the eminent risk of energy supply disruptions, and rising energy prices, it is important to ensure energy security, including petroleum supply, so boosting the national reserve of crude oil and gasoline is imperative. The MoIT has also requested the government to direct PetroVietnam to continue studying the project, complemented by inputs from relevant ministries and sectors. Since the national crude oil refinery and petrochemical complex projects need more time to prepare for the investment process, at this time, the country is primarily looking to the Dung Quat Oil Refinerys upgrade and expansion project to bolster its petroleum production capacity. Reporting to the government's delegation on January 1, Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical JSC (BSR) the management unit of Dung Quat Oil Refinery said that the refinery has had a total investment value approximating $3 billion and an annual capacity of 6.5 million tonnes since coming into operation in 2010. In recent months, amid the volatile international petroleum market, the plant has at times increased its operating capacity to 112 per cent, exceeding the annual average operating plan of 103 per cent. In light of PetroVietnams proposal, Dung Quat Oil Refinerys upgrade and expansion project plans a total investment value of $1.2 billion. The desire to invest in Dung Quat Oil Refinerys expansion did not appear until recently. In PetroVietnam's Decision No.9016/QD-DKVN from 2014, Dung Quat Oil Refinerys upgrade and expansion project had a total implementation schedule of 78 months from the date of issuance of the bid, with the expectation of completion in October 2021. However, according to the direction of the Prime Minister in June 2018, the project is not subject to a government guarantee, so the investor must develop financial plans and contact international credit organisations to arrange funding. The project was previously approved to have an investment scale of $1.8 billion in which 30 per cent would be equity and the remaining 70 per cent loans. Until early 2020, the arrangement of funding for the project was unclear. In June 2022, PetroVietnam and BSR asked the government for permission to adjust the scale of the project from 192,000 barrels per day in the approved plan in 2014, down to 171,000 barrels per day. The total investment was scaled down to about $1.2 billion. The project is expected to be implemented in 37 months, reaching completion in Q4 2025 and commencing commercial operations in Q1 2026. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) proposed to the Ministry of Transport that Vietnamese airlines be permitted to immediately bring the passenger fleet back up to 234 aircraft to fulfil the demand for the Lunar New Year and Spring Festival in 2023. Chairman of Vietnam Airlines' Board of Directors Dang Ngoc Hoa projected, "In an optimistic outlook, the Vietnamese aviation industry could return to its 2019 size by 2023 or, more conservatively, by 2024." Since March 2022, Vietnam's air transport business has exhibited indications of recovery, particularly on the domestic front, according to the CAAV. By allowing Vietnamese airlines to expand their fleets within a reasonable timeframe, airlines will be able to lease aircraft at a fair cost and execute plans to acquire aircraft in accordance with signed aircraft purchase agreements, therefore avoiding fines for contract violations. According to statistics based on real airline operations in Vietnam, one aircraft carries an average of 250,000 people every year. There are 182 aircraft dedicated solely to the domestic market, which is expected to reach 45,5 million passengers by 2023. In the international market, it is anticipated that Vietnamese airlines will carry about 13.6 million passengers, equal to 57 aircraft, based on the targeted market share of 42 per cent. According to this estimate, the demand for aircraft operated by Vietnamese airlines in 2023 will increase monthly from 230 aircraft initially to 250 by the end of the year. Currently, the global aviation sector is rebounding, resulting in a rise in aircraft demand and a shortage of aircraft on the global aircraft leasing market. In April 2022, the domestic market did return to its 2019 level. In June, July, and August, the domestic market completely recovered, with a growth rate of over 30 per cent compared to the same three months in 2019. For the foreign market, the rate of recovery is slower, but there has been a burst in the last months of 2022, with a 50 per cent increase over the same period in 2019. Currently, five Vietnamese airlines (Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Pacific Airlines, Bamboo Airways, and Vietravel Airlines) operate a total of 225 aircraft. However, only 190 are operational, with 12 undergoing repair and 23 undergoing maintenance. Vietnamese airlines make world-beating recovery The high demand for travel has helped Vietnams airline revenues grow impressively and exceed the set forecasts. Additional nine airports proposed The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has proposed an additional nine airports to the master plan to broaden the development of its airport network by 2030. At its second extraordinary session in Hanoi last week, the National Assembly (NA) adopted a resolution approving Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs proposal on the appointment of two deputy prime ministers. Tran Hong Ha (3rd, L) and Tran Luu Quang (2nd, R) officially become new Deputy Prime Ministers for the 2021-2026 tenure after the resolution receives yes votes from all of the 481 participating legislators. (Photo: VNA) Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha and Secretary of the Party Committee of the northern city of Haiphong Tran Luu Quang have been elected to the new posts for the current term. The resolution, which received approval from all 481 participating legislators, equivalent to 96.68 per cent of the total number of NA deputies, became valid after being signed off by the NA. Thus, the Vietnamese government is now led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the four deputy prime ministers of Le Minh Khai, Le Van Thanh, Tran Hong Ha, and Tran Luu Quang. DPM Ha was born in 1963 in the central province of Ha Tinh. Between 2008 and 2016, he acted as Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, as well as Deputy Secretary for the Peoples Committee of the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. He was an alternative member of the 11th Party Central Committee, a member of the Party Central Committee in the 12th and 13th tenures, and a deputy to the 14th NA. He was appointed Minister of Natural Resources and Environment in 2016. I will make great efforts to together with other government members to support the prime minister and the government to accomplish their tasks, DPM Ha said. Commenting on the draft amendments to the Law on Land currently compiled by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, he said that in his new position, he will continue to bring into play all possible resources and create momentum to solve hurdles in land management and usage for the sustainable development of the country. DPM Quang was born in 1967 in the southern province of Tay Ninh. The Politburo assigned him as Secretary of Tay Ninh Party Committee for the 2010-2015 term. At the 10th Tay Ninh Party Congress (2015-2020 term), he was re-elected for this post, and as Chairman of Tay Ninh Peoples Council. In February 2019, the Politburo appointed Quang as Standing Deputy Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee. He was an alternative member of the 11th Party Central Committee, and a member of the Party Central Committee in the 12th and 13th terms. He has served as Secretary of Haiphong Party Committee since April 2021 and is head of the delegation of the citys 15th tenure NA deputies. He is a deputy to the 14th and 15th legislature. The new leaders replaced their predecessors, Pham Binh Minh and Vu Duc Dam, who were relieved from their posts at the same NA meeting last week. Minh and Dam were also removed from the Party Central Committee at an extraordinary meeting a few days previously, while Minh was also dismissed from the Politburo. Director of the Vietnam National Innovation Centre (NIC) Vu Quoc Huy said, The Ministry of Planning and Investment coordinated with major technology corporations around the world to announce the Vietnam Innovation Initiative and assigned the NIC to connect resources to support and promote Vietnams pioneering enterprises." "Necessary resources such as finance, technology, laboratories, production areas, and talented human resources will create a launching pad for innovative businesses such as Earable Neuroscience, thereby accelerating the development of new products and business models and reaffirming Vietnam's status on the world innovation map, continued Huy. Earable Neuroscience was the only Vietnamese technology company to win the Wearable award at the CES Innovation Awards A representative of Earable Neuroscience Technology Co. will present FRENZ products at CES Las Vegas from January 3 to 8 and outline the secrets behind the expectation that FRENZ will break the boundaries of the wearable technology industry in the future. The product has received 15 global core patents and numerous international awards for science, technology and innovation after more than eight years of research at the University of Colorado (USA) and Oxford University (UK). Tam Vu, professor at the University of Colorado and CEO and founder of Earable Neuroscience said, The world is experiencing a sleep problem, with 60 per cent of the population reporting trouble sleeping. As a result, sleep aids emerged as a thriving and rapidly growing industry. Every year, 900 million consumer wearables are sold worldwide. Tam added that the global sleep aid market was valued at $64.1 billion in 2021, with an astounding 7.1 per cent growth projected by 2030. FRENZ helps wearers around the world sleep better and unleash their true human potential. Earable aspires to be a technology-intensive neuroscience company that dramatically improves the mental state of people around the world, he said. FRENZ is the worlds first smart headset using bone-transmitted sound technology and globally proven therapies. A huge sound library is integrated within FRENZ to be delivered to the brain based on the real-time brain state. The product has become the worlds first wearable device that can monitor and stimulate brain activities to help listeners fall asleep more easily, providing deep sleep, higher levels of concentration, and quality relaxation. In addition to technological breakthroughs, FRENZ has a sophisticated design and utilises comfortable materials that make it perfectly suitable for users to wear for up to 10 hours. FRENZ can be used in all situations while sleeping, studying, working, or meditating. Founder's Fund, a world-renowned venture capital firm with more than $11 billion in aggregate capital under management, has become the largest investor in Earable Neuroscience. The Earable Neuroscience smart wearable product will be widely available to customers around the world at a discounted price of only $250 instead of $490 Keith Rabois, co-founder of Founders Fund said, We like truly outstanding companies that have the potential to change the world. Earable embodies this spirit. We are proud to be an early Earable investor and look forward to seeing the product become a craze in the emerging wearable sleep technology industry. Earable Neuroscience is a technology company based in the US and Vietnam that specialises in the research and development of technological and highly applicable solutions in the field of neuroscience. CES has been the worlds most popular consumer electronics exhibition since 1967. Teenagers in McLennan County and across Texas will need parental permission to get birth control from certain federally funded family planning clinics, after a federal court ruling last month. The ruling is a devastating barrier for vulnerable teens seeking to prevent an unintended pregnancy, said Autumn Keiser, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, which operates the only McLennan County program directly affected. The ruling, which is under appeal, has prompted interim statewide guidance to require parental consent for contraception at 156 federally funded clinics, The Texas Tribune reported. The clinics are funded through a program under Title X of the U.S. Public Health Service Act that has provided free, confidential contraception to anyone regardless of age, income or immigration status since 1970. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryks ruling Dec. 20, in Deanda v. Becerra, strikes down the confidentiality clause in the Title X program, with respect to parental consent for minor children. It applies to medicinal and mechanical forms of contraception. Kacsmaryk made his judgement based the section of the Texas Family Code that gives parents the right to determine their childrens upbringing, specifically health care, and the due process clause of the 14the Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Title X clinics long represented a lone exception to the state requirement, The Texas Tribune reported. Keiser said Planned Parenthood expects the ruling to directly affect less than 1% of Waco-area patients. Last year 1,817 patients received healthcare at the Waco Planned Parenthood Health Center, Keiser said. Statewide, about 180,000 patients, including about 9,000 younger than 18, received care at Title X clinics in fiscal year 2020, the vast majority under the poverty line and uninsured, according to The Texas Tribune. Planned Parenthood's Mary Ruth Duncan Health Center is the only Title X provider in McLennan County, offering services including birth control, annual wellness exams, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, and breast and cervical cancer screening. The access the center provides is especially important for people without health insurance, Keiser said. Healthcare services funded by Title X are available today despite the new ruling that teens seeking contraception are required to obtain parental consent even if they are parents themselves, she said. Clinics and health care facilities not funded through Title X, such as Waco Family Medicine, are unaffected and may continue to operate and provide all services as they did before Kacsmaryks decision, a Waco Family Medicine spokesperson said Thursday. In McLennan County, teen pregnancy rates surpass national averages, Keiser said. Texans need access to birth control not roadblocks, she said. The county's teen birth rate, defined as births per 1,000 women age 15 to 19, stood at 21.7 in 2021, with a total of 234 births in that age group, according to the nonprofit Texas Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. The statewide rate was 20.3, and the nationwide rate was 14.4. In 2020, McLennan County saw 233 teens give birth, including 167 births among women age 18 or 19, 66 births in the 15-17 age group and none among girls 14 or younger, according to Healthy Futures of Texas. Officials at Waco Independent School District and Midway ISD both said they offer child care and parenting guidance for students who have children of their own, in an effort to help them graduate. Neither district provided contraception to students before or after Kacsmaryks judgement. While Kacsmaryks ruling is under appeal, the statewide administrator for Title X, Every Body Texas, advised its 156 clinics to require parental consent for minors to receive contraception out of an abundance of caution as the group awaits further guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Texas Tribune reported. We hope that as the case proceeds, we are able to revoke this guidance and continue to provide minors in Texas the sexual and reproductive care they need and deserve with or without parental consent, Stephanie LeBleu, acting Title X project director at Every Body Texas, told The Texas Tribune. LeBleu told The Texas Tribune the guidance on parental consent does not apply to testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy tests, emergency contraception, condoms or counseling. Bagby Avenue ramp closing The Texas Department of Transportation will close the Highway 6/Loop 340 eastbound off-ramp for Bagby Avenue on Wednesday to prepare the area for upcoming traffic switches. Eastbound motorists will access Bagby Avenue by exiting at Imperial Drive and taking a new section of frontage road, including a new bridge, to Bagby. The Bagby off-ramp will remain closed until summer. MLK Peace March The Waco chapters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. invite the Waco community to join in the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace March and Observance beginning at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 16. The march will start in Indian Spring Park, crossing the Washington Avenue bridge and marching down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. After the march, there will be a youth essay contest, community cleanup with the National Women in Agriculture Association, canned goods drive, and an educational program with community entertainers. For more information on the free event, call 254-366-6029. CRRC dinner, movie The Community Race Relations Coalition will host a dinner and a movie, showing the film Black Boys on Monday at St. Albans Episcopal Church parish hall, 305 N. 30th St. Dinner is provided by the coalition board, with donations encouraged. Discussion will follow. Reservations are required by calling or texting 254-717-7903 or emailing crrcwaco@gmail.com. Choral Society auditions The Central Texas Choral Society will hold auditions at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Central United Methodist Church, 5740 Bagby Ave. Signups are available in advance or on-site. The community choir will be performing works by Franz Joseph Haydn on May 21. For more information, email centexchoralsociety@gmail.com. Homespun Quilters Guild The Homespun Quilters Guild will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday at New Road Church of Christ, 3100 S. New Road. The speaker will be Stephanie Hackney, of Hobbs Batting. Visitors are always welcome. Waco Herb Society The Waco Herb Society will meet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at The Harrison Center, 1718 N. 42nd St. Anyone interested in growing and using herbs is welcome to attend a meeting and become a member. One must marvel at last weeks circus maximus in the U.S. House of Representatives, given that some of us are directly responsible: After narrowly returning to power a party that enabled and excused the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, voters watched as Republican House members immediately got into an intra-party brawl, complete with name-calling, obscenities and threats, over who would serve as speaker. Upon post-midnight resolution after near-violence between Republicans, those few Republican lawmakers pondering the nations future had to wonder: Will concessions granted by California Republican Kevin McCarthy to a handful of supposedly intractable extremist holdouts leave both chamber and country even more vulnerable to chaos, strife and dysfunction? Feelings proved visceral, judging from tweets to GOP Rep. Pete Sessions, whose district includes Waco. I voted for all very conservative ppl in Texas, one constituent tweeted, so when I see my congressman Pete Sessions vote for McCarthy I get sick. Another: Im from his district as well and left him a message weeks ago letting him know I do not want McCarthy!! Yet another constituent from a decidedly progressive perspective got closer to reality in a Facebook post to Sessions, who backed McCarthy for speaker even as some viewed Sessions as a backup prospect: This is what it looks like when you have a corrupt, broken party. You represent that corruption and brokenness, Mr. Sessions. Ginni Thomas, the politically active wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, joined 70 others including John Eastman, architect of the Trump plan to invalidate millions of citizen votes in the 2020 election, in protesting McCarthy as speaker because of his coordinated efforts in the 2022 elections to promote moderate Republican candidates over conservatives. Trump zealots Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn and Roger Stone seconded Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetzs brief bid to make the embattled former president speaker of the House. Of all those offering wisdom after days of inconclusive voting to choose a speaker, former Congressman Joe Walsh part of the tea party tidal wave that swept Congress in 2010 most perfectly summed up the spectacle that promptly consumed the Republican Congress of 2023, including its focus on theatrics and performance art over policy and consensus: I think its a perfect storm of the fact youve got seven to eight members who would blow up that chamber if it would get em on Tucker Carlsons show, combined with the fact that McCarthys weak and pretty untrustworthy. What we see of Republicans today is a continuance of Jan. 6, 2021. Within the Republican Party, the tail too often wags the dog. We see the steep cost to Republican leadership that for two years has cheered, indulged and excused the Matt Gaetzes, Lauren Boeberts and Paul Gosars of the lunatic fringe and encouraged the worst in not only our public servants but ourselves. If lasting solutions are to be secured, compromise must play a role, whether with the progressive left, remnants of the old tea party, even some hardliners. When it comes to the complicated challenges and threats facing our nation in an increasingly dangerous world, none of us can risk going it alone. The Democratic National Committees decision to drop Iowa from first-state primary status is a shift away from rural America. In early December, Democrats, led by President Joe Biden, changed the primary election order, which had put Iowa as the first state since 1972. This was a role Iowans performed diligently through their caucus process. Democrats have removed Iowa from the early primary states. Instead, South Carolina will be the first state in 2024, followed by Nevada, New Hampshire, Georgia and Michigan. The new presidential nominating contest calendar is expected to be ratified by the full DNC in early February in Philadelphia. Heres the Democrats knock on Iowa: Biden, Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez and others dont like caucuses because they say the in-person requirement excludes many working-class voters from the process. People spend the better part of caucus night trying to gather support for their candidates. Also, so the argument goes, Iowa is not racially diverse enough to be representative of the country and have such an important role in the primary. And finally, theres the wreck in the 2020 primary, when results were delayed due to administrative issues and a malfunctioning app. The nation waited for results that didnt come until after the next state, New Hampshire, had voted. Traditionally, a win in Iowa can supply a shot of momentum to the candidate as it did to such Democrats as Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama. Before 2020, Iowa Democrats had reported the election results quickly and without issue. But after the 2016 primary, they were forced by the Democratic National Committee to change their process. Candidate Bernie Sanders pushed party leaders to require caucus states to report raw numbers as well as final numbers. That meant Iowa no longer could simply report the final results as it had for the previous 12 elections and instead had to supply results of the first alignment and second alignment of votes too. That change, along with the use of an app that wasnt properly vetted, led to the delay in results. It was a mess. But Iowa had reeled off 12 straight elections without such problems. So the narrative that Iowa lost first-state status due to a bungled 2020 primary doesnt really stand up under the historical context. We understand the criticism of the caucus system and that Iowas racial makeup is not representative of that of the nation. About 75% of United States residents are white, while 90% of Iowans are white. It makes sense the party would want more people of color involved in the early primary states. But why is New Hampshire, 92% white, in the first five states? There appears a larger political motive for national Democrats to leave Iowa in the dust, and that is that Iowa no longer is in play. In the past two presidential elections, Iowans went strongly for Trump, and the midterms cemented that trend. But Iowa supported plenty of Democrats: Obama (twice), Al Gore, Bill Clinton (twice) and Michael Dukakis for the presidency. Most of the new first-five states could be considered battleground states, especially Georgia, Michigan and Nevada. New Hampshire has voted Democrat in the last six elections, but Democrat Hillary Clinton won by less than a percentage point in 2016. South Carolina is the outlier here. Its a red state, even more red than Iowa. No Democrat running for president has cracked even 45% of the vote in South Carolina in recent decades. So, why South Carolina? We think Biden chose South Carolina because that was the state that put him on a path to the nomination in 2020. Biden came in fourth in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire before South Carolina gave him a win and the momentum to earn the nomination. Its political payback. Democratic leaders can tout having more diverse, battleground states (with some exceptions) in their first five. But those gains dont come without losses. In particular, rural Americans have lost their voice among early states. Iowa offered rural representation and, in fact, is closer to the national average of rural-to-urban residents than any of the new first five states. According to the U.S. Census, the United States has an average of 93 people per square mile. Iowa has 57 people per square mile. The next closest state to the national average is New Hampshire with 154 per square mile. South Carolina, Michigan and Georgia all have 170 or more people per square mile. While Nevada is even less densely populated than Iowa, nearly all of its population comes from the metro areas of Las Vegas and Reno. The removal of Iowa from the DNCs first five primary states is a clear pivot toward urban voters and away from rural voters. About 20% of the nation is rural, according to the Census. Thats an important swath of the country and makes up 43% of Iowa, where farms and small towns create the states backbone. Iowa Democrats have had a good run vetting Democratic candidates over the past 50 years. And those candidates who spoke from straw bales, frequented diners and came face-to-face with humble, practical, earnest and friendly Iowans had the opportunity to come away with a sense of what rural America is all about. Democrats will lose that in 2024. And thats a shame. We appreciate that Republicans will keep Iowa as its first primary state. The welcome mat is out. Reports of Chinese hospital that was overcrowded due to the COVID-19 breakout, causing more death in the mainland. China Hospital Runs Out of Beds, Rooms In the corridors of health facilities in Beijing, China's capital city, sick people, the majority of whom are older, have been lying on gurneys and getting oxygen while sitting in wheelchairs, reported Republic World. Last Thursday, the east of the city's Chuiyangliu hospital was congested with recent arrivals patients. And although ambulance crews continued to take those in need, all rooms were taken by noon time. Most urgent incidents have been triaged rapidly by overstressed doctors and nurses. The uptick in critically ill patients requiring hospital treatment emerged after China was forced to abandon the most stringent global epidemic restrictions last quarter. Nearly three years of lockdowns, travel restrictions, and closings used to hurt the economy and prompted protest marches never seen since the late 1980s. Furthermore, the European Union "actively urged" its member countries, on Wednesday, to necessitate pre-departure COVID-19 screening of travelers from China. EU nations have placed a wide range of prohibitions on visitors from China in the last week, having broken their previous commitment to behave collectively, noted AP News. Italy is the first member of the bloc to demand coronavirus tests for air travelers who arrived from China in 2020 because of the high death toll that country has faced; nevertheless, Spain and France followed quickly by adopting their policies. It occurred as a consequence of the US demanding that all Chinese passengers reveal a negative test outcome within the preceding 48 hours of departing. Read Also: Joe Biden Announces New Migration Plan To Crack Down on Illegal Crossings Ahead of Border Visit China had also warned of "countermeasures" if any such policies were foisted across the bloc, mentioned Yahoo. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization, voiced alarm last Wednesday about the utter lack of outbreak data from the Chinese government. COVID-19 Breakout Threatens Older People in China The Chinese government is trying to vax the majority of senior citizens, but the prevalence of scandals with fake medicines has affected the elderly worse, citing NY1. Many of the local vaccines are thought to be less effective than mRNA jabs like the ones in the west. WHO Calls China To Reveal Accurate COVID-19 Data To use an "extremely limited" definition of COVID mortalities, a senior World Health Organization (WHO) representative has heavily criticized China's statistical numbers for underplaying the real effects of the coronavirus epidemic in the country. Mike Ryan, WHO's emergencies director, spoke to reporters last Wednesday, stating that the numbers given by the Chinese government are not reflective of the actual effect of the disease as hospitals are getting stretched, with too many ICU admissions and many deaths, per Al Jazeera. These reactions came as many destinations for Chinese travelers have locked down any entry via travel prohibitions; due to the outbreak in the mainland. Many hospitals and crematoriums are logged shut by the number of sick, dying, and those dead from the virus. Such a deluge comes as the Chinese government has lifted its policy of three years already. In Shanghai, a senior doctor said that 70% might be sick with COVID-19 last Tuesday, as Chinese hospitals does not have enough space brought by the COVID-19 breakout, registering more cases. Related Article: Further Details on China's Current COVID-19 Breakout Urged by Top WHO Advisers @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. More has happened in the life of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein since She Said was released in the fall. More lawsuits. More accusations. More MeToo. The film, however, doesnt skimp on the newsgathering process. Some of the reporting moments seem crafted, not spontaneous. And when the two reporters finally get to ask questions, those questions sound like they were carefully vetted by an attorney before they were uttered. Part of that could be the case Weinstein is still in the news, still on trial, facing charges of criminal sexual assault and rape. Part of it also could be a matter of staying focused. Too much attention to the reporters (played by Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan) could shift the story and make this like Spotlight or The Paper. Interestingly, there are moments that seem lifted from All the Presidents Men. She Said differs in its technology. Woodward and Bernstein pounded on typewriters; Mulligans Megan Twohey and Kazans Jodi Kantor use laptops and cellphones. Much, in fact, is carried out on phones, which must have been a challenge for director Maria Schrader. Even the New York Times new building seems flat. But when the two begin their work, interviews pop to life. Jennifer Ehle, in particular, is incredible as a woman detailing her experience with Weinstein and the impression it left. One by one, these gems of acting slip in, until the newspapers editors have to decide if theyre going to go ahead with the story or fold. When they get Weinstein on the phone, Andre Braugher is particularly good as the editor who isnt going to play games. Patricia Clarkson is winning, too, as the editor who guides the reporters through a mass of information and sources. While the real Ashley Judd is here, other actresses are either shot from a distance or dealt with through phone calls. Interestingly, She Said begins with women alleging that Donald Trump assaulted them. That story didnt seem like such a hand wringer, but the Weinstein one does. When he confronts management (not unlike John Mitchell in All the Presidents Men), Weinstein is allowed time to respond. Theres mention of Ronan Farrows similar story but She Said doesnt detail where his lands next to the one from the Times. Mulligan and Kazan get their emotional moments at home (both are mothers, both wrestle with the work/family balance) but are deadly serious at work almost too serious. The film never covers the down moments or show reporters doing anything but interviewing. (How they can get work done in those small cubicles is anyones guess.) When editors gather around a computer, ready to publish on the web, you can sense the anticipation. While it talks about a bigger problem in Hollywood, She Said is very focused on Weinstein. It alludes to the intimidation that hangs over other professions and shows how valuable one person speaking out can be. She Said stays on course. A sequel could reveal just how Weinsteins ways have been a way of life in Hollywood. You'll find concierge service, gift baskets and gourmet treats, but they're not for you. They're for your pet. With more than 4,800 searches a month for pet-friendly vacations in the United States, hotels and vacation rentals are rolling out the red carpet for the furriest travelers to meet a growing demand for pet-friendly travel experiences. Using data from Vrbo on pet-friendly accommodations in the 50 most populous cities in the United States, vacation experts from Family Destinations Guide uncovered the best destinations for travelers looking to bring along their four-legged friends. From beach towns to major cities, these U.S. cities are the best places to create lasting travel memories with your furriest travel companion. Family Destinations Guide found that warm-weather cities in the south and southwest proved to be the most pet-friendly destinations for travelers in the United States. Cities in Texas, California and Florida largely swept the top spots, offering the most pet-friendly accommodations in the country: 1. Houston, Texas 2. Dallas, Texas 3. San Diego, California 4. Jacksonville, Florida 5. Orlando, Florida 6. San Antonio, Texas 7. Phoenix, Arizona 8. Los Angeles, California 9. Chicago, Illinois 10. New York, New York 11. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 12. Las Vegas, Nevada 13. Denver, Colorado 14. Austin, Texas 15. Seattle, Washington Lone Star State a hot spot for pet parents Houston proved to be the most pet-friendly travel destination in the United States, offering an astonishing 478 pet-friendly accommodation listings on Vrbo alone. For locals, it's no surprise. Visit Houston highlights pet-friendly spots on its website, including specific destinations, events and accommodations perfect for travelers bringing along their dogs. Texas cities Dallas, San Antonio and Austin followed close behind on the list, with 470, 463, and 416 pet-friendly places to stay, respectively. 52% of pet owners only stay at accommodations that allow furry friends, and rental accommodations like Vrbo aren't the only ones getting in on the pet-friendly travel trend. Hotels are taking note in a big way. In the pet-obsessed Dallas-Fort Worth area, Hotel Drover offers a dedicated "Happy Tails Concierge" to help guests navigate the hotel's ample pet-friendly amenities. From complimentary beds, bowls and leashes to arranging dog walking and grooming services to sharing recommendations on where to explore the area with a pet in tow, it's a dream for any pet parent. Throwing travelers a bone Many hotels are changing their policies to attract travelers and their furry companions. In the country's fifth most pet-friendly travel destination of Orlando, JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa extends an invite to cats and dogs under 40 pounds. They launched the program for the first time last year. "We also know how important and fun it is for people to travel with their pets," said Vibeke Sansone, director of sales and marketing for the resort, referencing recent trends toward pet-friendly travel. The luxury property in Orlando's upscale Bonnet Creek neighborhood welcomes furry family members with a toy, water bowl and waste bags, offering designated pet-friendly areas. Big cities, big amenities While warm-weather destinations around the country came out ahead as the most pet-friendly destinations for travelers, larger northern cities also hold their own. Chicago and New York made the top 10 list, with 440 and 439 pet-friendly accommodation listings on Vrbo alone. Especially in the winter, accommodations are getting more creative to make colder climates more comfortable for traveling pets and pet parents. New York's Crowne Plaza HY36 even offers a seasonal Coats For Canines program, making dog jackets available upon request at the front desk, a hit with travelers taking Fido along for Christmas in New York and beyond. From dog parks to jet planes If these pet amenities sound incredible, wait until you hear how luxury travelers are pampering their four-legged friends. After seeing an 86% uptick in the number of pet-related travel requests received over the last two years, VistaJet, a global private aviation company, introduced a VistaPet program for fliers. The program includes training hostesses in pet vital signs, animal behavior and CPR procedures. Travelers can look forward to a special in-flight pet menu, handmade sleep mats and amenity kits complete with treats baked by Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux for The Dog House. Pet parents know to spare no expense to pamper their furriest family member. Dog days of travel: 6 accessories for a trip with pups Pack the travel bag with fun Hit the road with enrichment toys and accessories that feed pups spirit while soothing his soul. SodaPup offers a collection of American-made, FDA-compliant items, including natural rubber chew toys that double as treat dispensers. The corn on the cob treat dispenser ($11.99) helps focus a dogs energy, calms anxiety and provides a puzzle as he figures out how to get to the food inside. For power chewers, the mod bone ($10.99) has small holes that can be filled with peanut butter or other soft foods and lets your dog go to town, chewing as aggressively as he likes while discouraging problem chewing. An enrichment mat ($11.99) featuring a fun jigsaw pattern can also be spread with a soft treat to entertain, reduce anxiety and promote fresh breath. sodapup.com The dont-leave-home-without-it kit Pack Animal Essentials natural pet travel kit ($39) for those little hiccups that seem to accompany any trip. Formulas include Tranquility Blend, Super Immune and Daily Digestion a certified-organic combo of peppermint, fennel seed, chamomile and ginger root, for fresh breath and a healthy tummy. Each all-natural herbal remedy can be served on little Wellness Bite treats, made with wholesome ingredients and designed to absorb up to 20 drops of the tincture formulas. Each kit includes three 1-oz formula bottles and the Wellness Bites and comes in a hemp-gusseted zipper bag. animalessentials.com Snuggly sleep Bring along PupShows orthopedic cuddler bed (from $54.95), a puffy, fluffy new favorite spot for him to snooze. Running from small to extra-extra-large, the beds are made from human-grade materials and designed to ease joint pain. These cuddle cups are also proven to ease anxiety, creating a sense of security that will have pups nodding off almost as soon as they make their nest thanks to the construction of the beds center. It is made of multiple pieces a puppy can happily rearrange or dig into to find his most comfortable position. The bed has a protective and waterproof (and washable) foam cover (no zipper) with a non-skid, rubberized bottom. pup-show.com Travel like a (furry) king Pups travel in comfort and style with Bark n Bags fashionable and eco-friendly CheckerBarc pet carrier ($80/small; $85/medium) in hand-loomed cotton canvas. Featuring locking zipperheads and ventilating mesh on two sides, the carrier has a machine-washable polar fleece liner, plus top and side entries and roomy pockets. It is a comfortable carry with padded handle wrap and shoulder strap. Bonus: it fits under most airline seats. barknbag.com Unleash your dogs style From Wolfgang Man & Beasts aptly named GreatEscape collection are a collar, leash and comfort harness (from $19.99) featuring outdoor-themed patterns that inspire trotting off into the great unknown. These machine-washable dog accessories are designed to work together to give the human and the humansBFF a sense of security while also giving Fido a style upgrade. wolfgangusa.com A spa treatment in hand Pamper your pooch with the award-winning HandsOn Gloves all-in-one shedding, bathing and grooming mitts ($24.99). Not only do these nylon gloves with their non-abrasive rubber nodules quickly clean up pup after a day at the park, beach or trails, but they also let you give him a gentle, relaxing rub-down. The gloves come in multiple sizes and wear comfortably, with scrubbing nodules on the palms and fingers and a secure hook-and-loop fastener. They stimulate circulation and distribute natural oils for a healthy skin and coat. handsongloves.com WATERLOO Volunteers restoring a house in the Church Row Neighborhood keep a note from a child close at hand as a reminder of why they do the work. The note, laminated and stapled to the framework, reads thank you for bilding our hous we relliy need this. Its just one of the vacated or abandoned houses Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity is completely rehabilitating for qualified families. Even more houses will go through this process after U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson asked for 15 community projects to be earmarked from the $1.7 trillion spending package which President Biden signed last month. However, the Iowa Republican voted against the bill, saying in a statement on her congressional website it included wasteful spending. I was successful in securing investments for Iowa in this legislation and am glad they were included in the final bill, she said in the statement. However, House Republicans were shut out of the last-minute negotiations and the end product did not respect taxpayers or address the dire border crisis. Regardless of the vote Hinson cast, 13 of her requests were included $1 million toward the Waterloo-based Habitat for Humanity chapter among them. The organization is working to create 20 new homeownership opportunities and complete over 40 critical home repairs, according to Executive Director Ali Parrish. She said the $1 million will add to that effort with work happening in the Walnut and Church Row neighborhoods. The Church Row Neighborhood is located between West Sixth Street and U.S. Highway 63 and extends from U.S. Highway 218 to Kimball Avenue at the Six Corners intersection. The Walnut Neighborhood is bounded by Franklin Street, U.S. Highway 63, Dane Street and East Fourth Street. Habitat for Humanity has already seen a number of housing projects in the area. Parrish said there are a lot of houses that need to be rehabbed. One example is 921 W. Second St. The skinny, two story house is completely gutted on the inside and ready for renovations. Parrish said the organization works with the city of Waterloo to acquire vacant houses. The city gains ownership of properties which are deemed blighted and abandoned through a process outlined in Iowa Code 657A. Without Habitats interest, the city would usually demolish the houses. One of the things that were doing with our neighborhood work is called asset-based development, she said. When you think about assets in a neighborhood, a lot of times historic structures can be assets in a neighborhood and when theyre all torn down, then youre kind of left with a completely different neighborhood. She said another reason the organization is rehabbing instead of rebuilding is because the land is platted for what houses sit there now. As for families acquiring the houses, Parrish said those accepted into the program are given the opportunity to purchase a home contrary to some common misconceptions. With our homeownership program, nothing is given away, she said. They actually purchase the home from Habitat at an affordable mortgage. She explained that most participants receive no-interest loans. The new homeowner then will pay property taxes and carry a mortgage. Habitats Marketing Director Jenna Jordan said the projects are about developing the neighborhood as a whole, and not just the dozens of houses. Both Parrish and Jordan said after talking to those who live in the neighborhood, the main concerns are about absentee landlords, safety and lack of streetlights, safe places for kids to play, and parks. Were just one piece of the puzzle of all that community development, Jordan said, mentioning other local organizations that help with the effort. Were honored that we get the chance to play the role that we do. Parrish said theres a lot of history that left the neighborhoods in their present condition. As for Church Row, she said it was hit hard by the 1980s farm crisis. Many workers at John Deere were laid off and the Rath Packing Plant closed. Waterloo lost thousands of residents when the jobs went away, and many of those people lived close to where they worked. Parrish said the loss of population and decrease in property values provided the opportunity for investors to buy those properties and convert the houses into rentals. She said of the 1,400 properties in Church Row, 80% are rentals. Consultants doing a survey to gain historical designation for the Walnut Neighborhood said in a previous Courier story that it began declining after World War II. Banks redlined the area as a risky place for housing investment, causing suburban flight. Redlining is a discriminatory practice which denies financial services to people in certain areas, usually based on race or ethnicity. Parrish said although the work Habitat for Humanity does is tangible, the organization is also helping to restore something internal for people. Its building hope, its helping people to see there is a way, there are people that care, she said. Lets do this, and then we can address the multiple things together. CEDAR FALLS Dennis Downs has passed the baton. After more than 40 years directing the Cedar Falls Municipal Band, Downs has officially stepped down from the podium. It was a bittersweet decision, Downs said. Im so proud of the band. Weve accomplished a lot. But Im 75. Retiring is difficult, but the mind and body are telling me its time, all the things that go along with aging. Its especially difficult because Ive known the people, the players professionally and personally for so many years, he explained. Several conductors are expected to share duties through the bands concert season, which begins in June. The weekly concert series runs through July in Overman Park. Meanwhile, the bands board will be looking at options for a new conductor. Dennis has shared his talents, enthusiasm and dedication with us along with the entire Cedar Valley. Dennis love for and generosity with the band will be felt for many years to come, said Judy Larkin, president of the Cedar Falls Municipal Band. Downs is one of only six conductors in the municipal bands 131-year history. Organized in 1891, it is Iowas oldest municipal band. Downs joined in 1980, playing trombone, and took over from Tony Lund as conductor in 1984. A native of Omaha, Neb., Downs earned his undergraduate degree in 1969 at Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb., and his masters degree from the University of Northern Colorado. He taught orchestra and band in Nebraska and Kansas, primarily focusing on orchestra and strings. Downs moved to Cedar Falls in 1979 and taught orchestra in the Cedar Falls Community School District for 29 years, serving as music department chair from 1981 to 1991. In addition, Downs played cello for 14 years in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra, as well as back-up bass and guitar for more than 20 years with the Don Wendt Trio. He continues to play trombone with the Sugar Daddys Jazz Band. Larkin said Downs is leaving a tremendous legacy for the Cedar Valley. He served as project director for the band shell in Overman Park, including the design, construction and fundraising, a three-year project that began in 1993 and culminated with its opening in 1996. The band shell is home to numerous open air performances in the summer and fall months and is prized for its classical design and good acoustics. The band shell was built on community donations. He was touched and felt so fortunate to have the communitys support. Dennis took great pride in the fact that no city or county tax money went to build the band shell, Larkin explained. Later Downs guided the bands re-location in 2002 to a new, more accessible location at 211 Washington St. Previously, the band had rehearsed since 1911 on the top floor of an historic building on Main Street. In 2020, Downs received the Melendy Spirit Award as recognition for his outstanding contribution to Cedar Falls, positively affecting its overall quality of life through philanthropic or other means, according to the Cedar Falls Community Foundation. A Florida winter snowbird these days, Downs plays with the Suncoast Concert Band in Sarasota, Fla., during the months he is there. Ive done that for the past seven seasons. Its a 50-member band that performs every two weeks. That keeps my chops in shape, the retiree said. Larkin said Downs is still expected to be active with the Cedar Falls Municipal Band. He did so much with the band, not just conducting, so well be dividing up all the things he did among a number of people, Larkin explained. Downs left a wealth of information which will allow the band to carry on its traditions, preserve its rich history and continue its reputation for musicianship and high-quality performances. Ill be around this summer. Ill play a role as an advisor for the municipal band, but Ill be a consumer and not a producer, Downs said. Ill be cheering on the band sitting out in Overman Park, instead of the band shell. Waterloo and Cedar Falls municipal bands through the years 061616tsr-waterloo-municipal-band-01 061618mp-John-Deere-100th-Anniversary-Celebration-23 061616tsr-waterloo-municipal-band-05 061616tsr-waterloo-municipal-band-04 Cedar Falls Municipal Band 062417mp-Sturgis-Falls-parade-11 050716mp-CF-Beach-House-Opening-2 090715tsr-cf-municipal-band-01 Afghan mess What a mess! Many of us still remember the humiliating sight of our helicopters leaving Vietnam with people holding on to the outside and some falling to their deaths. We said that this would never again happen to this country. It happened again in Afganistan soon after Joe Biden took office (only much worse). Our brave men and women in the military did their job, but it was President Bidens decision, against the advice of his military, that caused the death of many in Afganistan and humiliated us again. The Obamacare bill was passed on Christmas Eve 2009 with opposition from all of the Republicans. The Democrats all voted yes on a bill that would not even be fully written until six months later. Now the Democrats plus 18 Republicans have voted to accept a bill that nobody has fully read and is not even completed two days before Christmas, $ 1.7 trillion and over 4,100 pages long. I knew things were not looking good when the Republicans came out of the meeting looking like little puppies that got caught piddling on the new carpet. A few years ago people were concerned about a $21 trillion dollar debt. Now were over $31 trillion. Why couldnt they just wait a few more days? Republicans, Mitch McConnell has got to go! This is terrible. Jerald Bartlett, Waterloo Xenophobic Joe As of Jan. 5, the United States will require all travelers from China to test negative for the coronavirus prior to travel to this country. Also, it doesnt matter if you are vaccinated or not. Less than three years ago, President Donald Trump imposed a travel ban restricting travel from China, the origin of the virus. Candidate Joe Biden then called Trump xenophobic, declaring, This is no time for Donald Trumps record of hysterical xenophobia and fearmongering to lead the way instead of science. Where is the outrage of the mainsream media now, declaring Joe Biden xenophobic? Oh, thats right, now science is leading the way! Why if youre vaccinated do you need to be tested before travel? Oh, right again, the vaccine doesnt prevent you from getting the virus, nor spreading it. Now, we are finding out that the government colluded with Twitter to not allow any information released regarding treating the virus other than what the FBI allowed. Where did free speech go, especially in the exchange of ideas in the medical and research community, instead of being suppressed? We have all been duped, all in the name of science. What a joke! Gary Fober, Cedar Falls Send Trump to Russia My suggestion, for those who really care about justice for all in America, is to send Trump and his family to live with Putin in exchange for any and all detainees there, including Paul Whelan. Give us a break and send him on his way. That would make for a Happy New Year. He does not deserve to live here any longer as the traitor he is. Good riddance, Donnie! Ron Heth, Cedar Falls Congress should act Q: Why are you calling on the Biden administration to make border security its New Years resolution? The above question was on Sen. Grassleys weekly post. Unless I was really asleep in civics class, the Congress makes and enacts laws, and the Executive Branch either signs or vetoes those laws. It seems to me that Sen. Grassley is passing the buck on his and the Congress responsibility to enact a laws. So maybe its time for Sen. Grassley to show some leadership and help fix our immigration system. Tim Murphy, Waterloo As of Jan. 5, the United States will require all travelers from China to test negative for the coronavirus prior to travel to this country. Also, it doesn't matter if you are vaccinated or not. Less than three years ago, President Donald Trump imposed a travel ban restricting travel from China, the origin of the virus. Candidate Joe Biden then called Trump "xenophobic," declaring, "This is no time for Donald Trump's record of hysterical xenophobia and fearmongering to lead the way instead of science." Where is the outrage of the mainsream media now, declaring Joe Biden "xenophobic?" Oh, that's right, now science is leading the way! Why if you're vaccinated do you need to be tested before travel? Oh, right again, the vaccine doesn't prevent you from getting the virus, nor spreading it. Now, we are finding out that the government colluded with Twitter to not allow any information released regarding treating the virus other than what the FBI allowed. Where did free speech go, especially in the exchange of ideas in the medical and research community, instead of being suppressed? We have all been duped, all in the name of "science." What a joke! It will be a cold day in Waterloo, with temperatures in the 30s. The forecast calls for it to be a nippy 34 degrees. A 20-degree low is forecasted. We will see a mix of sun and clouds. The area will see gentle winds today, with forecast models showing only 8 mph wind conditions coming up from Southwest. This report is created automatically with weather data provided by TownNews.com. Keep an eye on wcfcourier.com for forecast information and severe weather updates. Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine (8 January 2023) Part 1 (read Part 2) The combined grouping of Russian troops (forces) observed the ceasefire along the entire line of contact from 12 p.m. on 6 January until 24 p.m. on 7 January in the areas of the special military operation. Within the ceasefire, the AFU continued to conduct heavy shelling of residential areas and Russian positions. In Kupyansk and Krasniy Liman directions, the AFU has fired 78 artillery and mortar shells. In Soledar, Avdeyevka and Maryinka directions, the enemy used large-calibre artillery fire 155 times. More than AFU 160 large-calibre shells and 20 multiple-laucnh rockets have been fired at residential areas of Donetsk. The enemy opened artillery fire 89 times in Zaporozhye region. In Kherson and Krivoy Rog directions, Ukrainian artillery has been used 55 times. Russian forces return fire suppressed AFU artillery that had been firing on residential areas. After the end of the ceasefire in Kupyansk direction, Russian troops have attacked concentration areas of the AFU manpower and equipment near Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk Peoples Republic) and Sinkovka (Kharkov region). More than 30 Ukrainian servicemen, 1 infantry fighting vehicle, 1 armoured personnel carrier and 2 motor vehicles have been eliminated. In addition, 2 enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been eliminated near Kotlyarovka (Kharkov region), and Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk Peoples Republic). In Krasniy Liman direction, after the end of the ceasefire regime, Russian units have carried out artillery strikes against 2 attack groups of the AFU near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic) and Serebryanka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), as well as against concentration areas of enemy troops and equipment near Makeyevka and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic). As a result of the strikes, more than 50 Ukrainian servicemen, 3 armoured fighting vehicles, 1 pick-up truck and 1 motor vehicle have been eliminated. In addition, the AFU sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been destroyed near Artyomovka and Serabryanka. In Donetsk direction, Russian artillery strikes have thwarted the enemys attempt to counterattack Russian positions with a company of up to the 54th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU in the direction Svornoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Up to 70 Ukrainian personnel, 2 armoured fighting vehicles, and 1 pick-up truck have been eliminated. In South Donetsk direction, the actions of the AFUs sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been prevented near Novomikhaylovka, Vladimirovka, Pavlovka and Neskuchnoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). More than 40 Ukrainian servicemen, 1 armoured personnel carrier and 3 motor vehicles have been eliminated. Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery have neutralised munition depots of the AFU 95th Airborne Assault Brigade and the 60th Mechanised Brigade near Krasniy Liman and Konstantinovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), as well as 84 artillery units in firing positions, manpower and military equipment in 117 districts. In the course of the counter-battery fight, artillery crews of the howitzer battery of the 59th Mechanised Infantry Brigade and Grad MLRS at firing positions have been eliminated near Karlovka and Konstantinovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). #MoD #Russia #Ukraine #report @mod_russia_en Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine (8 January 2023) Part 2 (read Part 1) The Russian Aerospace Forces fighter aircraft has shot down five Ukrainian Air Forces aircraft. 1 Ukrainian Su-27 fighter has been shot down near Lozovoye (Kharkov region). 1 AFU Su-24 aircraft has been shot down near Izyum (Kharkov region). 2 Ukrainian Su-25 aircraft have been shot down near Nikolaypolye and Novyy Donbass. 1 Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft has been shot down near Vesyoloye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Air defence facilities have destroyed 5 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Patalakhovka, Kuzyomovka, Kuzmino, Kremennaya and Pshenichnoye (Lugansk Peoples Republic). In addition, 10 HIMARS and Uragan multiple-launch rockets have been intercepted near Kremennaya (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Orekhov (Zaporozhye region), Stepnoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and Donetsk. 1 U.S.-manufactured HARM anti-radar missile has been shot down near Kurdyumovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In total, 365 airplanes and 199 helicopters, 2,848 unmanned aerial vehicles, 400 air defence missile systems, 7,449 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 972 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 3,787 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 7,965 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. As a result of the criminal attack of Kiev regime, in the first minutes of January 2023, against the location of temporary deployment of Russian military personnel near Makeyevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), the command of the combined group of troops carried out a retaliatory operation. Over the past 24 hours, Russian reconnaissance assets have uncovered and reliably confirmed through several independent channels the temporary deployment points of the AFU in Kramatorsk. There were over 700 Ukrainian servicemen in dormitory 28 and over 600 servicemen in dormitory 47. More than 600 Ukrainian servicemen have been eliminated as a result of a massive missile strike on these locations of temporary deployment of the AFU units. #MoD #Russia #Ukraine #report @mod_russia_en WtR The Associated Students of Western Nevada (ASWN), otherwise known as student government, is an elected group of students who represent the student body of Western Nevada College. These students, who attend the Carson City, Douglas and Fallon campuses, coordinate student activities and organizations, and help assess student needs. Any student who is enrolled at WNC can be a member of the ASWN. If you have any questions about the ASWN or how we can help you, please feel free to contact us at ASWN@wnc.edu or by phone at 775-445-3324. Actors Moon Chae-won, right, and Lee Sun-kyun, center, in a scene from SBS series "Payback." The series follows the two as they fight against a dark, corrupt financial cartel. Courtesy of SBS By Lee Gyu-lee SBS' new series, "Payback," starring actors Lee Sun-kyun and Moon Chae-won, is delivering a fast-paced, action-packed good-beats-evil story. "'Payback' is about a revenge story of (characters) fighting against the evils in this world," series director Lee Won-tae said during an online press conference for the series, Friday. "The important theme (of the series) is the corruption and injustice evident in society and human desire. When I got the script, I liked the energy the story had. It has different portrayals of people dealing with money and power. But most importantly, I thought we could offer a message that justice can win so I decided to lead it," Lee said. The series debut of the director, who previously led the thriller film, "The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil" (2019), unfolds the story of a private equity firm owner, Eun Yong (Lee Sun-kyun), and a military judicial officer, Park Joon-kyung (Moon), going against a dark, powerful financial cartel. The first episode, which premiered on Friday, showed Yong's past and how he came to collect his wealth while living a nomadic life in Mongolia. Yong was a smart boy but as an adolescent, went to a juvenile detention center for trying to rob a bank. After he met Joon-kyung's mom, who took care of him like her own son, he became a part of Joon-kyung's family. Trying to get himself out of the loan shark business with its powerful boss, Yong leaves Korea for Mongolia, remotely running a private equity firm so as to gain enormous wealth. When Joon-kyung calls for his help to find the truth behind the entangled corruption that led to her mother's suicide and take revenge, Yong comes back to Korea. A scene from the series, "Payback" / Courtesy of SBS The series, written by Kim Won-suk, who co-scripted the smash-hit series, "Descendants of the Sun," kicked off with a good start an 8.7-percent viewership rating on Friday although the rating slightly slipped to 7.4 percent for Saturday's episode. Lee Sun-kyun and Moon recalled that they both were hesitant to take the lead roles at first. "It wasn't a type of genre I've done before. And I felt like I'm not the right fit to play a charismatic, serious character. But I liked that the script had energy and was fast-paced, and because it felt like it has such a powerful genre, I wanted to take a stab at it," Lee said. "The biggest reason was the director. I had high hopes for the director, seeing how he has made such a powerful movie (with his previous work)." Moon said that she took the role because of actor Lee. "I've never played this kind of role so I was hesitant to do it. But I've always dreamed of working with him. So the biggest reason I took the role is him," she said. "Because I've been wanting to do a project together with him, I was really happy throughout the filming. I understood why people praise him and felt I could learn a lot from him," she said. "Payback" airs on SBS Fridays and Saturdays at 10 p.m. The Milken Institute annually ranks U.S. cities based on job, salary and high-tech growth. In its 2022 rankings, the top four large cities (Provo, Austin, Salt Lake City and Phoenix) are in states bordering New Mexico. Six of the top 10 cities and eight of the top 15 cities border New Mexico. Albuquerque, benefitting from negative COVID economic impact in other cities, grew to 75th overall, but ranked 20th in 12-month job growth and 20th in broadband access; Albuquerques lowest ranked category was 151st for 2015-2020 high-tech GDP growth. A $100 million investment by the New Mexico Investment Council in the venture capital firm, Americas Frontier Fund, hopes to convert patents by New Mexico federal labs and universities into New Mexico-based companies. This is a worthwhile experiment for New Mexico and departs from its governments usual obsession with social programs. The New Mexico economy is stagnant! Unemployment is a meaningless metric of the political class; median household income is a much better measure of the 2022 economy. Converting New Mexicos median household income from current year dollars into 2019 dollars shows the average median household income between 1998 and 2019 was $50,100 with a standard deviation of $2,400. By comparison, in 2019 U.S. median household income was almost $17,000 higher than New Mexicos. Bernalillo Countys median household income was lower in 2019 than in 1998. New Mexico may soon replace Appalachia as the standard for stagnant economic growth. New Mexico is already the U.S. poster-child for demonstrating that federal spending doesnt grow a states economy. The top four Milken-ranked large cities have streamlined regulatory environments so they are quickly navigable by companies. These also have a university that provides a well-educated STEMM (science, technology, engineering, math, medicine) workforce and a steady stream of STEMM-based, growth-economy startups. None are home to a large government research laboratory. All four have booming high-tech economies that attract young STEMM professionals. Brigham Young University, University of Texas, University of Utah and Arizona State University (ASU has the largest engineering school in the U.S.) are major forces for local economic growth. Phoenix is the fastest growing city in the U.S. largely because ASU, under good leadership and the enlightened ASU faculty, puts Arizonas economic future at the top of its priority list. Utah is also home to Logan, Milkens top-ranked small city. Milken attributes Logans success to its diversity of high-tech companies and to its biomedical manufacturing cluster. Access to engineering talent from local universities has made Logan a magnet for attracting high-tech companies. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has announced actions across the U.S. to expand STEMM education into economically deprived areas. These programs span all federal agencies and are intended to bring more minorities into the STEMM-based workforce and bolster Americas competitiveness. Even though 60% of the New Mexicos population is technically classified as minority, in our governors inaugural address no mention was made about STEMM education in New Mexico. Instead, New Mexico was claimed to be thriving when it is the states budget that is thriving because of oil and gas revenues. Thriving state government creates opportunities for our state to invest in its economic future. Crime, housing, free college, streamlined health services, free child-care, homelessness and abortion protection are important issues, but addressing these will not ensure NMs economic future. We must make massive investment in STEMM education. James Gover earned a masters degree in electrical engineering and a doctorate in nuclear engineering from the University of New Mexico and spent 35 years with Sandia Labs, including five years working on energy research and development and 10 years working on national policy. He also spent 13 years at Kettering University on research and teaching of electric vehicle technology. We were disappointed in the Albuquerque Journals Jan. 4 editorial NM right to ask for accounting of nuclear waste, which praises the New Mexico Environment Departments list of proposed changes to WIPPs hazardous waste permit. If implemented, these changes would massively strengthen the agencys future authority over WIPP and other unrelated activities such as transportation, repository siting, and waste generator site activity. This could allow the state to halt shipments for a wide variety of reasons, including mere allegations of problems by anyone. Many of the proposed permit conditions are well outside of the states authority to regulate hazardous waste under federal or state law. If implemented, we also believe many of these provisions could result in an early closure of WIPP, well before its mandated cleanup mission is completed, resulting in the loss of a vital national asset and thousands of jobs. For example, the NMED is proposing a provision where the state permit is automatically revoked if certain changes are made to the federal Land Withdrawal Act, which defines the scope of WIPP. The Land Withdrawal Act is subject to the will of the United States Congress, the highest legislative authority in our land. Additional provisions in the realm of accountability include the need for the WIPP to control how many shipments are coming out of Los Alamos versus other nuclear waste generators, which is not practical and for WIPP to track and report on progress regarding another repository for transuranic waste, which is far beyond WIPPs statutory responsibility. Advocates of the NMEDs proposal are mentioning other nuclear activities in New Mexico, such as the Trinity Site and uranium mining, as justification for the need to set boundaries. They are getting tough on WIPP, they say, because the federal government has ignored them in the past. However, its a mistake from the starting point to lump in WIPP, which safely offers a national solution, with these concerns. Its also a mistake to ignore the numerous benefits, including the existence of two national labs, thousands of jobs and national cleanup success, resulting from both WIPP and New Mexicos overall nuclear legacy. Its also a mistake to abuse what should be a neutral regulatory process to make these points. It is certainly our impression that the residents of Carlsbad and the surrounding area did not have any voice when the New Mexico Environment Department was drafting these proposed modifications. We believe it is a mistake to dismiss the viewpoints of those who live and work near a facility. What it boils down to is that WIPP has an incredible safety record in terms of transportation, emplacement, and regulatory compliance. It is very important that WIPP be allowed to continue from a state point of view, as newer missions at Los Alamos mean that WIPP must remain open in order to resolve New Mexicos own cleanup needs. The NMEDs attempt to weaponize its hazardous waste permit is not the right approach. A record number of New Mexicans have already ensured their 2023 kicks off with a healthy start. More than 38,000 members have signed up or re-enrolled in health-care coverage through beWellnm, the states health insurance exchange. You still have time to put your health first; open enrollment ends on Jan. 15. Think health insurance is out of reach? More than 18,000 of those who signed up for coverage will pay less than $50 a month. In fact, 1 out of 3 people enrolling through beWellnm will pay $10 per month or less for coverage. Nearly 11,000 New Mexicans will pay nothing to have health insurance through the subsidies and assistance programs available only through bewellnm.com. In addition to those low-or-no premium costs, our new Turquoise plans provide eligible consumers with lower out-of-pocket costs like deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance. We know selecting an insurance plan can feel overwhelming and complex. Thats why beWellnm is here for you and your family. We want to ensure all New Mexicans are able to access primary and preventative care through quality, affordable insurance options that fit your needs. Put you and your family first today by visiting beWellnm.com and taking a look at coverage options. Our redesigned, user-friendly selection portal will walk you through step by step and allow you to compare plans, explain coverage benefits and determine the best insurance for your needs and budget. Need more help? You can also sign up to meet with an enrollment counselor for free through our website. As chief executive officer of beWellnm, I am grateful to serve our consumers and assist New Mexicans in finding affordable health coverage. Thank you to everyone who has already signed up and, if you havent, make sure to enroll before the Jan. 15 deadline. Bruce Gilbert is the CEO of beWellnm, New Mexicos official health insurance exchange. Editors Note: New Mexico Angels members, investors and start-up owners submit occasional columns on economic development and start-up opportunities in the state. The Angels unite individual investors to pool their resources, providing seed and early-stage capital to startup companies. When I moved to New Mexico more than 30 years ago, Albuquerque had a vibrant tech industry. Some of the biggest names in electronics were operating up and down the Rio Grande valley. Over time, a combination of events including the dot-com crash and declining investments in technology led many of these companies to move away or shutter their operations. Now, few people remember New Mexico as the tech hub it used to be. But that could change in the coming years. Two projects announced by the Department of Energy and led by Sandia National Laboratories are adding to the recent drumbeat of opportunities for New Mexican business leaders, entrepreneurs and investors to rebuild the states tech industry. Worth a total federal investment of more than $8 million, plus matching funds from partners over the next three years, the two projects will directly impact New Mexico by helping local small businesses in clean energy technology grow to become cornerstones of our regional economy, creating well paying, domestic, advanced manufacturing jobs in the process. I manage the team at Sandia Labs leading these two efforts. In my 25 years of experience working in partnerships between Sandia and businesses, Ive rarely seen a series of opportunities as potentially transformative for New Mexico as the ones we are experiencing now. The Energy Department initiatives coincide with the CHIPS and Science Act federal law signed in August to expand domestic semiconductor manufacturing, research and development of new technology, and workforce training and the Americas Frontier Fund, a new venture fund that has announced plans to operate extensively in New Mexico. Collaboration will be key to rebuilding the states tech economy. The first project Sandia is leading, which we call the C-4 Partnership Model, is in support of a new, 100,000-square-foot technology incubator in New Mexico. This will be a high-tech, shared manufacturing facility where companies, academia and national laboratories can come together to research and produce cutting-edge materials and advanced manufacturing solutions. These developments will help solve some of our nations most urgent challenges in climate and energy. The second project, which were calling the Boost Platform, focuses on identifying and removing systemic barriers to diverse startups partnering with national labs. Research consistently shows that only a sliver of venture capital funding goes to women and minority startup founders. This national disparity hits diverse states like New Mexico especially hard, making it exceptionally difficult for many of the innovators who live here to get a foothold in the marketplace. Partnerships with national laboratories can be one source of support to offset this imbalance. Our ecosystem benefits enormously from a State Investment Council willing to invest in tech transfer, and groups like the New Mexico Angels who enable early-stage growth. Our goal is to add value to this community by increasing the number of local spin outs around DOE lab technologies and creating a platform for labs and the venture community to collaborate. For these projects to succeed, Sandia needs the voices and perspectives of entrepreneurs across our beautiful, innovative state. We will be setting up community meetings in the future to listen to what diverse startups need. In the meantime, we invite members of New Mexicos business and investment community to email their ideas to my team at partnerships@sandia.gov. Or, come talk to us in person at that the Center for Collaboration and Commercialization inside the Lobo Rainforest Building at 101 Broadway NE in Downtown Albuquerque. Walk-ins are welcome. I am personally thrilled by these opportunities, but as a community we must seize the moment. This influx of federal dollars is only seed funding to kickstart a new, self-sufficient economy. It could be decades before we get another chance like this. Your elected representatives impact your daily life. Laws, zoning, school policies, taxes, health care, crime and punishment, drivers licenses, occupational licenses the list goes on are all derived from the people we put in public office. Elected representatives are elected to represent all the people in their designated area. Some elected officials made it a point in their victory speech to make a statement that they represent everyone served by the office. At every level, whether you voted for them or not, or even if you are not registered to vote they are paid by all taxpayers. That does not mean there will be agreement on all issues. It does mean public service. The right to cast a secret ballot has been a mainstay of the U.S. system of governance. Voting in secret, as opposed to a voice vote that was more common in the early part of U.S. history, guards against coercion and bribery. Right to petition your elected officials You have the right to contact your elected representatives and request him or her to work for the passage of laws you support or oppose those you do not; or ask for new laws. Contacting officials helps them know what their constituency thinks and what they want or dont want from government. Write a letter/email or request a meeting A staff member will read your request first. Tips to keep in mind to be effective. Keep it to one page, or 500 words by email. If writing about more than one issue, limit each letter to one issue. Issues are usually divided between staff members. State who you are and what you want. If writing about specific legislation, give the title and number. Boil your message down to 2-3 most important points. Tell your personal story. How are you affected? Be courteous and respectful. You may not get a reply. Keep a record of your communication. Encourage others affected by the issue to contact the elected official. If you care enough to make a social media post, then send a thoughtful message. If there is a public event, virtual meeting, or conference call held by the official, attend it. Introduce yourself to the official. If you cant meet them, then introduce yourself to the staff. Give them another copy of your letter or an updated letter as applicable. NM Legislature The state Legislatures opening day is Jan. 17, 2023. If there is an issue before the Legislature that you care about, now is the time to contact members. This website provides a link to finding your legislator, finding legislation, and more. There is a tab for webcast, including previously recorded meetings. There is a Whats Happening tab that includes a calendar for the session. www.nmlegis.gov/ County, city, local This group of elected officials are mostly considered part-time and may or may not have staff assigned to them. In most cases there are staff assigned to support their offices on specific issues and functions. There are department directors leading the responsibilities of the department. Committees or commissions may hear an issue before it goes before the City Council. If an issue is going before any of the groups, send your written comments with a copy to the council members. The deadlines for written comments to be part of the public record are posted on their websites. There are rules for speaking at the meetings, usually limiting your time to 1-2 minutes. Find your county commissioner: www.bernco.gov/county-manager/about-bernalillo-county/county-commission-maps/ www.sandovalcountynm.gov/commission/ www.sandovalcountynm.gov/commission/ Find your city councilor and mayor: www.cabq.gov/council/find-your-councilor www.cabq.gov/mayor/contact-us www.loslunasnm.gov/165/Mayor-and-Council https://rrnm.gov/212/City-Council-Districts School board members can be found with an internet search for school district. county clerk, treasurer and others can be found the same way. Members of Congress In addition to laws, U.S. House of Representatives offices have a long history of responding to constituents inquiries, often referred to as casework. If you have a problem navigating a federal agency, a request for assistance can be made to your representative. Common requests include problems with Social Security, Veterans Affairs, Medicare, or others. U.S. senators represent an entire state. Senators do provide casework assistance. The Senate is described as having a larger megaphone since they represent the entire state when addressing policy issues. Casework can affect policy. Representatives and senators can make nominations to the military academies. Find your member of Congress: /www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member It is important to vote, and there is work to do between elections to hold officials accountable. As Abraham Lincoln put it: Elections belong to the people. Its their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters. The uncertainty of oil and gas boom-and-bust cycles isnt necessarily about doom and gloom. Its a time for prudence and a time to reinvest these resources in a way that will pay off in the long run. Ryan McNeely, director, PFM Group Consulting It is a cautionary tale New Mexico leaders and lawmakers have heard for decades: our state is too financially reliant on the vagaries of the oil and gas market and we should not depend on one-time revenue for recurring expenditures. This warning has taken on new urgency as our state works to hit zero-carbon emissions in a matter of years. And yet, here it is, 2023, and the forecast of $3.6 billion-with-a-b in new revenue for the budget year that starts in July has many, from the Legislature up to our re-elected governor, prioritizing education, health care, behavioral health and affordable housing for the upcoming session. All are important needs to consider. And many of these recurring expenses would be covered with one-time oil-and-gas revenue. So what happens when O&G goes bust again? What happens when the day comes that we keep it in the ground? Thats why it is essential to make lasting investments with this boom, to set New Mexico up for success with investments that will attract industries, businesses and job creators, investments that will provide financial futures for our young people so they stay. Everyone going into the next legislative session should heed the wise, bipartisan counsel of folks that include Sen. George Munoz (Gallup Democrat and Senate Finance Committee chairman); Rep. Jason Harper (Rio Rancho Republican, House minority whip and member of that chambers Taxation & Revenue and Transportation, Public Works & Capital Improvements committees); and PFM Group Consulting, which last month warned a legislative panel that our state governments over-reliance on one industry for revenue creates long-term risk. Even more damning was PFMs statement New Mexico has a slow growth and high poverty economy, with a declining population, low workforce participation and a three-year poverty rate that exceeds every state but Louisiana and Mississippi. Unfortunately, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is in denial, crowing in her inaugural address this month that an act of imagination is no longer required to visualize a thriving New Mexico we are living it. Really? Too many statistics simply dont back that up. PFM, whose research and analysis of New Mexicos budget is funded by the Rockefeller Family Foundation, contends as Harper has argued for years and as Munoz points out in an op-ed in the Jan. 1 Sunday Journal theres actually a way to get to where the governor incorrectly believes we are. Its by making New Mexico a competitive place to work and live. And that comes from good-paying jobs, a fair and more transparent tax system and high-quality infrastructure. We would add targeting the next key industry and providing hand-ups, not handouts, to get more New Mexicans financially independent. Lawmakers need to seize the opportunity to finally: Lower the states gross-receipts tax rate and broaden whats subject to it by eliminating many of the hundreds of tax breaks. There are also GRT quirks that punish small businesses and entrepreneurs. Some say many of the loopholes are rarely used and wont bring in much revenue but the state has never been able to provide an accounting. It is past time to find out which tax breaks earn their keep and which dont, and to dump codes that keep wealth from locating here. Consider what taxes should be raised or lowered, and dedicate taxes on items to a related need, such as the tax on fuel to our crumbling highway/bridge system. Its hard to raise/add taxes when state revenues are high. But it is also past time to right-size N.M.s tax system. Invest in game-changing, one-time investments that include highways, water systems, bridges, airports, public transit, high-speed internet and EV charging. Munoz is right when he writes that the states important investments in education, from teacher raises to free college, will only pay off if our college graduates can live and work and thrive in New Mexico, and long-lasting investments in quality hardscape will help attract business and employers and retain our young people. And he pragmatically points out this is an area where we get the most bang for our bucks, as local spending is leveraged with federal matches. Determine what our states next major revenue stream(s) will be, and finally capitalize on what should be an amazing economic development synergy of national labs, military bases, research universities and market economy, be it pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and PPE; aerospace; microelectronics; advanced manufacturing; rare earth minerals; the defense industrial base; or something else. Turn that social benefits cliff into a slope. Too many New Mexicans are relegated to the ranks of the working poor because more hours, a raise, a promotion or second job will wipe out their more valuable food, child care and/or health benefits. Our labor force participation numbers are dismal (just over half of N.M.s working-age population, 56.7%, is actually working or looking for work). The benefits cliff discourages working as well as self-sufficiency, things every New Mexican deserves a shot at. Build on prior successes by creating additional permanent funds (as with early education) that are delivering amazing growth and investment returns. Munozs guest column closed with this: we can leverage this historic opportunity to set up New Mexico for success and mitigate the boom-bust cycle that has plagued our state for decades. Or, we can recklessly spend and find ourselves scrambling in a few years when oil and gas prices inevitably crash once again. We hope our leaders and lawmakers take the steps to do the former. This is a pivotal moment, and their decisions will determine whether the coming years budget will truly deliver a thriving New Mexico for all. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. EDGEWOOD Crysta, about 6, the long-haired Chihuahua, is starting to shed the trauma of the accident and her former life. She stays mostly out in the open and allows people to approach her. But Flora, 3, the blond Chihuahua about to give birth to five puppies, and Tinker Bell, 1, the red Chihuahua, also pregnant, prefer the presumed security found beneath furniture. I am pretty sure they are from a puppy mill, said Debbie Stubblefield, who is providing a foster home for the three small dogs in her Edgewood house. None of them have been spayed. All three have had puppies. Crysta, Flora and Tinker Bell are among 64 Chihuahuas that were rescued from a head-on crash between a van and tractor-trailer truck near Vaughn last week. Stubblefield named them after characters in animated films because who knows what their names are, or if they had names. As many as 110 Chihuahuas are believed to have been in the van. Eighteen were killed and more than 25 may be missing. There were five people in the van and two in the truck. All were transported to a hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. The dogs were put in the care of area animal rescue operations and shelters and most have now been placed in foster homes. Stubblefield got Crysta, Flora and Tinker Bell from East Mountain Companion Animal Project, where she serves as a volunteer. All of them were covered in feces, Stubblefield said. Ive only managed to bathe Crysta. Flora and Tinker Bell remain too frightened to submit to a scrubbing. They have been through a lot, Stubblefield said. Crysta has an eye infection. Tinker Bell has road rash on her nose and belly. In addition to the three Chihuahuas, Stubblefield has eight dogs in her Edgewood home, former rescues that are now part of her family. On this day, Goliath, 13, an Irish wolfhound crossed with something else, and Philo, almost 6, a dachsund/Chihuahua mix, are close at hand, observing their three small guests at a respectful distance. Stubblefield said she believes the Chihuahuas had been kept in cages, because they confine themselves to small sections of a room. When I put food and water out, they fought over it until I refilled their bowls and they realized there would always be more. A lot of dogs According to information released by the New Mexico State Police, officers were notified at 12:45 a.m. this past Tuesday of a collision on U.S. 54, about 2 miles north of U.S. 60. Investigation showed that a 2000 Chevrolet Astro Van, driven by Missael Rodelo, 40, of El Paso, was traveling south on U.S. 54 when it crossed into opposing traffic and slammed into 2022 Freightliner tractor-trailer rig driven by a 41-year-old man. Besides Rodelo, van occupants included a 46-year-old woman in the front passenger seat and a 4-year-old boy, 9-year-old girl and 28-year-old woman in the rear of the van. The driver of the tractor-trailer was accompanied by a 21-year-old male passenger. Rodelo was cited for failure to maintain a traffic lane and for having no insurance. At about 4 a.m. the day of the accident, Santa Rosa Mayor Nelson Harrison Kotiar got a call from a tow-truck company. They said they are picking up this wreck, but there are dogs in it, Kotiar said. I said bring them over to the (Santa Rosa) dog kennel. They got here about 5:30 or 6. Not long after that, Kotiar started getting calls from city employees. They said we got 25 out, but there are a lot more in there, the mayor said. Then 45, but there are a lot more in there. Then 55. Kotiar said his final tally was 82 dogs 64 survivors and 18 dead. But the mayor said information gathered at the accident scene indicated there may have been 108 to 110 dogs in the van. I saw a picture of the van and the drivers side was torn open, he said. A bunch of dogs might have jumped out and be out there somewhere. Signs of neglect Santa Rosas kennel has a total of just 11 spaces, nowhere near the room needed to properly care for such a large number dogs, even when they are as small as Chihuahuas. City officials reached out to area shelters and rescue operations, including the East Mountain Companion Animal Project, which took in 48 of the Chihuahuas. All of those dogs are now in foster care, according to Keenan Foster, a director at EMCAP. Generally there are two or three to a home, Foster said. No one has more than three. We pair off dogs that appear to be litter mates, or at least appear to be comfortable with each other. We do separate males and females, because we dont believe they are spayed or neutered. None we have checked have been. He said at least 12 of the dogs are pregnant, five are eight to 12 weeks old, and three are just days old. Overall there were signs of neglect emaciation, dehydration, eye infections and poor skin conditions and some had injuries resulting from the accident, Foster said. He said some female dogs are suffering from pyometra, an infection that fills the uterus with pus and is caused by overbreeding and neglect. Dogs that are healthy will be put up for adoption, Foster said, and those that are not healthy will be cared for until they are. We dont euthanize, except to spare animals needless suffering, he said. We take care of everything until we can find them a forever home. The year ended with both local law enforcement agencies the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and Albuquerque Police Department tallying their highest homicide totals in decades. In 2022, APD investigated 120 deaths and BCSO investigated 21 while New Mexico State Police is handling a single case, the high-profile shootout on University of New Mexico campus that left a student dead. For those 120 deaths, the result was a homicide rate of 21 per 100,000 people in 2022 up from a rate of 20 in 2021 when 114 slayings were investigated across the city. In 2019, Albuquerque had seen its highest total and per capita rate to date with 81 homicides and a rate of 14 per 100,000 people. Since then, gun violence has spiked considerably and even hit BCSOs turf, the unincorporated areas of Bernalillo County that previously often were untouched by the citys homicide woes. In a recent briefing, APD Chief Harold Medina said more guns on the streets, whether stolen or bought during the pandemic, has led to more violence. The issue is exacerbated, he said, particularly when accompanied by inebriation, minor squabbles or mental health issues. The more individuals we have armed with a firearm that arent making responsible decisions with their state of mind Were going to continue to see homicides, Medina said. At least 86% of the homicides in 2022 were committed with a gun, up from 66% in 2019. However, detectives solved more homicides than ever in a single year, closing 69 cases from 2022 and 22 cases from previous years. Some cases involved multiple victims and suspects, and 14 of the offenders were charged in three cases. The case clearance rate ended up at 75% on the year, without including the 15 cases that were closed as justifiable homicide cases. Including those cases, the rate is 94%. The clearance rate had hovered between 51% and 62% since 2015. Medina attributed the success in clearing cases to leadership changes, bolstering the Homicide Unit to 16 homicide detectives, increased oversight and the implementation of the detective academy. This in the end has helped us really bring a sense of justice to a lot of the families, a sense of closure, he said. It will never bring their loved ones back. But there have also been criticisms from victims families in several cases, often citing a lack of communication from detectives or their cases becoming dormant. Medina said APD leadership has initiated a review process for old homicides with new detectives or even bringing retired detectives back to finish a case they left unsolved. Something that may have been overlooked in the past, somebody else is looking at it with a fresh set of eyes and theyre able to bring value to something that may have been missed, he said. The initiative is clear in multiple charging documents, which detail investigative lapses of months or longer before the case is assigned and summarily closed by a separate detective. Most of the 118 suspects identified in 2022 have been arrested, but 10 are dead and 10 are charged but on the loose. Fourteen of those suspects, or 12%, were on pretrial release conditions or pending trial in another case at the time of the homicide, according to court records, and at least 13 were on probation. Three of the suspects were on both probation and pretrial release at the time of the crime. But none of the 118 suspects were on release after a judge denied a pretrial detention motion against them in what has become a hot-button issue as bail reform remains a political flashpoint. Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque police spokesman, said 75 suspects had a prior criminal history and 31 had no criminal record. Of those with a record, 50% had a previous violent crime arrest, 28% had a previous property crime arrest and 11% had prior drug-related charges. Similar to previous years, the majority of suspects were between the ages of 18 and 35 years old and most were Hispanic, according to data provided by APD. But, Gallegos said, 20% of 2022s identified suspects were Black compared with only 11% in previous cases dating back to 2018. The department said it hopes to use data to inform crime-fighting efforts while also providing resources, like drug courts and interventions, to stop the violence in the first place. We have to have the support networks to get individuals out of those lifestyles at earlier ages, Medina said. We have to have that balance; violent people stay in jail, drug addicts get drug treatment, individuals with mental illness get some kind of support. Gallegos said the department is concerned with how these 118 new murder cases will impact the criminal justice system and the caseloads of prosecutors and defense attorneys. We dont want to see these cases pled out or fall through the cracks because theres not sufficient resources to try them, he said. They deserve their day in court. Medina pointed out that APD has reaped the benefits of millions of dollars in technology investments and said the entire criminal justice system is going to need help this legislative session if were ever going to see a true huge reduction in violent crime. Our goal is to advocate for everybody to get the funding that they need so they can be as fortunate as we are, he said. The Albuquerque Police Department alone cannot solve crime. We need a fully functional, well-supported criminal justice system. Ziping Wang's "Small lights through daybreak" (2022) / Courtesy of Peres Projects, Berlin, Seoul, and Milan By Park Han-sol At the center of the canvas lies a scene of an intimate encounter between two lovers suggestively captured in a Japanese illustrated hand scroll. But instead of providing the full visual context of the dalliance, Chinese artist Ziping Wang has chosen to interrupt the scene with a barrage of vibrant yet entirely irrelevant images: a pixelated chicken drumstick, dispersed fragments of food packaging and a monochrome checkered pattern reminiscent of the empty bottom layer when images are manipulated in Photoshop. Such a cornucopia brimming with icons extracted from classical art, convenience store shelves and internet forums is the 27-year-old's attempt to visualize the oversaturated nature of the modern tech-scape or more simply put, information overload. "This is really relevant to my generation," Wang told The Korea Times in a recent interview. "My generation was among the first born with the technology of the internet when it became accessible to everyone. And during my teenage years, there was the rise of social media with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram." The more she was online, the more she became overwhelmed with imagery and virtual identities that were constructed and modified to be attention-grabbing. "I'm just really interested in this celebration of image overload on the internet. I'm not criticizing it; it's more like I'm documenting it," she added. Nine of her maximalist oil paintings are currently adorning the walls of Peres Projects' Seoul outpost as part of her solo exhibition, "The Loudest Silence." While her works have been presented across London, Paris, Kyiv and Shenyang, this exhibition is the rising artist's debut show in Korea. Ziping Wang's "Sleeping through summer rain" (2022) / Courtesy of Peres Projects, Berlin, Seoul, and Milan Wang noted that she has selected the traditional medium of oil painting instead of new media to portray today's digital phenomenon in order to highlight "that there is an actual person behind the work." "Of course I can easily produce a collage of 10 images a day using Photoshop, but in that way, I'm just creating more perfectly rendered images (that are in no way different from those that) other people upload to the internet," she said. By leaving her hand-painted imperfections on canvas, she hopes to recall the early beginning of the internet that called attention to bringing users together rather than the current mechanical reproduction of information that seems to operate without human agency. An installation view of Ziping Wang's solo exhibition, "The Loudest Silence," at Peres Projects' Seoul outpost / Courtesy of Peres Projects, Berlin, Seoul, and Milan But Wang's primary goal does not lie in imparting a specific message or allowing for a single uniform interpretation of her works. Just like how online slang and coded metaphors worldwide are often not directly tied to phrases or objects from reality and therefore are deceptive the artist similarly takes the images of quotidian items and recognizable cultural references out of context to produce a deliberately misleading panorama. As a result, the same painting that immediately captivates the viewers with its eye-popping graphics and the illusion of a clear narrative has the power to disorient them just as much when they realize it is near impossible to decipher the meaning behind the chaotic placement of each icon. In fact, what determines her placement of each fragment is first and foremost its visual appeal colors, shapes and patterns not the socio-political meaning behind it. "You can almost see them as abstract paintings, just with (added) elements," she said when characterizing her work. "At first glance, you feel this image is loud; there's so much going on. Every inch of the canvas is filled. But if you stare at it for enough time, it almost becomes like white noise," she added, likening the viewing experience to standing at the center of Times Square, where all the surrounding neon-lit images and pedestrians eventually become a blur. "Amid that noise, inside your mind, you're still silent." A wonderfully confounding yet contemplative experience, indeed. "The Loudest Silence" runs through Feb. 10 at Peres Projects. In March 2020, 45-year-old Domingo Lage carjacked someone before leading officers and deputies on a wild crosstown chase. The pursuit ended in the Macaroni Grill parking lot near Winrock Mall where Lage shot himself as authorities surrounded him. But his story didnt end there. In 2022, detectives named Lage as the offender in the 2018 death of Raymond Parker, who was dropped off at Lovelace Medical Center with a fatal gunshot wound. Lage was one of four men who died before being named as the offenders in homicide cases police say they solved this year. The others are Justice Whittington, 40, implicated in the shooting death of 13-year-old Alexus Miller; Jeremy Garcia, 21, who died in 2021 months after police say he killed 22-year-old Joshua Garcia at a Motel 6; and Martin Jaramillo, 42, who died of a drug overdose in 2021 before being implicated this year in the death of 69-year-old Leroy Jaramillo. There are also several people who are not in custody and/or whose alleged involvement in crimes was never reported: Hansen Monte, 36 On July 3, officers responded to a shooting in the 600 block of Shire SW and found Jaron Monte, 35 shot in the leg. Jaron died of a pulmonary thromboembolism from the gunshot wound days later. Before dying, Jaron told detectives Hansen shot him during a fight over Jarons girlfriend and he didnt want to press charges. Hansen told police he shot his brother in self-defense but video footage from a neighbors house showed Hansen walked up to Jaron and shot him without provocation after the fight ended. Hansen has been on the loose since leaving the hospital after the incident. Victor Escarcega, 53 On July 18, police responded around 3 a.m. to a shooting at Leos Bar near 12th and Candelaria and found Edgar Rodriguez-Silva, 28, shot to death outside with 9mm bullet casings nearby. Surveillance video showed the shooter fled in a black truck with a Texas license plate and distinctive stickers. Police later learned the same truck had been towed from a business after being abandoned outside for over a week. Police found a 9mm magazine in the truck along with Escarcegas Mexican passport, which detectives say matched the driver of the truck the night of the shooting. Pedro Larringa-Herrera, 51 On Aug. 16, police responded to a shooting outside Pussycat Video on Central near Pennsylvania and found Daniel Gardner, 37, shot and injured. Gardner died at the hospital on Sept. 9. Police identified the suspects vehicle using video surveillance and found Larringa-Herrera driving the vehicle hours after the shooting. Detectives learned from text messages that Larringa-Herrera was targeting a man standing near Gardner, wearing a similar shirt, when he opened fire on the group. Derrick Shirley, 47 Shirley was arrested Tuesday. On Sept. 20, officers responded around 8:30 p.m. to a womans body left along Central, near 94th. Police found Jordan Bahe, 32, beaten to death and lying on the ground. A witness told police a man pulled Bahes body from inside a green van and left her near the bus stop, saying she is drunk and all yours. Bahes family told police she had been in Albuquerque with her boyfriend Shirley, who was abusive toward her. Shirleys phone records showed he was with Bahe the day she was found and detectives learned a friend had sold Shirley the green van a month earlier and that it was reported stolen in November after Shirley was seen abandoning it in a Lowes parking lot. SANTA FE The state of New Mexico spent at least $860,000 last year to settle allegations of rape and sexual abuse at its womens prisons. The settlements resolved legal claims filed by seven inmates each of whom accused correctional officers of sexual misconduct, according to records reviewed by the Journal. The lawsuits outlined a range of disturbing allegations at the prisons in Springer and Grants, ranging from rape to inappropriate sexual contact and retaliation. In addition to the cost of the settlements, New Mexico spent about $2.5 million in recent years defending itself against the allegations, which were outlined in six lawsuits. Corrections officials, meanwhile, say the agency is working aggressively to prevent sexual misconduct. They say theyve made recent improvements and that some of the settled cases predate the current administration, which took office four years ago. Still, attorneys for inmates who sued the state have described a culture in New Mexico prisons that exposed women to abuse. Elizabeth Harrison an attorney in Albuquerque who filed a 2021 lawsuit describing a widespread culture of inmate abuse at Springer said the state Corrections Department has failed to openly address sexual abuse in its facilities. They have focused their efforts, including remarkably high expenditures on legal fees, on hiding such abuse from the public rather than on investigating and eradicating it, she told the Journal. Attorneys for the state, in turn, have repeatedly denied the allegations leveled in lawsuits against the Corrections Department and its employees. The settlements, in fact, typically include language in which the state denies liability and describes the settlement as a compromise to avoid the cost of further litigation. Indeed, the cost of legal defense a little over $2.5 million for six lawsuits substantially outweighs the size of the settlements to end those cases, at just $860,000. The Corrections Department is committed to preserving the safety of inmates and that includes prevention of sexual misconduct in all forms, Anisa Griego-Quintana, an analyst at the department, said in a written statement. Each facility, she said, has a full-time compliance manager dedicated to carrying out the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act, in addition to 80 staff members across the department trained to investigate PREA claims. Legislation expected The costly litigation comes as lawmakers prepare legislation that would establish an oversight commission and ombudsman to investigate prison conditions. The measure is expected to surface in the 60-day legislative session set to begin Jan. 17. State Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena, D-Mesilla, outlined the proposal in a recent hearing before the legislative Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee. House Majority Leader Gail Chasey, D-Albuquerque, said the goal is to improve safety for inmates and officers alike. Lawmakers, she said, should also work to ensure the Corrections Department gets the funding necessary to carry out rehabilitation programs for inmates. These people have so little control over their lives and their own personal safety, Chasey said, that any abuse of power is absolutely devastating. The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico is among the advocacy groups seeking legislative support for an independent oversight board for the state prison system. The ACLU also sued the state in 2020 on behalf of two inmates in Grants who said they endured strip searches that were so invasive that it amounted to sexual abuse. The case was settled for $60,000 on Oct 6. Lalita Moskowitz, litigation manager for the ACLU of New Mexico, said the state has failed to protect people in its custody and allowed a culture within NMCD of permissiveness around sexual abuse, leading to multiple lawsuits. NMCD staff often look the other way when they see coworkers engage in inappropriate behavior with incarcerated women, Moskowitz said. Litigation spending The sexual abuse settlements approved in 2022 cover six lawsuits, some with more than one plaintiff. Theyre just one part of the Corrections Departments overall spending on settlements, which reached about $2 million last year and covered whistleblower claims and other potential liability. The single biggest corrections settlement was a $450,000 agreement May 16 to an inmate at Springer who said she was raped twice in 2018 by a correctional officer. He denied the allegations in his own court filings. The officer hasnt worked for the Corrections Department since 2020, according to the agency. The civil-rights lawsuit alleged the correctional officer had been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple other inmates before the plaintiff was raped and that he had at least five Prison Rape Elimination Act complaints against him in less than three years at Springer. His court filing denied those allegations. The lawsuit filed by Harrison, the attorney in Albuquerque also described a culture of abuse at the facility since 2016, including suppression of complaints and retaliation against inmates who filed complaints. The officer denied those allegations, as well. The eventual $450,000 settlement also covered a second lawsuit filed by the inmate accusing the Corrections Department of violating the state Inspection of Public Records Act, the law that provides access to public records, with limited exceptions. In a statement to the Journal, Harrison said the state has focused too much on secrecy. You see this in the way they fight certain requests for public records, like their refusal to disclose when their employees have histories of sexual-abuse complaints, Harrison said. That is how some of their officers especially in an all-female facility like Springer can rack up numerous credible complaints of abuse while still on the governments payroll. Corrections response Griego-Quintana, an administrative data operations analyst at the Corrections Department, said the agency is committed to preventing sexual misconduct. The department has made advancements in the prevention, detection, and response to all forms of sexual abuse, she said. The improvements include having Prison Rape Elimination Act auditors certified by the U.S. Department of Justice on staff. Outside prevention groups including Solace Sexual Assault Services of Santa Fe and the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico also conduct advocacy and training in corrections facilities, Griego-Quintana said. The agency, she said, also contacts law enforcement when a case may involve criminal activity. Rob Trombley, the public safety coordinator at AFSCME Council 18, the union representing correctional officers, said officers work under difficult conditions in state prisons and are subject to false allegations. The facilities, he said, are so understaffed that it creates security issues of all kinds. State lawmakers have increased salary levels for New Mexico corrections officers in recent years, after corrections officials voiced concern about high employee vacancy and overtime rates. Other settlements Among the settlements reached last year were: $100,000 on Dec. 9 for an inmate who alleged she was sexually abused at Springer by a correctional officer in 2019 and 2020. The woman said she was assigned to a maintenance crew supervised by the officer and was coerced into sexual acts to placate him and avoid retaliation. Attorneys for the officer and the Corrections Department denied the sexual-abuse allegations in court. He stopped working for the agency in 2020, according to the department. $100,000 on Dec. 1 for an inmate at Grants who accused correctional officer Jose R. Valdez of sexual abuse in 2018. The state denied the sexual abuse allegations in its response to the civil lawsuit. Valdez entered a no-contest plea to criminal sexual penetration in 2021, according to court records. He stopped working for the Corrections Department in 2018. $100,000 on July 12 to an inmate at Springer who said she was raped repeatedly by correctional officer Joseph J. Martinez from 2016 to 2018. Martinez, in his own filing, denied the rape allegations. He stopped working for the Corrections Department in 2018 and was charged in 2021 with criminal sexual penetration, according to the department and court records. At least one of the two charges against him was dismissed, and the other appears to be pending. $50,000 on March 11 for an inmate at Springer who alleged inappropriate sexual contact with two correctional officers on separate occasions in 2017. The officers each denied the allegations in court filings. One officer stopped working at Springer in 2019 and the other still works there. New Mexico horse racing regulators, track executives, breeders and others say theres no silver bullet to ensure the future of the industry as it faces increased competition from online wagering, higher costs, infighting and other problems. Like other states, New Mexico has seen its multimillion-dollar industry contract over recent years. In hopes of stemming the decline, the New Mexico Racing Commission hosted a special meeting Thursday in Albuquerque to discuss the industrys strengths, weaknesses and possible solutions. The long list included everything from a marketing campaign to educate fans, incentives for breeding and racing horses in the state, stronger penalties for doping violations and tighter enforcement of testing procedures as ways to improve perceptions about the sports integrity. While the industrys stakeholders are often on different sides, many agreed during the hourslong meeting that multiple factors have combined to stifle the industry nationwide and that theres no simple solution. Commissioner David Hossie Sanchez, the owner of a horse breeding and racing operation near Albuquerque, told those in the packed room and watching online that everyone needed to take off their blinders and consider all the issues, not just those facing them as individual players in the industry. Thats the only way this thing is going to work. We have to see other peoples problems and see where theyre coming from, he said. The commission, whose members are appointed by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, has been mired in litigation in recent years over disagreements about the distribution of purse money and other concerns. Some of the claims filed by the New Mexico Horsemens Association are still pending in court. Gary Mitchell, an attorney representing the horse owners group, expressed disappointment with Thursdays meeting. He said it appeared the commission had only the track owners interests in mind and that tracks and breeders were looking to get a larger share of the gaming purse money. Mitchell said the commissions decisions ultimately end up affecting thousands of horse owners, many from rural areas of the state, who are the backbone of the industry. Many of them, he said, run their horses in lower-level races and are looking to make enough money to pay for feed and cover training costs. And these are not wealthy New Mexicans. These are classic New Mexicans born and raised in New Mexico, native to New Mexico, who have deep roots in agriculture and in the cultures they were raised in, he said. How about our culture? How about us? Some horse owners also have advocated for more transparency in the form of weekly purse money and gaming reports to be posted online by the states licensed tracks and their associated casinos. The commission read a statement at the start of the meeting in which it acknowledged the passion that each group brings to the industry and its economic impact. Despite that everyone here has different perspectives and responsibilities, we all share the common and important goal of cultivating the states horse racing industry for the benefit of the public who enjoys it and the persons and families who work in it for their livelihoods, the commission stated. Track owners and horse breeders told state lawmakers last fall that the industry has seen its economic effects like spending on feed, fuel and labor dwindle by nearly 25% over recent years. They have said the decline of the industry has been more precipitous in New Mexico than elsewhere, with the number of races and the number of horses being bred also dropping. Its likely the tracks and other advocates will lobby for easing some rules around online betting during the upcoming legislative session, but lawmakers will have to tread carefully to ensure nothing compromises the revenue sharing agreements New Mexico has with Native American tribes that operate casinos. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) The Russian military claimed Sunday to have carried out deadly missile strikes on barracks used by Ukrainian troops in retaliation for the deaths of dozens of Russian soldiers in a rocket attack a week ago. Ukrainian officials denied there were any casualties. The Russian Defense Ministry said its missiles hit two temporary bases housing 1,300 Ukrainian troops in Kramatorsk, in the eastern Donetsk region, killing 600 of them. Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the strikes were retaliation for Ukraines attack in Makiivka, in which at least 89 Russian soldiers died. Serhii Cherevatyi, a spokesperson for Ukraines forces in the east, told The Associated Press that Russian strikes on Kramatorsk damaged only civilian infrastructure, adding: The armed forces of Ukraine werent affected. The Donetsk regional administration said seven Russian missiles hit Kramatorsk and two more hit Kostyantynivka, without causing any casualties. It said an educational institution, an industrial facility and garages were damaged in Kramatorsk, and an industrial zone was hit in Kostyantynivka. Kramatorsk Mayor Oleksandr Honcharenko said two school buildings and eight apartment houses were hit overnight. Photos he posted showed no indication that it had been an attack on the scale claimed by the Russians or that anyone had been in the buildings when they were struck. The world saw again these days that Russia lies even when it draws attention to the situation at the front with its own statements, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. Russian shelling of Kherson with incendiary ammunition right after Christmas. The strikes on Kramatorsk and other cities of the Donbas aimed right at civilian sites and right when Moscow was reporting the supposed silence of its army. Russia had declared a 36-hour cease-fire timed to coincide with Orthodox Christmas celebrations on Saturday. Ukraine denounced the pause as a ploy. Russia said the attack on Kramatorsk was in retaliation for the Ukrainian rockets that destroyed a facility in Makiivka, also in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russian soldiers were gathered in the early hours of Jan. 1. It was one of the deadliest attacks on the Kremlins forces since the war began more than 10 months ago. Also on Sunday, the Ukrainian military claimed to have hit a residential hall of a medical university in Rubizhne, a town in the Russian-occupied eastern Luhansk region, killing 14 Russian soldiers housed there. The number of wounded was unknown, it said. Elsewhere in the east, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said one person was killed in strikes on Bakhmut, and eight others were wounded. The battles for Bakhmut and the nearby town of Soledar remained among the bloodiest on the front, Zelenskyy said. In the northeastern Kharkiv region, the town of Merefa was hit during the night, killing one person, and two other settlements in the region were shelled, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners Sunday, swapping 50 on each side, according to Konashenkov, the spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, and Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidents office. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Police are investigating after a man was stabbed to death in Downtown Albuquerque on Saturday night. Albuquerque Police Department officers responded just after 10:30 p.m. to reports of a stabbing outside a bar in the 400 block of Central SW, where they discovered a man who had been stabbed, said APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos in a statement. The victim died at the scene, Gallegos said. Witnesses said the suspected offender fled the scene before officers arrived. Gallegos added the APD Homicide Unit has started an investigation. EL PASO, Texas (AP) Several hundred people marched through the streets of El Paso on Saturday afternoon, and when they arrived at a group of migrants huddling outside a church, they sang to them no estan solos you are not alone. Around 300 migrants have taken refuge on sidewalks outside Sacred Heart Church, some of them afraid to seek more formal shelters, advocates say, amid new restrictions meant to crack down on illegal border crossings. This is the scene that will greet President Joe Biden on his first, politically thorny visit to the southern border Sunday. The president announced last week that Cubans, Nicaraguans, Haitians will be expelled to Mexico if they enter the U.S. illegally an expansion of a policy that began with Venezuelans last year. The new rules will also include offering humanitarian parole for up to 30,000 people a month from those four countries if they apply online and find a financial sponsor. Biden is scheduled to arrive in El Paso Sunday afternoon before traveling on to Mexico City to meet with North American leaders on Monday and Tuesday. Dylan Corbett, who runs the nonprofit Hope Border Institute, said the city is experiencing an increasing climate of fear. He said immigration enforcement agencies have already started ratcheting up deportations to Mexico, and he senses a rising level of tension and confusion. The presidents new policy expands on an existing effort to stop Venezuelans attempting to enter the U.S., which began in October. Corbett said many Venezuelans have since been left in limbo, putting a strain on local resources. He said expanding those policies to other migrants will only worsen the circumstances for them on the ground. Its a very difficult situation because they cant go forward and they cant go back, he said. People who arent processed cant leave El Paso because of U.S. law enforcement checkpoints; most have traveled thousands of miles from their homelands and refuse to give up and turn around. There will be people in need of protection who will be left behind, Corbett said. The new restrictions represent a major change to immigration rules that will stand even if the U.S. Supreme Court ends a Trump-era public health law known as Title 42 that allows U.S. authorities to turn away asylum-seekers. El Paso has swiftly become the busiest of the Border Patrols nine sectors along the U.S. border with Mexico, occupying the top slots in October and November. Large numbers of Venezuelans began showing up in September, drawn to the relative ease of crossing, robust shelter networks and bus service on both sides of the border, and a major airport to destinations across the United States. Venezuelans ceased to be a major presence almost overnight after Mexico, under Title 42 authority, agreed on Oct. 12 to accept those who crossed the border illegally into the United States. Nicaraguans have since filled that void. Title 42 restrictions have been applied 2.5 million times to deny migrants a right to seek asylum under U.S. and international law on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19. U.S. authorities stopped migrants 53,247 times in November in the El Paso sector, which stretches across 264 miles of desert in West Texas and New Mexico but sees much of its activity in the city of El Paso and suburban Sunland Park, New Mexico. The most recent monthly tally for the sector was more than triple the same period of 2021, with Nicaraguans the top nationality by far, followed by Mexicans, Ecuadoreans, Guatemalans and Cubans. Many gathered under blankets outside Sacred Heart Church. The church opens its doors at night to families and women, so not all of the hundreds caught in this limbo must sleep outside in the dropping temperatures. Two buses were available for people to warm up and charge their phones. Volunteers come with food and other supplies. Juan Tovar held a Bible in his hands, his 7-year-old daughter hoisted onto his shoulders. The 32-year-old was a bus driver in Venezuela before he fled with his wife and two daughters because of the political and financial chaos that has consumed their home country. He has friends in San Antonio prepared to take them in, he said. Hes here to work and provide an education for his daughters, but hes stuck in El Paso without a permit. Everything is in the hands of God, he said. We are all humans and we want to stay. Another Venezuelan, 22-year-old Jeremy Mejia, overheard and said he had a message hed like to send to the president. President Biden, I ask God to touch your heart so we can stay in this country, Mejia said. I ask you to please touch your heart and help us migrants have a better future in the U.S. ___ Leighton reported from El Paso and Spagat from Yuma, Arizona. AP writer Claire Galofaro contributed to this report from Louisville, Kentucky. EL PASO, Texas (AP) President Joe Biden walked a muddy stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border and inspected a busy port of entry Sunday on his first trip to the region after two years in office, a visit shadowed by the fraught politics of immigration as Republicans blame him for record numbers of migrants crossing into the country. At his first stop, the president observed as border officers in El Paso demonstrated how they search vehicles for drugs, money and other contraband. Next, he traveled to a dusty street with abandoned buildings and walked along a metal border fence that separated the U.S. city from Ciudad Juarez. His last stop was the El Paso County Migrant Services Center but there were no migrants in sight. As he learned about the services offered there, he asked an aid worker, If I could wave the wand, what should I do? The answer was not audible. Bidens nearly four-hour visit to El Paso was highly controlled. He encountered no migrants except when his motorcade drove alongside the border and about a dozen were visible on the Ciudad Juarez side. His visit did not include time at a Border Patrol station, where migrants who cross illegally are arrested and held before their release. He delivered no public remarks. The visit seemed designed to showcase a smooth operation to process legal migrants, weed out smuggled contraband and humanely treat those who have entered illegally, creating a counter-narrative to Republicans claims of a crisis situation equivalent to an open border. But his visit was likely do little to quell critics from both sides, including immigrant advocates who accuse him of establishing cruel policies not unlike those of his hard-line predecessor, Donald Trump. In a sign of the deep tensions over immigration, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, handed Biden a letter as soon as he touched down in the state that said the chaos at the border was a direct result of the presidents failure to enforce federal laws. Biden later took the letter out of his jacket pocket during his tour, telling reporters, I havent read it yet. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy dismissed Bidens visit as a photo op, saying on Twitter that the Republican majority would hold the administration accountable for creating the most dangerous border crisis in American history. El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego welcomed Bidens visit, but said a current lull in arrivals prevented the president from seeing how large the group of newcomers has been. He didnt get to see the real difficulties, said Samaniego, who was in the local delegation that greeted Biden. It was good that he was here. Its a first step. But we still need to do more and have more time with him. Elsewhere in El Paso where Biden did not visit, hundreds of migrants were gathered Sunday outside the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where they have been sleeping outdoors and receiving three meals a day from faith groups and other humanitarian organizations. The migrants included several pregnant women, including Karla Sainz, 26, eight months along. She was traveling in a small group that included her 2-year-old son, Joshua. Sainz left her three other children back home in Venezuela with her mother. I would ask President Biden to help me with a permission or something so we can work and continue, she said. Juan Tovar, 32, one of several people in her group, suggested he also had political reasons for leaving his home country. Socialism is the worst, he said. In Venezuela, they kill us, they torture us, we cant talk bad about the government. We are worse off than in Cuba. Noengris Garcia, also eight months pregnant, was traveling with her husband, teen son and the small family dog from the tiny state of Portuguesa, Venezuela, where she operated a food stall. We dont want to be given money or a house, said Garcia, 39. We just want to work. Asked what hes learned by seeing the border firsthand and speaking with the officers who work along it, Biden said: They need a lot of resources. Were going to get it for them. El Paso is currently the biggest corridor for illegal crossings, in large part due to Nicaraguans fleeing repression, crime and poverty in their country. They are among migrants from four countries who are now subject to quick expulsion under new rules enacted by the Biden administration in the past week that drew strong criticism from immigration advocates. Bidens recent policy announcements on border security and his visit to the border were aimed in part at blunting the impact of upcoming investigations into immigration promised by House Republicans. But any enduring solution will require action by the sharply divided Congress, where multiple efforts to enact sweeping changes have failed in recent years. From Texas, Biden traveled south to Mexico City, where he and the leaders of Mexico and Canada will gather on Monday and Tuesday for a North American leaders summit. Immigration is among the items on the agenda. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met Biden at the airport Sunday night and joined him in the presidential limousine for the ride to Bidens hotel. The numbers of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has risen dramatically during Bidens first two years in office. There were more than 2.38 million stops during the year that ended Sept. 30, the first time the number topped 2 million. The administration has struggled to clamp down on crossings, reluctant to take measures that would resemble those of Trumps administration. The policy changes announced this past week are Bidens biggest move yet to contain illegal border crossings and will turn away tens of thousands of migrants arriving at the border. At the same time, 30,000 migrants per month from Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela will get the chance to come to the U.S. legally as long as they travel by plane, get a sponsor and pass background checks. The U.S. will also turn away migrants who do not seek asylum first in a country they traveled through en route to the U.S. Migrants are being asked to complete a form on a phone app so that they they can go to a port of entry at a pre-scheduled date and time. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters aboard Air Force One that the administration is trying to incentivize a safe and orderly way and cut out the smuggling organizations, saying the policies are not a ban at all but an attempt to protect migrants from the trauma that smuggling can create. The changes were welcomed by some, particularly leaders in cities where migrants have been massing. But Biden was excoriated by immigrant advocate groups, which accused him of taking measures modeled after those of the former president. Administration officials disputed that characterization. For all of his international travel over his 50 years in public service, Biden has not spent much time at the U.S.-Mexico border. The only visit that the White House could point to was Bidens drive by the border while he was campaigning for president in 2008. He sent Vice President Kamala Harris to El Paso in 2021, but she was criticized for largely bypassing the action, because El Paso wasnt the center of crossings that it is now. Trump, who made hardening immigration a signature issue, traveled to the border several times. ___ Associated Press writers Andres Leighton in El Paso, Texas; Anita Snow in Phoenix; Morgan Lee in Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report. Celebrity The 'Eternals' actor insists racism still exists in today's America, adding that 'racist language has become much more acceptable in mainstream circles.' Jan 8, 2023 AceShowbiz - Kumail Nanjiani believes racist language has become "much more acceptable in mainstream circles" in recent years. The 44-year-old actor - who was born in Karachi in Pakistan - thinks that racist attitudes remain in America, two decades on from his stand-up comedy debut in the country. "By and large, it was still unacceptable to be racist in the public sphere back then. George Bush even quoted the Qur'an in a speech - could you imagine [Donald] Trump doing that? Now, I feel like racist language has become much more acceptable in mainstream circles. I told myself back then that most people still saw me as American. I'm not so sure any more," Kumail said when reflecting on his early days as a stand-up comedian. Kumail hasn't performed any stand-up comedy in three years, and he's now unsure about what his fans want to see. The comedian-turned-actor is also aware of the expectations that now follow him. He told the Guardian newspaper, "I really want to do more comedy, but I don't know what people want me to talk about any more. Do they want jokes about my life? And will my jokes before this break still work? I can't exactly go to a tiny open mic to test it out, since people know me, there's an expectation now." Kumail has enjoyed success in the movie business in recent years, starring in films such as "The Big Sick" and "Eternals". But he isn't entirely sure what the future holds. The actor - who moved to the US at the age of 18 - said, "I'm shooting a film this year but after that, I don't know what's next. It feels exciting, going into the unknown." You can share this post! Celebrity The Duke of Sussex said in his book that he invited the Prince of Wales to attend the therapy with him to prove there wasn't any brainwashing but the older prince refused. Jan 8, 2023 AceShowbiz - Prince William was worried Prince Harry was being "brainwashed" by his therapist. The Duke of Sussex said his older brother reached out to him after the 2019 Well Child awards after seeing him grow emotional on television and started questioning his state of mind. In his new memoir "Spare'", Harry wrote that the exchange sparked a 72-hour argument and he even urged William to join him at one of his therapy sessions to prove there was nothing sinister going on. "He said I wasn't well. He said again that I needed help. I reminded him that I was doing therapy. In fact, he'd recently told me he wanted to accompany me to a session because he suspected I was being 'brainwashed,' " he wrote. Harry, 38, claimed he invited his 40-year-old brother along to a joint meeting with his therapist, telling him it would be "good for you [and] good for us" but the Prince of Wales refused. The BetterUp CIO - who has children Archie, three, and Lili, 19 months, with wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex - went on to claim William believed his desire to step down from royal duties was because he "was unwell" and as a result thought Harry "was unwise" to want to move overseas. But Harry thinks he had simply become a "stranger" to his brother after spending "months" working on himself. He wrote, "After months of therapy, after working hard to become more aware, more independent, I was a stranger to my older brother. He could no longer relate to me - tolerate me. Or maybe it was just the stress of the last few years, the last few decades, finally pouring out." And the prince admitted he sometimes reads back his exchanges with William and is amazed at how much their relationship has changed. He recalled thinking about the text messages, "How did we get there?" You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity Filmmaker Baz Luhrmann who directed the Aussie stunner in 'Australia' and 'Moulin Rouge!' admires the actress for her wisdom and the way she's handling criticism. Jan 8, 2023 AceShowbiz - Baz Luhrmann praises Nicole Kidman for the way she's dealing with criticism. The Oscar-winning actress remains one of the biggest names in the movie industry, and Baz says that she's also "great in a crisis." "She's at her absolute best on a set when things are really not very good. She's great in a crisis, and at taking criticism. She takes it on the chin and she's really wise," explained the acclaimed filmmaker - who directed Nicole in the 2008 movie "Australia". "Every time when make a movie together, something really big happens. The first day of 'Moulin Rouge!', I lost my dad. On the last day, her husband left her. Everything we've ever made has been a high-wire act." Baz also feels that Nicole, 55, has a distinctive "star power." He told Empire magazine, "She's a fantastic technical actor, but there's a heightened screen presence. Some would say it's star power. I would agree." "Acting is an unusually strange thing. Because if you're good at it, you get paid a lot of money to pretend that you're in love, to pretend you've lost somebody in your life, to pretend you're capable of murder. If you're a heart surgeon, you know exactly what your contribution to the universe is. But if you do it really well like Nicole does, an actor's contribution to the universe is that they reflect us back to us." Meanwhile, Nicole previously insisted she hasn't got the voice to star in a Broadway musical. The acclaimed actress is one of the most sought-after talents in Hollywood, but Nicole would feel "insecure" on Broadway. Asked about the possibility, she replied, "I don't think my voice is strong enough. It's not strong enough. I mean, Broadway is like and also I just would feel so insecure." You can share this post! North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency, Jan. 1. Yonhap North Korea's state-controlled media made no mention of leader Kim Jong-un's birthday Sunday. Pyongyang's main propaganda news outlets, including the Korean Central News Agency and the Rodong Sinmun, remained silent as Kim turned 39 on the day. Since taking the helm of the reclusive regime shortly after the death of his father Kim Jong-il in 2011, Kim Jong-un has been praised by the Rodong Simun, an organ of the powerful ruling Workers' Party, describing him as a "symbol" of North Korea's strength and guardian of the nation. The North officially commemorates the birthdays of the leader's late grandfather, Kim Il-sung, and his father called the Day of the Sun and the Day of the Shining Star, respectively. But it has not designated the sitting leader's birthday as a formal anniversary. (Yonhap) Instagram Celebrity There is 'no role' for the Duke of Sussex in the coronation ceremony for the new British king as the tradition of royal dukes kneeling and paying homage to the monarch is scrapped. Jan 8, 2023 AceShowbiz - Prince Harry won't have any "role" in King Charles' coronation. The Duke of Sussex - who resigned from senior royal duties with wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to start a new life in America in 2020 - has declined to confirm if he will return to the UK to see his father formally take the throne in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey on May 6, but if he does, he will be there purely as a spectator. It was previously rumored that Charles wanted to strip back the ceremony and now, as part of the planned changes, the king is expected to abolish the act of royal dukes having to kneel to "pay homage" before touching the crown and kissing the monarch's right cheek. Instead, only his eldest son, Prince William - who is heir to the throne - will perform the tradition. "As things stand, there is no role for Harry in the service," a source told the Sunday Times newspaper. Although Harry has refused to confirm if he'll be at the coronation, insiders believe he will be there. "It is an important moment for Harry's father and he would want to show his respect," a source said. Earlier this week, a preview clip from Harry's interview with Tom Bradby - which will air on ITV on Sunday, January 8, 2023 - saw him ask if he was invited to the coronation. He cryptically answered, "There is a lot that can happen between now and then." Despite quitting as a working royal, Harry insisted he still believes in the monarchy. However, when asked if he believes he will play a part in the future of the institution, he replied, "I don't know." The 38-year-old prince is open to ending his public row with his family and insisted "the door is always open," but he won't be making the first move. He said, "The ball is in their court. There is a lot to be discussed and I really hope that they are willing to sit down and talk about it." Harry again accused the royal family of briefing the media against him and Meghan - who have children Archie, three, and 19-month-old Lilibet together - and insisted him "staying silent" won't improve their relationship. Asked if he is invading Charles and William's privacy by talking about them in his memoir "Spare", Netflix docuseries "Harry & Meghan", and other interviews, Harry said, "That would be the accusation from the people that don't understand - or don't want to believe - that my family have been briefing the press. I don't know how staying silent is ever going to make things better." You can share this post! Inbound passengers from China, Hong Kong and Macao wait to take COVID-19 tests at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, Jan. 6. Yonhap Korea's new COVID-19 cases fell for the fifth consecutive day Sunday amid the government's efforts to prevent the inflow of the virus from China. A total of 46,766 new coronavirus infections, including 132 from overseas, have been confirmed, bringing the total to 29,520,600, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The number of daily infections surged to over 80,000 on Tuesday but has since been on a steady decline. Compared with a week earlier, Sunday's figure is down by more than 10,000. The country added 34 COVID-19 deaths, bringing the death toll to 32,590. The number of critically ill patients came to 526, down from the previous day's 544, the KDCA said. Korea has been strengthening quarantine measures again for overseas entrants in the wake of the recent surge in infections in China and other adjacent regions. Arrivals from China are required to present a negative PCR or antigen test for the coronavirus before boarding. The measure, which went into effect Thursday, came after the government began requiring them to undergo a post-entry PCR test Monday. Travelers from Hong Kong and Macao also now have to show a negative pre-entry virus test. (Yonhap) You could say that Israel overdoes democracy. Governments are sworn in with head-spinning alacrity 37 in 75 years, and elections exceed that number. This ought to be a consolation for critics outraged by what many call a far-right and undemocratic coalition. It surely cant be too long before a moderate one, patched-up and terminal, comes to power. Besides, a week is held to be a long time in politics; the government may defy the predicted plague on the house of Israel. For one thing allies and investors could force moderation on it. For another, US Secretary of State Blinken has praised the election and promised that Washington will not turn on Israel, negating the hue and cry from sour grape opponents. What is a crook and fanatic or two in government when not too many in the free world are better. The President of America heads a crime family, for heaven sake. As regards elections, how many countries can better Israels in terms of free and fair? Not the US. The Twitter files courtesy of Elon Musk prove censorship and collusion to rig Bidens 2020 narrow victory over Trump. In short, why make Israel a lone wolf offender? Obstinate clamour and hysteria over a poll that was above board smell rancid. For the Palestinian Authority theres not been even a corrupt election since... who remembers the year it was held? Those who consider the new government abhorrent outgoing Prime Minister Lapid tells the whole world its a dark one bite their tongue at the inability of the PAs perpetual leader to cope with his need to be elected. They may warn their heads off about dire consequences for Israel; are they, the doomsayers, worth their salt? Israels President Herzog alluded to a question like this when he said, No one has the privilege to act or talk as if the country is doomed. Yet that is exactly how even some rabbis and communal leaders daily and hourly act and talk: Israel as they knew it is dead. They can no longer, they bemoan, support their one and own Jewish state. That is a paradoxical posture if ever there were one. How can this be? The explanation goes right back to birth. The imperative to justify ones existence might as well be in the human DNA. Without meaning, the spirit slumbers. A vacant soul must be filled with something. As to what that might be, GK Chesterton, author of the brilliant Father Brown stories, beheld a petrifying truth. If you dont believe in God, he said, you dont believe in nothing, you believe in anything. Steeping your life and soul in grubby politics salvation for the radical left is no way to build character. Putting Chestertons clarity to work, we commoners bear the brunt of their belief in anything except God. We pay for climate mania enforced by alerts to act to avert the world burning to cinders; we suffer a gender mania convinced that people are born without a gender and can pick their own, or none at all; inclusivity mania that male and female belong to the identity, birthing people is really no joke; were obliged to pretend that believers in the 2-State solution are not pretending. What signal do they emit as they flounder in dark recesses of the psyche to hit on a meaning to life? What they subject us to: one crisis after another to give crazy nihilists the challenge of combating threats plaguing the planet. If not Covid, its climate, if not Trumpism its the imperative to save Israel from itself. The last two are paired. A growing number of American Jews regard the Jewish state as the moral equivalent of a (Republican) red state, says Jonathan Tobin. That being so, partisan hate skipped continents to Israel where Trumpist white nationalists purportedly have gained power. Three hundred radical American rabbis are more than shallow; their psyches are so scrambled that they would punish Jews and reward Jew-haters. Aghast that Israelis had it in them to elect Netanyahu and his extremist partners in crime they would henceforth not have Jews that support Israel speaking in their temples or anywhere else for that matter. An extreme act, one might say, by extremist clergy hyperventilating over the extremist coalition headed by a Trumpist. Radical rabbis, conflating Jewish law with political partisanship, sat shiva (ritual mourning for the dead) when Donald Trump defeated Hilary Clinton. They do, though, have magnanimous moments. They gave a rabbinic blessing to the anti-Semite Ilan Omar for her quest to be on the House Foreign Relations Committee. Talk of extremism. The pot calling the kettle black, wouldnt you say? Admittedly it is devilish tempting to save Israelis from themselves. You simply establish a non-profit on the model of J Street or Peace Now; you make it avowedly pro-Israel; you request free money from Soros and the like; you commence to call for cancelling and boycotting this that and the other. Thats precisely the business model that went into action when J Street and Women of Reform Judaism last April tried to expel the Zionist Organization of America from a Jewish coalition. Its Director Morton Klein, in Woke mumbo jumbo, was a white supremacist, racist and xenophobe. What had got their goat was Klein tweeting the offending truth. I urge the SPLC to immediately put BlackLivesMatter on their list of hate groups. BLM is a Jew hating, White hating, Israel hating, conservative Black hating, violence promoting, dangerous Soros funded extremist group of haters I urge the SPLC to immediately put BlackLivesMatter on their list of hate groups. BLM is a Jew hating, White hating, Israel hating, conservative Black hating, violence promoting, dangerous Soros funded extremist group of haters. https://t.co/NdXztGlG2u Morton Klein (@MortonAKlein7) June 6, 2020 Such pro-Israel activists as they are, they pleaded with the Biden Administration: treat Israels government as illegitimate, observing the well-trod path of Democrats who rejected the legitimacy of Donald Trumps 2016 election. They called themselves the Resistance, as if Trump headed another imaginary pro-Nazi Vichy regime. Hillary Clinton, Jerrold Nadler, Joe Biden and Jimmy Carter repeatedly called him an illegitimate president. For three years they fixated on ousting the imposter with their Russian collusion hoax, going so far as tasking a special undertaker named Robert Mueller to nail down Trumps casket lid once and for all. Talk of threats to democracy. The pot calling the kettle black, wouldnt you say? More legitimate Jews are clamoring with the best of them. Comparisons are being made with the election of Hitler into power. But its their love for Israel that makes them crazy with concern, you see. Sincere and simple and over-the-top, their problem is one of silo thought. Lazy thought invariably starts with lazy language. I heard an Israeli report on local community radio in which Very very was repeated at regular intervals to convey how deeply concerned the good lady felt about the cabinet. No quest for a decent superlative led to no comparative thought, no inkling that a second silo might disclose anomalies in the one she was looking down. What you see is what you get pretty much captures the way your narrow critic works. Other attackers of Israels new coalition are not lazy with language, they rape it. Criticize Mr. Soros (of Jewish extraction but not practice), accumulate the facts of his evil-doing and youre anti-Semitic. Expose BDS and BLM and youre racist. Be a MAGA person and youre a white supremacist. Be serious about the bible and youre a Christian nationalist. Be in favor of Jewish settlements and youre an extremist. Decline the covid jab and youre a science denier. Support Trump and youre a neo Nazi. Name calling and hate mongering are Siamese twins. Real tyrants and totalitarians to gain control must emasculate language. Putins war on Ukraine is a special operation. American parents protesting school boards that permit kids to be sexualised in class are domestic terrorists. Branding the gun-free January 6th an insurrection (a policeman was the lone killer that shameful day on the Capitol) enabled Democrats and the deep state to lock up political prisoners without trial. The triumph of unreason and road to tyranny in America beckons to Israel. It had better prepare itself for crisis politics in perpetual motion. Steve Apfel is a prolific author of fiction and non-fiction and an authority on anti-Zionism. His blog, Balaams curse, is followed in 15 countries on 5 continents Photo credit: claudia gabriela marques vieira via Wikimedia CC BY-SA 2.0 license Much has been made of the fact that it took 15 votes until Republican Kevin McCarthy finally secured the Speakership of the House. Powerline Blog has rounded up a series of the internet cartoons and memes about the long fight. With their salaries on the line, I never imagined the fight would continue much longer. It would appear that the extended debate may at last result in Congress more skillfully playing the role designed for it in the Constitution and a much-needed return to the regular order of business in the House. Many emphasized that the fight represented a disastrous split in the party whose hold on the House is but a rather thin majority. Others, like the priceless Babylon Bee, noted it was a very big deal that the House members actually showed up to work for four days. As usual, the Bee underlines a serious point. Too many of the members have not shown up in person to work, but have been phoning it in per Nancy Pelosis permission to do so. But thats not the worst thing about the Pelosi House: Increasingly the Congress has whiffed on its responsibilities to legislate -- writing broad laws and leaving it to unelected bureaucrats to fill in the important blanks. On really important legislation like ObamaCare, members never even had an opportunity to read the Bill before voting on it. The level of mendacious doings on the Hill seemed to have reached new heights. So, unlike those who made fun of the heated debate which preceded the final McCarthy victory, I think it was healthy and overdue. It's too early as I write this to know all the promises and concessions. Perhaps later on Sunday or Monday we will know more. I have read that one of the concessions is that members would get 72 hours advance time to read bills before the vote is taken. With bills now thousands of pages long, thats the least that should be done. No more the Pelosi garbage about having to pass a bill into law to know what is in it. The BBC reports, Mr. McCarthy promised to make bill-passing more like the good old days, with members of Congress outside of the top leadership having more say over how bills are proposed, amended and passed. No more secret negotiating at the top and shoving it down the throats of members without even an opportunity to read, let alone debate it. It appears more conservatives will be seated on the important House Rules Committee which means per the BBC conservatives will be able to shape the kind of legislation the House produces before it fully takes shape -- and nip undesired proposals in the bud. McCarthys promised fiscal restraints (though he will have to negotiate with the opposition so despite this promise, we cant be sanguine about the prospects for a much-reduced federal budget). McCarthy promised to prioritize the problem of border security. For some reason he was forced to concede allowing an early vote on term limits, something rather ephemeral and meaningless in my eyes because it would require a Constitutional amendment. The Washington Post reports that a PAC aligned with McCarthy (the Congressional Leadership fund) promised to stay out of open House primaries for safe Republican seats. One of the most interesting of the reported concessions is the long-deserved disciplining of the sociopathic liar, Congressman Adam Schiff, detailed in Paul Sperrys article, following the revelation that Schiff had tried to force Twitter to ban Sperry after he revealed the name of the source Schiff was relying on during one of the failed Trump impeachments. In articles for RealClearInvestigations, I outed his anonymous whistleblower from the first impeachment of President Trump. It was Eric Ciaramella, a Democrat who had worked in the Trump White House as an Obama holdover. I also exposed Ciaramellas prior relationship with one of Schiffs top staffers on the impeachment committee, Sean Misko. My reporting cast fresh doubts on Schiffs claims that the 2019 impeachment process happened organically. The New York Times had already busted Schiff lying about prior contacts with the whistleblower. Initially, Schiff publicly stated his office never spoke with the whistleblower before he filed his complaint against President Trump, when in fact a Schiff staffer had huddled with him, something Schiffs spokesman Patrick Boland was forced to admit after the Times broke the story. (The staffer was never identified.) The prior contacts led to suspicions Schiffs office helped the whistleblower craft his complaint as part of a partisan operation. Sperry reports, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, now battling for the speakership, has vowed to block Schiff from serving as the intelligence panels top Democrat." Long overdue. Schiff has, as Perry details, a long history of making bald-faced lies and covering up the facts. Among them, in 2017 he peddled total lies about Trump collusion with Russia when his access to classified information may well have added credence in the public eye to falsehoods. And then Sperry continues: We now know most of the preposterous rumors Schiff dramatically read into the public record came from a source who was invented by the dossiers authors. In his hyping of the dossier, Schiff smeared and defamed not only Trump, but also Carter Page, a low-level Trump campaign adviser, whom Schiff falsely painted as a Russian agent. The next year, Schiff would be caught lying about the so-called Nunes Memo exposing FBI abuse of the FISA wiretap process to spy on Page. Schiff claimed then-House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes misled the public when he said the FBI heavily relied on the debunked dossier to swear out the warrants. In his own memo, Schiff, as ranking member, insisted the FBIs warrants were based on other evidence and were above-board. In 2019, the scathing Horowitz Report proved it was Nunes who was telling the truth. Schiff, who had access to the same classified FISA information as Nunes, knew better. It may well be that the voters of Schiffs district do not care that they are represented by an inveterate liar who abuses his position of trust, but its time there were some consequences imposed for such outrageous conduct, and the battle for the speakership seems to have resulted in a promise to do the maximum in the speakers power to impose sanctions for such behavior. It isor should beillustrative to note how similarly Donald Trump, successful businessman and former president, and Elon Musk, successful entrepreneur and inventor, are treated by the Establishment. Establishment politicians, the Deep State/Swamp, the mainstream media, Big Education, Big Tech, Hollywood, and most of those residing in corporate boardrooms spare no effort in continuously smearing and mocking them both. Any deviation from their views in this regard is deemed heresy and is thus virtually intolerable. You see, Elon and The Don, disrupters of the elite status quo, must be crushed once and for all. And at all costs. No matter what. To paraphrase JFK, the Establishment will support any foe and oppose any friend of Musk or Trump, and lives to make the two pay any price, bear any burden, and suffer any hardship to assure their own survival and success. Why? Because neither Musk nor Trump have adequately genuflected to them. Neither has paid them the respect they think they are so richly due. Elon and The Don refuse to play their game, decline to ante up, and-- gaspdont even appear to covet a seat at their table! They have become successful by providing goods and services that others want and by championing things like free speech and the Bill of Rights, anathema to the elites who rule over us. Neither Musk nor Trump can be cowed by the Establishments incessant attacks. Worse yet, both fight back. And even worse than that, both often appear amused, if not energized, by the fray. (The Establishment is not used to that, as most Republicans-- and regular citizens-- meekly acquiesce to its demands and desires.) This makes both Musk and Trump (and a few others like Ron DeSantis and Ted Cruz) existential enemies of the State. Who must be destroyed, so help them Dr. Fauci. Especially since Musk and Trump represent countless others who resent being told what to think and how to live. This is why they orchestrated January 6, called it an insurrection-- and then proceeded to cover that up by putting on the never-ending show trial conducted by The United States House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. Neither Musk nor Trump are true conservatives. And each have faultsbecause they are human. But both appear to revere freedom and respect their fellow citizens. Which is far more than can be said about their detractors in the Establishment. Do you believe in freedom of speech? Assembly? Thought? The right to defend yourself and your family? Taxation with representation? A higher power than government? Equal justice under the law? If so, it is time to speak out and risk suffering the slings and arrows that the Establishment has directed at Musk and Trump. Inarguably, speaking truth to power in todays world means pushing back against the progressive elites who comprise the Establishment and reside in the Swamp. Image: Ruperto Miller, via Flickr (cropped) // public domain This is one man who lied to win a seat in Congress. YouiTube screengrab This the New York Times covers. But like the rest of the main stream media, the Times doesn't cover the promotion of lies that it and the rest of the main stream media have participated in for the last six years, including the Trump -Russian collusion lie, the lie that the Russians paid a bounty on the lives of our soldiers in Afghanistan, which Trump supposedly did nothing about, the lie that Hunter Bidens laptop was Russian disinformation. Those lies had the support of the Democrat party, the mainstream media, the intelligence services including the FBI, and the big tech companies. And those lies were not used to elect a single congressman but to elect a president and to try to drive an elected president from office. And those were not just stretches of the truth like Joe Biden lying that he graduated in the upper half of his class in law school when he graduated at the bottom, or that he graduated with three degrees, or that his son was killed in the war in Iraq or that his first wife was killed by a driver who drank his lunch or that he never talked to Hunter about his corrupt businesses or participated in those businesses, etc. And the Times isnt covering the news about the Twitter files being reported by independent journalists, which show the FBI and the Biden administration suppressing the truth about the Bidens and promoting lies. Adam Schiff, who told lie after lie after lie in an attempt to drive an elected president from office, must be laughing to himself over the storm of criticism Santos receives. The Democrat Party tells us that it has been focused on threats to our democracy. But democracy requires free and fair elections. And you cant have a free and fair election when the mainstream media, one of the two principal parties, the tech giants, and the intelligence services conspire to suppress the truth and to win elections by fraud. Neither the Democrats nor the mainstream media seem particularly concerned about this threat to our democracy. In fact, they are promoting it. I am thrilled that Ron DeSantis is putting in place people who want to reverse the woke academic coup d'etat at one state-run institution of higher education. New College of Florida is a rarity: a public liberal arts small college (675 students) that is part of the State University System of Florida, where in-state tuition is under $7000 a year. Zac Anderson of the Sarasota Herald Tribune writes: Gov. Ron DeSantis began the process Friday of transforming Sarasota's New College of Florida into a more conservative institution, appointing six new board members, including conservative activist Christopher Rufo, a dean at conservative Hillsdale College and a senior fellow at The Claremont Institute, a right-wing think tank. "It is our hope that New College of Florida will become Florida's classical college, more along the lines of a Hillsdale of the south," Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz said in a statement. The shakeup of the 13-member board is certain to create major tensions at New College, an institution that started as a progressive private school before becoming the state's liberal arts honors college. The small school's student body and faculty have a reputation for leaning left politically. Factor in the palpable fear and loathing on the left of Ron DeSantis, the new Trump-Hitler. And he is throwing down the gauntlet. "Unfortunately, like so many colleges and universities in America, this institution has been completely captured by a political ideology that puts trendy, truth-relative concepts above learning," said DeSantis Communications Director Taryn Fenske. Expect DeSantis to be portrayed as a troglodyte, wrecking a finely tuned machine. The choices for the New College board drew criticism from Andrew Gothard, president of the United Faculty of Florida union. Like many Floridians who have ties to the New College community, UFF (the United Faculty of Florida) was surprised and disturbed today to see the appointment of six trustees whose only apparent interest in the institution is politically and ideologically motivated, Gothard said in a statement to the News Service. Gothard said trustees have a solemn duty to act in the best interest of everyone on campuses. Promises to upend programs with ideologically driven claims that could not be farther from the truth of what actually occurs in a higher education classroom these do nothing to improve New College, nor will they draw interested students to a campus where trustees are so at odds with the faculty, the local administration and the truth, Gothard said. Conspicuous by its absence in Professor Gothards critique is the concept of academic freedom. In the era of wokeism on campus, academic freedom long ago became a joke. You cant suppress hate speech and have academic freedom. Governor DeSantis is picking a fight with the academic left, and its a shrewd move. The public generally laughs at or scorns campus nuttiness by substantial margins. And the progressives' traditional arguments to boards, trustees or regents, the sacredness of academic freedom, is now a bitter joke. It looks like DeSantis nominees will have control of the board: The governor gets six appointments to each university board, while the state Board of Governors - which oversees the university system - gets five. The faculty chair and student body president also serve on the board. The Board of Governors, which is loaded with DeSantis allies, is poised to appoint a New College board member for a seat vacant on Jan. 7, meaning a majority of the board soon will consist of new appointees who can control the direction of the school. My guess is that they will go for structural change, meaning cutting out entire departments, against which tenure does not offer protectection. I hope there will be restructuring, large scale firing, accompanied by hiring into new positions. It will be fascinating to watch how the board proceeds and fun to see the outrage flow from the professoriates poison pens. Hat tip: Ed Lasky Photo credit: Gage Skidmore CC BY-SA 2.0 license On occasion, one looks back through history unless one has gone to school over the past decade and, therefore, has no idea what history is and asks, "How could they have done that?" How could a nation as clearheaded, if persnickety, as Germany have rallied around the abomination of Hitler? How could the monsters of distant and recent past convince their fellow humans to do what they did to their other fellow humans? Dictators may dictate, but there must be others to carry out the orders, even if they do so unwillingly (though, no matter what they say afterward, few were actually unwilling at the time). That willingness would we do that? is at the heart of the personal aspect of the question. And, if we can gauge what we see around our culture today, the answer for that is not only yes, but an excited yes, an enthralled yes, an intentional yes, a blinding yes. It is the yes of the woke state, the yes of cancel culture, the yes of censorship, of keeping power, of getting power, of desperately trying to win the approval of those in power so you get to be in the club. And the loudest yes is coming from the people who will one day or currently do make up the vast middle management of the malevolence machine. Take, for example, the bureaucracy of torture. Short of choosing random people to drag into the woods to beat to death, the practice of torture has levels of complexity that must be attended to by office drones. There is, to paraphrase Hannah Arendt, a certain banality to evil, an easy willingness to dissociate from a true understanding of the end results of one's seemingly mundane actions. Now the "woke state" bureaucracy is following the same path, though today's fetid functionaries seem more willing, more intent, more glassy-eyed committed to the end results than a mere railway clerk scheduling timetables for death camp trains. The woke state cohort currently in power absolutely believe that they are doing what is best that, because they are on the right side of history, history, if it is ever done again, will judge them positively. The long-time embedded member of that woke state may better understand that manipulative lies are just that but justify their actions by telling themselves they must be doing the right thing because they have a summer house and have been promoted countless times; the newer ones, fresh from school but truly unschooled, see their societal control as a force for good for everyone, and if they happen to get a good job with decent benefits for doing it, then all the better. And it is the middle where the most damage can be done exploding numbers of education administrators, never-ending assistant deputies and vice presidents, mushrooming human resources departments, the creation of an entire industry Diversity, Inclusion, Equity to recreate the cudgel of racism and corrupted law enforcement and the security state and foundations and non-governmental organizations and the social economy and media flacks and the billions and billions of dollars funneled into the system to feed the beast, all intertwining to service a power structure intent on enshrining its future in amber. The people doing these jobs today are the same people who were attorneys at Stalin's show trials, copying basement confessions in triplicate, and going home with a glow from the knowledge that they did their job well that day. The woke state claims everything it is doing is to protect, purify, preserve, perpetuate, and promote that which society truly needs and desires and that the rest of us must have faith that is true. We have all seen where that fetid and foolish faith led to in the past the outcome will be not at all different this time. Thomas Buckley is the former mayor of Lake Elsinore, Cal. and a former newspaper reporter. He is currently the operator of a small communications and planning consultancy and can be reached directly at planbuckley@gmail.com. You can read more of his work at https://thomas699.substack.com. Image via Flickr, public domain. Customs officers check documents at the Lok Ma Chau checkpoint at the Shenzhen border crossing with mainland China in Hong Kong, Sunday. AFP-Yonhap By Ko Dong-hwan Korean health authorities are closely watching travelers arriving from China as the neighboring country is struggling under the weight of an explosion in cases of COVID-19 with its effects seemingly out of control. The number of infected travelers arriving from China remains within a stable range of 60 to 70 per day. But experts say that considering that the virus can remain latent inside patients before showing symptoms, the situation requires at least one to two additional weeks to monitor how it will unfold here. Earlier this month, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) required travelers from China to present a negative COVID-19 test before boarding their flights in China. Last Thursday, the authorities further raised the bar by requiring arrivals to take a second test on landing and quarantining those who test positive. The KDCA said Sunday that a total of 277 infection cases were recorded in arrivals from China between Jan. 2 and 5. Taking into account the total number of travelers being tested, this means over 23 percent of them tested positive upon arriving in Korea during the period. The figure translates to roughly 70 infection cases per day. However, the capacity of public quarantine facilities in Korea remains stable. As of Sunday, over 60 patients from China are being quarantined at state-operated facilities while the rest are practicing social distancing measures away from the public at their accommodation. Some 30 percent of the country's overall public quarantine accommodations initially prepared for 205 patients in 113 rooms in three different facilities are up and running as of Sunday morning. The accommodations reserved for COVID-19 patients in critical condition currently remains well below capacity, with 38 percent occupied and more than 900 rooms available as of Sunday. People wait outside a funeral home in Shanghai, Jan. 5. Skyrocketing deaths of COVID-19 patients in China are crowding the country's funeral homes, as bereaved families face long waits for the bodies to be cremated or processed. Reuter-Yonhap There is an old joke about politicians which never ceases to lose its relevance. Question: How do you know a politician is lying? Answer: His lips are moving We do expect a certain amount of embellishment when politicians talk about their records. Even regular people unknowingly overstate or understate their records, or at times, the human memory plays tricks. But there is a difference between embellishments and blatant lies, not a product of confusion, but instead an attempt at self-aggrandizement. In the matter of fabrication, few can surpass Hillary Rodham Clinton. On March 17, 2008, Hillary claimed that as first lady she landed under sniper fire during a trip to Tuzla, Bosnia, she made in March 1996. The goal was to depict herself as the fearless first lady who placed herself in peril to comfort the people of war-ravaged Bosnia. Well, it soon turned out to be a complete fabrication. Videos began to surface that showed Hillary arriving on the tarmac and being greeted by a child who offers her a copy of a poem. It was such a massive lie that even the Democrat mouthpiece the WaPo had to step in and fact-check Hillary. When caught, Hillary said she 'misspoke' Hillary is not a combat soldier who has been in various wars and confused one occurrence with another. She did not misspeak; she fabricated to deceive her voters. Hillary's lies are many and continue to this day. We move to George Santos, who seems to have received a doctorate from the Hillary Clinton University of fabrication. Santos did not embellish his resume, he instead created a fictional character. Santos fabricated his education, his work experience, his religion, and even his charity work. Santos claimed that he graduated from Baruch College, New York, and worked for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs. But there is no evidence that he received a college degree or worked at either financial giant. Santos claimed to have founded a tax-exempt animal rescue charity that saved more than 2,500 dogs and cats. All of these were complete falsehoods. He claimed he was Jewish and had ancestors who fled the Holocaust. This was a vile fabrication and an affront to the survivors of one of the darkest chapters in human history. He claimed to have lost four employees at the Orlando nightclub shooting in 2016. There is absolutely no evidence to support the claim. Santos claimed to be from a wealthy family fortune that owned 13 properties. That, too, is a lie. Under intense political pressure, Santos admitted to fabricating some of the claims and stood by others, despite contradictory evidence. The lies are numerous, purposeful, blatant, and unjustifiable. Santos is a disgrace. It is baffling that the liberal media, Santoss political opponent, and even government agencies who relish targeting Republicans failed to do an elementary investigation of Santos. But Santos unknowingly revealed a lapse or perhaps a flaw in the electoral system. Currently, individuals running for the House, Senate, or presidency become candidates when they raise or spend more than $5,000 in contributions or expenditures. Candidates must register using a Statement of Candidacy within 15 days of becoming a candidate. The form requires candidates to enter their personal information and details about their postal address. Also required is the name of the campaign and the various other PACs. However, there seems to be no place for education, work experience or charity. This information should be mandatory. Nominations must be accepted only after a thorough background check of the claims made in the form. In Santoss case, a few phone calls would have exposed his lies. This is part of the swamp culture. The GOP House must pass a law that mandates thorough background checks that the candidate has to pay for if he intends to run in any elections. Now for the big question: What happens to Santos now? Santos appeared determined to try to weather the scandal. Santos told the New York Post: "I campaigned talking about the people's concerns, not my resume... I intend to deliver on the promises I made during the campaign." He was sworn in just yesterday and is now the first openly LGBTQ Republican to be elected to Congress. But no Democrat is celebrating this inclusiveness, in this case, they are not wrong. Federal and local prosecutors in New York have opened investigations into whether Santos violated any laws during his campaign. And, in Brazil, prosecutors said they planned to revive fraud charges connected to a stolen checkbook. Robert Zimmerman, the Democrat who Santos defeated during the November midterm election, said he should resign and face him again in a special election. George, if thats even your real name, if youre so convinced that #NY3 voters still trust you - resign & run against me again in a special election. Face the voters with your real past & answer questions about your criminal history. Let the voters decide https://t.co/IWUGPSmiPp Robert Zimmerman (@ZimmermanRob) December 27, 2022 The media is also very outraged and some are demanding that Santos resign. The gist of their outrage is that voters were given false information and any voting decision based on lies is unacceptable. Hence the election is invalid. They also used the story to attack Trump and all of the GOP. The media is responsible for most of the big lies of our times. It is hence quite ironic that they are suddenly pontificating about the importance of being factual. But the self-righteous often fail to comprehend irony and neither do they possess any self-awareness. What about the 2020 election where government agencies, the news media, and big tech have colluded to block the Hunter Biden laptop story? Suppressing damaging information about one candidate is the equivalent of fabrication because facts remain hidden from voters. A Media Research Center poll revealed that 16% of Biden voters said they would have voted differently if Hunter Biden's laptop story was known to them. Another survey showed that a whopping 79 percent of Americans suggest President Trump likely would have won reelection if voters had known the truth about Hunter Bidens laptop. Some may say that Santos scale of lying was much worse than Hunter Bidens story being suppressed. But the scale of lying is irrelevant, what matters is that it affected voting decisions. If Santos is forced to quit, why should Biden remain in office? You would think that Santos suffered enough controversies for one human at any juncture. But there was more. The NY Post carried a story that accuses Santos of flashing a white power symbol in the House Chambers. While casting his 10th vote for Kevin McCarthy for House Speaker. Santos unfolded his arms to reveal his left hand making a sideways O.K. gesture, a symbol co-opted by white supremacists. This claim seems as ludicrous as Santoss resume. The media is fabricating about a fabricator. So how should the GOP handle this? If Santos resigns or is forced out of office, it would prompt a special election in a swing seat, and lead to a potential loss which will narrow further the GOPs already razor-thin majority. The GOP doesn't have to support Santos but they do not have to actively work towards dethroning him. If Santos is unseated, the GOP must remind voters of how similar the situation is to that of the 2020 elections. While it will change nothing, it will help highlight the disparity in standards applied to both parties. Santos can redeem himself by voting for the right issues. Image: U.S. House Office of Photography, via Wikipedia // public domain In a series of bombshell tweets (below), Missouris Attorney General, Andrew Bailey, has revealed that it wasnt just the FBI and other alphabet agencies working to censor anything that disagreed with their Democrat, globalist, and anti-Trump worldview. Instead, the censorship regime went all the way up to the highestlevels of the White Housethe Biden White House and was directed at both Facebook and Twitter. Elon Musks willingness to open the Twitter Files has meant that weve seen that various federal agencies, with the FBI in the lead, worked closely with Twitter and routinely (and usually successfully) pushed Twitter to delete anything the deep state (that is to say, the Democrat party) disliked. And what the Dems disliked was anything that would help Trump, harm Biden, or destroy the Democrats COVID narrative, a narrative that created the perfect circumstances to cheat in the election, destroy the economy, and wipe out the middle and working classes. (As an aside, who would ever have suspected that Elon Musk would be the black swan that might destroy Democrat hegemony?) Now, thanks to Baileys work, were learning that the censorship regime included the Biden White House, as well. This was grossly unconstitutional. The government may not engage in censorship. Image: Censorship by Andrea Widburg using a background by Michael Dziedzic. Yet were now seeing that the entire executive branch of government, from the White House on down, along with Congress, did everything it could to silence the platforms on which Americans were trained for almost 20 years to share information and their opinions. Keep in mind as you contemplate what happened that the government may not circumvent the Bill of Rights by delegating to others the censorship it cannot do itself. The tragedy of 2023 is that we have no mechanism to punish any of these political malfeasors who committed such egregious constitutional violations. Merrick Garland combines anger with losing a seat on the Supreme Court with a complete disdain for constitutional and legal principles that stand in the way of Democrats gaining complete government power. Garland will take no action against anyone. However, during both the Republican primaries and the campaign, those vying for Americas votes should state in no uncertain terms that, once in office, they will direct the attorney general to punish these constitutional wrongdoers to the fullest extent of the law. We now have hard evidence that President Bidens Administration colluded with social media companies to censor differing viewpoints and silence misinformation that was later deemed true. (2/9) Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) January 7, 2023 Here, the Biden White House directs Facebook to shut down conservative voices @TuckerCarlson and @TomiLahren (4/9) pic.twitter.com/BlFunGWc3Z Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) January 7, 2023 Heres more collusion. (6/9) pic.twitter.com/NUKccGD7QH Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) January 7, 2023 Here is evidence that this scheme starts at the highest (and I mean highest) levels of the WH. (8/9) pic.twitter.com/QhjrwEalyv Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) January 7, 2023 Here is evidence that this scheme starts at the highest (and I mean highest) levels of the WH. (8/9) pic.twitter.com/QhjrwEalyv Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) January 7, 2023 (Hat tip: Twitchy) As speaker, Nancy Pelosi ran the House of Representatives like a fiefdom, and the media cheered. They marveled at her power. They didn't operate under regular budget rules with individual appropriation bills. Instead, they had omnibus spending bills stuffed with garbage that have contributed to massive deficits and $32 trillion in debt as they pretended new spending was paid for. The bills were prepared outside the view of most members of Congress, and few read the bills before they were voted on. On Obamacare, Pelosi told her subjects they must vote on the bill before they had a chance to read it. How would the media like it if their employers required them to sign agreements before they were allowed to read them? Would it be OK for banks to require borrowers to sign the loan agreements before they read them? And that is supposedly what the people should want. Threatening to close the government every few months and cramming down multi-thousand-page spending bills is dysfunctional. Kevin McCarthy may have just won himself the most dysfunctional Congress ever the unbridled chaos of this week's speaker debacle simultaneously confirmed and compounded an unsettling truth: The United States could be on the cusp of its most dysfunctional Congress ever. Now we are going back to the rules from when Newt Gingrich was speaker. Now the members who are closer to the people will have much greater power to control the process and the results. That is great, not dysfunctional. Gingrich Revisited? As McCarthy Wins the Gavel, Sweeping New Rules Will Change the Way Congress Operates The sweeping new rules resemble those of House Speaker Newt Gingrich after winning the gavel in 1995, due in large part to the GOP's Contract with America, which Gingrich and the Republicans used to balance the budget for the first time in decades between a Republican-led Congress and the Clinton White House. The media loved the January 6 Committee, which also operated like a dictatorship. No defense was allowed, and the public wasn't allowed to see everything. The media and the public never cared about FBI involvement or the speaker's malfeasance in failing to secure the Capitol. It took only four days for McCarthy to win as new rules and procedures were worked out. That is a great result for Americans. The media and other Democrats acted as though debating and negotiating are dangerous and embarrassing. Their thinking is backwards, not progressive. Diversity of opinion and debate make America great, not dysfunctional. I look forward to the next two years, where members of Congress cater to the people instead of a powerful speaker like Pelosi. Maybe now, someone will actually look into the corruption of Biden, the FBI, and the CDC and stop suppressing speech to interfere in elections. Maybe we will start enforcing immigration laws. Image: Kevin McCarthy. Credit: World Economic Forum via Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. It was all supposed to be so well-scripted and harmonious. Joe Biden would visit the border at the politically safe, Democrat-led El Paso entry point, make a speech about how well he's doing on his migrant surge crisis, and off camera, someone would clean up the migrant mess in the vicinity to give Joe the backdrop to spin to the public that all was quiet and under control at the border Ummm... but in much chaos, it's really not working out the way he thought it would work out. It's bad. Start with the street cleanup effort, which has led to before-and-after tweets making the rounds on the Internet here. Look how El Paso Mayor, Oscar Leeso, cleaned up streets for Bidens visit today. They moved out Migrants/Invaders. FOX news said it was done for photo op to show how his policies are working. This is propaganda pic.twitter.com/2f8OkFomxV brenda furqueron (@BrendaFurqueron) January 8, 2023 The cleanup included detentions or arrests of migrant squatters. Agentes fronterizos arrestan a migrantes que dormian fuera de una iglesia en #ElPaso, Texas.https://t.co/bsd7TjQsXS Noticias Telemundo (@TelemundoNews) January 8, 2023 Now let's get to the reaction from the federally funded illegal alien advocacy NGOs, who suddenly see those arrests as a threat to their rice bowls. From Telemundo (translation to follow): Una semana antes de la visita del presidente, Joe Biden, a El Paso, Texas, agentes de Aduanas y Proteccion Fronteriza (CBP, por sus siglas en ingles), y de la policia de El Paso, fueron captados en video mientras detenian a migrantes que se estaban quedando a dormir en las calles, afuera de una iglesia y una central de autobuses. En las grabaciones obtenidas por nuestra cadena hermana NBC News se ve a los agentes fronterizos mientras patrullan las calles donde se estan quedando a dormir los migrantes, conduciendo sus camionetas entre las silenciosas tiendas de campana con las luces de las sirenas encendidas. Defensores de los derechos de los migrantes alegan que los arrestos afuera de la iglesia pueden ser violatorios de las politicas del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional. Google Translate: A week before President Joe Biden's visit to El Paso, Texas, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and El Paso police were caught on video detaining migrants. that they were sleeping in the streets, outside a church and a bus station. Recordings obtained by our sister network NBC News show border agents patrolling the streets where migrants are staying the night, driving their trucks between silent tents with their sirens flashing. Immigrant rights advocates allege that arrests outside the church may be in violation of Department of Homeland Security policies. Telemundo reports that migrant rights advocates are screaming that Joe Biden is violating his own policies by detaining or arresting some 150 migrants, who apparently have a "right" to camp where they please in addition to a "right" to invade and live in the country they please. The policy's open-borders, after all, so you can see why they're upset about it. But what they didn't 'get' was that with Joe Biden, it's open-borders for thee, but not for he, just as the Martha's Vineyard denizens asserted. It gets worse. The migrants themselves are making a stink. They're shouting about entering America illegally as "the struggle." Against America? For not letting them march in no questions asked? Biden estamos en la lucha chants outside Sacred Heart Catholic Church in #elpaso pic.twitter.com/0lFhsfFKji Alfredo Corchado (@ajcorchado) January 7, 2023 They've just gotten here and already they're forming a political movement, making themselves a special interest group, protesting the badness of our country and demanding political spoils as compensation. How's that for chutzpah in a foreign country? I joined @border_human today for a gathering in Chihuahuita followed by a march to Sacred Heart, where we were greeted by migrants. It was extremely moving to hear the chants of no estan solos - what a moment! #border #elpaso pic.twitter.com/al6x9tE1no Comm. David Stout (@CommStout) January 8, 2023 Some are saying Joe Biden is one of them. They're even organizing been protests against those darn law-abiding Americans for not letting them -- I don't know what -- in? Some say it's a call to "open the border," but the border is open and they certainly are being allowed to live here without fear of deportation -- but all the same, they are protesting that. They always want more. #ElPaso #Texas still being flooded by illegals. They actually held a protest against title 42 in front of our courthouse. Some citizens of El Paso were upset wondering why they didnt protest their previous governments pic.twitter.com/Qhnt52rhLn real Anthony Aguero (@AgueroForTexas) December 29, 2022 The 3rd Worldization Of The US continues > El Paso Bulldozes Illegal Alien Homeless Encampments Prior to Biden Visit - About 300 of the illegals obediently marched through the streets of downtown #ElPaso demanding the govt open the border #BorderCrisis https://t.co/v0aH3vZQQn Derek (@derekdob) January 8, 2023 But they aren't exactly loyal to America. Note the high numbers of Venezuelan flags being waved in this organized protest by the illegal migrants. It's the old wave the flag of the country you are desperate not to be sent back to schtick, pioneered by the Mexicans, picked up by the Central Americans and now a carried flag of the Venezuelans. Biden estamos en la lucha chants outside Sacred Heart Catholic Church in #elpaso pic.twitter.com/0lFhsfFKji Alfredo Corchado (@ajcorchado) January 7, 2023 Joe Biden has repeatedly told the American people that these migrants are families with needs. But notice the composition of the groups in El Paso -- military aged single young men. From the city formerly known as ElPaso, TX pic.twitter.com/kHMZAukJrY AmericanPatriot (@StayFrostyTX) January 8, 2023 Venezuelan migrants shouted gracias as supporters marched to Sacred Heart Catholic Church #elpaso Segundo Barrio to show solidarity, as they wait in limbo, ahead of Bidens visit, You are not alone. No estan solos. @dallasnews pic.twitter.com/K5zMN1AJYa Alfredo Corchado (@ajcorchado) January 7, 2023 And apparently they menace U.S. citizens here, much as many must have done as a lifestyle in Caracas, the crime capital of the Americas. Last night after nearly being assaulted by this group in downtown #ElPaso they decided it was time to play their country theme song and fly their flags as if to be conquering the neighborhood. The activists out there are inciting hate and violence. Full report coming. pic.twitter.com/XwYxHwxoms real Anthony Aguero (@AgueroForTexas) January 6, 2023 And they glom around the church for refuge, citing Jesus, which is a little hypocritical, given that it's all but certain they never went to church in Venezuela. I've been to masses in Venezuela and the one thing that stuck out about the attendance in these masses was that males there were few and far between, around 5 percent of attendance. #ElPaso Police Dept. doing their nightly patrol through the area next to Sacred Heart Church in Segundo Barrio where #migrants have been staying outside each night. It appears that they are looking for a certain person(s). #immigration #migration #ept #lafrontera #migration pic.twitter.com/DTSvEdqzRC Ivan Pierre Aguirre : (@i_p_a_1) January 5, 2023 After speaking to migrants they hope this will be their last supper here. They really hope after @POTUS visit tmrw they will be allowed to be processed & cont. to other parts of the country. As one gentleman said in Spanish, we pray Biden liberates #ElPaso & allows us to leave. pic.twitter.com/Q3FGgKoIhv Ivan Pierre Aguirre : (@i_p_a_1) January 8, 2023 What a string of hypocrisies this amounts to. The Biden visit is not only all about hypocrisy but based on the scale of the news they are trying to control, it has some amazing potential for, shall we say, uncontrolled outcomes, as Joe Biden makes his campaign stop at the border and announces his plan to issue 360,000 work permits to migrants from the socialist hellholes of the region, calling it a solution and a wrap. This reporter notes that none of the migrants has plans to take Joe up on his offer for a legal pathway into the U.S. through his vaunted app. Migrants, mostly Venezuelans, milled around Sacred Heart Catholic church in #elpasos Segundo Barrio. They hoped to find protection away from U.S. immigration agents who have began deporting them. None said theyd return home to apply via app, as Biden urged. @dallasnews pic.twitter.com/9fGA0szlfw Alfredo Corchado (@ajcorchado) January 5, 2023 They may know they don't qualify for entry based on their inabilities to pass a basic background check, their criminal records, or their lack of family members in the states already, while their prospects without legal status remain good, what with all the sanctuary cities and states to choose from. Or, they may be wise to the scale of Biden's solution, given that the 360,000 work permit slots should fill up the first day the app is available. Or they may simply have contempt. They aren't bothering with Joe, and no, they aren't doing his app because they are already here and are ready to get what they want. Others are openly telling the press about all the great opportunities Joe's opened for them. Here's a selection of quotes with media links from the Washington Examiner: Just months after Biden was sworn in, after he ended the "Remain in Mexico" policy on Day One and ended Title 42 for families with children, Javier Gomez, his wife, Maria Gomez, and his daughter crossed the border illegally into the U.S. from Mexico. We sold our house, everything to come, Javier Gomez told reporters . In Venezuela, there is no food, no electricity, no medicine, no work, Maria Gomez added. We are blessed to have made it. Rodrigo Neto, who sold his shop and car to pay for his journey from Brazil, told a similar story. What were hearing back home is that the new president is facilitating entry and there is demand for labor, Neto told reporters . I couldnt pass up this opportunity. Which should pretty well tell us that these aren't asylum seekers as Joe claims, they are economic migrants, and this trip won't be the smooth scripted narrative affair Joe Biden thinks it will be. Just the male-only migrant protests and the howls of leftist lawyers should keep the reporters busy and their minds off Joe. Already the migrants are gatheirng in numbers at the church cited as Joe's plane has landed: En #ElPaso, alrededor de 300 #migrantes se han refugiado en la acera frente a la iglesia del Sagrado Corazon, algunos temerosos de buscar albergues formales, dijeron activistas, en medio de las nuevas restricciones dirigidas a combatir los cruces fronterizos no autorizados. pic.twitter.com/vVha7JWoOV Eunice Rendon (@EuniceRendon) January 8, 2023 When you set chaos in motion, the smoothest of plans have a way of running into unforeseen outcomes. Joe doesn't know that, but with the level of chaos he's created at the border, the rest of us do. Image: Twitter screen shot Any action from the UK Government to block controversial reforms to the gender recognition process in Scotland would be disastrous for the trans community, campaigners have said. Colin Macfarlane, director of nations at the charity Stonewall which campaigns on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people said such action would be yet another example of hampering progress on LGBTQ+ rights. He added it would also undermine a commitment given by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to govern with compassion. He was speaking after reports claimed Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has received initial advice from Attorney General Victoria Prentis and Lord Stewart of Dirleton, the Advocate General for Scotland, that the Bill could be challenged under the Scotland Act. 5/ The UK Government has had more than six years to engage constructively with the Scottish Government over the proposals. For the UK Government to seek to block implementation of this Act would be disastrous for trans people, who deserve far better from their government. Stonewall (@stonewalluk) January 8, 2023 MSPs last month passed the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill by 86 votes to 39, approving reforms which would allow trans people to obtain a gender recognition certificate (GRC) without the need for a medical diagnosis. The Bill will also allow 16 and 17-year-olds to apply for a GRC for the first time, and would reduce the amount of time a person has to live in their acquired gender before they can be granted the document. It was passed despite concerns from some politicians, womens rights groups and others that the changes could impact on safe spaces for females. At the time, Mr Jack said the UK Government shared concerns that many people have regarding certain aspects of this Bill, and in particular the safety issues for women and children. Womens rights organisations campaigned against the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (Jane Barlow/PA) He said the UK Government would look closely at the legislation and its impact on the UK-wide 2010 Equality Act including whether a Section 35 order should be sought to stop the Bill gaining royal assent. A Section 35 allows UK ministers to issue an order prohibiting Holyroods Presiding Officer from submitting a Bill for royal assent if there are reasonable grounds to believe it would adversely affect the operation of UK-wide equality legislation reserved to Westminster. The UK Government has until January 19 to make such an order. But Mr Macfarlane said: We hope this is not the approach the Prime Minister wishes for the UK Government to take. He said the Scottish Government has an overwhelming mandate to reform the gender recognition process, and that the Bill is one of the most consulted on in the Scottish Parliaments history. He continued: The new law was passed by a resounding cross-party majority, with support from MSPs in all parties. The Bill has been subject to extensive, appropriate scrutiny that has closely considered safeguards and interaction with UK-wide legislation, with almost 150 amendments debated and voted on. In May this year, the Scottish Parliaments Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee undertook 10 weeks of detailed evidence hearings on the proposals, hearing from a wide range of witnesses both supporting and opposed to the reforms. The UK Government has had more than six years to engage constructively with the Scottish Government over the proposals. For the UK Government to seek to block implementation of this Act would be disastrous for trans people, who deserve far better from their Government. It would also profoundly undermine relationships with the Scottish Government and damage the UKs international reputation as a rights-respecting nation. It will be yet another example of hampering progress on LGBTQ+ rights, and undermine the Prime Ministers pledge to govern with compassion. He also said it would be spiteful if the UK Government refuses to recognise GRCs issued in Scotland. The UK Government already recognises equivalent birth certificates from all EU/EEA countries, including countries which have a de-medicalised model of legal gender recognition, so to refuse to recognise Scottish certificates would be a mistake, fly in the face of international best practice, and come across as spiteful, Mr Macfarlane said. A UK Government spokesperson said: We share the concerns that others including the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls have set out with the Scottish Bill, particularly around safety issues for women and children. Our concerns include the protection of single-sex spaces, and the checks and balances included in the process of gaining a legal gender recognition certificate. We are still considering our next steps, and also the ramifications for the 2010 Equality Act and other UK-wide legislation. No decision has been made on a course of action at this time. 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. The Invictus Games is very much labelled to him and so I would have thought the threat level there will definitely be higher, he told the newspaper. Admiral Lord Alan West called Harry very stupid giving details of his Taliban kills (Jonathan Brady/PA) There will be serious security issues because of what he said. Measures will have to be put in place to protect the veterans. And there will be people who, given half the chance, will want to do something. The international multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, of which the duke is the patron, will now be a prime target for those wanting revenge, Lord West said. The Taliban will be reading (Harrys claims about killing fighters and) thinking theres this prince calling us all chess pieces and is quite happy about killing us. Harry at a Remembrance Sunday service at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan (Matt Cardy/PA) And there will be a lot of people, I am sure, in Islamic State and other terrorist organisations, who will think this is something which should be avenged. Harry faced an onslaught of criticism in recent days since the excerpt from his memoir was leaked about the number insurgents he killed as a helicopter pilot. Colonel Tim Collins, known for a pre-battle speech he made in Iraq, was one of many distinguished personnel to criticise the dukes conduct, 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. Harry speaks with armed forces personnel during a reception at Guildhall, London, after a commemoration service to mark the end of combat operations in Afghanistan (Toby Melville/PA) 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. 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. Comedian Omid Djalili told Iranian protesters that they are bringing down the patriarchy at a protest in London. Thousands of protesters gathered at Marble Arch before marching through central London to Trafalgar Square for the Iran Solidarity Rally, which marked 115 days of protests. Organisers, including human rights organisation Amnesty International, set up a stage beside Nelsons Column, from which the British-Iranian comedian addressed the crowd. Demonstrators in Trafalgar Square in London protest against the Islamic Republic in Iran (Aaron Chown/PA) Mr Djalili told them that they are changing the axis of the world. When British women scream and shout for the women and girls in Iran, they are not just shouting for them, they are shouting for themselves, he said. They are shouting to bring down the patriarchy. Thats what we are doing. We are changing the axis of the world. This is why the men are joining the women of Iran, because together we know that the patriarchy hurts people. He added that woe betide the men who do not listen to women. And right now we see with this regime when women speak you listen, and if you dont listen to women, woe betide the men. You do not mess with women, let alone Iranian women. Attendees carried the countrys flag with the slogan Freedom for Iran written on them. Others held banners with the faces of protesters killed by the regime. Demonstrators march towards Piccadilly Circus in London (Aaron Chown/PA) The banners read: What crime were we killed for? The protesters also chanted slogans made popular during the protests in Iran, including woman life freedom and justice for Iran. Among the thousands of attendees at the protest was engineer Farshid Farmani. He said that the UK Government should treat Iran like it treats Russia. The UK Government can expel the ambassadors, he said. What they have done to Russia they can do to Iran. Omid Djalili addressed demonstrators in Trafalgar Square (Anthony Devlin/PA) A lot of the relatives (of the regime) live here, and they have lots of capital here. They can block that capital and put pressure on them and sanction them. He added that the protests in Iran were for freedom. Its just for freedom, basic rights, he said. We are all human and we have right to live freely. Protesters march through London to a rally in Trafalgar Square (Aaron Chown/PA) Writer Elika Ansari, 32 also attended the protest. I think its really important for Iranian people and everyone who supports democracy to come together to support this cause, she said Its one of the biggest protests I have been to yet. She said the people in the UK can show their support by signing petitions and sharing the news. An Irish humanitarian has said his trial in Greece over smuggling-related charges is deeply damaging to the European Union. Sean Binder said the trial was an attack on the idea of human rights and the rule of law but added he was confident of being found innocent in a fairly run trial. Mr Binder also said he has received racist messages and death threats for helping people who were crossing the Mediterranean to Europe, but emphasised the need to understand the fears people have about migration. The Kerryman is one of 24 migrant rescue volunteers on the Greek island of Lesbos charged in 2018 with a range of offences including misdemeanour counts of espionage-related offences, illegal access to state communications and assisting criminal activity. Building support and solidarity among MEPs today for search and rescue workers like Sean Binder who face spurious charges in Greece while Europe turns a blind eye to abuses on our borders Not my first time getting stopped by French cops mind you! #DropTheCharges pic.twitter.com/LAOOsa4f8Y Grace O'Sullivan MEP (@GraceOSllvn) December 13, 2022 The defendants deny any wrongdoing, maintaining that they had wanted to help save lives when Lesbos was overwhelmed by refugees and migrant arrivals from nearby Turkey. The prosecutors contend that the coastguards radio channels were listened in to and that aid workers entered a restricted area in Lesbos. Mr Binder, a trained rescue diver from Castlegregory, was in Lesbos to volunteer with Emergency Response Centre International, a Greek non-governmental organisation. Despite the NGO working closely with police and the coastguard, he was arrested and charged in August 2018 and placed in pretrial detention for almost four months, alongside people accused of murder. Amnesty International and other organisations have criticised the Greek authorities for using the farcical and baseless charges to make an example of humanitarian workers. The trial of Mr Binder and others over misdemeanour charges is set to begin on Tuesday, although the felony charges could take up to 15 years longer to be brought to trial in the Greek system. Mr Binder told the PA news agency that he eager for the trial to begin, but fears it will be drawn out further. The misdemeanour (trial) had to happen effectively now, otherwise theyd lose the opportunity, while for the felony trial, that can take another 15 years. And given the tactics so far by the prosecution to make this take as long as possible, we fear that we wont be receiving the felony indictment any time soon, which presents possibly a silver lining. Because if they really thought that we were the criminals they accuse us of being, and if they really thought they had the evidence to back it up, then they would have brought this trial as quickly as possible because they want us behind bars. The case was last adjourned in November 2021 and it is possible Tuesdays hearing could result in another adjournment. Mr Binder added: I am desperate to get to trial, we are desperate to get to trial. It is just a material fact that using WhatsApp doesnt make you a spy. It is a fact that helping people at risk of drowning is not smuggling. It is a fact that just because you happen to operate at a charity, you are not a money-launderer. The arguments, the facts pulled, the evidence brought forward by the prosecution and the police investigation is so weak. For example, the prosecution alleged that I committed smuggling on 12 occasions, the majority of those occasions, I was not on the island of Lesbos. It would be impossible for me to be in two places at once one, at the border pulling people across it, and once for example, on my graduation at university. So Im relatively confident that when we get to trial, and if it is indeed a fair trial, that I will be found innocent. The fundamental thing about this is that what I did isnt all that special we have this view that search and rescue is going out to sea and pulling people out of the water, and while that happens on occasion, the vast majority of the time I sat at the shoreline for seven hours in complete darkness, looking at the sea, holding a bottle of water and a blanket. And then to be arrested for doing really a small act of kindness, it is nothing more than that, is shocking. I mean, it is terrifying that the Greek state and the European Union because it happens all across the union will criminalise a 24-year-old for holding a bottle of water rather than doing what its supposed to do, which is abide by its own laws. Every bit of international law, every bit of European Human Rights Convention requires what I did, and more. The hypocrisy of the situation is deeply damaging to the EU as a whole. Its an attack on the idea of human rights and the rule of law. A beach on Lesbos where life jackets have been left by migrant arrivals (Alamy/PA) Mr Binder said Emergency Response Centre International had won awards and worked with the Greek authorities, even lending them equipment. In an ideal world, there would be no need for search and rescue. In a better world, the authorities would be doing it. In the reality in which we live, a medic from one of the best-funded EU agencies has to email a 24-year-old volunteer to supply them with medical equipment. Mr Binder also spoke about the hate mail he gets from people who accuse him of not being Irish and argue that migrants should have been left to drown. He said that people say nasty things such as that people should be left to drown, and that what he did was criminal. I get some hate mail from Ireland, for example, that Im not Irish. People who send me racist messages, often times, Ill troll them back. When people say Youre not Irish, Ill respond in Irish and make fun of them in Irish. I also send a follow-up message saying Look, I get that youre angry and that youre upset. And theres always an underlying view that is legitimate, and its important that weve to look past the racism and the initial anger and to find out why are you telling me this?' Mr Binder says hes powering through, but if all 24 are found guilty, the consequences would be far greater and far more worrying. Its one thing if I go to prison, because Im just one person and it doesnt really matter. But if the 24 of us go to prison for doing what everybody else does, and would do, that really, really does matter. This June 1, 2018, file photo shows Yangyang International Airport. More than 150 foreign visitors who entered Korea via the airport under a visa waiver program over the past six months have "gone missing," raising concerns that the program may be exploited by those seeking to work here illegally. Newsis By Jung Min-ho More than 150 foreign visitors who entered Korea via Yangyang International Airport under a visa waiver program over the past six months have "gone missing," raising concerns that the waiver may be exploited by those seeking to work here illegally. Documents from the Ministry of Justice obtained by Rep. Yoo Sang-bum of the ruling People Power Party showed Sunday that 107 Vietnamese, 31 Filipinos and 15 Mongolians have fallen out of contact after arriving here through the program, which has been running since last June for the three countries as well as Indonesia. The immigration office under the ministry said it has so far caught three people two Vietnamese and one Filipino for overstaying the authorized period of 15 days. The ministry said it is seeking to stop working with the travel agencies that are responsible for many of the missing travelers. To reduce the number of such cases, the ministry also said it will, in cooperation with Gangwon officials and travel companies, strengthen screening processes before and after departure. The program was aimed at boosting tourism in Gangwon Province, a region famous for its natural scenery. It will end on May 31; authorities will decide whether to extend it after reviewing how successful it has been. The lawmaker said the program should not be exploited as an easy path into Korea for those seeking to work here without going through the proper procedures. Undocumented foreigners His message comes when the country is facing a challenging task of embracing more foreign workers and travelers while minimizing any problems that may follow. The government is under increasing pressure to come up with solutions for many issues emerging as a result of the falling birthrate such as labor shortages, as employers in many industries increasingly struggle to find workers. According to ministry data, the number of undocumented foreigners has increased to more than 412,000 after reaching the 400,000 mark for the first time last September. Only 10 years ago, it was under 180,000. With many industries calling for more foreign workers and the government responding with new visa policies, the number of foreigners and those who overstay visas is expected to continue to grow. The number of travelers in Korea is also expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels soon as the country is easing travel restrictions. Just two days ago, the ministry announced a plan to expedite the visa process for foreign workers seeking to work in the shipbuilding industry from four months to one month. This decision comes amid concerns that the sector will face a significant labor shortage 14,000 workers this year with rising demand. Experts say many industries will face the same problem unless there are significant system changes to bring in more workers. To address such concerns, the government is preparing to establish a new agency this year. A man has been charged with murder after human remains were found in a pond on New Years Eve. Essex Police said on Sunday that Lee Clark, 52, of Wedhey, Harlow, has been charged with killing 59-year-old Phillip Lewis, known as Scottish Phil, whose body was found in Oakwood Pond, Harlow. Clark will appear at Colchester Magistrates Court on Monday. Police said Mr Lewiss remains were likely to have been in the pond for weeks. A man has been charged with the murder of Phillip Lewis, whose remains were found in Oakwood Pond, #Harlow, on New Years Eve. A 52-year-old man is due to appear in court tomorrow, 9 January. https://t.co/qh8j9kQ1CJ pic.twitter.com/RiphpsACU2 Essex Police (@EssexPoliceUK) January 8, 2023 A second man, 23, arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder has been released on bail until March while police inquiries continue. He and Clark were arrested on January 4. Detective Superintendent Rob Kirby, head of Essex major crime, said: Quite clearly this is a significant stage in the investigation into the death of Phillip Lewis. Over the last eight days, we have had a team of dedicated detectives and forensic experts who have pieced together what we believe to be the circumstances around Phillips death. That work does not stop at the point of charge and in many ways this is still the beginning of complex investigation into the death of a 59-year-old man who was a son and a friend. Detective Superintendent Rob Kirby has appealed to the public for information (Aaron Chown/PA) One element of that work continues today as, alongside our partners, we continue to drain Oakwood Pond to allow for further investigation of the area to take place. Mr Kirby also appealed to anyone who had come into contact with Mr Lewis since November to come forward, and for anyone living in the area around Oakwood Pond, or the estates coming off Harberts Road, with CCTV or doorbell video systems to contact police. Detectives also want to speak to anyone who regularly visits Oakwood Pond and the surrounding area who has seen anything suspicious in the last two months. Members of the public are asked to call the dedicated hotline on 0800 051 4526, or submit information online at mipp.police.uk/operation/4201020122Q39-PO1. Brandy the dog discovered the remains (Aaron Chown/PA) A local man, Paul, who did not wish to give his last name, said his dog Brandy had found the remains. Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: It was my dog with my son-in-law and they were at the pond, and the dog pulled him down towards the water. (My son-in-law) thought he was going for the ball because the ball was in the water. But no, he went through the water and stopped dead, you know how dogs do, and there were two body parts. The Treasury is poised to announce a reduced scheme to support businesses with their energy bills after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt warned existing spending is unsustainably expensive. The new package will be announced to MPs on Monday, with the current cap on the unit cost of electricity and gas for firms set to expire at the end of March. Sources said the replacement will give a discount on wholesale prices, not a fixed price, with very heavy energy-using sectors getting a larger discount than other businesses. No 11 has rolled the pitch for the levels of support to be scaled back, arguing the current scheme costing more than 18 billion cannot be sustained forever. Mr Hunt last week told business leaders the level of support was unsustainable and reiterated it was always limited to run for six months. Extending the scheme in its current form could cost tens of billions of pounds depending on wholesale energy prices, he argued. Director Sir Sam Mendes said social awkwardness plays a big part in the difficulties people have discussing mental health, as he launched his latest film in Kent. Empire Of Light is set in a dilapidated cinema in a 1980s coastal town and is billed as both a love letter to cinema and a love story between Olivia Colmans Hilary and Micheal Wards Stephen. The film also discusses mental health Hilary has a mental illness and is based loosely on Sir Sams mother and also race, as Wards character faces racial prejudice throughout the film. Speaking on Sunday at the films premiere at the Dreamland amusement park in Margate, Kent, Sir Sam said: I had stories I wanted to tell from my own childhood; for me the 80s are a really vibrant and resonant time to write about. Sam Mendes attending the gala screening of the Empire of Light at Carlton Cinema in Margate (Ian West/PA) I wrote it during lockdown and there was a huge upsurge in mental health issues as people were trapped in their homes and held in that vice-like grip. I also think we havent found a very good way of expressing mental health issues in this country. Its often the case if someone comes out of hospital having gone in for an illness, you ask how they are, but if they come out of a mental hospital they tend not to ask. Its a very difficult thing to talk about and it tends to get brushed under the carpet, with social awkwardness being the norm. Race is an ongoing debate that we have to find a way to move forward in, its something thats just as relevant today as it was in the 80s. A look behind the lens of #EmpireOfLight. A film by Sam Mendes Starring Olivia Colman and Micheal Ward Now Playing in Theaters EverywhereGet tickets now! https://t.co/6UrvtHZSZ4 pic.twitter.com/KvZAf6UWMW Empire of Light (@EmpireLightFilm) December 23, 2022 Colman said it was a big responsibility to take on a character inspired by Sir Sams mother. She said of her role as Hilary: It was quite nerve wracking when you know it means so much to Sam, and he saw it at such close quarters in such formative years, so the responsibility is quite great but then Sam does make it a really nurturing and safe space. He tells jokes all day, really bad ones, but it means you can make a mistake and its OK, and he guided us and made it all OK. Empire Of Light starring Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Colin Firth and Toby Jones is released in cinemas on Monday. The Scottish Government will continue setting out what it says is a detailed blueprint for independence with the countrys Constitution Secretary insisting there is a stark choice between remaining part of the UK and a different future outside of it. Angus Robertson made the comments ahead of the first Holyrood debate of 2023 on the Government motion titled Peoples Right to Choose Respecting Scotlands Democratic Mandate. SNP ministers in Edinburgh have already been criticised for using the opening of the debate to discuss the constitution instead of the growing pressure on the NHS, with Scottish Conservative Tory leader Douglas Ross branding this choice completely bonkers. However, Mr Robertson insisted that while it is barely one week into the 2023, the stark choice facing people in Scotland is already clear. New Scottish Independence poll, YouGov 6 9 Dec (changes vs 30 Sep 4 Oct): Yes ~ 47% (+4)No ~ 42% (-3)Don't Know ~ 8% (+1) Excluding Don't Knows (/ vs 2014):Yes ~ 53% (+4 / +8)No ~ 47% (-4 / -8) pic.twitter.com/o8IBNv1TRZ Ballot Box Scotland (@BallotBoxScot) December 12, 2022 His comments came as he told how the Scottish Government would continue to make the case for independence despite the UK Supreme Court ruling in November that another referendum could not be held without Westminsters consent. Since then, polls have shown a rise in support for independence with several surveys finding a majority for this. Mr Robertson said: If the Westminster parties were hoping that in 2023 they can just put Scotland back in its box, then they have another thing coming. The stakes for Scotland have never been higher the SNP will never give up on Scottish democracy and we will never stop fighting for a better future for the people of Scotland as an independent European nation. Tuesdays debate at Holyrood will see MSPs asked to reaffirm the belief that the people of Scotland have the right to determine the form of government best-suited to our needs, Mr Robertson said. The Constitution Secretary said: We are barely one week into 2023 but the stark choice facing people in Scotland is already clear. On the one hand, the Westminster parties increasingly agree on issues such as austerity and Brexit any change at Westminster will change little for Scotland. With the UK Government currently planning legislation to enforce minimum service levels in several sectors, including the health service, rail, education, fire and border security, Mr Robertson said draconian changes to workers rights should set alarm bells ringing. Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson insisted Scotland could have a different future (Andy Buchanan/PA) He added that the proposals make plain how limited this devolution settlement is, who is actually in charge of it and how determined the Tories are to dismantle it. He insisted that Scotland can have a different future, with the Constitution Secretary saying recent papers produced by the Scottish Government show exactly what Scotland could do with the full powers of independence, which could lead to new legislation to strengthen the rights of workers with flexible working and better industrial relations. Mr Robertson added: These priorities are the polar opposite of the latest proposals by the Tories at Westminster. Increasingly, the evidence shows that the failing Westminster economic model is holding Scotland back and will continue making us all poorer. No wonder the majority in favour of Scotland choosing a different future is growing. By contrast, over the next few months the Scottish Government will continue setting out a detailed blueprint for how an independent Scotland could thrive under a new economic model, based on our abundant renewable energy resources, a new social partnership approach, a migration policy tailored to our needs and becoming a member of the EU in our own right. It is precisely when so much is at stake that the people of Scotland should be trusted to decide their own constitutional future. That is why this week we will ask Scotlands Parliament to reflect on what the Supreme Court judgment means and reaffirm its belief that the people of Scotland have the right to determine the form of Government best suited to our needs. a female operating nurse stands over a patient at the operating table and looks down to what she is doing in the operation. She is joined by a young female nurse and mature male surgeon .In the background the anaesthetist is looking over from his monitors . They are all wearing surgical gowns and protective masks and headwear. they are wearing green gowns . The shot is horizontal waist up , with defocussed background for copy space . A 61-year-old woman who is likely to die if her aneurysm bursts has resorted to paying for private healthcare as the NHS is unable to treat her condition as urgent. Faced with a potential life or death situation, she opted to spend 47,000, taken from an advance on her inheritance, to go private, and is due to have open heart surgery in a few weeks. Calling in to Labour MP David Lammy's show on LBC Radio, the patient named Kate said it was "worrying" that NHS trusts don't treat aortic aneurisms a balloon-like bulge in the aorta as a matter of urgency. She said that if they burst, patients can have an 80% chance of death, particularly if they don't get to a hospital in time. "I live in rural Wales, so the nearest hospital for me would be Birmingham, so I don't think I'd have any chance. I'm not being dramatic, I'm being really honest with you," Kate said. "It's severely restricting my life in that I'm not allowed to walk up steep hills. I had to stop lots of things that I would normally do, I'm quite active normally." Read more: Crisis in A&E medicine cannot be blamed on pandemic, warns senior medic The NHS is facing long ambulance waits, delays in A&E and a shortage of hospital beds. (Reuters) Fortunately for Kate, she was given a lifeline after her father sold his house over the summer and invested the money into an inheritance pot for her and her brother. She was offered some money in advance and decided to spend 47,000 on surgery. If she'd stuck with the NHS, she said she'd be looking at a wait of around 39 weeks from November. "I feel fortunate to be honest with you, but I feel very concerned for people who aren't in my position," she told LBC. Read more: 'I can't help that COVID happened,' Rishi Sunak says as NHS faces record delays "For a life-threatening condition, they call it elective surgery, the only time it becomes urgent is if it bursts or if it dissects, and then you've got that mortality risk." Lammy also spoke to a 52-year-old woman who has now been waiting nine months for what her doctor described as an "urgent" hysterectomy. Watch: Rishi Sunak repeatedly refuses to say if he or his family are signed up with a private GP The caller, named Dianne, said she's now expecting to wait until at least this summer for the procedure, and in the meantime is in "constant" pain. "There's no comfortable position to be in, I've slept in a chair for weeks and weeks now because it's painful to lie down," she said. "There's only so many painkillers you can take. Apart from the pain you're continually tired, you're very uncomfortable because your tummy is extremely swollen. "You feel dreadful, you can't eat properly because you constantly feel full, if you do have something to eat you have indigestion." It comes as the NHS faces an unprecedented winter crisis, with people facing long waits in A&E, while patients are kept waiting in ambulances because there aren't enough beds in hospitals. Read more: NHS staff 'could be offered pay increase if they accept radical reforms' According to data obtained The Telegraph, nearly half a million people in the UK have taken out private health insurance in the past year a possible sign of dwindling trust in the health service. After meeting with health leaders, Rishi Sunak said that he had a "renewed sense of confidence and optimism" that the NHS could overcome its current challenges. But when asked, he refused to say whether he and his family were registered with a private GP. "As a general policy I wouldn't talk about me or my family's healthcare situation," he told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show. "It's a distraction from what the real issue is, which is, are we making sure that there's high quality healthcare available for the country?" Kruck20 / Getty Images/iStockphoto North Carolina has long attracted residents-to-be with its top-notch universities, thriving economy and gorgeous natural scenery. In 2022, it was named America's Top State for Business by CNBC. Check Out: 6 Types of Retirement Income That Aren't Taxable Discover: 9 Safest Places To Retire Abroad for Less Than $2,000 a Month Yet it may be those who are calling it a day on business who have the most to gain in North Carolina. Retirees may relocate to the Tar Heel State because it touts a relatively low cost of living and has awesome tax breaks for seniors. It is also, as mentioned, a beautiful place, so if walks in nature are a priority for your golden years, North Carolina will definitely deliver. But North Carolina is a big place, and there are so many cities and towns to choose from when relocating there. Which ones make the best setting for retirees living on Social Security -- or really for anyone on a strict budget? GOBankingRates found the six best places to live in North Carolina on less than $2,500 a month. Kruck20 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Raleigh Monthly expenditures : $2,167 Livability: 75 A one-bedroom home in Raleigh costs $1,295 on average. Monthly groceries cost $441 and healthcare per month runs $431. Raleigh is known for its rich history, including the fact that it is home to the first all-Black college, Shaw University. In Raleigh, just 12% of the population is 65 and over -- the lowest percentage on this list. Take Our Poll: Are You Struggling To Keep Up With Your Utility Bills? Shutterstock.com Garner Monthly expenditures : $2,140 Livability: 73 Over in Garner in Wake County, rents for a one-bedroom average of $1,280. Monthly groceries cost $429 and healthcare costs $431 per month -- the same as it costs in Raleigh. Garner is reputed for its down-to-Earth charm and its close proximity to the famous Research Triangle Park. Fifteen percent of the population is 65 and older. Pictured: Neighboring Raleigh, North Carolina Meinzahn / iStock.com Wilmington Monthly expenditures : $2,109 Livability: 65 Wilmington is famous for its antebellum and Civil War history, along with its pop culture relevance (it's the setting for the TV show "Dawson's Creek" and the movie "Cape Fear"). A one-bedroom apartment here costs $1,132, while monthly healthcare will set you back $539 -- the highest on this list. Groceries are also pricey, at $438 per month. Wilmington has the highest percentage (18%) of people 65 and older on this list. Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Durham Monthly expenditures : $2,060 Livability: 70 A one-bedroom place in Durham goes for $1,181 a month, while groceries for the month cost $435, and monthly healthcare costs $445. Fifteen percent of the city's population is 65 years or older. Durham is known as the City of Medicine, as healthcare is its most prominent industry. Scott Richie / Flickr.com Concord Monthly expenditures : $1,919 Livability: 83 Concord is the second most affordable city to live on for $2,500 a month, but it actually has the highest livability score of all of those featured. Perhaps that has to do with the fact that it's a cultural epicenter, with tons of art galleries and museums. A one-bedroom home in these parts costs $1,057 a month, groceries cost $429 and healthcare goes for $433. Kevin Ruck / Shutterstock.com Greensboro Monthly expenditures : $1,911 Livability: 66 If you have a budget of $2,500 a month, you'll get the biggest bang for your buck by living in Greensboro, where a one-bedroom place costs $1,069, groceries cost $420 and health costs hover at $423. Greensboro is also known as Tournament Town, in light of its abundance of athletic venues. Methodology: GOBankingRates determined where in North Carolina to live on less than $2,500 per month based on the (1) average monthly benefit for retired workers, sourced from the Social Security Administration; and ApartmentList data to find (2) average 2022 one-bedroom rent in North Carolina cities. GOBankingRates then researched Sperling's Best to find the cost of living index for each listed city, looking at (3) grocery and (4) healthcare index scores. GOBankingRates additionally used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020 Consumer Expenditure Survey to find the annual expenditure amount for both grocery ("food at home") and healthcare costs for people aged 65 and older in order to find how much a person 65 and over would spend on groceries and healthcare in each city on a monthly basis. GOBankingRates then added monthly housing, grocery and healthcare costs together. In order for a city to be qualified for the study, its (5) population had to be 10% or more over the age of 65, according to the U.S. Census Bureau; and (6) have a livability score of 65 or above, sourced from AreaVibes. All data was collected on and up to date as of Oct. 11, 2022. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Best Places To Retire in North Carolina on Less Than $2,500 a Month RICHMOND, Va. (AP) A Virginia teacher who was critically injured when she was was shot by a 6-year-old student in Newport News is showing signs of improvement as authorities struggle to understand how a child so young could be involved in a school shooting, the city's mayor said Saturday. Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones said the condition of the teacher, a woman in her 30s, is trending in a positive direction as she remains hospitalized. Police Chief Steve Drew met with the teacher and her family Saturday morning. She has improved and is currently listed in stable condition, police said in a news release. The boy shot and wounded the teacher with a handgun in a first-grade classroom on Friday at Richneck Elementary School, according to authorities. Drew said the shooting was not accidental and was part of an altercation. No students were injured. Police on Saturday declined to describe what led to the altercation or any other details about what happened in the classroom, citing the ongoing investigation. Jones also declined to reveal details of the shooting, or say how the boy got access to the gun or who owns the weapon. This is a red flag for the country," Jones said. I do think that after this event, there is going to be a nationwide discussion on how these sorts of things can be prevented. Virginia law does not allow 6-year-olds to be tried as adults. In addition, a 6-year-old is too young to be committed to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice if found guilty. A juvenile judge would have authority, though, to revoke a parents custody and place a child under the purview of the Department of Social Services. Jones would not say where the boy is being held. We are ensuring he has all the services that he currently needs right now, Jones said. Experts who study gun violence said the shooting represents an extremely rare occurrence of a young child bringing a gun into school and wounding a teacher. Its very rare and its not something the legal system is really designed or positioned to deal with, said researcher David Riedman, founder of a database that tracks U.S. school shootings dating back to 1970. He said Saturday that hes only aware of three other shootings caused by 6-year-old students in the time period he's studied. Those include the fatal shooting of a fellow student in 2000 in Michigan and shootings that injured other students in 2011 in Texas and 2021 in Mississippi. Riedman said he only knows of one other instance of a student younger than that causing gunfire at a school, in which a 5-year-old student brought a gun to a Tennessee school in 2013 and accidentally discharged it. No one was injured in that case. Daniel W. Webster, a professor at Johns Hopkins University who studies gun violence, agreed that a 6-year-old shooting a teacher at school is extremely unusual. But he said his research shows that instances of young children accessing loaded guns and shooting themselves or others unintentionally in homes or other settings are rising. A 6 year old gaining access to a loaded gun and shooting him/herself or someone else, sadly, is not so rare, he said in an email. In the Newport News case, Drew said Friday that the shooting didn't appear to be an accident and that it was isolated to the single victim. He said the student and teacher had known each other in a classroom setting. We did not have a situation where someone was going around the school shooting, Drew told reporters. Investigators were trying to figure out where he obtained the handgun. Parents and students were reunited at a gymnasium, Newport News Public Schools said via Facebook. The police chief declined to discuss what contact investigators have had with the boy's parents. We have been in contact with our commonwealths attorney (local prosecutor) and some other entities to help us best get services to this young man, Drew said. Newport News is a city of about 185,000 people in southeastern Virginia known for its shipyard, which builds the nation's aircraft carriers and other U.S. Navy vessels. Richneck has about 550 students who are in kindergarten through fifth grade, according to the Virginia Department of Educations website. Jones said there will be no classes at the school Monday and Tuesday. Today our students got a lesson in gun violence, said George Parker III, Newport News schools superintendent, and what guns can do to disrupt, not only an educational environment, but also a family, a community. ___ Associated Press writers Ben Finley in Norfolk, Matthew Barakat in Falls Church and Ed White in Detroit contributed to this report. RIFLE, Colo. (AP) Debbie Hartman voted for Lauren Boebert for Congress in 2020 and again in 2022, delighted by Boebert's unequivocal defense of cultural issues that animate the Republican Party's far right flank. But as Hartman shopped recently at a supermarket in this Rocky Mountain ranching outpost, she had one piece of advice for the Colorado lawmaker. Tone down the nasty rhetoric on occasion and just stick with the point at hand, said Hartman, 65, a veterinary tech assistant. That sentiment reflects Boebert's challenge as she begins her second term in the House. In her relatively short time in Washington, she has built a national profile with a combative style embracing everything from gun ownership to apocalyptic religious rhetoric. Constituents such as Hartman in the Republican-leaning 3rd Congressional District laud Boebert for defending their rights, but cringe at her provocations, contributing to an unexpectedly tight race last year that she won by just 546 votes out of more than 300,000 cast. She tapped into what Trump was doing, and she maybe took it too far in some instances, said Alex Mason, 27, adding that Boebert, whom he supports, is still more tactful than former President Donald Trump. In an interview, Boebert said this slim victory, it opened my eyes to another chance to do everything that Ive been promising to do." To the congresswoman, that means being more focused on delivering the policies I ran on than owning the left, adding she hoped to bring the temperature down, to bring unity. For much of past week, however, the temperature on Capitol Hill was only rising. Boebert was a leading voice among a group of lawmakers who refused to support Rep. Kevin McCarthy's bid to become House speaker, a historic revolt against a party leader. McCarthy finally won the gavel early Saturday morning. Some of Boebert's toughest words are increasingly aimed at fellow Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, another controversial Trump acolyte who was one of McCarthy's most prominent conservative supporters. I have been asked to explain MTGs beliefs on Jewish space lasers, on why she showed up to a white supremacist conference. ... Im just not going to go there, Boebert said over the phone as she rode in a car winding through the high canyons near her hometown of Silt before the speakership vote. She wants to say all these things and seem unhinged on Twitter, so be it. Boebert, 36, insisted that while she may try to pick fewer fights with the left, she's not going to become a different person even after barely beating an opponent, Democrat Adam Frisch, who had targeted what he called Boebert's angertainment. A lot of those on the left have said: Look at your election, are you going to tone it down, little girl?'" she said. I'm still going to be me. The slim margin has stirred discussion about whether she might be vulnerable in another race next year, with Frisch saying he has received encouragement from lawmakers in Washington to run again.. But, she said, she's thinking more about what it's like to be a member of the majority party. In the minority, all I had was my voice, the only thing I could do was be loud about the things Im passionate about, she said. Now, "We have to lead right now, we have to show Americans that we deserve to be in the majority. People in Boeberts district, which runs from the ruddy red mesas in Grand Junction that stand sentry over rugged, high-desert terrain to the coal mining hamlets nestled in the Rockies, say the landscape promotes a kind of frontier libertarianism. To many voters, Boebert became a standard-bearer for a rural way of life and values that they feel are being both persecuted and forgotten. Larry Clark, who spent 50 years tending to his familys 160-acre ranch before his relatives sought cash for the land, points to one example. Many more liberal city-dwellers east of the Rockies voted to reintroduce wolves to the Western Slope, where the predators prey includes livestock that drives the local economy. They dont understand what rural life is like," said Clark, who only had encouraging words for Boebert, a staunch opponent of reintroduction. "Send the wolves to Boulder. Even if they've grown wary of her excesses, many of Boeberts supporters say shes amplified their concerns nationally and served as an an antidote to progressive Democrats such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. Raleigh Snyder, a retired aircraft mechanic in Grand Junction, said Boebert was Americas only chance against endemic corruption in Washington. Still, he said shes probably going to have to learn to temper her approach, but dont change her goals. Outside Rifle's City Market, Maryann Tonder said she doesn't want Boebert even to feel that she has to compromise principles to get stuff done." But, she added, "you can do it in a way that is not over the top. Another Boebert supporter in Rifle, Julie Ottman, who was pushing a cart out of City Market, said, sometimes you got to give a little bit in order to get. But others are pressing Boebert to stand firm. I dont want her to bow," said Mike Gush, 64, a coal miner from the small town of Craig. I would stop supporting her. __ Jesse Bedayn 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. (Reuters) - Russia and Ukraine swapped 50 captured soldiers each on Sunday in a deal that both sides welcomed even as they fought one another in eastern Ukraine. Russia's defence ministry said the 50 returned Russian soldiers would be flown to Moscow for medical and psychological rehabilitation. "On January 8, as a result of negotiations, 50 Russian servicemen, who were in mortal danger while in captivity, were returned from the territory controlled by the Kyiv regime," it said in a statement. Ukraine confirmed the information and said Russia had freed 50 Ukrainian servicemen as part of the same deal. "Another successful POWs (prisoners of war) swap. 50 Ukrainian soldiers are back," Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office said on Twitter. "To be continued. We must bring all our people home, and we are on it." Yermak posted images of the freed Ukrainian soldiers holding bags of food near a bus they were about to board and a video of them singing the Ukrainian national anthem once underway. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew Osborn) Experts call for drastic measures as Korea braces for ultra-aged society By Lee Hyo-jin Korea's consistently low birthrate coupled with a higher life expectancy is rapidly transforming the country's demographic structure. The latest data from Statistics Korea projects the nation to become a super-aged society by 2025, in which over 20 percent of its 52 million population are aged 65 and older. In line with the increase in the elderly population, the number of economically vulnerable senior citizens is rising at a rapid pace. According to a 2022 OECD report, the relative poverty rate among people aged over 65 in Korea came to 43.2 percent, the highest among its member countries, and a position the nation has maintained for several years. The relative poverty rate refers to the proportion of the population whose income is below 50 percent of the nation's median income. Experts, who pointed out Korea's ill-preparedness for the imminent transformation into an ultra-aged society, said the government should urgently revamp the nation's welfare system and take drastic steps to bolster the social safety net. Hur Jun-soo, a professor of social welfare at Soongsil University, said that the overall quality of Korea's welfare measures for the elderly remains near the bottom among 38 OECD member countries. "The share of the budget allocated to senior welfare out of the nation's total welfare budget stands at 25 percent. This is a significantly low figure compared to 45 percent in Japan or 39 percent in France. Government spending on senior citizens' welfare should increase in line with the country's economic growth as well as the aging population," he told The Korea Times. As for the main reason why so many elderly Koreans are struggling with poverty compared with other countries, he pointed to the late introduction of the national pension scheme. "Korea's public pension system was first launched in 1988, whereas it was introduced a century earlier in countries like Germany. Also, the basic monthly pension paid to retirees is too small compared to other countries and insufficient to cover their basic needs." Stressing the need for pension reform, the professor also said that lengthening careers is essential to guarantee future retirees an adequate monthly pension and ensure the national pension's sustainability. "The retirement age currently set at 60 should be extended to at least 65, and possibly to 70 in the long term. This will allow people to remain active in the labor market longer and thus enable them to make more contributions to their pension," he said. "Plus, staying socially active is good for both mental and physical health." Moreover, he called for the government to urgently expand support for those in extreme poverty by increasing affordable housing options and food banks, as well as providing them with preventive healthcare services. An elderly man drags a handcart loaded with paper and cardboard. Korea Times file A subway passenger, injured when two subway trains collided, is taken on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance, outside the Raza station in Mexico City, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. Authorities announced at least one person was killed and dozens were injured in the Saturday accident on Line 3 of the capital's subway. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) MEXICO CITY (AP) Two subway trains collided between two stations Saturday in Mexico City, killing at least one person and injuring 41, authorities said. Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said on her Twitter account that the accident happened on Line 3 of the capitals Metro system, without specifying the cause of the crash between the Potrero and La Raza stations. Sheinbaum said one person was killed and 16 were taken to hospitals for injuries. But officials later raised the number of injured to 41. Four people who were trapped in the trains were rescued. Dozens of police and soldiers swarmed into the nearby subway stations, while ambulances and rescue teams arrived to treat the injured. Edgar Montiel, an electrician who was on one on the trains, said he felt lucky because he had decided at the last minute to enter the next-to-last car rather than the rearmost car, which was smashed up in the crash. It sounded very strong. I just closed my eyes when I felt the sheets of the car bend and throw me, Montiel told The Associated Press. He said he remained on the floor of the car with several passengers amid screams and cries asked for help. The power went out to the subway and a lot of smoke began to come out that was suffocating us. We could not breathe well, he said. Montiel, who had injuries to his left arm and leg, said the occupants of his car had to wait about 30 minutes until paramedics arrived to tend to the injured and help everyone exit the car. In lamenting the accident, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on his Twitter account that the federal government was supporting the city officials dealing with accident. In May 2021, an elevated section of the subway system collapsed, causing 26 deaths and injuring nearly 100 people. An investigation blamed the structural failure on deficiencies in the construction process, and 10 former officials have been charged with homicide, injury and damage to property. The Mexico City subway system has 226.5 kilometers (141 miles) of track and 195 stations. It serves an average of 4.6 million passengers every day. The US has so many diasporas from nations that it has poor relations with. Foreign correspondents have always been a window to the world. Even in these times of global electronic and social media connectivity, with instant parading of fact and fiction, the professional reporting of a seasoned correspondent still has value. Many foreign correspondents based in India have written interesting accounts that their home and host country audience have appreciated. Even though the Indian media has, regrettably, a mere handful of foreign correspondents worldwide, some of them have produced books worth reading. Pallavi Aiyars books written after her assignments in Beijing and Tokyo offer a fascinating Indian view of these two nations. A new addition to the short list of books by Indian journalists posted overseas is Seema Sirohis recently published worms eye view of the ups and downs of US-India relations over a 30-year period. Sirohis Friends with Benefits: The India-US Story (HarperCollins, 2023) is not the usual foreign correspondents account of life and times in the station of ones posting. Rather, it is a detailed account, virtually a blow-by-blow account, so to speak, of the evolution of India-US diplomatic and government-to-government relations since the end of the Cold War. Seema Sirohi was posted to Washington DC in 1990 and so her tenure began with the world-shaking events of that year and next. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War and the new turn in Indias economic policies. Three things stand out from Sirohis painstakingly detailed account of the evolution of the India-US relationship over the past three decades. First, the persistence of Cold War attitudes in Washington DC well into this century. Second, the shadow of Pakistan and China on the American view of India. Third, the role played by Prime Ministers Atal Behari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, on the Indian side, and Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, on the US side, in redefining the bilateral relationship. Interestingly, Sirohi does not have much to say on the role of the Indian diaspora and perhaps she is right in not giving them an exaggerated role in the bilateral relationship. After all, the US has so many diasporas from nations that it has poor relations with. There are times when the diaspora comes into play in a positive manner, and sometimes it can be a source of trouble for diplomats. Sirohis account of the 30-year history has two dimensions to it which are of contemporary relevance. First, she shows how systematically both countries managed to construct this relationship over a fairly long period of time, despite frustratingly constant changes in governments and personnel on both sides. Former US ambassador to India Robert Blackwill once said to me: For you Indias history begins five thousand years ago. For every American administration, it begins on the day of the presidential inauguration. Blackwill was often frustrated both by Indians remembering too many negative stories from the past and his American colleagues not knowing anything about the past in the bilateral relationship. Second, Sirohi shows how deftly Pakistani diplomacy managed to keep the United States on its side so that US-Pakistan relations repeatedly threw a spanner in the works of the evolving US-India relationship. This happened with almost every President -- Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, with the singular exception of George Bush Jr. Indeed, I have often argued that President Bush Jr was the one individual who fundamentally altered the bilateral relationship. It was not just with the civil nuclear deal but with his overall strategic approach to India. Sirohis account of the relationship is worth reading at this particular time when doubts have been raised about where it is headed, especially in the context of Indias stand on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the American attempts from time to time to breathe life into an otherwise testy relationship with both Pakistan and China. Given the manner in which both India and the United States have kept their balance on what has clearly been a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs, there is reason to be optimistic about the future of this relationship. Very different political leaders and governments in both countries -- Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi in India and Barack Obama and Donald Trump in the US -- kept the flame of the strategic partnership alive. You cannot get a more diverse set of political leaders than this lot. If Singh-Modi and Obama-Trump, with all their differences, could stay the bilateral course, then US-India relations can be declared to be stable, even if not predictable. What is also clear is that both countries have their own priorities in some important areas and they have to learn to live with these differences. The US-China and US-Pakistan relationship will frustrate India while the India-Russia relationship will frustrate the US. Both countries will pursue an independent foreign policy that may run parallel on many fronts, but not on all. This is the core of the reality of the nature of the two countries and their bilateral relationship that scholars and foreign affairs commentators in both countries must understand. Far too many in both countries have entertained unrealistic expectations and baseless fears about the bilateral relationship. India-baiters and India-enthusiasts in the US have often been frustrated by New Delhis assertion of strategic autonomy, just as friends and critics of the US in India have also gone off the tangent predicting either that India would become a military ally of the US or that India would finally succeed in pushing both China and Pakistan off the US map of Asia. Perhaps one should thank Vladimir Putin for clarifying many minds in New Delhi, Washington DC and many other capitals around the world. He managed to force the Indian political leadership to clarify the nature of Indias relations with various powers. In dealing with the post-Ukraine world, India has had to carefully define the nature of the relationship it hopes to maintain with various big powers. There is now, I believe, greater clarity in major capitals on how India views its relations with the world. Indias adversaries may still try to throw spanner in the works, but we have shown we know how to ride the roller-coaster. The survey would cover an estimated population of 12.70 crores in more than 2.58-crore households across the state Enumerator staff prepare to record data during the first phase of much-hyped caste-based census in Bihar state, in Patna, Saturday, Jan 7, 2023. (PTI Photo) PATNA: The first phase of the caste census began in Bihar on Saturday. According to officials, the census will be conducted across the state in two phases. Reports suggest that the first phase of the census will end on January 21 and the second phase of the exercise will begin from April onward. The decision to carry out the caste-based census was taken during a Cabinet meeting held on June 2, last year. According to officials here, the survey would cover an estimated population of 12.70 crores in more than 2.58-crore households across the state. The survey is likely to be over by May 21. "I am confident that the census would be beneficial to the overall development of the state and the country as well. This exercise is being carried out after taking approval from political parties," Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said during his Samadhan yatra on Saturday. Earlier, Mr Kumar had said that the officials conducting the caste-based census were trained by the state government and have been asked to "take note of every minute detail of people, their households and other things. They will also gather information about people who have gone out of the state." The move was also welcomed by the grand alliance partner, the RJD. Talking to the media about the survey, RJD leader and deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav said, "The exercise will help the government to carry out development work in Bihar and will benefit the poor and weaker section of the society". Mr Yadav also used the occasion to blame the BJP for its policies and said that "the party (the BJP) created hurdles and didnt want the survey to be conducted. This census will provide data that will help the government launch welfare schemes for the people." The caste-based census has been a major issue for the JD(U) and the RJD. Earlier, the Bihar Assembly passed the resolution twice in February 2019 and again in February 2020. The resolution was also sent to the Central government with a request to hold a census based on castes. However, the demand was triggered in 2022 after the Centre clarified that it has no plans to hold surveys based on castes other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. In 2021, a delegation led by Bihar chief minister also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press the demand for a caste-based census in the country. Mr Yadav, who was in Opposition then, was also part of the delegation. The pope has approved the election of two new archbishops designated by the Sindo of the Patriarchate of Antioch of the Syrians: Fr. Jacques Mourad in 2015 in Syria was in the hands of jihadists for five months; in Iraq Fr. Qusay Mubarak Abdullah Hano was born and raised in the Nineveh Plain and was an exile among exiles in Erbil. The challenges of reconstruction. Rome (AsiaNews) - Pope Francis yesterday gave his assent to the election of two bishops of the Syrian Catholic Church with extremely significant histories. Following the procedure of the Code of Eastern Churches, the Synod of Bishops of the Patriarchal Church of Antioch of the Syrians designated its own archbishops of Homs in Syria and of the battered Iraqi city of Mosul. For Homs - the very ancient episcopal see of Emesa, which also gave the Catholic Church a pope in the 2nd century (Anicetus who was on the Chair of Peter between 155 and 168) - the choice fell on Fr. Jacques Mourad, originally from Aleppo, who in 2015 was held for five months by Isis after being kidnapped from his community of Mar Elian, near the city of al Qaryatayn. It was a dramatic experience for this now 54-year-old monk who is the co-founder of the Mar Mousa Community, created in another ancient monastery in Syria together with Fr. Paolo Dall'Oglio, an Italian Jesuit who was also kidnapped by Isis in the summer of 2013 and disappeared into thin air like thousands of Syrian victims of the war. In 2016 - shortly after his release - Fr. Mourad had recounted in an interview with the PIME magazine Mondo e Missione "In those days the meaning of my life changed. And Charles de Foucauld's words, 'Father, I deliver myself into your hands,' acquired a new strength for me." With this spirit-after a few years living in the monasteries of Cori in Italy and Sulaymanyah in Iraqi Kurdistan-last year Fr. Mourad had returned to al Qaryatayn, in the diocese of Homs. And together with the local Christians who were victims with him of the kidnapping, he began the difficult construction site of reconstruction. Starting with the Mar Elian monastery itself-which holds the remains of St. Julian, the great martyr of Emesa-which jihadists had desecrated and destroyed. "I told the Christians that the saint had saved and redeemed us by offering his monastery and tomb for us." Fr. Jacques Mourad strongly pursued this rebuilding as a sign of reconciliation. "This work," reads a letter sent these days by the Mar Mousa Community, "was crowned by the reconsecration of the church and chapel at the hands of the Syrian Catholic Bishop of Damascus, Msgr. Jihad Battah, and the Syrian Orthodox Bishop of Homs, Msgr. Matta el-Khoury." "The presence of the two bishops constituted a solemn act of reconciliation of the two Churches in Qaryatayn, which in the past had had strong disagreements over the ownership of the Monastery itself. In attendance were many priests from the Diocese of Homs and numerous faithful from Qaryatayn and the surrounding area, as well as many friends of the Community. " "At the end of the Mass on Sept. 9, the feast day of Mar Elian, the saint's bones were laid in the restored sarcophagus that had been destroyed in 2015. Two Christians and two Muslims from Qaryatayn carried the saint's relics, to everyone's delight. It was a real wedding celebration, in which the Muslim community of Qaryatayn offered lunch to everyone present, more than 300 people." Rebuilding is also the challenge facing Fr. Qusay Mubarak Abdullah Hano, 40, who was chosen by the Synod of the Syrian Catholic Patriarchate as its bishop of Mosul, the Iraqi city that was the capital of the self-styled Islamic State. Syrian Catholics in Mosul and the Nineveh Plain historically are the second largest Christian community next to the Chaldean community, led since 2018 by Msgr. Najib Mikhael Moussa. The new Syrian Catholic bishop was born and raised in Qaraqosh, one of the cities in the Plain of Nineveh. At the time of Isis, when jihadists burned down the episcope in Mosul, Fr. Hano was was ministering to the displaced in Erbil. Now he has been called to take up the legacy of Msgr. Youhanna Boutros Moshe, who led the Syrian Catholic community in Mosul during the long storm. To this day it remains a daunting task. As Syrian Catholic priest Fr. Raed Adel told the Iraqi daily Al 'Alam Al Jadeed a few days ago from Mosul, nearly two years after the pope's visit, barely 150 Christians have returned to Mosul, less than 1 percent of the community present before the dominance of the Isis ouster. Weighing most heavily is the issue of Christians' property, which since the jihadists' raid9 has been sold and is struggling to be returned. The local authorities themselves are doing little to curb demographic change in areas once inhabited by Christians. This is another reason why Msgr. Hano's episcopal ordination-which Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians Ignace Youssif III Younan will preside over on Feb. 3 at the large Church of the Immaculate Conception in Qaraqosh-will be an important sign for a Church that wants to regain its place in a land where Christians have a long history and a vocation they do not want to abandon. ECCLESIA IN ASIA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SUNDAY VIA E-MAIL? TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER, CLICK HERE. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, left, speaks during a meeting with senior members of the presidential office and the ruling People Power Party at the National Assembly, Jan. 8. Yonhap Prime Minister Han Duk-soo said Sunday the government will push incessantly for reform measures in key sectors in close consultations with the National Assembly. He was speaking at the outset of the first regular high-level meeting of 2023 with the representatives of the presidential office and the ruling People Power Party (PPP). "The global economy is forecast to face challenges this year due to sluggish economic growth in the United States, the European Union and China," Han pointed out during the session held at the National Assembly. He expressed hope for the implementation of a strong reform drive and steps to improve the livelihoods of the people as the Yoon Suk Yeol administration has entered its second year in office. Yoon's chief of staff Kim Dae-ki asked for bipartisan support to pave the way for structural reforms in three key sectors labor, education and pension and help prop up the local economy. "Out of the 100 bills proposed by the (Yoon) government since it was launched, 95 failed to pass," Kim said in his opening remarks. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea controls the National Assembly with 169 out of 299 seats. Chung Jin-suk, interim leader of the PPP, emphasized that 2023 is an appropriate time to push for key reform measures, noting there is no national election in the year. "We need to focus on the economy and national security, and accelerate labor, pension and educational reforms for future generations," he added. (Yonhap) The drop in prices announced on Friday brings the price of Tesla vehicles in the country down by between 13% and 24%, but it seems people were not happy with that - the announcement resulted in protests throughout the country on Saturday by those who recently purchased Tesla vehicles. Especially given how prior to the end of the year, Chinese customers were enticed to buy an electric vehicles through various means.The latest cuts dwarf those in October, which were of only 9 percent, leading to the outrage. For example, the Model 3 was reduced from CNY 265,900 ($38,883) to CNY 229,900 ($33,618), a decrease of 14%. The Model Y has been discounted by 10% from CNY 288,900 ($42,246) down to CNY 259,900 ($38,005).One cannot blame Chinese customers, as it is already very expensive to own a car in the country and this begs the question, was this a trick from Tesla? The company had claimed the late 2022 reductions would not happen again, yet they did.The largest protest came in the country's financial center of Shanghai where, ironically, China-market Teslas are made. Reuters reported about 200 customers crammed into the Shanghai showroom claiming they had overpaid for their vehicles."It may be a normal business practice but this is not how a responsible enterprise should behave," said one Tesla owner protesting at the company's delivery center in Shanghai's Minhang suburb on Saturday.According to Zhang, police mediated a meeting between Tesla staff and angry car buyers who presented a list of demands including an apology and compensation or other credits. The immediate onsite reaction from the staff was they would respond to the demands by Tuesday.Tesla, however, told Reuters the company has no plans to compensate buyers who took delivery prior to the latest price cuts. The move could signify a further market shift away from Tesla vehicles which would be a huge blow for the company as China sales represent a huge number on the company's balance sheet.Domestic brands have brought the fight for market share right to the steps of Tesla's Giga Shanghai and it showed in the carmaker's year-end financial report. While the facility increased production by 50% over 2021, China-based SAIC outsold Tesla by 53%, according to China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).What's more, China-based BYD outsold Tesla four-to-one in November alone, delivering 234,598 vehicles compared to 55,796 for Musk and company, a drop of 44%. Photo: Magic Box Tiny House Photo: Magic Box Tiny House When I first encountered Magic Box Tiny House (MBTH), I wasn't sure what I was looking at. I mean, I knew it was a tiny and mobile dwelling , but I couldn't yet grasp how in the world the Mid Box (MB) could be transported. After all, this dwelling is much larger than just one highway lane. Come to find out, this manufacturer builds their units with the ability to expand. Sure, expanding mobile homes, RVs, or any other type of habitat are not something new, but the simplicity each unit displays brings a whole new level of allure to this industry, and personally, I love it!For starters, the MB is a completely prefabricated unit; you don't have to do anything except plug in a socket at the rear of the house and connect the plumbing. The home is delivered to your plot of land with the features you paid for, so you can enjoy your sunset dinners overlooking the edge of the Grand Canyon or wherever you have a permit to set up shop for the next few days to weeks, maybe years. We'll touch up on that later.With the MB dropped off at your proverbial door, you'll need to expand it to living levels. With a person or two pushing, the interior slides towards the rear of the unit and doubles the MB's size. As best I can describe how the system works is to compare it to the mechanics of a drawer. The outer shell wraps another slightly smaller one, and the latter is pushed out of the former. Simple enough but very effective While each MB is customizable, images on the manufacturer's website showcase the units as featuring a Murphy bed. Frankly, that's the smartest option, but a modular couch also works. You'll just have to shove it into the kitchen and hope it fits once you start pushing the outer wall back in. If your MB is the sort of unit you plan on using as an extension to your present home or overlooking your vineyards, bring in all the long-term furnishings you want and transform the interior into the cave of your dreams.Speaking of dreams, MBTH is focused on ensuring you receive a fantastic home , and so they allow you to customize nearly every aspect of your future mobile residence. The only features you can't mess with are things like the shell's building materials, chassis, and overall construction of the MB. Other than that, you can tamper with the bathroom, interior carpentry and panels, even add off-grid utilities and options. Take a look at the image gallery to see what's possible.Regarding off-grid abilities, I promised that I'd brush up on this a little later. Well, it's later, and so I want you to imagine what it may be like to own such a tiny house. Think about that plot of land you purchased a couple of years ago precisely for this purpose. Don't have land? Maybe the following daydream will help you set a new goal.Since you've been looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of cities and classic neighborhoods, you've chosen a little 280-square-foot (26-square-meter) plot of ground hidden among pine trees and overlooking a little corner of the Rockies. With the MB in place and furnishings bearing your personal touch, you finally take a seat on your couch and stare out of a full glass exterior wall, which is the point of entry into the unit, too. It's here that you forget all about what a TV is used for, what work needs to be done, or what neighbors are. You might feel like the biblical god that rested and marveled at its creation on the seventh day. Why not? Life is beautiful, and Mid Box is just one way to capture it.Now, the story I just created seems to be taking place in the United States. But what about the forests and landscapes in Europe, South Africa, or Australia? If you live on any continent other than North America, not to worry; MBTH has offices all over this watery marble and delivers worldwide. Sign me up!But, there's a matter of price. This is where I encountered a roadblock in my potential acquisition of a Mid Box. It's not that this unit is expensive or anything like that; I simply couldn't find any information on how much this bugger goes for, even as standard. In order to do so, you have to get in touch with this manufacturer and receive a quote based on location , shipping methods, customization, and so on. If your interest is sparked and you reach out to Magic Box Tiny House, leave a comment with your price quote and what it includes if you wish, of course.Come to think of it, let's play a pricing game. Leave a comment with how much you think the Mid Box costs, and when we find out, we'll do the same. Be sure to see more news on this tiny house manufacturer because they even have plans for multi-level villas that function the same as the MB, and those are worthy of their own articles. Stick around. Sure, the United States was powerful and wealthy, but the decade was a period of profound struggle for both consumers and businesses alike as the nation was transforming from a manufacturing to a service-oriented economy. Businesses facing hard times often resort to drastic measures to stay liquid, from paring down their workforce and scaling back production to spinning off product divisions or selling the business altogether.Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based Harley-Davidson entered the tumultuous 70s having sold the entire company in 1969 to American Machine and Foundry (AMF) based in Shelby, Ohio. The move was a curious one and left the then 66-year-old motorcycle in the hands of a company more known for making bowling pins. Founders William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson were surely spinning in the heavens above.AMF did as companies do; streamlining production and cutting its workforce. The backlash included a labor strike that severely impacted the quality of the products rolling out of the Milwaukee factory.If that was not bad enough, the Japanese 'Big Four,' Kawasaki, Yamaha , Suzuki, and Honda, had begun to establish themselves as an exciting, less expensive, and more reliable alternative to the homegrown Harleys. The Harley name was dragged through the mud and developed several disparaging nicknames; "Hardly Ableson," "Hardly Driveable," and "Hogly Ferguson." The latter would later be shortened to Hog, which is still used today to describe a Harley motorcycle, but with a positive image. In addition, HOG (Harley Owners Group) would become the company's stock symbol in 2006.Sometimes when companies realize they cannot put out a quality product the business was built around, they stupidly diversify, and that is exactly what AMF did in 1971 with a Harley-Davidson-branded snowmobile. It was not the type of diversification AMF plunged into without prior knowledge.Its Western Tool Division manufactured and sold Sno-Clipper and the Ski-Daddler Power Sleds in the 60s equipped with AMF-owned Italian -made Aermacchis engines. By 1968, the Ski-Daddler was being made at AMF's York, Pennsylvania factory, where some Harley-Davidson motorcycles are still made today.AMF dropped the Ski-Daddler name and rebranded them Harley-Davidson Snowmobiles. The debut model was equipped with a 30 horsepower 398 cc engine and came with either a pull or electric start. The second and last offering was a more powerful 440 cc model with the same start features offered.The plunge into the frigid waters of snowmobile manufacturing came to an end after just four years when in 1975, after 10,000 were made, the company iced production.Harley-Davidson snowmobiles themselves were very crude vehicles indeed, with no fuel gauge or kill switch for emergency cut-off. They lacked power and performance and could not compete with Polaris . The sleds were simply well-branded slugs that only served to tarnish the Harley brand. Today, these sleds are more popular with collectors than they were back in the day with snowmobilers and can be found in numerous museums.The addition of adding snowmobiles under the Harley-Davidson brand was an epic failure in every regard and quite literally brought Harley-Davidson to the very brink of financial ruin. Harley-Davidson is one of only two American motorcycle companies (the other is Indian Motorcycle) to have survived the Great Depression, but it barely emerged from the 70s.AMF would perform the noble act of saving one of the most iconic motorcycle brand's in the world by selling it to a group of investors in 1981 for a cool $80 million ($135 million in 2022 dollars).Coupled with operational improvements, Harley-Davidson's survival and resurgence was aided by a significant gesture courtesy of the U.S. Government. In 1983, the Reagan administration granted tariff protection for large-displacement motorcycles that stymied competition coming from the Big Four, buying Harley-Davidson time to implement new strategies and right its ship.The company's remarkable turnaround can also be attributed to a bold decision to not follow the trends that had become popular with the Japanese brands. Instead, Harley-Davidson reinvented itself not with the new but with the old, relying on older models to influence new models' design and engineering. The retro-look with advanced, outsourced quality components worked, and the company began to gain momentum by the mid-80s.Despite economic headwinds leading to financial issues over the last 20-plus years, the company today is venturing into the electric age with its Live Wire bike alongside the gas-powered models Harley-Davidson fans have loved for decades.As with many legacy companies, Harley-Davidson has a past with significant highs and even lower lows but remains today with a legacy that is second to none in motorcycle manufacturing and branding throughout the world. The Harley-Davidson motorcycle brand is as well recognized as Coca-Cola in all corners of the globe. Photo: Hiatus Campers Photo: Hiatus Campers Let's face it, one of the easiest ways to access or create an off-grid machine is to transform your existing vehicle into that camper you need or want, assuming it can undergo such a metamorphosis. Well, I feel it's safe to say that the pickup truck is one of those vehicles that we love precisely because it can be used for various activities. From carrying cargo on the farm to hardware store runs and clearly off-grid adventures , the truck is the target today.Because we're talking about hitting the open road in one of America's most loved rides, the truck, with nothing more than a turtle shell thrown on the reark, we need to explore how Hiatus Campers is meeting our need for exploration. If you've never heard of this crew, strap in because the work they achieve is worth considering if you're looking for a quick, affordable, and capable glamping solution.Hiatus began through a search for the perfect camper , and when founders Erin and Tyler couldn't find the one to meet their needs and wants, they decided to simply manifest their idea of a dream camper. After all, if you want something done right, do it yourself, and that's precisely how Hiatus carries out its activities even today. After completing their first unit back in 2018, and rigorous testing up and down America's Pacific Coast, from the northern states all the way down to central Mexico, Hiatus Camper was born, and may I say, we're in luck!Now, just so we're on the same page regarding what the hell Hiatus has achieved here, if you place an order today, production on your camper will begin in 2024! Yes, this crew is backlogged with orders on such a scale. Sounds like we have a little baby Winnebago or Airstream-like company growing here. If you have the necessary patience to wait that long, and you should, you can grab a Hiatus for your mid-size truck starting at $15,500 (14,500 at current exchange rates). That largest sells for $18,000 (16,900) for 8-foot full-size truck beds.But what are we in for once we finally get our hands on a Hiatus? Well, the manufacturer's website doesn't state much about what to expect, so Tyler and Erin also include a video that goes through all the magic to expect from this vehicle add-on. The main idea is to offer a camper that's lightweight, won't affect your truck's abilities to perform, and above all, is suitable for comfortable on-road living . Did I mention ease of use? Let's start with the latter.After driving along for hours, you'll finally reach the middle of nowhere and decide to set up camp for the next days or so. One aspect that needs massive consideration whenever we discuss truck campers is your vehicle's ability to break away from the classic tarmac that other RVs are glued to. If you've prepared your workhorse with proper tires and a solid suspension nitrogen dampers are always nice there's no limit to where you can travel. Why not camp out in the middle of some swamp . Talk about the Instagram photos you'll take of the sun rising out of a swamp. Who does that? Well, you can!Once you've assumed your role as the Swamp Thing, it's time to unfurl your living space. It's here that you'll be able to appreciate what Hiatus has achieved with those insulated hard walls. In just 15 seconds, your camper shell is up and set, all made possible by a unique folding design, and that's it. The rest of your setup will include pulling out a bed platform, adding the mattress top, and going to sleep. And that's basically all you get.However, like most other camper and RV manufacturers on the market, Hiatus, too, allows you to customize your interior with an array of features built on-site. This includes things like seat/storage bays, removable lockers and cabinets, helping expand your truck's abilities even further, and anything else you can think of; just run it past the crew and bring some extra cash.If there's one thing I've learned about RVs in the time I've been covering this industry, it's that your ability to go anywhere, live anywhere, and create longstanding memories depends on your standards. Typically, the more luxurious RVs limit our ability to break away from the innate comforts we've become accustomed to, and machines like the Hiatus achieve quite the opposite. There are no roads where you can go with this one, and all you need is a handful of cash and a truck. Get in line. Photo: United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Photo: United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Photo: United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Photo: United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) It was the job of the state-operated United Aircraft (UAC) group to deliver the last of Russia's flagship fighter jets slated for operation in 2022. At last count, estimates have pegged the total number of operation Su-57s as of 2023 to 76. Considering that number was only 21 as of 2018, including prototypes, the real figure is anyone's guess.This particular batch of Su-57s comes courtesy of the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant (KnAAZ) in the country's far east. Many hundreds of miles away from the largest European conflict of the 21st century on the nation's western border. But despite the clear intention on the part of the Russian Federation to show off its deadliest warplane, it's doubtful NATO is too flustered.Why? Well, more goes into it than just the F-22 and F-35. But between you and us, has anyone even seen a single Su-57 flying around anywhere remotely close to Ukrainian air space? A few silhouettes that only vaguely looked like the Felon have been spotted, but zero confirmations. So what gives? Why is the Russian Federation so wishy-washy with their F-22 Raptor parallel?Knowing the history behind the whole debacle would probably help to understand this head-scratcher. You see, the Su-57 has gone by many names. The litany of demonstrators built to develop the Su-57's technology has gone by even more. But the real meat and potatoes behind Russia's fifth-generation fighter date back to the late 1970s.Even before the Advanced Tactical Fighter project that sired the F-22 was a glint on the proverbial horizon, the Soviet Union, at least to a degree, knew the United States was due to make a quantum leap ahead of Iron Bloc nations. This notion was true both in terms of military aerospace capabilities and from an economic standpoint.The results in the air of foreign wars where U.S.-backed countries like Israel and Iran thrashed Soviet-aligned combatants like Iraq and Syria proved this to be true. Though the Iranians wouldn't be Western-affiliated for much longer by early 1979, the success of their F-14 Tomcat against the Iraqis and Israel's F-15 Eagle against Arab-affiliated countries proved the Soviets needed to do something quickly.The resulting initiative for the next generation of Soviet jet fighters was dubbed project I-90; after its projected operational debut in 1990. But any history buff will tell you it's hard to field a gen-V stealth fighter when your government is in an active state of collapse. That's why it's all the more impressive that not one but two ex-Soviet design bureaus managed to pull it off.These two groups were Mikoyan-Gurevich with their MiG 1.44 project and Sukhoi with their forward-swept wing Su-37, later renamed the Su-47 Berkut (Golden Eagle). While both airframes were technically marvelous, neither reached full-scale production. This doesn't mean a substantial portion of the technology developed for the Su-47 Berkut didn't find its way onto the next great Russian fighter program, the PAK FA.PAK FA was the first of three names this Sukhoi of many monikers would go by. That's apart from its internal development name, T-50, and its final name, the Su-57. With a construction largely comprised of proprietary Russian metal alloys and good old-fashioned titanium alloys, this jet has legitimate strong foundations.The prized warbird is powered by twin Saturn after-burning turbofan engines with as much as 33,100 lbs (147.1 kN) of thrust each at full emergency throttle. What this translates to in non-aircraft speak is that Mach 2 should be easily attainable. Of course, the standard complement of infrared and radar-guided R-77 and R-74 missiles are on hand. But this air-to-air ordinance is also flanked by the Vympel R-37 hypersonic air-to-air missile, which parallels the American AIM-120D AMRAAM, and a 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 cannon.Some very special and secretive hardware for sure, on top of all the classified stealth and radar technology the Felon is reported to wield. If true, the Su-57 would be able to see its lesser gen-IV adversaries like Eurofighters, F-15s, and F-18s far better than they could see the Felon. Does it make sense now why we've yet to see an Su-57 confirmed on a Ukrainian battlefield yet?All it would take is one lucky missile from a Ukrainian MiG-29 , Su-24, or Su-27 to make four decades of Soviet-Russian fighter jet development known to Ukrainian forces. In the event that a Felon's airframe is recovered intact enough to be recovered by Ukraine, you could expect any intelligence gathered from the findings to find its way right into the hands of Russia's sworn enemy, the United States.This wouldn't be the first time such a phenomenon has taken place. As far back as the Second World War, a Japanese Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero crashed on the remote Akutan Island of Alaska. The Americans promptly recovered the plane and test-flew it, revealing a plethora of performance faults which American pilots used to a great extent throughout the rest of the war.Even later than that, a Soviet pilot named Viktor Belenko famously defected to the West by way of Japan in his then state-of-the-art MiG-25 Foxbat interceptor. Though NATO feared the Foxbat a rival to the F-14 Tomcat and F-15 Eagle, analysis done on Balenko's jet confirmed the MiG-25 was little more than a brutish Mach 3-capable monster. Good for intercepting bombers and reconnaissance aircraft, but the equivalent of a dually pickup truck in a dogfight.Our point? Expect Vladimir Putin to shout many Russian expletives in the hypothetical case even a single Su-57 falls into enemy hands. In the case this happens, that special little thing Putin craves very much in Ukraine called air superiority would be little more than a pipe dream. Depending on who you talk to, the Russians never had a chance of achieving air superiority with or without the Felon.If we were in the most-unfortunate position to be the commanding leader of the Russian Air Force, we'd be depleting our stockpiles of Su-27s, Su-30s, and MiG-29s before we'd ever expose the most prized asset in the Russian arsenal that isn't a tank or a cruise missile to even the remote possibility of falling to the enemy.Though Russia's gotten remarkably skillful at hiding it, there's much larger fish to fry than even Ukraine. In no uncertain terms, don't expect cutting-edge gen-V Russian fighters like the Su-57 and Su-75 Checkmate to show up on a battlefield unless jolly old Uncle Sam and his NATO buddies are on their way with the full assortment of F-22s, F-35s, F/A-18s, and Eurofighters . If that comes to pass, the implications other than some awesome dogfights are not all that rosey. If you count the time this crook took to park the Chevrolet Onix he was driving, get back to the steering wheel, and go away, the entire action takes 29 s, but we counted only the time he took to remove the headlights and place them in the trunk of the hatchback that allowed him to escape. According to Porsche , all Panameras made until 2018 have this issue. Starting with 2019 model year cars, the German company added bolts to make stealing these components more difficult.Each of these headlights costs R$40,000, equivalent to $7,654 at the current exchange rate. Although thieves will never sell them for that much, it explains why these components became a target for bad guys not only in Brazil but also in the U.S. and Europe.Apart from their high value, these LED headlights would also be used to grow marijuana without driving too much attention to the places that do that. LED headlights do not spend as much energy as most strong lights needed to grow weed in closed buildings doing so in the open would be an invitation to cops. That keeps energy bills low, which is also a way to keep a discrete operation.The Porsche Panamera is not the only vehicle robbers are targeting these days. There are reports of similar crimes with other premium brands such as Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo. The targets are headlights that are easy to remove.This is also what made catalytic converters become easy money for thieves around the world. Recently, Toyota started offering a shield to make removing this component more difficult. With the recent surge in catalytic converter theft , that should become increasingly more common.Sadly, carmakers now have to worry not only about the quality of the parts they put in vehicles but also about how easy or difficult it is to remove them, especially the most expensive ones. No electric car would escape thieves if battery packs were easy to remove. Unfortunately, most carmakers just take measures when bad guys eventually warn them about the issue.The only recommendation specialists have to avoid these crimes is always to park somewhere safe or where insurance policies cover the vehicles parked there. There are also reports of stolen headlights in private parking spaces, which shows that making more sophisticated components may bring hidden disadvantages. Becoming a target for thieves and having to pay $15,000 for two new headlights are just two examples. President should persuade people on security issues A leader should reassure the people with accuracy and prudence. President Yoon Suk Yeol made South Koreans uncertain of whether he is such a leader on two occasions last week. In an interview with the conservative Korean-language daily Chosun Ilbo published on Monday, President Yoon said South Korea was discussing the "joint planning and exercises" of nuclear capabilities with the U.S., and Washington was "quite positive" about it. Hours later, U.S. President Joe Biden flatly denied it. It turned out soon after that Yoon had confused or replaced the term "execution," with the far more specific and concrete term "exercises." Two days later, the South Korean leader told his defense minister to consider suspending a 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction agreement if North Korea invades the South's territory again. Yoon's aides stressed the words "consider" and "invades again," implying that the president was not being so hasty. However, many regarded the presidential remark as a declaration. Yoon did not reassure South Koreans in those few days but instead made them more restless. The president's desire to secure greater nuclear deterrence is understandable. However, he should have been more cautious in choosing his words. Under its "sole authority" principle, the U.S. seldom shares the core parts of its nuclear operations, even with its European allies. Some call for applying the Nuclear Planning Group (NPG) formula with NATO to Asia. However, even the NPG is more formal than practical. A joint exercise with a non-nuclear power is unthinkable. Depending on whether Yoon knew about the difference between "execution" and "exercise," he might have looked either presumptuous or amateurish. Neither is desirable for an ally's leader from Washington's standpoint. Had he done his homework, Yoon would have known that what he said in the interview was rewriting of the bilateral agreement made in the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) last November. How could the two allies move an inch from it in just a couple of months? Yoon once again shot from the hip when he ordered the suspension of the joint declaration of Sept. 19, 2018, on easing tensions on the inter-Korean border. As there is no provision for suspending the agreement's effects, the president's order was interpreted as showing his intention to nullify it. It is suitable to protest the North's accord violations and call for its observance. However, denouncing its violations and announcing the cancellation of the agreement are pretty different. The remark is tantamount to eliminating one of the few remaining safety devices by Seoul. Nor was it proper for the chief executive to appear ready to kill a ministerial accord. The commander-in-chief also revealed his lack of preparation recently when he told his defense officials to launch a drone unit, not knowing there already was one. These and numerous other gaffes make most South Koreans feel uneasy rather than relieved about their president's comments. Yoon's aides must show the latest survey results to their boss. Naturally, the government's policies change when political power changes hands. However, a country's diplomatic policies cannot be turned upside down every five years like in Korea. On the contrary, they should accumulate and evolve. During which moment do most South Koreans feel safer five years ago or now? True, one cannot turn the other cheek, especially when dealing with an aggressive and violent counterpart like North Korea. However, putting oneself in the other's shoes is sometimes necessary. Pyongyang has made its nuclear completion irreversible since the rupture of the February 2019 summit with the U.S. in Hanoi, Vietnam, due to Donald Trump changing his mind or surrendering to American neo-cons. Kim Jong-un might also have regretted what he viewed as Moon Jae-in's faulty mediation or overestimated his South Korean counterpart's ability. The U.S. has the key as it has always had in this three-way game. However, that does not justify the two Koreas switching their directions every time the superpower changes its policy. Many South Koreans know that expecting a regressive, amateurish government to change the decades-long reality is impossible, and cannot help but face the coming year amid mounting concerns. Robert Price is an Emmy-winning reporter for KGET-TV. His column appears here Sundays; the views expressed are his own. Reach him at rprice661@gmail.com or via Twitter: @stubblebuzz. If there was one thing Kevin McCarthy looked to remind constituents Thursday, it's that before he became speaker of the House, he was a Drille Sometimes it makes sense to stick your neck out for an important project. Whether now's the time to do that for the Padre Hotel, only Bakersfi The run-up in natural gas prices that sent home heating bills through the roof last month has begun settling down, meaning residents who froze Mahant Swami Maharaj and dignitaries from around the world pay tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharajs work of fostering Hindu spirituality and culture in North America Over 500 children and youth from more than 75 centres across North America performed a touching cultural programme titled Beyond Boundaries: North America Day paying tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharajs tireless spiritual travels around North America that led to unimaginable transformations in hundreds of thousands who were inspired to preserve their timeless cultural and spiritual heritage. Following the programme, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj and dignitaries from around the world paid tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharajs inspiration of personal spirituality, Hindu mandirs, humanitarian service and interfaith harmony in North America. Pramukh Swami Maharaj consecrated the first BAPS Swaminarayan mandir in North America in New York City in 1974. Since then, Pramukh Swami Maharajs inspiration and tireless efforts have led to the creation of 6 traditional stone Hindu mandirs and 108 hari mandirs in the United States and Canada. With the inspiration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj and the guidance of Mahant Swami Maharaj, the grand Swaminarayan Akshardham Mahamandir is taking shape in Robbinsville, New Jersey. Evening Assembly Pramukh Swami Maharajs tireless spiritual travels resulted in the spread of faith and goodwill across North America. Todays evening assembly, dedicated as Beyond Boundaries: BAPS North America Day, began at 4.30 pm. The programme started with video messages from many American dignitaries who expressed how Pramukh Swami Maharajs life and works had touched them over the years. Among the dignitaries were US Congressman Marc Veasey of Texas, who said, Pramukh Swami Maharaj has brought joy to so many people in India and around the world, and he has inspired so many to do great things within our community. US Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania said, With a spirit of total selfless service, Pramukh Swami Maharaj has devoted his life to educational, health care, humanitarian, and environmental services while spearheading BAPSs growth by creating 1,100 temples worldwide. I have visited many of these temples and seen with absolute joy how Indian culture has been so integrally interwoven with American culture such that these temples serve as beacons of friendship between India and America. This was followed by a unique presentation of videos from Pramukh Swami Maharajs 14 visits to North America from 1974 to 2014 accompanied by devotional hymns sung by over 100 children and youth from North America. Then a drama interspersed with videos, dances, and testimonials of North American devotees highlighted Pramukh Swami Maharajs impact on North Americas Hindu community. The presentation first described how the wave of Indians migrating to North America in the 1970s faced immense social and financial struggles but were particularly concerned with upholding their childrens cultural and spiritual values in a land devoid of Hindu mandirs. Then, through videos and testimonials, they recounted Pramukh Swami Maharajs tireless travels and personal outreach throughout North America at the expense of his health to nurture their cultural and spiritual values over the generations. Pramukh Swami Maharajs visionary leadership in inspiring the month-long Cultural Festival of India in 1991 as well as the creation of 114 BAPS Swaminarayan mandirs around North America were highlighted as his timeless contribution to North Americas Hindu community. Then, various devotees recalled Pramukh Swami Maharajs constant efforts and care for the holistic development of children and youth through his decades of guidance and inspiration for weekly children and youth sabhas, Indian language classes, campus sabhas, and national conventions. The drama concluded with a video presentation of Pramukh Swami Maharajs inspiration for the creation of Swaminarayan Akshardham North America in Robbinsville, New Jersey which is being constructed through the voluntary efforts of thousands. Then, Mahant Swami Maharaj addressed the assembly, Today the swamis and devotees from America and Canada have come together and shared a beautiful presentation. Pramukh Swami Maharaj has gone to every corner of America and Canada and pleased everyone. His efforts have led to more than 100 mandirs and thousands of devotees in North America. We will see the culmination of his inspiration with the inauguration of Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey. Swaminarayan Akshardham will draw people from everywhere and inspire them with the universal values of Hinduism. Pramukh Swami Maharaj has said that we are not creating this Akshardham for public acclaim, but our sole purpose is that God may be pleased and we may attain liberation. The immense efforts of all the male and female volunteers, young and old, who have contributed to Akshardham are commendable. Due to their unity and enthusiasm, the work will soon be completed. All those who have volunteered in this effort will receive Pramukh Swami Maharajs whole-hearted grace, and everyones hearts will become golden. Several esteemed dignitaries were also present to pay tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharajs life of selfless service. Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti, Government of India, said, Today, we face a challenge to instill moral and spiritual values in our future generations. I bow to Pramukh Swami Maharaj who spread the message of Indian cultural heritage across the world. I bow to the feet of all the swamis who are instilling moral and spiritual values among the young generation. Just like we receive light from the Sun, we receive good values by associating ourselves with God-realized Saints. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, said, Pramukh Swami Maharajs teachings, life, values and message have resonated in millions of lives across the world, and it is an energizing, landmark moment and privilege for me to learn more about Pramukh Swami Maharaj here. BAPS is not just a community committed to Pramukh Swami Maharajs values, but a living, breathing symbol of volunteerism at its best. I have been given the responsibility of developing the skills and innovation of our nations young generation, but this event reminds us that culture, heritage, values and ideals are just as important a part becoming a young, productive, contributing Indian and world citizen. These messages, ideals and values ring true as India assumes the presidency of the G-20 and works with other countries in shaping a better future for all of us and our families. May we live in a world where peace and prosperity are the directive principles of our life and future rather than conflict or discord. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, G-20 Chief Coordinator said, We have come together to celebrate Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the unique spiritual individual who guided millions across the world who derive comfort and benefit from his teachings. Everyone has gone to the Akshardham mandirs in New Delhi and Gandhinagar, but the Akshardham mandir being built in New Jersey will be a major spiritual and cultural landmark for the whole world. Just at countless people today go to the Eiffel Tower, the Tower of London, or the Taj Mahal, soon they will go to Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Jersey. I commend the volunteers who are contributing to this exceptional cultural representation of India abroad, which is a matter of pride and joy to all of us. Mr. Cameron Mackay, The High Commissioner of Canada in India said, Pramukh Swami Maharajs message In the joy of others lies our own, is widely respected in Canada and around the world. His humanitarian services express important Canadian values. The 1,100 temples that he established around the world act as refuges in difficult times and provide a space to mediate and experience peace. Steadfast in his work for the community in times of natural disaster and crises, he has led devotees to provide relief for the well-being of everyone. His tireless work reached more than 50 countries including Canada. Pramukh Swami Maharaj made his first trip to Canada in 1974 and subsequently visited 13 times over 35 years. The BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Toronto is well-respected and appreciated by many Canadians and it symbolizes the rich heritage and cultural diversity of India and Canada. Hinduism is the third-largest religion in Canada followed by more than 800,000 Canadians. This is reflective of the strong cultural, spiritual and people-to-people ties between our two countries. The Prime Minister of Canada, the Honourable Justin Trudeau said in a video message to the assembly, Today we are celebrating the rich life of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj and everything he did to build and grow BAPS. Throughout his life, Pramukh Swami Maharaj left a mark on Canada. Around the world, he spread his lifelong message, In the joy of others lies our own. Many of you have given life to the values he promoted, whether it is participating in BAPS Charities, volunteering in your mandir, or strengthening the communities you live in, Canadians have appreciated the ways that you are stepping up. Our country is stronger because of it, and I am inspired by everything you have built. Thank you. Honourable Michael D. Ford, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism for the Province of Ontario in Canada said, Ontario and India have a strong and vibrant relationship built on a shared tradition of democracy, commitment to pluralism, expanding trade, cultural exchanges and most importantly our people-to-people ties. As the Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, Im proud that Ontario is home to over 900,000 people from India. They help enrich our culture and contribute to our provinces economic growth and diversity. Pramukh Swami Maharaj was a rare soul who was completely devoted to God. He also had a selfless desire to help others and promote peace and harmony across the globe. His words were thoughtful, meaningful and consoling, coming from a depth of profound experience and deep compassion. He gave enlightenment, guidance, and wisdom to the many entrusted to his care. He also went out of his way to care for the spiritual and physical needs of all who sought it. I thank the volunteers and leaders of BAPS for sharing your dedication, talent and light with the world. As a good friend of the BAPS mandir in Toronto, I have seen first-hand how his teachings and his legacy continue to live on through the spirit and work of his followers and in the impact of the work that you all do to help all people come closer to God, help them grow in all aspects of life and provide support to your communities in India, in Ontario, Canada and around the world. As part of the Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centenary Celebrations, Mahant Swami Maharaj inaugurated a new Cardiac Cath Lab for angiographies, angioplasties and pacemaker implantation in the Pramukh Swami Maharaj Hospital in Surat, which over the last 18 years has treated over 3 million patients. Mr. Kenny Desai, President of the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), said, Pramukh Swami Maharaj led many to path of spirituality and motivation through temples. His simplicity and magnificence has inspired many and his work helped preserve our culture. He was forever the driving force for BAPS who spread the message of Vasudhaiv Kutambakam. Mr. Neal Patel, Chairman Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) said, After seeing Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar, all I can say is it is beyond boundaries. Pramukh Swami Maharaj is felt throughout the community and his legacy is carried with us every day. Mr. Sunil Nayak, CEO of InnZen Hospitality, said, Pramukh Swami Maharaj has been a life changer of the century. I congratulate everyone as Pramukh Swami Maharaj through his legacy is alive among all his devotees. Mr. Sampathkumar Nadadur, President of the Malibu Hindu Temple said, Pramukh Swamis life is a message to us all. I will take back Pramukh Swami Maharajs teachings to my community. I will also take back Pramukh Swami Maharajs message of de-addiction. The childrens show taught me to conquer fear and that each of us should become karmayogis and overcome challenges. A boat carrying 184 Rohingya refugees landed on a beach in Indonesias Aceh province on Sunday, joining the hundreds who arrived last year risking perilous sea voyages for a better future. This was the first Rohingya boat to land in Aceh in 2023, but followed the arrival of two vessels, carrying a total of some 240 dehydrated and exhausted refugees, on Christmas and the day after in the province. These boats had been at sea for weeks, and some 40 people had perished on them. The latest group 69 men, 75 women and 40 children came ashore at Kuala Gigeng Beach in Aceh Besar regency on Sunday afternoon, and it had not been immediately determined how long the refugees had been at sea, said provincial police spokesman Joko Krisdianto. Joko said he also did not know where the boat had sailed from, but the head of local NGO KontraS Aceh, Azharul Husna, said the Rohingya might have departed from the refugee camps in Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar. Further handling [of the refugees] will be done by the civil protection agency, the immigration office and the social services department, said Aceh police head of operations, Agus Sarjito. An additional boat with some 180 Rohingya was reported missing last month, with all passengers presumed dead, the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR said Dec. 27. Police spokesman Joko said representatives from UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration and the Indonesian military were on hand to help the latest Rohingya arrivals. Rohingya refugees eat at a temporary shelter in Pidie, Aceh province, Indonesia, Dec. 27, 2022. [Hidayatullah Tahjuddin/Reuters] Miftach Tjut Adek, the leader of the local fishing community, said the fishermen reported spotting a refugee boat a few days ago near Rondo Island, an Indonesian territory in the Andaman Sea. We dont know if the boat that came ashore today is the same boat that was seen a few days ago near Rondo Island, he told BenarNews. Acehnese, both the government and local people, helped them because it is part of our cultural and religious values, he said. Meanwhile, Indonesias Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday that the arrival of Rohingya refugees to Aceh surged last year to 574. Between 2020 and 2022, officials recorded the arrival of 1,155 Rohingya refugees in Aceh. Amnesty International says the latest arrival of Rohingya refugees highlights the deteriorating situation in Myanmar following the military coup in February 2021, as well as the dire conditions at camps in Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar. UNHCR said in December it had recorded a six-fold increase in Rohingya undertaking dangerous and illicit sea journeys in 2022, compared with a year earlier. The refugees are trying to escape from Bangladeshs refugee camps or their home state of Rakhine in Myanmar, where they are persecuted. About 1 million Rohingya, including about 740,000 who fled Myanmar during a brutal military offensive in Rakhine in 2017, live in the crowded refugee camps in Coxs Bazar, a southeastern Bangladeshi district by the Myanmar border. Many of the stateless people have grown desperate because they see no hope of being repatriated to Myanmar, which is convulsed with violence following the military coup, rights advocates and NGOs in the region have said. The Rohingya in Bangladesh also cannot work or properly educate their children at these camps. In 2022 alone, more than 2,000 Rohingya have taken to the sea in smugglers boats in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, with nearly 200 reportedly people dying so far, UNHCR said. Uzair Thamrin in Banda Aceh contributed to the report. Executives from HD Hyundai and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) pose after signing a memorandum of understanding regarding their cooperation on autonomous ship technology, Friday (local time), on the sidelines of the CES 2023 in Las Vegas. From left are ABS CEO Christopher Wiernicki, ABS Senior Vice President Patrick Ryan, Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Senior Executive Vice President Kim Sung-joon, HD Hyundai President Chung Ki-sun and Hyundai Heavy Industries Senior Executive Vice President Jeon Seung-ho. Courtesy of HD Hyundai By Park Jae-hyuk LAS VEGAS Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), an HD Hyundai subsidiary supervising its three shipbuilding affiliates, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Friday (local time), to develop automatic engines and safety control systems for unmanned vessels. The signing ceremony was held on the sidelines of the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Through the MOU, both companies will test HD Hyundai's HiCBM and HiCAMS systems on a real ship by 2024. The artificial intelligence-based systems enable ships to diagnose automatically their key functions and deal with unexpected accidents such as fire or other issues. Last September, KSOE received approvals in principle (AIPs) for the two systems from ABS. Avikus, an HD Hyundai subsidiary specializing in self-navigating technologies, also installed its automatic navigation systems in a large commercial vessel and succeeded in the world's first autonomous transoceanic voyage last June. If KSOE and ABS successfully finish testing the HiCBM and HiCAMS systems, then the development of the world's first unmanned commercial vessel is more likely to occur, according to HD Hyundai. Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass. SHEFFIELD A group of residents and activists are trying to block 5G wireless systems from installation in town until research deems emissions from the newer technology safe for people as well as flora and fauna. Quote Were not saying [5G is] a bad thing. The FCC has not proven that this is safe for humans and especially our agricultural communities in Sheffield. Its like smoking. Everyone was smoking back in the dark ages and the tobacco companies would never do studies. S.A.F.E. President Nina Anderson They say current federal safety standards for exposure are outdated and dont apply to the higher 5G or fifth-generation levels of radio frequency radiation. But the town might not legally be able to stop what the federal government allows the telecommunications industry to do. Lawyers who fight cell towers and antennas, however, say that's not the case that well-written local codes can halt installations. The Sheffield-based Scientific Alliance for Education, or S.A.F.E., presented a petition to the Select Board on Tuesday asking that the question of a moratorium on millimeter wave 5G small cell technology be placed before voters at annual town meeting in May. The petition asks for the pause until the Federal Communications Commission updates its limits for radiation exposure based on the results of specific research on 5G radiation from scientists independent from industry. Were not saying [5G is] a bad thing, S.A.F.E. President Nina Anderson said. The FCC has not proven that this is safe for humans and especially our agricultural communities in Sheffield. Its like smoking. Everyone was smoking back in the dark ages and the tobacco companies would never do studies. S.A.F.E. Vice President Kathryn Levin told the board that potential liability to towns looms if someone gets sick. Just look at what happened in Pittsfield over a cell tower not 5G that 17 residents say has harmed them, she said. Its not covered, Levin added, referring to insurance. The petition, signed by 29 residents, will have to be rewritten and resigned to ensure its legality as a warrant item, both the board and the petitioners agreed at the boards Tuesday meeting, since the towns attorney had some concerns about how it was drafted. There could be bigger problems. Sheffield might not have a say in the matter, according to the towns counsel, said Town Administrator Rhonda LaBombard. The federal government wont allow the town to regulate telecommunications infrastructure based off of environmental issues or the effects of radiofrequency, she added. Not so, say activists and lawyers. They say the 1996 federal law only applies to what are essentially phone calls not broadband, which is how 5G is classified. There are currently 23 5G nodes scattered across Berkshire County, according to Ooklas interactive 5G map. One of those is in Sheffield, behind the fire station. Debate Campaigns to pause 5G rollouts are afoot around the state, the U.S. and other countries as activists and scientists worry about the effect on people of higher radio frequencies above 6,000 megahertz. The technology uses higher levels of radio frequencies to speed the flow of data. Some scientists reviewing studies of possible health effects of the higher frequencies found little evidence of diseases and other health issues; other scientists have banded together to raise their concerns, given existing research like a long-term study by the National Toxicology Program, a branch of the National Institutes of Health, that found "clear evidence" that non-5G levels of cellphone radiation caused tumors in lab animals. Sign-up for The Berkshire Eagle's free newsletters Sign up As a result of what is known and unknown, more than 7,300 scientists worldwide have signed a petition to pause 5G rollouts, among other petitions. The concerns have also resulted in a handful of bills in the Massachusetts Legislature to study 5Gs health effects or to reduce all wireless radiation, particularly for children. The health question and a larger battle over radio frequency emissions not 5G is still playing out in Pittsfield, where at least 17 residents who say they were sickened by a cell tower near their homes took legal action against the city. In Lenox, health concerns squashed a plan to place a wireless antenna atop the low-income elderly housing at the Curtis. The town is still trying to close a gap in cell service downtown, yet Lenox voters also killed a wireless bylaw last month that they felt would not adequately protect them. Dont bring up health The Sheffield petitioners point to evidence the FCC isnt concerned with health risks. They refer to a Harvard Ethics Report that found the FCC to be a captured agency that tells local governments, "Just Don't Bring Up Health" when considering equipment licenses. It's essentially what LaBombard said at Tuesday's meeting. The nonprofit Environmental Health Trust, which submitted a letter to the Sheffield board in support of a temporary moratorium, sued the commission over allegedly ignoring two decades of information in its decision-making over radiation exposure limits. In that 2021 lawsuit, a federal appeals court found the FCCs negligence arbitrary and capricious. The court also slammed the FCCs reliance on the Food and Drug Administrations position that the technology is safe, saying the FDA also had unexplained disinterest in some similar information. One agencys unexplained adoption of an unreasoned analysis just compounds rather than vitiates the analytical void, the opinion says. Said another way, two wrongs do not make a right. It is also unclear who is responsible for regulating emissions. The FCC admits on its website that it does not routinely monitor radiofrequency radiation from transmitters because it does not have the resources or personnel. In addition, the FCC does not routinely perform RF exposure investigations unless there is a reasonable expectation that the FCC exposure limits may be exceeded, the website says. The FCC did not respond to a request for comment. I get calls every day The Sheffield Planning Board created a bylaw for small wireless like 5G, but the towns attorney tossed it back to the Select Board, saying it wasnt a zoning matter rather a general bylaw, said Select Board Chair Rene Wood at Tuesdays meeting. Its not easy to write a bylaw that will withstand the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, says Andrew Campanelli, an attorney who specializes in writing such code for municipalities across the U.S. He says it takes a deep understanding of the federal law and various cases for towns to fortify themselves against 5G nodes or other equipment located too close to homes or else be targeted by company contractors as easy pickings. I get calls every day, said Campanelli, whose firm is based in Merrick, N.Y., referring to town officials trying to beef up protection from ill-placed cell towers or antennas. If they get a sophisticated site developer [they] will basically just run roughshod over them, and if they have the audacity to turn them down, theyll sue you in federal court and they win every single time, he added. With a 5G moratorium, other legal tangles might ensue over a companys right to have a municipal decision on an application made within a certain amount of time. Some Berkshire officials arent convinced that 5G is or will be a problem. Take Great Barringtons Planning Board, which isnt addressing 5G in its zoning laws not yet, anyway. I am not aware of scientific literature from NIH, WHO or other reputable sources that provides actual evidence of health risks from 5G, said board Chair Brandee Nelson. Roh Jun-hyung, CEO of Lotte Data Communication, explains the company's metaverse business plan at its booth for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Saturday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul By Baek Byung-yeul LAS VEGAS Lotte Data Communication has gained much attention at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) with its metaverse service, which allows customers to purchase goods easily and conveniently in a virtual space. Its CEO said Saturday that the company aims to blur the boundaries between the virtual and real worlds and launch a metaverse service that can actually generate profits. "We have been working on how to connect the virtual world with the real world through our metaverse system. We will try to create a metaverse world like we saw in Steven Spielberg's film 'Ready Player One,' and we plan to present a visible result by the end of this year," Roh Jun-hyung, CEO of Lotte Data Communication, said at the company's CES booth. Lotte Data Communication is the IT affiliate of the logistics, retail and chemical giant Lotte Group. Showcasing the company's metaverse service to reporters, the CEO said the company aims to be a lifetime value creator for the group. "By adding a fun factor, our goal is to make a profitable metaverse business," he said, adding that the company plans to unveil its virtual space, Hub World, which is 25 times larger than Seoul's Yeouido, by the end of this year. Visitors wait in line to experience Lotte Data Communication's virtual reality (VR) service at the company's booth at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Saturday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul Tonight's rundown: Talking Points Memo: Joe Biden continues to decline with the world watching and remains out of the press reach Presidential Historian Larry Cook weighs in on how Bidens relationship with the press compares to past presidents US Special Forces have been confirmed to be in Ukraine OReilly describes Democrats hosting the DNC in Chicago as Crazy Arrogant The trial of Fox News gets underway 58% of Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck even as inflation begins to cool off Smart Life: Utilizing Kelly Blue Book when searching for a new car This Day in History: FDR dies in office Final Thought: what to do when someone is disrespectful to you In Case You Missed It: Read Bill's latest column, "Reason to Believe" Join 'Team Normal!' Order your gear now at BillOReilly.com! Pre-order Bills next bestseller Killing the Witches NOW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This photo, provided by Jeju on Nov. 19, 2021, shows a passenger aircraft run by the low-cost carrier. Yonhap Jeju Air, Korea's leading budget carrier, said Sunday the number of its flights on international routes bounced back to 70 percent of pre-pandemic levels last month. Jeju Air offered 3,057 flights on its international routes to carry 485,000 passengers in December, accounting for 70 percent of the 4,362 flights and 694,016 passengers in December 2019, the company said in a statement. Airlines were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic as many countries shut down their borders or adopted strict travel restrictions to stem the spread of the unprecedented virus in the past three years. Late last year, travel demand began to recover due to eased travel restrictions in some countries. Korea removed a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing requirement for inbound travelers on the first day of their arrival on Oct. 1. Japan lifted the ban on the number of inbound passengers and resumed visa-free travel for visitors from specific countries, including Korea, on Oct. 11. For the whole of 2022, however, Jeju Air's flights and passengers on international routes still showed they have more room to recover compared with pre-pandemic levels. The company provided 9,681 international flights and carried 1.46 million passengers last year, far lower than the 52,837 flights and 8.37 million passengers in 2019, the statement said. Jeju Air said it will focus on putting its business back on track this year as more pent-up demand for travel is expected to be unleashed globally. (Yonhap) Since the first boatloads of convicts were brought to Australia against their will at the end of the 18th century, weve been a country of immigrants. Into the future, migration will play a decisive role in how our nation continues to grow and age. Without it, well be economically much worse off. Migration is key to Australias future. Credit: Luis Ascui Ill put my stake in this up front: three out of four of my grandparents arrived in Australia via boats in the great post-war shift that brought migrants from mostly European countries, including the UK, Greece and Italy. Since then, migration has continued to shape our country, culturally and economically. And as the Australian birthrate continues its seemingly inexorable downward trend, migration will be vital for the countrys future. The man accused of murdering 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley on a Queensland beach four years ago has told an Indian court he wants to return to Australia as soon as possible to face trial. Rajwinder Singh, 38, swore in a willingness statement submitted to a Delhi magistrate that he wished to formally waive his right to challenge extradition. Toyah Cordingley was found dead on Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns. Credit: Facebook Singhs decision avoids a legal battle that could have dragged on for years in Indias clogged court system. As he was being escorted to court by police, Singh, an Australian citizen of Indian origin, told AAP he had a message for Australians. Louise Kuchel could not shake her cough. It was not even important, it was in the background but I thought Id better get it checked out, she said. Her doctors were puzzled; they suspected it might be a throat irritation or reflux. No-one thought about lung cancer. Kuchel was 51, fit and had never smoked. But last year, a pain in her lower ribs prompted further tests. Her cancer was at stage four; it had spread. The doctor told her it was incurable and inoperable. Louise Kuchel thought she had a mild cough. The truth was shocking. Credit: Nikki Short Its devastating, she said. Its absolutely upturned my entire life and my whole familys life. Im also really devastated at the lack of awareness and the stigma. Considering its our biggest [cancer] killer, why does no-one know about it? Lung cancer has long been thought of as a disease suffered by male smokers. But as smoking rates fall, a new phenomenon has emerged around the world; a rise in diagnoses among women who have never touched a cigarette. By Kim Hyun-bin CJ CheilJedang plans to expand its global presence in K-Food by entering into new markets other than the existing ones in the U.S., Europe and Japan, according to the company Sunday. The company has decided to advance into Canada, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. It plans to operate in a two-track fashion, by establishing local production as well as country-to-country exports, which is a method of exporting products produced at global production bases to neighboring countries. Visitors try CJ dumplings at a bibigo dumpling tasting event in a supermarket in France. Courtesy of CJ CheilJedang Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The Herald examines the $63 billion metro network taking shape beneath Sydneys streets in what is one of the largest suburban rail projects in the world See all 7 stories . Turning a corner after walking through a tunnel, a massive cavern deep underground opens up before us. Like entering a new world, the 170-metre-long hall is jaw-dropping, conjuring sci-fi thoughts. More than 30 metres beneath North Sydney, Australias largest underground railway cavern will buzz with thousands of commuters every hour when the second stage of Sydneys massive metro rail network opens next year. As six new underground stations take shape for the City and Southwest metro line, the building sites above them look like any office towers rising skyward floor by floor. But far beneath the streets of Sydney, the scale of what is happening on the north shore, CBD and south-west becomes clear. Costing a staggering $63 billion, Sydneys emerging metro network is one of the largest suburban rail projects in the world, rivalling a 35 billion ($55 billion) expansion of Paris rapid transit system. Combined with three other new lines, the City and Southwest metro link from Chatswood to Bankstown via the CBD will reshape the way people traverse Sydney. Driverless trains will run every four minutes on twin 15.5-kilometre rail tunnels which snake their way beneath Sydney Harbour and the CBD. By 2030, Sydney will have 113 kilometres of new metro rail and 46 stations, financed by the sale of the states poles and wires electricity assets late last decade. After a year when Sydneys existing double-decker rail network was crippled by an industrial dispute between the state government and rail unions, it is crunch time for the $18.5 billion City and Southwest project as the opening date for the main section from Chatswood to Sydenham next year fast approaches. Buffeted by the pandemic and the industrial dispute, the City and Southwest project is $6 billion over budget, while a section of the line from Sydenham to Bankstown will open in 2025 at least a year late. Advertisement By the middle of this year, the project will face a major test when the first driverless train will be guided through rail tunnels under the harbour and CBD. Target dates for the opening to passengers of the line have swung between the first quarter of 2024 and late next year. Much will hinge on the testing and whether contractors can make up for lost time. City and Southwest project director Hugh Lawson says it is a complex mega project, underscored by the fact that building just one of the six new stations is an enormous task in itself. Were trying to do that across a whole line and bring it all together in a really co-ordinated way, he says. Then put on top of that COVID, construction pauses, industrial action, weather and everything else and our challenge is to constantly be adapting ... and making sure we keep the project moving. Sydney Metro City and Southwest project director Hugh Lawson describes it as a complex mega project. Credit:James Brickwood The next critical phase involves completing rail systems to enable power to be switched on, clearing the way for testing of the entire train line. All of that is running in parallel with work to finish fitting out of stations. It all has to come together at the end ready for day one of opening, Lawson says. As well as six new stations, the project involves building new underground platforms or upgrading those at 12 existing stations. Chiselled out of sandstone, it is the largest rail line to be constructed under central Sydney since the City Circle underground railway was completed in the 1950s. Built in stages over three decades, the City Circle was devised by chief engineer John Bradfield, modelled on New Yorks subway. More than half a century later, the genesis for a fully automated metro rail line under the harbour and CBD lies in a 2012 blueprint for Sydneys railways, developed in the year after the Coalition swept to power in the state election. The report, Sydneys Rail Future, was a long-term plan to boost the rail networks capacity, making clear the need for a rail spine under the CBD to ease pressure on the City Circle. Despite the need for extra capacity, it was a challenging period to launch the blueprint because of deep public scepticism that a rail line under the central city would ever be built. Advertisement The states then transport chief, Les Wielinga, was pivotal in getting it off the ground, realising years earlier the need for a second rail crossing of the harbour when he was head of the NSW roads authority. I knew we couldnt solve all of Sydneys problems with just roads, he recalls. However, Wielinga admits it was a very close thing that the City and Southwest project became a reality due to opposition within parts of the new Coalition government at the time, and after the Keneally Labor government abandoned plans in 2010 for a seven-kilometre underground rail line between Central Station and Rozelle in the inner west. [The heads of Infrastructure NSW] Nick Greiner and Paul Broad were against it because they wanted to build large road projects. We had to fight Treasury, and we had to fight a number of government ministers who werent keen to spend that much money on a public transport system, he says. A decade on, the former top public servant is adamant that the City and Southwest rail line when linked with the 23-kilometre Northwest Metro which opened in 2019 will be the most transformative piece of transport infrastructure since the Harbour Bridge opened 90 years ago. It will provide the backbone that Sydney has needed for a long time, he says. It is going to advantage particularly south-western Sydney. The public transport system should help people from the south-west get to employment in the CBD. Transport Minister David Elliott says the Northwest Metro, which connects Chatswood to Rouse Hill, has completely recalibrated Sydneys north-west, while the City and Southwest line will do that on steroids. You just have to look at the design of the stations but more importantly the ease of access. People love the metro because it is so easy, spacious and clean, he says. However, some former top NSW railway executives have serious reservations that the benefits of the new metro line under the CBD will match its $18.5 billion price tag. The man who made trains run on time during the Sydney Olympics, Dick Day, believes the line should have been extended from Sydenham to Hurstville in Sydneys south instead of to Bankstown to feed larger numbers of commuters onto the high-capacity metro network. Advertisement Metro lines are incredibly expensive to build. So, when you build one you really want to milk it for what its worth, the former general manager of rail planning and timetable development says. There just arent that many people on the Bankstown line. Day was one of four former NSW rail executives to warn in 2017 that the City and Southwest line would lead to degradation of the robustness and reliability of Sydneys existing heavy rail network. They feared that a takeover of the existing rail line between Sydenham and Bankstown for the metro trains would remove a relief valve for the network. Theyve missed opportunities to provide better relief to the whole system, Day says. Converting the century-old Bankstown line and stations to handle driverless trains has been one of the toughest parts of the City and Southwest project. The protracted industrial dispute between the government and rail unions last year compounded problems. As part of protected action, rail workers refused to turn off power, denying contractors access to rail tracks during scheduled weekends and school holidays when trains were not operating. Another argument is that more bang for taxpayers bucks could have come from investing the tens of billions for the metro lines into improving and extending the existing suburban rail network. And a fear is that Sydney creates a two-class rail system a shiny new metro network and a suburban system creaking under the weight of ageing trains and infrastructure. Sydney rail expert Mathew Hounsell, who is critical of the decision to convert the 13-kilometre stretch of the Bankstown line to carry driverless trains, agrees that more benefits could have been derived from extending the metro line to Sutherland or Hurstville. The Bankstown line is not a high-demand corridor. If you had extended it to Sutherland or Hurstville you probably would have dragged in more people, he says. That was a better option. Despite his reservations, Hounsell believes the City and Southwest line will improve public transport access on a massive scale. The Northwest Metro is good but once the line opens in the CBD people will feel the benefits of this high-frequency transport. It will provide public transport in a way that the city hasnt really experienced, he says. Advertisement Stitching the city together, the line will enable commuters to board a train at North Sydney and arrive at Barangaroo in three minutes, or Martin Place in five. It will result in a single journey from Sydneys outer north-west to the CBD, and onto Sydenham and Bankstown, removing the need to switch to double-decker Sydney Trains services at Chatswood. Travel-time savings by rail from Bankstown to Sydneys second-largest business precinct at Macquarie Park are estimated at up to 25 minutes. Gabriel Metcalf, who headed the Committee for Sydney until last month, says few cities anywhere are building a mass transit network of the scale underway in Sydney. Credit:James Brickwood Gabriel Metcalf, an American who led urban think tank Committee for Sydney until last month, says people who live along the railway corridor will have a level of mass transit they have never experienced before. They can show up at metro station and just be confident that every few minutes a train is going to come along. Its a big upgrade to service quality, he says. There are very few cities in the world that are building anything at this scale today. Metcalf believes Sydney has grown to a size where cars can no longer be the primary mode of transport. This is an evolution that every city faces when its big enough. Sydney Metro is the kind of system that will allow Sydney to remain livable even as it grows, he says. But he is concerned that wider benefits from the metro rail line will fail to be realised without designating areas near stations as growth areas, opening them up for higher density living. If you were to fault Sydney for one thing, its that the land use planning has been too disconnected from the network planning, he says. You dont want to locate a station, spend all the billions of dollars, and then later ask the question, What should the land use be here? That should all happen upfront. Loading Sydney Metro chief executive Peter Regan says the new stations will create different precincts, accommodating shops, bars and restaurants, offices and apartments. Were not just building stations; were creating new destinations. And some of those destinations are at a scale that people will travel just to go to that destination, he says. Youve seen in the last couple of years with the light rail its really changed the way people move around. People are making these small trips on the tram up and down George Street. Advertisement High-profile drag racer Sam Fenech, 55, died after crashing his vehicle at Willowbank Raceway, near Ipswich, on Saturday night during the New Year Nitro event. A camera operator from the Champions Way raceway was also injured and taken to hospital when Fenechs drag racer flipped into a camera tower about 6.44pm. High-profile drag racer Sam Fenech died after his vehicle crashed at Willowbank Raceway on Saturday evening. Credit: ACDelco Slammer Drag Racing Team Fenech lost control of his drag racer, which rolled and crashed into a fence before bouncing into the camera tower after its safety parachute deployed. Paramedics and fire crews on site rushed to the scene. A second cruise line using Brisbanes International Cruise Terminal at Luggage Point is pushing for a river connection for tourists to Brisbanes CBD. There is no public transport between the new private-sector terminal and the city, and taxi rides to cover that distance cost between $40 and $50. P&Os Pacific Explorer at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal shortly after it opened last year. Credit: James D Morgan/Getty The only alternative to taxis are shuttle buses arranged by the cruise lines, which collectively bring tourism revenue of $1.3 billion into Brisbane over two decades.* Royal Caribbean International vice-president Gavin Smith last month said placing a pier near the Luggage Point cruise ship terminal for a Fast Cat to the city had to be a priority for Brisbane. Melbourne GP Dr Karen Price believes the days of family GP surgeries being staffed around the clock were probably over but said proper funding would make it possible for medical centres to expand their opening hours. Most of the load of the non-acute stuff that doesnt need to be in ED [likely happens] between that 6pm and 10pm slot anyway, Price said, adding that if people woke up in the middle of the night in acute pain, they probably needed to be in an emergency. Melbourne GP, Dr Karen Price. It costs taxpayers about $500 to $600 for each emergency department presentation, but Dr Price estimated GPs could see patients after-hours for around a third, or less, of that figure. The former president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners said families often needed reassurance or advice about how to manage sick children at home. People sometimes wait all day to see whether or not little Johnny or Ginny is going to get better, and then they dont, so theyre worried. And they are quite sick, but theyre not sick [enough to need to go to a hospital]. Loading Doctors also said there was an element of people being more fearful, and less confident managing illnesses at home, after almost two years without many respiratory illnesses. After hours options for Victorians include attending a pharmacist, calling a home-doctor service, visiting the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (via video conference), or ringing nurse-on-call, which is a hotline that operates around the clock, giving advice to patients or carers about their health concerns. In a bid to try to meet the gaps in out-of-hours care, the Victorian government has begun opening 25 new priority primary care centres staffed by GPs and nurses. Some of these are open in the evening. And the Albanese government has similarly promised to open 50 urgent care clinics across the nation, including 10 in Victoria, open seven days a week, from 8am to 10pm. However, doctors have criticised these initiatives as Band-aid fixes, instead a long-term solution: providing people with better access to their regular GP clinic and prompt access to other specialists. Loading Solutions developed in isolation by individual branches of the health system can often be more expensive, confusing for patients who have to decide where to go, and we often dont invest in the governance and data that allows us to see if theyre really working for patients, Whitelaw said. Whitelaw backed moves to support more GPs opening after-hours. Short of that, she said having GPs staffing medical advice hotline services like nurse-on-call was also valuable, as they could offer treatments and prescriptions and be less cautious in their advice about whether an ED visit was necessary. A paediatrician working in an emergency department in Melbourne, who wasnt authorised to speak publicly, said it was common for patients using nurse-on-call to be told to see a doctor within six hours, which can cause confusion after-hours. The advice is often very conservative and serves not to miss any patient with a serious condition given the limitations of a phone consultation, they said, I think nurse on call is a really valuable service but also has limitations there will be certain symptoms or findings that they pick up that they are taught to tell parents to seek more immediate attention for, however sometimes that advice needs to consider the availability of local resources ... and the time of the day. Healthdirect Australia, which operates nurse-on-call, said the majority of people were advised to see a general practitioner or self-care. This advice is reached through a combination of evidence-based clinical guidelines used by the nurses, application of the nurses clinical experience, and the individual situation of the caller which includes accessibility to the suggested healthcare provider, a spokeswoman said. Senior emergency department physician Dr Stephen Parnis said he was highly critical of the implementation of nurse-on-call more than a decade ago and had not seen any good data on the impact it has on presentations to emergency or general practice. Loading They have algorithms. Its done by nurses. It is on the phone, without any sort of visual aids and so its all very conservative. However, asked if he would prefer nurse-on-call to be replaced, he said there may be improved ways of offering the service involving senior nurses and GPs, now that many more people have access to video calls. Chinese police have clashed with hundreds of workers at a COVID test kit factory after numerous staff were allegedly sacked and denied their pay following the lifting of restrictions. Zybio, the manufacturer, reportedly sacked workers and deprived others of wages after the Chinese government abandoned its zero-COVID policy. Police outside the factory in the city of Chongqing in south-western China. Protests erupted in the city of Chongqing in south-western China, according to footage shared online. There was no immediate comment from Zybio, which makes antigen tests. London: Prince Harry cut a lonely figure during those dramatic days last September following the death of his beloved grandmother, the late Elizabeth II. Courtesy of his controversial memoir, we now know just how lonely. Harry has revealed hed only learned of her passing from an online BBC news story, and there were no family members with him to offer support as his charter flight landed in Scotland. Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave Westminster Hall, London, after the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II was brought to the hall to lie in state last September. Credit: AP The contents of his book Spare were supposed to have been tightly held, but mistakenly hit the shelves in Spain on Thursday. According to multiple reports, the Duke of Sussex writes that he was instructed by his father, King Charles III, to leave his wife, Meghan, behind if he was to journey to Balmoral. He told me I was welcome at Balmoral, but without her [Meghan], Harry is quoted as saying about their phone conversation. London: King Charles III has never given up hope of reconciling with Prince Harry, according to palace sources. Despite all of the recent revelations and allegations from California, Charles believes he will one day be reunited with his son and they will move forward, sources insist. King Charles III and Prince Harry at the funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth in September. Credit: AP The two sides appear to have reached a stalemate, each keen to build bridges but convinced that the ball is in the others court. There is thought to have been no contact between them since the Duke of Sussexs memoir went on sale in Spain on Thursday, and other copies were leaked in New York. HAVE YOU EATEN YET? Stories From Chinese Restaurants Around the World Author: Cheuk Kwan Publisher: Pegasus Pages: 260 : Pegasus Price: $27.95 Have you eaten yet?, a familiar Chinese greeting, might be the title of this book, but for the author and director Cheuk Kwan and for almost every restaurateur he interviews in his tour of Chinese restaurants across 15 countries and five continents food is only the entry point. Because running a Chinese restaurant is the easiest path for new Chinese immigrants to integrate into the host society, Kwan writes in his memoir-cum-travelogue, theres no better way to tell the story of the Chinese diaspora than through the stories of Chinese restaurant owners. : $27.95 Also Read Future of Hindi literature set to prosper: Booker winner Geetanjali Shree Karim's, Nathu's, and others open in Leh: Fresh flavours at 11,500 ft A gastronomic journey through the North far removed from convention Oil bounces on pipeline shutdown but heads for weekly loss on demand woes Swiggy denies exodus of restaurants amid deep discounting concerns Late swing Layers in the hijab debate Taming the dragon A minority report The art of 'achieving' humility The arc of Jims life bears an uncanny resemblance to that of Maurice Soong, a Chinese Trinidadian entrepreneur who helped at his fathers general store in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, before running a Chinese restaurant there with his new wife, who was dispatched to him from his home village of Lung Kong, near Hong Kong. Kwan begins his journey in the vast, flat plains of Saskatchewan. There, we meet Noisy Jim, the retired proprietor of a Chinese cafe who was born in the same coastal province where Kwans grandfather grew up. Noisy Jim arrived in Vancouver at the age of 12 as a paper son at the height of Canadas Chinese Exclusion Act. To gain Jim entry, his father obtained the identity papers of a dead Canadian resident named Chow Jim Kook, whose name Jim would keep for the rest of his life. For years, he toiled in the kitchen of a Chinese restaurant until he was called back to China to marry the woman his family had chosen for his bride. The couple returned to Canada to open their own Chinese cafe in a remote prairie town, raised seven children and served egg rolls and chop suey: Food that was neither Canadian nor, according to Jim, what Chinese people eat. At its best, Kwans book reveals the ways in which diasporic Chinese restaurants are like test kitchens experimenting in opportunities for a better life, however nebulous that pursuit might be. As in the case of Jim and Maurice, many who embark on the expatriate journey are children with little say in the matter; and often the adults are reduced to children by the uncertainties and unease of displacement. Between economic deprivation and racial discrimination, many of Kwans subjects recount the ways the lives they sought in migration often materialised as fraught compromises. We always thought we were sojourning here, a restaurateur in South Africa tells him. The place actually belonged to the whites; we were just encroaching on their space. It was never meant for us to claim. From the Arctic to Africa to the Amazon, perseverance, economic pragmatism and resourcefulness bind the lives of Chinese immigrant restaurateurs all over the world and inspire their disparate menus. Forged in the same powerful spirit of adaptive endurance, chop suey is not all that different from the soupe chinoise (wonton soup) served in Madagascar or Perus lomo saltado (stir-fried beef) in their marriage of local ingredients with Chinese cooking techniques. Even when the family remains intact, fragmentation can be felt on the level of individual identity. Kwan describes the nostalgia he experienced during his peripatetic childhood, the sense of loss upon leaving a new home hed barely gotten to know, and the pieces of himself he sees in his interviewees. Everywhere he goes, Kwan cannot help but ask those he meets the same question: As a member of the Chinese diaspora, are you defined by your nationality or ethnicity? Perhaps owing to his experience as a documentary filmmaker, Kwan structures his story into episodes organised by place, although the more compelling drama is in the multigenerational family evolutions through time. Building a Chinese restaurant is hard work, and it is often only the beginning of the search for a fulfilling life, lived on ones own terms. The first-generation immigrants plot the path so the second generation might secure the resources for a sturdy if unglamorous engine of livelihood. One of the painful paradoxes of running a family restaurant is the way immigration tears the nuclear unit asunder. Its part of many Chinese immigrant stories, Kwan writes: Wives left behind, children they never knew and second marriages in faraway lands. The desire to take ownership of his identity and assess the nature of belonging is what drives this book, even as it delineates the lives of many who have had to defer their ambition to their progeny. It was never my dream to open a restaurant, but my generation had no choice, a Hong Kong-born restaurant owner in Norway says, echoing Noisy Jims sentiment that he never wanted his children to end up a washy washy cooky cooky like him. When Kwan remarks to Jim that his sons and daughters must be very proud of him, its hard not to detect the old mans wistful pride when he responds: They should be. I brought them up right. I gave them all an education. For Kwan, there doesnt seem to be a single answer. I have six homes, he confesses: His grandfathers ancestral village of Gau Gong, which he has never visited; Hong Kong, where he was born; Singapore and Tokyo, where he spent his adolescence; Berkeley, Calif., where he learned about his Asian American identity; and Toronto, where he found his voice. 2022 The New York Times News Service Air Indias response should have been much swifter. We fell short of addressing this situation the way it should have been, he said. Air Indias response to the peeing incident on the New York-Delhi flight on November 26 should have been much swifter, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said on Sunday. According to the elderly womans complaint to the Airsewa portal and the Delhi Police, when she told the cabin crew that Shankar Mishra then a vice-president at American financial services firm Wells Fargo had urinated on her, the crew forced her to talk to him and negotiate. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on January 5 said the incident was brought to its notice only on January 4. In his first statement on the matter, Chandrasekaran said, The incident on Air India flight AI102 on November 26th, 2022, has been a matter of personal anguish to me and my colleagues at Air India. According to the elderly womans complaint to the Airsewa portal and the Delhi Police, when she told the cabin crew that Shankar Mishra then a vice-president at American financial services firm Wells Fargo had urinated on her, the crew forced her to talk to him and negotiate. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on January 5 said the incident was brought to its notice only on January 4. Meanwhile, a US-based doctor seated next to the accused in the aircraft told PTI that a drunk person might not be in his senses but the flight crew showed no compassion to female co-passenger and failed in their responsibility. The Tata Group and Air India stand by the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew with full conviction, he noted. We will review and repair every process to prevent or address any incident of such unruly nature, he added. Also Read DGCA slams Air India's handling of urination incident as 'unprofessional' 'Unprofessional': Aviation regulator slams Air India for urination incident What DGCA's new medical guidelines prescribe for transgender persons Another man pees on female passenger's blanket aboard AI Paris-Delhi flight Male passenger who urinated on woman banned by Air India for a month Elon Musk announces tweaks in Twitter interface, long-form tweets from Feb 2 Russian passengers offloaded in Goa for 'misbehaving' with Go First crew Air India fell short, should have been swifter: Tata boss on pee-gate Mercedes expects double-digit growth in India this year despite weak rupee Indian Oil chairman will soon also be its managing director, say sources The doctor, who made a handwritten complaint to the airline, said that to make the victim talk to Mishra after the incident was a "no no" because indecent exposure is a crime. "And once that happens, nobody should take a mediation route", he said. The doctor said he is speaking out now because of claims by Mishra's father that his son is innocent and may have been a victim of extortion. Internal investigation into whether there were lapses by other staff were ongoing on aspects, including the service of alcohol on the flight, incident handling, complaint registration on board and grievance handling, he added. Wells Fargo on January 6 said it had fired Mishra. After registering an FIR, the Delhi Police arrested him on January 7 from Bengaluru. Air Indias four cabin crew members and one pilot who were on the flight have been issued showcause notices and have been de-rostered pending an investigation, the airlines Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson said on Saturday. We regret and are pained about these experiences, Wilson said, adding that the airline was reviewing its policy on serving alcohol. Air India acknowledges that it could have handled these matters better both in the air and on the ground and is committed to taking action, Wilson said, referring to not only the November 26 incident but also the December 6 incident that took place on the airlines Paris-Delhi flight wherein a male passenger had urinated on the blanket of a female co-passenger. The DGCA had on January 5 said the airline violated rules related to the handling of an unruly passenger onboard, and its conduct led to a systemic failure. The regulator called Air India unprofessional and devoid of empathy while dealing with the victim. Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has promised speedy action in the case. Further action will be taken speedily after the completion of the ongoing proceedings, Scindia told reporters in Gwalior on Saturday. According to the DGCA's 2017 rules, unruly behaviour has been categorised under three levels. Level 1 includes physical gestures, verbal harassment, and unruly inebriation, under which the airline can ban the passenger from flying for up to three months. Level 2 includes physically abusive behaviour like pushing, hitting, kicking or sexual harassment, under which the airline can ban the passenger for up to six months. The DGCA, therefore, has issued show-cause notices to Air Indias accountable manager, director (in-flight services), pilots, and cabin crew members of the flight on why enforcement action should not be taken against them for dereliction of their regulatory obligations. With inputs from PTI The companys careers page lists several different opportunities for workers in India, including business expert, genius, operations expert and technical specialist. Apple Inc. has begun hiring retail store workers in India and has plans to fill other roles as the technology company prepares to open stores in the country, according to a report by the Financial Times. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal speaks during a conference on the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, in Berlin, Germany, in this Oct. 25, 2022 file photo. Reuters-Yonhap Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Russia has created the world's largest mine field in his country and Ukraine is doing everything it can to quickly end the war as he spoke in an interview with Yonhap News Agency. In an exclusive interview with Yonhap at the government complex in Kyiv on Thursday, Shmyhal denounced Russia's atrocities in invading his country and voiced confidence about ending the war by completely reclaiming Ukraine's territory. Ukraine has a parliamentary-presidential system. Shmyhal was appointed by the presidential mono-majority in parliament and is part of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's team. As the head of government, he oversees the executive branch. It was the first time Shmyhal has conducted an interview with an Asian news outlet following the start of the war with Russia. It was also the first exclusive interview for an Asian media outlet in more than 2 1/2 years in office. Shmyhal said the economic cooperation partnership between Ukraine and Korea is continuing to develop, and that he hopes for cooperation with Korea on post-war national reconstruction projects and in the auto industry. "According to the government's plan, we are interested in building a plant for the production of electric cars in Ukraine and would like to do it in cooperation with Korea. Ukrainians want to buy high-quality electric cars, and we strive to meet this growing demand," he said. "I also look forward to receiving a lot of help from Korea with its rich experience, skills and equipment in demining work." The prime minister said the war has led to the creation of a 250,000-square-kilometer mine field in Ukraine. "It's currently the largest mine field in the world," he said. "It's not only making it difficult for people to travel, but also causing major disruptions in farming, which is one of our main industries." The mine field's size 250,000 square kilometers is larger than not only the entire Korean Peninsula (around 221,000 square kilometers), but also Laos, Romania (each around 238,000 square kilometers) and Britain (around 244,000 square kilometers). Even without mines inflicting indiscriminate damage, civilian areas are being hit the hardest by the war. "Russia is targeting infrastructure in heavily populated areas," Shmyhal said, noting 70 percent of the damage has been borne by residential neighborhoods. Industrial complexes, such as chemical compounds and steel plants, and travel infrastructure, have been some of the other targeted sites, he said. Nina Gonchar, 93, sits in her house which was mostly destroyed by Russian forces in the recently retaken village of Bogorodychne, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 7. AP-Yonhap Ukraine has suffered enormous economic damage from the war. Last year, the country's gross domestic product fell 30.4 percent from 2021, and, as of the beginning of June 2022, according to the World Bank, total economic losses had amounted to $350 billion. Shmyhal predicts the total loss from the war will snowball to $700 billion this year. "Despite the war, the Ukrainian economy is working. The government pays all salaries and pensions without delay. We are developing grant programs for small and medium-sized businesses," the prime minister said. The lives of the Ukrainian people are being irretrievably destroyed. Shmyhal said 50 percent of the country's power grids have been damaged in the 11 mass air raids and 14 waves of drone attacks since October. "There is not a single power plant that has not been hit by Russian missiles or drones," he said. "Russia's goal is to eliminate all of Ukraine's power grids and to force our people to flee by putting psychological pressure on them." On concerns that the war is being prolonged, Shmyhal emphasized the need to keep sanctions on Russia and assist Ukraine. "We're doing everything we can to quickly end the war," he said. "For this, the international community must strictly keep sanctions on Russia and strengthen them." He especially cited the importance of sanctions on gas and oil trade, and blocking supplies of weapons and parts to Russia, saying all global companies should withdraw from Russia. He also claimed it was illegal for Russia to inherit its status from the former Soviet Union as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and demanded that Russia be expelled from all international organizations. He additionally called for financial assistance to help Ukraine get through the winter and restore its electric power, road and water networks. Ukrainian servicemen stand next to a 2A65 Msta-B howitzer during firing towards Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in a frontline in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine Jan. 5. Reuters-Yonhap The BJP in Bihar on Sunday hit the roof over what it considered to be an "indecent remark" made by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during his speech on population growth, at a programme attended by a large number of women. Kumar had on Saturday visited Vaishali district, along with cabinet colleagues including his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, on the third day of his state-wide 'Samadhan Yatra', aimed at assessing the status of ongoing welfare programmes and pending works. While interacting with self-help group volunteers, Kumar had spoken about the role played by educated, empowered women in controlling population growth. The JD(U) leader, who has been opposed to the BJP's pitch for a population control law, much to the annoyance of the former alliance partner, also hinted that men often did not show the same sense of responsibility as their wives in controlling population. A small video clip of Kumar's speech has gone viral in which the CM could be heard as having said "the men are often unmindful that they must not indulge themselves every day (mard log to roz roz karte hi rahta hai)". Kumar's former deputy and an erstwhile loyalist Sushil Kumar Modi issued a strongly worded statement accusing his ex-boss of having used a language that befitted the streets ('sadak chhap'). Also Read Case lodged against man for 'indecent remarks' on UP CM Yogi Adityanath Master of the U-turn: Nitish Kumar ends alliance with BJP, quits as CM LS will function only after Sonia's apology for remark on Prez: BJP leader BJP can be reduced to 50 seats in 2024 polls: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Pope Francis' apology to indigenous people for abuses not enough: Canada Health sector Rajasthan govt's biggest priority, says CM Ashok Gehlot Ex-Army chief, retired officers of defence services join Bharat Jodo Yatra 'Health budget should be increased by 30-40% to sustain growth' Iranian detained, suspected of chemical attack plot, says Germany Bird flu in Kerala: Preventive measures to be taken, says Health Minister "It seems Nitish Kumar has lost his decency ever since he joined hands with the RJD. In the assembly, he is often seen using the disrespectful pronoun tum (you) for political opponents. His 'jo piyega so marega' (whoever drinks shall be doomed to die) was the height of insensitivity displayed in the aftermath of hooch tragedies," alleged Modi. State BJP spokesman Nikhil Anand, who is also the national general secretary of the party's OBC Morcha, said the remarks of the chief minister were "sexist". "Of late, his words seem to be aimed at creating divisions in the society. Now, it looks like he wants to create tensions inside people's homes. He must retract his statement and issue an apology," Anand stated. Former minister Samrat Chaudhary, who is the leader of the opposition in the legislative council, said "the utterances were unbecoming of a chief minister and can tarnish the reputation of the state". Leaders of the ruling 'Mahagathbandhan' in the state, comprising JD(U), the deputy CM's RJD, Congress and the Left, seemed embarrassed to come on record over the controversy but, speaking on condition of anonymity, they insisted that the septugenarian chief minister was trying to create public awareness and the BJP was looking to gain political mileage out of a trifle. Meanwhile, Kumar, the state's longest serving CM, remained unfazed by the hubbub when he visited Siwan on the fourth day of 'Samadhan Yatra'. He reiterated the need for population control and underscored the role played by educated women in the same. He also reaffirmed his government's commitment to improving the condition of madarsas in the state. The Rajya Sabha committee has accepted the Centre's request for six more months to frame rules under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) for the seventh time in a row. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that more time was needed to frame the rules of the Act, without which it could not be implemented. The decision of the Lok Sabha committee is still awaited. According to sources, the time was extended by the Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation in the Rajya Sabha till December 31, 2022 and in the Lok Sabha till January 9, 2023. Sources said that the MHA sought an extension of six months, on which the Rajya Sabha committee extended it till June 30. While attending a programme in November, last year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that there had been a delay in implementing the Act due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Also Read Lokpal gets 1,719 graft complaints, 136 were registered inquiry this year Lokpal to accept corruption complaints filed in prescribed format only Govt to move 'The Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2022' in Rajya Sabha It's pouring adjournments in Parliament; RS spends 27% time working, LS 16% EAM Jaishankar to make statement on foreign policy in Rajya Sabha today Toll in terror attack in J&K's Dhangri climbs to 7; villagers demand probe Leaders from Shimla district, Rajput community lead in HP cabinet extension Some areas of Uttarakhand's Joshimath declared disaster-affected India provides 75 buses to Sri Lanka to support public transport system PMO holds high-level review meeting on situation in Uttaralhand's Joshimath He added that the CAA would definitely be implemented and those who thought otherwise would be proved wrong. The Act was passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019 and got the President's assent the very next day, following which it was notified by the MHA. About 83 persons died and several were injured in the protests against this law in the country. Significantly, through the CAA, the Central government will grant Indian citizenship to the illegal migrants who entered India before or on December 31, 2014. It was passed for the migrants of non-Muslim communities, including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. --IANS spt/fs/dpb Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said it is the energy of the young minds which motivates the country to keep moving forward. She also said the country now has a leadership that is not corrupt and works for the good of the people. "It is so invigorating. I am so touched by the presence of such young brains. It does give a lot of motivation when you have such energy. It is that energy that keeps India going forward," Sitharaman said while addressing a 'Yuva Shakti Samvad' here. She said the Centre is working on establishing a medical college in every district of the country and increasing medical and engineering seats by setting up more institutes. Asked about digital university, Sitharaman said significant progress has been made on this front. "Several far-flung areas that lack coverage of the conventional universities. So Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisioned the concept of digital university to utilize technology for ensuring the reach of universities to these areas," she said. The Government of India in its Budget 2022-2023 has announced the establishment of digital university. The university will provide access to students across the country for world-class quality universal education with personalised learning experience at their doorsteps. Also Read Energy of young minds motivates country to keep moving forward: Sitharaman Why moving averages are a must for trading model ? TMS Ep215: IIP & inflation, HDFC Bank, Martin Wolf, moving averages Moonlighting unacceptable, action taken against few: Happiest Minds Is the FMCG sector coming out of the woods? Flights on busiest domestic routes up but still lag pre-Covid peak Cold wave, dense fog in Delhi-NCR to abate from January 10, says IMD Bull-taming festival Jallikattu begins in Tamil Nadu, 74 injured on Day 1 Joshimath subsidence: PMO holds review meeting with Uttarakhand officials PM Modi to inaugurate Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Indore on Monday The Union finance minister urged the youths to remember those who fought for the country as well as the armed forces who are standing tall to thwart any outside aggression. To be in the league of developed nations, corruption-free leadership is important, she said. Hailing Prime Minister Modi's leadership, Sitharaman said the country has a corruption-free leadership. "We should keep the spirit of hope and optimism for a dedicated and corruption-free leadership which can help achieve the goal of making India a developed country by 2047," she said. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was also present on the occasion. Keshari Nath Tripathi, former governor of West Bengal, Bihar and two other states, died at his home in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj on Sunday. He was 88. "Keshari Nath Tripathi had recently fallen in his house following which he broke his collarbone. Three days ago, he came back home after being discharged from a hospital. Today (on Sunday) at around 5.00 am, he breathed his last," his daughter-in-law Kavita Yadav Tripathi said. Born on November 10, 1934, in Allahabad, Tripathi served as the Governor of West Bengal from July 2014 to July 2019. Before that, he also had additional charges for short stints as the Governor of Bihar, Meghalaya and Mizoram. He was a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly six times and was the Cabinet minister of institutional finance and sales tax in the state during the Janata Party regime from 1977 to 1979. A poet and author, Tripathi had practised as a senior advocate at Allahabad High Court and was the BJP president in Uttar Pradesh for some time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow and described Tripathi as the key man in building the saffron party in the northern state. Also Read It's been real privilege to work with you as your PM: Modi to Kovind Outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind to address nation today at 7 pm PM Narendra Modi wishes ex-president Ram Nath Kovind on his 77th birthday Shinde, Fadnavis call on President Kovind, Rajnath; to meet PM Modi Allahabad HC questions police on delay in registering 'crime against women' Trial run of vistadome coaches on Kalka-Shimla route to be conducted soon Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: Thakur asks young diaspora to invest in India MK Stalin bats for reviving Sethusamudram project for economic prosperity Rajasthan's first cruise service likely to start in March in Ajmer Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes from Dodwa-Taraori crossing in Haryana on Day 114 "Shri Keshari Nath Tripathi Ji was respected for his service and intellect. He was well versed in Constitutional matters. He played a key role in building BJP in UP and worked hard for the state's progress. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti," he tweeted. In a statement issued here, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "Shri Keshari Nath Tripathi was a senior and experienced politician. He had a deep knowledge about parliamentary rules, traditions and law. He was an expert lawyer and sensitive litterateur. His death has caused irreparable loss to society." Expressing condolence over the passing away of Tripathi, former Speaker of UP Legislative Assembly, Hriday Narayan Dixit tweeted in Hindi, "Deeply pained by the death of senior BJP leader, former Governor of West Bengal and former Speaker of UP Legislative Assembly -- respected Keshari Nath Tripathi ji." Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also condoled the death of the veteran leader. He described Tripathi as "pride of Prayagraj" and "our patron". Speaker of UP Legislative Assembly Satish Mahana also expressed condolence over the demise of Keshari Nath Tripathi. Tripathi, a three-time speaker of the UP Legislative Assembly, was hospitalised for a fractured hand as well as old age-related ailments and breathing issues, a party leader said. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday termed the health sector "biggest priority" of the state government. Ninety per cent people of Rajasthan are covered under the Chief Minister Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme, Gehlot said asserting that the state ranks first in the country in providing health insurance to the common man. Only 41 per cent people in the country have health insurance coverage, he claimed. The chief minister was addressing the National Dentist Training Workshop organised by the Rajasthan State Dental Council at the SMS Medical College here on Sunday. He said the awareness of people towards their health has increased with time. In this sequence, the importance of dentistry has also increased. He said that a budget of Rs 100 crore has been allocated for the development of state-of-the-art facilities in the Jaipur Dental College. Also Read CM Ashok Gehlot woos investors; says Rajasthan has friendly govt policies Rajasthan CM Gehlot approves Rs 16.5 crore to build 11 stadia in the state Ahead of Delhi visit, Rajasthan CM Gehlot summons meeting of Cong MLAs Cong warns Gehlot loyalists over public comments on 'internal matters' Gehlot's desert storm may just sweep away Congress's gains in Rajasthan Ex-Army chief, retired officers of defence services join Bharat Jodo Yatra 'Health budget should be increased by 30-40% to sustain growth' Iranian detained, suspected of chemical attack plot, says Germany Bird flu in Kerala: Preventive measures to be taken, says Health Minister J&K unit of BJP hits out at PDP chief for making remarks on national flag Along with this, a dental college is also going to be opened in Jodhpur. The chief minister said there has been unprecedented progress in dentistry both in government and private sectors, due to which 14 private dental colleges are functional in the state today. Facing the challenge of retaining the status of India's tiger state, Madhya Pradesh lost 34 big cats in 2022 as compared to just 15 in Karnataka, its nearest competitor in housing the number of tigers in the country, according to official data. The deaths were reported in the survey year for the country's tiger census, whose results will be announced later in 2023. A senior forest department official said it is a mystery as to why Madhya Pradesh has recorded higher tiger deaths than the southern state though both had almost the same number of big cats as per the 2018 count. Karnataka, home to 524 tigers as per the 2018 census, is competing with Madhya Pradesh (526) for the tag of India's tiger state'. The national tiger census is conducted once in every four years. The latest All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) was conducted in 2022 and its report is scheduled to be released this year, a forest department official said. As the country eagerly awaits findings of the quadrennial count to know which state stands where in terms of tiger population, data on how many big cats India lost in the year just gone by is now available. Also Read Bihar to review measures to check human-animal conflict near tiger Reserve Himalayan Fritillary among 29 new threatened species in India: IUCN How turtle conservation led to protection for other species in Odisha 'It's just a devastating decline': Monarch butterflies listed as endangered India lost 329 tigers in 3 years, including 29 due to poaching: Govt Around 20 flights delayed due to bad weather at Delhi's IGI airport Scindia assures speedy action over urinating incident on Air India flight Death toll in Dhangri terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir climbs to seven Two terrorists shot dead along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch Chhattisgarh CM Baghel meets Home Minister Shah at Raipur airport Madhya Pradesh lost 34 tigers in 2022, while its nearest rival for the tiger state status, Karnataka recorded the death of 15 big cats, according to data uploaded on the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) website. The causes of these deaths were not mentioned. The NTCA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, for strengthening tiger conservation. Total tiger deaths in India in the previous year stood at 117, as per the NTCA website. We (MP) have the maximum number of tigers and we take into account all the carcasses found in our state. It is a mystery for us why lesser tiger deaths were reported there (Karnataka) when the number of big cats is almost the same, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) J S Chauhan told PTI when asked about the wide gap in mortality figures in the two states. He said the average age of tigers is 12 to 18 years. If longevity criteria are taken into account, then about 40 deaths annually should be considered natural as the state had recorded the presence of 526 tigers in the last estimation conducted in 2018, he said. In 2021, Madhya Pradesh lost 42 tigers out of 127 fatalities recorded in the country that year. I don't know about other states but no tiger death goes unreported in Madhya Pradesh. We investigate every case of tiger death and take legal steps if something suspicious is found, said the senior forest department official. Chouhan said sometimes big cats die naturally deep inside forests and caves which can't be spotted. Asked about the birth rate of the feline, the forest officer said around 250 cubs are born annually in Madhya Pradesh, which is home to six tiger reserves - Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Satpura, Panna and Sanjay-Dubri. Of the 34 tiger fatalities recorded in Madhya Pradesh during 2022, the biggest loss was suffered by the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, where nine big cats died in the 12-month period, followed by Pench (five) and Kanha (four), according to the NTCA website. Asked about the high number of tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh, wildlife activist Ajay Dubey said the central state has been leading the country in natural as well as unnatural death of big cats since the past decade. The state is leading because the accountability of officials has not been fixed in tiger deaths and their intelligence network is poor. Prosecution and conviction in poaching cases have been poor. NTCA directives are clear that official accountability must be fixed in cases of tiger deaths, he maintained. Dubey said Bandhavgarh, which accounted for the highest tiger deaths in the state in 2022, has a high density of big cats and the reserve, located in the Vindhya Hills of Umaria district, is also a big tourist attraction. As per the website, the highest number of tiger morality in the country during the period 2012 to July 2022 was recorded in Bandhavgarh (66) followed by Kanha (55). Madhya Pradesh (257 big cats) had lost the 'tiger state' tag to Karnataka (300) in the All-India Tiger Estimation exercise of 2010. In 2006, Madhya Pradesh had got the tiger state' status with 300 big cats compared to 290 in Karnataka. Officials believe the number of striped animals dipped in the central state during the 2010 census primarily due to alleged poaching in the Panna reserve, which lost all its tigers in 2009. Panna is now estimated to inhabit around 70 tigers following a decade-long reintroduction programme. In the 2014 census, MP slipped to third position in the country with a population of 308 tigers, after Uttarakhand (340) and Karnataka (406). Madhya Pradesh regained the top position in the 2018 tiger census after it was found to be home to 526 felines, two more than Karnataka (524). Uttarakhand held the third position with 442 big cats. The estimated count of tigers in India had increased from 1,411 in 2006 to 2,967 in 2018, according to the last census report. An image grab of footage obtained from Iranian State TV IRINN on Jan. 7, shows Mohammad Mahdi Karami and Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini, who were executed for killing a member of Iran's Basij paramilitary force amid protests, attending a court hearing in Karaj on Dec. 5. AFP-Yonhap Iran drew international condemnation on Saturday as it executed two men for killing a paramilitary force member in November during unprecedented protests sparked by Mahsa Amini's death in custody. The latest hangings double the number of executions to four over the nationwide unrest, which has escalated since mid-September into calls for an end to Iran's clerical regime. They also come in defiance of a campaign by international rights groups for the lives of the two men to be spared. Judicial news agency Mizan Online reported that "Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini, the main perpetrators of the crime that led to the martyrdom of Ruhollah Ajamian, were hanged this morning." Prosecutors said the 27-year-old militiaman was stripped naked and killed by a group of mourners who had been paying tribute to a slain protester, Hadis Najafi. The UN human rights office condemned the executions, which it said followed "unfair trials based on forced confessions". Washington said it condemned them "in the strongest terms". "These executions are a key component of the regime's effort to suppress protests," State Department spokesman Ned Price said. The European Union said it was "appalled" by the use of the death penalty against civilian protesters. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the executions "strengthen us in our desire to raise the pressure further on Tehran with the EU". Iranian authorities have arrested thousands in their crackdown on the wave of demonstrations that began after the September 16 death of Iranian Kurdish woman Amini, 22, following her arrest for allegedly breaching Iran's dress code for women. Two other men were put to death in December, sparking global outrage and new Western sanctions against Iran. Mohsen Shekari and Majidreza Rahnavard, both 23, had been convicted of separate attacks on security forces. People attend a rally in solidarity with the protests in Iran and to honor protesters allegedly killed by the Iranian government, in Zurich, Switzerland, Jan. 7. EPA-Yonhap Jammu and Kashmir administration is making "advance arrangements" as Srinagar city is likely to host one of the G20 events in May this year, a senior official said here. "As part of India holding the presidency of the G20, several events are going to be held in mid-May but dates have not been fixed yet, divisional commissioner Kashmir Pandurang Kundbarao Pole told PTI. "Srinagar is likely to host one of the G20 events for which we are preparing in advance," he said. Pole said the administration was sprucing up the city for the major event as it will go a long way in boosting tourism in Kashmir, while at the same time clearing the misgivings about the situation in the valley. "All major roads and areas are being repaired. We are currently going through winter months, there are some difficulties but we will be ready by the time the event is held," he said. Development works are going on in full swing in Srinagar city with a focus on completing the drainage and road projects. Also Read Mumbai: Congress leaders detained before protesting outside Raj Bhavan J&K LG flags off 'Har Ghar Tiranga' rally at Dal Lake in Srinagar Over 15000 posts filled in J&K govt departments in 3 years: SSB chairman Jammu-Kashmir likely to witness mainly dry weather in next 24 hours: MeT Partly cloudy sky, light rain likely in J-K during next 24 hours: MeT Eviction drive to clear 500 hectares of forest land in Assam: Officials Gadkari bats for decarbonising transport sector, push for ethanol economy Studying abroad not just about degree: Experts on foreign campuses in India Drunk man not in senses, buck stops with pilot: Mishra's co-passenger Unruly Air India passenger handed over to London police in Sep: Reports Normally, no development works are undertaken during the winter months in Kashmir due to freezing temperatures but the government has made an exception this year due to the likelihood of Srinagar hosting a G20 event. Men and machinery have been put to work to remove the dust and mud that accumulates by the roadside during the winter and is usually removed in late April every year. The official said hosting the event will be a "moment of pride" for Kashmir as this is the first G20 meeting to be held in the Union Territory. "The G20 includes almost 70 per cent of the world population as well as economically. Holding the G20 meeting in Srinagar has its importance as it will help in boosting tourism and many misgivings, which our neighbouring country tries to portray, would also be clarified," he added. A section of lawyers met Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday over the court fee hike, as the JMM leader assured them of a review. As many as 500 advocates were present at the residence of the chief minister where he assured them that his government will review the provisions of the Advocates Protection Act and do a comparative study with other states. The state government had last year hiked court fees by passing the Court Fees Amendment Bill in the assembly. Soren said the increase in court fees was not directly concerned with the welfare of lawyers but still, the government will look into the matter and review the amendments. The delegation was led by Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan, and he was accompanied by Jharkhand State Bar Council members Manoj Singh, Ram Subhag Singh, Anil Tiwary and Rinku Bhakat, among others. Council chairman Rajendra Krishna and other members stayed away from the meeting. Also Read Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren assures redressal of grievances in a month's time No end in sight to tug-of-war between Jharkhand Governor, Soren govt BJP takes to street to protest against Hemant Soren govt in Jharkhand BJP to launch district-level agitation against Jharkhand govt from tomorrow CM Hemant Soren to seek trust vote today amid Jharkhand political crisis Joshimath crisis: 11 more families moved to safe locations, say officials Delhi road accident: Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia sanctioned for victim's family Participation of girls on rise in NCC, says DG Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh Farm reforms pending in India since 1991: EAC-PM chief Bibek Debroy Will send 44 judges' names within two-three days: Govt to Supreme Court Bhakat told PTI that they interacted with the CM and he promised computers and other infrastructure for bar associations across the state, among other welfare measures. The council members are divided over the ongoing strike of lawyers on January 6 and 7 against court fees hike. The council requested all district court bar association office-bearers to attend a meeting on January 8 in the state capital to decide on the future course of action. Meanwhile, on the second day of the strike, many advocates across the state refrained from participating in judicial work as per the call of the council. However, advocates in the high court representing the government as well some other lawyers attended court proceedings, as they did on the previous day. Meanwhile, former chief minister Babulal Marandi accused Soren of creating a division among advocates. "Chief Minister Hemant Soren who was engaged in dividing the society is now trying to divide the lawyer community. The government increased the court fee by 6-12 times without proper thought. The Jharkhand State Bar Council is opposing the decision," Marandi said in a tweet. He dropped out of formal education at the age of 16 in 1978 to take a train to Mumbai to try his luck and three years later made his first killing -- a Rs 10,000 commission doing a diamond trade with a Japanese buyer. That marked the beginning of the entrepreneurial journey of Gautam Adani, now Asia's richest man. He, however, regrets not finishing college, saying early experiences made him wise but formal education rapidly expands one's knowledge. Speaking at the 75th year celebrations of Vidya Mandir Trust Palanpur in Gujarat, Adani recounted his phenomenal journey that has made his group the world's largest solar power company, largest airport and sea port operator in India, nation's largest integrated energy player, country's second largest cement manufacturer and a conglomerate with market capitalisation of over USD 225 billion -- all in a span of four-and-a-half decades. While the dry and tough living conditions of Gujarat's Banaskantha shaped his social behaviour, his father's involvement in what is now known as 'forward trades' gave him the initial learning. After leaving Banaskantha, Adani moved to Ahmedabad where he spent 4 years completing secondary education. "I was just 16 years old when I chose to give up my education and move to Mumbai," he said. "In this context, a question I often get asked is - why did I move to Mumbai and not work with my family? As many youngsters in the audience would agree, the optimism and desire for independence of a teenage boy is hard to contain. All I knew was that - I wanted to do something different - and do it on my own." He bought a train ticket and boarded the Gujarat Mail to Mumbai with not much in his pocket. Also Read Gautam Adani overtakes Bill Gates to become 4th richest person in the world Gautam Adani overtakes Jeff Bezos to become world's second richest Gautam Adani becomes world's third-richest person, first Asian to do so Gautam Adani's rise to 3rd richest came as stock jump topped 1,000% Confluent's Neha Narkhede enters Hurun's ten richest Indian women list 2 Russian passengers offloaded in Goa for 'misbehaving' with Go First crew Don't make captain, crew scapegoat in peeing incident: Veteran pilots to AI Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline likely to be commissioned in February LIVE: UP CM distributes blankets to over 286,000 people across state Andhra Pradesh govt appoints inquiry commission to probe recent stampedes "Once in Mumbai, my cousin Prakashbhai Desai enrolled me at Mahendra brothers, where I started to learn to assort diamonds. I quickly picked up the business and after working at Mahendra brothers for about 3 years, I left to start my own brokerage in diamond trading at Zaveri Bazar," he said. "I still recall the day I did my first trade with a Japanese buyer. I made a commission of Rs 10,000." This, he said, was the start of his journey as an entrepreneur. "Another question I often get is if I have any regrets that I did not go to college. Reflecting on my life and the different turns it took, I - now - do believe that I would have benefitted if I had finished college. While my early experiences made me wise, I now realize that formal education rapidly expands one's knowledge," he said. "To acquire wisdom, one must experience but to acquire knowledge, one must study." These, he said, are complementary. "And although I will never really know, I do reflect at times that the expansion in my abilities may have been faster had I gone to college." Adani, 60, started off as a trader and has been on a rapid diversification spree, expanding an empire centered on ports and coal mining to include airports, data centers and cement as well as green energy. "First-generation entrepreneurs mostly start with a unique advantage - the advantage of having nothing to lose. This belief is their strength. In my own mind, this was liberating. I had no legacy to follow - but I had the opportunity to create a legacy. "I had nothing to prove to anybody - but had an opportunity to prove to my own self that I could rise. I had nothing to risk by jumping into uncharted waters. I had no expectations to fulfil except those of my own. These beliefs became a part of me," he said. Adani said when he turned 19, he was called back by his elder brother Mahasukhbhai to help run a small-scale PVC film factory the family had acquired at Ahmedabad. "We used to procure imported raw materials. It was a tough business. In those day, PVC film manufacturing faced great scarcity of raw materials given all the import restrictions," he said, adding the liberalisation of import policies by the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1985 gave him the first real break. "While I had no trading experience, I took advantage of the opportunity and moved swiftly to establish a trading organization. We started importing polymers, to supply to the raw-material-deprived small-scale industries. This move laid the initial foundation of the Global Trading Business I was soon to build," he said. The 1991 liberalisation by the then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao allowed him to move swiftly to establish a full-fledged global trading house dealing in polymers, metals, textiles, and agro products. "We became the largest global trading house in the country within two years. I had turned 29 and had a full appreciation of the value of two dimensions that would define everything we did -- Scale and Speed," he said. Till now Adani was primarily focused on trading. And in 1994, he listed Adani Exports, which is now called Adani Enterprises. Yet another opportunity came in 1995, when the Gujarat government decided to develop its coastline. "It was around this same time that the global commodities trader Cargill approached us with a proposal to source the salt produced across the Kutch coastline," he said. "To cut a long, interesting story short, the partnership did not proceed. But we were left with about 40,000 acres of marshy land to harvest salt and an approval to build a captive jetty at Mundra for the export of salt." He then built a full-fledged commercial port in Mundra, Gujarat. "And the rest is history," he said. When the Gujarat government announced its SEZ policy in 2005, Adani moved quickly to convert the land originally allocated for salt works into the country's largest multi-product SEZ -- supported by world class infrastructure including ports, rail, air, roads, and water networks. "Today, I can confidently say that the real growth of Mundra is just starting. It now holds the potential to become one of the world's top integrated industrial parks in the years to come," he said. Adani group continued to grow and today it is the world's largest solar power company and will be the world's largest renewable company by 2030. It is the largest airport operator in India with 25 per cent of passenger traffic and 40 per cent of air cargo. It is the largest ports and logistics company in India with 30 per cent national market share. It is also India's largest integrated energy player, spanning electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, LNG and LPG terminals, city gas and piped gas distribution. Adani group is the country's second largest cement manufacturer and the highest valued FMCG company following the IPO of Adani Wilmar. "We have declared our path forward in new sectors that include data centres, super apps, industrial clouds, aerospace and defence, metals, and petrochemicals," he said. Adani also said India will be a land of massive opportunities over the next 30 years and this is the time to dream big. The matter was also reported to the aviation safety regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Two foreign nationals were asked to deboard the Mumbai-bound Go First flight from Goa for allegedly passing lewd comments on a woman cabin crew member and disrupting fellow passengers, the airline's spokesperson said on Saturday. "Two foreigners were offloaded from G8-372 Goa- Mumbai flight on January 6 (Friday), after they violated the flight safety rules. Both passengers passed lewd comments on the crew members and disrupted fellow passengers too," a Go First Spokesperson told agencies. The foreign nationals are from Russia, said a news agency citing sources. "They were handed over to airport security. The matter has been reported to DGCA for further action," the Go First spokesperson said. The spokesperson further informed that the Pilot-in-Command then decided to deboard them immediately. Also Read What DGCA's new medical guidelines prescribe for transgender persons India's aviation safety rank to improve after UN agency audit: DGCA Civil aviation sector to employ 100,000 more people by 2024: Ministry DGCA asks airlines to deploy adequate maintenance engineers at airports 69% Go First flights delayed on average in past three days; DGCA to probe Air India fell short, should have been swifter: Tata boss on pee-gate Mercedes expects double-digit growth in India this year despite weak rupee Indian Oil chairman will soon also be its managing director, say sources Discoms' outstanding dues to gencos nearly halved to Rs 62,681 cr in Jan JSPL to invest Rs 1,500 crore to make Monnet Power project operational: MD "They were seated on the emergency seats and a security briefing was on at that time. The co-passengers also took objection (to their behaviour)," the spokesperson added. According to the spokesperson, the two foreign nationals abused the crew, and were "teasing the crew, passing comments and remarks on her". The incident took place before the flight had taken off, and comes close on the heels of two mid-air urinating incidents on the international flights of Tata Group-run private carrier Air India. However, an agency said that when contacted, the police informed that they have not received any complaint. Lutyens' Delhi was immersed in hues across the spectrum as thousands of members of the LGBTQ community took to its streets to join the 13th year of the Delhi Queer Pride March after almost a three-year lull due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The annual march from the Barakhamba Road to Jantar Mantar was celebrated with dancing to drumbeats, sloganeering and carrying rainbow flags and placards. Noor Enayat, a volunteer, said thousands of participants joined the parade this year. "Due to the pandemic, the parade was not held for the last three years. This year, people gathered in large numbers braving the winter chill," she told PTI. Despite the winter chill, more than 2,000 people participated in the march. In a statement, the organisers said, "We march against the oppressive attacks and discrimination against... transpersons, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, pansexuals, asexuals, gender nonconforming, and intersex people." "We assert that legal rights remain valueless unless we build a culture of acceptance for personal expression, love in all its consensual forms, across the barriers of gender, caste, class, ability, religion, region, and language which constrain us. We march for the right to determine our life choices and for the recognition of the same," they said. The organisers said the march is also against "the systemic persecution of minorities - especially, but not limited to, Muslims, Dalits, Bahujans, Adivasis and Christians." "We march against the instigators of hatred and terror, and denounce lynchings in the name of caste, region, or religion," they said. Referring to the climate emergency, they said they are marching to protest deforestation, climate injustice, and the forced relocation of indigenous communities from their homeland. Also Read Boston marks first India Day Parade to celebrate 75th anniversary of I-Day BSF camel contingent for next Republic Day parade will include women Thousands join rally demanding early solution for Naga political issue Argentina govt defends chaotic parade to welcome team post FIFA WC win Post office staff swindles Rs 96 cr of public money in saving schemes: CAG Urinating incident: 2 Air India crew members likely to join probe on Monday Farmers being cornered, says Rahul Gandhi as he takes on BJP govt Rahul Gandhi should clarify his stand over Art 370, PAGD: BJP leader AIIMS can achieve excellence through superior quality care: Health Minister Longest train 'Vivek Express' covering 4,189 km to now run 4 days a week "We march to protest corporate looting of our forests and reserves. We march for our #RightToBreathe," they added. According to the organisers, the parade was also a tribute to the people who lost their lives in the pandemic. "We march in memory of the people who have lost to the covid pandemic, which disproportionately affected queer and trans people. We march to demand healthcare and dignity for all, against discrimination by medical institutions," they added. The death toll in the terrorist attacks in Dhangri village of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri has risen to seven with one more civilian succumbing to injuries at a hospital in Jammu on Sunday, officials said. Prince Sharma, who was in his early 20s, died at the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital Jammu, where he was shifted for specialised treatment along with several others after getting critically injured in the firing by terrorists in Dhangri on January 1, they said. The attacks in the village had left six people, including Sharma's elder brother Deepak Kumar dead. While four persons were killed and six others injured in the terrorist firing on January 1, two cousins were killed and nine other persons injured in a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in the village the next morning. The IED was planted by terrorists before fleeing. A massive search operation is on to neutralise the terrorists behind the attack, officials said. A pall of gloom descended on the terror-hit village as the body of the deceased reached his home in the afternoon with villagers led by Sarpanch Dheeraj Sharma demanding handing over the investigation of the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Hundreds of people gathered at the residence of the deceased to share the grief of Suraj Devi, who lost her both sons to the terror attack. Her husband Rajinder Kumar had died about four years ago due to illness. Also Read 2 civilians killed, 1 injured as Army sentry opens fire in J-K's Rajouri Attack on Army camp in Rajouri: 2 terrorists killed, 5 soldiers injured Army foils infiltration bid in J-K's Rajouri, 2 suspected terrorists killed Infiltration bid on LoC in J&K's Rajouri foiled, one terrorist killed J&K L-G announces ex-gratia to kin of Rajouri terror attack victims Leaders from Shimla district, Rajput community lead in HP cabinet extension Some areas of Uttarakhand's Joshimath declared disaster-affected India provides 75 buses to Sri Lanka to support public transport system PMO holds high-level review meeting on situation in Uttaralhand's Joshimath Drunk man not in senses, buck stops with pilot: Mishra's co-passenger She was inconsolable on seeing the body of her younger son. We appeal to Home Minister (Amit Shah) to hand over this case to the NIA immediatelyWe will not cremate the boy till our demand for NIA probe is met, sarpanch Sharma told reporters at Dhangri. He said over a week has passed but the security agencies have failed to make any breakthrough and bring the culprits to book. The terrorists involved in the attack are still at large and roaming around. We are feeling insecure in our homes. The Lt Governor assured us that we will be provided weapons for self-defence within a week but it has not happened so far, he said. The sarpanch said they have demanded a permanent Army camp in the village but authorities have assigned the task of guarding the village to CRPF personnel. Expressing resentment against the administration, he also demanded a probe into the delay in shifting of the critically injured persons to GMC hospital Jammu. Prince Sharma was undergoing treatment at GMC Rajouri for three days before he was shifted to GMC Jammu. Why was he not taken to AIIMS Delhi or Northern Command-run hospital at Udhampur to save his life? Sharma said, adding the probe is a must to fix the responsibility. We have no faith in GMC Rajouri and GMC Jammu. We demand that all the critically injured patients be immediately shifted to modern hospitals in the country for their better treatment, he said. Meanwhile, emotional scenes were witnessed as a group of relatives of the slain civilians left for Haridwar to immerse the ashes of the deceased in the holy Ganges. A private vehicle decked with flowers and carrying the pictures of the deceased left the village amid sobs and wails with thousands of people turned up to pay their homage to them. The army has shot dead two terrorists near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said on Sunday. The terrorists were killed in the Balakote sector of the district late Saturday, they said. The officials said army personnel noticed suspicious movement at a forward village and opened fire. The two terrorists were neutralised, they said. The bodies of the slain terrorists were found when the army launched a search operation in the area this morning, the officials said. Travellers wait for the Hong Kong immigration desks to open before crossing the border to China at Lok Ma Chau MTR station, in Hong Kong, China, Jan. 8. After three years of closures due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, at least 60,000 people a day are allowed to cross the Hong Kong-mainland China border each way without the need to undergo quarantine. EPA-Yonhap China lifts quarantine requirements for inbound travelers on Sunday, ending almost three years of self-imposed isolation even as the country battles a surge in COVID cases. Beijing last month began a dramatic dismantling of a hardline virus strategy that had enforced mandatory quarantines and grueling lockdowns. The containment policy has tanked China's economy and sparked nationwide protests. In the final unravelling of those rules, Sunday will see inbound travelers to China no longer required to quarantine. Since March 2020, all arrivals had been forced to undergo isolation at centralized government facilities. This decreased from three weeks to one week this summer, and to five days in November. Chinese people rushed to plan trips abroad after officials last month announced that quarantine would be dropped, sending inquiries on popular travel websites soaring. But the expected surge in visitors has led over a dozen countries to impose mandatory COVID tests on travelers from the world's most populous nation as it battles its worst-ever outbreak. The outbreak is forecast to worsen as China enters the Lunar New Year holiday this month, during which millions are expected to travel from hard-hit megacities to the countryside to visit vulnerable older relatives. Beijing has called travel curbs imposed by other countries "unacceptable", despite it continuing to largely block foreign tourists and international students from travelling to China. Medical workers check on an elderly patient arrives to an emergency hall in a hospital in Beijing, Saturday, Jan. 7. AP-Yonhap 'More the merrier' Despite the testing requirements, 28-year-old Zhang Kai told AFP he is planning a trip to either Korea or Japan. "I am happy, now finally (I can) let go," Zhang said. Friends of his have already landed in Japan and undergone tests, which he dismissed as a "small matter". Across Asia, tourist hubs are preparing for a surge in Chinese visitors. At a crepe stand in Seoul, Son Kyung-rak said he was making plans to deal with a flood of tourists. "We're looking to hire and preparing to stock up," the 24-year-old told AFP in Seoul's popular downtown Myeongdong district. "Chinese tourists are our main customers, so the more the merrier." In Tokyo, caricaturist Masashi Higashitani was dusting off his Chinese language skills as he prepared for more holidaymakers. But while he told AFP he is thrilled about China's reopening, he admitted some apprehension. "I wonder if an influx of too many of them might overwhelm our capacity. I'm also worried that we need to be more careful about anti-virus measures," he told AFP. A traveler wearing a protective suit walks outside Beijing Railway Station as the annual Spring Festival travel rush starts, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, in Beijing, China Jan. 7. Reuters-Yonhap Even as the storm over a passenger arrested for urinating on a female co-passenger on board an Air India flight is still brewing, another incident of an unruly passenger having been handed over to the London metropolitan police after an incident on an AI Mumbai-London flight has come to light. The unruly passenger on a Mumbai-London flight in September 2022 was handed over to the London Metropolitan Police after a restraining device was required in the incident, reports said quoting Air India. The drunk passenger allegedly attempted to touch an eight-year-old girl inappropriately, according to a complaint by the girl's mother and 20-year-old brother travelling with her on the flight, AI-131, on September 5, 2022, reports said. According to report, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officials said that this particular incident was not reported to them, unlike the urinating incident. "We will have a look and shall take appropriate action," a DGCA official said when contacted for comments on the September incident. Reports quoting an Air India spokesperson said that on landing, the alleged offender was escorted out of the flight by the metropolitan police. Also Read US suspends 26 Chinese airline flights in Covid-19 policy dispute Amid growing air traffic in India, pilots experience increased fatigue Air India CEO apologises for urinating incident; crew, pilot de-rostered Southwest Airlines cancels more flights, draws federal investigation Man who urinated on woman on Air India flight to be arrested: Delhi Police India needs to attract investors exiting China, says Maha DyCM Fadnavis Delhi prisons department transfers 19 DSPs, over 30 ASPs, 3 head warders PM Modi to flag off luxury cruise 'MV Ganga Vilas' from Varanasi on Jan 13 Ayodhya to get 10 solar ferries on Saryu river to promote tourism BSF deploys drone-mounted radars to check tunnels along Pak border The Air India cabin crew gave statements to the metropolitan police and the incident was subsequently reported to the DGCA on September 19, 2022, the reports said. They further added that Air India crew took immediate action and isolated the alleged offender. The victim was comforted and given all assistance, including helping her and her family relocate to alternate seats, an airline spokesperson was quoted as saying. As the accused passenger continued to behave in an unruly manner, the pilot in charge issued a warning letter and when the passenger continued to misbehave, a restraining device was used, the reports said. The captain of the flight also informed Air India ground staff at Heathrow airport, the spokesperson added, as per reports. --IANS ans/vd The minister will also attend the 13th Trade Policy Forum (TPF) that aims to expand economic ties between the two nations. Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal will be on a three-day visit to the US, where he will meet the heads of top multinational companies. The TPF aims to iron out key trade and investment-related issues between India and its largest trade partner the US. He (Goyal) will attend the 13th Trade Policy Forum in Washington DC on January 11. Before delegation-level talks, he will also hold a one-to-one meeting with USTR (US Trade Representative) Ambassador Katherine Tai, an official statement said on Sunday. Established in 2005, India-US TPF held its 12th ministerial-level meeting in New Delhi in November, 2021. It was after a four-year gap. Bilateral merchandise trade during April-October stood at $77.25 billion. The US is also the biggest destination for Indias exports. Also Read India-UK trade likely to double by 2030: Grant Thornton-CII report Wait for India-UK free trade agreement likely to extend until mid-2023 India-Australia free trade agreement to come into force from Dec 29 Down 66% YoY, total deal value in Q3FY23 second lowest since 2017: Report CII-Exim Bank conclave: Goyal calls for deepening trade ties with Africa Gas pricing up in the air: 2023 to see new trading products from exchanges Ceiling fans get costlier as BEE's revised norms mandate star labelling Ahmedabad sees maximum rise in office supply last yr among 9 cities: CBRE MoRTH confident of achieving highway construction target of 12k km in FY23 Coal-based power generation rises 15% to 98,443 million units in Dec In the last meeting, both the nations discussed their view on potential targeted tariff reductions. The TPF will be co-chaired by Goyal and Tai. Under the TPF, there are working groups on five broad areas including agriculture, non-agriculture goods, services, investment, and intellectual property. While the agenda of the TPF is unknown, Business Standard last week reported that in the sidelines of the meeting, India may propose out-of-court settlement to the US. Working groups were reactivated after the last ministerial. TPF is a platform for continuous engagement between the two countries in the area of trade. It is also to further the trade and investment relations between the two countries. Both the countries are looking forward to the meeting and confident of making progress on trade issues, the statement said. In the first leg of his visit, the minister will travel to New York to interact with the heads of key multinationals. This is in regard to the case where the World Trade Organizations (WTOs) dispute panel in 2019 had agreed with the US that India provides export subsidies to its exporters. After three years, mainland China opened sea and land crossings with Hong Kong and ended a requirement for incoming travellers to quarantine, dismantling a final pillar of a zero-Covid policy that had shielded Chinas 1.4 billion people from the virus but also cut them off from the rest of the world. Travellers streamed into China by air, land and sea on Sunday, as Beijing opened its borders that have been shut since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Im so happy, so happy, so excited. I havent seen my parents for many years,said Hong Kong resident Teresa Chow as she and dozens of other travellers prepared to cross into China from Hong Kongs Lok Ma Chau checkpoint. Long queues formed at the Hong Kong international airports check-in counters for flights to mainland cities including Beijing, Tianjin, and Xiamen. Hong Kong media outlets estimated that thousands were crossing. Investors hope the reopening will reinvigorate a $17-trillion economy suffering its slowest growth in nearly half a century. But the abrupt policy reversal has triggered a massive wave of infections that is overwhelming some hospitals and causing business disruptions. I havent been home in almost two years, so the announcement felt like a fever dream, said Connor Zhao, a 25-year-old consultant who lives in San Francisco. Also Read Coronavirus: First day of free boosters sees nearly 95% jump in offtake No reason to worry about new Covid variant Kraken in India yet: Experts Restaurants pull out the masks and gloves to keep new Covid wave at bay Maharashtra logs 219 new Covid cases, three deaths; active tally 1,639 France plans 2nd Covid-19 booster dose for adults aged 18-59: Report Vladimir Putin's energy gambit fizzles as warm winter saves Europe China's new envoy vows to further enhance bilateral ties with Nepal PM Sharif leaves for Geneva to attend Pak-UN conference to raise $16 bn Making efforts to activate eight-member regional group SAARC: Nepal Strong 7.0 magnitude quake hits Vanuatu, triggering tsunami warning Some 2 billion trips are expected this season, nearly double last years movement and recovering to 70 per cent of 2019 levels, the government says. The border opening follows Saturdays start of chun yun, the 40-day period of Lunar New Year travel, which before the pandemic was the worlds largest annual migration, as people returned to their hometowns or took holidays with family. Travel will not quickly return to pre-pandemic levels due to such factors as a dearth of international flights, analysts say. Many Chinese are also expected to start travelling abroad, a long-awaited shift for tourist spots in countries such as Thailand and Indonesia. Concerns over rural areas China on Sunday resumed issuing passports and travel visas for mainland residents, and ordinary visas and residence permits for foreigners. Beijing has quotas on the number of people who can travel between Hong Kong and China daily. But concerns remain that the great migration of city workers to their hometowns and reopening of borders may cause a surge in infections in smaller towns and rural areas that are less-equipped with intensive-care beds and ventilators China downgraded its Covid management to Category B from A, which had allowed local authorities to quarantine patients, their close contacts, and lockdown regions. Jiao Yahui, an official from the National Health Commission, said in an interview published by state broadcaster CCTV on Sunday that demand for emergency and critical care in Chinas large cities had likely peaked but was rising fast in small and midsize cities and rural areas due to the Lunar New Year travel. China to not include Pzifers Paxlovid in its health insurance drug list Some 80 per cent of ICU beds in Chinas top- and second-tier hospitals were in use, up from 54 per cent on December 25, she said, adding that the countrys medical services to treat Covid were facing an unprecedented challenge. The Covid-19 antiviral drug is currently covered by the countrys broad healthcare insurance scheme under temporary measures the regulator introduced in March last year as outbreaks rose. China will not include Pfizers Paxlovid in an update to its list of medicines covered by basic medical insurance schemes as the US firm quoted a high price for the Covid-19 drug, Chinas Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) said on Sunday. Inclusion on the list means a drug is accessible via state insurance schemes, which will boost volumes but comes with the condition that manufacturers lower prices. Past rounds have seen drugmakers cut prices by as much as 62 per cent after negotiations with officials. As China opened borders and resumed travel on Sunday, billions of local travellers are set to make overseas trips in the next few days, triggering Covid surge concerns in various countries as they put restrictions in place for flights coming from China. Global Times reported that the downgrading management of Covid-19 officially took effect on Sunday and the inbound quarantine for international arrivals was cancelled. "The order numbers for international flights recorded a year-on-year growth of 628 per cent, reaching the highest since March 2020, data from online travel agency LY.com showed," said the report. Among the surging orders, the numbers of inbound and outbound flights account for 48 per cent and 52 per cent, respectively. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region became the top destination for inbound tickets on Sunday, with flight orders from Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland rose 62 per cent from the previous day. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced that international flights can directly land in Beijing without being redirected to other entry points. Also Read As property market hits a slump in China, are investors turning to India? Post pandemic pent-up demand surge, realty space may face global headwinds India building a world order based on spirituality, morality: Prez Murmu Ahead of 20th Party Congress, China detects new Omicron sub-variants Demand for rental residential houses rose by 10-20% in 2022: Report Diaspora set to rush home as China dismantles Covid Zero, opens borders 17 dead in southern China crash as holiday travel rush gets underway China ends Covid-19 travel restrictions for incoming passengers from today 5.3-magnitude earthquake hits province of Al Hoceima in northern Morocco Iran's exports to S Arabia see rapid growth in 2022 amid detente: Report Some 18 international flights, majorly from Hong Kong, were expected to arrive in Beijing on Sunday. Shenzhen and Hong Kong will review the first phase of border reopening in a week. On the basis of consensus reached by both sides, arrangement of the second phase will be announced. According to China's Ministry of Transport, more than two billion passengers are expected to take trips over the next 40 days. China on Saturday marked the first day of "chun yun", the 40-day period of Lunar New Year travel. European Union officials are "strongly" recommending that all member states insist on negative Covid tests from Chinese arrivals before they travel, reports BBC. France, Spain and Italy have already introduced testing but others such as Germany had been monitoring the situation. England, outside the EU, requires pre-flight testing on China arrivals. The US has imposed mandatory Covid-19 tests on travellers from China beginning January 5. India has mandated a Covid-19 negative test report for travellers arriving from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand. Air travellers to Canada from China must test negative for Covid-19 no more than two days before departure. China is currently seeing a surge in the Covid cases, with reports of hospitals and crematoriums being overwhelmed. --IANS na/dpb Iran's exports to Saudi Arabia have increased dramatically in 2022 amid the two countries' efforts to ease tensions, Iran's IRIB news agency reported. Iran's customs administration on Saturday said during the period from the Iranian New Year that fell on March 21 to November 1, 2022, the value of Iranian exports to Saudi Arabia reached $14.71 million, which is a record high since Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2016. During the same period in 2021, the trade volume only stood at $42,000, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the IRIB report, the main exports include steel ingots, grapes and sodium hydroxide, among others. Rounds of talk between the two sides took place in 2022 to improve bilateral relations and ease regional tension. --IANS Also Read Baghdad mediated talks with Iran reported stalled over protests in Iran Saudi Arabia, Australia ask citizens in Pakistan to limit movement Saudi Arabia announces investment of $1 bn in cash-strapped Pakistan Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appointed as prime minister Iranian drones used by Russia in Ukraine shows how war has helped Iran Quarter of Iraqi population beneath poverty line in 2022: Ministry 1 killed, 2 injured in shooting attack at oil and gas company in Iran Chinese travelers rush to take advantage of reopening after Covid curbs On eve of Biden's Mexico border visit, migrants fear new rules by govt Elon Musk says he can't get fair trial in California, wants Texas int/khz/ Authorities in western Germany say they have arrested an Iranian man on suspicion of planning an attack with deadly chemicals. Police and prosecutors said early on Sunday that the 32-year-old man and another person were detained in the town of Castrop-Rauxel, northwest of Dortmund. In a joint statement they said the man is suspected to have planned a serious attack motivated by Islamic extremism, for which he had allegedly obtained cyanide and ricin. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida begins a weeklong trip Monday to strengthen military ties with Europe and Britain and bring into focus the Japan-U.S. alliance at a summit in Washington, as Japan breaks from its postwar restraint to take on more offensive roles with an eye toward China. Kishida's talks with U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday will highlight his five-nation tour that also takes him to France, Italy, Britain and Canada some of Group of Seven nations Japan has stepped up defense ties with in recent years. His first stop is Paris on Monday evening. Kishida said his summit with Biden will underscore the strength of the Japan-U.S. alliance and how the two countries can work more closely under Japan's new security and defense strategies. Japan in December adopted key security and defense reforms, including a counterstrike capability that makes a break from the country's exclusively self-defense-only postwar principle. Japan says the current deployment of missile interceptors is insufficient to defend it from rapid weapons advancement in China and North Korea. Kishida said he will explain to Biden the new strategy, under which Japan is also reinforcing defenses on its southwestern islands close to Taiwan, including Yonaguni and Ishigaki, where new bases are being constructed. Will will discuss further strengthening of the Japan-U.S. alliance, and how we work together to achieve a fee and open Indo-Pacific," Kishida told a NHK national television talk show Sunday, referring to a vision of national and economic security cooperation the two countries promote to counter China's growing military and economic influence. Also Read S Jaishankar, Rajnath Singh call on Japan PM to discuss bilateral relations Rajnath Singh, S Jaishankar to visit Japan for 2+2 bilateral dialogue: MEA Defence Minister Rajnath to begin 5-day visit to Mongolia, Japan on Monday Rajnath Singh meets Japanese counterpart to bolster defence, strategic ties Japan PM meets Pelosi, calls China drills 'threat to regional peace' Thousands of Israelis protest Benjamin Netanyahu government's policies Iran carries out execution of 2 more men detained amid nationwide protests Deadly storm inflicts widespread damage across North California in US Ukraine's frontlines witness artillery fire despite 'ceasefire' by Russia Kevin McCarthy overcomes GOP rebellion to be elected House Speaker Under the new strategies, Japan plans to start deploying in 2026 long-range cruise missiles that can reach potential targets in China, nearly double its defense budget within five years to a NATO standard of about 2% of GDP from the current 1%, and improve cyberspace and intelligence capabilities. The idea is to do as much as possible in a short time as some experts see growing risks that Chinese President Xi Jingpin may take action against self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory. Japan's new strategy has been well received by the Biden administration and some members of the Congress. Experts say it would also widen cooperation with their main regional partners Australia and possibly South Korea. This is an opportunity to rethink and update the structure and the mechanisms of the alliance to reflect a much more capable partner that's coming, said Christopher Johnstone, senior adviser and Japan chair for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He said, however, that Japan's focus on the strike capability and budget is a welcome but a daunting agenda" that will require a lot of cooperation with the United States. Paving the way for the summit, Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will fly to Washington to meet their American counterparts, Lloyd Austin and Antony Blinken, on Wednesday, followed by separate defense ministers' talks Thursday. The Biden administration, which also adopted its security strategy in October, expects Japan to assist in the supply and storage of fuel and munitions in case of a Taiwan emergency, experts say. Japan and the United States are also reportedly considering establishing a joint command. During the talks at the White House, the two leaders are also expected to discuss China, North Korea's nuclear and missile development as well as Russia's war on Ukraine, Japanese officials said. Cooperation in the area of supply chain and economic security will be also on the table. Last week, Japanese Economy and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo disussed in Washington the importance to work together to promote and protect critical and emerging technologies, including semiconductors, and export controls to address competitiveness and security concerns. During his trip, Kishida will seek to further strengthen bilateral military ties with four other countries, Japanese officials say. Japan's joint development and production of its F-X next generation fighter jet with Britain and Italy for a planned deployment in 2035 will be a top agenda item during his visits in Rome and London on Tuesday and Wednesday. Japan and Britain have also been discussing a Reciprocal Access Agreement that would remove obstacles to holding joint military exercises in either country. Besides the Japan-U.S. security treaty that allows U.S. troops to station in Japan, Tokyo has a similar agreement only with Australia, and Britain would be second. During his talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, Kishida is expected to share concern over China's growing activity in the South Pacific and confirm stepping up joint military exercise between the two sides.